In September 2008, during Hurricane Hanna, we had to cover our leaking roof with a tarp. Faced with the prospect of putting a pricey new roof on a 70 year old house with bad plumbing, no closet space, tiny bathrooms, and needing new floors, my husband and I decided to knock the whole mess down and build a new house.
We didn't have any idea what we were getting into, and no idea how to go about getting into it. As it happened, a neighbor had recently constructed a modular home on our street. After a walk through his place, we decided to go the modular route, rather than build what I've since learned is called a "stick built".
The company that made my neighbor's house, and eventually ours, is called North American Housing Corp. They sent us a catalog, and a disc, with hundreds of floor plans, and the names of a couple of builders to talk to. As mind boggling as it was choosing a floor plan, it was probably even more important to choose the right builder for us. The builder we used is Bob Franz, who heads up Bob Franz Construction, of Sterling, VA. Bob Franz Construction is Bob Franz and 1 or 2 day workers.
This isn't really about the house, which is lovely, but about the choosing the builder, so I will try to stay on topic. We found nothing online about either of the builders whose names we were given, so we had nothing to go on. I will share some things I have learned by experience, in no particular order of importance.
1. If your builder isn't on time for your 1st appointment, and doesn't call until he's 40 minutes late to let you know why, take it as an omen for how he'll respect your time throughout the project. This is a big red flag.
2. Get a builder who listens to what you are saying. If he counters every desire you express with how he did it better somewhere else, watch to make sure he isn't going to go ahead and do it his way. Here are just a few examples, though I have a dozen more...the floor plan for our house showed a porch that extended only partway across the front of the house, from its center, ending before the dining room. I decided I wanted the porch to extend the full length of the dining room, as well. The builder thought it would be too dark. When the plans were drawn up, I noticed the porch ended before the dining room. I had to remind him I wanted a full porch, and the plans had to be modified. After the porch was built, the builder put the railings up at varying distances from each other. I told him I wanted them equidistant; that it looked peculiar with a random short section between railings. He insisted it couldn't be done, and he didn't do it. I told him the azaleas I wanted planted should be a riotous orgy of bold color, reds, purples, hot pinks, all mixed up. Instead, in front of my porch, he was preparing to plant 6 - white, peach, peach, peach, peach, white. And in front of the windows, side by side, 4 pink ones. Spring is here now, and in front of my porch with the odd railings, I do NOT have a riotous orgy of color. While some of the azaleas are blooming, there are several still green, just beginning to bud. It appears they won't even bloom together and I will be buying more and planting them myself.
One more example of needing your builder to listen - we have a generator for those far too frequent times the power goes out in our area. We wanted the office on the generator, for obvious reasons. The office was left off, and the electricians had to be called back out. FOOTNOTE TO THIS!!! Yesterday we had the generator serviced, oil changed, all that...and guess what? Turns out the generator was not even hooked up. This is a reflection on not only the builder, but the electricians, and the inspectors! Pretty amazing, and another example that in the end, you're on your own. If you have any doubts about your builder, watch him like a hawk.
3. During the construction phase, if your builder doesn't return your calls or emails in a short time period, worry. He is likely putting other jobs ahead of yours and doesn't want to have to explain that to you.
4. Make an agreement UP FRONT for your builder to give you a financial accounting of his expenditures. In writing. Don't take your builder's verbal word for it that "there's plenty of money left." At the end of our job, Bob Franz handed us a HUGE bill for expenses he didn't have permission to incur, beyond what we had agreed to pay him. If you have an exact accounting, you can exercise your right to bypass upgrades or extra features if you know there isn't money for them. This was a very expensive lesson we learned!
5. Put a completion clause in your contract. Your builder's delays are not costing HIM money. It's you who will be paying double rent, double bills, bank extensions, etc. Our initial move-in date was June 1. We actually finally got our occupancy permit on November 3.
6. Excuses - If your builder makes excuses rather than taking responsibility, you will find yourself paying him twice for the same work - once to do it, and again to correct it.
7. Be certain your builder knows the rules and codes of YOUR county or city. Otherwise, you'll be paying for him to be educated as he makes mistake after mistake. Our builder, Bob Franz, knew a lot about how they do it in HIS county...but, we're in OUR county, with a whole other set of codes.
8. Make sure you and your spouse agree on the builder. If not, the builder will learn quickly to play one against the other, and will go over the head of the opposed spouse to the compliant one. This can cause a lot of stress and cost a lot of money.
9. Find out 1st thing if your lender will go along with your builder's draw schedule and methods. If not, you can spend weeks and $ with loan approvals, assessments, and appraisals, only to get to the paper signing and have the bank say, no way. The builder told us TWO banks had let him do it his way, but both banks said, That's not our policy....
10. Watch how your builder treats his employees. Insist on talking to prior clients before hiring him, and ask them about this. If he doesn't have reliable help, or if they don't respect him, it's your work that suffers. Bob Franz had one man helping him for most of our job, and two men for part of it. Midway through, they were no longer there, and another person finished the job.
11. Find out in advance what happens to your job if your builder is incapacitated because of illness or injury. Our builder had a medical issue about the same time the 2 workers disappeared. For 3 weeks, nearly no work was done on our house. Find out who takes over, or does the work simply stop for 3 weeks? This will cost you, not him.
12. Ask for a work schedule, in writing. Once your house is actually being built, if he says something will be done by a certain time, or in a particular order, make him follow through. If he is spending endless days on the same tile job, or one room is taking 3 days to paint, call him on it.
13. Do overs. Keep a list of things done wrong, or sloppily. Make your builder correct these at HIS expense. You have already paid him to do it wrong! Make sure he isn't charging you time and materials again to correct it.
So, those are some of the most important points I can share about choosing a builder. If you want further information or details, feel free to email me, and I will be happy to elaborate.
U2 in concert in DC
We saw the U2 show in DC September 29. It was so, so, so wonderful. Our seats were very good for a stadium show - just a few rows off the field, center of the massive stage set up, on its right side. For football, it would be about the 30 yard line, and they were on the same side where my Redskins season tickets are. I bought these tickets with my U2 membership code while in Ireland in March. Chuck was driving through Limerick, and I was in the passenger seat, madly typing on the laptop, logging in to buy them. Our seat neighbors were quite nice. They came from Baltimore, and the man shared tissue for ear plugs during the opening act, Muse. They may or may not have been good, but they were too loud and the sound was distorted.
The tickets said showtime was 7, but the opening act didn’t start until 7 30. I was afraid they were having the same traffic problems as there were for Sir Paul, and they were stalling…but I think it was just the plan. They played until 8 15. When Bono thanked them later, he said, hard to believe just 3 people make all that noise ;-) Though their sound was dreadfully distorted. U2’s sound was perfect. The set was very cool. The theme seemed to be a spaceship theme, but I thought it looked like a spider with only 4 legs ;-) Under the legs, there were teams of people, 3 on each leg, each manning a huge light. They were strapped in, roller coaster style, on the ground, and the contraption was raised up along the underside of the legs of the set until they were waaaaaay up high. There were people up in the belly of the thing, operating the big 360* screen, which expanded and contracted, like a slinky, as needed. The stage didn’t rotate as I remember reading it would, but there were walkways all around it that all the band used, and 2 bridges that spanned the Red Zone (pit) crowd from the main stage to one of the walkways – and the bridges were periodically moved to span different areas. Any band member might be on a bridge when the bridge passed overhead.
U2 took the stage about 9, after Space Oddity played. Bono started the show by introducing his “cabinet” – He said Larry was the writer of their Constitution, back in high school…Adam was minister of culture, and foreign affairs, which seemed to be an inside joke with the 4 of them. He said Edge is the leader of his free world and he named him President The Edge, and himself he said was Majority Leader, and made mockingly light of suggesting he was “verbal, elegant, and quite well turned out “ ;-)
I read a lot of fan reviews that said the crowd was dull and not engaged. Not so in my section. DC crowds are famously reserved, but most everyone knew every word, and no one ever sat down from the 1st note.
The set list and observations:
Breathe – new album – the 1st 3 were new, and well accepted.
Magnificent - new album - I love this song. It’s infectious in a different way than Vertigo, but it soars in concert.
Get on Your Boots - new album – This is one of those songs that is sort of eh, but takes on its own life when live. Translates into a completely other song.
