Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI on July 29, 2014

     I was excited to see earlier this Summer that Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were touring in North America. Mr. Cave and his band have a reputation for amazing live shows and I have not been lucky enough to see one. That changed last night in Detroit.
     I have been to the Masonic Temple in Detroit once before -- I saw the Jack White/Alabama Shakes show a couple years ago at the Scottish Rite Hall in the Temple. It is an amazing venue. It is the largest Masonic Temple in the World! Amazing architecture! I do not know anything about the process they went through in setting up the Scottish Rite Hall or the Auditorium for "the sound" of the place, but both "rooms" sound great. My seat was in the back third of auditorium on the right side of the auditorium. I could see the stage just fine.
     One comment: this was THE best dressed "rock" crowd I have ever been a part of. I felt grossly under-dressed with my black Pixies t-shirt, gray jeans, and black high top sneakers. I over-heard someone say "when did you get back from your tour?" to a well dressed 30ish male. I think Detroit wore their best rock rags to the show. Well done!
MERCH: They had a nice collection of t-shirts, buttons, CDs, and drum heads(!). I bought a nice black (what other color would a Nick Cave shirt be I want to know) 2014 North American tour t-shirt.
OPENER: I have heard of Nicole Atkins but not heard her music. I am happy I have seen her now. I was interested that she said "we are from Asbury Park, NJ" when she started on stage with her guitarist and drummer (no bassist). My ears perked up, being a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. I think Nicole sounds like a cross between PJ Harvey and Roy Orbison. She had quite a few really good songs. Nice performance by she and the band. They played about 35 minutes.
HEADLINER: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds came on with a big group -- drummer, guitarist, bassist, keyboards, and two multi-instrumentalist. Nick Cave sang and sometimes played the piano. And what a show! Nick prowled the stage, beckoning the crowd closer to the stage. The band had a large full sound that was top-notch. Nick sang, depending on the song, with a loud roar or a soft and tender voice. The man showed the full range of his voice and his emotions. Twice Nick went out into the crowd. Once, he hopped on chair armrests to get 10-15 rows out into the front of center stage. The second time, two fans beckoned him to them on the left side where the second tier of seats wrapped close to the stage. As they reached for his hand to touch Mr. Cave, he held on of their hands for support and he jumped onto that second tier. He worked his way around the front of the section, singing all the way. When he got as far as his microphone cord would allow him, he was in a fever pitched part of a song. He leaned forward then back with a woman in the section in a spontaneous live music moment that I will not soon forget. It was mesmerizing. A highlight for me was the force of "Stagger Lee". I am very familiar with the history of the original song and Lloyd Price's version, but had never heard this version. It was a gut punch. When it climaxes, the sound, lighting, and Nick Cave's vocal performance really had the crowd in their grasp. An amazing moment in a concert filled with them.
     Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds played for 2 hours. I went from hopeful about the show to amazed in those two hours. I was VERY impressed. An excellent band at an excellent auditorium putting on an excellent performance.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars. "Stagger Lee" is one of the top 10 concert song experiences for me all time.
Nicole Atkins

Nicole Atkins

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Nick Cave out in the crowd.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden at DTE Music Theater on July 26, 2014

     I drove up with my son Sam to see this show. I had missed these two bands in concert on a number  of occasions before and we both wanted to catch this show. DTE Music Theater used to be Pine Knob Amphitheater. It is in Clarkson Township north of  Detroit. In the mid 80s, Ken Zakel, Joe Ruby, and I drove up here from Dayton to see Dire Straits on their Money For Nothing tour.
OPENER: Oneohtrix Point Nothing, a DJ with a video show behind him, opened up the show. It was a no vocals mix of mildly droney industrial music. There were some catcalls around us -- the guys stuff was met with mixed reception. Meh. Too bad the original opener, Death Grips, broke up a few weeks ago!
SOUNDGARDEN: Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, and the rhythm session came out and tore right into their playlist of hits and album cuts. Chris's voice sounded terrific -- that four octave range was put to good use all night. Thayil's guitar playing was great. The rhythm section did their job. Soundgarden sounded great and played essentially all their best cuts. Chris Cornell spoke quite a bit to the crowd.
NINE INCH NAILS: It was obvious that Trent Reznor and the band were going to have quite the stage show as large prop and light panels were moved onto the stage in preparation for the show. Trent came out alone at first as the beat started for their first song. Then the rest of the band joined him. The stage production was top notch. It reminded me of a Peter Gabriel show I saw a couple years ago here in Detroit with my friend Ken Zakel. The lights, background, and props changed song to song with really excellent effect!
     The band played all the big hits -- except "Every Day Is Exactly The Same". Trent's voice was in good shape and he danced and contorted around the stage. The band did a great job on their part. Trent did not speak much although he did thank the crowd with a brief talk late in the show. The crowd seemed thrilled with The NiN show. Excellent.
I rate this show a 4 out of 5. Photos to follow when I can upload them at home. Thankfully, I was allowed to bring in my Canon point 'n' shoot with telephoto. I got some terrific shots of both headliners. Detroit Rock City!!
Trent Reznor

