A Night Over 30 Years In The Making..."Huey Lewis & The News"

So, I'll let you all in on a little secret:

Huey Lewis & The News is my favorite band of all time.

So there you have it, you now know 2 people who admit to that fact (Marty McFly was the other).

When I flipped the radio from country to Top 40 Pop/Rock around 1982/1983, it was just before the debut of Sports.

Needless to say, over the next few years, I wore that cassette out listening to the entire album, not a bad track to be found. A few years later, Fore! came out, and same thing, amazing album from first song to last, and that cassette too was eventually destroyed by constant use.

:)

And much like all musical acts of the 80s, the 90s came, introduced the world to Grunge music, and all of my favorite artists disappeared and became relics of a bygone era.

Thankfully, people realize there was some pretty good music put out in that decade and most of those songs are standard issue on Adult Contemporary stations.

Many of those musical acts reunite now as a nostalgia acts to the amazement of the crowds.

Yet Huey Lewis & The News never stopped working during that time.

They continued to put out material, and while it never really caught on with the changing musical taste of each new generation, their longtime fans bought it, loved it, and continued to sell out his concert tours every summer.

So, about the time I watched Live Aid, little me vowed to someday see Huey Lewis & The News in concert.

Little did I know that journey would take about 30 more years than I expected!

: /

I always wanted to see Huey when I was in Maryland. He came to Wolftrap across the river in Virginia every year, but the timing never worked out right.

Then for the decade plus that I was stuck in South Carolina, I never found him any closer than 4 hours from home, and that just wasn't going to work.

I was amused that seemingly every year he did play a venue or two in Oregon...

Which brings us back to now.

His summer tour was announced, and he was playing two sites: the amphitheater in Bend or a Casino on the way to the Coast.

While I wanted to take everyone to Bend, because I raised a whole family of Huey Lewis & The News fans, that was going to be pricey.

So instead, I bought two tickets to the show at the casino, 21 and older only, and watched as the show quickly sold out.

I won't mention how horrible the website was for purchasing tickets as I saw the 2 front row center seats in my cart vanish...and by the time I was able to get the cart to function correctly, I was now about 20 rows back...

Or maybe I will mention it! :)

Then we were hushed about it.

Because whenever we make plans in the future or for something remotely fun, life or annoying people always seem to arrive unannounced at the last minute and ruin it.

Thankfully, not this time.

So as we sit in our seats waiting, the show is about to begin...

And a very familiar heartbeat begins...

The Heart of Rock & Roll starts playing and we jumped to our feet, as did several people throughout the sold out concert as we clapped, sang and danced along.

That was followed by She's Some Kind of Wonderful, and then went into I Want A New Drug.

Now, you know those songs...

Played live, are those quiet, slow tempo songs you should sit on your hands and listen to?

No.

But apparently for the crowd of old fogeys behind us, they kept poking my wife and me and telling us to sit down.

They even pushed our chairs into the back of our legs.

I turned around mid-song and one lady asked me "How's the show? I wouldn't know because I can't see it."

Apparently she didn't notice the two jumbo screens in front, or two big screens to the side that she could have looked at.

Or, horror of all horrors...actually stood up and enjoyed the show herself.

I shrugged my shoulders, smiled, and went back to clapping and standing, soaking in the moment.

This was a bucket list item for me.

See Huey Lewis & The News LIVE IN CONCERT!!!

Mission accomplished!

And they did not disappoint.

It was an amazing set full of hit after hit after hit!

Huey has an easy rapport with the crowd, telling us he knows we want to hear something new, but too bad, he's in charge, and he's in a hit-singing mood.

Eventually he did indeed give us 2 new songs that night, and they seamlessly fit in with the rest of his catalog.

Slowly, as the concert wore on, others finally unable to ignore the infectious energy of the band and those of us in the crowd who know a good thing when they see it, rose to their feet and really seemed to bring the entire energy level up in the place.

Aside from some sticks that never get out of the mud, by the time it came to cheer for an encore, that place was rocking.

And gracious Huey came back to the stage and played us 3 more songs.

When it was all over, you know there were some hits that just don't make it out due to time limits, but you feel like you've had the best night of your life.

Would I do it again?

In a heartbeat.

I got to see Huey Lewis & The News in concert, and I was able to take my beautiful bride with me!

The only downside, all of the kids at home who wanted to go, but were age restricted.

So if we do it again next year, I'm probably going for the venue that doesn't restrict by age.

And we'll be there.

