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Sunday, April 28, 2002

April 27, 2002: Planet Us Debuts

Oakland, CA
Henry J. Kaiser Auditorium

As a life long resident of the SF Bay Area, I remember when the Bammies were a BIG deal. Alas, the luster wore off some time in the early '90s, and they became the California Music Awards about 4-5 years ago, further dulling the shine. That said, the 25th Bammies show was an enjoyable show with an AWESOME closing act.

While the show was well short of a sell out (something which NEVER would have happened in their prime) the crowd in attendance got some fun performances by a wide variety of mostly Bay Area based acts. The hosts for the evening were Jack Blades, Robert Hayes (the guy from the movie "Airplane"), and a comic whose name I've forgotten.

The first thing you realize when you attend the Bammies is that this is definitely NOT the Grammys. The technical glitches and production snafus made it look, at times, like a very sincere high school production.

The highlights of the first half of the show had to be the performance by Smash Mouth (I'm more impressed with these guys every time I hear them) and the jam with Joe Satriani, Ronnie Montrose, and Dave Meneketi. Most of the awards were handed out during the first part of the show, and I've got to admit, I felt like I was 102 years old -- I'd barely heard of most of the nominees let alone the winners. Thank god for Train and major radio airplay!

An intermission came along about 2 1/2 hours into the show, and as we filed out, we were told that after the break we would be treated to performances by Sammy Hagar and "a new super group."

When we returned from intermission, I noticed many of the already sparsely filled seats were empty. Too bad for those who left, because the best part of the show was yet to come. Throughout the show, I stayed seated at my table towards the back of the floor, but the minute the MC started to introduce Sammy Hagar, I was on my feet and moving towards the front. I had expected that I'd just be able to stand on the side of the stage in the aisle to to take pictures, but I noticed people were walking straight up to the stage, so I joined them. Sammy and the Waboritas rocked the house with two numbers ("There's Only One Way to Rock" and "Mas Tequila".) The Waboritas left the stage, and Sammy introduced a few friends... Michael Anthony, Deen Castronovo, and Neal Schon!

Planet Us took the stage and proceeded to blow everyone away! They played two tunes -- "Vertigo" & "Through the Peephole" -- and they were phenomenal! All four guys looked to be having a great time on stage. The crowd at the front of the stage doubled in size, and I spent most of "Vertigo" trying not to get squished and stepped on (failing on the latter getting some woman's spiked heel in the middle of my foot... you should SEE the bruise!) Of all the acts through out the evening, this was the act that got the crowd the most involved. Not bad for a bunch of "dinosaurs."

Both songs were, as Neal said, "kick-ass songs that f-ing rock." High energy, high volume. I was particularly impressed with "Through the Peephole," which Sammy introduced as being a song about child abuse. Now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that both these songs make the final cut for the broadcast of the show next weekend!

Sunday, April 21, 2002

April 20, 2002: Friends and Family

Santa Rosa, CA
Luther Burbank Center

It's CONCERT SEASON AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Last night's show in Santa Rosa was great. I really needed a Journey concert, and they delivered! I'm going to break with my past tradition, and post the set list FIRST since we got a few treats!

Set List:

State of Grace (new)
Separate Ways
Ask the Lonely
Star Spangled Banner
Stone in Love
Only the Young
Send Her My Love
Lights
-- Jon solo --
Open Arms
Feeling That Way
Anytime
Trial by Fire
Liberty
Higher Place
The Time (new)
Don't Stop Believin'
La Raza del Sol
Faithfully
Escape
-- Neal solo --
Wheel in the Sky
Be Good to Yourself

Encore:

Any Way You Want It
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

As you can see from the list above, the guys played two NEW songs. Both are serious rockers, and a little different from the Journey tradition. "State of Grace" suffered from being in the opening slot, in my opinion. No one knew it, obviously, so the crowd wasn't pulled in immediately. Even the die hards were a bit puzzled, but very enthusiastic. Personally, it took me a minute to figure out what was going on -- "do I know this? Why don't I know this?" I'll really need to hear it again to form an opinion of it. The second new song "The Time" is a heavy blues number that isn't like anything I've heard Journey do before. The closest I could come to comparison is "All the Things" from Arrival. Unfortunately, the EP isn't ready yet (and won't be until July) so no opportunity to pick it up and listen to the new tunes.

"Trial By Fire" and "Liberty" were done acoustically, much like they had done at the Volunteers for America shows last October. I had thought after seeing them do the acoustic set last fall that it would be the only time I'd get to hear those songs. When the road crew brought out four stools and a couple of acoustic guitars, I knew what was coming and was THRILLED.

The rest of the set list was very familiar, especially since I had spent my morning "prepping" for the show by watching the DVD. Neal's performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" was amazing and the new lighting tech got the lights just right -- Neal in a white spot light, the rest of the stage in red and blue.

The crowd wasn't quite as "into" the show as I had expected, but overall they were pretty good (despite sitting down WAY too much.)

Back on the road again for JourneyDigest.com.

