I hadnt been to a big stadium concert in awhile before attending the Billy Joel show at Lambeau on Saturday night and what struck me was how good it sounded and looked. The light and multi-media show was fantastic but that's not what makes a show for me. The sound is the thing. And whoever was in charge of that hit a home run (or since we were at Lambeau”Threw a TD). I am blown away by how good this show sounded in a big outdoor venue. Joel's voice has held up remarkably well over the years and he has surrounded himself with band of crack musicians that all get their moments to shine. The drums, horns, guitars and keyboards were mixed perfectly and Joel's piano shined through. Top notch! Now, How bout that set list? As he said, we can't play them all but he certainly hit most of them. Hearing not only the hits but tasty numbers like Zanzibar, Vienna and All For Leyna was great. Even the covers he threw in worked although I'll take their version of “A Day in The Life” over “Highway To Hell” anyday. Even being jammed in like sardines in seats that were too small couldnt take away from the enjoyment…plus the rain held off as well…although Joel was battling a swarm of bugs on stage…his brandishing of a fly-swatter was strangely amusing.
It seemed from social media that I knew alot of folks that were at the show…and yet didn't run into any of them. WIFC morning guru Dave Kallaway and his wife Elaine were at the show with us along with old friends Myles and Kathy Kyler and I'm sure took much better pictures than me. He'll probably post alot of them.
The Brewers got a complete game from Jimmy Nelson on Sunday…I watched most of that and he was dealing. Craig Counsell, with a depleted bullpen, let him go out for the ninth and he rewarded his manager by getting it done. Once again, all of the Brewers runs in the game have come by home run…I think its the last 15 that have come that way. And here is your interesting piece of Brewer trivia for the day from reporter Adam McCalvey…Manny Pina has now homered on both Mothers Day and Fathers Day…the last Brewer to do that?…Ben Ogilve did it twice in 1978 and 1982.
He did what?…Colorado Rockie Nolan Arenado needed a home run in his final at-bat to complete the cycle…he got it…and, oh yeah, it was a walk-off game winner.
The wind finally blew at Erin Hills on Sunday. But Brooks Koepka was able to battle through it and shoot a five-under 67 to finish 16 under par. His four round score tied the US Open record. With rain and no wind the course was a pussycat for alot of these guys and will certainly have to be toughened up before they host the Open again….16 under is not what is expected at a US Open.
You wonder who I mean by the right-wing squawk machine? Former Congressman Joe Walsh who nows host a talk-radio program, tweeted this last week “Screw talks of 'bipartisanship'. This country is at war with itself. Choose your side and choose it now. Grab your musket and get ready.” Yes, by all means Mr. Walsh, lets advocate for violence. I know that talk radio hosts will say outrageous things to pander to their more radical listeners so I shouldn't be surprised by this. But it's still obnoxious.
Actor Stephen Furst died over the weekend at the age of 63. Some may remember him from Babylon 5 or St. Elsewhere…others from his voice work on Disney animated films like the The Little Mermaid or Timon & Puumba…but of course most of us will remember him for his debut as Delta House pledge Kent Dorfman aka “Flounder” in the classic Animal House
Songs Of The Day-Synchronicity 1 & 2-Police (1983) title tracks from their fifth and final album. The band was imploding as this was recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat. Sting and Stewart Copeland recording in seperate rooms. Despite the discord, the album was a smash going to #1 and winning three Grammys. The title is based on a book from Arthur Koestler called “The Roots Of Coincidence”…Sting was a big fan of his work.