And we'll be standing.

Cheering.

Singing.

Clapping.

Dancing.

You've been warned.

Buy your tickets accordingly.

:)


Final Grade: A+

This Is What It Sounds Like When We All Cry... R.I.P. Prince 1958-2016

 

 

What the $%&@* ?!?!

I would say that was probably the collective reaction to most of America and most of the music-loving world yesterday when we found out that Prince Rogers Nelson passed away.

Prince.

Surely it had to be a mistake, another internet hoax that people would debunk shortly.

I was driving home yesterday and was halfway through a Prince song, it ended, and then another Prince song started.

I looked at my radio and thought, maybe this station is doing rock block Thursday?

Then the song ended and the announcer repeated that the breaking news from 45 minutes earlier, Prince had passed away.

WTF!!!???

Well, one doesn't just spontaneously burst into tears while driving, but I was crying hard on the inside.

Trying to wrap my head around the fact that one of the greatest musical artists of all time, and most importantly for me, one of the pillars of my 80s musical childhood was gone.

Takes the wind right out of your sails.

I now have 2 musical regrets in my life:

I had concert tickets to see David Bowie back in 1989/1990. We ended up not going because Tacoma was a long way from Scio and college and life... so we didn't go see him.

About 5 years ago, Prince was coming to North Charleston, and I got tickets! But with little Ari on the way, momma didn't want to risk damaging little ones ears by attending the concert, and I really didn't want to go without her.  In hindsight, I wish I had taken one of my daughters and gone, because I know the concert would have been amazing. But we didn't go.

You always think, well, I'll get to their concert the next time they come around.

Sadly, eventually they stop coming around.

So if you ever get the chance to see your favorites, do it. Don't have any musical regrets in life!

Thankfully, I have the music. I can pull up life footage on YouTube or watch his amazing SuperBowl halftime show again.

Sure, it's not the same, but at least it's something.

The man was a creative force of genius and the world is a better place for having him in it, and we are now worse off for him no longer being here.

But oh, the music he did leave for us.

Pick the best Prince song.

It's nearly impossible.

Sure you can try and pick a favorite, but then you go, oh but there's this one, and there's that one...

He was incredible.

Take the Purple Rain Soundtrack out of the equation, and he still had a mountain of memorable hits.

Heck, I never even saw the movie until it was celebrating it's 20th, or 25th Anniversary. I had the soundtrack, I never even bothered with the film!

And yes, the film was as energetic and full of life as the star of the movie.

Prince created a mountain of music.

Then he became "The Artist Formerly Known As..."

Then he finally reconciled with the studio and reclaimed his name and was set to release new material.

My hope, that while his long fight with his record label may have slowed the output of released material, I have a feeling that Prince has a back catalog that could be released posthumously.

In addition to all of the music he gave us personally, we also have some Prince hits out there that he wrote but didn't perform.

Everyone remembers Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Conner.

But there was Stand Back by Stevie Nicks;  I Feel For You by Chaka Khan; Sugar Walls by Sheena Easton; and Manic Monday by the Bangles, among others.

Like I said, he's one of the pillars that gave us great 80s music, and his legacy will never be forgotten.

As for that best Prince song?

I really love Raspberry Beret.

But man, Kiss sure is great and lots of fun.

The awesome duet U Got The Look with Sheena Easton.

Then there's the hauntingly sorrowful guitar on Purple Rain that chokes you up.

And who can forget the ultimate party anthem, 1999?

So many great songs.

Thankfully I'm not behind the wheel of a car right now, so I guess it's okay to finally cry.

Thanks for a lifetime of musical memories, Prince.

"Dennis DeYoung" Brings The Music Of Styx To The County Fair

Our weekly River Rhythm concert series took a break this week as the Linn County Fair is running from Wednesday through Saturday.

Opening night saw Creedence Clearwater Revisited take the stage with several members of CCR sounding just like they used to musically, but with a different voice leading the way as John Fogerty is not a part of that group.

That brings us to Thursday night when Dennis DeYoung arrived and tore the place up with the music of Styx.

Naturally, having been ousted by Styx, he cannot bill himself as Styx.  But when most of the Top 10 songs the band performed were with DeYoung on vocals, well guess what?

Surround yourself with competent musicians, and Tommy Shaw is much more replaceable than he'd probably like to believe.

:)

DeYoung rocks through the catalog of hits, and he doesn't sound like his voice has changed a bit since we last heard him on the radio 30 years ago.

