I know its been a little bit since I posted about these guys (my favorite new artists of 2010). And well today I have a treat for you, here is the entire live concert from their show in Glastonbury.
Its quite amazing. It will make the rest of your day fly by!
I figured that every now and again I will do this. I will write about an experience that I had at a concert that was unlike anything that I have ever experienced. I started out a few weeks ago with a story about a Phish memory (click here). Today I'm going the other side of the spectrum. That was one of my most happy moments at a show. The next was one of the most beautiful/sad moments that I think I will ever encounter.
Let me set the scene. Its October 2001. NYC had just suffered the paralyzing attacks that were 9/11. I was a college sophomore down here in Virginia. I didn't really know what to do with myself for a few month. Everything that I knew in NYC had been mixed up. My family was terrified. We at college were put in a weird spot of going to classes and pretending everything was normal while a war was raging on right outside our windows. It was to say the least a very confusing time.
It is no wonder that during these months I turned a lot to music.
One band in particular was U2. They had just released a hit album (All That You Can't Leave Behind) with the hit song "Walk On". A song with the lyrics
"And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong
Walk On."
Now I have always been a fan of U2. I was lucky enough to see them a couple of time in high school and in college. Yet when they announced that they were going to do a three night run at my favorite venue for three nights at the end of October, just a month after 9-11, I knew I had to be there. I called up my old friend Katie Murphy and told her that we had to get tickets for the last night of the run. We just had to. As luck would have it, we did. They were pretty fantastic seats too, right behind the stage. Like a few rows back. It was sure to be amazing.
Little did I know that what would happen there that night inside the arena, would be talked about for years and years to come.
I made the trip up from VA and into NYC. The first trip to the city since the terrorist attacks. There was a buzz in the room before the band even started. Everyone inside felt sort of like family. We were all there for some type of healing, we just didn't know what and how. I will never forget when Bono walked on stage. Now remember this man is from Ireland. He came on stage wearing an American flag jacket, and under a NYFD t-shirt. The crowd erupted.
As the band ripped through songs, you could see people to the left and to the right start to dance and start to for a moment forget about all of the tragic things they had heard and seen over the last month. For a moment a great band was on stage doing their jobs, making us forget about our lives for just that moment.
The concert was everything that you would imagine and more.... the final song played and the crowd cheered so loud for an encore I could have sworn that the room was going to explode.
As they walked back on stage I remember turning to my friend and saying "I really hope they play 'Walk On'". Well I got my wish and then some.
In what is probably one of the top moments of my live music watching career (yes its a career at this point), the band came out and start the emotional song. The band is all in NYC t-shirts, the song starts with the scrolling list of people that we lost on 9-11, everyone was having a moment. I remember I totally was crying. Then they started 'Walk On'. Again, another moment. People were cheering, screaming the lyrics, crying, holding on to each other, the room became one.
They played the song beautifully.... then right at the end to hammer their point home. Bono brings out at least 50 NYC Firemen on stage. (I'm crying while writing this now) To the cheers of the crowd these men walk with Bono around the stage. Some say a few words, Bono speaks, the entire room is just erupting in emotions. I can't even tell you what I was doing at this point because I was crying/cheering/hugging people. It was one of the most emotional moments I have ever had in my life. And it was amazing.
How this band was able to bring a city together a month after a tragedy like that. To let us have a ton of fun, but in the end remember what happened. Was just amazing.
I write this today because somehow in my youtube adventures today I found the video. Yup. Enjoy my friends, I will forever be grateful that I was part of this experience. (Firemen enter around 5:00)
It is all starting to sink in. I'm going to see Paul McCartney in two weeks. Oh My God.
I don't know what I'm most excited about... but I just read some of these reviews and well... I just can't take it.... its going to be so great!
"A Paul McCartney concert makes up for every bad show you’ve ever seen in your life. Seriously... The strange thing about seeing a Paul McCartney concert is, after three hours, you actually feel lighter, your feet hurt less — buoyed on by Paul’s constant smiles and some of the greatest music ever"--AMERICAN SONGWRITER
"You hear about all these things, but until you actually sit just a few yards away and witness McCartney in action for close to three hours, it's impossible to understand how they all conspire to make Sir Paul such an absolute whirlwind... What was really amazing was taking in the full scope of songs that have come out of this man... It was hard to believe that pop music was ever so good, that life was so good."--SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
"Of the 15,000-plus who attended this show, most, I'm assuming, will put it down as one of their favorite shows ever. It was one of those shows — certainly the year's best, certainly among the best ever at the Sprint Center and probably among anyone's shows of a lifetime. Expectations were high coming in; he exceeded them."--KANSAS CITY STAR
Its summertime. This means that I obviously got sucked into another reality tv competition. This time it was the one that called itself "The Voice". Now when I first started watching it this girl Vickki came out swinging, I kind of thought she would just take the crown without fight from anyone else.
