i·me·michael

It’s amazing what you can do in 24 hours.

We started off some time after 2pm on Saturday, heading east towards Boston. The reason? Beck performing at the FleetBoston Pavillion. Tickets had been purchased weeks before by my boss, who had asked myself and two coworkers if we were interested in going. We were all fans of the funky, folky sounds of Beck, and since none of us had previously seen him perform, this was going to be a great opportunity. I personally had never been to Boston other than for a short business trip or just passing through, so it was also an opportunity for me to check out a bit more of this revolutionary town.

Roughly three and a half hours later we were checking in at the Royal Sonesta Hotel and planning where we’d have dinner before heading to the show. One of our gang of four had lived and worked in Boston for a time, so he assumed the role of tour guide while we were there, and Hanover St. was where we were lead for dinner.

Construction seemed to be everywhere as our rickety cab bounced in and out of potholes, making its way to what had to be the most concentrated collection of Italian restaurants I have ever seen. Exiting our cab, we wandered Hanover St. with the throngs of other would-be patrons looking to make a connection with the right restaurant, and enjoying a brief break from the rain. We settled on one (the name of which escapes me), and enjoyed some good food and fine wine before heading over to the Pavillion.

The Black Keys were the opening act as the sky began to darken, the air became colder, and the rain fell once again. As an open air amphitheater, I’m sure the Pavillion is a gorgeous place to see a show when the air is warm and inviting, but a cold rainy day on the waterfront removes much of the charm. Still, we were prepared, and didn’t let the weather dampen the evening. The Black Keys ended their set without much fanfare, and we waited for what was sure to be an electric show by Beck.

Beck did not disappoint. He was heavy, funky, and infused the crowd with enough energy to keep them moving and grooving through his entire set. The crowd went especially wild for Beck’s brand of quirky dance step, and he knew it, and used it to full advantage. At the end of the night the crowd’s enthusiasm brought him back for two encores. The crowd then headed out into the rain-soaked streets, and we went looking to flag down the first empty cab we could find.

We extended the party by dropping by a few bars, ending up at Charlie’s Kitchen. By this point we were pretty drunk and silly, and the running gag was a concert shirt that my boss had been trying to snag from one of my coworkers. We sloppily made our way back to the Royal Sonesta, and before we got on the elevator, my boss motioned to me that we were going to make a move on my co-worker once inside the elevator. The four of us got in, each taking a wall, all facing each other, and the moment the doors closed we fell into a heap of wrestling bodies on the floor, finally spilling out onto the third floor. A bit more wrestling in one of the rooms (it was about 3am) and we finally broke it up for some sleep so we could leave fairly early in the day.

A few hours sleep and we were having breakfast in Johnny D’s, where we were greeted with great coffee and food. Without much leisure time, we were on our way home by 10:30-11, finally ending our trip at almost the exact hour it had begun the previous day. Sleep was utmost on our minds and much of what was left of my Sunday was spent in quiet repose.

It was a great trip, and one that has me wanting to visit Boston more often. It’s amazing what you can do in 24 hours. Maybe next time I’ll find the time to take some pictures.