“For the second year in a row, the U.S. military has lost more troops to suicide than it has to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

That statement is unbelievable.

I’ve tried to find a charity or program that helps troops with the difficulties related to their return home, but have had no luck. Any one know of any?
Click here for the link

Dead fish all over Folly Beach: http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=13795544

The dead fish and birds in Arkansas: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110103/ts_yblog_thelookout/massive-bird-fish-kills-in-arkansas-leave-many-scratching-heads

2 million dead fish in Maryland: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/06/maryland.fish.kill/index.html?hpt=T2

What is going on?

I went to my first Phish show ever on 10/15/10 at the North Charleston Coliseum and it was incredibly fun. I didn’t know that many songs, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun I had. The crowd was really laid back and calm (unlike the dmb crowd) and the sound was great.

I went with GPiC and Duggs which aided in the great times

North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC

Set 1: Punch You In the Eye > Possum, Bathtub Gin, Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?^[1], Boogie On Reggae Woman, Destiny Unbound, Backwards Down the Number Line, Bouncing Around the Room, Stash, Joy, Buffalo Bill, Dog Faced Boy, Run Like an Antelope^[2]

Set 2: Down with Disease > Prince Caspian > Twist, Roses Are Free > My Friend, My Friend > My Problem Right There, Tube > Mike’s Song > The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Mexican Cousin, Weekapaug Groove, Suzy Greenberg > Slave to the Traffic Light

Encore: Character Zero

[1] Dr. Jack McConnell on vocals and tap shoes.
[2] “Mike-O” substituted for “Marco Esquandolas.”

Notes: Bill Bailey featured Page’s dad, Dr. Jack McConnell, on vocals and tap shoes.

http://posting.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/Survey?survey=2545633

The opening act (Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave) was fantastic. Easily the best opening act I’ve ever seen at a dmb show. I heard one song I had never heard before live (Still Water), but otherwise the set was mind-blowing like West Palm Shows. But it was still really good.

Highlights
I was excited to hear Best of What’s Around. That was a nice surprise.
Stefan’s intro to Crush was awesome!
Two Step was amazing as always.
Dave teased Spoon twice and I thought I was gonna hear it played live (finally), but he stopped after one verse. I was pretty bummed because it would have completed “Before These Crowded Streets” for me.

September has been a rough month and I’m sure it would be cathartic to write about it, but this space has become not quite as anonymous as I would like.
What to do, what to do

Thursday was spent at Universal Studios. I had never been there so I was excited to check it out. I’m not a huge ride guy, so I wasn’t sure how much I would actually enjoy it, but I had a really good time. I didn’t really do any crazy rides but checked out some shows and less scary parts of the park.

Friday and Saturday were easily the best part of the trip. Both days were spent in West Palm Beach for my final two dmb shows of the year. The band is taking next year off from touring so the shows were a little sadder than usual. I have seen the band before every year since 1998 and these were my 25th and 26th shows. It’s crazy to think these shows won’t be part of my summer next year.

As usual the band did NOT disappoint. Even though I’ve seen the band perform so many times, I still saw some songs I’d never seen played live before (5 to be exact).

The first night was a better set for the casual fan as they played a lot of favorites, but night two brought out some rarities. I’ll detail some highlights and the full sets below…

After night one, we went to Roxy’s in West Palm Beach to see Tim Reynolds play with his band, TR3. Tim is a frequent contributed to dmb, but has essentially been a full-time member since 2008. I thought it was amazing that he plays with dmb and then drives straight from the venue to a small club to play another show.

The show was fun (completely different from a dmb show, but fun). KTB and I had met this guy and girl in the parking lot after dmb and they went with us to this show so we spent the night rocking out and getting a little tipsy. During TR3′s set, Jeff Coffin (the current saxophone player for dmb) walked up onto stage and started playing for a few songs. It was freakin great. Tim and Jeff are such amazing muscians and it was nice to see them in such a small venue.

After Jeff finished he walked around the club and we were able to meet him (very briefly) and take a picture with him. I always wanted to meet a member of my favorite band so this was pretty special for me….even if I was a bit too drunk to remember all the details haha.

After night two, we went to the PGA Resort and Hotel for an after-party being thrown by AntsMarching.org. There was an acoustic duo playing some songs, drinks, and lots of happy drunks.

Both nights we stayed at a really nice DoubleTree Hotel which included some steak and lobster for dinner on night two!

Sunday – Got up nice and early and went to Tampa Bay (well, St. Pete) to see the Yankees play the Devil Rays. The game was terrible as the Yankees got blanked, but I still had fun with KTB, My hero and My Hero’s Wife who met us there.

//

The pit was surprisingly awesome. I was afraid of pushing, shoving, and general douche-iness, but was pleasantly surprised by how great everyone was. The crowd was great, the band kicked ass, and setlist was a nice mix of new and old tunes. Despite being my 24th show (going to at least one show every year since ’98), I still heard two songs I had never heard live before.

The only low-light of the night was the encore. Just wasn’t very strong, but not something I really would complain too much about.

Highlights
1. Boyd’s Solo on Lie In Our Graves
2. Minarets being played for the first time since 12/13/05
3. My first time hearing Minarets and Some Devil live

Dave Matthews Band
July 21, 2010
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

Minarets »
The Stone (Can’t Help Falling in Love interpolation by Jeff)
One Sweet World
Satellite
Shake Me Like a Monkey
Lying in the Hands of God
Pig
Spaceman
Seven
Lover Lay Down*
What Would You Say*
Some Devil
Why I Am
Don’t Drink the Water (included prelude)
Lie in Our Graves
You & Me »
Jimi Thing (Sexy MF Outro)*
———————————–
Sister
Corn Bread (Carter Solo Intro and Down By the Riverside interpolation by Rashawn and Jeff)

* = featured Branford Marsalis on saxophone

West Palm Beach shows are next up!!!

The Stone (Can’t Help Falling In Love Interoplation)
(Stop/Time Intro) Warehouse (Louie, Louie Outro)
Sweet Up & Down
Crazy-Easy
Best of What’s Around
Joyride
So Damn Lucky
Why I Am
Jimi Thing (Sexy MF Outro)
The Idea of You
JTR
You Never Know
Everyday (You Can’t Rollerskate in a Buffalo Heard Interpolation)
Shake Me Like A Monkey
Water Into Wine —> Two Step
—
#40
Break for It
Ants Marching

I am sorry what little followers I may have, because my possible return will probably be all about dmb because I’m seeing them on Wednesday in Charlotte!!! Can’t wait!!!