Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Capitol Theatre - York, PA - July 1, 2010

This was the first show where we had seen an artist (in this case, at the 2009 WXPN non-commercial radio convention, or Non-COMM), gotten booking information, and as a result, saw them added to the CapLive concert series line-up. It was Carter’s first time seeing Black Joe Lewis perform live, but he knew the music well, and we were both really excited for this show.

Mama: I had seen them before, but it was so much fun to see them at what we consider our “home” venue.

Carter: We were walking by on our way to the show and we saw some of the guys from the band smoking outside. We got a picture with them.

Mama: It’s always fun when bands play at the Capitol, because it’s so small and you usually get the opportunity to hang out with them before or after the show, or at least meet them. Like, remember the time when you hung out with the guys from The BibleCode Sundays for a whole evening?

Carter: Yeah, some of them were totally drunk. But they were definitely fun. I got my picture taken with them, too.

Mama: When I came to find you, they were like, “Are you Carter’s mum? Will you take our picture with him?” Anyway, back to the Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears show. The opening band was called Hacienda, and I thought they were really good.

Carter: They weren’t awful, but they weren’t my favorite band.

Mama: I liked them a lot. Their merch was cool, too.

Carter: When Black Joe Lewis started, I was excited. I like them a lot.

Mama: Me too. Everyone got up and started dancing right away.

Carter: Even though I really like the band, somehow I managed to accidentally fall asleep halfway through the show. But I woke up for my favorite song [“Get Yo Shit”]. The lyrics are funny:

She said, ‘You don’t even buy me presents.’

‘Yeah, I did. I bought you a box of chicken, but I ate it on the way home.’

Just thinking about it makes me hungry for Bair’s chicken.

Mama: His lyrics are really funny. And he’s an excellent guitarist.

Carter: The horn section was kick-ass.

Mama: Carter! Don’t curse.

Carter: Kick-butt.

Mama: [dirty look]

Carter: Bad-butt?

Mama: So you liked the horn section?

Carter: Yes. Yes I did.

Mama: If you stick with the trumpet, do you think you’d like to play in a band like that?

Carter: No, I’d rather do classical stuff. I liked it, but it’s not something I would want to do.

Mama: So overall, what did you think of the show?

Carter: Awesome. I thought that it was one of the best shows I have ever seen.

Check back soon for our reviews of these live shows: Delta Spirit, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Felice Brothers, and the XPoNential Music Festival!

Steven Wright - American Music Theatre - Lancaster, PA - June 9, 2010

When Carter's Mama and his Aunt Elise were younger, they practically wore out a cassette tape copy of Steven Wright's "I Have a Pony." Mama recently saw a billboard for Steven's performance in Lancaster, alerted Aunt Elise, and commenced to Making Plans.

The show fell on Bill Schell's birthday, so we turned it into a celebration - dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, followed by the show. It was Carter's first comedy show (probably one of the only acts Mama could take him to, since the inappropriate material and cursing is minimal).

Mama: I kept wondering who the opening act would be. As it turns out, there wasn't one. The lights went out, an announcer said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Steven Wright!" The lights came back up, and there he was, already dropping one-liners.

Carter: I hoped there would be a lot of cursing. However, there wasn't a lot. Sadly.

Mama: There's more to comedy than using bad words. In fact, I admire comics who can perform on prime time television, because they have to be funny without using profanity, which might be a little more difficult.

Carter: I fell out of my chair laughing a lot of the time, but other times I didn't get the jokes. I would like to get an album of his so we can pause it when I don't get it and Mama can explain, because I bet those jokes are funny, too.

Mama: That's a good idea. I knew you'd like Steven Wright's sense of humor. I wonder how he remembers all those jokes. There is no transition between them and he hardly pauses at all.

Carter: Yes, it was quite amazing.

Mama: Do you think you could remember all that?

Carter: Yes. No. Maybe. Only if I was a waiter. Waiters have to remember a lot of stuff.

Mama: My favorite joke was when he said that next week, he's getting an MRI to find out whether he's claustrophobic.

Carter: My favorite joke was the one where the punchline was "pardon my French."

Mama: Of course you'd pick the only joke he told in a two-hour timespan that included bad words.

Carter: My love of bad words comes from your side of the family.

Mama: Hey! Wait, you're right. That's definitely true.

Bon Jovi - The Circle Tour - Hersheypark Stadium - May 19, 2010

Carter turned 10 on May 7. His birthday present from Mama was tickets to see Bon Jovi. Mama saw them a few years ago in Newark, NJ, with Carter's aunts and uncles, and Carter has never forgiven her for not including him.

We headed to nearby Hersheypark Stadium with three of our friends and got there in time to catch Fuel, whom Mama is pretty sure she saw many years ago at this same venue, opening for someone else. Of course they played Shimmer and Hemorrhage, which pleased all the people in the crowd who were Mama's age.

Mama: I was more excited to watch Carter watching Bon Jovi than I was for the actual show. But I forgot how good these guys really are. They've been doing this for ten forevers, and it's clear that they truly love what they do. So say what you will about Bon Jovi, but they're doing something right if they're still around (and loving their jobs) after all this time. Seasoned performers, massive but straightforward production.

Carter: It was awesome. But when we heard "Bad Medicine," there were silhouettes of ladies in just lingerie in the background, which was very disturbing.

Mama: It wasn't that bad. It was a very family-friendly show. Jon Bon

Jovi doesn't curse and most of their newer songs have a positive message.

Carter: Yeah, but I didn't know the newer songs, so I felt a little left out.

Mama: I liked when Carter jumped up out of his seat and sang along to "You Give Love a Bad Name."

Carter: Holy crap! My whole childhood flashed before my eyes! My favorite part of the show was seeing my assistant principal. He had his sweatshirt tied around his waist, not looking very principal-y-like.

Mama: I didn't like that part. I knew I was going to let you sleep in and take you to school late the next day, so I felt like our cover was blown and like I was going to be sent to the principal's office.

Carter: Ha ha, Mama, you had a flashback!

Mama: Easy now... I also liked watching you play air guitar. You know what I've noticed? People no longer follow the "that guy" rule...about not wearing the shirt of the band you're going to see? (Like in the movie PCU). It's especially bad at larger shows at stadiums and arenas. Of course, I don't mind when Carter does it.

Carter: Yeah. Cause I'm a kid. Yay, childhood!

Mama: I guess that's why I don't mind. I am happy that you observe the rule about not listening to the band we're going to see on the day we're going to see them. Cause then we'd be the kind of people I used to make fun of in the parking lot. Anyway, what was your favorite part of the actual show?

Carter: The encore was awesome. We totally called what songs they were going to play for the encore. They played "Wanted: Dead or Alive" and "Livin on a Prayer." Jon Bon Jovi held out the mic and everybody sang along to "Livin on a Prayer."

Mama: The loudest I sang along was to "I'll Be There for You." I sang it right in Carter's ear.

Carter: Overall it was my favorite concert I've ever been to in my life (even more than Maroon 5 and Passion Pit!).