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IN THIS ISSUE:
2004 Christmas The Bootlog Some Ezra Sights From New Orleans Listening Party Update / Book Review
News & Links TTOY Hall of Fame Cowbell Hall of Fame BTE Impressions
Volume 2
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BTE BREAKS IT ON DOWN It was a long day in Beantown, but well worth the trip. Myself and other fans had showed up as early as 1:30pm to line up for the Listening Party. After this, we all retreated to the "Beer Works" for an early dinner in preparation for early doors (6:00pm or so). The Avalon is one of those clubs that holds dance nights after concerts, so at least I’d be hitting the road back to New York State at a semi-reasonable hour. Ironically, one of the people I met waiting on line at the show was a fan who had also traveled from my area to Boston. I am not alone! Other BTE fans are out there, you just have to find them...
The Pat McGee Band delivered a set that was far superior to Hartford. They got the crowd rocking and they noted they have many fans in Boston, as does BTE. Although not apparently a sellout, it was a sizable and vocal crowd that night. Want to hear a first time concertgoers review of the show? Check out "Mr. K's" thoughts on the show here. Definitely good stuff. BTE kicked off their set with "Recognize" Jim was really getting into the song. "Misunderstood" came next. As the song began, KG let out a "Thank you Boston!" and then gave Jim’s piano skills props. Jim’s response? He did a "robot" wave to the crowd as he played with the other hand. Shine a spotlight or point a camera and Jim and you always get a picture you were in no way expecting.
"Good" was up next and it set the crowd on fire. Travis was pounding the drums. I’m sure he pounds them as hard almost every night, but I always note his ferocity. KG ended the song with a hip-shaking move. "Pull" was up next and the guys gave it the power delivery that we’ve seen at the recent shows. As Jim began to play the "Live Again" piano part, Kevin reminisced (as he always does in Beantown) about living in Boston back in the day. This time he told how they had "cut our teeth on the mean streets of Boston" and faked their resume with fantastic but quotes from promoters and opening spots for bands with whom they’d never shared the stage. According to KG, if you’re in a band, you’d better learn to lie well!
"Daylight" followed and KG told his "Mr. Petey" story about the wizened 83 year old on tambourine. But in this version he "hasn’t had solid food for years, just Jack Daniels." The band performed the song admirably amid a glow of red lights. "Extra Ordinary" followed and featured an added "oh sugah" after "ain’t love such a sweet thing" and a "Ms. Jackson" ending. Before "King of New Orleans," Tom observed how they were both he and Kevin were wearing red shirts – "we’re symmetrical KG!" But the kind of red the fans were jonesing for was the Boston Red sox ensemble worn by guitar tech, Mike Keel. As he came out the crowd roared with approval.
Kevin told the story how they were playing in Texas the night the Sox clinched the World Series and they went on a half hour late because "Michael made us watch the end of the game." The Avalon is located right behind Fenway Park and you should have heard the second roar of approval that line generated! "King of New Orleans" featured an off the cuff rap by KG - "It’s Sunday. It’s a fun day. Now let me share a story with you cats..." and he launched into his cover of Beck’s "Debra." |
Sort of surprisingly, "In the Blood" came next. When KG asked for a cowbell volunteer he got a young man named Rich. Rich kind of lacked rhythm, but he made up for it with enthusiasm. He feverishly jumped up and down clanging the cowbell. So hard, in fact, that with each jump another item fell out of his pockets – comb, lighter, cellphone, keys, gum... you name it! Nice work. As his performance ended, KG dubbed him "one bad ass m*ther-f*cker."
"Get You In" was the next plate on the night’s musical smorgasbord. As the song concluded, Kevin made reference to the "evile" slaying of former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag Darrell Abbott."
As if to raise the bands spirits, the guys then played "Special," another new song. The tune got a similarly enthusiastic response as "Daylight" did. Enthusiasm was not limited to the crowd, though, as Tom Drummond got into singing the lyrics as well. If Tom sings along like this, he's digging it! "At the Stars" was next up and the crowd was taken on BTE's very own special "trip." Before beginning "A Lifetime" Griffin told the crowd that "if you rub the Ryan’s (bald merchandise guy) head, I swear he’ll tell your fortune." What a way to begin a singalong? The crowd really played their part in "A Lifetime" very well.
As Kevin started strumming the introduction to the Ramone's "Sedated," he told the story of how it was an actually an old song his Grandfather used to play on his old 78 (RPM) records. And of course, this served as the precursor for the band's performance of "Sincerely Me." This tune has now become a staple of the live show and rivals "In the Blood" for pure rockness. A great song from Closer, let's hope we still get to hear it when the next CD comes out! Not missing a beat, the band closed out their main set with "Desperately Wanting." During the song some unidentified guy (a friend of the band maybe?) came out from the wings of the stage and Pogo'd with his hands in his pockets and the guys cracked up.
The Encore The audience were next given a choice of acoustic songs: "Normal Town" or "One More Murder." They seem to play "Normal Town" every time they come to Boston as it's a song about the city, but this time the crowd applause-o-meter definitely was in favor of "One More Murder." And the guys did a very cool acoustic version with Mr. Travis on the mini-kit upfront of the stage. As the guys were switching back to their electric instruments to close out the show with "Rosealia," KG started to tell a story and began to strum the guitar riff from "Jane Says" By "Jane's Addiction." The story was something about KG living in Boston and waking up one day hearing the song on the radio. And that it was just one of those things where you remember a time based on a song. He associated it with having a crush on a girl going to Boston University. I suppose this was the "soundtrack for this space in time." "Rosealia" was a very nice rocking ending to a very good show. And it was nice to see Jim Payne upfront to enjoy the appreciative roar of the crowd at the end of the night's festivities. Boston was well and truly rocked. Click here for a recap of the setlist. |
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