When folks talk to me about personal taste in music, book authors, sports, and travel spots I am quick to point out that we can’t love it all. My personal testimony that I bring up in this realm is that I just plain don’t like strawberry ice cream. I love strawberries. They are a part of my youth. So is Jay C brand Neapolitan my Mom bought at the Jay C in Brownstown when I was a kid and I wouldn’t put a spoon in that strawberry section on the left unless my life depended on it. It has worked out so far.
On this past Saturday night, my dear wife, Carrie, and I were in St. Louis to see a music concert featuring the group Train and Daryl Hall and John Oates.
In this photo, Hall and Oates are joined by Pat Monahan of Train as they sing the song they wrote and recorded called Philly Forget Me Not. It is a catchy tune.
Before the concert, I told Carrie when I think about Hall and Oates the first thing that comes to mind is being in the basement of the house I grew up in on Jackson Street in Brownstown. I sat on an old couch in the unfinished basement we had. There was a silver JC Penney mono radio that sat on the freezer bringing in 1010 WCSI in Columbus. There I heard Casey Kasem introduce Hall and Oates hit Rich Girl on American Top Forty in 1977. It is still palpable in my memory. And before Daryl Hall and John Oates took the stage, on a screen was a barrage of likenesses of old 45s representing the hits they have had. And the first voice to be heard before they took the stage was old recorded footage of Casey Kasem on AT 40. I smiled. It was nice. I had it.
The concert was at the Scottrade Center. There were at least 12,000 folk there. The upper deck of the place was covered. Not far from the venue is the old Union Station railroad terminal. I thought that was fitting as Train took the stage.
The beach balls always come out during Save Me San Francisco.
As usual Train was great. It is a high energy show that is one song after another and they go quick. They don’t take time to listen to the applause. They start singing another one.
Drops of Jupiter brought a tear to my eye as I knew it would. I explained that in the last post. To me Train brings a similar vibe to the show like that I get from The Moody Blues. It is positive. It is optimistic. It is upbeat. It is meaningful and full of love. Drops of Jupiter is Train’s Nights in White Satin. I am so glad my dear Carrie said you need to give this group a listen.
I think they are great.
When they left the stage that is where the show’s greatness ended for me.
I appreciate Hall and Oates. Their longevity and staying power in a business that is quick to give up on artists who started after 1995 is noted. And I don’t regret seeing them and staying to hear them. Their backdrop effects were the best of ANY concert I have ever seen. That was special. Hearing songs I heard on the radio all my life is a cool thing too. But I never bought a Hall and Oates record. I have quite the music shelf. Hall and Oates aren’t to be found. No offense guys. I don’t eat strawberry ice cream either.
Hall and Oates leaving the stage.
In the Moody Blues irony department, I have a ticket stub that says Hall and Oates were to open for The Moody Blues at Timberwolf Amphitheater at Kings Island in 1991. They did not. A band called Neverland did. Like their name, I never heard from them again. So, 27 years later I finally catch up with Hall and Oates.
And I am glad Train was there.
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson