Acquadepente, Italy

So again, I had found a place on atlasobscura.com called Bosco del Sasseto in the town of Aquadepente, a town about 30 kilometers east of where we are. So, A, the boys and I pack into the car (Drew has decided his last day would be a relaxing one at the house) and drive out.

Bosco del Sasseto is a forested area that contains a mausoleum of the owner of the nearby, Castello di Torre Afina. Except these places aren’t in Aquadepente, as such, but that’s what I put in the GPS. After doing a lap of this quaint town, including being yelled at driving down the wrong way of a one-way street, we headed out to Torre Afina – with the right directions – to arrive midday after driving down a beautiful tree-lined road to get into town.

Castello di Torre Afina, Acquadepente, Italy

I should have known from the way the day started that it may not get better. And that was the case. We found a spot to park in this small town and walked up to the castle only to find Castello di Torre Afina was not open to public. We walked around it to get some pictures and decided we’d just head down to Bosco del Sasseto and tour that instead. We found the ticket office and I thought it said it was open from 10.30am – 5pm, but I couldn’t find a place to actually buy a ticket. We ended up running into another couple who, bless their kindness, told us that tours only occurred at 10.30 and 5pm (thanks to Google translate on the phone). Our new found Italian friends were not local so could not guide us to a place to eat lunch. And we couldn’t find anything. So as people started getting hangry, we jumped back in the car and headed back Orvieto.

We drove back via Castel Giorgio, hoping we’d find lunch and an attraction there. Turns out there is no castle in Castel Giorgio but we found a place for lunch. Zoobar. What a find! A little café where my minimal Italian and their minimal English got us a great little lunch. The cafe itself is obviously a locals’ place, as just after we ordered the place was overrun with local workers. Anyway a few slices of pizza later, we ordered gelato for the boys and were on our way.

We wondered at the county side during our 20 kilometers back to Orvieto where we went and parked at the top of the funicular, right next to Pozzo di San Patrizio (St. Patrick’s Well). The well was built in 1537 and is named after St Patrick’s Purgatory in Donegal Ireland. Inferring that both places are deep enough to be a gateway to hell. This 200-foot deep well is designed like the structure of a DNA helix, i.e., one side goes down the 248 steps and then you come up a different ramp and never the 2 walkways cross. 70 windows line the ramps as you descend and ascend into the refreshingly cool air. The well is in great condition and it is hard to wrap my head around being something that is 500 years old.

St. Patrick's Well, Orvieto, Italy

L & B, St. Patrick's Well, Orvieto, Italy

B, L & M, St. Patrick's Well, Orvieto, Italy

St. Patrick's Well, Orvieto, Italy

B, M, D & L, St. Patrick's Well, Orvieto, Italy

On the drive back up to the house was stopped for our first lot of gas. For all the complaints about gas prices in the US at the moment, its nothing to the €2.09 per liter (€7.52 a gallon) we just paid. €90 to fill the tank.

We all had dinner at home tonight. Sausage and pasta as we sat at the outdoor table and enjoyed another beautiful Umbrian sunset.

Assisi, Italy

This morning the 5 of us drove 55 miles northeast to Assisi. Just outside Perugia (where I also wanted to stop, but it turns out its another larger city without the beauty were about to see). We followed the phone’s directions until we saw this beautiful town on a hill, surrounded by a beautiful green landscape.

We parked on the south side of town and wandered up to the middle. The main purpose of coming here is to see St. Francis Basilica, but first we went into the center of town and saw the Temple of Minerva. This 16th century church, behind its Corinthian columns has a petite interior, but some decorative frescoes inside.

It was lunch time so at the behest of the Lonely Planet we went to Osteria La Piazzetta dell’Erba. We sat outside at this Japanese influenced Italian restaurant, and the food was magnificent. I had the steamed shrimp bun with spicy mayo. The boys split a pinsa with rocket, cherry tomatoes and ham that was so fresh. I had a bite and it was magnificent. Amy had a tuna tataki that was the most beautiful looking food I’d ever seen. And had a taste to match. What a great find!

D, M & Drew, Osteria la Piazzetta dell'Erba, Assisi, Italy

Our plan from here is to walk down to St. Francis’ Basilica, but first, gelato. We stopped at a wonderful place near the restaurant and ate it while standing in Piazza del Commune, while mom and Drew looked in some stores.

D, B & L, Assisi, Italy

There was some more browsing as we walked north-west down the hill until we got to Basilica di San Francisco d’Assisi. When you come towards the church you are walking down narrow streets, and all of a sudden the view opens up to the church, at the edge of town, with greenery as far as the eye can see behind it. It is breathtaking. This church was built after St. Francis’ canonization in 1228 and today is World Heritage Listed. And just when you think the outside is spectacular, we walked into the lower church (after Amy was given a shoulder covering) into this most spectacular basilica. Many small chapels are surrounded by endless frescoes, while you wander around in near silence trying to take everything in. You can exit just beside the altar and those steps take you outside above the courtyard of the friary. You can walk across there to get into the upper church. A bluer (literally) feel in this large chapel, I spent a fair bit of time looking at the ornate woodwork of the choir area. The boys were done and Amy took them outside, while I continued through and not realizing I could get out at the upper basilica, I went back down. And I’m glad I did, as I was able to go into the crypt, where Francis remains were entombed. It’s a little creepy, but what is here is why this whole magnificent church was built. St Francis is a native of this town and died here at the age of 44. His love of animals was well known, but his main achievement was seen as founding the Franciscan Order in 1209. A great history lesson today. I hope the boys come to realize the importance of seeing this beautiful county and its significant history.

A, B, D & L, Basilica di San Francisco d’Assisi, Assisi, Italy

We drove pass the town of Todi, about half way back home. We’ll have to look at this place and see if it’s worth a visit. Mind you I think the answer is yes, just from driving by it on the road.

Back at home we had a swim in the pool. Dinner tonight was lasagna, made by Francesco’s girlfriend especially for the boys. And we all went and watched another sunset tonight. How great is this place!

L&B, Orvieto, Italy

Sunset, Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto, Italy

We’re sticking to Orvieto again today so this morning while A, Drew and L went for a walk around the property, B and I was spent our time wisely in the pool.

L&M, Orvieto, Italy

After having lunch at the house, A, the boys, Drew and I drove back to the train station to catch the funicular up to Orvieto. We walk back up towards the Duomo on Corso Cavour, but not before stopping at Pasqualetti for our daily gelato fix.

B & L, Pasqualetti, Orvieto, Italy

We purchase tickets for The Underground Tour, but have to wait until 5pm so spend some time wandering through other parts of the city we hadn’t seen, and also finding a restaurant, Charlie, that our hosts recommend. It doesn’t open until 7.30pm so I’m not sure we’ll get to it tonight.

At 5pm we meet our guide and about 6 others outside the tourist info and we walk down to the underground caves of Orvieto Underground Tour. 1,200 caves built as long as 2500 years ago were built by the Etruscans, mostly for private use or to dig wells as water was sparse in the town. We spend about an hour and a half in only 2 of them. We see old olive oil presses, pigeon homes, (for food – still a delicacy in Orvieto today) and still functioning wells. That, and Drew and his geology brain, is in overload. There are a couple of tight squeezes that Amy stops at, and are hard for me to pass because of height, but for the most part this are the most open caves I’ve been in. Most older structures didn’t consider those over 6 foot tall. We also were shown (couldn’t go in) a passage way that was used to take injured people, in times of war, straight into the hospital. While these caves are public, many of today’s caves are used in residences as private storage and basement areas. It took us that time to see 2, imagine taking the time to go through the other 1200.

L, Drew & B, Orvieto, Underground Tour, Italy

Dad, Orvieto, Underground Tour, Italy

After riding the funicular back down to the car we drove half a mile to have dinner outside the city walls at San Michelle Trattoria/Pizzeria. It was comfortable enough to sit outside (actually it was preferable to the non-air conditioned inside). I had a sausage & potato pizza (which turned out to be French fries on the pizza – after I told the boys they couldn’t have fries). The food was great, and the service wonderful as our waitress/probably owner marveled as the boys tried to speak in Italian. We also took a pizza to go for Pops & NanNan.

We got home in plenty of time for a night swim, which is so perfect after a hot day out. This pool has been a blessing.

Bagnoregio, Italy

We woke this morning to find NanNan’s cough had turned into the dreaded Covid-19, so while her and Pops stayed at the villa, the rest of us made an 18-mile drive south out to Bagnoregio. Not before a breakfast stop at Pasticceria Nando, in Orvieto Scalo. Mmmm…breakfast pastries (and a coke. I love being on vacation).

I had found (on the Atlas Obscura website) details about Civita di Bagnoregio, a 2500-year-old town sitting on a plateau just outside the main town. It looks like an island in the badlands, and just seeing something different sounded great.

You park at Bagnoregio and walk through the town. Bagnoregio was originally a suburb of the Civita, but over time became the main town to Civita’s tourism destination. The walk is through another beautiful, thin-street town was less than a mile along Corso G. Mazzini. As it was getting hot already, we didn’t stop to enjoy the Chiesa della SS Annunziata, with its statue of St Bonaventura, or the Auditorium Vittorio Taborra. We stopped only long enough to get photos.