Trent Reznor

Nine Inch Nails

Matt Cameron and Chris Cornell

Kim Thayil

Soundgarden

Dr. John and the Night Trippers July 25, 2014 at the Park Street Saloon.

     My anticipation was high for this show having never seen Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dr. John. Somehow, I have also never been to any of the Park Street establishments. The set up was that there were about 70 seats for VIPs and then standing room for another 300 behind the seats. I bought my ticket early enough I was able to sit in the VIP seats. One note: this place is LOUD once the music starts -- bring ear plugs!
OPENER: Molly Winters is a local talent. She did a solo set of her own material plus a few covers, including "Stepping Stone" and a Linda Ronstadt song. Enjoyable.
HEADLINER: Dr. John came out to his keyboards wearing a blue suit, a hat, with snake skin boots. Wow! Accompanied by the Night Trippers band including jazz legend Bobby Floyd on Hammond B3 organ. Dr. John remains a dynamic performer with his keyboard playing, soulful voice, and guitar playing all sounding terrific! 'Iko Iko', 'Right Place, Wrong Time', and many other classics were played. The backing band is all from Central Ohio except for the guitarist. Musical director Susan Morrow from Pickerington also plays the trombone. It was a great chance, as Susan said from the stage, for the band to bring home to Columbus the show they have played all over the world with Dr. John! The band played for over an hour and a half. Very, very good show!
MERCH: There were a limited number of amazing colorful posters signed by Dr. John and numbered to a few hundred for $75 -- I would have bought one if I had the cash on me. They also had a few Dr. John or Susan Morrow CDs. The posters were top notch!
My Rating: 4 out of 5.
Dr. John

Dr. John

Friday, July 25, 2014

Venues I have been to and the shows I have seen there.

      I am compiling a list of venues where I attended concerts. This is incomplete and will be amended. Here we go:
VENUES and the BANDS WHO PLAYED THERE -- ALONG THE WAY ON DR. ROCK’S MUSIC ADVENTURES
NEWPORT MUSIC HALL -- Columbus, OH
Richard Thompson
Dada
Marshall Crenshaw
Indigo Girls
Robin Trower
Smashing Pumpkins
Jake Bugg
Japandroids
Sara Barailles/Elizabeth and the Catapult
Alejandra Escovedo/Jimmy Griffin (of Incurables)
Young the Giant/Walk the Moon
Switchfoot
New Politics/Magic Man/Sleeper Agent
Rancid
The Wallflowers
Airborne Toxic Event
Ben Folds
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Company of Thieves
Paul Westerberg
Old 97’s/Teddy Thompson
Jimmy Eat World/We Were Promised Jetpacks
Michael Franti and Spearhead/Trevor Hall
Tom Tom Club/James/the Jungle Brothers/Soup Dragons
BOGARTS - Cincinnati, OH
Ramones
X/the Windbreakers
The Smithereens
The Replacements x 2
Simply Red
Brian Setzer
Fishbone/Sir Mix A Lot
Midnight Star/the Deele
Alexander O'Neal
Psychedelic Furs
Winston Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Los Lobos/Buckwheat Zydeco/Terrence Mallet and the Latin Playboys
Michelle Shocked
Violent Femmes
The Alarm
Royal Crescent Mob/Buddy Bradley Experience
MARKET SQUARE ARENA - Indianapolis, IN
Foreigner/Billy Squire
AC/DC
the Police/Joan Jett and the Heartbreakers x 2
Journey/Greg Kihn
Tom Petty
TWENTIETH CENTURY THEATER -- Cincinnati, OH
Richard Thompson
Graham Parker
MADISON THEATER -- Covington, KY
Switchfoot/The Rocket Summer
Marc Brassard/Scars on 45
Mayer Hawthorne
A+R MUSIC BAR -- Columbus, OH
The 1975
Soul Asylum/Miles Nelson
Capital Cities
Vintage Trouble
ZZ Ward/Delta Rae/Martin Henley
The Heavy/the Silent Comedy
SOUTHERN THEATER -- Columbus, OH
Richard Thompson
Richard Thompson
Joe Jackson
Harry Connick Jr with Branford Marsalis
Ryan Shaw
Todd Snider
The BASEMENT -- Columbus, OH
The Heavy
Pere Ubu
The Lemonheads
Was (Not Was)/Todd Snider
Steel Train
Butch Walker
Sebadoh
VHS or Beta
Star Slinger/The Hood Internet
STACHE’S -- Columbus, OH
Jonathan Richman
RHUMBA CAFE -- Columbus, OH
Teddy Geiger
Elizabeth and the Catapult
Elizabeth and the Catapult
The LC PAVILLION
Goo Goo Dolls/Augustana
Indigo Girls/Shadowboxers
Indigo Girls/Nora Jones (outside)
The Flaming Lips
Chvrches 
The Pixies
30 Seconds to Mars/New Politics
Marilyn Manson
Carlos Santana
The Avett Brothers (outside)
The Black Keys (outside)
Wilco/Lee Renaldo (outside)
Tenacious D
Arctic Monkeys
Noel Gallagher
Foster the People (outside)
Mumford and Sons (festival set up)
Girl Talk (inside)
Girl Talk (outside)
Ben Folds (outside)
My Morning Jacket/Band of Horses
Jack White/Shovels and Rope
Garbage
Ingrid Michaelson
Matt and Kim (inside)
CD102.5 Summerfest '13: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr./Caucus/Thao and the Get Down Stay Down/J Roddy Walston and the Business/Smith Westerns/Ra Ra Riot/Cold War Kids/Matt & Kim
Boothby Graffoe/Guster/Ben Folds Five/Bare Naked Ladies (outside)
Cloud Nothings/the Features/Delta Spirit/Silversun Pickups
CD101 Summerfest: Matt and Kim/envelope/Band of Skulls/stellastar/Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
Silversun Pickups/Delta Spirit/the Features
Broken Bells/Elf Power
George Clinton with Parliment/Funkadelic
The Killers/Louis XIV
The Killers
Snow Patrol/Plain White T’s
Smashing Pumpkins
Gaslight Anthem/Chamberlin/Tim Berry
The Black Crowes
Steve Miller/Gregg Allman
Beck/Sean Lennon (the Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger)
Of Monsters and Men
FRAZE PAVILLION -- Kettering, OH
Carlos Santana
Alice Cooper
Bonnie Raitt/Mavis Staples
The Avett Brothers
Paul Rodgers
Blondie/Cheap Trick
Christopher Cross/John Ford Coley/Robbie Dupree/Player/Gary Wright/Firefall/Orleans
Happy Together -- Felix Cavaliere/Rick Derringer/Gary Wright/Mark Farner/Dave Mason
The Dukes of September (Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs)
Earth, Wind & Fire
Tony Bennett
Ringo Starr and his All Star Band (Greg Rolle, Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukathar, Richard Page, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham)
RIVERBEND -- Cincinnati
Stevie Ray Vaughn/Fabulous Thunderbirds
John Mellencamp
