pinotlvr posted:
Sat - Chicago/REO Speedwagon (I guess I'll see sunnylea's friend sing for Chicago)
And your verdict? Neil is an excellent singer but he has had a polarizing effect on fans of the band. Some love him, others not so much. He’s closer to Cetera in style than the last few singers they had.
DMB in Holmdel NJ middle of the week. Better than Hartford CT on a Sat. night.
sunnylea57 posted:pinotlvr posted:
Sat - Chicago/REO Speedwagon (I guess I'll see sunnylea's friend sing for Chicago)
And your verdict? Neil is an excellent singer but he has had a polarizing effect on fans of the band. Some love him, others not so much. He’s closer to Cetera in style than the last few singers they had.
Show was last night! He does have an amazing voice for sure. Since I grew up in the 80's, I will admit to liking Chicago 16 and 17, when Cetera seemingly became the dominant vocalist. That said, I also love the older stuff too and last night, they played the full Chicago II album before moving to other songs. With Neil not also playing bass, he was over to the side dancing until his vocals were needed during songs he wasn't the primary singer. That said, he nailed Hard to Say I'm Sorry (which happens to be my favorite Chicago song). Like I said, I'm an 80's guy 
pinotlvr posted:sunnylea57 posted:pinotlvr posted:
Sat - Chicago/REO Speedwagon (I guess I'll see sunnylea's friend sing for Chicago)
And your verdict? Neil is an excellent singer but he has had a polarizing effect on fans of the band. Some love him, others not so much. He’s closer to Cetera in style than the last few singers they had.
Show was last night! He does have an amazing voice for sure. Since I grew up in the 80's, I will admit to liking Chicago 16 and 17, when Cetera seemingly became the dominant vocalist. That said, I also love the older stuff too and last night, they played the full Chicago II album before moving to other songs. With Neil not also playing bass, he was over to the side dancing until his vocals were needed during songs he wasn't the primary singer. That said, he nailed Hard to Say I'm Sorry (which happens to be my favorite Chicago song). Like I said, I'm an 80's guy
Glad to hear it. With the Chicago II complete album performance, Neil only sings lead on one song, I believe, but it's a big one: 25 Or 6 To 4. He makes up for it in the second half of the show with all those Cetera hits.
Many times I'd thought they'd just hang it up, but I went to the Dead and Co a few weeks ago and had a blast. Bob was on point and it is obvious John Mayer is into the music, earning his bones as a quality guitarist and bringing in an appreciation of a new generation to the oeuvre of Jerry, Bob, Robert, John et al. John has brought a fresh energy, comfortable in his ow skin, to what is, essentially, a Dead cover band. If passing though your neck, it is worth the price of admission.
jabe11 posted:Many times I'd thought they'd just hang it up, but I went to the Dead and Co a few weeks ago and had a blast. Bob was on point and it is obvious John Mayer is into the music, earning his bones as a quality guitarist and bringing in an appreciation of a new generation to the oeuvre of Jerry, Bob, Robert, John et al. John has brought a fresh energy, comfortable in his ow skin, to what is, essentially, a Dead cover band. If passing though your neck, it is worth the price of admission.
My buddies went to the same show, and said the same things. Man, your drive to the venue makes me jealous.
Saw Rural Alberta Advantage & Broken Social Scene play the TO Beer Fest last night. RAA killed it (as they always do) but BSS seemed to be out of joint. No Feist either. The sound engineer for them was waaaay off as well. Still... the CNE bandshell was a surprisingly good venue particularly with the backdrop of a giant black storm striking lightning down on lake Ontario behind them as the sun was setting in the West.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy backed up by Utah Symphony. Great show as always by the band.
Saw Chris Stapleton two weekends ago. What a great songwriter. And pipes too.
Went to see Cody Jinks at the Warfield in San Francisco. Awesome show, awesome venue (it’s probably been 15 years since my last show there). Actually ran into him at the A’s game the next day. Double awesome
primordialsoup posted:DMB in Holmdel NJ middle of the week. Better than Hartford CT on a Sat. night.
I went to both shows in West Palm Beach. DidntD think it was the same without Boyd. What did you think?
vinoevelo posted:Saw Rural Alberta Advantage & Broken Social Scene play the TO Beer Fest last night. RAA killed it (as they always do) but BSS seemed to be out of joint. No Feist either. The sound engineer for them was waaaay off as well. Still... the CNE bandshell was a surprisingly good venue particularly with the backdrop of a giant black storm striking lightning down on lake Ontario behind them as the sun was setting in the West.
