Sun + Surf + Friends + Old 97's = PERFECTION
What could be the cherry on top of the beach-time-with-girlfriends sundae? Why, having the greatest live band alive perform at the shore, of course. I was stoked when the summer leg was announced and my favorite foursome, Old 97's was set to play in both Dewey Beach AND the legendary Stone Pony on back-to-back evenings!! And to add to the pot 'o music gold, Tommy Stinson of The Replacements fame was slated as their opener.
Steph, Melissa and Sheila joined Cindy and me for the beach bash. These ladies are so awesome to be with. There is no drama, no walking on egg shells, no jealousy...just a loving, supportive sisterhood that rocks out together.
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| Melissa making an impression |
It was all about Melissa that night. She's a guitar freak who knows her shit regarding axes (Man, that lingo sounds uber lame coming from me. It will cease and desist. Promise.), and she lovesLovesLOVES Ken from the 97's. I'm not sure which she loves more, him or his guitars, but either way he/they rev her engine.
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| oooo…pretty red to match my blood shot eyes |
Anywho, it was her day, fo sho. She hit the trifecta. Outside the venue, she got to talk shop with Murry, the bass player about his bass and other equipment queries. Then she met Tommy Stinson coming out of the men's room before the show and impressed him so much, he dedicated a song to her, calling her out by name. THEN, Ken was grinding his guitar all up in her euphoric face during the show.
WINNER!!
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| "how do you like my ax, Melissa? my guitar's not bad either." BadaBING!! |
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| "THE tommy stinson, muthafuckers!!" or something like that you get the idea there was glorious cursing |
Rhett introduced Tommy, twice in fact because the crowd wasn't getting the gravitas of the situation, punctuating the second go-round with "the Great Tommy FUCKING Stinson!" I had no idea what to expect from the former child prodigy and founding member of the Replacements. He was unexpectedly jovial, charming and engaging with the audience. He laughed all the way through his set, poking fun at himself for forgetting lyrics occasionally. I liked him a lot. I understand why Mr. Miller enjoys his company so much.
Besides, who wouldn't love a legendary punker who isn't ashamed to dangle store rewards cards from his badass, punk rock, large-link chain, huh?
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| no shit, man he likes him a savings and no, i was NOT looking at his package |
At the Pony, whenever he duffed a lyric, he burst into a rousing chorus of "Hey, Good Lookin'". As Chris Hardwick from the brilliant @midnight would say... POINTS!!!
Now if only the audience would shut the hell up!
The setlists for this tour are predictably Most Messed Up heavy. I've been lucky enough to catch enough shows to hear ever song from the album performed live. (as the kids say on The Twitter: #Blessed) The shows have been uncharacteristically similar except for a number of slots wherein Rhett mixes it up from show to show. I've noticed there're about five or six master lists recycled throughout these legs. However, the blue-eyed lovely one is conscious of fans seeing back-to-back gigs, and he takes great pains not to do the same list two nights in a row.
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| oh, hey there handsome |
No matter. These four play their brains out, and Rhett changes-up his interpretations from one venue to the next in accordance to the energy of the house, or his mood, or the amount of Jameson in his red solo cup. :) Or so it seems to me, but what do I know, except they are NEVER boring or phone it in. Besides, they have such an enormous ouvre of amazing material, I honestly can't fathom how he chooses what they play from night to night.
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| guest geetar hero |
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| rockstar move perspective is a funny thing #bigfoot |
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| rockin' the white pants this pose… *sigh |
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| see that look yeah, he's thinking about how hawt I looked in my tankini four years ago what? shut up!  |
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| ridiculously cute |
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| ken, after his red guitar finally worked |
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| I dig Rhett's new trend of slinging his guitar to the side while singing hawt |
In Dewey they came crashing on stage with a fierce WUZZA and didn't let up until Rhett raised his guitar triumphantly over his head after 90+ glorious, sweat-soaked minutes. In between they had fun playing around with each other and the fans. There was no female opener to join Rhett on 4 Leaf Clover this evening, but Tommy came out to play alongside Ken on Intervention. They never disappoint. EVER.
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| another triumph of rock in the books red solo cup celebration |
Weird Note: halfway through the show, a fight broke out. Yes, a fight. What the Hell, Eric?* I didn't see the brawl myself, but the end result was a man being carried out upside down by security. Or so I'm told. WTF, man. It's the beach. Calm the fuck down!!
*a That 70s Show reference
And what is with dudes busting in front of their women folk to be against the stage?? Where the fuck are their manners?!
Also, this happened…
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| dude's got a freaking jet pack!! |
Moving on to Jersey...
