Houndstooth Pub 
520 8th Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan 
212-643-0034
Getting There: 1,2,3,A, C, E to 34th Street – Penn Station

So you say you’re in Midtown Manhattan and can’t find a spot to drink with your buddies. Well we are here to help. This neighborhood has long been seen as a bit of a dead zone loaded with dive bars that are more creepy than cool and chain restaurants that cater to the tourist set. So if you don’t fit into the latter categories, fear not. The “Drink Here Now” crew is here to help you slug through the bad bars and point you in the direction of a very capable Midtown watering hole. It’s “Houndstooth Pub,” an 8th Avenue corner joint ready to serve you a beer or some shots with no B.S.

Houndstooth is perfect for a Madison Square Garden sports or concert pre-game imbibing. And that is exactly the day in which we arrived. The New York Rangers were in town and the pub was packed with fans. The bar is rectangular in shape providing a wealth of seating. Being a fully functioning pub, several tables line the bar for food service. On this occasion we wanted to grab a few brews before moving on into the night.

As soon as we sat down one of the two bartenders on duty approached us for orders. We opted for bottles of Miller Lite and winter seasonal craft pints. On average beers were seven dollars a piece. When you’re in Midtown slightly steeper prices are the norm, so that’s just something to get over before you even head inside. A few brews later whiskey shots were had considering that Houndstooth has a fine selection of top shelf booze. So if you don’t care about the cost, we suggest shooting the aged Jameson. It was well worth it.

The music at Houndstooth was a combination of current Top 40 Hits and pub standards like U2 and The Killers. So while you’re getting sauced you’ll at least have one song to badly sing along to. In the end, a bar like this serves its purpose to entertain you before a game at MSG or while waiting for the train. They accomplish all of this while at the same time not ripping you off.

Bar Type – A Midtown bar perfect for a few drinks before a game at Madison Square Garden or while waiting for your train.

When to Visit – Houndstooth serves the purpose of providing you a place to drink at when you have some time to kill before going elsewhere. And there’s seriously nothing wrong with that. The traditional looking pub has tons of space at either the bar or surrounding tables to simply relax and drink. Basically, feel free to go anytime. 

Value – If you’re in Midtown you’re going to pay for beers and mixed drinks at a slightly higher premium. The area is heavily touristy with a strong afterwork crowd. So, three dollar beers really isn’t going to happen. 

The Lowdown – Houndstooth is a welcome change to a neighborhood filled with burnt out dives that are more creepy than fun and chain restaurants. Pony up to the bar, grab a beer and share some laughs as you wait for tip off or the puck to drop! 

- Alex Corrine

Arts & Culture

Saturday, January 13th – The food event season is about to ramp back up after a quiet closure during the holidays. And what better way to kick things back off for 2013 than a return to our old pal’s haunt Jimmy’s No. 43 for the 5th Annual Cassoulet Cookoff. It’s an afternoon long faceoff between amateur and professional chefs whipping up a variety of different cassoulet options and includes a drink ticket to boot. Meet LocalBozo.com at 2013’s crazy kickoff for food tastings! (Fifth Annual Cassoulet Cookoff)

Sports

Friday, January 11th – Sunday, January 13th – New Yorkers have their pick of the litter tonight on the hardwood as the Nets play host to the Phoenix Suns at the Barclays Center (Nets-Suns Tickets) or hit the Garden as the Knicks host the visiting Chicago Bulls in an Eastern Conference battle of heavyweights. (Knicks-Bulls Tickets) That not do it for you? Well the same deal also goes down on Sunday as the Nets host the Indiana Pacers in Brooklyn (Nets-Pacers Tickets) and the Knicks take on the New Orleans Hornets back at Madison Square Garden. (Knicks-Hornets Tickets) It’s game time!

Music & Entertainment

Friday, January 11th – Movie release day. Quiet night tonight? Check out the films opening this weekend. The cast is full of A-Listers in “Gangster Squad” (R) as Sean Penn joins the likes of Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and Josh Brolin in a battle of police versus gangster in the fight for Los Angeles. Or if you have a funny bone, Marlon Wayans joins Cedric the Entertainer and David Koechner in “A Haunted House” (R), a spoof of horror movies sure to make you scream with laughter. Finally, the Oscars are buzzing about Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty” (R), following the killing of Osama bin Laden. Joel Edgerton and Jessica Chastain stars with Chris Pratt and James Gandolfini in the realistic portrayal of Seal Team Six in this heavy war styled film.

