281 -- Goo Goo Dolls -- Tuesday, August 8, 2023 -- Saratoga Performing Arts Center -- Saratoga Springs, NY

--- HA at John Rzeznik’s immediate “I knew you’d come through” when the audience finishes a line during “Broadway.” Apparently the line about a young man in an old man’s bar is relevant. Hahahahaha: “I might have to sit down for a bit. I hurt my foot. How did I hurt my foot?” Helluva start!!!

--- “Over and Over” is infectious!! This could be a special night.

--- Hahahaha at “so you know this one” for “Slide.” “You’ve gotta sing it with me.” Awww at a couple putting their arms around each other at “put your arms around me.” His voice is atrocious, which goes to show how that’s far from the most important thing for a live performer. It’s about the same as vast content knowledge is for a teacher. 

--- HA: “You all give me hope. The other night in Woodstock, man, they must’ve been on the brown acid, ‘cause they were bumming me out…Get off that phone. Stop ratting me out…Let’s enjoy ourselves for an hour.” More than an hour!!!

--- Aww: (1) The pink-haired guitarist comes over to us during “Big Machine.” (2) Rzeznik’s simple “thank you” when we recognize “Here Is Gone.” (3) The black balloons for “Black Balloon.” Way more than “Poker.” Hahahaha, he ends flinging a balloon!! “Saratoga, come on.”

--- Cool change of pace with Pink leading “January Friend.”

--- “Yeah, I Like You” is a nice breeze song. It doesn’t require Rzeznik to strain his voice, which really helps. Lol at Pink randomly flinging his hands up. He’s got such good vibes.

--- Heh, “Going Crazy” is one of their calmer songs. It continues the positive trend vocally. Really cool rhythm shifts in the back half. My favorite discovery so far!!! HA: “that was a good time.”

--- “Lucky Star”: “this one is super old.” From 1993.

--- Heh, after Pink’s even-worse vocals the previous song, Rzeznik sounds great.

--- “Miracle Pill” has cool keyboard and cackle sections. The second effort after the song and the Johnny Depp charisma kills!!!

--- “So Alive”: totally different kind-of-R+B vibe, and he sounds great?!?!

--- “Sympathy”: HA, “we figured we’d bore you with an acoustic in the middle of a rock show.” NOT BORED!!! 

--- “Lost”: “So I’d like to discuss the future of music. F AI……I’m a hypocrite though because I have this old school AI where we can hear percussionist without having to pay them.” Grateful for the reset towards the end. Heh, “ladies and gentleman, let’s hear it for Tapey.”

--- “Come To Me” has a satisfying insistence to it. An earned arc!!!

--- “Name”!!!! ALIVEEEEEEE. Hahaha at “I’m soaking it all in,” all the interruptions, the instruments, and the sincere soar through the melody.

--- “Long Way Down”: perfect hard-rock counter after “Name.” Has cred.

--- “Run All Night”: HA: “We’re going to do a new one for you. Just pretend you know it.” Solid ballad -- especially the lyrics!

--- Awww: This girl clearly knows this song most others don’t, so he throws his pick at her mid song without losing a kick of momentum!!!! “Well, now you know it.”

--- “Dizzy [Everything You Are]”: ooh, I think it’s different than the album version!!

--- “Life’s A Message”: Heh: “This is a song about life.” Ooh, Pink’s vocals are much better than previous songs. 

--- Same goes for “Bringing on the Light.” Good for him! “It was a place we used to go, right up the road from Buffalo”: awww, in spirit, for Michelle Maxey!! 

--- Sax Jerry from O.A.R. joins for “Give a Little Bit.” These two girls nearly on the lawn giving it their ALL.

--- Heh: “You guys know me and Rob, so we don’t have to play that game.”

--- Thank you for making today a “Better Day”!!! CRESCENDO. Sounds great.

--- “Let Love In”: HA at Rob’s sincerity. Woo at the chorus and the build. The fact that he can make fun of stepping up on his Good Charlotte emo bar” mid song without breaking stride or momentum is incredible!!!!

--- “Won’t Back Down”: I want the night to continue.

--- “Iris”!!!!! Does. Brody. Proud.

Grade: A+

280 -- O.A.R. -- Tuesday, August 8, 2023 -- Saratoga Performing Arts Center -- Saratoga Springs, NY

 --- “Love and Memories”! Them being the opening band and not being in Maryland is depressing. It’s impossible, however, to have “LAM” without at least one exclamation point. 

--- “Gotta Be Wrong Sometimes” is a brilliant way to counteract the opening band blues!! Pick a lesser-known song that draws everyone in. Make it all about the music. I APPROVE. The sax is so light and breezy. Perfect for a 71-degree summer night in Saratoga Springs.

