A short Woods tour designed to bookend a lucrative appearance at last weekend’s Bonaroo Music and Arts Festival in central Tennessee stopped in Philadelphia Monday night.

I went down for the show – and to see my pal Marc in his new zip code. I was only in town for about eight hours but had a great time in the City of Brotherly Love.

Woods went on a few minutes before 10 PM and played a tight, 66-minute set with no major surprises or new songs.

It Ain’t Easy and Moving to the Left both had what sounded like reworked guitar parts/arrangements and both sounded fantastic.

The most exciting twist on this night I thought was the deployment of keyboardist John Andrews on backing vocals. His microphone had an output that was about level with Jeremy’s and it made many of the songs better, lusher, fuller. Andrews’ vocals were especially important on Is It Honest and Moving to the Left.

Chuck broke a string early in the playing of Bend Beyond but got through it like a pro before another bass was hoisted up to the stage before Size Meets Sound.

The band appeared relaxed and confident with material they’ve clearly conquered. I was kinda expecting a new number or two but perhaps they’re saving it for a time and place that coincides closer with the release of their next record.

Before playing Shepherd midway through the set, guitarist Jarvis Taveniere announced that Andrews’ mother was in attendance. That brought a big grin from Andrews.

The crowd was loud and enthusiastic on a hot, muggy night in Philly. The venue is called the Boot & Saddle and it was a cool place. Capacity is just 150 and it was maybe a couple dozen people shy of full. The venue had a physical shape and vibe that somewhat resembles the Mercury Lounge in New York City. Admission with services charges was $15.58.

I took a 2.5 hour Megabus ride down the pike to reach Philly. The fare was $6.

The return trip was a middle of the night Septa train from Philly’s 30th Street station to Trenton with a connecting trip on New Jersey Transit rail from Trenton to New York Penn. The fare covering both legs of the train ride was $24.50. I arrived home in Queens at 345 AM.

Me and Marc hit two great bars before the show. Both were lively and hospitable. Bob and Barbara’s on South Street claims to have popularized the PBR and whiskey shot special. Just $3.50 for the combo, there was not a patron in the place who was straying from the obvious steal of a deal.

After that, we went to Dirty Frank’s at 13th and Pine. Co-owner/bartender Jody Sweitzer was super friendly and briefly offered a slice of her Philly pride. Artwork adorned the bar’s walls.

Here’s the set list:

Boot and Saddle – Philadelphia, PA – 6-15-15

Leaves Like Glass
Cali in a Cup
Shining
Bend Beyond
Size Meets the Sound
Is it Honest
It Ain’t Easy
Shepherd
Moving to the Left
Rain On
With Light and With Love
(short encore break – band remains on stage)
Blood Dries Darker

A long neglected but majestic bridge connecting Manhattan with the Bronx over the Harlem River has opened to the public as a tremendous pedestrian walkway.

I went up there Sunday afternoon to check it out and was impressed by the thrilling views you get both on approach to the structure and on the path itself.

From the Manhattan side, there are two ways to reach the bridge. You can enter Highbridge Park at 172nd and Amsterdam and follow a curving sidewalk past the swimming pool to an imposing stairwell that goes down three steep flights to near the entry to the bridge. Better yet is the pathway that runs parallel to the river way above the Drive. It goes past popular hoops courts on the lower portion of the park and accesses civilization at 165th Street and Edgecombe.

The bridge has only been open a few days and there’s been some splashy news coverage but it wasn’t crowded when I went during prime time on a gorgeous afternoon. You’re way up high above the river and have great views going both directions of upper Manhattan and the Bronx not to mention all the activity on the river.

There was a near endless rush of jet skiers on the river while I was there. While the bridge’s path is open to bicyclists, it’s dominated by pedestrians which is for the better. This is an experience to be relished at a slow pace on foot and without conflict from two-wheelers.

The most eye-catching feature to me as you walk east to west is the High Bridge Tower (pictured above). You also get a really nice look at Metro North railroad activity on the Bronx side of the river.

This was a city parks project that took forever to come to fruition but it was worth the wait. I suppose it’s likely it could get overrun with visitors as word spreads but it’s just far enough out of the way to perhaps keep it from becoming the kind of madhouse the High Line has become on weekends.

The High Bridge gets you high for sure. Do the stairs approach going in and the sloped path on the way out. Check out the Heights and its great intensity east of Broadway while you’re there too.

The next time I go I’ll come at the bridge from the Bronx side and report back.

Kudos to New York City Parks and the community groups including The High Bridge Coalition who pushed for this to happen. And let it be known that the city will formally celebrate High Bridge’s opening in its current form on July 25 with a festival of fun.