316 -- Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band [Toto, Men At Work, Average White Band] -- Tuesday, June 17, 2025 -- Wolf Trap -- Vienna, VA

 --- Wow, this is the most packed I’ve seen the lawn at Wolftrap. Well, there are only two Beatles left!

--- “Saturday Night, Sunday Morning” by Thelma Houston: oooh, they’re switching up the setlist. Fine by me, as this is upbeat, catchy, and includes a sliiiide on the keyboard.

--- Swingin’ sax on Ringo’s “It Don’t Come Easy.”

--- Toto’s “Rosanna” features sections for drums, sax, harmonica, and electric!! It would have been better if they circled back to the melody, but it’s my favorite so far.

--- Aww, Toto frontman keeps introducing people as his heroes. This time it’s Hamish Stuart playing Average White Band’s “Pick Up The Pieces.” Heh, “This is a tune you’ve all heard, you just don’t know it.”

--- Hahaha, Men At Work frontman’s Colin Hay on “Down Under”: “It took 40 minutes to write, now it’s lasted 40 years…I used to get recognized a lot, now not so much. 99% of the time, that’s great. When I’m getting my medication at CVS, however, I want to say, ‘Don’t you know you’re looking at the Grammy-winning multi-platinum 80s hitmaker?! Instead, I say 6-29-53.” LOL!!! That’s a vocally impressive “ayyy-oh.” Woo for the flute climax! 

--- I hadn’t been sure, but I confirmed it’s the same Colin Hay who did the haunting ballad “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You.” Garden State is still my all-time favorite soundtrack.

--- Ringo’s cover of “Boys” by The Shirelles passes the time.

--- Heh, John Lennon wrote it and said to Ringo “You can have it. It’s about why I’m the greatest” lol. It’s called “Back to You Bugaloo.” 

--- “Yellow Submarine”!! Simple, silly fun. Love when the non-Ringo drummer (Greg Bissonette) plays the trumpet mid verse!!

--- Average White Band’s “Cut The Cake” has motormouth funk charm.

--- Heh at the interlude that teases “We Will Rock You,” “Purple Haze,” Led Zeppelin, and ~ten others. It sounds great and transitions directly into the next song!!!

--- Hahaha, Ringo asks “was it musical” when he comes back from his spot of tea.

--- “An Octopus’s Garden”: hope they feature it in the upcoming adaptation of Remarkably Bright Creatures.

--- Apparently “Look Up” comes from Ringo’s newest country (?!) album. It’s dull until it turns dark at the end.

--- Interesting: 1974’s “No-No Song” plays tongue-in-cheek with Ringo’s history of contraband. He apparently became sober in 1989. 

--- At start, Men at Work’s “Overkill” is more my vibe. As it continues, it’s too mid-tempo.

--- Hahaha at Toto’s Joseph Williams pretending he was doing the deeply-serious ~“Jazz Exercise Number 3” before starting “Africa.” Tbh, I would have preferred more of the jazz one, as it would have been distinctive. The initial “Africa” vocals are weak, and the racial aspects of the song still seem awkward. Once Colin Hay, the keyboard, and the flute join in though, it picks up.

--- Aww, Hamish looking in the mirror shaving the other day and asking, “Wait, dad, what are you doing there?” 

--- The Isley Brothers’ “Work To Do,” from “that other White Album” and The Beatles’ “I Wanna Be Your Man” are fine.

--- Oooooh, this intro sounds like Wilco’s “Spiders (Kidsmoke).” I would’ve died if they covered it. “Who Can It Be Now?” is better than becuase of Colin Hay. He and Gregg the drummer rise above the otherwise average white men. Yay, this time the sax doesn’t just jam — it fuels the song!! 

--- Joseph was 19 when “Hold The Line” was recorded. Love how he (tries) to get the crowd to stand! Best lyric of the night: “love isn’t always on time”!! Woo for the guy in the crowd with the long reggae hair who’s standing, filming, and living — in the loge!!

--- Awww, individualization. “It’s great that you came out in your best . . . t-shirts. [To snazzy guy in the front row] You, man, you’re trying — with a 1965-67 Beatles jacket. I used to know them, you know.” HA!!

--- Sound-wise, “Photograph” isn’t much. The lyrics fit the late stage of life though.

--- The honky-tonk “Act Naturally” is an unnatural choice for second-to-last song.

--- “With A Little Help From My Friends” is natural! HA at the Zeppelin fakeout and “if you don’t know this song, you’re in the wrong venue.”

Grade: B+

315 -- AC/DC -- Monday, May 12, 2025 -- Northwest Stadium -- Landover, MD

Arriving at my seat for this AC/DC was a saga and a half. I had enjoyed AC/DC in DC the first time, and my Peruvian teacher friend Manuel and his family were excited for me to join. The concert was scheduled during what I call the Molten Hot Lava section of the year – when a volleyball tournament, athletic awards, the Fitness Hall of Fame, and a sprawling theater/poetry variety show come together at the same time. It’s a three-ring circus with little wiggle room. 

