Concert Review: O.A.R. - December 27, 2016

Three words best describe my most recent concert experience with O.A.R.---Robert Fucking Randolph! Yes, he was the surprise guest that came out for the entire encore. It was an extremely delightful treat for me, a belated Christmas gift that filled my heart with joy. Since the very first time I saw him perform with Dave Matthews Band back in 2005, I have been fascinated with Robert Randolph. The man is a genius on the pedal steel and increases the value of any song that he plays live.

General Admission tickets were purchased for this show at the Wellmont Theatre and our arrival was early enough to secure a location close to the stage. We weren’t on the rail, but almost. It was close enough that we could see all the little nuances happening on stage which sometimes is magical. Fortunately I had the week off from my day job, so I knew if the concert ran late it wasn’t that big of a deal to me. I didn’t need to be up at any specific time the next morning.

Taylor Carson opened the show and like most acts that I’ve seen open for O.A.R. over the years, he gave a decent performance. Carson is someone that I will pay more attention to in the future. His set was short and sweet, but strong and powerful. I enjoyed watching him perform and set the stage for what was to come.

The curse of attracting drunks in the General Admission area haunted me once again that evening. During the brief intermission between performers, I noticed a group of people from the Boston area that had come down to see the show. It was obvious which one wasn’t driving as he immediately engaged me in conversation with two fistfuls of beer. He commented that he liked my Deadpool beanie and asked if I had seen the movie. After a few polite nods and smiles from me, his friends pulled him away and steered him back toward their conversation. Ten minutes later he was standing next to me again proclaiming that he liked my hat. Then he asked if I had seen the movie. I chuckled in response and said that “yes, I had seen the movie.” I didn’t add that I had just told him that a few minutes ago. He seemed harmless enough and he wasn’t going to remember most of the night anyway, so I figured why bother?

O.A.R. came out shortly after the second intervention of the Deadpool lover by his friends and the crowd roared. By this time the General Admission was packed and the balcony seats were filled close to capacity. I could tell that it was going to be an exceptional night of music and fun. The band opened the night with “This Town” and the evening began. “About An Hour Ago” followed and being my favorite song in the O.A.R. catalog, I was overjoyed. I sang it back to them at the top of my lungs along with 90 percent of the crowd.

The setlist was a well-crafted blend of classic and newer hits mixed with deep cuts from the early days. As an avid fan of the entire O.A.R. catalog, this was all right by me. I will admit that I was disappointed that no songs from The Rockville LP were performed, but I understand that in a setlist like this, hard cuts need to be made. Highlights of the evening include the aforementioned “About An Hour Ago,” “Black Rock,” “About Mr. Brown” and “I Go Through” one of two new songs from the greatest hits record.

In addition to the core band members and Michael Paris on keyboards and percussion, O.A.R. continued to have Jon Lampley on trumpet for this tour. Lampley stole the spotlight and was the real treat of the evening. Energized in a way that not many performers are, Lampley had the crowd jumping and screaming from the moment he took his place on stage. He was having fun from the opening note of the night until the end of the concert. Dancing, singing, taking trumpet solos, and just being an animated, happy person, his joy was infectious. Every time I looked at him a big grin appeared on my face. That is what performing on stage should be like. Fun for all, but especially for the entertainer.

The main set ended with a blistering cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run.” Marc Roberge asked the crowd to sing it with him if they knew it. Once the opening notes were played, everyone roared. Of course we knew it --- it was Bruce Springsteen in New Jersey! O.A.R.’s rendition of “Born To Run” was fabulous and flawless and I found myself singing it louder than I do at a Springsteen concert. I thought that was going to be the highlight of the entire evening, but I was highly incorrect about that.

As they took the stage for the encore, Roberge talked about how hard it is to have real friends in the music business. He mentioned how O.A.R. was blessed to be friends with the man they were bringing out onstage. They then introduced Mr. Robert Randolph and I went berserk (for all the reasons I stated earlier). The band kicked into “Anyway” with Randolph’s signature pedal steel slide guitar added into the mix and it was just a treat for the ears. An extended jam was performed and Randolph even got to take a solo. It was magnificent.

A cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Fool In The Rain” followed and that too was phenomenal. I was mesmerized and knew that I could sit and watch this band perform with Robert Randolph all night long. I didn’t want it to end, I wanted to watch the master continue to play. Fortunately, the band obliged with one more song---their signature and fan favorite---“That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker.”

Complete with cards being tossed into the air by audience members, “Poker” was given a grand performance. And while I have grown tired of this song over the years, it is never dull when performed live. Add Robert Randolph to the mix and the song was taken to new heights.