The Pretenders/Simple Minds
Barry Manilow
LL Cool J/Public Enemy/Slick Rick and /De La Soul
Bob Dylan/Wilco/My Morning Jacket/Richard Thompson
The Dukes of September (Donald Fagen/Michael McDonald/Boz Scaggs)
Elvis Costello/Nick Lowe+Paul Carrack+Martin Belmont (?Dave Edmunds) = Noise to Go or Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit
Dave Matthews Band 7-9-14
POLARIS/Germaine AMPHITHEATER - Columbus, OH
Lilith Fair '99 -- Indigo Girls/Sarah MacLachlan/the Pretenders/Suzanne Vega/Luscious Jackson/Queen Latifah
Lilith Fair '98 -- Indigo Girls/Natalie Merchant/Sinead O'Connor/Me'Shell Ndegeocello
Kiss/Aerosmith
Bruce Springsteen
Barry Manilow
Neil Young/Jewel
Hootie and the Bluefish/John Hiatt
Counting Crows/Goo Goo Dolls
Chicago/Earth Wind & Fire
the Fray/OK Go/moe
Sheryl Crow 2002?
GUND/QUICKEN LOANS ARENA -- Cleveland, OH
Three Dog Night/The Doobie Brothers/Temptations -- Moondog Ball
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band x 4
Foo Fighters/Supergrass
NATIONWIDE ARENA -- Columbus, OH
Foo Fighters/Rise Against/Mariachi el Bronx
Bruce Springsteen
Bon Jovi/Goo Goo Dolls
Bon Jovi
Taylor Swift
The Eagles
Fleetwood Mac
Justin Timberlake
Nickelback/Seether/Bush/My Darkest Days
Rascal Flatts/Sara Evans
Aerosmith/Lenny Kravitz
Billy Joel with Elton John
Billy Joel
Linkin Park/Coheed and Cambria
Journey/Pat Benatar/Loverboy
Maroon 5/the Hives/Sara Baraeilles
Steve Miller/
Genesis
Phil Collins/Butterfly Boucher
Jonas Brothers/Demi Lavato/the Veronicas
U2/PJ Harvey
The Police/Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Rush
VALUE CITY ARENA @ SCHOTTENSTEIN CENTER -- Columbus, OH
Bruce Springsteen x 4
Muse
Arcade Fire
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Flight of the Conchords
Lady Gaga/Scissor Sisters
P!nk/the Hives
AC/DC
Katy Perry/Janelle Monae
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis/Big Krit/Talib Kwali
Willie Nelson/Alison Krauss and Union Station
Kings of Leon/Gary Clark Jr
Sade/John Legend
John Meyer/Phillip Phillips
Kid Rock/Jamey Johnson
ZZ Top/Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Black Keys/Arctic Monkeys
Elton John
Cyndi Lauper/Erasure/Debbie Harry/Dresden Dolls/the Clicks/Margaret Cho
The Who/Vintage Trouble
James Taylor and Carole King
Tom Jones
Cher
Steely Dan
Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood/Mitch Ryder
Journey/Night Ranger
Green Day/My Chemical Romance
Nickelback/Three Days Grace/Buckcherry
Van Halen
Roger Water’s The Wall
Kings of Leon
James Taylor
Mötley Crüe/Alice Cooper/the Raskins NYC
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA -- Dayton, OH
Rush/Max Webster
REO Speedwagon
Indigo Girls
George Benson
HARA ARENA -- Dayton, OH
J Geils Band
Asia
Ted Nugent
Rush
TAFT THEATER -- Cincinnati, OH
REM/Pylon
David Byrne and St Vincent
Amos Lee
Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
George Winston
OHIO THEATER -- Cleveland, OH
Jim Gaffigan
OHIO THEATER -- Columbus, OH
Diana Ross
PALACE THEATER -- Columbus, OH
Goo Goo Dolls/The Rocket Summer
Jackson Browne
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
John Stewart
Kevin James
Robin Williams
George Carlin
Harry Connick Jr
Robert Plant and the Band of Joy/North Mississippi All Stars 
Lyle Lovett
Diane Krall
Shawn Colvin
MIDLAND THEATER -- Newark, OH
Pat Benatar
Dennis DeYoung (of Styx)
Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt
BB King/Long Tall Deb
Richard Marx
Steven Wright
Lindsey Buckingham
DIXIE ELECTRIC COMPANY -- Dayton, OH
the Motels
RIVERFRONT COLISEUM/US Bank Arena -- Cincinnati, OH
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band x 2
Prince/Sheila E
Whodini/Run DMC/LL Cool J/Beastie Boys
RIVERFRONT STADIUM -- Cincinnati, OH
Kool Jazz Festival
Kool Jazz Festival
PINE KNOB -- Detroit, MI
Dire Straits
PALACE AT AUBURN HILLS -- Detroit (suburb), MI
Peter Gabriel
MASONIC TEMPLE -- Detroit, MI
Jack White/Alabama Shakes
OHIO STATE FAIRGROUNDS @ annual fair -- recently: Celeste Center -- Columbus, OH
Kool & the Gang
Weezer/Music City Soundtrack
Chicago/the Doobie Brothers
Jim Gaffigan
THE VOGUE -- Indianapolis, IN
Del Lords
KLIPSCH CENTER -- Indianapolis,
IN
Linkin Park/Incubus/Mute Math
