One of the details that has long since leaked out here is that I like Huey Lewis and the News. In fact, perhaps it's not so much leaked as spewed out... This year has been very weird, what with sporadic employment, moving preparations, European travel... so my schedule has worked out in such a way that I've been able to catch a number of concerts. I saw 6 in the UK and Ireland, 2 in Las Vegas, and last night I saw one in Cohasset, MA.
I can't say that the South Shore Circus is my favorite venue. It's in a vinyl(-like?) circus tent, which is always pleasant on humid nights (sarcasm implied). The stage is in the middle and rotates throughout the performance so that no one has the band's backs to them the whole time. If the band doesn't get dizzy, the audience might...
I did enjoy getting to watch Bill Gibson the drummer from behind though because it meant I could see what he was doing (his drum kit obscures his playing when viewed from the front.) He's a fantastic drummer and it was great watching him work. He plays with a lot of understated power - nothing too flashy, no stick-tossing, and he doesn't depend on crashing on the cymbals to let people know he's there. Instead he plays with a heavier reliance on the drums themselves, tastefully complementary crashes on the cymbals, and when appropriate, different rhythmic patterns to punctuate the moods of the songs. It was nice last night to be able to watch all that happen.
Of course, watching anything last night was difficult. Another objection I have with the venue is that the seats are pitched too shallowly and it was hard for me to see over people's heads. Fortunately, I had borrowed my erstwhile roommate's Harry Potter book. Nothing like standing on an 850+ page volume to help improve the view...
Edit 8/9/03: I take back the bad things I said about the South Shore Circus. I went again last night, and I was pleased to learn that the people who work there are extremeley nice, profits are donated to charity, and the tent was stuffy only because of the threatening (and actual) rain which meant that the flaps needed to be closed. It is still true, though, that a) I'm short, b) the fifth Harry Potter hardback is a very thick book, and c) Bill is a damn good drummer.