The "New" Madison Square Garden

I've been to the newly renovated MSG a few times over the past week and I have to say...really? Virtually every new improvement is directed towards the big bucks patrons.  Now the scoreboard is pretty damn spiffy, the only problem is you can't see it from a lot of seats.  The new "bridge" level blocks it for those of us who sit in the upper 200's when we go to a game...you know the sections where you can still get tickets less than 100 bucks.   At least the view of the the ice is unobstructed from the 200's as you can see below from section 226 row 22.

The bridge does seem to make it sound a little too quiet in the building.  Maybe it's better down below...

Now there are still a few 400's left now renamed The Blue Seats.  As you can see the view is a little tunnel like.  These were in 416 row 5.

I would stay clear of any seats in the 400's in rows 6 and 7.  These are most definitely obstructed view seats.  I sat down in row 7 and you can't see past the opposite blue line.  The view on this end is the same as it ever was...slightly blocked behind the goal line.  They also have very limited bathrooms for this area...perhaps they think everyone there has a huge bladder.  Maybe rich folks are the only ones who need to relieve themselves.  And the worst sin of all...the beer selections is pretty weak this high up.

Was it worth 1 billion dollars?  I guess that depends on your annual income.  Those who can may get an improved experience.  Personally I think it was just fine at MSG before all the renovations.  But that's just me.

Oh yeah...the Dolans pretty much suck in my opinion.

The Eagles - MSG November 8, 2013

Wow it's been a long time between posts.  Life just has a way of prioritizing things for you.  I did get a chance to catch The Eagles last week at the newly completed Madison Square Garden on the 1st of 3 nights.  I am an unapologetic Eagles fan.  I know, I know they aren't cool.  They are as mainstream as you can get but I have always been a fan...especially the first three albums.  

I've seen The Eagles on a few of the "farewell" tours since 2000 and they have always been a good time.  This year is no different.  Bernie Leadon is along for the ride for the first time since 1975 and he sounded good and played pretty damn fine on the early material.  Glen Frey dedicated Take It To The Limit to Randy Meisner who couldn't make it due to health issues.  Not a single Don Felder mention...he's suing them again.

The first set drew from the first four albums while the second was made up of cuts from Hotel California, The Long Run and several Joe Walsh tunes.  These were the only mis-steps for me...Joe was the only one who played solo material and I would have preferred a few more cuts from the early records.  A small quibble though as the show was really pretty damn fine as it was.

Here's the setlist:

Set One


1. Saturday Night
   (Don Henley and Glenn Frey only)
   
2. Train Leaves Here This Morning
   (Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon)
   
3. Peaceful Easy Feeling
   (with Bernie Leadon) (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon and Timothy B. Schmidt)
   
4. Witchy Woman
   (with Bernie Leadon) (Full band)
   
5. Doolin-Dalton
   (with Bernie Leadon)
   
6. Tequila Sunrise
   (with Bernie Leadon)
   
7. Doolin'-Dalton/Desperado (Reprise)
   (with Bernie Leadon)
   
8. Already Gone
   (with Bernie Leadon)
   
9. The Best of My Love
   
   
10. Lyin' Eyes
    
    
11. One of These Nights
    (with Bernie Leadon)
    
12. Take It to the Limit
    
    

Set Two


13. Wasted Time (Reprise)
    
    
14. Pretty Maids All in a Row
    
    
15. I Can't Tell You Why
    
    
16. New Kid in Town
    
    
17. Love Will Keep Us Alive
    
    
18. Heartache Tonight
    
    
19. Those Shoes
    
    
20. In the City
    (Joe Walsh song)
    
21. Life's Been Good
    (Joe Walsh song)
    
22. The Long Run
    
    
23. Funk #49
    (James Gang cover)
    
24. Life in the Fast Lane
    
    

Encore:


25. Hotel California
    
    

Encore 2:


26. Take It Easy
    (with Bernie Leadon)
    
27. Rocky Mountain Way
    (Joe Walsh song) (with Bernie Leadon)
    
28. Desperado
    (with Bernie Leadon)
    
    

Rhythm & Roots Festival - August 31, 2013

I decided to grab tix for this at the last minute and it turned out to be a pretty good decision on my part.  Rhythm & Roots is the sister festival of Grey Fox and I have been meaning to get here the past couple of years.  We have family about a half hour away so it is pretty convenient to get to and it's nice to have a place to stay so off we went to Rhode Island this weekend.

Rhythm and Roots is billed as a music and dance festival and it features a pretty interesting mix of artists.  On the day we went there was a little country, some blues, a bunch of Cajun, a little Tex-Mex.  Pretty much something for everybody.  The festival is held each year at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI and the large, flat site holds 5 stages and a ton of vendors.  Camping is also available but it appears that many in attendance come for the day.  There is plenty of free parking adjacent to the festival entrance.  Food and soft drinks can be brought in but no alcohol (which is for sale on the grounds).  You get your usual festival vendors and food choices with a couple of locals bringing a New England flavor to the event.

