Thanks to my pal Whitey for inviting me to last nights Blazer/Laker game. He has the greatest season ticket seats and even though this years teams are not very good, it is a pleasure to sit so close to the action. The Lakers are a long way from competing for a championship and it was a bit sad to see Kobe a shadow of his former self, here is hoping he makes it through the year unhurt and retires. I was really looking forward to last Monday's Gogol Bordello gypsy punk show, but something that has never happened to me made me walk out without even seeing them. It was at the Chrystal Ballroom, and sold out so when I arrived a bit late the place was packed. As I climbed the stairs to the top of the building the air got worse and worse, and as I entered the main floor I could hardly breathe from the thick, sickly human invested air. It was as if there was no ventilation at all, combined with the fact that the beer lines were packed, it made for quite a claustrophobic atmosphere. I decided to listen to the opening band for a while, Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas, and you know what? They were the worst band I have ever heard, surpassing the decades old record of the Fatima Mansions, which has always been my benchmark for sucks. I gave them four songs before I could not take it anymore and went outside for a much welcomed breath of fresh air, and decided I could not stand going back to inhale anymore of that soupy mixture inside. You can call me a rock wimp if you like, I just couldn't take it.