Blogcritics Author: Benjamin Cossel

Concert Review: Dale Watson - Phoenix, Arizona, April 22, 2008

Benjamin Cossel — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:19:32 EDT

Dale Watson and his Lone Stars descend upon Phoenix for a marathon, genuine country music event.
Ask Dale Watson if he can spare any change and you just might get lucky. Such was the case for one fan, April 22 at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix when Watson and his Lone Stars took to the stage for a typical marathon performance.Watson is the cowboy with no cowboy hat. His boots, plain black with no frills, have the high gloss of paten leather. You...

Interview: Phoenix Bluesman Bob Corritore Shares Vision With World

Benjamin Cossel — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:23:53 EST

A legend in the Phoenix area, Bob Corritore brings his vision of the blues to the world.
At the impressionable age of 12, sitting in his darkened Illinois bedroom, Bob Corritore was struck by lightning. Not the earth-splitting variety from the heavens, but lightning in the form of a song. Like a jolt of electricity straight to the brain, Muddy Waters' "Rolling Stone" put the young Corritore on a path of blues music leading him through...

Mitchell Report Drops, World Barely Blinks

Benjamin Cossel — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 02:04:20 EST

The report drops confirming what we all already knew - now what?
So the much ballyhooed Mitchell Report landed on the world stage with a resounding thud heard ‘round the world, my apologies to Lexington. The question left on everyone’s mind: now what?Now what, indeed. Barry Bonds has got to feel some small measure of satisfaction right now as it dawns on him that he is no longer front and center of...

The Army-Navy Game

Benjamin Cossel — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:58:47 EST

One of college football's most storied rivalries gears up for its 108th playing.
In 1890, the football teams of the U.S. Service Academies; Army and Navy, meet on the gridiron of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY for the first in what would become one of the most storied rivalries in all of college football. Navy took that first match-up, beating the Cadets 24-0.Since the embarrassing, first loss shut-out for Army,...

Out In The Middle of Nowhere: The U.S. Border Patrol

Benjamin Cossel — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:42:36 EST

In the farthest reaches of the Sonoran Desert, the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol hold the line.
SONORAN DESERT, Ariz. -- In May 2001, 26 undocumented aliens walked into one of the most brutal stretches of the Sonoran Desert along the Arizona - Mexico border for reasons as varied as the number of men. At some point in the journey, their guide, a.k.a. the coyote, abandoned the group, leaving them to fend for themselves. When agents of the U.S....

What Do You Know, I Just Might Watch The Dolphins Next Sunday

Benjamin Cossel — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:15:21 EST

Rookie QB John Beck, a possible Ricky Williams return -- Yep, suddenly I'm interested again.
So let's say, that just for a minute, your name is Cam Cameron. Don't know who that is? Not surprising considering how badly his Miami Dolphins are playing this year. 'Course, if you live anywhere in Southern Florida, you know exactly who Cameron is - the Dolphins head coach.There you are, ten games down in the season and you haven't a win yet...

Ricky Williams Eyes Yoga-Aided Return To NFL

Benjamin Cossel — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:22:10 EST

Ricky Williams wants to play football, again, for the third time.
What? Like the Miami Dolphins need more headaches mired in the middle of an 0-fer season! Or, is the possibility that Ricky Williams, a devastating game-changer running back when he felt up to it, suiting up for the 'Fins exactly the shot in the arm this team needs?I certainly don't know, as I've lost all faith in my 'Fins. But with word from NFL...

Don't Forget Veteran's Day

Benjamin Cossel — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:31:38 EST

Maybe some of us should try to see beyond our own noses.
I’ve got a friend name of Whiskey SamHe was my boonie rat buddy for a year in ’NamHe said I think my country got a little off trackIt took ‘em 25 years to welcome me back“Drive On” – Johnny CashSo my son and I, on this gorgeous Saturday morning in November, were going about our normal routine - me drinking my...

NCAA Football Week 11 Preview

Benjamin Cossel — Fri, 9 Nov 2007 20:24:12 EST

USC-Cal, Georgia-Auburn and...well...that's pretty much it, not a lot of key match-ups this weekend, potential for an upset soemwhere?
BC Tailgate is the official home on Blogcritics for college football news, rants, and riffs. Every conference is covered -- we don't play favorites to the big boys.ACC by Geeves...

Concert Review: Gogol Bordello - Tempe, Arizona - October 24, 2007

Benjamin Cossel — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 12:27:05 EST

Rowdy, raucous, Gogol Bordello descends upon Tempe, Arizona.
Gypsy Punk Cabaret – it’s not exactly a genre, not just yet. In fact, most people would probably scratch their head at the notion of punk rock played with a violin as a key member of the band, sirens on backing vocals all while fusing traditional Eastern European and Jewish styling. Indeed, Gypsy Punk Cabaret is the sole domain of the...