Mysterious Ways – Great concert song with the first of many opportunities for crowd participation.
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Just amazing. Bono sang the first line, and the crowd sang the rest of the 1st verse, through the chorus. Then he turned it back over to us at the end. The last show I saw was a crowd of 20,000 singing it at Verizon Center. Last night was 80,000, and the effect was on a par with as many singing Hey Jude last month. Magic.
Elevation – Near frenzy response, and another sing along song.
Your Blue Room – I wasn’t really familiar with this song. Apparently it was an unusual addition to the setlist.
Beautiful Day – Bono dedicated this to Eunice Shriver..there was a murmur of appreciation.
New Year's Day – and this to Teddy, giving him much of the credit for “a peaceful Ireland.” The place went wild.
Stuck In A Moment – This was a religious experience for me. It was just Bono and Edge, on acoustic guitar. Unplugged. I loved how they just lounged against each other, back to back. I’m so glad this was on youtube. I’ll add it to my favorites, and I will probably record it for my ipod.
Unforgettable Fire – I have always liked this, and its ethereal feeling was compounded by the weird set.
City of Blinding Lights – Bono pulled a kid out of the audience, a boy about 8 or 9, and asked him to take a walk with him. He said I’m looking for the face that I used to have…at one point, he led the child to a camera (there were several, following every move to broadcast up on the jumbo screen above) and put his face right next to this lovely wide eyed child’s…both just staring out for a minute. It sounds weird, but it was touching. He put his glasses on the kid. This is a good song, but I never paid much attention to it until I heard it live last time. It’s mighty in concert.
Vertigo – Bono said he was going to teach us a Spanish lesson Irish style, and before a note was played, the place went nuts. This may be the best concert song ever.
I'll Go Crazy – Remix - new album – Larry came down from the drums with a bongo (no idea what the real name of the drum is) around his neck, and drove this song while walking along the walkway. He has a huge fanbase on his own. He even smiled a couple of times ;-) A lot of fans really weren’t pleased with the remix.
Sunday Bloody Sunday – This started with some reference to Iran, but the stage and crowd near the stage ended up bathed in Kelly green light. In the crowd right in front of the stage was a Sikh with an American flag. Bono motioned he wanted the flag, which the guy tossed him. He was so careful to catch it respectfully. Then he indicated he wanted the guy to come up. He invited the guy to sing the last verse with him, then they hugged like long lost BFFs.
MLK – He called this an Irish lullaby.
Walk On – This was dedicated to the woman in Myanmar who’s been under house arrest forever. Some people had masks of her face to hold up and about 50 or 60 young volunteers came out on stage wearing them.
One – A video from the charming and adorable Desmond Tutu introduced this. He talked about how the same people who worked for civil rights in the US ended apartheid in S Africa, and violence in Ireland, and a litany of other ills in the world. He said, twinkly eyed, I see those same people when I look around this place tonight! And he said he, like Bono, believes that in our lifetime poverty on this planet can be ended.
Where The Streets Have No Name-Segued right into this, then they left the stage and waited for us to raise our phones as we once raised lighters, to call them back.
Ultraviolet – This song is sort of annoying ;-) Bono swung from a round red mic hanging from the spider like set thingy, and his jacket shot red laser lights all around. I think all the red agitated me. He did this one on SNL with all the red last weekend.
With or Without You – As always, stunning.
Moment of Surrender- new album – I LOVE this song. It was a great way to end the show.
Preaching was minimal, really, but all positive, all grateful for the good and hopeful for better. The powerful of Washington were there, and he dropped names - Speaker of the House, other politicians, activists, even a Catholic Cardinal, Cardinal McCarrick. He thanked the halls of power for opening doors to his lowly self and not laughing him out of town, and while he talked, a little scroll of accomplishments ran on the screen. He respected both sides, and asked that we all take a minute to be grateful for the idea that is America, asking that God bless America. He didn’t dwell, and never said a single negative thing. He seems endlessly in awe of DC and what it is supposed to represent. He seems to believe we have it in our power to do things right, bless his heart.
Odd thing – there were NO usher type people, but I never saw any indication of trouble over seats, no misbehavior. Bono referred to the Nation-State that is U2. Seems it polices itself nicely!
