Metallica Magnetic....The Sh*t Really Sticks

We were able to once again go on the road and see the mighty Metallica in Grand Rapids last Monday (http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/metallica/2009/van-andel-arena-grand-rapids-mi-13d739c9.html). We had seen them in Indy a few weeks before and I thought the show and band were "back in the saddle" so to speak. Before these two shows, I had last seen them new years eve at the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas in 2003 and they seemed a bit tired and distant (never had seen that before) and then saw two shows on the St. Anger tour and definitely thought they were not comfortable onstage and they seemed to be going thru the motions a bit. Sad; very much a bummer, this was something I had never experienced with these guys on any level. They always came thru and never phoned it in; never I say. Music has been a intense influence and fabric of my life since I bought Alice Cooper's "Schools Out" lp when I was 11 years old. Black Sabbath's "Vol. 4" was next and it has been a amazing journey I would not trade for a BILLION dollars! So naturally when I first heard the guys song "Hit The Lights" on Metal Blade's first compilation way back in the summer of 1982; it was all over for me, I was there for their incredible ride. The production was very bad, but you could hear something that had really never been done on record before. Just sheer intensity, fast as shit playing and pissed off singing. They had captured the punk quickness and anger, then loaded it up with Marshall stacks and some crazy low end. Thus you have the initial seeds of what would change the landscape of music, the metal genre and millions of peoples lives.

The show in GR had been sold out for months; I mean three solid months in advance. It had been five years since they had been in GR and the demand had not waned a bit in the intervening time. We missed the opening act of Volbeat who are from Denmark (land o' Lars) and I would think Lars' choice for support as he is a fellow Dane. They are more punk and rockabilly than heavy metal and the singer definitely has a Glenn Danzig vocal sound; nice and big. I wonder how they went down, forgot to ask the Metallica crew I know. Next was Lamb Of God from Richmond, Virginia and super, duper heavy! We watched a few songs and they seemed to be rocking the crowd for the most part. Ten years ago and I would have watched the whole set, but it all seems a bit forced and contrived for me at this point. I tell myself it's not because I am getting older; my tastes have improved (LOL). Metallica always have a huge say in who supports them and I think this will always be. They have had some amazing acts with them;Kyuss, Suicidal Tendencies, Corrosion Of Conformity, The Cult, Queensryche, Machine Head, The Sword and many other worthy acts that deserved and got mass exposure. They have no problem giving props to new acts that kick ass and the older acts that influenced them (the; Garage Days, Inc. cd, is a massive tribute and financial support (to most of the acts covered; I doubt Black Sabbath, Queen and Bob Seeger need the royalties) to 18 acts they cover on the cd).

So Lamb Of God finish and we find our seats and they are pretty much right there about 15 rows from stage and I thank Kirk again for killer seats that Lidia can see them (she is a shortie in height; NOT stature, she is a giant there!!). There is always a palpable buzz that permeates the air right before the guys hit the stage and commence their throw down. It is parts excitement, anticipation, the unknown and the scary. A lethal mix for a amazing 2 hour plus pummeling. I have been to thousands of shows in my life and there is nothing quite as organic and amazing as the run up to the start of the intro music and then the start. It is nothing short of the start of a drag race followed by mach 4 speed the rest of the way and it does leave most beat, sore and the happiest they have been in months or years.

The show for this tour is about 18 songs per show that rumble like a freight train but glides as precisely as a world class figure skater. They have cornered the market on heaviness but apply this with a intensely crafted velvet hammer. They have these incredible paradoxes in heaviness and quiet, precision and break neck speed, that no other band has come close to interpreting this and thus they seem to own it outright. The current cd and following tour show them at the top of their game once again, as they reclaim the summit in this barren of genres. So it was this second viewing of the "Death Magnetic Tour" that I was able to focus on the set and the delivery. They started this night's set with "That Was Just Your Life" off the new cd. It is the perfect song to launch the evening's festivities. The song basically jumps jumps off and never looks back. This new cd had the intensity that was so organic in the first decade of their existence. Everything that was wrong with St. Anger has now been turned back into the lifeblood that made and now again makes them the band that crushed, cares, knows what pains you, is your soapbox for the shit all around and in you; just the best and most refreshing slap in your face you could ever want or experience. James has found that space where "Battery", "Master Of Puppets", "Shortest Straw" and so many others have come from. That space had been abandoned or deserted either purposely or unintentionally; but what ever drove that action, ended up nowhere near what the Metallica juggernaut produced or stood for until that cd and movie. James is back on his game lyrically and you can feel it in "That Was Just Your Life", "Broken, Beat & Scarred" and the war inspired "The Day That Never Comes". They capture the daily struggle, the daily grind and the fact that we all have and deserve our dreams. They sing about the evil in the world and the fact that we all must not roll over to them and we must always fight the fight. I don't see the CEO's of aig or citigroup, bush or cheney listening to Metallica for inspiration or a bit of insight. They were and always will be a band "of the people" and some won't ever get or relate to this. Second song was "The End Of The Line" which went into the epic "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and then into the legendary "The Four Horsemen". Six new songs were thrown down and were thoroughly consumed by everyone in sight. This is a testament to the power of "Death Magnetic" as most performers trot out 2 or 3 of the newbies when they tour; usually the single everyone knows and then couple other new ones so the fans can get a beer or go to the bathroom. That doesn't happen at a Metallica show, leave at the risk of missing R'n'R history. Get your beers and pee before they start is what I tell Lidia!!