Friday, January 11th – Tonight the Bowery Ballroom hosts a sold out performance featuring Cake. They ripped it this summer at Williamsburg Park and tonight they get a little more intimate with some of their Manhattan friends. Highly awesome and highly underrated. If you have no plans tonight, try and get inside for this one! (Cake)

Nightlife

Saturday, January 12th – Get over to The Grace Hotel at 10pm for a “Euro Splash Saturday Pool Party” with a hot mix of Top 40, hip hop, house and R&B courtesy of Christian Jae. That not work dor you? Cellar Bar at the Bryant Park Hotel hosts “Neon Night Saturday” inside of a subterranean lounge. All you need to do to hop in is email rsvp@nycprive.com to avoid a wait on line. And tell ‘em that LocalBozo.com sent you.

Other

Friday, January 11th – Sunday, January 13th – All weekend long, make sure to swing by Caroline’s for one of JB Smoove’s outstanding comedy performances. The irascible ‘Leon’ from HBO’s ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ made the press rounds this week in anticipation of the local dates. Don’t miss out on the hilarious Smoove do his thang. (JB Smoove)

Sunday, January 13th – Yup that time of year again. On Sunday January 13, the annual No Pants Subway Ride will be taking place. Get ready to take your pants off and see many New Yorkers riding the MTA with no pants on. Take it easy though, act like you’ve seen a naked person before. (Improv Everywhere)

And as Always, Droid users- make sure to Download the official LocalBozo.com App for FREE from Google Play (formerly the Android Market)! Get all the information we can fit onto your smart phone, NOW!

Arts & Culture

Sunday, December 2nd – Mana Contemporary presents Keith Haring, from December 2, 2012 – February 15, 2013. The exhibition will showcase an unprecedented ensemble of works from a private collection, including over-sized metal panels originally spray-painted on the FDR Drive in 1984. (Mana Contemporary)

Sports

Friday, November 30th – The New York Knicks look to turn things around in the Eastern Conference at the famed Madison Square Garden. Brave the cold and head to the historic arena to see your Knickerbockers take on the Washington Wizards! (New York Knicks)

Music & Entertainment

Friday, November 30th – Movie release day. Quiet night tonight? Check out these two extremely violent flicks coming out today! Brad Pitt returns to the silver screen in a major way playing enforcer Jackie Cogan in, “Killing Them Softly” (R). Early buzz is hot for this crime picture which is said to be a return to grittier mob features from the past. It also doesn’t hurt that the flick contains marquee mob character actors like Ray Liotta and Tony Soprano himself! The griminess continues with, “The Collection” (R) the sequel to 2009′s, “The Collector.” It’s a torture-porn flick with something actually going for it. And not just a tired SAW retread. 

Friday, November 30th – Sludge metal legends, High On Five are primed to take over the Bowery Ballroom stage this evening. What a better way to kick off the Holiday Season then will some pulse pounding heavy metal. High On Five will be joined by Goatwhore filling the opening slot. (Bowery Ballroom)

Nightlife

Saturday, December 1st – Join Supermodel,  Heidi Klum for a haunted holiday party to support the American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy victims. The model and Project Runway host is known for her over the top costumes year to year. Make sure your front and center to see what the blonde bombshell is rocking! (Haunted Holiday Party)

Other

Saturday, December 1st – The day has finally arrived. You entered our contest and followed our coverage. Now it’s finally time to head to Basketball City – Pier 36 for the, “NYC Craft Beer Festival – Winter Harvest.” Grab your friends and sample hundreds of top craft beer selections and foods for the season and band together as a Craft Beer Community and support our neighbors with our Sandy Relief Supplies Drive! If that isn’t enough your pals @LocalBozo (get it?) will be at the evening session. So, Tweet us out and we will hang! (NYC Craft Beer Festival) 

And as Always, Droid users- make sure to Download the official LocalBozo.com App for FREE from Google Play (formerly the Android Market)! Get all the information we can fit onto your smart phone, NOW!