I thought I could work it all out. Manuel could drive, and I could copy and paste a listserv for variety show parents from my phone when we arrived. Then, once we got to the parking lot, I discovered the phone would not allow it. I knew that if I didn’t send the message to those parents that night, the event would not happen. It really was dependent on that moment. So, then it became this absurd logistical pretzel. Manuel, his family, and I had to exchange phones, so they’d be able to get in the arena, and I’d be able to get in the back to the car. I then tried moving all over Landover to get enough bars of laptop Wifi to send the message. After I finally did (thanks, McDonald’s!), there was a separate saga trying to find the alternate seats Manuel and his family went to.

Ultimately though, more than halfway through the set, I made it, and it was all worth it. The variety show at Busboys and Poets was a smashing success weeks later, and I saw Manuel and his family flip OUT the rest of the night. It was hilarious seeing Manuel call “Let There Be Rock” before it happened, a fan bow down after “Thunderstruck,” and a guy try to take our picture all night long…  

Worthwhile Exhaustion vibes continued the next day when I found out that a bleary-eyed Marcus Berry, Amy Hansen, and two of my students had been there as well! My eyes were less tired than my ears, which felt shot after being directly next to the cannons. The cannons KEPT EXPLODING at the end. To quote Mark Hamill in The Life of Chuck, “the worst part was the waiting,” never knowing when the next blast would come…  

I didn’t get the usual live notes, but these pictures capture the excitement. 

Grade: B+

314 -- Laughing Colors -- Wednesday, February 26, 2025 -- The Recher -- Towson, MD

--- “Wouldn’t it be great if we could all come together?” Clearly not an accident to start with that!

--- I call Led Zeppelin before “Kashmir” starts! “I feel nothing, nothing, nothing.” Untrue.

--- “Clear Blue”: and NOW the show has started. Wild how one song can do it!!

--- No more oppressive long pants. I’m officially in shorts. YESSS.

--- “Solution” takes it to another level!!!! The rhythm, solo, and relevance take it there. “There’s a lot of b.s. out there.” Is there any? Have you seen any? Garrett has…

--- Heh, “we bring out our kids and grandkids to stunt their growth.” Not a problem for Thomas…

--- Aww, “this is one my favorites” from Craig at the start of “Shadow Child.” Same now goes for me about Craig.

--- Text from Tom: “Angie! We miss you at Laughing Colors, playing “Roll Into The Light” now, thinking of you.”

--- Hahaha at “Anti Social” being a ‘new’ song. You know you’re cool when you can snicker at it being new. Kevyn: “You know you’re cool when it was one he played in your backyard.” The song itself: unexpected boom!!!!! Simple can work. Menace susTAINED. A strange song for me and Hark to play on our bodies, but it worked.

--- “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon slayed as well.

--- Aww, “Cyrus Column,” my running song.

--- The day this will all make “Sense” me is TODAY. Tom’s mid song high five to me clinches it.  A minute later, Craig – and then Hark.

--- Me, at the pounding dark green: “Man, it doesn’t let up.” Craig: “no.”

--- The audience’s response to “party check” is way different now: heavy!!!!!

--- “Turn” continued the greatness. “Hang Fire” by The Rolling Stones crushed EVERYTHING!!!!! Number one for sure. My tongue kept circling, another Tom-initiated-high five, and two involuntary wails. 

--- “Now and Then” and ~”save yourself”: vrrrrroooomm!!! (Bonus points for the speed reversals.)

--- Heh, Katie taps me when I roar “Virginia.”

--- Heh, crowd participation song. Not Lee Greenwood or “Kumbaya.” It’s “Mushroom.”

--- Hahaha: “We’re not leaving. Fine, if you just want one more song. We haven’t seen you in 18 months, but that’s fine.”

--- “Big One Small One”: gotta call Nick Oben to shu-shu-shut his mouth!!!

--- The frontman from Kelly Blue Band has PRESENCE. Great reintroduction leading into the encore.

--- The dark during “American Boy” soars.

--- “I can see the walls are coming down.” I can’t, as I’m dizzy and seeing stars. Garrett and Thomas agree!!!!

Grade: A

313 – Bob Dylan – A Complete Unknown – Tuesday, December 31, 2024 – Regal Fairfax – Fairfax, VA

A Complete Unknown is a complete triumph. If I hadn’t known Bob Dylan, maybe I’d feel differently. That might account for the 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. For a fan though, and as a film, it’s flawless. James Mangold threads songs and parts of songs in just the right places, and Timothee Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, Edward Norton, Scoot McNairy, Boyd Holbrook, and ELLE FANNING were each of the star of different scenes. Dylan’s awful 2010 concert is now a distant memory. I was older then; I’m younger than that now. 