I saw Big Mick Hughes after the show. It has been quite awhile since I last saw and talked to him. Saw him from afar at Bonnaroo 2008 and Indy in September. He was one of the first people I met from the Metallica entourage back in 1988 and have had many a killer experiences with him. He is and always will be Metallica's front of house sound man. Truly the most talented sound man I have ever heard (you can add Stan Doty of Wilco to that tiny list!!) and have heard him mix over 100 of their shows. In tiny clubs, soccer arenas, velodromes, racetracks, open fields,etc..and he has never had even an average mix. Just dials it in immediately and lets it rip thru the crowd all set long. He is also quite the charming English bloke with a ton of great stories. So needless to say I hit him up for a few in Grand Rapids. I ask him how the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame show was with Jason returning to play with the band. Big Mick and Jason seemed to have a close relationship when he was in the band. Both are great guys and very knowledgeable of their crafts and music. I have sat in many a time and was entertained and educated by both. So Mick said it was great to see Jason again and they were able to talk for a bit. He also said something that I completely had forgot; Jason was in Metallica for fifteen years. That is a huge chunk of time for anyone. I also asked him about the internet rumor that took on a life of it's own right after Jason reunited for the one show. This is the one that had Metallica inviting Jason back for the rest of the "Death Magnetic" world tour to play bass on the old songs he recorded with them and Robert would do the new songs from the past two cd's. He said this was total rumor and that was never, ever mentioned or brought up. He knew nothing about the rumor also. He also stated that the tour will roll on thru November 2010; that's another full year! I asked him about the week's before Rock and Roll hall Of fame show at Madison Square Garden. The guys played with Lou Reed, Ozzy Osbourne and Ray Davies; performing each one's hits and being their backing band! Mick said that they only got one hour to check and rehearse with the three artists. This was the result of U2 coming in and taking over. He said they have a ton of people in their entourage and just naturally fill up and take over the space. Lou was not the nicest guy and I have heard that many times. He is very NYC (ie: dick) and the first thing he told the band was they were way TOO LOUD!! Too much, telling Metallica they are too loud. They performed "White Light/White Heat" and the seminal "Sweet Jane" with old Lou. I guess during the rehearsal, there was a mention of doing a rare Velvet Underground or Metallica song and Lou stated he only knows and plays his songs....again; TOO MUCH!! Ozzy was up next and Mick said he thinks this is the first time Ozzy played a show without either Black Sabbath or the Ozzy Osbourne band. He said it was a bit strange, but ok. Next was Ray Davies of the Kinks and a huge fav of mine. They did "You Really Got Me" into "All Day And All Of The Night" and he was his charming self onstage and at rehearsal. Mick liked him a lot and I think this is definitely one guy who you would love to have a pint with! We went backstage to drop off some clothes Lidia had made for Kirk and James children. James was digging Lid's designs when he met her in Indy. I really think you should get a hold of "Death Magnetic" and then get yourself to a show, it could very well change your life as it has done many, many times before. I am always up for taking people to their first Metallica experience; weak need not apply!

Briefly Re-Connect With The Metallica Guys And Watch Them Kill Indy!!

It has been awhile since Lidia and I have gone on a road trip to see a band and show. I think the last one was a year and a half ago when we went to see Radiohead on one of the first dates of the "In_Rainbow" tour in St. Louis. I book and produce over 250 shows and events a year, but I can always find a few days to travel and do or see whatever I would like. Now Lidia on the other hand runs our clothing company; Evil Kitty, an average of 10+ hours a day, seven days a week. Our company is entering it's sixth year and Lidia is really turning up the heat and making Evil Kitty thrive in this most barren of economic times. Basically she is the driving and creative force behind our company and it's slowly starting to pay off!! So needless to say that all my attempts to divert her attention from Evil Kitty does not in the least bit work these days, so when I came up with the idea to take our new Mustang GT (I love driving this car....it rules!) on a little 200 mile ride to see the Metallica boys. Before asking; I was weighing the idea of going by myself, but that kinda sux as it should be a good one to share with another person. The chance I could find someone NOT annoying to take the three hour drive each way with is a bit daunting, but most of those people I know who are NOT annoying either do not live in this city, do not care one lick about the mighty 'Tallica, are way too much too handle for that extent of time or they just exist in my head. So on my way to speak to Lidia about this most awesome of roads trips, I was already thinking what I can barter for her presence at this kick ass event! I mention that I have reconnected with Kirk again and we have two tickets and two passes from him and we HAVE to go.......PLEASE!! I am stunned by her quick reply of; "Ok". I am floored as I have nothing to say initially, but quickly recover and say; "This will rock!" Lidia has never met Metallica and I am excited she may finally meet the guys and see the band that has been a nice and important part of my life.

I first heard of Metallica in the pages of Kerrang! magazine from the UK. There was a mention of a bay area band that was faster than shit and they had a demo cassette they were giving away thru the mail. I think this was the "No Life 'Til Leather" tape, which fast became a underground legend and a HUGE collectible. The first song I heard by them was "Hit The Lights", finally the perfect hybrid of punk and metal! You knew from that first listening to this song that this band had the right idea and knew how to get it across. I was able to purchase "Kill 'Em All" on their initial Megaforce Records release on cassette. I reviewed this record for my fanzine; Last Rites, and basically said this was the shit and everyone had better get with this San Francisco act quickly or be left in the dust! I loved the fact that this group was giving the world everything they had and no filler. They wore their attitudes and desires on their sleeves and meant everything they said. The fact that their press pics had them all sweaty, pimply and buzzed was a huge statement that no other metal or rock band had ever done. Warts and all is what the 'Tallica guys gave you and you either love it or lump it buddy!! Clash attitude with Sabbath heaviness; I was hooked and have been for their whole run (issues with St. Anger and Some Kind Of Monster; but other than that....PERFECT!!). I can't think of no other band that has been as consistently incredible in product and performance and have maintained their loyalty to their fans; NO ONE!! Their music is more than just a soundtrack for millions, it's a rallying cry, a statement and the reason you get back up and dust yourself off and attack the bastards again. I don't think the Stones, U2, Phish, AC/DC, Kenny Chesney or any other mega act can say this; except maybe for Bruce....maybe (jury is still out). That summer Metallica came to do 2 shows at a dive club on north Broadway called cleverly enough; Broadway Jack's. A all ages show and a 21+ show were scheduled and I headed there to review the early show for my fanzine. Needless to say that was one of many sets of music that was to keep me coming back to Metallica for the next twenty five years. My initial contact with the band was at this all ages show in this dive club. I was able to talk briefly with Kirk and we talked about GBH, a killer punk band from the UK that was bridging the punk and metal gap from the punk side. Little did I know at that point how many times I would intersect with the greatest metal band that ruled the Earth!

The next time I would run into Metallica was the start of the "Monsters Of Rock Tour" in the summer of 1988 at Alpine Valley for three incredibly wild days and nights. These also were the first big gigs for new bass player; Jason Newsted, who had replaced Cliff Burton who tragically died on tour in Europe. This was also the debut of songs from the soon to be released "...And Justice For All" lp. These shows were the start of this mega tour in the summer on '88 and it was to foreshadow how incredible the band were to become for decades and the intense connection between band and fan that carried them on this incredible juggernaut. That weekend I was able to get backstage and stay there for three days. I met and hung with their guitar techs, drum tech, sound man (still and always Big Mick!) and the band. They were second out of five acts on this monstrous mega metal tour and it was fun to see the guys crush Dokken (the act after them every show on this tour) and get encores only had by headliners Van Halen and Scorpions. That weekend I met and had a great drinking bout with James and ended up in some fans hotel room playing poker with him while they filmed the game and ask James questions; a bit surreal especially when the conversation turned to Cliff's death. That weekend was an amazing entry into the Metallica world that would led me to many amazing, legendary and funny experiences. I plan on writing about my many awesome and incredible things that happened to me while in the Metallica world. Riding the crew bus in Florida, sitting with Kirk at his guitar tech's wedding in Boston (that was a trip), seeing the band in Denver at Red rocks for two nights while a rumor of a suicide cult were going to off themselves during "Fade To Black" and the band deciding right there NOT to play that song either night & subsequently shying away from it for years because of this stigma and rumor from Denver, getting one of EVERY piece of Metallica merchandise from Jason (I had to throw out some of my clothes to bring all this stuff back from the road trip), being the only non-member of the band at their sound check at the Donnington race track in the UK and seeing them play "2x4" (off the killer "Load" lp) for sound check for the first time live, My bus ride up to Donnington with just Jason and Tim Duffy (rest of the band helicoptered to the site, Jason hated helicopters....lucky me) standing onstage at the tiny Astoria 2 in London watching them play for 900 people, staying at the hotel in Paris that was Hitler's Paris command center and was in La Femme Nikita, drinking with James and some Paris girls and being waited on hand and foot (most incredible hotel, you need to check it out: http://www.regina-hotel.com/), riding back to the hotel after the Rotterdam gig with James and Jason in the van playing them the bands I managed and letting them have the demo's, signing all our drinks to Lars tab at the hotel in Manchester and many others it makes my head spin. Truly lucky to have been with and witness the best metal or rock band EVER!!!!

