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.

Arctics Rule The Day at Lolla....For Me Anyways

Just flat out one of the UK's best new bands; period. If you know nothing or little about Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys; download, buy, you tube or myspace their songs as quickly as possible. You will not here a better example of the future of music anywhere else. I was lucky enough to see two sets over the weekend. Friday night was the Lolla after show at metro and Saturday was their 4:30 set on one of the two main stages. This is a band as far from pretentiousness and posing as is humanly possible. I do love a good stage set and exploding worlds on stage every now and then, but I love even more a band that came come out in jeans and tennies to rip the audiences head off!! This is the Arctics live; you get exactly what you see and hear. I remember in the summer of 2005 i was in London several times for different festivals and a lot of the "industry" types i know were charged up about this act from Sheffield; Arctic Monkeys. First thought this was a really strange name, hopefully the band and music is not as quirky as the name I thought. The single that started monkey mania in the UK was "I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor"; still one of the best singles from the past 5 years. Song and cd went to #1 in the UK and set a UK chart record the fastest selling debut record! The follow up lp was just as strong in it's own right; Favorite Worst Nightmare. New cd drops later this month; Humbug (with some tracks supposedly produced by Josh Homme of Kyuss, Queens Of Stone Age and Eagles Of Death Metal). 2006 saw them play the special guest slot at the Reading Festival right before Muse. They were brilliant, when they played "I Bet..." the crowd of 60,000+ literally exploded; cool r'n'r moment for me! So it has been a few years since I have seen them live and I was excited that I would see them at the relatively small metro and the massive field that is Lollapalooza. The metro set was everything and more. Great energy and a good crowd. They played for over an hour and a half...wow!! Did some songs from the forthcoming release; "Humbug", especially the new single in the UK "Crying Lightning". One of my fav songs of theirs is "Fluorescent Adolescent" and both sets they killed it; had that song in my head for two days. This band will be around making good music for a good while i would think. The band seem devoid of drama and massive ego's; big and quick reasons for the downfall of even the mightiest acts. Good one boys...see you at Reading in a few weeks as they are the headliners on Saturday night with The Prodigy supporting!! How freakin' cool.

For the most part, the rest of my day at lolla was mostly downhill save for Glasvegas!! A brilliant little pop band straight out of Glasgow, Scotland. More than a buzz band in the UK right now, they have made a big impact on that music scene in the past several years and are finally getting a bit of notice here. I caught a song or two several summers ago at a fest and thought they were quite interesting and had something to offer. 2008 seems to be the year that they really took off overseas. Signed to Columbia records and charted in the Uk singles and album charts, they also supported Oasis and U2 at their huge outdoor shows last summer. I have always thought they were a harder Coldplay with a bit of Jesus and Mary Chain throw in; very intriguing! Now when i saw them for a sec several years ago, I did not see the drummer as i was quite far and mellow. Now Saturday I was on the stage waiting for them to arrive and start their set. Saw the three front guys; esp. James Allen (singer) who is a double for Mick Jones in my book....a young Mick Jones), but then a tiny woman with a black, angular haircut stood behind the drums....STANDING UP, BAREFOOTED....how cool. I did not know this and was very impressed/amazed/amused....cool! Set was great and I think they should make some inroads into the states. Thought the crowd was a little thin, but it was 100° and brutal. Check out the video for "Daddy's Gone", melodically haunting (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uSdQxKaBfU). Good set but we had to get backstage for some shade and drinks. Will see them at Reading also, they are co-headlining the NME Stage I believe on Saturday also.

