The Concert Thread

[Alicat]

Cool music fest yesterday. Met some nice people and could not have asked for better weather. Having access to the front of the stage made it totally worthwhile. Got to see/hear MGMT, Anti-Flag, The Kooks, Everlast, Alkaline Trio, Flogging Molly and Pennywise. Flogging Molly were some wild Irishmen and the crowd got pretty unruly. Pennywise made the crowd crazier and I left in the middle of their set. I got pushed around a little but stayed as clear of the mayhem as I could. Everlast was awesome! Made the whole day worthwhile.  Two side by side main stages so one act finished and within 5 minutes, the next act started. Whole thing took place n the parking lot, not the amphitheater stage.

I have never seen so much crowd surfing and people who ended up with feet in the air and probably dropped on their heads a few times. Shoes were flying thru the air and being thrown on stage. Even saw a bra flung up at the stage. Amusing. Event staff got a huge workout hauling surfers over the barricades once they got tossed up front and then got escorted out.

[RGMike]

Cool music fest yesterday. Met some nice people and could not have asked for better weather. Having access to the front of the stage made it totally worthwhile. Got to see/hear MGMT, Anti-Flag, The Kooks, Everlast, Alkaline Trio, Flogging Molly and Pennywise. Flogging Molly were some wild Irishmen and the crowd got pretty unruly. Pennywise made the crowd crazier and I left in the middle of their set. I got pushed around a little but stayed as clear of the mayhem as I could. Everlast was awesome! Made the whole day worthwhile.  Two side by side main stages so one act finished and within 5 minutes, the next act started. Whole thing took place n the parking lot, not the amphitheater stage.

I have never seen so much crowd surfing and people who ended up with feet in the air and probably dropped on their heads a few times. Shoes were flying thru the air and being thrown on stage. Even saw a bra flung up at the stage. Amusing. Event staff got a huge workout hauling surfers over the barricades once they got tossed up front and then got escorted out.

You are one brave middle-aged mom, Ms. Alicat!  I wouldn't've lasted 10 minutes in that scene! More power to ya!

[Lightnin' Rod]

I don't suppose I'm going to run into any of you tonight at the Fillmore...  I've never seen Terrible Ted before, should be an interesting experience. 

[urth]

I don't suppose I'm going to run into any of you tonight at the Fillmore...  I've never seen Terrible Ted before, should be an interesting experience. 

No kidding--I'll be curious if he has anything to say about some of the current events (election, gay marriage etc.) or if he just keeps it to his usual shooting and killing and guns patter.

[RGMike]

I don't suppose I'm going to run into any of you tonight at the Fillmore...  I've never seen Terrible Ted before, should be an interesting experience. 

No kidding--I'll be curious if he has anything to say about some of the current events (election, gay marriage etc.) or if he just keeps it to his usual shooting and killing and guns patter.

I could be wrong, but despite the red meat-and-guns shtick, he may be more libertarian than right-wing wacko. OTOH, he has an image to maintain. So Rod --if he does any election commentary or gay-bashing, please inform us here.

[mshray]

I don't suppose I'm going to run into any of you tonight at the Fillmore...  I've never seen Terrible Ted before, should be an interesting experience. 

I'm jealous, but I can't go.  Double Live Gonzo is one of my favorite albums.  Let me know if he plays Migration or Hibernation or Great White Buffalo.  I can ignore the politics.

[Lightnin' Rod]

I don't suppose I'm going to run into any of you tonight at the Fillmore...  I've never seen Terrible Ted before, should be an interesting experience. 

No kidding--I'll be curious if he has anything to say about some of the current events (election, gay marriage etc.) or if he just keeps it to his usual shooting and killing and guns patter.

I could be wrong, but despite the red meat-and-guns shtick, he may be more libertarian than right-wing wacko. OTOH, he has an image to maintain. So Rod --if he does any election commentary or gay-bashing, please inform us here.

Nope, none of that.  Ted was kind of like The Monkeys last night, too busy singin' to put anybody down.  Though, he was chattering away throughout the show, and he's really pretty funny a lot of the time.  A little heavy on the patriotism and gun stuff, but not oppressively so.  One of his main conceits for the night was that, since he was from Detroit, this was the Motown sound, and his band were the Funk Brothers.  The biggest laugh (and perhaps the least pc moment) was when he stopped and said "Wait a minute... Am I the only black guy in the room?  Where are my brothers?  Any brothers in the house?  I'm not continuing until I find a brother in the audience."

He kept playing anyway.

He did a nice tribute to dead rockers and blues artists, with a special Bo Diddley tribute.  "Don't ever forget, this is where this all springs from, Bo Diddley, Jame Brown, Chuck Berry..."  Then he went into a quick cover of Sam and Dave's "Soul Man", after claiming he grew up a small black child in Detroit -- "C'mon San Francisco, the rest of the country thinks that's funny!  I love you guys to death, but America's out there -- you should come and meet us!"  All said in good humour, mind you.  He went into a bit of a diversity routine, using it to make fun of Country Western hicks.  It was pandering, sure, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Musically, it was good, if not magical.  A bunch of high energy riff rockers, professionally executed by what Uncle Ted kept telling us were the tightest band in America.  They were tight enough, sure, but as a power trio, the level of difficulty isn't that high.  I mean, the E street band is just as tight, and there's 12 or 13 of them.  Ted's guitar playing was excellent, though he never approached the kind of wizardry Trower displayed last February.  But Robin couldn't match Ted's scthick and personality.

