The boys and I drove down to Philadelphia yesterday to see one of our favorite bands, The Eels. I’ve seen them at least eight times now, and this is the third time for the younglings. Always a blast. However… the 25-year-old me would’ve been appalled by the 55-year-old version. ‘Cause I spent a big hunk o’ yesterday kinda dreading the hassle of it. Ya know? I certainly wanted to see the show, but it’s such an ordeal… Just sitting on the couch, drinking a beer or four, and watching Beachfront Bargain Hunt with Toney sounded like a more pleasing option. It’s shocking, I know.
But the tickets were already purchased, and we were meeting Steve and his wife Myra down there. So we drove through a persistent rain to Philly and joined them at a bar a few doors down from Union Transfer, where the show would be happening. It was a place called Roy-Pitz Barrel House, for some reason, and they brew their own beer, etc. Cool place, with great music (Sex Pistols, Germs, Wire) cranking.
I had a fantastic idea there that I’m exceedingly proud of. Myra ordered some kind of macaroni and cheese with duck meat in it. And get this! I suggested they rebrand it quackaroni and cheese. Tell me that’s not perfect. Very proud.
I had two IPAs and some fries. Everything was good, and one of the owners even sat with us for a while. Nice dude. Great place.
The opening act was someone who bills himself as That 1 Guy. He plays a homemade instrument he’s dubbed “the magic pipe.” It looks like a long vacuum cleaner hose. Fairly bizarre, but he was certainly talented and got a lot out of his… pipe. He integrated a small amount of magic, as well as puppetry, into the show. Like I say, fairly bizarre. Check it out.
And the Eels just flat-out rocked the joint. You never know what version of the band you’re going to get, but this was the one I like the most: stripped down and rocking. No violas… no grand piano. And it was freaking loud too. So much fun! They played stuff from their entire catalog, including reworked versions of “Novocaine for the Soul” and “Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues.” It feels like they don’t play those very often. Fantastic show.
The leader, known as E, was hilarious throughout. After they blasted through four or five sped-up tunes right out of the gate, including a surprising cover of “Raspberry Beret,” he shouted, “I’m old as fuck! But goddamn, I rock!!” Later he assured us that what we were witnessing was a “display of badassery the likes of which most people have never experienced.” Heh. Everything he says is tongue in cheek. He also kept referring to Philadelphia as The Brotherly Apple. Some of that stuff is in this cell phone footage that’s surprisingly good.
I can’t find a setlist yet, but it was very close to the Boston show, right here. The picture above is from the Brooklyn show, the night before we saw them. I brazenly lifted it straight off Instagram. Nice photo, huh? By the way, I found out in his memoir that E is almost exactly the same age as I am. Old as fuck. Thanks for the confirmation!
The drive home was a real sphincter-pincher. It was POURING rain almost the entire way. There was water pooling on the turnpike, and it felt like I was going to hydroplane into the woods at any second. It sucked ass, fully and completely. It felt like it took seven hours and my shoulders were aching with tension.
But now that it’s in the rearview mirror, I’m definitely glad I went. It wasn’t without its aggravations, but I’ll only remember the show and the good times beforehand at the bar. The shitty stuff fades, for some reason. Right? Right.
I’m not running on all cylinders this morning, my friends. And I’m going to call it a day. Please be sure to check out the podcast if you haven’t already. Right here. Also, the exciting new site: Explanations for Aliens.
And I’ll leave you with a simple Question: What do you think the 25-year-old you would think of the current version? Any thoughts on that? Please use the comments.
And I’ll see you guys again on Thursday.
Have a great day!
Now playing in the bunker
Support us by doing your shopping on Amazon! In Canada? Here’s your link. Thank you, guys!
The 25 yr old would be amazed that he made it to 70 yrs without significant changes in musical, clothing or beverage preferences. Ain’t life amazing?
I was still in college at the age of 25. I am glad to be done with that – over 25 years ago now.
My 25-year-old self would push present-day me down the stairs.
25-YO me would be horrified at the state of physical fitness and just what 30 extra years can do to a person. Also, I would have thought that being 56 meant that decrepitude was in full onset. Nay, I say! I’m only partly decrepit!
Quackeroni is a perfect name for it!!
Quackeroni made me laugh. Thanks!
I’m 45 not 55, but 25 year old me would still be disgusted at overweight low energy me today. Sitting at a desk 10 hours a day eating corporate lunches isn’t good for you apparently.
I couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to go see Belle & Sebastian, 2.5 hours each way is too much today. I also don’t like General Admission gigs any more, even though I’m big and tall.
People were trapped on I-76 most of the night because of the outrageous rain.
I think 25 year old me would be proud of 58 year old me. Went through some tough times but I think I’ve fared pretty well. Hard work and some damn good luck seem to go hand in hand.
25-year-old me would be amazed and proud of what 51-year-old me has accomplished, but would also be horrified at the state of my physical being. 25-year-old me ate whatever she wanted, whenever the hell she wanted it, and never topped 100 pounds till pregnant with my daughter. 51-year-old me still eats whatever the hell I want, whenever the hell I want it, but the results are staggeringly heavier.
BINGO!
25-year-old me would look at 59.8-year-old me and say “god, you’re fat. But at least you can afford to overeat, so that’s something.”
To my surprise, I had a chance to see Pharoah Sanders this past Saturday. He’s probably still the best tenor player alive today, but it’s clear that he doesn’t have the energy he used to. At 77 years old he has earned the right to slow down.
25 year old me would be cheering the 55 year old me for dumping the asshole husband #1, impressed with husband #2 and handsome, smart son we have. 25 yo me would be disgusted by 55 yo’s physical shape but 55 yo me, who doesn’t have many fucks to give, would shrug it off.
I have a confession to make. I had tickets for the San Francisco show at the Fillmore last month. This 57 y/o decided the hassle wasn’t worth it, didn’t go and tossed the tickets in the trash. I’m ashamed of myself and it has little to do with the $100 I wasted
.
Younger self to older self
“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
Robert Frost
And
“I like to poop”
e2m
25 old year me to me now – why did you listen to anyone else’s opinion?
My 25 year-old self was 45 years ago, but I’m fairly certain she’d be satisfied with who she became; I know I am.
Nice!!! We should all be able to say the same.
25 year old me would look at 42 year old me and GASP that I am “old” and pregnant…and chasing a 2 year old at the same time.
She would also like to know what happened to my spontaneity, why don’t I like hard liquor anymore. She would be disappointed that I still haven’t finished college, but impressed with where my career and earnings are despite that fact. And I think 25 year old me would give me a high five for marrying a looker who is also nice and not a loser, but question why it took me so long to find him.
I would have to remind of her that most of the above is her fault…and she’s lucky the 30’s version of me was so awesome to overcome her mistakes.
I’m pretty sure the 25-year old me would be pleasantly surprised by the 59-year old me. Back then the 60ish set seemed like I’d have one foot in the grave, be in horrible shape and be living off of social security in my old age. Everything’s quite the opposite and I think the 25-year old version would be happy if I was this well preserved at 49. However, the 59-year old version is not quite as impressed and is really jonesing for retirement but it looks to be 1-2 years away. Hopefully someday I can compare the 59-year version to the 100 year version, lol.