The Indy show was just what I needed after finally conceding that "St. Anger" was their first bummer of a record. I love everything they have ever done until this lp and the the following movie with that psychiatrist. I love the first record, I love Justice and I think "Load" might be their best complete lp of them all. My three favorite songs are; "Enter Sandman" (may be best metal/rock single of ALL time), "Whiplash" and "Seek And Destroy", anytime I hear those a instant smile goes thru my body and mind. So this new cd had me a little worried as I hoped they had regained the ground where all this over the top writing and playing came from (it had abandoned them for St. Anger) and I did not want to give up on a band and guys who had made such an impact in my life. So it took me a few months to finally buy the cd and listen to it. It was good, but I had no idea how good until I saw them drill it into me in Indy. They are back and it's all about the song crafting and intensity in all the right places (St. Anger was a pile driver with no rhyme nor reason; it seemed like a ode to Slayer or a 50 plus minute mid life crisis). I actually went out and bought the $150 box set and think this one stands up against the best of their best. The band seem much more comfortable in their skins as they seemed the opposite in the movie and the St. Anger tour I saw. All I can say is they are back and on top of their game; setting 'em up and knocking 'em down all over the world! I just hope they know a little tiny bit how much they have made my life a blast and given me the idea you can do anything, especially if loads of people are saying you can't do it. If you have never seen them live; even if you don't care for their music, you have to see one of their shows as it is the water mark every other band in the universe should hold themselves to. I have been able to get 100's of people into their shows (and most met the band before or afterwards) and they all come away with their jaws on the ground and a mad ass respect for them and the genre we all call and love.....METAL!!!!

My Freakin' Rock and Roll Sunday!!

The afternoon with Snow Patrol and the evening with Kasim Sulton; as he plays bass for Todd Rundgren!! Plus we drive 110 miles round trip to eat Polish food at my in laws house! I wish every Sunday could be like this! Let me explain how this all came together and worked out perfectly!

I had just arrived Sunday night at Heathrow and was waiting for my car and driver (hell yeah I have a car and driver when in London; Monte, the man can get you anywhere quickly in London and get you anything, anytime!!!) to pick me up in the car park at Terminal 1. It is a little before 9pm and the weather is amazing for the UK and this time of year. I am in the car and Monte is speeding towards my flat in Herne Hill and I am feeling really good. He tells me that Oasis had crapped out of tonight's V Festival at the Chelmsford (just north of London) and rumors were swirling that they were over. What a full service guy Monte is; music rumors thrown in for free....."Yah Mahn"; as Monte would say! Wow this sux; I love the brothers Gallagher, but that's not why we are here. Back to Snow Patrol; the reason for this rambling. So I am dropped off by Monte at my destination in South London and I get up to my flat I am staying at and drop my bags in my room. My friend David whose flat this is, is in Crete until Tuesday, so I settle into the lounge where his flat mate Cooper and his doggie Blue are watching the V Festival Sunday show on their flat screen. The female and male announcing team (are really annoying and trying soooo hard to be fun and cool...yuk!) are just going on about how Oasis played the Leeds leg last night and today Liam has fell quite ill. They are NOT playing tonight to the awaiting 80,000 people at the fest. Bummer I thought; as this act is THE HUGEST act in the UK hands down. They are the face of Brit pop and rock, so there must be a lot of sad punters at Chelmsford. Now the announcers are saying that Keane are now the special guest right before the headliner and that Snow Patrol are now the headliners; wow I again thought, this must be a huge pressure moment for this band. Granted they are really big in the UK and Ireland; not Oasis big, but arena headliners in their own right. So Coop's and I watch the highlights of their set and the crowd is going wild. They stepped up and hit a home run. Nice one I think and we plow thru the rest of the night with wine, music and a lot of chat (Blue did make a good point or two, but it always led back to sausages!!)

Skip forward several days and I am looking at my email and I see I have an email from the owner of the Abbey saying radio station WXRT need to get a hold of me and they need a afternoon date for Snow Patrol! I first think this is a joke and blow it off, but then a hour later I have to email the radio station. It's unbelievably freakin' true! The date is Sunday September 13th at 2pm and they will do a live Studio X session with Gary Lightbody and Nathan Connolly of the band doing their hits and answering questions from Marty Lenartz (my buddy and XRT DJ) in front of a crowd of 300 winners. This will rock!! So after eight days of music and loads of madness, I head back to Chicago and the upcoming Snow Patrol event.

I advance the set with Neil their tour manager and all seems to be on track for a great afternoon. The reason they are here in Chicago is that they are opening the first third of the U2 tour and they are doing the first two shows at Soldiers Field. Now about this same time period i get a text from my buddy Kasim Sulton who plays bass for Todd Rundgren and Meatloaf (no jokes please). He will be in town for two nights with Todd. They are doing the whole "A Wizard, A True Star" lp; which was one of my first lp's I bought in junior high! So I am doing the Snow Patrol set Sunday afternoon, then going to see my in laws for Polish food and then heading to Park West for Todd and Kasim; this should be a ton of fun!!

I am setting up a few things for the boys before they arrive and I notice they are late. I phone Neil and find out they are a bit hungover as they were out very late at the U2 kickoff after party. I should think that the idea of this radio event was a great idea several weeks out when it was conceived. However; after only a few hours of sleep after the U2 party, a rethink about this commitment was probably on their minds as Neil was calling their rooms to leave for the Abbey. As true professionals, they rose to the occasion and headed towards the club. Now they could easily be a bit grumpy as due to the previous night's par takings. BUT; they were two of the nicest guys and Gary is truly a funny man with true British wit. We had tea and bacon sandwiches for them and they were truly appreciative; great hangover cure! They did a quick check and set the levels for the recording truck and engineer. We were ready for the event to commence and the lucky people were let into the venue. I have to say that I was not a huge Snow Patrol fan and thought they were a bit soft for my taste. This is a perfect example of meeting the guys who write the songs and getting to hear them in a really direct and immediate environment. I was able to chat with Gary for a little while and found him to be very charming, approachable and funny. Nathan was very nice; but he was the quiet one, both downstairs and onstage. They are truly two of the nicest guys you would ever meet, not two guys in one of the UK's biggest acts right now!! So there you go, you don't have to become a dick or asshole once you become really famous and rich; that's just a myth most successful music people feel they must emulate.

