Recent Concert Thread...

[JBryan]

 I know it's Thursday, but I got back Monday from the 2-day festival over the weekend in baltimore called "Virgin Mobile Music Festival"  31 bands, 2 stages, 2 days, 15 DJ's and 1 dance tent.  Was awesome time.  STP, Offspring, NIN, Foo Figthers, Paramoure, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, the list goes on.  Speakers for the 2 main stages has '8th Day Sound' on them.  Sound was pretty good.  Standing in front of the sub stack was bone/body shaking to the point when you could feel your chest vibrating, and hear you pants moving.  Gotta love that.

We went to the Virgin Festival last weekend too. A good time was had by all and I couldn't ask for better weather - especially for August. There weren't any particular bands I had to see this year but the organizers decided to spread out the quality of acts instead of bringing in a couple of heavy-hitters and using 'fillers' for the rest of the festival (although I usually find the 'fillers' more interesting anyway).

Wilco put on a good show as did Stone Temple Pilots (when the band was able to keep Scott on task). Bob Dylan played some of his more obscure songs which I enjoyed and Iggy Pop and the Stooges let loose with a high-energy set of Stooges-era pre-punk that was a lot of fun. The acts that I wasn't familiar with but really impressed me were Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - a female version of James Brown revisiting the 60's soul groove and Rodrigo y Gabriela - fascinating guitar duo... think Metallica meets Flamenco. The only disappointments were Foo Fighters whom I'd seen 3x before and really looked forward to but this time out, they were over-produced and had polished off the edge that I had expected and Chuck Berry - he's 80+ years old and though I hate to say, it showed. He kinda stumbled through his shortened set, singing some of the words and playing some of the notes (and missing quite a few others). In his stead, there was a Japanese Beatles band that was actually more entertaining though I wasn't sure I was suppose to be laughing.

The biggest surprise was Nine Inch Nails. I have a few of NIN's albums and had firmly placed them in the 'industrial rock' pile but they put on a surprisingly diverse set and demonstrated a lot of musical variety - electronica, metal, world music even British-esque Pop and the sound and presentation were the best of the fest. They had a screen in back and in front and the light show and graphics were absolutely amazing. I really thought NIN had come and gone but this show was so engaging, I'm listening to their albums again and looking for more.

[Mighty Favog]

Sheila and I will be driving to St. Louis on 9/20 to see the Eagles (tickets are a little steep at $185/ea. though). Furthest west I've ever been.

For anyone that wants to go down memory lane, VH1 has Rock Concert Classics on every Friday (4:30 pm. EST). We just watched Queen and right now they're playing Led Zepplin!!

[Guest srobak]

Mighty> Might want to stick around another day or two after the show. The Scott Air Force Base is having it's annual open house that weekend, with dozens of static aircraft you can climb around on, and dozens of aerial performances as well. www.scottairshow.com

[Mighty Favog]

Mighty> Might want to stick around another day or two after the show. The Scott Air Force Base is having it's annual open house that weekend, with dozens of static aircraft you can climb around on, and dozens of aerial performances as well. www.scottairshow.com

Funny you should say that. I'm on vacation this week and a buddy of mine and I drove up to Wright Patterson and took two of his little girls (6 and 10-yrs. old). Did everything but an airshow. From an SR-71 to a B2 to an F22 Raptor to the plane that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki (Bockscar). It was all pretty cool.

A volunteer to the museum did walk up to our girls and asked if they new what happens if we ever get to DEFCON 1. She then pointed to a large picture of a nuclear bomb going off. This was all of 10 seconds of me trying to explain to them what DEFCON actually meant. Fortunately they still didn't understand.

[bliss53]

Saw Buddy Guy and George Thorogood last Saturday night at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. We had a group of 16 for my wife's birthday. Good time had by all. I have seen George fo each of his NH appearances over the last 7-8 years. Always a good show. He may have lost a step this year. I had saw Buddy Guy last year and he talked for most of the show, this year he played and played well. I think Buddy outshined George.

