RIP Hibernian Pub

The first place I ever lifted a pint of beer in Raleigh was at the Hibernian Pub on Glenwood South.

It was 9 1/2 years ago on a warm springtime Sunday in April and Glenwood South looked very different then.  There was no Tobacco Road or Amra's.  No Bruegger's Bagels, no pizza joints selling slices late into the night, and certainly no hotel or no giant building of condos overlooking the street.  There was The Hibernian and a few other places.  By the time I raised a glass of Smithwick's there, the Hibernian had already been open three years, an Irish pub well ahead of its time as it relates to the Raleigh renaissance.  And for that, you can thank this guy:

That's Niall Hanley, the owner of the Hibernian.  His devotion and commitment towards Glenwood South as an entertainment district has included some wild successes (Hibernian), discouraging failures (The Diner), and sweeping risks (Solas).  But it's impossible not to love a guy who isn't afraid to take chances on making his town better and more fun.  The timing of the Hibernian's demise by fire yesterday is bittersweet, as Niall is preparing to open a third Hibernian location in North Raleigh in the former Duffy's location within the next few months.

This radio station has spent many glorious days and nights at The Hibernian on Glenwood South, most notably our annual St. Baldrick's event to raise money to fight kid's cancer. Niall was a pioneer in the hosting of this event.

Niall's commitment to the Triangle and to charity should be cheered and anyone that's ever met him shouldn't doubt that The Hibernian will be rebuilt.

Just tell us when, and we'll bring the hardhats and the Guinness.

Foster
Radio 96.1

This Is 40 Review

I went into the screening of Judd Apatow's new movie, This Is 40 with high hopes--after all, I'd just read a great review of it from Entertainment Weekly.

I left disappointed.

This is 40 follows two of the characters from Knocked Up, Pete and Debbie (Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann), as they age into middle age and deal with their bratty daughters. Pete's got a fledgling record label with Hipster employees, Debbie owns a shop where Megan Fox wears very little, sells clothes and makes bank for the store.  They seem the perfect suburban California couple and the movie opens on the day of Debbie's 40th birthday.  What follows is stuff that's sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable, and mostly confusing.

This is 40 has moments of levity, making jokes out of stuff that real-life couples endure, like when Pete farts in bed and gags Debbie, or using mama-bear type humor to smack down a kid who wasn't nice to their older daughter.  Who hasn't been there?

Leslie Mann is good as Debbie--providing that she meant to play Debbie as a shrew who treats her husband like he's an idiot, and who loves to yell and be generally unlikeable. If that's what turning 40 means, I'll stay 39, thanks.

Paul Rudd is the usual version of himself.  Floppy-haired and loveable.  He also plays Pete as a guy who is smart, but can't stand up for himself and who thinks Graham Parker is the next best thing.  In fact, this is one of the sly winks of the movie.  Pete loves Graham Parker and is excited to have him on his little label that is going bankrupt.  But, even Graham Parker knows no one wants to buy his albums.  (I know you need to Google him.  It's ok, go ahead.)

Spoiler alert: Melissa McCarthy shows up in a cameo role as a mom defending her son and steals the show.

Double spoiler alert: only some of the stuff you see in the trailer on TV is actually in the movie. 

The movie itself, though, meanders and never really has a cohesive plot--it plays like a bunch of little vignettes that sometimes make you laugh.  You never figure out exactly WHAT the story is about until nearly 2 hours in--and apparently it's about hating your parents and changing yourself when you shouldn't. I kept looking at my fiance thinking that the movie should be over, and you can tell where they should be going with the plot...but it takes forever and EVER to get there.  Just resolve the movie, already!  My butt is asleep!

Cut it in half, get a plot that is cohesive, and it would be great. But left as it is, just wait for it to come out on DVD.








Alli

Like Alli Morgan on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

Dave Matthews Band Review

Remember when "special guests" only showed up at concerts in big cities like New York and L.A.?

Last night at PNC Arena when Dave Matthews Band rolled into town for the first time in three years, we were treated to a special guest - jazz legend Branford Marsalis.