I wish I had made plans to go to more shows on this tour. I LOVE this band!
The tickets said showtime was 7, but the opening act didn’t start until 7 30. I was afraid they were having the same traffic problems as there were for Sir Paul, and they were stalling…but I think it was just the plan. They played until 8 15. When Bono thanked them later, he said, hard to believe just 3 people make all that noise ;-) Though their sound was dreadfully distorted. U2’s sound was perfect. The set was very cool. The theme seemed to be a spaceship theme, but I thought it looked like a spider with only 4 legs ;-) Under the legs, there were teams of people, 3 on each leg, each manning a huge light. They were strapped in, roller coaster style, on the ground, and the contraption was raised up along the underside of the legs of the set until they were waaaaaay up high. There were people up in the belly of the thing, operating the big 360* screen, which expanded and contracted, like a slinky, as needed. The stage didn’t rotate as I remember reading it would, but there were walkways all around it that all the band used, and 2 bridges that spanned the Red Zone (pit) crowd from the main stage to one of the walkways – and the bridges were periodically moved to span different areas. Any band member might be on a bridge when the bridge passed overhead.
U2 took the stage about 9, after Space Oddity played. Bono started the show by introducing his “cabinet” – He said Larry was the writer of their Constitution, back in high school…Adam was minister of culture, and foreign affairs, which seemed to be an inside joke with the 4 of them. He said Edge is the leader of his free world and he named him President The Edge, and himself he said was Majority Leader, and made mockingly light of suggesting he was “verbal, elegant, and quite well turned out “ ;-)
I read a lot of fan reviews that said the crowd was dull and not engaged. Not so in my section. DC crowds are famously reserved, but most everyone knew every word, and no one ever sat down from the 1st note.
The set list and observations:
Breathe – new album – the 1st 3 were new, and well accepted.
Magnificent - new album - I love this song. It’s infectious in a different way than Vertigo, but it soars in concert.
Get on Your Boots - new album – This is one of those songs that is sort of eh, but takes on its own life when live. Translates into a completely other song.
Mysterious Ways – Great concert song with the first of many opportunities for crowd participation.
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Just amazing. Bono sang the first line, and the crowd sang the rest of the 1st verse, through the chorus. Then he turned it back over to us at the end. The last show I saw was a crowd of 20,000 singing it at Verizon Center. Last night was 80,000, and the effect was on a par with as many singing Hey Jude last month. Magic.
Elevation – Near frenzy response, and another sing along song.
Your Blue Room – I wasn’t really familiar with this song. Apparently it was an unusual addition to the setlist.
Beautiful Day – Bono dedicated this to Eunice Shriver..there was a murmur of appreciation.
New Year's Day – and this to Teddy, giving him much of the credit for “a peaceful Ireland.” The place went wild.
Stuck In A Moment – This was a religious experience for me. It was just Bono and Edge, on acoustic guitar. Unplugged. I loved how they just lounged against each other, back to back. I’m so glad this was on youtube. I’ll add it to my favorites, and I will probably record it for my ipod.
Unforgettable Fire – I have always liked this, and its ethereal feeling was compounded by the weird set.
City of Blinding Lights – Bono pulled a kid out of the audience, a boy about 8 or 9, and asked him to take a walk with him. He said I’m looking for the face that I used to have…at one point, he led the child to a camera (there were several, following every move to broadcast up on the jumbo screen above) and put his face right next to this lovely wide eyed child’s…both just staring out for a minute. It sounds weird, but it was touching. He put his glasses on the kid. This is a good song, but I never paid much attention to it until I heard it live last time. It’s mighty in concert.
Vertigo – Bono said he was going to teach us a Spanish lesson Irish style, and before a note was played, the place went nuts. This may be the best concert song ever.
I'll Go Crazy – Remix - new album – Larry came down from the drums with a bongo (no idea what the real name of the drum is) around his neck, and drove this song while walking along the walkway. He has a huge fanbase on his own. He even smiled a couple of times ;-) A lot of fans really weren’t pleased with the remix.
