popular thinking

WEEKEND IN REVIEW

My colleague Sarah kindly offered me her extra ticket to the INXS concert on Friday night. Glad I accepted. Almost didn't, though, for reasons unknown -- because standing there in the Wang Theatre, the Aussies reminded me again and again of how many memories they created for people of my generation, from the mid-1980s (Listen Like Thieves) to late-80s (Kick) and into the early 1990s (X). And what a strategically sound choice the band made last year by picking Canadian J.D. Fortune as the new lead singer. Can you believe I came that close to getting the gig? OK, maybe not. (About a year ago, I attended the open call auditions for INXS: Rock Star in Cambridge) Fortune sounds enough like Michael Hutchence to appease the faithful without coming across like a pale imitation. Plus, he is young, possessing an attractive rock star swagger, as well as a slight crazy streak. Fortune may need to work on his banter -- but more likely, he has spent so much time perfecting the old INXS material that he hasn't had time to figure out what to say between songs (sample: "Many good things have come out of Boston ... (dramatic pause) ... Like the 4,000 people in this building!" Huh?). None of this seems to faze the band. In fact, they all grinned from beginning to end, perhaps because they're ecstatic to be performing in front of packed theaters again, and because even if Fortune goes off on a wild and nonsensical tangent, he nevertheless keeps them from getting bored.

As for opener Marty Casey and his band, Lovehammers -- well, he seemed to want to hammer the audience over the head with his derivative alt-rock grungy tunes and his screechy deliveries, not to mention his bird-man flailing about the stage. But the crowd gave him the benefit of the doubt, and cheered toward the end when Casey performed his written-for-TV song, "Trees." But Casey didn't convince anyone that he should've finished better than runner-up for the INXS job. He should consider himself lucky that he gets to play to these crowds. No wonder Epic signed him -- easy money as thousands of folks buy his CDs at the merch booth, just for the chance at a signature (as promised by Casey, shrewdly enough, at the end of his set).

Read Sarah's review here.

On Saturday night, I discovered that Jim Gaffigan is as sincerely pleasant and gracious in person as he was on the phone. Hung out with him in the Comedy Connection's green room before he prepared to take the stage for his first of three sold-out shows Saturday in Boston. Met his childhood buddy, Rob, who now lives in Portland (Maine, not Ore.) and works as an anaethesiologist. Rob had some amusing tales of his own -- should he not tell them onstage, I might have to steal his one story as a bit! Just kidding. Sort of. Alrighty then. Back to Jim Gaffigan. If you haven't seen him perform, go. He'll be performing theaters later this winter/spring -- and in Seattle and Portland (Ore., not Maine), my old friend from Seattle comedy days Duane Goad will open the shows. Or buy Gaffigan's DVD, Beyond the Pale.

Sunday was snow day.