Marsalis played hearty solos on "What Would You Say" and "#41" to the obvious glee and delight of the rest of the band, especially the horn section.  What you may not know is that Branford Marsalis, a Louisiana native, has chosen to call Durham home so it wasn't a long drive for him to PNC Arena.  He also teaches Jazz Studies at North Carolina Central University.  How'd you like to take that class?

The show was stellar, and the band was in terrific form for a set that lasted over three hours.  The Triangle clearly was ready for a DMB concert - after gracing the Walnut Creek stage every year until 2009, the band skipped us in 2010, took a year off from touring, and skipped us again this summer - so for a band that is constantly on the road, it seemed like an eternity.  But it was undoubtedly well worth the wait.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Setlist:

1. Eh Hee 
2. Broken Things 
3. Don't Drink the Water 
4. Proudest Monkey 
   (>>>)
5. Satellite 
6. Drive In, Drive Out 
7. Grey Street 
8. The Riff 
9. You & Me 
10. Belly Belly Nice 
11. Mercy 
12. If Only 
13. Seven 
14. What Would You Say 
    (with Branford Marsalis)
15. #41 
    (with Branford Marsalis)
16. Why I Am 
17. Drunken Soldier 
18. Jimi Thing 
19. Encore:
19. Christmas Song 
    (Dave, Carter, Tim)
20. Shake Me Like a Monkey 
    (>>>)
21. Ants Marching 

Foster's Birthday Party

I turned 40 last Friday.

And as Dan Patrick used to say in the glory days of ESPN Sportscenter, "You can't stop it, you can only hope to contain it."

Well...that, or attack it with a battering ram.

I rang in 40 on Saturday night at Deep South: The Bar with some great friends and it was an awesome time.

My thanks to Dave Rose and the staff at Deep South: The Bar for providing such a cool venue; DJ Collin Y for providing the karaoke; and a dynamite party cover band called Catching Fire that let me sit in on vocals for three songs - "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down, "Kiss" by Prince, and "867-5309 (Jenny Jenny)" by Tommy Tutone.

Since you can't stop 40, I can't think of a better way to welcome it.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Foster Learns To Fly

On Monday, November 26th at 1pm, I learned how to fly.

The experience was nothing like I expected - what I planned for was the instructor showing me a few things, taking off, letting me take the wheel when we reached cruising altitude for a bit, and then I would be able to say "I flew a plane"....but that's not what happened.

First, my instructor Mike, who just happens to fly 757s and 767s for Delta, showed me the instrument panel and explained how to read altitude, speed, and the like.  He showed me how to start the propeller and feed gas to the engine.  He explained how, on the ground, you actually steer the plane with your feet - not the wheel.  Before I knew it, I was taxiing the plane to the runway (and keeping the plane pretty darn close to the yellow line, I might add).

On the runway, Captain Mike showed me how to get the speed to 55 knots - how could I not imagine Marty McFly getting the Delorean to 88 miles per hour - and then I was pulling back (yes, I was pulling back) on the wheel and taking off!

During the flight, which took us over downtown Raleigh, Jordan Lake, Carter-Finley Stadium and Apex, I climbed, turned, and descended, all while Air Traffic Control was giving instructions in my headset.  In fact, I flew the plane the entire time until Mike landed (which was fine with me!!) and I once again taxied to the terminal.

At the end Mike filled out my new pilot log with 1.1 hours of training - just 39 more to my pilot license!

This was one of the Top 5 experiences of my life - and I strongly recommend Blue Line Aviation.  For only $149 you can purchase their discovery package to get a similar experience to mine, and it makes an incredible holiday gift.  Find them at www.learntoflyraleigh.com and watch the video to see more of my flight!

Foster
Radio 96.1

The New Brewery In Town

Until 2005, North Carolina was one of only five states that capped alcohol content in beer at 6 percent.  This inhibited the growth of microbreweries and brewpubs that were creeping up in the rest of the nation - but on August 13th, 2005, Governor Mike Easley "popped the cap" and North Carolina's craft beer revolution was born.

The last five years in particular has seen an explosion of Triangle breweries and one of the newest is White Street Brewing on White Street in downtown Wake Forest.  There's a double gain with White Street - the Triangle gains a new brewery and Wake Forest gains a brewery with a beautiful tap room open to the public daily, helping the revitalization and modernization of a heritage business district.