Now for a quick rundown on the rest of the bands and people I saw. Rise Against were on next and the played my favorite song first which made me smile. Good punk band that jumps and screams all over the place. Nice energy, good vocals and nice,fast guitar pace. Next up was some food and I loved the jalapeno, cheddar andouille sausage with a lobster corn dog on the side. Sausage kicked ass and corn dog was good. Onto see Lyyke Li from Sweden. She had a nice, couture dress that looked really good and matched her style of music. I thought her band songs were better than her solo, acoustic ones. She seemed very hit or miss with each number. Onto Animal Collective which I had heard a ton about over the years, but had never managed to see. Maybe it's me, but I just did not get it. Boring and over hyped is what I came away thinking. Maybe just not my cup of tea, but i didn't see much tea to begin with! So we marched over the the Chicago 2016 main stage for Tool. Been a long, long time since I saw these guys. It was the side stage at the touring Lollapalooza back in the early '90's. I saw their set in Des Moines at the fairground where Lolla was taking place that year in Iowa. There must have been no more than 50 people watching. Loads of puzzled looks when they hit the stage, Maynard wearing a mohawk, cowboy hate and megaphone. Cool is what I thought and liked the set. BUT my main concern with them is that they seem to be in the same general place musically each and every release. Something i don't dig and follow. The set was solid; the wind was really whipping, so it definitely had an effect on the mix. It was good, but after 45 minutes i was ready to head back. I do admit they have super hardcore fans and they do spark intense loyalty; which i can tip my hat to as most bands don't get the fact that fans equal everything to a successful band or act! Walked by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen still screaming...have they come and gone? Just not digging the past 2 records, maybe i moved on....LOL. I can't wait to go swimming tonight...AHHHH!!!

A Soggy Start To Lollapalooza

We made it down to the site by 4pm and it was still pissing rain on the fest and downtown. I really wanted to see Hockey at 11:30am, but that went to the wayside as i saw rain when i awoke and looked out the window. I really like their record and think this is one of the few bright spots in music right now (there is such a severe drought of talented acts and artists in the past several years; what is going on? where is the talent, the urgency, the new sh*t everyone wants!!); so i suggest checking them out as i think you will not be disappointed. Another act I was trying to see was; Hey Champ, from Chicago/Rockford and on Lupe Fiasco's label. They have played several shows for me and i think they are one of the city's best new acts (competition is not so tough as we have a ton of mediocre bands and very few gems). Did not see them...but will book them at the club soon. We made it to the site and walked into the fest to the sounds of the Bloody Beetroots doing a DJ set. I love this act from Italy, they are crazy and heavy! The DJ set is good, but the live set is supposedly over the top. I did a DJ show with them in the winter and it killed, 2010 is the year i am told for the live set to debut around the world; can't wait for this one!! Good, loud, undulating set from the Italian lads. On to the next act which happened to be Thievery Corporation on one of the two main stages. We were early for their set, so we grabbed a drink (free sweet tea backstage, very nice) and heard the sounds of Montreal's Crystal Castles. They ripped onto the scene 2 years ago and were quite the buzz child last year. Crazy female singer, manic lights, driving beats are what this is all about. I thought the initial cd was good and had some interesting turns on it and i do like a good, strong front person. The show i did with them at the abbey was insane and the crowd was as intense that night. However i just have this nagging feeling i have seen this and heard this all before. Then there is the artwork plagiarism charge, the accusations of music borrowing, been thru several live line up changes, etc. Just leaves you wondering a little bit if this is all organic or a well rehearsed attack at fame at all costs? Anyways, thought the set today was a bit on the weak side. After several live viewings, i feel they may be a one trick pony; hope not, but leaning that way. Onto Thievery Corporation, a lot of people coming and going during their set, many female singers and the main two guys on turntables, mixers and computers. The sound was amazing for their set! I mean it was the best sound by far, beating any other act we saw all day and night! Better than Kings Of Leon and Depeche Mode! I guess having the company doing Lolla is your management company helps on days like this. Very bass orientated and some middle eastern influences thru out their set made for a nice vibe on the pitch floor. Loads of dancing and vibing for most of TC's set. Various singers came and went doing vocals with a nice lighting and video effects to co mingle with the musicians and music. We left for Peter, Bjorn and John on the Citi stage. I know little about these Swedish guys except for that incredibly infectious song; "Young Folks", which is a killer pop song by any standard! Peter is the main singer and guitarist, he looked like he had been mugged by Tommy Hilfiger in a dark alley and made to wear his preppy stuff along with a super "little boy" haircut (see pic above). Cute is what i was thinking they were after....interesting. Stayed for most of the set and was totally entertained by this Scandinavian trio; well done. Raced over to Perry Farrell's stage which is basically a dj set up and club like atmosphere in between some trees....kinda cool and better than last year's Perry;s set up; but still lacks something. Caught the last 20 minutes of A-Trak (Kanye's old dj) and he had the crown moving and a grooving. Good songs and nice flow, but nothing to write home about. Next up was Simian Mobile Disco from the UK. Have always been a big fan of these guys and love most what they release. Their debut album in 2007; "Attack Decay Sustain Release" , was a big fav of mine that year and still is. Nice songs and intense bass were what i heard and then it was time to head to the Chicago 2016 main stage (remember last year it was the AT&T stage, but they pulled out leaving a big hole in Lolla's budget, i would think...OUCH!!). Let me preference this next review first, i love DM and have followed them from the start thru their many re-inventions and re-incarnations! I have seen them 8 or 9 times and even saw Dave Gahan (singer/see my pic...not too shabby) on his solo tour several years ago and have enjoyed each and every show. So WTF happened last night? I am still trying to figure it out myself. They opened with several new songs off their recently released; "Sounds Of The Universe", which got things off to a slowish start. The sound was no where near the excellence that Thievery Corp. had enjoyed, it was a bit mushy and didn't have the bass presence they need live. Band looked good, but they seemed to be in slow motion for the first 6 or 7 songs. It just never got started, very frustrating and kinda boring to tell the truth. Big bummer in my book. Kings Of Leon started 15 minutes after DM started, they are having co-headliners this year again (good idea..i think Radiohead last year were the solo headliner on friday though). So with much sadness re: the DM set and turn of events from them, we quickly headed the mile or so to the other end of the site to the Budwiser stage and the mighty KOL!!! I have a great KOL/Caleb (singer) story i will relate to you in a later posting, it it quite funny and my wife has told me several times about this meeting in a London bar when i was three sheets to the wind...:)!! Anyways, I think they have one of the best lp's released this decade. This last album is just chalked full of hits and gems. There is easily 7 or 8 singles on this thing, something that is almost unheard of these days. Most bands get a single or two and rush release a whole lp of filler and 2 or 3 good songs. NOT KOL!! If you have not sat down with; "Only By The Night", get it and get ready for some killer music and soul searching lyrics. We were in London in December and KOL mania was in full bloom, they had had the no. 1 lp and 3 follow up smash singles with "Use Somebody" just playing on the radio and tv there every hour. "Notion" seems to be taking on a life of it's own right now here and this could be the one song that makes them as popular here as they are in the rest of the world. Remember that it was the UK where they first charted..."Molly's Chamber". KOL definitely won the attendance contest tonight, far outdrawing the DM crowd down the street. We walked in on "notion" and it was all great after that. Nice stage set of 12 video screens and some lovely mood lighting. Only complaint was that the sound was not nearly loud enough...Hmmmm!!! Best comment so far from ant stage came from Caleb...."you guys make us fell way bigger than we are"....how freakin' cool is that?? i love humility, esp. after 8 years of the past administration...HA! Good day, a bit soggy, KOL ruled the night and we wore out wellies (english for galoshes/rubber boots) so we wrre unfazed by mud and water!! Now comes the heat for Saturday and Sunday....ARGHH!!!

My John Hughes Story

I met John Hughes several times back in the early 80's when i was managing a north suburban record store. We had a great selection of import, punk, metal, noise, 12" singles and a lot more. We were the only store with such records in the northern suburbs outside Wax Trax Records on Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. First time i met him, he was in the store by himself for a while and finally checked out with some lame, domestic lp's. It was a nice pile and i had to ask if he was a collector or a wedding dj (he had the most intensely feathered haircut and i was a bit of a punk smart ass with my blonde hair, spiked with glue days). He said he was a screen writer and that he was writing a new movie and he was finally going to get to produce something he wrote and he was looking for music because that was a key element of the movie. I was a bit freaked and thought this guy might be wacked or be the real deal. he went on to say he had written or co-wrote 3 of the top 10 grossing movies that year (1983); National Lampoon's Vacation, Nate and Hayes and Mr. Mom. I told him i was way into vacation and had seen it several times this past summer. He then told me a little known fact re: the movie. In the movie; Chevy Chase has the encounters with Christie Brinkley, the original script which he wrote had the son messing around with Christie. However, when Chevy read the script, he had it re-written and it killed John. I told him that the lp's he had just bought were ok, but did he ever hear of....English Beat, Dead Kennedys, Simple Minds, Black Flag? I said next time in here, i will show him the import section and give him my input. He said that sounded good and he left. Skip ahead several months now, John comes back in. he got the movie ok'd, he is the director of it and they are filming here in the 'burbs: Sixteen Candles. He also mentioned he had another movie written and ready to go after this: Breakfast Club. This was the movie he needed some cutting edge stuff in it. The music kids actually listen to at that moment! He told me to pick out $300 or $400 worth of music ( that's equivelant to 1K+ today of cd's). I went ot town and got him all four of the acts above and so much more. We hung for an hour and a half, listening to all the stuff i was pulling for him and explaining what it was and who was into it. I was really into Simple Minds and English Beat that month.... so he got their import catalogs from my store. They were a cult act here in the states and after he added "Don't You" to Breakfast Club, it was all over!! Same with the Beat, he added their songs to several of his movies. DK's and the Flag also made it into a movie soundtrack of his. The last time i saw him was when BC was wrapping and he brought in Molly & Anthony Michael. I remember how young and small they looked. They were a bit brattish and were in no mood to hang in a record store and talk music with John and me. He thanked me and asked me to write down some more bands and i did. I handed him the paper and said i would see him later as Molly and Anthony Michael dragged him out of the store to go clothes shopping and to buy a bass or guitar. I never saw him again. The movie came out the next year and that song was everywhere. The old manager of that store was there everytime he came in and witnessed my time with him. She was actually the person who ordered the imposts and loved it that he had deep pockets. She turned to me one day and said that Simple Minds should have paid me royalties on that song....i had to laugh,

