265 -- ‘Bruce Springsteen’ at Paul Verbesey’s ‘Surprise’ Party -- Saturday, October 15, 2022 -- Hill Country BBQ -- DC

This Bruce ‘concert’ was not a traditional show featuring The E Street Band. It was a much-delayed (much-anticipated!) birthday party for perhaps the world’s biggest Springsteen fan, Paul Verbesey. No one could replace Bruce, but the cover band did a great job, as did Jenn Verbesey arranging the whole thing.

Here are my top moments:

— Arriving, finding that Danny Verbesey and Jonny Verbesey were there. Woo for last-minute Pittsburgh / Ohio State road trips. Glad I wore my Jets jacket.

— Kevin, upon seeing my jacket and River tour t-shirt underneath: “That has to be my all-time favorite outfit.”

— Finally meeting Adam, talking more with Julia than ever before

— Karen Ehlin telling me at the bar not to “give away who’s downstairs — Paul doesn’t know.” I literally stopped talking (and breathing) for ten seconds, assuming she meant the giant surprise was The Boss himself — that an hour from then I’d have the meeting of my life. The band ended up being more than enough, but lol at the misunderstanding.

— Hearing from Mike McDonald about his son’s first year at William and Mary. Remembering “Atlantic City” with him at the Meadowlands 14(!) years earlier.

— Hearing from numerous people I didn’t know about their favorite Bruce memories.

The decades-old shirts alone made me misty.

— Live streaming “Hungry Heart” for Aunt Mary – it’s her favorite Bruce song.

— Bonding with Danny, Jonny, and Julia about studying abroad, Three Identical Strangers, and rare people who are impossible to talk to. After three years apart (thanks, Covid), it was a super-satisfying cousin reunion.

— The delicious buffet at Hill Country and the staff’s determination to get me a doggy bag to take home to Danny Ibanez. I wish Danny could have been there, but the food and songs before and after made up for it.

— Watching Hark once again make seniors’ nights, dancing up a storm with them. That and the lights-on “Born To Run” brought me back to Williamsburg. Lucky Evelyn was not there to nearly ruin the lead-in. I’m amazed “Unchained Melody” and “Born To Run” survived.

— Gathering the (liquid) courage to join Debbie, Jenn, Suzanne, and the rest of the family on the dance floor. By the end, I was bopping along to every song. What a night.

Grade: A

500+ photos narrowed down to 50!

Speech: https://verbesey.smugmug.com/Pauls-50th-Bruce-Bash/i-GtqGXLX/A

Moms and Sons: https://verbesey.smugmug.com/Pauls-50th-Bruce-Bash/i-dJ4ghRw/A

"Prove It All Night": https://verbesey.smugmug.com/Pauls-50th-Bruce-Bash/i-34nxv8h/A

"Prove It All Night" 2: https://verbesey.smugmug.com/Pauls-50th-Bruce-Bash/i-7VSSwPF/A

"Thunder Road": https://verbesey.smugmug.com/Pauls-50th-Bruce-Bash/i-ZnrbSHT/A

"Sherry Darling": https://verbesey.smugmug.com/Pauls-50th-Bruce-Bash/i-dtWk9qM/A

"Out in the Street": https://verbesey.smugmug.com/Pauls-50th-Bruce-Bash/i-7VSSwPF/A

264 -- Broken Social Scene -- Friday, October 14, 2022 -- 9:30 Club -- DC

It was great to see Ben Marzouk in person for the first time in a while – and to finally meet Wes. I loved hearing how much Broken Social Scene had meant to Wes over the years. 

Below are some live reactions… 

--- In my many 9:30 Club shows, I’ve never been on the left side before. It’s not a huge difference, but it was cool to discover the massive album collection they have in the back left. 

--- I recognize “KC Accidental” immediately. It’s a smart start: driving, upbeat, with a melody. As Ben points out, the trumpet and trombone make a difference.

