Ghosts of Springsteen Shows Past; Bruce Springsteen 4/18 Concert Review at the T-Mobile Center

I hadn't been to a concert since seeing Foreigner in August of 2019. COVID had a large part in helping with that. But as I've grown older, I've seen many of the acts I have wanted to and many are no longer with us. I really wanted to see The Rolling Stones in St. Louis, but a) not going to have a job in a few weeks after the show, made me balk and b) without Charlie Watts it felt a bit of a let down too. (I still kick myself for not going to see them at Arrowhead in 2015.) There have been a few others, but I just don't have the concert bug like I used to. Concert ticket prices haven't helped either. 

Which brings us to the Boss. Kansas City got an early date, when Springsteen announced his 2023 tour last summer and I was fortunate to get decent seats, side stagish about 18 rows back. But they were on the pricey side. More than double what I paid when I last saw him in 2016, at the same venue. 

And it's well documented the heat he has taken from fans for the dynamic and just in general astronomical prices. But it was the Boss who's never truly disappointed with shows. 

And I was lucky to make it to the show, as I came down with a cold/sinus/flu like stuff several days before(which turned out to be, surprise, COVID.) But the day of the show I felt strong enough and better to make the two and a half hour trek to KC (And not wanting to have wasted $700+) . My girlfriend and I got there well before the doors opened. Not feeling well, we didn't explore or do shopping like I wanted. Alas. 

The doors opened at 6 PM and the show was schuduled to start at 7:30. And compared to previous shows Springsteen was on the stage, by 7:45, compared to yesteryears where it was 45 minutes or later before the band struck up. And it was a packed house. There was a couple of empty seats in the row ahead of us. But the upper level was packed and nearly every seat I could see was filled. 

There was a strong opening salvo of No Surrender, Ghosts, Prove it All Night to lead off the festivities. Promised Land was one of the favorites that I was excited to hear. I'd heard him do it before in St. Louis in 2009, but its grown on me since then. 

This was my fifth time seeing him, and Patti his wife was absent again. I've never seen her. I guess she sticks to the bigger shows on the coast or new Jersey and skips flyover country. Jake Clemons was out with COVID. Bruce mentioned this during Ghosts, that "Jake was back in the hotel room eating barbeque and watching pornographic films.," and leading the crowd in a F-U-C-K C-O-V-I-D chant. And Ed Manion, "who's played horns with us for 40 years finally gets to come down front." 

And along with the E Street Band, there was a four piece horn section, a percussionist and four back up singers. 

Other highlights were hearing Johnny 99, which was reworked to add his backing horns time to shine. And finally getting Glory Days. And watching Max is always a joy. One of the best drummers around. And I love how if you watch him, he's singing along while playing. I know I mention that everytime in my reviews. 

As for the rest of the show, it was...okay. As a Springsteen fan I've probably been spoiled. It was a fine show, two hours and 45 minutes worth, but there was no surprises. It was pretty much the same set-list as every other city, but with two less songs and no tour debuts. One of the major things that drew me to his shows were the uniqueness he brought to every show. Different songs, audibles, sign requests, unique banter with the audience. There was very little of that. This felt like Taylor Swift or any other similar act, where every part was lined out, and it's just the same show, different city aspect. 

There might be several reasons for this. For starters, he is 73 and might not have the manicial energy he used to. Age catches up to his all. And he still brought the energy don't get me wrong. 

This is also an early date on the tour. Most times I've seen him, it's been on later legs, where he's started to tinker, get looser with set lists and not so locked-in. Looking at older tours, he usually kept a similiar set list on the beginnings then opened things up as the shows wore on. 

Tying into that, there might be an overarching theme, he's trying to go with. His last album Letter to You, was fraught with the themes of mortality and death and growing older. Obviously his entire catalogue deals with a lot of these thoughts and themes, but this set list seems to hit on many of these. 

And maybe the Springsteen on Broadway residency got him more into locked tight shows. There wasn't too much interaction with the audience. He gave intros to Last Man Standing and before the end of I'll See You In My Dreams, with the food bank request, that was the only dialogue. 

