Here I was the other night. I was writing my introductory blog, and it was getting a bit long. And it was getting late. So, the Scorpions/Thundermother show was amazing. The open-mindness in the metal crowd accepting was in stark contrast even compared to an older couple that I met back at the hotel. You know those moments when you get in a hotel elevator, knowing that you're all at that location for a reason? I explained that I had just gotten back from the Scorps show, and I got this reaction as if they only could think of one song by the band. The husband (they was a married heterosexual couple) says that they're seeing Alison Krauss and Robert Plant the next night at the casino. He emphatically repeated "Robert Plant!", as if Allison Krauss's music was only appealing to his wife. I told him that I loved their collaborative album "Raising Sands", but hadn't listened to their second album. Personally, I want to see each of the surviving members of Led Zeppelin once, and I asked the man if he had seen the tribute concert for Taylor Hawkins which featured a great set from Zeppelin's bassist John Paul Jones. He just stared back at me, not knowing who or what I was talking about. I could tell that his enthusiasm was more in knowing that Robert Plant is much loved rock icon than it was out of appreciation for his music. I got out of the elevator, and heard through the doors the guy ask his wife "Was that a guy or a girl?" (displaying little tact). I shrugged it off, and chatted with some friends before painting my toenails orange for my old university's football game (in another part of Connecticut).
I Uber'ed to the casino in the morning, and took the regional bus back down to an old whaling city called New London. I didn't have that much time to order big lunch, but I had time to check out a little independent comic book shop (and bought some discounted books that had been on the shelf so long that some of the covers had faded in the sun. Regardless of the content of the book, I find that even that alone gives the physical book some character. One book was a "Sabrina: the Teenage Witch" book. The second was from the "Medabots" franchise that I only knew through some anime that was aired in the U.S. when I was in high school. The last book was from a lesser known "Shōjo" manga series. Manga is the term for Japanese comics, and "Shōjo" is a genre often about adolescent girls, focusing more on "slice of life" narratives, relationships, and character-driven stories. It can often include the "magic girl" theme. This covers "Sailor Moon" which I was discouraged from watching back in the 1990's, Cardcaptor Sakura (which a cousin of mine was shocked when learning in 2004 that I was a fan), and American franchises like "Sabrina: the Teenage Witch" and "Bewitched". Experts in Eastern and Western pop culture tend to agree that the Samantha Stevens character from "Bewitched" is the original inspiration for the whole "Magic Girl" genre. Just as with my enjoyment of Gail Simone's first run with the "Birds of Prey" comic series, and some recent DC Comics published under the brand "DC Ink", "Magic Girl" and "Shōjo" comics are types of comics that I've boldly opened up to enjoying. A self righteous feminist cisgender man that I know in the comics industry actually tried gatekeeping me from enjoying the "DC Ink" line, saying "These aren't for you." as if to establish exclusivity just for the sake of it. After adding the new comics to my backpack, I walked to the train station, and got this nice toasted bagel with cream cheese, lox, capers, and red onions from this little independent cafe inside the station. I lunched on my bagel and seltzer while waiting on the train platform. I was fortunate enough to return to Boston in time to stop by the South End neighborhood to pick up some crystals in time for that night's full moon. It was the Harvest Moon. In Pokemon Go, I wanted to indulge in the increased "spawning" rate of Clefairy, but mystically, I also wanted to connect with a moonstone, and some selenite (named after the Greek goddess of the moon). Syracuse football won their season opener. It wasn't against that much of a challenger, but at least it helped give the team momentum for the next week's game.
The day before the Scorpions concert, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Although my country broke free from the UK centuries ago, I did admire her majesty, and I recognized the emotional weight and impact that that this one death had on the world. When another coworker mentioned that Eric Clapton was playing at the TD Garden later that week, I was wondering if he was going to pray tribute to the late monarch. After all, a performance of his that I've seen repeatedly on home video was from the 2002 "Party at the Palace" from her majesty's Golden Jubilee. I purchased a ticket see the guitar demigod, and so did several other coworkers. Following an opening set by Jimmie Vaughan (Stevie's brother), Clapton solemnly played "God Save the Queen". The audience started applauding after the first verse. I couldn't believe that so many people had so little dignity and respect when showing their appreciation. I started getting the sense that even name "Eric Clapton" had drawn many people to the show (like that baby boomer who was so happy to be seeing Robert Plant perform). The awkwardness continued through the show, and some woman sitting behind me had the nerve to shine her phone's flashlight on my jawline trying to point out any trace of stubble. It wasn't just offensive to me, but displayed just how little dignity she displayed in her pettiness. I just tried my best to focus on the masterful musicians (as the camera crew focused on fingerwork which wielded outstanding music as if through magic. None of the Clapton set included songs from his time with the band Cream, and a lot of it was directed more towards the blues. I enjoyed the music nonetheless, and I really appreciated that the crewmembers handling the cameras paid a lot of attention to the musicians' hands. When Eric Clapton performs it's like sorcery how he rouses such beautiful music from the wires and frets. Being able to see the up close visuals of his finger work made the performance even more stunning to behold. The last big treat in my opinion was that Eric played "Tears in Heaven". He wrote that song in the 1990's as a coping method after his son died in such a devastating manner. I had ready that maybe fifteen years ago, Clapton gave a statement saying that he emotionally felt that he didn't need to perform the song anymore, and was putting a moratorium on it as far as set lists go. What caused him to play this piece is unknown to me, but it was tragically beautiful to hear him share that performance with the arena full of people.