--- “Stars and Sons”: weakkk vocal, strong instrumentals, especially the extended multi-instrument riff at the end.

--- “Almost Crimes”: including female vocals make it a whole new ball game!! Love how she holds out the mic. I can’t believe I thought this was lackluster on the album. The extended dark electric riff contrast so well with her vocals. Could be renamed “Mrs. Brightside.”

--- “Looks Just Like The Sun”: At first I thought it was sleepy. It works really well though: the trumpet, the woman’s autotune, and as Ben said, “the layering.”

--- “Pacific Theme”: Heh, the trombone steals the song. Love how the electric guitarist points to him like, “Dude’s got it.”

--- “Cause = Time”: solid, spacy swirl. I like the way it keeps moving in and out. Chill.

--- “7/4 [Skyline]”: “One of the best things in my life is when I get to sing this is with her -- friends since summer camp back in the day.” She’s clearly the secret weapon. Ben: “I love the way they layer in her voice.”

--- “Fire Eye’d Boy”: stays in the same basic spot, but it’s a good spot.

--- Ooh, I like the shift to plink. “Shampoo Suicide”!!! Never heard of it, friggin’ love it. The simplicity of the vocal: haunting. “All the lights we were.” Now it’s video game boops and beeps?!  Drags on a bit, but still a high point.

--- “I’m Still Your Fag”: interesting intro, excellent contrast, quiet trombone FTW.

--- Aww, nice shout-out to 9:30 and all they went through during the pandemic.

--- Heh, I think they’re mocking the idea of them having to trot out “Sweetest Kill,” a hit. If that’s what they’re implying, I agree. Doesn’t go much of anywhere…

--- Awww, the band just took a selfie for someone in the front row.

--- Ummm, this psychopath in front of Wes chided him for quietly talking about a film in between songs. I’m the first person to get angry when people are jabbering on about the weather mid songs because they think anything slow or quiet is boring. This was between songs though, and from her distance, he was straight-up whispering. Nuts. Plus, she expressed it in this aggressive, entitled, disgusted manner that in no way fit the ‘crime.’ Some people…

--- “Lover’s Spit”: outstanding spare keyboard intro and BUILD!! Ben’s bouncing. The trombone’s slidddding. Ben nails it again: “love when songs meander like that.”

--- We can’t hear something from the crowd that was repeated. Hard to hear over all of Wes’ shouting…

--- “It’s All Gonna Break” is an apparent rarity that’s loud without a clear melody. I did like unexpected drum blasts near the end.

--- To me, the slight “Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old” is an odd choice for a closer. Overall, though, I enjoyed the show and the chance to bond.  

Grade: B+

263 -- The Killers -- Monday, October 10, 2022 -- Capital One Arena -- DC

--- “My Soul’s Warning”: a confetti cannon on the first song? Well, that’s a first!! Not my favorite song, but woo at the way he bellows “I just want to get back to where you are.” Plus, the place he inserts “DC” is perfect. Danny’s arms are everywhere.

--- “When You Were Young”!!!! The place is vibrating. And we’re on song two.

--- “The Way It Was”: a step down, but I love the way Brandon Flowers is having a dialogue with an arena. He’s workin’ it, all Bavoso sweat, spurring the crowd to join him lyric for lyric on a lesser-known song.

--- “DC, how the hell are you? The leaves have begun to blush. Damn right, you’re alright. Service to others is the way to get to heaven. And I don’t know about you, but that’s where we want to go.” Well that was an interesting mix of vibes, lol.

--- “Smile Like You Mean”!! HA, Danny is videoing every song. The song’s simple drive is effective.

--- “Shot at the Night”: aww, he’s now leading the crowd in waves.

--- “Cody”: eh.

