Hue, Sasha and Paul Buy a Moneyball Ticket. Big $ and the NCP Weigh In.....

CG- The Browns actually got the coach they wanted and Hue Jackson seems thrilled with the job. Am I dreaming? Did Hue suffer a concussion during the Bengals v Steelers game? How excited should Browns fans be with the hire?

BIG $: I think Browns fans should be incredibly excited for two reasons: I believe this shows that Haslam had a strategy in mind and he executed it. Any way you slice it, Hue had to be considered the prize of the available coaching pool. Considering that everyone up to Sam Rutigliano turned us down before Pettine was pulled off the trash heap, this was a breath of fresh air. Obviously the much maligned Sashi/Depodesta pairing was acceptable to a guy with Hue's NFL experience. To me, this gives credence to the Moneyball II, NFL boogaloo experiment. If its good enough for Hue, its good enough for me.

CG- What are your thoughts on snatching moneyball master Paul DePodesta away from the Mets? Is it worth taking a look at Jacob deGrom at QB?

1st, I'd take Snydergaard. 2nd, all analytics really is, is examining factual evidence and using said evidence to exploit market inefficiencies. Depodesta obviously has a knack for crunching statistics and molding the results into successful staffing strategies. I believe someone with talent in that arena could translate into any industry, let alone another sport. I'm excited to watch it play out.

CG- Speaking of QB, can we get anything for Johnny football in a trade? And if not, what then?

As a surprise to no one that has ever read the NCP, I believe the removal of Johnny Football will be addition by subtraction. Would a 6th rounder in return be nice? sure, but the quicker JFF is shipped out of the 216, the better


CG-  Here is a question that we will hear 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times before the NFL draft in June. Do the Browns take a QB at #2? If yes, who? If no, who plays QB next year?

Hue's strength is quarterback whispering, so I believe it would be a waste to not use a #2 pick on a guy for him to mold. Wentz (North Dakota State) piqued my interest during the FCS championship, but is too big of a risk at 2 and wont be around come the 30's.Therefore, I feel Goff and his big frame and arm fit right into Hue's wheel house. McCown and Jackson will make for excellent tutors for the youngster upon his arrival in C town. 

I'm still not sure what this strange sensation is I'm feeling. I've been told by my friends who root for other teams, that its called hope. Sure beats the hollow disgust that has been lingering since about 2005.

Heartache Tonight: Glenn Frey Dead at 67 - by Wal Ozello

by Pencilstorm Contributor Wal Ozello

I can't pick up an acoustic guitar and NOT play Take It Easy.  It's the first non-Beatles tune I learned. That chord change to an E minor for the start of the chorus I always thought was the bomb, and as a singer the harmonies resonate in my head throughout the whole song. 

My older brothers had introduced me to Southern California Rock via the Eagles and they were in heavy rotation in my tape player between Motley Crue and Guns N Roses. The Eagles' cool rock with laid-back style and thick harmonies was the perfect departure from the pre-grunge Appetite For Destruction or L.A. Glam Rock. 

When the Eagles broke up Don Henley got all political with his solo career, but Glenn pumped up the '80s rock with songs like Smuggler's Blues and The Heat Is On.  His solo career never ended up in my CD collection but I didn't flip the channel when he came on MTV.

The guy also had an acting career, appearing on Miami Vice and other '80s TV sitcoms. Don't blink during the movie Jerry Maguire or you'll miss him as the General Manager who renews Rod Tidwell's contract.

But Glenn's best known for his Southern California Rock. Here's a few of his best:

Remembering David Bowie Through His Music - by Scott Carr

January 10, 2016 the world lost a true music icon in David Bowie. For over four decades Bowie pushed the envelope and delivered an eclectic body of work that will live on forever.

The last eighteen months of his life, Bowie was fighting an aggressive form of liver cancer. While Bowie knew his time was limited, he continued to work and deliver one last record Blackstar, released on his 69th birthday, just two days prior to his death.

It's pretty tough to sum up what David Bowie's legacy will be as he was a chameleon and meant so much to a wide variety of people. I'm guessing Bowie would like to be remembered as a true artist because his musical library is truly a work of art.

