Late night open thread

Being a traditionalist, I'm a rabid sucker for Christmas. In July, I'm already worried that there are only 146 shopping days left.
 -- John Waters

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with DAVID BYRNE!

David Byrne is a big deal. He's more than the big coat in that movie when he was in -- Yes, we know that you know that he was in Tal, look, we're setting up a theme here.

Manners people. Tonight's theme is missed opportunities. How many great artists could have sounded great together if only they had met earlier in life. Kicking it off tonight is David Byrne telling a great story about taking acid near the Yoo Hoo chocolate drink factory in Baltimore, like ya do, with 'And She Was'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with TOM TOM CLUB!

Chris Frantz‎ and ‎Tina Weymouth of Tom Tom Club were both in another band together right befor---oh, you knew huh? OK. Know it all. Fencebuilder.

'Genius of Love' for those putting the clues together tonight.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JERRY HARRISON!

Did you know then, Jerry Harrison was in Talking Heads? You caught on to that did you? Well played. 'Rev It Up' taking us on our merry soaking ways tonight.

Late night open thread

“I got vision and the rest of the world wears bifocals”
 -- Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NEKO CASE!

Sit down. Strap in. This isn't going to be some ordinary musical experience. This is Neko Case and this is 'Blacklisted'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with TALK TALK!

Now here's one of those songs that you never expect to hear again but when it comes on you're mighty happy. 'It's My Life' up next tonight.

How funny would it be if at one point Talk Talk ever opened for Duran Duran?

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CARS!

In the pantheon of epic debut albums, The Cars make the discussion. This album, The Cars, had such an impact on Johnny. Some real WOW songs that stand the test of time to this day. If this song came out today it'd still chart.

It would. Time for some angry break-up sex and 'You're All I've Got Tonight' getting you on your way to a brilliant Friday night in the Tri-State.

Late night open thread

Why yes, that was Johnny who picked France to win the World Cup last month before it all began. When you want that soccer analysis, you come to the Jersey City Desk.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

World Cup today -- The Final

When Johnny was young, he never pictured himself in the back yard or with friends imagining scoring the goal that won the World Cup. Oh, Johnny watched every World Cup (even back when he was little and it was only the Final that was on US teevee) because he knew deep down it really really was a huge deal. While he pretended to score the winning overtime goal for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup or hit a home run in the ninth inning of game 7 to help the Tigers win it all, he never pretended to score that soccer goal. Today, older and perhaps wiser with a full-on love of soccer he probably would have. At least that way the USA would have a star over their crest.

Someone today in Moscow will actually make their childhood dream come true. Someone today between France or Croatia will score the winning goal or make the big penalty kick.

So, who will lift the trophy? Johnny picked France to win it all before the tournament began. While he's happy to see his pick in the final match, he'll be cheering for Croatia. Call it underdog fever or wanting to see a huge upset in the globe's biggest game Johnny hopes the second-smallest nation to make a final will win. The Croat fans have simply overrun Hudson Hall since the beginning of the tournament, today will be no exception and they are a loud and easy group to cheer for. Johnny asked a Croatian fan whom they wanted to play and he said France. They beat Croatia in the 1998 Wold Cup semi-final that (France went on to win it all) and Croatia wants payback. He then asked Johnny who his team was and he told the fan, "USA" to which the Croatian fan pondered and gave Johnny a fist bump for not bailing on his team that aren't in Russia.

So, the match. How does this play out. France will find out today what others have, Modric and Rakitic and Perisic (if he's healthy) can boss a midfield. The French attack will be slowed, Mbappe, Griezmann and Pogba won't be getting favored service all day long like usual. France will have the ball less than usual so they'll have to adapt but that is exactly what France has done this tournament, they've adapted. Hit them with whatever defensive alignment you want, they're thinking the game, not just kicking the ball and running like deer after it. Croatia have played a lot of soccer in Russia. A lot of it. Three extra time games with two matches decided by PK's. France has the depth and should be fresh. This right here is Johnny's big bugaboo for Croatia, the amount they have played. No matter who you are, how much bench strength you have, legs do wear down. While Johnny would love to cheer for AND pick Croatia but he's got to be honest with himself and you dear reader, France will win today.

