Peter Gabriel's Back to Front 2013 Tour Kicks Off in Denmark

Well, it's really happening. Those of you who bought tickets to Peter Gabriel's Back to Front 2013 tour last May need to find them and figure out your travel arrangements.  The tour kicked off last night in Denmark.  I've tried to find a review of the show but so far have been unable to.  On PG's Facebook Page, there are some posts from excited fans basking in the afterglow of the gig, so presumably all went well.

Since it was the first night of the tour, there had to be some inevitable glitches.  There had been at least one YouTube video made by audience members of the show, but apparently they've been pulled off of YouTube for whatever reason.  Apparently PG is using something called MagicCubes during the shows (?), but I have absolutely no idea what they are except that:

• it must be complicated
• it runs on Apple equipment
• PG probably has no idea how to use it

From the one photo I've seen of the gig (and one of the setlist), it does not like there is any major difference from the Back to Front North American tour of 2012.  There is one slight difference -- a new song was unveiled called "Show Yourself."  I'm hoping that will change once the/my show for Leipzig rolls around. 

Petergabriel.com has gone through a major overhaul, so that now it looks like Tumblr.  In other words -- it's even harder to find info out than ever before.  It's very hard on my old eyes, so I won't bother with it anymore, except in making links for the occasional future blog post.

As to what the future of this particular blog goes, (and my own future), I can't promise that it will be predominately about PG anymore.  Because of my Mom's heath problems, my health problems, and the "fuck you" nature of the American health care system, this looks like it will be my very last PG concert ever (unless PG somehow manages to come back to Philly before I kick the bucket.)  It will be a bit painful for me to write about something I can't participate in or have any enjoyment of.

I'm trying to psyche myself up for the Leipzig gig, but so far it's not working.  I did manage to unearth my passport, so I guess that's something.  I feel like a big chapter in my life is coming to a close and I'm not all that happy at seeing it go away. 

My Mom is also FREAKING OUT (yes - she's doing it in capital letters) because I will be gone and she has mobility issues.  I don't know how many times I've told her that I would cancel my trip, but she insists on my going -- and in the next breath she wonders aloud what will happen to her when she's alone (which she isn't -- she has neighbors checking in on her and a paid companion to visit while I'm gone.)

So, basically, it's like this:

• I go to Leipzig and try not to get kicked out of the soundcheck or gig
• I come back and watch everyone I care about die
• Eventually, I die.

Man, I hope pot becomes legal in Pennsylvania soon because the rest of my life is looking like it needs major drugs.

My Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes Demotivational Posters, Part 3

Once again, while I should be working in order to save up money for my trip to Leipzig, I've devoted creative energies into making another set of demotivational posters starring Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes.  You can see all of my demotivational posters here on Pinterest.  Enjoy.

 

 

 

My Peter Gabriel Demotivational Posters, Part III

In response to absolutely no requests, I made a few more Peter Gabriel demotivational posters yesterday when I had writer's block.  As you can see, I did not use my time frivolously.  A collection of all of my demotivational posters can be found on this Pinboard.  Unfortunately, some of the photos became a little distorted.  Anyway, they're good enough that you can get the jist.  Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

Why Family Sucks

"There's nothing more important than family."  That's some nonsensical bit of advice my father gave me when I was a kid.  Chances are you were spoon-fed this malarkey, too.  You always read in the press about some actress giving up her career for family or some politician running for office because some immediate ancestor held that office.

Let's make one thing clear:  Family SUCKS.

Case in point -- MINE.  I have Sherwoods on one side and Watts on the other.  Every now and then my Mom drops a bombshell about my family like she did the other day:

"Your Uncle Ronald died."

Uncle Ronald?  Who the almighty fuck was Uncle Ronald?  I never got a Christmas card from him or ran into him at a wedding.  Now, I'm 43 years old.  I've been accused of being absent-minded, but I think after 43 years someone would have at least once sat me down and said, "Hey -- you have an Uncle Ronald."

So, naturally, I spluttered, "I had an Uncle Ronald?"

"Yes, you did.  He was your father's eldest brother.  We didn't have much contact with him."

"Apparently not."  This was the first I'd heard of him in 43 years.

"He --- was a little strange.  He kept to himself.  He married a woman exactly the same way."

"Oh -- great."  I say, wondering what familial obligation I'll be stuck with now, considering Mom is a cripple and can't go to funerals or fun family events like that.

"At least he didn't have a criminal record like your Uncle Yi," pointed out Mom, "Well --not that anyone ever found out, anyway."

OK, I HAD heard of Uncle Yi, who died while I was a little girl.  The only things I remembered about him were that he had a white, fluffy dog named Dummy and that he lived most of his life in California.  But I'd never heard of any criminal activity.

"Wait -- Uncle Yi had a criminal record?"

"Oh, yes.  Didn't you ever wonder why he lived in California while the rest of his family were on the East Coast?'

"I can honestly say that I never did."

"Well, he was a kiddie fiddler.  One day he was caught with a teenage boy. The judge told him that he could either go to jail or get out of the state and never come back.  Yi chose the latter."

Quite frankly, I would rather have been told that I had AIDS or cancer rather than discover these things about people I share genes with.  Other people are related to royalty -- I get stuck with mentally ill hermits and pedophiles.

And that, Gentle Reader, is why family sucks. 

Remembering Jeremy Brett

On this day in 1995, Peter Jeremy William Huggins, better known as the veteran actor Jeremy Brett, was found dead in his home in Clapham Common.  He'd died of heart failure brought on by cardiomyopathy.  In other words, his heart was too large for his body.  He had a great life despite suffering from cardiomyopathy and bipolar disorder.  He is greatly missed.

 

Peter Gabriel's Zagreb Concert Cancelled

Hopefully, this will be old news to anyone who bought tickets for Peter Gabriel's concert in Zagreb.  The concert has been cancelled because the concert promoter went out of business. (Yikes!)  There will be a Peter Gabriel concert that night (5 October), but it will be in Belgrade and not Zagreb.  Concert promoters LiveNation told petergabriel.com that they will honor all tickets for the Belgrade show. Find out more information here.

There is also supposed to be some sort of gift given to Zagreb ticket holders who exchange their tickets for the Belgrade show.  I have no idea what the gift could be.  Chances are, neither does Real World or LiveNation.  You'll find out when you get there.

It is important that all tickets for the Belgrade show are exchanged for tickets to the Zagreb show.  You can start doing this tomorrow, 9 September.  I could not find much information on whether refunds will be offered for those who do not want to go to Belgrade.  I assume refunds are being offered, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

Good luck!

More Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes Demotivational Posters

I should be working but can't manage it this Labor Day weekend.  So I did more of these silly posters instead. You can see all of my demotivational posters at Pinterest.  Enjoy.