[skonopa]

To resurrect this thread agin....

Just got back from Atlanta, GA to see Hellish Rock Tour/ProgPower USA IX, consisting of 15 bands over 3 days:

Unfortunatly, no pictures as they don't allow digital cameras in the venue during the show. To many jackasses trying to sneak illegal bootlegs, so Glenn (the promotor/organizer) decided to hell with it and just banned all digital cameras. Yes, even despite all this, there were still idiots trying to sneak video - saw three get booted out myself for doing so, but I digress...

Thursday night (the Hellish Rock Tour part of the festival) conisted of..

Manticora. A really awesome progressive/power metal band that I have seen before. I'll be seeing these guys again up at Jaxx on the 10th.

Gamma Ray. There is some serious straight up power metal here, but again, these guys friggan kicked butt. This is second time I've seen these guys.

Helloween. This is very old school power metal band (these guys been around since the 80's), but holy crap, again, awesome set. I've been waiting YEARS to finally get to see these guys! Go figure that some drunk dumbass managed to climb up on stage during this set, but he did not get very far as that security was on him like white on rice!

Friday Night (First night of the actual ProgPower USA IX)

Pathosray. When I first gotten thier debut album last year, I was blown away by these guys. In fact, I think I played one of thier tracks in Indy this past summer if memory recalls. But then getting to see this Italian melodic progressive metal band play live was just truly an awesome experience. Not only that, but I got a chance to sit and chat with these guys as well. Really good, personable guys that were just thrilled to finally get to play to a US audience.

Elvenking. I ran into this Italian folk-metal band at the hotel where I am staying at (turned out that most of the bands where staying at the same Merriot that I was staying at! [H][8]. However, I was already very familier with thier music, as I had all but thier most recent album (which I picked up while there at the concert) Really awesome guys that were also thrilled to be here in the States to play to a US audience. These guys were really young as well, considering this a band that has been around for a bit of time and has five albums out. Not only that, but very humble and did not display any of the stereotypical "rock star" attitude at all. This band is folk-metal, that incorporates a lot of folk elements in thier music (one of the instruments featured in the band is violin). Again, another really awesome performance. They were really putting thier heart into this one!

Andromeda. Now, this was just phenomenal! Holy crap,did these guys just put on an awesome set! This is very much a progressive metal band, with a lot of technical playing. Another band that was staying in the same hotel, in addition, I actually went to lunch with these guys. Not only that, I ended up staying up till 5 this morning just hanging out with the singer and the guitarist down in the lobby, shooting the breeze. I had all thier previous work as well, but got a copy of thier brand new album, which I've never even heard yet (awaiting it's turn to be spun in my player!) Another one that I was so happy to have gotten to see, and also became really good friends with over the course of these three days.

Iron Savior. This is a German power metal band. Another band that I spent a bit of time hanging out with as they also were staying at the same hotel. Was hanging out at the pool with the guitarist, and then ended up eating breakfest with him and the singer at this dinky little diner just up the street from the Merriot (great food and awesome service, though!). I wonder if they had any idea of just what "grits" or "biscuits and gravy" was. Yes one of the interesting aspect of getting to meet European bands like this is trying to explain local culture to them (oh, it was fun trying to explain to the drummer from Mustach, why you could not buy alchohol after midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning in Georgia, and the concept of a "blue law"). Ran into the bassist while waiting for the bus to go to the venue, as well as hung out with them in the lobby after the show Saturday night, and again, when checking out of the hotel! Again, a band I was already very familier, but was so blown away to finally get to see them as well. Also became good friends with these guys after these three days.

Riverside. This is a Polish progressive rock/metal band. Unfortunatly, did not get a chance to talk to these guys personally, but heard from others that did that these guys were also really friendly and great guys to hang out with. All I can say here myself as that these guys deliverd an absolutly stunning set! I've never heard anything so tight, clean, and so well performed, it was flawless! You could almost see the talent oozing from these guys. I am just sitting there in my seat completly floored at what I was seeing and hearing up there on stage! I was so impressed that I immediatly went down to the vendors area and grabbed all three of thier albums (I only had the two that I downloaded from eMusic, but no actual CD copy). I've been hearing all kinds of comments that these guys where blowing Porcupine Tree away, and I have to admit that I am in agreement. Basically comes down to if you are a fan of Porcupine Tree, than you MUST, and I say again, you MUST check these guys out!