Then the Civita comes into view and it doesn’t look real. Like an elevated island surrounded by a no longer existent ocean. It’s beautiful, and already I’m glad we came out here. We bought tickets to cross the bridge and that’s when my problem began. Not liking heights, I was somewhat uncomfortable thinking about walking across the span. I didn’t get very far before a gust of wind froze me to the spot. I physically couldn’t go further forward. I was so angry with myself. The others went on while I fought with myself. It is no longer a matter of getting across, I couldn’t even turn around and go back. It was so irrational! Eventually I turned around and made it back up to the ticket booth (after about ½ hour arguing with myself about going over). Eventually I texted A, told them to take their time and waited disappointingly for their return. I did walk back down to near the bridge and had lunch at Gelateri Maluba. A prosciutto and cheese quesadilla and coke were a small consolation considering the Civita was the place I most wanted to go in all of the trip.

D, L, B, M & Drew, Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy

B, M & L, Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy

We talked of going to Aquadepente afterwards, but it was midafternoon by the time the others returned, so after walking back through town, we ended up just driving back home, where we all enjoyed the spoils of the pool.

Dinner tonight was salmon cooked over the open fire, but we had dinner at the outside table, where we could also watch the sunset. Talk about amazing! It was just serene and had us all counting our blessings to be where we were.

B, Drew, NanNan, Pops, M & L, Orvieto, Italy

It was still warm, so there was also more swimming to be done after dinner.

Orvieto, Italy

The boys got a much-deserved sleep in today. But today we begin our adventures in Italy with a day out in our host city, Orvieto. The 7 of us packed into 2 cars and headed down the hill to the other side of the freeway and parked in the train station lot. From here you take a funicular up to Orvieto, as the old city sits on the summit of a large butte. The boys loved the less than 2-minute ride that drops you off in the north-east part of town.

You can see the Duomo from pretty much anywhere in the city so we head to Corso Cavour and start to meander through the city. But first – Gelato! As is mom’s want, ice cream is a must on every day of a summer vacation, so we stopped almost immediately to begin our new addiction to gelato. That gets everyone happy. 

B,D,L&M, Orvieto, Italy

This city (dating back to Etruscan times 750 BC) just has one beautiful side street after another coming off the main street. We eventually get to Torre del Morro, turned left up Via del Duomo to walk up to the cathedral. Wow! What a beautiful sight! This church, completed in 1590, is massive. The front façade, covered in intricate sculptures and beautifully tiled columns, is a breathtaking site. And the door on its own could be an attraction. In contrast, the side of the cathedral is a plain, green and greyish striped wall – beautiful in its own way, but not the marvel of the front.

We sat and looked at the façade until it was time for lunch. We walked back down Via del Duomo until we got to Il Dialogo Ristorante, where we got a table outside and had lunch. Our first meal out…. and we all went for it. I had a sausage pizza which was delicious (and huge). Pasta, pizza and salad all round and a bottle of white.  A great first dining experience.

The heat was getting substantial, and after lunch Pops and NanNan took the boys home to spend some time by the pool, while Drew, A and I continued to wander around the city.

A went and did some window shopping while Drew and I headed back to look through the Duomo. If I thought the outside was spectacular, the inside was just as magnificent. From the incredibly picturesque alter, to the massive organ, the statues (including Adam & Eve) and the Luca Signorelli frescoes in the Chapel of Madonna di San Brizio were jaw-droppingly beautiful. Signorelli, especially, with his “The Damned in Hell” was both visually amazing, and surprising to see pictures of demons in a church. Another thing I liked was some of the windows were covered in alabaster, allowing a beautiful light in, though completely unseen from the outside. Obviously the stain glass was impressive as well, but I’d never seen anything like this in a church before.

Duomo, Orvieto, Italy

Duomo, Orvieto, Italy

Alabaster Window, Duomo, Orvieto, Italy

Luca Signorelli's "The Damned", Duomo, Orvieto, Italy

We wandered around the city, not looking for anything in particular, just enjoying being in a foreign land, seeing buildings and people for the first time, watching a new town operate.

Eventually we made our way back to Piazza Cahen, where we walked through Fortrezza Albornoz. This 14th century fortress gave wonderful sweeping views of Umbria in the general direction of where we were staying – and south.

A quick ride down on the funicular and we were on our way back home, via a stop at the Coop supermarket to get some supplies for the house. An Italian grocery store – another first for me.

Dinner tonight was leftovers from last night’s feast before heading into an evening swim with the boys, who I think had been in the pool since they got home mid-afternoon.

