It was the first night of the tour. The summer concert season was beginning. The crowd was amped and the bands were equally as excited.
So here are some observations of the event.
The doors to the stadium opened at 4 PM and the first act, Uncle Kracker, was scheduled to be on at 5 PM. Amazingly, Uncle Kracker was onstage right at 5 PM and the evening began under a bright blue sky and hot sun with temperatures in the high 80s.
The stadium was mostly empty when the show began. People continued arriving right up until Kenny Chesney took the stage at 9 PM.
Uncle Kracker
Uncle Kracker
Great performance. Lot's of energy and a lot of fun. He sand songs we knew and could sing along with. He was in a tough spot, being the first act of the evening with a mostly empty stadium, but he handled it very well. I was glad he got to return with Kenny later in the show for a couple songs.
Uncle Kracker Grade: A
Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney is a solid musician and sings enjoyable songs accompanied by an excellent band. I was disappointed that she came across as a Taylor Swift wannabe. The way she dressed and sang suggested she was imitating Taylor's style to expand her audience.
She showed a great stage presence during her performance. I enjoyed her and her band, I especially loved their tee-shirts which read EMO Cowgirl. I think she would have done better to stick with that identity rather than emulate the Taylor Swift look.
Megan Moroney Grade: B
Zack Brown Band
Zac Brown Band
What is not to love about the Zac Brown Band? They put on a great show and are headliners in their own right. Their music was superbly performed and the tribute to Jimmy Buffet, Pirates and Parrots, was well done.
I enjoyed their well-known songs and was able to really sing along as the crowd grew and sunset approached. They performed a full show and I was left fully appreciating the band and their songs as well as their versatility. I was most impressed with the cover of Charlie Daniels's The Devil Went Down to Georgia. I never would have believed anyone could play it faster or as good as the original, but I was wrong. I was mesmerized by the fiddle and the overall execution of the song.
The band also covered U2s, With or Without You, which was a lot of fun to sing with them.
Zac Brown Band Grade: A
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
What to say. Kenny was fantastic! The energy and the song selection was perfect for the evening. I had thought we would hear more songs from the new Born album, but I think there was just one: Take Her Home.
I was amazed at his energy and command of the stage. This is the third time I have been to a Kenny Chesney concert and they each seem to be better. His music has evolved, but the real crowd pleasers are all fast moving songs that speak to the No Shoes Nation mentality.
Kenny's band was fabulous and each member had a showcase moment.
The set began about 9 PM and continued until almost 11 PM--without a stop. The two songs with Uncle Kracker were great and well done. It was fun being part of and watching the crowd respond to Kenny and his music. The Come Monday tribute to Jimmy Buffett was excellent.
Being the first show of the series, there were some small miscues, especially the handoff between the Kenny and the stage hand with the guitars. Late in the show Kenny displayed some evidence of tired voice--but it was a long day for all of us.
One other note--the encore could have included some of the songs not in the program, like Boys of Fall and Anything but Mine. I'm not sure if the encore was truncated by a stadium imposed hard stop at 11 PM.
Restroom Facilities for Floor Seating Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL April 20, 2024
I wish I had positive comments for Raymond James Stadium, but sadly the venue leaves a lot to be desired, especially given the cost of the tickets.
Arrival was smooth as I had secured parking in advance.
Parking was the easiest part of the evening. We were seated on the floor and that meant we got the worst in terms of food and restroom facilities. Using the restroom, the port-a-potty area, meant fighting the crowd streaming in or trying to get food to get back outside the stadium. It was not pleasant. The food area was too small and located in the same hallway as the entrance and the passage to the relief area. That meant it was always too crowded. Drinks were readily available, however. During the break between Zac Brown Band and Kenny Chesney there was not enough time to use the restrooms due to the apparent under planning by the stadium staff.
But the tragedy of the evening was departing the parking, for which we paid $50 plus tax. It took 45 minutes to get out of the lot because no one was directing traffic. Then, once out of the lot we were forced to drive away from our desired destination for miles before being able to hop onto an interstate and drive back through the stadium departing traffic to get to our hotel. In the end, the 3 mile journey back to the hotel turned into a 10 mile drive.
