Breakup of Barenaked Ladies

I know that your collective musical tastes run much broader than my plebeian likes and dislikes, but I was saddened to hear this morning that Steven Page left the band last week. I guess it was news last week - but, I really only heard about it today. BNL is playing at Universal Studios Mardi Gras this weekend and I was discussing going with a friend last night (who, apparently was also unaware). A co-worker was playing BNL in her office this morning and I made mention of the idea that I may be going to their concert this weekend - and she told me that I might not!

Huh.

Word is that Saturday's performance is the band's first as a quartet. I am not sure if that makes me want to go more or less. But, I am a little sad. Once again, the pin is pulled from the grenade that is my youth.

Dude, seriously, how selfish can you be?? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to balance being in a band and, at the same time, managing a debilitating cocaine addiction?

Seriously, lighten-up.

i95 wrote:

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to balance being in a band and, at the same time, managing a debilitating cocaine addiction?

Probably no more difficult than managing a debilitating cocaine addiction and posting on some fucked up off topic website.

pastrami-on-wry wrote:

i95 wrote:

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to balance being in a band and, at the same time, managing a debilitating cocaine addiction?

Probably no more difficult than managing a debilitating cocaine addiction and posting on some fucked up off topic website.

Actually, that is pretty easy. LSD is a lot more of a challenge.

By the way, I'm deeply saddened by the news. I have great affection for BNL. Along with their generally excellent usual output, they have wowed me with some interesting one-offs:

A couple of great Chanukkah songs

Their incredibly unique Christmas song "Elf's Lament"

The very catchy/geeky/funny theme song to the sitcom "Big Bang Theory"

Sorry for your loss. This band always seemed like one I should like, but I just never did.

They were certainly no April Wine.

Truth be told, I'm a HUGE BNL fan and Page's presence (and voice) are, to me, intregal to that band. That said, Mrs. i95 is an equal fan and caught their DC show a couple of years ago. Understandably (at least to the two of us), she went to said show with great anticipation of hearing all their hits and witty banter. Unknown to us, however, is that at least that tour (2006?), they purposely didn't play any of their hits (I'm assuming that this is some type of Grateful Dead / Phish move by which you acknowledge a "traveling / touring audience" whom doesn't wish to hear the same "hits" every single evening.)

Safe to say, she said that the much-looked-forward-to-show was horrible.

In a surprisingly off topic comment I just noticed that i95 has become the second WOTer to break the 1,000 post barrier. Personally I suspect steroid use and would like to petiton the Commissioner to see to it that in the future 95's post count is listed with an asterisk.

pastrami-on-wry wrote:

In a surprisingly off topic comment I just noticed that i95 has become the second WOTer to break the 1,000 post barrier. Personally I suspect steroid use and would like to petiton the Commissioner to see to it that in the future 95's post count is listed with an asterisk.

Oohh...exciting!

I'll bake him a cake!

Agent 13 wrote:

I'll bake him a cake!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!We're gonna have CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i95 wrote:

Truth be told, I'm a HUGE BNL fan and Page's presence (and voice) are, to me, intregal to that band. That said, Mrs. i95 is an equal fan and caught their DC show a couple of years ago. Understandably (at least to the two of us), she went to said show with great anticipation of hearing all their hits and witty banter. Unknown to us, however, is that at least that tour (2006?), they purposely didn't play any of their hits (I'm assuming that this is some type of Grateful Dead / Phish move by which you acknowledge a "traveling / touring audience" whom doesn't wish to hear the same "hits" every single evening.)

Safe to say, she said that the much-looked-forward-to-show was horrible.

I'm definitely not one of the BNL freaks, but I did enjoy them in concert on the few times I caught them. I think I saw them once in Orlando as an opener for someone else - though, I admit that I cannot remember who. I "discovered" BNL when Orlando had the greatest radio station known to man (until ClearChannel gummed the whole thing up), SHE 100.3. I am not going to search right now, but I am sure that if you Googled SHE 100.3, you could still find angry Internet rants about that once-great station. They mentioned on air that BNL was coming to Orlando, and I know that myself and a number of friends went to this concert for the sole purpose of seeing them.

I also caught them at the HORDE Festival, with Fastball, Ben Harper and Blues Traveler. Not bad for a $10 lawn ticket. The highlight of the night, overall, was BNL (for me), but also watching John Popper perform The Devil Went Down to Georgia on the harmonica was a fabulous experience.

The last show that I saw them - which has to be going on five or six years ago now, was with them as the headlining act (one and only time) and Cowboy Mouth opened for them.

In all of those experiences, they played a good concert - with music mixed from their "hits" and some of their more obscure stuff - and, of course, their famous off-the-cuff riffs on anything. You could definitely tell the people who were the freaks - the people who were singing in the audience at the top of their lungs to all of the obscure stuff. I knew some of it - but, not all - but, I still liked what I heard.

I am still not sure if it is curiosity or morbid curiosity that has me wanting to go and see this show on Saturday. Perhaps our hoops teams will win tonight and I won't ever have to make the decision.

Agent 13 wrote:

I'll bake him a cake!

Cool! If I may be so bold, here's what I'd prefer. Something tasteful.

I like these guys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FiDGRLEWps

Them I like...they didn't break up did they?

i'm pretty sure messing with Joey is frowned upon around here, bub.

so, back in the day, my first exposure to BNL was the from the kids who worked for me when i was working or Little Caesers.

This about 1996 or 97, I think, and they used to sing during lunch rush to keep themsleves entertained.

One payday they started sing "if i had a million dollars". In 4 part harmony. It was lovely.

clothier wrote:

I don't like that Howard Stern.

Lee Harvey Blotto was quite a talent.

And you have include this, which I believe had it's 15 seconds about the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQm5qxD3CJY

Angus McRib wrote:

clothier wrote:

I don't like that Howard Stern.

Senator, I served with Joey Ramone: I knew Joey Ramone; Joey Ramone was a friend of mine. Senator, that is not Howard Stern.

Joey's you CAN pick on:

The WayOffTopic corporate hotline just rang. It was Joey Travolta's agent thanking you for the publicity. He wants you to know you can get a 15% discount for your next party, wedding or Bar Mitzvah.

Lemme know if you want his #

Agent 13, you insensitive mook. Joey Travolta recently died after suffering a seizure and while in the Bahamas. Seriously, could you be any more wrong on this matter?

i95 wrote:

Agent 13, you insensitive mook. Joey Travolta recently died after suffering a seizure and while in the Bahamas. Seriously, could you be any more wrong on this matter?

Please select response of your choice:

1) Dead is dead

2) I'm sorry for your loss.

3) Who?

pastrami-on-wry wrote:

Please select response of your choice:

1) Dead is dead

2) I'm sorry for your loss.

3) Who?

I'd prefer option # 4: