Sunday night the Fremont Street Experience concluded its 2018 Free Summer Concert Series with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are an American ska punk band from Boston formed in 1983. Since the band's inception, lead vocalist Dicky Barrett, bassist Joe Gittleman, tenor saxophonist Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton and dancer ("Bosstone") Ben Carr have remained constant members. The line-up also includes drummer Joe Sirois, saxophonist Leon Silva, guitarist Lawrence Katz and trombonist Chris Rhodes.
It was very full crowd in front of the stage on back into the street, and the crowd was very lively, especially considering it was a Sunday night. Singer Dicky Barrett walked out to the front of the stage and greeted the crowd with a "Hello Las Vegas...let's dance!" From the first notes of "The Rascal King", to the last notes of "A Pretty Sad Excuse", the dancing Bosstone, Ben Carr, never stopped moving! I don't know how he was able to dance through a non-stop 24-song set, but he sure did it! The whole set was a steady stream of Bosstone tunes, with a few covers thrown in for added flavor. MMB included "It's Constant" and "Green Bay, Wisconsin" from While We're At It, their tenth studio album released June 15, and the band's first studio album in seven years.
Barrett donated the white sunglasses he wore out on stage to a lucky fan, and also brought a young boy up on stage to dance. The lucky youngster was ecstatic and bounced his way through "All Things Considered" with a huge grin on his face while Barrett took off his tie and put it around the kid's neck, and at the end of the song he gave him a hug and sent him back to his parents with the tie as a souvenir. MMB finished their hour and a half long set with "The Impression That I Get" (which, of course, drew the largest cheer of the night) and "A Pretty Sad Excuse". The Bosstones put on a fantastic live performance, and following the show a few of the band members came out to shake hands, sign autographs, and talk with fans. What a great bunch of guys and a great night of entertainment!
Mighty Mighty Bosstones Set List:
The Rascal King
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Kinder Words
Sunday Afternoon on Wisdom Ave.
Someday I Suppose
Everybody's Better
You Left Right?
The Constant
He's Back
Let Me Be
Royal Oil
Rudie Can't Fail (The Clash)
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
All Things Considered
Where'd You Go?
Simmer Down (The Wailers)
Dr. D
They Will Need Music
Bad News And Bad Breaks
Wonderful Day For The Race
Don't Worry Desmond Dekker
I Can See Clearly Now (Johnny Nash)
The Impression That I Get
A Pretty Sad Excuse
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones photos from Randy Udell / R U Rockin' Photos