Thursday, 27 August 2015

2015-08-28 Guildy As Charged


Why is she with him? Ham?

3 Players: W, K, G
Game: Guildhall
Location: W
Choice: K
Why is she with him?
 
Game One:
K (20 pts), W (18 pts) & G (12 pts)
 
Game Two:
W (20 pts), G (19 pts) & K (12 pts)
 
Final Tally:
  • W was declared the winner
Notes:
  • W couldn't stop playing his cards directly into his guildhall instead of his playing area
Music:
 
 
[Notes from the Rolling Stone Review] At Magnaball, the band gave fans plenty to chew on, including (on night one) a blissful 23-minute "Bathtub Gin" (from 1990's Lawn Boy) and a version of "Harry Hood" that pushed rhythmically and harmonically free from its well-worn jam paths. There was newer material, like "The Dogs" (from an album's worth of half-songs debuted last Halloween in Las Vegas, based on Disney thrift-store LP staple The Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House) and (on day two) "Scabbard," a recent through-composition by guitarist Trey Anastasio that might (with practice and continued performance) yield the kind of playful prog-rock drama of the band's earliest work. The band jumped on trampolines and vocal-jammed ("You Enjoy Myself"), unleashed perhaps the longest vacuum jam in the band's history by drummer Jon Fishman ("I Didn't Know"), played ambient mood pieces ("What's the Use"), dusted off tunes for the first time in a decade ("Mock Song"), got fans to shout in odd time signatures ("Punch You in the Eye") and dropped the occasional MOR-ready pop melody ("Waiting All Night").
 
 
[Notes from AllMusic.com] One Nation Under a Groove was not only Funkadelic's greatest moment, it was their most popular album, bringing them an unprecedented commercial breakthrough by going platinum and spawning a number one R&B smash in the title track. It was a landmark LP for the so-called "black rock" movement, best-typified in the statement of purpose "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"; more than that, though, the whole album is full of fuzzed-out, Hendrix-style guitar licks, even when the music is clearly meant for the dancefloor. This may not have been a new concept for Funkadelic, but it's executed here with the greatest clarity and accessibility in their catalog. Furthermore, out of George Clinton's many conceptual albums (serious and otherwise), One Nation Under a Groove is the pinnacle of his political consciousness. It's unified by a refusal to acknowledge boundaries -- social, sexual, or musical -- and, by extension, the uptight society that created them. The tone is positive, not militant -- this funk is about community, freedom, and independence, and you can hear it in every cut (even the bizarre, outrageously scatological "P.E. Squad"). The title cut is one of funk's greatest anthems, and "Groovallegiance" and the terrific "Cholly" both dovetail nicely with its concerns. The aforementioned "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!" is a seamless hybrid that perfectly encapsulates the band's musical agenda, while "Into You" is one of their few truly successful slow numbers. One Nation Under a Groove is the best realization of Funkadelic's ambitions, and one of the best funk albums ever released.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, 21 August 2015

2015-08-20 The Not-So-Stoned Age




G was somewhere else

3 Players: W, K, S
Game: Stone Age
Location: W
Choice: S

Game One:
S (217 pts), J (200 pts) & W (164 pts)

Final Tally:
  • S was declared the winner
Notes:
  • None


Music:
 
 Unknown

Thursday, 13 August 2015

2014-08-13 That egyptian game that no one else picks


The Pharoah at game end: tired from a long day of sacrifice.
4 Players: W, J, G, S
Game:  Amun Re
Location: W
Choice: S

Game One:
G (47 pts), S (40 pts), J (31 pts) & W (26 pts)

Final Tally:
G was declared the winner

Wooly demonstrated the latest
improvements to the Woolyverse
Notes:
  • Blue Skies 2016 planning has begun
  • S & J missed K's setup
  • Rest of notes unreadable
Music:

Grateful Dead - Dave’s Picks 2015 Bonus Disc

[Notes from Michael Doherty's Music Blog] This bonus disc contains music from two shows that month – March 21 and March 27, 1972, both at the Academy Of Music in New York.

It starts with the March 27th show, with some tunes from the first set. The disc kicks off with a high-energy rendition of “Bertha,” which opened the show. There is some funny stage banter before the band begins. It’s great hearing the guys goofing a bit. And there’s actually some more stage banter after that tune, with the guys joking about Bill buying the Brooklyn Bridge. The disc then goes to “Brown-Eyed Women,” skipping “Black-Throated Wind” and “Chinatown Shuffle.” This is a really nice version of “Brown-Eyed Woman,” and it’s followed by “China Cat Sunflower” into “I Know You Rider.” It’s a fairly short rendition of “China Cat Sunflower” (just under six minutes) but the jam really cooks, and “I Know You Rider” likewise has great energy. Also included is a seriously fun “Cumberland Blues,” from late in that set.

The rest of the bonus disc comes from the beginning of the second set from March 21, 1972. Bob jokes before the first tune, “We’re going to start this next set off with one of your favorites, and we certainly hope it’s one of ours.” And they jump into “Truckin.’” This is a wonderful rendition, particularly because it’s great, groovy jam, the band clearly having a good time. It leads into a drum solo by Bill Kreutzmann, and then into “The Other One,” which bursts in like a monster and then goes in some interesting directions, evolving and changing, adapting and conquering. This is definitely a highlight for me. And at nearly eighteen minutes, it’s also the longest track of the CD. This bonus disc then concludes with an excellent rendition of “Wharf Rat.” “I’ll get up and fly away.”


CD Track List
Bertha
Brown-Eyed Women
China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider
Cumberland Blues
Truckin ’>
Drums >
The Other One >
Wharf Rat
 
The Grateful Dead at this point were Jerry Garcia on guitar and vocals; Bob Weir on guitar and vocals; Phil Lesh on bass and vocals; Ron McKernan on organ, harmonica, percussion and vocals; Keith Godchaux on piano; and Bill Kreutzmann on drums.



 

Thursday, 6 August 2015

2015-08-06 Dorks of Waterdeep



4 Players: W, J, G, K
Game: Lords of Waterdeep + Undermountain Expansion
Location: W
Choice: J

Game One:
K (121 pts), G (113 pts), J (111 pts) & W (101 pts)
Final Tally:
  • K was declared the winner
Notes:
  • Chatty and Thinky were both missed
Music:
 
Wooly's iTunes random mix. Included: Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Medeski, Martin and Wood and the Allman Brothers Band Unplugged (1992)