Monday, December 31, 2012

12.12.12 The Concert for Sandy Relief (aka The Concert of a Lifetime) MSG Wednesday, December 12, 2012



Did anyone who reads this blog (thanks to the 2 people who do) really think I would not have attended the biggest concert of our lifetime?!?!  Special thanks to my Aunt for her tireless efforts in securing tickets to the concert of the decade! 

The concert was advertised but for the first few weeks, no one knew when the tickets would go on sale.  Chase was a big sponsor which they mentioned a few times during the show.  I missed out on the pre-sale because I was in the hospital (long story, read the Monkees post when I write it).  I also couldn’t get tickets when they went on sale to the public.  They went on sale 10 minutes late too!  I wasn’t disappointed, due to the pain killers and caffeine.  I sent the e-mail to my Aunt reporting the grim news and thought that was the end of it.  Little did I know that her penchant to see the Stones, Bon Jovi and the Boss was driving her to get tickets anyway she could, any I mean anyway!  As I was getting off the train after The Who concert (read the post), I got a forwarded e-mail from eBay.  My Aunt forwarded me the e-mail showing that she bought tickets!!  I actually had a tear in my eye and all I could think of was that I don’t deserve my Aunt.  She treats me like the King I think I am.  We bought tickets from a broker in Brooklyn.  The shit hit the fan when we got an email from him stating that he is still working on seat assignments and we might get an upgrade (broker talk for they don’t have the tickets and are selling tickets they might not get).  But our broker came through with an upgrade.  We were upgraded to the floor.  After being a proponent of floor seating for a long time, now I like saving money and not having to stand the entire night by buying cheaper level 2 and 3 tickets.  Since MSG got a face life, there is no 3-D or detailed seating chart so we had no idea what kind of seats we had, leaving it for chance, I headed into the city.  
 We took an early train because there were many reports about the show starting anywhere between 7 and 7:30 although the printed ticket start time was 7:30.  So to be sure, we wanted to get there early.  After a fantastic meal at our usual chain in Time Square, we walked a few blocks over to the see the ‘Miracle of 34th Street’.  After a relatively easy security check (nothing like Barclay’s) we were on our way.  The lines at the merch tables were out of control so we just decided to make our way into the World’s Most Famous Arena.  We took 2 escalators up to the floor level.  Since they restructured the arena, we had to into the 120 section and walk down to our seats.  None of the ushers really knew how to get to our seats so we had to ask a few different ushers.  We finally found our section, Section 1.  We were above the floor (which the broker told us) but I didn’t realize we were inclined.  The seats were about 4 feet off the floor, which gave us a nice perch to view the concert of a lifetime from.  We also had end seats!  It really doesn’t get any better than that.  It almost made the 7 foot tall guy in front of us and drunken assholes from Jersey behind us, worth it.  I ran to the bathroom and got a cup of water for 5 bucks!  The announcer welcomed us to the show and said that the show was going to start at 7:30 so please be in your seats by then.  As it got closer, he would say 2 minutes and the crowd would roar.  Then we got down to 90 seconds, 60 seconds, 30 seconds and then a t-minus 10 count.  The crowd was counting down, so if anyone watching at home wondered why we were counting, that’s why.  It started with a 2 minute intro film. 
With the stage still blacked out, the Boss could be heard starting one of his infamous 1, 2 counts.  The E-Street band then launched into Land of Hopes & Dreams.  Bruce’s voice was coming through loud and clear, so loud in fact that I decided to put my earplugs in.  Bruce could have done a “hits” set, but decided to do a few random songs that have references to Jersey in them, like Wrecking Ball, a song off his new album.  There was quite of buzz on the internet about Bruce’s bulging pants (and that’s all I will say about it).  I don’t know if it was from having Jon Bon Jovi joining him on Born to Run or what?  They swapped verses, he thanked us and left the stage.  His set was only 28 minutes.  I was a little surprised, thinking back to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert where he played a 2 hour + set. 

After an intro film and a short intro by Billy Crystal, Roger Waters came out.  Roger opted to do a “hits” set and the crowd was on its feet for most of it.  The audience really ate up his set.  I am not a huge Floyd fan, but can appreciate them.  He then brought up Eddie Vedder to sing Comfortably Numb which brought the house down (to that point).  Roger commented that he didn’t want to talk because they only gave him 30 minutes. 

