Hot Night In A Cold Wayne

Cover bands are a dime a dozen, and most of them are so-so.  They play certain songs well, while their versions of other songs make you cringe.  But they have fun, play live with all of the hazards/joys of such an attempt, and help to shake your blues on a cold winter’s night. 

Such was the case recently at 118 North in Radnor.  The Elastic Wastebands played and the venue was packed.  It was their 30th anniversary show, but I had never heard of them before – they must be well known on the wedding and bar/bat mitzvah circuit, which is where they belong.  It was a fun night, and BRP made a dancing fool of himself, but the band was just so-so.  Nonetheless, they had a lot of musicians up there and it was a wall of sound.  Plus, they had the good sense to play one of my all-time favorite songs by a  local guy:  Todd Rundgren’s I Saw The Light.  Too bad the singer didn’t know all the words, but hey, I did, and I sang the right ones.

Can I comment on the crowd and venue?  Thanks.  I don’t love this venue as it is crowded and hot, but I do love that it is right here in Wayne.  If there was ever a town that needed something to do other than go see a movie or eat out, it’s Wayne.  Now there is a live music venue, and one of Philly’s best beer parlors (Theresa’s Next Door) within steps of each other.  And with the Wayne Music Festival growing by leaps and bounds every year, Wayne is, dare I say it, becoming cool. 

And the crowd is cool, too.  Sure, the guys still stand by the bar, drink and watch sports on TV, while the women go and dance.  It’s a bit high school in that regard.  But everyone seems happy to be out and about, listening to live music, and generally having fun. 

With that, I’ll sign off for now.  But check back real soon as I have something cooking that will BLOW.  YOUR.  MIND.  One last thing before I leave.  I saw this mural in NYC last weekend.  Joe Strummer!  He’ll be forever missed, but never forgotten. 

Keep warm and keep rockin’.