by luddite lady on 15 Jul 2009 06:00
I just got back a while ago from the English Beat concert, which I attended with my old highschool friend. While standing in line, I came across Bruce and Jock, friends of Coplandous D'amour. Even though I had seen them at Andy's recent panel discussion, I probably wouldn't have recognized them in line if Bruce hadn't been wearing his Regatta t-shirt. I also met Marianna from stingus. She had travelled to Arizona for a Police show with our own Nancyrose. She says hi, Nancy. It was great to find other old folks at the concert. My friend and Jock were both getting texts updating them on the score of their kids' soccer games.
Anyway, the band was really great and we skanked the evening away. The band is sounding great and have maintain really high energy through the show. A lot of the members of the band are really young. But David, the original member, singer and guitarist kept up with them just fine. During the intermission before the second band, Reel Big Fish, my friend and I were talking to one of the other guitarists who was just hanging at the bar. He's in his forties and a long time friend of Dave but has only been with the band since February. He feels this manifestation of the group captures the original sound and energy of The Beat better than any other that Dave has patched together in the last twenty years.
Reel Big Fish was good. They have quite a following. We were right close to the stage for The English Beat but wisely kept our distance for the next band. Too much crowd surfing and other mosh pit type antics for me. The opening act on tour with them is forgettable. But their songs and set are both very short.
Schmaffy and PR, I think you're in for a good time on Friday night. And if you see the bald guitarist hanging out at the bar between acts, tell him the two women from Toronto say hi.
In Dallas, the only game that really mattered was in the word gamelan.