U2 at Verizon Center, Washington DC
I had the opportunity to see U2 over two nights at the Verizon Center, in Washington, DC. On the second night, I stood in the mosh pit undulating with the crowd per Bono's instructions and snapped this pic on my small Minolta pocket camera
Snapped on 10.20.05 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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John Mellencamp
We went to the DC Leukemia and Lymphoma Ball last night at the DC Convention Center. After placing two winning bids in their silent acution, Jacqui and I enjoyed dinner with colleagues from work but then had to sit through interminable speeches before John Mellencamp hit the stage. We were only able to stay for the first few songs but he was rocking this black tie affair.
Snapped on 03.19.05 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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Hot Tuna
I went to The Birchmere to listen to Hot Tuna. The current iteration includes of course, Jorma and Jack. They are touring with Barry Mitterholf who plays a variety of mandolins, banjos, and other stringed instruments.
The started with about 90 minutes of acoustic music. After about a 20 minute break they came back with a drummer and played electric. I thought the acoustic set was terrific. Jorma's voice was outstanding and he and Jack looked like they were enjoying themselves. Barry Mitterholf played lead guitar on the mandolin for most songs, although Jorma took a few turns throughout the set. "Good Shephard" was particularly memorable. I was transported back in time 30 years or so. Alone, that was worth the price of admission.
I did not enjoy the electric set as much. I was happy they are no longer using a "wall of sound" for this set although I thought the music was uninspired.
Set List:
Hot Tuna 71, 2004
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff &
Erik Diaz
The Birchmere
Alexandria, Virginia
Monday, November 22, 2004
Acoustic Set With Jack, Jorma and Barry
1. Waiting For A Train
2. Blue Railroad Train
3. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. Prohibition Blues
8. Living In The Moment
9. Good Shepherd
10. I Know You Rider
Electric Set With Jack, Jorma, Barry and Erik
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
3. Corners Without Exits
4. Hit Single # 1
5. Rock Me Baby
6. Trial By Fire
7. Talking ‘Bout You
8. In The Kingdom
9. Living Just For You
10. Come Back Baby I Wish You Would
11. Hot Jelly Roll Blues
12. Funky # 7
13. Encore: Come Back Baby
Snapped on 11.23.04 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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The ReKooperators at the Barns of Wolf Trap
On Saturday, Jacqui, Mark, Stephanie and I went to see Al Kooper at The Barns of Wolf Trap. The show was billed as a tribute to Mike Bloomfield and featured Jimmy Vivino on lead guitar. They played much of Super Session, some blues standards, some Dylan and Rolling Stones, and one BS&T song. Pretty good show but they did not blow me away, largely because Al only sang lead vocals on 4 songs or so during the set.
Snapped on 11.06.04 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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Vote For Change Finale at MCI Center
Last night, I was lucky to attend the marathon 5.5 hour Vote For Change show at MCI Center. This picture was taken by the Washington Post from much better seats than I enjoyed, although we had good seats.
While the sound was not mixed well at MCI (typical for that venue), the show was fabulous. For me, the highlight was Bruce Springsteen joining REM for Man on the Moon. REM, in particular, was truly grand. Michael Stipe was animated and motivated and put on a great show.
Other highlights were James Taylor's short speech using a horse as a symbol for Bush; the version of Because the Night with Stipe joining the E Street Band; John Fogarty playing Fortunate Son with the E Street Band; and the finale with all the musicians singing "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding" and "Power to the People." I also enjoyed hearing Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Keb Mo sing "For What It's Worth." The Dave Matthews Band played spellbinding rhythms during their set.
I would like to see it on my home theater in THX sound....
Snapped on 10.12.04 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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Los Straitjackets
Tonight Jacqui and I went with Stephanie and Mark to see Los Straitjackets at The Birchmere. I had never heard of them before but I thought there were four quite excellent musicians hiding behind their masks. They played a tight 60 minute set of surf music (including the Munsters Theme song), which was very enjoyable.
Snapped on 07.28.04 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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Rod Stewart at the Phone Booth
Jacqui and I went with the Pages to see Rod Stewart at MCI last night. Rod was in excellent shape but had a bit of a chest cold. Still, he played two 75 minute sets that covered everything anyone would want to hear from his fine catalog of music.
The first set featured a large rock bank with 3 outstanding backup singers. Rod played a series of songs from his greatest hits album and the crowd was appreciative.
The crowd, by the way, was composed of about 80% women who were screaming at Rod much the way that women screamed at Paul, John, George and Ringo 40 years ago. A procession of female fans paraded up to the stage during the show giving Rod stuffed animals, flowers and yes, underwear.
After a 20 minute intermission, the stage was reset and Rod and the band were dressed in tux and tails with about 8 more string players adding to the mix. Rod moved through about five standards off of his last two "songbook" cds, then closed with 7 more hits backed by a full orchestra.
Overall, a much better show than any of us had imagined. And one we would all go see in heartbeat again.
