2013 in review

What a year! I didn't post much here because I figured most people stopped caring about this blog with me going a little crazy and paranoid, but a heck of a lot happened. Baseball games? Loads of them, I saw the Mariners play four, though they lost each one, usually due to offense, but there were tough pitchers on the mound for the opponents, too (Andy Pettitte and Jeff Szjmardzja). I also saw the Pirates, Indians and Phillies all play, each had their own degree of interest to them, though since the Pennsylvania chapter of my Dad's life appears over, I doubt I will be back. The Hot stove has definitely been active, and I doubt it's going to slow down, with the Mariners making a huge, 10-year signing of Robinson Cano. While he will not magically lift the Mariners to playoff worthiness, it's good to finally have an everyday player who can be a popular face of the franchise for years to come and I hope the young guns (Ackley and Franklin, especially) can produce enough to join him in that circle. Concerts? By the ton. 1964 the Tribute was the tip of the iceberg. Before seeing classic rock came a metal concert not unlike Iron Maiden's from last year, only this was within walking distance of my apartment. It was the band Dio Rising, a tribute band to the late Ronnie James Dio, former frontman for Rainbow, Black Sabbath (he replaced Ozzy Osbourne in the 80s) and Dio. They covered many loud songs of his, as well as some of the more introspective ones. Lynyrd Skynyrd produced a blistering show of classics and they actually opened for Bad Company, who were more laid-back. Sammy Hagar had a partying style about him, yet carried his show with the professionalism you would expect for someone who's been active for 40 years. A week after him came my first Canadian concert, the metal band Black Sabbath. The audience was more rowdy than I'm used to, but the band was great, the music solid and the performance truly memorable. In September, I saw Zepparella at the Skagit Valley Casino, where they played classic Led Zeppelin hits, some of which I had heard the year before at the band's performance at the Tractor Tavern, others were new, like "Misty Mountain Hop," "The Ocean," "How Many More Times" and "Whole Lotta Love." Late in October was my first very local concert, HalloQueen and Voyager. HalloQueen is a Queen tribute, and delivered many Queen hits, including Bohemian Rhapsody and Fat Bottomed Girls. Voyager, though, is a tribute to "Hard Rock and 80s metal," with songs from bands as varied as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Winger, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses and Van Halen in their setlist. Sadly, everyone, including Voyager, seemed out of their heads by the time that performance took place, it was loud and uncomfortable. The last show was another local club concert, the all-woman AC/DC tribute Hell's Belles played downtown, performing various songs I had heard through life and Iron Man 2. This was a much better show, the club had seating and the band seemed to be having more fun. 2014's concert plans are already underway, I am the proud owner of a ticket to Miley Cyrus' show at the Tacoma Dome on February 16th. I also plan to see Journey and Steve Miller when they come to the White River Amphitheater with a friend from Church. Others I hope to see are Stryper, Billy Ray Cyrus, Katy Perry and if the rumors of rumors are true, Led Zeppelin. I also would like to start a band, if possible.