Raymond James Stadium Grade: D-
I have attached a 3 minute video of portions of the evening just to give a sense at how great was the evening we enjoyed.
We are in Tampa and Uncle Kracker the opening act just left the stage. It is 86 degrees, low humidity, and clear skies. A beautiful afternoon/evening for a concert.
Wow it has been a while. We definitely do not know how to tailgate before a concert.
The Lyric is an intimate venue and the band filled the house with Neil Diamond tunes all night. David Jericko does a good job as Neil Diamond, and I have seen Neil in concert multiple times. The band encouraged the audience to participate and sing along although some of the concert-goers perhaps got into the night a bit too much, which is not a bad thing; just distracting.
I was touched by couple of the songs, one in particular, America. I was torn singing these great lyrics about how America is the shining star for immigrants, yet against the current political backdrop that is no longer true. The lyrics say:
Home
To a new and a shiny place
Make our bed and we'll say our grace
Freedom's light burning warm
Freedom's light burning warm
Everywhere around the world
Somehow, I don't believe we are the shiny place that welcomes immigrants trying to escape from a dismal life anymore.
But, all of that aside, the band was great and I took a video of them doing the song Desiree to remember them by.
It was a great night and I recommend seeing this tribute band if you like Neil Diamond's music.
Free Fallin Big Cork Vineyards Rhorersville, MD May 28, 2023
Saturday was concert night. Last evening we went with friends to Big Cork Vineyards for the Summer Concert Series. The featured band was Free Fallin, a Tom Petty tribute band. It was a beautiful evening for an outdoors concert. As the concert progressed, the sky began to become a visual experience of its own. Combined with the music of Tom Petty, the evening became a visual and auditory experience to enjoy.
The band hails from Minnesota and has been together for 17 years playing Tom Petty music. I have to admit, I am not a huge Tom Petty musical fan, however, the music on the lawn of the winery last evening was enjoyable and during the second set the band played the greatest hits of Tom Petty. I admit, I knew the tunes, but not all of the words so I used my phone to access the lyrics so that I could sing along.
The band has an authentic Tom Petty sound and look. They connected very well with the assembled masses on the lawn. Big Cork is a beautiful venue for concerts and, being a vineyard, the wine flows freely. There were food trucks for those who desired some food and I enjoyed the ice cream truck which I sampled during the intermission.
It was a great evening with friends in the Maryland Mountains under a stunning late-Spring sky. It was also the perfect way to begin a holiday weekend.
I recommend the band and the music. If they play at a venue near you, go see them if you like even one Tom Petty song! You will come away appreciating the music even more. It was a great evening.
Witham Field, Stuart Airport, Stuart Florida March 26, 2023
As I mentioned in my Monday Musings this week, Chris and I attended a Rodney Atkins concert in Stuart, Florida, on Sunday night.
The concert was in a field at Witham Field, the Stuart Airport, and it was a fun venue. The concert was staged to support the Farm Dog Rescue charity and I felt it was a well attended event. I very much appreciated the reasonable prices for beverages, including adult beverages, and the presence of food trucks on-site to provide a variety of dining opportunities.
Maggie Baugh was the opening act and went onstage right on time. She covered a range of classic country and sang some of her own compositions. Her vocals were strong, but she really showed off when she grabbed her fiddle. She covered Charlie Daniels' The Devil Went Down to Georgia and while the vocals were a bit rough, the fiddle playing was excellent. She provided a great and enjoyable opening act.
Rodney Atkins Witham Field, Stuart, FL March 26, 2023
Rodney Atkins' portion of the show was solid. He saved his hits for last and I was almost afraid that If you're going Through Hell was going to be left out--but it was his final number and also his strongest performance of the night. His portion of the show lasted about 90 minutes and highlighted especially the expertise of his band. During the first portion of the show I felt that Rodney's vocals sounded tired. He strained for the high notes which were mostly unsupported. I never felt he connected with the crowd except in the most superficial manner. The second part of the show was much improved vocally as Rodney really seemed to enjoy singing and telling stories related to his hits.
