The 3rd game of the Rangers–Penguins playoff series in 2008 when the Rangers went down to the Pens 3 games to nothing . . .
So, I went to the Ranger game last night at Madison Square Garden. What a hoot! Before the game, there was some rock band called Overtime or something playing out front on the plaza; and there were these shooting gallery games like at the Hockey Hall of Fame where you shoot the puck at little holes around a lifesize photo of Lundqvist, and another one that measured how hard your shot was. And there’s this giant bronze statue of some guy outside the Garden, maybe it’s Mr. Garden, i don’t know, but they had the old guy decked out in a giant Rangers jersey.
I went in for the pre-game skate and a bunch of Ranger fans had made scorecard signs like diving judges hold up during the Olympics. And there’s one guy walking around in complete diving gear with a snorkel and facemask and a “Crosby Diving Team” shirt. And all behind the net that the Penguins were shooting into during warm-up was a line of people holding diving scorecards. Of course, Crosby answered this by setting up a goal a minute into the game. And the Rangers never really recovered. It ended up 5-3, but it was even more lopsided than that.
When it was over, I didn’t want to leave — as usual. I said to my hockey brother Rob, “This is like after my last Dead show at (nearby) Giants Stadium — i didn’t want to leave the venue and we walked all around the upper hallway looking down at the emptying stands and the stage tear-down. Just keep soaking it in. I didn’t know at the time it would be the last show ever, but just in case it might be, I always soak in everything to the maximum.”
So we do just that up in Blue Heaven, surveying all of MSG like a wide-angle photograph developing on the brain, burning the image onto the glossy paper of memory.
My poor buddy’s a hardcore Ranger fan so he’s a little down seeing his team essentially eliminated, but he’s being very easy-going about it — if only because he’s a little stunned in shock. So, we finally leave and luckilly come out on the 8th Avenue side, and I guide our stroll around by the load-out door where there’s about 50 fans waiting to get autographs or just to cheer the players as they leave. As soon as we get there, Mario Lemieux comes out in a car with his wife, and I’m thinking, “This is sort of interesting.”
There’s just tons of bright-faced young hockey fans — like this one kid, it was his 15th birthday, and he’s there with his dad and wearing one of the old style teal Pittsburgh jerseys like they wore for The Winter Classic outdoor game this year. These kids, these fans, all know what the players look like without their helmets on, and they’re shouting out their names as they see them walking out in their suits to get on the bus that’s parked in the runway. Some different Penguins come walking down the ramp and go right past us. A couple of them stop and sign autographs.
And all of a sudden, there’s big Hal Gill! So i go over to him — he was kinda lost — like he was walking past the bus along the sidewalk, and had to stop and turn around, and I’m, “Hey Hal! Good to see ya! And good luck, eh?! Hey, I’m from Toronto!” And this makes him break into a big smile, “Great!” And I’m, “I’m so glad you get to be with this team now. It’s the only way a Leaf will ever win the Cup!” and he laughs, and says thanks, shakes hands and heads for the bus.
Then a few people start yelling, “Hey Jarku!” as Ruuto walks up — another guy I wouldn’t know from Adam — Ind i suddenly remember I have all these hockey cards in my bag, and pull out my Ruutu card and run over just as he’s about to get away and the 15 year old kid gives me his Sharpie and Ruutu signs the card.
Then a couple others come along in their fresh n snappy suits, and then — there’s one guy I actually recognize! Jordan Staal! It’s just cuz he’s always on TV, and is really tall and skinny and has that sorta blondish hair and he’s just walking right out past all the fans and out to the street. I run up to him cuz he’s really one of my favorite players — hockey’s new royal family and all — and i start walking along beside him going, “No way! Jordan! Way to go man!” and I’m slapping him on the back of his brown leather jacket and he’s not wanting to break his stare from straight ahead, almost like a guard at Buckingham Palace who’s supposed to not turn his head. Not to mention him thinking, “Who is this crazy Rangers fan? And am I about to be attacked?” But I’m just making such a big fuss over him he’s goin’ with it, and I look up at his face that’s about as far away as the top of the Empire State Building, and I can see he’s got this huge beam on and is laughing — and I’m just sorta running along beside him since he’s walking very fast and determined, and I’m about 5 jumbo beers into it and I just kept slappin’ him on the back and raving on about how great the team is and how I’m rooting for them and he’s just laughing away at my enthusiasm and stick-to-it-ness.
