movies, music, Politics/war

If facemasks, social distancing and small capacity crowds work then why can’t live music and movie theaters return… Hmmmmmmm????

1 Comment

Yup, the country is starting to open still but with restrictions, very strict like “facemask” required and practicing social distance and small capacity crowds is required at businesses.

All that is fine and good, only thing though that bands & music artists across the USA whether national or local can’t have their live music still with a lot of venues closed and strict regulations and all that by their governors.

Movie theaters in some states across the USA are still closed.

My question is why can’t we have our live music and movie theaters back as long as facemask, social distancing and small capacity crowds work? As long as that stuff works then live venues like stadiums, arenas, smaller theaters, clubs and bars should be allowed for bands & artists to return. Bands and music artists whether national or local are still out of live music ’cause they have no venues to play in.

Even though they have no venues and places to play, bands & artists in America find other ways for them to have live music like have live music outdoors. There’s no stopping them doing that. People are smart enough to wear facemasks and practice social distancing and do that stuff even through outdoor live music with small capacity crowds. It works so live music should be able to make a return.

The same goes for movie theaters. Movie theaters should be able to return if facemasks, social distancing and small capacity crowds work. In movie theaters, why not block some seats off so people can be 6 feet apart more and have fewer people in the theaters? That won’t hurt anything at all but they’re still keeping movie theaters closed.

It’s crazy. If that stuff works in small businesses and restaurants then live music concerts and movie theaters should be allowed to return. I don’t see why not?

More proof that it’s about power and control? I would say so. Governors are obsessed with power and the more we give in to them and the more we comply, the more they abuse their power.

Bands and music artists in America need to be out there playing music ’cause that’s what they’re supposed to do. They can’t be staying home.

Movie theaters need to return ’cause all the new movies coming out, that’s hurting the box office the more some movie theaters stay closed. Hollywood needs to get back to work as well.

It’s ridiculous how bands and musicians are not allowed to play live and how they’re keeping movie theaters closed still. I’m hoping movie theaters return this year so I can go see the new Bond movie, “No Time To Die”… if not then I’m gonna have to wait for BluRay release, I guess. I wanted to go see the new Christopher Nolan film, “Tenet” but no movie theaters open to see it at that time and I’ve been dying to see that film too. Sucks so much.

This pandemic shit will be over with soon and I’m predicting sometime after the election ’cause it’s all about the election. All this power and control is just so Democrats can have something to run on ’cause that’s all they got.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Another Plan to get more powerlifting gains quicker, less is more???

1 Comment

I’m trying to come up with ways so I can really bring up my numbers on the big three lifts: bench, squat and deadlift in powerlifting. I already came up with a few ideas that I need to stay consistent with the training like I’ve been doing in the past and also never missing any lifts during training. I’ve learned that you’re not going to get anywhere in powerlifting if you’re going to keep missing lifts all the time. You need to keep doing the lifts that you know you can handle. That’s how you actually get somewhere.

I’ve also decided to shorten my training sessions for the big three slightly. Admittedly, I think doing 6 sets for a few reps each is a bit much. So I’m going to do 5 sets for training sessions on the big three from now on. I’ve learned that less is more so maybe that’ll help some. A lot of powerlifters especially the more experienced and advanced powerlifters go from 5 sets to 10 sets during their training sessions.

I think I’m gonna go for 5 sets from now on. 5 sets per training session on the big three sounds good to me. I don’t need to spend more than an hour training on the big three ’cause it does seem like forever, you need to rest a long time in between sets too. Powerlifting is a different game than bodybuilding, both training styles are way different.

I did 5 sets of bench last Monday and felt real good. Seems quicker. Powerlifters always doing so much in their training and in my opinion, less is more. Lets give that a try and see how that goes.

I’m hoping to get a 200 lb. bench and 200 lb. squat before the year ends. If not then I should definitely be able to get to at least 170 – 180 lbs. on both. We’ll see. I’m gonna train smart this time around so I can start going somewhere with my numbers.

In powerlifting training, you don’t want your numbers staying the same or going down ’cause that’s bad and I’ve had that happen lots of times. Gotta stop that. The whole point of powerlifting is that you want your numbers on the big three to keep going up, up, up and up. That’s the name of the game.

