Good day friends, I come to slightly overhung and under the weather, but happy. I hope you're feeling good too. Last I attended a concert for the ages. This was the highly anticipated Cheap Trick, Heart, and Journey "trifecta from heaven" show as I was calling it to myself.
This concert showed up early on the radar, and boy was I glad we bought tickets early. Nissan Pavilion on this dreary, drizzly night was packed to the limit. After making excellent time there, we of course did some light tailgating with some rum and cokes, and some beer. We then shuffle into the show.
We find a solid good spot in the center of the lawn. Cheap Trick hits the stage. They do their normal carrying-on, introducing themselves repeatedly to the point that its comical. Lets not forget their entrance, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the best band in the world, CHEAP TRICK!!!" Cheap Trick hit us with their line up of "Dream Police", "If You Want My Love", "Surrender", and "I Want You to Want Me". Along with the great songs, they pulled out their marvelous gimmicks including Tom Petersson's 12-string bass and Robin Zander's 5-neck guitar. Though gratuitous, its amazing. And to top off Cheap Trick's set, Deen Castronovo* and Jonathan Cain of Journey came out and did a song with them.
After about 15 minutes and time to get a drink and t-shirt, the lights dropped and out came Heart. Don't be fooled by the soft name, or the beautiful two front women, Ann and Nancy Wilson. These chicks will rock your fillings loose. This is the first performance at a rock concert that gave me goosebumps. I got chills when they covered "Love Reign O'er Me" by The Who. Ann has "the pipes". Her voice can bring you to your knees. Recordings and videos do no justice to the power they bring to you in person. After a powerful and moving set, the crowd was electric and rowdy demanding an encore. After making us wait close to five minutes, they came and delivered an encore version of "Crazy on You". One more thing that helps is that these women, even at their age are good looking, then with the talent they bring, I'm not going to lie, are drop dead sexy to me.
At this point, I'm already starting to suffer fatigue. Heart brings such a well rounded, almost perfect music production to the stage, its hard to fathom that they were not the featured act. They were coming up. There was a rarely experienced sense of energy and anticipation in the air as Journey was being set up on the stage. So much energy that before Journey hit the stage, "Back in Black" by AC/DC is played on the PA and everyone stood up and danced, as if AC/DC just took the stage.
Finally, Journey hits the stage hard with "Never Walk Away" from the new album, "Revelation". The first three notes sang by the new lead singer, Arnel Pineda, demonstrated that he was for real, and that Journey truly is back strong and not going anywhere. Journey's set was a mix of new songs, including "After All These Years" and "Where Did I Lose Your Love" and old hits like "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Open Arms". A big highlight was hearing "Separate Ways" performed live. I won't lie, with the assistance of the alcohol and the adrenaline boost from Heart, I went nuts, absolutely nuts, for this song. Journey also did a song that no one seemed to recognize, something about being a secret agent. It was pretty cool, but the crowd kind of took a breather for it. Journey closed the set with "Be Good to Yourself". They did come back out for an encore for which the hoarse crowd was chanting. "Anyway You Want It" slammed into our ear drums and drove everyone into a frenzy never before seen. I will admit this is my least favorite song by Journey, but live, and a little tipsy, the song contains a ton of energy that is hard to believe coming from a band that just did a seventy minute set of vocally grueling songs.
One of Journey's secret talents in the band, is their drummer, Deen Castronovo. Not only is he a great drummer, that has helped bring Journey's sound into modern times with his heavier style, his backing vocals really help support Arnel's lead vocal efforts. Many times you could hear Deen's voice belting through and its definitely nice.
Neal Schon, former guitarist with Santana, was of course amazing, and definitely on his A-game in his soloing this night. His performing has to be seen live. He is in the top tier of guitarists I've seen live now. The order of preference of guitarists I've now seen live would be:
1. Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osborne)
2. Neal Schon (Journey)
3. Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
4. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
5. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
6. Chris Scholtes (Several Species)
7. Nancy Wilson (Heart)
8. Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
9. Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
10.Phil Campbell (Motorhead)
Well my friends, I think this blog entry has become long enough. In a few days I do plan to have a ratings entry for all the acts seen since January. True, I do have at least two more concerts planned for the calendar year, one is a three-peat and the other is "The Who". That one gets to stand on its own. Have a good weekend, friends.
