Boxcar Social 3/23/2013, Winner's Circle, Hanover, PA

     Hello everyone. I hope you’re enjoying the beautiful weather we had over the weekend. Almost time to take the plastic off of my windows. But I’m not here to talk about the weather; I’m here to write about a show a few weeks back. I’m of course talking about Hanover’s own Boxcar Social, live at the Winner’s Circle on March 23, 2013.

     This was the first show for the boys in Hanover since last July, when they did double duty playing at Dutch Days and then Xmas in July at the Circle

Set 1:  Bird In A House, The Greatest Day, River Road, Pete, Symptoms, Glendale Train, WDIELTH, Normal We're Not, Frannie Mae, Mountain Air, Unrest
 Set 2: Funk 12 > D > First Tube > In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed > Relativity, Moonshine Revival, Pound Of Gold, Western Highway, Pockets > SPAP > Pockets, River Song > MSWS, Beautiful World, Thinking It Over, Push
E 1: Spaceman, Bananas and Blow 

     They debuted 2 new songs, Pete and Why Did I Leave the Hills (WDILTH). Pete was a strong tune that will definitely have a permanent spot in the rotation. The show was typical Boxcar, with Frank Vecera ripping it up on guitar while playing off Paul Kraft’s mandolin pickings.
     For the second set, they had Brian Davis playing bass (much like he did in the earliest incarnation of Boxcar) and Lan Lucas playing keyboards. This totally transforms their sound. They became a much more groove oriented band, but without the UNTZ.  The opening run of Funk 12>D>First Tube>E Reed> Relativity was as strong as anything I’ve ever heard them do. This was the first time they tried this setup and I think it bodes well for the future.
      Due to my diligent research, I have learned that the recording of the show did not turn out too well but there are plenty of other shows that you can stream here
http://archive.org/details/BoxcarSocial

     I was also out at the Circle for drinks this past Friday and I am very happy to report that the renovations are well underway, further cementing the Circle’s status as the premiere live music venue in the greater Hanover/New Oxford area. Next up an event 40 years in the making: Jake the Snake’s 40^th birthday party featuring the mind blowing Winter House Band. Hope to see you all there

Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD Rock and Roll