If I want to become a great powerlifter someday and earn respect in the industry, I gotta keep going up on the numbers. I’m gonna try the best I can for the rest of this year and all of next year.

I love powerlifting. So glad I got into this sport. Hope to stay in it for a long time.

Kev

music

John Petrucci’s new solo album “Terminal Velocity”… Can’t stop listening to this one… so damn good!

Leave a comment

I’ve been a longtime Dream Theater fan and I’ve heard every album they’ve ever done. John Petrucci has been one of my top 10 favorite guitarists for a long time. I never heard his solo music until now. This is his brand new solo album that he just released titled, “Terminal Velocity”. This is John’s second solo album. John hasn’t released a new solo album since 2005.

Why did John release a new solo album this year? Well because of the Covid-19 pandemic obviously. While Dream Theater isn’t doing anything ’cause of the pandemic, not touring and things like that, John had to keep himself busy playing music so he recorded a new solo record.

This is the first time I’ve heard of John’s solo music and I was real impressed. I’ll tell ya though that John’s solo stuff is definitely way different than Dream Theater. It was nice to finally be able to hear what he could do outside of Dream Theater. The band Dream Theater is known as a prog rock metal band but John’s solo music is totally outside of that realm.

On “Terminal Velocity”, you’ll hear more happier and upbeat rock songs. More jazz and fusion too. Yes, you’ll hear John’s usual guitar shredding but it’s way more musical than Dream Theater. What I love about this album the most is that it reteams John with former Dream Theater drummer, Mike Portnoy which is badass.

“Terminal Velocity” is an addicting album. Just got it not too long ago and I find myself coming back to it a lot. It makes me want to buy John’s first solo album, “Suspended Animation” (2005) real soon.

John is a great guitarist and wish that man would get recognized more. I love his playing style. It’s refreshing to hear John do instrumental stuff and I knew he could do instrumental guitar music. “Terminal Velocity” is great. Really loved the album and glad I got it.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Where Have all the gym Crowds gone… now that gyms are back???

Leave a comment

Yes, gyms are finally back in NY state. Gov. Andrew demanded that crowd capacity should be 33%. Some gyms in NY state follow that rule and some ignore it. Even though gyms are back open and even though gym crowd capacity needs to be at 33% or under, you’re still seeing pretty much empty gyms all over NY state. You’re seeing very few people working out there throughout the day…

Why is this you may ask? Well the pandemic and covid-19 certainly did turn a lot of gym members against the gym. A lot of people out there are still scared to death of the virus and take it seriously and many refuse to go back to the gym ’cause they believe it’s not safe. There’s also this other half that are not scared of the virus at all but they refuse to workout with a mask on at the gym. It’s a combination of both reasons why you’re seeing dead crowds at the gyms.

I’m sure gym goers didn’t give up working out, though. I’m seeing many more gym goers building their own gyms at home… or if they have a friend or family member that has a home gym, they use theirs. Either that or some gym goers find other gyms around NY to join. Some may have stopped working out due to no gym access like I did.

Ya know, people would think I might be crazy for going right back to the gym as soon as it opened but I’m not scared of the virus and I’m not taking it seriously when the death count is very low and recovery rate very high. I’m not panicking like most… so I still try to go out and about and enjoy my day.

When this covid-19 pandemic shit is all over with will gym crowds come back? Probably and hopefully ’cause gyms needs its members in order to survive. They can’t stay at low capacity for so long. Some gyms are gonna close for good ’cause they can’t afford to stay open anymore and they’ll lose a lot of money.

I’m hoping the Battenkill Branch won’t close for good ’cause of the pandemic ’cause that’ll suck. I’m sure it won’t, though. Things will get back to normal, I’m sure. I’m predicting the country will fully comeback after the Election like everyone is saying ’cause this lockdown stuff is all about the election.

Anyhow, I’m actually okay with gyms having no crowds ’cause truthfully people fucking suck at gyms: Hogging equipment, not putting equipment back, not wiping down things when they’re done, not picking up trash, etc. I don’t have to worry about waiting to use a piece of equipment when I need to use something and don’t have to put up with chatty people bothering me during my workout… so yeah I’m good with low capacity crowds. It’s more peaceful to workout when it’s all quiet too.

