The Jim Irsay Collection and concert.

 I have no idea why I didn't get this posted "months" ago...

The Jim Irsay Collection
TD Garden, Boston MA
Saturday, July 15, 2023

 

A few months back I started seeing ads for a free event at the TD Garden.  Jim Irsay, owner of the NFL franchise Indianaoplis Colts, was bringing some of this impressive collectibles on the road for folks to view and would also have some live music performed by an “All Star Band”.  The price was right (FREE) and it was a Saturday night.  Why not.

Irsay has spent millions on memrobilia and its impressive.  Sports, to politics, to documents to guitars.  Really something for all.

Doors opened at 6pm allowing for fans to walk around and see the memroblillia and then take a seat (or stand on the floor) for the show.  The band would arrive on stage about 8:15 and play until close to 11:15.  It was impressive.

Now, who are these “All Stars”.  Well that list in and of itself is impressive.  For me the big draw was Mike Mills, the bassist from R.E.M.  Just to see him perform again was enough to pique my interest.  Kenny Wayne Shepherd was another big name (guitar) and Kenny Arnoff (drums).  At one point there was FOURTEEN people on stage.  It worked.  I’ll break things down a little more

 

Now with the show its probably easier to cheat and share some moments.  You can see the set list here:

The show opened with Irsay seated and they performed “Lawyers Guns and Money” by Warren Zevon and Stuck inside of Moblie With the Mephis Blues Again by Bob Dylan.  After that Irsay left the stage for a while to let the band play.

Mike Mills did two songs.  (Don’t got Back to) Rockville” and “Superman”.  That was a thrill for me personally.  Kenny Wayne Shepherd then had his turn.  I will be honest and say I don’t know a ton about him.  When I worked in Boston Radio for a few years we played him but I had never seen him live.  He did “Blue on Black” which I knew and he is just an incredible guitar player.  He piqued my interest to make and effort to see him when he tours and seek out more of his material.

 

A bit later Irsay returned and introduced some New England Patriots players and Indianapolis Colts players.  They tossed out some autographed hats and the music continued.

 

The latter part of the show is when the three “big” guests performed.  The first was Vince Gill.  I admit I know zero about him (other than his name).  He was good.  Funny too.  He started off “Do we have any country music fans” and he got the cheers and he said “Well that’s could because this was gonna be a long 30 minutes otherwise”.  He is a good guitar player!

Gill wrapped up and introduced Kevin Cronin from Reo Speedwagon.  He jumped right in.  He was all smiles and complimentary to the band and Irsay.  As he wrapped up he told the story about how they had opened for J.Gelis at the garden and was excited to see Peter Wolf.

Wolf, who is 77, took the stage and didn’t stop moving.  I honestly going in was sorta “ehh” but he did a ton to impress.  He’s earned it for sure, and I left with a different opinion.

Irsay returned and the band did two songs from Pink Floyd.  The big one was “Comfortably Numb” where Shepherd used David Gilmours black Fender Strat (that Irsay won in an auction for 3.9 Million dollars) and he really made it is own.

For "free" you really can't go wrong.