Concert: Guns N' Roses at Fenway Park 2023

 

August 21, 2023 Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Once again Jason and I made the journey to home of the Red Sox to see my first favorite band!  We couldn't get into out pre-paid parking until 3:30 so we didn't leave until noon 30ish and didn't rush to get down.  We stopped at Jersey Mike's in Saugus on Route 1 for lunch, it always settles well for me, and it's delicious! 

We got to the lot just after 3:30 and got parked, I hate paying $55 for parking, but it's so hard to park around Fenway it's really the best option, or risk not being able to find a spot or parking a distance away.  I changed out of my vans and into my boots, they are better for walking and long term standing.  I'm sure glad I brought a change of footwear.  

We had a short walk to Fenway park from are parking lot.  I had decided I was not going to buy a shirt, I bought one two years ago, I have enough shirts I don't need anymore...I bought a shirt.  The two times I have been to Guns N' Roses were both at Fenway and they have multiple official souvenir booths outside and inside the park.  You don't even need to have a ticket to buy merchandise.  They had this awesome white shirt and I couldn't help myself.  Jason bought a green Boston Celtics themed shirt that was event and venue specific. We decided to bring them back to Vanatu and not carry them around, good choice.

Last time we sat on the side of the stage in the stands at Fenway, it was awesome, however this time we were on the turf facing the stage and it sounded so much better!  

Doors opened at 4pm and the Pretenders hit the stage at 530pm.  They were great, they played a bunch of songs that I knew and some that I didn't.  They finished up at 630pm.  I wouldn't purposely go see them again, unless my wife wanted to go or they were opening for another band I wanted to see.

 

I read online that Gn'R was going to hit the stage at 715pm, they came out at 742pm.  It was an awesome set, in total they played a 26 song set, close to 3 hours.  During Bad Obsession it started to rain, and they it really started coming down during Slither, but it was Welcome to the Jungle when the skies opened up!  

It was so surreal being on the turf at Fenway Park in the pouring rain with several thousand people all rocking out to Welcome to the Jungle!  I pretty sure they cranked up the volume for it too.  We got several songs this time that we didn't get at the last show.  We also got to hear their second live performance of their new song Perhaps.  Last time we got the debut of "Absurd" and we didn't think it was that great, however this time around it sounded awesome, the words are still ridiculous but the guitars were strong as hell.

  

I was shocked that they played "Reckless Life", it was released on G N' R Lies however it's a cover of a Hollywood Rose song. Hollywood Rose was Axl Rose's first band that also featured Slash and former Gn'R bandmates Izzy Stradlin & Steven Adler. 

After the show we headed out to the van, we both got soaked and I mean soaked from the rain.  I swapped out my footwear for dry socks and shoes and thankfully we had the new shirts to put on as well, sadly we had to ride home in wet shorts. 

 

We stopped at Sonic Drive -In in Peabody, Mass on the ride home, we don't have one in Maine.  The burgers were spot on and we got tots, so that is a winning combo.  Got back to my house a little after 2am, it was a long but worthwhile day!

Guns N' Roses

It's So Easy

Bad Obsession

Chinese Democracy

Slither

Welcome to the Jungle

Hard Skool

Reckless Life

Pretty Tied Up

Double Talkin' Jive

Perhaps

Absurd

Rocket Queen

You Could Be Mine

Estranged

Live and Let Die

T.V. Eye (The Stooges cover) (Duff on lead vocals)

This I Love

Anything Goes

Civil War

Slash Guitar Solo

Sweet Child o' Mine

November Rain

Patience

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Nightrain

Paradise City

Songs we got last time 

Mr. Brownstone

You're Crazy

Better

I Wanna be Your Dog

Dead Horse

Songs we got this time

Bad Obsession

Hard Skool

Reckless Life

Pretty Tied Up

Perhaps

T.V. Eye (The Stooges cover) (Duff on lead vocals)

This I Love

Anything Goes

Patience

Pretenders

My City Was Gone

Talk of the Town

Kid

Biker

Boots of Chinese Plastic

Hymn to Her

Don't Get Me Wrong

Back on the Chain Gang

Thumbelina

I'll Stand by You

Brass in Pocket

Junkie Walk

Middle of the Road

Mystery Achievement

Until Next Time!

Concert: The Chicks

August 13, 2023  Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, Maine

Formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, they dropped the Dixie part in 2020, Kate really wanted to see them again.  She and her mother had gone and seen them 20 years ago in Massachusetts and she had an awesome time.  Kate's cousin Jesse went with as well, and her sister-in-law, they bought the seats right behind us.  

It was raining quite hard when we got off the exit and they delayed opening doors for an hour and delayed the opening act by half and hour.  It stopped raining before we headed down to go into the venue and it didn't rain again.  It was a beautiful night. 

The opening act, Wild Rivers, I had not heard of before, but they were decent.  They are based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I do think I heard the song they closed their set out with as it sounded familiar.

I had a great time at the show, but they played a lot from their most recent album and I'm more familiar with their catalogue of songs from their late 90's albums. I don't need to go see them again. 

The Chicks

Sin Wagon

Gaslighter

Texas Man

Julianna Calm Down

The Long Way Around

My Best Friend's Weddings

Sleep at Night

Ready to Run

Travelin' Soldier

Wide Open Spaces

Tights on My Boat

Daddy Lessons / Long Time Gone

Cowboy Take Me Away

Landslide

Rainbowland

Don't Let Me Die in Florida

March March

For Her

Everybody Loves You

White Trash Wedding

Not Ready to Make Nice

Goodbye Earl

Wild Rivers

Wandering Child

Bedrock

Speak Too Soon

If It Makes You Happy

Heart Attack

Stubborn Heart

Thinking 'Bout Love

Until Next Time!

Concert: Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, and More

 August 19, 2012 Darlings Waterfront, Bangor, Maine

11 years ago today Katie and I went to  our first concert together.  She had purchased general admission lawn tickets with a former coworker, Chris, and someone else was going with them.  She said it would be great if I could go, the lawn tickets were sold out, but I figured I could buy any ticket and stand with them on the lawn area.  However I found two lawn tickets on Craigslist cheap and bought those, I wound up selling the second ticket to another friend of Chris.

I had been to a few concerts before this day, I enjoyed them but it wasn't something I sought out to go to.  I don't have regrets but I missed out on a lot of great acts that came to Maine over the years.  I also didn't have anyone to go to shows with, that certainly has changed with Kate!  

The real reason I wanted to go was petty jealousy.  At that time Kate and I weren't really together, we were just friends, but her going to this concert with another guy, essentially, made me confront how I really felt about her.  We rode up together and when I met Chris I quickly realized that I had nothing to worry about on the jealousy side.  

We had a great time and enjoyed all four acts. I can't find Cracker's set list but I remember they played sledgehammer.  Only regret was that I didn't buy the live recording that Blues Traveler was selling.  The only other show we have been too since then where that was an option was Jewel.  I think more bands should do that. 

I did not return to this venue until September 2022 for Stevie Nicks and the venue has completely changed from what it was to what it is. 

Barenaked Ladies

Four Seconds

The Old Apartment

It's All Been Done

Boomerang

Falling for the First Time

Shopping

Too Little Too Late

For You

Blame It on Me (Acoustic)

Brian Wilson

Pinch Me

Big Bang Theory Theme

One Week

If I Had $1000000 (with John Popper)

Barenaked Rap

Encore:

Alcohol

Blue Traveler

What I Got

Things Are Looking Up

You Don't Have to Love Me

Run-Around

Carolina Blues

Cara Let the Moon

But Anyway

Hook

Big Head Todd & The Monsters

Circle

Bittersweet

Rocksteady

Broken Hearted Savior

Sexy and I Know It (with Ed Robertson)

Free Riot (with John Popper)

Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)

Cracker

Sledgehammer

Until Next Time!

Concert: Guns N' Roses at Fenway Park 2021

August 3, 2021 Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts 

My Cousin-in-Law Jason and I made the journey south to Fenway Park to attend out first Guns N' Roses concert.  They played not far from my house back in 1993 when I was 13 and my mom would not let me go.   A couple months later and essentially did not reunite until 2016.  Yes a version of GnR toured but with Slash and Duff it wasn't GnR.  This show was the first opportunity that I had to attend a show.

It was originally schedule for July 21, 2020 but the pandemic delayed the show until August 3, 2021.  We had seats on the side, but it was amazing, no one can tell me otherwise.  

Before the delay Smashing Pumpkins was supposed to open for them, but post pandemic we got Mammoth WVH.  They were ok, I couldn't really hear them that well and I'd never heard their music before.

