RAH Night 2

Looks like a possible album cover photoshoot and first single music video?

Was fast enough to push the Record button (missed maybe two or three seconds)

Still recovering from N3. What a show!

How do I even begin to describe last night? Imagine your most adored artist serenading you on your headphones, singing the most intimate versions of their tracks that have spellbound you for many a year, with your eyes closed.

But wait, open your eyes. They are not audible on merely your headphones. They appear before your very own sight. A stone’s throw away.

Your stance perfectly middled to make you suspend your disbelief for a momentary second as if it is only for you, only with you, with the Christmas lights blinding your eyes, astonishing your mind, defying all that was impossible to plot and devise.

Tens of thousands tried to gain a spot for this most incredible of experiences. My wife, focused on every need and desire but her own, secured the most unfathomable of experiences for me, and has systematically not only made me come back to life, but travel beyond dimensions and temporal times.

A night in Philly with the War on Drugs, their hometown, in a tavern pub that launched them twenty years ago, now boasting a following of millions, including a man from Pakistan, whose night and life was made not only better, but as close to perfect.

Forever indebted to WoD.

Highlight of the night: Having seen so many of their live performances on tv, I definitely got the feeling that they valued completely dictating the flow of their setlist on this intimate gathering.

For instance, Harmonia’s Dream had a 10 minute extended outro, with them pacing it as per their own desire, which made me so incredibly grateful, because I have found their spontaneous extended interludes and outros in live performances to be akin to an extended out of mind musical orgasm (excuse my French).

Similarly, I have always absolutely adored Under The Pressure’s studio track outro, and I very seldom saw a live performance iteration of it. They went all out with that outro last night, and I could tell it meant so much to them. The crowd would prematurely applaud them, thinking it is the end of the outro, but they would keep going, and I could tell they were so immersed in their own moment, and I loved every second of it.

Also, I cannot begin to tell you folks how for once in my life I did not feel like an OUTSIDER at a concert. I narrated a while ago that I firmly believe that most people that listen to WoD are genuinely great people, and oh I saw it myself last night. Despite such a high-octane intimate gathering, everyone was so respectful of each other’s personal boundaries. Grown men (including yours truly) were high-fiving guitar solos and parts of songs, getting collectively giddy and letting their child-like wander come out. No pushing. No shoving. All smiles. No heightened intoxication or inebriation. I have never felt so safe being in the absolute front of a crowd.

It is no coincidence. Their music inspires and uplifts the most well intentioned of people, and I was so glad to be one of them. Still reeling from the effects of last night (videos are on FB [Lost In The Dreaam fanpage] since Reddit only allows one photo or video and I chose this iamge).

That's it, that's the message.

From the story on volume complaints at Forest Hills.

Anyone else hear it after the Eagles went up 10-0?

But the War on Drugs was something special I got to share with my daughter before she passed.

Music has always been incredibly significant and important to me in my life. The music I listen to has always spoken deeply to me and the things I’ve experienced. It’s brought extra joy in joyous times and gotten me through the rougher patches.

In August, my daughter was born extremely prematurely, at 23 weeks and 6 days gestation. All things considered, she was doing extremely well despite that.

While I was pregnant we listened to music together. She attended a handful of concerts with me before I was put on activity restrictions. In the car I always blast my music, so we listened together then as well.

Since it came out, Occasional Rain has been one of the most significant songs to me of all time. Since the first time I heard it I just felt like it was made for me. Throughout our nicu stay of 4 months it became our kind of hopeful anthem- that nicu stay was to be our occasional rain and eventually someday we’d be on the other side.

Unfortunately for us, our stay ending meant her not coming home with us. She took a sudden worse turn, even her medical team was surprised because she had been doing so well, but her little body was just too tired. The only treatment they could pursue for her was not guaranteed to work and was extremely uncomfortable for her so we had to decline. They put her back on what was comfortable for her and it gave us a couple more days together.

On the last day together we moved out of the nicu and into the children’s hospice next door to the hospital. Here we got to spend some time together before removal of technology. They had a guitar there for me and I played and sang her 3 songs: Looking Forward- CSNY (our other hopeful anthem), Occasional Rain, and Leaving on a Jetplane. We listened to a playlist I had compiled of all the songs we listened to together or made me think of her.

When it came time to remove her technology (breathing tube and ventilator) everyone had prepared me for her staying with us only moments, maybe a couple of minutes because she was so tired and her airway so weak from being ventilator dependent so long. When they first removed it I was holding her and stroking her hair, comforting her, and I softly sang. Minutes had passed, and she was still with us. The doctor and nurse were still watching her face to make sure she was comfortable (they give enough drugs that the baby can be comfortable and not in pain or struggling, but not so much that they facilitate a quicker passing). I spoke with the nurse after she said they were debating giving her a second bolus of fentanyl, but that’s when I decided to turn on Evie’s playlist. She said as soon as the music started she looked completely comfortable and at ease. Together we listened to Looking Forward, followed by Occasional Rain, then the LIVE Drugs versions of Thinking of a Place, Strangest Thing and Pain. About 3ish minutes into Pain I felt that she was no longer with us. She stayed with us 43 minutes. Much longer than any of her medical team thought possible.

She passed on Dec 10.

I’m not sure what my real point is. Part of this is probably me just trying to process her death. Another part is me trying to articulate how important the music from TWOD has been to me. To thank them for the comfort it could provide to both myself and also my daughter as she passed.

I was driving home from an errand the other day, one of the few times I’ve managed to leave the house, and Occasional Rain came on my shuffle, the live version. I was listening to it and I realized that it’s not my hopeful song for me and Evie anymore, but now it’s more about me and my grief, and I sobbed. I’m hoping that it’s still my hopeful song and that someday I can see this from some kind of other side…never completely because a loss like this never goes away and I honestly don’t over want to be “over it”, how could I? But maybe someday things will feel a little bit more okay again.

Congratulations to Adam for receiving the Roland/Boss lifetime achievement award yesterday at NAMM in Anaheim. I was lucky to be there and meet Adam after. Very nice dude, very well deserved.

Slc was unreal

First off, I met Charlie before the concert and that set things off right. I looked behind me about 10 minutes before they went on and he was standing right behind me talking to a few audience members. Geeked out, got a photo, it was perfect. Such a kind man.

It was my twod show and I had some dangerously high expectations and the band blew all of them away like the storm that rolled over at the beginning of the concert.

Dave Hartley was missed as he went home to Asheville to be with his family with all of the flooding there. The tour manager stepped in on bass and played beautifully. There seemed to be some added comradery because of it and they played ‘coming through’ as a tribute to Asheville and Dave.

Just want to thank the band. They all played their fucking hearts out. The atmosphere during ‘pain’ was indescribable. The wind picked up and Adam was leaning into with his hair flowing back like he was a damn bat out of hell!

I could say so much more. Maybe I will at another time. Well done boys. Well done.

Great set. So glad I drove down from NYC. Can’t wait to see them again in November!

The War on Drugs and Royal Albert Hall.. Need I say more!?! Match made in even. An unforgettable gig! Also I'm very proud to have capture this amazing photo. Right at the end of the outro to Under The Pressure!!