So, he’s walking the same direction as Hal and Ruutu were, and I realize their bus is parked out on the street, and so I watch as he and the other guys climb up the stairs and disappear into their dark cave. It wasn’t a regular big charter tour type bus, but a mini-bus, like you see shuffling people around at airports.
All of a sudden, I dunno, but . . . suddenly there was no security type person standing at their bus door, and I thought, “Ah-ha.”
So I walk out nonchalantly into the road as though I’m just going to cross the street, and I see the bus door is open! And I go, “No way!”
So, I turn, and just Boom — I run up the stairs and onto their bus!
There was a driver in the driver’s seat, and he didn’t say anything. It was really dark in there so it was hard to see exactly, but nearly every seat was taken — like they were just about ready to take off. So I stand up at the front like a tour guide holding onto the silver pole, and I just start in on this riff, super excited, quite skiddlie, but i just started goin’, “Hey you guys! I just wanted to tell ya you’re just great! And thank you for what you’re doing for hockey all over the world. This is just the best thing. The way you’re doing it, inspiring the kids, and hockey fans all over, it’s just fantastic and i just wanted to make sure you guys knew it and how much it’s appreciated, and you guys are doing the right thing and doing it the right way!”
It’s really dark, and I don’t know most of the player’s faces, but I can see Jordan Staal, he’s on the aisle about 2 rows from the back, and maybe he had an overhead light on or something, but I could see his tall head and he’s just got this huge teeth-beaming smile on — a fellow twinkling prankster for sure. As a performer, you often pick out one person in the audience and deliver the show to them. Zone in — and if you’re totally connected to that person, have them hanging on your every word, you don’t lose your train, and everybody else can ride along. So I’m sorta delivering this whole spontaneous monolog to Staal.
And it was so weird, cuz you sorta picture a hockey team’s bus as i dunno, rowdy, partying, everybody talking at once — sort of a Slap Shot scene. But everybody was in very proper suits sitting quiet and back-straight in their seats like a troop of uniformed soldiers or something. But the General was on the bus!
And he was right in front of me! The very first seat beside the stairs is Coach Therrien, and he’s laughing away, I couldn’t believe it! But I knew I had the room if he was laughing. 🙂 But I didn’t wanna look too closely in case he signaled for me to leave. And it’s so great that in this 9/11 world they weren’t too freaked-out by this strange guy jumping into their midst. Neither the coach nor the players nor any staff ever made a move to stop me, and here I was given this spontaneous, unsolicited pep-talk to the entire frickin’ Penguins team!
I’m looking right into the faces of the guys in the first couple of rows but I couldn’t positively identify any of them — those damn helmet disguises they wear! I think the rookie type guys have to sit in the front — none of the first few rows were Laraque or Talbot or Malkin or Malone or any of those super recognizable faces.
I had the presence of mind to realize that they weren’t kicking me off, and that I actually had the entire team’s rapt attention, and the coach is sorta rocking back and forth in his seat he’s laughing so much. It was like open mike night, and the host had just nodded that you can do another song! 🙂 So I did.
I went into something like, “I’m from Canada,” (I wanted them to know I’m an authentic old-school purist hockey person, not just some demented drunk New Yorker) So I told them, “I just drove all the way down here to see you play tonight, and I just want you to know that everybody up there is rootin’ for you guys. And what you’re doing is just great! And just keep goin’! The whole hockey world is rooting for you guys. Believe me.” And I gave ’em a nod & a stare with a good long pause.
