Word on the street is that Holly’s Mom thinks I should be a novelist from the stuff I write on this blog.
However, one could only imagine how my blog entries are being dictated to her over the phone by Holly…so I hope Holly sends her mom the website address so that she can have a laugh or two of her own while reading this dedication to her!
Setlist: I Can’t Explain, The Seeker, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, Fragments, Who Are You, Behind Blue Eyes, Real Good Looking Boy, Sound Round, Pick Up The Peace, Endless Wire, We Got A Hit, They Made My Dream Come True, Mirror Door, Baba O’Riley, Eminence Front, Black Widow Eyes, You Better You Bet, My Generation, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, Sparks, See Me Feel Me, Tea And Theater
Hitting up the Scotiabank Place this time around was a lot easier then the time Joelle and I drove out to see U2. Leaving at 6:30 from Orleans is MUCH easier than at 4:30 from downtown.
Went inside and searched around for Joe who was actually outside. Hit up Marshies for a beer or two to wait for the opening band to end. Rumour on the street is that a beatboxer was the opening act. Bewildered we said no to that and waited it out. Then around 8:45 we split the crew up as Marc-Andre and Sam had seats down in the 100 Level whereas we had seats up in the 300 Level. Vero, Mike, Joe and I took our seats which were nice because we were right on the edge of the world (aka along the ramp) so we didn’t have anyone in front of us.
The stage was very minimalist, other than the gigantic screens that are the norm at any rock show these days. I find myself torn between watching the giant tv screens to see some closeup shots of the band, or to squint my eyes to see some figures on a stage dance around. I figure if I’m paying good money to see this band live, why would I just watch a screen all night long? That’s what a DVD is for.
Let’s back to the concert…first song started off and Pete and Roger were in fine form – windmill guitar and mics going all over the place. Very impressed. I don’t even think I could windmill my arm and hit my guitar strings so we all hail Pete Townshend.
I can’t comment too much on the actual songs as I have not been exposed to enough Who. I spent the summer listening to some tunes off and on, but I failed to download the actual hit singles, and just got their albums.
Here’s a history lesson for you young ones out there. Back in the day, hit singles appeared on a 45, not on the actual album, as singles do nowadays. This always throws me for a loop and I forget about it. So if you’re into an old band, it’s probably in your best interest to pick up a Greatest Hits album because their albums don’t really contain many hits.
So, all in all, the show rocked. It wasn’t bleeding ear rock as I had heard The Who is famous for (I also heard that they brought down the Great Garbage Wall in Springfield, but Mike thinks that was Spinal Tap.), but I enjoyed their tunes, along with their new tunes that they were trying out. Everyone had a great time and I give the show two thumbs up.
I take away half of thumb now for the lamest floor crowd in the world. I’m not pointing out anyone in particular but the OLDER generation who pays $265 per seat can’t rock out anymore. I think an ideal concert should be general admission on the floor, no seats, so then the rockers can rock out and create an atmosphere. Then you can start charging the crazy prices once you get into the seated areas. This would create a rock dynamic where the band can feed off of the frenzy standing right in front of them instead of squinting and realizing that the 300 Level was rocking more than those fogeys on the floor.
Last night after a grueling class with our first meeting of the minds in our group (I hate the awkwardness of meeting a group for the first time. We were all just standing there like we were on some first date), I left class at 9:45 and headed to the bus stop.
Waiting there for 15 minutes I pondered how the bus service can suck so much late at night and woe was me as I was kind of in a rush to get back home to see Mike’s parents off.
Anyhow, an 85 pulls up and I’m thinking “By this point of waiting for the 95, when it pulls up it will be packed to the gills and probably pass me by so I should just hop on the 85, ride to St.Laurent then wait for the 95 there since St.Laurent is usually a drop off point for a lot of passengers.”
So I get on the 85 and after two stops it veers southward instead of heading east young man! WHAT? Ah man, did I screw up the bus number? I ring the bell and get off. At this point I’m wondering if this is a sign of some sorts that I should stay in the downtown core tonight with Vero. I brush it off and say “Nah, I gotta get home. Haven’t been there since Tuesday.”
As I’m walking back to the last stop where I can catch the 95, I arrive and see not one, not two, but THREE 95 series busses pass me by! Incroyable! As I stood there bewildered at my rotten luck, I realized that I should pay attention to these signs and realize that it’s pointless to head home. It’s already 10:30 and I just spent 45 minutes waiting for buses and I’m still 20KM outside of Orleans.
This was it. This was the definite sign to hoof it back to Ottawa U campus. But the question is – why?
At first I thought it was to find Vero outside of the Residence with all her friends and there was a BBQ going on. Did the heavens bring me back to campus for a hamburger and to see my lovely girlfriend? Not sure…doesn’t seem earth-shattering to me.
Was it to demonstrate my dancing move entitled “THE BOWLER” to Brad in which I skinned my elbow on the pavement? Not sure…probably not. I can skin my elbow anywhere else.
After retiring to Vero’s pad I was pondering this situation with Vero in which she was pretty miffed that the reason that I came back was to see her! 😉
But then it happened. The heavens shone their uv light down on the television set as I hit Channel 50.
The Hilarious House of Frightenstein.
OH MY GOD! There it was in all its badly edited, horrible acting glory. Vero was thinking “What the heck is this show?” while I was saying “Please let the Disco Wolfman make an appearance…YES, there he is!”
We watched it for 15 minutes and decided to go to bed as it was already 11:30.
My night was complete after witnessing Frightenstein. I can’t wait to get our cable package to watch the entire series.