MSG#2

A fabulous show. Tight! I thought the band was firing on all cylinders. Despite all of the gripes I've read on the various message boards about how the band was aging to the point of effecting the performances. I sure didn't see that last night. They may play a bit shorter show, but the energy level was there, Bruce's voice was spot on, and the collective troupe was playing hard.



We kind of suspected that we might get Jungleland, but it was a treat to have Meeting precede it and to get that right in the middle of the set! And of course, that was followed by a smokin' "You Can Look".



I have to honestly say that the whole show was one long highlight for me. There wasn't a single tune that I didn't enjoy - ok Candy's Room is not one of my faves, but I even enjoyed that. Tougher Than The Rest was sublime. Great guitar work from Bruce.



I was surprised how much guittar work was handed to Stevie. He was out front a bunch, and seemed to relegate Nils to guitar fills and slide. Fun shift in band dynamics.



The day in NYC was a trip! Papaya King - we'll I'll agree with Mikey, just Ok. We wandered around the village. Much has changed since the last time I was there, but much is exactly the same. We wandered into the Blind Tiger Ale House for some delicious hand pumped ales. Great stuff. Then back out into the streets for some more wandering - through Washington Square nd around NYU and onto McSorley's where we met an old friend from our days growing up in Winfield. Unfortunately that delayed our meet up with Pete. We got into a cab and got caught up in traffic for a good 30 mins or so. Finally we bailed on the cab and hoofed it to Stoudt's. It was packed, but Pete was out front waiting for us, and managed to escort us past the line waiting to get into and to his table. It was loud in there with the DVD blaring! We got to hang with Pete and his crew for a brew and then off the to the adventure.



The directions to get into the GA were poor, first we got all the way to the regular gates before someone told us to go back to 8th Ave. Then, we went through the gate and no one told us that we had to have a wrist band just to be in the GA. So we get all the way to the floor were told to go back and get a wrist band. So I head for the tunnel off the the floor and walk right through the black curtain and I'm suddenly walking right into the hall where the backstage area is. How did I know this? Because I walked right past Danny Federici and his 14 year old Malyasian girlfriend. Oh she's 19? His wife? His daughter? Who knows? I knew I was in the wrong spot, so I went back out onto the floor where the guy manning let me in without the wrist band. Meanwhile the rest of our contingent made it back to the spot to get their bands and get on the floor in time for the show.



I was actually not too bad in GA. We were towards the back on Clarence's side. We had room to breathe and it wasn't too hot.



Thundercrack! My first time ever hearing it live and it was worth the wait. American Land featured a full compliment of 6 or so folks from the Sessions band and it rocked. A great day and wonderful show.