Fearless forecast
France 2
Croatia 1 (Extra Time)

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

World Cup Today -- 3rd place match - England vs Belgium!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, which will make fans forget zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz a good tournament overall but for zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Fearless Forecast:
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Late night open thread

Down the stretch they come! T-Rex in the lead with T-Rex moving up on the outside. It's T-Rex on the rail closing fast. At the wire it's T-Rex the winner with T-Rex second and T-Rex running third.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PET SHOP BOYS!

It sure was foggy in the 80's huh? Also, what the fuck, guys? Why do you have to have a Cadillac broken down in the video? Plenty of Yugo's about. Why, you're lucky Johnny just loves this song as much as he does. And he loves it a lot. 'Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)' getting us started this week.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CHURCH!

The Church on Friday night Johnny? That's for Sunday. Yes, yes, SO funny, great joke. What? You didn't make that joke?

Shut up.

Indeed, The Church on Friday with 'Under the Milky Way' making your ears all happy.

If you suffer from seizures of any kind or are on acid of any kind this video can be tricky.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BLONDIE!

A warm summer night in the greater New York City area tonight? Perfect. Here's Blondie with 'Rapture' putting a perfect bow on things tonight.

Late night open thread

What a glorious evening tonight. Johnny took the opportunity for some Shake Shack and a walk around. On nights like there New York City is hard to top.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

World Cup today, knockout stages

A quick World Cup today post and mornings have lately been the busiest part of Johnny's day.

England vs Sweden
"The one who doesn't hop is a Mumman troll" so says a really really bad Swedish cheer and Johnny in no way wants to be a Mumman troll (it was explained to Johnny Mumman is a Swedish cartoon character) so he'll cheer for Sweden today though he does think the Harry Kane Train will head onto one semi-final. Unless Sweden parks the bus and starts knocking in set pieces Johnny thinks they have come as far as they could.

Fearless forecast
England 2
Sweden 1

Croatia vs Russia
Russia have the home fans believing anything is possible now with just three wins needed to win it all. Those fans are in for a midfield masterclass from Croatia. Johnny thinks Rakitic and Modric with Mandzukic up top spell big trouble for Mother Russia.  Russia won't see much of the ball and will be very hard pressed to keep it or move up field with much success.

Fearless forecast
Croatia 2
Russia 0

Late night open thread

Oh, the summer night, Has a smile of light, And she sits on a sapphire throne.
 -- Bryan Procter

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ELVIS COSTELLO!

Johnny can say the word 'fuck' in a lot of different languages and used them all today upon hearing Elvis Costello is having to cancel the rest of his European tour to get treatment for what his statement called  the return of 'aggressive cancer'.

Knulla

OK, let's hold it together, get centered. Elvis Costello leading off with our heartiest get well wishes and a big fuck you to cancer tonight with 'Watching the Detectives'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ALISON MOYET!

Push the furniture back. Ready, steady, GO! (Push it back when you're done though)

Alison Moyet with the Yazoo standard, 'Don't Go'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ELLE KING!

Push the furniture back. Ready, steady, GO!

'Ex's and Oh's sending you on your way tonight.

Ha ha, you had to move your furniture twice.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Simon and Garfunkel for everyone down at the fireworks

Checking out the Jersey City Desk on your smartphones. How do you know they're smart? They're at the Jersey City Desk.

'America' before Snoop Dogg comes on stage

America just wouldn't be America without the most awesomest women anywhere

No, anywhere. You tell 'em Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'American Girl' rocking this streamy 4th of July.

THE most under appreciated YouTube clip of all time

Johnny loves this. How to turn your pickup truck (Looking at you Jimmy) and make it a mobile fireworks launch command while people desperately try and reach the fire department.

THIS is America.

It can't be the Fourth of July with some Chuck Berry

'Back in the USA' is a fine song and the album version is tip top thank you very much. This version here however, it comes with not only Chuck Berry but Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards and a cast of dozens.

Happy Fourth of July Jersey City!