Then all of a sudden something magical happened. As soon as it got time for the artists to really perform on their own outside the audition rounds, this girl with a golden voice started to emerge from nowhere.
Her name is Dia Frampton, and well she deserved to win the whole thing last night. (Unfortunately some other guy did, but we won't talk about that here). She has that type of voice that you would absolutely kill for. And well out of any voice I have heard out of a competition in the last few years this one is easily the most unique.
Here are my favorite two "cover" performances:
Kanye West "Heartless"
REM "Losing My Religion" - I added her back story to this video, because it really shows how special she is. Can't wait to get her album.
Not only is this a brand new video for the song "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" but it is an amazing video. Leave it to Coldplay to get all creative on us....using black lights.
When Eminem's latest album dropped a few months ago, I was one of its first fans. It finally got back to the Eminem that I had fallen in love with. The song that I instinctively liked the best was one of the first tracks called "Space Bound". I couldn't wait until it was dropped as a single, because I knew it would do well.
Well... it dropped. And the world took notice. Why? Well Eminem had to go and push the envelope and well the video is pretty damn graphic. It depicts him committing suicide at the end. Whoa.
Now do I think he needed to do it to gain attention? No. But does it hammer the actual point home in the song. Yup. So as in the famous Pearl Jam video Jeremy. It was necessary to bring his art to life.
Don't know why I'm even giving this article publicity but damn its just ridiculous!!!
Go HERE (well not you Mom or Dad don't read this crap its just that...crap) Its everything that me and all my friends have been trying to prove year after year after year. But there will always be haters, haters who think...
"When you consider how a child’s life can be ruined by such an obsession, it is vital we make every effort possible to stop The Phish. Demanding that the FCC censor their music is surely a wise first step, but we need to do more. We need to organize and protest. We need to pressure our local governments and concert halls to deny them access. In the end, we cannot knowingly allow the young people of this nation engage in a lifestyle that forces them to be shunned by their former friends, disowned by their families and hunted by the police. It is a disturbing future and all effort should be made to prevent this great nation from falling prey to The Phish’s notorious agenda."
For serious...you really just wrote that!!! hahahaha.
I will give you one and only statistic you fool. At the recent show at Darien Lake there were two arrests during the Phish concert (non-violent acts may I add) at the Tim McGraw show just this past Saturday night there were 17! Including a few for aggravated assault, stealing, abuse.
I'll stick with my crowd any day...thank you. And leave us alone!!!
While I went missing over the last two weeks something tragic happened. The world lost in my opinion what is the greatest saxophone player in history. We have lost a lot of great musicians over the last year but none made me stop in my tracks and just sit.
The world lost a true talent when Clarence Clemons passed on the morning of June 19th at the age of 69; he often proclaimed that he was "a born rock 'n' roll sax player. The Big Man, was his nicknamed given to him by band-mate Bruce Springsteen, was the saxophone voice of Springsteen's E Street Band. He was smooth but driven. His rifts can make songs like they did for "Born to Run" and "My City in Ruins".
In addition, he was a talented studio musician who joined artists ranging from Jackson Brown to Aretha Franklin on recordings. Most recently he backed and was seen in the video for Lady Gagas 'Edge of Glory'.
Yet it was with Springsteen that Clemons had the most success and influence. It wasn't just that he was a great musician, he and Bruce had called each other 'brothers'. The Boss often described Clemons as the King of the World and Master of the Universe.
Its hard to imagine what will happen to that band without this great soul.
Like I said before there are not too many artists that make me stop in my tracks but I remember exactly where I was when I heard this news. I was driving down Route 66 with my mom. It came across my blackberry and I without instinct threw on my ipod shuffled right towards this next song; I didn't even listen to the first four minutes but cranked the radio up loud and blasted this windows down for the Big Man who is now playing sweet sweet music in the sky.
RIP Clarence. Trust me when I say you will be missed.... for added bonus look at him doing his thing on the National Anthem. Seriously could you imagine the jam session between him and LeRoi Moore right now??
On Friday I finally caught my first Sharon Jones performance. And when I tell you that I didn't want it to end... I would have done anything to hear her come out and play just one more song. It was that good.
It puzzles me why this former Rikers Security Guard (yup you read that right) is not more famous than this. She is easily the hardest working/dancing woman in show business right now. Bar none. Thats right. NONE.
Check out this video I took during the show on Friday (sorry for the shakiness towards the end, arms got tired). I need to see her again asap!!
