As we enter into the New Year of 2024, we all kind of knew that this is going to be the year, the year of change, the year of good things, a year filled with hope, clarity, and enlightenment.  We feel far enough away from the three years of shut down due to a pandemic and things seem somewhat normal going out and about over the course of several months to concert venues and restaurants. 

 

So, as an introduction into my New Year, I went to see Rob Thomas at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.  Being one of his biggest fans, if not his biggest, for many reasons.  I could not have picked a better show to start the year off.  I've seen Rob over the years, when he was the front man for Matchbox 20 and have been following him since while on his solo journey, which has been an epic of hits, one after another. 

 

But there is always a story.  Rob did not have it easy growing up, and everything that could have been dished to him was. We all have stories, our stories over the years build who we are . He has taken the parts of his past & his present placing it into his music, and possibly that is why it's so relatable, touching the heart, giving you the, ahhh I get it moment.  

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It was exactly 8:30, the lights were dimmed in the arena while the stage lights were brought up.  The music started to play as Rob Thomas took the stage, greeting everyone with a Hello, it's great to see you all, gosh it's great to be here!!  He apologized for his wife, Marisol and mother- in-law for not being there watching back stage, but mainly because he felt bad for Marisol.  The Sidewalk Angels Foundation is her baby and she is so passionate about it  https://www.sidewalkangelsfoundation.com/,  Reassuring us that they will still be able to see him on live stream, which worked out great.  Confirmation was while during the show, after walking off while the Let's Dance version of David Bowies song, he came back on stage to let us all know, that his wife told him, you still sound a little raspy and you should tell them that you were sick over the holidays.  He laughed, but sure enough, there he was, letting us know. That is one of the things about Rob Thomas,  engaging the audience within his personal life,  so it could be a small venue or large, regardless, it becomes personal and that is his magic of how he connects with his audience, let alone he has a great sense of humor, so it truly is really like hanging out with a friend, a balance of chit chat, humor, and beautiful, heart and soul touching music.

 

A solid two hour show, opening with Queen of New York City, including hits that spanned his Matchbox 20 years, a rendition of 3AM that could transcended you to another level.  Performing mostly all the tracks off the Cradlesong Album that included: Her Diamonds, Someday, Fire on the Mountain, Real World and Mockingbird, then came Streetcorner Symphony. Half way through the show, he made his way to the piano, telling us, if there were one song that he wrote and every time played, he'd tear up, it would be this one, as he proceeded to gently press the keys of the piano and starting playing, Little Wonders.  Being in the dancing mood, came Let's Dance, and then he pulled out of the hat, Smooth, which not only me, but no one saw coming and the crowd going crazy.   Smooth being a collaboration between Rob Thomas and Carlos Santana, but have to say, even though Carlos was missing out on the equation that evening, Rob and his band was smooth, right on down to his son,  Maison who was playing guitar.   Should we get ready for the next generation of Thomas, cause I could only imagine what the future holds in the music that will be created. 

 

The night was truly magical, and as I sat there listening to hit after hit, stories that were told, the reason behind Sidewalk Angels, the night became a beautiful introduction along with the rebirth into the new year, that Rob Thomas and his music could have been the only one to pull that off.      

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Happy to say, it being the first time back to the The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino since they remodeled back in 2017.  Everything is revamped from the venue to the restaurant and casino and absolutely amazing.  The venue is about the size of a collage gym, maybe a little bigger, all in all, a great venue to see a show, there is not a bad seat in the house and no matter where you sit you are close enough to see the stage and who is performing, paired with the sound quality is impeccable.    

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The Hard Rock in Atlantic City or the Hard Rock, in general, anywhere truthfully is what any music lovers dreams are made of.  Getting close enough to memorabilia of an artist while the music transcends you to another dimension throughout the decades of many years of time.  From the roaring twenties , the big band era, to the 40's and the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and so many more.  Then came the introduction of the 50's where music took a turn and from that has evolved over the years. 

 

In the course of eight decades The Hard Rock displays memorabilia with history, beautifully from every genre. Getting you close enough to a suit Frank Sinatra wore, Bob Dylan's guitar, the shoes of Buddy Holly,  the dress Stevie Nicks wore on her Wild Heart tour, and even though, Cher was a trendsetter when it came to outfits, it was the orange and gold paisley flowered pattern dress with spaghetti straps of the sixties behind the glass.  There where the outfits of each band member of KISS, and yes, their boots too, Lady Gaga's iconic dress and so much more!  

 

Music is the universal language where we all relate, and come together, like when gathering around the table to enjoy a great meal with family and friends. 

 

The Hard Rock Atlantic City, will give you just that, a venue to hear awesome music, fine to casual dining restaurants for a great meal, cafe's, all while wrapping it all up with a little slot machine or table action.