The Stank of Dark Places
I’ve completely run out of my Shrek 2 cereal this morning. Now I’m jonesing for it. The donkey marshmallow were especially delicious.

Got to see John Vanderslice with Pedro the Lion at First Avenue last night. Vanderslice had a great set. I missed him last time through on his Spring Tour (photos), so I was glad to be around for this shot. Of the recent turmoil at First Avenue, you certainly can’t tell that anything has changed yet. I sincerely hope that First Avenue will be around for a good long time and continue to book bands that could not otherwise play a large room in Minneapolis without getting into bed with Clear Channel.

Last night while standing in line at security check and waiting to get a ticket, I was overcome with nostalgia from breathing in that sweet metallic musk that is so distinctive to the entrance of First Avenue. It finally hit me that the smell is the same stink you will find in almost all Greyhound bus stations across America. Which makes sense on the surface, for First Avenue was a Greyhound bus station before being renovated into a night club. On the other hand, that was 25 years ago. One would think that the pure stench of rock and the road weary incense of a thousand band/fan combos would have at least scented the bouquet of the place with a bit more tang and spice then your average bus depot. Perhaps the stench of the Greyhound is just too powerful.