Rodney covered a classic 1967 Buffalo Springfield song, For What Its Worth(a/k/a/ Stop Hey, What's That Sound). I enjoyed reliving the experience of the 1960's right up until he changed the words to reference "not let them take our guns" or something like that. The is no reference to taking guns away in the original song and while the sentiment may reflect his personal political views, and played well to the Florida crowd, in light of the gun violence related tragedies happening across America I felt it inappropriate.
I have a one minute video of the night from during the first part of the show. Lighting was a problem. The stage had a couple of bright lights that often were blinding. The sound, however, was expertly mixed and provided a clear and balanced experience.
Overall, I enjoyed the concert and am looking forward to supporting the Farm Dog Rescue next year. It was fun to see the performer of some of my favorite songs in person.
Yellow Brick Road Big Cork Vineyards, Rohersville, MD May 28, 2022
One would think I was off to Oz, but in fact I was at my favorite East Coast Winery to enjoy a night of Elton John music performed by Yellow Brick Road.
It was a great evening at Big Cork Vineyards in Rohersville, Maryland. The lawn was packed with Elton John fans by the time the show began and the wine was flowing freely. The weather was nearly perfect. The temperatures remained moderate, the skies cleared during the show and the winds were calm. It made for a great night of music and fun.
Yellow Brick Road Big Cork Vineyards, Rohersville, MD May 28, 2022
The band generated energy which the crowd reflected back to them as the show continued. The first set was relatively slow punctuated by long, almost too long, instrumentals and highlighting some of Elton John's lesser known hits. The highlights of the first set were Rocket Man and Candle in the Wind.
After the intermission, the show began to really rock with every song being a classic. This is where the band energy increased as did that of the crowd. I found myself near the front of the stage dancing for most of the set--and singing as loudly as I could and slightly off key as I could. There was good interaction with the band as they at times encouraged the crowd to sing the refrain from some of the songs. As darkness fell, the excitement grew with each familiar song. The highlights I remember were Benny and the Jets, Philadelphia Freedom, Crocodile Rock, Levon, Tiny Dancer, and a great rendition of Pinball Wizard.
I was able to take a short video of the band doing Philadelphia Freedom which also shows the crowd.
Yeah, we had a good time! I recommend an evening with this band if you get the chance.
I am not a huge fan of concerts, especially when I don't know the band.
Last evening, however, our Friday evening Happy Hour group attended a concert in Columbia along the banks of Lake Kittamaqundi and had a great time.
I was amazed at the crowd that showed. The image I took was just before the music began and as the concert started even more people arrived. We were able to maintain good physical spacing from the other people, but still felt like we were part of the fun.
What a special day was the last day of my favorite month of the year. I began the day with golf and ended the day with friends enjoying oldies and maybe a few glasses of wine! It was an end to end day where I saw the sunrise and partied at sunset.
Why can't every day be like that? Because then it would become routine and be special.
1964 The Tribute Big Cork Winery Rohrersville, MD June 26, 2021
On a beautiful summer evening, perched on a grapevine covered hillside as the sun was setting down the valley, Chris and I attended a no kidding real concert last evening in Rohrersville, Maryland to enjoy the music of 1964 The Tribute. The band plays primarily the music of The Beatles and dresses the part. The advertise themselves as providing a Beatles concert experience as it was 50 years ago.
1964 The Tribute Big Cork Winery Rohrersville, MD June 26, 2021
Of course the concert was hosted by our favorite winery, Big Cork Vineyards and we were seated on the lawn with hundreds of other people who appreciated the music of the Beatles. It was a fun and fast moving evening.
The band covers not only the music of the Beatles, but added in some other period songs as well. The band attempts to be authentic in the way they speak and the musician playing there part of Paul McCartney even plays the bass guitar left handed. We were seated along the area where the band entered and departed the stage. It was fun to see the performers up close.
By way of a review--the band did an authentic job of trying to represent the Beatles during their early years. The first set was well put together with a nice mix of songs. The second set dragged in the middle as if the band was trying to save energy for the final songs and the encore. Covering a Buck Owens song, Act Naturally, in the middle of the second set did not fit the mood of the evening. If the band wanted to pay homage to an American song writer/songer something by Johnny Cash from the period might have played better. The finale and encore were worth the wait, however, as the crowd did finally enthusiastically dance as the band played it final music of the evening.
