Last thurs we got a couple of last minute tix for Sting at Red Rocks. 
I was hesitant committing prior to as the weather here can be volatile this time of year...turned out to be a beautiful evening. 
I also have seen him twice before, once with the Police, and wasn't thrilled with the performances.
So, with low expectations...i was pleasantly surprised and entertained by his 3 piece band, including his longtime guitarist.
His vocals seemed stronger than ever.

Set list hasnt changed much since last fall's, tour, which isnt a complaint as I enjoyed the selection...neither has his stories, including this one:
This next song is about my home in England. I have, uh…well, it's more of a castle really, but… It's quite near Stonehenge—do you know Stonehenge? If you ever go to Stonehenge, walk down the hill two miles, come to my house, knock on the door, I’ll make you a cup of tea. The other nice thing about my house—it’s surrounded by barley fields…and at harvest time…do you see where I am going with this? At harvest time, it looks like there is a sea of gold all around the house. One day, I’m sitting on the front step and thinking, ‘There’s a song here,’ and here it is.”


Message in a Bottle
If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
Englishman in New York
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Fields of Gold
Never Coming Home
Mad About You
Spirits in the Material World
Wrapped Around Your Finger
Driven to Tears
I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
I Was Brought to My Senses
Can't Stand Losing You
Shape of My Heart
I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)
Walking on the Moon
So Lonely
Desert Rose
King of Pain
Every Breath You Take
Encore:
Roxanne
Fragile

i have a relative that is connected to the r-n-b circuit
so i can get the 411 on shows and it is an excuse to go to shows and see him when he is in town
last night i saw lenny williams and jeffrey osborne ( a couple of other local acts rolled in too)
williams (of tower of power fame) was telling stories through his music
humorous and often touching (he is turning 80 next week)
osborne (of ltd fame) is a ridiculously talented power vocalist (he will be 77 next month)
i've seen osborne before in the past at a charitable fundraiser
the guy is a great performer with a superb band

Date:Saturday, May 01, 1976
Venue:Day on the green # 2
Location:Oakland, California, United States
 
UFO
Gary Wright 
Fleetwood Mac
Peter Frampton

 
I was somewhere down front there. By far the largest crowd I've ever been in. I've told so many people about this experience. My friends and I were some of the first there.
The coliseum is vast and man did it fill up.
Big. Everything was and is still big. The music. The time machine.

someone surprised me with tickets to see maxwell, jazmine sullivan and october london on saturday
kicking off their tour
packed house for a good show
october london sounds very much like marvin gaye

We went to see Built to Spill last night. They were good, did their 2nd LP all the way through, then picked up a few of the hits from other albums during the encore. Originally booked in the "ballroom" of the venue in Billings, they downsized to the "taproom," because it was a Sunday night show and the state fair ended Saturday so anyway it didn't sell well. The taproom holds about 300 people and I think they were probably about 200. 

Not announced but played anyway: Floating Witch's Head. As they introduced themselves: "We're Floating Witch's Head. Also from Boise." 

Listening to this album here, it's a lot heavier than I thought it would be. I got a little bit of a Violent Femmes feel from the live set. Overall these guys were a highlight because they were so unexpected. But Built to Spill came with the cello so they're still the best band from Boise. 

Visiting my buddies in Austin, asked if I wanted to catch Dave Alvin and his band. Sure.
We all loved it. It was their next to last show before the band broke up to go back to their other jobs (Camper van Beethoven, etc), and they were digging being in Austin at a great venue.

Highlight was the encore and Highway 61, which I’d seen him and his brother do at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass a few years before the Rona.

Here they are earlier this year at HSB doing a Dead song, which they did at our show too. 

 Proclivities wrote: 
Very cool.  They are a hoot.

 Proclivities wrote: 
They're so good...

Saw Southern Culture on the Skids in town last night - their holiday/homecoming gig I guess.  Excellent show - they had a 9-piece brass band open for them, then the brass players came on stage with them for the last few SCOTS numbers.  My wife got called up on stage to help throw the fried chicken to the audience during "8-Piece Box".  Great fun, as always.

 miamizsun wrote: 
Caught them in Berkeley a few months ago. Clearly the Hall show, and he picked on Oates more than once.
Still, great musicianship and a whole lotta great tunes. Plenty from Abandoned Luncheonette, my favorite album of theirs.

I imagine the convo before the tour:

"Daryl, I need money. Let's tour."
"OK, John, but I'm more talented, so I get most of the take."
"You think people are gonna go to a 'Hall' show like they would an H&O show? You need me. Fifty-fifty."
"Well, OK." 

 lily34 wrote: 
their band was excellent too

 miamizsun wrote: 
i would love to see them!

a few weeks ago saw hall and oates on opening night of their mini tour

was good but the vocals weren't loud enough

my girl loved it

 Steely_D wrote: 
Amazing talent, thanks for sharing.

86-year-old Burt was clearly enjoying himself. Playing piano throughout and conducting the SF Symphony, he was sharp and engaged - telling jokes frequently and cracking himself up.
I was in the front, center, and watching his hands - he wasn't just pounding out chords, but playing complex portions and flourishing frequently. Sadly, he had a tremor when he'd reach for his water, but it didn't seem to affect the playing or conducting.

After inviting us to all sing along ("You all know the words") to Raindrops Keep Falling, he actually started playing the notoriously impossible "Promises, Promises" on the piano and started laughing.

Here's an example, from a show in September. My favorite and his is the existential sadness of Alfie.
And this is just one medley from the many he did. Such a genius.
 
 

Concert reviews are not my strength, (give me a minute and I might remember just what my strength is) but I have to say that while many may have had their fill of David Gray back when the songs of White Ladder were being played (overplayed?) on the radio, his shows are not to be missed. He lives in the moment and never disappoints. He knows how to connect with the audience and treats them to an incredible ride. His songwriting skills are impressive, his delivery impeccable. His band is a perfect fit. Highly recommended.

Last night at the Edgefield was no exception. I left feeling like I had just witnessed one of the very best at his craft. I am grateful to have had the experience. 

I caught these guys live last night.  If they are in your area, do not miss it.  Yikes.

This is another concert, but the same thing happened at the Michael Franti show last night when he played Sound of Sunshine. Not just one or two beach balls - a whole boatload!
 
Good times.
 
 

 Rod wrote: 
They were on Conan last night - man, they sh*t n' git...lotta fun!

Just got back from seeing Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue.  Our neighbor gave me the tickets this afternoon because they couldn't make it.  I knew of them, but I expected more straight ahead New Orleans jazz.  This was heavy, crunchy, funk jazz!  Wow!  What a tight band!  See them when they come around.