Russell Unknown1's early report
Modemless Fred's trip report (part 1)
(more reviews coming)
Also See:
The show details.
An Idaho Statesman Review.
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Russell Unknown1's early report
Modemless Fred's trip report (part 1)
(more reviews coming)
Also See:
The show details.
An Idaho Statesman Review.
Wow! Ears are ringing for the second time in a week! Now the commentary:
Tegan and Sara were in good spirits and played four songs. I'll get the names when I get the album. Talked about New Kids on the Block....
The Pretenders played ten to twelve songs. (I got up towards the end, and don't know the names of most, but will figure them out.) Started with Neil's The Loner and finished with a great electric version of The Needle and the Damage Done. Yes she kissed the stage. With the dust and dirt blowing around the stage from the fans in the back, I hope she washes it down with something....
The house was nicely filled to near the 13,100 capacity, truly a spectacular sight from so near the stage in the front row! Neil and band were in good form. Spooner looked a little shaky, but played well. He was right in front of us (well, there was a wrestler/security force between us and them). Neil didn't seem to smile much till about Words.
"How ya doin'?" count was 2.
Beer alert was Amstel Light.
He played songs 1-6 on Old Black, songs 7-11 on the D45, songs 12-15 on the Gretch White Falcon.
During Hank to Hendrix the crowd pointed the security guards to someone in the fourth row and they were on him like mosquitoes to a swamp, I was really afraid for some people I know in the fifth row (with more gear than me, I suspect), but they were after someone else for something....
After Walk On, with a wry smile Neil asked "Does it get cold around here in wintertime?" I shouted out "25 below". He looked at me and said "I bet it does. It does in Canada, too..." and he went on to play Winterlong. Made me feel good, even if he never heard me. Nice to see him smile.
Harvest Moon was on the D45 again.
World On A String was on the Telecaster. Ben Keith played a Telecaster, too, on several songs.
Tonight's the Night was on the Piano, with shades and hat. Seemed a little upset about the monitor volume here again, moving the mike up at the beginning to show it was low I guess and kicking the monitor away a little towards the end of the song.
CITS was with Old Black.
For the second encore, a group behind us held up a banner that says 'Boise Loves Rust'. It was really cool to be with a bunch of real fans way up front. I suspect most of them aren't on Rust, but they all had a great time.
Mellow My Mind was with the Tele and harp.
There is more of course. I managed to get my camera in and the security didn't seem too bad but there were a lot of them and they were BIG and intimidating looking. At the office afterward, someone came to retrieve his taken camera and the film was removed! I trembled a little and slithered out, trying not to look too guilty. Will have a web page up soon.
Russell
Unknown1
I left my hometown at 1:00 p.m. Thursday with the intention of attending the Boise show and returning to Canada to be present for an important event in Cranbrook, B.C. on Sunday.
I made it all the way to Nampa Thursday and got a decent motel. I headed to the venue at about 1:00 p.m. I enjoyed hanging out there, got to talk with security people and heard the soundcheck from outside, where they did EKTIN. Also possibly Walk On, but I'm not sure, as I've seen the soundcheck video from Hershey, and get the two mixed up in my mind. Also You And Me, and FHTH I think. They ran through each song 3 or 4 times. I was at the far end of the building, 40 feet to the side of some open doors, and it sounded fine -- probably about the perfect volume for an easy-listening-type crowd.
I enjoyed talking to the security folks, but after about 1 1/2 hours, I couldn't take it anymore and had to leave. I mean, this one guy would ask EVERY driver headed to the bus/18-wheeler backstage area if they could show him their pass. Hopefully, he didn't ask the tour bus drivers that question. ;>)
Right beside the Idaho Center parking lot, there's an equestrian hospital. There was a horseshoeman (farrier) shoeing some horses, so I spent about a half hour standing at the fence watching him do his stuff. He was too busy to chat, so playing the role of the Horseshoe Man (as in in Neil's song) wasn't possible. But it was fun hanging out with him just the same.
As promised, Kurt and Lisa and Steve aka Vinyl Hound and Bob and his significant other and friends drove up to the parking lot for the pre-show fest. Kurt had this awesome-tasting dark beer in 2 gallon-type jugs. Probably the best and strongest beer I've ever tasted!
I was able to upgrade at the box office to the floor with a $2 charge. The promoter had just released one row (#20) of tickets.
The sound was excellent. Tegan & Sara reminded me of a cross between Allanis Morisette and Sinead -- I liked them a lot!
The Pretenders were so good that they could have easily been a headliner for any band other than maybe ten or so Neil-caliber groups (IMO). I particularly liked the lead guitar player -- big hollow-body electric guitars with great footwork and enthusiasm, great sound, he liked to work the crowd.
I came up with an alternate name for Neil's band. Though his "Music In Head Band" is the perfect name, "Scarecrow And The California Hillbillies", to me, would come in a close 2nd.
This band is undoubtedly my all-time favourite Neil band -- all of them! Duck Dunn seemed to be right with Neil all the way. They even stood very close together all night. It's hard to explain, but it seemed to me like Dunn had a way of encouraging Neil to rock out. Neil looked quite drained at the beginning -- rightly so considering the rigour he's been through lately. But he came through in amazing form at this concert. I can't recall any musician ever digging down so deeply within himself to perform his best music.
Highlites:
I'm not a hundred percent when the decision to attend the Gorge show was made. I think it was at the pre-concert fest in the parking lot. It's a long story, and I'll spare y'all the details. But after the show I pointed myself toward Washington and hit the road...
(more reviews coming soon... --RE*AC*TOR)