I’m sure it’ll all get back to normal soon, though.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Unfortunately, gotta get used to powerlifting training again which will be a few weeks, I guess…

Leave a comment

Uggghhhh… since I’ve been away from the gym for so long due to Pandemic and lockdown bullshit, I really do gotta get used to the gym again ’cause I’m still not used to it honestly. It’ll be a few weeks and then I’ll be on fire again with my powerlifting training.

I was doing deadlift this morning at the gym doing my strength training on that… doing few heavy reps for each set and each rep felt kind of heavy on me so that’s a sign I’m not used to it since I’ve been away for soo long? Yep.

I’m gonna keep doing what I do week after week and then I’ll start training really good again. Just gotta get used to it, I guess. Just keep going and then suddenly, I might get even more gains ’cause of it.

I do miss the gym and glad to be back finally. It’s what I’m supposed to be doing and where I’m supposed to be. I plan to stick with this for the rest of the year and all of 2021, next year. No more time off.

I really want to bring my numbers up on the big three and not going to rush. Take my time.

Kev

music

Metallica… I don’t understand why a lot of people continue to hate on this band…

1 Comment

Metallica has always been my favorite band for years ever since I was a young kid and still love that band now. I’ve heard everything they’ve done and love everything they’ve done. I never got to see Metallica live in concert until they came to Albany for the “Death Magnetic” tour… that was the only time I got to see them live and it was a great experience.

During their thrash metal era between “Kill ‘Em All”, “Ride the Lightning”, “Master of Puppets”, “And Justice For ALL” and the “Black Album”… fans love them. Everybody loved them back then but I believe all the hate and controversy with Metallica started during the “Load/Reload” eras. I remember when those two albums first came out… the band was in a major backlash. Due to their change of sound and their image. That’s when the band completely ditched “thrash” metal ’cause they grew so tired of it and they decided to cut their hair for their albums too. Even their haircuts sparked a lot controversy which was crazy.

I can understand why Metallica did that ’cause they were trying to fit in with the times, ya know? In the 90’s, the alternative rock era was exploding and Metallica wanted to fit in there. They got tired of playing thrash metal all the time and wanted to go for something different. I believe they wanted to focus on songwriting more which is why they did it. They wanted to be looked as songwriters too, not just a bunch of guys banging on power chords and headbanging. They wanted to show people that they are more.

But the controversy with Metallica’s music didn’t stop there… it happened even more when the album “St. Anger” came out in the early 2000’s. People trashed that album like crazy. The two biggest complaints about that album was Kirk having no solos on it and Lars’s weird sounding snare drum throughout the record.

Ya know, I didn’t have a problem with “Load/Reload” and “St. Anger”… actually, I find those three albums pretty fucking amazing and I mean that. “Load/Reload” they showed they can be great songwriters and “St. Anger” was a real heavy and tight album. “St. Anger” was pretty heavy, admit it but no one will. I thought it was a fun album.

The band continues to get criticized for staying away from thrash and heavy stuff. They tried to bring thrash and heavy stuff back when “Death Magnetic” came out. They gave what the fans wanted but sure enough, they’re still complaining. Yes, they brought the thrash back with that album but a lot of fans were saying some of it sounded like the Black album and Load/Reload still.

Then in 2016, Metallica released their latest album “Hardwired To Self Destruct”… with this album they definitely brought back their 80’s thrash and finally, this album got a lot of positive reviews from fans & critics. Many were saying this is Metallica in its true form. This album took the band years to make ’cause they wanted to make it sure was going to be a good one and it was.

Metallica continues to get a lot of hate and negativity even to this day, though. They haven’t been forgiven for their Napster battle and they continue to shit on “St. Anger”. Now that Metallica did that album with Lou Reed “Lulu”… people were shitting on that album like mad ’cause they didn’t get Lou’s singing. I thought it was a great album myself and still listen to it once in a blue moon. I thought it was cool to see Metallica work with someone else and it proved they could make music other than their own stuff.