I remember thinking that I didn’t wanna say anything to jinx it — like talk about The Cup or anything beyond this series. So I just said again, “What you’re doing is just great! Keep doin’ what you’re doin’!” I couldn’t believe I was there — and I was sort of running out of material and didn’t want to overstay my bizarre welcome, so I just gave them a happy final wave in farewell and scampered down the stairs as fast as I climbed them. The whole time I was just beaming with joy, and I’m sure that’s what allowed me to be there unchallenged.
So, . . . that was the night I ran onto the Penguins’ bus in the middle of the playoffs and gave them a pep talk.
you can also hear my crazy live morning-after riff (the April 30th episode) at
My good friend Teresa is a season ticket holder, up in the blues, in section 418. She’s a great Rangers fan, a great New Yorker, and a great buddy… she hooks me up with Rangers tickets! Most of my greatest all time Rangers memories are thanks to her, especially in the past several seasons: the Rangers first home playoff game in almost a decade, first home playoff win since ’97, Mike Richter night, Jagr night every night, and Shanahan’s 600th goal, or Avery vs Tucker and Orr ko’s Fedoruk…. This year the home opener with Leetchie appearance, and the incredakarmic miracle-ing in to Leetch night with all the Ranger legends there plus announcement of Graves #9 jersey retirement, and can’t forget being able to take my buddy Brian to see Crosby and the Pens (“SIDDOWN, CRAWZBEE!!”).
So she tells me she’s got an extra for the home finale vs the Islanders and it’s fan appreciation night. I do my usual post work pre game ritual: pound a few $2 beers at Spanky’s, have some wings, and by 6:40 I’m making my run down 7th Ave. and I’m feeling good as i enter MSG. Another ritual: I pick up a couple of Labatt’s for me and T. She’s such a hardcore hockey fan she prefers the Canadian brew so i like to have one waiting for her when she gets in. I say hi to the crew as i settle into my seat, it’s a great bunch of folks to watch a game with. Guys who’ve been Ranger fans since before i was born, one guy who does sports radio on WFAN, . . . just a fun, entertaining bunch. T gets in and we watch the Rangers finish the first period down 1-0 to the Islanders. After my Labatt’s i decide i should slow down or this’ll be a messy night, so i take a bathroom break and when i come back, T tells me a Garden rep came thru and told her she was picked for the Fan Appreciation jersey giveaway at the end of the game!
We head down during the third, teams tied at 2, and T goes off with the other FA winners one way, I go off with the other FA fans with a cute garden rep who takes us thru the belly of MSG. We take a left past the Zamboni, walk several yards, and stop in front of the runway leading to the ice. A bunch of fans are getting anxious: we can’t really see and have to rely on the crowd reaction to know what’s going on. At the time we were trying to win home ice over the Devils before having to face them in New Jersey in the last game of the season. I figure regardless of the outcome of the game, the real experience is us getting out there by the ice!
Rangers announcer Al Trautwig walks past us and down the runway. The third period ends but we’re still tied at 2. Nothing doing in overtime, then the we lose in the shootout. With the game over, we’re led down the runway towards the ice, we take a right and go right into the visitor’s bench! Al is interviewing Brendan Shanahan on the ice about 8 feet from us. A trainer squirms thru us picking up towels, rolls of tape, and water bottles as we get our cameras ready. T and the rest of the fan appreciation winners are coming out onto the ice.
In a weird almost surreal moment I look around at the view from the bench: at the white ice in front of me, the size of the playing surface, the distance to the penalty boxes, the view of the close seats all around, the huge hanging scoreboard overhead, the banners hanging up in the distant ceiling …. I realize I’ve only ever seen this view on TV or in photos — but now I’m here!
I’m snapped back to reality when i look out on the ice and see the FA winners are all holding up cards with players’ numbers and names written on them. As i watch players take off and sign their jerseys and find the lucky fan holding up their names, I remember me and T were talking about how it’s such a great team there’s no one who’s jersey you really wouldn’t want….then i see Christian Backman find her and hand her his jersey, i think, “Oh yeah, we forgot about him.”