We got down there, and eventually found parking, what was cool is they had official merchandise stands all around Fenway park.  You didn't have to go to the show to buy merchandise, which is pretty smart actually.  We bought t-shirts the traditions Appetite for Destruction logo tour shirts and swapped out leaving the others in the van.  

Let's be honest, Axl doesn't sound like Axl from when I was a kid, but it's still Axl Rose, and Slash is AMAZING!!  Duff is tremendous too.  We got the new song Absurd, which was just ok.  I was very surprised that we got the cover of Velvet Revolvers "Slither" it's a great song.  I was very surprised to to hear Rocket Queen, I'm a big fan of that track.  

Guns N' Roses

It's So Easy

Mr. Brownstone

Chinese Democracy

Welcome to the Jungle

Slither - Velvet Revolver cover

Double Talkin' Jive

Estranged

Live and Let Die

You're Crazy

Better

Rocket Queen

You Could Be Mine

I Wanna Be Your Dog

Absurd

Civil War

Dead Horse

Slash Guitar Solo

Sweet Child O Mine

November Rain

Knockin' On Heavens Door

Night Train

Encore: Paradise City

Mammoth WVH

Don't Back Down

Mammoth

Mr. Ed

Talk & Walk

Think It Over

You're To Blame

Stone

Distance

Epiphany

All in all it was a fantastic day finally seeing one of my all time favorite bands live.

Until Next Time!

Concert: Dierks Bentley

May 3, 2012 The Civic Center, Augusta, Maine

My ex-inlaws both retired from City of Augusta and one of the perks they each received was two sets of vouchers for two free tickets to any show at the Augusta Civic Center.  This issue is the Civic Center doesn't bring in many acts they would want to use the vouchers on.  

When this show was announced June asked me if I wanted a pair of tickets, I thought why not I like Dierks Bentley.  I was newly single though and it was a bit of a struggle to find someone to go with.  I had been commiserating with someone I had gone to school with and invited her, we had a fun time! 

I can't find the set lists or recall much about the two opening acts other then I enjoyed them.

I've been to the Augusta Civic Center for a lot of events, but this is my only concert. 

Dierks Bentley

Country & Cold Cans

Feel That Fire

Am I the Only One

Trying to Stop Your Leaving

Lot of Leavin' Left to Do

5-1-5-0

Every Mile a Memory

Settle for a Slowdown

The Woods

Up on the Ridge

Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)

Come a Little Closer

How Am I Doin'

Sideways

Home

Tip It on Back

Encore:

The Weight

What Was I Thinkin'

Eli Young Band

Will Hoge

Until Next Time!

Concert: Tom Jones

May 7, 2005 MGM Grand Casino, Ballroom Las Vegas, Nevada 

In 2005 my then wife and in-laws and I travelled to Las Vegas for a weeks vacation.  We stayed off strip at a very nice time share.  The night we arrived I called the Ballroom box office and said I wanted two tickets to on the night with the best seats available for the nights we would be in town.  After a few moments in was the next day, so I bought the tickets.

We had a table about halfway up the seating area with a great view.  Tom put on a hell of a show singing and dancing for a solid 75 plus minutes.  Ladies on the floor area were even throwing panties at him!

It was excited to see a Las Vegas stalwart live on my first trip there.    

Tom Jones International

Mama Told Me Not to Come

Delilah

Help Yourself

She's a Lady

Stoned in Love

Love Letters

200lbs of Heavenly Joy

End of the Road

What Am I Living For

I'll Never Fall in Love Again

Green Grass of Home

What's New Pussycat?

You Can Leave Your Hat On

It's Not Unusual

Encore:

Hi-Heel Sneakers

Kiss

Until Next Time!

Concert: Dierks Bentley With Miranda Lambert

October 20, 2006 The Colisee, Lewiston, Maine 

Went to this show because it seemed like it would be fun, I was into country at the time and was a fan of Dierks Bentley.  Miranda Lambert I knew from Nashville Star she came in 3rd place in 2003.  Nashville Star was the country music version of American Idol.

The opening act was the Randy Rogers Band, and I really liked them a lot!! I even bought their CD and got them all to sign it.  I can't find a set list but I do remember a few songs that they played, mostly off their first album.

It's funny because several years later Miranda has exploded and she was headlining a tour with Dierks as her opening act. 

