“What Goes On”
This B-side to “Nowhere Man” could easily be mistaken for a Carl Perkins cover, but it’s not. Ringo sings this song and even got partial writing credit – his first with the group, according to BeatleSongs. Tell Me Why claims the “innocuous, out-of-tune delivery” by Ringo was part of the plan with presenting the song as a tribute to the rockabilly pioneers this song pays tribute to, but that’s just Ringo’s style (listen to how he covers “Honey Don’t” then his original “Octopus’s Garden”).
A good night’s sleep after a great concert and I was ready for day 2 in Boston. This day would start much later than day 1, but still be just as packed with activity.
Breakfast was alright, but more expensive and less filling than I would have liked. Whatever. It got me going and out the door. After going the wrong way on the subway I got myself turned around and was only a few minutes late meeting Marianne.
After gathering up come coffee we started on the Black Heritage Trail. This is a fascinating look at American history that we often overlook or gloss over. It starts off at the Shaw Memorial then winds around for a little over a mile ending up at the Black Heritage Museum.
Sadly the trail itself is not conducive to a self-guided tour. The map is alright (though you have to print it out) but most of the locations are not marked or designated. That’s the subject for a different blog post though.
It was fun, despite the disappointment of the Black Heritage Trail to wander around Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood with Marianne. She knows her history and her Boston and is a wonderful friend to have along in a historic city.
Lunch was Indian food, which is no surprise if you know me. Then it was a bit of wandering around looking for a present for a different friend. This included stopping off at one of the original mile markers to Boston that lies in a cemetery in Cambridge. Finally it was time to head over to McGreevy’s for the Mighty Mighty Meet & Greet.
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are a band that loves its fans and actually expresses that love by doing more than paying lipservice. This was the 5th year the band has done the meet & greet, and it’s free of charge. Most (if not all) of the band members are there and they sign anything you ask. The line can move slow because they will take the time to talk to the fans and they shuffle through. This time around I simply thanked them for playing “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love” the previous night and got a couple of items signed.
A quick dinner and off to the second of three nights for the Hometown Throwdown. Straw Dogs and Youth Brigade opened and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones came out looking sharp in a mix of white and plaid tuxedos.
And the set list was different. Something like half the songs were different. Of course the big hits were there (“Where Did You Go” or “The Impression That I Get”) but this night they played “Death Valley Vipers” with a guy dressed up in a mariachi outfit on trumpet. “Hope I Never Lose My Wallet” was another song on this evening’s set list that wasn’t played on night one.
In bed by midnight and day 2 in Boston was over.