concert – Fare..Eat..Ales

The Eagles- September 13, 2022- Canadian Tire Centre-Ottawa, Ontario

February 4, 2024 spennyrdLeave a comment

The first time I saw the Eagles was during the “Hell Freezes Over” tour in 1994 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. The show was opened by a then relatively unknown Sheryl Crow who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just this year. I remember two things about that concert; being on the much younger side of audience demographic and the constant and at the time illegal smell of weed wafting through the air for the duration of the show.

Twenty-eight years later a buddy of mine asked if I had any interest in joining him for their Hotel California tour since he had the ability to score a couple of box seats the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Needless to say, I agreed without hesitation. There is nothing over special about the venue; it’s a typical multifunctional arena hosting Senators games and larger indoor concerts. It’s biggest problem is the fact it’s located in Kanata which is a good jaunt outside downtown Ottawa making for an awkward commute especially if you plan to have a few drinks. Parking is also a pain in the ass and there is a surprising lack of entertainment infrastructure within proximity of the venue itself.

Of course, a few things have changed since 1994…most notably my progression up the age spectrum compared to 1994 and the passing of Glenn Frey in 2016 and the subsequent addition of Vince Gill as a honorable member of the band a year or so later. At times, they have also Glenn’s son Deacon join them on some tours. Over the years, the Eagles are known for producing a rather long show and their advanced age hasn’t changed that. The show began with a full revival of the Hotel California album, in order, complete with a orchestra and theatrical turntable vinyl flip by Don Henley after Wasted Time. I paid special attention to Joe Walsh during the Hotel California solo remembering that he once said it was the hardest he’s ever had to perform. One another note, tt’s hard to imagine that the working title of this song was once “Mexican Reggae”. Imagine the implications keeping it would have had on every aspect of the album including of the music’s most recognizable album cover which features a ominous picture of the famous Beverley Hills hotel at sunset.

The second set was a 17 song montage of songs celebrating the band’s greatest hits as well as Joe Walsh’s long and industrious career. It was great to see Joe, in his distinct voice, telling stories of his solo life plus his time with the James Gang and then busting into songs like Life’s Been Good and Funk #49 respectively. The aforementioned Deacon Frey, who has an oddly nervously shy stage presence, also hit the stage to perform a couple of Glenn heavy tunes including Take it Easy and Already Gone. The 4 song encore paid homage to Don Henley’s solo career featuring the band’s version of the perennial hit “Boys of Summer”.

In the end, it was a celebration of an iconic band with a turnstile of controversial members who were one of the first to fuse country sounds with classic rock. It also paid respect to the illustrious careers of it’s remaining individual members. As for the venue, I can’t tell you why they built it where they did (it would be much better if this major hub of Ottawa entertainment was in the city) because although it was a great show, the trek to get there and back with parking was certainly a whole lot of wasted time.

Setlist

Hotel California Album set

Hotel California
New Kid in Town
Life in the Fast Lane
Wasted Time(with orchestra)
Wasted Time (Reprise)(played by orchestra)
Victim of Love
Pretty Maids All in a Row(with orchestra)
Try and Love Again
The Last Resort(with orchestra and choir)

Greatest Hits Set

Seven Bridges Road (Steve Young cover)
Take It Easy(with Deacon Frey)
Peaceful Easy Feeling(Jack Tempchin cover) (with Deacon Frey)
One of These Nights
Take It to the Limit(with orchestra)
Witchy Woman
In the City(Joe Walsh song)
I Can’t Tell You Why
Lyin’ Eyes
Tequila Sunrise
Life’s Been Good(Joe Walsh song)
Already Gone(Robb Strandlund cover) (with Deacon Frey)
Funk #49(James Gang cover)
Heartache Tonight

Encore

Iron &Wine/Andrew Bird-July 31, 2022 Levitt Pavillion Steelstacks- Bethlehem, PA

December 28, 2023 spennyrdLeave a comment

Musically, Bethlehem is probably best known for Musikfest, a multiday festival with a wide variety of music ranging from local bands to larger venues with keynote acts. It’s a good time but is super busy and usually hot as hell given the fact it’s held during the dog days of summer which are near unbearable in Pennsylvania. I have a couple of the commemorative mugs on a shelf in my basement. Outside of the festival itself, it is a draw for many artists who can utilize a number of the available venues. This was the case with the Outside Problems tour with Iron & Wine and Andrew Bird as co-headliners. A dramatic shift from the Rage concert I saw the weak before, these artists offer a folk rock experience with plenty of acoustic guitar, clever lyrics and even some whistling.

The Levitt Pavillion is an outdoor venue located in the Steelstack area of Bethlehem. Steel, of course, is quintessential in defining the identity of the town (just listen the the song Allentown by Billy Joel). The stage is surrounded by symbols of the industry including old warehouses and silos which are laced with colourful lights, creating a unique and down-home setting which appeals to any musical genre.