My girlfriend, who I tried to coach into listening to more of his songs, besides when stuck with me on the odd car ride, kinda lost interest early. She also sat most of the show! (I'm dating an old woman!) And she only recognized two of his songs. I've got some work to do with her. 

One of her comments was this was the whitest crowd she's seen. And just listening to some of the conversation of people around me, they were taking in multiple shows. Going to Tulsa show the next Tuesday. One guy was from Phoenix and had flew in for this show, and seen one of the Texas ones. 

This doesn't dispel the bad image Springsteen got from the Tickemaster and high tickets debacle, that only his diehard and rich white people are the only ones who can afford these type of shows. 

I did have a good time and if I'd never seen him before, would come away with a different feeling and opinion. I think the magic of his past shows are working against him with me. I'm still hoping for another leg of the tour in 2024 and a St. Louis date. But if there is, he'll definitely have to start changing it up more over the summer European festival dates and Fall US shows for me to go. I love Springsteen, but it is a pretty penny just to see the same show again. 

Set List

1. NO SURRENDER
2. GHOSTS
3. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
4. LETTER TO YOU
5. THE PROMISED LAND
6. OUT IN THE STREET
7. CANDY'S ROOM
8. KITTY'S BACK
9. NIGHTSHIFT
10. THE E STREET SHUFFLE
11. JOHNNY 99
12. LAST MAN STANDING
13. BACKSTREETS
14. BECAUSE THE NIGHT
15. SHE'S THE ONE
16. WRECKING BALL
17. THE RISING
18. BADLANDS
19. THUNDER ROAD
20. BORN TO RUN
21. ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)
22. GLORY DAYS
23. DANCING IN THE DARK
24. TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT
25. I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS

It's Been Way Too Long...

Three and a half years, since the last blog. Whew! I guess COVID and no concerts and a lack of a life will do that to you...

Why the Hell Not?; Foreigner with Night Ranger @ the MO State Fair 8/16 Concert Review

I had no intentions of going to this concert and had only been to the state fair once before a good 20+ years ago. But the perfect blend of events, led to a spur-of-the-moment decision to go.
Not having been sleeping well, I was in a cranky and tired mood, having been up earlier than normal. Then going into to work to find out that, we're only going to be there a few minutes to clean up. So, driving 30 minutes for about 30 minutes worth of work, didn't really help with that tired crankiness. (I could have stayed, but just wasn't in the mood). Then contemplating whether to go on a CoMo run or to go home, a co-worker brought up Foreigner playing that night at the State Fair. I thought, "what the hell, maybe a little music will cheer me up?"

Whether it was the adrenaline and excitedness of the spur-of-the-moment decision or the caffeine, by the time we hit I-70 my mood changed considerably.

We arrived with a little bit of time, but most of that was spent waiting in line for getting tickets. In the rush, I wasn't thinking I should have ordered on my phone. But we still managed to get in with time to spare. And got decent seats on the track.

Night Ranger hit the stage first playing 11 songs over 70 minutes or so. They were more enjoyable than I thought. I'm not big on 1980s music and hair metal types even more so. But they were fun, played fast and I guess it helped they played a smattering of cover songs of guys various members had worked with.

After a half-hour set-change, Foreigner came on and blasted away with hit after hit. It was pretty cool that they played a near perfect almost no-frills set list. Opening with Double Vision, they hit almost everything you'd want. (Of course my dad would have been pissed with them not playing Blue Morning Blue Day ). Nothing spectacular, but well worth what you paid in seeing these two acts. They played around 90 minutes with 12 songs. The only real filler was the keyboard and drum solos, but both were entertaining.

With only Mick Jones, as the sole original member, and he didn't enter until the fourth or fifth song, it almost feels like a grand Foreigner tribute band. But still fun nonetheless. It wound up being a pretty good day from the early day pissiness.

Another neat aside, during the set change I noticed former MU Men's Basketball coach and Sedalia native Kim Anderson was in attendance. In fact he was sitting in the same row, in the next section over from us.

