Concert Review: Guster & Ray LaMontagne with Fruitbats, Birmingham, AL July 23, 2006
Published July 25, 2006
Before The Fruitbats took the stage Sunday night for a pleasant, if forgettable, performance, I was reminded of two important life lessons.
Lesson 1: Take nothing for granted. Be prepared.
Lesson 2: There really are more good people than bad. Don't let anyone tell you any different.
This column was nearly "The Review That Wasn't." I have no idea how I got Murphy's attention. I guess a soul is easily distracted when all it has to look forward to is an eternity in Hell with a hot poker crammed up the ass. Whatever the case, ol' Murph managed to get my name somehow removed from the guest list to the show.
As my heart sank, anger led to hatred and hatred led me closer to the Dark Side. It was time for another showdown between me and ol' man Murphy. I thought I could hear Satan tuning his golden fiddle in the background, but it might have been "Dueling Banjos" to account for the current state of Murphy's arse. Either way, the music in Hell is atrocious, which ought to make anyone want to repent.
As I reflected on the situation while preparing for my battle, I realized it was my arrogance that managed to tweak the man with the law named in his honor. I was sure I would be on the list and everything would be fine so I did not bother to print out the e-mail confirming this and including a phone number to call if there were any problems.
It's not that the Murphy fellow does not have a right to be bitter – being buggered by a flaming salad fork is enough to make anyone a little grumpy. Keeping me from seeing Guster just seemed a little on the completely unreasonable side. I have written about them twice in my Confessions of a Fanboy series (Vol. 6 with Mark Saleski and Vol. 7 on my own), and Saleski and I have discussed them on the BCRadio Podcast more than once. Guster and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have shared the role of "Musical Obsession of the Moment" for the past couple months. Missing this show would have been horribly unfair. The stakes were high and my asscheeks were clenched mightily. The moment of truth was upon us.
Fortunately, Lesson 2 came to the rescue and I was able to continue my reflections while seated in a plush, red velvet seat inside the historic Alabama Theater. I never did catch the name of the outstanding member of Team Guster who pulled the string and got me admitted to the show. I got to thank him before and after and I thank him again, here. The 90 minutes I drove to Birmingham would have sucked only slightly less than the 90 minutes I would have had to drive home having not seen anything.
Josh Hathaway is Assistant Music Editor for BC Magazine. He is formerly an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and publishes the BC Network site Confessions of a Fanboy .
- Concert Review: Guster & Ray LaMontagne with Fruitbats, Birmingham, AL July 23, 2006
- Published: July 25, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Live Concerts, Review
- Writer: Josh Hathaway
- Josh Hathaway's BC Writer page
- Josh Hathaway's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Confessions of a Guster Fanboy <--new title for your recurring thingy
very cool stuff Sir DJ. I guess I really have to go out and listen to me some Guster so you'll shut up about them already. Your're getting to be as bad as Saleski and freaking Metheny.
Ok, enough smirkiness. This was a darn fine review. One of your best.
I too must track down some Guster, see what the big fuss is all about.
Oh and who is this Murphy guy? It's not the guy from the class action suit advert in the BC sponsors righthand column is it?
And great review BTW.
I'm guessing Murphy, as in Murphy's Law
Very good work Sir DJ.
The Wife to Whom I'm Married had never heard of Murphy's Law. Here I was thinking I was being obvious. That's what happens when I try and go literary. I better stick with flinging the fucks.
Thanks, Mondoites, for checking out the review.
never heard of murphy's law?! ...and she's married to YOU?!
What can I say? I am a living embodiment of the concept "Married Out of My League."
Ah, THAT Murphy, silly me! I guess I'm just used to the Duke's use of manic characters to colour his writings, so much so that such an allegorical usage swept over my head. Nah, keep it up, it's good, I'll be more keen eyed next time, I promise!
And I also wanted to make reference to the class action suit guy, he cracks me up.
Sir Fleming, never let literalness get in the way of a great one liner- that's my advice. And you're right, the class action guy is great for a laugh.
You're right... The Duke's characters are fantastic pieces of his writing. I haven't the manic talents to summon them in my own writing. The cursing, on the other hand, has been a lifelong pursuit of mine.
Crap. I just made the mistake of clicking over to Amazon and listening to clips. After reading all these pieces by you and Mark for a while, I still had yet to hear a single note by these guys, and the moment I heard the first song, I knew I'd like 'em. Dammit. Off to Best Buy today, I suppose . . .
You won't be sorry, Tom. Ganging Up on the Sun and Keep it Together should be in your possession this very day.
Hey man, I met you at "will call" when they couldnt find our tickets, and then talked to you between sets. Your review is incredible, it descibes the mood and everything of the show perfectly. Ill have to check back here in a few months, good luck with the tom petty thing, cyaa
Brian, it was very cool meeting you. Thanks for checking out the review- I'm very glad you liked it. Thanks for that.
Petty looks "on" so far, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Stop back any time.
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you are now one of those kids i saw in the Guster On Ice video who had given themselves up to the music in the moment.
pretty cool stuff.