Orvieto, Italy

At Christmas last year, we were blown away to find that Pops and NanNan had gifted the family a trip to Italy. They had booked a villa in Umbria and were treating flights as well. I was speechless! Not to mentioned excited. It had been 24 years since I’d been to Italy and couldn’t wait to reexplore the country and find new discoveries. This time with my wife and kids. I know they’re only 11, but I hope they understand the significance of everything we see. So, we made our flight arrangements, booked a car, and waited 6 months before our first family trip overseas. (Australia I don’t count, because that’s just seeing family and friends).

The flight, while relatively smooth, just seemed to take forever. After leaving Charlotte in the afternoon, it was hard for any of us to get comfortable on the flight. And sleep seemed near impossible. It hit the boys the hardest. They just can’t take being awake for that long, and we paid for it as they were sick on the plane, off the plane, in passport control, at baggage. You couldn’t help feel bad for them, because they were being such troopers.

We landed early in Rome and through the heat of the airport made our way to the Sixt Car Rental to pick up our Jeep Renegade for the next 2 weeks. Like any new car, I had to work out what was where and get comfortable driving (all in a foreign country). We made a pit stop early to pick up some food, water and Sprite. Not long after that L fell asleep, while B relaxed but couldn’t fall asleep. It made for a relatively uneventful 90 minutes getting to Orvieto. Except for when we hit the toll – when we didn’t know if we had to pay then, or how much for that matter. Turns out you get a ticket to get on the A1 and pay when you get off (€14). When we exited the freeway at Orvieto we had to make the 6 mile drive up the small road to get to our home for the next couple of weeks – Podere Loliondo.

Savario and Francesca are our hosts, and the property’s owners, and they greeted us upon arrival, as the others we at the grocery store down the hill. Pops, NanNan and Uncle Drew had arrived the day before, so all we had to do was unload the car when we got there close to midday.

Podere Loliondo, Orvieto, Italy

Podere Loliondo, Orvieto, Italy

Podere Loliondo, Side Patio, Orvieto, Italy

Podere Loliondo, Orvieto, Italy

Podere Loliondo, The Pool, Orvieto, Italy

We were exhausted. I felt a migraine coming on, so I sought refuge in our bedroom for a nap. I was soon joined by L, but woke up hours later next to A.

It’s hot here. It has been since we stepped off the plane. Fortunately, we have a pool to ourselves at the house and it was well used by all in the late afternoon.

I am overwhelmed by how beautiful this place is. 5 bedrooms and a pool, on an olive farm, on a hill 6 miles east of Orvieto. There is a spectacular view of the Umbrian countryside as well as a straight view back to Orvieto, where the Duomo dominates the skyline.

We met the owner’s son, Francesco, who helped as get the open fire grill started as we had pork chops and salad for a relatively late dinner. It was a long day and the 4 of us didn’t stay up much after dinner. Jet lag kicked in and, thankfully, we all got a relatively good night’s sleep.

Uncle Drew, L, B, D, M, Pops & NanNan, Podere Loliondo, Orvieto, Italy

Charlotte Checkers v Springfield Thunderbirds @ Bojangles Coloseum

Staying home for Memorial Day Weekend, we decided to cheer on the Checkers on our Saturday night.  Bought a Family 4 Pack of tickets, which put us up in the nose bleeds, close to halfway.

The Checkers started really well, and I thought the first goal for Springfield was against the run of play.  Once they scored, Springfield picked up the intensity and with a 2-0 lead in the series, they looked like they wanted this done in 3 games to get a rest before moving on.  The 2nd period was a little sloppy from both teams, but another goal from Springfield crushed the home town support's hope.  A positioning mistake from goalie, Joey Daccord, early in the 3rd period but the nail in the coffin for the Checkers.  Even when we got a goal with 6 minutes to go, we were already down 4-1, and the goal was a minor blight on Thunderbirds Goalie, Joel Hoffer's, excellent game.  Springfield finished the scoring with an open net, as the Checkers went searching for a comeback.  

I don't know if the boys are making me watch too much hockey on tv, or if tonight's game was played at a slower pace, but today's game is the first that I've been able to follow the puck quite easily.  Now I just got to understand the rules a little better.

Springfield Thunderbirds 5 (N. Alexandrov, H. McGing, J. Neal, D. Joshua, M. MacEachern) defeated Charlotte Checkers 1 (M. McCormick).

Crowd: 7,925

Paul McCartney @ Truist Field at Wake Forest

I have been so excited for this day for 11 years.  More so the last month when we bought tickets for the boys' birthday.  This is B&L's first concert, and if you're going to a first concert, you may as well start at the top.