--- “Human” / “Spaceman” / “Somebody Told Me”!!!!! First, “Human” is a technical marvel. The use of a giant human-dancer Advent calendar was inspired. Superb choreography. Next, the pace of “Spaceman” is go-for-broke. Such power. Finally, the faith in “Somebody Told Me” is justified. No pyrotechnics needed, it’s that strong. Love Danny’s tearful lies. She said earlier in the night she wouldn’t yell to preserve her throat. #Nope :)

--- Awww at my conversation with a guy across from me: “I like your energy. It adds to it…I like your energy. It adds to it. I saw you closing your eyes earlier, and it made me smile.” !!!

--- “Fire in Bone”: the second orange confetti is lackluster and feels desperate.

--- “Boy,” their new single: I dig its insistent electric.

--- Heh: “Some of you may not know that over Covid, The Killers made a country record. Hear me out though, hear me out.” Nice.

--- “A Dustland Fairytale”: back in business!!! Aww: I say “here we go” to Danny at the rhythm change. I then realize that Brody says the same thing!

--- “I First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack: wow, Flowers’ voice is so clear.

--- “Runaways”!! His energy corrals the crowd – as does the slow to a crawl at the end.

--- “Read My Mind”: underrated -- so smooth!!! Plus, the guitar solo, backdrop, and random “Lean On Me” insert.

--- I like “Dying Breed”’s racing-through-Vegas visual, and that’s one of my favorite titles. “Caution” continues the cool-title trend: i.e. “throwing caution to the wind.” Oooh, sparklers.

--- “All These Things That I’ve Done”!!!! That confetti cannon was EARNED. The number of ways they playyyyed with the chorus was inspired. They may not find it fun anymore, but they sure made us believe they did.

--- “Just Another Girl”: heh, switches to a satin green shirt for the encore.

--- “It’s my favorite part of the night. I get to welcome Johnny Marr out on the stage.” Wow, from The Smiths!!! “You Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby.” Yeah they have.

--- The “Mr. Brightside” fakeout for the ages!!!!! Brandon Flowers punk’d everyone with this plinky, artsy, disco version at first. If that had been it, it would have been understandable, a way for band members to branch out and not feel rote.

It wouldn’t have satisfying though. By including both and pretending to leave right after the first one, they BLEW THE ROOF OFF. I can’t think of a more ferocious moment at an arena. I’d seen Rage Against The Machine there days earlier, and this felt fiercer.

--- Danny, unprompted, in the metro parking lot afterward: “I could not have imagined this. If you had told me when I first heard ‘Human’ in Oaxaca that I would have experienced what I did tonight, I would never have believed you. It’s a dream come true.”

Grade: A+

262 -- O.A.R. -- Friday, August 26, 2022 -- Merriweather Post Pavilion -- Columbia, MD

Over the past 15 years, I’ve seen many concerts -- including a fair number of A+ shows.  I have never seen a more balanced, two-equal-partners extravaganza than the one Dispatch and OAR put on this night at Merriweather. 

Danny and I started as huge Dispatch fans. We were really anxious about O.A.R. because, on albums, Danny hadn’t liked their sound. 

We left in awe of both bands. It may have been the best memory we shared during her year-and-a-half in the United States.  

Adding to the euphoria was the guy in front of us. He was dancing, jumping, having the time of his life – in what was the only his second concert ever?! His first concert, just days before? Pitbull! Talk about variety! In 260 previous shows, I’ve never asked to follow up with someone after a show, but it only felt right here. The bond was that strong, and the site seemed to offer genuine value to him, at the start of the concert life. He agreed and added his Instagram.

So, without further ado, Jo, Danny, and everyone else, here’s the live blog of the O.A.R. set:  

--- I’m about to murder those who jabber through the bands’ video on mass incarceration. No respect.

--- “Inside Out”: lackluster start. His voice remains crystal clear though.

--- “Black Rock”: lol at the trumpet guy dancing. Lol at the cocky, gum-chewing electric guitarist. Heh at the ‘tough’ repetition of ‘rockkk.’ Fun.

--- “Revisited”: The most unified and moving of their songs so far. I like how every band member sings parts. They believe.

