HPD Welcomes DMB

If you’re new in town and wondering why anyone in their right mind would make a fuss about Dave Matthews, you can read up on the 144 arrests, smoke grenades, pepper spray, rubber bullets, beanbag projectiles, riots, car fires, and resultant lawsuits that the mere presence of this man in Hartford has caused at two previous concerts.

The Hartford Police Department released this statment today regarding this weekend’s concert.

(Hartford) - The City of Hartford and Hartford Police Department welcomes ticket holding concert goers to our city this weekend for the annual Dave Matthews Concert at the Dodge Music Center in Hartford’s North Meadows.In our continuing efforts to ensure concert goers a peaceful, safe and orderly event, Hartford Police will be strictly enforcing state and local liquor laws. Individuals without tickets should be on notice that they could be turned away from the area by police.

Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts in commenting on police efforts to ensure a peaceful event said, “All of our planning and activities have focused on the safety of concert goers and the prevention of alcohol and/or drug related illegal activities that can result in public disturbances. We want concert goers to return home safe and sound after enjoying their evening in the City of Hartford.”

The real problem here doesn’t have anything to do with Hartford concert-goers. It’s just completely impossible to listen to Dave Matthews and not be out-of-your-mind drunk or stoned, or just have an urge to punch someone in the face on general principle.

Dressing the Old Girl Up

We caught a few songs performed by the Glamour Girls at Hartford’s Old State House during lunch today.

The crowd loved them. We loved their sparkly dresses and go-go boots.

Long Gone

Courtesy of Scary Bunny #808

Syd Barret died today.

In other news, apparently he was alive up until yesterday.

Pink Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett dies at age 60

“I have had it from David (Gilmour) that it was confirmed by the family,” said the source, who did not want to be named. “It happened on Friday”.Guitarist David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968, three years after it was formed and shortly before Barrett left the band.

Barrett, a singer, songwriter and guitarist, had lived the life of a recluse for the last 30 years. He had been suffering from diabetes, although it was not immediately clear what caused his death.

Zombie Watch, vol. 3

Bob Dylan to play New Britain Rock Cats stadium on August 29.

As for Dylan, his last three tours have been staged exclusively in minor league ballparks. … New Britain Stadium has 6,000 seats, but standing room tickets for the field will also be available, Levy said. Tickets can be purchased at the stadium box office beginning July 15. All seats are general admission and cost $49.50 each. Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult are free.

Farewell Fling

This Saturday, July 1, marks the final night of Shag Frenzy–Hartford’s glitterati-packed indie dance night–at the Webster Underground.

Goodbye asshole security guards and car thefts.

Hello Parkville.

Beginning July 15 (and every third Saturday of the month thereafter), Shag Frenzy moves to its new home at the Factory at 45 Bartholomew Avenue in Hartford–the old Trout Brook Brewhouse and Spaghetti Warehouse.

DJ Markie G is on board in a separate dance space for techno/ambient offerings, and the management seems open to a multitude of drink specials and support to bring outside bands in for the night. And there’s plenty of free parking.

Get out this weekend to the Webster to share a celebratory shag and/or frenzy with DJ’s Johnny Strangler and Garage Flower, and remember to keep an eye on your car.

You Must Be My Shooting Star

Madonna’s finally left Hartford in whatever space ship beamed her down into the Civic Center this weekend (although we did kind of suspect that she wasn’t really there and we were just watching a hologram).

Just to wrap it all up, we’re gonna mention Hartford Courant music critic Eric Danton’s bitchy blog entry complaining about the Courant’s star-f**ker mentality which is kind of amusing seeing as he’s being paid to write a bunch of the articles he’s so embarrassed about.

[Dude, it's way too late to act cool...you work for the Courant, bro.]

The show was fun, although not miraculous except for the ungodly heat in the Civic Center, owing to Madonna’s refusal to let air conditioning spoil her vocal cords. Bitch.

And aren’t you kind of sad that she didn’t scream “Hello Hartford” and launch into a custom version of “You Must Be My Shooting Star” for us?

From the Courant, SUV Reported Stolen At Gunpoint:

A Massachusetts man who had just attended the Madonna concert at the Hartford Civic Center Sunday night was hit with a gun and pushed onto the ground by four men who stole his brand new SUV from a downtown parking lot, police said.

Connecticut’s For Fucking

So 2 minutes ago on Sirius Satellite “Alt Nation” channel online:

Jesus H. Christ And The Four Hornsmen Of The Apocalypse: Connecticut’s For Fucking

More info and the mp3 here. A bit too poppy overall for us, but the chorus is catchy:

Connecticut’s for fucking
There’s nothing else to dooooooooooooo

Zombie Watch, vol. 2

Our zombie watch started blinking earlier today:

Richards Back In Connecticut, Ready For Next Rolling Stones Tour

“Guitarist Keith Richards has returned to his Connecticut home after being treated for a head injury in New Zealand, his publicist said today.”He is feeling great, happy to be home and looking forward to getting back on the road with The Rolling Stones next month,” according to a statement from LD Communications in London. …”

Not even the old tried-and-true, zombie-stopping blow to the head was strong enough to keep him down.

G-LORDI-OUS

In an awesome blaze of fire and high-pitched screaming, Lordi stomped all over the Eurovision finals, clutching his competitors in his bloody claws and biting their heads off before being proclaimed the winner of the whole thing.

“How weird is this? How cool is this?” said lead singer Mr Lordi, at a press conference minutes after his hard rock band Lordi had won the 51st Eurovision Song Contest. “Think about it, a rock band just won a pop song contest. This is weird, strange, interesting. This is for all rock fans, hard rock fans, metal fans and Kiss fans. And we didn’t just win–we won it for Finland.”He then sang the chorus of Lithuania entry, We Are The Winners.”

We found additional excitment courtesy of Dlisted who brought the exit of Silvia Night–self-anointed “International Superstar” and Iceland’s entrant–to our attention.

After being voted out before the semi-finals, Ms. Night burst into tears of outrage, smearing her mascara and becoming an instant gay icon while shouting at reporters, “You don’t vote me because I’m not a slut from Holland and not a fucking old ugly bitch from Sweden.”

There’s about 4 1/2 minutes of her love on Youtube here.

Lordi, We’re Bored-ee

The Eurovision semi-finals are over, and our boys Lordi from Finland made it into the top ten to fight it out at the finals tomorrow.

Lordi shares the winner circle with Russia, FYR Macedonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Lithuania (who really do sing “We are the Winners,” although they’re not as cute as these guys), Ukraine, Ireland, Sweden, Turkey, and Armenia.

Esctoday reports:

“Lordi was the first of the winners to speak, and said he was “so satisfied that a good looking group like us can make the final. Thanks to all the rock and heavy metal music fans around Europe. We’ve got to the finals, making Finnish Eurovision history!”Mr Lordi was asked if he had more surprises planned for the final to help the group win. He replied “More volume! Scream louder! Turn up the amps to eleven!”

Okay, we may now be officially bored with Eurovision. And trying to kill time before we can leave work.