Grade: A+

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw572hRD1diCOVhwem5xdW9vLU0/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-DF4OZOvs7fsK0ocSAfvg4w

312 -- Rise Against -- Sunday, October 27, 2024 -- 9:30 Club -- DC

--- “Satellite”: the slithery vocals in the middle were new and cool. HA at the use of a bullhorn to talk to the audience. I haven’t seen them use big black smoke before. Wow it at it being used this early.

--- “Tragedy + Time” is off The Black Market, an album I somehow haven’t heard.

--- I need to move closer, as I feel strangely disconnected, even from “Give It All”?!?!

--- Heh, “We come at you with no agenda. We have no album to promote. We’re just here to have a good f’ing time…This right here is going way back, off Revolutions Per Minute. It’s a circle pit song.” Now I’m alive!!! Moving up and having an animated fan next to me helps.

--- “Help Is On The Way” sounds great. My conflict this time remains their insistence on being apolitical . . . from a band who claims to care about things . . . at the time of maximum political importance. Huh? 

--- This year’s 20 years of a record called Siren Song of the Counterculture. I don’t like the song (“Blood to Bleed”), but it’s my tether to authenticity. Its age and screech give it that. 

--- “The Good Left Undone”!! The pacing and atmosphere capture me here.

--- “Strength to Go On”: same — plus it’s off Appeal To Reason!!

--- Hahaha: “What does your shirt say, Headless Horseman? I think it says, “Don’t Play ‘Paper Wings.’ If you play ‘Paper Wings,’ you’re a coward.” After playing it, “It’s ‘cause you’re a fellow bald man. You got it.” This exchange gave the song such urgency!!!

--- “Hero of War”: wow, they make it a drum-laden electric number. 

--- “We were trying to think of the last time we’d played 9:30 Club. (In the 90s) with Bad Religion, right? One of most storied and legendary places in North America.” Aww.

--- “Swing Life Away”: not sure how I feel about two quiet songs back to back, but the crowd sounds great, and I’m anticipating the sheer insanity that is sure to follow lol.

--- “The Violence” is not the answer.

--- “Prayer of the Refugee” is!!!! Even in this diminished state, it’s fire. Nothing can compare to “Prayer.”

--- “If you all are game to stay up late on a Sunday night, we are too.”

--- “Audience of One”: Appeal to Reason will always appeal to me!!!

--- “We’re going to reach back and play an old song here, ‘Black Masks and Gasoline.’” Don’t know it. Good for them.

--- ~“Lord knows you get enough people telling you how to vote. As someone who writes and sings about revolution, though, if someone’s revolution has racism, sexism, and homophobia, it’s not a revolution. I care about unions, about the Supreme Court, about working people, about my vote. Think of that and vote. Be our savior, DC — be our ‘Savior.’” FINALLY!!!!! The catharsis I waited 79 minutes for, the meaning the show needed. I’d been hesitant about moving through people to get to the pit the whole night. After that, I involuntarily weave through everyone, get flung, settle in the front, and rejoice. YES. Two shows in a row: BEST FOR LAST.

Grade: A-

311 – Dispatch -- Monday, October 21, 2024 -- 9:30 Club -- DC

 --- Intriguing sitar(?) before they come on stage.

--- “Skin The Rabbit”: way more electric than before — fits 9:30 Club!!

--- Cool space-station version of “Time Served.” The back half has force AND finesse — this is already way better than the start of Wolftrap!!

--- “Came For the Fire”: the crowd’s useless, but the band sounds great.

--- Wow, the last time they were at the 9:30 Club was in 2001!

--- “Open Up”: I’d never noticed the “that is your flaw-aw-aw-aw” part. That was cool.

--- Their belief in “Midnight Lorry” is beyond belief. I don’t dislike it, but continually including this mid-tempo meander when you have that many songs is not right. That said, the light-on bellow, keyboard, and rockabilly vibe do offer solid contrasts. Wow, the ending delivers. They’re incapable of a bad song live!!!

--- “Johnny Whoops”: debuting a new song about his neighbor whose father regretted his son going to Vietnam. Heh, I thought it was ska, and the trumpet at the end confirmed. Clearly the weakest song of the night — until the trumpet showed up to charge through the melody. See comment at the end of the previous paragraph…

--- “Break Our Fall”: not a ton of room to riff, but who needs it when it’s that catchy!!

--- “Past The Falls”: a reinvented deep cut!!!! Spacey, soaring, brand new?!

--- “Bound By Love” happened.