Bon Jovi was up next.  I thought my Aunt lost her shit with Bruce and Roger, but she went crazy when Bon Jovi came up (she’s a fan).  The casual listener knows the songs he played.  Jon started his set facing the audience on a road case.  He then called The Boss back up and they did Who Says You Can't Go Home. 

Eric Clapton did a mini set of three songs.  He started with a sit down acoustic song on his signature EC Martin guitar playing Nobody Loves You When You're Down and Out.  He closed with Crossroads.  He only had a bass and drummer.  He had a full sound from only three instruments and a voice.

The Rolling Stones played 2 songs!!!  I was impressed with the two songs they played, but felt since they were one of the big reasons my Aunt wanted to go, we could have gotten at least 3 songs, c’mon Mick!  Charlie’s snare had an odd sound, almost distracting at times.  After Mick said “thank you” and they left after two songs, it had a lot of people scratching their heads.  The only thing I could come up with was that they were going to be streaming a pay-per-view concert in 4 days and didn’t want people not to buy that by overplaying their market, but what do I know, I’m just a blogger!
 I don’t care for Alicia Keys, but her voice is somewhat rough like a Carole King type.  In fact her voice was very harsh and sounded like she was trying to sing out of her range.  The drunken assholes from Jersey behind us had no problem booing her off the stage during her two songs.

The fact that The Who (Roger and Pete) are still around and rocking, is nothing short of amazing.  They also played a ‘hits’ set.  They did 2 songs from the album they were pushing at the moment, Quadrophenia.  I was surprised to hear See Me, Feel Me.  Roger had his shirt undone after the first song.  It’s not that hot up there Roger, keep your shirt on!  They closed their set with Tea & Theatre, a most intolerable song, especially since for the most part, they had a stellar set and Roger’s voice was strong, except for this song.  Just before they left the stage, Pete, being Pete, tried to keep the censors on their feet and said “Have a fuckin’ beer!”  Watching the TiVo the next day, the censors weren’t quite able to block that from the broadcast.  Pete is always pushing the envelope even as he’s pushing 70!

I was not in the arena for Kanye’s set.  But I did get a 5 dollar bottle of water and 13 dollar burger with onion relish.  It was cooked medium and it was juicy and brilliant.  After woofing my half of the burger down we tried to find my Aunt a long sleeved concert ‘T’.  It seems that the Robin Hood Relief Fund underestimated the demand for the merch, because MSG sold out and the website went down because I tried to check during the show and it wouldn’t load! 

Billy Joel was up next, and his set was probably the best of the evening.  His voice was strong and he picked the right songs to pace his set.  His band is amazing, Crystal was backing up Billy on the high part since most of the songs are down a step or two to make them singable.  The crowd was on their feet again.  I’m not a fan of New York State of Mind, but how could he not play that song?  It was funny that both my Aunt and I decided to sit down during this song and take a rest.  Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) had specially re-written lyrics for wrath of Sandy.  
Chris Martin was up next.  He just had his Martin guitar and a microphone.  He played a new popular Coldplay song by himself.  He has a nice voice, just not really a fan of Coldplay.  I wouldn’t be able to sit through a whole show.  He then brought up a surprise that even the organizers didn’t know about, Michael Stipe or REM fame.  My Aunt was singing along to Losing My Religion.  Chris said he came out of retirement to do this, but then he’s going right back in.  Michael did a great job. 

I am and always will be a die hard Paul McCartney fan (even over the Beatles!), but his set list was uninspired and unorganized.  It’s like he picked songs that he knew he wouldn’t screw up on live TV.  He started with Helter Skelter, a song that I think is ready for retirement.  He really nailed the high parts, I was surprised, not bad for a 70 year old, poor guy, still has to work at his age, lol.  Then he surprised me when he swapped the Hofner for the Lessy.  I knew the only other thing he could do is Let Me Roll It, and let me tell you, they did.  The Mary Jane was flowing freely by this point.  Then he did an obscure Wings song Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, although I enjoy this song, I think ten other people of the 17,000 knew it.  Diana Krall was invited on to play for the equally intolerable song My Valentine.  Then Paul strapped on his Martin to play Blackbird.  His voice cracked really badly during this song.  After that he called up the surviving members of Nirvana, including Pat Smear for a new song.  Paul played some sort of 4 stringed guitar, it looks like it was made out of a cereal box.  Paul swapped the cereal box for the Lessy again to play I’ve Got a Feeling.  Since someone had been  instragramming photos from rehearsals and wrote something about fireworks, I knew he would do Live and Let Die.  I love this song, and it’s amazing the heat you feel even in the back of the arena during the fire and fireworks.  It’s quite impressive.  After that, Paul called Alicia back to the stage and all the first responders came out and she closed the show with a song about New York. 
 It was 1:15 by this point.  I had been up for over 20 hours and was ready to leave.  I grabbed my poster and we were on our way out of the Garden.  We easily found a cab at 1:15am and made our way to Grand Central for a 1:45 train.  After getting in at 3:30 I tried to get some sleep and just drink in what had happened.  The concert of a lifetime!  Thanks to all the artists and my Aunt for making it happen!  I owe you a long sleeve T-shirt!

