Monday, March 10, 2008

See the King of Blues live in concert

Note: Seeing B.B. King in concert is actually what gave me the idea to start this. I wasn't planning on adding things I've done already, but I'm including it here because it lets me put something on the crossed-off list. This is reposted from my more regularly updated blog, Notes from Dairy Hell. It was originally posted there on February 28, 2008.

See the King of Blues live in concert

This officially has been crossed off my list of things to do before I die.

Tonight at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, I had the honor and privilege of seeing the legendary B.B. King live in concert. The man might be 82 years old, he might be unable to stand and walk for long periods of time, he might have diabetes, but he can still belt out the blues. His guitar sounds so sweet and pure, the notes drip off the strings like honey. His voice is so strong and powerful that it gives you chills when he really gets into the song. It's even more unbelievable when you realize that, by his own admission, he doesn't know how to play chords and he just improvises his way through everything.

He's quite a storyteller and half the concert is him rambling through long winded stories, making jokes and laughing at himself. His band backs him up beautifully and he often lets them take the lead. It doesn't matter. It's worth the price of admission to hear him talk, sing and play even for the few songs he actually fits in.

To see him play in the 1300 seat Keswick was even more incredible. There isn't a bad seat in the house and the acoustics and sound were tuned perfectly. It was a great show and I still can't believe that I was there.


Crossed Off

The List at the Moment

In no particular order:
  • Visit Tibet
  • Visit the Taj Mahal
  • Visit China
  • Visit Japan
  • Visit Australia and New Zealand
  • Visit Brazil
  • See the house Bob Marley grew up in
  • Kiss the Blarney Stone
  • See Stonehenge
  • See the Northern Lights
  • Fly first class
  • Own a sailboat with Jared
  • Sail to the Caribbean or some destination requiring a multi-day sail
  • Experience zero-gravity weightlessness
  • Visit Napa Valley
  • Skydiving
  • Ocean kayaking
  • Scuba diving
  • Stand up on a surf board
  • Drive across the Continental U.S.
  • Visit all 50 states
  • See the Grand Canyon
  • Learn to drive a stick shift
  • Go back to school
  • Win/Lose big in Las Vegas
  • Own or Drive a 911
  • Drive 150 mph or faster
  • Ride a motorcycle
  • Run a marathon
  • Finish a triathlon
  • See Niagara Falls
  • Go into business for myself
  • Open a Hot Dog shop
  • Hike a (significant) portion of the Appalachian Trail
  • Go to Wrigley Field for a game
  • Go to Fenway Park for a game
  • Own a beach side house
  • Go to Phillies Spring Training
  • Go to the Pop Shop
  • See at least one stage of the Tour de France in person
  • Visit Cuba
  • Experience Jimmy Buffet live
  • Identify flavors in wine on a consistent basis
  • Drink a 98+ rated bottle of wine
  • Take my father on a vacation
  • Visit the Stoogeum