--- “Trinket”: “This song does not rock. It’s about Emily Dickinson though, who rocked, and wrote about rocks and grass and what not, so I guess it does.” Some decent handheld xylophone instrument, and points for boldness, but wow. This is least crowd-pleasing setlist ever.

--- Heh, “since my kids are into pop music, every time I hear the intro to ‘Passerby,’ I hear a Duo Lipa song…You should sue.” The pump up section of “Passerby” is hard to resist!!

--- “All This Time” takes a while to get there, but the insistent guitar solo at the end is solid.

--- Says something DC-specific for once. A little All Lives Matters, but he does encourage voting. 

--- Heh, “The General”: are they allowed to play a known song? The heavy electric wow-wow-s are cool. The crowd’s “go now; you are forgiven” chorus does not feel earned, but woo for everyone bouncing and the drum pound towards the end.

--- Heh: “DC can sing, what?”

--- New album in May of next year. [Update: now here! Hope Yellow Jacket is better than the Showtime’s sadistic tv series.]

--- “Only The Wild Ones”: no pressure, pure breeze!! America: Location 12 is a gem.

--- Hahaha at their showdown during “Crazy Train.” They’re literally flailing on the ground lol. The rhythm, volume, clarity of the vocals, and commitment is infectious. What a surprise!!!!

--- Aww, they want the crew members to come up closer to the stage.

--- Wow, “Letter to Lady J” has teeth?!?! And they dedicate to Sarah who wrote a letter about it!

--- “Doe A Deer” / “Flying Horses” / “Elias”: an ending for the ages!!!!!

Grade: A

310 -- The Mountain Goats -- Tuesday, October 8, 2024 -- The Birchmere -- Alexandria, VA

 --- I am eternally grateful to the waiter for getting me dinner even though the kitchen had basically closed, and for getting me delicious flatbread pizza, which I will get every time I go to The Birchmere.

--- “Idylls of the King”: Heh, this woman freaks out for it being off Tallahassee. The song is lackluster, but the crowd offers *intense* applause at the end. A good sign for things to come.

--- “The Young Thousands”: Wow, I prepped every song from the past five sets from the past five concerts, and all of these are new. Not great for recognition, but I’m impressed by the breadth of their catalog and their commitment to variety. Indie Pearl Jam!

--- “Calcutta”: Wow, another total unknown?! The soft reverb keyboard really adds to it.

--- “Until this morning, I don’t think I knew that one. This next one, I think everyone knows this one because they’re required to by law.” HA! 

--- Ooooh, the sax on “Baboon” transforms it — plus the vivid/violent lyrics. The show has started!!!! 

--- Heh, this is a little high-key up-tempo number about drowning. It’s called “Water Tower.”

--- Heh: “If you see me put the old pick down and not pick up a new one, that means it’s an older song.” It’s called “Yoga.”

--- Lol: “As dom’s go, I’m not really good, but Matt just asked for permission to leave the stage. That’s pretty hot.”!!

--- “Jaipur”: way better than on the album!!!

--- “Riches and Wonders”: “He doesn’t actually know the song since the lyrics don’t follow narratively. He thought that’d be cool, but it’s now not. That’s why it’s a good idea for young people to decide to become a lead singer. People will woo you for announcing you need a security blanket.” The most live moment in a while!!!!!

--- “Transcendental Youth”: solid atmosphere. 

--- “Luna”: same / he asks for a phone again!

--- “Heretic Pride”!!!!! Ok, this confirms it. It’s better to know the songs beforehand. The invention in it was incredible. I am shaking throughout and don’t want it to end. *Damn* at the slow, quiet last few seconds.

--- “Corsican Mastiff Stride”: cool fast-drum energy.

--- “If you prefer to generate engagement instead of driving heat, you’ve become sick.”

--- Heh at the intro to “Heel Turn 1” mentioning that with wrestling, a heel can provide catharsis. That said, “You don’t need them in office.” Haaa!!!

--- “Dance Music”: cerebral can be fun?!?!

--- Wow at the sax silking through “Getting Into Knives”!!

--- “Hast Thou Considered The Tetrapod?”‘s got oomph.

--- “This Year”!!!! It’s got ultra oomph. Aww at the back-to-back guitar playing.

--- “International Small Arms Traffic Blues”: heh at the allusion. Hahahahaha at “our love is the border between Greece and Albania.” The reverb piano kills.

--- Wish I could know their friggin’ 25-album discography, but it’s okay. I will now see them every single time they come to DC. Wooo.

--- Awwww at the woman from the beginning flipping out for “Palmcorder Yajna”!!! I am freely, joyfully sliding back and forth on my seat like a Berry Go Round. Wheeee.

--- “No Children”: “This is a song that year in and year out that Celine Dion refuses to cover.” Lol at the inclusion of ‘“near, far, wherever you are” at the end.