Arts & Culture

Friday, March 30th – The second annual Winter Thaw is an opportunity for young New Yorkers to socialize, dance, and stroll through the galleries. Guests can party in the museum with music by, “NeverNotWorking” (featuring DJ Okay, Radio Rios, and Young Rios), and drinks by Brooklyn’s New York Distilling Company, serving their signature “Tot & Tonic.” (Museum of the City of New York)

Sports

Friday, March 30th – It’s Hockey Night In America at Madison Square Garden. The playoff hungry New York Rangers will face off against some stiff competition when they take on the Montreal Canadiens tonight. Great tickets are still available! (New York Rangers)

Music & Entertainment

Friday, March 30th- Movie release day. Quiet night tonight? Check out these releases coming out today. Julia Robert stars as the evil queen in, “Mirror Mirror.” It may be an updated version of Snow White, but it’s getting rave reviews as a perfect family film!  Looking for some CGI fight scenes? Head to the theater to see action mega-star Sam Worthington take on mythical creatures in, “Wrath of the Titans.” Don’t blame us if they both stink.

Sunday, April 1st – Don’t be a fool, start April off right by heading to the Bowery Ballroom to catch Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. This duo is taking the indie scene and major festivals by storm, possessing a cheeky name and a unique sound.  (Bowery Ballroom)

Nightlife

Friday, March 30th – Illusion Michael? It’s Cirque Du illusion, “Secret Society” Burlesque Show at Illusion, Brooklyn. Be amazed by the performance then stick around from the after party featuring; exotic performances, state of the art sound and a late night kitchen featuring tapas and small plates after the show!  (Illusion RSVP List)

Other

Saturday, March 31st -  In celebration of Spring-time and the Easter Holiday the West Side YMCA will host an Egg-Stravaganza that includes Easter Egg Dyeing, and Egg Hunt. Easter may be a week away, but why not head over and have double the fun! Just save us an egg. (West Side YMCA)

Sunday, April 1st – Hey, Fuggetaboutit! Take The F train to Surf Avenue to meet Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz on the world famous Coney Island. Mr. Markowitz will celebrate the opening of Coney Island’s Luna Park 2012 season with a traditional egg-cream christening, followed by a ride on the famous Cyclone.

And as Always, Droid users- make sure to Download the official LocalBozo.com App for FREE from the Android Market! Get all the information we can fit onto your smart phone, NOW!

Arts & Culture

Friday, February 24th – The Active Space in Bushwick, Brooklyn celebrates the grand opening of its new gallery with an artist’s reception for “Dreaming Without Sleeping,” works by Criminy Johnson. Johnson creates oil paintings depicting the strange environments and subjects he imagines while working out his ideas. This is yet another offbeat event to support local artists and enjoy the ever burgeoning Bushwick artist community. (The Active Space)

Sports

Saturday, February 25th- It’s Hockey night in America as the unstoppable New York Rangers take on the Buffalo Sabres. It is sure to be a battle for New York supremacy! Tickets are still onsale, but you better snatch them up quick because the boys in blue have been tearing it up all season. Oh, and If you make it out to the game, tell Dancin’ Larry that LocalBozo says hi. (New York Rangers)

Music & Entertainment

Friday, February 24th- Movie release day. Quiet night tonight? Check out these releases coming out today. Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are a down on their luck NYC couple transplanted to a Georgia hippie commune with hilariously absurd results in the David Wain directed ‘Wanderlust’ (R). If thrills are what you desire, check out Amanda Seyfried as a young woman who must face the abductor of her sister in, ‘Gone.’ (PG-13)

Friday, February 24th – Hey, remember Nickelodeon in the 90s? It was an awesome time, where they didn’t treat kids and teens like idiots. You can relive those glory days tonight at Bowery Ballroom for the, ‘Adventures Of Pete & Pete’ reunion! Reunited for the first time ever, it’s Pete, Pete’s brother Pete, Ellen, Mom, Dad and Artie the Strongest Man in the World. Join the cast and the show’s creators for an evening of obsessive reminiscing about all things Pete. There will be a cast and crew panel discussion, an audience Q and A, classic clips and episodes, and much more. This will be their only New York City appearance, so jump on it! (Bowery Ballroom)

Nightlife

Friday, February 24th – Beats In Space, the popular indie radio show mixed live by Tim Sweeney and guests in New York City on WNYU 89.1 FM is heading to Santos Party House. The team behind the show will be performing live with multiple improv DJ sets to melt your ears. Head over early tonight, for reduced admission. (Santos Party House)

Other

Saturday, February 25th – Is it the end of the world or is it a day long celebration for all things hog and beer? We are guessing the latter. It’s ‘aPORKalypse Now’ and with two overloaded sessions, the event will include hogs prepared inventively by 14 chefs in a multitude of ways. While guests are chowing down on all batches of savory and salty goodness, they can sample some of the finest in craft beers with 50 different brewers including 15+ rare cask ales and some delicious local wines.  ( Get Real NY )

Saturday, February 25th – You love to eat them during game day, and have watched our extensive video series. Now it’s your turn to take the G train to Greenpoint, Brooklyn and head to Red Star Sports Bar & Restaurant for the, ‘Best Wings In Brooklyn Competition!’ The event is free to the public and will feature some of the very best of Brooklyn fighting it out for hot wing supremacy. (Best Wings In Brooklyn Competition)

And as Always, Droid users- make sure to Download the official LocalBozo.com App for FREE from the Android Market! Get all the information we can fit onto your smart phone, NOW!