--- Awww, Marc Roberge reps Rockville, MD and seems to look at me when I mega point!!

--- Wooo, some people across the way know “Night Shift” lyrics -- I’m not alone!! Cool dueling electric solos. I haven’t seen them do this version before.

--- “I Go Through”: another smooth, moving song I’ve somehow never heard?! Love the intro in which he explained that they built their way up in 8th grade playing original music like this in the school cafeteria! Brief sweet vocal harmony with the saxophonist.

--- “Shattered”!!! Yes, awesome Rockville-worthy guy in front of me who’s seen them four times before, they do in fact “kick f’ing a--.” I’m tempted to text James about how underrated they are. Please play The 9:30 Club. Soon.

--- “Architect” is eh.

--- “Black Rock”: Aww at Roberge casually putting his hand on one guitarist’s shoulder before a solo and chatting up the other mid song. Connection.

--- “On My Way”: the first half is lackluster; the second half SHINES. It comes to a stop, adds an acoustic plink, and goes from there!!

--- “I feel like this song is good for a horse race. You’ll see what I mean in a few minutes.” He individualized for Saratoga!!! Heh, fitting for the title “This Town.”

--- Aww, shoutout to the lawn and the historic venue.

--- “Peace” should have been placed after a wilder song to have a greater impact.

--- “Heaven” fared better because it has more energy, a cool keyboard section, an extended last note, and the best sax of the night!!

--- “Hey Girl”!!!! The first song they ever made a video for, for about $7, appeared to be the first video ever made by a band…….and they’re able to make it new. Solos from the sax, keyboard, and TAIKA WAITITI ON THE MANDOLIN add new life.

--- A hilariously puny deck of cards can’t stop “Poker”!!!

Grade: B+/A-

279 -- Jason Isbell -- Wednesday, August 2, 2023 -- Wolftrap -- Vienna, VA

--- Plinky, moody opening with “Save The World,” a track that stood out on the new Weathervanes album. Nice choice.

--- Surprisingly, the documentary Running With Our Eyes Closed made me less into Isbell into heading into Wolftrap. Fortunately, the gorgeous weather and jog through the Barns immediately made up for it. Also, great title.

--- “King of Oklahoma” is enhanced by a quick electric riff halfway through. Then by a bigger one that definitely wasn’t on the album!!

--- “Dreamsicle”!!!! The song itself is a triumph: clear vocal, piercing lyrics, and the best backstory from the documentary. It’s enhanced by the Captain America I’m sitting next to tapping ME to tell me he usually doesn’t improv this early. Toto, I’m not In Chaminade anymore…

--- Hahaha: “Kenneth hits the gong. He only does it once because if he does, he’s hitting the gong. If it’s more than once, he’s playing the gong, which you definitely don’t want to do.”

--- “Death Wish” is a satisfying red rip. The streak continues.

--- “Strawberry Woman” is a step down, though I dig the Baltimore accordion.

--- “Last of My Kind”!!!! Exquisite first half. The sound, lyrics, and story need no adornment. Everyone embraces the jam in the second half, a beautiful descent into silence. So tender. 

--- “Stockholm” should have stayed in Sweden.

--- “White Beretta” references Memphis. That’s its only woo.

--- “Middle of the Morning” has a vocal power the last two lacked. Legit woo!!

--- Non-Marvel guy to my right is most looking forward to “Honeysuckle Blues.” My wish list is “Alabama Pines” and “24 Frames.” I’ll probably only get “24 Frames.”

--- “Overseas” has an edge from the start. Not spectacular, but yes.

--- “Good job, Chad. Good job on the drums. Gotta be specific.”!!

--- “Alabama Pines”!!!! Simple, thrilling – especially since Non Marvel said “there you go” immediately, for me, for the concert.

--- “Elephant” is super intense lyrically, and I have to look it up after!! The insistent acoustic plucking halfway through adds to it. Could Isbell become a poor man’s Wilco for me? Not quite, but miles better than the doc.

--- Love how he introduces each band member right after a song. Not just dumped together. Everyone gets their due. Speaking of…

--- “Honeysuckle Blues”!!!! Different vibe, unrestrained rock. KILLED IT.

--- Speaking of a different vibe… “Cast Iron Skillet”: the crowd doesn’t know this new acoustic number, but the vocal is *crisp.* There’s a little guitar lilt underneath that improves the sound.

--- “Miles”!!! Stood out in one listen on the album. Gets a deserved BELLOW here. Love the shift in and out of Zeppelin.

--- “Cover Me Up”!!!! An outstanding song. Made more so by, fingers crossed, his stable recovery. Glad he listened to Cap.

--- “24 Frames”: surprisingly midtempo, but “if God was an architect” is a strong hook, and “glad you got that”(!!!)