*Thanks Anonymous for catching that error. Too much partying I guess ;-)
**Yes, I edited my guitar player list. I kinda forgot about John Petrucci, who is amazing
Showing posts with label Several Species. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Several Species. Show all posts
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
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
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
Monday, September 17, 2007
I walked that way while comfortably numb screaming I love rock n roll
Well Where do I start??? I guess I should go in chronological order। Saturday night started this weekend off with a laser light show at the Pier Six pavilion with the Pink Floyd cover band "Several Species", named for "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict", a piece of music concrete by Roger Waters.
This band prides themselves for accurately re-creating the sound of Pink Floyd. This they should be proud of, they were dead on. Several times, I closed my eyes took a deep breath of the pot smoke from the row in front of my dad and I, and BAM!!, Floyd was there. The group hit most of your standard Pink Floyd songs, and their first set included "Time", "The Man/The Journey" Suite, and "Shine On you Crazy Diamond". After a brief intermission to stretch your legs and get the second hand pot buzz to go away, the band comes right back out. The second set was kind of a highlight run of the album "The Wall". This included a rousing sing-along to "Another Brick in the Wall" (one of my personal favorites). Cleverly, they had the audience sing where the London Boys Choir sang. At this point if you weren't feeling this band, go the heck home. Several times I found myself close to tears simply due to their amazing ability to not just play Pink Floyd note for note, but in the jam sections they would lock into identical groves and even played on the same parts of the beat. The term "detail oriented" doesn't come close to describing the effort and the manner this 11 piece ensemble operates. The encore of "Comfortably Numb" and "Wish You Were Here" were quite wonderful. by this point, three hours of this left my ass comfortably numb as well.
So That wraps up Saturday Night. Sunday night, WOW. Sunday night had a double billing at the Nissan Pavilion in rustic Bristow, Virginia. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts opening for none other than Aerosmith. Now I am not a huge Aerosmith fan, and I like Joan Jett a lot, she looks good in leather, kicks ass, and seems like a chick who will sit down with you at the bar and pound a few back with you, then have your back when the jerk at the end of the bar looks at you all funny. Never mind the fact Cherry Bomb and Bad Reputation are just kick ass songs. Sitting out on a blanket on a cool mid-September summer evening, the Blue Ridge mountain foothills in the background and of course a nice beverage. But back on to the hottie in the black leather. Joan and her Blackhearts come out in traditional punk style. Dressed down, fresh from either bed or a fight, no intro, just hit right in on the music. They do Bad Reputation, Cherry Bomb, and one other song, before she takes the mic and simply says "Thanks, we're the Blackhearts from New York City". Straight up punk. I love it. Its all about the music. The cover of "Crimson and Clover" is what got the dancing going, though the crowd, seemingly uneducated about Joan Jett just wanted "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and she gave it, and kicked some ass, though its so not her best song. She went out with "I Hate Myself for Loving You". Awesome show so far. the first smells of marijuana appeared during the "Crimson and Clover".
Aerosmith comes out with a lackluster little fake newsreel about their current tour. The moment it ended the lights and a massive kick hit and they were off and rocking out. By this point I've lost track of what was playing, and what songs were being played and just focused on the task at hand, shaking my rotund self to some sweet tunes. The marijuana smell now strong from the blanket in front of us. I do know Aerosmith hit a lot of their big songs, such as "Sweet Emotion", and "Walk This Way". It is an odd thing that happens to me at music concerts. I tend to go into a trance of sorts and just not care about whats going on around me and can ignore things, even chicks wanting to dance, though I did partake in that a few times. I'm not completely out of it. Just when it happens, be careful. I truly have began losing myself in the music again. I hadn't been able to do that in a long time. I think I'm coming out of the college overload finally. It happens to some music majors, to where they lose the joy of music because they must micro-analyze it. Its a fun party trick, but makes you a huge loser at these things. I credit the start of this blog in helping me get out of it.
Anyways, Aerosmith does a two hour set, which included a kick-ass theremin solo by Joe Perry. That sent me crazy, as I am a very amateur theremin player myself. He even used the same one I own. I felt proud. Dumb reason to be proud, but I finally related, instrumentally to a band I am seeing. That was big, I hadn't been to a concert that involved a trumpet, that wasn't my trumpet on stage, in a long time.
That concert was worth the wait, cost, headache and distance from driving in Virginia.
