AC DC Verizon Center Washington DC November 15 2008 pictures

Roots Rock Reggae at Pier Six Pavilion July 26, 2008 Ziggy Stephen Damien Marley Live Review and photographs

Great show last night at the Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore Maryland with the Roots Rock Reggae Festival. Basically a Bob Marley lovefest with Ziggy, Stephen and Damian. Really seeing three of Bob's talented sons performing together is just about as good as it gets! Barrington Levy played a great set a bit earlier in the evening. Local State Theatre reggae band Soja helped provide a bit of local flavor and were strongly supported by the crowd. For me the highlight was Ziggy Marley as I guess over and beyond my deep love for Bob I have really found a lot to enjoy in his music. He played an acoustic set- shorter than it should have been by about two songs- which opened up with an absolutely killer Redemption Song just him on acoustic... He also did a mean Lively up Yourself...Not playing Tomorrow People- I think- is a lost opportunity. After the set break which was a bit shorter than necessary Stephen Marley came out and played a long set which included much contribution from special guest Damian Marley who has great stage presence and charisma. Ziggy also came out and there was a even a little kid - probably a Bob Marley grandson- dancing around the stage...But there's just nothing like thousands of people singing Three Little Birds, Buffalo Soldier, Roots Rock Reggae or Could You Be Loved with the Marleys... A great night for lovers of reggae and in particular the music and legacy (in song and in the flesh) of the great Robert "Tuff Gong" Nesta Marley.

 

(Thanks to Ziggy Marley crew for link from his page... if you're coming from there be sure to check the main page of this blog for a brief video snippet from last night!)

The Raconteurs- 9:30 Club May 27 2008

Very rocking show last night at the 930 club... really impressed..Brendan Benson definetly held his own.. they played most of the new album which is pretty kickass... Jack White seemed pretty pleased with the show.. almost as good -read loud- a crowd as you're going to get in DC...

the Pogues at the 9:30 Club Washington D.C. Photographs March 10, 2008

The St. Patrick's day festivities started a week early this year...undoubtedly the best part of the shows was that Phillip Chevron (he of the guitar) was again with the band after a year break to deal with his health..he played well.. and he sang well during thousands are sailing (a song he wrote and that when he performed in chicago he used to plug obama as his ancestors also sailed from ireland!)...

Shane Macgowan was very with it.. more so March 10 than March 9 I thought or maybe I was less so March 10 than March 9! he even cracked a "joke" about Chevron being "back from the dead".. I saw Chevron outside the club on Sunday in tights!.. guess thats why he uses the harlequin moniker/avatar on the Pogues board when he posts...

The show ended with Fiesta and some Pogues including Shane hitting themselves on the head with so called beer pans... the first night's Fiesta - closing number- featured these perfect chorus words: "ARGENTINA", "BOCA" (my soccer club from Buenos Aires), and "MARADONA"!! priceless! what are the odds?!..no Fairytale in New York which made me glad I caught them two years ago..they played about 110 minutes..very professional..i know cause i heard the sound check from outside the club both days and they were taking it seriously...chevron cut out on the sound check to go to hotel and rest... they had a guy that looked like a guy that gets things done..sort of lock stock and smoking barrels look with a black coat that was running the whole operation including SUVs back and forth to hotels etc....no autographs of my LP as much as I tried but I knew the odds were against me..next time!.......

As you can see from the pictures Shane is filled out a bit but I think the healthier look works for him! The accordion player James Fearnley was spectacular..guess I had not realized how key the accordion sound was...the drummer sang a song both nights..Spider Stacy was also stellar alternating between singing, flute playing, bashing head with beerpan or whatever had to be done..really he is the band leader..Hope we do it again sometime! (NOte: the pictures were put up from earlier photo at bottom to last photos at the top so scroll up if you want to get a sense of the show)..oh one more thing: a shout out to Jonathan, Randy and John who made it a fun night..oh yah and rodolfo working the bar at the old common share now the Blaguard...

Apparently rock stars get a pass on the no smoking DC law... and you know what? I can live with that!