You 2 thought U2 was just ok? Me2.

I am sorry to say but I was underwhelmed with U2's performance at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.  Maybe it was because I had such high expectations, but I have a laundry list of complaints about the June 22nd performance.
1.  The audio was average at best.  There were many times that Bono's voice was distorted or muffled.
2.  My seats were actually obstructed my the monstrous stage.  Ironically, the spaceship stage was specifically designed to elevate more speakers and the video screens to allow better visibility.  However, the spacecraft's "legs" blocked the direct view of Bono's primary spot from my seat (My seat was on the 50 yard line on the club level.  I paid $280.)
3. Although the video and light accompaniments were excellent, they require precise timing which severely limits any spontaneity or creativity.  Everything was very rehearsed, predictable and overproduced.
4.  Bono's preaching is really a bit much.  I know he is a charitable man and stands for many great causes, but his commentary on Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese political dissident, for instance was unnecessary.  If he wanted to make a comment about violence, he should have brought up the 275 murders every year within a 20 mile radius of the spot he was standing due to our wonderful "War on Drugs" policy.  

Here were the positives:
1.  I helped show the world that Baltimore can sell-out an 80,000 seat stadium.  Maybe other bands will take notice and schedule a stop in B-More instead of bypassing us for the "sexier" Washington DC.
2.  The aforementioned light and video shows were pretty darn impressive.  Thank goodness, because I spent much more time watching the video screens than I did watching the band members.
3.  The Edge is really good.  There is a reason that Rolling Stone put him #24 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time".
4.  The whole "space" concept was pretty cool.  The stage looked like a spaceship.  They walked onto the stage to David Bowie's "Space Odyssey".  Gabrielle Gifford's astronaut husband, Mark E. Kelly, introduced "Beautiful Day" from the Space Shuttle.  There were a few other space related cartoon videos.  And lastly, they exited the stage to Elton John's "Rocketman".
5.  The set list was very solid.  It is pretty hard to complain about a set list that included 6 of my 8 highest ranked U2 songs:
I Will Follow

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Beautiful Day

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Where The Streets Have No Name (especially exciting for us Ravens fans because that is the song they play at M&T Stadium when the Ravens' starting line-up is announced.)

With or Without You

Overall, the show was fun but I am sorry to say, a bit disappointing.  Maybe if I had sat closer, I would have felt the energy of the crowd more.  Also, I have heard that the audio quality is better in an arena.  Unfortunately, U2 may not get another chance to impress me.

Here are a few pictures from the show:

BJ and Me

Gotti

Phishin' at Merriweather Post Pavilion

While I am not a hard core Phish fan, I certainly appreciate their musical skill and their enthusiasm for their fans.  That enthusiasm is undoubtedly reciprocated by the fans.  I went to the Sunday June 12, 2011 show at Merriweather Post Pavilion.  I heard that the Saturday show was very solid, but traditionally Phish gives some of their best performances on Sundays at MMP.  Fortunately for me and my friends, Phish followed that trend and gave a stellar performance that we will always remember.

Pre-partying at Adam's house was fun.  His son, Jake, 6, had a sweet I-tunes mix with Black Eyed Peas, Paul Simon and Donna Summer (seriously).  The burgers were delicious and the company was good.  Then we headed to the show amidst some stormy clouds.  It poured in transit, but once we got there, the rain stopped.  We set up a tent and enjoyed some tasty beers and subs from Scittino's in Catonsville.  "People watching" at a Phish show is an event unto itself.  It is a spectacle filled with tatoos, skin and "colorful" outfits.  The Phish Phans are fueled by plenty of alcohol and the occasional illicit drug.  Everyone is friendly and easy-going.  It is truly a great scene.

My buddies, Andy and BJ and I had "Pit" tickets.  That meant we were on the floor.  For the first set we were about 20 feet from the railing in front of the stage.  Here is Trey Anastasio (lead guitar and lead vocals) from where we were standing.