Heavy metal is truly back, whether it’s classic thrash, new wave British, or death. Fans old and new are getting a taste of shredding licks and screaming vocals while banging their collective heads. Metal master Dave Mustaine is a veteran of the scene yet chooses not to rest on his laurels. He could easily walk away leaving the metal to his kin, but that’s not the Dave we know. For the better part of the decade, Mustaine has reformed the mighty Megadeth into a machine of metal destruction. His blood, sweat, and tears have produced excellent albums time and time again, with 2011′s “Thirteen,” the most recent example of the band’s greatness. But that’s not enough for Dave. Things need to be bigger, giant even.

Enter “Gigantour,” a city by city festival featuring Megadeth as the headliners while up and coming bands like Volbeat, and Lacuna Coil open the show. The festival allows these guys to have a voice which is increasingly hard in what has become an increasingly fickle music scene. Gigantour’s second marquee act really needs no introduction. All you have to see is a few thousand people with their fists in the air chanting, “Lemmy, Lemmy!” It’s metal/punk legends Motörhead who followed the openers showing why they still dominate in concert with Lemmy’s never ending freight train demeanor. Hearing classics, “Ace of Spades,” and “Overkill” back-to-back was an insane face melter. 

Megadeth’s Gigantour set played like most of their festival appearances of the past year- a greatest hits of their career with a few surprises peppered in. As longtime fans of Megadeth, their catalog of songs are all extremely solid live. But while the band never disappoints, we feel fortunate that Megadeth still exists at all considering all that Mustaine and the boys have been through physically and emotionally over the past decade. At around nine thirty the stage went dark and Shawn Drover’s unmistakable drum beats crashed for the opener “Trust,” from the ‘Cryptic Writings’ album. “Trust,” albeit not as hard as the rest of their catalog is a perfect opener. It rocks hard enough to pump up the crowd, yet it doesn’t shoot it’s load too early. In recent years the tune’s been a staple of my iPod playlist, as well as a constant Megadeth opener. Mustaine hit the center of the stage like he owned it, wielding a double axe guitar. Quite bad ass.

The hour plus show dripped with pure metal fury. From top to bottom the set had something for everyone. Having seen Megadeth twice over the past year, I was thrilled that they pulled out “Angry Again,” one of my favorite tracks off the Hidden Treasures EP. It’s a perfect example of the bands diversity, even into the 1990s. It was a time when heavy metal was universally unpopular, but Mustaine and the guys continued to put out solid records. Fans were also treated to the single, “Public Enemy No.1″ from the newest album, “Thirteen.” It’s a solid throwback to classic Megadeth while exploring new areas of thrash all at once.

At one point Mustaine had Lacuna Coil’s Cristina Scabbia come out on stage to sing, “À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)” with him. It was a fantastic duet of a classic, and the first time I’ve ever seen Mustaine sing with a female. Besides being one of the best shredders in the business, this dude can harmonize with the best of them. Along with these rare on stage moments, fans got the red meat they wanted with staples such as, “Hanger 18″, “Wake Up Dead,” and “Symphony of Destruction,” all of which were played to perfection.

Holding Gigantour at The Theater at Madison Square was a mixed bag. While the space is large, it is still small enough for everyone in the house to get a view of the band on stage banging their heads. The one major negative is the sound. For years I have had a problem with the acoustics inside MSG’s main room. I have no idea how this place was sound proofed through the years, but something seems to be missing. During the beginning of Megadeth’s set it was difficult to hear Mustaine’s vocals over the instruments, which is a result of low mic levels or the abundance of right angles inside the room which tend to deaden sound. Or a mixture of both. As the set went on though, the levels seemed to improve allowing us to clearly hear Dave’s snarl.

Megadeth are awesome cockroaches. They just won’t die, and that’s a great thing! The Gigantour is a perfect example to prove the band’s relevance even after all these years. It also shows how much Megadeth cares about smaller bands and their successes. Wounds of the past have been mended, and the only direction Mustaine, Ellefson, Broderick, and Drover have to face is straight ahead.

