:: Closing Time ::

:: Sunday, August 04, 2002 ::

So today I went to a really good concert absolutely free. I saw Moby's Area^2 tour thanks to an Apple promotion that needed volunteers to run a booth or hand out cards. I spent a couple of hours handing out promotional iPod cards as people were leaving and got to see a badass concert.

I was pleasantly surprised by the lineup: I hadn't recognized the point of the Area tour. Moby was apparantly impressed by the varied nature of Lollipalooza when he was on it, and wanted a tour that would bring fans of different music to see different artists. Well, that it certainly did. The scheduled lineup:

In the rave tent:
John Digweed
Carl Cox
and of course, Moby himself.

On the main stage:
Ash
Blue Man Group
Busta Rhymes
And the kingpin of all kingpin's, David Bowie.

This was the shocker to me - I found out Bowie was playing this morning, and didn't fully process what I was about to experience. This was one of the best shows I've ever seen, and I've seen Metallica, Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Green Day, and other acts legendary for their live shows. Well Bowie's legendary for being innovative and edgy, but man oh man. This guy OWNED the show. He opened with Life on Mars, which is one hell of a song from a musical standpoint in that there's a good bit of belting in it but it's generally just a big musical song, not exactly rock concerty.... and then later goes back and rocks it out as only he can. Who else can go up and play a song and say "This next song.... well... this is so very eighties. *laughs* Oh yes, this was all the eighties." .... then plays "Let's Dance" to a roaring crowd. And he mocked the whole concert concept by saying shit like "So this is the part of the show where an artist is supposed to say, so here are a few songs from my new CD availible in stores.... and they've told me I have to be conventional, so I guess I'll play some songs from the new CD." He was incredible. He did "I'm Afraid of Americans" without Trent Reznor and it lost nothing.... and Trent Reznor is NOT an easy badass to make up for. And for his last encore, he was like "This last song is one of the first songs I played my first time in Boston, and I hope it's not my last because you guys have really been an amazing audience...." .... and goes on to play of course, Ziggy Stardust.

It fucking ruled, and I payed $3.50 all day: for a bottle of water, which I then refilled at the water fountain.
:: Peter 12:49 AM [+] ::
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