Big fan of RAA
jcocktosten posted:vinoevelo posted:Saw Rural Alberta Advantage & Broken Social Scene play the TO Beer Fest last night. RAA killed it (as they always do) but BSS seemed to be out of joint. No Feist either. The sound engineer for them was waaaay off as well. Still... the CNE bandshell was a surprisingly good venue particularly with the backdrop of a giant black storm striking lightning down on lake Ontario behind them as the sun was setting in the West.
Big fan of RAA
if you havent seen them i highly recommend it - they put on a great show and the drummer alone is worth the price of admission.
Asia & Toto in Costa Mesa. Both bands were really good but Toto just killed it. They closed with a cover of Weezer's Hashpipe. Apparently Weezer has recently recorded Toto's Africa. It was a great show!
Five Finger Death Punch and Breaking Benjamin Saturday night in Tampa
I’m sorry.
lakersguy posted:Asia & Toto in Costa Mesa. Both bands were really good but Toto just killed it. They closed with a cover of Weezer's Hashpipe. Apparently Weezer has recently recorded Toto's Africa. It was a great show!
Toto just released a studio version of Hashpipe. If you have Apple Music, here's the link:
Nightwish in Kiev.
From what they brought to Ukraine, I'd say Nightwish are best listened to coming from a good stereo system - they aren't rocking great in person. They're good, fine, nice, pleasant - but that's about it.
Edgar Winter a few nights ago, it was a pretty good show
Dead&Co a little while a go at Coors-Cricket-Sleep Train-Mattress Firm Amphitheater in San Diego. FANTASTIC SHOW!
Yes, its not the Dead proper but 
to John Mayer for doing it darn right.
racer117 posted:Dead&Co a little while a go at Coors-Cricket-Sleep Train-Mattress Firm Amphitheater in San Diego. FANTASTIC SHOW!
Yes, its not the Dead proper but
Wish I'd known you were going. We had a pretty good preconcert gig with an after sesh at my house into wee hours. We need to hook up, I'll shoot an email...
Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers. Very good concert, great musicians.
jburman82 posted:primordialsoup posted:DMB in Holmdel NJ middle of the week. Better than Hartford CT on a Sat. night.
I went to both shows in West Palm Beach. DidntD think it was the same without Boyd. What did you think?
I like Boyd and he can give an energy spark to a show. However, I think he has been just an ornament both live and in the studio the last several years or so. He could be adding so much more nuance to the songs but just seems to be showing up only. I hope he gets himself figured out.
thistlintom posted:Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers. Very good concert, great musicians.
Damn. I'd love to see him with the full band. I've only ever seen him solo (twice). Must have been fantastic.
The Alarm at the Belly Up one of the great small venues in America and ten minutes from my house. A band that's been on my regular play list for about 35 years it was great to finally see them live. They did not disappoint
Going to see New Order on Thursday.
Would love to hear how that one is Rob. Another band from my college days thats on my bucket list
robsutherland posted:Going to see New Order on Thursday.
New Order was a great band, but I saw them in 1986 and they played for about 45 minutes and I felt cheated. It would also be hard to see them now without Peter Hook, whose bass playing was such a big part of their music imho.
That said, I hope it's a good show Rob.
After missing out on The Alarm last week, Racer117 was able to join me at the Belly UP for another 80's show with Midge Ure (Ultravox) and Paul Young on a twin bill. Midge Ure rocked the house and played a solid guitar in addition to vocal duties. Paul Young is sadly well past his prime. He struggled through his set that was painful to listen to at times. High point was an encore with both onstage covering The Boys are Back in Town.
robsutherland posted:Going to see New Order on Thursday.
Enquiring minds want to know how the show was Rob? Do they still play stuff like Ceremony or Temptation?
bomba503 posted:After missing out on The Alarm last week, Racer117 was able to join me at the Belly UP for another 80's show with Midge Ure (Ultravox) and Paul Young on a twin bill. Midge Ure rocked the house and played a solid guitar in addition to vocal duties. Paul Young is sadly well past his prime. He struggled through his set that was painful to listen to at times. High point was an encore with both onstage covering The Boys are Back in Town.