I wanted to go to this concert for a couple of reasons. First, Iron & Wine was one of the concerts I missed out on when covid broke. I had tickets for Echo Beach in Toronto in 2020 but the show was never rescheduled. Second, I have family that live just outside Allentown so I could combine a visit with the show. Full disclosure..I wasn’t nearly as familiar with Andrew Bird but with a few listens on Spotify and a Grammy nod I didn’t need much convincing.

One thing I’ve come to appreciate as much as the artists is the fan base. As I’ve aged and diversified my musical spectrum, I enjoy taking in the array of fans that show up for shows. Some are very predictable while others are a bit more surprising. In this case, there were a lot of what one might expect..a rather wide age range and dress typical for a midsummer rainy night speckled with bohemian flair.

Iron & Wine, aka Sam Beam, using his grizzly yet gentle persona, started the show with an eight song featuring a mix of tunes from his two decade music career ending the set with “Call it Dreaming” which is one my favorites from his 2017 Beast Epic album. He’s actually quite humorous and frequently infused clever and thoughtful insights throughout his set.

Andrew Bird was next and also delivered an eight song set which focused primarily on his 2022 release Inside Problems but he also performed others including arguably his most popular tune Sisyphus, a catchy song featuring his trademark whistling. He was less charismatic than Beam but was still entertaining considering his use of the violin, ukulele, pedals and the aforementioned whistling as part of his set.

The two then combined efforts for half a dozen songs, alternating between each others’ creations. The highlight was “Flightless Bird, American Mouth”, an Iron and Wine ballad best known as part of the Twilight movie soundtrack. The show ended with a few more from Bird including a single song during the encore.

All in all, the Levitt Pavilion was a great place, despite the light rain, to see a folky concert during the summer. There is decent beer (both in selection and price) and ample room to wander while still having good audio and visual access to the show. As is often the case, the fan watching was an enjoyable as the concert itself. As for the concert itself, I particularly liked the back and forth collaboration which provided unique versions of half a dozen of the artist’s more recognizable songs.

Setlist

Rage Against the Machine- July 25, 2022- Keybank Centre- Buffalo, New York

December 18, 2023 spennyrdLeave a comment

One of the advantages of living in London, Ontario is that there are a number of good concert venues within a 2 hour radius. In many cases, if a band doesn’t come right to London, they will do a show in Detroit, Buffalo, Hamilton or Toronto. Sometime I peruse all three venues looking for the best seats and price for a show. Such was the case for Rage Against the Machine. I remember frantically flipping through my phone looking for the best seats before settling on the Keybank Centre in Buffalo.

This concert was originally scheduled for the summer of 2020 and was bumped twice because of covid restrictions. I figured hey…I waited 30 years to see them so another couple of years wouldn’t hurt. My only worry was the fact that Zack de la Rocha tore his ACL at the beginning of the tour so the expectation may be that the level of energy may be a little lower than normal.

Most of my trips to Buffalo either start or end with a trip to Charlie the Butcher. This institution is a staple in Buffalo culture best known for Charlie’s hardhat and a beef on weck that Geoffrey Zakarian once called the best sandwich he ever ate. Honestly, I can’t disagree. Coupled with any of the stellar sides they offer (I’m usually up for the cole slaw), this is a can’t go wrong lunch.

Once we settled into the hotel, it was time for some preconcert drinks and dinner. A quick walk up Main Street brought us to the Other Half Brewing Taproom, a roomy space with an array of games and plenty of seating. I recall this brewery has a big focus on big and boozy New England style IPAs so had to limit our consumption to one.

On the way to dinner we said hello to the Nikola Tesla statue which made me remember the significant contribution he made to the Western New York power grid while hob knobbing with the turn of the 20th century tycoons. I only mention this because it may in fact be machines like this that Zack et al. have raged against for three decades.

Dinner was at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, a large and historic restaurant known for its numerous bars and great views. We sat on the patio and got to experience Buffalo’s trademark wind while sipping Don Cherry Cherry Wheat and munching on mussels along with Buffalo staples including wings and a kielbasa platter.

The show itself was exactly what I expected…a greatest hits compellation surrounded with an aura of angst and plenty of choreographed strobe lights. Although I missed Zach pounding the stage with his flare of old, despite sitting he didn’t disappoint from the waist up and the remaining band members energetically filled in the gaps. The show opened with Bombtrack and we were immediately reminded in big bright letters that “Fear is your Only God”. About half way through the show Run the Jewels, the opening band, came back out to jam to Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck). This was immediately followed by one of my favorites, Down Rodeo, in which Zack mimicked using a shotgun to emphasis the corresponding lyrics. Toward the end, the billboard flashed “Abort the Supreme Court” (I believe with “Freedom” playing in the background) in response to the anti-abortion decision a month prior. Fittingly, the show ended in the same manner as pretty much every bar experience I had during university in the early-mid 90s; a crowd sing along to “Killing in the Name of”.

