Summer Concert Review #2

So I didn't go on any vacations this summer. I think the only night I didn't sleep in my own bed was spent at my parents house. That's about as boring as it gets. However, I was fortunate enough to go to 5 really amazing concerts, and that was a summer getaway enough for me. Here is my review of each show in order...

7/17/10 Ben Folds with The Utah Symphony

Well, as I didn't pay for Paul McCartney, this show rings in at most expensive summer concert to me. $100 for 1 7th row ticket. Worth it...but if they did it again I would get grass tickets. I feel like at least once during all of these concert reviews I'm going to say "this show was amazing." and this one was. I am very familiar with the dvd of Ben live with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, but only 9 of the 18 songs performed were on the DVD. Still, it didn't even matter, as WASO doesn't hold a candle to our Utah Symphony. I'm not trying to be self-righteous or prideful or anything, but the Utah Symphony just sounded better. I could expound on that but I won't. Ben's on-stage banter was hilarious as well. That man is pure entertainment. He understands it. This was the most relaxing concert of the summer and a perfect evening all around. Great weather, we brought in cheese and crackers, and a couple bottles of martinelli's. What more could you ask for than a night out at the Symphony?

I give this show a 7 out of 10. It was a great show, but he loses points because of ticket price, and it was obvious how tired he was, I think we would have gotten Rock This Bitch or a couple other songs if he had had a bit more energy.

Highlights of the night are Not the Same (with no piano, only orchestra, I've never heard him do that) and Angry Dwarf, that is a great song and the arrangement of the orchestra parts was even better. I wish I had a recording of it to share with you.

Summer Concert Review #1

So I didn't go on any vacations this summer. I think the only night I didn't sleep in my own bed was spent at my parents house. That's about as boring as it gets. However, I was fortunate enough to go to 5 really amazing concerts, and that was a summer getaway enough for me. Here is my review of each show in order...

7/13/10 - Paul McCartney

When I heard Sir Paul was coming to town, I kind of put it in the back of my mind, as I wouldn't really have the money for that kind of show, and I didn't have anybody to go with anyway. The night before I got a call from forever and always best friend Zack Golden, who told me he had an extra ticket and that I should come along. It was at that exact moment how much I realized how much I wanted to go to this concert. I real life Beatle. Once in a lifetime show. We had a discussion at work the day of the show about weather or not The Beatles can be considered the fathers of modern rock and roll. I think this is worth mentioning. In old recordings of the Beatles, they didn't have the technology like we do today, they didn't have the speakers and sub-woofer capability we have today. Sure if you listen to the original recording of the song "Day tripper" it is very weak. Relatively quiet, no drums, just a tambourine backing the guitars, I mean come on? It doesn't compare to rock and roll today. That is not the case with hearing Paul live. I have seen my share of great rock shows and this was the greatest. The guitar solos were loud and impressive. The drums were not absent, they packed a punch. Paul's voice is as high and clean sounding as it ever was. This show was amazing. The Beatles will forever be the fathers of modern rock and roll.

I give this show 10 out of a possible 10. With a setlist of 36 songs including 2 separate 3 song encores, I would feel guilty giving it anything less.

There were way too many highlights of the night, but my 3 favorites were Blackbird, Hey Jude, and Helter Skelter. I hope to see you again, Paul.