We left the house at 4.30pm for the drive up to Winston-Salem, the plan being to stop for dinner and get to the venue with plenty of time for the 8pm start.  Not all went to plan.  About half way there the heavens opened up.  Not just rain, but drive-25-miles-an-hour-with-hazards-on rain.  It was still pouring when we reached Winston-Salem and not favorable to getting out of the car and into a restaurant, so we opted for Chick Fil A.  Problem Number 2:  For some reason our order took forever - the type of time that gives Dad anxiety cause we are going to be late.  It was 4 miles from there to the venue, but traffic was at a stop 2 miles out.  We spent the next 45 minutes crawling 1/2 a mile before deciding to park in a strip mall and walk the rest of the way.  It ended up being a good choice.  Crowds this big are obviously not that common here, because getting into the venue and then to our seat were just as big a nightmare.  

But we made it - right at 8pm, but because everyone was still getting in, McCartney didn't get on stage until 8.40pm.  By this point the boys were exhausted but still hyped.  They love the Beatles, it's their first show, the crowd was pumped.  They were running on pure adrenaline.

Can't Buy Me Love started the show and set high hopes for the evening.  While I loved Got To Get You Into My Like and Let Me Roll It, and A loved all of it, the boys didn't know much Wings or less popular Beatles songs and I thought we might be losing them.  The boys like seeing Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman signing My Valentine on video, but Love Me Do halfway through set saw their interest begin to peak again.  Blackbird was beautiful, Lady Madonna had us rocking again, and Paul on the George Harrison-gifted ukulele playing Something was a unique take on the song.  We called Robbie & Toby for Get Back, and then Nanny for Band On The Run (there were tears all round).  Let It Be was 3rd to last in the set.  Live and Let Die was as spectacular as you would expect, complete with fireworks.  Then to finish, the 31,000-odd-crowd singalong, Hey Jude.  The last 3 songs the same as when I saw him at Coachella in 2009.

I had been watching the setlist from his previous show and it had been the same, so when he came back for an encore, after a very brief break, we decided to see 3 songs before bailing before the crowd.  He played I've Got A Feeling, along with John from video footage taken from the Get Back documentary.  Birthday.  I told the boys I asked him to play this as this was their birthday present - they aren't as gullible as they used to be.  When Helter Skelter finished we headed for the exit and were out before the masses.  During The End fireworks were launched again, and we watched from the parking lot.

LDM&B at Paul McCartney

The boys were a little stoic afterwards and I was worried they hadn't enjoyed it, but both said they loved it.  That couldn't make me happier.  I don't remember much about the performance of my first concert - Abba in 1977 as a 4 year old - but I remember experiences.  Being with my mum and Trish.  Standing on my seat to see above everyone (it didn't help).  Wearing my Abba socks.  The pending doom of rain (the night before had been a monsoon) and bailing out at the end because I was scared of the fireworks.  I hope the boys remember more about Paul McCartney, and lead them to enjoying live music as much as I do.

Paul McCartney Setlist

The Crap Facts:
This is my 475th concert.
Truist Field at Wake Forest is the 130th venue I've seen a show at

Winston-Salem is the 54th city I've seen a show in.
This is my 109th show in North Carolina.
This is my 278th concert in the US.
This is my 2nd Paul McCartney Show.

Hamilton @ Belk Theatre

 

I'm ready!  After all the hype, we are finally getting to see Hamilton.  This is A's Xmas present and the first time we've been to a show since Come From Away 2 years ago.

After a quick bite at Rooster's, and some people watching out the front, we went into our seats at the back of the Orchestra level.  It's a full house (as I expected), but noticeably groups of women dominated the theatre.  But also thrown in with a good mix of couples and families.

An historical-politically-themed-rap-musical!  How was that initially pitched?  Because it's like nothing else I heard of in musicals.  

For me - I enjoyed it.  Great story, (even though it is not a history I know - I wonder how well this plays overseas?), great set and well performed by a great cast.  Though it had too much musical formula in it i.e., the old 3 people singing different songs at the same time and songs with the same melody you could sing to most other musicals I've seen.  Having said that, A loved it! (which is most important), as did the rest of the audience as a whole.

Very rarely is there such a thing as a bad night out, and we had fun tonight - which has been rare in the last 2 years.  Would I go and see it again?  If I had to.  Would A?  Probably tomorrow.

Gang Of Youths @ The Underground

So tonight I am getting my expat on.  I know nothing of the music of Gang of Youths, except that they're Aussies, so I'm gonna check them out.

