The Hives 5/15/08

All the way from Sweden to give us a rock show came the quintuplet.  Thanks for making the trip guys.  If you don't know this band, they have a kind of retro-punk sound and very short songs that they readily drive straight into your face.  For a band that formed in the early 90s and gained mediocre fame in the early 2000s, I don't think it would have mattered if they were playing in front of 5 or 5 million people, they are going to perform all the same.  They couldn't quite sell out Center Stage but those empty seats didn't seem to bother them.  The Hives came on stage in their signature black with white trim suits and band emblem crests with black and white striped ties wearing solid white shoes.  Sound pretty geeky?  You should see them move.  Front man Howlin' Pelle Almqvist never stopped Jagger-ishly gyrating the entire show and in between songs comically talked and hyped up the crowd with his confident but not over-bearing attitude.  He didn't play an instrument on stage unless you count his microphone and stand as such -- which I do.  Dipping the mike-stand and tugging the cord just before it hit the ground and bringing it back to sing the next verse just in time, twirling the microphone, leaving it teetering back and forth behind him while singing all seemed second nature to the man.  Very gracious leader indeed.  He never missed an opportunity to touch hands with the people crammed at the front of the stage and at one point got in the crowd on the side and climbed up on a guard rail to belt it out for a few seconds.  I think he knew what he was supposed to do in life a long time ago, lucky bastard.  He wasn't alone, though.  Lead guitarist Nicholaus Arson was just as energetic and erratic as his counter-part.  Their techs had a hell of a time keeping the two of them untangled from the mike and guitar cables which were being whipped around behind them.  At one point, he dropped the stand with the mike attached into the crowd and it was caught by some fans that screeched into it after Howlin' Pelle gave them a "go ahead, its OK" wink and whipped it back into his hand which he caught as if he knew what was going to happen ahead of time...  Really cool.  Luckily, the rhythm guitarist and bass players didn't move around much at all or it would have been too chaotic to keep up with.  I only know their radio hits like "Hate to Say I Told You So" and "Main Offender" but I still say one of their best is the newest single "Tick, Tick, Boom" which is also very fun to watch them perform.  One thing about the performance, I wish they had a better light show.  What they had (and it could be the venue's fault) didn't have the same energy as the band.  I would be willing to bet they never headline a venue bigger than the Tabernacle, if that, and that's OK.  But not for lack of trying.  If you're ever in the mood for an inexpensive rock spectacle, look these guys up.

Radiohead 5/8/08

Where to start???  It's hard to describe a band that I've always considered the Pink Floyd of my generation, so bear with me.  Having not heard In Rainbows except for "Bodysnatchers", it was pretty cool experiencing most of an album for the first time live.  The stage set up included several dozen cylinders that reminded me of organ pipes from stage to ceiling except for the cube cut out where the band performed.  The cylinders had lights inside them that pulsed along with the music and lights shining on them that reflected bright solid colors simultaneously.  Very trippy, brah.  In the back ground there were large video screens that were projecting images of the band from cameras set up at various points on stage.  The screens were either in hi-def or the cameras had some kind of filter on them that made everything seem as if it were pre-recorded or we were actually watching a DVD of the band perform live, but I assure you, they were capturing the band in real time.  Thom Yorke appears to be a rhythmically psychotic yet harmless gnome dancing around and playing guitar and occasionally tickling his mobile baby grand.  One thing is for certain, Radiohead can pack a house.  I haven't seen Lakewood that packed since probably the last time I saw Radiohead there almost five years ago.  Fans in the lawn were throwing glow sticks up in the air which was so cool that it almost could have been planned.  Not to mention our seats were not covered and  we were sporadically rained on throughout the night which was actually kind of soothing.  Never what I would call a hard rain, though.  The guys performed two encore sets that did include "Paranoid Android", a great live song.  If you haven't witnessed this band in concert, they are a hell of a sight to see.  Are you experienced?

The Black Crowes 3/9/08

It's a few weeks since I've been to a show and what better band to see for the 11th time than the band I dig the most, the band I've seen the most, the band I love the most that is still together.  If you don't know who I'm talking about, then we probably need to sit down together and re-evaluate our friendship because you clearly don't know me as well as you should.  With only 5 days to memorize their new album, the first in over 7 years, I did my best to sing along through the first set, in which they played Warpaint front to back, in order.  "Evergreen" is one of my favorites off the new album that Chris described as "a botanical love song."  The new additions to the band were very impressive, especially Luther Dickinson, formerly of the North Mississippi Allstars, on slide and lead guitar.  He certainly looks the part of a Black Crow, beard and all.  The new guy tickling the ivories, Adam Macdougall, was the only one without a beard, but hey, Eddie Harsch never grew one either.  After the first break, they came back with a cover song and then played "Sister Luck" (check your voice-mail Dahli) and went on to play other covers including Joe Cocker's "Space Captain."  With the exception of the dipshit in front of me moving the chairs around to dance with a couple of cougars that couldn't have been less interested and subsequently spilling his beer all over them, D-dog, and myself, it was a stellar time at the ole Tabernacle.  I was also pleased to see the entire band drinking the one and only Newcastle Brown Ale, men after my own heart.