Anyways there you have it, the review of a big big big weekend for music. I'm worn out, but my quintet just booked itself another gig for October 14, so we need to get our act together and rehearse tomorrow night, before the second symphony rehearsal of the year. This gig suits us well too, they want off the wall, and I told the guy, "We can do off the wall, we're not your mom's brass group."
Peace to you all
This band prides themselves for accurately re-creating the sound of Pink Floyd. This they should be proud of, they were dead on. Several times, I closed my eyes took a deep breath of the pot smoke from the row in front of my dad and I, and BAM!!, Floyd was there. The group hit most of your standard Pink Floyd songs, and their first set included "Time", "The Man/The Journey" Suite, and "Shine On you Crazy Diamond". After a brief intermission to stretch your legs and get the second hand pot buzz to go away, the band comes right back out. The second set was kind of a highlight run of the album "The Wall". This included a rousing sing-along to "Another Brick in the Wall" (one of my personal favorites). Cleverly, they had the audience sing where the London Boys Choir sang. At this point if you weren't feeling this band, go the heck home. Several times I found myself close to tears simply due to their amazing ability to not just play Pink Floyd note for note, but in the jam sections they would lock into identical groves and even played on the same parts of the beat. The term "detail oriented" doesn't come close to describing the effort and the manner this 11 piece ensemble operates. The encore of "Comfortably Numb" and "Wish You Were Here" were quite wonderful. by this point, three hours of this left my ass comfortably numb as well.
So That wraps up Saturday Night. Sunday night, WOW. Sunday night had a double billing at the Nissan Pavilion in rustic Bristow, Virginia. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts opening for none other than Aerosmith. Now I am not a huge Aerosmith fan, and I like Joan Jett a lot, she looks good in leather, kicks ass, and seems like a chick who will sit down with you at the bar and pound a few back with you, then have your back when the jerk at the end of the bar looks at you all funny. Never mind the fact Cherry Bomb and Bad Reputation are just kick ass songs. Sitting out on a blanket on a cool mid-September summer evening, the Blue Ridge mountain foothills in the background and of course a nice beverage. But back on to the hottie in the black leather. Joan and her Blackhearts come out in traditional punk style. Dressed down, fresh from either bed or a fight, no intro, just hit right in on the music. They do Bad Reputation, Cherry Bomb, and one other song, before she takes the mic and simply says "Thanks, we're the Blackhearts from New York City". Straight up punk. I love it. Its all about the music. The cover of "Crimson and Clover" is what got the dancing going, though the crowd, seemingly uneducated about Joan Jett just wanted "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and she gave it, and kicked some ass, though its so not her best song. She went out with "I Hate Myself for Loving You". Awesome show so far. the first smells of marijuana appeared during the "Crimson and Clover".
Aerosmith comes out with a lackluster little fake newsreel about their current tour. The moment it ended the lights and a massive kick hit and they were off and rocking out. By this point I've lost track of what was playing, and what songs were being played and just focused on the task at hand, shaking my rotund self to some sweet tunes. The marijuana smell now strong from the blanket in front of us. I do know Aerosmith hit a lot of their big songs, such as "Sweet Emotion", and "Walk This Way". It is an odd thing that happens to me at music concerts. I tend to go into a trance of sorts and just not care about whats going on around me and can ignore things, even chicks wanting to dance, though I did partake in that a few times. I'm not completely out of it. Just when it happens, be careful. I truly have began losing myself in the music again. I hadn't been able to do that in a long time. I think I'm coming out of the college overload finally. It happens to some music majors, to where they lose the joy of music because they must micro-analyze it. Its a fun party trick, but makes you a huge loser at these things. I credit the start of this blog in helping me get out of it.
Anyways, Aerosmith does a two hour set, which included a kick-ass theremin solo by Joe Perry. That sent me crazy, as I am a very amateur theremin player myself. He even used the same one I own. I felt proud. Dumb reason to be proud, but I finally related, instrumentally to a band I am seeing. That was big, I hadn't been to a concert that involved a trumpet, that wasn't my trumpet on stage, in a long time.
That concert was worth the wait, cost, headache and distance from driving in Virginia.
Anyways there you have it, the review of a big big big weekend for music. I'm worn out, but my quintet just booked itself another gig for October 14, so we need to get our act together and rehearse tomorrow night, before the second symphony rehearsal of the year. This gig suits us well too, they want off the wall, and I told the guy, "We can do off the wall, we're not your mom's brass group."
Peace to you all
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