Last night Radio 96.1 held a Local Beer Club event featuring White Street Brewing and the attendance was outstanding.  When you get a chance, stop by their tap room on White Street and say hello to Dino.  When you're out and about in the Triangle, if you don't see White Street beer on tap, "Just Ask For It"!  Look for future Local Beer Club events featuring more great Triangle breweries.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Hurricane Sandy Relief

A few days ago, one of our listeners, Danielle Furegno, contacted us on the Radio 96.1 Facebook page and asked if we could help promote a Hurricane Sandy relief effort, which we did.

I stopped by with my family on Saturday evening and dropped off a couple of boxes of clothing - the donations she and her friends had collected were being sent to a charity in Tom's River, New Jersey to be distributed to victims of the hurricane.

These were young people, putting together an event by themselves on short notice because they wanted to do something to help.  It was simple - the clubhouse at an apartment complex on the Raleigh-Garner border was the dropoff - but they had a musician strumming a guitar, food donated by local restaurants, and had done research to decide which was the best charity to handle the donations.

So a big Radio 96.1 kudos to Danielle and her group for taking action when it's so much easier to sit by idly.

Stay tuned for a Hurricane Sandy Relief benefit at Napper Tandy's this Saturday, November 17th. Radio 96.1 will be there...

Foster
Radio 96.1

I Was Blinded By Science

I took my 6 and 9 year old to the new wing at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh yesterday and.. what a score!

Let's start with the fact that the museum is free.  Most museums don't keep a 6 and 9 year old interested for a long period of time, but my children didn't want to go because this wing is really designed for them.  There are hands on labs on each floor, where they can don lab coats, look through microscopes, and - their favorite - an experiment in which they have to determine which liquid is iodine and which is colored water.

Plus, it was Marine Mammal Day, so the museum had guests from the NC Aquarium and we were touching and learning about things like whale bones.

A salute to another true gem for our region.  Incidentally, we went to see "Wreck It Ralph" afterwards and it's the best family movie I've seen since up - a terrific 80's nostalgia trip that's maybe more fun for the parents than the kids!!

Foster
Radio 96.1

Trick or Treat: It's Here.

Trick or Treat is upon us.  Are you taking your little ghost or goblin somewhere to walk around, knock on doors and get candy?  A word of advice:  make sure I can tell what your kid is for Halloween.  I once got yelled at by an uppity four year old because,  "I'm NOT a DINOSAUR!!!  I'm an ALLIGATOR!"  Sorry, kid.

I realize that this looks like an Alligator.  But, I SWEAR that other did didn't look like this.

Here's a list of places you can take your kids if you don't want to freeze your butt off tomorrow night walking around the Triangle's neighborhoods.

 Raleigh:

North Hills:  5pm 

Crabtree Valley Mall: 6-8

NC Museum of History:  Safe Trick or Treat 6-9pm. Free for kids under 12.

Cary:

Cary Towne Center:  6-8 pm

Cary Crossroads: 6-8 pm

Chapel Hill:

University Square:  10am-4pm

University Mall:  5:30-7:30

Smithfield:

Carolina Premium Outlets 4-7pm

 But, let's say you're not a Trick or Treater, but you ARE a Mexican food fan.  Head to any Chipotle from 4pm to closing IN YOUR COSTUME and you can get any menu item for just two bucks.  Sounds like a win-win situation to me!

As for me, I'll be on the porch with hot toddies and candy. If you're an adult, perhaps I'll give you a hot toddy, too.  And, I'll try not to irk any little kids by being confused about their alligator costume.

Alli

Like Alli Morgan on Facebook or follow her on Twitter

 

When your favorite restaurant closes....

You could say I'm picky when it comes to selecting a Chinese food restaurant.

Ever have Chow Fun?

Most Americans have not, simply because it's a more authentic Chinese dish than, you know - Sweet & Sour Pork - and is difficult to find round these parts.

But I found it - and a myriad of other amazing dishes...like the greatest spring rolls ever, a 3 Cup Chicken that was to die for and a spicy shredded pork appetizer that knocked my socks off.

It was Fortune Palace, it was only 10 minutes from my home, and they even delivered! (sound of the heavens parting).

