36 Comments

I mean, we could be old, depending on individual life span, but I think the average life span is 72-74 years old… So, yeah, we are definitely middle aged, but if we are apart of the lucky few that get to actually live a long life, then sure, I guess we aren’t old.

I saw an ad for a TV on Craigslist once that had a vcr and dvd player and it was titled, time traveler. The opening line read, let me take you back to the past and proceed to be a very funny ad about the very incredibly heavy TV and how it was free to anyone who could gather 3-4 people to move it.

I thought about the old VHS collection and home videos we used to have as a kid and how nice that might be again. But f those big heavy TVs. 😂 It was a clever description nonetheless and I hope it found a good home.

Expand full comment

I got burned out on VHS tapes around the turn of the millennium, and sort of skipped past DVDs to streaming, for whatever reason. I kinda did the same thing with CDs. I had records and tapes as a kid, but when CDs came out, I wasn't equipped to listen to them (no CD player), and I actually preferred the vinyl sound and awesome feel of the thing. Those gatefold covers and lyric inserts just don't translate.

Expand full comment

I was a tape deck girl. Mixed taps for all my friends and first loves. My parents had Vinyl, but we would run up and scratch it as it played or it would make an awful sound when it got stuck. To think about it makes me realize that we were crappy kids and broke a lot of my parents stuff… they were definitely out numbered by the five us. I was the same way with DVDs- but had CDs in the car. I had my tape adapter and a book of CD me and my first girlfriend used to drive and listen to. I’m technically on the cusp and am considered a millennial but I had 3 older siblings and identify more as a genX for sure. Anyways, that was a crash- I got to get these kiddos to the park before they destroy my stuff. 🤪

Expand full comment

Those CD cases were like books of gold!

Expand full comment

Haha the way you reference Beavis and Butthead and MTV has me feeling really old.

Expand full comment

No, no, no. Gen X is not old.

Also, 1993 was like 10 years ago, right?

Expand full comment

Yes, most lead singers have a better voice than a mindless mob of zombies mouthing the lyrics.

Expand full comment

Great musicians. I will always remember "Waiting for the Night".

Expand full comment

Classic! I can't remember if they played this one or not, but I really like it.

Expand full comment

His much as I do like Depeche Mode, there’s one thing I hate, and that’s sing-along’s, when the crowd starts singing along, I’m fucking out of there, what is this a Nazi rally or something? I used to like U2 until I saw Bono, waving a flag, fuck that Nazi shit.

Expand full comment

I participated in a hand wave, then this same exact feeling washed over me, and I just switched to singing. It was fine after that, but I wanted no part of that collective experience of turning our brains off together. It's much more of a personal, intimate experience for me, even though it's a shared experience to see a band play live.

Expand full comment

No, I never saw them, and I really loved the Violator album, it was one of my favorites… I did see Peter Gabriel, a bunch of times, and X, and Jules and the polar bears…

Expand full comment

Nice! What year was X? If you wrote about those old days, I'd read about it.

Expand full comment

I was just talking to a coworker tonight, I work night shift, and we were discussing how expensive concerts are these days and I was thinking about what band would I want to see… And it is Depeche Mode, I can’t think of any other band that I would enjoy checking out.

Expand full comment

Dan, go see them when you can! Did you ever get to see them "back in the day"?

Expand full comment

So cool! I've seen Depeche Mode at least once in my youth, possibly more. Dave Gahan still has it. So so so many good songs, but for some reason I never seem to like the most commercial releases like Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence.

What DM is to Alley is what U2 is to me. I've seen so many times I've lost count, including several countries, and also have the ankle tattoo from my youth. We just got back from seeing U2 in Vegas on Friday at the brand new Sphere. The visuals were super cool. It wasn't my favorite U2 show, but the overall experience was awesome.

Expand full comment

That's fantastic. I really respect the hustle of DM and U2, and even longer-touring groups like the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith who made it through many decades of touring. That just blows my mind.

Expand full comment

Looks like a killer show (yeah, I still call 'em that too)! There's something about everyone singing along that resonates deeply with me. I wish I could articulate that better, but here we are.

No idea why your crocs would change color, but now I'm curious. Thanks also for the kind words & shout; I'm looking forward to everyone seeing our project!

Expand full comment

I have a pretty good idea about the Crocs. There was almost certainly a "blacklight" used, and that led to ultraviolet light being absorbed by the shoes, with violet light being emitted (I understand it well enough to feel satisfied, but not quite well enough to explain it well).

Now, the odd thing I want to tickle someone's brain with: why didn't my (also yellow) socks change color as well?

Kevin, the live music was amazing. It's been a while since I felt the music being played like that.

Expand full comment

And was it worth it? Clips from concert seem great!

Expand full comment

Well worth it, but let me first test negative for covid in a few days! I'll feel like: mission accomplished.

Expand full comment

The amazing thing is you saw your favourite band from your youth I’m assuming! How great is that!? An explosion of emotions and wonderful experience. Not sure about the crocs as part of the outfit.

Expand full comment

Well, I did love DM as a teen, and that continued well into adulthood, and I still love them. They're probably my favorite pop band, period.

I'm not sure I've ever had one favorite, though!

Expand full comment

They’re a band with some iconic songs that I love: personal jesus, enjoy the silence!

Expand full comment

I love their stuff from Violator, but I lose it for the stuff that came out just before that. They played at least 2 songs from this era (Just Can't Get Enough and Behind the Wheel). so so SO good!

Expand full comment

Don’t remember their album names. Also one of the band members passed away 2-3 years ago if I’m not mistaken. Just can’t get enough is another one of their hits!

Expand full comment

Enjoy the Silence is one of my favorites!

Expand full comment

It's masterfully composed, and the live performance was something else. Wish you could have seen this one!

Expand full comment

Hey cool! Never seen Depeche Mode live - looks sufficiently epic!

My theory about the Chameleon Crocs is, as always: Aliens. Prove me wrong.

Expand full comment

Good point: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Why did they focus on the Crocs, though?

Expand full comment

Envy. Pure envy.

Expand full comment

They're... green... with envy?

Expand full comment

Dad Joke Dan approves.

Expand full comment

#dadgpt

Expand full comment

Yeah, that’s a good idea, I’ve got a lot to say about the LA music scene in the 80s.

Expand full comment