Dear Boston: I Miss You. Love, Bronson

Regardless of how you think he would have fared in 2006, one must admit that Bronson Arroyo was screwed over by the Red Sox organization. He plunks down money on a new house in Boston. He agrees to a hometown discount, $11.2 million contract (over three years) with the Sox, which was pretty much the one thing his agent didn't want him to do. And then the guy is promptly traded off to Cincy for who? Oh wait! Wily Mo Pena.

That's just cruel. So we wondered how things would be when Young Bronson (otherwise known as The Guy For Whom Everyone Mistakes Kyle Snyder) would be when he returned to Boston on Sunday night for the 2008 Hot Stove, Cool Music fundraiser at the Paradise.

(Don't worry. We'll have a full review for you Tuesday.)

As it turns out, Bronson's hair is a little longer these days, and his backing band is a whole lot larger. Bronson decided against playing guitar on Sunday night, but he did demonstrate a larger selection of songs to cover, with The Fray making appearances alongside the Pearl Jam covers with which anyone who owns "Covers the Bases" is familiar (it was a Christmas gift, thank you).

But near the end of Bronson's set, he threw a zinger into the music: a cover of Augustana's 2007 summer ballad "Boston." And what did the guy do, knowing that former GM Theo Epstein was watching from the backstage wings?

Dude totally modified the lyrics, making what one could view as either a nostalgic gesture toward the old crowd or, as we'd like to think, a plea for his old job!

"I think I need to get back to Boston," he sings. (We couldn't hear the next couple of lines because some of the women of the crowd were freaking out) "I need to get out of Cincinnati, I think I need the Olde Towne to fill my heart again."

Ballsy Bronson! Makin' your case at the event organized by your old GM, the one who shipped you outta town! Unfortunately, Bostonist couldn't see Theo's reaction. But there was a big "awwwwwww" from many folks in the crowd...

***UPDATE: Red Sox Chick recorded video of Bronson's Boston ballad - she's also transcribed the lyrics, including those we couldn't hear - at her site. The video is below: