The View

This is going to be short. I have many times criticized The View to my poor wife. I constantly argue with her that I believe men and women are really not that different. The only real differences are physical, obviously, and maybe the way each sex goes about the way they communicate, handle a situation, or get from point A to B. But I do believe that there are many things women do that make more sense than the way a man goes about it and vice versa. It's like religion and acting styles. If it gets you there,good. One way is not better than another.
The View is a perfect example of this. There is no way that anyone can ever say that a woman discusses topics in a more intelligent, civil manner than a man. I saw 10 minutes this morning and could not believe what they will argue over. The brilliant Joy Behar had to insult Elizabeth Hasselback over the fact that she brined a turkey. Thank God she only argues important issues. I haven't heard such a riveting discussion since the First grade. I know they don't agree politically, hell, I don't agree politically with Elizabeth Hasselback, but is it necessary to try to start an argument over brining a turkey? I guess Joy was just being edgy. She's so daring.
Poor Barbara Walters sits there with that look of "you know I am a legitimate reporter who can have an actual intelligent discussion. Why am I here?" on her face. Well, someone has to lend credibility to the show.
You know, I've discovered it's possible to disagree with people politically and still get a long with them. Every Saturday I see Pro-War and Anti-War protesters near where I live. It's helped me to discover something. There's idiots on both side of the road. I doubt the protest is really of any importance to either group. They are there to insult each other and the people driving by who they don't agree with. If your lucky, you can even hear them cursing very loudly across the street and to people passing by. Good thing "we're" fighting for freedom in other countries. Who wouldn't want other countries to be like ours. We have this great freedom of speech and all they can come up with is profane insults. It's embarrassing and probably a good example why some countries don't want our help. But I will talk more about that on another post.
Bottom line is, watch The View. It proves that we are all pretty much the same: Willing to argue for the sake of arguing.

Hope Concert IV - Count Basie Theatre 12/22/2008

Once again the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank New Jersey hosted another great benefit concert. For the last 3 years, Bobby Bandiera has assembled a holiday benefit concert which goes by the name of The Hope Concert. The original Hope Concert was a benefit for Bobby's son and was held in April of 2003. In 2006 Bobby put on the Bobby Bandiera All Star Holiday Concert which included Gary U.S. Bonds, Southside Johnny, Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. None of these performers were announced. In 2007 the same musicians minus Springsteen assembled again under the name of the Hope Concert III. My wife and I purchased tickets for the show this year after passing last year.
For the fourth edition the lineup included Tim McCloone & the Shirleys, Brian Fallon, Nicole Atkins, Bobby Bandiera's Jersey Shore Rock N Soul Revue, Gary U.S. Bonds, Southside Johnny and Jon Bon Jovi.
The show followed a virtually identical format to the 2006 show. Each performer did a mini set, but this time the headliners were joined for a song by the next artist to follow. The show flowed very well. It was a typical New Jersey benefit that included up and coming artists, local legends and a couple huge stars. This year Bruce Springsteen joined in again closing the show with a couple Christmas songs, a couple covers and a duet with Jon Bon Jovi.
The show opened with Tim McCloone and the Shirley's, which is basically a condensed version on the Holiday Express. Holiday Express is a local group of musicians that perform several charity concerts throughout the holiday season. They performed a few Christmas favorites and even did two version of White Christmas.
Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem followed with 2 acoustic songs. Very Springsteenesque, with a very dark dreamlike feel.
Bobby Bandiera's Rock N Soul Revue followed. They were the backing band for the remaining performers, for the most part. Gary U.S. Bonds & Southside brought out members of their bands for their sets, but also used members of the RNS Revue. The band consists of many local favorites:Ray Anderson & Bob Burger on guitars, Kevin Kavanaugh on organ, Mike Mancini on keyboards, Tony Tino on bass, Mike Mahoney & Joe Bellia on drums. I grew up seeing most of these guys at the Stone Pony back in the 80's. Ray Andersen was in Cats on a Smooth Surface & Ray Andersen & the Fire. He now performs as Mr. Ray. Joe Bellia is in the Asbury Jukes and was in a band called Joey & The Works, and has played with Bobby for quite some time, as has Kevin Kavanaugh. Bob Burger is another person who has played with Bobby many a time and also fronts The Bob Burger Band.
The Revue was first joined by Nicole Atkins who did 2 covers, and then different members of the Revue took turns in the spotlight.
Gary U.S. Bonds followed with his band and then did a duet with Southside Johnny which led into Southside's set. Southside brought along members of the Jukes including keyboardist Jeff Kazee. His set ended with a duet of This Time it's For Real with Jon Bon Jovi.
At the end of Jon's set, he had a surprise for the audience. He announced his surprise wasn't Santa Claus. He said "this is better. Come on Out". Bruce Springsteen walked out and performed the lead guitar work for Run Rudolph Run ,which was performed by Jon Bon Jovi & Bobby Bandiera trading off on the verses.
Bruce then closed his mini set with Jon performing Tenth Avenue Freezeout.
The performers left after that, to return a couple minutes later to perform Havin' a Party. The only performers absent for this were Jon Bon Jovi and Nicole Atkins.
Overall a pretty great show. A great way to start Christmas week and one of the few reasons at this point to still be proud to live in New Jersey. Where else can you see the 2 top grossing concert draws of 2008 performing in a 1400 seat theatre.
The set list follows. A few titles may be incorrect.

