Has anybody seen a dog dyed dark green?

***WARNING***This post is long and has several photos

I LOVE the B-52’s! I have been a fan of them since my early teens. I am a huge fan of songs such as Planet Claire, Mesopotamia, Summer of Love, Rock Lobster, Housework, Quiche Lorraine, etc. Their lyrics are quirky their sound is funky and fun. I loved their Cosmic thing album—It just annoyed me when people would say “have you heard ‘Love Shack’ by that NEW band?"—Excuse me! They’ve been around since, like, the 70’s so get with it, puh-leaze! One more thing I love is the awesome Beehive updos!

The first time I went to a concert was in August 1989. I was supposed to go with some friends from school-Jessie and Val? I think. But for some reason they couldn’t go, but I went with my brother Mark anyway. I remember waiting in a HUGE line outside the Rivera in downtown Chicago. When we got in it was kind of a standing room only thing and Mark and I were so close to the stage we could practically touch it, but first we were subjected to endure Royal Crescent Mob! They were awful (all I can remember of the lyrics and songs are :’Walkin along with my bay-bee, walking along blah blah blah’ It was horrendous. But Mark and I had fun—we made friends with a guy who was so drunk. He was really funny to talk to. (until he asked for a ride home) He commented that the “mob” was a test to see how dedicated of fans we were and if we would stay for the B-52s. Mark told everyone he was my boyfriend or date or something and kept me close by him because we were packed in there like sardines and being pushed to and fro. At one point I was standing on his feet to avoid being stepped on myself. It really was a madhouse! But I was going to get to see the B-52s so it was OK. But then they were delayed. It felt like an hour for them to come on stage after the opening act, and by that point, Mark and I had had enough of being trampled on and went up to the balcony to watch. The Riv was small so the balcony still wasn’t too far, but wouldn’t you know as soon as we left they came on AND the crowd settled down because the B-52s told them to. Oh well, at least I got to see them and hear them LIVE! It was awesome!

See. Here is my T-shirt from the concert. Notice the Neon Pink color-very indicative of the year isn’t it?!

Did I mention that I LOVE their Beehive hairdos?
That year for Halloween I dressed up as a member of the B-52’s—like a wannabe back-up singer or something. I looked so cool I even made it into the school newspaper!
Who makes up these quotes! I’m sure I didn’t say something that sounded that dumb and lame!

And who IS that CUTE farm girl!? She is simply adorable—what a twinkle in her eye!

I had to get full use out of my cute dresses so I must’ve changed for trick-or-treating. (Hey if you dress up it is OK to go at ANY age)Later that year, in December I went to another B-52s concert. This one was at the Aragon Ballroom and the Band that opened for them was soooo good. I had never heard of them before but they had a Funky name—something like Toad, the Wet Sprocket—I even thought of buying their album that night but didn’t. I hope they became successful cause they sure were good.;) (unlike the aforementioned band) This time I went with Bryn—We dressed up for the event. Who are those two hip chicks? We had people ask us “What’s that on your head?” and if you are a true fan you will know the answer to that question if it is asked of you at a B-52s concert and you have a beehive or boufont do. (Paul-I’m talking to you) We may have gone with other people (Werner? Juli? Lame- I know! Bryn fill in the missing details ) I just remember that this concert was a much more positive experience than the first—better music & crowd.

I love the B-52s so much that I wrote it in my succinct (read: pitiably short) introductory letter to my freshman room mates. One of which decided she was not going to like me based on my letter and my love of the B-52s and my “dooby-dooby” music as she called it. I still don’t get the ”dooby-dooby” label, but whatever. Imagine her horror as she walked into her freshman dorm room with posters of the B-52s hanging all around. Not only did she have to share an apartment with me, she had to share a room (we got along wonderfully despite our vast differences in musical tastes. We were roommates til I got married, even.)

So why the tribute to the B-52’s? Well, Their album, Funplex, came out yesterday and I have been listening to it online to decide whether it is worth buying and I have to say, I am really disappointed. They still have the same sound, yet it is lacking the magic to me.
The song Funplex has a fun sound and I did hear a good remix of it in Jamba Juice, but I don’t LOVE it. The only song that I REALLY like and will download is Juliet of the Sprits it has really great Kate and Cindy harmonies which I have always preferred. I am disappointed. I’m trying to decide if I’m just getting old and too mellow or if this album is just enough different to simply not do “it” for me—I’ll go with the latter cause I refuse to admit that I'm old!  

As a side bar I just learned that Kate Pierson  owns a hip little motel in the Catskills in NY so if you're ever in that part of the country and need a place to rest your head this could be fun.

What are you're opinions on the B's new album, if you have any opinions on it at all or even care!?  Are there songs you feel I should give another listen to for another chance?