Someone call The Police

On The Silly by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

In the 70’s, Somerfest sponsored free concerts on the blocked off streets of Somerville. In 1978 there was a concert at Powder House Park featuring Shadowfax, Derringer and Zenophon - it was free. J. Geils played at Tufts in 1971 - we snuck in, so it too was free. Remember when we went to see rock groups at the old Boston Garden, The Music Hall and The Orpheum? I remember seeing Queen open for Mott The Hoople in the 70’s. I also saw The Who at The Music Hall (Keith Moon fell off his drum set) and several bands at the Garden - I think the tickets were like $8 or $12 each.

Someone would almost always spill a beer on me and I would go home with wet, beer-scented pants. So now I am older and one would have to think that those days are in the past, right? Wrong!

Very recently I took my boys and a friend of theirs to see The Police at the T.D. Banknorth Garden and you guessed it - I came home with wet pants - but times have changed and this time it was a little different. In the old days we’d get a buzz on and go to the concert where some idiot who had one too many would drench me with his beer as he yelled “right on” or some colorful expletive, but at The Police concert it was a Coke and I spilled it on myself (sort of). I had just gotten back from the third bathroom trip with one of my sons (3 boys with me and yes, 3 separate trips) and I had a pretzel in one hand and a Coke in the other. I put the Coke between my legs and of course the cover popped off and drenched my pants, two coats under my seat and even the guy sitting in front of me. I had to sit through the concert with wet, sticky pants soaked right through to my underwear.

Okay, so let’s re-cap - I paid $97.50 each for four tickets (in the nosebleed section), t-shirts were $35.00 each, a pretzel was either $3.50 or $4.00 each, the Cokes were $4 each and I had to pay $25.00 to park. I almost had to take out a home equity line for one concert – and oh yeah, did I mention that they didn’t even play Roxanne! That’s like Skynryd not performing “Freebird” or Alice Cooper not singing “School’s Out”.

Oh yeah – it took us 20 minutes to get out of the damned parking garage. Quite frankly, if I had seen Sting after the show, I think I would have probably smacked him in his tantric face - talk about being stung. Yeah I’m probably supposed to say something like: “well, as long as the kids had a good time...blah blah blah” – NO - I am going to complain! I want the old days back - I can’t afford the new days.

Oh, and one more thing - the only place my father took me was to Trum Field to watch the (free) fireworks on July 4th or to The Memorial Day Parade (another free event). He also took us to pick grapes in my grandfather’s yard. As a matter of fact, if my father was alive, he would have said something like: “$97.50 for one ticket? Who are you, Rockefeller? You gotta be soft!”

I say lets at least bring back those free Somerfest rock concerts - they were good enough for us when we were kids and they will be good enough for our kids. In any case, my boys have their own band now and it’s about time they start earning some dough and pay me back for the five hundred dollar “stinging”. So come on Mayor Joe - bring back Somerfest - I can’t afford any more concerts at The Garden.

P.S. - Dear Sting, because you didn’t play “Roxanne” for my $500.00 concert, you Sting-K! You can email Jimmy with comments directly at jimmydel@rcn.com

Comments

[tito]

Amen Jimmy - please Mayor Joe bring them concets back and get old Jimmy a diaper so he doesn't wet his pants!

[ouch my eyes]

Either don't go or stop whinning.

[Election]

Can we whine about the haircut in the picture above? It's painful to watch! :0

[Linda Belcher]

I remember those concerts and you are right those were the "good old days" I enjoyed those concerts. As kids we would follow them where ever they were playing. So I agree Mayor Joe should bring them back

[mike bonanno]

The free fireworks at trum field were great, oh ya, my mother won the car one year at those fire works from the babe ruth league.

[Mouth- O- plenty]

What's wrong with having a good head of hair?? Jealous??

[Mouth- O- plenty]

I think it was more tongue in cheek than actual whining. Lighten up !!

[Sting]

why would you take 3 young kids to see the 70's band the Police? Wow, father-of-the-year award here we come. What, the Wiggles weren't playing ?

[Barnstormer]

Hey, the guy meant well. Are you a Wiggles Fan ??

[T]

Have you ever heard of the Subway? MBTA.com Faster and cheaper than waiting to get out of the garage and paying $25.

There are still plenty of free concerts to be found in the summer. Seek and Ye shall Find.

[Ron Newman]

Or better yet, the commuter rail from Porter Square -- goes right to the Tedious BankNorth Garden.

[Born Here]

or, extend the bike path there. Thats always a SN hot topic.

[Election]

Obviously, the kids would think their dad was a loser, had he taken them there on public transportation. Sad.

[JJD]

ouch my eyes, election, T, Tito and Sting you guys sound like a bunch of really annoying babies. I know you huys dont have lives and you spend you WHOLE day trying to find something to be mean about on the computer. At least Jimmy has a life!!!!!! and plus, He's famous!!! and you guys live in your mom's basement.

[Alphonso]

What a bunch of losers. Do you pick everthing in life apart like this article. Get a Life !!!!

[Election]

Wrong! The baby is the melonhead in the picture! He's the one who whined about the concert nobody forced him to attend!!!

[JJDer]

he's "famous"?? I guess getting Matt Seigel and the ancient Dale DORFman coffee makes you famous. Jimmy is a funny guy, but famous....NOT

[Alphonso]

HA HA HA .. such
jeaoulosy !!! small paper.....small minds!!!!!!!!!

[Sniffy]

Dont't you girls have anything better to do than dump on people??

[Klondike Ed]

I think The article was supposed to be funny, not serious. Those kids are lucky to go to a concert, even if their father complains. I think it was funny.

[sassafrass]

Hey JJ DER It's Siegel ...

[JJDer]

Thanks, couldn't remember how to spell the name of the 50+ year old goof that thinks he's still "in".

[Kiss Freak]

JJDer ..Why are you so bitter and mean ???

[assball]

50 + multi-millionaire goof !!

[Rodney King]

"can't we all just get-a-long"?

[Klondike Ed]

You tell them Rodney !!!

[worker bee]

Do any of you boring bloggers have jobs??