Once again O.A.R. put on an exceptional show proving they still have what it takes for a live performance. And while I am hopeful that they will head back to the studio to record a new album I would also welcome the opportunity to see them over the summer. Perhaps the music Gods will be generous and give me both.

Setlist

This Town

About An Hour Ago

On Top The Cage

Black Rock

Dangerous Connection

Shattered

Lay Down

Right On Time

Dareh Meyod

Hold On True

Hey Girl

Heavy Heart

About Mr. Brown

I Go Through

City On Down (First Half)

Delicate Few (Second Half)

Peace

Heaven

Born To Run

Encore

Anyway

Fool In The Rain

That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker

Concert Review: From Good Homes - December 17, 2016

From Good Homes returned for their annual December shows in Northern New Jersey on December 16^th and 17^th. I had the pleasure of attending the second night of their great performances. The venue for this year’s shows was once again the intimate Newton Theater in Newton, New Jersey. If you are a looking for a cozy place to see a live concert, I highly recommend checking out this venue. It was my second time there (both for From Good Homes concerts) and I like the quaint setting a lot.

One year removed from the last time I saw them, From Good Homes delivered a completely different concert that I was not prepared for. It was filled with music I’ve never seen them perform live, debuts, exceptional covers, and a song I didn’t even know was their original. And while I wanted to hear comfortable favorites like “Comin’ On Home,” “Maybe We Will,” and “Broken Road” I got to hear untapped classics like “Go Wild,” “Way Down Inside,” and “It’s Getting Dirty.” Hearing these songs instead of the beloved classics I wanted only made me love this band more as it showed me what a grand spectrum of songs they have in their musical arsenal.

The band came to the stage promptly just after 8pm for the first of their two sets and the sold out crowd gave a huge roar of approval. As the announcer stated in the introduction of the band, these are our hometown heroes. And every year when I see them live, I wish they could have stayed together and continued making new music. The band walked out and opened with “The Old Man & The Land” from Hick Pop Comin’ At Ya, their debut album. It was a nice mellow opener that eased the crowd into the evening. This was followed by “Suzanna Walker,” a song I always forget how much I love until I hear it. The night took off from there.

Three songs from the self titled album were played next. During “Butterfly & the Tree,” From Good Homes broke into a cover of “Little Red Corvette” paying their tribute to fallen superstar Prince. It was an exceptional cover of an amazing musician done in the proper From Good Homes style. The crowd loved it and the band was clearly having a great time playing it live.

The first set ended with a couple of big surprises. The first was a cover of a song from Brady Rymer’s other band, which has been nominated for a Grammy award for the third time (he has yet to win it, but they are hopeful that this is the year). From Good Homes covered “One Day by the Riverside” from Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, much to the delight of the crowd. It was a country tinged, fun folk song that I liked hearing live. It was an unexpected surprise treat but it was nothing compared to what was about to follow.

The last song of set one was also the biggest surprise of the night. The band pulled out a song so rare and so classic that I didn’t even realize it was one of theirs. “It’s Getting Dirty” was the set one closer and it was a beauty! I had never heard the song before (it’s not on any of the band’s official releases) and I was just amazed. I thought the band broke out an awesome cover of a song I didn’t know, but learned later (after doing some home research) that it was a From Good Homes original. That left me scratching my head in wonder…why hadn’t the band ever released this song? It could be the best song they have. The jam at the end was spectacular and really left me thirsting for more. Fortunately for me, there was another set to sit through.

Set two started with the classic staple “Radio On,” and then was promptly followed with more surprises. “Parachute,” “Safer Ground,” and “Go Wild” were played next and all are songs that I have never heard the band perform live. They were all great songs, with “Go Wild” being my favorite of the bunch, if for no other reason than the quirkiness of the song. If From Good Homes were to go back into the studio and record all of these unreleased songs for a new disc, I guarantee it would sell well. They are all quality songs that are too good to not be recorded in a proper studio setting for fan consumption.

“Way Down Inside” was next and it’s another song that I forget how great it is until I hear it live. “Way Down Inside” is definitely the darkest song From Good Homes has, but it is a brilliant tune. I was glad to have heard it live and it served as a reminder that I need to play Open Up The Sky in its entirety more often than I do.

After a great one-two punch of “I’m A Mess” and “Second Red Barn On The Right,” both with incredible jams, and a quick “Boulevard of Dreams,” another song I have never heard live, my favorite From Good Homes song was performed. It was an early Christmas present to me. “I Only Want” is the best song From Good Homes has ever recorded. I can listen to that song over and over and over again and not grow tired of it. There is so much going on in that song. I love the saxophone solo in the middle and the long, drawn out jam the song inspires. The live version at the Newton Theater was fantastic and it made the night for me.

