25 Years Ago Tonight

 This being Joe McIntyre's 52nd birthday, the math reminded me that 25 years ago today Lisa and I flew to Boston to see him in concert!

Technically, we flew out on the 30th. I sold some of my savings bonds to come up with the airfare, and with fares being dirt cheap (everyone was afraid planes would fall from the sky with the Y2K bug looming on New Years) that was enough to pull it off. 

We stayed at a Howard Johnson's right by Fenway Park, and as I recall I was so tired when I arrived I was a jerk to the hotel clerk when we checked in - but I apologized to her the next morning. I do remember the cab driver, on the way in from the airport, pointing out the Big Dig to us. 

Tired or not we went from the hotel, by cab, to the Paradise Club, where Joe was to perform the next night. His rehearsal was taking place, and we sat outside the bar. We saw his sister come and go (with McDonald's if I'm remembering right) and thought she was kinda snooty when she saw us. At some point Lisa suggested I sneak inside, and I did so. I stood for awhile watching the rehearsal, with not one person questioning my presence, until I shot this photo: 

That got me escorted out. 

The next day was New Years Eve, and Lisa had been tipped off by a friend about Joe's home address. So we went out there to see it. Nothing crazy, no trespassing, no stalking, but at some point his fiancé did drive past and ask us to move on. 

Joe had two concerts that night, an all ages show and a later, 10pm adults only show. We went to the latter. 

It was cold, and the line and the wait was long. 

I should point out that while Lisa was rocking a shiny silver dress, my lame butt picked out THIS and khakis as appropriate concert apparel. SMH

You'll have to excuse the quality of many of these photos. They haven't been properly scanned yet, and I went hunting for the old scrapbook when I thought of this post. But for what they're worth, here are some pics of the concert proper: 

We were, as you can tell, to Joey's left on the side of the stage. 

If you want a detailed record of the show, you're in luck. Here's a summary: 

It really was a great show.  On the way out of the club we were greeted by Joe's Dad, who shook our hands and thanked us for coming to the show. 

The cab driver on the way back to the hotel, btw, was the only person we encountered on the trip with a "genuine" Boston accent. 

When I got back to the hotel I called my co-workers in Milwaukee right away - my boss had requested that I give them a heads up if civilization crumbled at the stroke of midnight because of Y2K. 

On New Years Day while Lisa napped I went for a walk around Northeastern University, former employer of my favorite author, Robert B Parker. 

Then before we left the city Lisa and I stopped by Fenway Park so I could say I had seen and touched that hallowed ground. 

It was a great trip, and I'm glad we did it. 25 years - a quarter century! Man, the days are long, but the years sure are short - and getting shorter every time the calendar turns a page.