I Like Candy Bars - Bits for 3/14/07

1. Tonight marks the return of Philly's own GRAND BUFFET to Detroit. I missed their last few area stops, so tonight will be the first I've seen of them since they hit the Royal Oak Music Theater in 2002. Can't wait. I expect a night full of lyrics about He-Man, Robocop, supestars, California Raisins and Mario Brothers. GB will be performing as opening support for Of Montreal at the Magic Stick. $12. Doors at 8PM.

2. Buffy "Season 8" comes out today...in comic form. Hopefully the variant cover situation won't be as insane as Stephen King's Gunslinger: Reborn.

3. Last, but not least, a handful of U.S. Morrissey dates were revealed today. For some reason, the Michigan stop is at Ann Arbor's own Michigan Theater. Worst. Where is Detroit's Fox or State Theater when you need it?

Maybe next time, let's play Life

Video game advertising was one thing. Here we are in 2007 and virtually everyone has gotten used to EA Sports games with ads lining the virtual stadiums or outdoor billboards littering streets of the latest driving game. But do we really need advertising in board games?

Yesterday it was annouced that Visa has partnered with Hasbro to relaunch The Game of Life in August "sans money -- instead, using a Visa-branded card as currency". MediaPost points out this the first time a major American board game will replace cash with plastic. Taking it a step further, Visa is also including financial info in the Twists & Turns Edition to teach kids proper money management.

F'n kids today with their credit cards, candy cellphones and diet sodas.

4 Shows in 4 Nights

The 10th annual Hamtramck Blowout starts today making tonight Night #1 of 4 shows in a row. While I've only got concrete plans for two nights technically included in the actual Blowout (tonight and tomorrow), this amount of shows in as many days still marks a feat I haven't attempted since my early 20s.

Wednesday (3/7): Blowout Launch Parties with Great Lakes Myth Society, The Hard Lessons and Adult. @ Majestic and The Satin Peaches, The Silent Years and The Muggs @ Magic Stick

Thursday (3/8): The Hand Me Downs, Josh Daniels & The Addictions, Bad Faces Clan and Grande Nationals @ Belmont

Friday (3/9): Badly Drawn Boy and Adem @ Majestic

Saturday (3/10): The Reverend Horton Heat, Murder by Death and The Tossers @ Magic Stick

In the words of Gorilla, I got tired just typing that.

THE COVE

Couldn't let another day go by without mentioning the events of last Friday (3/2/07).

The evening started off at E.J. Thomas Hall in Arkron, Ohio for "An Evening With Kevin Smith". Smith talked for a solid three hours in what essentially boiled down to a long Q&A session for a few thousand college kids. Everything from Clerks II origins to his opinions of Superman Returns ("not enough punching") were covered, as well as my cousin getting a "permission slip" signed from Smith since he ditched a class at CMU to make the trip.

However, Smith didn't turn out to be the highlight of the night. Post Smith, Andy and I made a trip to our hotel bar, The Captain's Cove. Upon entering, we were met with the soothing sounds of cover band extraordinair Wild Avenue. Words can't do justice how jaw dropping both the Cove and Wild Ave were.

Check out their websites to see what I mean: Captain's Cove and/or Wild Ave.