Happy New Year and I’m sure we’ll be keeping busy with concerts in 2013!

Friday, December 21, 2012

2012 Year in Review



Here is the list, the list that everyone has been waiting for…no not that list, the list of concerts I have been to this year.  You will see some duplicates and some new names on the list.  I crossed off a lot of artists on my bucket list this year.  Most of them were at the 12.2.12. Concert!  Here are some of this year’s highlights. 

Jimmy Buffett in Florida.  While it was cold up north, I was wearing shorts and sipping margaritas in an air conditioned arena in Orlando.  I also got some mini golf and bike riding in.  Thanks Jimmy and my Aunt!   
I finally got dragged to a full Bruce Springsteen show.  If New Jersey could harness the energy that man has, they could light their state for free!   
 I never would have thought I would get to write that I saw the original surviving Beach Boys, let alone see them 3 times!  I had second row seats to CSN at the Oakdale.   


Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band was the best I think he’s ever put together.  I know I say that every time, but this time I mean it.   
 Even though it was only two concerts, I have George Thorogood and Steve Miller and Huey Lewis and Joe Cocker listed as separate since they did lengthy sets each.  Joe Cocker was an utter delight.  The man still has such passion and soul in his voice.  George Thorogood destroyed the stage with The Destroyers.  Huey Lewis is straining on a lot of songs, but still puts on a good show.  I was a little disappointed with Steve Miller’s set, but he is such a good guitar player that I will let it slide.   

Hearing the “SO” album from start to finish was one of the top highlights this year.  Peter Gabriel can still sing quite well and really put a lot of effort into putting together an engaging show for the audience.   
 I also got to hear the 1st (and best) CSN album from start to finish at the intimate Beacon Theatre.  It was clear that it was the last show of the tour, by the tired voice of Stephen Stills, but as one of them said, this is the longest tour they have ever done.  It started in March and went to October.   
The other top highlight was seeing Mark Knopfler!  He puts on such a great show.  The set list is very engaging and even though people were not there to see him (they were there to see Dylan) I think he put them all under his spell.  In my opinion, he is one of the best guitar players EVER!  We left early and only saw maybe like 5 songs from Dylan.  He has no voice, but I knew that going in.  I never thought I would ever see Mike Nesmith with the original core Monkees.  Yes it was very upsetting that Davy Jones couldn’t be there, but what a night of music with the Monkees.  Just as promised, it was interactive and was loaded with rare footage and it was a very nice celebration of Davy Jones’ life.  Mike still has such a good voice, maybe it’s from years of not being used (hint hint Mike!).   






You can read the review of The Who if you like, but I thought Roger and Pete still have a lot of music in them.  They have an awesome backing band and Pete can still play quite well.  


 The top highlight of this year, and probably of my concert going career is the 12.12.12 Sandy Relief Concert.  It started promptly at 7:30 and was broadcast live around the globe from Madison Square Garden in the heart of NYC.  From the first note to Paul McCartney’s last, I knew that I was a part of something that only 17,000 other people would ever be privy to.  It’s different than watching it at home, we had great elevated floor seats on the aisle.  Most of the people in my section were well behaved, with the exception of the drunken assholes that kept voicing their opinions about the artists they don’t like.  I’m not a fan of Alicia Keys but I would never boo her and make nasty comments, out loud at least, have some class fellas.  I was wondering how they were going to get all the artists on the stage and off in four and half hours, which they didn’t, it took five hours and fifty minutes! 

Enjoy some photographic highlights from throughout the year. 


