Perfect Orange's Last Show - Tryin' to Make the World Safe for Ska

It's been one helluva ride. I've already said all there is to be said on my personal blog, so if you wanna know who they are or what it's been like, go check it out.

The show was amazing. It went almost three hours and I took 154 pictures! This is likely to be a long one cause there's a ton to show, so lets get to it.

Me and Jina, another long time PO fan. It's funny, I keep gettin' thinner and the chicks keep gettin' hotter.

My good friend and amazing singer/guitarist Jacob opened for the guys.

O'Charley's was a bunch of bastards and wouldn't let any of the under 21s inside the gate, to the guys turned the stage to face the parking lot and they played for the die hard fans that braved 30 degree weather only to be locked outside. It was the coolest thing they could have done.

Getting ready to start.

Go!!

Zac. Lead singer and Guitar.

Ben. Trumpet.

Doug. Drums, formerly Trombone.

Travis. Saxophone.

Doug #2. Bass.

Former bassist Brett played a couple songs with the guys.

The Dougs singing backup.

Original drummer Ryan rocks out one last time.

Get down.

Former saxophone player Chase gets a final look from the stage sid

One helluva show.

It kinda became tradition that Jacob would come in from the audience and sing lead on "Holding On To Nothing." He was, as usual, awesome.

Skankin'.

The audience is pleased...

...And the band is carried off the stage.

Doug gets all the ladies.

The end of an era.

PO may be gone, but the memories I've had runnin' with these guys and seeing 'em play dozens of shows and making truly awesome music will be with me forever. I love you guys and your music will be missed.

Remember that night...

Boo at the Zoo

I'm an instructor for a First Year Studies course this semester. Supposedly, we teach incoming freshmen how to make the transition to college life. In reality, I tend to just tell them what they can get away with and who's the easiest teacher to take for a class. Anyway, part of the class was doing a ocmmunity service project, and the class decided to volunteer at Boo at the Zoo last Friday. I know, I'm slow getting these pics up. Oh well, on with the show.

Things got off to a great start. As we were driving to the zoo, we got caught in a massive thunderstorm. We even had to pull over and wait for the rain to let up. This is us chilling in my car as we wait...

David.

Catherine.

Aaron.

Exciting, eh?

We finally arrived, then we all got our asses wet riding the trolly-thing that took us up to the entrance.

Terry and Aaron got to wear costumes. Can you guess who they are? lol

"Aww look at the baby!" Catherine was so taken with how cute the kids were I began to fear that she might try to steal one. I finally convinced her that we didn't have room in the car and that my trunk was only usefuly for hauling dead bodies, not live ones.

They got to run the most fun game ever: the clothespin drop. The excitement was palpable.

Jessica having an attack of the "Awhowcutes." We got her out just in time and started her on an IV of pure Generation Y Apathy. The doctors say she should fully recover...in time...

In short, it was a lot of fun. The kids were really cute, though the occasional six year old wearing less than some women wear to the beach was a little creepy. Not the kids so much as the moms that let them wear it. And then there was the mother who made her two kids sing "Baby Got Back" on kareoke. I shivered a little. Over all, though, it was a great time.

Cya later. ~Peace

Sunrise in K-Town

I couldn't sleep last night, so I took some pics of the sunrise over downtown from my porch.

Another sunrise comes and I've not been struck down by the Lord. It's going to be a good day.

Gays on Gay Street

Saturday was National Coming Out Day for those that were unaware. The Knoxville Rainbow Coalition hosted a gay pride parade down Gay Street and a concert in Market Square.

I'm not gay, but I've had a ton of gay friends and I've been a strong supporter of gay rights for a long time. I usually get invited to these things by different groups because I've supported them so strongly in my columns. Anyway, on to the pics.

Market Square.

Getting ready to march.

Parade Pics.

PFLAG - Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. I am a member.

A gay George W. Bush showed up to support the Democrats.

They call themselves the "Queer Fist Ninjas." I dunno, but they werent' half bad.

Of course, you can't have a gay pride march without the Baptists showing up. I like how they quote Romans 2:16 on their banner. Personally, I prefer Romans 2:1, "Wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself." You may not be able to tell from the pics, but none of them would let me take pictures with their face in them. I had to be sneaky. I guess its okay to condemn the heathens, just so long as there's no proof it was you doing it. Anyway, there were about twenty of em, unfortunately for them...

They were vastly outnumbered by the Unitarian Universalists and other Christian denominations like the Metropolitan Community Church, all of whom are very accepting of homosexuality. In all, I'd guess over 300 people were there representing the various churches. I dunno if you can read that sign on the posterboard, but it says "What JESUS said about homosexuality: _________" Exactly.

It was funny when they marched past the Baptists. The Baptists yelled at them and told 'em they were all going to hell. All the gay Christians did back was say "Jesus loves you."

One of my Sociology professors, Dr. Presser, came to support Amnesty International. She's the one pointing at me, and that's her partner beside her. She told me his name, but for the life of me I can't remember it. Sorry, Dr. P. He's got a cool beard though.

I was truly surprised at how many of the homosexual couples had children. It really amazes me the risks that they take and the things they suffer just to try to lead a normal life.

Anyway, that's about it for the march. I'll see you next time.

~Peace