Thursday, July 8 2010

“Life On the North Coast”

    Our single dropped today.  By popular demand, you can now get a copy of our theme song, written by Mike and Jim Auquier and sung by Jim Auquier.  Get your copy on iTunes and Amazon MP3.

Thursday, February 18 2010

2010 Radio Ad

    Since our soon-to-be released Episode 121 includes lengthy talk of trying to record this year’s radio ad, consider this a spoiler.

    Recorded at quarter after 7 this morning, off 94.7 WCSX FM.  It’s not the best quality (it’s in mono, for one thing), so hopefully I’ll be able to replace it soon.
    Update: I was able to record a better version on Friday, at around 6:40 AM.  I’ve replaced the above version with the new one, but, for the heck of it, the original can still be heard here.  Incidentally, from the needless information department: the ending of the stereo one got a little clipped, but I was able to “restore” it by blending in the longer ending from the mono one.

Saturday, January 16 2010

Episode 118: A Monkey in the Wrench

Show Notes:
Recorded Wednesday, January 13 2010 (10:00 PM - 11:30 PM) at Zodiac Racquet Club, Southgate MI
    “Another concert roundup, more headlines, and the gang looks at the top Buffett CDs of the decade.  (Cameo appearance by Jennifer.)”

    02:28 - Portafino’s on the River
    03:21 - the shot glass contest video
    03:33 - our page in iTunes [US], our page in iTunes [Aus], our Facebook group page, and our Facebook fan page
    05:29 - The “Stuck in the ’80s” podcast site.  (And has Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff ever used steel drums?)
    06:28 - Mike’s “I’ll have to subscribe to that podcast” was voiced before he heard the clip and before he knew it was critical of Jimmy
    06:55 - Sean Daly’s Buffet Hotel review.
    07:23 - “[Stephen] Ross’ deal with Land Shark Lager was only through the 2009 season (or the Orange Bowl, whichever was longer).  [CEO MIke] Dee said he expects to announce a naming rights deal this month’s end. ”  From The Phins.com
    08:49 - found some U2 tickets on eBay, courtesy of metro3845‘s eBay auction.  Can’t beat free shipping!

U2 in Miami

    09:11 - “Buffett Performs At His Hawaii Restaurant”, from Buffett World
    09:29 - “Four February Tour Dates Announced”, from Buffett World
    12:06 - harp sounds taken from Audio Network PLC.
    19:49 - Paradise Key Teas on Facebook
    21:33 - in conversation prior to recording, Scott admitted he had never seen a full episode of The Simpsons
    21:58 - “ Margaritaville Key West Celebrates 25^th Anniversary”, from Buffett World
    23:36 - “Live Nation Finally Confirms ‘Jiffy Lube Live’ Name”, from DCist.com
    28:52 - what do you think are the top five Buffett songs of the decade? Send your list to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and you can win a WAOTNC shot glass!
    29:17 - for the record, I’m being facetious
    33:59 - Scott’s e-mail was reprinted as part of our License to Chill album review episode
    39:50 - yes, I am aware of the hypocrisy of considering Hoot a Buffett album and not License to Chill. I agree, it makes no sense.
    40:18 - Scott’s original Live in Anguilla rant is in Episode 56
    42:59 - Mike’s original Live at Texas Stadium rant is in Episode 35
    46:05 - for anybody interested, Schmoe was not drinking tonight because of his cold.  Jennifer brought him a beer out of habit; and Schmoe kept it, giving it to me instead.

    A show notes blog exclusive: here’s an outtake from this week’s show.  This was the original ending, but it was cut for time and because the answer to Mickey’s question is rather predictable.  Nevertheless, it provided some lively conversation which we hated to throw away [9:03 MP3].

      >  Download Episode 118

Sunday, September 20 2009

Episode 111: Ringling, Ringling

Show Notes:
Recorded Wednesday, September 16 2009 (9:30 PM - 11:30 PM) at Zodiac Racquet Club, Southgate MI
    “More concert clips and an impromptu discussion about Buffetty ringtones takes over the entire episode.  (Guest: Jennifer.)”

    00:33 - speaking of ringtones, there’s a good one right there
    03:21 - Episode 100
    03:28 - Greg’s “Volcano” ringtone, in MP3 format.  You may need to convert it to use on your own phone.
    04:51 - not a good ringtone
    05:36 - Mac’s CMA nominations, via Buffett World
    06:05 - Jimmy to perform at Bridge School Benefit, via Buffett World
    06:26 - SF Gate.com column on Bridge School benefit
    08:10 - Bono recalls “Jamaica Mistaica” incident, via Buffett World
    09:57 - my chance to plug myself: my U2 photos and videos at Flickr and Mobile Me
    10:19 - Landshark billboard
    10:37 - “Goin’ Coastal”—sorry; I keep making that mistake
    11:15 - with thanks to Listener Jason, the Woodsongs podcast link
    11:49 - Jake at The Ark
    24:57 - thanks to SunLover again, at the Buffett news discussion boards
    34:11 - since the recording the Dolphins had their home opener not on Sunday but on Monday, September 21.  It was ESPN’s Monday Night Football game, and here are a few shots of the stadium from the broadcast:

      >  Download Episode 111

Saturday, February 7 2009

Episode 95: TicketsNowJob

Show Notes:
Recorded Wednesday, February 4 2009 (9:30 PM - 11:30 PM) at Zodiac Racquet Club, Southgate MI
    “With the tour dates confirmed and an unexpected Michigan date among them, the guys relate their latest ticket-buying adventures. Another volume in the unending multipart
series, "Ticketmaster Sucks". (Roger Clyne podcast starts at 40:45.)”

