.
I've lost track of how many times I've seen the band perform live, but last night was really something special. Does that sounds like starry-eyed fanboy claptrap? Good, it is. But a few thousand other people who were there would probably agree with me. The venue is comfortable and has good sight lines. I don't know how old the hall is, but it seems to have been built before narrow seats, odd angles, and cheap decor became acceptable design goals.
But the best part of all was the crowd. This was an audience of fans, with affection for each other and, of course, the band and music. Mingling with other concert goers before and after the show was actually a pleasure. Good vibes, as they say, filled te air with eager anticipation going in and genuine satisfaction upon departure. A guy was apparantly attending alone, found fast friends as he talked about his "first time" -- the Thick As a Brick tour in the mid-70's. (For me, it was 1984's "Under Wraps" in Salt Lake City.)
The band was tight, light-hearted, quirky, and seemed happy to be amongst their "family." Even the opening act, a suprisingly innovative Young Dubliners contributed to the scene by starting things off with enthusiasm and good music. They have a familar sound, but with amusing and dariing twists, and I hope they do well. It's rare for the warm-ups to get a standing ovation, but they earned theirs last night.
Lately it seems that the world of audio entertainment has been falling apart. Record companies acusing customers. Fans feeling persecuted and taken for granted. Lawsuits. Boycotts. CDs that choke playback devices. Last night transcended it all -- artists and patrons enjoying the music together. Quaint, indeed.
7:17:58 AM 