Alas, one day Alli told me she rolled up for take out and my beloved Fortune Palace on Brentwood Rd. was closed.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/fortune-palace-chinese-restaurant-raleigh

I've had other decent Chinese in Raleigh - notably 5 Star - but most take out places don't float my boat.

Any recommendations?

Foster
Radio 96.1

State Fair With Kids

I told my neighbor I was going to the Fair, to which he said, "We go no more than every other year.  When they bring it up I shut it down".

I get it.

The Fair is crowded.  The Fair is traffic.  The Fair is noisy.  The Fair is smelly.  The Fair is expensive.

But you know what?  I LOVE the North Carolina State Fair.

I think we picked the perfect time on Sunday afternoon to go - around 4:30 - between the daytime and nighttime crowds, the lines weren't bad, the traffic was easy and the weather was sublime.

My kids are 6 and 9, and my recommendation for kids of that age is to avoid "Kiddieland" next to Dorton Arena where the lines are outrageous.  If you walk down the midway just a bit on the other side (by the funhouse), you'll find many age-appropriate rides without the Kiddieland congestion.

Most importantly, make the walk to the area with the Pig Races and the Petting Zoo.  The best dollar you'll spend at the Fair is for the bag of carrots the kids can use to feed Camels, goats, cows, and Alpacas like my son did yesterday.

The handwashing station is right there, it's excellent, and the kids went crazy for this area.  One piece of advice for my friends at the Fair though - if you really want to ensure that disease doesn't get spread, make sure handwashing is available at all the portable toilets - or at the very least, that the sanitizer is refilled regularly.

A Ferris Wheel, Crazy Choppers, Train ride, funhouse, and World's Smallest Horse exhibit later, the Fair was as fun as ever.

Foster
Radio 96.1

ZZ Top Review

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that ZZ Top is from the old school.

The first indication of that is watching drummer Frank Beard (you know, the one without the beard) moving his microphone/headset back and forth to his mouth, alternating between chain smoking and singing.  Beard's style is even old school - while many drummers today are intent on attacking the kit with reckless abandon, Beard's drumming is so slow and deliberate you wonder how he's keeping such a perfect beat.

Then, there were the old dogs up front, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

The little ol' band from Texas sounds better than ever, especially vocally.  When I heard their recent "Live In Texas" CD, I wondered if they'd lost a step or two (or a two step, as it were) but those fears were put to rest quickly at DPAC Wednesday night.  Both Gibbons' and Hill's voices were in excellent form, and the new material (like the opener "Chartreuse" and "Gotsta Get Paid") held up surprisingly well next to the old material.  And if it was classics you wanted, it was classics you got - after starting with a new song, they went right to "I Thank You" which segued right into "Waitin' for the Bus" straight into "Jesus Just Left Chicago".

A few moments felt a little too staged, like when they brought a woman up from the front row and, after complimenting her outfit and making it clear they thought she was very good looking, Gibbons intro'd the next song by saying "I think we need to play the blues".

One thing I found very refreshing about the show was ZZ Top's embracing of their post 70's sound.  When I saw Steve Winwood at DPAC, I was a little disappointed that Winwood refused to play almost all of his 80's catalog, despite the fact that it was his best selling decade.  ZZ Top's career took a similar path, in that rock fans adore their early sound but it was the 80's that shot them to superstardom.

In this show, dripped in plenty of nostalgia (complete with the original MTV videos on the screen behind them), the Top covered all their decades, including a couple of surprises - 1994's "Pincushion" and 1985's "Stages".

You've got to admire ZZ Top's staying power.  As Gibbons remarked at one point, "We've been comin' around for four decades.  Same three guys, same three chords".  When so many other bands have broken up, reunited, replaced members, broke up and reunited again, ZZ Top is an example that great rock n roll never goes out of style.

Foster
Radio 96.1

**Pic courtesy of Culture Map**

Let's hear it for BEER!

Did you know the Triangle has a world-class beer festival?

When I moved here 9 1/2 years ago, World Beer Fest was the only game in town.  These days, it's difficult to find a weekend in which there isn't some sort of beer tasting, cask event, flight sampling, keg tapping, or festival.

