LAMBCHOP VS. SCHNITZEL

Although Caro and I have found Ansbach to be incredibly cute, well I have anyway, it really is lacking for entertaining nights out. Dinner and ice-cream out on these too-narrow-for-an-SUV-cobblestoned streets might enchant this American but Caro is missing that every night rush of knowing that western culture was ready to entertain us, a train ride away in New York. Sadly, we know now that our finances prohibited much of it but mostly we were just lazy and now we wished we made more of an effort. We've been scanning the Nürnberg news for some Euro-culture but it seems that Nürnberg is not New York. Although I could easily argue that a Sunday morning Weisswurst, Brez'n and Paulaner currently ranks higher than a reformed My Bloody Valentine, it is true that living in Ansbach is the cultural equivalent of living in a backwoods college town. So with that in mind we promptly booked tickets to see The Lemonheads!


Caro thought he needed to be taken home for some tea and sympathy, I was just glad he played some of my favorite songs: "$1,000 Wedding", "Hickory Wind" and "Different Drum". I also thought he could use a haircut and a trip to H&M for a sweater without holes.

Next up, a rejuvenated Built to Spill. I thought it might be wailing, I had read a positive notice in the NY Times of a recent Terminal 5 appearance and was excited. About 30 people showed and the guitar was Neil Youngish enough to make me happy during the solos. The beer was cheap.


Finally, Lambchop, last Thursday and the highlight of our fall cultural calendar. I was working late and getting to the concert on time in Nürnberg was going to be tight. I left work early, picked up Caro and set off for the Autobahn. UMLEITUNG! This is the first word many Americans learn, because the Germans love detours on their roads, and the reason Caro and I missed the Lambchop. Twenty minutes of Umleitung sign following later, we understood that this detour was leading us way too far west (Nürnberg is east of Ansbach) for us to justify taking the A6 to the concert, we had to double back and take the local roads. After doubling back, it was approaching showtime, we were still over an hour away. If we were going to a show in New York, I'd say we'd still have time for a döner before the concert but in Germany...the shows start on time. I mean like going to a movie on time. 20:00 uhr means 20:00 uhr, no joke. So we decided seeing the encore of Lambchop wasn't entirely worth it and we went our for Schnitzel mit Pommes. Did I mention how much I enjoy Schnitzel?