Thursday, April 4, 2002

Aprl 1 & 3, 2002 - Paul McCartney Tour Opener

Oakland Coliseum Arena
Oakland, CA

April, 2018: While reformatting and otherwise cleaning up this site, I stumbled upon a couple of emails to a friend on the Journey Digest about this show. I've modified it a bit to fit with the other tales on this site.

One word...

AWESOME!

And that doesn't even begin to cover it. Religious experience has been thrown around.

The show opened about 8:25 (25 minutes late) with a bunch of costumed performers walking up to the stage from various points of the arena. I can't really describe it, but think of a circus act with people in period costumes. I thought it went on a little too long, but it was interesting. (Of course, only Sir Paul could get away with something like that to open the show -- anyone else would have seemed pretentious). When the opening performance ended the video screen went white and a silhouette of Paul's bass appeared. The crowd goes wild. Then a silhouette of Paul, and, well, insanity.

He opened with "Hello Goodbye" (perfect) and closed with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"/"The End" (more perfect.) A friend of a friend sent me the set list as he noted it (see below.) My first "burst into tears" moment came when he performed "All My Lovin'" with clips of the Beatles arriving in New York up on the screen. The first two faces on the screen were George and John.

Things slowed down a bit when he did a few songs from Driving Rain. Very good songs, but not what anyone paid to hear of course. That was followed by an acoustic set -- just Paul and an acoustic guitar. Some of the band came out for one or two songs, but it was mostly Paul. That was "burst into tears" moment number two. He paid tribute to both John and George. First by playing "Here Today" (a song that has made me cry every time I hear it for the last 20 years) and then telling a story about how George loved playing the ukulele. Paul launched into "Something" while strumming the ukulele as images of George flashed on the screen. (I've discovered it's quite difficult to sing along while simultaneously having tears streaming down one's face!)

"Live and Let Die" was literally explosive as fireworks went off several times. I can't even pick a favorite moment in the two and a half hours of sheer bliss, but one high point was hearing "Getting Better" which Paul introduced by saying it was the first time he had ever played it live. Wow oh wow. He flubbed the lines a bit to "You Never Give Me Your Money" but in a very charming amusing way by singing something like "I can never remember the words until the end of the tour" over the part he forgot and rolled right on through.

There were, of course, the mandatory Paul songs -- "Let It Be", "Hey Jude", and "Yesterday" -- all towards the end of the set. I didn't get my song, but when almost every opening note sent a thrill up my spine, I can't really complain.

This was a near perfect show. Paul has that charming presence that just sucks you in immediately. The band was incredible and very personable as Paul would introduce a member before heading to another part of the stage (either to or from the grand piano) and they each got a little time to talk to the crowd. There were a few little glitches with the video system, but nothing major (or given much notice other than in passing). Lots of video clips from the Beatles era -- which were everything from touching to amusing to a bit surreal. (Seeing a 25 year old Paul cavorting in a field while listening to a 60 year old Paul singing "Fool on the Hill" and realizing he hasn't changed all that much over time...)

The crowd was great, even if it was a bit yo-yo-ish (up, down, up, down...) all night long. And what was really impressive was the age range. I rode over to the arena on BART (subway) and chatted with a fellow who was bringing his 8 year old daughter. And when I left I saw several women who must have been in their 70s. And everything in between!

I've just been grinning from ear to ear since the show started (yes, even during the sobbing moments) and absolutely can't WAIT for tomorrow night and show number. (And hope this whole ramble hasn't been TOO ebullient for you, but it was just an incredible show.)

Set List:

Hello Goodbye
Jet
All My Loving
Getting Better
Coming Up
Let Me Roll It
New Song ("I Hear The Music", "Don't Wanna…")
Driving Rain
True Love ("Kiss My Blues Away")
Acoustic Set
Blackbird (Paul - Solo)
Every Night (Paul - Solo)
We Can Work It Out (Paul - Solo)
Mother Nature's Son (w/ Wix on accordion)
Vanilla Sky (w/ Wix, Lead Guitar & Drum)
You Never Give Me Your Money (Paul on "Magic Piano")
Fool on the Hill (Paul on "Magic Piano")
Here Today (dedicated to John)
Something (dedicated to George; Paul on ukulele)
Eleanor Rigby
Here, There and Everywhere
Band on the Run
Back in the USSR
Maybe I'm Amazed
C Moon
My Love
Can't Buy Me Love
Freedom
Live and Let Die
Let it Be
Hey Jude

Encore 1:

Long and Winding Road
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There

Encore 2:

Yesterday
Sgt. Pepper (Reprise)>You Never Give Me Your Money>The End
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HP Pavilion
San Jose, CA

The second night was much the same as the first (same set list) and was actually a GREAT thing to do. I could sit back and appreciate the show better with out that "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S PLAYING THAT" reaction to nearly every song. I brought my mom (her very first rock concert!) and she had a blast. And, apparently, my dad was quite jealous! (The mental image of me at a concert with BOTH my parents is hugely amusing!) I'm sorely tempted to pick up a ticket to LA, but just can't afford it!