Goin' to see BOSTON tomorrow night!

[Ritchie200]

My lovely wife surprised me with tickets.  She even has us sitting on Tom Scholz' side of the stage (I've taught her well!)!  I think we are in the 5th or 6th row.  I can not wait!  Although this will probably cause me to break out my solid state Boston rack rig for a few weeks!

Here is the linup:
Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights - they sound good, like a rocked up Black Crows
April Wine - wow, have not seen these guys in about 30 years!  We will see how many original members are left...
Kansas - Steve Walsh is with them.  I've heard good and bad about his singing on this tour.  He had such an awesome voice, I hope there is a little left for us!
Boston - Oh yeah!!!
 

[Willabe]

My lovely wife surprised me with tickets.  She even has us sitting on Tom Scholz' side of the stage (I've taught her well!)!  I think we are in the 5th or 6th row.  I can not wait!

                          

I saw Kansas at the Aragon in '76? They were great, from what I rember?    (Long time ago and funny smoke filled the air.) The big guy up front and center (forget his name) who played violin and sings. I loved his voice too.

Have a good time Jim!


                   Brad      

(Hey what's with the tail piece on that Paul in the photo you posted?)

[Ritchie200]

That is a one knob adjuster (that he built - of course...) that will raise or lower all the strings a half step.  He found that while doing the outdoor gigs, the temperature and humidity change the tuning.  With this he can make incremental adjustments, until it settles in, as he plays without taking the guitar out of the mix to re-tune.  He said that with all the two and three way leads, everyone HAS to be in tune!  He has also fitted his LP nuts with a special roller system (that he built - of course...) to eliminate the intonation issues with open chords.

Here is a guy that I wish I could look inside his noggin and see what was going on!

"It's a party, party, PARTY!"

Jim

[Willabe]

That is a one knob adjuster (that he built - of course...) that will raise or lower all the strings a half step.

Huh, Ok.

Here is a guy that I wish I could look inside his noggin and see what was going on!

         I'm not goin in there, never know what you'll find.

Who knows you might find he's a closet Tele man?               

"It's a party, party, PARTY!"

Well I said have fun, not TOO much fun.   


                                Brad                  

[Platefire]

Wow! I seen Boston in 1976 at the Cotton Bowl in Houston Texas, along with Heart, Van Halen, Blue Oster cult, Sammy Hagar and some more I can't remember??? Them dudes are getting old because I am old 

[Ritchie200]

Ok, hero of the night....April Wine.  Just between you and me, Roller, Gypsy Queen, I like to rock (featured an extended Beatles/Stones jam).  These guys were SPOT on. They have some vocally challenging songs and they nailed it.  Great show!

Kansas....  Poor Steve Walsh.  On some of the less challenging songs you could here the old mojo.  The Wall was good. Dust was...well, not so good.  Steve at times sounded like a croaking Geddy Lee - not so good.  What ruined it most was the fricken fiddle player must have been related to the sound guy.  He completely covered up the guitar and vocals.  The band was tight, and you could easily see where bands like Dream Theater got their inspiration from.  I saw them with Queen in 1975 and the Point of no Return tour in '77 (?).  They just sounded tired and uninspired.

Boston - What a complete and total sonic experience!  They are so good live.  They also feature the one time Home Depot employee and Boston fan, Tommy DeCarlo.  He nailed Brad Delp and was very comfortable on stage.  Unfortunately Tom Scholz did not have a good night.  On several songs he was behind and there were several bum notes.  I've seen them probably a dozen times and Tom is always jumping around and smiling.  He spent last night running over to the sound guy and motioning and pointing.  I am guessing there was a monitor issue.  Tom did not crack a smile all night.  STILL, what an awesome show.  Gary Pihl (Hagars old guitarist from his early solo years) is Boston's current longest lasting member besides Tom, joining Boston for the Third Stage album.  He is so rock solid and certainly anchored the show.  His solos on Walk On were stunning.

Hurricane Issac was dumping on us all last night.  This was an amphitheater show and pretty much sold out.  The lawn was packed - they were troupers!  It was raining and blowing so hard, I'm sure the spray was making it to the stage.  We got wet and we were pretty much in the center under cover.  Whoever mixed last night should be fired.  Just when it would seem they got it right for half a song, something would change and it was screwed up.  They had the sub woofers cranked on the kick drums, off and on all night, and it just washed everything else out.

Still a good night of music!
Jim

[Ritchie200]

ps There were no Tele's in sight.  You have to remember, these are serious musicians.....

Jim