Elvis, Phillies and the Iron Pigs

Evening and happy Friday to all y'all!

It's that time of year again... spring here means it's fall down under, which of course means it's hop harvest time in the southern hemisphere!

Tonight's brew is the 2011 installment of Sierra Nevada's Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale. Yep, and it tastes as good as it looks.

Last week I returned from a trip up north that I planned... first, when I heard DMB wasn't touring this summer, and second when I heard about the Elvis Costello Revolver Tour.


I've been a fan of Elvis Costello since the 1980s. During that decade, he went on a tour that featured a giant spinning wheel on stage. Elvis invited fans up to spin the wheel, which featured classic song titles. Whatever song the wheel landed on, he and the band played. A couple friends went to see him that tour, but I wasn't able to go. Try as I might, I never got to see Elvis Costello live and he never broke out the spinning wheel again.

Fast forward 25 years or so later, Elvis announced a new tour in 2011 featuring the spinning wheel, called the Revolver Tour. I had to go, he's one of the few artists left on my concert bucket list.

I bought tickets and also made plans to take in some ball games while I was up for my visit. The Monkey and I made the trip down to Philly and stayed at the same hotel we did last year when we went to the back-to-back DMB shows in Camden. It's right behind the Phil's ballpark and you can't beat that view.


The Elvis show was at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pa, home to many shows over the years, but this was my first visit.

One of the things I like most about visiting the Philly area is the availability of Yards - Philadelphia Pale Ale and their IPA. Both are great, but as of yet can't get them down south. It really made my trip that not only did the hotel bar have Yards Philly Pale Ale on tap, but so did the Tower Theater, woop, woop!

The show started and was amazing from start to finish. Elvis and his band played some of my all-time favorites... Beyond Belief, Watching the Detectives, Radio Radio, Pump It Up, What's So Funny ('Bout Peace, Love And Understanding), and Mystery Dance.


The view was closer than appears in the photo above. It was a great show and the press agreed.

Next day, Monkey and I took in some historic sites around Philly. Believe it or not, I've never been to Independence Hall before.


We had tickets to the Phillies game that night vs. the Texas Rangers. We were worried about the rain that had been going on and off all day, but It stopped in time to walk to the game. I picked up a new Phillies cap and grabbed some dinner and a brew. Monkey went to see if he could get some autographs while the players warmed up. I went to our seats and enjoyed the view. They were up top, but front row.


We did get some rain about mid-way through the game, but was just a sprinkle - no worries, and the Phillies won! Ring that bell!


Next day we drove back from Philly and planned to take in an Iron Pigs ballgame that evening along with my Pops. There was some rain that day too, but was all good for game time, and score! We found the beer stand where they had Victory Hop Devil on tap!


I don't think there's a bad seat in that stadium. We had a good time even though we did get some rain, but was more of a sun shower, and the Pigs won!

Always good to get up north and see everyone. Looking forward to going up again soon.

- Salud!