It's Boss Time!

Part rock concert, part soul revue, part church service, part memorial service, part political message, part party.  That's a Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band concert.  All those elements were on display last night at the Garden as Bruce and his band played an exhausting, nearly three hour show.

This was a well-balanced show featuring "must play" hits (Born To Run, Dancing In The Dark, Thunder Road) deep/fan favorite cuts (Thundercrack, Jackson Cage, Promised Land) new songs (Wrecking Ball, We Take Care of Our Own, Jack Of All Trades) soul covers (The Way You Do The Things You Do, 634-5789) politically/socially conscious messages (41 Shots/American Skin, My City Of Ruins, The Rising) and an encore R&B guest shot by Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band (Raise Your Hand.)

Let's face it, new stuff is usually the weak part of any concert (Beer line! Bathroom break!) But since 2001, Bruce has finely and successfully weaved his current material into the set list along side the hits. This expanded band (up to 17 at times, including background singers, a horn section, and a percussionist) played these songs with a new musical depth and dimension not reached on previous tours. It's all about pacing. Just when you feel it might be slowing down or getting unfamiliar, they rear back and grab you with a lights-on yell/sing along you can't help pumping your fist to.

What about the elephant in the room? How to deal with the recent loss of sax player, minister of soul, and "The Big Man" Clarence Clemons?  The answer was a horn section, including Clarence's nephew, Jake on sax.  A brilliant move.  One person could never replace Clarence, so why try? Bruce made references to him (and previously lost keyboardist Danny Federici) throughout the show without naming them. During band roll call he called out "Are we missing anyone?" If we're here, and you're here, then they're here." And when he sang the line "The Big Man joined the band" during "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," he stopped the band for a 2-minute, lights-on deafening audience cheer for Clarence. Pumping his heart, Bruce looked moved as his loving friend looked down on us all.

Other random fun things Bruce did: In darkness delivered a hilarious carnival barker/house announcer intro to the show; crowd surfed back to the main stage after doing some songs on a mini stage at half-arena; told a 17 year old that a song he requested was 3 times as old as he was; made fun of the fact that he couldn't sing anything like Smokey Robinson; gave the mic to some women to sing along to; and told us we'd go home with sore feet, sore hands, and a sore throat. We did. And it was good.

A Review Of A Concert By The Black Keys

This is a review of a concert at the Garden by The Black Keys.  I very much enjoyed this concert by the
Black Keys.

I was impressed at the styles of music played by the Black Keys.  Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, and the White Stripes were a few bands whose styles I saw and heard in the Black Keys.  I'm sure these comparisons might not please the Black Keys.  I'm sure they feel like the only band they sound like is the Black Keys.

Sometimes there were 4 musicians onstage, other times there were just The Black Keys, Dan and Patrick.
Patrick is the drummer in the Black Keys.  He's tall and pounds the drums with arms crossed and a primal force.   Dan is the guitarist and singer in the Black Keys.  He plays heavy, bluesy riffs and solos while singing tight 3-and-a-half minute rocking Black  Keys songs. Together, the Black Keys played a very raw, emotional, and powerful 90-minute concert.

I was impressed that the Garden was sold out with almost 19,000 people who came to see Black Keys.
There sure was a lot of funny smelling smoke in the arena while the Black Keys played.  I was surprised because I didn't think those people went to see the Black Keys.

Sometimes I felt the Black Keys ended some songs when they could have gone on longer and rocked even harder.  Maybe that's the simplicity and power of the Black Keys. I'm glad to see the world has another band that knows how to "arena rock."   The name of that band is the Black Keys.

Diary Of A Snow Day

If my kids wrote a diary of a snow day, it might look something like this...

Night before snow storm:
6:00pm-Watched TV news with my parents.  Wow, these news people sure are funny.  They have reporters all over the state standing around in the rain.  But I guess when you're an adult, you come to appreciate this kind of hard-hitting journalism. 

8:30pm-Tried lobbying my parents to stay up later since we'd have no school.  No dice.  They shot us down for 2 reasons:  1)  There was only two inches so far and snow days are never a sure thing until they're official.    2)  They were getting ready to watch Modern Family starring Sofia Vergara.  I thought she just did commercials.

6:30am-I came downstairs and my Dad was working at the kitchen table (if you call what he does work.) He told me it was a snow day.  I pumped my fist and said "yes!!!"  I told him my friend Justin had just won a $10 bet to one of his teachers about the snow.  He seemed to wonder if the teacher would really pay Justin.

8:30am-Time to get out and enjoy the snow.  There's so much to do.  Shoveling, building a sled ramp, throwing snowballs, riding my bike into massive snowbanks, catching snowflakes on my tongue, building a snow fort, and riding my scooter into massive snowbanks.

8:35am-I'm bored. I think I'll see if my friend wants to join me. 

8:36am-(All with my friend) Time to get out and enjoy the snow.  There's so much to do.  Shoveling, building a sled ramp, throwing snowballs, riding my bike into massive snowbanks, catching snowflakes on my tongue, building a snow fort, and riding my scooter into massive snowbanks. 

12 Noon-Lunch with friends from the neighborhood.  Today's menu: 6 bowls of Macaroni and cheese and hot chocolate, plus whatever everyone else is having.  One of my friends comments about how great it is to sit, relax, and enjoy a hot fresh meal and conversation with friends. School lunches are so rushed.  This is more like it.  Wow, sometimes I wonder if we're kids or adults.  That seems kind of wise beyond our years.

1pm-Back to doing stuff outside. Mom helps my friends and I shovel the driveway so my Dad can relax when he gets home.  And by relax, I mean fall asleep at 7pm becasue he's up so early working, blogging, and whatever else he does.

2:30pm-Baking chocolate brownie/peanut butter cookies with Mom.  There's math involved, so at least I'm getting some education and I don't feel bad about missing school.

6pm-Dad's home.  He says "Wow, that's great.  You guys already have your pajammas on."  We tell Dad that we've had them on all day.  That's the unwritten law of a snow day.

7pm-Time to wind down for the night with some TV watching as a family.  Hey, there's that Sofia Vergara lady in a commercial again. 

Snow days rule.