Late December in New York is always a special time. Arriving on a packed Christmas Day flight from Los Angeles to Newark, the collective energy and anticipation from incoming travelers alone is enough to elicit an ear-to-ear smile. Reconnecting with family and friends, exchanging gifts, and enjoying relaxing meals made the first two days fly by in a joyous frenzy, and this was all prior to setting foot in Manhattan. An annual tradition, seeing a run of concerts leading up to New Year’s Eve at different clubs and theatres around the city is an appropriate way to celebrate and this year proves to be no different with numerous choices for nighttime entertainment consisting of a diverse array of bands to appease most all musical tastes. Wear & Tear jumped headfirst into the action with a visit to Terminal 5 last night for The Word.

Sacred Steel guitarist Robert Randolph led the five-piece band, backed by organ maestro John Medeski of New York favorite jazz-fusion trio MMW and the down and dirty crunch of the North Mississippi Allstars: Chris Chew on bass, Cody Dickinson on drums and electric washboard, and newly appointed Black Crowe Luther Dickinson on guitar. This was my first chance to go to the relatively new venue Terminal 5, and it turned out to be a mixed bag. The cavernous three-story room’s ambience was equivalent to that of a barren warehouse and possessed a reverberating echo depending on where one stood on the dance floor. As the show progressed, the initially rigid crowd began to warm up to the groove and by the second set people were finally getting down. This was not the band’s fault as they jammed for a two and a half hours of soulful, playful, improvisational rock, funk, and blues. The second of four shows booked for this week on the East Coast, these were their first gigs since a 2005 appearance at the Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee and their first tour since 2002. Given the rarity of seeing musicians such as this away from their usual groups, and to be surrounded by approximately 2500 eager listeners, this was a show well worth the minor gripes and turned out to be a great experience after all.

The thrill of a week-long vacation in New York has not tempered my enthusiasm for rooting on the LA Lakers, who face the Utah Jazz tonight at 10:30 EST. The Lakers’ impressive and convincing victory against the Phoenix Suns on Christmas was another indication of the team’s tenacity and growth since last year’s first round playoff exit. Andrew Bynum yet again trumped his previous career high in points with 28 and 12 boards and Kobe went well over average with 38 of his own. Tonight’s game should be another hard-fought battle, leading to Sunday’s highly anticipated contest against the dominant Boston Celtics. Wear & Tear was lucky enough to score a ticket and will be at Staples Center to root on Purple and Gold against the currently 24-3 Green Giants. Until then, the concerts keep on coming as the Disco Biscuits are set to perform at Hammerstein Ballroom this evening for what is sure to be an exhausting, all-night dance party. Be sure to check back for more music and sports reviews as 2007 comes to a close.

This year Christmas Eve also means the final Monday Night Football game of the season and it should be an exciting match up out West as the 9-5 San Diego Chargers host the 6-8 Denver Broncos, which can be seen at 5 pm on ESPN. I went down to Qualcomm last Sunday for my first NFL game in around 19 years and the Bolts rewarded my patience with a 51-14 demolition of the Detroit Lions. Should the Chargers “win out” their remaining two games, they would earn the #3 spot in the AFC and thus avoid facing the still undefeated Patriots until the AFC championship game at the earliest. Although the seemingly unstoppable New England Patriots rolled over the Miami Dolphins without much difficulty yesterday, I’m still holding out hope that the New York Giants can fulfill the role of spoiler to their perfect campaign in Week 17.

One last trip to the Santa Monica Promenade this afternoon will take care of the remaining gift purchases, soon to be followed by packing bags for the week in New York. Tomorrow’s cross-country flight doesn’t even land until 5:30 pm so, for the second year in a row, a majority of Christmas Day will be spent traveling. Those of you who live close to your families and don’t have to fly should feel especially lucky to be near to the ones you love all year-round. The many potential headaches will all be worth it upon arrival for Christmas dinner, an eagerly anticipated and cherished tradition.

The next blog entries will be coming straight from the Big Apple. Until then I hope all the readers of Wear & Tear have a wonderful, peaceful, and Merry Christmas!

It was great to see the Lakers finish up their road trip out East with a victory against the New York Knicks this morning. Kobe poured in 39 points and became the 31st player to reach 20,000 career points along the way. Although Purple and Gold blew a big lead and made it a nail-biter at the end, a win’s a win and hopefully they can make it three in a row with Tuesday’s home contest against Phoenix. The New York Giants clinched a spot in the NFL postseason after a snowy 38-21 battle against the Buffalo Bills so, as a fan of those two franchises, today’s been a total success so far. Even the imposing task of holiday shopping on the Sunday before Christmas was handled deftly by a brief visit to the Hallmark store across Wilshire. With one or two more gifts to pick up, I’m hardly in the clear but feeling a whole lot better about my prospects of making it in time as the final few won’t be opened until December 26th anyway.

For today’s movie review Wear & Tear would like to welcome our very own Arresting Officer to give us her impression of the police action comedy Hot Fuzz:

“With the title Hot Fuzz I expected someone on screen to be at least as sexy as me, but no such luck. What it lacked in handcuffs and nightsticks, it made up for in laughs which were so riotous it was almost criminal. The two stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost weren’t as hot as Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in Bad Boys II, a movie this is gleefully patterned after, but I’d welcome them into my station for a little pat down search and interrogation anytime. So do whatever it takes – cop a plea if you have to – and see Hot Fuzz on DVD, you won’t regret it.”

While I’m sure it already seems like winter in the rest of the country, it’s another typically clear, sunny, and relatively warm day here in Los Angeles. So, it’s high time to go out and savor it because flying East on Christmas can be compared to vacationing inside a freezer. Until tomorrow, thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Also a special thanks to our Arresting Officer for her contribution, we hope to have many more guest reviews to come so come back and refresh at Wear & Tear.

The Disco Biscuits played an in-studio set yesterday evening for the Jam On channel of SIRIUS Radio and they sounded tight and in good spirits. Fresh off the Caribbean Holidaze weekend in Jamaica with Umphrey’s McGee, the Benevento/Russo Duo and others, the broadcast was a mix of interviews with the band members, phone calls from fans, and live performances including the debut of “Alter Ego” from a forthcoming album. It’s coming up on nine years since I first saw them at the long gone Wetlands and although having replaced drummer Sam Altman with Allen Aucoin along the way, they remain as one of the last heavy hitters in a waning jam band scene. A quartet of Colorado shows in January followed by an appearance at Florida’s Langerado Festival precede a European tour in March, so give them a shot if you like all-night dance parties and rubbing elbows with sweaty, bug-eyed freaks. Their New Year’s run of shows includes two nights at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, keep an eye out for a review of the first night next week. Along with The Word at Terminal 5, Soulive with the Greyboy Allstars at Nokia Times Square, and Porter, Batiste, and Stoltz at the Blender Theater there should be more music reviews to come on Wear & Tear in these last days of 2007.

Following the Lakers’ loss to LeBron and the Cavaliers last night, I popped in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End to see how that trilogy wraps up. With a running time of two hours and forty-five minutes, and having only made it a half-hour in before dozing off, this one may take a few days to finish. Today, the Lakers hope to rebound from their frustrating defeat in Cleveland by traveling to Philadelphia for a game against the ‘76ers, where they have lost seven straight. The tip-off is 4 pm Pacific but TV viewers can see it tape delayed beginning at 5:30 pm, on KCAL 9. KCAL holds an interesting contest on game days called the “Lakers Locker” where they provide a three number on-screen code, usually during the third quarter, and before the game is over contestants must visit the KCAL website and enter this code along with their personal information to win prizes including Lakers tickets. Interactive games and contests like this are admittedly fun and keep me engaged more so than a standard sports broadcast on television, so I’ll keep entering and holding out hopes for some good Lakers tickets or a t-shirt.

My Nintendo DS hasn’t gotten too much use in the past few months with the exception of a few games of Metroid Prime Pinball over Thanksgiving weekend, but having received Brain Age 2 as a holiday present on Wednesday, it’s about to get a daily workout. The first Brain Age had a bunch of great mathematical and linguistic mini-games aimed at keeping the mind sharp, alert, and active. This sequel contains an entirely new set of challenging visual and audio puzzles to stimulate mental energy and after the first night of playing I can tell it is going to be hard to put down. While the Wii, Playstation 3, and XBox 360 have all emerged as powerful gaming platforms in recent years, I have yet to try any of them. The Wii may be first to drop off that list next year as I must admit the interest is there regarding its hand-held controller that responds to a player’s movement. Given the choice, however, I’d pick a multiplayer trivia or word game such as Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and the card game Quiddler over a video game any day, as nothing can compare to actual interpersonal communication.

The current heyday enjoyed by Boston’s professional sports teams and their fans is nothing short of astounding. At the end of October, the Red Sox swept through the World Series with ease for their second ring in four years. Now, the Patriots are 14-0 and very likely to finish the football season undefeated. The Celtics have started their NBA campaign with a staggering record of 20-3 and all of a sudden it doesn’t seem so far fetched that this could be a Triple Crown year of championship trophies for Beantown. Even the hockey Bruins are holding strong at second in their division. This commanding presence in each sport is why it was a little relieving to see the Detroit Pistons hand the Celtics their first home loss of the season last night, on a pair of free throws, no less. Tonight’s excitement will come in the way of a LA Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game that can be seen on TNT at 5 pm. A showdown between the two highest scorers in basketball, this should be a highlight reel in the making.

A new line was discovered today at the airport, one that had not previously been so time consuming: The Luggage X-Ray Drop-Off. I must have had good timing when traveling in the past, because until today it was always a brief experience. This morning at the Tom Bradley terminal it turned into an unexpected 15 or 20 minute wait that, when en route to the security checkpoint for an international flight that is set to start boarding, can really add some undue pressure. Good fortune prevailed and travelers eventually set to the skies, but not without this additional momentary hindrance. The few runway near-collisions notwithstanding, LAX is an efficient airport that always gets the job done. Given the choice, John Wayne Airport in Orange County may be the area’s best to fly in and out of, but taking into consideration distance and price there really is only one option for Santa Monica and West Side residents.

