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What concerts have you been to lately?

vincentricMember
Mozart's Jupiter Symphony - meh. The evening started off great with steak frits and a bottle of 2006 Jadot Morgon Cote de Py at Le Select. Got better with some Giraud with dessert. Then with my first bad Uber experience, the driver wouldn't follow my directions to go west 2 blocks to get up to King but insisted on heading south on Spadina towards Front. We finally got close enough to walk and enter the hall 1 minute before the concert. Seats were cheap seats in the mezzanine, so it was sprint the stairs after a quick pit stop. So much for going to the restaurant 2 hours early to a relaxed dinner to transition to the concert.

Once the concert started, the plebs in the mezzanine decided it was time to shuffle in their seats, chat with their date, and otherwise be disruptive. The orchestra is smaller for Mozart and the sound isn't as big as say Beethoven or other more modern composers, so from the distance of the mezzanine, whispers and rustling seems relatively louder, even over the cacophony of coughing and throat clearing....

The first have of the concert consisted of two arias from Don Giovanni and were good (one better than the other). Then there was a piano piece. By then I'd heard enough Mozart for one night.... just too much of the same thing repeated as nausea, without remarkable themes or melodies...

Jupiter Symphony was unremarkable for the most part. The build up to the ending went on for what seemed to be an eternity - never going anywhere, never developing anything, just building in volume until going sideways for a bit, only to start over and repeat the process - about 6 times. It was like going up an old time slow chairlift into at stiff wind in -20, and hoping the ending was just over the next rise, only to see yet another dip and another rise and possible ending or disappointment. Any who have ridden the main chair at Smugglers in the old days will know what I mean.

On the upside, I did learn a few things, so it wasn't a total waste.

1)If you know the traffic is good one way and not the other and the Uber guy won't cooperate, don't get in or get out.

2)Don't buy cheap seats on the boxing week sale for the Symphony. Stick to mid-way up the middle on the main floor. People there come to hear the music, not each other, and the sound is better from there anyway. A a bonus, you can actually see the pianist playing.

3) Mozart makes great background music. It would have been delightful during dinner in the background, but more than one piece at a concert is too much.

4) In contrast, Beethoven makes lousy background music, because it is so dynamic, but is great to listen to at a concert. I knew this one, but experiencing the opposite with a full night of Mozart was a good reminder: Full night of Beethoven - great. Mozart - makes sure it's a mixed program with a bit of Mozart.

All is not lost if one learns something, and the steak frits and Beaujolais were great.
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aphillaMember
quote:
Originally posted by VinCentric:


3) Mozart makes great background music. It would have been delightful during dinner in the background, but more than one piece at a concert is too much.

4) In contrast, Beethoven makes lousy background music, because it is so dynamic, but is great to listen to at a concert. I knew this one, but experiencing the opposite with a full night of Mozart was a good reminder: Full night of Beethoven - great. Mozart - makes sure it's a mixed program with a bit of Mozart.



Yikes!
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pinotlvr
pinotlvrMember
Saw Billy Joel last night at Amalie Arena in Tampa. I had seen him 2 years ago but he really seems to really be enjoying being back performing. 2 years ago was the typical 90 minute set, but last night he went for more than 2 hours and joked with crowd, dedicating "The Entertainer" to Donald Trump and "New York State of Mind" to Ted Cruz Smile. Also, due to losing some legends recently, did a short cover of Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" and two full length covers of the Eagles (Desparado and Take it Easy).

Also loves how he likes to highlight his backing band, including ceeding lead vocals to one of his guitarists for a cover of Led Zep's, "Whole Lotta Love". Set list included a good mix of his career catalog including a couple opportunities for the crowd to vote with applause on the next song.
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vinobevoMember
quote:
Originally posted by Pinotlvr:
Saw Billy Joel last night at Amalie Arena in Tampa. I had seen him 2 years ago but he really seems to really be enjoying being back performing. 2 years ago was the typical 90 minute set, but last night he went for more than 2 hours and joked with crowd, dedicating "The Entertainer" to Donald Trump and "New York State of Mind" to Ted Cruz Smile. Also, due to losing some legends recently, did a short cover of Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" and two full length covers of the Eagles (Desparado and Take it Easy).

Also loves how he likes to highlight his backing band, including ceeding lead vocals to one of his guitarists for a cover of Led Zep's, "Whole Lotta Love". Set list included a good mix of his career catalog including a couple opportunities for the crowd to vote with applause on the next song.

Agree with you - we've seen him several times over the years but the last two, at MSG, were the best we've experienced. There's obviously something about playing for the home crowd so I'm glad to hear the show is just as fun on the road. Planning to go back and see him at MSG again this year.
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doktapMember
We saw Billy Joel at the ACC in Toronto a couple years ago and agree with your comments. He made a few references to famous Canadian bands and his show was flawless. I have to admit that Pianoman was my absolute favourite composition of his during my entire university career and when I hear it on the radio, I still belt out the words.
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thelostverse
thelostverseMember
Going to Symphony Center in Chicago tonight for Battle Royale: Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis And The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. We saw them do a Christmas show a year or so ago, and they are simply incredible. If you enjoy jazz, do yourself a favor and go to this show if it plays near you.
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seaquamMember
quote:
Originally posted by thelostverse:
Going to Symphony Center in Chicago tonight for Battle Royale: Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis And The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. We saw them do a Christmas show a year or so ago, and they are simply incredible. If you enjoy jazz, do yourself a favor and go to this show if it plays near you.