All in all, it was a triumphant return to big tickets concerts following the covid hiatus and another older school band I could cross off my bucket list and it completed my holy trinity since I had already seen Audioslave and Prophets of Rage previously. I enjoy Buffalo and it’s blue collar vibe as a city (especially when I’m tailgating at a Bills game) and Keybank centre is a decent larger venue to catch as show. I was also reminded me that, although I have aged and my musical tastes have simmered somewhat, I can still appreciate an aggressive political antics as much as a more subtle message in sync with the subdued strumming of an acoustic guitar.

Setlist

Why an Elton John Concert is Like a Michelin Star Dinner.

February 15, 2014February 16, 2014 spennyrdLeave a comment

A good meal is music to the mouth. A good concert is music to the ears. I went to see Elton John in London at Bud Gardens recently and saw comparisons between his concert and a good meal.

The amuse bouche was a stunning performance of “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”. I somewhat naively picture Elton front and centre with nothing more than him and his piano gracing the stage. Instead, he was on the left side with a complete band. It was louder than I expected as well…perhaps in part due to the fact that three quarters of the audience was over 65 and probably needed a few extra decibels of help. It was a good starting bite by hitting hard and setting the tone for the remainder of the evening.

Benny and the Jets was next and reminded me that, like many restaurants, aging doesn’t mean a change in quality. Sure, Elton’s trademark magazeeeeeeeeeene has been replaced with a lower pitch version, but it’s still a damn good song.

Some of the most memorable restaurant experiences don’t necessarily involve food but often include the people around you. Take for instance the old couple that sat in front of me. He sat stoically with him arms crossed most of the concert while she looked around like a nosy neighbour looking for dirt on the guy in Row H Seat 5 that she could share during tomorrow’s coffee session. It lead me to believe that they probably got the tickets for Xmas, are against resale and wanted to humour their kids who bought them thinking that “Daniel” was a song they actually liked. On the other side of the aisle was a couple who hit the aisles to dance feverishly to any fast song including but not limited to “Philadelphia Freedom” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting (although it was a Monday and I’m not sure how they’d fair in a brawl..they were definitely lovers more than they were fighters).

The appetizers included a number of slower melodies including “Candle in the Wind”, “Levon” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”. The latter featured a yellow submarine type video montage of Elton’s life in the background including paying homage to his husband and kids. The bright lights of iphones waved in the air and were used by numerous concert goers to record clips of the show (or in some case the whole concert). I got a kick out of one guy who whipped out an ipad to do the same. It looked like a spotlight as the brightness of the screen emphasized the 8 or 10 annoyed face within his diameter.

Throughout the concert his showmanship matched the quality of each song; there was frequent hand raising Alan Shearer style while breaking from a piano medley. He also ended each song with a bang on the piano or some kind of appreciative gesture. He would wave, bow and solicit energy from the crowd in ways that made you forget he was 66.

The main course was surprisingly high tempo. Elton pounded the piano while his supporting band kept up with him nicely. The well dressed percussionist reminded me of a good bartender at a chic downtown restaurant. He rhythmically rattled his instruments like a cocktail shaker. I imagine he would mix up a mean cocktail. Come to think of it, many Elton songs would make great cocktail names….

Love Lies Bleeding– Vodka, housemade clamato, spice medley, worchestershire sauce and spicy, pickled green bean

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road– Bourbon, Galliano, Fresh Lemon juice and gold flakes

Rocket Man– Bombay gin, muddled berries, lime juice, soda water and egg white cloud

Amidst the fast pace was the infusion of some slower tunes including the recent “Ocean’s Away” which is a tribute to the often forgotten veterans of WW1. The video played in the background and created a sombre but not uncomfortable aura in the arena (even the crowd dancers took the opportunity to rest their weary limbs).

As Elton disappeared the crowd roared into waves of cheers and claps, demanding dessert to end a near perfect meal. Elton complied, returning for a two song encore which featured songs on polar ends of his musical spectrum (I suppose a good dessert often uses the same mentality). The first was “Your Song”, the haunting ballad which pays tribute to whoever you want it to. He dedicated it to the fans who have supported him throughout the years. I figured I would take the opportunity to follow suit and record a snippet for my whoever. He ended with the fast paced Crocodile Rock in which Elton summoned the crowd to sing along…a painful reminder of why most of the audience was singing from the crowd and not from the stage.

There is a lot of congruency between a good concert and a good meal. Restaurants and arenas are mediums for artistic expression. Sure, one stimulates the ear drums and the other the taste buds but in the end both reach out to the primal desires of human beings. The importance of both food and music are evident in the earliest of civilizations. People don’t mind paying premium prices if the goods and services provided are suburb. Finally, the music or food doesn’t have to appeal to everybody but it’s utter magic when it’s the right fit. If an Elton John concert was a restaurant, I’m sure it would easily get two Michelin stars.