The Hollywood writers’ strike hasn’t left too much of a void in terms of nightly entertainment as of yet, what with sports, concerts, and DVDs to choose from, but if there was one program that could magically reappear on-air with new episodes, I’d pick American Dad!. They’ve really been hitting some strides with their timing and content this season, and Roger the Alien stands out as a favorite television character alongside such other animated oddballs as Dr. Zoidberg from Futurama and Professor Frink from The Simpsons. A former favorite, Scrubs’ plotlines have veered headfirst into Family Land to my dismay, but the strange connection to some of those characters makes finishing up their final season worthwhile. Viewers had it good for a long time, and while these last two months have been dark days for the networks, the changing times and mediums of presentation clearly necessitate a revision in who gets paid, when, and how often. Wear & Tear supports the writers!

A new Tool DVD came out yesterday and it is phenomenal. Describing it as a music video for the song “Vicarious” from the album 10,000 Days just doesn’t seem right, though that is how to ultimately classify it in the stores. It’s more akin to a short film based on the lyrical theme of the song, where the on-screen action only occasionally coincides with the music. Done entirely in CGI, one of the most impressive sequences of this 8-minute work is clearly the voyage inside the “Net of Being,” artist Alex Grey’s concept and painting based on a hallucination seen during a psychedelic journey in Brazil.With two commentaries by comedian David Cross and an essential documentary for Tool fans among the bonus features, this is definitely worth searching out to at least watch and I think it’s $7.99 at Best Buy for now.

Dreamgirls was on last night and as it had eluded me up until now I figured the time was right. Only ended up watching an hour or so, but Jennifer Hudson’s performance really stood out, in particular a solo musical number with just her and Jamie Foxx in a darkened nightclub. Deservedly award winning, the infectious energy of those songs inspired a gift purchase this afternoon. Going to the movies recently hasn’t been as easy. There’s been nothing in months that’s compelled me to visit the theatre and while No Country for Old Men seems like a safe bet, with the Coen Brothers at the helm, more often that not I’ve chosen home viewings instead of the multiplex. I was lucky enough to attend a free screening and premiere last Thursday at the AFI Institute for a new science-fiction thriller called Suspension. Its story will keep you guessing and the effects are potent considering a modest budget. Keep an eye out for it at upcoming film festivals and a potential DVD release.

After traveling to Las Vegas last weekend and with a cross-country trip planned for the upcoming Christmas week, this is a little downtime to relax at home with loved ones. Sitting home as gifts and presents are delivered, it is only appropriate to thank the US Postal Service for such hard work. Their tireless devotion is what makes children and adults so happy during the holidays and we all know this is the busiest time. Donating to charities shouldn’t be overlooked either as it always feels good to provide for those who are in need. For myself, bringing extra clothes to Goodwill is essential every few months and I hope you find a way to give back during the holiday season as well.

It will come as no surprise for the millions of people who play Fantasy Football, but one missed extra point can really make a difference. As yesterday’s Monday night game unfolded, the two second half touchdowns by Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson turned simple anger into a seething rage but it was a wide left extra point attempt by the Vikings’ Ryan Longwell that ended up knocking a friend out of his Fantasy playoffs. It’s upsetting to see a season’s worth of scouting, lineup juggling, and trades dissolve so quickly, so I offer my condolences and sympathize with all the fantasy ballers who suffered an untimely departure this week.

Attempting to distract and console in this time of sudden loss, we switched over to ABC’s new week-long game show event “Duel,” a head-to-head trivia challenge hosted by Mike Greenberg of ESPN Radio and “SportsCenter” fame. While not as fast paced as “Jeopardy!” in terms of question frequency for us playing at home, “Duel” is still plenty of fun with a unique set of rules, challenging but not impossible puzzles and trivia, a flashy set, and a good pool of contestants. In a time where the networks are seemingly devoid of any fresh programming, it’s well worth your time to watch – on your DVR to breeze past the commercials, of course. “Duel” is on ABC at 8 pm through Friday and the top 4 players compete in the Finals at 8 on Sunday night.

Also competing for your viewing attention tonight, the LA Lakers are in Chicago against the Bulls so that’s an early game here on the West Coast and can be seen on NBA TV. Looking for their second consecutive win, Kobe and the Lakers (14-9) face a Bulls team last in their division but on the rebound from a dismal first quarter of the season. While I love to stay in and root on the Purple and Gold, holiday shopping may have to take precedent to tie up the remainder of loose ends in terms of gift giving for Christmas. Dealing with mall parking lots can be quite an ordeal in these busy weeks but I take solace in the old adage “It’s better to give than receive” and know that this will be a rewarding and special time with friends and family, as I hope it is for everyone.