Van Halen 2/25/08

They still got it.  They haven't gotten fat and pathetic.  As a matter of fact Diamond Dave has abs of steel.  Alex looked like he could be a Rolling Stone but his brother still busts out solos like it was 1978 and even used a power drill on his guitar strings for "Runnin with the Devil."  Wolfgang Van Halen (the new 15 year old bassist son of Eddie) is a bit of a portly fella, he must get that from the Bertinelli side.  Hey, Michael Anthony (original bassist), what did Eddie's five fingers say to your face... SLAP!!!!!!  The stage set up was pretty cool in that it had an S shaped catwalk that started above and behind the main stage floor and snaked around into the crowd about 25 rows deep along with a gigantically wide TV screen behind it all.  Alex's drum set nearly wrapped all the way around him with a huge gong directly behind him that I don't recall him actually using.  They started out the greatest hits filled night with "You Really Got Me Now" and Dave showing off the toe-touch spinning kicks that he has down to science by now.  One surprising thing was seeing DLR break out his acoustic guitar and play the first half of "Ice Cream Man."  I didn't know he could do that.  They played some of there hokier songs like the previously mentioned tune and their cover of "Pretty Woman" and their original "Dance the Night Away," but not their cover of "Dancin in the Streets" thank God.  For the most part they played their harder hitting songs like "Panama," "Unchained," and "And the Cradle will Rock..."  They saved "Jump" for the single song encore.  As campy as that song is (and the even worse music video), it has a lot to do with the person I am today.  When I was 5 years old, my older brother, Brian, used to play it on his keyboards for me and I would watch him and think I was seeing God himself.  There was no turning back after that.  Strangely, there wasn't anyone playing keyboards on stage for "Jump" or "I'll Wait" or any other song for that matter.  Over all I feel like I got my money's worth, even though it was rescheduled twice, and it was a MILF paradise.  Eddie and David Lee Roth seemed as if they were getting along well.  We'll all just have to wait and see what the future holds for the boys.

John Fogerty 12/4/07

62 years old and can still rock the house and sell it out... or at least it was close.  Not to mention he doesn't look like death warmed over (sorry Keith, Mick).  The Cobb Energy and Performing Arts Centre is quite an impressive and new venue for a good show.  It has the old school loge seating along the side and is extremely clean and unseasoned.  The employees seem to be rookies at pouring beer and over-all concession management and urgency, but the food wasn't half bad, for a cheeseburger.  Mom and I (that's right, I brought dear ole Ma along for the blast from the past show) had a great time watching the tunes from her youth being surged through the pseudo opera house.  Thank God I was raised listening to Fox 97 growing up and not country music.  Can you imagine... the horror.  It was entertaining but kind of annoying to experience the "sweatin to the oldies" calisthenics of the crowd (average age about 55) as they stood up every time a Creedence song was performed; "Green River," "Lookin' Out My Back Door," "Proud Mary," "Fortunate Son" and many others, and sat down again when he played a solo-career tune.  His latest album, Revival, sounded musically as if was written in the late sixties and early seventies with the rest of his original band.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it, I guess.  The only difference being that instead of anti-Vietnam, it's now of course wildly anti-Bush.  After a very short encore break (don't know if the facility had a curfew or if he thought his audience might doze off at the slightest lull) he charged back on stage with a few more CCR grooves including "Travelin' Band," one of my favs, and bid us all farewell.  Solid show over all and it's always cool to experience a new venue, although I doubt I'll ever get to see a modern band jam out there, unless I have major life change and wish to see Kelly Clarkson or Babyface (not bloody likely).  In closing, I just want the older folks to know I kid.  Your tenacity for still going to shows is admirable.  Hell, in just a few more years, it'll probably be me hoping a show is over by 10pm.  Just to be safe, better not hold your breath on this night owl, though.

