Let the music play - new Concert Reviews/Experiences

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Costa Rican Gopher said:
First time I'd been there. As a guy who pretty much grew up in that theater, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Thought nostalgia might ruin it for me, but it was great. Sort of that Huntington Bank Stadium "there are no bad seats in the house" feeling.

I could have been anywhere in that theater, had sight lines, easy access to beer/bathrooms & not had people all over me (except the front row between Kim & Kelly) :)
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I totally missed out on the stocking cap kid. Sounds like he was in a mosh pit of 1.

Of the dozens of concert shirts I have purchased through the years, this is probably the coolest ever, except for the Replacements-Midway Twins gear.


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Costa Rican Gopher said:
Black stocking cap/white t-shirt kid. The kid was an absolute savage! You would have thought he was whacked out on crank at a Slayer concert in 92'. Just a big, wild, inappropriately thrashing, dummy. People around me in our my section couldn't stop watching him. The group was amazing, and Kim Deal still has "it", but he was the real star of the show, imo. I'd love to know what makes that kid tick. :)

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That's him alright!
 


The Jayhawks announced their annual Holiday shows with a bit of a different twist playing at the Fitz. Per Gary's intsa post it will have more of an acoustic feel.

Matthew Sweet is the opener both nights. It's been about 30 years since I have seen him live.

www.thecurrent.org

The Jayhawks with special guest Matthew Sweet

The Jayhawks with special guest Matthew Sweet at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul on December 20 and 21, 2024.
www.thecurrent.org
 

Not exactly concert-related but music related. Damned if this isn't pretty impressive, and completely ridiculous. But it's worth a watch.

 


Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
Not exactly concert-related but music related. Damned if this isn't pretty impressive, and completely ridiculous. But it's worth a watch.

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I had to watch it again to make sure it was kinda badass, or just an exaggerated first impression. That's the damndest thing I've seen in a while.
 

Saturday night, fell asleep around midnight after watching the Gopher football game then woke up about 3:30 AM to catch a flight to Nashville.

Made it in time to catch the Colts-Titans game. Flacco moves like a fossil in the pocket but got the job done to lead Indy to a 20-17 victory.

After a brief nap at the hotel, back to Broadway to see Jason Isbell & The 400 unit at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Wow. What a place.

Just incomparable in every aspect. Church pew seats, amazing sightlines everywhere and acousticly pristine. It really is a cathedral. Built in 1892, it's 2 decades older than Fenway Park for crying out loud.

It's my 4th time seeing them tour for Weathervanes for which this band lineup was put together a little more a year ago. Each show has gotten better and better. I hope Isbell can keep his crew together long term.

It was the 4th show out of a 8 show annual residency. His hometown crowd gave him an extra boost of energy. Also there was a resounding cheer for the Tennessee lyric in Flying Over Water. Even though it's only a year old Cast Iron Skillet is a full blown audience sing along, and in that place sounds like a choir.

For an encore cover, they tore into the R.E.M. Document radio hit The One I Love. We were also treated to both his Drive-By Truckers standards Outfit and also the curtain closer Decoration Day.

Bucket list item fulfilled. Have to hit Red Rocks soon.

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After a year now, I think Weathervanes is firmly in my Mt Rushmore for albums by any artist, this century.

I've already had a nap today.
 
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Ope3 said:
Jack White's Nashville joint.
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My trip to Music City concluded with seeing Bob Mould on the eve of his birthday. The show was at the little club (The Blue Room) attached to Jack White's Third Man Records Studio compound. Just a phenomenal acoustic space, I can't think of anything of it's size (capacity 250) that sounds that amazing.

Bob looked and sounded great, voice was full and he was in a very pleasant mood.

Opening 6 songs were full of fury including Hüsker Dü classics, Flip Your Wig & I Apologize.

At that point he was ready to chat up the audience, so I hollered "Happy Birthday, Bob!" salute, which he graciously acknowledged.

I was in the dead center of the club, and my shout out was a que for a woman in the front row to bestow a gift to him. Turned out to be a Dudley Dü Right caricature/print playing a Flying V. He was touched by the gesture.

On it continued, Sinners and Their Repentances was dedicated to JD Vance.

Only real semi-surprise was getting both Too Far Down and Hardly Getting Over It back-to-back. I don't recall getting that combo since pre-Sugar solo shows.

Fun night. Fun trip.
 
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Ope3 said:
At that point he was ready to chat up the audience, so I hollered "Happy Birthday, Bob!" salute, which he graciously acknowledged.

I was in the dead center of the club, and my shout out was a que for a woman in the front row to bestow a gift to him. Turned out to be a Dudley Dü Right caricature/print playing a Flying V. He was touched by the gesture.
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Bob said he still has the Flying V, didn't bring it on tour though.
 
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Richard Thompson at the Fitzgerald in St Paul this past Saturday was quite a treat. I think it was the 4th time I have seem him perform there. It was also the first time post-2020 that I have seen him with an backing electric band, so that was fun as well. He's added his grandson Zak Hobbs as supporting guitar player, and it's obvious that with his lineage and family training, he has chops to overcome any nepo-baby critiques.

The setlist had a lot of cuts from his new Ship to Shore album, which is quite strong and very well received.

A highlight was the lead track from Amnesia, Turning of the Tide. RT acknowledged that actually they were going to play a more punk rock version than the original recording, since he was fond of the Bob Mould cover that was on the tribute album Beath the Retreat.

Other great moments were 1952 Vincent Black Lightening (solo acoustic) and Tear Stained Letter (full band). At age 75 he doesn't have the marathon 2.5 hr sets anymore, but he has not lost his A game on the guitar and is as engaging as ever with his wry sense of humor.

Personally, having spent the day tailgating and at the Terps-Gophers football game, 90 minutes was about right for me anyway.
 

Golden Smog played this past Friday at First Ave. Fun show, really in the spirit before they put out their original 90s albums. Without Tweedy this go around and having Steve Gorman (formerly with the Black Crowes now on KQRS) it was about split between their own stuff and covers.

The played songs by Three Dog Night, Kris Kristofferson/Johnny Cash, T Rex, The Faces, Mission of Burma, The Lemonheads, Neil Young, Bowie, Split Enz & The Velvet Underground.

Despite a little lyric flub Sunday Morning Coming Down was a fantastic tribute to KK. Gary Louris sounded far better than Dando recently on Into Your Arms.

Filling in for Tweedy on a couple of tunes was Jack Torrey of the Cactus Blossoms, including the back up vocals on Glad and Sorry. He also helped out for the encore with an acoustic duet with Louris on Radio King from Down By the Old Mainstream.

Who needs the avatar?
 

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