Sunday Bloody Sunday – This started with some reference to Iran, but the stage and crowd near the stage ended up bathed in Kelly green light. In the crowd right in front of the stage was a Sikh with an American flag. Bono motioned he wanted the flag, which the guy tossed him. He was so careful to catch it respectfully. Then he indicated he wanted the guy to come up. He invited the guy to sing the last verse with him, then they hugged like long lost BFFs.
MLK – He called this an Irish lullaby.
Walk On – This was dedicated to the woman in Myanmar who’s been under house arrest forever. Some people had masks of her face to hold up and about 50 or 60 young volunteers came out on stage wearing them.
One – A video from the charming and adorable Desmond Tutu introduced this. He talked about how the same people who worked for civil rights in the US ended apartheid in S Africa, and violence in Ireland, and a litany of other ills in the world. He said, twinkly eyed, I see those same people when I look around this place tonight! And he said he, like Bono, believes that in our lifetime poverty on this planet can be ended.
Where The Streets Have No Name-Segued right into this, then they left the stage and waited for us to raise our phones as we once raised lighters, to call them back.
Ultraviolet – This song is sort of annoying ;-) Bono swung from a round red mic hanging from the spider like set thingy, and his jacket shot red laser lights all around. I think all the red agitated me. He did this one on SNL with all the red last weekend.
With or Without You – As always, stunning.
Moment of Surrender- new album – I LOVE this song. It was a great way to end the show.
Preaching was minimal, really, but all positive, all grateful for the good and hopeful for better. The powerful of Washington were there, and he dropped names - Speaker of the House, other politicians, activists, even a Catholic Cardinal, Cardinal McCarrick. He thanked the halls of power for opening doors to his lowly self and not laughing him out of town, and while he talked, a little scroll of accomplishments ran on the screen. He respected both sides, and asked that we all take a minute to be grateful for the idea that is America, asking that God bless America. He didn’t dwell, and never said a single negative thing. He seems endlessly in awe of DC and what it is supposed to represent. He seems to believe we have it in our power to do things right, bless his heart.
Odd thing – there were NO usher type people, but I never saw any indication of trouble over seats, no misbehavior. Bono referred to the Nation-State that is U2. Seems it polices itself nicely!
I wish I had made plans to go to more shows on this tour. I LOVE this band!
Sir Paul at FedEX Field
Sir Paul played until a few minutes before midnight. For some reason we in the stadium were never told, he never came out until 9 10, even though tickets stated starting time at 7 30. They brought out a mind-numbing duo of techno DJs called Thievery Corporation at 7 45, and they “played” – put techno CDs on and stood and bopped with headphones around their necks, while drinking something and nodding to each other how cool they were. One had on a leisure suit. They finally sent them off at 8 15 or so, and all the stage change required was their table be moved, so we figured Sir Paul by 8 30. By 9, people were chanting WE WANT PAUL, and rumors were flying that something was wrong.
I never did hear what happened, except that on the way home, the traffic guy on the radio said the concert was just letting out, having started and hour and 40 minutes late, “and those of you who were trying to get there know why.” But he didn’t say! People coming in were saying traffic was hosed up and it was taking 2 hours to get into the lot. Is THAT why they held up the show – because some people couldn’t be bothered to leave in order to get there on time? Lots of people were in their seats at 6 45. 60,000 others couldn’t manage? And on game days, we have 92,000 get there pretty much on time with no trouble.
But – the concert…once he came out, WOW! His voice hasn’t lost anything. He rocked. He looked great, slim and energetic, and his hair was blowing in the very welcome breeze all night. He still has a nice head full of it. The sound was great. As loud as it was (and it was loud) we weren’t left with the fuzzy ears after. He has a crack band, and they all have a lot of personality on stage. They aren’t just the backup band. I just love the drummer. He looks like a bouncer or a prison gang leader or maybe a wrestler ;-) But he comes off like a big teddy bear and he plays divinely and has a nice voice.
There were maybe only 2 songs I didn’t know every word to, and they were off the new album. I was never a real big Wings fan, but I knew all the Wings stuff he did, and he did all the ones I liked best. Here is the setlist:
Drive My Car
Jet
Only Mama Knows
Flaming Pie
Got To Get You In To My Life
Let Me Roll It
Foxy Lady (instrumental)
Highway
The Long and Winding Road
My Love (dedicated to Linda)
Blackbird
Michelle (for Mrs Obama)
Here Today (dedicated to John)
Dance Tonight
Calico Skies
Mrs Vanderbilt
Eleanor Rigby
Sing the Changes
Band on the Run
Back in the U.S.S.R.