--- “About Mr Brown”!!!  Absolute unity. 

--- “Destination" [including "Fire on the Mountain" by The Grateful Dead]: Sickkk trumpet solo.

--- Awww, “I want to talk to you all, but I also wanna just play music.” That’s the tension, man.

--- “About An Hour Ago”: The first song they ever recorded. I am currently jumping for a keyboardist!! It’s also satisfying that they recorded it in Kensington, MD, site of my 70-plus surprise proposal!! 

--- “Shattered”!!!!! The largest crowd I have ever seen at Merriweather giving it their ALL. No one person has the same reaction.

--- “Miss You All The Time”: super tender. The trumpet man SINGS. I honestly can’t remember this many solos and this much interaction by a band before.

--- “Look at this crowd. Look at what’s been done to Merriweather. Congrats, man.”

--- “It’s great to be with G Love and Dispatch, just hanging out and playing music.”

--- “Ring of Fire”!!!! I scream for Annelle. 

--- Hahahahahaha at a random blue-shirted gray-haired man wandering in with a guitar during “Hey Girl” and killing it. Then the charge across the stage and trumpet solo of all time!!!!! Even he’s tired after. Heh, appreciate the attempt, saxophonist. 

--- “All Because of You” is a nice chance to breath.

--- “Love and Memories”!!!!! Top-shelf adaptation. Just as catchy, wildly inventive.

--- “Night Shift”: Jesus, more newness. The darkness from the bassist is a total surprise. Hahahaha at “3am and I’ve gotta go to bed.” FEELS THAT LATE. In the best possible way. His voice is…*regal.* Danny compares it to the band Magic otra vez. Don’t take my lack of exclamation points as a lack quality. It deserves at least three.

--- Awww, an obscure request from a fan, “We’ll Pick Up Where We Left Off.” Fitting as life comes back after Covid. Ideal palate cleanser before “Poker.”

--- “Peace” into “Poker”!!!! Calm. Madness.

--- In the words of Nadine Curley Verbesey, “these are…” Yep, mom, these are the good times. 

--- Then the roar heard round the world – or at least 2,500 miles away in Oaxaca. I realize they’re playing “With Or Without You” before Danny does. (Thanks, Americans.) The second she realizes they’re covering her all-time-favorite band, she ROARS. It’s a scream, a cry, a collapse, a flashbulb memory!!!!! 

--- So glad, Danny, Jo, and thousands of others were able to experience this night. To borrow from O.A.R.’s final cover, if this were the end of the world as we know, I’d…feel…fine.

Grade: A+

261 -- Dispatch -- Friday, August 26, 2022 -- Merriweather Post Pavilion -- Columbia, MD

Over the past 15 years, I’ve seen many concerts -- including a fair number of A+ shows. I have never seen a more balanced, two-equal-partners extravaganza than the one Dispatch and OAR put on this night at Merriweather. 

Danny and I started as huge Dispatch fans. We were really anxious about O.A.R. because, on albums, Danny hadn’t liked their sound. 

We left in awe of both bands. It may have been the best memory we shared during her year-and-a-half in the United States.  

Adding to the euphoria was the guy in front of us. He was dancing, jumping, having the time of his life – in what was the only his second concert ever?! His first concert, just days before? Pitbull! Talk about variety! In 260 previous shows, I’ve never asked to follow up with someone after a show, but it only felt right here. The bond was that strong, and the site seemed to offer genuine value to him, at the start of the concert life. He agreed and added his Instagram.

So, without further ado, Jo, Danny, and everyone else, here’s the live blog of the  Dispatch set:  

--- Pre-show: HA at the ticket taker telling me my shirt was giving him “Green Lantern vibes.” Was he talking about the comic book character or Taylor Howard’s DC haunt? Probably the former, but his own vibe suggested it could be the latter… 

--- “Passerby”: “It’s been too long since you’ve been around.” Clever choice of lyrics to welcome us back. Awesome new earth section. Heh, now it’s guitar battle. And Danny immediately smiles when I mention ‘reggae.’  Great start!