It was a great evening and we enjoyed the well-balanced wines of Big Cork along with the music. The staff at the venue was superior. The only comment on the venue would be that pop-up dining canopy's should be at the back of the seating area. In the middle, as many of them were, caused for obstructed viewing of the band and the show. I was told that people started arriving for the show early in the day!
Great weather, great music, the best wine in Maryland--what could make for a better evening?
Billy Coulter (L) and Arch (R) Cellar Music House Concert January 25, 2020
Last evening, Chris and I attended a house concert featuring Billy Coulter and Arch. The concert was the revival of the Cellar Music House Concert Series which had been dormant for a few years. It was a nice evening for a house concert as the weather was nice and did not present difficulties for driving. To make the evening even better, the music was fabulous. Billy Coulter has a nice easy rock sound with lyrics that come from the heart. He is well known in the D.C. area and has won many local awards. He related a story where one of his songs was even used in by a national news outlet. Billy and Arch make a great duo and it is clear that they have played together often and they work together as a smoothly functioning team to create enjoyable and compelling music.
I added a short video to help visualize the venue and highlight the performers.
Cellar Music House Concerts creates an intimate forum with close access to the artists. The room allows for good viewing and easy access. It is in the basement, or cellar, and so there are stairs. The crowd last evening was friendly and enjoyed the performance. The exchange of food and drink made the evening a perfect--good food, great drink, and fabulous music. What could possibly be better? -- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Kenny Chesney
Merriweather Post Pavilion
August 22, 2018
The No Shoes Nation got together last evening for a fantastic performance at Merriweather Post Pavilion as, for the last time, Old Dominion opened for Kenny Chesney. It was a great concert. When the music finally ended about 10:30 PM the crowd was almost as exhausted as the performers, having been on our feet for the entire Kenny Chesney performance which lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Old Dominion
August 22, 2018
Old Dominion led off the party with a fantastic opening set. It, reportedly, was the last time the band would open for Kenny, as their three year relationship comes to an end one concert shy of the end of the tour. They were a solid opening act and will be headlining soon on their own tour, I am sure. The music was exciting, the atmosphere of the pavilion unrestrained, and neither performance disappointed. This was my second Kenny Chesney concert. I remember that he was not the huge hit that he is now when I attended my first Chesney show on the lawn at Merriweather. Last night, the entire venue was crammed with fans and everyone was on their best behavior. Fortunately, the weather was excellent and that made the event all the more enjoyable. The show was a sell-out and Chris and I were lucky to have seats in the pavilion. even though we stood for the most of the night, at least we had our space.
It was a great evening for the No Shoes Nation and I am glad that I was there. -- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Concert at Big Cork Vineyards Rohrersville, MD July 28, 2018
Chris and I had the opportunity to enjoy some authentic Beatle's music Saturday night at our favorite Maryland vineyard, Big Cork Vineyards as we attended a concert by 1964 the Tribute. It was a beautiful Maryland evening with moderate temperatures, low humidity, and almost no bugs. The wines were flowing freely and the venue was spectacular--especially the view of the mountains across the valley which made perfect backdrop for the concert. It was a perfect blending for the evening. Wine, either, and music. We had seen the band on two other occasions, a few years ago, but this performance on the lawn was definitely memorable. And enjoyable.
The concert was the reason we went "west" and spent the weekend in the area, but it was a lot of fun and was definitely worth the effort. The band sang most of the classic Beatles songs from their early years after landing in America. The show was full of humor and the performers aptly reproduced the spirit of a real Beatles show although, bring much younger during 1964, I never actually attended a Beatles concert in person. We had fun and we would definitely do it again. Thank you Big Cork for staging the event! -- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
It had been a great couple of days. Thursday was Orioles Opening Day and last evening Chris and I made our first ever visit to a Jimmy Buffett concert.
Jimmy Buffett
The concert, admittedly, was held in one of my least favorite venues, the Royal Farms Arena, but the evening and the music overcame the too numerous to count shortcomings of the location. The concert, however, was fabulous. Even the opening act, Caroline Jones, was a pleasure to listen to for the 25 minutes she was on stage.