Regardless, a truly amazing Garden experience, and as a sweet encore we’ve both been immortalized in the Rangers.com photo gallery…T in a Fedor Tyutin shot and I’m standing in the bench of a Jagr jersey-hand-off shot. So, a major shout to my buddy T and hockey brother B! And a great 2008 season!!
The most points in the league (112) — and winner of the Art Ross Trophy.
Most goals in the league (65) — winner of the Rocket Richard Trophy.
Most goals in a season by a Left-Winger in NHL history — 65.
The first player in 12 years to score over 60 goals.
He led his team from dead-last / 15th place in his conference on Dec. 30th to 3rd place by season’s end. The first team in NHL history to be in last place at the midway point of the season to then win their Division — just 3 months from the deepest hole to the top of the heap.
Led the NHL in points in the last month of the season — the final playoff push for all teams & players — with 31 points; and had 10 multi-point games in his final 16.
Led the NHL in power-play goals (22).
Led the NHL in even-strength goals (41).
Led the NHL in game-winning goals (11).
Led the NHL in lead-changing goals (30).
Led the NHL in multi-goal games (13).
Led the NHL in 4-goal games (2).
Led the NHL in “late-game pressure goals” with 29 (defined by the league as overtime or third period goals when the score differential is 2 or less goals). And naturally led the league in late-game pressure points with 44.
Led the league in game-winning goals in the third period (5).
Led the league in third period goals overall (26).
Also led the league in opening period goals (17).
Led the league in shots (441) and shots-per-game (5.3). This is the second most shots ever taken by a player in the history of the NHL. Only Phil Esposito had more — once. (Since coming into the league, he has more 10-or-more shots in a game (18) than the next 4 players combined.)
As Dr. Phil (Esposito) put it recently: “Alex is going to get over 550 shots in a season, and when he does he’s going to score 85 or 90 goals. They say Gretzky’s [goal] record is not going to be broken. Well, when I got 76, they said ‘Nobody will ever get 77.’ Records are made to be broken. And Ovie shoots enough that he’s going to do that. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy as physical as he is that scores like he does. He’s playing smarter now, and he’s just getting better and better and better.”
And he’s 22 years old.
And over his first 3 seasons he’s only missed a single game.
(How do you say, “Yikes!” in Russian?)
And along with all of the above, out of the 955 players in the league this season …
only 10 threw more bodychecks than he did;
only 8 had more takeaways from other players;
only 5 had a better plus/minus! (and this on a team that was dead-last for half the season);
I’m stickin with the Eastern winners being the Habs, Pittsburgh, Washington and the Rangers.
And in the West: Detroit, San Jose, Minnesota, and hopefully the Dullass Steers knock out the Brutuzzi Phucks (the 3rd fewest goals scored in the league, and they’re proudly #1 in getting penalties — again).
Every one of the goalie match-ups this year is to die for! We’re in a golden era of master ‘tenders, no doubt about it.
Carey Price vs. Tim Thomas. The Habs will keep their 8-out-of-8 season streak going against Boston — not to mention that it’s actually 12 straight going back thru last season, or their 23-and-7 series record overall. This is future Hall-of-Famer Carey Price’s magic run spring — a la Cam Ward in ’06 and Kenny the Giraffe in ’71. And all the games are on CBC.
Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Martin Gerber. A Pittsburgh-Ottawa opening-round rematch from last season, with the opposite result this time. (ie; Pens in 4 or 5) Fleury should be great, but most importantly this is Crosby’s year to prove it. And now he’s got a smokin’ Malkin and a happy Hossa ridin’ shotgun. Plus someone named Gary Roberts is back in the line-up; just in time for his time of year. And in the Blessings From Above Dept.: Jim Hughson will be calling the Pittsburgh series on CBC! He’s the best there is. And again every game’s on CBC (’cause a Canadian team’s involved).
