Dan Diggler's Blog

I know I said I'd have this video up like 3 weeks ago, but Its taken me this long to finally get my lazy butt to create a youtube account and upload the videos from the night at Wild Bull.

So, here's the video of Brian Lorente and the Usual Suspects rockin' out to "Enter Sandman".  Sorry about the quality. All I had was my phone.(Which to its defense is damn good for picking up that much quality in such low light.)

I've been frequenting a lot of homegrown shows and know of only 2 bands that attempt to play Enter Sandman, The Bronk Bros. and Biran Lorente.

I have to ammend that statement now and say I know one band that actually plays the whole track, Brian Lorente and the Usual Suspects!

I don't know if this will work, but I think we all need to convince the Bronk Bros. to play the whole track and get them both to do it live within the same weekend and post both videos up here and let you vote!

If you like my idea just drop a "Hell Yea" below in the comment section and I'll make sure both band see this post!

Brian Bronk of the Bron kBros phoned in to the studio and we chatted about their New Years tour. They left from Kalamazoo Saturday, the day after Christmas!  They're playin about 5 shows over the course of a week.  They stop of fin Tulsa, ok, Austin, TX, Dallas, TX, and make a stop or two on their way back to make for Homegrown January 6th, 7pm!

I found this video on Country Music Tattle Tale.

Is the cover or the original better?

Will you help in the demise of American Idol?!

American Idol, the TV show that started the careers of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Danny Gokey, may be saying farewell to its most popular judge, Simon Cowell.

Can the show survive without this outspoken judge? 

Fox is signing the show for another 3 seasons, which means , without Simon the ratings will either tank or the hshows will be just as boring as a rewind episode.  There is no way this show will survive without its pioneer.  It was Simon's vision and talent scouting that made this show possible.

Let's see if you will help American idol Tank.  If you agree with the following statements your instructions follow:

• Randy - I don't know if I can stand hearing another season of "Dawg!"
• Paula Abdul - She's not on anymore cuz she's somewhat unstable (Which was very entretaining!!!)
• Kara DioGuardi - She's grammy nominated, but not animated to be entertaining.  If they could get Simon for the first 8 seasons this is who almost fills his shoes.
• Ellen DeGeneres - Almost as cuddly as Paula, but not Crazy enough

Stop watching.  Stop engaging in Idol talk. Remember "idol" something-or-other is the devil's work. Institute TV bans and FOx Network bans on Idol Nights and by now means allow cell phone use, especially ofr text voting!

Will you watch American Idol this season?

It happens every year.  You give a list of gifts to your loved ones, but for some reason they think they know what you want better than you.

It happened to me!  I got 2 video games: Lego: Batman, and Lego: Indiana Jones, for the Nintendo Wii.  I know you're thinking, "WHY IN THE WORLD DON"T YOU WANT THAT"  Well, the truth is...I don't have a Nintendo Wii.

So, now you're stuck with a gift you can't use! Lucky for me I have friends with Wii's, so I sold the games to them, but what do YOU do?!

Tune in at 2:30p and 4:30p everyday this week for a chance to trade those gifts for better gifts you'll be able to use and enjoy!

What crappy gift did you get this year?! Leave a comment!

(Photo credit: alvimann from morguefile.com)

The plan is set from Last Minute X-Mas Shopping Part 1, and you filled in some blanks with ideas from Last Minute X-Mas Shopping Part 2, but you're still a few gifts short. 

GIVE MONEY!

Look I get that you're the type of person who wants to pick something out, becuase you think its more personal and meaningful.  You're right it is! But you've waited to the last second to find a gift.  Give a gift certificate.

By giving a gift certificate you're saying, "I think you deserve something from this store!" More so, you're letting your gift receiver choose the gift that they will receive and will therefore appreciate the item they purchase more than anything you get them.  Its sad, but true.

You're probably saying that's why you get a gift receipt so they can exchange it.  Do you really want to put your loved one through the hassle of an exchange? What if they lose the gift receipt, they're screwed.  Yes, if they lose the gift certificate they lose too, but at least you can say its on them, cuz they're irreponsible not on you for not letting them have the choice. 

So now you're thinking a gift certificate is a good idea, but what stores to go too:

• Electronics - Its a material age where having the newest gadget is a sign of stature
• Music - Don't be going to a physical music store. Get online and grab some iTunes or Rhapsody bucks.  Songs are a buck a piece and some even less. Let your gift receiver customize the songs they're going to buy instead of relegating them to buying a CD with 18 tracks they don't want to get the 1 they do.
• Book stores - From music to great reads never a bad idea! They can even buy that dirty mag you wouldn't!
• Clothing Store - First go to Kohl's or JCPenny, your dollars will go farther and the styles these stores carry are up to date and fit well. If you're dealing with a picky dresser see if your local Mall has a gift card that works in all the stores of the mall. (YES, THESE DO EXIST!)