People should respect Metallica more ’cause love ’em or hate ’em, the band accomplished a lot. They are hit makers too. While it seems like James Hetfield wrote a lot of the bands songs, not really ’cause Lars did most of the work. Lars is pretty much the leader of the band ’cause he directs every aspect of it. Watch all the Metallica footage in youtube for proof on that especially their studio sessions. Yeah, James, Kirk and Rob write together it’s Lars that writes all the songs and put the arrangements together. He’s the one who picks all the riffs that James and Kirk writes. If Lars don’t like the riffs, he’ll trash ’em and would only use the stuff that Lars likes. If Lars doesn’t like what James and Kirk plays, Lars will get onto them about it and try to improve their playing. Watch the videos for proof. Lars does all the work in the songwriting.

You may ask, how does a drummer in a band writes the songs? Well if you’re good with timing and rhythm which Lars is good at, you can make any music you want. It is Lars who is responsible for all of Metallica’s hits… James just provides rhythm guitar, lyrics and vocals. So technically Lars does most of the songwriting and he’s the primary songwriter. Not James.

Lars is in charge of everything… that man works hard and people want to trash the band still. I don’t get it. Lars not only works hard in the studio, he’s also in charge of the marketing/promoting of the band, in charge of the rehearsals and concerts. All of it. That’s because Lars started Metallica years ago himself and he was the one who recruited James first. Lars formed Metallica himself and all it took was that he posted an ad in a newspaper asking that he was looking for members to form a band and James was the first to reply. James and Lars been together ever since. From posting an ad in a newspaper to becoming the biggest metal band of all time. They didn’t get where they are overnight that’s for sure.

This band should be respected more ’cause they put on the best live shows. They kill it every time. They don’t fake anything. They played all over the world even Antarctica. That’s another reason to respect ’em more.

Metallica just released the new live album, “S & M 2” and it’s freaking amazing. The album backed by a live orchestra. Hearing Metallica backed by a live orchestra, just makes their music sound even better especially their hits. “S & M 2” really sick album, gotten around to listening to it this week. James is such a great singer too and his singing is pretty strong on this album. “S & M 2” way better than the first one

Metallica just confirmed they are at work on another new album but who knows how long it will take for them to release it. They are working on new riffs and stuff, though. They have tons of riffs so it will take a while for them to pick which ones they like.

Long live the Mighty Metallica… I’ll always love them no matter what the haters say or think and I’m definitely looking forward to their next record whenever they get it out.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Getting back into heavier lifting again this week, feels good…

Leave a comment

2nd week back in the gym and today was leg day. Got chest day and arm day out of the way this week and then got back day tomorrow. So that means since it’s back day tomorrow, it’s deadlifting day.

Well I’m back to my strength training on the big three lifts this week: bench, deadlift and squat. Back to doing heavier sets and few reps. This time I’m gonna train more smart and be even more careful. Definitely stay injury free from now on.

Admittedly I did lose a little bit of “strength” on the big three lifts but nothing too bad. I can get back what I lost easily and quickly. Get even more gains so I’m not too worried about it.

For bench… I’m around 140 lbs. – 150 lbs.

For squat… I’m about 120 lbs. – 130 lbs. p.r.

For deadlift…. I’m about 275 lbs. – 285 lbs. p.r. (maybe a little more)

This week I spent some time trying to figure out where my numbers are at right now and that’s pretty much it, I believe.

For the rest of the year, I’m going to concentrate and focus on bringing my numbers up even more. Continuing my strength training week after week and not missing any lifts. “Missing lifts” in powerlifting means you can’t get that rep.

I really need to bring up my squat numbers ’cause it’s pretty low right now but I had to be so I can squat with the right depth for powerlifting, ya know? The right depth for powerlifting, the crease of the hip needs to be below the top of the knee which pretty deep. I didn’t like squats in the beginning but I’m finally starting to like it more. Getting way better at squats too.

My goal for the big three is to get over 300 lbs. for reps on deadlift… get over 150 lbs. for squats and bench for reps. I can try and accomplish those goals if I stay consistent and I will and not miss any lifts if I want to go somewhere. Missing lifts during training in powerlifting is not good and that was my problem in the past. No more of that.

I want to try to bring my numbers up big before 2020 ends and I believe I can. Hopefully I’ll be able to do a powerlifting meet in 2021… I’m sure the country will be back to fully normal then.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Lifting weights with masks on at the gym is even more dangerous and unsafe…

1 Comment

Well, it’s my second week back in the gym. Ever since I’ve been back, I’ve been wearing facemasks while lifting weights and yes, makes me feel even more uncomfortable. It definitely seems even more dangerous and unsafe too.