I'm Down
Something (for George, on a ukulele George gave him)
I've Got a Feeling
Paperback Writer
A Day in the Life / Give Peace A Chance
Let It Be
Live and Let Die (fireworks)
Hey Jude (singalong - now just the boys! now just the girls!now just the people in the back!)
1st Encore
Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There (STILL hits those high notes!!!)
2nd Encore
Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Get Back
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
The End
Paul was quickly forgiven for his tardiness, and he didn’t shortchange us. There was no intermission in the 2 hour and 40 minute show. He was chatty and told stories and dropped names… He dedicated Michelle to Mrs Obama. He talked about Jimi, and his friends John and George, he explained certain things about songs, and of course, gave the crowd ample time to adore him. There was a lot of video behind the band, and much of it Beatle history.
The only big complaint I have is the crowd. The rest of them may have been great, but the people in my section should not be let out unsupervised. Something I have never seen before, I saw directly in front of me, and to my left. These people were taking endless phone video, and then they’d sit in their seats and WATCH on the phone screen what they had already recorded!!! Completely ignoring whatever was going on on the stage for the next 30 seconds or a minute…then they’d leap up, record another segment, sit and watch it…I do NOT get this.
The late start also gave time for more beer to flow. The couple to my left came and went continually to the bathrooms and to buy more beer during the show, and each time, the woman pushed and shoved her way past the entire line, knocking people into their seats. The man was steadier on his feet, as he trampled mine. They also hailed the beer seller every time he came, whether they had beer already, or not, anticipating needing more. The row of fans had to pass money to the seller, and beer to the drinkers, interrupting the show. We tried ignoring them, and they would tap us, with money in hand. It was either that, or they’d barge out of the row to get it. They said they had hired a limo so they could get plastered. The woman warbled along to several songs she couldn’t sing the words to, so she just made a lot of loud noise instead of shutting up and letting people listen. The couple to my husband's right carried on drunken conversation through the entire show. The woman kept disappearing, and when she reappeared, she would loudly recount every detail of whatever had happened while she was gone, and he would respond. They also had video going the whole time. I managed to have a good time in spite of them, but I’m certain the place was full of such types. They couldn’t all be in my section. Concert manners need work. There was a very nice family with 2 boys about 9 or 10 behind us who had come from Mexico for the show. We spent a lot of the pre-show time chatting with them.
There were impressive fireworks during Live and Let Die…and huge flames shooting from the stage that cast so much heat we felt the blast of it in row 13. And at the end, right before the Sgt Pepper reprise and The End, he said comes a time when inevitably, we have to go home…and that coincides, oddly enough, with the time YOU have to go home. After 2 encores of 8 songs, he knows he will still be called back, so he caused a distraction. Right at the end of The End, they all came out and bowed and waved, and as they disappeared off stage, confetti started shooting up out of the stage into the sky and falling on us all. Every surface was covered, and like little kids, we all forgot about him, and played in the confetti. Hehe…smart man.
So, that’s that!
I never did hear what happened, except that on the way home, the traffic guy on the radio said the concert was just letting out, having started and hour and 40 minutes late, “and those of you who were trying to get there know why.” But he didn’t say! People coming in were saying traffic was hosed up and it was taking 2 hours to get into the lot. Is THAT why they held up the show – because some people couldn’t be bothered to leave in order to get there on time? Lots of people were in their seats at 6 45. 60,000 others couldn’t manage? And on game days, we have 92,000 get there pretty much on time with no trouble.
But – the concert…once he came out, WOW! His voice hasn’t lost anything. He rocked. He looked great, slim and energetic, and his hair was blowing in the very welcome breeze all night. He still has a nice head full of it. The sound was great. As loud as it was (and it was loud) we weren’t left with the fuzzy ears after. He has a crack band, and they all have a lot of personality on stage. They aren’t just the backup band. I just love the drummer. He looks like a bouncer or a prison gang leader or maybe a wrestler ;-) But he comes off like a big teddy bear and he plays divinely and has a nice voice.
