Tuesday, March 13, 2018

What Did You Do For Spring Break 2018?

     I am a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. I first saw he and the E Street Band live on the Born In The USA tour in Cincinnati. I had been following news of and about his Broadway performances at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City. But I though it very unlikely that I would get to see one of those performances. But as my family's attempts to pull a family spring break trip together fell apart, my chance to go to NYC to see the show opened up.
     My weekend started with a Friday night (3-9-18) performance by Springsteen Family Tree members Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. I had never been fortunate enough to see them live, but was excited to finally catch a live performance. They were playing at Columbus, Ohio's Southern Theater. I was in the third row with my Canon G7x Mark II camera. Great show! Lots of energy, sing alongs, great songs, and what a band of musicians! A four star show!

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes

Goose, Johnny, and John

Southside Johnny and Goose

Southside Johnny

Southside Johnny on the harmonica

Southside Johnny

Southside Johnny on the harmonica

     I edited some photos that night on my laptop, headed to bed, then woke up early to take my son Adam to the airport so he could fly to NYC for a chess tournament with his Wellington School classmates (they got first place!). I then drove myself to my hotel across the river from New York City for the Springsteen show. 
     I arrived by Uber on Broadway for the show. The street was lit up with the lights of Broadway and thousands of folks off on an NYC adventure. 
The Walter Kerr Theater in New York City

An excited me and the sign.

A better picture of another sign advertising the Springsteen on Broadway show.

     You go through security before entering a line to get into the theater. A while before 8:00, the doors opened. You enter into the side (interesting!) of the theater itself. No lobby. No waiting area. There is a bar in the back and a nearby merchandise table. I bought a numbered poster for the event, a tee shirt, and a tote bag. All the items are nice and reasonably priced.
     I found my seat and talked with my neighbors - a couple down from Boston area (he has seen Bruce about 50 times), a younger couple from New Jersey (happy to have a night on the town with the babysitter watching the kids), and an interesting gentleman who heard I was from Columbus (he grew up in Columbus, went to Kent State, and now lives in the Bay Area). Of note, you could not possibly have a bad seat - the theater holds less than 1000 and the sight lines are great.
     As the crowd filed in, I looked closer to the stage. Down in front was Nathaniel Rateliff! I love Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, having seen them three times! When I mentioned that he was right there in the theater, no one around me knew who he was (yipes!). When he walked up the aisle towards me, I walked closer and asked him if I could shake his hand. He shook my hand and we talked about me seeing him before, the new album just out, and we said our goodbyes. I was so happy! To meet an artist whom I love at this show was magical.
     I would have loved to be down in front (never been for one of the 21 times I have seen Bruce) and had my Canon G7x Mark II with me (not allowed! The only pictures allowed are photos at the end when the house lights come up). But even without those, the night was magical. The show consists of Bruce alone in the spotlight, either with an acoustic guitar or at the piano. He tells stories. He sings songs. It is funny, moving, rocking, and a great show. It lasts about 2 hours with no intermission. It was a five star show. So, so happy I went.

Bruce Springsteen at the Walter Kerr Theater, New York City.

The lights come up and photos are allowed.

Bruce Springsteen

     I chatted some more with the gentleman from Ohio. We headed outside to see if Bruce could be seen exiting the theater. There was talk in the theater that sometimes he says "hello" to the fans or signs autographs. The stage door is right next to the theater entrance. They have it fenced off so some few dozen fans are right down in front. Then people are farther down or across the street hoping for a glimpse of the man. I spoke with a nice couple from Maryland about seeing Southside Johnny and shaking Nathaniel Rateliff's hand.
Bruce rounding the SUV to enter the front passenger side after leaving the theater.

     All of sudden, the door opens and Bruce and his security folks walk out. He waves and says "hi" in general. People are shouting and waving. Bruce rounds the vehicle, enters, and they drive away. That is the closest I believe I have ever been to the man. Fun way to end the evening. So I Ubered back to the hotel, thrilled with an exciting night.
     The following morning (Sunday, 3-11-18), I packed and left for the Jersey Shore. I had always thought it would be amazing to drive around Freehold and Asbury Park, New Jersey and explore the places where Bruce grew up. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. I drove into Freehold. And found the first stop: St. Rose of Lima Church. I parked nearby and took my camera and walked around.
St. Rose of Lima School, where Bruce attended school.

The St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church where Bruce Springsteen's family attended.

The driveway between the pole and 87 Randolph Street is all that remains of the Springsteen residence where he and his family lived next to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. 

Ok, I find this humorous: I like many am standing next to the wrong tree at 39 1/2 Institute Street in Freehold. Bruce stood next to the tree seen behind me for a photo shoot for 'Born In The USA'. Rookie mistake!

Freehold Borough High School, where Bruce attended high school.

     So I drive into Asbury Park, excited to look around. It happens to be a happening Sunday as it is the day of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, right in the heart of town. I find a place to park and head down to the boardwalk and the beach.
Me on the beach with the Convention Hall behind me.