A good size crowd at the Underground (shame it's a Live Nation venue, otherwise it'd be perfect).  I had no idea they had this good a following - but that's cause I'm old and not up to date with a lot of new music.  And people were into it!  From the first song the crowd was singing and dancing and hanging off every word.  Charismatic frontman, David Le'aupepe, has a great presence on stage, from rugby-player-confident-but-not-necessarily-good-dancer to great between song banter (Though what's this "We're from London" crap).  And his passion for the songs definitely show through in his performance.  "Brothers" - the solo song on the piano - was a standout for me.  Really personal outpouring on his and his family's life.  It was emotionally draining for the crowd - I'm not sure how he does it night after night in front of a bunch of strangers.  Two song later when "Unison" mentions North Carolina in the first line the status quo of rocking out resumes.  "Goal of the Century" finished the set, which had relied heavily on their latest album, Angel In Realtime.  

In short I had a great night.  The irony is Gang Of Youths would not be a band I'd normally listen to, but live, they were great  Had they not been Australian I would've missed this great show, same if I'd heard their music beforehand.  But I do love to see an Aussie band get some recognition around the world and while he claimed the show as a home town gig (cause his wife is from Wilmington, NC) it was also fun watching the crowd sing along word for word.

Gang of Youths setlist

The Crap Facts:

This is my 474th concert.
This is my 7th concert at The Underground.
This is my 92nd show in Charlotte.
This is my 108th show in North Carolina.
This is my 277th concert in the US.
Gang Of Youths are the 549th band I've seen.

The Darkness @ Neighborhood Theatre

So in complete contrast to last night, tonight the Neighborhood Theatre was packed.  I arrived during the first song and had problems finding a spot to watch the show.  I settled for a spot on the side of the stage.  I usually like to be in front, but there was no chance of that tonight.

I'll admit I was here for 1 song - the only one I knew - but The Darkness were a band well worth seeing.  Their showmanship was second to none.  From the cock rock moves (guitar solos walking to the front of the stage, strumming and pointing, the outfits) to the great banter with the crowd to the energy driving song after song performance, there was barely a still person in the house all night long.  

While I didn't know any songs, I really liked Friday Night and the show finishing Get Your Hands Off My Woman.  And of course the 1 song encore of I Believe In A Thing Called Love was what I was here for.  And it didn't disappoint!  Stopping the song early to encourage the crowd to put away their phones and cut loose - the audience willingly obliged, leaving everyone in a sweaty mess as they left the venue abuzz.  

I remember umming and ahhing about seeing the Darkness 4 years ago when they played the Underground.  For reasons I can't remember, I didn't go.  In hindsight that was probably a bad decision.  I read an article a couple of days ago quoting Gene Simmons saying that rock is dead.  He obviously hasn't seen a Darkness show lately.

The Darkness Setlist

The Crap Facts:
This is my 473rd concert.
This is my 9th concert at Neighborhood Theatre.
This is my 91st show in Charlotte.
This is my 107th show in North Carolina.
This is my 276th concert in the US.
The Darkness are the 548th band I've seen.

Cat Power & Arsun @ Neighborhood Theatre

Cat Power is back in Charlotte.  3 years after she killed it at the Underground, Power is at the half full  Neighborhood Theatre this time.

I got there early enough to walk in as the opener, Arsun, took the stage.  With so few people here I went and stood against the barrier just right of center as Arsun warmed up the crowd for 1/2 an hour.  Acoustic rhythm, electric lead and bass played southern folk music that is really prevalent around Charlotte (and the south in general).  Nothing jumped out at me, but I enjoyed it (considering this is not what I'd normally listen too).

We waited a good 45+ minutes for Cat Power to grace us, despite a quick turnaround by the stage crew.  But obviously it was well worth it!  Her band started a quiet jam before Power slinkily crept onto stage.  So quiet was the crowd in anticipation, I could here her footsteps on the stage as she approached the microphone.  Again Power used dimly lit backlight, added to the mystery of her songs and performance.  To see her close up again (though even closer this time) was mesmerizing.  Her voice is divine and her passion shows through in her voice and movement.  An all round performance.  I got the new Covers album last month for my birthday and most of the songs I recognized were off this album.  These Days, A Pair Of Brown Eyes and Here Comes A Regular were favorites of the night from that album.  (I was hoping for Nick Cave's I Had A Dream Joe, but I'll have to wait until she comes through again.  Hate is a favorite song of mine, and her reworking to Unhate is just as good.  The Greatest and The Moon were icing on the cake for me.

As the night went on Power loosened up.  Playing to the women dancing stage left, greeting an old friend and bumming a cigarette off the audience is her between song banter.  There is no better voice than Cat Power in my opinion.  Her songs and performance will take you away from day to day life and land you in a serene beauty.  I am already keen to see her again.