2/5/2012        Jimmy Buffett Amway Center, Orlando, FL
4/6/2012        Bruce Springsteen MSG
4/29/2012      Colin Hay Ridgefield Playhouse
5/8/2012        Beach Boys Beacon Theatre, NYC
5/9/2012        Beach Boys Beacon Theatre, NYC
5/13/2012      Beach Boys Mohegan Sun Arena
6/16/2012      Crosby Stills & Nash Oakdale
6/17/2012      Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band Mohegan Sun Arena
6/26/2012      Jimmy Buffett Mohegan Sun Arena
8/3/2012        George Thorogood MGM Grand (opening for Steve Miller)
8/3/2012        Steve Miller Band MGM Grand
8/4/2012        Huey Lewis & The News MGM Grand
8/4/2012        Joe Cocker MGM Grand
10/13/2012    Peter Gabriel Mohegan Sun Arena
10/16/2012    Crosby Stills & Nash Beacon Theatre, NYC
10/17/2012    Crosby Stills & Nash Beacon Theatre, NYC
10/22/2012    Crosby Stills & Nash Beacon Theatre, NYC
11/21/2012     Mark Knopfler/Bob Dylan Barclay's Center Brooklyn
12/02/2012    The Monkees Beacon Theatre NYC
12/05/2012    The Who MSG
12/12/2012    12.12.12 The Concert for Sandy Relief

2012 was a great year filled with great music.  As always, I want to wish my fellow loyal readers a happy holiday season and nothing but the best in the coming year.  (Note: please don't borrow or use any of the photos in the blog).

Thursday, December 6, 2012

The Who Madison Square Garden, Wednesday December 5, 2012 New York City



Who Are You?
I’ve been waiting a long time to see The Who.  I wanted to see them when they weren’t pushing anything.  I guess I was waiting for a ‘hits’ show.  This was the closest I guess I will get.  I got tickets in August when they first went on sale.  Originally I was supposed to go with my Aunt, who later bowed out, leaving me with an extra ticket.  So I found my music loving neighbor wanted to go, and she did.  On our way to the city it was warmer, but after we got off the train, the temperature dropped and the wind was cutting through my windbreaker.  After a sub-par BBQ dinner, we were on our way to The Garden.  This was my neighbor’s first time visiting the behemoth arena.  After a brief bag check and perusal of the merch table, we were on our way to the 200 section seats I had secured with a Chase pre-sale.  I was not aware there was going to be an opener, but after the first few bars of the opening song, it was clear this band was not my cup of tea.  The only opener I like is when it’s a big artist, like when Knopfler open for Dylan or CSN opens for Tom Petty.  I walked around the beautifully restored NYC landmark.  I chatted up a friendly usher and found out that The Who would take the stage at 8:30 and be done by 10:45.  In the back of my mind, I was thinking that I would be able to catch the 11:22 and make it an early night.  I made it back to my seat for the start of the main event.
 I have never heard the Quadrophenia album before.  While I know both of the original members are in their late 60’s, I was shocked with how good both of them sounded.  Pete has been very rough the last decade or so, and Roger has been straining for quite a while, but miraculously, both were in good spirit and voice.  Roger and the production team did a fine job of bringing the opus to life on stage.  There were big screens so everyone could easily see the show.  Quadrophenia dragged on, there were a lot of fans who loved hearing the album from start to finish, but most of us were there for the hits at the end.  There were some touching tributes to dearly departed members Keith Moon and John Entwistle.

After an hour and a half, Pete thanked and introduced the band, thanked Roger and they launched into the hits.  Roger’s voice was a little tired during the hits.  Maybe they should start doing shorter shows to save his voice a bit.  The backup singers were cutting through and holding the notes in the background for Roger.  During Pinball Wizard when Roger was twirling his mic by its cable, he inadvertently tripped over Simon’s (Pete’s brother) wedge and tumbled, but didn’t miss a beat and came back in when he was supposed to.  I happened to have the camera rolling at the exact moment and it is quite comical the way they kept playing.  Both and Pete and Roger were cracking up and trying to finish the song with some decorum.  The show took a morbid turn when Roger and Pete were talking about 2 dear friends who died in the span of the week.  But after that they closed the show with Tea & Theatre.  I would have rather had Substitute or something fun, but Pete asked me to stop making the set lists.  A southern rambler named Stratton Lawrence who was sitting next to me during the show, asked me to send him some pictures I took, so check out his review on his website, strattonlawrence.com
 I Am the Sea
The Real Me
Quadrophenia
Cut My Hair
The Punk And The Godfather
I'm One
The Dirty Jobs
Helpless Dancer
Is It in My Head?
I've Had Enough
5:15
Sea and Sand
Drowned
Bell Boy
Doctor Jimmy
The Rock
Love, Reign O'er Me>Band Introductions
Who Are You
Behind Blue Eyes
Pinball Wizard
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again
Tea & Theatre 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Peter Gabriel So Back to Front Mohegan Sun Arena, Saturday October 13, 2012