Night Ranger Set List

Somehow, Someway
Four in the Morning
Sing Me Away
School's Out
Crazy Train
The Secret of My Success
Night Ranger

High Enough
When You Close Your Eyes
Don't Tell Me You Love Me
Sister Christian 
(You Can Still) Rock in America

Foreigner Set List

Double Vision
Head Games
Cold As Ice
Waiting for a Girl Like You
Dirty White Boy
Feels Like the First Time
Urgent
Keyboard and Drum Solos
Juke Box Hero
-------------
Long, Long Way From Home
I Want to Know What Love Is
Hot Blooded 

Country? Honky Tonk? Ameripolitan? Great Music; Dale Watson @ Rose Park Columbia MO 5/16 Concert Review

I've definitely gravitated away from music in general over the past few years. And live shows are no exception. I've seen most acts I've wanted to and many legends have left us. There are a few like, Neil Young, Shooter Jennings, that I'll always turn up for. But lately, it's gotta be somebody different or somebody that breaks from the mold.

My dad has always talked about wanting to see Dale Watson and there was an announcement for a CoMo concert at Rose Music Hall, and not at the crowded Roots 'N Blues Festival, it was a must. Alas my dad was in the fields, but I had my brother lined up to go in his place. And it wasn't like we wouldn't have been able to get tickets when we got there. With nice hot weather, they moved the show outdoors to Rose Park next door and also gives them the ability to see more tickets.

We got there with time to spare and finding a parking space easily. We noticed most brought their lawn chairs, and sat behind a dirt area in front of the stage. Me and my brother sit for a while and moved back behind the people in their lawn chairs, not sure of the protocol and not wanting to be the only ones standing around looking like dorks up front.

A little after 7:30 Dale Watson and his Lone Stars hit the stage. No dreaded opening act!  About a third of the way through the show, I made my way up front after a some people had filtered down front and my brother joined me bit later, after a beer run.

I'm not super familiar with many of Watson's songs and I didn't brush up like I should have before, but I love the sound, attitude and spirit Watson brings to his music. And it carries to his shows. He doesn't make a set list out beforehand, or so he says, and kind of wings it to audience or what they shout out. (I told my dad later, he should have went and he could have gotten the songs he wanted to hear)

Not being familiar and no comparable set lists, I can only piece together some songs he played. He played around 25-26, including a four song encore, over and an hour and 45 minutes,while also throwing in several hilarious jingles/ads for Lonestar Beer. There was a nice mix of his more well-known songs, covers and everything. He also brought his girlfriend, Celine Lee, to duet on several songs, which gave a nice change of pace and added something different.

The only minor complaint was while the three piece band and Watson were tight and knew their stuff, with the same format; electric guitar, stand-up bass, pedal steel and drums, throughout there was sort of sameness feeling. But even then Watson, runs the gamut, from country, honky-tonk, western swing, truly his vision of Ameripolitan music.

And the crowd was very low-key. Maybe being outside, slightly older and having enough room made for the experience. And not having douchey college kids or "cool country" kids there was a plus.

After the show was over, Watson positioned himself at the exit, and took selfies, and shook hands. The most hilarious thing, was Watson himself figuring out how to work a man's camera to take a picture, after the owner was having trouble doing so. I shook his hand and thanked him for a great show. I would have stuck around for an autograph, but they took our tickets when we entered.

Dale Watson is a definitely an act you should see if you like country music. Well real music that is, not the fluffy pop stuff of Maren Morris and bro-country. Definitely an artist I'd have no problem seeing again.

Songs Played (That I Can Remember) In Random Order

Call Me Lucky
Tupelo, Mississippi & a '57 Ford Fairlane
I Lie When I Drink
A Real Country Song
Blessed or Damned
Flowers In Your Hair
The Dumb Song
David Buxkemper
Mama's Smile
That's How I'd Miss You
Truck Stop in La Grange
South of Round Rock, Texas
Give Me More Kisses
Jonesin' For Jones
I Hate These Songs
Mama's Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up to Be Babies
Exit 109
38-21-34 ? 
Johnny & June
Long Legged Guitar Picking Man
Jackson
You're the Reason Our Kids are Ugly
Silver Wings
Bubbles in My Beer

Now That's Country! And Rock and Roll! And Bluegrass! Marty Stuart @The Blue Note 1/25 Concert Review

My brother messaged me a few weeks ago, wanting to know if I'd go see Marty Stuart at the Blue Note on January 25th. I'd previously seen him and the Fabulous Superlatives, six years ago opening for Merle Haggard. And it was a slow time at work, I didn't think I'd have to waste a vacation day(I wound up having to) and he said he was buying. So I was in. My mom and dad wanted to go, so he sprung for everyone's.

