We played here for the first time about a year ago. It rained the entire time so I holed up on the bus and watched the entire first season of Deadwood (Sean, please put a link here to that diary entry. it was posted in April 2006). This time the weather was kinder and I got to wander around a bit. This is an old steel town that has seen better days, but it is trying to pull itself up from what was probably a couple of decades of neglect. There is a new brew-pub, a couple of nicely laid out bookstores, some good little restaurants…all good signs of a potential recovery….it means that there is money floating about.
The gig tonight was at The Colonial Theater. It’s claim to fame is that this is where the big movie-house scene in The Blob was filmed. It’s also a beautiful sounding theater. We had another very good show tonight. Unfortunately the turnout was a little light (the promoter put it down to it being the last night for The Sopranos), but those that turned up provided a lot of energy.
Speaking of The Sopranos….we gathered in the bus after the show and watched the midnight airing. The opinions on the episode were mixed. At the very least, true to form, it surprised us all. I kind of like the way it all came back to the family (the blood family that is), which is what made the show so special in the first place. Others wanted the show to go out in an explosion of gunfire and blood. My only problem with the episode was using a Journey song for the big last scene. I understand Tony’s attachment to classic rock, but Journey has never worked for me. We’re all going to miss you Tony…thanks for a great seven years.