Friday, May 31, 2013

Boston Strong Concert Wraps Mays Month of Music

Almost every single artist listed on this concert promo picture showed up last night at the Boston Garden to celebrate a city as diverse and amazing as this lineup. This morning my friend Keith (of Williams Street fame) called to give me a recap of the Boston Strong concert held last night to benefit the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. I was psyched to hear all about it.

How much awesomeness can one person fit into a ten minute phone call? A lot.

All I know is that he ended the call saying “I’ve seen everyone and this was by far the best fucking concert I’ve ever been to in my life.” And for a guy who has probably seen everyone live, that’s sure saying a lot.

He said that Boston (the band) opened the show and then the surprises really began.

I’m a former Blockhead, this isn’t a secret or anything but because of my former obsessive love of all things New Kids on the Block, Keith sent me a text last night to say that in my honor he’d rock out to the now-man band. I thought that was a pretty sweet gesture, of course I also thought he was full of crap. Well this morning he was adamant saying that the band actually won him over with their live performance in their Bruins jerseys and with their fun vibe.

I said, see, that’s why I used to love them!

So then Keith says that the Dropkick Murphys end up out on stage with the New Kids. Um, I’m sorry but holy awesome!!! When will that ever happen again? Never. The answer you’re looking for is never. It isn’t like those two bands have anything in common other than the city they call home. The likelihood they would grace a stage together again in this lifetime is none to zilch.

But they weren’t the only crazy fun pairing of the night. NKOTB also rocked out with Boyz II Men, Doug Flutie and Tedy Bruschi talked to the crowd (OMG that’s like football nirvana thank you very much!) alongside Julian Edelman and freaking Boomer (Chris Berman), Keith pointed out that James Taylor and Carole King were the second to last act of the night. No shock that Aerosmith closed the show. What is kind of shocking is that just about everyone from the night came out to close the show with them.

Dane Cook, Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffet, Extreme, and New Kids on the Block all on the same stage at the same time? Seriously how surreal would that be? I can’t even fathom it. And my friend was there to see it all happen. Lucky bastard.

Although I suppose running into Dane Cook at Nicola Pizza in Arlington a couple days before the show would've been just as exciting.


But probably not nearly as likely to turn my friend into a (dare I say) fan (?) of NKOTB.

Ok, to be fair he will probably never do anything like this 

(in my defense it was Keith who forced me to wear the jacket on my wedding day)

But just hearing him say how much he enjoyed the whole show made me smile. I was living vicariously through you last night my friend and I’m so glad you had such a great time.

But as a side note, Keith, I still think you should’ve gotten her number…

May’s Month of Music
Every Boston Entertainer – And then Some!
Some info was gleaned from boston.com but I can no longer access the website without registering for updates so I’m sorry that I can’t provide a link to the story. I didn’t use any quotes though, just looked at photos to see who was with who. All photos on this post are either mine or from Keith with permission.

12 comments:

JudisJems said...

How awesome! He is one lucky guy to have been at that show - good does come from the bad, doesn't it?
Great post, Jenn.
Love, Mum

Unknown said...

Wow, lucky Keith. I watched what I could on Live Stream, but it was not the greatest stream and certainly nothing like being there!

Thanks for this super post Jenn!

Almost Precious said...

Sounds like one super stellar concert. The only thing missing was you in the audience. :)

Suldog said...

The live streaming was all sorts of f***ed up, so I didn't see it. I'll catch selected bits via You Tube, I'm sure. In any case, it was a great effort by all involved, and another reason to be proud to have grown up in Dorchester.

Launna said...

Wow that sounds like an amazing concert... quite a few of my favorites were there...

I really need to attend a concert... it's on my bucket list. It just never happened for me... it will though:)

Jak said...

Wow that sounds like a freakin' epic concert. When you said Dropkick Murphys with NKOTB I almost didn't believe you.

It's pretty amazing so many artists were able to get together for the event. I imagine it was pretty crazy when everyone came out to close the show with Aerosmith!

That is a great picture... and if you weren't still a lover of them it would likely be a good blackmail pic :-)

Congrats on your personal May Challenge. I know I'm behind, but chugging along. Took a week off and trying to get back to it!

Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink

Jenn Flynn-Shon said...

Yeah it does and it sounded amazing!
Thanks xoxo

Jenn Flynn-Shon said...

I heard that from several people that the stream was bad. I didn't even know they had one. Wish it was promoted better! Thanks for reading it!

Jenn Flynn-Shon said...

:-D

Jenn Flynn-Shon said...

Yeah the 3 acts I would've wanted to see the most had...um...issues. Dane didn't let them film his set because it's his new act, Godsmack didn't go after all (lame), and NKOTB, well I've seen them back in their prime. Prime fame days I mean, clearly they're in their "prime" now. heehee Regardless it sounded like the city loved that the rest came together for their show of support. I'm always going to be Boston Proud!

Jenn Flynn-Shon said...

You'll get there someday, especially if its on your bucket list. A very worthwhile experience for sure!

Jenn Flynn-Shon said...

Right? I mean those 2 acts sharing a stage is like stepping into a twilight zone alternate universe or something. But it happened. Crazy!

There were only a few acts involved who don't hail from Boston too. Pretty rad way to use their fame for a good cause :-)

Well I wouldn't say I'm a "lover" of NKOTB but they are still a guilty pleasure of sorts!