We arrived to wait in line about 30 minutes before doors opening and got to bare the cold wind. Thankfully the average age of people waiting in line before us was up there, which meant me and my brother didn't really have to worry about rushing towards the front, as like my parents they had seats. We wound up against the rail.

The show started at 8:30, with local act the Brad Cunningham Band, which actually consisted of him and a guitar player. He played ten songs around 40 minutes, with an obligatory rock and roll cover, which was You Don't Mess Around With Jim. He was alright. He had a decent humorous song, Willie for President, kinda derivative of Eric Church. Another decent one he played, Long Way Home, Country 96 plays as part of their red dirt showcases according to my brother.

After a quick 30 minute set change, Marty and the Superlatives hit the stage, with a pretty packed building, with the first of a couple instrumental jams spread out through the evening, before still rocking away into a solid salvo of Tear the Woodpile Down, and early hits ("My radio songs...When I still had black hair!"), The Whiskey Ain't Working and Tempted.

From there it was a blend of rock, country, gospel, bluegrass, rockabilly, blues, surf music, covers and great musicianship for ninety minutes. Each of the Superlatives were given a couple of numbers, to showcase their singing. And each one brought something unique. Guitarist "Cousin" Kenny Vaughan's Country Music Got a Hold of Me was a definite highlight, along with his masterful guitar playing. But so was "Handsome" Harry Stinson's singing. Throw in country music legacy in Chris Scruggs, covering Johnny Horton too. Overall one of the tightest and most talented groups I've seen.

Throughout the night Marty commented on his heroes and his past, mentioning he played Columbia other times, when he was Lester Flatt and when he was with Johnny Cash ("He was my father-in-law for about 15 minutes."). He's played the Roots 'N Blues Fest several times in the last few years, so I would venture to guess it's part of his standard stage banter. It was evidenced by his many cover songs. The greatest country music riff with Mama Tried's opening, you can never go wrong with.
But he is a true professional that seems to enjoy playing live. The biggest thing I marveled at, was how when jumping and dancing around, the fact that he doesn't trip in guitar wires behind him. I also love the fact that the instrument switching was pretty organized and kept to minimum. Basically if they did switch, it was for a group of songs. The late Tom Petty was horrible about the guitar dance.

After he "left" the stage before the encore, he pointed to my brother, because I think he noticed his signing along the words to Rock Island Line and my brother pointed back. The last song of the encore was a gospel number ("If there's any group that needs one, it's this group! which erupted cheers) again showcasing harmony vocal talents.

Overall a great time, with front row view of killer playing. It was definitely a little more on the rocking side. Even his newer songs I wasn't familiar with, were very catchy and made you want to bop around. My dad noted on the ride home, another older guy sitting beside him, expected more "country" style than the rocking honky tonk.

Again with the variety of styles, it's pure Americana. It's no wonder he was brought, along with his B-Bender that once belonged to Clarence White, on the Sweetheart of the Rodeo 50th Anniversary Tour.

Set List

1. Graveyard (Instrumental)
2. Tear the Woodpile Down
3. The Whiskey Ain't Working
4. Tempted
5. You Don't Miss Your Water
6. Mama Tried
7. Mojave
8. Old Mexico
9. Old Old House
10. Country Music Got a Hold of Me (Kenny Vaughan)
11. Hot Like That (Kenny Vaughan)
12. Walls of a Prison
13. Rock Island Line
14. Got the Bull by the Horn (Chris Scruggs)
15. ? (Chris Scruggs song?)
16. Pretty Boy Floyd (Harry Stinson)
17. Slow Train (Harry Stinson)
18. Orange Blossom Special
19. Country Boy Rock and Roll
20. Time Don't Wait

---------
21. Air Mail Special
22. Hillbilly Rock
23. Angels Rock Me To Sleep

NEIL! ;Neil Young at the Fabulous Fox 6/28 Concert Review

It had been since 2009, since Neil Young has played Missouri. I'd seen his previous two stops in the state(not counting two Farm Aid appearances in St. Louis in 2009 and KC, Kansas 2011) and will probably see him anytime he comes my way. When this small run of solo dates were announced St. Louis got a date, based on it being a part of Neil's favorite venues in favorite cities. And I scooped up the best tickets I could, as early as I could.