Amorphis. This is a Finnish melodic progressive/death metal band that started thier roots a pure death metal band back in the late 80's/early 90's, but became much more progressive, featuring more clean vocals and less of the so-called "cookie monster" vocals. I did manage to run across a couple of the guys as they were also staying at the same hotel, but did not get a chance to really chat with them. I am not a big fan of all that death metal, growling vocals business, but I found that if used correctly and sparingly, I find it pretty cool to add some extra texture and grit to the music. That being said, these guys friggan blew me away with thier live performance. I was a little concerned of what I may be expecting, but holy crap, did these guy put on a show! To bad I have to go to work tomorrow morning, otherwise, I may have seriously considered making the 45 minute drive up to Springfield tonight to go to Jaxx to see these guys again!

Saturday. (Day two of ProgPower USA IX)

Saint Deamon. This is a Swedish Power/Progressive metal band. This is a band I ended up becoming really good friends with. Funny how these things turn out. This is actually a replacement for another band that was originally supposed to play there called Serenity (which, BTW, is also a really awesome band. Thier new album is just unreal!). My friend I was attending this show with, and myself was walking down the street to the supermarket to pick up some snacks and beer and ran into these guys out on the street (I mean, come-on, just how many blond, long-haired guys in full metal regalia you would typically see walking the streets of mid-town Atlanta? We stuck out in that town like a sore thumb!). I got chatting with them right there on the street, finding yet another band that has never been to the States before and friggan stoked at this whole experience. They could not believe that I've actually heard of them before! I tell these bands that there is indeed a very dedicated and loyal fan base here in the US, and to thier surprise, they find out that is indeed to be the case. Anyway, I've ran into them again at the venue during one of the intermissions between bands and got chatting with them, only for the bassist to go run backstage to bring me out a beer! During thier set, the bassist saw me from the stage and started pointing and waving at me during the show! Afterwards, when I saw him, he was telling me that he saw me and was waving at me. I told him that I saw it and was trying to wave back! Pretty cool when you get a band like that! For most of the rest of that evening, I was hanging out with these guys and theykept going backstage to bring me beers! How cool is that? Thier actual set was awesome, as you can guess. I sure as hell hope they get the oppurunity to play here in the states again. Kinda bummed that I lost track of them during the Iced Earth set and could not find them after the whole event was over, as I wanted to give them a proper farewell. I am going to try to contact them via thier website.

Spheric Universe Experience. This is French melodic/symphonic progressive metal band. Those of you that follow that "listening now' thread in the two-channel section would have no doubt seen me having posted these guy's album(s) on there. Funny that I ran into these guys on the street as well while they were waiting for the bus to take them up to the venue. The guitarist was telling me how awesome it was to finally be here to play and that they could not wait until they get to play. I replied, "Dude, I am friggan stoked and cannot friggan wait to see you guys play!". To be honost, I don't know who was more excited here? The band, for getting to play, or me, for getting to see them play? Again, sounding like a broken record here, these guys friggan delivered and did not disappoint. I fortunatly found them again after their set to tell them so (Awesome how much these band truly appreciate thier fans and it seems to really make thier day when somebody just walks up and tells them how awesome the did. One of the reasons why I love and support this scene!).