We arrived around noon and set up on the main field while Della Mae was playing.  My wife and I have seen them quite a bit over the past couple of years and they are indeed talented, although not my particular cup of tea.

Lindi Ortega was up next and I was looking forward to her set based on the couple of songs I had heard.  She has a pretty nice "traditional" country voice but did not really get the crowd going.  The sparse sound was a little too moody for that early in the day and she appeared to grow a bit annoyed as the set went on.

The Red Stick Ramblers are a string band that is a little Cajun, a little Bluegrass, and a whole lot of fun.  They were playing various stages all weekend and must have really kicked some ass in the dance tent at night.

One of the reasons I chose this festival was to see Holly Williams and she did not disappoint.  Playing with a base and additional guitar provided by her husband, she wound her way through most of the songs on her excellent LP The Highway, along with a cover or two.  Great Stuff.

The Texas Guitar Women and Marcia Ball brought the boogie in the next two sets.  Not my favorite style but entertaining none the less.

The other act I was looking forward to was Steve Earle who is touring in support of his album The Low Highway.  I've seen him quite a bit over the past 25 years, but it has been a while since I have been to a show with the Dukes (and Duchesses).  The set featured quite a lot from his newest along with some album cuts and a few "hits".  Very solid but it could have been a bit louder.  Not enough kick for me.

I think I may make this a regular stop on my summer festival circuit, but probably only of a day.  You really need to be a fan of the Cajun sounds to get the full experience and I am not the biggest fan...although I was definitely in the minority here.

The Cult - Roseland Ballroom

I want to start out by saying I am not the word's biggest Cult fan, but I really liked the Electric Album back in the day...loud, goofy riff rock.  I still break the album out on occasion when no one is home and I can play it LOUD.

That said I am getting a bit cranky in my old age.  Winter Kill opened with an 80 minute (are you fucking kidding me) set of distorted, wah wah stoner bullshit.  Far too long and most of the crowd seemed disinterested.  My son and a friend were there and he commented it was the worst live set he has ever seen.

The Cult hit the stage around 10 and kicked right into Wildflower.  Billy Duffy was a riffing machine and the band sounded great, that is until Ian Astbury started to sing.  Well sing is a word that does not exactly describe it...more like shouting along with some woops.  I had forgotten what an asshole he can be and this behavior was in full effect last night.  He kept yelling it was a rock & roll show and to stop with the cell phones, making bad jokes in some kind of NYC accent, generally being a putz.

After running through the Electric album there was some kind of short film and then the band returned to play a couple of hits and some newer material.  Ian seemed to be more into this section and it's pretty clear he finds the Electric material boring.  My question is why bother in the first place?

For me this was a nostalgia night 25 years on.  Hard rock hasn't been my cup of tea in a very long time and it is unlikely I will see this kind of show again in the future.  I especially hate ballroom shows at 51.  I'm more the small theater, tiny club or outdoor festival type of person.  Knowing all of this in advance doesn't squash the feeling that I was ripped off last night...

Glen Campbell - See You There

 

 

It seems like Glen Campbell has been a part of my generation's collective musical subconscious for what seems like forever.  Never at the forefront but back there in our minds.  If you are of a certain age you can't hear Wichita Lineman or Galveston or Gentle On My Mind and not be taken back.  His performances of these Jimmy Webb songs are classics in America's songbook.

 

 

I have to say up front that his records have not consistently found their way onto my turntable over the past 40 years...that is until Meet Glen Campbell came out in the early 2000's.  I had forgotten Glen's way with a song and his great vocals and guitar playing.  Most folks probably don't realize how many records they have heard his playing on over the decades during his time as part of LA's The Wrecking Crew. In 2011 he released what I consider one of the finest records of that or any year. "Ghost On The Canvas" whose compositions were made even more poignant by his recent Alzheimer's diagnosis.

 

The songs on See You There were recorded during the sessions for Ghost On The Canvas and the tracks include several of his biggest hits recorded in a more modern, Americana approach.  No strings, just Glen and a crack group of musicians.   It's so nice to hear the peddle steel shine through opposed to the strings.  In addition to the tracks mentioned above there are also new versions of By The Time I Get to Phoenix, Rhinestone Cowboy and Postcard From Paris along with some newer Campbell tunes.  Each and every one is a great listen...not necessarily better than the originals, but more emotional.  Rhinestone Cowboy in particular hits far harder than the original with a depth that enormous hit was missing in the original arrangement.

This isn't a record for the kids, although they could probably use a dose of superior songwriting, singing and playing that this record has in spades.  Our musical institutions are getting old folks, we need to take advantage of whatever we get from performers who are still vital and making great music in their later years.  There are still great records being made by the "old guard" and See You There is one of them.  You should check out.

Here's the official video for Hey Little One