Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself...

I don’t mean to write over Pauly’s WSP post, but he did ask me to be a contributor (more on that in a bit.)

We were just talking about WSP and the Colorado shows last night. WSP is HUGE here in Colorado. Every year they play three shows at Red Rocks and then return later in the tour to play somewhere else in Colorado. This year they are playing Red Rocks 6/23 – 6/25 and then playing Winter Park 7/22 and 7/23. I will be dong my best to attend at least one of those shows (Did I mention that they are HUGE here? It’s really hard to get a ticket. So huge that after Vegoose, they had scheduled two nights at the Fillmore here in Denver. Those tickets sold out in 45 minutes, and they immediately opened up two more nights – which, of course, sold out just as fast.)

I am really bummed that Pauly won’t make it to the shows. I guess I will have to meet the good Doctor some other time.

So by now you must be thinking, “Who the hell are you, Mr. Frankl?” I thought I would answer that question with a faux Q&A:

Q: Who are you?
A: I am FRANKL. Just some dude in Colorado who has similar musical tastes to Dr. Pauly.

Q: Is your name “Frank”?
A: No. Steve is my name, Frankl is my nickname. If you ever are at a show and hear someone yelling “Hey FRANKL”, that is probably me being called. Pauly calls me Frank – which is fine by me.

Q: Why did Pauly pick your dumb ass to write here?
A: Beats me. He doesn’t owe me money or anything. I guess we like the same music and I write above a 3rd grade level.

Q: What are your credentials?
A: I go to a lot of shows here in Colorado. Just about everyone who is anyone who is touring stops in Denver to visit our fine venues. I am lucky to have Red Rocks in my back yard.

Q: That’s it?
A: Yup

Q: Oh come ON!
A: OK. I guess a little history is in order. Due to a life tangent, I missed out on the whole Grateful Dead and Phish thing. Fresh off my second divorce, my friend Da_Pickl talked me into going to Phil and Friends for the 2/9/01 Denver Fillmore show. That was it – one show and I was hooked. I went the next night and had a blast as well. (I actually lost a glove the first night, and my Ray Borque hat the second night. Da_Pickl said the concert gods needed a sacrifice from me. I now concur.)

Q: So you saw a couple of concerts – big deal.
A: Well, it changed my life. I began making friends online and here in Denver. I started traveling and seeing as many Phil shows as I could. I began accumulating music at a rapid rate via B&P and trade. I made a lot of friends all over the country and went and visited them. I am happier than I have ever been.

Q: So where have you seen shows?
A: Well Denver, of course. I’ve seen shows in Boston, CT, Philly (a mini 7 night run there in 2003). I went to the reunion shows in Alpine Valley. I’ve been to the Fabulous Fox is St. Louis (you REALLY should see that place – a trippers dream.) I went to Vegoose last year.

Q: Do you regret not seeing Jerry?
A: Absolutely. When I think about it, it really hurts. My life would have been so different if I got on the bus earlier.

Q: What are your favorite bands?
A: Grateful Dead, Phil and Friends, Yonder Mountain String Band, Widespread Panic, String Cheese Incident, The Who, Gov’t Mule, Allman Bros.

Q: What about Phish? That is what this blog is all about.
A: Well, I was also too late for Phish in their prime. My friend Roger took me to Phish during their last major tour at the Pepsi Center in 2003. They were a bit discombobulated. Roger even thought so. Plus I hate arena shows. I like their sound, but I would say I am not a fan – not enough real exposure. I hope that means Pauly doesn’t revoke my writing privileges.

Q: Just a couple more questions. Do you have a list?
A: Yes. It is at http://db.etree.org/frankl66 All of that list was created since 2001 through trades and B&Ps. I have only been able to download for a month.

Q: And what are you going to do here?
A: I am going to write concert reviews and talk about the music.

Q: Thank you for your time.
A: No, thank YOU, my serious personality.


So what should you expect? I don’t know. I’m not a reviewer. I don’t get into the minutiae of whether the D-string is in tune or not. I don’t review a show song by song. I don’t even know (except Dead related shows) the names of the songs. (Though I will provide a setlist when I can.)

I will point out songs that were strong. I will give a feel of what I am seeing and hearing. I will sit my ass back where I am comfortable – no front row for me (Most of the Denver venues are GA – so I don’t get front row.) I will be the average concert goer.

I am excited about this opportunity. I hope I do well.

I will be back later this week (OK, tomorrow - I am on vacation this week - plenty of time to think) with a Keller Williams review.

Comments

Guess you like phish? I'm just getting into them because Dad worked with Mike and Trey and I think they're great guys. I too have a lot of catching up to do!

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