Nothing beats teambuilding... unless you couple teambuilding with shuffleboard!
Went out to Forest City Shuffleboard with the 107.3 ALT CLE squad (see photo) and lemme tell you, it was a BLAST! I'd never played before, unless you count gym class in grade school, which begs the question that was part of the cirriculum... But as an adult, I have a renewed appreciation for the game and it's all thanks to Forest City Shuffleboard.
So I teamed up with Brady Marks, who claims to have never played as well. Word of advice: if you can be on her team, do it, and if she ever challenges you to a "friendly game of shuffleboard," hard pass! She's deceptively good, which leads me to believe she was sandbaggin' and is some kind of professional shuffleboarder (I'm doing more research as we speak).
Since they've opened at 4506 Lorain Avenue in 2017, business is booming! Hosting leagues, work parties, party parties, reunions, and more! They do it all, and not just with the shuffleboard, but with their kitchen! I had the this chicken slider (see reaction photo below). Heavenly, really! And on a personal note, for someone who doesn't drink (me), Forest City Shuffleboard provides a lot more than just your average bar. Obvi, the shuffleboard, but there are arcade games, and more... They even have that punch game so you can impress your date... or embarass yourself, but that's not the point. The point is there's so much more!
And the staff is so cool! Lexi in marketing and Brian behind the bar - great folks! So book your next party and help support a terrific local biz! As for me, I'll be steady shufflin' shufflin' shuffle-shufflin'... You get it.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Cake lead singer John McCrae to talk about the tour, talk about how misunderstood Cake was, and how some people just still don't get it. Click below to hear the full interview!
If I were making a soundtrack of my life, the mid-90s would be all Green Day. Even more specifically, all "Dookie."
It's hard to believe the album turns 30 next year... THIRTY!! How?! Well, time, that's how. But despite what the calendar says, the album, to me, hasn't aged a day! In fact, it remains a staple in my rotation to this day.
I remember when the album first came out in '94, driving around listening to "Longview" on the radio with my Mom. I used to pretend to cough loudly or make a distracting noise when that one part of the song played (you know which part) to avoid any awkwardness. Hindsight, I realize she knew exactly what they said and I more than likely only made it more awkward.
Remember the hidden track? Man, I was "All By Myself" in my bedroom when I discovered that little nugget! What a moment!
As we approach the official 30th anniversary of "Dookie," Green Day is releasing a delux super edition of the album you know and love. Some highlights of the box set include six LPs, four CDs, unreleased demo recordings, live recording from Woodstock '94, "Dookie" dog poo bags, and more!!
The Dookie 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition is out September 29th, but you can preorder here now!
Fall Out Boy is Fall Out Boy. Blossom is Blossom. But you? You're something special.
Don't get me wrong - Fall Out Boy rivals any other band that's currently touring, as they proved at Blossom this week. And as for our local venue, nestled deep in the woods of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park? Well, I don't have to tell you that it's one of the best concert venues in the country, hands down.
But I'm here to remind you what you're bringing to the table. I had the honor of meeting dozens of you who stopped by the 107.3 Alternative Cleveland tent on your way into Blossom Tuesday night. You made me smile, you made me laugh, heck, a couple of you nearly brought me to tears - no joke! And I appreciate every single one of you.
My man Walt, a Northeast Ohio LEGEND, stopped by for a hug. I appreciate you, Walt! Cindy and Tom told me about the concerts they've seen so far this summer and I got to meet their kids. I appreciate you, Cindy and Tom! Dave wearing his tie-dyed Alt CLE shirt, I appreciate you! Kay and Reagen, two young fans, were able to tell Brady Marks how much they love listening to her. We appreciate you Kay and Reagan! And the young couple from Pittsburgh visiting Blossom for the first time who took an Alt CLE magnet with them, I appreciate you! And the countless others who stopped by to say they won tickets from us, we appreciate you!
Beyond the words here on this page, we appreciate you so very much! You're the reason we do it every day - don't ever doubt that. So until next time, thanks for the memories!
I remember in my reckless youth, getting ready for concerts, there were certain essentials, the specifics of which aren't all that necessary LOL! In fact, often times it was the pregame that I looked forward to more than the actual show! Crazy, right?! Right.
Well now I'm older and, errrr wiser(?), and riddled with more back pain than ever before, so my "pregame" has taken on a whole new meaning. Where I used to be meeting up with friends for drinks before a show (I don't drink any more), now I'm making sure I'm stretched out, I'm well hydrated, and I have everything I need - phone, wallet, keys, Dr. Scholl's inserts, etc.
Coming up the weekend of the 21st I'm heading out of town to see my favorite band two nights at Star Lake in PA. I know what lies ahead - dancing! That's right, I'm a dancer. Not professional by any means, it's more of a hobby at this point. But I've been gradually getting my cardio up in preparation. No joke - I've been dancing to music in the privacy of my own home... and sometimes while I'm mowing my lawn, which is a lot less private (sorry, Neighbor Bill). I mean, you don't just run a marathon without jogging a little bit beforehand, right?!
My point is, as we get older, we have to consider more things, like our proclivity to pull a muscle or bust a hip. So play it safe - stretch, hydrate, update your Emergency Contact information, but most of all, have fun.
I know, I know - no one wants to see my fireworks videos... Which is why I'm posting someone else's fireworks (thanks Cleveland.com). And it's from a drone camera, so it's even cooler!
Happy Fourth, everyone!
The first week of "The Morning Hang w/ Ryan Lang" is in the books!
It all started even before my first official show with a great night out at Blossom. Brady Marks and I had the unbelievable opportunity to introduce Don Broco to the stage! The Brittish band, along with Girlfriends, opened up for Pierce the Veil and The Used Saturday night. The crowd was electric, the music was incredible, and the night was one I'll never forget.
Then, after a wonderful Father's Day bouncing around Cleveland with my wife and kids, it was time to start the show Monday morning. A few bumps in the road at first (sorry Tame Impala *cringe emoji*), but with the help of Jake and Brady Marks, it's been an incredible week.
Growing up listening to Cleveland radio legends, some of the best this business has to offer, I can honestly say this is a dream come true! Thank you for the chance to talk to you every morning. I'm beyond grateful!
Now, let's have a Lang Hang!