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| we got a little extra sun on this trip |
Both shows were fantastic, but The Pony was especially off the charts! Crazy high energy that made me tired just watching them.
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| guitar fight |
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| whistling boy |
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| one kick-ass bass playa |
Their performance of Longer Than You've Been Alive was downright inspired, sung and played with incredible passion. They maintained that level of verve all the way through the last bittersweet chord of Time Bomb.
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| ken, shredding |
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| and the fans were all singing' and screaming' and squealin' |
The packed house was all in, too. One of the best crowds of which I've been a part. Singing, screaming, shaking their asses. No pushing, shoving or fighting in contrast to Dewey. A cohesive unit whose only goal was to be collectively immersed in the moment with a religious fervor.
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| from the interwebs thank you stranger for your photo skillz |
NJ's favorite daughter, Nicole Atkins stepped up to sing a spirited 4 Leaf Clover with Rhett. And then they unveiled a new, pumped up version of the more somber Dressing Room Walls.
(There are a whole slew of videos from the Pony on Charlie Cirillo's YouTube Channel including Every Night, Most Messed Up and Time Bomb. I don't know him, but clearly I agree with his taste in music.)
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| pre-rock jump the waiting is the hardest part... (courtesy of denise zimmerman) |
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| the satisfied smile says it all no, thank YOU all for an amazing evening |
The entire concert was so fabulous! Truly a "triumph of rock." The beach setting definitely agrees with these fellas.
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| life is better at the beach |
Cindy and I got a rare chance to visit with everybody briefly after the show, including Mike, their tour manager and Jeff, merch guy extraordinaire. Even though they had a long drive to Massachusetts ahead of them, they graciously took time to speak with everyone who was waiting around. I really love these gentlemen.
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| i threw in the finger for no extra charge |
This was the first time I've ever been to the Pony or Asbury Park. It was too cool to be in this storied venue. The walls are covered with hundreds of guitars, photos of performers (primarily Bruce) and the soundtrack is distinctly Jersey. The house has such a great vibe. You can sense the spirit of legends oozing from its walls. It's a perfect space for my Texas Monsters of Rock.
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| the pony is strangely isolated |
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| Bruuuuuuuce |
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| 1001 guitars |
Asbury Park is not at all the dangerous dump of yore. It has become gentrified over the past several years, and transformed into a beautiful destination. The boardwalk is cleaned up and filled with swanky restaurants, shops, an adorable spray park and an arcade museum filled with vintage pinball machines. The beach is clean and well attended. The surrounding eight block radius, which once was sketchy, is now a bit of a hipster haven with boutiques, trendy coffee shops and organic fare restaurants. It is lovely!!
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| spray park on the boardwalk you know, for kids |
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| Tilly this freaky-ass visage was everywhere |
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| swan rides on the adjoining river |
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| hipster breakfast joint, Toast |
We stayed at a gay hotel at the end of the boardwalk called The Empress. I had high hopes it would be similar to the ultra fab OUTNYC in New York, but alas, the amenities were less than fabulous. The pool area, replete with dangling disco ball, Tiki Hut bars and handsome males was gorgeous, but the rooms were in serious need of updating. I mean, standard issue bottled shampoos, gels and lotions??!
Hooka, Pa-LEASE!!!
They need to spring for the spa-quality product dispensers if they want to be a drag-queen destination. So disappointing. I have faith they will step up the renovations in time for our next jaunt east to have our faces melted by the 97's.
As indicated by the title, more end-of-summer fun to come in later posts. Until then, here are the setlists to peruse at your leisure if you are so inclined, as I am because I'm a big setlist nerd.
Dewey Bottle and Cork The Stone Pony
WUZZA WUZZA
Streets of Where I'm From Streets of Where I'm From
Dance With Me Dance With Me
Longer Than You've Been Alive Longer Than You've Been Alive
She Loves The Sunset Indefinitely
Ex of All You See Ex of All You See
Niteclub Niteclub
Lonely Holiday Bird In A Cage
Give It Time This is the Ballad
Iron Road Iron Road
Nashville Nashville
Every Night Is Friday Night (without you) 4 Leaf Clover (w/Nicole Atkins)
Question Question
Let the Whiskey Take the Reins Wish the Worst
W TX Teardrops W TX Teardrops
Barrier Reef Wasted
Let's Get Drunk and Get It On Barrier Reef
Mama Tried Dressing Room Walls
Big Brown Eyes Let's Get Drunk and Get It On
Intervention Can't Get a Line
Career Opportunities Big Brown Eyes
4 Leaf Clover Doreen
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Most Messed Up Every Night Is Friday Night
Time Bomb Most Messed Up
Time Bomb
