Last Sunday I got to go the Americanarama in Montainview, CA. The line-up was: Ryan Bingham, My Morning Jacket, Wilco, and Bob Dylan. One of my favorite converts I've been to, simply because I was familiar with each act's music somewhat. I actually got the guy who runs my LCS a poster and t-shirt from the event. The tour wasn't coming anywhere near me, so I flew out to visit my brother and went there for one of the nights.
A number of things:
- Free parking. I can't remember ever going to a concert when you didn't pay for parking.
- As long as you didn't bring in alcohol they let you bring in your own food and drinks.
- It started on time. Yet, another first. Because of that we missed about half of Ryan Bingham's set.
- Speaking of Ryan Bingham his sound was completely different from what I know. It sounded like a Southern rock bad.
- Time between acts was lightning fast too. Still made for a 5 1/2 hour concert.
- My Morning Jacket (my brother's favorite act) probably sounded the tightest as a band.
- Wilco was probably my favorite at simply because I am most familiar with them, and listen to them the most. I was so happy to finally see them in concert. Plus, the played one song I really wanted them to play: "Heavy Metal Drummer"
- What to say about Bob Dylan (my brother's fiancee's favorite)? I was warned he would be terrible at worst. At best it would depend on how "into it" he was. I thought he was really pretty good.
- I was surprised he didn't play guitar at all. He also never talked to the crowd. Which didn't bother me really.
- During Dylan's third song I though, "Man, the piano player sounds like he playing a different song from the rest of the band." Because of sight lines I didn't realize until later that Dylan was the piano player.
- Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead came out and played with both MMJ and Wilco. That was pretty phenomenal. I loved the cover he did of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" with MMJ and "St. Stephen" with Wilco.
- I'm really surprised I didn't get a contact high...ahem.
So yeah, I had some fun.
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