Music Midtown 9/22/12

We got there about half way through Luda's set and I have to admit, he had a much better rapport with the crowd than TI.  So, we weaved our way through the much denser crowd than the previous night to get closer to the closers, Pearl Jam.  But we had to stand through Florence + the Machine, first.  She eventually came out to the technical difficulties of a silent mic.  She was obviously a little frazzled from the misfire and once it started working she tried going backstage and coming out again, and again, something went wrong which flustered her further.  Once everything was operating correctly, she apologized, made some jokes and begged for a drink.  She had split stage presence, one minute she was thrashing with her fire red hair going everywhere, then she would be very still in these spiritual poses.  Never thought I would have seen her live, anyway.

After hours and hours of standing very close to a lot of people at once, the lights went out and it was all worth it.  Its been 9+ years since PJ has been in Atlanta.  I've enjoyed traveling to several different cities to see them since then, but damn, its about time they were back.  They revved on stage opening with "Why Go" and charged through many more before stopping to say hello.  Making up for lost time; I like it.  They jammed on plenty of hits, not surprising for a festival, but mixed in some deeper tracks for the devotees.  Eddie was only political once and it was all about voting, in general, and not about who to vote for, which was nice.  They slayed on "Do The Evolution" and "Amongst the Waves," a couple of my favorites, and just kept going until the curfew would eventually take precedent.  Eddie seemed like he really didn't want to leave.  He kept checking with someone on the side-stage to see how much time was left and kept adding more songs to take up every second they could.  The others had to strap their instruments back on a couple of times.  The last time he came out and said "We only have 2 minutes left so we're going to rush through this one!"  and played "Rockin' in the Free World" to end the night and abruptly fled the stage.  Loved the efficient use of time, boys!

Music Midtown 9/21/12

Twice as many days as last year, but still only 2/3 as many as the good ole days.  But we're gettin there.  I don't know how many times I missed Joan Jett in the past but not this year.  That chick can kick some serious ass, and she's 53.  Although you couldn't tell it by her appearance.  She still looks like she's in her 30s, at least from down in the crowd.  Kristen Stewart should pray she ages that well.  Her tight, sweaty, sexy ass still fearlessly rocks it after all these years without any sign of slowing down.  I had forgotten how many tunes I knew by her, including their cover of "Crimson and Clover."   I remember "I Love Rock N Roll" being played during elementary school PE class and thinking that it was a little edgy for such young ears.  Of course the lyrics are harmless but those are some tasty punk-ish riffs.  I was a little disappointed we missed "Bad Reputation" but patience is truly a virtue...

Then there was TI.  I'm sorry, but not that sorry, I just don't get it.  Most of you know that I'm not a fan of rap but live rap is down right pointless.  Its karaoke on a huge stage.  He did have "musicians" with him but, aside from the drummer, I bet even those of us without any musical experience could learn what the guitarist and bassist were playing within a few hours.  However, millions of people can't be wrong, right?  Though I think I would sleep much more soundly if they were. 

We had to forgo seeing the Avett Brothers in order to insure a good spot for the Foo Fighters. Dave and company consistently bring it with everything they have, every time.  Perhaps a little too consistent.  They played the same covers, Pink Floyd's "In The Flesh?" with drummer Taylor Hawkins on vocals and Tom Petty's "Breakdown", that they played when I saw them back in November.  The Foos acquiring Hawkins is probably the greatest poach in modern rock history (sorry Alanis, he rocks too hard for you anyway).  Later, they were joined by Joan Jett to thrash on the afore mentioned missed song, "Bad Reputation."  Kindred spirits, Dave and Joan.  They could be brother/sister or husband/wife on a different plane of existence.  After 2 solid hours of rockin the Park, they ended the night with "Everlong."