Inconsiderate Youths
Once Jimmy and the band took the stage, they never relinquished it until the even was, all too quickly, over. They performed for just over two hours and did all the greats. I was amazed when I realized that Jimmy Buffett is about 72 years old and he is still filling concert halls to hear his special brand of music. The age of the concert goers was similar. Most everyone sitting around me appeared eligible for Social Security, with the exception of two inconsiderate young ladies in front of us.
It is not the money, mind you, but tickets to this concert were not inexpensive. These two ladies stood all evening, even when the rest of the crowd sat. They blocked my view of the stage. It was most annoying and continues to be one of the reasons that I am not a more frequent concert goer--inconsiderate patrons. At a baseball game the ushers take care of such problems, at the concert there was not an usher in sight and the young ladies would not respond to requests to sit and let those behind them see clearly.
Jimmy Buffett concert
Back to the concert, however. The setlist was well constructed and the acoustics were good and the music was not too loud. The songs evoked a summertime feeling that will carry with me until I am in Florida again. I did enjoy especially It's Five O'clock Somewhere and of course Margaritaville.
This was an old-style concert where the performer stands in front of the crowd surrounded by his band an just plays the songs that made him great! Nothing more was required and there were no pyrotechnics or loud noises. No laser light shows, just big screens so that we could see the concert despite the girls in front of me. The backgrounds one the screens changed and were nicely choreographed with the music. The test for any event I attend is answering the question, would I do it again? Yes! Next time he is in town I expect to be there. It was a great night. -- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
It was a hot and sultry Sunday night in Baltimore when Third Eye Blind played at the Pier Six Pavilion. It was my first concert at the Pier Six pavilion and I really did not know what to expect. The venue is covered open air and the sights of the city mix with the atmosphere in the concert area to create a unique environment for the show.
Stephan Jenkins Baltimore, MD June 18, 2017
Third Eye Blind presented an energetic and musical show. The highlight was celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first album which was played complete and in order, except for the last song, God of Wine which was the appropriate closer for the show. Full disclosure, I like Third Eye Blind but I do not have all of the music memorized, but the music I have memorized is almost entirely from the first album.
Shadow in the Lights
The band came on stage just after 9 PM and played a 30 minute opening set of newer music before transitioning to the first album. The setlist from the show shows that 21 songs were played. The set for the show was stimulating and bright. Working without the massive big screens of many entertainers, the show was reminiscent of a classic rock concert of two decades ago. I liked a comment that Stephan Jenkins made about being a real rock band with no added backtracks or synthesizers. The crowd was nothing short of adoring and clearly knew all of the words to all of the songs. The band was awesome and the drummer, Brad Hargreaves, of course, stole the show during a couple of sequences which highlighted his abilities. This was a great show for a great classically organized rock band. The energy was infectious and most of the crowd did not sit down for the entire show. There were no "slow" songs and only a couple "slower" pieces. It should be noted that this is an adult band and the lyrics deal with topics that are not suitable for the younger generation. Great show, high energy and exceptionally performed music! -- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Last evening was one of the first of the lasts. Waugh Chapel Elementary School held their performing arts concerts and Jackson, known better as a lights out third baseman for the GORC Intramural U10 Pirates, performed as a member of the orchestra on his, if you can believe it, violin! I was late to the concert, due to traffic and poor planning on my part, but I did enjoy seeing him perform. Tonight we will be on the baseball field and there will be no talk of violins or concerts, but last evening, Jax was front and center, OK--he was in the back row, of the third grade strings section.
Jax with Violin
And so it begins, the series of lasts associated with the impending end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation. I have many fond memories of summertime and roaming the hills around our house in Central New York. And I remember all of the "lasts" associated with the end of the school year. The last game, concert, or test. I guess my favorite last was the last day of school! That is truly the best last of all. The end of the school year is a time for celebration, and the "lasts" just help to make the most of each opportunity. Good job last evening Jax! -- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Garth Brooks concert
January 29, 2016
Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore
I last attended a Garth Brooks concert was almost 20 years ago, during April 1996, at an arena in Landover, Maryland, that no longer exists. It was worth the wait. Some things, like fine wines, get better with age and maturity.