Chistobal Huet vs. Martin Biron. Washington — Philly. SOOOO glad Pittsburgh are NOT playing The Philly Goon Squad — and for the good of the sport and the health of all athletes, I hope the Throwaway Newspaper Supplements are eliminated in 4 by the super-on, high flying, hard hitting Capitals. Christobal Huet is in the zone, and they’re 11-and-2 since he joined, with a 1.63 GAA and .936 sv%. Marty Biron is in slo-mo at 2.59 and .918. Thank Gawd — all games are on TSN! and a couple doubled up on NBC as well. For a separate story on Ovechkin’s records, see: https://brianhassett.com//2008/04/09/ovechkins-1s-this-season/
King Henri Lundqvist vs. Marty Brodeur. The New Jersey Satans managed only one shoot-out win in 8 games against the Rangers this year, so the Blueshirts have got Dr. Evil’s number, and I expect that the ugly-uniformed franchise will quickly slurp back into the swamp from which they came in short order. All games (except #2) are on TSN.
Dominik Hasek vs. Dan Ellis. Red Wings v Predators. As lovely a story as the forever-underdog Nashville Vegetarians is, they won’t be pulling any upset over the best team in hockey. Over 82 games the Red Wings are once again the President’s Trophy winners, and have let in the fewest goals, scored the 3rd most, have the 4th top point-getter in the league, and a coaching and management culture second only to Montreal. Plus, they have the best goalie tandem in a long time — their 2 netminders finished #1 and #4 in GAA in the league — and when was the last time one team had both the best and the 4th best in the league?! Only the weekend afternoon games 2 and 6 will be broadcast in Canada, on NBC. Game 3 is on TSN, and that’s it (so far).
Evegni Nabokov vs. Mikka Kiprusoff. San Jose vs. Calgary. What a showdown! The Sharks are firing on all cylinders and positions — see: Thornton, Campbell and Nabokov. They’re 20-and-2 in their last 22, and this is their year for The Finals. But meanwhile, here’s Calgary, with the best player playing in Canada in Jerome Iginla, and the country’s only Western team representing, with a killer Kiper goalie and an experienced playoff coach. The problem is, they’ll overplay their “toughness” — they have the most fighting majors in the majors, which is appealing to some and repulsive to others, and have taken the 2nd most penalties overall (whereas San Jose is the 2nd least penalized team). They could easily end up losing this with a man in the box to one of the best PPs in the league (who also happen to be numero uno on the PK!) No matter what, this should be a doozy of a series, but will go to the Sharks even if it has to go to 7. All games on CBC.
Niklas Backstrom vs. Jose Theodore. Minnesota – Colorado is the other exciting series in the West — evenly matched, both smartly coached, highly skilled, non-goon hockey. Even though I’m a jersey-owning Wild fan, how can you not love Team Sakic? With Ryan Smith, Peter Forsberg, Paul Stastny, Adam Foote and a revitalized Jose Theodore. For hockey’s sake, it would be great if this went 7 games — and it’s too bad one of the two has to be eliminated. At least 5 games on TSN: 1, 2, 4, 5, & 7.
In The Also-Rans Dept. — like Hawkman, I’m certainly hoping the classy and classic Blackhawks make it in next year. And also John Davidson’s team, the home of the blues, St. Louis. In the East, it’s great that Tampa just won the Stamkos Sweepstakes. The franchise were founded by Espo, and were the first offense-first team in a decade in the NHL when they won their Cup. Another superstar to play with Lecavelier & St. Louis is a real good thing.
Hopefully the wonderfully skilled, clean playing, and buoyantly enthusiastic Russians will eliminate some of the ethically-challenged teams and players in the first round.
I know it’s as blindly optimistic as hoping for politics to be played clean, but I live in hope that these playoffs are. May this be an injury-free playoffs for all players.
You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.
This is shaping up to be the best hockey in a playoffs maybe ever — seeing how the quality of NHL has gone up so much in the last few years. Especially the top 4 teams in each conference. This year’s second round will likely see a lot 6 and 7 game series. The reason I’m jumping ahead to the second round . . .
