Concert: Ivy @ Iron Horse Music Hall

A few weeks ago I bought one ticket to see Ivy, one of my all-time favorite bands, at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA. Today I left the house all shiny and clean at 3:30 pm for the 64-mile drive, with camera, book (Dewey Lambdin’s “King’s Captain“), bottles of water,an apple and a scribbled map of downtown Northampton all on the passenger seat beside me. After a pleasant 90-minute drive through western Massachusetts I arrived in town, and found a convenient parking meter just past the Iron Horse. I fed the meter with six quarters (enough to get me to the ‘free-to-park-after-6pm’ mark), grabbed my novel and wandered around the downtown area in search of the Northampton Brewery.

I spent an enjoyable two hours reading, talking to the spunky and very attractive bartenders, devouring my absolutely perfect Green Mountain Burger, and trying a trio of their beers. I had decided to avoid any IPAs since that is my beer style of choice, and so I began with their Altbier. It tasted like the intersection of an IPA and an Octoberfest. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t anything special. Next was the Magic Carpet Rye. It was lighter in color than the Altbier, and had a stronger scent. The aftertaste was good, the flavor complemented my burger, and it wound up being my favorite of the bunch. The last one I had was their Conundrum. I’ll call it a “Guinness Light” and leave it there. Unremarkable. Overall the beers at the oldest operating brew pub in New England were not bad, but rather disappointing nevertheless. However, the service was stellar (thanks Jess and Krissy!) and the burger (beef ground on-site daily from local sources) was easily the best I have had in years. At 7 pm I settled my tab, grabbed my book, and hoofed it across the square to the Iron Horse.

When I arrived the opening act, The Sometimes, were already in full swing. They sounded (most of the time) like a decent blend of Toad The Wet Sprocket and early U2. They had a lot of energy and I was pleasantly surprised with their set. Then, after a 30-minute intermission (and running into Dominique downstairs), Ivy took the stage. They kicked ass.

They played songs from all across their career, including “The Best Thing”, “Edge of the Ocean”, “Keep Moving”, and “Streets of Your Town”, with which they kicked off the show. They also performed several new songs, including “Fascinated”, “Suspicious”, and “Lost in the Sun”. They had a lot of energy, Dominique was as sexy as ever, and the band each had their shining moments (Adam is a killer bass player). Top it off with several good Long Hammer IPAs (home again, home again – jiggity jig!) and a super hot waitress (brown hair, fresh scent, black tights and a black skirt) smiling nearby whenever I needed a refill, and a seamless drive home, and this was the best Tuesday of 2011 by leaps and bounds…

Hurricane Irene

• Just a lot of rain, and a bit of wind filled today's grey day due to Hurricane Irene (downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached Massachusetts).
• TV was Friday's latest "Thundercats" and a lot of Bianca de la Garza talking about the weather.
• I also read the amazingly perfect for kids of all ages "Marineman" comic book series. I need to get the trade paperback for a few of the kids.
• Mac & Cheese and ground beef for a late lunch.
• ...And I just bought one ticket to see Ivy at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton for Tuesday September 13th!

Saturday Night Part 1

I just got home from a night out in Boston.

A quick ride on the Red Line, and I sat down next to Jay at the bar at TOAD around 5:45 and snagged a Smuttynose IPA, and after we shot the breeze for a bit Gavin & Lili walked in. We all had one beer together and then headed next door to Christopher's for dinner (we got a table for six), and just as we had ordered beers (I decided to try the Ommegang Rare Vos Amber, which was quite good) & appetizers, Brian & Erik sauntered in. I had a chicken quesadilla and some fried calamari from the group plates (the group got 3 appetizers and shared them), and then my main course was an English Burger (cheddar and bacon) and fries. We all ate and gabbed, and it turns out that Gavin & Lili are indeed engaged, and they bought a 2-family house together (they have tenants too). And Brian has confirmed that Erik's sister Lindsay does indeed exist! We have known Erik for over a decade and none of us has ever met her, or even seen her except in photos. Once dinner was over and our bill was settled we headed back to TOAD to see Abbie Barrett and her band The Last Date perform.

The music is a lot different live & plugged in than it is either on the cd or just Abbie solo acoustic. A lot of the songs were cool jam sessions, and she even had me enjoying the Neil Young (who I cannot stand) covers. I was disappointed that they didn't play "Dying Day", or any other of my favorites from the album (what are the odds?), but it was a good show. I was very surprised that Jay, Gavin & Lili all headed home even before her set ended! So the main part of the evening was over, but the night certainly was not...

I suggested we head over to Joshua Tree, which has become 'our' (Brian's Erik's & my) bar in Davis Square over the last few years. It was the right choice.

Wyman's Pond Music Fest 2011

Oh, what a day!

I arrived at 11 am all set to spruce up any landscaping and take care of last minute details, but when I arrived, Jon had dropped off the generator and set it up in the summer gear shed behind the main shed; Dad & the twins were raking the pine needles; and Ted had dropped off the two long tables and the canopy.

People wandered in at various times over the course of the day, listening to the performers, cooking their food, catching up with old friends, and hanging out. Also, this year the kids spent a lot more time in the water and playing games than they did sitting in rapt attention at the music. Which was spectacular.

(to be continued)

10 Dollar Day: Elizabeth Lorrey - Cafe Verde

For my first "10 Dollar Day" I went to see Elizabeth Lorrey's first show of 2011 in Lawrence, MA last night at the new Cafe Verde. Erik was sitting at a prime table when I arrived at 7:30, and after I greeted and received a big hug from Elizabeth, Brian & Nikki came piling in with their friend Caitlin. After we all got settled I went over to talk to Elizabeth for a bit, and after letting me know what was up for the evening (album cuts and covers, plus several new songs!), I asked if she was interested in a repeat gig this summer at Wyman's Pond Music Fest 2. She was enthusiastic, signed on, gave me a couple of names for 'new blood', and even offered the use of her sound system.

She went on at 9 pm, and over the course of the next two hours (with a short break around ten) she played all of the songs off her first album ("Frozen" and "She" were the best), several new songs (I really like "Invisible"), and a ton of covers. Caitlin (who is very cool) and Nikki both knew nearly all the words to every cover song Elizabeth performed - it was nutty! A list of the covers can be found in my music blog post, but standouts were The Pretenders "Back on the Chain Gang", Indigo Girls "Closer to Fine", and an amazing rendition of 'Til Tuesday's "Welcome Home". What a talented and versatile performer. I can't wait for her new EP in late March-early April.

It was great to be out & about with the guys again. Brian, Erik & I each had two beers each, Nikki had 3 mixed drinks, and Caitlin had 3 glasses of wine. The conversation flowed, the food was good (apparently - I wasn't hungry), and the music was consistently engaging. I enjoyed the rides there and back too, even with getting a bit lost on the way once I was in Lawrence. The downtown is pretty cool, and Cafe Verde is a great place to hang out with friends.

"10DD" Tally: My pair of Harpoon UFOs were $4.67 each, so tonight's festivities cost me $9.34 - success! Next up (hopefully): Abbie Barrett at TOAD next Saturday...