While lifting weights, you need air and you need to breathe… a facemask just blocks the air. It’s real tough working out with a face mask on. With a facemask, it makes you feel even more warmer, a sweaty mouth with a facemask on is not good. Working out with a facemask on, you’re almost out of breath after a set and makes you feel you want to pass out.

Check out the video above… the guy in the video above decides to give it a try and show us what it’s like and what he goes through is the same thing I go through.

While King Cuomo mandated masks in NY gyms, some gyms in NY state ignores the “face mask” rule ’cause some NY gyms knows how dangerous it can be but other gyms strictly enforce the facemask rule like the YMCA. At the YMCA, I would workout without a mask on myself but if you get caught without a mask on, you’ll be kicked out of the gym and I can’t deal with that.

That’s why at the gym, I shorten my workout days slightly so I can get in and out for about an hour and a half or so. I don’t want to stay in the gym any longer than that ’cause it’s dangerous working out in the gym for a few hours. While working out in a gym with masks on, I already want to get out of there. That’s why I pick like 4 or 5 workouts to do each day for each body part. Go in and out real quick ’cause I don’t like lifting with these masks on but I do it anyways. Just not stay in there for so long, ya know?

Not only you need to breathe during your workouts, it’s also hard to concentrate and focus with these fucking masks on.

Yeah, I’m anti-mask for sure. I’ve hated facemasks since the beginning. It looks like facemasks will be around until we get a vaccine which is gonna suck. Facemasks won’t be a forever thing, though, they’ll disappear soon. It’s ridiculous that we have to get forced to wear these things. I don’t like it and they don’t work anyways.

Other than that, my workouts and powerlifting training at the gym is going well for the most part. Felt really sore all over my body for several days but the soreness is gone pretty much. Just gotta get used to the gym again.

Glad to be back… the gym is where I belong and it’s what I’m supposed to be doing.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Consistency is really key to improving numbers in powerlifting training, no other way around it…

Leave a comment

When asking for advice on how to bring up my numbers on the big three: bench, squat and deadlift… I get the most popular answer… “consistency” meaning unchanging and stay the same. Yup, that means you can’t stop. Gotta keep going. No breaks. No long time off ’cause that’s not gonna give you more gains. You gotta keep going… week after week, year after year. Yeah, the gym may be getting sick of you in there all the time but you gotta do what you gotta do to get those big gains.

So if I want to one day lift the huge numbers on the big three… like say smash a 700 lb. deadlift or be able to lift over 400 lbs. on bench and squat… I can get there with consistency. That’s really the key to getting strong in powerlifting.

If you want to get muscular and big in bodybuilding, you need to stay “consistent” with that too. Never giving up and not stopping. Staying dedicated and you will get somewhere.

There are people out there who don’t really take me seriously as “powerlifter” since I’m only lifting between 100 lbs. – 300 lbs. on the big three but hey, I’m new to this “powerlifting” thing as I have only been into it for a few years now. Started powerlifting in 2018. I may be in a small start but give me a few more years and maybe people will start calling me an actual “powerlifter”??? Real soon.

I’m a 43 year old man and I’m real late getting into powerlifting. I always saw myself as a bodybuilder type of lifter but got into powerlifting real late. Some may say I’m too old to be powerlifting but age is just a number. At powerlifting meets, I see a lot of middle aged men from 50 and above. There are even men who are 70 years old powerlifting and lifting the big ones. If you want to get into powerlifting, do it… no matter the age.

One day I will be able to deadlift over 500 lbs. and trust me, I will get there one day. There are really no magic tricks to getting big gains… consistency is the only trick, I guess.

Gotta be like the Energizer bunny, ya know? Keep going and going and going and going and going and going… ya get the deal. That’s why I can’t give this up. Before the pandemic, I kept going to the gym week after week.

It seems I haven’t lost gains at all during 4 or 5 month time off which is kind of interesting really. If you don’t workout, you will lose gains but not right away. I guess it takes a long time to actually lose muscle.

Kev

The Official Music Website of Kevin Brock – Brocking N' Rolling