A few weeks ago I hit the road en route to yet another Phish concert (no I will never ever get tired of doing this... sorry). This time I made the trek back up to Merriweather and brought along some great friends.
This is what makes the Phish experience so great. The fact that I have countless numbers of friends who would at any moment pack up their things and head to a show. We were lucky that weekend, we had great weather, two great shows, two great party bus crews, a good venue, some great music and well.. my favorite part of the entire weekend?
Was staying for the show I wasn't supposed to stay for on Sunday. Sneaking down into the pavilion seats and grabbing this video at the end of the second set. The new light rig that they have is quite a sight to be seen....
**Now unless a ride comes through at the last minute looks like I'm missing Super Ball this weekend... boooooo! But I promise I'll see them again soon (maybe a trip to cali for the Hollywood Bowl?...perhaps)**
Hello. Remember me? I know I took a good break from the blog but it was much needed and well sometimes it just has to be done. I traveled, saw some music, spent some time with my family, finally decorated my apartment, settled into my job and summertime.
Well I'm back now and you don't have to worry about a lack of music for the rest of the summer because I'm locked and loaded with a ton. I will start with the concert (besides Paul McCartney in a few weeks) that I'm really excited for. Bon Iver is coming to Richmond!!!
More on this guys amazing back story later... for now listen to the song that makes me literally stop in my tracks. The way he lets his voice soar is the reason that he held the number 1 album spot on the charts last week. Can't wait to hear him in Richmond at the end of July. So enjoy and I'm glad to be back.
So if you have or have not noticed I've taken a little break from the blog this week. This week has been pretty hectic preparing for my trip to the 'Land of Lincoln' tomorrow. Thats right, my Chicago-Route 66-Springfield trip starts in the morning... and I can't wait!
Here is to hoping that we get great weather, encounter some great people/sights and have some fun along the way.
So happy this show is back. Love to watch tv shows where actual talent is the focus.
So You Think You Can Dance is back on FOX this summer and last night they reveled the top 20 dancers. It looks like this season is going to be all about the women because well they are beasts. But man what gets me the most about this show is when beautiful music meets amazing choreography and great dancers.
Like last night when showing off the contemporary dancers. Check out the girl in the front (also in photo top left) shes going to be hard to beat.
Okay Okay I know that I talk about The Beatles a lot on this blog, but in all seriousness the next sentence is a string of words that I really never thought I would ever type in my lifetime.
I'm going to go see Paul McCartney live next month.
haha.
Yup, the tickets came through. I am on my way.
I am shaking over excitement... all I will say is if he plays this song and with my mom right next to me. I may just lose it. Just saying... LOSE IT!
I can not believe I am not at these shows! What fun! What fun!
So for the last two days, Phish has taken over the Darien Lake, NY Performing Arts Center. This place is awesome for two reasons, great venue, great amusement park! Thats right... place is an amusement park full of rides, and for the last two days the park has been closed to Phish ticket holders.
Imagine, phisheads everywhere you look. Probably one of the cooler things ever. Take a look at some of these photos. Again all Phish phans.
For my older brothers birthday I put my brain to use and copied him most of my music collection. (Or at least the cds that I thought he would listen to... no worries no phish) One of the cds was the latest from Ray LaMontagne. A man I fell in love with many man years ago.
Yup, you read that right. Since I can't seem to get myself to a Yankee game in the new stadium ever. I'm just going to make my first trip there a concert!
whoot whoot. Who is going to knock a huge artist off her bucket list? I am. I am!
I am so in love with Eddie Vedder its not even funny anymore. Hes definately at the top of my list of artists I would love to run away with to a middle of a Forrest where we can just sit and listen to great music all day long. That is if he brings his ukulele.
If you have yet to buy his album called appropriately enough "Ukulele Songs" you are missing out on a genius piece of art.
My girl rocked it out yet again last night on Jimmy Kimmel's show. Sara Bareilles rocking a hot pink jacket took to his outdoor stage to throw down one of the better performances of this song I have heard.
Last night Phish played one of my favorite venues; the Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA. This venue continues to sit in the top 5 due to the memories I have attached to it from the infamous 2004 Coventry tour.
Story time!
It was 2004, freshly graduated from James Madison and my friends and I were all living in the Outerbanks down in North Carolina. Phish's (at the time) final farewell tour was about to begin and well most of us had tickets for all venues. I was lucky and landed myself a ticket to every show but one, thefirst night of Mansfield. I was okay with it. I was still going to travel up to the venue and just hang out in the parking lot with all the rest of the ticketless phans and wait for my friends to return to the car. In all seriousness I was completely okay with missing this show, once you have it in your brain ahead of time, the reality of it really isn't that bad.