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I am new to the Peter Gabriel game and have only been following him since early 2008 or so.  I like how he is so unconventional.  He’s one of the few artists who I’ve seen start the show by talking to the audience which is very unprecedented.  I first saw the Scratch My Back orchestra show at Radio City in 2010, you can read the review on the concert blog.  Once again, with my best friend and (now) his wife at my side, we braced for “SO” the 25th Anniversary tour, with only about 14 stops across the US, one of them was at Mohegan Sun.  Before this show was announced, I got Jones Beach tickets, but sold those because it was over three hours away and I had to work the next day.  After an unusually subpar meal at Margaritville, we headed to the arena.  I didn’t tell my guests just how good the seats I scored were, I wanted them to be surprised.  They were shocked to be less than 15 rows from the stage! 

Peter came out right at 8 and introduced his opening act, the singer Jennie Abrahamson, who was replacing Ane Brun who got sick during rehearsals for the tour and had to go home.  This was a surprise and bummer for us, because we had so enjoyed her voice during the 2010 gig.  She is really talented, so to be replaced by this unknown woman was a bit of a shock.  Jennie even said you can’t get her stuff in the US, they had to ship if over here for the tour.  After about 20 minutes she ended her set.  She was accompanied by a cellist. Her stuff was very good and she has a very strong voice to boot.

After the set changeover, PG came back out with the houselights on and told us about the night being broken into a few courses.  He’s always reinventing himself, so he started the show with a new number, which, as he pointed out wasn’t even finished yet.  He then introduced the original line up for the 1987 tour with the addition of his two new singers and launched right into a rock ballad version of Come Talk to Me.  I always liked this song, and the bagpipe was being replaced by David Sancious’ accordion.  David Rhodes played a simple acoustic melodic line on his guitar to Tony Levin’s amazing bass line.  The one complaint I have, besides security being tools about filming and taking pictures, was that Manu Katché overused his splash cymbal, almost so that each time he struck it, I cringed.  Don’t get me wrong, he is amazing at the drums but this was just overkill for me.  David Sancious strapped on an acoustic guitar and helped the other David do an acoustic version of Shock the Monkey.  All the pipes seemed a bit rusty for the high part on this song.  But still the audience got into this song with rhythmic clapping.  Austin is like a corpse at a concert, he doesn’t clap, sing along or anything, he just sits there, so Rosa and I were clapping.  I always nudge him to try to get him to clap, but to no avail.  After the introduction, PG and the gang sang Family Snapshot.  Tony Levin really makes it look effortless and he gets such an amazing sound.

Peter now began the electric set of the “hits.”  During Digging in the Dirt his crew, that was dressed like escaped mental patients (one tour had them dressed in orange jumpsuits), came out with little cameras on a pole.  These cameras got close up in the action with a fisheye lens and projected all the action onto the big screen.  I was so impressed with the quality of the video they were feeding to the screens.  All cameras matched color wise, were properly exposed and looked to be 24p HD quality.  He has a really talented director running the screens.  Usually the cuts are not seamless and angles and action isn’t very good.  Secret World got a big rousing response from the crowd.  The drunk ladies behind me really seemed to enjoy this song.  They even narrated the whole concert for us which trust me, was welcomed.  And what was even nicer was that during the songs they didn’t like, they played the video of previous songs they had recorded on their iPhone blasting and narrating about loving Solisbury Hill!

Speaking of Solisbury Hill, that is one of my favorites and I wasn’t really impressed with the version they played that night, maybe it was the splash cymbal or the drunkards behind me?  After Solisbury Hill, PG said that he got a lot of requests for this song, Humdrum from the first solo album (the car). 