VETS MEMORIAL -- Columbus, OH
David Bowie/
Indigo Girls/Matthew Sweet
Bill Cosby/the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER -- Columbus, OH
Elvis Costello/Talk Talk
NATALIE'S COAL FIRED PIZZA -- Columbus, OH
Steve Forbert
Bucky Pizzarelli and Ed Laub
KRESGE AUDITORIUM @ DePauw University -- Greencastle, IN
Michael Stanley Band
General Public
Psychedelic Furs
MUSICA -- Akron, Ohio
Twenty One Pilots/New Politics
NELSONVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL -- Nelsonville, OH
The Avett Brothers/The Head and the Heart/the No BS Big Brass Band
Dinosaur Jr/Kurt Vile/
SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL -- Covington, KY
Marshall Crenshaw/Bottle Rockets
CLUB CASINO -- Hampton Beach, NH
Squeeze/the Hooters/the Truth
ETHIAD STADIUM -- Manchester, UK
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino -- Las Vegas, NV
Queen with Adam Lambert 7-5-14
MERRIWEATHER PAVILLION -- Maryland
Sweet Life Festival 2013
Shark Week/Knocked Up Kids/Nicky Blitz/Twenty One Pilots/Gary Clark Jr/Yeah Yeah Yeahs/Kendrick Lamar/Passion Pit/Phoenix 
Sweet Life Festival 2014
Nicky Blitz/Bombay Bicycle Club/Hozier/Bastille (all in front row of pit)/Fitz and the Tantrums/Lana del Ray/Foster the People
LOLLAPALOOZA 2013
Twenty One Pilots/Atlas Genius/Band of Horses (p)/Imagine Dragons(p)/New Order (front row center, got set list)/the Killers
Wheeler Brothers (p)/Shovels and Rope/Little Green Cars/Charles Bradley/Matt & Kim/Ellie Goulding (3 songs)/Eric Church (p -- from Lounge)/the National/Mumford and Sons
Palma Violets/Jake Bugg/Alex Clare/Tegan and Sara (p)/Two Door Cinema Club (p)/the Vaccines (p)/Grizzly Bear (p)/the Cure
ST ANDREWS -- Detroit, MI
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis/D-One
RICE ECCLES STADIUM -- Salt Lake City, UT
2002 Olympic Closing Ceremonies included: 
Kiss/Gloria Estefan/Earth Wind & Fire/Moby/Christina Aguilera/Bon Jovi/Charlotte Church & Josh Groban/N-Sync 
SUMMERFEST -- Milwaukee, WI
Tom Jones
Temptations/Little Feat/John Stewart
WISCONSIN STATE FAIR --Milwaukee, WI
Richard Marx
CONSOL ENERGY CENTER -- Pittsburgh, PA
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
RUPP ARENA -- Lexington, KY
Bruce Springsteen
Paul McCartney
FREEDOM HALL -- Louisville, KY
Janet Jackson/Chuckii Booker
MERSHON AUDITORIUM @ OSU --Columbus, OH
Margaret Cho
Wilco
WEXNER CENTER FOR THE ARTS @ OSU -- Columbus, OH
Rodriguez (performance space)
SONY THEATER -- Toronto, Canada
New Order
MIAMI UNIVERSITY -- Oxford, OH
Sting with Branford Marsalis
MIAMI UNIVERSITY MIDDLETOWN
Middletown, OH
Keb Mo
ACE OF CUPS -- Columbus, OH
Mission of Burma
OBIDIAH'S -- Dayton, OH
Modern English
LITTLE BROTHERS -- Columbus, OH
Amy Ray and the Butchies 
VICTORIA THEATER -- Dayton, OH
Poco/McGuffy Lane
Chuck Mangione
Jean-Luc Ponty x 2 
LUDLOW'S -- Columbus, OH
Marshall Crenshaw/drummer for Violent Femmes
Richard Thompson 
OLD WHALING CHURCH -- Edgartown, OH
Livingston Taylor 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS -- Dayton, OH
Kinfolks Soul Food Festival
Shaleque/Morris Day and the Time (original = Morris, drummer, keys Monte Moir)/Midnight Star (all original except missing two Calloway brothers)/SOS Band/Lakeside/Bootsy Collins 
OHIO STADIUM @ The Ohio Stadium University, Columbus, OH
the Rolling Stones
CAMP RANDALL STADIUM @ The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
the Rolling Stones/Lenny Kravitz
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION CENTER --Ypsilanti, MI
the Killers/Tegan and Sara
WOODLANDS TAVERN -- Columbus, OH
Roomful of Blues/Long Tall Deb
NELSON'S OPERA HOUSE -- Nelsonville, OH
Richard Thompson 
SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL -- Newport, KY
Marshall Crenshaw/the Bottle Rockets
Phil and Dave Alvin/Controlled by Radar 7-23-14
PARK STREET TAVERN -- Columbus, OH
Dr. John and the Night Trippers/Molly Winters 7-25-14
Harry Connick Jr -- all the shows above?
SHOWS I/WE DID NOT MAKE IT TO
New Order in Houston, TX -- airline cancelled our flight (GYR & TAT)
Billy Joel in Cleveland, OH -- snowstorm stopped us from getting there from Columbus (GYR & TAT)
Peter Gabriel/Jimmy Cliff -- Ken Zakel lost the tickets!!!! (KGZ & TAT)