So here is the scene, we are in the parking lot, my friends are all getting ready to go to the show. Me i'm finding people who were ticketless like me and willing to hang out during the show. Everything was going great. Then it got to showtime. My friends all got ready to go into the show, I took my beer and said "okay i'm going to go get myself a spot right over the fence so I can still hear it...i'll see you all in a few hours" We said our goodbyes and everyone was on their way.
On my journey to the gate I got separated from the crew of people that I had assembled. While trying to find them in the crowd I decided to just stop and take a break right outside the front ticket gates. By this time 90% of the people going into the show were inside, and you could hear the crowds start to erupt with the sound of the band taking the stage. I sat there on the sidewalk opened a beer and said "well lets do this boys". And with that not kidding you, three girls stumble into my view. Two girls are carrying the third on the way out of the venue to the parking lot. I stand up as they pass me to try and offer any assistance that they may need.
This is when I knew how much I loved the Phish scene.
As I stood up I made eye contact with one of the girls carrying her friend. I stuck my hands out and said "hey, you guys, anything I can help with?" They looked at me and said "yeah go take her ticket and enjoy the show... someone has to". I was shocked. Next thing you knew the three girls were out of sight and I had a free Phish ticket to a concert that was about to begin.
(I will never forget the next three moments for as long as I live)
I gave my beer away to the next person I can find, and skipped my way to the front of the ticket line, laughing the whole time. I gave my ticket to the man and ran up the long walkway leading to the show (above picture). I ran right into the venue, and as soon as I hit the walk way between the seats and the lawn they busted this out.
Anyone who knows Phish knows that Punch You In The Eye is one of the more energetic openers they could have. I lost it. I was jumping up and down, singing, dancing, nobody could get me off my cloud. I knew my friends were somewhere on the lawn, I found them after a few songs. We all shared a laugh, and one of the better Phish shows I had ever seen. It was truly a Phish moment I could never forget.
And that is why Mansfield will always be one of my top 5 venues. Memmmorrrieees.
Anyone who was watching the NBA Finals last night were in for a treat. American Idol alum (and best winner) absolutely killed it when singing the National Anthem.
What I like about it best, is she doesn't not have to dress up and be anyone who she is not. She did all while rocking a Dallas Mav's t-shirt. Killer.
Today I woke up, and started my day with a little tear. Thats right. Meredith Viera has officially left the today show and well I'm really sad about it. I really liked Meredith. She was funny, smart and down to earth. She made my morning routine always fun and light, and well I will miss the way she just straight up makes fun of Matt Lauer to his face. That team is great.
Here are some of my favorite moments of hers, followed by a video. You will be missed Meredith... you will!
Dancing with the Rockettes
At the Olympics
Running a marathon
Who can forget the Today show Halloween parties
She was a clown at a childrens hospital. This is the side I will miss the most...
Rock band Yellowbirds, released a new music video for their song "The Reason". Its animated by front man Sam Cohen, and well its pretty amazing. It features 10 years worth of notebook drawings and sketches by illustrator Michael Arthur.
This is the performance that solidified Lauryn as a super star. Here she absolutely slays the track and gives off more swaggar than her male counterparts at the time.. Video from the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards (back when they were worth watching)
Its my older brothers birthday. This is the point of the blog where I usually post something fun with his picture or a picture of the two of us. But since he is extremely sensitive with his picture floating around on the internet. I will give him this.
Yes you read that title right. I just read a post about Flavor Flav's newest book set to be released, here is what he said about his drug use.
"Yeah I was spending, $2,600 a day, for six years, every single day. I don't know how much that is but if you did the math, wow, I went thorough a lot of money. If I did the math I'd probably be shocked on how much money I spent, I'd probably punch myself in the face."
Whoa. Yeah I did the math. Comes to a little under $5.7 Million. Insane. I would punch myself in the face too...
There are only a few band that make me lose control like the people you see above. Phish is one of them.
This next song is quickly headed to the top of my favorites list. Why? Easy. Jam potential.
The potential the band has with this song is epic. There are so many different directions they can take it, and every version has a different style. The latest was up in Camden, NJ on Tuesday night. 9 days can't come soon enough!
I used to really like this band, then they went completely mainstream and that song "Use Somebody" became completely over played and well... yup I they fell from my radar. I just couldn't go anywhere without hearing their names associated with pop music... it was terrible.
Well I'm happy to report that the boys are heading back to their southern roots to grab some of that magic that they may have lost in the last year or so.
I really like this song, I hope radio doesn't pick it up so I can continue to enjoy it.