Hey, you're under the wire! Stop being so picky and start making your plan.  Go back and read Last Minute X-Mas Shopping Part 1, get that plan written up. If you've done that then fill in those gift blanks with ideas from Last Minute X-Mas Shopping Part 2.

I don't know that these 3 posts will make sure you grab all the gifts you want, but at least you'll have something... and something that will be appreciated!

Are there any other great stocking stuffers that you'd love to get?dan.diggler@y965country.com

By now you've read Last Minute X-Mas Shopping Part 1 and you have your plan of attack, but you don't know what to get!

You're in luck because stocking stuffers are the easiest gifts to find and most stores carry these types of gifts in abundance and usually right at the front of the store. (You won't waste time pushing and clawing through aisles of other shoppers)

These are gifts that range from $10-$20 and fit into a sock! So you won't have to carry a crazy awkward box down the aisles on a day when you don't have time to waste.

CDs and Music comes to mind as a stocking stuffer and this year was chock full of great country albums that could appeal to all music lovers. If you're looking to take this route stick the following albums:

• Carrie Underwood - Play On
• Keith Urban - Defying Gravity
• Brad Paisley - American Saturday Night
• Jason Aldean - Wide Open
• Tim McGraw - Southern Voice
• Sugarland - Green and Gold (Only for those who love Christmas WMusic)
• Brook & Dunn - #1's and then Some...

Look you're short on time! So if music isn't the route you want to take look out for Last Minute X-Mas Shopping Part 3 for more ideas.

What are some memorable stocking stuffers you've received?dan.diggler@y965country.com

You've put it off until the last possible day! That's not to say that you don't care, you're just uber busy!  Follow this 3 part series and you'll be sure to hav e gift for everyone on your list.

So, what to get?

I'm going to help you out.  I will have 3 posts over the next 3 days that you should read to help you get in and out in a hurry and with quality gifts that anyone would appreciate.

In this part we'll go through some tactics to employ before even leaving your home. (I hope you have the internet, but if not find a phone book and a phone.) Follow these pointers and you'll be in and out and sitting pretty without breaking a sweat.

1. Do Your Homework:  Make a list of what you're buying and where you can buy it. Call the stores to make sure they even have the item. No one wants to waste time, especially since you're in crunch time!  Use the internet to see if the item is still in stock.  If you don't have the internet, call and see if the item is still in stock. Then ask if they can hold it for you! If they can then you're in luck and skip to step 3, if not go to step 2.
2. Know where you're going when you get there: So they can't hold it for you because 800 frenzied moms are driving like mad to get to the store for the same thing you're trying to get. Get a step up and know where it is in the store.  When calling stores make sure to ask what aisle its in or what your best path is. Now that you know where you're going in each store go to step 3.
3. Map out your driving path: The majority of your time will be standing in check-out lines so plan ahead! Online mapping has evolved to help you get around even faster than ever.  Use the quickest route option and make sure to start at the closest store and end at the farthest.  You'll get to the closest stores faster than other shoppers and have a leg up.  Don't worry about the farthest store, you're already at a disadvantage. This is cut-throat all about speed and precision.
4. Get on the road!

I can't garauntee you'll get everything on your list, especially this late in the game, but if you follow these easy steps you'll at least get 70% of those last minute gifts and the next two posts will fill in the other 30%. 

Now you need ideas!  Come back tomorrow for: Last Minute X-Mas Shopping Part 2 and Wednesday for: Last Minute X-Mas Shopping Part 3 for gift ideas that will please!

Got any tips and tricks you use to reduce the time it take sto shop?  dan.diggler@y965country.com

Finally!! Michigan passed and signed into law a smoking ban.  I do believe that its a shame there are provisions allowign a few exceptions, but at least I can come home not smelling like smoke.(Source: Smoking Ban Gets Inked Today)

Do you agree that state governments should be passing smoking bans?

Crazy Canadians ice fishing! Make sure you watch it all th eway to the end!

How much do you pay for concert tickets? $60, $120, $200?  There might be a day when no one will be able to afford going to a concert.  That might be really soon. 

What if two powerhouses came together?

For those who don't know, back in February, Ticketmaster and LiveNation unanimously agreed to merge into one giant entertanment company.  Here is the current situation:

"Ticketmaster sells tickets for more than 80% of the major arenas and stadiums in the U.S., according to concert tracking firm Pollstar. Live Nation is the world's No. 1 concert promoter and owns more than 140 venues." (Source: Live Nation, Ticketmaster agree to merge)

The concern is that Ticketmaster and LiveNation will control so many venues and artists that they will be abel to set any ticket price they want and charge artists obscene amounts to use their facilities.

There have even been a few websites poppin gup n opposition to the merger. (www.ticketdisaster.org)

Would the merger of the world's two alrgest entertainment firms benefit musicians or the concert going public?

What 's the weirdest holiday greeting you've ever received?