The set was basically seven or eight songs and then an unscheduled encore. They played a lot of their hits from the UK charts; They performed "Chasing Cars" and "Run" two of their biggest UK hits pretty much right away and had the crowd hanging on every word and chorus. A great way to start this abbreviated set, just crush us with the hits right away. The vibe was set and it was a love fest all around. Gary told jokes and funny tour and school stories and we all laughed and hoped the next song was another hit. They just seem to love the aspect of playing a small club and everyone here was theirs; forever! "Take Back The City" was the encore the crowd demanded and greatly received. Killer set and just real nice lads.

Onto McHenry for some polish food cooked for Lidia and I by her mother. We have some lovely borscht, pierogies and a little pork. Then we are on our way to drop her off at her nanny job. I receive a text from Kasim saying 8pm is the opener and he will see me soon. It is a little after 8pm and I am in Lincoln Park looking for parking. Yuppie hell and no parking anywhere. I opt for the city lot and run to the Park West. They are their own support act and I catch the last couple of songs of this opening set. They are dressed in while t-shirts and black slacks, I notice another stage set behind them and figure this is the set up for the the second set which will be the "A Wizard, A True Star" lp. During the intermission, I notice that I have a letter and number written on my envelope which had my ticket and pass. I find the hostess and ask her what; if anything, this means. She informs me that Kasim has reserved a booth for me; SWEET!! Now I had been in the way back as the show seemed to be sold out or very close to it, so a comfy booth sounded great. Tickets were $100 for reserved seats and I have to say Todd's crowd is a strange one. She leads me fairly close to the stage and points to a big, black leather, 'U' shaped couch and says that's my seat. I say, "that's all for me?". She laughs hard and says, "no" and that I am most likely sharing with several other people who are guests of the band. The second my ass touches the leather, this woman comes swooping in from out of nowhere and starts to berate me for sitting in "Her" booth and then says the one thing any person with a shred of dignity would not say; "who are you?". Now let us take a quick time out for me to address two important things here; first issue is how completely strange and weird Todd Rundgren's crowd is and the second most glaring question is why I did not rip this woman's head off and how I f*cked with her and her friends all night...:). This is the third time in four years I have seen Kasim with Todd. At each show I notice how territorial Todd's fans are and how they are not such a warm and fuzzy bunch. I have felt more love at a Slayer show, these people seem very possessive of their Todd and their space at which they view their Todd! Everything seems so retro with them, old badges, old t-shirts, old haircuts like he wore and colored, clutching his old lp's and just have this sort of desperate look in their eyes. So back to the crazy lady telling me to get out of her booth. I have two options at this point, stand up and tower over her and let it rip how she does not own the booth and to shut the f*ck up or go the route of trying to explain what is actually happening right now and why. It must have been the Polish food and love my wife sent me off with, because I choose the later. My first retort was "I am friends with one for the band members", I thought that should subside this barking doggie! Does she not see my backstage pass I am wearing proudly? But no, she wants to know who I know. I proudly say "Kasim; B*tch, now leave me alone and go back under your bridge" in my mind, but it comes out "Kasim". Now she says one of the best things I have heard in awhile, "Everyone knows Kasim, I will find the tour manager and have you removed" says the lovely troll in my face as I sit there and play with my IPhone trying to ignore this moment. This gets a small chuckle out of me and I go back to texting someone as she hurries off to find said tour manager. In the mean time several of her friends have now re-entered the booth are are giving me the eye. I explain this is my seat and I am not moving. So I now go to my IPhone and start texting Lidia about my situation and how well I handled it; no one died! The more I text and laugh, I notice how the others seem to shrink in some embarrassment and I really start to laugh a little louder; you messed with the wrong person and now you must pay....well a little.

I am also in the front of the booth and make sure I have great posture thru out the show and stretch to make sure I am not too tight....LOL. Then the woman who created this whole thing (oh yeah...no tour manager ever showed), puts her expensive camera right next to my drink, I wanted so badly to...."OPPS, I accidentally spilled my drink on your camera....so sorry". But that only happened in my mind, I behaved although she deserved it in my book. So while I am blocking their views, I am enjoying the set. Complete with many costume changes for Todd and Kasim even gets to sing his song from the lp; "Does Anybody Love You?". Very cool and well done Kasim. So thus ends a killer Rock n Roll Sunday and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just A Lovely Sunday At The Festival

I had to sort out a Sunday backstage pass for our very good friend; Jack Doolan. Jack heads up a killer metal band out of London called Cypher 16. Lidia and I met Jack several years ago and seen him grow into a solid man and a well focused band leader and writer. So when Jack said he would see us late Saturday night at the hotel, we had to get him a pass for Sunday. So backing up to early Saturday afternoon; we were getting out of the black cab (these things rule, it's like having a studio apartment to drive around in...I'm just saying it's BIG!) a few blocks from the backstage entrance and as we pop out of the rolling mini pitch and I hear a man say he has tickets for today and tomorrow (everything was sold out months ago); so I whip my head around and say "VIP mate?". Now this guy is the epitome of a working class dude from the UK. Skin head, short, built like a bull dog, tattoo's on his forearms, Fred Perry shirt, boots and has all the right things we need to secure Jack a Sunday with us. This guy rocks and I start to negotiate the price. We establish a nice price and agree to meet here at the same place (right next to the car park which he runs) at 1pm Sunday; freakin' cool and easy! Be a good day with Jack, David and Malcolm (complete with 4 15 year olds) on Sunday. Should be interesting and fun to say the least.

Skip forward to Sunday AM; so we leave the hotel with Jack for the final day of Reading Fest and head out to see "our man". We find him after a few anxious minutes and we are told the price has gone up as Radiohead are playing their only UK show in 2009 tonight. F*ck sakes I say; not cool, but we really don't have much to negotiate with. So the price rises 30 quid and I say we want free parking for our car in his car park! Money changes hands, get the pass, we put the car in the lot and head the few blocks to the entrance. Should be a great day as the sun and white clouds are everywhere you look. I am with some of my favorite people on earth right now; how could it not be!

We arrive early and find Noah And The Whale on the main stage. Not my thing and kinda boring after 4 or 5 songs. Must have been a better choice for 2:30pm on the main stage. Head backstage and find my friend; Malcolm, who has arrived with his son Calum and three of his friends. I was a bit of a terror at 15, but these four where very well behaved; almost too behaved...Hmmm...something is afoot I suspect. After chatting for awhile, we head out to see Australia's Living End. These three guys have been banging it out for fifteen years; truly amazing. It is a cross of punk, rockabilly, rock and country. Very consistent and always agreattime. The four people i dragged out to see them, all really liked their set. I promoted several shows with them in the mid and late 90's; very good guys to work with!