Back then, there were barely any microbreweries in our area - now there are many great ones.  Also then, the World Beer Fest had one location - every Autumn at the Durham Athletic Park (the old one where the Durham Bulls used to play and at which Bull Durham was filmed).

These days, the World Beer Fest is held at the larger DBAP (current home of the Bulls) and the organizers, All About Beer Magazine (a terrific publication, BTW) added a spring edition of the festival in Raleigh's Moore Square.  They've even added "World Beer Fests" in Illinois, Nebraska, South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida.

Personally, I prefer the Durham version by a mile.  There is much more space to stretch out and walk around  and the tents aren't as shoulder-to-shoulder.  Here's an insider tip: assuming you aren't there just to get blitzed so much that you can't see straight or feel your legs and actually want to appreciate what you're drinking, attend one or two of the seminars.  Sessions I've attended in the past like "Beer and Chocolate" and "Brews in the News" are not only fun and informative, they bring the beer to you while you rest your tired feet!

The World Beer Fest will be held Saturday, October 6 from 12n-4p and 6p-10p at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.  Tickets and info at www.worldbeerfestival.com.

Foster
Radio 96.1

New York, But In Durham

I have to say, that we're pretty lucky here in the Triangle.

You've heard both Foster and me go on and on about the Durham Performing Arts Center, how it's got great sight lines and acoustics.  (No, really, it does.) One of the things I love best about DPAC is that they continually bring cool Broadway shows right here.  Their tagline of "New York has never been so close" is really true.

I took the opportunity this past week to see War Horse again.  I'd seen it this summer in NYC with the folks from DPAC, and was excited to see it here.  It's still visually stunning with an incredibly compelling story about a boy and his love for his horse.  What really captivated me in New York and again at DPAC were the incredible horse puppets:

It's crazy how you forget that there are people with the horse, and you just fall in love with the way the horse moves, breathes, runs, eats, and responds to Albert, his owner.  These alone are worth the price of admission.  Go be stunned yourself, and if you've never been to DPAC, you're in for a treat--because no matter where you sit, you'll have a great seat.


Tickets for War Horse are on sale now, at dpacnc.com.  War Horse runs until Sunday, October 7th.


Alli


Like Alli Morgan on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter

Living the Dream

I love to sing.  In the shower, on the street, in the studio, on the stage, wherever.  I'm not as shy as I used to be, but singing was always the thing I could hop on stage and do without the fear of public humiliation (even if I was, in fact, humiliating myself).

This past weekend, I sat in for guest vocals with two local bands - The Inlaws and Mark Roberts and The Occasionals.

Saturday afternoon featured a terrific open house event at Rock N Roll High School in Apex.

This music school has state of the art studios for lessons and its crown jewel, an auditorium with amazing sound and lighting - so the students can train and play in a true live setting. This is where The Inlaws and I did a set on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday night brought me to The Sports Page in Knightdale, where Mark Roberts from WRAL-TV and Capital Ford invited me to sit in with his band.  They handed me this when I walked in:

I knocked out songs 5 and 6 on the list, then they asked me to do a couple additional (Runnin Down a Dream and then "Kryptonite" from the second set list.)

Both bands have some dynamite musicians and there are surely worse things in the world than bopping around town on a beautiful Saturday to sing some of my favorite tunes.  Can't wait to do it again.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Fiona Apple Review

Fiona Apple will be playing Durham Performing Arts Center on September 27th, and I snuck a peek of what to expect when I saw her play The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas this past Saturday night.

Here's a glimpse:

First, a Fiona Apple show is not loud.  It's not an in your face, wipe the sweat from your brow because oh man, what just happened kinda show.  A Fiona show is an experience that will have you appreciating the musicianship but won't leave your ears ringing.

Second, the music is well worth appreciating.  Blake Mills, who is Apple's guitarist, also happens to be the opening act and is worth arriving early for - if not only for his cover of Santo and Johnny's "Sleepwalk", the sad instrumental played after the plane crash in the movie "La Bamba".

Third, Fiona dives deeply into her music.  She plays with a great deal of intensity, often with her eyes closed and arms flailing around.  She rarely engages the audience through dialogue - the only times she spoke to the crowd was to say "I love you too" to a yell of affection, complain about the large video screens, and to tell us that the last song of the set was, indeed, the last song so don't expect an encore.

