CUT OF THE DAY: THE DOORS – “THE END”
There are things known and things unknown and in between are The Doors. Word on the street is that was Jim Morrison’s answer to where this legendary Los Angeles band got their name. It would be easy to start again and keep playing this game. U2′s “New Year’s Day” would bat leadoff in 2013 and I’d be off and running. Sadly, this became a full-time job and I already have a couple of those. If I have any advice as we head for resolutions, it would be to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. If you see an open window, you have to jump through it. Case in point? Last night. Two sick kids meant they weren’t sleeping at my parents’ house and my wife wasn’t going to the show. Then my friend Jodie bails on me (again) and I couldn’t find anyone to go with. Did that stop me? Fuck no. I planned on finishing the year strong and if that meant going solo, so be it.
Deer Tick and Two Gallants were a combo that I needed to see and neither band disappointed. San Fran’s Gallants started right when I strolled in at 9:30, opening with “Dyin’ Crapshooter Blues.” The highlight of their 45-minute set was a “Ride Away”/”Steady Rollin’” back-to-backer and “Broken Eyes” closed out a set that sizzled. Set break featured Afroman’s ”Crazy Rap” and it turned into a straight up sing-along. I met an older dude at the bar that knew Mama Deer Tick and he had come straight from the Pats game (and totally looked like it). We talked about how Brady’s bunch locked up a first-round bye with their first shutout since 2009. The song of the day could’ve easily been ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye,” but I didn’t want to throw up this morning. Special thanks to the Houston Texans for totally blowing it down the stretch. Extra special thanks to Fete for providing $3 PBR’s and popcorn made with coconut oil.
Deer Tick started just after 10:30 and the hometown heroes opened with the crowd-pleaser ”Funny Word.” John McCauley was sporting very long hair and way too much blush (war paint?). They played a crazy version of “The Bump” and I smiled because the lyrics could’ve been describing me and my solo mission. I have a lust for life, I’m a full-grown man (sorta) and I act like a kid. “The Bump” morphed into “Easy” and I got the song I wanted most, “Main Street.” Vanessa Carlton joined Deer Tick for a super-random version of John Prine’s “Unwed Fathers.” They should’ve done “A Thousand Miles,” a song that I’ll always remember from the season 3 flashback finale of Workaholics. The boys from Providence were extremely good, so dope that they literally “blew a fuse because we rock so fucking hard.” McCauley is a legit rock star and I was quite pleased that he didn’t french kiss any band members during the show. A dude in the bathroom told me that he once played a guitar solo with his dick. Weird. Another dude told me his crew flew from Wisconsin to catch the Deer Tick/Two Gallants duo. That’s what it’s all about.
The encore surprised everybody with Elliott Smith’s “Between the Bars” and I thought about how Good Will Hunting inspired me to finally get my act together and do the college thing. Elliott Smith bled back into “Ashamed” and the night ended with a “Miss K”/”Let’s All Go to the Bar” medley for the ages. People climbed up on the stage and were kissing each other and the band and it was totally crazy. Kind of like a Deer Tick show in general. With silly string shooting everywhere, I could feel the giant smile on my face as I laughed like a little girl. It’s too bad nobody wanted that extra Deer ticket. Incredible show.
I can’t really think of better way to celebrate New Year’s Even than with (almost) all of my best friends at Bonnaroo Brown’s palace in Tiverton. Is it inevitable that Phish ends with “Tweezer Reprise” tonight? Can’t wait to do Phish brackets and chill with the fabulous friends that helped shape me into the happiest kid on Earth. It’s the perfect ending to a pretty perfect year. Hugs and kisses to my in-laws for crashing at my house and allowing my wife and I to get weird in Rhode Island.
I’d like to hand out a few awards before I officially wish y’all a Happy New Year and say goodbye. I’m giving Song of the Year to Fun’s “We Are Young,” it nips Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” and “Call Me Maybe.” Album of the Year is still Jack White’s Blunderbuss, slipping past dope debuts from The Lumineers and Of Monsters and Men. Lyric of the Year comes from Awolnation’s “All I Need.” “All I need is you smiling at me.” Seriously, that sums it up for me and it always has. I like to make people laugh and see them smile. Few things in this world are better. Congratulations, you know now almost everything about me and my lucky little life. I live every single day like it’s my last and I wear my heart on my sleeve because that’s how I was raised. There’s nothing more important in this world than your family and friends. Nothing. Just ask my buddy Clyde who just had a fire completely destroy his house on Friday. Crazy.
I’d like to apologize to all the bands I left out, I still love you all, xoxo, Gossip Girl. So many bands, so little time, especially when you put a 1-year limit on the discussion. I love music a little bit more than the teams I adore (go Notre Dame, go Pats, in that order), but not more than my wonderful friends, the incredible family I was blessed with, my gorgeous wife or the 2 little boys that changed my life. Although we’ve come to the end of the road, it’s not so hard to say goodbye to yesterday. I hate goodbyes, but it’s not you, it’s me. Turn out the lights, the party’s over. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. All good things must come to an end. It ain’t over til it’s over. That’s all folks. The fat lady has sung. Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye. Found at the end of 1967′s debut disc from The Doors, “beautiful friends, this is the end. My only friend. The end.” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Can I get an amen? Go in peace. I’m out.