The second set ended with “Charlie Hogan,” a fun song about a fan, and then it was time for the encore. The band made some odd choices for the encore. They did an unknown instrumental called “Jamie’s Song” and followed that with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released.” I was surprised by the encore choices, as I expected something more upbeat to end the evening. The last song of the night was a brilliant rendition of “Raindance” and then it was all over. Another show with From Good Homes had come to a close.

The show served as a great reminder of how magnificent a band From Good Homes is. I really wish they would go back into the studio and give us one last record. Even if it was just studio recordings of these unreleased tracks they play live, it would be well worth it to the fans. And of course if the band comes back again in 2018 I fully expect that I will be going to see them in concert once again.

Set One

Old Man & The Land

Suzanna Walker

The Giving Tree

House On A Hill

Butterfly & the Tree>>>Little Red Corvette>>>Butterfly & the Tree

I’m Your Man

The Decision Song

Dance a Hole

One Day by the Riverside (Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could cover)

It’s Getting Dirty

Set Two

Radio On

Parachute

Safer Ground

Go Wild

Way Down Inside

I’m A Mess

Second Red Barn On The Right

Boulevard of Dreams

I Only Want

Charlie Hogan

Encore

Jamie’s Song

I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan Cover)

Raindance

Concert Review: Bruce Springsteen And The E-Street Band - August 30, 2016

Two words sum up the experience of my 20^th Bruce Springsteen concert---holy shit! It is nights like this one that remind me why I became a fan of Bruce Springsteen in the first place. With all of the speculation and second guessing about what was going to happen, no one was prepared for what actually transpired. And it wasn’t just the song selection, which was absolutely incredible.It was also the power and the energy produced that made this an unforgettable evening. The interaction with the audience. The boundless excitement that Bruce showed to the crowd and that the crowd showed right back. Every single moment seemed memorable, magical, and mesmerizing. It was pure concert bliss for over 4 hours.

Before The Night Began

Yes, I did get to witness the longest show ever performed in the United States and the second longest of Springsteen’s career. That single fact alone would rank this as one of the best concerts I ever attended, but as we’ve discussed before, length isn’t everything. The power of the performance bears a lot of weight as well. And the performance at MetLife Stadium on that warm August evening was one for the ages.

The event began with a very special opening number. Even though I knew it was coming, starting the concert with “New York City Serenade” was a rare treat for me. I had only seen this song performed live once beforeway back in 1999. I have wanted to see it again ever since. Finally, 17 years later, I would get the chance. My patience was rewarded with a stunning rendition of this beautiful lost classic from The Wild, The Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle. The song worked perfectly as an opener and it slowly pulled the crowd in for what would be an extended night of entertainment. Roy on the piano set “New York City Serenade” and Bruce’s short, quick, acoustic guitar notes sang out into the stadium. We were off and running. Serenade lasted almost fifteen minutes and the roar of approval at the end showed just how beloved this song, and this band, is.

After “New York City Serenade” Bruce welcomed the crowd with a grand “Good evening, New Jersey!” He then told us that they were going to try and play the songs that they didn’t get to the first two nights. I didn’t realize that would mean almost every track that people would want to hear from his first two albums. 5 songs off of Greetings From Asbury Park, N.j. kicked the night into high gear and left several jaws wide open (mine included). It was at that moment I knew this was going to be a concert like none I had ever experienced. Perhaps every third Springsteen performance that I see, I’ll get a track or two from one of the first two albums. Usually “Spirit In the Night” or “Growing Up.” Almost never would I experience more than two and never would they be 9 out of the first 10 songs played. We were well over an hour into the show before Bruce played an original that wasn’t from his first two albums.

“Summertime Blues,” played by sign request, served as the perfect segue from Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. to The Wild, The Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle. I’ve always loved the E-Street version of “Summertime Blues” and it was even more fun on that night in the Meadowlands. After ending the song, Bruce stepped to the microphone and announced “We haven’t played this one in quite a while.” The band then ripped into “4^th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” and all of us were sitting on the Jersey Shore with Bruce, experiencing the boardwalk life, and feeling the thrill of the rides and the smell of the surf.

A blistering “Kitty’s Back” would follow and then the moment of the night for me occurred. I was able to witness a live performance of “Incident On 57^th Street” for only the second time in my Springsteen concert attending career and it was brilliant! Goosebumps broke out all over my skin as the song played on. And when we got to the end of the number, Roy’s piano continued, just like it does on the album. Roy wasn’t stopping and most of the fans in attendance knew what that meant. Springsteen paused with guitar in hand and gave us all a sly look as if to ask “should I do it?” More than a few of us screamed “Do it!’ And with that, the opening notes of “Rosalita” hit the air and every single person in MetLife Stadium was on their feet. The rare album sequence performance of “Incident on 57^th Street” into “Rosalita” was absolutely awesome and one of the best gifts I ever received at a Springsteen concert.

