GREEN DAY ROCKS DENVER

I took family and friends to see Green Day perform at the Pepsi Center here in Denver this Saturday night. We had dinner at Lola's in NW Denver and then cruised over to the Pepsi Center where I was able to sneak in both my camera (only cell phone cameras allowed) and an evenings supply of liquid gold. Franz Ferdinand kicked off the show with a short warm up act. Although I'm not familiar with the band, the songs were very recognizable as one I enjoy listening to when they come on the radio, such as "No You Girls You Never Know" and "Take me Out".

Green Day began their show shortly after 8 PM and stayed on stage for over 2 hours, performing numbers off their latest album as well as old classics. An incredibly great, high energy performance before a packed house. We had unobstructed views looking down on the stage from the edge of the 3rd level balcony, where we stood the whole show and danced to the loud music. The event staff person "patrolling" our are asked me 3 times to cease using the camera, but by then I had taken all the pictures I needed. I had also finished off the tequila so there was no fear of losing that if searched.

Here are comments by people who attended the show posted to the Denver Post review (http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_13133333) said about the show:

"Billie Joe is nothing short of a musical genius and a brilliant showman. I can't imagine any other band working as hard as they do to entertain their fans. We were blown away by the fact that they took the time and trouble to play some of their "old-school hits" for those of us who had never had the pleasure of seeing them live before. For "young boomers" like us, who grew up with the Beatles, the Stones, Led Zep, and the punk bands of the '70s and '80s, it was blissful to hear an American band that synthesizes all of the great elements of rock from the past 50 years. These guys aren't even in their 40s yet, and they are already American classics."

"Without a doubt one of the high energy shows of this or any year. Everyone was up on their feet right from the opening song and like the band no one took a break for the next two and a half hours. Green Day was on their game and Billie Joe Armstrong knows how to work a crowd! A classic Saturday Night take no prisoners concert!!"

"Great Great Great concert! Billie Joe Armstrong is a fantastic front man. He really knows how to capture a crowd and keep them with him the whole night. I too loved when he got the 12 year old boy on stage to play Jesus of Suburbia. It was great how he stayed with him and helped him work it out. The kid did a magnificent job on his own! It was an awesome night. I will be there for the next tour too!"

WANDERING NEW YORK'S CANYONS

A day was spent visiting an old friend I've known since high school. It's becoming a tradition for us to watch David Lynch's 1997 surreal horror movie Eraserhead. Watching it for the first time is a shock, but with each viewing more attention can be spent trying to interpret the symbolism of events that make up this nightmarish movie. I returned to Long Island by train the following day.

It is also a tradition to spend at least one day visiting Manhattan, even though I'd much rather spend it relaxing on the beach. I took my son in to the city while my daughter went in with her cousin. She spent the day wandering Times Square and taking in a Broadway play. My son and I accomplished several different things: visited the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum located in the USS Intrepid, a 1943 air craft carrier docked on the Hudson River; visited the National Museum of the American Indian; had a relaxing ride on the Staten Island ferry; had a lite dinner at a restaurant in the South Street Seaport; walked midway across the Brooklyn Bridge to enjoy a cigar and the view during sunset. This last activity was fun, not only for the views of the surrounding city skyline, but it is a great place to people watch as a steady stream of people and bicyclists come out to also enjoy the warm summer evening.

After a day in the city I'm tired of it. The running around, all the people, the constant noise, the stinky air, and the heat. You can probably bake a pizza in the heat of the subway system, although the trains are comfortably air conditioned. Returned to our home base late that evening.

Jostling people

Wander the metropolis

Everyone alone

Youthful bravery

Lacks the lesson learned to late

That we all can die

Crows calling loudly

Pass overhead on their way

Flying through our lives

Sleep with the sorrow

Fondly dreams of the past

Wakes to loneliness

Big house by the lake

The family has long since gone

Rooms that lay empty

Another virtual concert late on a warm summer evening, the first being Van Halen's August 26/27,1986 show in New Haven, Connecticut, fondly referred to as "New Halen" throughout the concert. An excellent soundboard recording, a great performance by a reinvigorated band now that Sammy Hagar was on tour for the first time as their lead vocalist. A really rocking show, Eddie and Sammy playing off one another as they dominate the performance. Compare this show to the ones with David Lee Roth in 1984 and you can clearly hear the difference in style and quality. They took it up a notch and the albums they produced from 5150 on all went to number one on the charts. This is one of the best recordings from that first tour.

The final countdown

His dizzied rocket ascent

Into the black hole

The peasants listen

Princes and Princesses bow

King Edward's guitar

Next up was Echo & The Bunnymen appearing live at the Mont-de-Marsan Arena in France on August 10, 1984. A superb performance and excellent soundboard recording from a time when they were at their best. I can't stand still when their music fills my ears, dancing in darkened street on this humid summer evening.

Download it here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CQ550M99