I would up with seats about 15 rows back on the right side and surviving the the nasty rain and road construction on Grand Avenue, me and my dad got there in plenty of time. At 8 PM sharp, the lights dimmed and...we got an opening act. John Hammond, a white blues man, I'd never heard of and never saw anywhere Neil having an opening act. Yea. He was a good player, playing acoustic, harp and a resonator, but I'm not a blues guy, so it sounded monotonous. His part lasted around 30 minutes with eight songs. The gap between his set and Neil's was longer than his set.

The one thing to expect with Neil, is for him to not do what you're expecting of him. Just because it's solo, doesn't mean he's just acoustic. A few years back he made up shirts that read, "I said 'solo.' They said, 'Acoustic.' However, he came out strong in that format with older songs, after a standing ovation before he played a note.

He switched to banjo after four songs, before strapping on his White Falcon, for a stunning Ohio, the highlight of the night. He prefaced it with a segue about playing love songs like that, into a story behind creating Ohio and writing songs that made him an angry. He used that format several other times, leading into more political songs later in the set. Neil never got outright political, but danced around the edges. "...Now you can just make up shit... I don't know.."

Throughout the night, Neil was more festive and talkative than in the previous two shows. He talked multiple times about his guitars and pianos, where he got them and what how they were part of the creative process.  And he was very witty and self-deprecating. He even joked that, "Most of the time I don't talk as much, and still don't know what I'm doing. I'm just being honest up here." Part of the madness was him trying to figure out what he was going to do next, as well as issues with harmonicas, needing a different one, putting it in water, etc. Knowing Neil doesn't like fakeness, but a lot seems like it might be part of show and dragging it out.  Neil's set-up was adorned by three different pianos, as well as his pump organ, which never got used, which I would say gives a lot of credence to Neil playing it real.

And give me the awkwardness and unique. If there's one thing I despise, is the same "show" different city approach, where even the banter with the audience is the same every city between songs. Everyone likes great sound that is polished, but it lacks that surprise element.

Of course he didn't play all of his hits, though he ended his main set, with The Needle and the Damage Done and Heart of Gold, with five out of the ten songs off of Harvest getting played. And ten of the 18 songs, I hadn't seen him do live.

Which brings me to the worst part of the show. The biggest criticism I have, is that he only played for a little over 90 minutes. Going by older solo shows, he's varied it from 90 minutes to over two hours, so it's in the realm of being a normal show. But for a $165 a ticket, I'd like at least two hours.

And some comments I read on Thrasher's Wheat, laid some possible blame onto obnoxious fans, shouting out crap all night. To be fair they did it the first time I saw him at the Fox in 2007 and the same with Jackson Browne in 2010 there. But they didn't start it until towards the end of the show.( A notable exception was during After The Gold Rush in 2007, where Neil lost his place and had to redo a verse) There were d-bags doing this from the start last night though. I think it's just part of the singer-songwriter concert experience. Especially ones who don't play straight up hits. But maybe it did fluster and annoy Neil. At point he told us, "All that doesn't register up here," though once when someone shouted out about Lincvolt, it did put a smile on his face and led to a story about his electric classic car project. Other cities set lists will show... I

Overall a really good performance, though I think the KC show ranks better at the moment, due to length. And of course there is a still a bucket-list of songs, I'd still love to see him do...

Set List

On The Way Home
Homefires
Love Is A Rose
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Mellow My Mind
Ohio
There's A World
Love In Mind
Are You Ready For The Country?
Tonight's The Night
Speakin' Out
Angry World
Love And War
Peaceful Valley Boulevard
Out On The Weekend
The Needle And The Damage Done
Heart Of Gold
-------
Tumbleweed

	Post Dispatch's Review here

The Well Worn Honky Tonk Highway; Alan Jackson 9/8 St. Charles Family Arena Concert Review

Alan Jackson has always been one of my mom's favorites, the neo-traditionalist with fiddle and steel guitar (And come on, only the most anti-country city slickers could dislike his music). When the announcement popped up that he'd be playing in St. Charles, near my mom's birthday, it sounded like a good idea to see this living legend of country music (And I mean country music, not Jason AlBryan Georgia Line crap).

