Catching up with Earth Crisis vocalist Karl Buechner for the 20th anniversary of ‘Firestorm’

Twenty years ago, the straightedge hardcore band from Syracuse made its first worldwide splash with the EP “Firestorm.” “It doesn’t seem like that many years,” Earth Crisis vocalist Karl Buechner told me over the phone this morning. Yet there is much water under that bridge. Earth Crisis became a leader of its genre. Buechner and…

Our backyard brings out an ahhhhhhh. Where’s your summertime weekday retreat?

Ellie B switches to high alert come half past five every weekday. Every sound out front brings our dear Dogamous Pyle up on the recliner for the very best view out the picture window. It matters not if I’m already there. Ellie B thinks she makes a pretty good laptop. Oh, the routine that surrounds…

It’s time to enjoy (place your product name here)

Cross-promotion has become part of our modern lives. At first I used to hate it. I did not want to see the “American Idol” judges slugging from those huge, red Coca-Cola glasses. Bet it was a different beverage in each cup. Then it just made me squirm a bit. Maybe NASCAR driver Tony Stewart really…

The voices of Ralph Kiner, Bob Uecker and Doug Logan all made me smile

The universe conspired on the day of America’s birthday party to urge me to build this gift of recognition to the voices that help mark our lives. As you saw in my post yesterday, we took Ellie B to march in the Manlius Fourth of July parade with the group from The Dog Gone Inn.…

Dogs on parade to celebrate the Fourth

The good folks of greater Syracuse turned out in a big way for the annual Fourth of July Parade in Manlius this morning. My dear wife Karen and I brought Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, to march along with happy pets and dogged owners from Dog Gone Doggy Day Car, in the Sno Top Plaza.…

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Doobie Brothers on July Fourth. Ain’t that America?

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is coming to Central New York on July Fourth. How American. How jazzy. How cool is that? The M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest takes up its new slot in the entertainment schedule from Thursday to Saturday at Jamesville Beach Park, moving to the holiday weekend for its 31st edition. No more…

Syracuse is now in the ACC. Are you ready?

Wipe that one last tear for the Big East. Syracuse is now officially a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. July 1, 2013. It’s the day that’s been in the making since the surprise announcement in September, 2011, that Syracuse and Pitt were changing league allegiance. Since, Notre Dame was added (in all sports except…

Maybe I did play one round too many this week

As we swept through the aisles of Wegmans for our Friday night replenishment yesterday, my dear wife Karen stopped short. We already had the rice pilaf, bagged salad, chicken breasts, Shake N Bake … This was an unfamiliar department. Seasonal or households or some such. Karen was looking at a doormat. And laughing. She threw…

From the mailbag: Lou Gramm gets his day in Onondaga County, Walter Trout to sizzle at the Dinosaur

It’s officially Lou Gramm Day in Onondaga County. And you thought it was just Friday. Rochester native Gramm is the featured performer tonight at the Key Bank Balloon Fest in Jamesville Beach Park. Gramm, the lead singer during the Foreigner hit-making days three decades ago, has been riding a hot streak. A book chronicling his…

Sometimes golf can become more than a good walk, thanks to Mother Nature

It’s too easy to take notice when Mother Nature gives us one of those harsh reminders who’s boss down here on planet Earth. So we collectively stare and share after hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, destruction. Sometimes, though, she allows us a precious moment to breathe deeply and appreciate the second part of that often-used expression shock-and-awe.…