- Jay Rubin

 Gigantour Featuring Megadeth – Live at The Theater At Madison Square Garden New York, NY

January 28th, 2011

1. Trust
2. Wake Up Dead
3. Hangar 18
4. Sweating Bullets
5. Angry Again
6. Public Enemy No. 1
7. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
8. Guns, Drugs & Money
9. A Tout Le Monde
(with Cristina Scabbia)
10. Symphony of Destruction
11. Peace Sells

Encore:
Holy Wars… The Punishment Due

 

Arts & Culture

Friday, January 6th- For six nights starting tonight, the innovative reRun Gastropub Theatre in DUMBO will be screening “Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same,” a comedy that made a huge splash at Sundance and was recently nominated for the “Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You” Gotham Award. The film is a spoof of the 1950’s sci-fi genre and a traditional romantic comedy, and it follows the story of aliens from the planet Zots who are sent to Earth to have their hearts broken because romantic emotions are toxic to their planet’s atmosphere. Sounds like a fun, schlocky way to start the weekend. Plus they serve booze! ( The World’s Largest Dinosaurs )

Saturday, January 7th– Kids ages five to ten and their adult companions are invited to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) for “My Kind of Place!”- a monthly event where everyone is encouraged to engage in lively discussions and fun activities while looking closely at modern masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary art. The best thing is, admission is free! ( My Kind of Place! )

Sports

Friday, January 6th- Sunday, January 8th- The superstars of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) return to Madison Square Garden all weekend long for the MSG Invitational. You may remember our post from last year’s weekend of festivities, and if not, here’s a link. It’s a great, cheap event at the Garden, and a rowdy event for boozin’ upstairs. ( PBR at MSG ) The time is now for Big Blue. Tickets are incredibly still available NOW for the New York Giants’ home playoff game versus the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon at 1pm. Get your tickets and cheer Eli & company on so they can travel to either Green Bay or San Francisco next week! (Giants Playoff Tickets)

Music & Entertainment

Friday, December 30th- Movie release day. Quiet night tonight? Check out these releases coming out today. With the new “Sherlock Holmes” and “Mission: Impossible” films controlling the box office, the only wide release this weekend is “The Devil Inside” (R). It looks terrifying, but not as terrifying as “New Years Eve.” Zing! With a cast of no names, don’t blame us if you hate it.

Friday, January 6th – Sunday, January 8th- We caught her show last night and interviewed her backstage and she’s still performing locally all weekend long. The Star of The Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen, comedian Amy Schumer, is at Carolines in Times Square. If you like raunch from a comic who can dish it with the best of them, you need to see her standup act. Our full review and interview will be live on Monday, so check in with us for every morsel of entertainment she provided. (Amy Schumer Tickets)

Saturday, January 7th- You loved his hit, “I’ll Be” which was the go-to song for every romantic film and television show of the late nineties. Now you can see the southern crooner live. It’s Edwin McCain, and he will be headlining the HighLine Ballroom this Saturday night. If that single is your only connection to McCain prepare to be blown away by his diverse catalog, and hear new tracks off his 2011 album, Mercy Bound. (Edwin McCain Tickets)

Nightlife

Saturday, January 7th- Head back in time and down to the Canal Room tomorrow night for their Back to the Eighties Show with RUBIX KUBE- the Ultimate 80s Tribute Band! It’ll be a nostalgia filled late night starting at 11:30, with doors at 9:30 filled with The Bangles, The Buggles, and Much Much More. Tickets are only $17.50! ( RUBIX CUBE )

Saturday, January 7th- Head downtown to the UCBeast (Upright Citizens Brigade East Village) to get you’re laugh on with Kara Klenk and Nick Turner as they host, “If You Build It: A Stand-Up Comedy Show,” a weekly live show featuring some of the best up and coming stand up comics in the country and major headliners! This week’s guests include: Max Silvestri (Details.com, Big Terrific) and Seth Herzog (Late Night w/Jimmy Fallon, VH1) (UCB Theatre)

Other

Sunday, January 8th- Creators of the “Flash Mob” Improv everywhere present the 11th Annual No Pants Subway Ride. Drop your drawers if you’re brave enough, and hop on trains throughout the city. This year we hear this half naked happening is going global! So, why not be a part of some mass transit nudity! ( No Pants Subway Ride )

And as Always, Droid users- make sure to Download the official LocalBozo.com App for FREE from the Android Market! Get all the information we can fit onto your smart phone, NOW!