Cat Power Setlist

The Crap Facts:

This is my 472nd concert.
This is my 8th concert at Neighborhood Theatre.
This is my 90th show in Charlotte.
This is my 106th show in North Carolina.
This is my 275th concert in the US.
Arsun are the 547th band I've seen.

This is my 2nd Cat Power concert.

Emerald Isle, NC

In an effort to go somewhere different for Spring Break we took the boys out to Emerald Isle this year to have a look around.  We took the route via Wilmington, and stopped for lunch at Anne Bonny's, and a quick look around town before heading on to our Airbnb.  While the weather is not right, we are right on Emerald Isle Beach.  Good enough for the boys to get their feet wet in the windy weather.

On our first full day we drove up to New Bern to the Tryon Palace, NC's original Governor's home.  A guided tour through this 250 year old site shed light on things not even Amy knew about North Carolina.  The home was restored to its current form in 1945 and the gardens are beautiful to walk through.  A stop at MJ's Raw Bar for lunch took longer than to walk around town.  Though we did spend a bit of time in the Pepsi store - New Bern is the birth place of Pepsi.  Because lunch was so big, dinner was at the casual Fish Hut back on Emerald Isle.

DBA&L, Tryon Palace, New Bern, North Carolina

Day 2 is a cracker!  We head north on the isle to go and check out Fort Macon.  Before we go in we do a 3-mile hike in the marsh land and along the beach right near the fort.  It's a picturesque walk, but it's nice to get into the Fort and cool down and look around. Completed in 1834, Fort Macon was needed to protect the North Carolina inlet and was used by the Confederates in the Civil War before being bombarded and captured by the Union.  The fort only had 43 years of military use, and was completely abandoned by 1903.  In 1924 North Carolina claimed it to be a state park, and though leased by the army during World War II, the park was returned to the state in 1946.

To combat the seriousness of the morning we stopped at Professor Hacker's Mini Golf at Salters Beach on the way home.  The US Open it wasn't, but a fun afternoons golf for all.

We had at Surf's Up Grill tonight, sitting up at the bench looking out over the water.  The perfect spot!  Looking out over the Atlantic right next to the pier, where families strolled and fished.  It was just casual bar food, but a nice end to a fun day.

ML&B, Surf's Up Grill, Emerald Isle, NC

On our last day we drove around to Beaufort, where we jumped on a boat over to Shackleford Banks.  This barrier island has 100's of wild horses, believed to be ancestors of Spanish Mustangs dating back to the 1500's, roaming the island.  The ferry drops you on the beach at the north-western end of the island, about 45 minutes from Beaufort, with a good view of Fort Macon across the sound.  We were told a small pond a half a mile from the drop off might be a place where we'd see some of the wild horses.  We ventured down there, and sure enough we got to see a half dozen horses in the sand dunes.  We respectfully kept our distance (as we were warned) and continued through the dunes to the ocean side of the island.  We walked slowly back along the beach after B stepped on a huge sand spur, all the way around to the headland.  Back near the ferry's pick up spot, we encountered some more of the horses, who seemed quite at ease with so many people around (but then again people were keeping away as requested).  It was a pretty magic experience, topped off by some beautiful weather.  When we got back to Beaufort we went to Mezcalito for a late lunch (or dunch as the boys liked to call it).  This was easily the best meal we've had on the trip, or for a long time for that matter.  A great way to end a quick getaway.  Next time we'll have to head further up the Outer Banks to see what's up there.

LB&D, Shackleford Banks, North Carolina

Henry Rollins at Neighborhood Theatre

Shows are making a comeback.  And we're off to see my 10th Henry show on April Fools Day.  We got some great seats (6th row center) and are ready for some more Rollins stories.

In the past I've said that shows I've seen in Sydney are more travel orientated and US shows focus on politics.  Until last time, when Rollins did his slideshow and tonight, it's all about what has happened over the last 2 years of Covid-19.  I'm not sure Henry did the greatest during this time, especially for someone who likes the isolation.  Never the less he was able to spin many a funny story (though also somewhat scary at times - like his Finnish stalker).  It's not as easy to write about a spoken word or comedy show, because nothing I write could do justice to the stories told, needless to say A and I had another great night listening to Henry's life.

The Crap Facts:
This is my 471st concert.
This is my 7th concert at Neighborhood Theatre.
This is my 89th show in Charlotte.
This is my 105th show in North Carolina.
This is my 274th concert in the US.
This is my 10th Henry Rollins concert.