--- “If We Were Vampire”: LYRICS, BRO. Wow.

--- Aww, I hadn’t noticed an ASL interpreter. Nice.

--- “This Ain’t It”: not necessarily a final song, but enjoyable. HA at the guitar chat towards the end.

Overall, way better than expected. Also love that people are talking about albums on the way back!

Grade: B+/A-

278 -- Dispatch with National Symphony Orchestra -- Friday, July 21, 2023 -- Wolftrap -- Vienna, VA

 --- This half empty pit on a Friday night is weird -- as is seats in a pit in general. Wolftrap gives most of its members seats automatically, so . . . the pit should be its own thing.

--- Um, how do you start with “Windylike”? Weak.

--- At least the couple next to me is cool. They’re about to see Bruce for the first time ever, and they saw The Avett Brothers at Red Rocks for three straight nights.

--- “Curse + Crush” is better. Cool falsetto section from the other guitarist.

--- Yay, reggae finally gets people out of their seats!! “Other Side.” Hahaha, I wonder if the limp openers were a slow play. Jamming with the orchestra now sounds amazing. “How about that orchestra?” Indeed.

--- “Only the Wild Ones”!!! So smoooooth.

--- “Rice Water”: I’m shocked they’re picking so many songs from one album, not even their most recent album. I like the song, but it’s curious that they’d include another one like this, as there will clearly be many superior ones they’ll leave out.

--- “Thank you for supporting us all our career. Being surrounded the past few days by the National Symphony Orchestra reminds us how truly important the performing arts are.”

--- “Came for the Fire” is intriguing. It’s off Location 13, a 2018 album I somehow missed! The song has solid drive and echoey vocals. 

--- Hahaha, from the crowd: “Woo, bongoes are out.”

--- “Past The Falls” / “Seasons: Movement 3”!!! Perfect choice for an orchestra. Some might be bored; I’m thrilled.

--- “Walk With You” has quiet power, given the history!!! Brad’s voice also sounds crystal clear. “He wrote for his senior thesis. He needed a flute solo. This is the first time we’ve performed live since 1996”!!! 

--- “We’d like to acknowledge the Piscataway tribe, for their cultivation of this land.”

--- “Flag,” another song I barely know, is excellent. Such command of the vibe!! Heh at the trumpet soloist Josh Coughlin being such an introvert. 

--- Heh: (1) Just realized Chad and Brad are both in bare feet. (2) “Playing in front of 50 musicians off this caliber…is intimidating.” 

--- Aww, shout-out to music teachers — and teachers in general. “It’s been a tough few years for you.”

--- “Out Loud”!!!! SO LOOSE. Brad’s hit a helluva note, and I love JR Reilly, the new Dave Grohl.

--- “Bang Bang”: awwwww, Mama Stokes is singled out in the crowd three rows from me. She has more Dispatch cassettes than anyone in history. Lol at Brad trying to lead the crowd in snaps. Oooh, cool weaving in and out of The Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil.” They’re playing multiple instruments on their own — their own orchestra!!!

--- “This is one of the most beautiful venues we’ve been to. For people that call it your backyard, you’re lucky.”

--- Clever transition to CCR’s “Looking My Back Door.” “This goes out to everyone on the lawn.” *Chad messes up.* “This still goes out to everyone on the lawn.”

--- “Flying Horses”!!!! New appreciation for Brad’s harmonica. 

--- “Skin The Rabbit”’s got swagger. Oooh, full-on electric at the end!!

--- “All This Time,” off their new Break This Fall album: “Here’s a song we have never played live ever. Why not debut it with a 70-person NSO?” Mostly midtempo, but I like the slow transition sections, and I’m glad they made someone’s day by putting it out there. Dark finish.

--- “Thoughts and Prayers” song is haunting. “We honestly wish we never had to write this song.” They’re closing their eyes like me!!! Numbers on the ground at the end.

--- “The General”: hahaha at the guy in the crowd who’s been tame the whole time who’s flipping out. Wooo at all the changes and the NSO conductor conducting the crowd!!! 

--- Awwwww: (1) “I’d like to thank my parents for staying the whole time.” (2) “We’ve been playing music for a long time, and for us to have a first [playing with the NSO], it makes us want to start playing music all over again.”

--- “Letter to Lady J”!!!! Brad’s dancing — and jumping — at my height?! Wild mix of grave message and sparkly sound?! So memorable.

--- Hahaha: (1) Them covering “Crazy Train.” (2) The difference in Chad and Brad’s expressions: so light and heavy. (3) The two of them sitting on the ground leaning in to listen to the bass play. (4) This being the first time Ozzy Osborne ever had a NSO violin solo!!!

Grade: A-