I didn't really mind that, though.  I kind of appreciate the fact that she recognizes that encores are staged, fake displays of egotism for the artist, so why not just play the set and leave it be.

It's hard to believe that Fiona Apple was only 18 when her debut album, "Tidal" went multi-platinum in 1996.  Today at 35, she's winning over new fans by focusing on the only thing that matters - the music.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Hopscotch Review

Today's guest blogger is Radio 96.1 Web maven Sidney Little.

The Independent’s Hopscotch Music Festival took over Downtown Raleigh this weekend. So naturally, I could not resist attending. I have been sitting here this morning in a daze, trying my best to recall all of the bands, beer, and venues that made up my Hopscotch. The festival was made up of 175 bands and 15 venues scattered throughout the downtown area making schedule conflicts the biggest and only issue of the weekend. Picking and choosing bands was made a little easier with the epic line up of day parties which were sponsored by everyone from Ashley Christensen Restaurants to School Kids Records.

Thursday night, my Hopscotch opened with the wonderfully eccentric banjo, singer/songwriter Curtis Eller.  

Not only is his music amazing, but seeing him run around Five Star makes attending hard to resist . The festival continued on Friday; me being stuck at work, while the day parties raged. But the night made up for everything I missed with Built to spill at City Plaza, Hiss Golden Messenger performing at Fletcher Opera Hall and ending with the mind blowing audience participation of Dan Deacon.

Deacon, a composer and electronic musician, packed out the Pour House. His live shows are known for the combination of electronic build ups and participation.  His mobile app syncs the audience’s phones to the music which creates an insane light show. The energy in the pour house was so over the top that I probably could have stopped Hopscotching right then and been satisfied.

Luckily I still had one more day, which started off the right way with a Bloody Mary in hand, and Megafuan and Friends out on the street in front of Mecca.  

The night shows were delayed with rain, but with the Roots playing after a rain delay at City Plaza, it put the mood of Hopscotch right back to the perfect place .A Hopscotch set and  5 blocks later we were jumping around to the insanely loud NoBunny (who wears a bunny mask and not much else…) show at the Contemporary Art Museum. This without a doubt is the greatest venue offered at Hopscotch; the art, open feel, and tons of room to dance really is incomparable.

Finally we ended Hopscotch the best way I could imagine, at Deep South the Bar with Starlings, TN and Shovels and Rope. Starlings, TN really warmed the crowd up to get down with some traditional bluegrass. And finally, Shovels and Rope closed out my weekend. This husband and wife duo was, to say the least, my favorite show of the festival. With their chemistry, lyrics, and overall performance, it was hard to keep my excitement in check. To say I would recommend them to everyone I ever meet is an understatement.

Overall this Hopscotch provided some of the most unique, exciting, and powerful shows I have ever seen.

3 days

20 bands seen

16 hours of sleep

More PBR than one person should ever consume

1 Shovels and Rope shirt

1 line waited in (Dan Deacon!!)

Endless mustaches and beards

5 jogs in the rain

200 pictures

and countless memories make my current Hopscotch hangover more than worth it. 

Mark Roberts has an awesome gig

You can't possibly live in the Triangle and not know who Mark Roberts is.

If you've lived here less than 5 years, you know him as the Capital Ford guy.

If you were here prior to 2005, you probably know him as WRAL's traffic guy.

I've done a couple events with Mark recently, and I discovered he plays drums in a band - Mark Roberts and the Occasionals.

I'm told the rest of the band is cool with me sitting in and singing a song or two with them one of these days.

Whether that happens and they live to regret that decision remains to be seen, but it's always fun hanging out with one of the nicest guys in the business.

Foster
Radio 96.1

A Wild, Whirlwind Weekend in NYC with DPAC

This weekend, I had the pleasure of being invited to New York City with other Triangle-area radio people to see Broadway shows and be treated like a queen by the folks at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

This was my second time heading to NYC with the crew, and it's always great because they put us up in an incredible hotel, show us previews of a few of the shows coming to DPAC this year when their Broadway Series starts.  We flew up on Saturday morning and were home at 11 last night.  Whirlwind is really the only way I can describe it. 

