Al Gritzmacher's Blogosphere

After a couple months, I finally broke down and bought the Dinotte 140R bicycle tail light. It is by far, the brightest LED tail light available and has been shown to be effective, even during daylight, in being seen by cars approaching you from the rear. The light is painfully bright, so much so that it gets attention other lights don’t get. Maybe it’s curiosity, maybe it’s annoyance, but drivers wake up and give you a wide berth when they see it. Video of the lights is at the end of this post.

Some other innovative bicycle lights have come across my computer screen. I haven’t tried any of them, but they are worth considering if you’re in the market for such a thing. Continue Reading…

Once again, NY State and the Seneca Nation seem to be headed towards a conflict over collecting taxes on sales made on the reservation. I don’t know who’s right here, I can see both sides and don’t see a mutually agreeable way out.

I have the utmost respect for the Native American culture and beliefs. Unfortunately, I don’t see where exploiting a situation where certain commodities prices have become high, in part due to taxes, should be exploited for the profit of a few Native Americans. That’s not what we should learn from their culture. Maybe it’s what they’ve learned from ours…

And just what is a “Native American” anymore, anyway? I was born here. My parents were too. So were my Grandparents. I don’t know how many generations I would have to go back to actually find an ancestor from Europe. Am I as much a “Native American” as some blonde-haired, blue-eyed person who has a Great-great-grandmother that was born on a reservation? Continue Reading…

From Amherst Scottish Festival

Mike introduces Penny Whiskey.

[Click any photo to go to album]

Well, after two days of riding 40+ miles, topped off with the Big Sugar concert Friday night, you’d think I’d take a day to rest. No, not when the Amherst Scottish Festival is the next day! Continue Reading…

Boy, I’m late getting started on this, even by Al time, so here’s the schedule, you pick your own best show. (I know, that’s what you do anyway, I just try to give you a little more info to do that each week.)

[Left: Jeremy Hoyle Band/Strictly Hip at Finnans in 2006]

Tuesday: Artpark: Foreginer, Free Henry!
Wednesday: Artpark: Sloan, David Nolf
Wednesday: Gateway Harbor: Dreamland and That ’80s Hair Band
Friday: Gateway Harbor: Bleeding Hearts
Friday: Canal Concerts Lockport: Big Sugar,  Johnny Nobody,
                          Beggar's Best, Jeremy Hoyle Band 
Saturday: Amherst Scottish Festival (Amherst Museum):
     ($10 admission to festival)
     Penny Whiskey, Celtic Circle Ceilidh Band, Stone Row,
     Harpbeat, Hobson's Choice,  Step in Time, more

Continue Reading…

An absolutely stellar week for local bands and homecomings for some Buffalo ex-pats.

Buffalo native Willie Nile plays at Artpark, plus a homecoming show for Peter Case (Wikipedia bio) at the Sportsmen’s Tavern on Friday, Aug. 13 makes it a week for reunions. The Sportsmen’s show is neither an outdoor festival or free, but should be on any local music fan’s wish list. Read the bios on these two guys and look at the names they’ve worked with and you’ll see if they’re not musical royalty, they’re at least in the King’s Court!

Top that off with some local bands playing with histories going back into the ’70s and you’ve got a local music week that’s hard to top.

Tues: Artpark: Doobie Brothers, Mick Hayes Band
Wed: Artpark: Willie Nile (Wikipedia bio), Alison Pipitone
Wed: Gateway Harbor: Fat Brat, Weekend Party of Nine
Thurs: Lafayette Square: The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Hit and Run
Fri: Lockport Canal Concert: Tears For Fears, Missing Star,
                The Pillagers
Fri: Gateway Harbor: Naughty Dawg

Continue Reading…

Please Don't Feed the Animals

I complained about the geese along the canal before. When I rode through there today, I noticed some new signs had been placed on the canal banks warning against feed the birds.

The birds must have left in protest, because I didn’t see one goose today and the path was clean and free of bird poop. In reality, I believe the hot weather has driven them further north in search of cooler conditions. Canada, you’re welcome to your geese!

It’s a great time, with the geese gone to walk the canal paths. With Old Home Week going on, there is supposed to be some activities going on in the Market Street area, although I saw no signs of them this morning/early afternoon, that doesn’t mean the won’t be there later. Continue Reading…

Last week’s shows were pretty much can’t miss. Hope you got out and attended those you wanted to. I had a great time at the Lockport Canal Concert again seeing my old friends Free Henry. I got there too late to hear Bearhunter, but talked with them at the merch booth and picked up a couple CDs. Automaton was a pleasant surprise and I hope to see more of them.

Anyway, here’s what’s on tap for this week:

Tuesday: Artpark (outdoor) George Thorogood & The Destroyers,
                      Tom Hambridge & the Rattlesnakes
Wednesday: Gateway Harbor - Wide Right, Boogie Monsters
Wednesday: Artpark - John Browns Body, Little Mountain Band
Thursday: Lafayette Square - Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Friday: Lockport Canal Concert - Rik Emmett, Wanted by The FBI,
            Friendly Fire
Friday: Gateway Harbor - Widow Maker (probably not the Dee Snider band!)
Saturday: Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor ($) - OAR, Citizen Cope
Saturday: Hard Rock NF - Lou Gramm, Free Henry, McCarthyism and eXit!
Sunday: Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor ($) - Slightly Stoopid,
             Cypress Hill

Continue Reading…