There were maybe only 2 songs I didn’t know every word to, and they were off the new album. I was never a real big Wings fan, but I knew all the Wings stuff he did, and he did all the ones I liked best. Here is the setlist:
Drive My Car
Jet
Only Mama Knows
Flaming Pie
Got To Get You In To My Life
Let Me Roll It
Foxy Lady (instrumental)
Highway
The Long and Winding Road
My Love (dedicated to Linda)
Blackbird
Michelle (for Mrs Obama)
Here Today (dedicated to John)
Dance Tonight
Calico Skies
Mrs Vanderbilt
Eleanor Rigby
Sing the Changes
Band on the Run
Back in the U.S.S.R.
I'm Down
Something (for George, on a ukulele George gave him)
I've Got a Feeling
Paperback Writer
A Day in the Life / Give Peace A Chance
Let It Be
Live and Let Die (fireworks)
Hey Jude (singalong - now just the boys! now just the girls!now just the people in the back!)
1st Encore
Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There (STILL hits those high notes!!!)
2nd Encore
Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Get Back
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
The End
Paul was quickly forgiven for his tardiness, and he didn’t shortchange us. There was no intermission in the 2 hour and 40 minute show. He was chatty and told stories and dropped names… He dedicated Michelle to Mrs Obama. He talked about Jimi, and his friends John and George, he explained certain things about songs, and of course, gave the crowd ample time to adore him. There was a lot of video behind the band, and much of it Beatle history.
The only big complaint I have is the crowd. The rest of them may have been great, but the people in my section should not be let out unsupervised. Something I have never seen before, I saw directly in front of me, and to my left. These people were taking endless phone video, and then they’d sit in their seats and WATCH on the phone screen what they had already recorded!!! Completely ignoring whatever was going on on the stage for the next 30 seconds or a minute…then they’d leap up, record another segment, sit and watch it…I do NOT get this.
The late start also gave time for more beer to flow. The couple to my left came and went continually to the bathrooms and to buy more beer during the show, and each time, the woman pushed and shoved her way past the entire line, knocking people into their seats. The man was steadier on his feet, as he trampled mine. They also hailed the beer seller every time he came, whether they had beer already, or not, anticipating needing more. The row of fans had to pass money to the seller, and beer to the drinkers, interrupting the show. We tried ignoring them, and they would tap us, with money in hand. It was either that, or they’d barge out of the row to get it. They said they had hired a limo so they could get plastered. The woman warbled along to several songs she couldn’t sing the words to, so she just made a lot of loud noise instead of shutting up and letting people listen. The couple to my husband's right carried on drunken conversation through the entire show. The woman kept disappearing, and when she reappeared, she would loudly recount every detail of whatever had happened while she was gone, and he would respond. They also had video going the whole time. I managed to have a good time in spite of them, but I’m certain the place was full of such types. They couldn’t all be in my section. Concert manners need work. There was a very nice family with 2 boys about 9 or 10 behind us who had come from Mexico for the show. We spent a lot of the pre-show time chatting with them.
There were impressive fireworks during Live and Let Die…and huge flames shooting from the stage that cast so much heat we felt the blast of it in row 13. And at the end, right before the Sgt Pepper reprise and The End, he said comes a time when inevitably, we have to go home…and that coincides, oddly enough, with the time YOU have to go home. After 2 encores of 8 songs, he knows he will still be called back, so he caused a distraction. Right at the end of The End, they all came out and bowed and waved, and as they disappeared off stage, confetti started shooting up out of the stage into the sky and falling on us all. Every surface was covered, and like little kids, we all forgot about him, and played in the confetti. Hehe…smart man.