I loved the first set.  They opened with Buried Alive and Trey actually held up a fan's sign that requested the song.  Then they played Lonesome Cowboy Bill, a song they had not played since 2003.  I enjoyed the classic songs Sample In a Jar, Divided Sky and Wolfman's Brother.  Here is my video clip of Sample In A Jar.

Another highlight for me was Phish's rendition of Stevie Wonder's song, Boogie On Reggae Woman.  They closed the hot set with several fan favorites: Halley's Comet, Bathtub Gin, Jesus Just Left Chicago (ZZ Top) and Character Zero.  The pit literally erupted during when they played Character Zero.

Phish had a solid second set.  They played several new songs which are not really up my alley, but the jams were pretty tight overall.  One highlight was when they played Steam and covered the pit crowd with steam.

By the time Phish was about to do their encore, BJ, Andy and I had worked our way to about 6 feet from the railing.  That is the closest I have been at a Phish show since 1994 (first row) when they performed at the Indiana University Auditorium for about five thousand students.  Last night's encore was Sanity, Makisupa Policeman and First Tube.  They were all first rate in my opinion, and I read one reviewer's posting that it was "the best encore he had ever seen".

One other funny story from the evening involves my buddy BJ.  No shocker there since funny stories seem to follow him.  Prior to getting back into the car to go home, he went into the woods to urinate.  However he went very deep into the woods for some privacy and stepped in some serious human hippie fecal matter.  He did not realize it until he had trekked it back into Andy's brand new car.  Although we had to deal with the stench, the degree of hilarity easily made up for it!

BJ, Andy and Me (Scotty B)

Overall, great friends, great show and great times!  Hopefully Phish comes back again to Merriweather next year.  If you have never been, definitely try to check it out!  

June Tunes

I am still waiting for an album to knock me over.  While I am waiting for that to happen, here are a couple of cool tunes to check out:

I posted about Foster the People back in March, but they recently released their first full length album, Torches.  It does not have much diversity but it is still a quality debut album.  If you are a fan of Passion Pit or MGMT, you will enjoy Foster The People.  I fully expect several songs to get airplay on mainstream radio.  "Pumped Up Kicks" may have already peaked but "Helena Beat" is on the rise.  The whole album is solid and will very likely make my Top Ten Albums of 2011.

My buddy, Steve Glass, introduced me to this next artist (I think it is his cousin).  His name is Kam Royal.  I am really enjoying his sharp-tongued, quick-witted prose and style.  I have not digested the entire album, but after one listen, it has me very intrigued.  I look forward to diving into it a bit deeper.  Keep up the good work Kam Royal.  Check out "Dude".  The Glass family should be proud.

Kanye West's masterpiece My Dark Twisted Beautiful Fantasy was my favorite disc of 2010 and the quality songs just keep rolling off of this album halfway through 2011.  The centerpiece song in my opinion is "Monster".  Kanye finally edited his video of this song so that it could be played on Mtv.  It is still misogynistic and gruesome but artful and brilliant nonetheless.  I am posting the unedited version so be careful around children.  Also, I have added the thirty minute continuous video, Runaway, with several threaded songs from this album.  The imagery on this mini-movie is staggering and Kanye's genius jumps off the screen.  It is DEFINITELY worth thirty minutes of your life.

My Morning Jacket has a new album, Circuital, that has encouraging signs after my first listen.  There is a bit of a buzz about them playing Bonaroo this weekend.  Check out the title track, Circuital and Holdin On To Black Metal.

 

I am digging the first song off of Coldplay's new album.  The song is called "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall".  It has that anthem chorus that Coldplay has patented.  It will surely make its way up the charts.

Daniele Luppi and Danger Mouse combined to write and produce Rome.  Norah Jones and Jack White get the vocals for three songs each.  The whole album has a cool, sultry feel that is worth a listen.  Check out Two Against One and Season's Trees.

Ready for my first ever gospel song?  Yup, I said gospel.  Check out Kirk Franklin performing I Smile.  Try not to snap to it.  Virtually impossible.  Enjoy!

Ready for my first country song?  Yup, I said country.  Jake Owen's third album will be released shortly.  This song, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, sounds best with a Budweiser in your hand.  Enjoy!