Billboard’s 25 Best Rock Posters of All Time

This is one of the cooler “Best Of” lists I’ve seen in a while and it’s sort of a follow up to The Blot’s earlier Pearl Jam vs. Ames Bros. post. Billboard.com has compiled a list of The 25 Best Rock Posters of All Time and the Ames Bros.’ concert poster for Pearl Jam’s September 15, 2005 show in Montreal, Quebec is ranked #12. Congrats to both the Ames Bros. and Pearl Jam!

The list seems to be pretty comprehensive and actually a lot more varied than I would have expected. Obviously the list is open to interpretation and I’m sure people have their favorites that didn’t make the list, but that’s what’s great with any “Best Of” list. The list actually goes back as far as 1956 and covers a crazy array of artist including the obvious ones (the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, the Coachella festival), classics artists (The Beatles, Elvis, the Rolling Stones, James Brown) and everything in between (Elvis Costello, Thelonious Monk, Pennywise, The Decemberists, the Family Values Tour).

My favorite one on the list comes in at #23 by the House of Blues Concerts. It is a poster for Ben Harper’s performance at the Sasquatch Music Festival, May 26-28 2006, at The Gorge. There’s just something about the way the poster captures Ben Harper’s facial expression in the tree's leaves that I really like.

Once again if you’re interested in purchasing the new coffee book Pearl Jam vs. Ames Bros., you can do so here or here.

Dr. Jones! Dr. Jones!

Nothing gets The Blot more excited about a movie than the name Indiana Jones. How can a movie not be amazing when it combines two of the greatest minds in epic moving making, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, with Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford. What pains me to no end is that it took almost 20 years since the last Indiana Jones installment for this movie to be made. I'm sure the special effects will be much better than in the first three movies, but I have to believe something will be missing after the prolonged layoff. If nothing else it probably means less screen time for Ford and more for Indy's son in the movie, Shia LaBeouf.

Here's the official first movie poster for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull due out May 22, 2008.

I just pray this movie is better than the last time Lucas decided to revisit one of his storied franchises (Star Wars). Thankfully, Spielberg has had a much better track record in recent years for making entertaining movies.

And if you haven't been to Disneyland lately, there's a new ride, Indiana Jones Adventure, that's a must for any Indiana Jones fan. It was by far the best ride I went on in my trip there last week. Whatever you do, don't let the tremendously long line scare you off!

An Ice Cream Sandwich To Die For

If you ever find yourself near or around the UCLA campus you have to make a pit stop to Diddy Riese. The Blot went there for the very first time before the Texas/UCLA game and I already can't wait to go back.

Diddy's is a really popular Ice Cream and Cookies shop right next to the UCLA campus and has been around since 1983. If you know anyone that went to UCLA ask them about it and I'm sure they'll have some fond memories. They're best known for their Ice Cream Sandwich which is any two cookies of your choice and a scoop of any flavor ice cream you want. The whole thing is $1.50, and honestly, it was the best $1.50 I've ever spent. Evidently they used to be only $1.25 but the price was recently raised .25 cents, which has sent shockwaves through UCLA's campus.

If you want to skip out on the ice cream, the cookies are only .35 cents each or 3 for $1 and they're pretty damn good on their own. So remember, if you're heading to Westwood or in the vicinity of UCLA trust The Blot and head over Diddy Riese. I've been told on weekend nights the line wraps around the block and there can be anywhere between 50-100 people in line so make sure to get their early and bring an appetite!

Diddy Riese
926 Broxton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 208-0448