--- “Break Our Fall”: a genuinely strong new strong. Heh, Chad’s little kick is infectious — as is the song!

--- Awwww at this woman telling me “you must be a Dispatch fan; I like you”!!! The crowd is super stacked towards O.A.R., so this is great to hear. She was jealous of my MSG Last Dispatch experience: my third show ever! She and her husband have been listening to them since the late 90s. They couldn’t afford the concert during the Zimbabwe era – plus they had young kids. Now they can go!!!

--- “Open Up” is a step down. Strong story, not-as-strong rhythm.

--- Wow, Tommy, the subject of “Only The Wild Ones” was in the mud lawn at Merriweather last time they performed here?!

--- “Painted Yellow Lines” is a waste of a song given such a deep catalog. To be fair, in the moment, though, I dug it.

--- “Bang Bang” is super silly fun!! HA at the laid-back rhythm, rapid-fire rap, and guitar jam this time. Wooo at the crowd being so into it.

--- “Beto”: Wow, a song I’ve somehow never heard. Features Spanish. “Beto la Pura.” Dedicated to his sister in Denver for her 50th birthday.

--- “Flying Horses”!!!! Immediate transportation back to MSG. Bounce bounce bounceeee.

--- Creedence Clearwater Revival is an inspired choice for the people on the lawn i.e. "Looking Out My Back Door."

--- “Elias”!!!!! Sym. Bi. Osis.

--- “The General”!!!!! They just transformed it into a completely different song. The trumpet man is on a goddamn mission. Unreal.

--- “Letter to Lady J”!!!!! Pure joy. The lyrics, the livvvveneas of it all. Cojo dolores de la cabeza. Danny jumps; I plant; the world spins.

--- These were O.A.R. fans. Who became Dispatch fans.

--- I have no words for five minutes. This is Bruce territory. 

--- How is this your second concert ever, Jo? Thanks for adding to the greatness.

Grade: A+

260 -- Franz Ferdinand -- Friday, August 12, 2022 -- 9:30 Club -- DC

--- “Lucid Dreams” adds unexpected lights; “Jacqueline” adds Alex Kapranos’ full-body kicks! 

--- “Always Ascending” never ascends.

--- “I love playing The 9:30 Club.” We love you playing here. Well, Danny doesn’t, since it’s far from her favorite band, and she can barely see the stage. [Should have realized the height issue months later when prepping for Noah Kahan…]

--- “Evil Eye” features a ton of funky, playful call-and-response light work. Somehow it’s my favorite so far?!

--- THE FIGHT!!! There’s literally a fight in the audience, and the band stops the whole show. That’s a first. The band isn’t thrilled by the fight, but it’s a huge boost for the next song. When they restart, “Do You Want To” EXPLODES. So high-energy!!! Woo at the “lucky lucky” response section.

--- “Dark Side of the Matinee” loses a bit live. Brilliant song though. 

--- “Walk Away”!!! So well-paced. A rare song tonight that I leave with *more* appreciation for.

--- “Billy Goodbye”: At least Danny liked my Brody-esque “what is DAT” to the clangy malaise of it all.

--- “Love Illumination”!!!! It fully survives any stress. So damn good — especially the hammy two-guitar interplay. DANNY CLAPS. “The Fallen” keeps the energy going.

--- “Take Me Out”!!! The core lick and the crowd are killers. Unprompted applause from Danny.

--- “Michael” has a cool auto tune effect this time. And a killer jag that gets Danny swaying -- also a laugh at “el mismo del album.”

--- “Stand on the Horizon”!!! Love how spacey and different it is -- and that we actually prepped it on the way here. Danny claps longer than I do!

--- Random drum session?! Lol. Again, Danny with a more vocal reaction.

--- “Ulysses”: solid.

--- “This Fire” is fire – and Danny appreciates it!!!

Grade: B+