    01:58 - text of Springsteen's letter to fans, via Ticket News.com
    03:34 - Tour Dates at Margaritaville.com
    03:37 - Jimmy's Google Earth plugin info
    04:37 - "Yeah-yeah!" ©Schmoe
    07:17 - "Buffett Participates in Launch of Google Earth 5.0", at Buffett News
    09:28 - "Pascrell Seeks Investigation Into Ticketmaster Business Practice", at the Congressman's website
    09:54 - Ticketmaster/TicketsNow FAQ page
    29:42 - see 09:28
    42:30 - The Railbenders
    As a bonus, here's a bit of audio which was cut from the episode. It's stuff we've talked about before, but Scott liked it.

    February 9 update: Senator Charles Shumer (NY) has joined Representative Pascrell (NJ) in calling for a probe of Ticketmaster, in the response to the Spingsteen tickets sale snafu. New Jersey's attorney general says Ticketmaster may indeed have broken the law. And Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff avows to stop linking so blatantly to TicketsNow.

“This redirection only occurred as a choice when we could not satisfy fans’ specific search request for primary ticket inventory,” writes Azoff, “but to make sure there is no misunderstanding in the future, we also publicly state that we will never again link to TicketsNow in a manner that can possibly create any confusion during a high-demand on-sale.”

A quick check of Ticketmaster's site shows that scalped tickets are now located under a "Marketplace" tab.
    Coincidentally, Azoff is Buffett's manager, and Azoff's becoming CEO was part of selling his Front Line Management agency to Ticketmaster. Which means Buffett now literally works for Ticketmaster. And Ticketmaster can brag they have a direct relationship with top name artists, just like Live Nation does — a company Ticketmaster is currently attempting to merge with.
    Sigh.
    February 10 update: from this morning's Detroit Free Press, "Names & Faces" column, "Life" section, 5C:

Ticketmaster gets a 15% cut from TicketsNow, according to the [above mentioned] complaint filed Friday in Los Angeles federal court. A New Jersey congressman called for a federal antitrust investigation into Ticketmaster's sales practices. And attorneys general in Jersey and Connecticut are looking into the matter.
    Ticketmaster is accused of breaking Ontario laws that prohibit the resale of tickets at greater-than-face-value in a complaint filed Monday in Toronto. The suit seeks more than $400 million in damages.

    February 10 afternoon update: according to USA Today:

    The boards of Live Nation and Ticketmaster Entertainment unanimously agreed on Monday to merge their companies — potentially creating a concert and live entertainment behemoth.
    In announcing the deal Tuesday morning the companies said they plan an all-stock merger of equals. The combined company will be called Live Nation Entertainment.
    Under terms of the deal, Ticketmaster shareholders will receive 1.384 shares of Live Nation stock for each share of Ticketmaster they hold. The companies estimated the value of the combined business at about $2.5 billion and said the deal will help them save about $40 million annually.

    Of particular note is this little gem: "the deal could end up benefiting concertgoers by giving the combined company more bargaining clout with artists, potentially reducing performers' stakes in ticket sales and thus lowering ticket prices."
    Erm, yeah. Right. Of course. We're sure this whole cluster is engineered to drive down ticket prices. Based on past practices, why would we think otherwise?

      >  Download Episode 95

Monday, February 2 2009

BONUS: 2009 Radio Ad

    After four days, recording for countless hours in the morning and evening, monitoring up to four local stations, here at last is the radio commercial for our 2009 Summerzcool concert. Caught Saturday morning, at around 8AM, off WYCD Young Country 99.5 FM:

Tuesday, October 28 2008

Episode 88: We are the Podcast Your Parents Warned You About

Show Notes:
Recorded Wednesday, October 22 2008 (9:00 PM - 11:30 PM) at Zodiac Racquet Club, Southgate MI
    “Scott is back, making up for lost time by supplying his tailgate playlist and ‘Margaritaville’ verse; and the boys get back to album reviews, with a look at One Particular Harbour.  Special guest: Hud.  Cameo by Jennifer.”

    00:47 - a new wrinkle: audio notes for previous episodes!
    02:30 - a reference to Episode 56
    03:06 - not a real word
    06:38 - U of M would lose to MSU, 35-21.  Two weeks prior, U of M lost 13-10 to Toledo.
    07:10 - the genius playlist
    15:44 - Radio Margaritaville
    16:01 - Buffett News’s report on Capt Tony’s ailing health
    16:05 - Life Lessons of a Legend, at Amazon
    17:37 - Amazon states the release date as August 31 1983 (which, curiously, was a Wednesday)
    19:24 - The Bounty, at IMDb
    23:58 - “When It’s Love” by Van Halen, I believe.  A reference to Episode 67
    25:26 - Somewhere Over China was reviewed in Episode 15
    27:44 - Bobby Holcomb, in Wikipedia
    29:12 - Nod to the Storyteller, at Amazon
    29:34 - there’s lots more good stuff in this pre-show interview (from the first of two Las Vegas concerts).  It was quite entertaining, so why not listen to the whole thing...

30:41 - Yellow Moon, at Amazon

      >  Download Episode 88