Midge Ure was indeed fantastic and Paul Young..... not so much. It was disappointing and borderline painful. But that encore song was FANTASTIC!
steve8 posted:robsutherland posted:Going to see New Order on Thursday.
Enquiring minds want to know how the show was Rob? Do they still play stuff like Ceremony or Temptation?
Temptation was the last of the regular set, didn't play ceremony. Encore was all joy division. It got better as they went, the encore was the best. It was a good show but not top three this year let alone all time or anything like that. It would have been a much better concert in a large dance club.
I felt both exceptionally old and very young at the same time. Probably one of the youngest people in attendance but felt old just for being there.
Stephen Morris looked like Rudy guilliani with died black hair and a punk t-shirt. Gillian Gilbert looked and dressed like a dowdy junior school librarian.
KimPossible posted:Nightwish in Kiev.
From what they brought to Ukraine, I'd say Nightwish are best listened to coming from a good stereo system - they aren't rocking great in person. They're good, fine, nice, pleasant - but that's about it.
Sorry your Nightwish experience wasn't that great. I've seen them a few times including twice on the Decades tour and thought they were great. Floor Jansen is the perfect singer for them too.
robsutherland posted:steve8 posted:robsutherland posted:Going to see New Order on Thursday.
Enquiring minds want to know how the show was Rob? Do they still play stuff like Ceremony or Temptation?
Temptation was the last of the regular set, didn't play ceremony. Encore was all joy division. It got better as they went, the encore was the best. It was a good show but not top three this year let alone all time or anything like that. It would have been a much better concert in a large dance club.
I felt both exceptionally old and very young at the same time. Probably one of the youngest people in attendance but felt old just for being there.
Stephen Morris looked like Rudy guilliani with died black hair and a punk t-shirt. Gillian Gilbert looked and dressed like a dowdy junior school librarian.
Well Morris and Sumner are both in their 60's. Gilbert is the youngster...my age. 
They are well past their best before date. How could they play JD songs and not Ceremony? It's the one they made their own (imho). Although maybe they don't dare without Hook on bass.
Saw Jason Isbell at the symphony hall in San Diego. Great little theater. Outstanding performance. The only thing that bummed me was that the entire crowd sat for the whole show. San Diego shows are (at least in my not so humble opinion) always super laid back (aka lame), to the point that it must be a bummer for the artists. But this one was taken to the next level. Maybe the crowd thought they were at a symphony...beats me. But Jason Isbell is amazing and his wife playing by his side is pretty cool and talented as well.
Saw Joan Baez a couple of nights ago. Although I listened to her when I was younger (and, of course, she was, too!), I was never a huge fan. I did appreciate her "musicianship," but her voice was too high with too much vibrato. Now, however, her voice is darker and lower. So, now when she sings Dylan or Tom Waites, it sounds SO much better. I'm sorry that she has decided to stop touring because of her voice. I think it's great, and wish she would stay on the road! Fantastic show, by the way.
Maroon 5. Not exactly my cup of tea musically, but they were entertaining. My wife enjoyed it.
haggis posted:Saw Joan Baez a couple of nights ago. Although I listened to her when I was younger (and, of course, she was, too!), I was never a huge fan. I did appreciate her "musicianship," but her voice was too high with too much vibrato. Now, however, her voice is darker and lower. So, now when she sings Dylan or Tom Waites, it sounds SO much better. I'm sorry that she has decided to stop touring because of her voice. I think it's great, and wish she would stay on the road! Fantastic show, by the way.
What an interesting review. I too never cared for her voice for the reasons you state. Irony that she's quitting for the reason that you heard as an improvement. Sometimes the artist does't know best. I think Grace Slick, who had a great voice, quit too soon.
David Byrne's American Utopia tour at Forest Hills Stadium. Terrific show with tremendously inventive staging.
I saw the Stop Making Sense tour 35 years ago (in California although they also played Forest Hills) and that was, more or less, the best concert I can remember. If I were that age now, I might think the same of this one.
Neil
This last Wednesday, a four-band metal/rock show at the Scout Bar in Houston. The line-up included Masqued, Helion Prime, Striker, and Unleash the Archers. Nothing really fantastic but for $17 I couldn't go wrong.