In Contrast to my experience at the Clapton concert was Brandi Carlile at the very same venue. She's another artist who I blogged about in 2016, and I felt so at home among the show. One of the big issues that trans people experience is the feeling of "impostor syndrome", and I felt so seen and accepted among the rest of Brandi's audience (the fanbase is dubbed "the Bramily"). In every way, the show felt like a community experience. Brittany Howard performed an opening set so spectacular that I was wondering how Brandi could match it. Brandi Carlile is the type of performer who engages with the furthest back seat (reminding me of Celine Dion). There was a point in the show where she asked the audience to show the flashlights of their phones, and it ambience looked like a self-contained meteor shower. When geeking out on the MBTA's Orange Line with a couple who also came from the concert, they asked who Allison Russell (a surprise guest) is. I told them about when I reviewed "Take the Long Way" by Allison's band Po' Girl, and recommended that they check out the song.
About a week before the Carlile concert, a friend treated me to a concert where Queensryche was opening for Judas Priest. Admittedly, I was unfamiliar with Queensryche when we entered the venue. I listened to their set, and was touched by how personable and appreciative of the fans the band is. Todd La Torre (their frontman) even took a moment to praise a young fan facing immense medical hardships. That humility and connection with the fans is something that I find common in many of these metal bands. When it comes to Judas Priest, I had become big fan of Rob Halford's vocal range, theatric delivery, and how he has become a prominent has role model in rock. Even before publicly coming out, he had created the a visual aesthetic for the band strongly inspired by the (predominantly gay) "leather" BDSM community. At one point in the show, Rob rode out on a motorcycle, and playfully flogged one of his bandmates. The band played so many of their hits, and it's wondrous to hear their frontman have what range he has a 71 year old. His surviving a battle with prostate cancer is just another example of how he's defied the odds and is able to perform today. His lead guitarist of twelve years (almost died during a cardiac emergency onstage in 2021. With the tragic losses of Laura Branigan and Selena Quintanilla grim reminders to seize the day, and see your heroes while you can.
The last three shows were relatively small. I saw the Surfrajettes at the City Winery's Boston location. They're a Generation Y surf rock band from Toronto. Shermy Freeman (who is known through the internet how her retro-themed style) put together a band with Nicole Damoff, Sarah Butler, and Sam Maloney. With their signature go-go boots and some vintage instruments, the band brings the early 1960's sound and reverb to the 21st century. Drawing as much inspiration from the era of Dick Dale, the Ventures, and the Shadows, they also draw inspiration from more recent musicians. I first learned of them through their "surf" cover of Britney Spears's song "Toxic". The Vienna Teng concert at Club Passim in Harvard Square was so early that I didn't have time to grab my inserts. Vienna is this little known singer/songwriter, but with a devout fanbase. I first learned of her while writing my 2016 blog in response to her song "City Hall". Her city of San Francisco famously made same-sex marriage legal for a short span of time before California recognized such marriages as legal. The song puts the singer in the position of a young queer person who was driving with their beloved to San Francisco to have the sanctity of their relationship legally recognized. With every detail artfully written into the song, listening to "City Hall" always leaves me tears. Then, there was a Christmas concert from Glee cast member Darren Criss. It was at the historic and intimate setting of the Wilbur Theater in Boston. Charming and unapologetically nerding out about music and acting, Criss is like a straight version of his Blaine character. It was hours of Darren's outstanding versatility that concluded the first big tour. When the band was introduced, we learned that the trumpeter is currently a student at the Juliard School in New York. What a wonderful way to end a semester, right? This was around the time that I heard the sad news about Celine Dion's neurological diagnosis. I consider it a great blessing that I was able to see Celine Dion perform at the TD Garden in 2019. I was in the furthest back row, and and it speaks of Celine's ability as a person and as a performer that she can connect with every fan in the arena. It still gives me goosebumps to think of that night.
With Paramore playing me out, I step away from the keyboard for the night, wishing you all well. Thank you for reading, and feel free to comment below.
Best Regards,
Ken
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