Slash 9/12/12

Foxy Shazam front-man hand-stand

I can't hardly believe it, but Slash was out done by the opening band, Foxy Shazam.  Those guys were off the friggin wall.  Their look, attitude, and over-all stage presence was unforgettable.  Leader Eric Nally did more forward rolls than the 2012 Olympic gymnasts, combined.  That dude can work a mic stand like a dancing partner.  It was hard to get a good pic of them with all the constant thrashing.  Keyboardist, Sky White, had hair just like Slash's only it was growing down out of his face instead of up on his head.  He jumped up on top of the keyboard and planted his feet right on the keys at one point, then took it off the stand and had folks in the crowd hold it while he then had them hold himself laying flat, as if crowd surfing, and kept on jammin.  Honestly, the music wasn't bad, although I'm not sure it would hold up without the rhythmically tight maniacal theatrics.  The band even had a trumpeter that did more backing vocals and head-banging than playing but was still incredibly entertaining.  Slash, however, almost performed the same set list from 2 years ago, just with a few more live debuts from the newest album, Apocalyptic Love.  A lot of the same Guns N' Roses tunes, including "Civil War" with a Hendrix solo at the end, were repeated.  "Out Ta Get Me" and a guitar solo interlude from Pink Floyd's "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" was pretty killer.  He waited to bring out a Velvet Revolver tune until the very last song of the first set with "Slither."  Then started the encore set with "Fall to Pieces," another VR hit.  But they completed the night with a predictable "Paradise City."  Oh well, I could watch him dance his fingers up and down the neck of a guitar any ole day.

Tenacious D 6/25/12

Comedy rock lives on.  And with quality music, unlike Adam "3 chord" Sandler.  Breaks, bridges, fills, solos, the D brings it all.  Not to mention the rock star range of Jack Black's vocals.  I hadn't listened to the latest third album, Rize of the Fenix, but its worth going just to hear anything from their self titled debut album that was released 11 years ago.  A huge, inflatable "Fenix" made the stage decor hilarious and set the tone perfectly.  During "Deth Starr" they were joined by an inflatable alien squid which Jack shot off stage with a Nerf dart gun toward the end of the song.  Kyle Gass briefly quit the band in a skit in the middle of the show and then came back to jam on some classics like "Wonderboy," "Kielbasa," and "Tribute."  Couldn't help but mention how they loved Fat Matt's Rib Shack, truly the best ribs in all of ATL, and I couldn't agree more.  After the "Fenix" spurted its load of confetti, the duo ended the night with "F@#k Her Gently."  By then, my face was hurting from the inevitable perma-grin I endured from the banter and over-all demeanor of the band.

Lively and entertaining openers The Sights

Roger Waters 6/13/12

This post will be heavy on the visual 'cause, damn, words can barely describe the spectacle of visually experiencing The Wall live, front to back.  But I'll give it my best.  It started with a startle.  Myself and everyone around me simultaneously jumped at the first bursting note of "In the Flesh?"  The bright and flashy pyro complimented the initial shock perfectly.  The partially built wall on stage was used as a huge screen for the jaw-dropping visual effects and was slowly built to completion, brick by brick, by the intermission after the first set of songs on the first disc of the best selling double-album of all time, The Wall.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  The first tune came to a close with a WWII style miniature plane flying from the back of Philips Arena and crashing into part of the top of the wall in a fiery explosion.  Wasn't quick enough with the camera to catch it for yall.  The band was joined by a local children's choir for "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" and the humongous inflatable teacher from the movie of the same name as the album.  Follow that with the inflatable mother character during "Mother."  Production value of the show was just through the roof, which it needed to be with a $150 ticket.  Roger wasn't without his political opinion in art form during the whole show, especially during "Goodbye Blue Sky" when the animated planes on the wall were dropping corporate symbols (Shell, Mercedes-Benz, McDonalds), religious symbols (Christian Cross, Star of David), and political symbols (swastika, crescent moon and star, scythe and hammer) instead of bombs.  Symbolism through the roof as well.  But the mood was lightened a little when there was video of a completely nude, smokin' hot chick dancing on the at least 50 foot wall, that was now near completion, during "Young Lust."  God damn, I fuckin' love rock 'n' roll!  Not that I'm familiar at all with new technology, but they had some kind of camera that was capturing Roger, and nothing in the background behind him, and projecting it on the wall throughout the performance. 

                                           








When the wall was completed at the finish of "Goodbye Cruel World", intermission started and the wall had pictures and short bios of not only KIA veterans, but also civilians of many nationalities whose lives were  taken during militant strife, apparently sent to Roger which he then used in the production.