Now it was time to start the SO album from start to finish!  PG made the disclaimer that they were going to try and do the entire album in the order it was originally intended.  Red Rain started the ball off.  PG sounded good for not performing the full version of this song (as it was recorded) for many years while he was doing the orchestra thing.  Tony’s bass was there for the whole night, but it seemed to have more punch during this song.  As expected, the entire stage was bathed in red light while the master sang the song to an adoring audience. 

The band started Sledgehammer right away, not with the usual minute or more of teasing the audience.  PG genuinely seemed to enjoy singing this song.  Let’s face it, Sledgehammer has always been his “You Can Call Me Al” meaning that he really can’t do a show without doing this song, can he?  It is one his best well known songs and is still one of the most played music videos in MTV history.  The audience was right there with him during the whole song while he strut along the stage. 

Peter then announced that there would be a special guest, they sang with Feist during a Witness benefit, and she agreed to come sing the song with him tonight.  I guess we were lucky, but I later gave up when she attempted to sing the song Don’t Give Up.  Kate Bush left big shoes to fill and to be honest, Feist fell flat and really ruined Don’t Give Up, one of my favorites from PG.  I heard that Jennie A. has done a great job on the song during the tour, it’s a shame we couldn’t hear it. 

I never heard I Hear that Voice Again in concert, so this was a treat for me.  It’s such a great 80’s progressive rock song.  Mercy Street was sung with PG laying down on the stage while the track lighting rigs were telescoping over him.  One misstep by someone and they could have taken out the star with those lights!  And there were also, unbeknownst to the audience a lot of tracks for them on the stage.  It seemed like the stage was a deathtrap!

Big Time was a big number.  PG has always been ahead of his time and this song proves it.  The next two songs the drunk ladies behind me didn’t know, because they are affectionately called album tracks, meaning they are not singles or hits, just songs on the album.  I thought maybe the band had slipped back into Solisbury Hill, but finally realized the drunk ladies behind me were blasting Solisbury Hill on their iPhone and commenting on how that song is so great. 

Good thing In Your Eyes Came up, because they finally shut up and let me enjoy the show.  Tony Levin helped with the low rumble part which got a rise from the audience.  I heard that in LA, John Cusack came out before this song and presented PG with a boom box!  How cool is that, I’m sure there is a YouTube video of it for you creative Googlers out there.  During the breakdown of this song, PG introduced David Sancious who played a brief piano solo with a few bum notes.  After this song, Peter then thanked the band and the people in the backline crew.  He seems like a genuine guy who appreciates everyone.  He also thanked the audience and gave us the ‘traditional Gabriel band salute’ (they mooned us). 

After leaving the stage for a few minutes, they came back with The Tower that Ate People.  Peter ended the show with the always moving Biko for Stephen Biko.  I should also mention that before the show during the pre-show music, I heard Paul Simon’s cover of Biko from the ill-fated reciprocal cover album that will probably never be released, thanks David Bowie!  This show was a highlight of the 20+ I have attended this year.  The arena wasn’t sold out, but it was more than 75% so there was a decent crowd.  After a quick Starbucks we were on the road for our ride home.     


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Back to Front- oS leirbaG reteP @ Mohegan Sun

Tony Levin master of the sticks has a great blog page with pictures that he takes from the stage and during the show.  He has posted his pics from this show that I took Austin and Rosa to and we make an appearance a few times in the page in the crowd shots.  In fact, if anyone reads this and bothers to go to the link below and can find me and and contact me, that person will recieve a nice prize.  

Check it out! 

http://www.papabear.com/tours/pg12/pg12_24.htm

 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Paul Simon Live in NYC in stores Sept. 18th!


Paul Simon News!

Paul is releasing the Webster Hall show on CD/DVD and Blu-Ray on September 18th.  The only problem is that I already own this DVD.  I got it from PBS for a hefty donation to Channel 13 for 100+ bucks.  While it’s nice to support public television, I really didn’t think Paul would ever release this as an official release, hence my splurging on the “gift.”  I am on the DVD, so now you can watch me in HD!  Read my review of this show here. 


My other problem is that this was not the best show.  There were a few flubs, and Paul Simon has done better, but if we look at the glass half full, at least we have a live release with the new band.  Now if we can only get a couple US Tour dates for Graceland??  Paul or Eddie, can you work on that please???

Here is the set list (from the internet).  While it looks like most all the songs are here, they are in a weird order.  The last final thing that makes me mad is, why can’t the distributors put together a DVD/CD and a Blu-Ray/CD package.  CSN’s Blu-Ray had a special Best Buy version that had just that, it’s great.  People want the HD video and a CD.  Don’t make us buy duplicate packages to get a CD, and the industry wonders why people pirate?  Don’t piss off your consumers!    