The Asbury Park beach was sunny but cold!

I love weathered wood on boardwalks, docks, and homes. I love the visual.

A mural of Bruce and the band.

Convention Hall - Asbury Park

The "new" Madam Marie's on the Boardwalk.

"Sound of Asbury Park" plaque.

The legendary Stone Pony!

The Wonder Bar with the recreated Tillie.

The Music Academy Benefit Show was going on at the Stone Pony that day. For $20 I was able to head inside. I was happy to be able to enter during a live event. The walls are a history lesson: hundreds of photos and dozens of signed guitars cover the walls. Such a historic venue!
The stage of The Stone Pony - Music Academy performance.

The inside of the Stone Pony.

     I was running on not-enough-sleep and still had to drive to Philadelphia, so I hoped in the SUV to head up to Phillie. I grabbed a delicious cheesesteak and cheese fries at Vienna Pizza & Pasta in Malvern, PA as I headed to my hotel. After a nap and a change of clothes (and some more editing of photos on my laptop), I headed to my destination: Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA. The performer that night: Chaka Khan. The Queen of Funk was on my Top 10 Still-Performing Artists I've Not Seen Live list, though I may have seen her at the Kool Jazz Festival in the mid-80's in Cincinnati. But I was very excited to see her. I had been to the historic Tower Theater once before - for a Bryan Ferry show on my birthday a few years ago.
Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan smiling for the audience.

Chaka Khan

The funky drummer.

The drummer.

Chaka Khan, the Queen of Funk

The band with Chaka Khan.

The band was terrific! And the backup singers were amazing. It helped that they were amazing as Ms. Khan said she had a cold and her voice was not 100%. But they played all the hits (except "Through The Fire"). And the stage worker gave me a set list when I asked! Solid four star show! So happy I was there to see it.

     There was one last, very important part of the trip: Beiler's Doughnuts. If you are unfamiliar, you need to find a way to try these delicious yeast donuts! They are my favorite food ever! 
     As there are now four locations and the Lancaster, PA location was "on my way" (I would go out of my way for these doughnuts any day!), I headed there. 
Boiler's in Lancaster, PA

Oh my! The anticipation!

I managed to only eat three! Oh, they are delicious!

     The donuts were amazing as I remembered. With a happy heart and full stomach, I headed back to home. 
     What did I do over my Spring Break? I had a great time!





Saturday, November 25, 2017

Jay-Z with special guest Vic Mensa 11/19/17 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

     I was very excited to see Jay-Z live for the first time. I have long admired his music and looked forward to seeing him in concert. I was a little less excited to see him on a Sunday night out of town when I had to be at work the following day at 8 a.m. But when has that stopped me?
VENUE: Quicken Loans Arena is the downtown Cleveland, Ohio home of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers and hosts many other events, including concerts. I have seen four Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concerts at the venue over the years, plus the Guns 'n' Roses show 10/26/17. I had a fourth row, lower bowl ticket. It turns out Jay-Z had a circular stage in the middle of the venue and I had a great seat.
MERCH: Jay-Z had quite a few tee shirts, hoodies, and hats for sale. Quite nice, although on the expensive side.
OPENER: I was familiar with Vic Mensa but had not seen him live. He was on stage with two multi-instrumentalists. During one song late in the set, fellow Chicagoan Malik Yusef came on to do a spoken word rap before Mensa's song. Enjoyable set.

Vic Mensa

Vic Mensa

Vic Mensa

Vic Mensa

Vic Mensa

Vic Mensa

Vic Mensa with his multi-instrumentalists.

Vic Mensa - the flagpole rotated so that the entire arena could read the flag.

Vic Mensa

Malik Yusef with Vic Mensa

HEADLINER: Jay-Z performed on a stage in the center of the arena floor with four large video panels. The musicians and DJ were in recessed areas on the stage, nearly invisible to the crowd. This gave Jay-Z a commanding presence on the stage. It also gave the crowd an easy view of Mr. Shawn Carter.
     Jay-Z is touring in support of his 4:44 album. The shows on this tour so far have had a very similar or identical set list. The set list has featured classic from Jay-Z as well as tracks from the latest release. This show followed the same blueprint as previous shows this tour.
     Jay-Z has a commanding stage presence. He moved about the stage with the crowd following his every move. His vocals were excellent. And the video screens were used effectively, with recorded content and live feed of video from the stage.

Jay-Z on stage.

The video boards were used to excellent effect.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

"Blind For Love"

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

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Jay-Z - one of my favorite of the photos.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z - another favorite photo.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z with the crowd bathed in red light.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Jay-Z

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Jay-Z

Jay-Z

     At the end of the concert, Jay-Z performed "Smile", written about his mother coming out to him. I am glad he performs this live. Thanks Jay-Z. And thanks for closing with "Encore/Numb", the mash-up collaboration with Linkin Park - this time with an introduction by Jay-Z in tribute to Chester Bennington and a plea for support for those with mental health needs.
     Overall, a great show and I am so happy I was there. Four and a half stars out of five.