Fall concert series continues.

Last night I headed to Burlington with the intention of picking up a ticket to the Primus 3D Surround Sound Experience concert at Memorial Auditorium. I had no indication that this concert would sell-out, as the last time I saw them at the same venue 8 years ago, they charged half as much and I picked my ticket up at the gate. There were literally hundreds of people roaming around the hoard of 3,000 concert goers hunting down extra tickets last night, much to my surprise. I didn't find a ticket before the music started on this crisp fall evening, but was fortunately able to catch a good view of the stage through the front door of the gymnasium, er, concert hall. The surprisingly soundproof glass doors of Memorial provided very little musical accompaniment, just enough to decipher what song it was they were playing. Without 3D glasses or speakers surrounding me, I was also missing out on this experiment that Primus had brought into Burlington. I could be wrong, but has anyone ever issued their fans 3D glasses upon entry? Seems like something that Pink Floyd or Iron Butterfly might have attempted back in the 70s, but I don't think they ever got around to it. I stood outside through the entirety of the first set and roamed around the exterior of the venue trying to warm up a bit. Had some good musical conversations with other onlookers, but none of us had found tickets. Saw a pretty young lady getting arrested and a couple people escorted out of the venue early on. One girl could barely make it out the door as her friends helped her along. They said "I think she needs some fresh air." I know she got the fresh air, but I think she may have needed something more. About three songs into the second set, the front door was opened by an elderly old-lady security guard who said "alright, we'll let you guys in for $20!" I was hesitant at first but then realized that the show was just about half over, so it was a reasonable price. Nothing like buying a ticket to a Primus show in a shady backdoor deal from a senior:) They handed us 3D glasses, and just like that we went from barely being able to hear the music to a full on audio/video assault! Just as we entered the doors of the hall, Primus ripped into "Hamburger Train", a dynamic bass groove from the Pork Soda album. What I saw and heard was amazing. Although the volume was way to loud for a venue this size, there were sounds coming from every angle and the 3D effects that accompanied were something that I had never seen before. The crowd was loving every bit of it, pulsing to the heavy bass and drum thump. Two gigantic astronaut statues were perched on each edge of the stage and graphics ranging from apes to cheese blocks to bubbles bounced out at us. The second set was rounded out with such hits as "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver", "Harold of the Rocks" (one of my favorites), and they ended it with "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver". It was a great time and brought me back to my first Primus show at Memorial some 16 years prior.

Primus has finally created a audio and visual experience that is as bizarre and unique as their music, and I was one of the first to experience this.

Ben Harper put on a phenomenal show tonight in Burlington. He played solo for three hours with almost no down time. Stage was covered with guitars, a couple lap steels, a uke, a weissenborn (Hawaiian lap guitar), a piano and xylophone, and he played all of them. I left the show completely satisfied and it was one of many shows that I have seen and the 5th in Burlington. I went and got a slice and a beer with my friend Stacy and then we went for a stroll by the tour bus that was parked right near the intersection of Main and Church. This little crowd of people was gathered near the exit of the Flynn and said that they heard Ben would be coming out shortly. Waited for a couple minutes and were about to peace out when out he strolls from the back in a hoodie. As far as celebrities go, this guy is at the top of my list to meet and it was a pleasure talking to him for a minute. He was so humble and grateful to everyone. Got my friend to snap a pic of us and here it is!

Waterbury's unique nature

I live in Waterbury, VT. This little town has the most beer taps per capita of any town in VT. Literally within a block of my place, there are at the very least 125 different taps, most with different beer pouring out of each of them. What a beer culture the Alchemist has produced here before it's demise as a brewpub. Luckily they are still brewing the tasty Heady Topper at their hillside brewery that is well out of the flood plain. Tonight I went to the new pub that currently occupies the old Alchemist space, which is called the Prohibition Pig. I enjoyed one of their unique appetizers- the pimento cheese balls, and a great burger. I would highly recommend this spicy combo complete with some of their house bacon barbeque. For a town just about the size of Bristol, Waterbury has a lot to offer. Many places to go out with great music ranging from Jazz to Bluegrass to Funk. Varieties of food from all over the world. Restaurants that are written about in the New York Times. Ben and Jerry's factory just a mile outside of town. Great mountain biking trails that are free to the public. Some of the greatest hiking in the Northeast. Majestic disc golf course. Placid reservoir to canoe and swim around. Stowe and Sugarbush just a stone's throw away. I should make a Waterbury commercial.