Bob Wagner and Friends at Nectar’s November 2, 2016 pic by Tim Lewis

 

I had a great time seeing music last Wednesday at Nectar’s. Wednesday is my Saturday so having a show run from 3-5 in the afternoon was just perfect. It was a warm and sunny day and the walk downtown was lovely. I arrived just about 3 and lots of people were milling about and talking politics. I found a seat in the window until the band got set up to play. Billed as Bob Wagner and friends the band was filled out by Josh Weinstein on bass, Steve Hadeka on drums, Mike from Sad Turtle on keys and Walker on electric guitar. Bob played some stunning electric guitar and sang. Since the special guest of the day made a video about the event and said the band would be the Beatles, they opened with a rocking version of One After 909. They followed with a bunch of classic songs that I feel like I should have known but couldn’t quite place. I loved them all and had fun rocking out as the room slowly filled behind me. The second song was Ophelia. The third was something about you’re the only one, what cha trying to do. The fourth was a familiar sounding instrumental. The fifth may have been something to the effect of from time to time and your destruction. The sixth was a fun bluesish rocker. Throughout the whole show the band was ridiculously tight with a super insistent bass, steady drumming with fun fills, and lots of keyboard swirls. Walker and Bob played some leads and both were just great. A seventh song about standing strong on your love was lovely, then they left the stage as the politicians entered the room and encouraged people to vote.

Sue Minter spoke about the differences in Republican and Democratic politics, basically top down or bottom up funding plans. Peter Welch encouraged us to go vote. Patric Leahy spoke of his service to Vermont and then he introduced the special guest of the day, Minnesota Senator Al Franken. Al was both funny and serious and genuinely cares about people and is happy to be in a place where he can help. He empathized with how hard it is to go knock on doors and call people to get them to come out and vote, when most of us have jobs and kids and families. He encouraged us to ignore them, after all kids have more fun when parents are not around. A 10 year old can operate a microwave and the 10 year old can teach the 5 year old. That’s just science, and Democrats believe in science. He encouraged us to take this election very seriously and after the show he brought most of the audience over to city hall to vote early.

 

 

Peter Welch, Pat Leahy and Al Franken at Nectar’s November 2, 2016 pic by Tim Lewis

 

 

Sue Minter at Nectar’s November 2, 2016 pic by Tim Lewis

 

Peter Welch at Nectar’s November 2, 2016 pic by Tim Lewis

 

Pat Leahy at Nectar’s November 2, 2016 pic by Tim Lewis

 

 

Al Franken at Nectar’s November 2, 2016 pic by Tim Lewis

 

 

The mass exodus was not ideal for the band and there was a long break that followed. I debated leaving but hung out for a bit and they came back to the stage. They played a stunning version of Crosseyed And Painless and the few people still in the room were thrilled. They played another that I did not know, but thoroughly enjoyed, and it was something about I always wanted you to love me. They capped the afternoon with a super long epic version of Reeling In The Years and Bob’s guitar work was out of this world.

I headed out pretty quickly and stopped at Drifter’s for a light dinner. It was a lovely way to spend a day in Burlington.

 

 

Bob Wagner and Friends at Nectar’s November 2, 2016 pic by Tim Lewis

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) emerged as one of the most notable progressive defenders of the National Security Agency’s sweeping surveillance programs on Monday when he expressed a “high level of confidence” that the federal government’s collection of phone and Internet data has been effective in thwarting terrorism.

“I can assure you, this is not about spying on the American people,” Franken told Minneapolis-based CBS affiliate WCCO. The junior Minnesota senator, who’s only been in the Senate since 2009, said he was “was very well aware of” the surveillance programs and was not surprised by a recent slate of bombshell reports by both The Guardian and The Washington Post.

“I have a high level of confidence that this is used to protect us and I know that it has been successful in preventing terrorism,” Franken said.