--- Heh at the guys using the word “intangible” in the parking lot. Awww at the guy wearing a Heretic Pride sweatshirt!!!!!

Grade: A+

309 -- Liz Phair -- Sunday, September 21, 2024 -- Nationals Park -- DC

It was an unexpected treat to bond with Katie Gogo throughout the set.

The set itself . . . well, an appropriate bookend with Tonic — who started my day at the festival.

“Whip Smart,” “Polyester Bride,” and “Extraordinary” have memorable lyrics, but her vocal firepower and stage presence are . . . not overwhelming. As Gogo said, if this was a 9:30 Club, it could have been way better.

Grade: C

308 -- Jimmy Eat World -- Sunday, September 21, 2024 -- Nationals Park -- DC

 --- “A Praise Chorus” is very disappointing because it’s one of my favorite songs ever, and it’s not the same with all the empty seats in the burning sun…

--- “Big Casino”’s lack of NJ success story with Matt continues the trend. Glad Emily appreciates it.

--- We’re on an upswing as Danny and his wife are plinking through “Sweetness”!!

--- “Something Loud”: Aww at Danny when Jim Adkins says it’s about finding yourself in rock and roll: “I love this song!” The new can still break through!!!

--- “There are any number of other things you could be doing right now. Thanks for doing this.”

--- I’m invited into a mini five-person mosh pit during “Futures” and join!!!!

--- “Bleed American” still wrecks!!! It helps that Emily, Danny, and Danny’s friend are fully, freely flipping out.

Grade: B+

307 -- Girl Talk -- Sunday, September 21, 2024 -- Nationals Park -- DC

--- Hahaha at how DJ Greg McGillis (who apparently used to be a cell biologist) jumps as high as he can for the first minute of his own song.

--- It’s far from my jam, and it’s hard for me to latch onto parts or distinguish between songs, but the party on stage is hilarious, and I’m glad for Matt and Emily.

--- I take it back: this “Blitzkrieg Bop” / hip hop mashup is clever, stands out, and gets me going!!! “Since U Been Gone” continues the trend.

--- Omg at Emily making a beeline to the big rubber dolphin, and everyone going nuts the rest of the time!!!!

Grade: A-

306 -- Violent Femmes -- Sunday, September 21, 2024 -- Nationals Park -- DC

--- “We now return to the scene of the crime. The last time we played here was 1994.” (!)

--- “American Music” is catchy — as is “Kiss Off.”

--- “Color Me Once” from The Crow sounds like sludge. Sketch hasn’t heard of it. He hasn’t been missing much. “Dance, MFer, Dance!” is faster at least.

--- Aww for Matt that a guy just walked by with a Gogol Bordello shirt.

--- Emily’s generous popcorn friend notices that the lemon drink server has a tray that allows her to place 20 drinks on her head. That’s a first!

--- “I Held Her In My Arms”: strong sax, strong beat. I would go back and listen to that on my own!!!

--- “Gone Daddy Gone” / “Old Mother Reagan”: Heh: “Here’s a song we used to play about a 100 years ago.” Hahaha, it’s short and awful, but at least it’s short.

--- “Add It Up” has a really cool contrast between the clear acapella opening, scraggly verses, and electric ending!!

Grade: B+

--- Hahaha: on stage, they’re now eating cupcakes like a Matilda tribute to Joey Chestnut.

--- Hahaha, Sketch: “Totally unironic, my favorite sunscreen is…” Not white at all.

305 -- Tonic -- Sunday, September 21, 2024 -- Nationals Park -- DC

I tried listening to albums, and . . . very little stood out.

“If You Could Only See” deserves to be well known though. HA at Danny McLean’s commentary. Tonic asks: “Is it okay if you sing this chorus with us?” Danny responds: “You could have played this three times, and we would have been fine with it.”

Technically, due to a babysitter saga, I missed the first half of the set. I . . . doubt that would have made a difference though – not the best.

Grade: C

304 -- Weezer -- Sunday, September 15, 2024 -- The Anthem -- DC

 --- The countdown clock is cool. Would have been better an hour earlier, but still. 

--- I’m upgrading the clock to very cool. The sound effect really builds anticipation.

--- Wow, the space backdrop and animation are breathtaking! 

--- Aww at Heath getting a song from his favorite album to start: “Anonymous” from Everything Will Be All Right In The End.

--- Clever way of avoiding "Dope Nose"'s “fag of the year” problem: mash it up with “Troublemaker” lol. 

--- “Hash Pipe”!!! By far the best version. Slight shifts in rhythm/inflection, and the backdrop makes it INTENSE.

--- “Pork and Beans” rocks – as does, I have to admit, “Beverly Hills.” Hahaha, switching to “Washington DC.” Technically, that makes no sense, but I’ll take it.

--- Aww, Heath is excited that “All My Favorite Songs” wasn’t on the list from last night. Memorable lyrics. Awwww at Heath after the song: “You’re right. It’s better to be surprised.”!!!

--- “Islands in the Sun”!!! Incredible beach/fire backdrop and an electric moment that wasn’t on the original.

--- Love the idea of building up to Blue as a journey!!!!

--- “A Perfect Situation”!!

--- “Getchoo”!!!! Who knew that would be my favorite of the night so far, but it is. First, it gets end credits on The Bear, and now here. Woo. Hahaha, “Why Bother” remains my least favorite Pinkerton track, but I’m all about it here. I always support “Pink Triangle.”

--- “Across The Sea”!!!

--- “My Name Is Jonas”!!!!! The union of sound, visuals, and nostalgia is out of this world. These workers are NOT going home — we’re in it for the long haul.

--- “No One Else”: these lyrics…do not hold up lol.

--- “The World Has Turned And Left Me Here”: underrated!!

--- Love that they feature “Buddy Holly” with no background. The song speaks for itself.

--- “Undone”!!!!! They finally brought back the call-and-response and made it DC-specific. The literally reference Madam’s Organ?!?! Wish you were here, Sketch.

--- Woo, “Surf Wax” for Brody and Riley.

--- “Say It Ain’t So”!!!! Skillful use of geek animation, and the loudest I’ve ever heard The Anthem!!!!

--- “In The Garage”: Jesus this is a strong album. Pure, earnest, perfect transition from “Say It Ain't So”!!!!

--- “Holiday”: another winner!

--- “Only In Dreams”: After 6 concerts and 22 years of albums, Weezer live delivered. With “Only In Dreams,” they went into another dimension!!!!!

Grade: A+

303 -- The Flaming Lips -- Sunday, September 15, 2024 -- The Anthem -- DC

 --- “Waiting for a Superman”: kaleidoscope from the start. Frontman Wayne Coyne has sartorial style for days. As Evan Davis says, “It’s a whole thing.”

--- Sonically, “The Spark That Bled,” “Suddenly Everything Has Changed,” and “Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung” are fine.

Way more than fine? The “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” stagecraft!!!! HA @ Evan: “I’d have to be really high for this.”

--- Aww, singing happy birthday to Gray. When she’s 112, when asked about her best birthday, she will say this.

--- Lol at the preposterous lyrics of “She Don’t Use Jelly” — AKA ‘Vaseline.’ 

--- Tbh, “Yeah Yeah Yeah” and the dilated eyeballs feels a little gimmicky and disconnected from music. They’re fading into superficiality like The Hives did at Hershey.

--- Hahaha, Coyne put the ‘f---’ balloons in front of the rainbow after he told everyone in the crowd to turn to the person next to them, and tell them they love them. They’re unique — I’ll give them that lol.

Grade: B+

302 -- Dinosaur Jr. -- Sunday, September 15, 2024 -- The Anthem -- DC

I hesitate to write about opening bands because I often don’t/can’t prep them, and it’s so hard to embrace them.

I am including this entry for three reasons. One, in case someone reading has possibly heard of them. Two, to document the fact that Manuel, my awesome Peruvian teacher friend nailed that their Cure cover seconds into the song. Three, their closer, “Gargoyle,” was a metal marvel!!!! Their first four songs were mumbly and forgettable, but that last one was as intense a song as I’ve heard from an opener. 

Grade: B/B+

301 -- Pearl Jam -- Sunday, September 25, 2024 -- Baltimore Arena -- Baltimore, MD

 --- Awesome conversation with the guy next to me, John from Jersey who’s seen Pearl Jam as much as I’ve seen Bruce.

--- “Oceans,” Present Tense,” and “Going To Fly” are fine, but it’s cool how the Pearl Jam is wildly different EVERY NIGHT. I’ve never heard of another band doing that. I’ve also never seen a stage from this side angle near the front. The crowd near the rail is amazing — bounce, bounce, bounce!!!

--- Vedder is so loose, as is the crowd. 

--- “React/Respond”!!!! Jersey John said he just couldn’t get into Dark Matter tracks, but that must be Veteran Bias, since to me, it was excellent, ESPECIALLY “R/R.” “R/R” stood out when I ran my Frost 5K to it, and it’s an electric rush now. My body vibrates. 

--- I came to the show in a bad mood. I barely like their albums, and I was doubtful they could measure up to Madison Square Garden. I considered whether I’d leave before the end. Verdict: no chance of that! They sounded great.

--- Awwww at how much Vedder individualizes. Hilarious riffs about hematologists, Bruce Springsteen, Covid delays, and 38-43 year crowd/band marriages. These moments were spurred on by signs and connections made with a crowd — an ARENA crowd?!!!!!

--- Important line in “Wreckage”: “Every winner has a losing streak.” YES!

