A Return...to Rock \oo/

Hello my friend(s) who may still pay attention to this blog. I wish a warm welcome. This blog entry is intended to bring you up to speed on some things lately. Recently, the UMBC Symphony presented a strong, almost professional caliber performance of the 3rd and 4th movement of the Symphonie Fantasique by Hector Berlioz. I was particularly proud. My brass section got a standing ovation. The corwd started standing once we were told to stand alone for applause. One of the best honors I've ever received playing. Also before the concert, the quintet knocked the lobby crowd out with Irish Tune from County Dairy by Percy Grainger, Ashokan Farewell, from the Civil War miniseries by Ken Burns, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by the Beatles and Springtime For Hitler from the Producers. Big time hit. The group right now is working on the 5th movement of the Berlioz, and the quintet is working on Open Arms by Journey and Brain Damage by Pink Floyd.

Now to the subject above. I was recently blessed to hear an up and coming power rock band from Australia named Airbourne. I first heard them on the airing of the WWE Royal Rumble. I purchased their CD and it was love. They have all the power, sound, skill, and quality of a young AC/DC. I consider myself lucky to have seen them live, in an intimate setting like the Recher Theatre in Towson, MD. The place only holds 700 and its standing room only. I was also there for another Several Species concert but I had to leave early due to throwing my back out breaking the fall of a guy who blacked out. But, I digress.

The two opening bands were quite...interesting. For $10 to see Airbourne was quite a deal, but we know for $10, the openers were going to be rough. The first band, called Stone Riders. They were pretty good. Sounded strangely like a mix of Zeppelin and Rolling Stones but its missing the technical proficiency. The second band, Endeverafter, sucked big time. They did nothing play fast, guitar licks that sounded strangely familiar with bad lyrics and really my friend Pat and I thought were trying to audition for Guitar Hero. We were convinced when the guitarist did a name that tune section that included "Rain of Blood" by Slayer (Guitar Hero 3), and "Cowboys from Hell" by Pantera (Guitar Hero 1). Their music really sounded like nothing but copy and pasted licks from the video game. No passion, no soul, little skill. I should have known better when the bassist from the band was warming up by playing other peoples music (he warmed up on the bass line to Don't Stop Believin' by Journey. Now you all know I heart Journey the Steve Perry years, but still this is a clue that the group you're about to hear sucks. Besides an on stage warm up, totally unacceptable if you're not a symphony, or in a venue so small theres a parking lot and a stage, and its raining in the parking lot).

So that brings me to Airbourne, where they opened with "Stand Up for Rock 'n' Roll" (thats right I wasn't baked or drunk enough to forget the set). This song has a very similar feel to "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC, except for a massive accelerando, that immediately lets you know this band is going to be in your face for the next 90 minutes. They did every song from their album "Runnin' Wild" but in a more concert appropriate order, closing the set with "Too Much Too Young Too Fast" and "Running Wild". Then for an encore which was demanded so fast they barely got off stage that was about 10 minutes long and was insanely loud because the front vocalist/guitarist turned his stage amps all the way up, which sounded amazing. The song was something lightning. I didn't get the exact title through the screams and his grovely Aussie accent. But rest assured the song kicked my ass, my friends ass, and every ass in there that stayed for the encore. We were pumped. The concert was pure testosterone and adrenaline. I witnessed first hand my first mosh pit, and stage diving. I will definitely be paying attention to their tour location to see them again.

Well my friends I must sign off for the evening. my pals and I are currently in search of more concerts to attend, which I will write about. I apologize for abandoning my blog for so long and I hope you will continue to come back. I will try not to be so distant. Let your Rock be rollin' and your bass drum pedal be double, Rock on dudes. To quote the genius(sic) lead singer and guitarist of Endeverafter, "You are the fuck. Metal is the fuck" Good night