Thighs Wide Shut

Jack White
Madison Square Garden
January 30th

Last time we saw Jack White ROCK out MSG, it was 2007, and the girl with the bouncy boobs was bouncing her boobs behind him, AND IT KICKED THE FCUKING BALL AND THE BISCUITLISTICS!!!!!!!!  They were two kids, playing to 18k people, and they somehow were able to own a building that’s built for giant acts.  Sure, at the time, they were a big act, but 6 years prior, they were playing the tiny Bowery Ballroom, a place better suited for their raw sound.  But Jack White’s sound now and forever knows no bounds.  ‘Seven Nation Army’ has become a sports stadium rally call, and now, Jack White can fill any sized venue to match those calls

Meg White is still sorely missed, but Jack, 7ish years later, has really done an amazing job to fill her (boobie) void.  Sure, having a full band helps, and at times, his band adds TOO much sound to Jack’s music, but they follow his lead, and we’d follow him anywhere he goes, cause it’s always steady as he goes.  His latest MSG set perfectly blended Stripes tunes with the stronger selections of his solo work + enough of the other side-project ditties (juss like his Roseland show of 3 years ago), but the larger venue made everything seem even larger, more vital.  Having Q-Tip come out to help didn’t hurt neither.  In fact, it cleaned and opened our ears even mo!  [editor’s note – we haven’t used a Q-Tip since 2009]

Setlist

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground / High Ball Stepper /Lazaretto / Hotel Yorba / Temporary Ground / Cannon / Broken Boy Soldier / Cannon / Love Interruption / We’re Going to Be Friends / Three Women / Black Math (intro only to) Top Yourself / Ball and Biscuit

Encore – That Black Bat Licorice (with Q-Tip) / Excursions (with Q-Tip) / Sixteen Saltines / Astro / Steady, As She Goes / Would You Fight for My Love? / Just One Drink / Blunderbuss / Seven Nation Army

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
+ Steve Winwood
Madison Square Garden
September 10th

It is without question (and without much explanation needed) that Tom Petty AND Steve Winwood are both rAWESOME in concert. Free Fallin’??? Running Down A Dream??? Cover of the Byrds’ So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star??????????????? REFUGEE?????????? HIGHER LOVE???? BRING ME A HIGHER LOVE!!!!!!! But we aren’t going to waste any more space on their stellar performances. Cause I’m here to talk about the amazingness that is MSG’s Skybridge seating area. They like skybox seats, but ANYONE can buy em. And here’s what they got – less people, less lines, endless room – room to boogie, to get up and walk around, stretch ye legs, and to boogie. SO MUCH ROOM TO BOOGIE. Normal seats are for lamewads. Skybridge seats are for AWESOMEWADDDDS!!!!! Dude, once you go skybridge, you never go any other kind of bridge EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Setlist

ps – Full Moon Fever is one of the fcuking greatestestesest albums ever

Paul Simon & Sting
Madison Square Garden
March 6th

I love me some Paul Simon.  Sting, not so much.  I love the Police, and a smattering of Gordon Sumner’s solo work (I used to be obsessed with the song and video for ‘All This Time’), but most of his stuff is too stuffy, and slow, and boring.  Saw Stingster reunite with the Policemen in 2007, and wasn’t exactly blown away.  Then briefly again, when he joined Stevie Wonder for two songs at the 25th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Anniversary Concert.  That performance fared better in my mind, cause it wasn’t all about him, and cause Stevie Wonder if the f$%king greatestestest.  And Sting fared even betterer when he teamed up with Paul Simon for this special tour, and tried his best to be Simon’s Garfunkel and sometime Garfunkel’s Simon, although I still don’t get why Simon won’t juss reteam with Garfunkel and blow everyone’s ears and minds.  Sting should stick to doing Police covers, and Simon covers.  His take on ‘America’ > ‘Fields of Gold’ or any of that other ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzsnooozefest stuff

Setlist - Brand New Day / Boy in the Bubble / Fields of Gold / Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic / Englishman in New York / I Hung My Head / Driven to Tears / Walking on the Moon / Mother and Child Reunion / Fragile / America / Message in a Bottle / The Hounds of Winter / They Dance Alone / Roxanne / Desert Rose / The Boxer 

Encore - Bridge Over Troubled Water / Every Breath You Take / Late in the Evening 

Encore 2 - When Will I Be Loved? (The Everly Brothers cover)

Elton John
Madison Square Garden
December 4th

Dude, he’s still standing, cause HELLO, yellow brick AWESOME!!!  He rocketed it, man!!!!  He saved my ears that night, cause Wednesday’s alright for fighting AND rocking, and for freedom from Philadelphia and everywhere!!  What about Lennie and the Mets???  NO FCUKING WAY, CAUSE IT’S ALL ABOUT BENNY AND THE JETS!!!  The moon didn’t do up on him, cause the bitch was front AND back, and I guess that’s why he would never get the booos.  He’s the one, like a lighter in the win.  Hold me closer Tony Danza.  Dude, it was fcuking ELTON JOHN!!!!!  AND HE IS LESS GAY THAN YOU ARE!!!!!

Setlist – Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding / Bennie and the Jets / Candle in the Wind / Grey Seal / Levon / Tiny Dancer / Holiday Inn / Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters / Believe / Philadelphia Freedom / Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time) / Hey Ahab / I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues / The One / Oceans Away / Someone Saved My Life Tonight / Sad Songs (Say So Much) / All the Girls Love Alice / Home Again / Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me / I’m Still Standing / The Bitch Is Back / Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock ‘n Roll) / Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting

Encore – Your Song / Crocodile Rock

Leonard Cohen
Madison Square Garden
December 18th

Oh Leonard.  You did it again.  And it was JUST as amazings as the first time, but now it was the second time.  Your voice was still gravelly, but it was still like silk gravel!!  Most incredible thing about Leonard Cohen?  He’s 78 and gets down on his knees more than a 24 hour hooker who never takes a vacation.  Lenny, you wearing knee pads or did you get robo-knee implants?  Wanna be the running back for the Jets?  Second most incredible thing about Leonard Cohen?  He may be Dustin Hoffman