A funny thing: in the East, the only close series is the 1-8 match-up. Get this:
This year, Montreal beat Boston 8 out of 8 times.
The Rangers beat the Devils 7 out of 7 times. And
Washington beat Ottawa 4 out of 4 times.
That’s gotta have never happened before. 8 out of 8’s are very rare, let alone to have them be match-ups in the playoffs — usually teams who lose 8 out of 8 to anyone don’t make the post-season. And to have it be a clean sweep in 3 series is pretty unusual.
And then to add to the wierdness, the only series that was close is the 1st place vs. the last place team. But even they came in consistent blocks: Philly beat Pittsburgh in the first 4 games, then Pittsburgh came back and won the most recent four.
Out West, the Minnesota Wild won their division for the first time in their franchise history. And of course, San Jose only losing ONE of their last 21 games! And classy Detroit once again proudly leading the league.
And how bout this — that the top 3 point getters this season as all Russian! Ovechkin, Malkin, and Datsyuk. And didja know, Datsyuk, in 3rd overall, played in all 82 games for the Red Wings, and got a total of 20 min. in penalties all season! He has to win the Lady Byng.
And speaking of trophies, at least a couple are pretty obvious: Hart MYP to Ovechkin (and bet ya he gets the Pearson too), and Jack Adams Best Coach to Bruce Boudreau at the Caps. Since he took over Nov 23rd, Washington has gotten the most points of any team in the NHL, except beaten by only 1 point each, by Pittsburgh, Detroit and San Jose.
And I know there’s no trophy for best GM, but the Caps George McPhee brought in Chritobal Huet, Sergi Federov, and Matt Cook at the trade deadline, who were all actually the 1st, 2nd and 3rd stars in a recent game.
And how their team went from dead last (15th place) in November to 3rd place — that’s got to be the single biggest jump in position since its been a 30 team league — maybe ever since expansion.
I guess if the recent manditory rule of one Canadian team vs. one U.S. team for The Cup continues, we’ll be enjoying a Montreal – San Jose final. Carey Price trying to pull a Dryden / Roy rookie season Canadiens goalie coup, or Coupe as they say in Quebec.
Feel free to leave your evaluations, observations, predictions or Weird True Facts here.
And may the best teams win!
Puck on!
For an excellent printable one-sheet of the Rangers’ playoff line-up — go here.
For an excellent printable one-sheet of the Penguins’ playoff line-up — go here.
This happens in the last second of the season, when it’s all over.
This is the alternate captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs intentionally spearing a first-game rookie in the nuts at the last second of the season. You can see the spear at the 4, 13, very clearly at 22, a second one at 26, and again at 43.
It reminds me of a certain Domi elbow to an Islander’s head at the end of another season not long ago.
It’s not just that they’ve sucked for 40 years (Chicago hasn’t won it either), but it’s incidents like these that are then defended by their fans that makes this team and its devotees so disliked. You think of what so many fans in this town said about their best all-time player a month ago when he wouldn’t agree to be shoved off the ship. And how it’s so painfully similar to what they did to Frank Mahovlich many years ago. And what the team did to Darryl Sittler. And Lanny McDonald before that. It’s just a legacy of bad sportsmanship from ownership to the players to the fans, that seems to be reinforced by its own culture, and repeats itself over and over and over again.
But what a lovely final and fitting image for all hockey fans and players to take with them into the playoffs and post-season: The alternate captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs spearing a 1st game rookie in the nuts after both the game and season are decided.
For more on the state of the Toronto Maple Leafs — go here.
It opens Friday, April 4th. Here’s some info on it . . .
Shine A Light (2008)
The Rolling Stones, with Darryl Jones, Chuck Leavell, Blondie Chapman, Bernard Fowler & Lisa Fischer, and a 4-piece horn section led by a wailin’ Bobby Keys.