The Line Waiting to get into the Arena for
Garth Brooks
January 29, 2016
Garth Brooks is one of those things. The setlist from last night shows the diversity of the music and the experience. I was amazed that there were 33 songs on the setlist because it seemed to rush by so quickly. During April 1996, according to the records that I can find, there were only 22 songs on the setlist! And they were not so nearly diverse. Garth is a showman and he connects with the crowd. I felt that he was truly dedicated to ensuring everyone in the arena had a great time with his music. Like he said, he was going to do all the old songs that everyone knew--and he did.
Garth Brooks
Royal Farms Arena
January 29, 2016
People had lined up well in advance of the concert to get inside and I stood in line for about 30 minutes. I was glad that I was not disappointed. I have read reports of performers who play the setlist while watching the clock waiting for the concert to end. Garth definitely did not do that. He was on stage and fully engaged the entire time, with the exception of when Trisha Yearwood sang a few of her hits, demonstrating the showmanship the took him to the top of his craft during the late 1990's.
Garth Brooks
Royal Farms Arena
January 29, 2016
He is back. He has been back for a while now, but last evening was his inaugural concert in Baltimore! I know, he was supposed to perform last weekend but the blizzard forced a reschedule and so I was at his first ever performance in Charm City, AKA, Baltimore. There are four more concerts left for Baltimore to enjoy. The energy and the excitement are difficult for any entertainer to match and my recommendation is simply--get tickets and go see Garth! Whatever the cost, the show is worth it.
I can tell that the end of another school year is fast approaching. The lasts are beginning to out number the firsts.
Ethan with Cello
Last evening, I attended the Waugh Chapel Elementary School Spring Concert. It was Ethan's evening to shine and to demonstrate how his cello prowess has improved during the course of another school year. Especially with stringed instruments it is easy to follow the progression from disconnected noises to music as a child learns to play. I attended the concert which was another well planned event at the school. Elementary schools generally have limited parking and limited seating capacity for the throngs of people who want to attend the concerts. Years ago, the band and the strings performed during the same show--a catastrophe for both seating and parking. Now they wisely separate the performances by about a half hour which allows the string parents and students to clear the seats and making lot in time for the band parents and students to arrive. It is a much more pleasant experience. Waugh Chapel Elementary Strings performing Rustic Dance by M. Williams.
The advanced strings performed five pieces and I recorded four--suffering a equipment malfunction during the fifth, and of course that would be the one in which Ethan and his cello carried the lead for a long time. Waugh Chapel Elementary Strings performing Honor and Glory by S. Newbolt
Waugh Chapel Elementary Strings performing Minuet from the Royal Fireworks by G.F. Handel arranged by J. Capenegro.
Waugh Chapel Elementary Strings performing Let if Go by B. May arranged by P. Lavender.
All of them are available on my You Tube channel. Good job to all of the young musicians. Enjoy the show. -- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday evening I attended a Cellar Music concert featuring Naked Blue and Eric Scott. In short it was another home run from Cellar Music. A thoroughly enjoyable evening of friends, food, wine and fantastic music.
Naked Blue
Naked Blue led off the show with tightly crafted vocals and guitar riffs that were fun to listen to and accompanied by easy to understand lyrics. Having been performing for 20 years, the duo has everything, including great stories which punctuate the performance and provide a perfect backdrop to the music. It is clear that Jen and Scott know each other's music very well. The folk qualty to the music is enjoyable and the lyrics are very deep.
One of the highlights of the set was when Jen and Scott did their song We Will Fly, which has been recorded by Evangeline.
Scott Smith, Bryan Ewald, Jen Smith, Eric Scott Jamming
The second highlight occurred when they invited Eric Scott and Bryan Ewald joined the duo for some impromptu music. I have to admit, it has been a longtime since I have seen music made and not just performed--but Saturday night I was lucky to experience the thrill of watching music being made again and it was truly special.
Following Naked Blue, and an intermission, Eric Scott accompanied by Bryan Ewald took the stage and the crowd of about 60 were treated to Eric's smooth and accomplished voice and lyrics. Eric is not a small guy, but he has a special voice which is smooth and does not show the wear and tear of too many shows and too late nights. Eric's best song of the night was his song Victim.