Every fest weekend I have had a great discovery that just blows me away and then several times I have had the opportunity to promote their Chicago shows. This year was no exception; Lethal Bizzle, just totally amazing and a killer guy! He is a East London rapper who is on fire right now in the UK. He was playing an early afternoon set in the NME tent, so I had to see this. I am a big fan of Dizzee Rascal and Lethal is fairly similar in style; very heavy and very fast! The tent was filling up quickly and I had a sense this was going to go off...WAY OFF!! He hits the stage and just as I had thought; this place go f*ckin' nuts. Dancing, jumping, slamming, singing and just going plain mental was all that was around me! "Go Hard" is his new single and that resonated really well with me and the crowd as did "Bizzle Bizzle"; his mini theme song. Just a intensely fun and draining set. I really would love to do his Chicago show I thought as Lidia danced around for the better part of his set. Bizzle kills us all and we run back to our table and I need a snack; as this is the soberest day I have ever had at any Reading. The past week has just final pummeled me into saying; UNCLE! The past seven have been a wonderful blur with London as the backdrop, but no more bit and bobs today or tonight.

Ok, hanging with the teens and they have a bit of an attitude. What's this I think? You need to shut it a bit and listen to your wise elders sonny boy. They seem very fresh faced and seem to know a lot (or so they think) about it all. Good for them and hopefully that slap in the face is still several years off. So as Calum starts to do kissy face with his first girlfriend, I spot Lethal "F*cking" Bizzle coming out to the vip area where we are. Very cool and I start my way towards him. He is signing autographs and taking pics with two little girls and then starts a TV interview for a european station. I talk to one of his managers and let her know I would love to do his Chicago show. He finishes the interview and we talk for about ten minutes. He is a really smart and articulate young man who has his head screwed on right and should have a decent career in music. This whole experience has left me with a nice buzz and I find Lidia and we set off to see Passion Pit at the NME tent. We pass the dance tent and there is a incredible over flow crowd going nuts and then it ends s we try and navigate thru this throng. It's Deadmau5 finishing up a afternoon set that looks liked it killed. He had a big hit here in the charts this summer here and I do like some of his songs/mixes. Onto Passion Pit, I have heard a lot of noise regarding this Boston area act and was anxious to see if it measured up. It did not even come close! Kind of boring and disjointed, can't see what all the chatter is about. We make a hasty get away and see a few songs by Lady Sovereign in the dance tent. I really didn't buy into the hype of her debut cd and this new act seems to feature a full band. We catch a few songs and it seems forced and the band seem to overpower her onstage. I see potential, just not the right vehicle yet. Backstage I think we are in for a big surprise again in the form of Gallows.

Lidia, Jack and I both head off to see the Gallows; a Hertfordshire (just north of London) punk/metal band. After the disappointment of Passion Pit, I am well up for a set that is crushing and over the top. I think this could be the act that delivers such a punch. They did a UK tour last winter with Lethal Bizzle and it got rave reviews from all stops. I can't see how a show with both acts could fail! This band reminds me a lot of the late, great NYC punk/metal crossover act; The Cro-Mags (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2898300)! A mighty band for a minute I must say, then demons and such killed that beast. But in their hey day, none were mightier or heavier when it came to throwing down (Age Of Quarrel is a classic lp and "Hard Times" is a all time track). These guys are the closest to The Cro-Mags I have seen in over a long, long time. They just come out and rip it up from start to finish. Good songs for the most past and a great front man in Frank Carter and a monster guitarist in Laurent Bernard. The kids were on this from the moment the lights dimmed to the final song of the set. I would have to say this is a bright spot on the musical horizon that is pretty dim at the moment. Between Lethal Bizzle and the Gallows, it has been a really pleasant day of musical surprises; nice one!!

We have a few more acts to see, but I am feeling completely satiated with the Bizzle and Gallows, but we go onto see Vampire Weekend and I have to hear that one song..."A-Punk"; love it and one or two more. I really hope they play it early in the set, but of course it comes at the end; lost points here boys!! "A-Punk" was one of the singles of last summer and it still rings true again this summer and the set was ok; some good (Oxford Comma) and some snoozers (sappy ballads). We head backstage to get the group together for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; a fav of many Brits and my wife. Me; not so much, although I did like them much more before they signed their big record deal. It was always a bit forced and contrived in my book. Weird and quirky for the sake of being weird and quirky; not too organic. I have seen them 6 or 7 times and I find their earlier shows much more entertaining and this one was the most excruciating yet. I love avant garde, I love people pushing boundaries in all walks and forms of life, but I don't dig just crazy sh*t for the pretense of being crazy and that what Karen comes off as right now. Outfits were as forced as the new songs, just seemed to lose their grasp on whatever they are trying to accomplish. I was bored after 4 songs and had to wait a few more before I could get back to the comfort of our table in the back.

Bloc Party were next and I do try and love them; but like is as far as I can get. They were ok; not great, but certainly not lame either. I just keep drifting back to Lethal's and Gallow's sets as they just keep resonating in my head (sound is good there today btw). Bloc Party are winding it down and I am pining for South London. I think we may leave during Radiohead and get back to the flat and some curry and such...mmmm!! This has been another incredible Reading Rock weekend and I can't say that I would have had it any other way. Brilliant, spot on, top notch....all that shite and more!! We walk out the back gate and walk along Richfield Avenue to the sounds of Radiohead noodling their way thru another classic and the weather is perfect. Three of my all time fav things this weekend; Lidia, Killer bands and my UK friends. Can't wait for next year, but I'm thinking maybe Glastonbury next June, been three time and it is one of the most magical (and I am NOT a hippy...it really is freakin' magical) places on earth and I have been in love with Glasto from my first hour there. Hell, I met Keira Knightly, Kate Moss, Pete Doherty and the singers for Magic Numbers and Bolc Party all in one weekend! May have to make a crucial choice next summer between Glastonbury and Reading; be a toughie.

The Prodigy Crush All Before Them.....(and one after)

Woke up not nearly as hungover as I should have been and was thinking a quick bite before the onslaught resumed! Up and out to the town center for a look 'round and something to eat. We got off the bus and quickly found a nice Spanish tapas place and headed in. Some nice reggae and dub on, we eat some killer plates of food (intense sausages from the different regions of Spain) and get a cab to the backstage. Saturday is usually my day to go "large" as they say here. Today is the unofficial "English" day during the fest every year. Seen some amazing sets, some monstrous screw ups by acts and have had some of the best experiences this day.

My friend had run into a publicist he knows from London and she had mentioned that the "surprise" of the day was going to be an unannounced set by Them Crooked Vultures. The super group of Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones and Josh Homme. They had supposedly played a surprise set in Leeds yesterday at the sister fest of the Reading Festival. Cool I thought, as the Chicago show was a Lollapalooza after show at Metro and it sold out in 5 seconds. It was to be around 4pm in one of the tents this afternoon. More on this later! So I talked David and Lidia into seeing the Eagles Of Death Metal and I hoped they wouldn't make me a loser for picking them to start our day. We enter the site backstage and it's a killer day, especially for the UK at this time; here we go!! Lager in hand, we head out to the main stage for those great guys from L.A......Eagles Of Death Metal.