We'll be seeing Wynton and company later this year at Lincoln Center for a 90th birthday tribute to Miles (if he were still alive, of course). We scored great seats, too! I'm already pretty excited about this. Smile

Have a great time tonight!
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bomba503
bomba503Member
Heading to FLA over President's weekend for a golf/fun reunion weekend with 6 guys Ive known nearly all of my 52 years on the planet. One of them is very good friends with a guy in a band. Last night we'll be at the Springsteen concert in Fort Lauderdale as guests of the band in a suite and backstage. Gonna be a great cap to a weekend we have been trying to pull off for the last 20 years or so.
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sunnylea57
sunnylea57Member
quote:
Originally posted by BOMBA503:
Heading to FLA over President's weekend for a golf/fun reunion weekend with 6 guys Ive known nearly all of my 52 years on the planet. One of them is very good friends with a guy in a band. Last night we'll be at the Springsteen concert in Fort Lauderdale as guests of the band in a suite and backstage. Gonna be a great cap to a weekend we have been trying to pull off for the last 20 years or so.

Nice! Looking forward to the post-concert report.
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patespo1
patespo1Member
quote:
Originally posted by BOMBA503:
Will do. FWIW he is playing The River start to finish which is his most Pop like album and probably my least favorite. But having seen him a few dozen times since 1978 he and the band are such great performers that it is always a treat.


Very envious, as I love The River album. Will look for your review, as we are thinking of grabbing tickets for the Cleveland show.
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sunnylea57
sunnylea57Member
quote:
Originally posted by BOMBA503:
Will do. FWIW he is playing The River start to finish which is his most Pop like album and probably my least favorite. But having seen him a few dozen times since 1978 he and the band are such great performers that it is always a treat.

Likewise. First time I saw him was the Born To Run tour, and I caught every tour after that up to Tunnel of Love. Without question my favourite album is Darkness. When The River was released I thought it was a huge disappointment. Still, I would have liked to have seen the new tour, but didn't have any luck getting decent seats, and I'd rather not spend $150 to sit at the back of the arena.
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bomba503
bomba503Member
My first show was the Darkness tour (I was 15) and thats always been my favorite also. My older brother by 4 years was at the New Years eve show in 1975 at the Tower Theater which you may be familiar with as it is one of the top bootlegged concert tapes out there.

One sentimental thing about this show will be that I was at the the Opening Night for The River tour. It was at Chrysler Arena at the U of Mich where my brother did his undergrad. My whole family was visiting him and we all went including my parents. We had my mother sneak a nice camera with telephoto lenses in her purse. I was walking behind the stage and caught Bruce mid air leaping off the piano which he stopped doing many years ago. I blew it up to 4'X 4" and it was on the wall of my bedroom the rest of high school, all through college and a bit beyond. It got damaged but I still have the negative.
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bomba503
bomba503Member
quote:
Originally posted by BOMBA503:
My first show was the Darkness tour (I was 15) and thats always been my favorite also. My older brother by 4 years was at the New Years eve show in 1975 at the Tower Theater which you may be familiar with as it is one of the top bootlegged concert tapes out there.

One sentimental thing about this show will be that I was at the the Opening Night for The River tour. It was at Chrysler Arena at the U of Mich where my brother did his undergrad. My whole family was visiting him and we all went including my parents. We had my mother sneak a nice camera with telephoto lenses in her purse. I was walking behind the stage and caught Bruce mid air leaping off the piano which he stopped doing many years ago. I blew it up to 4'X 4" and it was on the wall of my bedroom the rest of high school, all through college and a bit beyond. It got damaged but I still have the negative.


Forgot to add, Bob Seeger joined them for a song also that night
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ksc02Member
quote:
Originally posted by steve8:
quote:
Originally posted by KSC02:
Lauryn Hill at the Montreal Jazz Fest this coming July.

A secret b'day gift for my better half.


Big Grin What, you think what you post on these forums, stays on these forums? Razz

Big Grin I know that she doesn't read here.
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bman
bmanMember
quote:
Originally posted by KSC02:
quote:
Originally posted by steve8:
quote:
Originally posted by KSC02:
Lauryn Hill at the Montreal Jazz Fest this coming July.

A secret b'day gift for my better half.


Big Grin What, you think what you post on these forums, stays on these forums? Razz

Big Grin I know that she doesn't read here.


I think Steve is hinting his silence will come at a price. Probably ditto Mim.....

