2nd prize: two nights in Cleveland

Still in Cleveland

To the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum at the crack of, well, 10 am, considerably in advance of the rest of las turistas. Now I have a basic issue with the very concept of this institution — despite ample evidence to the contrary, rock and roll likes to think of itself as way outside the mainstream, and what could be more Establishment than a museum, fercrissakes? — but given the limitations imposed by this particular flavor of schizophrenia (quadrophenia?), the Hall works wonderfully well. The exhibits, for the most part, make some sort of demented sense; attention is paid to contemporary acts, reminding us that it didn't all end when Buddy Holly died/the Beatles broke up/Bruce split from the E Street Band/Britney Spears got a #1 hit [choose one]; and the deadpan is utterly perfect: even the goofiest of exhibits (this would be, I think, the Teen Idols section) is treated with reverence. (As a Debbie Gibson fan of long standing, I would be otherwise incensed.)

The food is slightly overpriced but good, the schwag is slightly underpriced but good, and the staff is incredibly overburdened but willing to help with almost anything this side of an Actual Crisis. And while there is a reasonable argument to be made that the Hall's location in Cleveland is due more to heavy lobbying by the city fathers than to any overwhelming importance the city may have in the grand sweep of rock history — in fact, I could swear that Eric Olsen, who lives here, has made that argument once or twice — well, hell, where else would they put it? Duluth?

Oh, before you ask: I blew $111 on schwag, including a wholly-unnecessary couple of bucks for a poly bag of 45-rpm spindle adapters. Yeah, those little yellow spidery things. I figure it's the least I can do for a place that still stocks 45s.

And if you didn't see that title coming: what's wrong with you?

Posted at 2:30 PM to World Tour '03