Not bad for a 68 year old!

Plus, we get the underrated DeYoung single "Desert Moon" thrown in at no extra charge. ;)

So if you haven't seen Styx in years, this is the concert to see, because this is how they sounded.

Thanks for making the trip down to Albany, and looking forward to next year's fair!

Final Grade: A

A Not So "Grand Piano"

Grand Piano (2013)

Rated R for language

Starring Elijah Wood, John Cusack

Directed by Eugenio Mira

The Story:

Tom Selznick (Wood) is a concert pianist who suffered a meltdown 5 years earlier.  After the passing of his mentor, he is coming back to the stage to perform, but he's scared.  As he starts playing, he finds some mysterious scribblings from a mysterious stranger (Cusack): Play the music correctly, or I'll kill you.

Sheesh, everyone's a critic!

Oh wait...

This movie was thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to getting turned off and sent back around the 20 minute mark.

I'm pretty sure my honey wishes I had done just that, as I believe I endured another hour of eyerolling and groaning about the film.

But I soldiered on...

It may have even gone past the 20 minute mark.

Waaaaaaaaay too long of a setup for what was going to transpire, but I guess you have to pad somewhere to make the movie stretch to 90 minutes.

It does pick up when Cusack's killer is finally...finally! introduced to the movie.

Voice only.

He doesn't appear until the last 10-15 minutes of the film.

Luckily, he brings enough Cusackian charisma to the voice of the killer that he pretty much saved the film from being an abysmal failure.

Not by much, but close enough.

Hidden amongst the dramatic tension and Elijah Wood fearing for his life, is a heist film tucked away as a clever after thought.

That helped keep the final grade up as high as it is, but again, totally your call if you want to sit through it.

I would recommend if you do watch it, and naturally a week or two after I sent it back.....

It's now available for streaming on Netflix...

Just skip ahead to when Wood realizes his life is in danger, and start from there.

You'll like the movie more, and won't feel like you suffered through that dragging first half.

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  Nope, this one is only being played once.

Springtime In New York... "The Last Play At Shea"

The Last Play at Shea (2010)

Not Rated

Starring Billy Joel

Directed by  Paul Crowder

The Story:

This documentary chronicles the life and career of Billy Joel.
This documentary chronicles the history of Shea stadium from creation to destruction.
This documentary chronicles the fall, rise, fall, rise, fall, rise... of the New York Mets.

It does all of this in 90 minutes, and it does it spectacularly.

It is a concert film...without a lot of the concert.
It's a baseball film...with rock and roll.
It's a rock and roll film...with baseball.

It's unique, and very enjoyable.

Not a lot of the 2 night finale actually makes the 90 minute performance.

However, over the 90 minute running time, you'll learn a lot about Joel, New York, Shea Stadium, The Beatles and much more.

Example:  Sting realized that performing at Shea was the pinnacle of their career, so while on stage, he decided he would leave The Police when their tour was over.

Crazy, right?

A musical history lesson, perfectly encapsulated in film.

I just wish that the 2 night concert performance was available as extras or released on its own as well.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I don't see a need to own it, and a viewing is good.  But it could be a nice historical piece to pull out every so often to remember what life was like back in the days of Shea.

Concert Review: Under the Sun Tour 2013

It's like my iPod started playing live hits last night...

Come with me as we journey back to an interesting decade in music history... the 90s!

For me, a child of the 80s, I was moving through my twenties and heading towards my thirties.  Married, starting a family, but there was some great music to be had on the radio.  Many tunes are still played on the Adult Contemporary stations to this day.

Last year, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray started this tour, and in 2013 he changed the lineup a bit, filled out the roster, and brings to town a 4 hour rock concert filled with great bands and great songs.

The night started with McGrath and Robin Wilson, lead singer of the Gin Blossoms coming out to welcome the crowd and introduce Fastball.

Fastball came out and got the crowd pumped with a short 30 minute set the culminated with their two biggest radio hits.  The amusing thing, like I said, as a child of the 80s, I didn't know every song I was going to hear tonight, so there were some pleasant surprises and walks down memory lane that I had forgotten about.  While everyone knew "The Way" was coming, I completely forgot that "Was I Out of My Head" was a Fastball song.

Then with a quick stage switcheroo, Vertical Horizon was brought onstage for a rousing set where they started and ended their set with their 2 biggest hits.  They kept the crowd on their feet the entire time with a rousing 30 minute session that was over too quickly.  The good news, they've got a new album coming out this fall, and for fans, they said head over to their website and download the first single... free.  How cool is that?

