you can't make me.

just kidding. it's not like i wouldn't already write about it and every other inane detail of my life.

At the last minute a friend and I were bestowed VIP tix to Chicago last night. Good concert. The band was 15 minutes late but more than made up for it.

It was mostly a "best of" set but they did throw in some of the lesser knowns from their 32 albums... which I quite enjoyed. This included a great rockin cover of Glen Miller's "In The Mood".

There are also pictures on my blog.

The Mr. didn't mention how much energy those guys had and how, as an audience, you felt as if they really wanted to be there for you.
This metal/hard rock girl gained a new respect for Chicago ( and their 50 year old groupies). May I be rockin' my not so fine lines and gray hair, 30 years from now, with half the energy they did.

thank u for the tickets Dave, the concert was off the hook BabyBash, Frankie J, Sean, were looking HOT
GOOD SHOW GUYS

I guess I will be the guy to write about the Doodlebops. So here it goes. We get there about 11:30 and waited in a line that we did not know if it was the right one or not. After a little wait we walk in no problem to the free general admission seats and begin the wait for what I was told by the Fresno Fair ads and website was a 12 noon show. I am very used to bands coming on late but when you have a place full of kids coming on late is a horrible thing for parents. By the time they finally came on it was already 12:40 and it seemed like they were very unorganized. At one point they announced that they had no set list and one of the guys asked if this was the song he was singing lead on. They also took numerous breaks and seemed to be not really into what they were doing. A postive thing was that most of the kids looked like they were having a good time dancing and screaming and did not seem to care that the performers were not really into it. Overall, I think performers that are representing the big and mighty Disney channel should have been a little more professional but what can I say it was free and I think my kid enjoyed himself.

To be fair, the Doodlebops are produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment, a Canadian company. While they are featured on the Disney Channel (Playhouse Disney) they are NOT a Disney property. Too bad to hear they were unorganized.

here is my review.

No, this wasn't my award winning (comment) ticket from the Beehive nor a fortuitous last minute VIP gift (like Chicago last week.) I paid for Earth, Wind & Fire.

I grew up on their music in Malaysia so needless to say seeing them for the first time at the Cow Palace in 1980 was a thrill and a half. I have since had the pleasure and privilege 6 times... last night being the most recent.

Even in their current stripped down configuration (big laser show in 1980, yo) these guys are just a joy to watch. An ethereal rumble fills the air - made more so with the water-like sounds of the kalimba as they take the stage.

And as in the past, their set comprises a healthy dose of the hits along with an infusion of the lesser known (usually newer stuff) as well as the odd sweet surprise. For instance, at one point last night Philip Bailey broke out serenading the audience with the refrain from The Stylistics hit "Betcha By Golly Wow".

There were songs that we "got down" to as well as a set of slower numbers that memory jogged the name of the person we slow danced with in our youth. But above all there was the music - with the transcendent mix of influences from African, Brazilian and Latin fused with and forming a higher urban funk. Unabashedly optimistic, sophisticated and theatrical. Even without the laser show of the past the design of the set list was broken up into 3 definite acts with full blackouts between them. Add to that the mastery of joyful performance executed with the ease of the ultimate party host and you have the EWF experience last night.

As per usual there are pics from last night on my blog.

I too was at the Earth, Wind and Fire concert and as a great fan of their music, I had a blast! I had the pleasure of being in the VIP section to the left of the stage and these guys made sure we were given attention, especially because part of our view was obstructed. Energy was continuous and contagious throughout the entire concert and having a behind the scenes view, I can tell you these guys work hard to entertain. The tightness of their musicianship and the overall plan for the show was amazing. We even had the view of the tech guy running the monitor feeds by computer and that was interesting to watch. There's no question why these guys have been at this for so long and successfully for that time, because they really know how to do a show.

The Newsboys concert was pretty cool once everything was said and done. I actually used to follow this group very closely, up to five or so years ago.

I found myself surrounded by people whom I used to hang out with back in the day when I attend a local church here in town, let me tell you the feeling was sort of awkward. There's nothing like putting a little time and maturity behind a person and setting them in an environment which they used to thrive in and watching them cower to not even wanting be recongnized...(Incognito)

The Newsboys performed a medley of songs some new and some old; nonetheless all good. It was neat to watch and listen to maybe a couple thousand people worship openly, in the middle of a fair.

Well, for my first nightime Fair experience, this show was cool and my girlfriend was happy!

Thanks again...

Thank you again to Beehive for the tickets to the AWB/TOP concert at the Fresno Fair.

This is not the first time these two bands have toured together. It really is a great combo. As they did a few years ago the Average White Band took the stage first.

Considering where this band originated from... Scottish Funk... who would have thunk? And good to boot. Original members Alan Gorrie & Onnie McIntyre still have it and they still have fun doing it. The younger members of the band more than hold their own. Especially Klyde Jones on vocals, bass and keyboard.

They opened with the riff to "Pick Up The Pieces"... but it was a fake-out launching into a string of hits eventually closing with (guess what?) "Pick Up The Pieces". Perfect bookends. By the end the crowd was on it's feet, head boppin and warmed up for more funk.

And more funk they got as Tower of Power took the stage. Kicking off with "We Came To Play" which got the ball rolling. Whenever they play Fresno there is always a certain sense of family... like that cool cousin who made it big is back for a visit triggering a rockin party.

Tonight was no different. Horns as tight as ever punctuated by hard funk that compels you to move even if you have two left feet. Yes, there were a few in the audience. They didn't care and neither did we... it was a party. I have to say it didn't hurt that Larry Bragg is a great front-man for the group... both vocally and in presence.

At one point one couldn't help but sense the present irony when they launched into "Only So Much Oil In The Ground". Especially when Emilio Castillo (who was in fine form) told the crowd the song was written when gasoline was sixty-eight cents a gallon.

If you have never been to a TOP concert before... you really owe it to yourself to. The quirk is the audience sings along to the lyrics... as well as the horn parts. Not surprising since they are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. It was plainly evident they were enjoying themselves on stage and so were we.

It certainly was a wonderful celebration for what I have long considered to be the hardest working band in the biz. As per usual... "there are pictures on my blog."

Thanks Fresno Beehive for the great tickets to see Randy Travis last night.

Randy has aged. That being said, he knows he has aged, and he can joke about it. Being almost *cough* 50 myself, I could appreciate that he still comes out and can hit those very low notes.

At first the weather sort of had his throat in a stranglehold, and you could tell he was having a hard time hitting the high notes.

Wonderful show, though. Great stuff from his new CD, and my favorite was when the whole crowd sang along with King of The Road...

I loved it. The memories of the music were great, and he is a truly humble and gracious performer.

Thanks again for tickets!
Ms. V