It's everything you'd expect out of the Fourth of July, hot, hazy, humid with fireworks on tap all around the Jersey City Desk viewing area. Let's get this early-summer party started!

Steve Miller Band and 'Living in the U.S.A.'

Late night open thread

Boy, when those trees move like that it can get really windy and then anything can happen.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

World Cup Today: Knockout round Day 3

Johnny's got limited time but luckily not limited enthusiasm for today's matches.

Brazil vs Mexico
No work is getting done in the tri-state (el-Tri state?) between 10-12 today as two very very popular teams around these parts clash. Johnny would imagine the Ironbound neighborhood in Newark was up all night before this one.

It's be easier to think Mexico was going to give Brazil a run today if they hadn't looked so BAD vs Sweden (3-0 loss) in the group stage. They'd been playing so well, it looked like a completely different team than had won the first two matches including against Germany, though that win looks tempered now with Germanys crash out. So, has Mexico righted the ship? Can they take on an unconvincing side that still has five stars over their team crest.? To win Mexico will have to do the unthinkable, challenge Brazil to a horse race. Marcelo, a player who always seems to have a hand in Brazil's goals and a steadying hand on the till at others, is on the bench to start. Neymar Jr. seems to have physical issues beyond what is being reported. If Brazil is going to win, Coutinho is going to have to be the big player for Brazil. He'll have to pick up the slack. A lot is being asked of him. Can Mexico's Chicarito have an impact? He does it in two ways, on the attack and being the conscience of the team on the pitch, pulling them forward and leading by example.

Johnny's thinking upset here, he truly is, he thinks Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa keeps it close and Mexico win late. Upset special!

Mexico 2
Brazil 1

Belgium vs Japan
A mismatch on paper but Belgium should not expect to throw their jerseys on the field and win. Sure Hazard and Lukaku should run riot through and over the Japanese defenses. However Japan is a ball possession team. Belgium isn't going to always have the ball and will probably see 20% less possession than they usually do meaning they'll have to take advantage of their opportunities. Teams like Japan that don't beat themselves with rash play and stupid challenges are very tough come knockout stages. In order to win Japan must score first. They can't chase this game around or they'll be ripped apart by Hazard's incisive passing. Johnny thinks this one starts slowly but over the full 90 minutes Belgium's class will carry them through,

Belgium 2
Japan 0

Late night open thread

"What was I supposed to do? Call him for cheating better than me in front of the others?!"

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

World Cup Today: Knockout round Day 2

While not as star-studded as yesterday's affairs, today's knockout round brings some interesting differences in styles of play.

Spain vs Russia
The host nation, with thousands of fans screaming for them to move on, will face a team born of class, grace and ball movement. This is not the 2010 Spanish team that won the World Cup. It's also not the 2014 version that looked lost, and slow. While much is made of front starman Diego Costa, the beauty of Spain's attack are the midfielders like Iniesta and Isco. Russia's straightforward attack Johnny feels is going to get thrown into all kind of disarray as the Russians chase the ball most of the afternoon. Spain's real ace in the hole are their two central defenders, incredible rivals in league play, Barcelona's Gerard Pique and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos may well prove to be the best pairing of central defenders ever. Through all the European championships, and the World Cup title, the one thing that never changed was Pique and Ramos on guard.

To have effect Russia will have to play a clean game, no giving Spain free kicks in dangerous areas, no speculative balls that wind up in the fifth row, they'll have to play tight and clean and maybe get a little help on a call. Sorry Vlad, Spain's going on...

Spain 2
Russia 0

Croatia vs Denmark
Croatia has become a dark horse for a lot of World Cup watchers. Their incredible midfield is controlling matches and slowing down opponents. The 1-2 punch of of Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic and Real Madrid's Luka Modric (see these two teams keep coming up?) are field marshals. Denmark is going to have to do well on set pieces and defend like hell. Johnny doesn't see much in the way of Denmark's chances after watching Croatia.

If you're a Croatia fan do get to Hudson Hall this afternoon, Croat fans always overrun that place.

Croatia 2
Denmark 1