I decided the best way to work through the sadness of losing such a great visionary would be to put some records on the turntable and enjoy what he gave to the world. Below you will find a list of five of my favorite records from David Bowie and ones that I think scratch the surface of telling his musical history. I did not include The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars because I felt like that is an album that everyone already owns and knows back and forth. It is essential, no question, but so are these.......

Hunky Dory (1971)

Technically Bowie's fourth studio release but for a lot of reasons it feels like a new beginning and a debut. Bowie had signed a new deal with RCA for this record and also brought in producer Ken Scott to oversee the record in place of Tony Visconti, who had produced Bowie's two previous records, Space Oddity and The Man Who Sold The World. Visconti had also been Bowie's bass player but was replaced by Trevor Bolder. With Bolder on board Bowie had found the last piece of the puzzle for his band known as The Spiders From Mars for the next couple of years.

With all these new beginnings it seems rather fitting that the albums opening track is "Changes". The lyrics for "Changes" seem to echo David's thoughts on how everything around you is in a constant state of change and this is something that would ring true for his entire career. Although not a Top 40 smash for Bowie, "Changes" would prove to be one of his most enduring songs and the last song he would perform live before retiring from the stage in 2006. Other highlights on Hunky Dory include "Oh, You Pretty Things", "Kooks", "Andy Warhol", "Queen Bitch" and "Life On Mars". Hunky Dory set the tone for Bowie's next few albums and a period of great success. Bowie himself felt that Hunky Dory was the album that gave him an audience and considered it one of the most important albums of his career.

The Lodger (1979)

The Lodger is the third album in the "Berlin Trilogy". The trilogy began with 1977's Low and Heroes. Bowie worked closely with Brian Eno on all three records in the "Berlin Trilogy" and they are considered some of his most experimental music of his entire career. 

Many unusual recording techniques were used during the "Berlin Trilogy". In the case of The Lodger, guitarist Adrian Belew cut many of his guitar parts to backing tracks that he had no prior exposure to and sometimes didn't know what key the song was in. In other instances musicians were asked to play instruments that they were not familiar with.

While The Lodger was still continuing in Bowie's "experimental" stage, it didn't push boundaries quite as much as the previous two records. The Lodger had more of a pop sensibility and tighter song structures. I think all three "Berlin" records are important but The Lodger reigns as my favorite. "DJ", "Look Back In Anger" and "Boys Keep Swinging" are all classic tracks.

1971_hunky_us_cvr_fix_800sq.jpg

Scary Monsters (1980)

After Bowie's highly experimental and artistic venture of the "Berlin Trilogy", there was an effort to make a commercial mark with his next album, Scary Monsters.

It was a new decade and Bowie was ready for the next chapter. The birth of the MTV generation was still a year away, but Bowie had already embraced the new visual medium like no other. Two classic videos were made for the Scary Monsters record, "Ashes to Ashes" and "Fashion". Both videos garnered heavy rotation when MTV hit the airwaves in August of 1981. At the time "Ashes to Ashes" was the most expensive music video ever made. It is no surprise that Bowie was ahead of the curve when it came to making music videos.

Scary Monsters was a commercial success and brought Bowie his first UK No' 1 since 1974's Diamond Dogs and his highest chart position in America since 1977's Low.

Promo posters for the new Bowie album stated "Often Copied, Never Equaled" -  can't argue with that statement at all.

Scary Monsters remains one of my all time favorite Bowie records. It would be his last record for RCA, who had been his label since Hunky Dory. Bowie signed with EMI in 1983 for his Let's Dance album which would continue his commercial renaissance.

Tin Machine (1989)

The unexpected success of 1983's Let's Dance album led to a creative slump for Bowie. Let's Dance had become the biggest selling album of his career and he felt like he needed to follow up it's success with more of the same. In the end the two records that followed Let's Dance were not as well received and Bowie has jokingly referred to that time period as his "Phil Collins Years".

In an attempt to refuel his creative energy Bowie formed the band Tin Machine. Unlike his previous band The Spiders From Mars, Tin Machine a true democratic venture with creative input from the whole band. Bowie wanted a stripped down rock sound for this record and felt like this was a good way to regain his vision as an artist. The album was recorded quickly and with very few overdubs. 

