What a Busy Weekend

Fun, fun, fun from start to finish.

Bowling For Soup

It all kicked off on Friday night when the entire family rocked out to Texan band Bowling for Soup on their "Part in Your Pants" tour. My wife and I were probably the oldest there but even we were pogoing with the young ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnYm0EmyDVU

If you've never heard of them check them out on youtube.

Great lyrics and a tremendous sense of fun they play a great show and come across as being four guys having a great time doing something other than working for a living.

They played most of their singles with "Emily" being the only notable omission. Of course they played "Almost", "The Girl all the Bad Guys Want" & "I'm Gay" were there and they closed the show with a terrific rendition of "1985". Awesome.

One of the things about a BFS concert is the quality of the support and this year was no exception.

Opening the show were "The Leftovers" (check them out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o3jqlO58Lw&feature=PlayList&p=18434B5A0116D569&index=0&playnext=1) they were great. So good in fact that they are one of the few support bands that I've gone and bought an album from. reminding me of the Ramones in their style and sound they played a blistering set and are an act that deserve to be recognised.

Following them was M C Lars. Rap based rock with a literary twist - anyone who can put Melville's "Moby Dick" & Poe's "The Raven" to rap has to have something right?

The last of the support was Zebrahead. A good solid rock band with tight tunes played loud. They certainly got the crowd going with their play and stage show.

NFL International Series

Sunday saw us at Wembley for the third International NFL Game, this year between the New England Patriots & the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the wife being a Pats fan it was all the better for it being victory for New England.

The day started at 11 with the NFL Tailgate party. Unlike the US version this is a more organised affair and, from talking to travelling Americans, more like what they see at the Superbowl only not quite the same scale. Highlights include a Hall of Fame exhibit where the NFL had loaned out some of the exhibits for display. On show were rings from all the Superbowls and it was quite special to see, for me at least, Walter Paytons ring on display with all the others. The Lombardi trophy was there as well and we were struck by how big it is.

All 32 teams have a presentation area as well with facts and photographs for display plus the chance to win signed goodies (signed Urlacher shirt, signed team balls, signed helmets and the like). needless to say I wrote out a lot of cards to go in the box.

All this backed up with live music and cheerleader displays - including the Tampa Bay Cheerleaders (at one pint I could almost touch them if it were not for the big security guards marshaling them along).

Onto the ground and the game.

This year we were as high up in the stands as it is possible to be. But the view was great.

84,000 fans waving and cheering Tampa flags at kick off was a sight I'll never forget. The noise was incredible, louder then I've ever heard at a game. From comments I've read about the game it impressed the players too, sounding more like the Superbowl was how some described it. Also talking to the travelling fans they were hugely impressed by the whole thing. Few of the Americans who came over had expected anything as loud or as passionate. Many were impressed by the fact that every team were supported and the game was received with so much support from fans of all teams. Two ladies in front of us in one of the queues had travelled from Boston with the team and said that it was louder than a home game.

As for the game it was more one sided than previous yeas looking at the scoreline. Tampa played well but New England played better. Five interceptions across both teams gives some idea as to the on field balance but the quality of Brady, Welker, Moss & Maroney shone through.

I'm glad I got to see some of the big names play the game along with Carnell "Cadillac" Williams & a long time favourite of mine Junior Seau.

We'll be back for more next year.