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