* Oasis
June 24th, Tweeter Center for Performing Arts - Mansfield, MA
Took us about 2 hours to get there... considering rush hour, Cape Cod traffic, and the concert goers trying to cut each other at the bottleneck by Mansfield and Norton. Great venue, as I have had fun in the past - just a process to get there.
We finally park and head to the area. Stopped by the entrance for some drinks and food - which amounted to what would have been a decent dinner somewhere else. Scanned the crowd and before anything was even mentioned, it was clear: the demographic of the people there were a bit off the radar with what we were expecting.
High schoolers, teens with short white skirts (a good number who had lawn tickets), young ones on their cellphones trying to locate their other friends who were in town and nixed the usual summer at Martha's Vineyard. We thought: How could they know Oasis? I was in high school, oblivious to their arrogance, when I rocking to them - some of these kids in the crowd could barely have been zygotes back then.
On second thought - I did go to a Bob Dylan concert 3 years back...
We made it in time to catch Jet halfway through their performance. Now, they got the crowd going - seemingly a better job than the headliners did. Few minutes later. Oasis, the fabulous Gallagher brothers and all, went onstage. Had a slow start with an unfamiliar song from their new album, followed by a couple more fresh ones. Lyla woke up the audience, with a rendition that does not vary much from the radio/audio version. Not too bad material, but after a few minutes we thought it would be good to hear something familiar. Cigarettes and Alcohol, What's the Story Morning Glory?, and Champagne Supernova garnered good responses as well. Was waiting for Roll with It, but to no avail. Throughout the concert, Liam would be saying something quite indecipherable, that would make us doubt it was said in English. Was it their rockstar attitudes that wasn't effective for them to connect with the crowd this one particular show? The place was packed, and their performance did not seem to justify the sold out concert. I have heard of good experiences with folks who have seen them live - this was just not in that circle of notable ones. Clad in leather jacket and shorts - Liam sang without much regard for the audience.
Then again, they are (er....) rockstars, giving them the license to carry the same attitude that got them this far. (Not Beatles-far.... as that was an overestimation on their part).
Concert-o-graphy: late 2004 - current
- U2 Vertigo Tour: May 28th, 2005, Fleet Center - Boston, MA
http://www.u2setlists.com/vertigo.shtml
Stage was extended to form a circular ramp, enclosing the top $ ticket holders. Amazing (dizzying?) stage lighting. Entertaining - you can feel the energy from their performances- reciprocated by the crowd. All was well until politics got involved. Most are aware of their stand on war and world debt - all admirable. However, too much of it being incorporated into the show was unnecessary.
- Louisiana Heritage Fair: April 28-30, 2005, New Orleans, LA
(See Roam Chronicles for Jazz/Jambalaya Weekend)
- Garbage: April 17, 2005, Avalon - Boston, MA
http://www.epinions.com/content_4329676932
Yes, Ms. Manson - it is all about you. Seeing them live brings me back to my days with my torn jeans - the angst-ridden teen hating the world and everything thriving in it. Great connection with the audience, as one man in the front row was called on for being "naughty". What is one guy to do with a beautiful Scottish rock diva who has a knack for putting her leg up on the speakers (Shirley Manson was wearing a short white dress) as she croons? I was glad to have them back after the news on the band drama.
- Tori Amos: April 10, 2005, The Bushnell Center for Performing Arts, Hartford, CT
http://www.toriset.org/c.php?c=1461
The venue was amazing - Raseeka and Heather can attest to my admiration for the beautiful theater. Surely Boston's Orpheum theater is great - but I was glad to have witnessed Tori Amos live at the Bushnell. Previous statements heard from Tori fans - avid and fairweather ones alike - are proven true... she is one amazing performer. See her at least once - it will be worth it.
- Pixies: December 1, 2004, The Tsongas Arena - Lowell, MA
I was on a concert high for several days - that was one great show. Kim Deal, whom I admired with the Breeders before I got wind of the Pixies, is back with a vengeance. Hearty setlist with double renditions of several songs. Vecchio is right: It was a cold night and I would not have travelled to Lowell otherwise... Black Francis and the crew made it all worthwhile.
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