Gov't Mule: Bank of America Pavilion, Boston MA 9.7.07

Lacking a press pass and sticking out like a sore thumb without a tie-dyed shirt, I was still able to enjoy a night of classic jam band music at the Gov’t Mule show at the Bank of America Pavilion. Allman Brothers alum Warren Haynes displayed immense talent on lead vocals and guitar, adding the perfect classic rock twang to the traditional jam band sound. It was definitely one of those shows you have to experience in person for the full effect, and it was a great end to a summer of amazing music.

G. Love & Special Sauce & Slightly Stoopid: Bank of America Pavilion, Boston 8.22.07

Boston. I arrived at the Bank of America Pavilion during Slightly Stoopid’s set, and it didn’t take me long to figure out that the “Summer Haze Tour” was appropriately named. When the band wasn’t encouraging the wild crowd to get high, they were bringing out their unique blend of reggae mixed with a little ska influences and a few touches of classic rock guitar. All the members of Slightly Stoopid were showing love in their customized Red Sox and Patriots jerseys.

Matt Nathanson: Copley Square, Boston MA 8.16.07

Matt Nathanson has been one of my favorite live performers for a few years now, so I was thrilled to find out that he would be playing a free show in Copley Square in Boston to promote his brand new album, Some Mad Hope. Matt promised the crowd: “If you buy my record, things will change for you.” Although his album material has always been enjoyable, his concerts are a completely different experience; he is as much of a seasoned stand-up comedian as he is a talented guitarist and vocalist. Normally, his sense of humor is pretty raunchy, but he was forced to tone down the vulgarity for this very public outdoor concert, as he pointed out during the show: “I’m very PG… it feels good.”

Since my humor can barely come close to the Matt Nathanson level, I’m not even going to try to joke around in this post. I’ll just borrow his humor in quote form.

Muse & Cold War Kids: Agganis Arena, Boston MA 8.11.07

Last week, I fostered my British obsession at the Muse concert at Agganis Arena in Boston. And yes, I really took this picture with a camera phone:

Warped Tour: Tweeter Center, Mansfield MA 8.9.07

This past Thursday, I attended my very first Warped Tour at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, and I was not at all prepared for the complete chaos I experienced. It was a hot, sunny day full of sweaty crowds of kids, dehydration, exhaustion, near-deafness, and a bunch of bands I’ve heard of but have never heard. It took me almost two hours to figure out where all the stages were and where I could shoot, and practically the entire day to figure out who was playing where and when. Regardless, I ended up having a really great time.

To sum up what Warped Tour looked like in one picture:

Crowded House & Pete Yorn: Bank of America Pavilion, Boston MA 8.5.07

When I requested to go to see singer/songwriter Pete Yorn in Boston this past weekend, I overlooked the fact that he was just the opening act for Crowded House. I also overlooked the fact that most Crowded House fans are probably twice my age (if you don’t know who Crowded House is, they’re an Australian band that was mostly popular in the ‘80s, especially for their song “Don’t Dream It’s Over”). Needless to say, I felt a little out of place (and young) in this crowd, but I still had a good time and saw a great show.

Thankfully, Boston public transportation was having a good day, and I arrived at the Bank of America Pavilion just in time for Pete Yorn. I had a photo pass, but there was no formal photo pit set up, so I had to stand to the side of the stage to shoot. I couldn’t capture the greatness of Pete’s fluffy head of hair at this angle very well with my camera phone, but I did my best.

Dave Matthews Band: Tweeter Center, Mansfield MA 8.1.07

What kind of modern-day, music-loving college student has never been to a Dave Matthews concert? It’s just one of those unavoidable experiences; everyone my age has been to at least one, even if they’re not a big fan. But somehow, I’ve avoided going to Dave Matthews shows throughout all of high school and three years of college. I’m starting my fourth year, and I finally caved in.

I didn’t exactly have press passes or front row seats, so I don’t have any impressive photos to post this time. But this is what I could see.

Kings of Leon: The Paradise, Boston MA 7.31.07

I discovered Kings of Leon a few months ago, and they have since become one of my new favorite bands. They sound like they’re an edgy Brit-rock band, but I was surprised to find out that the quartet is from Nashville. The band was supposed to be one of the headliners in local radio mini-festival about a month ago, but cancelled their appearance at the last minute; I had been thisclose to buying tickets just to see them at this show, but luckily I didn’t. To make it up to the fans that missed them, they played a free show at the Paradise this past week that only radio contest winners could get tickets to. I didn’t win, but I did find a generous free ticket donor on Craigslist.

