Special Edition: What Time is it?

     So to start this, I have to go back to the beginning. That's a good place to start, OK, so when the album Pocket Full of Kryptonite came out, it was 1991. In 1991 I was 8, and my brother Erik and I went to private school. Now they didn't have bus service, so someone had to drive us. While my dad liked oldies on 94.7 WARW (I believe...hey, I'm not a professional blog yet, I don't have to have ALL my ducks in a row.) When mom drove us though, it was Q107.3 (they later went off the air, and became Mix 107.3. The ones who sponsor the Fairfax fair concerts.) Anyway, one of my favorite songs to come on was Two Princes (when it made it as a single.) Yes, at an early age, after I got out of the New Kids on the Block phase (hey, I was young. It happens... shut up!) I had gotten more into bands like The Beatles, U2, INXS, Genesis and the like. However the Spin Doctors always hit me as just a "cool" band. Almost the epitome of cool. The flow, the meanings (what I could understand of the meanings anyway) of their songs, were just awesome.

     So to present day (I wanted to do that transition as boring as possible. Moving 22 years forward too fast might make a great law suit for you, but trust me... you won't get much.) I always look to see who is playing Fairfax Fair. I have seen the likes of Sugar Ray, The Smithereens, Rick Springfield, Collective Soul, Cheap Trick, and a few others. Now one year Blues Traveler came and I missed them, when I found out the Spin Doctors were coming, I was not going to miss this one. As soon as I heard they were going to be there at 4:30, it was obvious what they were going to open with (and it's my favorite song of theirs, so I am not complaining.) I was pumped, they sounded great, had a fantastic energy to them, and were totally on point (unlike Smash Mouth.) then they did Nice Talking to Me right after which was nice, considering I thought they were going to do something I didn't know. Now one thing I get upset with at concerts (Steve Winwood) is when they only play new stuff. Spin Doctors played a lot of new stuff, and it was great. The trick is to mix it in with the old stuff to keep interest, and Spin Doctors did just the perfect blend of that. The new songs are really unique, without sounding like they sold out. When they did an old song, it was like meeting an old friend again after a long time (either being away from the friend or you were too drunk to remember you saw them recently.) But yes, I suggest seeing them because of the energy, and the full on sound all together. Even with the very talented Eric Schenkman singing, I think that was one of the best performances I have seen, and the tickets were cheap, double positive!

     This is where I would usually end the blog, but there's more! During the concert Chris said they were going to be at the tent and to come say hi. The thing is, you didn't even have to buy anything! Of course that came with the guilt trip of their kids having to eat cardboard... But I digress. I got in line right during the encore because I knew the line was going to be long, because I have met bands (Hootie and the Blowfish, Disturbed, Otep, Strapping Young Lad) before, and as they showed up and I looked back, yup... long line. As I headed up all I really had was a free hat I received from the government that said "Recycle" and had the Fairfax website on it. I asked if they would autograph it, and there was no problem at all. In fact, Chris wrote the band logo on it and said "there, now it's a spin doctors hat!" I asked for a pic, and Eric said "ask the man in the tie. His name is Bob." Yes, I'm a music nerd and knew for a fact that Chris Barron's name isn't Bob. I got the picture and left on cloud 9.

     So for some of the meet and greets, I had to pay $20, Spin Doctors and Hootie and the Blowfish are the 2 I have done that were the nicest and most down to Earth groups I have met. As dad said, they treated their fans like they were human. Anyway, great energy, nice style, and just plain fun. When people were leaving because it was raining, I laughed. I threw my "Spin Doctors" hat in the closet on a top shelf so nothing ruins it, and posted the picture on Facebook (I want to print it out to frame it) and all is well. So until next idea or concert (I will try to post more...) I will see you next time, until then... Keep hitting the HIGH NOTES!
(now where are those damn ducks?)