It may sound trite, but the best word I can come up with to describe this experience was "fun." But let's put that in big, capital letters...F-U-N.
It was just a great time being on the bus as we rolled on to Philadelphia for a Love Hope Strength foundation concert at a place called The First Down (I think that's what it was called. Many of us had several beverages on the bus). I do remember very attractive bartenders and (American) football on the TV.
Most of the people got on in New York and took their seats on what was a party coach, so the seats went down each side with a big bench seat in the back, rather than rows of two seats separated by an aisle. But before we picked up five more people in New Jersey, the bus was already pretty crammed.
I'm bad with names, but I'm pretty sure I had a Steve on each side of me. One from Toronto who I saw at Tuesday's show and the other who is from Philadelphia and took the train to NYC so he could be on the bus back home. Fortunately for me, Philly Steve brought a lot of beer with him. And ice. Good man, that Steve. New York's Bravest also were represented by yet another Steve and his two friends sitting across from me, whose names I never did get. They also had plenty of beer. Anyone else see a theme here? Tampa Matt was also in the house, err, bus, with Mrs. Tampa Matt, aka Jen. She was one of the braver people on the bus, making trips up and down the aisle a few times to get drinks, be it beer or water.
James Chippendale helped out with a couple of cases of Mike's (Peters?) Hard Lemonade, Heineken and Coronas in a large cooler by the front of the bus (remember, this was a PARTY bus, as evidenced by the funky disco-type lighting in the back and the video screens above the windows that had the Spirit of '86 DVD playing. Check out the STORE portion of the website to order your copy now.)
It took a little while for the concert portion of the journey to get going, mainly because there was no place for Mike to play. All of the seats were taken and it's pretty much impossible to play music on a bus rolling at 60 MPH on an open highway. Just standing was difficult, never mind playing a guitar and singing. But Mike found a spot on top of one of the coolers next to Steve (that would be FDNY Steve) and the bus concert began.
As he likes to do, Mike took requests and there were some bizarre ones. (Eye of the Tiger was one, in honor of Mike running the "Rocky Steps" that morning at the Philadelphia Art Museum. Does anyone else know that the lead singer of Survivor is the same guy who sings the "Real Men of Genius" ads for Budweiser? Well, now ya know. By the way, Mike had the words for Eye of the Tiger written on a piece of paper and taped to his guitar so he would remember them that morning.). There were also songs from The Clash, The Who, Big Country, The Stray Cats (from my hometown of Massapequa, NY, by the way) and The Beastie Boys. One couple even did an impromptu wedding dance in the aisle as Mike sang "Walk Forever" after asking the bus how many people had that song played at their weddings. If they were married and on that bus, the answer should have been everyone.
I was surprised to see so many unfamiliar faces. People, introduce yourselves at shows. If you were on this bus, you have to be a pretty hardcore Alarm fan and likely are there when the band plays NYC or NJ or LI. It's always good to meet new people and get to know other fans who share this addiction.
Anyway, by the time we reached Philadelphia, Mike had belted out more than 20 songs. I'm not sure if I got them all, so if you remember something that was played and not on the list, please feel free to mention it.
Another cool experience for me at the show was having a brief chat with Glenn Tilbrook in the upstairs portion of the bar. One second I'm eating some cheese and crackers (who knew there was even free food up there to begin with? I got there way late for that.) But all of a sudden, there's Glenn Tilbrook. I was a huge Squeeze fan back in the day and it was very cool to have a quick chat with him.
I'm not going to talk about the ride home and how pretty much everybody fell asleep. We also came very close to leaving the video guy behind. Good thinking by Greg and Evan, who were eating Video Guy's Chips Ahoy cookies for noticing he wasn't there. We had to turn around and go back for him.
On to the setlist... Love Hope and Strength Strength One Step Closer to Home In a Big Country I Fought the Law Walk Forever By My Side Magic Bus Breathe Spirit of 76 (Mike told a story before doing this song about the real people he wrote about. Pete was Pete Wylie and the real Suzie and Johnny.) No Frontiers Where Were You Hiding? Presence of Love Eye of the Tiger Happy Birthday (for Lyn and Philly Steve, both born on Sept. 10) Father To Son (in honor of my Dad) Coming Home (probably the fourth or fifth request by Philly Steve) 45 RPM (I kept expecting Simmo to crash through the roof of the bus and pogo. Didn't happen.) Get Down Get With it Blaze of Glory Rock This Town Fight for Your Right to Party
But wait, there's more. Don't forget we were here for a Love Hope Strength Foundation event. So Mike winds up on stage a little more than an hour after we arrived, plays Love Hope and Strength again with the likes of Glenn Tilbrook, Cy Curnin, Nick Harper, James Stevenson and at least one other person I can't rememeber at the moment (sorry, been up all night). After that, they all left Mike up on stage and we got into the second setlist of the evening.
Strength The Stand Rain in the Summertime Sold Me Down the River Rescue Me 68 Guns
Tim
This message has been edited. Last edited by: NYC Tim,
Nothing lasts forever is all they seem to tell you when you're young
Posts: 369 | Location: New York City | Registered: 12 May 2006
Tim that was a superb review of the bus "show". It certainly made nice reading as I sat and watched the few videos that Greg had posted on You Tube.
Nice that you got a dedication for your Dad as well. 'Father to Son' is a song that the past year or so has been very special to me as well.
Glenn Tilbrook used to be our guitar teacher at school. Unfortunately I was not a very good student and ended up doing a 'Pete Townsend' with my guitar much to the amusement of Mr Tilbrook! He's a great guy and it was cool that you had a chance to chat with him.
Thanks buddy for this little review.
"There is Beauty Out There Somewhere I Will Leave No Stone Unturned"
There is something incredibly precious about the videos that both Greg and Bill posted. Bill's videos capture a beautiful side of Mike's character. I was almost moved to tears listening to 'Father to Son' and his sweet dedication to Tim and his father.
Thanks guys for sharing them. Even though we were not present in person I'm sure that all who have the opportunity to watch them cannot help but be moved afresh.
"There is Beauty Out There Somewhere I Will Leave No Stone Unturned"
I just found the Father to Son video you were referring to. That was from The Canal Room show on, I believe, July 24. That dedication was for Jim Tesorerio. Not sure if you've met him, but he's a New Jersey guy who has been to The Gathering more than once. That was a special moment in that show, when Mike took the time to recognize Jim's loss. I had no idea at the time how close I was to dealing with the same thing.
And Glenn Tilbrook was your guitar teacher? That's pretty amazing. Had I known that, i would have asked him if he remembered the student who went all Pete Townsend in class. He likely would remember that one. What led you to smash your guitar?
Tim
Nothing lasts forever is all they seem to tell you when you're young
Posts: 369 | Location: New York City | Registered: 12 May 2006
Oh I thought he said Tim, maybe he was mumbling in that non-existent beard!
Yes I know of Jim. A good fella like yourself. I'm sure that Mike would do the same for you as well Tim. Anyway, I thought it was a pretty moving moment and I immediately thought of you and your Dad when he sang it (maybe that's why I thought he said it was dedicated to Tim!).
Impatience led to the guitar smashing. I could never get the chord changes sorted. So I took up the drums!
"There is Beauty Out There Somewhere I Will Leave No Stone Unturned"
