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My in-laws gave me an Apple Airport Express for my birthday.

Let me tell you – this device is amazing.

First of all, it’s compact. You could very easily take this on trips, etc.

It’s a wireless access point. Apple’s WAP devices work very well in my experience. That being said, I’m not using my Airport Express as a WAP. Why you ask? I already have a Linksys WAP and router that works just fine. Airport Express can be used to extend an exisiting wireless network. The catch is that the WAP must be an Apple Airport. So that won’t work with my Linksys. Not a big deal for me though.

What i wanted this device for is AirTunes. Simply put – AirTunes allows you to stream your iTunes music library through the Airport Express to your stereo connected via a standard 1/8″ stereo port. This is so freaking cool. I know this isn’t the first device to do this, but none have done it with the style that Apple has.

My Airport Express is a wireless client – no ethernet wires. I set it up that way since my stereo is downstairs and my Linksys WAP is upstairs. You could very well use a CAT5 cable to connect the Airport Express to your network.

I’m VERY pleased with this thing. If you are as addicted to music as I am, I suggest you go purchase an Airport Express.

I’ve made it no secret; I like American Idol. I enjoy music and watching people perform.

During season five, there was in my opinion a clear-cut front runner to win. His name? Chris Daughtry. He got voted out early though; better for him that he did.

He’s now fronting a band appropriately named Daughtry, released an album, and touring in support of it. This tour included a stop in Lubbock on Sunday night, and Monica and I were there for the fun.

First off, the opening bands. Man they were loud.

1. The Vanished – Based out of Dallas, very hard rock-ish. Not a group that I figured that I’d like based on appearance, but I actually did. Their sound is still a little unpolished, but that may just be how they sound live. I’m buying their latest EP on iTunes tomorrow, so we’ll see.
2. Cinder Road – From Maryland, again very hard rock-ish with an ability to sound mellow. The best band of the three opening acts. Very solid performance. Their new album comes out in May and I’ll definitely be purchasing it.
3. Eve To Adam – The final opening band, and by far the worst in my opinion. Too much screaming and not enough singing. Although they did get points from me for dedicating a song to the deserving people in the Armed Forces.

Those three bands took about an hour and forty-five minutes.

On to Daughtry.

What a performance. The set lasted about an hour; I believe ten or eleven songs. My favorites were played: Used To (written by someone I’ve mentioned in a previous blog post, Zac Maloy), Breakdown, Over You, Home, and of course It’s Not Over.

Of interest, a new song was performed by a solo Chris acoustically. The interesting part is that he said it was co-written with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty and that it’ll be on “the next record”. It was VERY good.

All of you guys out there too embarrassed to admit you watch American Idol and like Chris Daughtry’s music need to wake up. Chris Daughtry is the real deal, and will be a force in the music industry for years to come. Mark my words.

All in all, this concert was well worth the $25 ticket price and the hassle of a last-minute venue change.

Now if I can only get rid of this damn ringing in my left ear..

Okay, so one of my New Year’s resolutions is to post here more. So, away we go. I’m going to be posting about music, movies, television, technology, and the like.

Today’s music exposure: Zac Maloy.

Zac Maloy was the front man for the 90s band The Nixons. You may remember their most popular song, “Sister”. I first heard The Nixons in 1994 and have loved them ever since. I never got the chance to see them live though. A couple of friends and I almost skipped a Friday night football game (remember – I’m a band nerd) to go see them in Deep Ellum, but we didn’t. Part of me regrets not going.

Zac is now out on his own making music and running a recording studio. His most famous song is probably “Early Morning Phone Call”. To this day that song reminds me of OJ.

His style is pure rock in my opinion. Many people compared The Nixons to Pearl Jam (my favorite), but I never saw it. If you like pure rock, I think you’ll enjoy Zac Maloy.

iTunes Links
Zac Maloy
The Nixons

Looking back at my last few blog entries, I can’t believe I overlooked posting this..

Monica and I are traveling to Chicago for New Year’s! Aside from our trip to Arlington, TX this past summer, this is our first true vacation/trip since our honeymoon to Las Vegas two years ago. We’re very excited about heading to the Windy City. Planned activities:

• Visiting family and showing Monica where I was born. I haven’t seen my Aunt Chris and cousin Kelly in over five years, and Monica has never met either of them. We’ll be able to meet Kelly’s husband and see their kids for the first time too. Plus we’re going to go visit my grandparent’s gravesites.
• Chicago Bears game! We’re going to see the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers! For those who don’t follow the NFL, the Bears and Packers rivalry is pretty big; probably the Bears’ biggest. Not only that, this game may be Brett Farve’s (quarterback for the Packers; one of the all-time greats) last. I’ve never been to Solider Field, so needless to say I’m VERY excited about this.
• Blue Man Group. If you’ve never heard of the Blue Man Group, check out their website. It’s amazing what they do. We didn’t get a chance to see the Las Vegas show, so we’re not missing out seeing this one in Chicago.
• Wicked. This musical is about the witches of Oz. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about this, and Monica was eager to see it.

We’re staying at a Radisson in Northbrook; we got an amazing rate through my company’s connections.

I’ll be sure to post an entry and some pictures once we get back.

Is it Decemeber 28th yet?

Maynard Ferguson died this past Wednesday. For those of you who don’t know who he is, Maynard is one of the most popular jazz trumpeters. He’s been known for his cover recording of the Rocky theme, Gonna Fly Now.

I had the honor of meeting Maynard in either January or February of 1998. He came to Lubbock my freshman year at Texas Tech for a concert at Lubbock High School. The concert was simply amazing. At one point, Maynard went offstage during a medley of his most well-known hits: Birdland, MacArthur Park, Gonna Fly Now, and others. I figured he went to get some water or something. Nope. After three minutes the man appears at the back of the auditorium and began to mingle and talk to people in the audience as the band kept playing. He didn’t come near my seat unfortunately.

After the concert which lasted about an hour and a half, my friends and I went backstage hoping to get the chance to meet him. To our surprise, not fifteen minutes after the concert, the man comes out from his dressing room and actually began talking to those of us backstage. Class act. A real class act.

Now before the “jazz purists” start having a hissy fit. I’m not saying he was the best jazz trumpeter. Granted I don’t have a music performance degree, but I do know that his style wasn’t textbook. But damn.. the man could play. Not many people can hit a double high C like he could and sustain it. It wasn’t perfect, but even Stan Kenton recognized the talent.

Read more about Maynard: www.maynardferguson.com

Sucks to be Ashee Simpson. Of course, it sucks to have no talent and be forced to lip sync.

After Sunday’s inappropriate half-time display, I began to think of alternatives to the mainstream, MTV-produced crap they’re showing now as well as 20 minutes of recapping the previous half. I believe I’ve found the solution.

BRING BACK MARCHING BANDS TO TV!

More people like them than most think. Ok…so maybe I’m biased…