Tool & The Acid Helps @ Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

So Erik and I try and catch up every once in a while to see a show somewhere, but it's been 3 years since I was in Vegas for Punk Rock Bowling, so when tour announced a tour in my birthday month, it was a matter of when and where. I was hoping for Minneapolis on my birthday, but we opted for Cleveland instead.   I've never been to Ohio before, so tickets, hotels and flights were booked.

I arrived Friday afternoon, and Erik got in in the early evening. Early enough that we could walk down to Noble Beast Brewery for dinner and a couple of drinks.

A lazy Saturday stroll after a pretty ordinary hotel breakfast, before we headed down to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame at 10am to wander through the museum. I wasn't sure what to expect given the always controversy of who's in and who's not, but the museum is awesome.  We started on Level 0, where exhibits included the History of Rock n Roll, individual city contributions, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles - an awesome exhibit finishing with information on the recent Get Back documentary, the photography of Baron Wolman (an Ohio native who worked at Rolling Stone early on) and the music of Cleveland.  The next level was the Garage, an interactive exhibit where anyone could pick up an instrument and play, either to themselves or as part of an impromptu band.  The next level was the the Hall of Fame itself.  Plaqued autographs from all inductees and memorabilia from some on the more recent Hall of Famers. We also watched a movie presentation of some poignant moments in some of the past ceremonies.  None so great as the all star band (Tom Petty, Dhani Harrison, Jeff Lynn and Steve Winwood) get blown off stage by Prince playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps.  Finally the top floor had a great recreation of Pink Floyd's The Wall.  We ended up spending 4 hours here.  More than I imagined we would've.

Cleveland's Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame

The Cure - Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

Pink Floyd's The Wall - Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

We wandered back to the hotel and just hung out for the afternoon.  Later in the evening we ventured into downtown for dinner at Mabel's BBQ in an entertainment district of the city.  Dinner was good, but the night was cold, so an Uber back to the hotel ended the night.

Before I left the boys kept showing me a spoof video of Cleveland Tourism, so on Sunday Erik and I got up and went looking for some of these things and texted them back to the guys (who obviously weren't that impressed by dad trying to be funny.  So we did see the Claus Oldenberg Free Stamp as it was right near the hotel.  Found construction everywhere.  Saw the statue of Moses Cleveland.  And spent a good time with a great host in the Soldier's & Sailor's Monument.

When the time come to head to the show, we walked up to the venue hoping to get dinner.  Apparently a sold out show at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse is not enough to get a lot of restaurants to open on a Sunday, as most places were closed.  In the end we had to settle for a quick bite at the Shake Shack before heading to the venue.

The Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse is the home of the Cavaliers, so a big size venue.  We had seats at half court, 7 rows back - so a good line of sight.  The Acid Helps had the unenviable task of opening the night, and while they dis their thing, it wasn't for me or the thousand of DadRock Tool fans waiting.

The Acid Helps setlist

Someone recently pointed out to me that to be a Tool fan, you had to be a dad, and tonight this legend was confirmed because the place was filled with people like me and Erik, and some even actually ought their kids - though wives/girlfriends were few and far between.  I wonder what other bands I like fall into this category.  Anyway, just before 9pm Tool came out to a rousing reception and kicked of the night with Fear Innoculum from the new album with the same name.  I had been watching the previous setlists and new it would be heavy with new material, so it was a good chance to get a first listen.  Tool had been rotating Sober & Opiate as a 2nd song, but tonight, much to my pleasure, that opening bass riff over sober made this whole trip worthwhile.  Such a good song, and such a treat to hear them play something off Undertow.  I wish they would do more of that.  The Pot sounded incredible and The Grudge was another highlight.  Maynard finally came out of the shadows to do a Puscifer-ish act for a new song, Descending - it was weird - I had no idea what was going on.  And then they finished with Hooker With A Penis.  Again with the countdown clock before they came back for an encore.  The Danny Show of Chocolate Chip Trip kept all the drummers in the audience enthralled and then 2 more songs off the new album.

Another great Tool show on the books, though I wish I new more about the Fear Innoculum album.  Tool are a great band and a live show comparable to none, but as most shows nowadays for me, I'd like to hear a lot of other songs, but when it takes 2 hours to get through 12 songs it doesn't leave a lot for everyone's favorites.

Tool Setlist

It was great to see Erik again, we may do this again next year and see Rage Against The Machine in Phoenix.  Let's just hope it's not 3 years before we do it again.  Thanks Cleveland, it was great to meet you.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 470th concert.
Rocket Mortgage Field house is the 129th venue I've seen a concert in.
Cleveland is the 53rd city I've seen a concert in..
Ohio is the 16th state I've seen a concert in.
This is my 273rd concert in the US.
The Acid Helps are the 546th band I've seen.
This is my 7th Tool concert.