Not to be outdone by the blizzard last December which marred the attendance at the same show, a downpour of rain around the Manhattan area Tuesday night again made it a hindrance for longtime wrestling fans to easily access the city’s famed Madison Square Garden, as the superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) returned for their almost annual “Raw Holiday Tour.” The non-televised, three hour wrestling show would feature the mainstays of the USA Network’s ‘Monday Night Raw’ brand. And once again, the WWE proved that regardless of the names in their rotating cavalcade of a roster, knowing their audience and sending their fans home happy is a proficiency at which they have no equal.

It should be mentioned that the Garden was surprisingly undersold, considering that holiday shows here have historically been incredibly successful. One must question however, whether last month’s ‘Survivor Series’ pay-per-view event in the same building may have depleted the attendance Tuesday night, as much of the 300 level seating inside the Garden remained empty throughout. But far be it for us to speculate as we were just there to be entertained, and entertained we were.

“AWESOME” blared over the MSG speakers, just after the conclusion of the National Anthem, as former reality star, and main eventer on this night, The Miz, was out to the ring first to address the vociferous audience. Antagonizing with anti-Knick and anti-New York rhetoric, Miz quickly drew the ire of the Garden faithful before his former partner R-Truth jumped into the ring from the crowd, blindsiding The Miz for an impromptu brawl. Out next was the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, John Laurinaitis to remove R-Truth from the ring. The figurehead corporate stooge detested by the audience, then announced a thirteen man over-the-top battle royal, with the winner getting a title shot at champion Zack Ryder’s United States Championship later in the evening. With the fans indifferent toward many of the undercard workers on the brand and the match involving many of them, the underrated and vastly talented Dolph Ziggler managed to win outright.

The eye candy was out next as Divas champion Beth Phoenix would defend her title against the buxom Eve Torres, with the beautiful Bella Twins acting as guest referee and timekeeper for the bout. Leaning heavily toward Phoenix who would win by pinfall, the Bellas attacked Torres after the match bringing out WWE Diva and current Maxim cover girl Kelly Kelly, sporting a Carmelo Anthony Knicks Jersey to even the odds and clear the ring of the nefarious twins. Former WWE Superstar Mick Foley was out next to “host” the show, but seemingly only served to make an appearance, introduce WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler, and insert his hand into competitor Jack Swagger’s mouth courtesy of Mr. Socko.

After some throwaway matches featuring lesser known mid-card talents, the meat of the card shaped up around the final four contests of the evening. The Zack Ryder-Dolph Ziggler US Title match was perhaps the best of the night, with both men working hard for the Garden crowd. A reversed three count due to Ryder’s foot on the bottom rope led to the champion retaining his title a leading fans to chant his signature “Wooo, Wooo, Wooo” in unison, along with the charismatic Long Island native. The high flying duo Air Boom, featuring Evan Borne and Kofi Kingston successfully defended their WWE Tag Team Titles against the Hispanic team of Primo & Epico. The fun little match was fast paced and exciting, but showcasing valet Rosa Mendes’ signature gyrations was perhaps the bout’s most memorable moment.

The final two contests involved the WWE’s most popular assets from 2011. First, the polarizing John Cena, subject of the rousing “Let’s go Cena….Cena Sucks” chants, battled the recently returning Kane, one-on-one. The reaction to Cena’s entrance was easily the loudest of the night as clusters of adult boo-birds met packs of cheering children, creating a conflicted and deafening disharmony of volume. After briefly exchanging blows back and forth, the masked Kane’s use of a steel chair on Cena resulted in his disqualification. But after heading back into the ring to inflict more punishment on the wounded warrior, Kane was caught with Cena’s finisher- the Attitude Adjustment- sending him backstage on a high note.

After a brief intermission which allowed the ring crew to set up for the evening’s final match, it was main event time, as The Miz was back out again to take on WWE Champion CM Punk inside of a steel cage. What had been advertised as a triple threat match including superstar Alberto Del Rio was reconfigured at the last minute, due to Del Rio’s recent groin injury. With the crowd thoroughly in Punk’s corner, The Miz took control early and controlled much of the contest, utilizing his “heel” (bad guy) persona to attempt to crawl out of the cage through the door, rather than attempt to pin the champion fairly. The twenty minute bout saw the men exchange blows atop the elevated cage and was highlighted by Punk’s ode to the recently departed Randy “Macho Man” Savage, with his trademark flying elbow drop off of the top turnbuckle. Punk then threw the former reality star on his shoulders and finished The Miz off with his “Go to Sleep” finishing maneuver, retaining his title, and then climbed the cage again to acknowledge the wildly applauding fans.