Rob Rock. This guys is a legend in his own right. He is from the US. He is definitly in the old-school 80's classic, melodic, metal style (thankfully, not of the poppy, and frankly annoying, hair metal variety. He also puts a lot of Christian expression in his music. I found his set to be very enjoyable and certainly delieverd the goods. I also got to briefly say hi to him and very personable. I did pick up his lastest album, which I did not have (I had some of his older work, including that of when he was in Impellitari)

Mustasch. This is a Swedish melodic, old-school, straight-up classic metal, along the lines of some old Black Sabbath, Black Label Society, and the type. Another awsome set delivered. Not only that, these guys were also friggan blown away by being able to perform in the States for the first time. Kinda funny moment regarding this band as well as the previously mentioned Saint Deamon, as Saint Deamon is also from Sweden, but never saw these guys perform before. They knew of these guys and wanted to see these guys, but never done so before. I said to the, "Come-on, can't you see the irony of the whole thing? Both of you have never performed here in the US, you are both from Sweden, and you never saw Mustasch, but yet end up here in the States to see them?" Also was funny later that night, in the hotel lobby, trying to explain to Mustasch's drummer why you can't buy alchohol after midnight Sat/Sun in Georgia. I also ran into these guys as we were leaving the hotel to walk back to the subway to take to the airport. I told them that it was awesome to get to see them and they were just like "Wow! I canot believe we got to play in the US!" Another really awesome bunch of guys that I got to see play as well as get to spend a little time to hang out with. And yes, thier set was awesome as well.

Jon Olivia's Pain. Yes, the legendary Jon Olivia (my heart still goes out to him for the tragic loss of his brother, Chris, back in 1993. Was hit and killed by a drunk driver). Those of you that are Savatage fans will know of this guy. This is pretty much Savatage now-a-days, as there are still folks screaming for a Savatage reunion (I am not holding my breath on that one). JOP played a really sweet mix of classic Savatage as well as material off his newer JOP albums. Bonus was that Zakk Stevens came up and sang the classic Savatage "Edge of Thorns" song. He, along with his band, also put on a phenomenal set! I am so stoked at getting to see him play again on the 10th at Jaxx.

And last, but not least - Iced Earth. Finally, after all this time, friggan FINALLY, get to see this legenday US old-school power metal band! With Matt Barlow, the original vocalist, no less! The highlight of this set was when they played the "Gettysburg 1863 suite" off of thier Glorious Burden albu. That was just so awesome see that performed live. They played a good mix of old classics as well as much of thier newer stuff. The only major downer was that during the last song, which was the friggan original "Iced Earth" title track off thier first album, also self-titled Iced Earth from back in 1991, Jon actually BLOW UP the pickups on his guitar! We were all really getting into the song when they suddenly stopped and the whole audience (some 1,200 or so folks) was like WTF? They tried to start over, but as you can imagine, with the actual guitar out of commision, that was it, so thus there the whole thing ended! Matt Barlow was like "sorry guys, I guess that is it!". Man, what a way to end an otherwise totally awesome show! Iced Earth was kicking some serious butt until right up to that moment! Kinda shame to end in such a crappy way, but like they say, "$#!+ does indeed happen".

Overall, this was just one incredible experience and after seeing the line up for next year (which was announced via this really cool video presentation after Amorphis was done Friday evening), I am already making plans to go next year. In fact, my friend, Dave and I, actually put in a bid to sponser one of the bands for next year! Turned out the band, Sabaton, made the lineup, but still don't know if we actually won the sponsership (as somebody else could've very well outbidded us). Being a sponser will grant me full VIP access to the show, which would be friggan awesome! Basically means I could just about go anywhere I want - back stage, to the VIP lounge, front of the railing at the stage, and so forth! I won't know until around two weeks from now.

[Mighty Favog]

O.k., I'll add one more.

Eagle - Long Road Out of Eden Tour: September 20, St. Louis, MO. Drove over 400 miles to see that one.

