Well, my ears are still ringing.

That's what I get for standing in front of that big speaker for about 3 1/2 hours. The lead up band was amazing. Four Black guys from south Florida named The Lee Boys. After they blew the lid off the place with several funky, bluesy instrumental tunes, I went over and got their CD and t-shirt. Turns out they're a Gospel/Blues band. So far the CD doesn't do justice to what I heard tonight, but I haven't listened to it all yet.

I once fell for a band at Terlingua that played a killer live show there. I went ahead and got there CD, and then found out to my displeasure that their music wasn't as good in the can as it was live. Then again, the last time I saw the Crowes in Austin in '95, their lead up band was Government Mule. I'd never heard of them before, but I got their CD, and I've loved it and them ever since. Guess it's a crap shoot.

I snuck my camera into The Back Yard successfully, but every one of the shots I took came out blurred. It really pisses me off. I used to be able to take damned good shots free hand with my old Olympus Stylus, conventional camera. I'd slap 800 speed film, in that thing, turn the flash off, and I'd come home with great off-the-cuff shots from places like Hong Kong, showing the lights of the city from the water at night. But this piece of Panasonic digital crap is drivin' me nits. It's not like I've developed some sort of palsy! It's even got a motion dampener. Here are the closest things approaching decent shots.

I was standing in the crowd about ten to twenty feet in front of the stage, and had nothing to lean up against or prop the thing up on. I guess I should have moved back to the wall and tried back there, but I was enjoying the close up view, and the feel of the vibrations from the speakers. This kid standing next to me had some sort of little camera that he'd snuck in, and was taking amazing shots. He'd just point and shoot, and as soon as he hit the button it would capture a great shot, some even in black and white. Mine seems to take forever to take the shot after I press the button. Anyway, it's very frustrating, and makes me want to toss this thing against a wall and go on the web and get another old fashioned Stylus. Don't even ask me about the phone pictures. Useless!

Anyway, the concert was great. They played long blistering renditions of my favorites like Wiser Time and Thorn In My Pride, as well as lots of other stuff from their excellent recent CD, The Lost Crowes. Thing is, they had the speakers cranked up way too loud, and should have allowed for a more subtle, if still satisfyingly loud performance. But then again, I don't think I've ever been to a rock concert that didn't leave my ears ringing. I don't know why they feel they have to do it that way, but it doesn't make the music sound better. I mean, there's loud... like when you're getting a ticket because it's so friggin' loud (the way I like it in the car), and then there's WAY too friggin' loud, where you can't really hear the different instruments and the singer clearly. I still loved it though, and would go back again any time.

Well, It's waaaaayyyy past my bed time. Maybe my ears will stop ringing by the time I have to go to school in the morning. Cheers.