Special Guests: Buddy Guy, Christina Aguilera, Jack White
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Cinematographers: Scorsese brought together seven of the best in the business, all of whom would normally be heading up their own pictures: lead d.p. Robert Richardson (The Aviator, JFK); Robert Elswit (just won the Oscar for There Will Be Blood, also Good Night and Good Luck); Andrew Lesnie (all three Lord of the Rings; King Kong); John Toll (The Last Samuri, Braveheart); Emmanuel Lubeski (Sleepy Hollow, Lemony Snicket, Children of Men); Stuart Dryburgh (The Painted Veil); Ellen Kuras (The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), and several other top cameramen.
Filmed over 2 shows, in the fall of 2006, at the Beacon Theater, NYC (cap. 2800).
Length: 122 minutes
Shine A Light is originally a song from Exile on Main Street.
18 songs – “some never played live before” – probably just “Champaign & Reefer”.
(although some reports say 20 or 22 songs)
(4 from Some Girls; 3 from Exile; 2 each from Beggars & Let It Bleed)
All songs Jagger/Richards, except Just My Imagination and Champaign & Reefer.
. Jumpin’ Jack Flash (released as a single, June ‘68, recorded during Beggars Banquet)
Shattered (Some Girls, 1978)
* She Was Hot — some cite as a highlight (released as 2nd single from Undercover, 1983) All Down The Line — Ronnie on slide — (Exile, 1972) Loving Cup, with Jack White — although fairly lame (Exile, 1972) As Tears Go By — Keith on acoustic 12-string (December’s Children, 1965)
Some Girls — a highlight – the band has fun with it — (Some Girls, 1978)
Just My Imagination (Temptations song, from Some Girls, 1978)
* Far Away Eyes — is great! Ron Wood on peddle steel; Jagger on acoustic — (Some Girls, 1978)
* Champagne & Reefer, with Buddy Guy (Festival Express star! J ) – a movie highlight – Mick on harp; (written by Muddy Waters, on his King Bee album, 1981) Tumbling Dice (from Exile, 1972)
band introductions You Got The Silver – slide guitar, with Keith lead vocal (his first ever on a Stones record; Richards original, Let It Bleed, 1969) Connection — only partial (Keith song & lead vocal, from Between The Buttons, 1967)
* Sympathy For The Devil — great version — (Beggars Banquet, 1968)
* Live With Me, with Christina Aguilera – doing one sexy song, where she takes a scat solo for the 2nd instrumental break. — (Let It Bleed and Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out, 1969) Start Me Up — reportedly only so-so (Tattoo You, 1981)
encore:
* Brown Sugar — great Bobby Keys sax! — (Sticky Fingers, 1971)
Satisfaction (Out of Our Heads, 1965)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
you can hear the Aguilera duet here:
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
original Beacon concert set lists:
10/29/06:
Start Me Up
Shattered
She Was Hot
All Down The Line
Loving Cup
As Tears Go By
I’m Free
Undercover (Of The Night)
Just My Imagination
Shine A Light
Champagne & Reefer
Tumbling Dice
You Got The Silver
Little T&A
Sympathy For The Devil
Live With Me
Paint It Black
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Brown Sugar
11/1/06:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Shattered
She Was Hot
All Down The Line
Loving Cup
As Tears Go By
I’m Free
Some Girls
Just My Imagination
Far Away Eyes
Champagne & Reefer
Tumbling Dice
You Got The Silver
Connection
Sympathy For The Devil
Live With Me
Honky Tonk Woman
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Satisfaction
Additional songs played during rehearsals at the Beacon (Maybe for some DVD extras):
Shine A Light
Undercover of the Night
Fool To Cry
Mannish Boy
Beast Of Burden
I’m Free
LIVE WITH ME
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
(Mick / Christina vocal breakdown)
I tell ya,
I got nasty habits, I take tea at three,
The meat I eat for dinner
Must be hung up for a week, My best friend, he shoots water rats
And feeds them to his geese,
Don’cha think there’s a place for us
In between the sheets?
