see more live music

A few weeks ago my buddy scored tickets to see Bob Weir and Ratdog ....which by many people’s accounts is like seeing the Grateful Dead (Given that Bob was one of the principle members of the Dead). I was never a Dead fan growing up, but now after having had the “experience”, I can say that I enjoyed myself very much. The songs were like Dylan songs with long instrumental jazz breaks in the middle building to a frenzied climate….. not too loud….a general mellow vibe going on…. Lots of hippie people dancing around…as well as retirees siting down remember the “old days.” I saw high schoolers and silverhairs…all into the music (if not the whole hippie vibe).

The friends we were with knew the keyboardist and ended up going backstage with the band, and I briefly spoke with the keyboardist for a while on their way out.

The venue was also very cool…the Anahiem Grove. What a great place to see a concert. There wasn’t a bad seat in the place. We started in the back….then worked our way forward…then for the last set were were about 20 feet from the stage.

A few days ago I was in San Francisco on a Sunday night, and we tried to see some live music, but many shows were canceled. Oh well.

I saw Train at a private event that I attended. Great band, excellent show, intimate setting. The singer, Pat, was particularily strong, and the band looked like they were having a great time. It was a corporate event, and it I think they got a kick out of playing for software executive types….referencing “software and hardware y’all made.”

They performed their hit songs (Drops of Jupiter, Meet Virginia, etc.) as well as some amazing renditions of Led Zepplin and Aerosmith classics. Other highlights including getting a bunch of tipsy ladies from the audience to get up on stage to dance and sing. One of them practically glued her hips to Pat while he played along.

I had a good time and enjoyed the opportunity to see some live music.

A great Bay Area band, Luce has been touring the USA, and I read that their equipment and van was stolen outside of Philadelphia. They have had to postpone their tour and regroup.

In related news, the singer/songwriter, Tom Luce, had a fire damage his apartment in San Francisco. These guys are having a bad month. I really hope they bounce back and capitalize on the great tour dates they have (opening for Toad the Wet Sprocket). I sincerely think these guys could be the next big thing, and regardless, I love their modern Beatles-esque pop sound. Even my wife loves their albums.

If they come to your town, I highly recommend you check them out….or better yet, check out one of their albums online.

We saw Luce on Friday night in Redwood City….and Mike and I got a last minute Saturday night acoustic gig opening for Ambrosia (remember “How much I feel….feel for you baby…” from the early 80s).

Luce was spectacular. I felt like I was watching a band on the verge of making it into the big time at a small intimate venue (Redwood City’s Little Fox).

Ambrosia were also great. It was so cool to hang out with them before and after the show. These guys have clearly been around a while… They did an awesome cover of the Beatles “Magical Mystery Tour”, and told a cool story of how they met Paul McCartney at a Collin Hay (Men at Work) show last week.

My band has a gig tonight at Thee Parkside It’s been a weekend chopped full of live music for me!

My wife and I are going to see Luce on Friday night in Redwood City. The other guitar player in my band turned me on to them, and I really dig their sound. I bought their CD on iTunes and am really impressed. Apparently they sound very good live as well. I’m looking forward to it. The Australian in me really wants to see the John Butler Trio while he’s in town in a couple of weeks, but it’s right in the middle of the week, and I may be busy with work then.

We have a FREE show at Thee Parkside in San Francisco next Sunday night. It’s one of our rare free shows, and I’m hoping a lot for folks come out this Sunday early evening show.

I play in a great band and we play fairly often, but I need to give back by seeing more live music. So far this year, I’ve seen Coldplay, the house band at the pub we go to (R&B/Funk), and the other bands we’ve played with (3). I need to strive to see many more. I’ve seen much less so far this year than last year.

In the Bay Area, I’m looking forward to seeing Luce. I’d also like to see the John Butler Trio when they come around again.