The Obvious Child
Dazzling Blue
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
So Beautiful Or So What
Mother And Child Reunion
That Was Your Mother
Hearts And Bones
Crazy Love, Vol. II
Slip Slidin' Away
Rewrite
The Boy In The Bubble
The Only Living Boy In New York
The Afterlife
Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
Gumboots
The Sound Of Silence
Kodachrome
Gone At Last
Late In The Evening
Still Crazy After All These Years

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Ringo Starr Rewind...9 Years ago today, Thursday, July 31, 2003 Mohegan Sun Arena


Ringo’s Eighth All-Starr band was for the most part, the most original hit laden line-up, to that point in the All-Starr history; besides the Fourth All-Starr band, Frampton, Bruce, Brooker and Kirk.  For this incarnation, he tapped Colin Hay of Men at Work fame on gutiar.  Also, an obscure (in the US) name, Paul Carrack, who has one of the voices you know, but you might now know his name for piano.  On bass was John Waite who is best known for his hit song, Missing You.  But I guess he also played bass with his old band, the forgettable The Baby’s.  Returning on drums was the ever talented Sheila E.  At the helm as musical director, who Ringo relies on to get everything together, is the uber talented, Mark Rivera.  This tour was a long one, 33 dates over three months.  This is a highlight in my Ringo Starr career because it marks the first time he played the Mohegan Sun Arena.  In 2001 when he played there, he played in the Pavilion, which was a big 5,000 seat white tent they set up in the parking lot while the arena was being built.  

Stock photo from the 2003 tour
I got tickets for my Mother and I in March when the tour was announced on Tickets.com.  I scored 8th row off to the right side.  This took place on a Thursday, and for a weeknight, the play was filled.  Ringo came on right at 7, like the ticket said.  He’s always known for a prompt start, even if the place isn’t filled. 

The announcer announced the band, they got into place, the lights went down and Ringo opened the show with It Don’t Come Easy.  Colin and Mark played a joint solo in the song.  I love Colin Hay, I’ve seen him 10+ times in concert on his own, and 3 times with Ringo, but he is a very scripted guitar player.  Like me, he doesn’t like to improvise, most of his guitar solos were the same as the official recording, which was recorded on the first night of the tour, a music industry no-no.  But it is a decent show, although it suffers from Brent Carpenter’s (chosen style) of intermingling documentary footage between songs.  The now out of print DVD and CD simply entitled Tour 2003 is a gem.  After It Don’t Come Easy, he said hello to the audience and mentioned that he played this venue on each tour, all 8.  This was incorrect.  He started playing the casino in 1997.  This was in fact the 8th concert he played there, but not the 8th band to play there. 

Ringo told Colin to start Honey Don’t.  He played the opening that sounded just like the recording.  My mother, who joined me, said he looked like he put his finger in a light socket.  I remember that he had really spiked hair.  Paul took a turn on a piano solo.  He really is a fantastic singer and player.  Colin and/or Ringo messed up the guitar solo.  Colin didn’t play enough bars or Ringo missed coming back in, they shared a laugh about it and finished the song.  Ringo then mentioned his new CD Ringo Rama, and said he was going to do a few tracks.  He introduced Memphis in My Mind.  He screwed up the third verse.  He did it on the official recording too.  It had a bluesy piano riff courtesy of Paul. 

Ringo then introduced Paul Carrack and they played on of the very first song he wrote, How Long.  There was a bit in there for the audience to sing along.  His voice was silky smooth as usual.  I really wish he would tour America.  I saw him at Ringo’s birthday at Radio City Music Hall.  He was walking with Colin Hay after the show and I said hi to both, I think Colin recognized me, I’ve only met him like 8 times.  He’s very approachable and a nice gent.  Paul seemed nice too.  Mark Rivera played a great sax solo. 

Up next was Colin Hay.  I’m pretty sure Mark Rivera learned the flute just to play Down Under.  He’s very versatile and Ringo is lucky to have him.  After the song, Colin remarked, ‘thank God for the hits’ and then introduced John Waite who sang Isn’t It Time from The Baby’s. 

