Welcome to Dad’s Car Radio!
I’m your host, Dad – also known as C. Peter Clough. I’ll be joined here in 
words and music by my daughter, Chelsea. On our daily drives to school, we take turns selecting the songs we listen to – it’s fun for us and we have decided to share.
On these short journeys – about 15 minutes – we will share music that we enjoy and talk a bit about it. Being Dad, I try to add some information and sense of history with my selections and Chelsea picks ones that she thinks are cooler than whatever I just played.
In addition to the recordings, we will add photos, and report on various events. Starting today with a report from the Virgin Music Festival, which the entire family attended on September 23rd, 2006 at the Pimlico Race Course. We live within walking distance of the race track and when I saw this amazing concert advertised, frankly I was stunned. "I can walk to see The Who???" We’re going!"
So, we all got tickets and went to see the show.
(By the way – you can see larger versions of all the pictures by clicking on them. Except where noted, I took all these pictures.)
The Pimlico Race Course Infield, normally an empty grassy lawn except for Preakness day now contained 2 stages, 14 bands, the dark horse Dance tent featuring world famous DJ’s, the freak lounge with sideshow acts, various causes and concessions, half a dozen radio stations and about 40,000 people – most of them not born the first time I saw The Who in 1979…
We arrived at the Festival during the Raconteurs set. Jack White, who 
looked as if this was one of the first days he had seen the sun in some time, is one of the most compelling figures in contemporary rock and this band – side project? Hiatus diversion? – is a more traditional approach to music than the White Stripes. 4 guys – Verse Chorus Verse – but nicely done. Kind of sounded like a mix of Revolver-era Beatles, the Kinks, The Stones, The Stooges and well, Jack White… Not a knock out – but a nice way to start the day.
We then walked all the way across the vast infield of Pimlico – stopping off to see the fire-eater in the Freak Lounge – to the smaller "Clubhouse Stage" where the exciting young band, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was already doing their indie rock thing. I loved the sound of these guys – they looked 
kind of uncomfortable playing a gig outdoors at 3 in the afternoon, but the crowd was into it and I definitely need to hear more from them.
Strolling back across the infield we visited with some old radio station buddies from WRNR – Radio Annapolis, I worked with Rob Timm, Bob Waugh and Mary Kay (LeMay) Waugh at the famous WHFS back in the early 1990’s. Always nice to see them – Rob was sporting a t-shirt that quoted Vice President Dick Cheney’s suggestion to Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy "Go Fuck Yourself". 
Everyone agreed that we were all older but still damn good looking and smart, too.
Back at the Larger Grandstand Stage it was time for Gnarls Barkley. They had the song of the summer with "Crazy" and I was excited to see this live set as I had read how they always dressed in a different theme. Today’s theme was Rome. Cee-Lo Green was wearing a Centurion’s helmet and Gold breastplate. "We’ll be your entertainment for the evening," the charming, charismatic singer-rapper Green announced in the middle of the afternoon. "We are the Chariots of Fire."
Photo borrowed from WashingtonPost.com without permission of any kind
An 11 piece band re-created their funk hip hop R&B blend which included a cover version (also on the CD) of the Violent Femmes "Gone Daddy Gone" which we were told "We break this one out when we need a boost because this one goes to 11" .
After Gnarls, Chelsea and her friend Susanna wanted to check out the dance tent so we trucked over to the tent which was heating up in the afternoon sun and smelled of hay and horses – or was that ravers? John Digweed was mixing a propulsive set that started to induce vertigo and headache after about 3 minutes, it sounded better as we were walking away…
Back to the main stage to hear the polished set from The Killers. I only hung here for a few songs – which sounded like Rock and Roll to me and they dressed with some style, but frankly, I wasn’t really moved. – About 15,000 kids packed up to the stage must have disagreed…
I moved along with my wife, Gail over to hear the Thievery Corporation on the smaller stage. NOW, we’re talking. This was the most interesting music of the day. The stage was filled with the most exlectic assortment of musicians and gear – Keyboards, Computers, turntables, Bass, Congas, Timbales, Guitar, Saxophone, Trumpet, Sitar and Belly Dancers. With various guest singers 
and rappers changing in and out from song to song. Hearing "Lebanese Blonde" played live as the sun went down and the sky cleared was a beautiful moment. We already loved this ensemble and would go back to see them headline a club or small hall gig in a heartbeat. See for yourself at their website by clicking here.
Back across the midway – did I mention stopping for $8.00 drinks along the way each time we crossed… It’s time for The Who! And everyone is here… except Keith Moon and John Entwistle and the upper register of Roger Daltry’s voice… It was great to hear the songs – Pete played the guitar with as much authority as ever – but with less wild abandon – he is 62 after all… As for Roger, he leather lunged strutting rock star may be in the past and he had some trouble with the high notes, but he got more right than wrong and with thousands of fans helping out it became a case of "The shotgun sings the song".
The Red Hot Chili Peppers by contrast are a band that is still at full power. Strong, confident, and damn close to slick at this point… After three songs – I was off to see the Flaming Lips. Along the way I made a quick mobile phone call to Radio Hannibal who was in the midst of DJ-ing a picnic somewhere in Ohio to let him know I was about to experience one of his favorite bands for the very first time. Speaking of using Mobile phones – they had a cool thing going between bands. Kids sent text messages and they were displayed on the giant screens by the stage – all sorts of random thoughts and greetings…
The Flaming Lips. What a blast! Thousands singing along to "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" and "She Don’t Use Jelly" Colored lights and Confetti 
Balloons – GIANT Balloons bouncing across the heads of the crowd – Dancing Santa Clauses on stage – This whole day had many carnival elements and now they were all on one stage and ring master Wayne Coyne – urging the crowd to give more energy – "I know it’s been a long day but you’ve gotta give us some more" and we did. 
They sold a few records and made more than a few new fans that night – you simply can not watch this band without being charmed.
Then it was all over – and I just had to walk home. Beautiful.
