Fan Stories & Photos

Jimmy from Philadephia writes After seeing the boys in 1978, I didn't think it was going to take them NINE years to come back again! I waited patiently never giving up hope that the third album would materialize one day and bring them back. After rumours, setbacks, lawsuits and an illegal preview of Amanda played on the radio back in 1983, Boston finally released "Third Stage" in September of 1986, and now they were returning to the concert stage at last! I quickly acquired tickets and was going to take a co-worker but she backed out. Another co-worker agreed to go but he too canceled out on me. Man, what was up here? Ten years ago they woulda been fighting to get these tickets! Another guy who really would've wanted to see the show also was not available and I ended up giving it to a scalper for less than I'd paid. He in turn sold it to a fanatical fan from Texas who was up here running a children's camp in West Chester (some 35 miles away! He'd either hitched or taken a train!). Now this was more like it! Great to see the show with someone who APPRECIATED Boston! The fan (Bob, I believe his name was) was excited to be in Philly where they'd filmed all his favorite movies, like "Trading Places", "Blow Out", and "Rocky". The show was EXCELLENT of course. Bassist David Sikes was a real plus helping out on vocals, including that high note on "Hollyann". Boston was sounding even BETTER vocally than they had in '78. I was surprised that they didn't open with "The Launch" which would've been a great idea. And, the promised spaceship stage effects that Tom had talked about in interviews were not in evidence. Also, the key on "Cool The Engines" and those other middle songs on Third Stage was lowered. Probably to enable Brad to better hit the notes since those songs were pitched pretty high vocally. I was surprised that they added more songs to the setlist later in the tour like "Hitch a Ride", "Used To Bad News", and "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" which were NOT played at this show. These were minor quibbles as the band was in extremely FINE FORM. And you don't get to see a Boston show everyday (or even every year!) After the concert concluded I offered to give Bob a ride back to the train station showing him the Philly sites(and all the filming locations) in the process. He was glad to find at least one neighborly guy in the Northeast.

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