Lake Street Dive w/ Valerie June, Wolf Trap, 9/9/2021

Prime Orchestra, Row C, Seat 21 (left half of the center section, 2 rows in back of the orchestra pit)

 

It’s difficult to pick a favorite among the four times I’ve seen this band perform live (previously 2014, 2016, and 2019). Tonight, their only song not written by a member of the band was the second and final encore, a spirited rendition of the Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down”. Tracks from Obviously, their latest (and, for me, greatest) album, made up approximately half of the setlist, with the remainder consisting of mostly familiar songs from their previous efforts. (Interestingly enough, their final pre-encore threesome exactly matched that from two years ago.) Highlights included the two best tracks from their new album, the infectious “Hypotheticals” and a killer, throwback-style soulful duet between Rachael Price and keyboardist Akie Bermiss (“Same Old News”). Also impressive was a three-song acoustic mini-set in the middle of the show – one of several occasions when Bridget Kearney proved adapt at swiftly relocating her upright bass from one part of the stage to another – followed by a solo vocal turn by Bermiss on “Alone Again”. As usual, the musicianship and pacing of the show were impeccable, despite the recent departure of trumpeter and guitarist Mike "McDuck" Olson (the new guy on guitar did just fine, although I didn’t quite catch his name), and Price continues to be one of the most charismatic frontwomen (frontpeople?) around today. There were several points where the intensity of the elaborate LED lighting was quite annoying, althought the pink Victoria’s Secret type effect on “Red Light Kisses” was quite appropriate. However, the attempted audience singalong on that number didn’t work quite as well as it might have, given the (mostly) masked crowd.

 

Setlist

 

This is the second time I saw Valerie June as an opening act; I still have to agree with her description of her sound (“Organic Moonshine Roots Music”). I particularly enjoyed the second half of her 40-minute set, which started with “Smile” and “Call Me A Fool” from her most recent album, continued with the intense classic “Workin’ Woman Blues”, and concluded with the joyously energetic “Got Soul”. The bluesy “Fool”, which she recorded as a duet with Carla Thomas, is certain to rank high on the upcoming “Rambling Rhoads Best Songs Of 2021” list.

 

Setlist

 

Unlike the “podded” shows in the first half of the summer, the Filene Center (which has a high roof but is mostly open at the sides and back) has been at full capacity since early July. Given the recently-worsening coronavirus situation, however, Wolf Trap announced a couple of weeks back that masks would be required indoors (including within the Filene Center), and that all attendees must show proof of either vaccination or a negative covid test. (They checked before attendees got close to the gates, attaching a wristband after verifying their status.)

 

Lyric Of The Day #26 (September 5, 2021)

Think of the good times

Only the good times

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmZiFHCiSEc

 

This obscure classic by Jay & The Americans initially brought to mind the current state of the Washington Nationals. It seems appropriate in other ways as well.

 

September 5, 2021 – Mets 13, Nats 6

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mets-vs- nationals/2021/09/05/632598#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=632598

 

Weather: 79 degrees, cloudy

Wind: 9 mph, out to RF

Umpires: HP--Hoberg, 1B--Diaz, 2B--May, 3B--Welke.

Time: 3:35

Attendance - 22,162

 

Trois étoiles:

#3 – Jeuris Familia. After starter Marcus Stroman surrendered 3 runs in the top of the 5^th, allowing the Nats to tie the game at 6, Familia was summoned with runners on first and second to prevent further damage. He maintained the tie by fanning Carter Kieboom and Riley Adams, sandwiched around an errant slider that plunked Andrew Stevenson.

#2 – The rest of the Mets bullpen. Miguel Castro, Aaron Loup, Trevor May, and Yennsy Diaz held Washington hitless over the final four innings.

#1 – The New York offense. Each of the first 7 men in the batting order reached base at least twice, and managed to score and/or drive in at least two runs.

 

For the third time in this four-game series, the Nats fell behind early, rallied to tie the game, but never managed to take the lead. This afternoon the damage started early, as Josiah Gray gave up four runs in the first inning, the first three of which crossed the plate before he retired a single batter. The home team answered in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff homer by Lane Thomas and a two-run Josh Bell blast, but Gray allowed a solo dinger in each of the next two frames before his day was mercifully terminated after 82 pitches. Patrick Murphy and Mason Thompson worked two scoreless innings each before the visitors pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the 8^th. The New Yorkers ended all realistic hopes for another Washington comeback an inning later, as all six batters to face Austin Voth scored, beginning with a leadoff homer by Francisco Lindor and concluding with a Kevin Pillar grand slam.

 

Traffic in both directions was light, and we took advantage of our even-earlier-than-usual arrival to dine at the nearby Buffalo Wild Wings. There was rain for much of the afternoon – not enough to affect the game, but enough so that I spent much of my time out on the concourse.