George Thorogood looks a hell of a lot better than last time I saw him, which wasn't actually in person but on a pay-per-view preview for one of his shows. (I saw the preview on illegal satellite TV if that makes the story spicier for you.) Back then, probably five or six years ago, George was carrying another fifty pounds. He was also rocking this sleeveless black shirt with neon green piping. And he had a pretty bad case of bye-bye arm. He's not exactly svelte these days, but he's looking a damn site better.
When we arrived, Sarah's first words were, "This is a different crowd tonight." True, indeed. A lot of... George's contemporaries, shall we say? But surprisingly, there was a huge youngster contingent. Some of them there to enjoy the show in an ironic way, I'm sure, but just as many there to rock out.
I recognized every third song, the classics like "Move It On Over," "Who Do You Love," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer," but even the non-classics sounded immediately familiar even though I'm sure I'd never heard them before. Mock George all you want, but brother writes a catchy tune. And he's dirty, too. Not so foul-mouthed, just suggestive and gross. The high point went something like this: "All you divorced ladies out there, and all you ladies thinking about getting divorced, how 'bout you all come out on the dance floor and grind for Georgie!" Cougar rock at its finest.
But we had a great time. Even though he's probably put on this same show a thousand times, and even though his stage patter probably never varies ("You know what I think? [This town I'm currently in] is Canada's best kept secret! YEAAAAAAAAH!"), you believe everything he says. It must be like seeing Wayne Newton; when Wayne tells you you're the best audience he's ever had, even though you're the forty-millionth crowd he's said that to, you truly believe that you are the best audience he's ever had.
When we arrived, Sarah's first words were, "This is a different crowd tonight." True, indeed. A lot of... George's contemporaries, shall we say? But surprisingly, there was a huge youngster contingent. Some of them there to enjoy the show in an ironic way, I'm sure, but just as many there to rock out.
I recognized every third song, the classics like "Move It On Over," "Who Do You Love," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer," but even the non-classics sounded immediately familiar even though I'm sure I'd never heard them before. Mock George all you want, but brother writes a catchy tune. And he's dirty, too. Not so foul-mouthed, just suggestive and gross. The high point went something like this: "All you divorced ladies out there, and all you ladies thinking about getting divorced, how 'bout you all come out on the dance floor and grind for Georgie!" Cougar rock at its finest.
But we had a great time. Even though he's probably put on this same show a thousand times, and even though his stage patter probably never varies ("You know what I think? [This town I'm currently in] is Canada's best kept secret! YEAAAAAAAAH!"), you believe everything he says. It must be like seeing Wayne Newton; when Wayne tells you you're the best audience he's ever had, even though you're the forty-millionth crowd he's said that to, you truly believe that you are the best audience he's ever had.
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