Cloaca Melodia

World Cafe Life, Philadelphia, PA ... As a huge Letterman fan from nearly the beginning, it was great to see Shaffer and members of his Letterman band play live. Original World's Most Dangerous Band member Sid McGinnis and CBS Orchestra member Felicia Collins were on the guitars. And then this happened. (The photo was blurry and meeting Paul FELT like a blur!)   The Dream Syndicate and Robert Cray were also great to see but were a little overshadowed for me by Shaffer.

World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA.... The Pixies were terrific, and definitely the most on-point performance of the three times I've seen them live to this point. They were pretty ferocious (I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the band being in the era of Paz Lenchantin on bass).  I really enjoyed Real Estate and Laura Marling, and The Mavericks were fun as always.  Nancy & Beth were alter egos for actors Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt, and late in their set, Nick Offerman (of Parks & Rec fame) came on stage beating a big bass drum strapped to his chest.   Pixies   Nick Offerman on bass drum     Pixies setlist : All the Saints La La Love You Where Is My Mind? Winterlong Gouge Away Bel Esprit Classic Masher Wave of Mutilation Tenement Song All I Think About Now Caribou  

World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA ... Blondie was great, with the youthful 72-year-old Debbie Harry wearing a dress inscribed with "Stop F***ing the Planet" in glittery letters. I was amazed to get a chance to see Bash & Pop live, one of Tommy Stinson's bands after the breakup of The Replacements and before he joined Guns 'N Roses. I didn't expect he would reactivate Bash & Pop and play live. A really enjoyable set, and I had a chance to chat afterwards with a very tired Stinson. Greg Graffin (better known as the leader of Bad Religion) did a good set, and it was cool to see Judy Hyman of The Horseflies playing violin for Graffin. I had a brief conversation with Judy to catch up.  I know I saw Ani's set but I don't have much recollection of it several years later.   Blondie's Debbie Harry   Tommy Stinson with Bash & Pop   Greg Graffin   Blondie setlist: One Way or Another Fun Call Me Rapture Fragments Long Time Heart of Glass Too Much Dream...

Mr. Smalls, Millvale, PA ....   Richard Butler of the Furs: Robyn Hitchcock: Psychedelic Furs setlist (according to this source ): Dumb Waiters Heartbeat The Ghost In You So Run Down Heaven No Tears Believe Alice's House Love My Way Angels Don't Cry All of the Law Mr. Jones All That Money Wants House Pretty in Pink(encore break) President Gas Heartbreak Beat

Schenley Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA ....   Part of WYEP's Final Fridays series.   sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!

HersheyPark Stadium, Hershey, PA ....   A great show. Gorgeous night. It's not only always great to see McCartney live, but it was my daughter's first big concert.    setlist (according to this source ): A Hard Day's Night Save Us Can't Buy Me Love Letting Go Temporary Secretary Let Me Roll It I've Got A Feeling My Valentine Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five Here, There And Everywhere Maybe I’m Amazed We Can Work It Out In Spite Of All The Danger You Won't See Me Love Me Do And I Love Her Blackbird Here Today Queenie Eye New Fool On The Hill Lady Madonna Four Five Seconds Eleanor Rigby Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite! Something Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Band On The Run Back In The U.S.S.R. Let It Be Live And Let Die Hey Jude encore break   Yesterday Hi, Hi, Hi Birthday Golden Slumbers

Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA ....   sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!      

Schenley Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA ....   It was the 19th annual WYEP Summer Music Festival.     Lucius   Lucius setlist: Madness Tempest Nothing Ordinary Almost Makes Me Wish for Rain Turn It Around Go Home Don't Just Sit There Dusty Trails Born Again Teen You Were on My Mind Two of Us on the Run How Loud Your Heart Gets Something About You Better Look Back Genevieve encore break Can't Help Falling in Love    Boy & Bear   Lucius setlist: Madness Tempest Nothing Ordinary Almost Makes Me Wish for Rain Turn It Around Go Home Don't Just Sit There Dusty Trails Born Again Teen You Were on My Mind Two of Us on the Run How Loud Your Heart Gets Something About You Better Look Back Genevieve (encore break) Can't Help Falling In Love

Point State Park, Pittsburgh, PA ....   Part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival.     setlist (according to this source ): Godawful Things I Don't Care About You Side Pony Stop Your Crying Clear a Space Better Than Hell Yeah Saving All My Sinning Spectacular Failure Close to Me Lola Mistakes Got Me Fooled Elijah So Long You Go Down Smooth Bad Self Portraits Seventeen Call Off Your Dogs(encore break) Bohemian Rhapsody

Point State Park , Pittsburgh, PA   A very special show. Peter had visited WYEP prior that afternoon and sat in as a guest DJ . I had chatted with him briefly at the station and told him I would see him prior to his Arts Festival performance, as I was scheduled to do stage announcements beforehand. I got there with my daughter (who adores the song "Love Stinks") and while we were biding our time backstage, someone came over to me and told me that Peter wanted to speak with me. So we went onto his band's tour bus. post continues.... Peter wanted to pick my brain about his promotion plan for his album, so he had someone there give my daughter a tour of the tour bus. I gave him whatever info I could, made some suggestions, and we talked about the state of radio and where his music fits in to the current radio landscape. we wrapped up as both my kid's tour was over and the rest of the band piled in. They asked my daughter what her favorite music was and she said ...

Point State Park, Pittsburgh, PA .... sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!      

World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA ...   sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!      Soul Asylum

World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA ....   sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!  Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA   post continues.... sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!

Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh, PA....   Another fun time with the All-Starr Band (my second time seeing them ), and it was a completely different band of All-Starrs than my previous time. The band included Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie (of Santana), Steve Lukather (of Toto), and Richard Page (of Mr. Mister). I was very excited to see Rundgren's contribution, as I had never seen him before. His featured songs were all great, and it fun to see him enjoying playing on other songs like "Rosanna." setlist : Matchbox It Don't Come Easy Island in the Sun I Saw the Light (led by Todd Rundgren) Evil Ways (led by Gregg Rolie) Rosanna (led by Steve Lukather) Kyrie (led by Richard Page) Bang the Drum All Day (led by Todd Rundgren) Boys Don't Pass Me By Yellow Submarine Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen (led by Gregg Rolie) You're Sixteen I'm the Greatest You Are Mine (led by Richard Page) Africa (led by Steve Lukather) Oye Como Va (led by Gregg Rolie) I Wanna Be Your Man Love Is th...