--- Aww, a request from his favorite baseball player of all time, Jose Cardinal.

--- Ummmm, I just went eight songs without a note. HOW DOES ONE TAKE A NOTE MID ACID TRIP?!!!!!

--- In all seriousness, though, the bold sound and soul are overwhelming — in the best possible way.

Grade: A+

Songs I Missed Writing About But FELT The Whole Way Through: “Unthought Known,” “Stranglehold,” “Even Flow,” “Daughter” / “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 (!!!!!), “Deep,” “Upper Hand,” “Do The Evolution,” “Jeremy,” Lukin,” “Porch,” “Falling Slowly” (!!!!!), “Black,” “Spin the Black Circle,” “Sonic Reducer,” “Alive,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Yellow Ledbetter.”

300 -- Bruce Springsteen -- Saturday, September 7, 2024 -- Nationals Park -- DC

For weeks, I was excited that this milestone show, Concert 300, would be Bruce. Not only that --  it’d be Bruce at Nats Park, site of Concert 200. It could not compete with 200, the third most intense moment of my life, but that didn’t matter. It was Bruce, in the pit, when any show could be his last. Still great.  

--- “Seeds”!!! A Tracks track I’d never heard, and it instantly relieved my stress. I came in with little sleep, after Brody’s rough first baseball game. I was afraid I’d be cold, or the show would feel rote. My involuntary jumps and pumps warmed me up, and that deep cut took care of the rest.

---  I remember being blown away by “Prove It All Night” in 2016, so would there now be nothing now? Of course not! I forgot of “Lonesome”'s existence, so hearing it return reminded me to relax and enjoy the carnival to come!!! Ditto for “GHOSTS,” among the best new ones.

--- Wheeeee: settling into “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” Insecurities were now gone, so I could enjoy the slower-than-usual vocals and every familiar chord. I’m not sure I’ve sang a single lyric yet. I want to avoid the voice loss after the Tom-and-Annie Baltimore show, and I don’t need to sing. It’s more powerful using my body and living through the band.

--- “Promised Land”!!!! The guitar toss and crowd walk was glorious. I didn’t even feel the need to be that close this time. Emotionally, we all were. Awww at this woman apologizing for screaming and accidentally tapping me. You don't need to apologize; I need to thank you! HA at Bruce’s “what is this, an f’ing party,” as he sees a rare beach ball bouncing around the pit. Woo, individualization.

--- “Hungry Heart”: the party continues. Love the sways at the end!!

--- “Reason to Believe”: an apt title!!!! A crackling harmonica sensation. So distinctive, cool, new.

--- Whoa, wildly different version of “Atlantic City.” Don’t love the single-drum intro, but points for creativity. Hate how the extra instruments and volume drown it — strip its soul and turn it into any other song. Oh well.

--- Awww at the pit crew crowing for “Youngstown”!! Maybe because I have less of a connection to it than “Atlantic City,” but the band backing fares much better here. It enhances the singular focus of the song — red rage rising throughout. Plus, the drum rattles into an extended guitar spin!!!! Best version of the song there’s ever been.

--- “A small prayer for our country” --> “Long Walk Home”: awww at the throwback to Magic, the album of my first Springsteen show!

--- “The E Street Shuffle”: I’m sure this is heresy for old school fans, but most of the song was busy and forgettable for me. Love the drum battle at the end though. That rocked. 

--- “Nightshift” is a solid new sound. Wooo at the gospel trio (no, quintet) at the end!!! Nice touch to come back for one mini verse at the end.

--- “Racing in the Street” has a patience and ease that I dig. Feels right.

--- “Last Man Standing”!!!!! Time capsule s--- right there. This is followed by “Backstreets” into “Because The Night”!!!!! Best three-song sequence I’ve heard in a long time. I take a panorama of the stadium -- a real Lou Gehrig moment.

--- “She’s The One”: fun.

--- From there, it’s the Usual Emotion Overload — that led to zero notes for the last eight. The familiar songs remain formidable because they’re classics, and little things make them new. This time, it was the crowd walks during “Thunder Road,” the five-second pause before the light blast for “Burn to Run,” the audience taunts during “Twist and Shout,” and the chaos/calm before/during “I’ll See You In My Dreams.” Plus, there were the young kids in the pit, the positive comments with people around me, multiple people rescuing my charger, no one complaining about movement, the top of the upper deck dancing its heart out, Bruce acknowledging several women on shoulders, and one woman karate-chop high-fiving me after a song.

As my mom would say, “these are, guys, these are…”

Grade: A+

299 -- O.A.R. -- Saturday July 27, 2024 -- Merriweather Post Pavilion -- Columbia, MD

I finished a critical Participate Learning phone call 15 seconds before O.A.R. started playing! Perfect timing!!