The Tin Machine record has many great songs on it including "Under the God", "Crack City", "Bus Stop", "Prisoner of Love" and a fantastic cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero".

Some suggest the work that Bowie did with Tin Machine as a precursor to grunge. I have included it on the list of albums because it was the vehicle that enabled Bowie to continue making amazing records for another two decades. If Tin Machine had not happened Bowie may have very well packed it in.  For that reason, I see this as one of his most important records. Check it out.

Blackstar (2016)

Released on his 69th birthday and just two days prior to his death, Blackstar shows Bowie determined to be creative right to the end.

Bowie began work on Blackstar shortly after his last album, The Next Day, was released in 2013. Bowie knew it was going to be his last record and wanted to finish it for his fans and say goodbye with a gift of music.

I have not spent a lot of time with this record yet but from my initial spins I feel it's as important as any record he has made in the last 49 years..

Two videos were released from the record prior to his passing, "Blackstar" and "Lazarus". Bowie had no interest in repeating his past, even in his last days he was still reinventing his music and his artistic visions. Blackstar may not click immediately with some but in time it will all make sense.

Many heartfelt tribute have popped up over the past few days but Bowie's longtime friend and producer Tony Visconti said it best with this quote...

"He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life—a work of Art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry."

RIP David Bowie

Click here to read Ricki C's thoughts on David Bowie

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Scott Carr is a guitarist who plays in the Columbus, OH  bands Radio Tramps andReturning April.  Scott is also an avid collector of vinyl records and works at Lost Weekend Records. So...if you are looking for Scott....you'll either find him in a dimly lit bar playing his guitar or in a record store digging for the holy grail.

David Bowie - Hunky Dory Release date: 17 December 1971 tracklist: 00:00 Changes 03:37 Oh! You Pretty Things 06:49 Eight Line Poem 09:45 Life On Mars? 13:39 Kooks 16:33 Quicksand 21:41 Fill Your Heart 24:49 Andy Warhol 28:46 Song for Bob Dylan 32:58 Queen Bitch 36:17 The Bewlay Brothers

Music video by David Bowie performing DJ.

Promo video for the 1979 single. Very nice =D

Music video by David Bowie performing Fashion.

Music video by David Bowie performing Ashes To Ashes.

1980 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Nbctv Live Like the part audience cheered so loudly when mr.carson mention bowie And Carson said : "After all this, he'd better be good." :)

Provided to YouTube by Warner Music Group Crack City (1999 Remastered Version) · Tin Machine Tin Machine ℗ 1999 Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company Released on: 1999-09-20 Bass, Vocals: Tony Sales Drums, Vocals: Hunt Sales Engineer: David Richards Engineer: Justin Shirley-Smith Engineer: Nigel Reeve Engineer: Peter Mew Guitar, Vocals: David Bowie Guitar, Organ: Kevin Armstrong Guitar: Reeves Gabrels Mixer, Producer: Tim Palmer Mixer, Producer: Tin Machine Composer: David Bowie Auto-generated by YouTube.

Working Class Hero is a song written by Lennon and performed here by David Bowie. It is from the album Tin Machine in 1989.

"'Blackstar" off David Bowie's album Blackstar available now on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_itunes Amazon: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_amazon Spotify: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_spotify Vinyl: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_vinyl LimitedEdition Lithograph & Music Bundles: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_dbstore Limited Edition Clear Vinyl: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_clearvinyl Follow David Bowie: http://davidbowie.com http://facebook.com/davidbowie http://twitter.com/davidbowiereal http://instagram/davidbowie

"'Lazarus" off David Bowie's album Blackstar available now on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_itunes Amazon: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_amazon Spotify: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_spotify Vinyl: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_vinyl Limited Edition Lithograph & Music Bundles: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_dbstore Limited Edition Clear Vinyl: http://smarturl.it/blackstar_clearvinyl Follow David Bowie: http://davidbowie.com http://facebook.com/davidbowie http://twitter.com/davidbowiereal http://instagram/davidbowie

David Bowie / 1947-2016 - by Ricki C.

