The Last AAR Show

Friday, October 27th, 2006: The All-American Rejects at the Dodge Music Center in Hartford, CT

As much as we like their music, the fans that go to their concerts are not the type we want to be surrounded with - the average age was probably 15 years old, with a 80/20 female/male split. Parents that were there accompanying their little kids with eyeliner and lipstick, looked miserable. We were definitely in the minority. It is interesting how the type of audience you're with can affect your overall experience. I had an extra stash of earplugs, and Brian gladly used them, not for the music, but for all the high-pitched screaming.

This show was kicking off their Tornado tour, and they said that they didn't pick a big city like NYC, but rather decided to open in Hartford, CT and the crowd went crazy (it basically sounded like he was saying Hartford was a dive). He was also big on saying "Connecticut" rather than "Hartford". Tyson's stage presence, although playful, was a bit too crass, especially since there were a LOT of young folks there - nipple-rubbing, f-bombs, etc. Good vocals and music, but the whole act got tiresome.

We caught a couple songs of one of the opening bands, Starting Line.
They have some catchy tunes, but they need some work. After going to so many concerts, it's really funny how easily you can tell which band knows how to rock a concert and those who don't. I loved how Brian and I were both wearing our Killers t-shirts from the concert the night before.


So, we will just keep enjoying their music, but we probably won't make it to another show. (That sounds sad, doesn't it?) Anyways, here is what I can remember as their setlist, in no particular order, and media

Move Along
11:11 PM
Dirty Little Secret
I'm Waiting
Straightjacket Feeling
Top of the World
Dance Inside
Night Drive
Change Your Mind
It Ends Tonight
Move Along - encore
Stab My Back

Debut Album
Happy Endings
My Paper Heart
Swing, Swing
The Last Song














They performed Straightjacket Feeling in the middle of the amphitheater - notice that freaked-out fan to the right.

The Killers killed Boston...

with an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC KICK-ASS show!!!!!!!!!!

This will be updated, but here are video snippets to whet your appetite:

Joining The Black Parade

Wednesday, October 25th, 2006 7pm: My Chemical Romance at Axis

Two words for this concert: too short

Granted, I'm not a hard core fan, but I really enjoy their music, and their performance was way too short considering how tickets were given out - either by winning on WFNX or waiting in line, first come first serve. So, I did spend quite some time this afternoon on line in the cold. It was a bit ridiculous that I did decided to do this, but at least it wasn't quite as long as camping out for The Seagull, a Shakespeare in the Park play in NYC where we camped out overnight. When I want to do something, I can be very determined...

So, after getting on line, waiting forever, shifting the line, getting a 21+ wristband, getting a hand stamp, urging Brian to get here fast, Brian deciding not to go, receiving a very cool skull mask, getting another wristband - the ticket - to get in, we all finally start filing into the club. Earlier on, the band had driven up in a red van and caused quite a stir as girls ran and screamed toward them. There was probably a 65/35 split for women and men. I had heard earlier this morning that there were 4 girls who had driven all the way from Alburquerque, New Mexico and had been waiting since 3am. That's nuts.

After using the facilities, I did manage to get a great spot in the tiny Axis venue, actually the exact spot I had during the AAR show, so directly center stage and elevated. The opening band, Envy on the Coast had a couple good songs, but the most interesting thing that happened, was that during their performance, there were about 4 or 5 girls, probably not much taller than me, that started their own mosh pit (!). It was rather impressive, considering the make-up of the crowd. The guys around them were much taller and bigger, and they kinda just stood there, either enjoying the crazy chaos or laughing at them.

MCR finally came out around 7:45pm, and the crowd went wild when the black curtain revealed the band. Gerard, the lead singer, has great showmanship and really played to the crowd. Shave his head, and he's a spitting image of Billy Corgan, though not quite as tall. It's quite bizarre...they have somewhat similar sounding vocals. (When IS the new Smashing Pumpkins' album coming out?)


Photo by laurenomally815 - flickr.com

The crowd was VERY into the music, so much so that there was constant singing along, moshing, and body surfing for every song. One woman, or should I say girl, had to be taken outside, either from being squooshed, heat exhaustion or just being enamored with the band.

Here is their setlist, as I can remember, in no particular order. I may be missing one or two songs:

Dead!
Cemetery Drive
Give 'em Hell Kid
Our Lady of Sorrows
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison
Thank You For The Venom
House of Wolves
Famous Last Words
I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
Welcome to the Black Parade

Encore:
Cancer
Helena

When leaving, I looked at my watch, and it was 9:05pm. This was after getting a shirt and getting my things in coat check. The show was very high energy and definitely wished it was longer - although I probably wouldn't know the extra songs. They didn't perform "The Ghost of You" which is one of the few songs that has gotten airplay.

YouTube.com video by jamesinclair

After 25 years, the Pet Shop Boys still got it...

2006 Fundamental Tour - Boston: 3rd show in North America
Friday, October 13th, 2006

What a concert!

Not only did we have FANTASTIC seats, but their show turned out better than I expected, especially since they played songs I didn't expect them to since I had seen their set list from their summer-leg of this tour. It was my first time ever seeing them in concert, and I've been a huge fan of theirs since the first time I heard "West End Girls" back in '86 when I was just 9. Wow, twenty years later, I finally get a chance to see them live. It was just a blast!

Check out this massive list: mostly in order

God Willing
Psycological
Left to My Own Devices
Can You Forgive Her?
I'm with Stupid
Suburbia
Minimal
Shopping
Rent
Dreaming of the Queen
Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
Heart
Integral

- - 20 minute intermission- -

Numb
Domino Dancing
Se a Vida e (That's the Way Life Is)
Flamboyant
Home and Dry
Always on My Mind
Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)
West End Girls
The Sodom and Gomorrah Show

- - Encore - -
So Hard - sung by the three back-up singers
It's a Sin
Go West

The Opera House is quite a venue, and with their stage sets, I can see why they would perform here, BUT early in the show, I would have loved to have seen them perform at a small club venue, because it wasn't until "Integral" that I had to get up and dance. It took a little bit to get the crowd up on their feet, especially since you can get stuck in the seats with no room to go wild and then possibly annoying the seated folks behind you. But by the end, everyone was dancing, and in the orchestra section, you couldn't tell where the aisles were. It was awesome!

Here are some photos & video: dedicated to David, who was so fortunate to see them perform in New York during the Nightlife tour in '99-'00, but could not make it to this concert.



"God Willing":


"Psychological":




"I'm With Stupid":




"Suburbia":


"Minimal" & "Shopping":


"Rent":




"Dreaming of the Queen":


"Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)":


"Heart":


Intermission


"Numb":


"Domino Dancing":


"Home & Dry":


"Where the Streets Have No Name":


"The Sodom and Gomorrah Show":


Before the encores:


Video Highlights: I'll be upgrading the quality at a later date

"Can You Forgive Her?" "Integral" "Always on My Mind" "Where the Streets Have No Name"







Encore: "So Hard" "It's a Sin" "Go West"