We got decent seats on the right side of the stage 11 rows up, though blocked by some speaker cables. There was a surprise opener 20 minutes before showtime, Adam Wright, a singer-songwriter who played solo with an electric guitar for four songs. It wasn't nothing much, and later I found out he's Jackson's nephew.

At 7:30 sharp, Lee Ann Womack and band took the stage for an 11 song 50 minute set that was superb. This is the third time I've seen her, all as an opening act for bigger stars. She ran through most of her well known songs, as well as some new material. She also played Lord I Hope This Day Is Good, as a tribute to Don Williams who passed away earlier. The set was over way too quick. Again she is superb as an opening act, well known with "songs you've heard of," as she said during the show and musicality thoroughly on the country side. I find it greatly ironic that someone who came to fame as a crossover star in Shania's wake, is a standard bearer for what is real country music.

Set List 

Does My Ring Burn Your Finger
Never Again, Again
A Little Past Little Rock
I'll Think of A Reason Later
All The Trouble
Long Black Veil
Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good
I May Hate Myself in The Morning
The Way I'm Livin ????

I Hope You Dance
Ashes By Now













The set change took about 25 minutes and Mr. Jackson hit the stage at quarter til nine, with an introductory video and Gone Country, or at least a snippet of it, with him just singing the chorus. The first thing I noticed and my mom mentioned after the concert, it looked like he had trouble moving, whether it's drink, old-age, bad leg, too tight jeans and boots or some combination. In fact he'd take rests on a stool, between songs as a different member of his eight-piece band was allowed an intro-jamming at least once. But he seemed to get more lively as the evening got going, telling the audience, "..stand up and dance, sit and enjoy the music, we're pretty laid back up here," as well as pointing out some of the handmade signs the audience were holding up.

Jackson like his neo-traditionalist friend and ally George Strait, is a living legend that has enough number ones to make a concert just on those alone. He pretty much played the more well known ones and I was pressed to think of ones that I was disappointed he didn't play. His cover of It Must Be Love, was the closest especially for a Don Williams tribute, as one he didn't play . Jackson was a master showman, working the crowd signing autographs, throwing t-shirts to the crowd and name-dropping Missouri with lyric changes multiple times in songs. This is a contrast to Strait, who is more old school without the showmanship and I've heard compared to being more like a jukebox in concert. Not to mention the aforementioned Strayhorns band of Jackson, getting time to shine and vamp on solos.

The song that stuck out best was As She's Walking Away, with Jackson giving Zac Brown's part to one of his sidemen(complete with making him wear the stocking beanie). There was nothing really special about it, but it kept it with the theme of the song, without having to resort of video screens and let Jackson play the wise barroom sage...

Overall it was a good concert, but nothing spectacular. Again, someone with so many hits, it makes highs and lows of a show scarce. The biggest disappointment for me was the length. The show was roughly only 90 minutes long. Even though with a great opening act, I got my money's worth, for the ticket  price and $10 gouging for having to pay for parking, it should have been a little longer and closer to two hours. The other mild disappointment for me could have remedied both, was the truncated versions of  Gone Country (chorus only), Here in the Real World and Chasing That Neon Rainbow (first verse and chorus on each). Those are three of his best and a couple I like better, so I enjoyed getting just those, but the overall length of the concert made me wish for the complete songs...

As I said the man is a living legend and Country Music Hall-of Famer(or soon-to-be) and was glad to be able to see him in concert as well as take my mom to see another of her favorites.

Set List

Gone Country (Snippet)
I Don't Even Know Your Name
Livin' on Love
The Blues Man
Who's Cheating Who
Here In The Real World > Chasing That Neon Rainbow>As She's Walking Away
Little Bitty
Drive 
Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning
Don't Rock the Jukebox
Remember When
Good Time
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
Chattahoochee 
Where I Come From
-----------
Mercury Blues


St. Louis Post Dispatch Review Here