ShanaRay.com

This past Friday I was able to live my 13 year old goth dream of seeing Nine Inch Nails (NIN) in concert.

For payment of teaching Twitter basics to DJ and good friend, Samantha Vega of 101.7 The Fox – Sonoma County’s Rock Station, I was given a ticket to see NIN|JA (NIN and Janes Addiction tour). Sam (aka @SamanthaVega) and I were supposed to drive down to the Shoreline Amphitheatre together, but sadly she was unable to go so I ended up going with an old time good friend and ex of mine who happened to be on crushes. Needless to say, it was a challenge getting anywhere with the crowds of people who were roaming the venue. On the brighter side, we were able to get better seats because of his injury!

Tom Morello’s (Rage Against the Machine) latest project, Street Sweeper Social Club opened up the show and they rocked a cover of MIA’s Paper Planes.

NIN was next and I blissfully screamed at the top of my lungs to “Head like a Hole” and “Down in It.” They ended their set with a song that I claimed as my song that described my middle class 9th grade rage -”Hurt.”

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wish I could shake my thirteen year old self to let me know that no matter how hard I though life may have been, it was nothing to being an adult and having to worry about money, bills, the recession, etc, etc. Life also seems to get better each year which makes all the hardships worth it.

I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t play “Closer” but the situation seems reminiscent of Radiohead’s refusal to play “Creep”…. It may be their biggest song and I would have loved to be able to say that I was able to sing at the top of my lungs to it, but I can respect their decision to omit the song.

Thankfully, Perry Farrell and the rest of the Janes Addiction crew did not omit any of their top hits.  As I mentioned in a tweet from Friday night:

I came a NIN fan and I leave a Janes Addiction junkie I will say it, I am inspired.

Perry Farrell  truly knows how to put on a headlining show.  His stage presence and hilariously animated dancing and singing skills were simply fascinating to watch.   Just as any good drug should, he hypnotized me and left me craving more. I left addicted to the sound of his voice.

Images taken and posted to Flickr by ssanbo. Video of “Jane Says” can be found here.

After a very warm and dry January, we finally are getting some rain in Sonoma County.  Usually during this brief rainy season, us Northern Californians tend to hibernate a bit.  So while there have been a few events going on, I haven’t really been to to much of them.  Maybe because of the economy, maybe the rain, maybe nothing has really caught my eye.

Whatever my reasoning, there are a few things I am looking forward to as we move onto early Spring (it always feels as if Spring starts early here).

This past Wednesday I visited  Napa for a presentation given by Paul Mabray of Vintank, a new Wine Marketing Think Tank.  Here he discussed their introductory project, a social media report about the state of the online wine industry.  I am looking forward to seeing the study when it comes out at the end of the month (okay, this may not be a physical event YET, but it is social media — so it is an event in my eyes).

Mr. Healdsburg is one of the best annual events in our little town.  The event is at the Raven Theater on Saturday February 28th (yes, one week from today).

Start Time: 8pm, doors 7pm
Adults: $25 advance, $30 door – 21 and older only!

Guys from all ages, occupations and popularity participate in a beauty pageant to win the title of Mr. Healdsburg.   It is a great event that the whole town gets a little kooky for.   Be warned – the bars tend to have huge crowds of people after the show!  This year will also be the first that my friend, Samantha Vega, DJ at 101.7  The Fox, will be hosting.

Barn Diva, an amazing restaurant and cocktail lounge just started up Healdsburg’s only dance scene.  Every Friday night (if everyone is behaved) they will be pushing back the tables and playing some great music.  Perfect place to dance, eat some late night food and enjoy great drink specials with your friends.  When it gets a bit warmer and dryer,  they have a gorgeous back patio that will provide more room to play.

Here is a shot of the bar taken from last week’s event.  As you can see, my Twisted rubber chicken is always around.

Now onto the event that in my eyes seems to trumpet over all — Yes it is the Annual Barrel Tasting weekend here in Healdsburg.  For two, count them, TWO whole weekends in March, visitor’s and locals alike will be able to visit all the wineries in Dry Creek, Alexander Valley and the Russian River valley and try samples of wine, straight out of the barrels.

This give wineries the advantage of selling their wines before they are even released.  Though the wine fairly ever tastes the same six months later — It is a great way to get to know the people who make the wine and have some fun.

Okay, before this post gets too long and you get bored with me (like that is even a possibility) I will say  that this event is March 7-8 & 14-15 from 11 am – 4 pm each day.  The price is $20 PER weekend.

Online tickets will be sold January 23 through March 1 for $20 per person.  At the door, the price will be $30 per person.

Since this is one of my favorite events — Be on the lookout for a few more postings before, possibly during and definitely after the event.

I will also be visiting San Fransisco for two social media events at the end of March — The Wine 2.0 and Web 2.0 Expo’s are ironically (or intentionally) planned at the same time.