It’s the only way to live… in Cars
I used to spend my free time hanging out in the Boston club scene, seeing live music nearly every day. In those years, I saw a lot of noteworthy shows, some of which are cherished memories.
But those days peaked about sixteen years ago. I really don’t go clubbing anymore, and don’t really listen to much music at all. But I keep my eyes peeled, and once in a while I see a show that’s too compelling to pass up.
The last time that happened was three years ago, when Devo came out of retirement to record their first album in 20 years. Being a huge fanboi, there was no way I was going to miss their first live show in New England in more than two decades. And it was, as they say, an electric performance.
Recently, a remarkably similar series of events took place. Another of my absolute favorite bands from the 80s-The Cars-got back together after a twenty-year hiatus and put out a new album and a handful of concert dates to support it. I made damn sure I was there when they took the stage at the House of Blues last week.
It was my first time in the new House of Blues on Lansdowne Street, which consolidated the space formerly occupied Avalon and Axis. Not bad, but not as intimate as those smaller clubs, and absolutely nothing like the old, original HoB location in Harvard Square. I took up a position above the stage, near the mezzanine rail (echoes of Paradise), and settled in for the show.
It was gratifying that despite their advancing years, the band played pretty tight. Ric’s voice is still a perfect match for Greg Hawkes’ awesome synth work, and Eliot executed his guitar solos with energy and precision. They put on a really good show.
The setlist featured a handful of okay new songs, several of the obligatory classics, and a generous number of their slightly more obscure songs. I was especially gratified that “Moving in Stereo” was the first song played for their encore.
The Cars are a Boston band, and they appeared to remember it fondly, making reference to the Rat, and telling the crowd it was “nice to be home”. Seeing them on Lansdowne Street, the row of clubs behind Fenway Park’s “Green Monster”, then walking home and stopping to get some ice cream at JP Licks on trendy Newbury Street… it was a quintessentially “Boston” evening.
Although I haven’t picked it up yet, I will probably acquire the new album sometime in the near future. Looking forward to that, too, although like the new Devo album, it’ll probably be a mixed bag, with some hits and some real misses.
But all in all, a new Cars album makes me happy, and finally having an opportunity to see them play live was ridiculously cool. Although I did get to meet Greg Hawkes and see him perform a couple Cars tunes at the tribute show at TT’s a few years ago, as described here. That was ridiculously cool, too.
Rock on!