July 8, 2010: The Final Concert #2 - Playlist
1. Deathcab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
The simple line "I need you so much closer" was burned into Spring 2009, and there seemed to be a foreshadowing at that time that this song would somehow find its way into the final concert. And it did. Just watching Andy play the guitar on the very memorable and very sad guitar parts of this song, was such a surreal experience. This was a stunning opener and a stunning performance of this song.
2. Boogie Down Production - Criminal Minded
A novelty selection by Gary, and also a surprise in this final concert because it does not contain the musical power that you think would be required for such a night. But as soon as Gary got into his classic performance of the song's insane lyrics, the collective mood was relieved in the basement, and they begun to think that this song was a good idea. For novelty's sake only.
3. Coldplay - Warning Sign
It is hard to believe that over three years ago, when this song was first played in a concert, that both performers knew in their heart of hearts, that this song would make its way into the final concert. Even though this song was played once already in 2010 (June), there is just something about it that cannot let go of the mind and heart. The song is too unselfish, and too humble to leave out on this famous night.
4. Jay Z - H To The Izzo
The surprise song of the concert by far. This was not a concert song, but it was part of the twins' upbringing. Gary chose to go with the humorous side of things to begin his concert, which isn't something we are not accustomed to, but this song was a major surprise. The line "I will work with him" stuck, and was even repeated during Andy's turn out of the driveway, on his way to his new home.
5. Splender - Wide Awake
This is not the only Splender song that could have been selected for this concert. Most thought it might have been "Loneliest Person I Know", but "Wide Awake" is just so much better and more fit lyrically and message-wise for the final night. This song was played twice during 2010 prior to the final concert, but that did not decrease it's value on this night. There is something uplifting about the song and it's ham-fisted bridge that made it one of the greatest concert songs of its time.
6. Good Charlotte - Boys & Girls
Another surprise song, but again, a song that seemed to contain the ingredients of Andy's and Gary's upbringings. The song's childish lyrics can be disregarded, because the catchiness and power-pop music in this song is quite enjoyable, with a slight mellow tone. The outro to the song is exceptional.
7. The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize??
Gary said it best during this song's play: "This song HAD to be here tonight". He was right. This song has a heavy history, and that history leaked into 2010, when it was played in the car before Andy had a well-documented brotherly moment with Gary at home. The Darwinistic faith instilled in this song made it a universal hit on this final concert night.
8. Live - Overcome
There isn't a whole lot of history regarding this song in concerts, but it does have its own sort of integrity on the final concert night. The song could be able a range of things, but most accurately seems to be about religion, or change of it, or finding it. For all intents and purposes, this was a wise play for the final night.
9. Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
Radiohead didn't have much of a shelf-life in concerts after 2006, but this little song isn't really very little: it's underratedly complicated and emotional. The Radiohead Era was brief, but turned powerful well after it was conducted. "It wears me out" is a line that everybody can attest to at one point or another.
10. 311 - Amber
311 needed to make headroom somewhere in this final concert, and even though "Amber" wasn't that much of a concert player in its day, it's still an exceptional song that turned into a good idea for this concert. An underrated beat and sparkling Caribbean guitars make it easy on the ears, and the bridge contains timeless lyrics that sounded just as fresh as those days it came onto the radio in Fall 2002.
11. Delirious? - Find Me In The River
If you cannot find the value in this song, then you probably aren't listening to music correctly. Take it as you want: religiously, spiritually, romantically, any way you decide, this song will make sense. What's most important is the universal approach the song takes. The chorus has a solid hook, but it's even sweeter when the lyrics are good to boot.
12. Neil Young - A Man Needs A Maid
The saddest song of Gary's concert. There is significant seriousness and desperation in this song that only Neil Young can do. He's old. He's wise. He's grumpy. But he's believable because he writes intelligent lines of godfather-like wisdom. The orchestral parts of the song are equally as intense.
13. Deathcab for Cutie - Passenger Seat
This is stunningly serious song that speaks of very serious and specific things. The heavy piano provides a rain-driven, vigilant background to the song, as it moves slowly and cautiously. The "driving me home" lines are the killers, and have stuck since Spring 2009. There wasn't a song that provided such a surreal experience such as this one, whenever it was played, and it was an honor to hear it during such an equally emotional evening.
14. John Mayer - No Such Thing
John Mayer was not a part of concerts' history, but this song was meant for nights such as the final concert, simply because the lyrics are so relatable and are meant for the ends of roads. It's not really a sad song by any means, it's just, a very true song about very real observations of life.
15. Embrace - I Had A Time
If you sit down and think about the beautiful clarinet that comes into this song, you will remember this final concert night. You will also remember how powerful the music is that this band makes. Embrace is a band we saw coming into the final weeks of concerts. This song is someone singing at their most honest and most beautiful moment.
16. Lifehouse - Everything
This was a mild surprise, because Lifehouse was not a big concert band. That's probably because they don't write a lot of diverse material, and stay relatively mainstream and somewhat placid (think 3 Doors Down). The lead singer isn't much of a charismatic either. But this song seemed to do alright in the final stretch of the final concert, simply because of its bare ability.
17. Eve 6 - Here's To The Night
The brothers were only 21 years old when they knew that this song would be in the final concert. That was back in spring 2005, but despite their youth at the time, they knew that this song would make headlines in the final night. This was the first time in this concert that both performers knew that the end had come, and first recognized the power and finale of the night. Eve 6 had an unbelievable return run at the end of concerts, and this song, to be played at this stature, at this juncture, even as predicted as it was, still didn't shake the gold from this song.
18. The Cranberries - Linger
There needed to be a huge, classic song to follow up "Here's To The Night", and "Linger" seemed to come fairly close to that. This was one of the most beautiful 90's songs ever to be played in concerts, and it seemed fitting to be played at the end of this final concert. But it didn't feel 100% real and valid because, the song is almost too good and too classic for its own good. There's some truth to that somewhere.
19. Alabama - The Fans
Had this been this song's first ever play in concerts, it could have had even more of an impact on this night than it did. But do not mistake it, this song is a song that absolutely had to be played last on Andy's side. And how fitting that it was a band that basically introduced music to the twins when they were little. And to boot, the song's easy to understand messages (an ode to the fans) made it a very realistic listen on this night.
20. Alabama - Goodbye
Gary said nothing before selecting play on this final song of the final concert. But his emotions reached places that have never been experienced on the basement floor. Erupting into tears, shaking, becoming weak in the knees, and collapsing into Andy's arms happened only within 30 seconds of the song. It seems that with the twins both selecting Alabama songs (not on purpose) to be played as last songs, seemed about as right and as ironic as anything has ever felt in the basement before.