His self promotion reached a peak when he launched into "Cat Scratch Fever" calling it the greatest riff ever.  And then, when the song was over, he says "That WAS the greatest riff ever wasn't it?  Or, maybe the second greatest -- this is the greatest!"  Then he launches into a pretty much note for note rendition of "Stranglehold" for the final song before the encore (very nice).

The encore was, mshray, "Great White Buffalo".  He broke out his special white guitar for that one, complete with crossed arrows on the back and the words Great White Buffalo.  To cap the evening, he hangs the guitar on one of the amps (feedback), gets his compound bow, lights an arrow, and "sacrafices" the Great White Buffalo (not dead center, i was a little disappointed in Uncle Ted). 

All in all, quite the enjoyable evening...

[Gazoo]

after claiming he grew up a small black child in Detroit

I've actually seen him do this shtick in interviews in years past.  It would be funnier if his music had soul or rhythm to it.

Side note: Some Pittsburgh-area band whose name I've long since forgotten got the opportunity to open for Nuge in the 'Burgh back in the late '80s.  As my brother reported, all went fine - until the band, for reasons unfathomable, decided to do a cover of "Stranglehold."  Nugent, of course, was furious, and booted them as his opener that night.

[RGMike]

Especially for Gaz: they're doing Hair in Central Park starting later this month.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118739.html

[Wayback]

Hey, anyone going to see Police/Elvis Costello tonight at Concord??  I'll be there, should be fun.  Here's brief review, setlists from Sunday's Shoreline show. 

The Police Impressive at Shoreline
Contra Costa Times, July 15, 2008

Talk about a turn-around!  Was it even the same group of guys onstage Monday night (July 14) at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View that performed 13 months ago at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland?

I was less than impressed with what I saw back in Oakland, but I was thrilled with the Police's gig at Shoreline. What a difference 13 months makes. This time around, the band was rock solid and the tunes came together perfectly onstage. Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers have definitely found the right balance between the past and the present in terms of presenting the music. The songs felt fresh, alive and exciting, yet they were still close enough to the original arrangements to allow fans to sing along.

Sting sounded quite strong, and Summers was as capable as ever, but it was Copeland who really impressed. That guy is a percussion maniac and I could watch him drum all night.

In all, the Police, so disappointing in its last visit to the Bay Area, finally managed to live up to its legend at Shoreline. Those planning to attend the band's gig on Wednesday (July 16) at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord should definitely be excited. The pairing of the Police and Elvis Costello is arguably the summer's most promising double header.

CONCERT PREVIEW: The Police, with Elvis Costello WHEN & WHERE: 7:30 p.m.Wednesday at Sleep Train Pavilion, 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. TICKETS: www.livenation.com

Elvis Costello Shoreline partial setlist:
"Pump It Up"
"Mystery Dance"
"Everyday I Write the Book"
"American Gangster Time"
"Radio Radio"
"Clubland"
"Watching the Detectives"
"Alison" (with Sting)
"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding"

The Police Shoreline set list:
Message in a Bottle
Walking on the Moon
Demolition Man
Voices in My Head
When the World Is Running Down
Don't Stand So Close to Me
Driven to Tears
Hole in My Life
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do
Invisible Sun
Can't Stand Losing You
Encores:
Roxanne
King of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
Next to You

[urth]

Hey, anyone going to see Police/Elvis Costello tonight at Concord??  I'll be there, should be fun.  Here's brief review, setlists from Sunday's Shoreline show. 
[snip]

So how was the show? Did Elvis play much besides his hits?

[RGMike]

Nice review of Billy Joel's Shea Stadium farewell last nite:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/arts/music/17joel.html

[Gazoo]

Nice review of Billy Joel's Shea Stadium farewell last nite:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/arts/music/17joel.html

Jon Pareles is a magnificent writer, and this was really among his best.

[Lightnin' Rod]

I don't have a lot of time this morning, but just wanted to mention the fine outing Saturday night, Steely Dan at the Greek.  Excellent group of musicians (loved the horn section, drumming, and Jon Herington's lead guitar work).  Heard some complaints as we were filing out that they played too much "old stuff".  But others would have complained the exact opposite if they'd played more new stuff (and I wouldn't have been as entertained).

Highlight was probably "Black Friday", or maybe "Kid Charlemagne". 

Fagan's voice was a little rough, but hey, he's no spring chicken.  Not many of those in the crowd either.

Anyway, very enjoyable. 

[Gazoo]

I don't have a lot of time this morning, but just wanted to mention the fine outing Saturday night, Steely Dan at the Greek.  Excellent group of musicians (loved the horn section, drumming, and Jon Herington's lead guitar work).  Heard some complaints as we were filing out that they played too much "old stuff".  But others would have complained the exact opposite if they'd played more new stuff (and I wouldn't have been as entertained).

Highlight was probably "Black Friday", or maybe "Kid Charlemagne". 

Fagan's voice was a little rough, but hey, he's no spring chicken.  Not many of those in the crowd either.

Anyway, very enjoyable. 

Did they do anything from Walter Becker's new solo album?