Truth be told, I was never really that big a fan of David Bowie: I only ever bought one record by him (The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders From Mars, but Jesus, what an album) and I never saw him perform live.  But, further truth be told, I have to admit, when I heard on CD102.5 yesterday that he died, it did bring a little tear to my jaded rocker's eye.

David Bowie was one of those rockers who I liked the idea of more than I actually liked his music.  He would join U2 and Ani DiFranco in those ranks for me.  I like the things those artists do, I like what they stand for, but they don't really get on my turntable or CD player nearly as often as Richard & Linda Thompson or The Pop! do, ya know?  

And Bowie absolutely had the proper rocker credentials: he wrote a fuckload of great songs ("Suffragette City," "Ziggy Stardust," "The Jean Genie," "Panic In Detroit," and "Heroes," to name only five), he did a lot of drugs, he married a model, he almost certainly had sex with Mick Jagger, he recorded new material to the very end, who am I to argue with those stats?

Most of all, let's face facts: if David Bowie hadn't broken BIG in 1972, The New York Dolls would never have gotten signed to a major label, and without Bowie's production skills & patronage Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Mott The Hoople would NEVER have broken through to mainstream rock & roll as much as they did.  That's four of my ten favorite rock acts on the planet that I would still be trying to explain to people WHO THEY WERE if not for David Bowie.  

I don't really drink anymore, but my lovely wife Debbie & I have some champagne left over from New Year's Eve.  Will I be uncorking some of that tonight and drinking a toast to David Bowie?  Yeah, I will.  Thank you David, for the music.  Thank you for the rock & roll.  - Ricki C. / January 12th, 2016. (Click here to read Scott Carr's thoughts on Bowie)

(Hey, cats & kittens, Bowie & the Spiders from Mars performing in 1972 on Top of the Pops, in the midst of heavy-metal, singer/songwriters and prog-rock.  The 70's started here, right here.)

 (And while we're at it, raise a toast to Mick Ronson, 1946-1993.) 



Second Annual Kids' Concert @ King 5, Sunday, January 10th, 4 pm and FREE! - by Pete Vogel

This Sunday I’ll be hosting the Second Annual Kids’ Concert at King Avenue 5.  We call it a “Kids’ Concert” because it’s more than a music recital—it’s an opportunity for kids to hone their musical crafts in a professional environment that truly has a concert-like setting.  

King Avenue 5 is one of the best music spaces in town because it provides a professional atmosphere for budding artists.  With stage, lights, PA, backdrop, an audio engineer and a spacious room that serves food and drinks, anybody can feel like a professional musician when playing this room.  This Sunday’s concert differs from a formal recital because every performer has the opportunity to play a 15- minute set, allowing them the time to perform a variety of songs—and styles—in their repertoire.

Nick Pavich, owner of the bar/restaurant/music space, has done a wonderful job of nurturing talent with this unique room.  The space is void of distractions—TV sets are rarely on and the room is designed to put the emphasis on music.  All of the little details have been ironed out: the PA is raised to the ceiling to allow better sight lines; soundproofing has been added to 3 of the 4 walls; a black backdrop allows for dramatic photograpy and videography; and the bar in the back has a mirror so you won’t miss the action while waiting for a drink.

What this experience does for kids is priceless: it prepares them for any type of public performance, whether it be public speaking, hosting an event of their own, or performing live onstage in front of a captive audience.  I always tell my students the biggest leap they may ever make in their lives might be walking those three steps from the floor to the stage—a complete transformation takes place once one hops onstage and performs in public.  It is equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.  For some it’s like a second home, for others it’s their greatest fear, aside from death. To me, I can’t think of a better platform to instill self-confidence than public performance of this kind.

We have a variety of musicians that will be performing: some will be singing and playing piano; others will be doing duets on acoustic guitar with yours truly; and others will be playing drums and performing with multiple students.  There will also be some surprises as well, it’s not unlikely that I may invite other students onstage to perform if the spirit moves us in that direction.  Another special treat: Nick’s daughter Grace will be performing as well!


The event is free and open to the public.  It starts at 4pm and will wrap up at 7pm.  Special guest Jacquie Sanborn will close the evening with a series of songs off her debut EP “Let Down Your Umbrella”—she takes the stage at 6:30pm.  We hope you stop out and give a listen!  - Pete Vogel