Sheila E sung A Love Bizarre with Colin singing under her.  She did an extended drum solo and had her name on the bass drum which also light up.  She even hit drums behind her while she was doing her drum solo.  Colin played a funky jazzy guitar riff. 

Sheila reintroduced Ringo who sang Boys.  Paul played a nice riff on the piano.  Since there were only 4 All-stars, they got to sing 3 songs a piece (except for Sheila).  Colin did Overkill, which was a highlight for me.  He did not do this when he was in the 2008 All-Starr band. 

Ringo came down from his riser to sing Act Naturally. Colin did an admirable job of playing the twangy country guitar riff that song needs.  You’re 16, which is the last time it was played on tour was the standard arrangement, but with nice piano work from Paul.  Mark played Barri-sax, I believe.  Yellow Submarine was next.  Ringo inserted “Mohegan Sun” into the appropriate part and got a rise out of the audience.  He got everyone on their feet during this song. 

This was the first tour Ringo did since George passed.  As a way to tribute his friend, the All-Starrs did Here Comes the Sun.  Each All-Starr did a verse, Sheila played the shaker and Colin played the guitar.  While it wasn’t the first time a Beatle’s song was played on tour with the All-Starr’s it was the first time it was played by all of them as a feature during the tour.   

Ringo came back out to play the new song, Never Without You for George.  This song proved difficult for Colin to play.  He did try though.  Mark played an acoustic guitar.  This tour was difficult because they really could have used a second guitarist.  Like in the last 4 tours, there have been 2 guitar players; one lead and one rhythm.  Mark pushes Ringo, like when he made him try Oh My My in 2008.  That was the tour highlight for me.  They did Don’t Pass Me By for the first time on this tour.  Ringo even played the first verse on the piano, which shows he’s more than just a drummer, and was in the right place at the right time and whatever else people say about him.  Mark substituted the violin from the White Album for Harmonica.  I have never cared for the recorded version.  After this song, a high roller couple came in late and Ringo said something like, “just wouldn’t book your ticket early?”  This was also the last tour that the No No Song was done on.  It’s good to retire some songs to make room for others. 

After this song, Paul Carrack took over and did the Squeeze hit, Tempted.  It rocked, and hoped it would make it to the CD or DVD but didn’t.  Next up was the too thin for his own good John Waite singing When I See You Smile.  For The Glamorous Life, Shelia came out from behind the drum set to the timbales and rocked them, even playing with her high heels.  She was playing with the front men, even helped Colin on the guitar for a few seconds.  After a lengthy timbale solo, it was back to Ringo for I Wanna Be Your Man.  After that, it was back to Paul for a poignant version of The Living Years from his Mike + The Mechanics days. 

John played his ultra hit, Missing You.  He couldn’t play bass on this song, so Mark strapped on the bass.  Colin then did Who Can It Be Now, one of the biggest hits of the evening.  Mark nailed the sax solo and riff. 

Ringo left the drums and closed the main show with Photograph.  Ringo did the bit about not leaving the stage during the encore break, but making us clap as if they had left.  Now he just plays straight through; none of this fake encore stuff, everyone knows the artists are coming back out.

The second to last song was the forgettable 1992 single, Don’t Go Where The Road Don’t Go.  It has been played on a few tours, but now has been retired.  It’s got the same message as the No No Song, but with a different melody. 

Ringo then closed the show for good, doing With A Little Help from My Friends.  After doing his jumping jacks and peace and loving, he was off the stage in a flash and the All-Starrs ended the song and the show.  They bowed and Colin said good night and it was over. 

After the show, I got a mug and program.  It was the first of many concerts I have seen at the Mohegan Sun Arena.  I really miss the days when they used Tickets.com.  Before they switched to Ticketmaster® fans really had a chance to get really good seats and not get hosed the way we do now.  I got eight rows from the stage in section 1 with was house right.  It was a prime location to watch the show as we were too close to watch on the big screens, but could see the action up close. 


It Don’t Come Easy
Honey Don’t
Memphis in Your Mind
How Long
Down Under
Isn’t It Time
A Love Bizarre
Boys
Overkill
Act Naturally
You’re Sixteen
Yellow Submarine
Here Comes the Sun
Never Without You
Don’t Pass Me By
No No Song
Tempted
When I See You Smile
The Glamorous Life
I Wanna Be Your Man
The Living Years
Missing You
Who Can It Be Now
Photograph
Don’t Go Where the Road Don’t Go
With A Little Help From My Friends.