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Phil and Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones at Southgate House Revival July 23, 2014

          On July 23, 2014, I attended a show at Southgate House Revival in Newport, Kentucky. Phil and Dave Alvin of the Blasters performed with three others ("the Guilty Ones"). They are playing in support of their recent release called 'Common Ground: the Songs of Big Bill Broonsy".
Venue: I have only been here once before, but I really enjoy this venue. It is a reconfigured church with good sight lines, an interesting vibe, and good acoustics.
     The gentleman manning the merch table was great -- he and I talked about "I Want My Name Back" (about Sugarhill Gang) and him seeing Marshall Tucker when the only "original" was a roadie!
Opener: Patrolled By Radar ("PBR" -- get it?), a two man twangy folky blues rock group. Some interesting tunes.
Headliners: The Alvin brothers played for nearly 2 hours. The band was impressive backing up the Alvins. Phil's voice still sounds terrific. They picked some great old bluesy, rockabilly material. The show was anticipated to contain no Blasters material, but they did play "Marie Marie" to excellent effect. They played many songs from the new CD. A really solid music performance from a talented group.
     The most enjoyable thing for me was the stories that Dave told between the songs. He talked about old records bought many years ago, family travels, concerts attended in the old days, and the original artists that they were covering. Excellent.
Meeting the band: I waited around with a group of other folks hoping the Alvin brothers would join us near the merch table for a chat and an autograph. I was armed with my trusty Sharpies and paint pens. I hoped to have the band sign the cover of the CD. When they did not come out, I was about to give up and drive home. I noted that a few folks (seemed to be friends of the band) had been ushered thru a door and the Alvins were there -- in what turned out to be the front of the church. A woman asked the security guy and he suggested we try going outside the building to the front facing the street -- what would initially have been the entrance to the church. The woman gave up as it was raining. I walked right up, paused, then asked the Alvin brothers for an autograph. Dave said "sure!". So I produced my CD and black Sharpie. They personalized it to "Tim". I told Phil I would see the Blasters in concert soon in Columbus. I asked him about the cover photo and he said that was from a place about 100 miles from their home at the time in California. I was VERY excited to get the autographs of Phil Alvin and Dave Alvin!
My personal rating: 4/5 stars.
Dave Alvin is on the left (hat). Phil Alvin is in the middle.