So we hit the Weird Al show at Kings Island tonight. Really, really fun.
The band is tight. These guys have been doing this for so long and have every little detail so pre-planned and synced that I’d bet they could do the whole two hours in their sleep. In fact, my only complain (and this applies to most shows today, not just Al) is that with so much prerecorded stuff being incorporated (video, music, vocals, whatever) that a bit of the human element is lost as the show requires machine-like precision (admittedly, a skill in itself) to keep everything rolling along. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I still like live shows to be a little messy and spontaneous. Whatever.
The show ran two hours (almost to the minute) and with a history like Al’s there’s just not enough time to cover everything. They touched on a good portion of the most familiar stuff, but even then you got little medley-style, rapid-fire one verse/one chorus renditions. It worked though because it kept the pace up for the most part.
All the outfits/props were there (the fat suit, the segway, the bad-ass ‘all about the pentiums’ outfit/look, Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers – even a spongebob shirt and tutu combo. Big cheer when the “Atlantic Records Sucks” shirt appeared during “You’re Pitiful”) and video clips filled the space between constume changes.
We had great seats – except for the 3 fat, smelly girls in front of us. I hate to be mean because they were like 10 or 12, but they reeked. And to make me feel REALLY old, when the AL TV interview with Michael Stipe came on, one of the girls leaned back and asked me who “that guy” was. I just replied – REM’s singer. Sigh.
I have to remember to start taking a camera to these shows. Totally didn’t take one to the Blue Man show back in March and didn’t even think of it tonight either. (Apparently, I only go to the geekiest of shows anymore) Here’s the obligatory shit quality cell phone shot:
That was pretty much it. Great show and I’m glad we decided to go. Kings Island was stupid packed, so I’m glad we just showed up for the concert. Still took forever to get out as the show ended just as the park was closing.
Good stuff.
Yeah, the Carowinds show was great, and it was good to hear him do all of Albequerqy. I feel the same about most of the ‘complaints’ you have as well. And at Carowinds, I sat beside a guy that smelled like a 2 ton cig* and his wife was around 350lbs and 4 feet tall and she also stank. I guess it runs in that circle? ;)
*Yes, I know you smoke, but not everyone that smokes stinks. :-D
I’m sure I stink too. :)
No, I’m sure you bathe ;-).
[...] We went to see Al in 2007. Since then the kids have grown a bit and I turned my daughter onto some of his stuff. This time I’m dragging them all out for a Friday night, 4th of July weekend show…and I’m looking forward to it… [...]