"Most people would trade everything they know, everyone they know ... they'd trade it all to know they've been seen, and acknowledged, that they might even be remembered."
I went to a minor league baseball game once where Vince Neil's solo band played afterwards. I stayed for the trainwreck aspect with maybe a dozen others. Neil came out, drunk off his ass, and started cussing people out. They got through two songs and he stormed off during the third.
When we were driving through New Mexico last year, there were a lot of Native American casinos on the side of the highway, and almost all of them had a once-famous musician performing there.
It was Hockey for my son and I until he turned 21. After a few years break we started going to Vegas for a weekend. Hang in there, he will come around.
My son and I experienced a similar situation as you and William. Ours was watching Coolio perform during halftime of a Cleveland Cavs game. What an odd experience. And unfortunately he did not even sound good. I remembered as a kid when “Fantastic Voyage” came out, yet when he was performing it that night, it felt so different.
Being a dad with a son a few years older than William, those moments are still there. Even if we become not cool, I love the fact that we are still able to take in these games together.
Oh damn, you’re in town, Will? The fam and I are here this weekend to give our 17yo a tour of Wash U. We considered going to a Cards game, but it’s hot as hell and the girls are not into baseball. Shameful!
My nostalgia tour sighting was on spring break in 1997, South Padre, Texas. We found this bar we liked enough to visit several times during the week, and one night the headliner -- free with the $5 cover -- was Vanilla Ice. And he played both songs I knew! (I can't now remember the second one without looking it up.)
I'm reminded of the Target Thanksgiving Day/Black Friday ad from the olden days that featured Bun E. Carlos and Drummer Donna (Torry Castellano). It only ran for a day or two, but it was classic.
@Will Leitch I read the newsletter this morning while on vacation in Norway. Then took a walking tour of Stavanger, Norway. Saw this and laughed out loud:
I have to admit, I didn't pay much attention to the WNBA until Clark arrived, and I've adopted the Fever as my favorite WNBA team. Being a Mizzou fan, Sophie now being part of the team has increased my interest. When Caitlin has been healthy, I've been impressed with her game. She's carrying a lot on her shoulders, but she seems to be able handle it.
I was in Minneapolis a couple weeks ago for Pirates-Twins. Joe Ryan vs Paul Skenes (and the Twins won!). I’d like to think they drew 40K fans to see two of the league’s best pitchers on mediocre teams.
It wasn’t that. Nelly did a postgame concert. (Mr. St. Louis!). That’s what people went bananas for. Including my wife.
teen-age grandchildren visiting; 1 just turned 18, the other a few months away from 15 - talk about feeling old & irrelevant !!! better than not seeing them tho....
Enjoyable read, thanks. Reminded me of a trip to Atlanta to visit a friend back in 1989, I think. The four of us went to old County Stadium on a hot Sunday afternoon with about six thousand other people. I remember very little about the game, but the Willie Nelson & Friends concert from second base afterward was unforgettable. That was during the "everything I make goes to the IRS" period of Willie's career. Great show! Maybe a thousand people stuck around. What a day.
A heartfelt and (as always) insightful read. As of this year, I have two teenagers, and it's definitely harder to get them excited for the adventures that we used to love (and learn a lot from). I think they will come back, if we don't push it. And bribery/money helps. Ha ha. (Seriously, though, it was no fun to be a kid in a souvenir shop on a trip without money, so it does help to give them a little spending money during outings, which gives them agency.) Hope your family is having a good summer. I'm trying not to think about how many I have left with both kids home.
If The Donnas ever decided to start playing nostalgia-esque State Fairs or post baseball game shows, I would be unironically thrilled.
I went to a minor league baseball game once where Vince Neil's solo band played afterwards. I stayed for the trainwreck aspect with maybe a dozen others. Neil came out, drunk off his ass, and started cussing people out. They got through two songs and he stormed off during the third.
It was hysterically fun.
When we were driving through New Mexico last year, there were a lot of Native American casinos on the side of the highway, and almost all of them had a once-famous musician performing there.
It was Hockey for my son and I until he turned 21. After a few years break we started going to Vegas for a weekend. Hang in there, he will come around.
My son and I experienced a similar situation as you and William. Ours was watching Coolio perform during halftime of a Cleveland Cavs game. What an odd experience. And unfortunately he did not even sound good. I remembered as a kid when “Fantastic Voyage” came out, yet when he was performing it that night, it felt so different.
Being a dad with a son a few years older than William, those moments are still there. Even if we become not cool, I love the fact that we are still able to take in these games together.
Oh damn, you’re in town, Will? The fam and I are here this weekend to give our 17yo a tour of Wash U. We considered going to a Cards game, but it’s hot as hell and the girls are not into baseball. Shameful!
Whoa, awesome! We’re about to head to the Arch (another thing he won’t want to do with me in a couple of years). WashU campus is gorgeous.
My nostalgia tour sighting was on spring break in 1997, South Padre, Texas. We found this bar we liked enough to visit several times during the week, and one night the headliner -- free with the $5 cover -- was Vanilla Ice. And he played both songs I knew! (I can't now remember the second one without looking it up.)
I'm reminded of the Target Thanksgiving Day/Black Friday ad from the olden days that featured Bun E. Carlos and Drummer Donna (Torry Castellano). It only ran for a day or two, but it was classic.
https://youtu.be/ZajHAmP7dHY?si=rChiXBdLLVfjXT0l
What do we guess is the payday sum for Flo Rida after a Cards game? $5K? $10K? Yeah, we all get to be middle-aged, if we're lucky enough to get there.
@Will Leitch I read the newsletter this morning while on vacation in Norway. Then took a walking tour of Stavanger, Norway. Saw this and laughed out loud:
I have to admit, I didn't pay much attention to the WNBA until Clark arrived, and I've adopted the Fever as my favorite WNBA team. Being a Mizzou fan, Sophie now being part of the team has increased my interest. When Caitlin has been healthy, I've been impressed with her game. She's carrying a lot on her shoulders, but she seems to be able handle it.
I was in Minneapolis a couple weeks ago for Pirates-Twins. Joe Ryan vs Paul Skenes (and the Twins won!). I’d like to think they drew 40K fans to see two of the league’s best pitchers on mediocre teams.
It wasn’t that. Nelly did a postgame concert. (Mr. St. Louis!). That’s what people went bananas for. Including my wife.
teen-age grandchildren visiting; 1 just turned 18, the other a few months away from 15 - talk about feeling old & irrelevant !!! better than not seeing them tho....
Enjoyable read, thanks. Reminded me of a trip to Atlanta to visit a friend back in 1989, I think. The four of us went to old County Stadium on a hot Sunday afternoon with about six thousand other people. I remember very little about the game, but the Willie Nelson & Friends concert from second base afterward was unforgettable. That was during the "everything I make goes to the IRS" period of Willie's career. Great show! Maybe a thousand people stuck around. What a day.
Enjoy your weekend. Go Cardinals!
A heartfelt and (as always) insightful read. As of this year, I have two teenagers, and it's definitely harder to get them excited for the adventures that we used to love (and learn a lot from). I think they will come back, if we don't push it. And bribery/money helps. Ha ha. (Seriously, though, it was no fun to be a kid in a souvenir shop on a trip without money, so it does help to give them a little spending money during outings, which gives them agency.) Hope your family is having a good summer. I'm trying not to think about how many I have left with both kids home.