If you missed out on November’s Survivor Series or on Tuesday night’s show, rest assured- the WWE announced a return to the World’s Most Famous Arena on March 18th 2012, on the “Road to Wrestlemania Tour.” It should come as no surprise that we’ve become quite fond of the WWE product, especially when the company makes its way to the northeast, historically among the company’s most successful touring outposts. And even without much of the roster appearing on last night’s show, the WWE always manages to deliver for even the most casual wrestling fan, time after time, at an affordable and unbeatable ticket value.

To check out some of our previous posts on the WWE, check out our links below:

-          Things We Like That Don’t Get Enough Respect- WWE (Posted 7/8/10)

-          The WWE & a Blizzard Invade Madison Square Garden (Posted 12/28/10)

-          LocalBozo.com Invades the Wrestlemania 27 Press Conference (Posted 3/31/11)

-          Listen to LocalBozo.com’s Interview with Mason Ryan (Posted 11/19/11)

- Jane Van Arsdale

World Wrestling Entertainment- Raw Holiday Tour
Live at Madison Square Garden
December 27, 2011
Ring Results

1. Dolph Ziggler won a 13 Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal
2. Divas Champion, Beth Phoenix pinned Eve Torres
3. Alex Riley pinned Leo Kruger
4. Jerry “The King” Lawler pinned Jack Swagger
5. Santino Marella pinned Michael McGillicutty
6. United States Champion, Zack Ryder pinned Dolph Ziggler
7. Tag Team Champions, Air Boom pinned Epico & Primo
8. John Cena defeated Kane by Disqualification
9. WWE Champion, CM Punk pinned The Miz in a Steel Cage Match

Sunday, November 20th marks the return of the WWE to Madison Square Garden in the midst of the building’s massive renovation for the 25th annual Survivor Series, one of the entertainment brand’s most highly anticipated pay-per-view events each year. The Garden has long played host to many a wrestling spectacle over the past 25 years and Sunday’s legitimately sold out event should be no different. The main event features the return to action of wrestler-turned-action star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in his first match in almost eight years, teaming with the face of the WWE, John Cena to take on former MTV reality star The Miz and R-Truth. The undercard his highlighted by WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio defending his title against the renegade, CM Punk, and a traditional Survivor Series match as a team captained by Wade Barrett faces Team Randy Orton in a 5 on 5 elimination contest.

One of the members of Orton’s team, Mason Ryan, was officially called up to the WWE’s main roster in January of this year and will officially be making his Madison Square Garden debut at the Survivor Series. The 6’5” 290 pound Welsh born Ryan is one of the more eye catching performers on the talent roster, primarily because of his massive and chiseled physique. Since beginning his training in 2007, Ryan quickly shot through the independent circuit, landing himself a developmental contract with the WWE, and catapulting himself to the big time in just a few short years. After debuting as a villain as part of CM Punk’s ‘New Nexus’ stable, Ryan seems to be transitioning into more of a fan favorite in the time tested battle of good versus bad guys the world of professional wrestling seems to traditionally convey.

LocalBozo.com caught up with rising WWE Superstar Mason Ryan from his home in Stamford, Connecticut where we talk about his start in wrestling and how the WWE discovered him, his anticipation for Sunday’s Survivor Series event and working in Madison Square Garden for the very first time, reflections on his first full year with the WWE’s main roster, what the return of The Rock and Mick Foley have meant in the locker room, and who behind the scenes has been most instrumental in bringing along Mason Ryan’s persona in and out of the ring.

If you can’t make it out to the Survivor Series on Sunday, you can find out how to order the extravaganza live on pay-per-view here. And if you lost out on tickets for this weekend, the WWE Raw Holiday Tour is returning to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, December 27th, with tickets starting as low as $34. The show is headlined by a Triple Threat Match inside of a Steel Cage with John Cena, CM Punk, and Alberto Del Rio vying for the WWE Championship, and the return to the ring of WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler, as he takes on Jack Swagger. The Smackdown! brand also headlines a show on December 30th across the pond at the Izod Center. For a three hour live event, with affordable ticket prices, there is simply no better form of live entertainment than seeing the WWE performers in person.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Fans continued to pile into the World’s Most Famous Arena at 8:50 on Friday evening, as the lights went down and the ovation from the uproarious crowd emerged.  A massive crew of lighting and sound techs worked relentlessly over the prior 40 minutes to prepare the intricate stage setup in anticipation of the six pieced Linkin Park’s arrival at Madison Square Garden.  The huge triangular endstage, equipped with 3 giant screens and a multi-faceted light show, served as a backdrop to perfectly compliment the band’s stage presence and amp up an already excited capacity crowd.  Add to the fact that the FUSE network was on hand filming the show to air on February 18^th, and the stage was literally set for a tremendous presentation of live music.

