Point State Park, Pittsburgh, PA ..... The final headline show for the 2014 Three Rivers Arts Festival. I had been a fan of the then 20 year-old British performer shortly after I caught a few songs from his 2012 UK debut album, even before it was released here in the States. At WYEP, we ended up playing "Lightning Bolt" some in November 2012. His record label released an EP to radio with a few of his songs, but not "Lightning Bolt." They were concentrating on promoting "Two Fingers" for his first single in the U.S., which is a great song but not the right one for here--"So I hold two fingers up to yesterday" doesn't hold the same weight in American English as it does in UK English. Sigh. They finally switched to promoting "Lightning Bolt" in late March 2013. Either way, it was great seeing him live, performing on guitar with a bassist and drummer backing him up. The aforementioned song s sounded great, as did "Messed Up Kids,...
Allegheny Landing Park, Pittsburgh, PA.... The WYEP Summer Music Festival In Brief: The only old song Shocked played was "Anchorage"--everything else was new. But unlike many performers who are heavy on their latest material, she was so dynamic that no one seemed to mind. Erin McKeown sat in on guitar for about 4 songs. There were some technical troubles during Penn's set, but he still played well. "Long Way Down" was interrupted halfway through ("I'd like to soldier on," Penn explained when he stopped the number, "But it's hard to sing if I can't hear the guitar"), but I'm so glad he played it. He closed with "Walter Reed," one of my favorites of the new record.
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA .... While I had never seen ELO before and was interested in catching them live, I really went to see Dhani Harrison. As it turned out, Dhani and his band were OK but ELO was extremely enjoyable. Dhani Harrison ELO setlist : Standin' in the Rain Evil Woman All Over the World Showdown Do Ya When I Was a Boy Livin' Thing Handle With Care (with Dhani Harrison) Rockaria! Last Train to London Eldorado Overture Can't Get It Out of My Head 10538 Overture Shine a Little Love Wild West Hero Sweet Talkin' Woman Telephone Line Don't Bring Me Down Turn to Stone Mr. Blue Sky encore break Roll Over Beethoven
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