Sis and I have come to the conclusion that we need to go to more shows. At least once a month. We're not teens anymore but going to shows together is always awesome fun, we always have an adventure and I always leave with a spring in my step that lasts for a few days. It's a great feeling and one I'd love to experience more often.

All ages, no alcohol show. The no alcohol bit had a few people upset but we went with the flow. We stopped for dinner beforehand and missed the first band but there was no way I was going to miss Shiny Toy Guns. After discovering that the stand seating was nearly empty, we found a comfy spot and settled in. STG were good but something I noticed live that hadn't occurred to me listening to the album is that they're all all over the place when it comes to their sound (a little pop, a little punk, a bit of electronica). They didn't play "Major Tom" but "Le Disko" really got the crowd going.

The Offspring were, as per the last time I saw them way back in the day, awesome. Their line-up smartly consisted of one new song/one old and you could tell the crowd on the floor was of the younger persuasion as they seemed to recognize all the new songs and not the old. I haven't listened to much of the band since the release of "Americana" but I still enjoyed myself and I'm thinking I need to pick-up some of the newer stuff for a listen. Sadly, they didn't play anything from "Ignition" - that made me a tiny bit sad.

I did get to play with my little camera, taking some video of the show - video which would have been much better if we were closer. It's also a little shaky - I need a guerrilla pod - badly.

The first video is an acoustic version of "Gone Away":

And the classic "Come Out and Play". The camera's audio recorder really doesn't like the bass:

It was an awesome night and yes, we'll be doing it again. I'm hoping next time it's at The Commodore and if it's not, we're springing for floor tickets. I was pining to jump into that pit.

Everyone does it differently: some go clubbing, some dig through their closets or boxes for the mementos, I relive my teen years through music. Case in point: The Offspring.

I haven't heard anything new from the band since the release of 1998's "Americana" and by that point I'd already lost most of my appreciation for the band. They went from a great punk pop sound to an almost complete pop sound and I just wasn't digging it but when I spotted a local radio station giving away tickets to the show, I entered and won a pair of tickets to tonight's show at Thunderbird Arena.

Listening to a few "classic" tracks last night, I was reminded of the first and last time we saw the band. Sis and I caught them at the Pacific Coliseum in '97 or '98 (it's a little foggy now). Sis had acquired chocolate mushrooms which we consumed before the show but before going in, we still had a few left. I decided that I wasn't feeling the high and took the rest. Not a great idea but surprisingly not one I regret. I don't think I've ever been that high in my life and the resulting few hours consisted of me thinking I was on stage with the band. SERIOUSLY awesome. I doubt the same will happen tonight but I did have a little pang of excitement that I'd be reliving the moment with Sis.

As for the band, I still haven't listened to anything new (hopefully they don't disappoint) but I am hopeful that they play some of the classics including this one from their debut album "Ignition":

At this point I'm much more excited to check out Shiny Toy Guns who I discovered a few weeks back when searching for some wicked music I'd heard on a car commercial (only with in today's day and age can you find out the exact song in a commercial - crazy awesome). After a little research (10 minutes or so) I discovered the band (whose other major song "Le Disko" has appeared in another commercial). I've only listened to their "We Are Pilots" release and it's solid (though I notice that they released a new album late last year) but I love this cover of "Major Tom" (which at one point was available for free from the band's website). Check it: