Thursday at the Square week 1

Of course I went to the first Thursday at the Square downtown May 29th. It was great getting back down there with summer staring me in the face and drinking outside while people watching and dime watching. Then things went down hill, kinda.

First off prices have been jacked up. Instead of two beers for $5 it is now $3 a ticket which will get you either a draft Blue/Blue light or a slice of pizza or something. Not that I am actually wasting tickets on food, but I figured I would tell the whole story. So yea, $.50 increase in ticket prices, which isn't terrible it is less than ideal.

Secondly it was a lot colder than I thought it was going to be. In my driveway in the the 'burbs it was like 70 and kinda hot. Down in Laffeyette square it was something like 30 degrees and 80 mph winds. Well not that bad but it was jacket weather down there.

And lastly, there weren't that many people. Don't get me wrong when I first arrived it seemed pretty packed, but the crowd died down exponentially as the temperature dropped. This is probably due to a number of reasons much of which had to do with the temperature. However, other reasons have to do with the times change, it goes from 6-10 in stead of 5-9 now. This means it is later, it is darker, and there really isn't enough light to see what is going on in the pitch dark at 9:30 at night.

Whatever, it was still pretty fun and worth the 8 month wait, kind of. Hopefully in subsequent weeks more sets are flopping skirts short shorts balmier weather etc with commence. After the square of course the destination was Chippewa. Again not as many people out and it was cold there too unsurprisingly. Went to basically every where copped some free drinks didn't pay any covers. Visited Liars, no one there i think it was getting raided, Eddie Brady's, nice place before heading down the street, Level, free drink, Sub Zero, no idea but they did have a bubble machine, 67 west/Bottoms up, why not. Next week, skybar?

thursday at the square line up

The 2008 lineup includes:

• May 29 - Galactic with The New Deal
• June 5 - The Disco Biscuits
• June 12 - Yonder Mountain String Band
• June 19 - The David Sanborn Group with Gamalon
• June 26 - Martin Sexton and the Mike Doughty Duo
• July 3 - Jakob Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels
• July 10 - Jimmie Vaughan with JJ Grey and Mofro
• July 17 - The Mickey Hart Band with Tea Leaf Green
• July 24 - The Gin Blossoms with the Common Kings and Dan Erickson
• July 31 - Spirit of the West with Babik and Penny Whiskey
• Aug. 7 - Zappa plays Zappa and the Whigs
• Aug. 14 - Mike Gordon of Phish with Samantha Stollenwerck
• Aug. 21- Salvia with Klear
• Aug. 28 - Candlebox with Agent Me
• Sept. 4 - Big Head Todd and the Monsters with Indigenous

Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor schedule is:

• Aug. 15 - Great Big Sea
• Aug. 16 - The Robert Cray Band with Keb' Mo'

I pretty much can't name any of these bands or any songs they have. A couple bands that were popular in the grunge-ish era of the early 90's like candlebox and gin blossoms. Surprised there is no violent femmes as per 06 and 07.

Whatever I'll still be there any sunny thursday drinking beers then walking to chippewa. The problem with music acts is casinos are able to pay better bands more money in smaller venues because of the gambling money they make up for the loss of paying bigger acts. This obviously hurts outfits like TATS. Oh well, but never really gets good bands any way. And when they do, Tokyo Police Club, it sells out before I can even get in. Damn Soundlab mother fuckers. Whatever, as long as the canadians come and spend their loot err loonie