Hanson: Avalon, Boston MA 7.21.07

I’ll never say no to a concert, but I was a little hesitant about going to the Hanson show I was assigned to this past weekend. Sure, I owned the “Middle of Nowhere” CD back in elementary school like everyone else, but it’s not exactly something I’d be proud of putting on my iPod. I had heard some of the group’s more recent music, and although I have to admit that it wasn’t bad, I was more hesitant about being among the people who would actually go to a Hanson concert than about hearing their music. All I could picture was the same room of crazy, screaming girls I was always a part of during my regrettable boyband years, and it was a frightening thought now that I’ve entered the laid-back realm of indie rock fandom. When I arrived at Avalon, there they were. And the point at which I was completely terrified came right after I got up to the press pit – when I saw a girl in the front row with a real license plate that said “MMMBOP.”

James Morrison: First Act Guitar Studio & The Paradise, Boston MA 7.19.07

As we all know by now, I’m a sucker for any musician with a British accent. I got to see UK newcomer James Morrison perform twice this past week at an in-store performance at First Act Guitar Studio, and later that night at the Paradise. Although he didn’t perform at the John Mayer show this past week at the Garden, he just began his gig as opening act for the rest of Mayer’s summer tour, so I was excited that I got to see him play in 2 extremely intimate venues.

Less Than Jake & Reel Big Fish: Avalon, Boston MA 7.18.07

I really didn’t know what to expect when I was told I would be covering the double-headliner Less Than Jake/Reel Big Fish show at Avalon in Boston. Ska is one genre of music I’m completely unfamiliar with, and I don’t think I was prepared for the scene I was about to walk into. I arrived at Avalon during the second of the two opening bands, which were Streetlight Manifesto and Against All Authority. The venue resembled a high school gym full of sweaty, crazy kids, and I found that to be a completely accurate description as the show went on.  Let’s just say that this was quite a different experience than the John Mayer show I went to the night before.

John Mayer: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston MA 7.17.07

I lost enough respect for John Mayer when he started (and continued) dating Jessica Simpson, but he lost several more points when his people turned down Billboard’s press request for me. And when I tried to see him on tour last summer, he conveniently had laryngitis the night I drove two hours to see his show. Apparently John and I just weren’t meant to be, but I wasn’t going to give up this time. I’ve been going to Mayer shows since 2003, but the last time I saw him, which was at the Austin City Limits Festival in Texas last year, was one of the most amazing live performances I’ve been to in my entire life. It was one of those ‘religious experience’ type of concerts, where I just stood there in awe of what I was hearing. I hadn’t seen him since then, so I was determined to get into his show this past Tuesday at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. After refusing to pay the $60+fees face value price for tickets, I mingled among the scalpers for awhile to see what I could get. I was lucky enough to come across a group of people who actually gave me their extras for free (thanks!), so I was pumped.

Mandy Moore: Prudential Center, Boston MA 7.16.07

This past Monday, I went to the Prudential Center in Boston on my lunch break to see a radio-sponsored promo show for the only late-‘90s pop princess who remained even remotely normal throughout the past decade – Mandy Moore. I’ve never been a huge fan of female singers, but it was a free show, she seems genuinely talented, and “Because I Said So” is one of the few chick flicks I really like. She was promoting her brand new album “Wild Hope,” which she co-wrote all the songs for, so I was interested in hearing what she had to offer, especially considering she hasn’t been prominent in the music scene for a few years.

Travis: Bank of America Pavilion, Boston MA 7.12.07

For those of you who don't know: Travis is a UK band. Not just one guy. And no one in the band is named Travis.

I guess it's appropriate that I chose to cover their show this week, because I just realized I've always had a thing for music from the UK. When I was much younger, I was obsessed with Bush; today, some of my favorite bands are The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys, and Keane, and I seem to keep finding more great UK bands every week. I've been a fan of Travis for a few years now, so I was excited when I found out I'd finally get to see them live. They haven't toured in the US for several years, and the Boston show at the Bank of America Pavilion was the second stop on their new US tour promoting their recent album, "The Boy With No Name."

Wilco: Bank of America Pavilion, Boston MA 6.28.07

Hey everyone!  Let me start off by saying that I am SO excited to be participating in this contest.  I feel like the kid in "Almost Famous" because this is seriously a dream come true.  Anyways, I'm on my first assignment at the Wilco show in Boston tonight.  It's at the Bank of America Pavilion, which is my favorite summer concert venue because it's relatively intimate and right on the waterfront.  The $9 beers are the only downside.