Dierks Bentley

Every Mile a Memory

Can't Live It Down

Lot of Leavin' Left to Do

Cab of My Truck

How Am I Doin'

Domestic, Light and Cold

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Settle for a Slowdown

Trying to Stop Your Leaving

Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)

That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me

So So Long

My Last Name

Train Travelin'

Come a Little Closer

What Was I Thinkin'

Encore:

Long Trip Alone

Folsom Prison Blues (with Miranda Lambert)

Miranda Lambert

What About Georgia?

Me and Charlie Talking

I Wanna Die

Dry Town

Gunpowder & Lead

Bring Me Down

New Strings

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Hillbilly Highway

Kerosene

Randy Rogers Band

Better of Wrong

One More Goodbye

You Could Change My Mind

Just A Matter of Time

Until Next Time!

Concert: The Heavy Heavy

July 27, 2023 Lark Hall, Albany New York

Back in early July Kate and I were at Fat Boy Drive-In in Brunswick for dinner when she asked if we could go to Bull Moose as she wanted to get a CD.  I asked which band and she said The Heavy Heavy, I responded that I love that band.  She said she thought they just played in Maine and I thought the concert was upcoming.

We checked their schedule and they had a show coming up on August 8th at Thompson's Point opening for Band of Horses and The Revivalist.  Tickets, with fees were like $66 each and even though the venue is nice, the parking is terrible.  Band of Horses is cool and we don't know enough of the Revivalist to spend that kind of money.  Kate said, maybe they will be in the Albany are while we are there.  I scrolled up ans sure enough they were set to play at Lark Hall in Albany on Thursday July 27th.  We bought tickets straight away and with fee's it was $49.10 total!

If you'd like to read about our whole vacation you can here: Spectacular 10th Anniversary Vacation Extravaganza!!! 

We got downtown and found parking at the church for $6 just up the road from the venue a short distance.  Doors opened at 7pm with a schedule start time at8pm, but Free Range went on a bit late. 

 Lark Hall was built in 1916 by the Daughters of the Eastern Star, I think they are linked to the Freemasons.   The venue is gorgeous inside, the performance floor is on the second floor, with tall ceilings and mezzanine area.  The floor holds 250 and the mezzanine 50, I would guess 75 - 100 people where there that night and they were treated to an unbelievable show. 

While waiting we checked out the merch, Kate bought a t-shirt, I'm jealous as I REALLY like the white one but they only go to 2XL and I need 3.  I did get a sweet pin for my pin wall here at work though!

  We sat on one of the pews for the opening act, Free Range.  They were decent, not my favorite flavor of music but they put on a solid set for about 45 minutes.  

They Heavy Heavy are a Brighton, UK based band, their website boasts "The Heavy Heavy are a 5 piece retro inspired rock band, making the music the sixties forgot-with bombastic soul and peaceful goals."  Kate once said there style reminds her of The Mama's & The Papa's, and I get that.  

They took the stage and they sounded AMAZING!  We were only a few feet from the stage, and you could just feel the music.  The harmonies were outstanding.  They played several songs that we knew form their Life and Life Only EP, and the ones we didn't were still awesome. 

We danced, we sang with gusto, we had a tremendous time.  

I'm not sure of the setlist, I found this one online and they are missing a track, but this seems correct.  

1. Parakeets

2. Purple Flowers

3. Man of the Hills

4. All My Dreams

5. Go Down River

6. Dirt

7. All I Need

8. Real Love Baby

9. 

10. One of a Kind

11. Miles and Miles

I could have listened to them play for hours.  After the show Georgie Fuller and Will Turner, the two main members of the band went to the merch table, I bought their album and got that signed.  Kate told them that Go Down River is her new favorite song, Georgie mentioned she saw us out of the corner of her eye singing with that song and how we so into the "I've got your back" line.  She seemed excited that we were into the show.  I regret not asking to get a photo with them, I won't forget next time.

I want to see them again so bad!  I'd even go to Thompson's Point and deal with the horrid parking if we could make it work out.  

I found this video on YouTube that someone made of the show, if you go to 5:47 mark of the video I pretty sure you can see the moment Georgie mentioned.  You can see the silhouette of Kate and during that line it looks like Georgie is look right at us and she cracks a smile after the line.  

I still can't believe we got to such an amazing band in such an intimate setting, it will be hard to top this show. 

Until Next Time!