 When they came back from the break, it was just Roger in front of the completed wall to sing "Hey You" followed by scenes from the movie, The Wall, magnified on the huge surface during the next songs.  Not for nothin, but I like watching the musicians do their thang, but they were all still hid behind the wall jammin.  Especially for the gut bustin solo in "Comfortably Numb".  About that time, half way through the solo, I saw the guitarist at the very top of the wall with a spot light on him just tearin it up.  I didn't notice him initially because there was this large group of cables hanging from the ceiling down to the ground out in front of me that was right in my line of sight for him.  No where on my expensive-ass ticket did it say "obs-vu." (that's venue speak for obstructed view)  But, oh well, what can you do, at least I noticed him in time to witness half the solo.  The band eventually joined him in front of the wall and the floating inflatable pig made his expected appearance. 

The night came to a close with the wall tumbling to the ground and the band gathered for a group bow and the musically versatile bassist Mr. Waters busted out a little trumpet for us.  I almost didn't get a ticket because of the exuberant price but, no regrets here.

Roger playing "Mother" along with footage of him performing it as a much younger man

     

J Roddy Walston & the Business 4/28/12

Not since The Killer (aka Jerry Lee Lewis) has anyone thrashed a piano like J Roddy, and these guys are still having to open for bands like Lucero.  Sorry to those of you that are fans of Lucero, but all I can hear is simple, generic, familiar lyrics and melodies bordering on country after having Pandora-ed them.  Plus, half the band looked like hipsters and the other half American Chopper.  I only stuck around for a few songs from them.  JRW look like the boozing Greasers that they probably are with only the drummer having shorter than shoulder length hair.  They opened with "Don't Break the Needle" (that included his menacing cackle) and kept me smiling with their raucous energy and rock-a-billy blues mix with a dash of do-wop.  When I saw these guys open for Weezer a couple of years ago (bizarre pairing), their performance couldn't help but stick in my mind.  Simply put, these guys are just FUN.  They're music will never be mainstream, but there's never been anything wrong with that.  That's part of their appeal, I don't think they even give a shit if all they ever do is open for other bands.  They seem to just want to play, and when a band does it with vigor and balls like this group, its going to be enjoyable for most everyone.  Fear of being up-staged by them would prevent me from asking them to open up for my band.  They jammed on a good mix from their two albums with slammin' piano, piercing guitar, and 3-part harmony, although I don't think they played one of my favorites "Uh Oh Rock 'n' Roll."  J Roddy brought back his bent-over-backward moves while sitting on his piano bench and then actually ended up on top of the instrument and pounded the ivories with his knee.  Only because I wasn't alive to witness The Killer do it back in the day, I hoped JR would set the damn thing on fire. But in the end, they had to help pack up their own equipment with the roadies, something they probably wouldn't miss if they did make it mainstream.

Red Hot Chili Peppers 4/10/12

How many different guitarists does it take to wreck a band?  Don't ask the Chili Peppers, they're still counting and don't seem to see an end in sight.  If new kid Josh Klinghoffer doesn't feel right, he won't be on the next album, which they will invariably record.  Just ask Dave Navarro.  I'm one of very few that thinks One Hot Minute wasn't sooooo bad.  I know I'm gonna catch Hell for that.  JK seemed a little over-the-top on stage but being accepted in a worldly established band, not to mention trying to keep up with Flea, must be at least a little frightening.  I really can't think of a more resilient band than the Peppers; and guitar has always been a significant appendage to the sound.  Flea is still the same ole mad-man he's always been.  Jamming on piano for a tune, walking around on his hands, and...  oh yeah, slappin the bass like no other.  They played a lot of hits like "Californication", "Under the Bridge", "Dani California", and their famously funked-up cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground", among others, while being magnified on a kaleidoscope of TV monitors.  Will Ferrell -- um, I mean Chad Smith (they could be twins) started the encore with a rousing drum solo and they predictably ended the night with "Give it Away."  This show was originally scheduled for late January, but front-man Anthony Kiedis (wearing a Frank from 30 Rock style fish-net hat that simply read "OFF!") injured his foot while on tour so the southeast endured a postponement until the spring.  Worth the wait.