Ping Pong and Fencing

Kids had a 4 day weekend the past few days. President’s Day? Weird. Anyways, we got them outta the house on Sunday and took them to the Red Robin (yum!) at our local mall. Malls are freaking weird now. One of the big stores (Sears or something) is now a comic-con, flea market type expo that I love perusing. Old toys, cards, all the goods. No music stores. No Nordstroms. There’s a couple Japanese import stores and the weird convergence of all? There’s a huge Fencing club place and a Ping Pong spot. Like… you could learn how to Fence at our mall. Or challenge the next Marty Supreme to some table tennis. WEIRD! Speaking of Converge….

“LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH”

Did I hear something about Scavengers? (Jacob uses the word in the intro track…). Converge just released a new album. It’s pretty rad. I haven’t spent enough time with it but overall… I dig it. Converge has to be one of the weirder bands in my little music story. The Jane Doe shirt… never owned but it was a staple in the early 2000s scene. I still confuse Dillenger and Converge songs but that doesn’t really matter. If you played a Converge song, I probably wouldn’t be able to tell you what album its from or what the songs called. BUT they are one of my most influential bands. I love the feral attitude. The full bore EQ blasting approach. Converge rules. Also… I’ve never seen them live. Trying to remedy that on May 16 but we might have picked up a show that same night. Who knows. No one can know the schedule. Converge. Love is Not Enough. 8 muffins outta 10. 

Let’s ping pong over to Johnny’s video game corner 

Beyond Oasis

On a Sega Genesis kick at the moment. Beyond Oasis is one of those games that I think I first played at a cousin’s house or rented and thought it was amazing. Spoiler…it’s not. It’s sooo close to being a great game, all the elements are there but it falls short mostly because of clunky combat.

The sprite work is cool, Yuzo Koshiro’s score does a great job of setting the tone, the story is engaging, dungeon puzzles are uh..puzzling, and even the spirits you summon to help with said puzzles and combat feel creative for the time. Great ingredients; it’s just that much of the gameplay centers around the “action” part of action-adventure, so that sours the whole meal.

Adding a way to block/dodge and fine-tuning the platforming probably could’ve made this one a top 5 game instead of a “Zelda-like” that is better off as a Blockbuster rental or played at a cousin’s house. 

CONCERTS

Monday, March 16 at Wayfarer in Costa Mesa

Saturday, April 11 at The Green Turtle in Whittier, CA

Sunday, April 12 at The Roadies Brewery in Vista, Ca

More TBD. Maybe. 

Album update - we have 10 songs in our box. Might have to change the title cause Devil Wears Prada has a new album named Flowers. Kinda ruined my taste for the Common Flowers name. Boo. Songs rip.

Movies - I’m a bit behind. I did watch Predators: Badlands (streaming NOW on Disney plus). I really liked the first bit of the movie but then it fell off for me. Was bummed cause I really liked Prey. Badlands just felt… way too silly for a Predators movie. I’m no yautja prude but this one missed (overall). There were some cool parts. 

Uh uh uhhh… that’s probably it. Dan got a 8x10 amp. Rock. 

Song of the Week - can’t believe I didn’t leak this

Oh yea, Knocked Loose put out a new song. Rad.

Ok byyyyeeeee