Snapped on 03.05.04 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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Kiss My Brass
Jacqui and I went to the Bette Midler show at the Phone Booth last night with Adrian and Larry Fishman. I admire Bette Midler but have never owned any of her music. The show was big, with a large 20 piece band, including 4 horn players and 3 backup singers/dancers. The stage was grand:
She told jokes, sang songs and danced. My favorite song was "Do You Want to Dance?"
Snapped on 01.24.04 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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Al Kooper Live at Rams Head
Jacqui and I went to see Al Kooper play solo at the Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis, MD last night. I had seen him with the "Funky Faculty," some of his former colleagues at Berkeley School of Music, a few years back at the House of Blues in Cambridge. That version was with a full band and horns. This one was just Al with electric keyboards and guitar. On his website, he promoted it:
"With the Mongrel Booking Agency in place, Al begins getting back to those nooks & crannies he hasn't visited in decades. A solo performance for all you Maryland and DC fans. It's been awhile now and Al would love to see all of you again! One long show at 7:30."
He played for slightly over two hours, introducing songs with stories about his career, the gist of which is that he always got the short end of business deals with the record companies but was so focused on making good music, he was not really complaining. The room was not quite sold out but filled with long time Kooper fans who appreciated his music and hung on every word. I did not write down a set list but he played I Can't Quit Her, I Can't Stand the Rain, New York City, and The Modern Adventures of Plato, Diogenes and Freud, among others.
After the show, Al went to the front lobby and hung around to sign autographs and talk to his fans. Lots of people brought vinyl records and sheetmusic to be signed. I ran back to the car and got my SuperSession CD which he signed. When I got home, I realized I should have brought the poster hanging in my home office from the SuperSession concert at Fillmore West, which I already have signed by the artist, Lee Conklin.
I wonder if I mail it to Al, if he will sign it and send it back. Also, I wonder how much he would charge to play a short concert at my grother's house in North Easton, MA
Snapped on 04.27.03 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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Aaron Nevelle
Last night I went to the Birchmere to see the Aaron Neville Quintet featuring Charles Neville. Jacqui could not go as she had some students scheduled for a knitting lesson my friend Christie agreed to be my date.
I love going to the Birchmere because the musicians generally love playing there and are very relaxed and having a good time. Last night was no exception. The quintet was outstanding. Aaron's voice was in fine form and he picked a great selection of songs to showcase his voice, ranging from doo wop to gospel to rock to New Orleans jazz to covering standards. He did not play many Neville Brothers songs or even that many of his own tunes, prefering to stick with covers of songs that he says he is not allowed to sing while touring with the Neville Brothers. My favorites were Fever, Summertime, and My Girl, although each one was pretty great. My only complaint is that the set was short -- about 75 minutes followed by a ten minute encore.
Snapped on 04.27.02 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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Leon Russell
Last night, my friend Megan and I went to Jaxx to see Leon Russell. There was a hard rain falling and only 144 other brave souls came to listen to one of the 1970s great keyboardists. Leon played as a session musician for Ronnie Spector in his heyday as a record producer for the Wall of Sound but really gained popularity as the piano player for Joe Cocker in his Mad Dogs and Englishman tour and for George Harrison in the Concert for Bangladesh. He also played piano for Dave Mason, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. After that, he put out a bunch of solo albums, first under his own name and later under the name of Hank Wilson.
We get to Jaxx and it is pretty quiet. Two opening bands played good cover songs while the crowd drifted in. Just before Leon takes the stage, I had the chance to chat for a minute with his roadie/sound guy who assured me that Leon still had it together and was playing a pretty good show.
Leon takes the stage and looks like an aging 1970s rocker. He starts the show and no one is standing in front of the stage so I walked right down and snapped some pictures. Jacqui and I had seen him at Jaxx a year or two back and he raced through his set. He does the same last night, not acknowledging the crowd or stopping more than two seconds between songs on his 90 minute set.
Flashback thirty years ago to February 13, 1971. My brother Jay took me to see Leon (along with Taj Mahal and Bill Withers) during the last months of the Fillmore East so I could experience that venue before it closed. That night 30 years ago, Leon put on a great show and I remember walking out of the Fillmore singing the words to Stranger in a Strange Land (not sure if Leon wrote that about the Kurt Vonnegut book of the same title but I had just read the book and the music has stayed with me for 30 years now), Delta Lady, Song For You, Hard Rain Gonna Fall, and Beware of Darkness.
Leon played all those songs except for Beware of Darkness and moved through most of his hits except for Masquerade. I did not catch the name of the lead guitarist but he was exceptional. About halfway through the show I moved right up to the stage, about 3 feet from Leon, and watched him play the piano for the rest of the set. I had a really good time listening to Leon, in part remembering that special night at the Fillmore East with Jay 31 years ago...
Megan, just back from working at the Olympics at the ice hockey venue, had never heard of Leon Russell before but had a great time with me, watching both the crowd at Jaxx and Leon Russell. And Kimmie, the bartender at Jaxx
Snapped on 03.02.02 || More Live Music Photos || Comments
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