The night ended too soon--even though it went late. The music was magical and the gathered people were into the songs--most of which were very singable.
The symphony meets a rock band and everyone wins. That is how I will remember this evening of music titled "The Music of Elton John And More." It was presented as part of the Superpops BSO Series, and it was, in a word, fabulous.
Saturday evening, October 15th, we trundled off to the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore for an evening of music. The orchestra was under the direction of David Amado from the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and the five person rock band was led by Michael Cavanaugh. The blending of these two seemingly dissimilar musical groups was accomplished in a masterful manner--although I felt the orchestra could have been given a larger part in some places.
The evening progressed through a series of old favorite rock songs anchored by some Elton John classics. Each song highlighted the talents of the band and the orchestrate to collaborate and present a delightful musical tribute to the songwriter.
I especially enjoyed the orchestra-led piece, "Riffer Madness" which took us on a tour of the great rock band riffs of all time. And I also really enjoyed the rendition of Billy Joel's "Piano Man." Don't get me wrong, the Elton John hits were great too, and I came to hear those, but these two among the many songs of the evening really stood out.
The songs highlighted Cavanaugh's many musical talents as a pianist, vocalist, guitar player and all around talented musician. He led the evening and the audience through the songs while keeping everything moving and exciting with each new twist. Not content to merely cover the old songs, he also provided appropriate interpretation to some of them which made the old songs--some from the 50's like Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" seem alive and new.
Cavanaugh's band was similarly musically talented with Johnny Fedevich on drums; Jamie Hosmer on keyboard, back-up vocals, and second or third guitar; Giovanno Mastro on lead guitar and back-up vocals; and Billy Venditti on bass and back-up vocals. Their ability to work together on stage and create music sandwiched between a potentially overpowering symphony orchestra and a demanding audience is not to be over looked. They each were provided the opportunity to display their multiple talents in appropriate places.
Sadly, the evening was not without some technical glitches and there was a hot line somewhere that periodically provided an annoying buzzing sound in the speakers which never seemed to be found or fixed. Also, the Meyerhoff is a traffic and parking mess during performances. I continue to be amazed that the city has not found a way to redesign the traffic patterns to encourage rapid ingress and then egress after the performances.
But despite these annoyances it was a great performance and blending of the BSO and the band. What made the evening even more enjoyable was Cavanaugh's persistent efforts to get the audience participating in the execution of the songs. As those in attendance warmed up to the idea of singing along in specific places, the music began to be created not just from the stage, but in the hearts of those in attendance.
A great evening of music that left my heart singing and gave me a few more tracks to find on iTunes and add to my collection.
Saturday evening Chris and I attended another house concert in the series provided by Cellar Music House Concerts. Sadly, this concert was not heavily attended, probably because of the type of music--Matt Wigler is a jazz and blues pianist, composer, organist, and singer.
I admit, I am not a huge jazz and blues fan, but Saturday night changed my view of this genre of music. Matt, accompanied by Mike Aubin on the drums, provided a hugely entertaining, dynamic, and varied performance full of energy and enthusiasm for the music. Most importantly, it was fun!
Matt and Mike displayed a comfortable, jam session like attitude and ease right from the start. Their ability to improvise on the fly was obvious and that they play and work together a great deal was evident. Matt's piano work was fantastic and at one point I thought I would need to get a bucket of water to cool off the keys on the piano because his hands were flying over them so quickly making music that I was sure they were getting hot.
Matt is a talented vocalist as well and his singing ability simply highlights his multifaceted talent as a pianist, organist, singer, and songwriter. I was impressed that he was a visiting artist at the Strathmore Artist in Residence this past year and it shows in is music. His own compositions displayed a variety and depth in style and composition that highlighted a maturity in music beyond is years. They were interesting and complex in design with competing rhythms and themes. I admit, my favorite pieces of the evening were the Boogie Woogie ones which were cried by his ability to play a strong bass line.
This was a great concert and I need to also highlight Mike Aubin's smooth percussion work which complimented, and at times led, the performance. The two musicians appeared to work together effortlessly and easily through some really difficult pieces.
Gary and Pam--Cellar Music House Concerts hit another home run. Keep them coming.
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