We stayed at the Westin just off of Times Square.  Last year, I ended up with a view of the air conditioner.  Not so, this year:

I think this is 42nd Street.  I say 'I think', because I'm too lazy to pay attention most of the time.

Pretty sweet view, right?  Never mind that it was basically a five-star hotel and there was an iMac with free internet in my room.  I sort of felt gypped because another guy in our group got a full-on massage chair.  A massage chair!   But, I digress.

My best friend had taken the train in from New Jersey and got to witness the action.  So, this whole thing was a win-win for me:  a weekend of being treated royally while hanging out with my best friend.  Also, no view of the air conditioner.  Already, this trip was better than last year's--and last year's was AWESOME.

My BFF comes to dinner.  I'm glad she is used to rowdy people, or we might have scared her off.

We had a great group dinner at a fancy pants restaurant.  I think everyone in our group, each of whom is on the air somewhere in this market, was shocked that DPAC would take us somewhere so nice.  Don't they know that radio people love to drink and can get rowdy?  At any rate, the food was great and it was just a pre-cursor to a really fun night. 

One of the big shows coming to DPAC this October, is Jersey Boys.  The show was fantastic, and it was cool to see the guy who originated the role of Frankie Valli on Broadway in that role again.  I spent the evening amazed at how high his falsetto is.  How do they do that?   It was just a fun show with great music that you know you know all the words to.  I think I had about every 45 of The Four Seasons when I was growing up (I never got new records, really, I just had my dad's badass record collection from the 60s and I wore it out.)    It did not escape my amusement, though, that the "curtain" for Jersey Boys was made of chain link fence.  If I had a dollar for EVERY yard in Jersey that had a chain link fence when I was growing up,  I would have been able to afford to stay in that state.  Instead, I moved to NC.

That's chain link, people.

After the show, I was super tired (day drinking will do that to you.)  So my friend and I hopped a rickshaw to take us the 11 blocks back to our hotel.  The guy was crazy, he was weaving in and out of traffic.  But that wasn't the best part about the ride. 

 

 

 

These girls are about to join a midget biker gang.

 At the next light after jumping into the rickshaw, we were suddenly surrounded by midget bikes and midget bikers.  Well, the bikers weren't midgets.  But these crotch-rocket style bikes were the smallest things I've ever seen.  We were stuck AND surrounded by a midget biker gang.  Oddly, this may have been the highlight of my trip and I haven't even gotten to Sunday yet, which was epic.

If it looks like these people are smaller than me, it's because it's a midget biker gang! Look at the ratio of the guy in the plaid to the car next to him.  That is how small the bikes are.

The next day, we were treated to one of the coolest things I've ever done.  Below the legendary nightclub Studio 54, is a little club.  It's a late-night place, where, according to the internet, it's been made over by people that do Broadway theaters, and people who are actually on Broadway are known to get up and sing.  They also do a Jazz Brunch on Sundays.  So, we all arrived at 54 Below, as it's called, and were seated.  Drinks started flowing, food came and suddenly there was an awesome band on stage.  They were led by a white French guy that you can't see in this picture, because the way I was sitting I couldn't capture him.  I have seen a lot of great musicians over my career.  These guys topped the list.  The incredible musicianship and chemistry of the band made this brunch the most fun I have ever had whilst eating. They wanted us to keep our phones off, so I had to sneak a picture, which was difficult since I was down front. If you are EVER in New York, do yourself a favor and make a reservation for the Jazz Brunch at 54 Below.  The talent changes out every few days and it's just super cool.

These people are 150 times cooler than I will ever be. 

Radio peeps and DPAC peeps outside of 54 below.

After brunch, we trekked to Lincoln Center to see War Horse.  There could not be two polar opposite shows for us to see in a weekend.  This was no Jersey Boys, in that it was not a sing-a-long musical.  However, the acting was great and there are some astonishing puppets that are used to make you think that a real horse is on stage.  The movements, the way the horse would eat, you even think the horse is breathing for real at one point.  You develop empathy for a puppet.  A puppet.  War Horse will be at DPAC in October as well.  The horse puppets alone are, in my opinion, worth the price of admission. 

