Stoned

Thanks for all the comments on my DFS (sounds like a government agency – and not the friendly kind.) Blocking may have to wait a bit. G leaves for South America tonight – and my little sister is coming to keep me company while he’s away through the weekend. Normally I’d go down to my other sister’s, the one with all those cutie kids, but the family’s taking a vacation up North, so…. My nephew informs me they will be taking the “Maximo,” the hugest Minivan to ever exist on Earth. There are four adults and five kids traveling together. My sister has no idea where he got the name Maximo – but it does include his name in it and it’s the HUGEST Minivan, so it’s not hard to make the connection.

Anyway, blocking will have to wait until tonight. Since I spent the last couple days constantly knitting, I’ve neglected everything else. I’ve got to get a couple packages together and I have to help G get packed and things are a bit crazy. But it’ll be worth the wait – I promise. And with my sister here, you might actually get me in a picture or two! Wouldn’t that be special?

On to the concert review.

I’d heard lots of things over my life about The Stones and how great they are in concert. Don’t believe the hype. It was definitely fun, don’t get me wrong, but in a goofy way – as in “My GOD, they’re ugly!” And, “Do you think Keith Richards is stoned, or that’s just how he is now?” And “If I have to see Mick’s stomach one more time I might puke.” The music was good – we wore earplugs (as we’re apt to do – I went to a concert a few years ago and my ears rang for three days – ever since – earplugs) and it actually sounded much better and clearer with the plugs in. The stage came out into the middle of the floor, right in front of our seats (about 10 rows away) and it was very cool. They played some good songs – songs I enjoyed hearing seeing that I’m not much of a fan. They ruined 19th Nervous Breakdown for G by playing a “new arrangement.” I guess artists get bored? And they disappointed me by switching out Shattered with Satisfaction and then putting You Can’t Always Get What You Want in the then vacant Satisfaction slot. (When they came out in the middle there were these clear plastic screens around Charlie Watts that contained the set list. As far as I can tell this was the only time they went off the list.) I would’ve much rathered have heard Shattered. Highlights of the evening: they did an AMAZING cover of Get Up, Stand Up. And Miss You. Miss You was really, really good.

Overall though, the concert left me cold. G and I discussed this on the way home. Now, I’m going to try not to compare the experience with a Springsteen concert. As you may already no, a Springsteen concert is the closet I’ve ever come to an ACTUAL religous experience. It’s so emotional for me I have to take a Xanax during the show. Really. I’m not bragging, I’m just stating facts. (There was no Xanax taken last night.) At a Bruce concert, which generally ranges 3+ hours, I know every word of every song, as do 99% of the people there. And pretty much 7 out of 10 people are ALSO having a religious experience. (I don’t include those people who are drunk about ten minutes into the show and are constantly BRUUUUUCING (sounds like BOOOING) and calling out for Candy’s Room every ten seconds. I HATE Candy’s Room.) There is an AMAZING connection between the artist and the crowd and the band. When Bruce sings, you see and feel every emotion contained in the song – on his face, in his body language, in the crowd reaction. It’s all there.

It wasn’t there last night. Again, I’m not going to compare the concert to a Bruce show, because, admittedly, I’m biased. But I will compare it to a WHO show. And maybe even a KISS show. I’ve seen both bands more than once. The Who shows come about as close to a Bruce show as I can probably get – and I’m not a HUGE Who fan. I mean, I like them and all, but I don’t play their records – more of a radio listen if you will. But the CONCERTS were AMAZING. I was totally into it, pumping my fist, connecting with the band and the crowd. I lost myself for a bit, which is what you want in a live environment, I think. KISS is totally different, but comparable. They’re putting on a show, as is Mick Jagger, and KISS just does it better. It’s a more cohesive show – it’s like Vegas in that way – everything’s choreographed and has a circus atmosphere to it and you get what you’ve paid for.

Last night I felt like there was no connection and not enough show. G felt the connection part was because the crowd was made up of mostly industry types who didn’t pay the $464.50 a ticket (seriously – that’s what it says on our stub – we didn’t pay either) or if they did pay, it was because they needed to see or be seen. Maybe if we had sat up in then nosebleeds the atmosphere would’ve been different, but I don’t think so. The band never connected with the crowd. Half the time while Mick was jumping around like he had ants in his pants or was channeling Michael Jackson, Keith Richards and Ron Wood were standing around chatting. And Mick sucked with the crowd banter. He pointed out that he saw a bunch of kids in the audience. And then he actually said something like, sorry kids, but there goes your education (meaning that the parents blew the college wad on tickets.) Tasteless at best.

I was bummed I didn’t get one of those flashing tongues that people were wearing.

Lest you think differently, it WAS a good time and I’m really glad we went. I don’t often go to concerts and when I do it’s usually Bruce and therefore an EXPERIENCE. It’s something I think about for days before and days after and find the bootleg so I can remember every minute of it forever. This was a concert – pure and simple. Not something I’m used to.

Blocking/wearing pictures to come. Patience, sweet ones.