An hour down, and then the Gin Blossoms came out on stage and took over for the second hour of the concert.  Hit after hit poured off the stage, while beach balls started flying through the audience during their rousing set.  Hats off to all of the bands who provided backup to each other throughout the night.  Pretty cool experience.  All of their hits were played, and again, some of their songs that don't get played as much on the radio like "Allison Road" were a nice walk down memory lane.  Plus, I don't think you'll get a bigger stage cheerleader than Robin Wilson who was keeping the crowd going all night long.

Only 2 hours left, and it was time for McGrath to take the stage with Sugar Ray.  I'll make no secret that I'm a huge Sugar Ray fan, always have been, always will be.  Last night simply confirmed that fact.  Filled with energy, the band tore the place up with several of Sugar Ray's biggest hits.  The biggest surprise was when Rodney Sheppard, lead guitarist, began the intro to "Blister in the Sun".  Not expecting that one at all, but the crowd was ecstatic, and much like "Abracadbra", McGrath and company took a good song, and made it even better.  When the song ended, Sheppard hurled his guitar pick into the crowd...

Where it clacked on the seats we were in and my oldest daughter who was born in the 90s picked it up and was excited beyond belief! :)

I've checked the website for the bass player's name, as he hails from Australia.  The equipment on stage was marked "Serg" so I don't know if we share the same spelling, but the guy has the coolest name ever. : )

After their set was over, the people in front of us went to get beer, and I looked on the floor and there was one of the bass players picks.  I showed it to my youngest teen who was with me, and she promptly leaped over the seats, and we scored 2 Sugar Ray guitar picks from the concert.

Thanks guys, you rocked!!!

One final stage change, and then Smash Mouth came out to culminate the festivities.  They hit us fast, furious... and loud.

Almost too loud.  More on that in a second.

The radio hits poured out, and they even threw in a cover of The Kinks/Van Halen's "You Really Got Me" that was a huge singalong favorite.  The evening concluded with the return of Wilson onstage to help send us home with "All Star".  I don't believe there wasn't anyone in the crowd not singing.

Which could sum up the whole night.

As I mentioned in my review of Coldplay's concert film, it seems like as a musician and band, they do really like the fact that the fans know the words and sing along.  I always assumed it would be the opposite, "hey, that's my song, let me sing, that's why you paid to see me in concert!"

But an event like the Under the Sun Tour seems to make the atmosphere more of a bonding reunion between the bands and the fans.  They want us to participate as much as they want to entertain us.

So for over 3 hours, we had a blast.  We could have walked out after Sugar Ray performed, and it would have been a perfect concert.

Smash Mouth was a bit of a let down.  The songs were great... but again, acoustically, the set seemed louder than the rest had been, the music almost drowning out the vocals.

Still cool to see them.

Mark McGrath promised that if we came back next year, so would he.

I'm in.

If he's up for suggestions, I'd recommend allowing another song or two from the other bands, expanding his set a bit, and you could leave Smash Mouth off the card completely.  Sugar Ray is the perfect ending to a great 90s concert...

But if that would hurt ticket sales... don't do it!

I just know that I can leave about 45 minutes earlier and it will be okay.

: )

Final Grade:  A

Would I Do It Again:  Give Charleston a shot next year, and I'll be bringing the teens back for more!

This Could Be Para, Para, Paradise... "Coldplay Live 2012"

The next best thing to being there...


The Story:

This is a short concert film that catches Coldplay performing a few of their greatest hits during their latest world tour. 


I find it very hard to review a concert film, and or, this is the most straightforward concert film I've seen.  It's barely an hour long, and it consists of talking to the band, a song, a little more talking, a song...

Repeat until you finish.

It's not watching an entire concert performance, but it's still very enjoyable.

The downside, they include the duet with Rihanna... but even that talentless hack doesn't ruin the events on the disc.

And as the lead singer says, paraphrased, ' it's cool when the crowd sings along '.  And it is, having done so at other concerts, it's fun to feel like you're a part of the show, and when a song is almost designed to give these guys a rest while singing by letting the audience have a go...

Sounds awesome to hear 30,000+ in unison belting your song back to you.


Your grade will depend on your love of Coldplay. 

Me: B+  I heard all the songs I wanted.

Would I buy it: Probably not... again, it's short, and I have the songs already.  But I could definitely see playing it again streaming while cleaning the house or something like that.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.