After War Horse, it was back to the hotel, and then back to reality.  I am constantly amazed on these trips how DPAC does you right--they bring you great entertainment, and make Broadway close to YOU so that you don't have to go to New York to see really cool things like a puppet horse, or singing Italian degenerates from New Jersey. It was a great time, and I'm so appreciative to have been part of it with other Triangle radio people, who I always enjoy but never get to see.  I made new friends, saw old ones, ate great food, heard great music, and I'm excited for you to see the shows when they come to DPAC this fall.  DPAC brings quality entertainment, and when they take you on a trip, they bring their A-game.  Thanks to Rachel, Emily and Jennie for a great weekend.  I threw in some bonus extra pics of Central Park and whatever else I didn't include here.  They're at the bottom of this blog.  Enjoy them, and in the meantime, I'll see you at DPAC for the Broadway Series.



 I will say, though, they will not be bringing you a midget biker gang.  You're on your own for that.


Alli

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Big Time Blur

I hadn't seen a boy band since New Kids on the Block in 1989.  (Go ahead, laugh - I got them free from a radio station.)  My kids wanted to see Big Time Rush at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion, so being the top notch dad that I am :), I got them tickets.

As I told Alli this morning, it was what it was.  Cheesy, glossy, girls screaming...just what you would expect. When the band asked the crowd, "What's your favorite Beatles song?  Scream it out in 3, 2, 1...", I could hear the crickets.  No, wait - that was the sound of little girls googling to see who The Beatles were on their smartphones.

My kids enjoyed it, but what really got them up and dancing was their new single, "Windows Down" which has the whole crowd screaming, "Woo Hoo!!!"

Does this sound familiar?

It should - it's the same music as Blur's "Song 2".

I found out that Blur is, in fact, on the songwriting credits - so Blur gets paid when screaming girls in 2012 think they are listening to a brand new song.  Which is a good thing...I guess.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Duran Duran Review

I was 11 years old in 1983, so seeing Duran Duran in 2012 means more to me than it would to see another Led Zeppelin reunion.

I know to some those words will sound like blasphemy, and - believe me - I love me some Zep.  But contextually, in 1983, Led Zeppelin had already disbanded 3 years prior.  Duran Duran was the one of the hottest bands on the planet, launching the year by playing "Hungry Like The Wolf" on MTV's New Years Eve Ball.   So for me, a Duran Duran concert takes me back to playing Pac-Man at the arcade, Friday Night Videos, and a pretty darn happy and innocent time.

Durham Performing Arts Center has done an outstanding job of bringing in artists that generally play larger venues to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences.  Duran Duran, for example, played an amphitheater in Atlanta in the show before DPAC, and is playing an amphitheater in the show after - both venues double the size of Durham's gem.

The show began with a bizarre 10 minute video of Aztec statues and water features set to a symphonic soundtrack.  It wasn't the unusual nature of the video that bothered me so much as the images of falling water made me want to go to the restroom.

The band appeared and launched "Before The Rain", a slow to mid-tempo tune from their latest album, 2010's "All You Need Is Now" (the band has been touring in support of this album for 20 months).  Any designs on the band playing too much new material were put to rest in songs 2 and 3 of the set, the excellent minor hit "Planet Earth" and "A View To A Kill".

The newer songs sounded superb, woven expertly throughout the night with every hit you'd want to hear.  A fan was brought on stage to sing the "dah-dah-dah-dah" intro to "The Reflex".  One of my favorites, "Union of the Snake", was a pleasant surprise, as was their impeccable cover of Grandmaster Melle Mel's "White Lines".

Simon LeBon introduced "Ordinary World" as a song they never tire of playing, because it reaffirmed the band's relevance at a time Duran Duran was hanging by a string and could have disappeared forever.  "Hungry Like The Wolf" played well into "(Reach Up For The) Sunrise", a terrific 2004 track that charted much better overseas than in the U.S. but is one of their best moments of their live show.

Ever notice that "Wild Boys" kinda sounds like Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Relax"?  They did a wicked version of "Wild Boys" that veered into "Relax" in the middle.

Finishing their 2-hour set with "Rio", Duran Duran proved to a jam-packed house that you can go forward and back and the band sounds as good as ever. A terrific night.

Foster
Radio 96.1