Earplugs and Overpriced T-Shirts: Concerts!

[Deleted]

Saw Jason Mraz (and Raining Jane) in Philly last night. It was awesome and I will try to hold onto the love for humanity he imparts as long as possible!

[mementomori]

Saw TV on the Radio at the Apollo on Tuesday. That venue has so much history and I got excited just to be there, my first time at the Apollo ever! TV on the Radio played a great show, I thought the venue was perfect-sized for them. Their new album Seeds was released the day before and it's really good so they played more of that material. Great show, and I highly recommend checking out TVOTR while they are touring.

[ratscabies]

Just got home from taking the family (me, MissP, TrafficChick, her dad and his girlfriend) to see the Cleveland Orchestra play the music of John Williams.

Freaking awesome. Turns out, the cheapest seats were in the front row. I had to fight the desire to reach up and pull the pantleg out of the shoe of the conductor. Visually, not very exciting being that close, but sonically pure bliss.

This was at Blossom Music Center, their outdoor summer shed venue. In the past I have been bitterly disappointed at the sound of the orchestra here. On the lawn, it's hopeless, and at the back of the pavilion, if the people around you are quiet (and they never are), if you strain you can hear most of the program.

For this, after recovering from the discovery that the front row in the center section was $10 CHEAPER than lawn seats, I figured I would try it and see. My thinking was,Ii can't hear the sound system anyway, if I am in their laps, perhaps I will actually HEAR something.

It was glorious!

I am showing my age here, but dammit if the "Luke's Theme" section of the Star Wars selection (the music from the medal scene at the end and the end credits) didn't make me tear up. It was the mournful version that recalls the death of Obi-Wan. Got a little verklempt at the "Superman" theme too.

MissP was a trooper. She is in that "Classical music is BORING!" stage that I assume will last through high school, but she behaved well, until she fell asleep right before the theme from "Jaws" kicked in.

Hearing this stuff played by one of the top 5 symphony orchestras in the world was pure magic. Better than the movie soundtracks. Better than when Williams himself does it with the Boston Pops. The conductor is a long time violinist on Williams sessions. His first Williams recording was as first violin on Jaws.

And in March, the orchestra is doing a Star Trek program in their real venue, Severance Hall. I have never seen them there, but if I am home that night, I am definitely going to that one as well!

[TrafficChick]

Honey, I've seen the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance. It's beyond magical.

We are so lucky to have this amazing Orchestra in our backyard.

[ratscabies]

So last night, we drive up to Detroit to see Sir Paul at the Joe Louis Arena. As a blatant form of crowd baiting, the Wings front man put a Red Wings sticker on one of his acoustic guitars.

We took MissP to see her favorite Beatle. Took her out of school at noon, and headed out. Her teacher and the school secretary were both jealous. She was once again pretty well behaved, though she did fall asleep at about 9:30.

The show was supposed to start at 8, but didn't until about 8:30. They played for three hours. P did wake up when the bombs went off during "Live and Let Die", but then right back out until the end.

Opened with "8 Days a Week", and at 75, this early in the show, Paul sang John's part and let drummer Abe take the Paul harmonies on the chorus. After about 4 songs, though, Paul was fully warmed up, and sounded amazing. MUCH better than I had hoped. Maybe not quite there on the screamy bits, but really better than a 75 year old should. My dad is 75, and has no hair, a mangled ankle, and requires a cane.

He absolutely won me over when they launched into "Temporary Secretary", my favorite song from the McCartney II album. Y'all can keep "Coming Up"!

Really good show. Actually worth the $100 each price of admission. And the mix was exceptional, especially for a hockey arena. Having tried to mix in similar situations, I really appreciate it when someone is successful at it. Also, at 96db, exciting, but not loud enough to hurt, though we were in the top row at the other end from the stage. Easily one of the top five best mixed shows I have ever paid to see. Perhaps bested only by Emerson, Lake and Powell, or Pink Floyd.

[TrafficChick]

What he said.

(Live and Let Die was the highlight for me.)

Edited to add: Rat mentioned Abe, Paul's drummer. I met him at NAMM a couple of years ago and he is just the biggest sweetheart. I enjoyed watching him play as much as I enjoyed seeing Paul. Abe always has the biggest smile on his face when he plays - like he's in perpetual "holy shit this is the best gig in the world" mode. Probably because it is.

Next week we're going to Colin Hay (Men at Work) at a cathedral in Cleveland. He does an amazing solo acoustic show.

[ratscabies]

Addendum:

I just picked MissP up at school. As we pulled out of the parking lot, "Maybe I'm Amazes" comes on the radio.

P says, "We heard this song last night."

I said I thought she was asleep by that point in the show.

"No, I'm awake a lot of times when you think I'm sleeping!"

Also, while I was posting my original review, Traffic was in the backseat, playing some video from Facebook of "Live and Let Die" because we thought she'd missed it. She said, "I saw the mini fire mushrooms!" and then started singing along. I am pretty sure she had only heard the song once or twice before.

Indoctrination complete!

[Gigiree]

You guys are the coolest parents!

[jynni]

Saw Muse last night. They are one of my favorite bands and I'd never had the chance to see them.

Holy wow. I've always heard how incredible live they are but wow, they are just infuckingsanely good. Matt Bellamy is a on a whole other level from most front men and god can he wail. They had a really cool set in the round and lots of lights and digital projections and such to provide eye entertainment but they could've played in the dark and been just as good.

[ikmccall]

Dec 16, 2015 14:00:05 GMT -4 jynni said:

Saw Muse last night. They are one of my favorite bands and I'd never had the chance to see them.

Holy wow. I've always heard how incredible live they are but wow, they are just infuckingsanely good. Matt Bellamy is a on a whole other level from most front men and god can he wail. They had a really cool set in the round and lots of lights and digital projections and such to provide eye entertainment but they could've played in the dark and been just as good.

Were there drones above the audience?