Come on now, baby
We can build a home for three,
Come on now, baby
Don’t you wanna live with me?
There’s a score of harebrained children
They’re all locked in the nursery,
They got earphone heads, they got dirty necks,
They’re so 20th century;
Well they queue up for the bathroom
‘Round about 7:35 Well don’cha think we need a woman’s touch to make it come alive?
You’d look good pram pushing
Down the high street,
Come on now, baby,
Don’t you wanna live with me?
sax solo
Come on now, baby,
We can build a home for three,
Come on now, sugar,
Don’t you wanna live with me?
The servants they’re so helpful, now,
The cook she is a whore, The butler has a place for her
Behind the pantry door, (and ya gotta think of Bill & Hillary who were in the audience!)
The maid, she’s French, she’s got no sense,
She’s wild for Crazy Horse, And when she strips, the chauffeur flips,
The footman’s eyes get crossed.
Don’cha think there’s a place for us
Right across the street,
Don’cha think there’s a place for you,
In between the sheets?
Christina’s scat solo
Come on now, baby,
We can build a home for three,
Come on now, baby,
Don’t you wanna live with me?
Originally recorded May 24, 1969. Released on Let It Bleed on December 5, 1969 Lead Vocals: Mick Jagger Electric Guitars: Keith Richards & Mick Taylor Bass: Keith Richards Drums: Charlie Watts Tenor Sax: Bobby Keys Pianos: Nicky Hopkins & Leon Russell Backing Vocals: Keith Richards
Or here’s a review of the lost footage of the historic roc n roll train trip that was finally released as Festival Express, starring the Grateful Dead, The Band and Janis Joplin.
Or here’s a fairly unknown but perfectly offbeat comedy — Lucky Numbers — with a comedic Travolta, Lisa Kudrow, Tim Roth, Michael Rapaport, Richard Schiff, Michael Moore and many others.
Most people think this amazing PA primary is in April – but it’s really March 24th – ‘cause that’s the last day you can register. If you’re not in it by then – you’re off the bus! No scoop for you!
You may have heard this one before, but Every Single Vote (Really) Counts in this primary! First because it’s proportional delegates instead of winner-take-all, so each vote directly adds to your candidate’s delegate total, win or lose; and second, the party’s nominee in the fall will be ratified by super-delegates based in large part on the total popular vote nationwide (plus the total elected delegate count).
PA is a “closed primary” meaning you can NOT vote unless you’re specifically registered WITH the party you want to vote for.
After March 24th you can NOT vote if you’re registered as “No Affiliation” (independent), or registered with a different party, or living at a new address, or not registered at all. This landmark primary will be talked about for the rest of our lives, and your chance to participate in history ends when the mail gets picked up on Monday, March 24th.
Or you can do it right now – takes about a minute — by clicking here:
at the top center, “click here to download [print] a voter registration application that can be completed manually”. Print out the form, check off 11 questions, you’re done. This page also has the mailing address for your county office to mail your completed form to.
You can Change Party Affiliation, or Change of Address, or whatever (at question #2).
Then question # 9, # 9, # 9 . . . is for Party Registration.
Voter registration must be done manually in Pennsylvania due to statewide election laws requiring the voter’s physical signature on each registration form.
I’ve heard from so many people in so many states who were so bummed-out they never registered in time. So I’m just sharing this to help you avoid regret later.
It’s totally free n easy, and if you don’t wanna vote later on, you don’t have to. But if you get swept up in this Story of The Year and want to participate, if you’re not already registered with your party before March 24th there’s nothing you can do about it. No tickie, no votie.
And Bonus! This year the PA Primary is on Earth Day! April, 22nd. What could be better?! J
Feel free to forward or post this anywhere — as-is, or edit into your own version.
For more info you can call: 1-800-552-VOTE.
For more fun you can volunteer for your favorite candidate via their websites, or just start engaging your friends in this historic present.
