reviews

Barge in Boulder w/BRAD - August 15, 2002

Alright, I just got back to work after being in Colorado for a week (wish I was still there). Thursday night in Boulder, CO was just unbelievable. And it went a little something like this...

The Brad show was being held at a small venue right next to the Fox Theater on "The Hill" in Boulder. The venue was a very intimate venue as it could maybe fit 500 people on it's absolute best day. I got up to the hill right around 5:30 as the doors were to open at 7. I figure I would just kind of mill around, maybe grab a beer or two somewhere while I waited for the show to begin. Two beers into my night at a nice pizza place across the street I notice Shawn, Regan and Stone laughing it up just outside the doors of Tulagi. I contemplate how I was going to go up to these guys and thank them for the great albums and especially thank Stone for all the work he has done with PJ, Bayleaf...etc. So, I fire down two more beers and make my way across the street.

First I run directly into Shawn and tell him that his vocals are just incredible on the new album and that I was looking forward to the show.

By then Stone is now chatting with Smitty and Jeremy Toback. I obviously don't want to interrupt them so I wait until there is a short break in the conversation and then I make my move. I politely shook their hands and thanked them all for the work on the new album. I then told Stone that I loved his solo work and the I have been a fan of his and his work for over ten years. I thanked them again for "the music they have made and the music they will make" and told them I was looking forward to the show. They replied with, "cool...thanks a bunch and right on..." frankly I can't remember a thing that they said, I was way too focused. I do remember Stone saying thanks for the Bayleaf comments....he perked up when I mentioned that album.

The show came but before the show they had to perform their soundcheck. I noticed that the door was open to Tulagi so I calmly just walked right in. It was great to see them with about 25 other people sing their two song set before they cleared the bar out again. I then went to stand in line about 15 people deep. It seemed like every person I talked to there was a die hard Pearl Jam and Stone fan. Met up with two great guys (Chris and Toby) and it was just a perfect night talking about the upcoming PJ album, Stone's career and how they have affected our lives.

Some highlights of the show were them playing:

La, La, La
Arrakis (Stone on the synthesizer)
Shinin' (love this song)
Brothers and Sisters
Takin' it easy
Drop it down

It was a perfect night. One of the best things I have ever been apart of without any doubt. OH! and I got to meet and talk to Jack McDowell who was in the house that night as well. I explained to him that it was the second time we met. The first time was when I was 13 at the College World Series when I got his autograph. :)

Still lovin it...

.......b