I, on the other hand, am the model of discretion........ Wink
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bman
bmanMember
quote:
Originally posted by KSC02:
quote:
Originally posted by bman:
...laughed our butts off.

That might help you get into those buttless chaps that you got from Tbird Razz


Are you suggesting that my butt is too big to get into my buttless chaps now? Next offline, I'll be happy to prove you wrong! catvom dance
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bomba503
bomba503Member
Last edited by bomba503
Finally have time to post about the Springsteen concert in Ft Lauderdale. We went as guests of one of the original band members who is a close friend of one of my friends. Bruce and the E Street band was great as always but I found the concert very different than patespo. We had some of the best seats in the house on the first level, several rows up on the corner of the stage where bands always put friends.

Ive been to countless Bruce concerts including opening night of the original River Tour in Ann Arbor. The River has always been one of my least favorite albums. The first two hours they played all the songs on The River (a double album) in order straight through. I found the concert to be plodding if not a bit boring, rushed and uninspired. Maybe 1/3rd of the songs are rocking and the rest are simply meh. The energy in the crowd was nowhere near what it is for a Philly, NY or even LA area show. They simply seemed to be mailing it in this night.

Once they got through the 2 hour River set they launched into another 1 hour and 20 minutes of some of their greatest hits. This is where the show got interesting and started to rock. But still it never reached the heights or energy level of other shows Ive been to over the years.

All things considered, its always a treat to see Bruce and band. They played 3 hours and 20 minutes straight through. It was cool hanging with a few guys in the band before the show and they are professionals unlike most bands. It just wasn't up to the lofty standards I've experienced in the past. Call it an 89 pointer.
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patespo1
patespo1Member
quote:
Originally posted by BOMBA503:
Finally have time to post about the Springsteen concert in Ft Lauderdale. We went as guests of one of the original band members who is a close friend of one of my friends. Bruce and the E Street band was great as always but I found the concert very different than patespo. We had some of the best seats in the house on the first level, several rows up on the corner of the stage where bands always put friends.

Ive been to countless Bruce concerts including opening night of the original River Tour in Ann Arbor. The River has always been one of my least favorite albums. The first two hours they played all the songs on The River (a double album) in order straight through. I found the concert to be plodding if not a bit boring, rushed and uninspired. Maybe 1/3rd of the songs are rocking and the rest are simply meh. The energy in the crowd was nowhere near what it is for a Philly, NY or even LA area show. They simply seemed to be mailing it in this night.

Once they got through the 2 hour River set they launched into another 1 hour and 20 minutes of some of their greatest hits. This is where the show got interesting and started to rock. But still it never reached the heights or energy level of other shows Ive been to over the years.

All things considered, its always a treat to see Bruce and band. They played 3 hours and 20 minutes straight through. It was cool hanging with a few guys in the band before the show and they are professionals unlike most bands. It just wasn't up to the lofty standards I've experienced in the past. Call it an 89 pointer.


Bomba, the crowd in Cleveland was energized, and you got the sense that Bruce and the band were feeding off of it.

My father and I attended the show, and we both are fans of the River album. So there is one difference in our mindset for the evening. The song, The River, has always carried special meaning to my father, as much of it parallels things in his life. I actually liked some of the slower points in the beginning, I thought it was something different from Bruce. A nice juxtaposition to what was to come in the 2nd half.

As you noted, after The River album was played, they went through a greatest hits and our crowd was highly engaged. His version of Youngstown is always well received in our area, and since a good portion of my family is in the steel industry, it always hits home. Born to Run was as raucous as ever. He was even forgiven for initially saying hello Pittsburgh, then quickly correcting himself. As close to a mortal sin as you can get in Cleveland.

For me it was a 95+, but sounds like what he played was more in my wheelhouse. We were upper level but right by one of the ends of the stage, the sound wasn't the best I have ever heard, but I wonder if it was our positioning in the arena.

One thing to note, he is releasing all of these concerts on CD, they are coming out about a month after the shows.
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bomba503
bomba503Member
Last edited by bomba503
I appreciate the difference and know Cleveland is a great Rock n Roll town. In a bit of irony both of my parents, my brother and sister attended the original River tour concert in Ann Arbor. We had my mother sneak a 35 MM camera in her purse and got some awesome pictures I enjoy to this day.

The song, The River is also one of the stand outs on the album along with Sherry Darling, Jackson Cage, Independence Day, Out in The Street, Point Blank, Cadillac Ranch and Ramrod IMO. The rest I can give or take.

I'll be back for a show or two in LA which I have higher expectations for and its always cool to hang with Max for a bit. I'll report back after that show.
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bomba503
bomba503Member
Last edited by bomba503
One funny part of the night was how many additional friends and acquaintances I ran into at the concert from high school. One of whom is probably well hated in Cleveland as he was Lebron's agent during The Decision. In a bit of irony Pat Reilly who was on the other side and had his hands were all over The Decision was right in front of us in the pit. Both guys shared an embrace and Pat gave one to my friend 80 year old mother who he brought as a Bruce concert was on her bucket list.
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