Just my luck too. Two weeks later they announced that their playing where I live.[:'(]

[kaiser SET say]

Just bagged tickets for my little Metallica lover coming next month[]

Not sure if their are any fans on here but the original band just came out of the studio with this[]

This is a good album as a matter a fact it's pushed Lucy and Happy Pills to # 3 and 4 in my order of preference[]

[Lonelobo]

Thursday night I saw Dave Brubeck and his quartet in what can only be described as an audioorgasmic performance with the University of North Texas Grand Chorus, Symphony, Brass ensemble, and One O'clock Lab Band. Venue was the 10th year anniversary concert celebration of the Murchison Performing Arts Center that is the pride of the College of Music. The program started with "All My Hope", Brubeck's Communion Hymn from his Mass "To Hope! A Celebration". His quartet was front and center on stage with the UNT Symphony behind them and the 200+ strong UNT Grand Chorus in the elevated Risers behind the stage. This was followed by his "Pange Lingua Variations" and by the end of this piece half the audience of 1025 had tears streaming down their faces and you could hear them all sniffling. Absolutely phenomenal high church jazz mass. No way to describe it. The Winspear Performance Hall that housed the concert withing the Murchison Center is very possibly the best accoustical performance space for jazz I have heard. That includes Bass Hall in Fort Worth and the Meyerson in Dallas. Imagine the perfection of both those venues but at a third the size. I got my tickets extremely late and was no more than 30 feet from Brubeck's piano! There is not a bad seat in the house. If any of you in the Dallas area haven't been there...GO! On a side note, Pinchas Zukerman will be holding a Guest Masterclass on March 6th in the UNT College of Music Recital Hall, but it's free...FREEEEEEE!!!!!! GO!!!!

Back to the concert at hand. Brubeck at 88years of age was awesome. He never addressed the audience as Russel Gloyd, the guest conductor took care of MC duties. Brubeck's current quartet consists of Bobby Militello (Sax/flute), Michael Moore (bass), and Randy Jones (drums). They are all silverbacks and stunningly virtuostic.

During intermission, the entire Grand Chorus and Symphony flooded the lobby and mingled with the audience chowing down on refreshments while the stage was transformed for the second half pure Jazz set with the One O'clock Lab Band. The One O'clock played the 1st 2 tunes by themselves, but the great thing was from my seat I could see the right side stage door open and the entire Brubeck Quartet was leaning thru the doorway to intently listen to the kids kick it. The first piece was an original composition by the current director of the One O'clock, Steve Wiest. It was called Cydonia and was very challenging to both play AND hear. It was very good, but you had to listen really hard to take it all in. The 2nd piece was an arrangement of Brubeck's "Here Comes McBride" by one of the students in the Lab Band and it was so good that Brubeck is adding it to his personal repertoire.

Then the Quartet entered and the rest of the evening they and the Lab Band took turns kicking each other's A$$es. They started with "Cassandra", then stepped it up with "The Basie Band is Back in Town". Then they played the "theme from Mr. Broadway", which was a TV show theme that Brubeck wrote. It was SIMPLY STUNNING. Then they played "Elementals", a Brubeck composition that explores all the different elements of modern music. And it was cool. Then in a flash they were playing "Blue Rondo A La Turk". I was in heaven. The Lab Band is the modern equivalent of a Big Band and those kids are absolutely adept at blowing like the best honkin big band you can ever imagine and they are laying and trading licks with the quartet seamlessly. OMG, it KICKEDDDDDD!!!!!

Then, as if it could even get better, they launch into "Take Five" and kick it's A$$ all around the stage and audience and entire universe. We could stop importing oil tomorrow if you could have captured the energy in that hall. That was the end of the program according to the "official" program...but wait, Steve Wiest comes out with a trombone from off stage and the entire assembled band breaks into "A Train" and there ensues a melodic battle of mighty proportions between Steve on trombone and Bobby Militello on Alto Sax that eventually left the audience breathless and ultimately led to Steve's sweet surrender to the sax. HOLY $hit!!! It was absolutely outrageous and I feel absolutely blessed to see Brubeck up close and having the time of his life, passing so much on to the next generation. The Quartet had spent all week in Denton, rehearsing and teaching.

I can't say enough about the Grand Chorus and the Symphony. They were absolutely PERFECT! And I don't mean, "perfect" for a University performance. You could see Brubeck smiling from ear to ear and really enjoying their perfomance of his work. I've been to a lot of awful concerts lately, but this one made up for all of them and then some.