Foo Fighters 10/4/07

The long, shaggy haired Dave Grohl certainly has the "Grohl"den touch.  His intentions are clear:  He wants nothing more than to rock your face off.  Mission accomplished, sir.  After viewing the high-energy opening band, HiFi Handgrenades, he and his band wasted no time as there was no time to waste when you have that many hit songs to rock through.  They got the constantly played on terrestrial radio "The Pretender" out of the way by the second song along with some other unfamiliar tunes from the new album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.  Pat Smear, former Nirvana band-mate and ex Foo Fighter, was along for the ride with the band playing rhythm guitar on various songs like their first hit "I'll Stick Around" throughout the night.  During the song "Stacked Actors," (that's right D-dog, you missed it) Dave went down into the crowd and I believe he got up on the bar on the left while still playing and did a shot of Jagr.  I couldn't say for sure because we were second row on the balcony, with the rest of the older crowd (we were talking to a kid while waiting in line wearing a Nirvana T-shirt who said he was 2 years old when Cobain died... talk about a reality check), and he was underneath us, but he mentioned later that he enjoyed his shot.  After that, the Foos toned it down a little with an acoustic set that included 5 songs that started with "Skin and Bones" and ended with "Everlong" which they burst back to rockin out at the close of the classic.  Sadly, they accidentally skipped over "D.O.A." in the encore set, but he did apologize to the violinist that was with the group.  It would have been nice to hear "This is a Call" and the awesome cover of Prince's "Darling Nicky" but, as usual, there is never enough time.  With an epileptic light show, tremendous energy, and Taylor Hawkins looking like a long haired Animal from The Muppets on drums, it was obvious these guys were put on earth to be on stage.  If you've never seen this band, I've seen them three times and, like a fine wine, they only get better with age.

Alice in Chains & Velvet Revolver 10/3/07

What a bill!!!  Two great bands in one night.  Although, I guess it wasn't all that great for ticket sales because they had the lawn section closed off, first time I've ever seen that.  After seeing A in C open the show, the headliner really could have been interchangeable.  They busted out all the great hits starting off with "Again" and "Grind," from their self-titled album.  William Duvall is as good as a replacement as you will ever find for the late great Layne Staley.  His similar vocals could not have been more on key throughout the night, although his difference of appearance couldn't fool a blind man, him being a tall, lanky, black guy, as opposed to Layne's small, frail, pale, blond haired presence.  They couldn't play all the hits, but they sure tried.  "No Excuses," "Angry Chair," "Them Bones," and "Would?," among others, all made the set list.  It would have been nice to see and hear "Shame in You" but, hey, I don't want to be greedy, after all, they only had an hour time slot.  They also included "Man in the Box" which Jerry Cantrell nailed the solo flawlessly.  Before retiring for the night, they ended with "Rooster" and had the music video playing on the screens behind and to either side of them.  After they left the stage and house lights came back on, I felt like I should be on my way home.  But luckily, the experience had just begun.  
The VR boys were not looking to be outdone, even though the sound didn't seem as sharp and Weiland does like to shriek a lot, with or without his signature bullhorn.  Thankfully, Slash digs on whippin ass and takin names later.  They burst on the seen behind a huge black curtain with lights illuminating their silhouettes with the first song from their sophomore album, Libertad, entitled "Let it Roll."  After playing a handful from the debut album, Contraband, it was time to rock out with an old Guns N' Roses favorite, "Nightrain."  Then, it was time to slow it down a little.  So, they brought out some stools and a smaller drum set to groove on tunes such as their second radio hit from Libertad, "The Last Fight," and a few covers from the super-groups' former bands (the a fore mentioned GN'R and of course Stone Temple Pilots) with "Patience" and "Interstate Love Song," which was written by STP while riding along on Georgia's own highway 85.  After that, Scott sped things back up with his stage presence (which has been described as homo-erotic by some; erratically, elastically, reptilian by myself) and singing another GN'R hard-charged great, "Mr. Brownstone."  Slash began the next song with an impressive and familiar solo which evolved into "Set Me Free."  During this tune, they decided to show a montage of serial killers, including Charley Manson and Ted Bundy, along with a few pics of their victims scattered in the mix on the mighty screens around the band.  Gutsy move fellas, ... ballsy.  When they came back from the encore break, "Sex Type Thing" and then some more from the current album were smashed through with intangible aggressiveness.  They saved "Slither," the groups' first hit, for the fare thee well end.  Going in bit of a different direction from the mass murderer theme from the earlier background, it was thought to be more appropriate to have beautiful half nude models adorn the gigantic screens.  How does the old saying go?  Always leave 'em wanting more?  
Well done, boys.