Right away I notice that Josh Homme (of Queens Of The Stoneage) is not on drums. He is the usual drummer for this project of he is involved in that seems to have morphed into something very cool and kick ass! So this was a great clue regarding the Them Crooked Vultures secret set sometime later today at a to be determined stage. I have to say that Jesse Hughes (lead guitarist and vocalist) is a front man's front man. Young wannabee lead singers take notes, this guy is the real sh*t! This guy takes an audience and sweet talks them into following any of his leads. Great pacing and killer audience interaction make him one of the few bright spots on the US rock scene at the moment. I have to say that one of this summer's better songs is their "Wanna Be In LA" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj3kTdx1QBw), this song has a undulating pulse that sends your hips crazy. The set was nothing short of brilliant and the Reading crowd responded nicely to Jesse and the boys. Now to figure out where the hell this secret set is suppose to be!

I had figured that the set was probably at the biggest of the tent stages; the NME tent. Metric had just finished and Patrick Wolf was playing there now, so we headed that way. Did not know much about Patrick Wolf and after seeing some of his set; I am probably not going to know much more than what I witnessed this afternoon. Not my cup of tea, too forced and a bit too artsy. He seems to have some nice haircuts on his promo pages and seems to have his make up done nicely, but no soul and a bit too processed for me. The kids who were there seemed to like it and relate to him or something. It was now after 4pm and no sign of the secret band. Another quick look at the set times for each stage and I noticed a large time gap between ole' Patrick and the next act scheduled; You Me At Six. This must be our stage and we are closing in on the set of Them Crooked Vultures...alright! Patrick mercifully puts an end to his thing and we venture into the massive tent. It is emptying out as we enter and we go up the left hand side and find a nice spot 25 or 30 yards away. Set change seems to take forever and we discuss what this will sound like. No one has heard any songs yet, other than the several shows they have played. One has to think that it will be "balls out" rock & roll....right? A power trio like Motorhead or ZZ Top? Slow and heavy? Fast and right between the eyes? Have to wait a bit longer for this to be uncovered. The band finally walks onstage and they look ready to rock. Pretty cool to see Led Zep's John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl be a rhythm section! They were spot on all set and it was pretty much straight ahead rock. You definitely heard the Foo's and Queen's influences thru out. Josh handled most, if not all the lead vocals. Don't remember Dave singing, but he had to be doing backing vocals. Songs were good and well rehearsed; nothing really jumped out, I would love another listening to the set again. This is something to really watch and see where it goes. Could be cool or just minor dust up on the rock and roll highway. Only time will tell. We stayed for most of it and then decided it was time to see the monkey man himself....Ian Brown.

Let me just go on the record and say that....The Stone Roses were one of music's most over rated bands of all time. I have listened to that record many, many times and still to this day only hear a average at best pop record. Whatever everyone who hails this record must be on, please pass me over whatever you are smoking or in taking to make this sound so magnificent! I feel like the one person at the party who still doesn't get that joke from twenty minutes ago everyone is still pissing in their pants about...what? What are you hearing, because I am missing it totally. So there...I think Stone Roses blow...not as people, just as a mediocre Brit pop act. Give me Oasis, Suede or Super Furries any day! However; I do really like Ian Brown and most of his solo ventures. Saw him briefly at Glastonbury and liked the few songs I witnessed. So this was my big chance to see him in front of 40,000+ in his own backyard! Should be good and I talk several people from backstage into venturing out into the main pitch for Mr Brown. What a bummer, he started slow and seemed to grind to several halts during the set. You ever play a record on a turntable at the wrong speed; too slow? That's what it seemed like all set long. He was doing a poor man's Liam Gallagher swagger onstage and mumbled between songs. Played a lot of slow, ballad like songs and never really kicked it into gear. Very frustrating and time to exit stage left. This only confirms my Stone Roses dislike!

Someone finally puts a bullet in Ian's set and we are backstage drinking and laughing under a beautiful English afternoon. In the high 60's, a bit breezy and tons of white clouds high in the sky. This place freakin' rocks every time! I really should be the PR spokesman for this fest and city in the states; I could do it!! First we must focus on the task at hand, preparing for The Prodigy! One of today's most over the top sensory experiences you get find. I also have to explain that I owe my amazing wife a Prodigy (live set; not dj set...big diff!) set as I denied her 5 or 6 years ago at this same festival. It has been a huge, heavy burden I have lugged around for these many years and has put a bit of a hump in my back...LOL! It is a long and complicated story why we did not see them at that point in time; details that are not much relevant to this day, but Lidia was denied her chance to see one of her fav acts. This was the year I would set history straight and have her see them live and they better deliver!! Actually it is a funny story and sometime I will tell you, but that's for a rainy day. Onto to The Prodg.....and what a set it was. They came out and pummeled 60,000+ into happy oblivion. F*ck me, they were all that and more. The lights, the sounds, the heaviness and the groove...they win by a long shot. "Breathe" was one of the first songs and it just ripped my head off. They had us all dancing for the entire set. "Omen" was next and just set it all off. It has been awhile since I was totally drained by one set of music and it felt great! Keith Flint is the consummate maniacal leader and Liam Howlett just puts together some of the best beats and grooves. It's Slayer goes to a rave and flogs you senseless with it's beats! Nice!! I'll take one of these every time thank you. We flowed backstage after being lovingly crushed for a final lager. Arctic's are next and we sat there thinking how great they are, but just never got to see them. We were totally satiated by Keith and Liam, we had no further need for musical nourishment. We jumped in a taxi and watched The Arctic's from the hotel bar; really nice and Lidia is happy!!

P.S. I did go large all day and evening and ended up pontificating, standing on my bed at 2am to the nice Jack Doolan. Luv ya Jack!! Check out his London based band: http://www.myspace.com/cypher16

Reading Day One and It Was A Brilliant Start To The Weekend!

Here we go, my 15th Reading Festival weekend in Reading, UK. about 40+ miles straight west of London on the M4. So Lidia (my most excellent wife!), David Roberts (one of my best friends & from south London) and me are picking up our passes Friday afternoon in Covent Gardens and we are off....WAY OFF!! 40 miles out of London and suburbs does not mean a 40 minute commute; not in the least, try almost 2 hours!! London is an amazing place, but it has it's "WTF" things going on everyday, they just put it in their bag's and deal with. Such as some of the wickedest traffic I have ever seen and experienced! I have driven in this madness numerous times and have left it a humble man with a head ready to explode. So we get to the hotel which is connected to the Reading Football Club (Division One League) and that rules. Love UK football (soccer) and did buy a jersey...sweet!! So we set off in a taxi (no driving this weekend as it will be ON!!) to the site to get our backstage wristbands. We arrived late afternoon to the sounds of Fall Out Boy; suburban Chicago fake punks. I think this band is one of those throw away bands we will never think or talk about in the future. A waste of space on the musical horizon and the Backstreet Boys of punk....yuck!! I was a little bummed we had missed; Funeral For A Friend, a northern UK rock act that has always peaked my curiosity. They are doing things outside the box in their genre and seem to take great care of their fans in the UK, Europe and Japan. I definitely recommend checking them out. So we grab a beer backstage and it's a perfect day....in the low 70's and a few lovely, white clouds high above. Placebo are taking the main stage, so we take a few steps out onto the pitch and find a fairly close place to the stage and get ready for this London act to kick off our Reading Weekend!! Friday afternoon the site is just starting to fill up for the impending musical tsunami! I have seen Placebo several times in the states and thought they were OK, had several nice singles. The crowds never seem to much care one way or the other, so it was a bit hard to get into it. NOT SO TODAY.....must have been a good 20,000+ watching their late afternoon set and it made a HUGE difference. The crowd was well on their side and took part in most every song. I did not realize they have a good 10+ singles that have charted in the UK. Weather was rocking and so were these London lads. Totally loved the set and stayed for most of it. Headed back for a beer and set the rest of the course for the day and night.

Next decision was an easy one....Kaiser Chiefs were on in twenty and we needed to get ready and stake our spot as near the stage as possible. I love the Kaisers and have been onboard since the 1st single from this Sheffield band (ie reads northern UK act); Oh My God. I was hooked and then they dropped a huge bomb on me in; I Predict A Riot. Still one of my top ten singles of this decade...OH YEAH!! So the new cd is as good; if not better, than their other good cd's. So it was with great pleasure and anticipation i took my place in the pitch next to the other 40,000+ punters waiting to sing along with the boys. Now I do have a soft spot for a band that starts things off with the song I would start their set with and they did...spot on guys!! Never Miss A Beat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQK7RYDQlSs&feature=fvst) is the song of the summer for me at this moment and there it is, raging onstage right before me and it sounds, smells and feels so wonderful. I f*ckin' love this place! They bang thru what seems like a greatest hits sets and only falter for a moment. They have the crowd right where they need to be and drive this one home big time. By the time they play; I Predict A Riot, it's all over!! We scurry backstage and I am feeling fine....too fine.

Here is where crucial discussions are taking place. You have a South London lad (David), Polish born US citizen (my wife) and me the Yank all putting out two cents worth in re: the impending choice that had to be made and soon. You see Kings Of Leon closed the main stage tonight and started at 10pm; David's choice. However; Faith No More had been a late addition the the massive NME tent as the first night's headliner at 10:15pm, my wife's choice. So the crucial decision was thrust at my feet and I nobly accepted this duty. In a Soloman like blurred mind set (beers and "bits and bobs"...i love the english slang) I decided that we see the first 30 minutes or so of KOL and then head to the NME tent (5 minute walk) for the start of FNM and then conclude our evening back at the end of KOL's set. HA! Well best laid plans of mice and men usually go into the ditch. We didn't drive it into the ditch, it was the sound, the swirling winds and the fact that KOL seemed to wilt under the mess. What a huge disappointment they were. Sound was crap and the vocals were buried. They seem a bit dazed by the constant touring for the better part of a year. Saw a few songs and literally ran to the NME stage to see the start of Faith No More! F*ckers were 20 minutes late and you could tell they were none too happy to be in a tent after 11 years apart and I thought they had a point. Couldn't they have been squeezed on the main stage at some point over the weekend? They did rock the world when they were on their game and that was quite often. So we are in the tent; must hold 10,000 people, biggest i ever saw, and they are late. I then realize more and more people are leaving KOL and heading for the tent. It was half full at best when we arrived and by the start of the set, it was over flowing. I either saw the last or second to last show; still trying to verify, in Milwaukee in 1998 and the last song they played was the Theme To Midnight Cowboy...too cool. They walk on and launch into the same song and my hairs are standing right up! Awesome to say the least. Well done men! Then it just doesn't stop, song after song, hit after hit; everyone losing their minds again and for the first times. This is why I love music and why this sh*t matters. I hold Lidia for most of the set as she jumps up and down with a smile that wants to get bigger, but can't. Midlife Crisis, Easy, Epic, From Out Of Nowhere (go listen to this now...i will wait...still as fresh as it was decades ago) and Falling To Pieces; i was misting up...naw...just really buzzed and smiling my ass off. Best line was Mike Patton's...."We're in the tent and Fuck everyone else....let's go!" We straggle back to try and catch a few of KOL's last sounds as they are scheduled to play longer than FNM. WE get there and they have just finished; early. Weird, heard they had sound issues the whole set and the singer kinda freaked a bit and went all insecure. We did make the right decision...hell yeah! Back to the hotel and recoup for day 2.

On My Way To Reading Festival....Hell Yeah!!!

I just finished doing two shows tonight at The Abbey. Early show was a reunion of early to mid 1980 Chicagoland punk acts. Blatant Dissent and The Subverts were the two main headliners and brought back a lot of memories from that time period. Nice turnout and killer show. Late show was DJ's from Does It Offend You, Yeah? from Reading, England....what a coincidence; that's where I am headed this morning! I love these guys and hope you check them out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf_Rv0hCF6I&feature=channel) and (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6_ubiAzoSk&feature=channel); very cool shit and great guys! This will be my 15th Reading Festival and I just can't freakin' wait. This is the best fest in the world in my opinion. I have made life long friends from this fest and have had some great times. I will be posting my reviews, stories and experiences from this year and the past. Thanx again for reading!

The Answer To The Question Is The Answer....HA!!

I was banging on about crap bands and that there is no sense of urgency or bubbling under scene/band ready to explode. There well may be one in Northern Ireland that are part classic, part contemporary roar and a bit all right! The Answer (www.theanswer.ie) are a true light in this dark ages of music and especially in the rock and metal genre. Just deadly dull and boring bands seem to have inherited the landscape of both these musical niches. The solution seems so obvious; The Answer from Belfast. I had been tipped about a year ago about a new rock act that was very different and making a bunch of noise in the UK and Japan. Gave their myspace several listenings and was slightly impressed; a Free, Black Crowes, Zep, Back Street Crawler (Paul Kossoff...how obscure is that) type of thing happening here but with some nice modern flow and some shit hot guitar playing. So with much anticipation, we headed to see The Answer open for AC/DC this past winter at the local arena. They had 30 to 35 minutes I believe and a fairly uninterested crowd to deal with. No biggie; they band came out and introduced themselves and proceeded to kill the next 35 minutes. Like most acts who are very new and relatively unknown to the audience they are playing for, they had little room and a small amount of equipment. Looked a bit overwhelmed, but when you closed your eyes, it seemed like they could be the headliner. Great sound, solid songs, a nice swagger (not arrogance), spot on playing and a vocal from Cormac that can be ranked right up there with the best of the rockers. He is a screamer, a real good one and a powerful one. He is definitely in the style of Plant, Paul Rodgers, Steve Marriott and Chris Robinson. I think they did the whole "Never To Late" ep which was out here in the states at the time; great video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYsxWGSugIg). Having more than held their own in this tough environment of indifference and weed smoke. I was very much looking forward to seeing them in a more cosy atmosphere!

That night finally came the other night at a small club in Chicago on Saturday August 15th . This was on a day off on the second leg of the US AC/DC tour. I would think opening for a huge international metal act such as AC/DC can cut both positively and negatively. You only get 30 to 40 minutes each night and half the crowd is not there yet or out in the hall drinking. On the other hand, you get to rock at least 10,000 people a night or try to at least. I guess it is a lot of indifference with a small percentage of new converts each night! I know several converts from the two AC/Dc shows here. I have to say that these guys played a solid, no bullsh*t set at their headline gig here August 15th. They played for well over an hour to a crowd of 200+; not too shabby for their first time thru on their own. New, full length cd is out here in the states and is every bit as good as the ep. "Everyday Demons" has many high spots and very few low points. Check out the video for the new single "On And On" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYHbGEZjBk8),

this song is a great one that stays with you as it has some flow and a killer bite. The whole set was hot, steamy and rockin'. They know how to run a set and they know how to cater to and push their audience. No cliches and no filler; just the way I love it!! For a great idea of them live, check out this clip from the David Letterman show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aT6iuYaNtg&feature=related). I should have a short interview with the lads soon in the blog, so stay tuned for some answers from THE ANSWER....HA!

In The Near Future, i Will Be Posting My "Rock" Stories

I have been lucky enough and mad enough to have many "RnR" moments that still shine on in my head from the past several decades. I will be posting them in the next few months as they come back to me. I have several Metallica experiences that are quite hilarious and stupefying. There was this one weekend at Red Rocks where this girl attacked Jamez in my hotel room and called the police. That was just one incident! I have this other time in Manchester that my English friend thought i was the devil and then we drank all night in the hotel bar and signing Lars name all night to his tab. I have a good Lollapalooza story with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. This includes L7 destroying not one; but two dressing rooms in Dallas!! Henry Rollins literally sleeping on my hardwood floor and doing my dishes; several times!! Dinner with Lush (I love you Chris Ackland.....RIP!! More on him in a later blog...best mate ever)!) and Flaming Lips before sneaking into the Garage in London to see Mudhoney. So i am in the process of vetting my memory and trying to see if they make any sense and are the least bit interesting or funny. I think they will be for all sense and purpose. I have to say I have had a huge laugh in my life and work, praise JAH!! More to come and thanx for reading, i am having a blast writing again. I am working on some good interviews with some interesting music folks also!

Lou....What The Hell Was That?

Ok, Sunday was really a suckie day at Lollapalooza. It was hotter than hell and humid as a mutha! I have to say the weekend was really disappointing in that most of the talent never hit the mark. It all seemed so blase, so milk toasty, so "when is this thing going to go off"? Never, i was soon to realize Sunday as i walked away from the sounds of Jane's Addiction playing their hits one more time as if no one had ever heard them before. God it really sucks musically right now; doesn't it? I feel like this is as bad as when the punk movement was born out of a fat, lazy music business whose acts sh*t on their fans. Ok; maybe not that bad, but where is the stuff that makes your hair stand up? where is the next Clash, the next Jesus and Mary Chain, the next Strokes? Stuff that makes you get up and blast the songs as loud as you can. Nowhere i tell you....NOWHERE!! Well maybe somewhere, but we haven't found it yet. Until that day, we seem to retread everything and smile like happy idiots sucking it up. Two of the things i am most excited about is the Faith No More reunion and the Radiohead set; both at Reading this year as i will be. Great bands, but they are already on every one's radar. I remember the year The Strokes played Reading and their was such a mania in the UK and especially in London that summer for them. We were there in the early summer and everything was Strokes and Strokes related. They were the toast of the country. People were truly excited by them and their music. They were added to the Reading fest that summer late and on a side stage. There was so much furor over them playing a small, side stage that the promoters a few days before the fest; added them to the Friday main stage...how cool! We were sitting backstage and everyone looked like they were in The Strokes (when Londoners love something, they go 110% all out...sometimes cool and sometimes silly, but always entertaining), loads of suit jackets, skinny ties and cropped hairdo's. So none of this exists right now in the music scene and it is a bit perturbing, something has got to break out and amaze us soon!!

So uncle Lou....what can i say about a set so disjointed that even the hardest core fan had to be scratching there head. I have been lucky enough to see him in the past three decades and even once in New York City at the Beacon Theatre. All his shows are different and always new and challenging. He has such a huge catalog to pick from, he seems not to duplicate sets. So I take my wife who has never seen him and has been a fan since she first heard his music. I was very excited as the rest of the weekend had been a bit of a let down except for Arctics, Kings Of Leon and Glasvegas; so let's show these frat boys and wannabe fashionista girls how the lower east side on NYC does it. Snoop was on at the other main stage at the same time and i heard it was the biggest crowd of the weekend; WTF!! Reality show = NO credibility in my book, no matter how hard you were, what you produced entertainment wise or how many gold records your ass has. YOU F*CKIN' BLEW IT WHEN YOU DID THAT TV SHOW!! You ruled, but no more. Snoop is no more a "G" than my Mom is. I know i am going off on a tangent, but what does this say about the lemming mentality that pervaded this fest? You have guys leaving it all onstage and everyone wants to see Snoop shizzle the fizzle. Back to Lou, he was 15 minutes late and i don't think he quite understands that to do 144 bands in 3 days; you need a tight schedule or all goes to hell. I think he was the only late act all weekend; not 100% sure, but everything else seemed to run like clockwork. So Lou straps it on 15 minutes late and immediately launches into "Sweet Jane"....SWEET!! Next was "Dirty Boulevard"; nice one again Lou!! Now is when it all goes so terribly wrong; Lou seems mad or uninterested in the remaining set. He plays several very slow numbers and brings the great start to a screeching halt. A few more obscure songs and then we get to the noise part. I thought "Metal Machine Music" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Machine_Music) was way ahead of its time and i know Lou has done these intense "noise" sets in past decades; but this was just annoying noodling. This went on for the next 30 or 40 minutes, such a huge bummer. I don't want a greatest hits set, but come on throw us a few bones in this oppressive heat and humidity. He went over on his set and Band Of Horses had to start across the field, that was a weird situation. He ended with "Walk On The Wild Side"; could you be anymore predictable? I was a bit pissed, upset and mostly bored as I sweated backstage trying to figure out Lou's psyche for that set. Right now backstage is being over run by Hollywood wannabe creepoids, trying to get a touch or piece of Perry Or Dave....yuck....time to go swimming.