And the night was only getting started!I got to witness Springsteen’s cover of “Pretty Flamingo” for the first time ever and it did not disappoint. A brilliant performance of “Atlantic City” came next and served as another segue, this time into the pack of Born In The USA songs that would follow. “I’m Goin’ Down,” “Darlington County,” “Working On The Highway,” and “Downbound Train” left my throat raw from screaming and singing at the top of my lungs. A gorgeous version of “I’m On Fire” followed to wrap up the Born In The USA package. I was stunned and speechless by that point, but Springsteen was nowhere near done.

The album that was the purpose of the entire tour finally had a couple of songs performed. “Hungry Heart,” and “Out In The Street” would be the only representatives from The River that night, and that was okay with everyone in the crowd. By that point, Bruce could do no wrong. A fantastic rendition of “Living Proof” was next, but sadly, most people sat through it. Showing once again that the 1992 Springsteen songs just don’t get any love, which is a shame. I was extremely happy that Bruce pulled out “Living Proof” and it only added to the unique spirit of the night for me.

Five fan favorites wrapped up the main portion of the evening. By the time the crowd was chanting the Badlands chorus, over three hours had passed since the opening notes of “New York City Serenade.” And we still had an encore to go. The encore provided another first for me at a Springsteen concert. Seeing a performance of “Secret Garden.” I forgot how grand that song is! I would later learn, thanks to the wonderful fan site Backstreets (www.backstreets.com), that it was only the 4^thtime ever this song had been performed live. No wonder I forgot about it!

MetLife Stadium Going Crazy For Bruce!

 Even though I’ve seen “Jungleland” performed quite a few times, I have never witnessed a version like this. Perhaps it was the intensity that the night demanded, the song selection that led up to it, or just the setting that we were in, but this was one of the best “Jungleland” I’ve seen. Springsteen sang with an intensity that we haven’t felt on this song for a while, and Jake Clemons absolutely nailed the solo made famous by his uncle. After the solo, Jake stood on the stage, motionless and Bruce walked over and embraced him. It was a very touching moment in an emotionally charged night.

“Dancing In The Dark” found Bruce playing dance leader and pulling people from the pit onto the stage to dance. One wise gentleman held a sign that read “I’d go a bit woozy if I could dance with sister Soozie” (referring to none other than violinist Soozie Tyrell, of course). He got brought on stage. Another witty fella held a sign that read “My wife gave me permission to dance with Patty”. He got hoisted onstage, although it took a little extra effort to get him up. He was a big man and apparently it’s not as easy to climb onto the stage as people think. A girl with a sign that said “Last dance before school” got raised up. And a random girl got to dance with Bruce. All of these people were in their glory. All of these people lived a moment in their lives that they will never forget. He even let them all join on the microphone and sing the chorus with him. Who does that? And that is what makes Springsteen such a master. I am sure the security detail absolutely hates that he brings people on stage like that, but Bruce isn’t hearing it. He wants everyone in the building to have the night of their lives every time they perform.

The night ended with the same song that ended the previous two MetLife Stadium shows, “Jersey Girl.” By this point it was well after midnight, but no one had left for the parking lot. The New Jersey crowd sang along with “Jersey Girl” to finish the night and a lot of guys held their ladies, swaying and swooning to the Tom Waits classic that Bruce has made his own.

When it was all over, Bruce had performed for over 4 hours (1 minute over to be exact) and I was exhausted. I was euphoric, but I was still exhausted. After 20 Springsteen concerts, I had never witnessed one quite like that and it immediately went to the top of my list as best Springsteen concert ever. In a few months, we will see if it still remains there, but I don’t see any way that this could be knocked off the top of the perch. It may even be the best concert I’ve ever attended. The night was full of magic and memories that are going to stay with me for a lifetime.

Setlist

New York City Serenade

Blinded By The Light

Does This Bus Stop At 82^nd Street?

It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City

Spirit In The Night

Summertime Blues

4^th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)

Kitty’s Back

Incident On 57^th Street

Rosalita (come Out Tonight)

Pretty Flamingo

Atlantic City

I’m Goin’ Down

Darlington County

Working On The Highway

Downbound Train

I’m On Fire

Hungry Heart

Out In The Street

Living Proof

Candy’s Room

She’s The One

Because The Night

The Rising

Badlands

Encore

Secret Garden

Jungleland

Born To Run

Dancing In The Dark

Tenth Avenue Freeze-out

Twist And Shout

Glory Days

Shout

Jersey Girl