Heaven on Earth, for a northern boy anyway...

That's what this last weekend felt like.

Way back in November of last year I posted on facebook: Megadeth, February 17th in Edmonton... hmm? Well PG must have read that and what do you know on Valentines Day I got 2 tickets to go see them with her. WOW! I was blown away.

I always thought I would like to go see them, never thought it would happen the way my work schedule is. The stars must have aligned, I had some free time so we went. Note to self: Life is not always about work.

She printed directions off google maps and away we went. PG is a good one for lists...neurotic me asked at least 5 times: Do you have the tickets? Do you have the tickets? While waiting in line: Do you have the tickets? PG rolls her eyes: Yes!

The trip down from Ft St John was uneventful, I don't speed very much anymore, but we made good time if not for the other motorists on MY road ;-) We stayed the first night at her in laws, BandP were great. (I admire B's skills, but more on that later maybe) The night of the show we checked in at the Westin downtown, good thing we did...it was full up and only 2 blocks from the Shaw Conference center. That is the only way to go BTW. No midnight drive out of the downtown trying to find a bed, just a stroll back to the hotel.

The show was like nothing I have seen and as I posted on the video I uploaded; these guys are my heroes. They rocked. It was a 4 act concert. La Cuna Coil opened followed by Volbeat (Who I will be downloading into the ipod soon) Then Motorhead, which is another band I thought I would never see. Lemmy was just as good as I have always watched on video. Then the main act: MEGADETH!! It was something to see and because Dave Jr. rejoined the group last year it was just that much better. For the Megadeth part I took out my earplugs and basked in the loudy thumpy goodness. I got goosebumps. They play so well.


The whole concert atmosphere was neat. There were the oldsters like me that grew up with this stuff and there were a lot of young kids down in the mosh pits up front. Not too many mullets to be seen, and that is a good thing, but lots of honest to god metalheads having a good time. The Westin is a fairly good place to stay, I thought it must have been interesting for the staff too see such a conglomeration of metal t-shirted and patched people all in one place. The common theme I saw the next day all around Edmonton was so many normal appearing folks sporting concert t-shirts. I was one of them. We were all linked by a shared experience, at least for one night.

It seems so quaint now...but I didn't actually listen to Megadeth or thrash metal while in high school. My friends and I were into Kiss and AC/DC. It seemed like only the burnouts listened to either Megadeth, Metallica or Slayer. I wish I knew then what I know now. Dave Mustaine is a master guitarist and a legend. Its not what first impressions would lead you to believe. I like loud thumping music with meaning and melody, Mustaine gives that to me. I read his book when the bad things happened at the Royal Alex. I have it with me now, I plan to read it again because I think I missed some stuff during my drug induced recovery.

I thank my special PG for giving me the chance to see them. I had a rotten experience way back when a girl I knew went with me and Shaner and Shaner's Uncle G to see Kiss in Vancouver. Ity was when they reunited and went back into makeup. I think it was 1999. We watched one song of the opening act and then she got a headache, being a gentleman of some sort I left with her. Shaner and the uncle were smarter, they stayed. I hate disappointments, I love that PG shared Megadeth with me...luv ya.   Jeff

A new pursuit...

I have finally done something about a "dream" I have had for a long time. I don't know when it first occurred to me or how this particular thought entered my head. I do remember the Muppet Movie way back in 1980 I think it was. If you know the movie you probably heard Kermit singing the Rainbow Connection...and that muppet played a banjo. Something clicked in my 8 year old head and it has stayed with me all these years later. I loved that banjo sound and even though my musical taste has moved in different directions since and to be honest I would consider myself to be a mild "metal-head", any banjo still makes my ears perk up.

Well yesterday I went out and finally did something about that dream I have been kicking around for so long. I went to  a local music store with some family members and talked to the owners about music. He was kind enough to put on an impromptu banjo performance and I was sold on the spot. I didn't buy right away, it took me a couple hours to decide but then I went back and bought the banjo you see in the picture. It's a Gold Tone CC-100R, I like it a lot It's not the cheapest beginner instrument, but its not too expensive either.

Banjo is hard, very few ever truly master it, I know that. I'm not looking to become anything at all, I will be happy just to know a few songs and see how far I can get. The older I am the more I envy those that have a skill that stays with them throughout life. I see one advantage to starting so late in the game: No one is forcing me to do it. I don't have to do lessons because I have to, I will be going because I want to. The store owner says that he has over sixty students right now and many are just like me that start out late and finally decide to do it, he said he gets people like me with the same story coming in all the time. He also said he gets a lot of guys that work in the oilfield that have weird schedules like me...I hope I can find a way to attend proper classes, its a 12 week introductory banjo program, I don't know how I will work it in...until then I have youtube and my beginner book, I'm learning stuff, its addictive, I'm happy :-)

Rig moving by Howards'