A minute before the end of the call, this hot couple behind me pipes in “good luck, Diana” and says how much they appreciate the half an hour of help I’ve been providing on the phone?! The interpersonal GLORY continues when this psychopath to the left me is apparently nudged by the husband half of Hot Couple and warns him about staying away the rest of the night?!?! He makes to this demand in THE PIT?!?!?!?! Hot Couple and I nicely shut him down and further strengthen our bond!!!!!

--- For their first song, being from Rockville, MD, they cannily choose “No Place I’d Rather Be”! It was on an old-school poster from someone in the front row. It’s not even a big song of theirs. YES.

--- I immediately FB message this to Danny, Kelly, Meagan, James, and Katie: “This O.A.R. show is about to be amazing — I can already tell — at a time I really need it. Wish Danny was here with me, but for many reasons, it’s already GREAT!!!”

--- I’d never heard “Revisited” before, but it’s an easy listen, worthy of the Eastern Shore.

--- “So Moved On” includes the line “I’m so bored”: I’m not!!!

--- “Love and Memories”!!!! Many levels at once. My hot bff: “Give it to me. I will want it all.”

--- “About An Hour Ago”!!! Apparently the first song they ever recorded, in 8th grade, in their Maryland basement. Cool new piano solo.

--- “Irish Rose”: a stirring acoustic deep cut. What lyrics!!

--- “Shattered”!!!! Unity abounds.

--- Awww, a band they started with, Virginia Coalition, joins for “She Gone (Only In Dreams).” The Virginia Coalition guy’s got a voice!

--- “The Element”: another enjoyable deep cut!

--- “We’ve played all these cool places, 9:30, beyond, but coming back here is special. As it is for you. Memories rush back……This one’s for people we met today. Lola and Liv, this one’s for you. It’s called ‘Peace’”!!!!

--- “Heaven” is aptly named!!!

--- “Missing Pieces” features groooovy electric, drum, keyboard, sax, and trumpet. Solos for everyone!!!!

--- Brand new song with DJ Khamir. “We’re an original crew. We have a whole lot of original crews out here. Let’s bring him out. Brady Watt.” HA, he’s in a Ravens jersey for “Gonna Be Me,” a friendship song… Awwwww at Brady.

--- I update the FB thread with a clip of the “Missing Pieces” instrument battle, adding a caption: “pretty low energy so far.” Ten seconds later, they transition to “Atlantic City” Bruce!!!!! I immediately leap, screech, and apologize to the women in front of me. “No!” they reply. “Get hyped!” My people!!!!

--- “Hey Girl”: it’s bedlam, folks!!!!! Killer mandolin solo. TROMPETTTTTTA.

--- “Anyway”: awwww at the music-related lyrics!! Ooh at the transition to electric darkness. Brady Watt brings it. Whoa, wild record-scratching scat section?! 

--- “A wise man once said: the thing about music is, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”

--- “Poker”!!!! MY CALVES. Awww at the woman continually picking up playing cards to re-throw.

--- Aww at Fitz joining for the Tears for Fears cover.

--- Wonder how long before I bring Brody and Riley to O.A.R. It will happen.

--- Time to get *another* shirt. It was that good.

Grade: A+

298 -- Fitz and the Tantrums -- Saturday July 27, 2024 -- Merriweather Post Pavilion -- Columbia, MD

The first time I listened to Fitz, a few weeks before the show, there was no transition period. The rhythm, lyrics, and delivery were catchy from the start.

When I continued to listen, individual songs became hard to distinguish, and it made me remember that indie dance pop is not my wheelhouse. Nevertheless, I dug them. 

The good vibes continued into their set. Fitz was animated and committed — and, unlike The Hives, they put music center stage. I loved the band’s diversity as well: a snazzy, hair-streaked white lead, a bouncy, beautiful black co-lead, and a pianist, saxophonist, and guitarist of three other backgrounds. The variety fit the vibe of the performance: all sounds for the sake of the audience. That may sound forced, a college brochure come to awkward life. I swear, though, in the moment, it was true!!!!

--- “I Just Wanna Shine”: they got everyone to turn on their lights and wave in rhythm throughout!! Mini woo for the frontman casually flicking a guitar pick into the crowd at the end — well before the last song. Just rewards for a job well done!!!

--- “All The Feels” is appropriately named. “The Walker” continues the joy.

--- Awww, when they played at the Capitol 4th for PBS a few weeks ago, they met a kid named Fitz, who they invited to Merriweather. After a few seconds of scanning the crowd, everyone finds him, sitting on his parents’ shoulders!!!!

--- Intro to “Moneygrabber”: “We’ve been touring for 17 years. This is for everyone who’s been following us from the very beginning.”

--- “Hand Clap” confirms it: Fitz is a GREAT opener.

Grade: A