Tim McLoone & the Shirleys
Happy Holiday-Maureen McCrink Lead Vocal
All Alone At Christmas
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year-Tim McCloone Lead Vocal
You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch-Tim McCloone Lead Vocal
Holly Jolly Christmas-Amy Brozza Lead Vocal
White Christmas-Delores Holmes Lead Vocal
White Christmas-Layonne Holmes Lead Vocal
Higher & Higher-Tim McCloone Lead Vocal

Brian Fallon
Great Expectations
The 59 Sound

The Jersey Shore Rock N Soul Revue
Be My Baby-Nicole Atkins Lead Vocal
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree-Nicole Atkins Lead Vocal
Listen To The Music-Maureen McCrink Lead Vocal
Monday Monday-Bob Burger Lead Vocal
Touch Me-Ray Andersen Lead Vocal
White Rabbit-Lisa Bouchelle Lead Vocal
Somebody To Love-Layonne Holmes Lead Vocal
C'mon Caroline-Bobby Bandiera Lead Vocal/Southside Johnny Backing Vocals


Gary U.S. Bonds
Action in the Streets
Your Love is Gonna Let You Down
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
This Little Girl

Southside Johnny
You Dont' Know w/Gary U.S. Bonds
Down,Down,Down
Santa Claus is Back in Town
I Don't Want To Go Home
This Time It's For Real w/Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi
Lost Highway w/Lorenza Ponce on Violin
Blue Christmas
Who Say's You Can't Go Home w/Lorenza Ponce on Violin
Run Rudolph Run w/Bobby Bandiera & Bruce Springsteen on Lead Guitar

Bruce Springsteen
Merry Christmas Baby w/Nicole Atkins Backing Vocals
Santa Claus is Coming to Town w/Southside Johnny & Nicole Atkins Backing Vocals
634-5789 w/Nicole Atkins Backing Vocals
Tenth Avenue Freezeout w/Jon Bon Jovi, Nicole Atkins Backing Vocals

Finale
Havin' a Party-Minus Jon Bon Jovi & Nicole Atkins

Bon Jovi - Count Basie Theatre 12/20/1993

Christmas is the best time of the year. There is still something magical about the season and how it makes people feel. As my Father use to say, "It's the one time of the year that you believe miracles can happen".
There are so many things that are representative of the season:the food, the movies, the T.V. Specials, seeing old friends and family, and probably more than anything else, the music. I've been very lucky to see some great Christmas concerts: Bruce Springsteen in Asbury Park, The Holiday Express in Red Bank, Glen Burtnik's Christmas concerts, and Bon Jovi.
Bon Jovi started doing Christmas benefit concerts at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank in 1990. The first couple years they mixed their standard fare with Christmas songs and rare tracks and covers. The first year I went was 1992. Keep the Faith had just been released and they were gearing up for a tour. In an Asbury Park Press article Jon did say that the Christmas show would not be a tour warm up. I was excited about what would be my second time seeing them, after seeing them play the Fastlane in Asbury Park the previous October.
Well, the show wound up being a slightly shorter version of their Keep the Faith shows. I was pretty disappointed. Aside from throwing in I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas and Please Come Home For Christmas, it was pretty standard setlist. So the next year when my future Wife and her Mother and I got tickets for the now Annual Christmas benefit, I was looking forward too it, but not expecting too much.
I am happy to say that I was more than pleasantly surprised. The show was excellent. It was everything you could hope for from a show by a huge band in an intimate setting. After the opening one two punch of Help and With A Little Help From My Friends, they did Bad Medicine, a song usually relegated to the encores. From there on the show got better and the band played with their usual energy and showed they are best in a concert setting. Both Jon and Richie Sambora performed some of their solo songs, and both keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres got to come center stage. The band was augmented by a horn section for a few of the songs. Lasting 3 hours, it is still one of my favorite Bon Jovi concerts and one that my Wife and I still talk about from time to time.
The setlist follows.


Help- Jon & Richie Sambora Lead Vocals
With A Little Help From My Friends- w/Horns
Bad Medicine
Let It Bleed- w/Horns & David Bryan Lead Vocals
Keep the Faith
Tom Trauberts Blues(Waltzing Matilda) - Tico Torres Lead Vocals
Love For Sale- w/Horns
Stranger in This Town- w/Horns & Richie Sambora Lead Vocals
Blood Money- Jon solo
Blaze of Glory
Dry County
Lay Your Hands on Me
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead/Jumpin' Jack Flash
Livin' on a Prayer

-ENCORE-

The Answer- Richie Sambora Lead Vocals w/David Bryan & Alec John Such
Wanted Dead or Alive
Blood on Blood

You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby

Just Like a Woman- Jon solo
Bed of Roses
I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas

It's Only Rock n' Roll(But I Like It) - w/Horns Jon & Richie Sambora Lead Vocals
Never Say Goodbye