The crowd patiently waited with baited breath as the band members swaggered to the stage, enjoying the accolades only briefly before launching into openers “The Requiem” and “Faint” from 2002’s Meteora.  The audience’s feel good mood resonated immediately with the artists on stage, as smiles from the seats instantly transferred to the band on stage, who paraded around trotting with unbridled enthusiasm.  “You guys are going so hard down there that I’m freaking out,” exclaimed melodic vocalist Chester Bennington. “I need to calm the fuck down,” which of course revved the crowd even further in frenzy.  Bennington and rap-vocalist Mike Shinoda, who co-pilot the band, exchanged their patented give-and-take throughout a pulverizing 90 minute set, only letting up briefly during slowed down songs, which served more as an interlude to the band’s familiar, scream inducing chart toppers.  In fact, on this night, the band could have left the backup vocals on the tour bus as the crowd was more than willing to oblige in unison.

In a genre of rap rock or nu metal that most have left for dead, Linkin Park continues to revive and revitalize it, subtly evolving but staying true to themselves and their signature sound.  That being said, when Shinoda humbly delivered the line “I hope you guys like it” before delving into one of the more experimental tracks from their latest release “A Thousand Suns” called “When They Come for Me,” the crowd became notably apathetic, even with Bennington banging out drum beats in front of the stage.   The true distinction could be heard upon the song’s closing as the band ripped into “Papercut,” from 2000’s launching pad “The Hybrid Theory” and the crowd subsequently exploded.  Not that the crowd failed to appreciate the new music- they seemed appropriately open-minded, but were also patiently waiting for the next anthemic single to bring them to their feet.

Even if you have a fleeting level of interest in this band, all it takes is one live performance to show you that they deliver the goods- the talented Shinoda, rapping and even singing melodically, in between guitar riffs and piano strokes; the ranging vocals of Bennington from shriek to scream to harmonic verse; the eye-catching, elevated drum kit being pounded by Rob Bourdon, Mr. Hahn emphatically mixing on the turntables; even the potentially lesser known-yet equally talented “Phoenix” slapping a mean bass line, and Brad Delson on lead guitar rocking his signature studio headphones onstage- the band had the fix that their rabid New York fans were fiending.  In fact, the band actually had men of all ages- grown men especially- with arms wrapped around each other, looking up to the sky, and grabbing their hearts, singing every word of “Shadow of the Day.”

Each one of Bennington’s screams was met with the crowd’s dueling howls, and during “In the End,” the crowd became unglued.  Moshpits were formed as Shinoda entered the general admission section as fans sang every word like they were reciting a prayer.  And the closer of “Crawling,” into their first smash hit “One Step Closer” proved that no matter how many albums the band has sold, they still have the have the same affinity and appreciation for the long time fans that helped them get there. To play the Mecca of Madison Square Garden.

Staring out at the crowd I stared in disbelief, attempting to take stock of what I was watching- a jam-packed crowd singing every word in harmony, choosing not to sit, even for a moment- thinking that aside from Green Day, perhaps this is the biggest modern rock act of our time.  Will this be the U2 of our generation?  Maybe and maybe not- down the line- who knows?  But in a quick decade, their success and their talent are similarly undeniable.

Linkin Park- Live at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
February 4, 2011
Setlist (Courtesy of Setlist.fm)

1. The Requiem
2. Faint
3. Lying From You
4. Given Up
5. What I’ve Done
6. No More Sorrow
7. From the Inside
8. Jornada del Muerto
9. Waiting For the End
10. Blackout
11. Numb
12. The Radiance
13. Breaking the Habit
14. Iridescent
15. Fallout
16. The Catalyst
17. Shadow of the Day
18. In the End
19. Bleed it Out/A Place For My Head
20. Empty Spaces
21. When They Come For Me
22. Papercut
23. New Divide
24. Crawling
25. One Step Closer

-  Jane Van Arsdale