So, that’s that!
| Jackson Browne at Wolf Trap | |||
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| I have been pretty unhappy with Jackson Browne for about the last year. In the interest of balance, I thought I'd better post my positive thoughts.... I went to the Wolf Trap show last night, where it was ungodly hot and steamy. I don’t know how the band can function in that heat. Jackson asked the people on the lawn if there was a breeze, because there certainly wasn’t one in the pavilion. Jackson and band didn’t seem to notice they were playing in a tropical swamp. He came out grinning, just about right on time, and he never stopped until 10 44 when the show ended. I couldn’t have been more delighted when he opened the show with I’m Alive. That’s one of my all time favorite albums, and favorite songs. Next was Barricades of Heaven – a sort of dreamy version, with a long fade out (is that the right term?) I wasn’t that surprised to hear I’ll Do Anything, after reading reviews here, but I was really happy he played it. I can’t remember the last time I heard it played live. Next was a rollicking version of Fountain of Sorrow. From the crowd reaction, it was obvious this was the 1st song most of them knew. He introduced Time the Conqueror as from his new album. This one is growing on me. Off of Wonderland got the same treatment as has been reported here – it’s from the 60s, not HIS 60s…I like this song a lot. In the Shape of a Heart was next. I’m always surprised by the evolution of this song, which was once such an…angry song, when done live. I always loved the crashing drum punctuating the chorus lines…Keep it up (BOOM) try so hard (BOOM) and such. It sort of meanders quietly now, more sad than angry, no drum crashes. Too Many Angels was very nice with the 2 girls. They did a nice job with the counter songs. Unlike some who have posted recently, I like The Naked Ride Home. He told us it was a drinking song, and should never be sung alone. I was happy to hear it. Take It Easy – Jackson had some real problems with the notes in this song, and not just the high ones. It was the Eagles version. 18 minute intermission here… Jackson came back and opened the second set with a gorgeous Jamaica Say You Will…just lovely. The 2nd/3rd songs were the Doctor My Eyes/About My Imagination combo. This used to be one of the highlights of any show, for me. I looked forward to the sassy back and forth between Jeff and Jackson. My favorite verse (the cradle to the hearse) as well as the part that used to be between Jeff and Jackson have been turned completely over to the girls. Everyone else seems to like it, but I liked it better with Jackson and Jeff… Followed by Lives in the Balance. I watch Fritz sitting on his little box, and just wait for this one to be over. Going Down to Cuba. Jesse Helms is dead. He was dead before that album ever came out. That line just makes me cringe. Jackson teased us here – he said everywhere he goes, people are calling for Redneck Friend. I was very excited about him playing that, but he didn’t. He just asked if there were any rednecks in VA…apparently there are a good many, from the crowd reaction. He told us we’d be surprised to know there are rednecks in Vermont, and that it’s a rapidly spreading social phenomenon. I think it was here when he talked about it being the first time he’d played Wolf Trap. He asked who was from DC, from MD, and curiously, who was from Alexandria (a VA city near DC.) He also asked what to call us – and settled on Wolf Trappers. That struck him as pretty funny. He played Just Say Yeah instead. This has never felt like a Jackson Browne song to me, but it’s okay. He sat down again at the keyboards, and started to play The Late Show. I hadn’t even dared hope for this, even though a friend assured me he’d really heard it at his show. I LOVE this song so much. And, the CAR DOORS were there! Jackson half rose from his bench, and “slammed” each one. Next was For a Dancer…the girls did a nice job with the overlapping parts. The Pretender was next. I love Fritz’ drums in this song. I wish Jackson hadn’t given the “get it up again” line to the girls. Running on Empty…Always in my top 3 Jackson Browne songs. I never hear it without a whole range of emotions overtaking me. Hearing it live never fails to just overwhelm me. The crowd was finally on its feet, and I think everyone sang on the “I don’t know about anyone but me” line. Jackson left the stage, and returned for the encore. The 1st song was I Am a Patriot. When he sang “I want to be with my family, people who understand me” he opened his arms to the entire crowd. Segue into It’s Your Thing. The final song was The Load Out/Stay combo. Of course, the entire place sang along on this one. During Stay, he said, It’s your turn to sing! And turned up the lights to laugh at us while we sang. The whole band hung around and applauded the audience at the end of the show, instead of just walking off. It was fun. This was the 4th show I’ve seen promoting the new record - the September show in DC, which was technically before the release of the new album, and 2 in March in Europe, and was really disappointed in all 3. It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that this is my least favorite album since Lives in the Balance. I devour anything new Jackson does, but this album just left me cold. That he only played 4 of the new songs, and they were the 4 I find easiest to listen to, was a relief. But his entire stage presence was very different. He seemed to be having a really good time. And so did I! | |||
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