I want to hug the shit out of Chris Martin

Coldplay - Alpine Valley 7/25/09

If you listen to my play list in my life, there are very few; if any, bands like Coldplay that make my life play list. Just not into soft rock, i like passion, noise and a conviction about whatever the band or singer are banging on about. So it is as much a surprise to me as it is to the people who know me that i am a HUGE Coldplay fan and simply love Chris Martin. I have dissected this many times and ways; yet nothing seems to make sense. So i just enjoy it and bathe in the Coldplay/Martin warmth.....mmmmm!! I have had the good luck to see them numerous times on every tour of theirs. I have seen them in tiny clubs, live at the Vic Theatre for a LIVE MTV2 broadcast (amazing), the O2 in london this past Xmas and at Glastonbury with 120,000 other people. I fell a litmus test of any great band is to be able to play and kill your audience at any size level venue and they do that repeatedly! The Vic show (only 500 people in a 1400 cap room) and Glastonbury were as immediate, touching and powerful at both sets. Not a man crush (god i hate marketing and branding sometimes) for Mr. Martin, i truly have big respect for this guy and his band mates. I truly believe we need more people doing their jobs as well and as intensly as he/they do. They own the stage and the cd's they record, something most people don't do in real life. Not a big fan of just "punching the clock". If you have a job, a career, a store, a band.....onw it...make it yours...do it the best you can!! If you don't like it...get a better job, get a better education, do something that means something to many; don't just take up room and suck up all the oxygen. It seems to me that whatever Coldplay take on at any level, it is always a solid jod and a total commitment. Plus he loves Macs and i do too....:).

The show.....it was great! The same basic premise from the December O2 show, but a few different wrinkles. Into the audience twice to do several songs as arms length from the crowd. They did a semi acoustic version of "Bille Jean"....i could have done without that (so tired of this mj hype and tragedy) and that is the only moment in the whole show that i can say that. Whols set was awesome. Started with "Life In Technicolor", then "violet Hill" and ""Clocks" back to back. Nice one!! The energy and conviction of the band is overriding the whole set. No pandering and no filler....nice one again guys!! So in conclusion, they are a world class act and keep the bar high for themselves and it pays off big time.

Welcome To My Side....of things

I use to write a lot. I did 11 issues of fanzine (Last Rites), wrote the scene report for Max R'n'R and wrote an article for Rip Magazine. I truly miss writing, venting, raving about whatever is important at that moment. So the first thing i will review is The Jesus Lizard's awesome performance at Pitchfork Fest.

7/17/09 Union Park, Chicago

we walked into the backstage area to hear a large roar coming from one of the stages in the baseball field at Union Park. Then there was the unmistakable incoherent mumble of the great David Yow.....yes it was the Lizard and they were back in the town were it all started! I wouild have to say that 90% of "re-unions" are very disappointing and hurt the band's original legacy (somebody say Sex Pistols...thank god The Clash reunited for $$...they remain one of the true punk bands that walked the walk). 5% are fun an d alright and then there is the last 5%; The Lizards. The bands that left too early and still have a bit of relevance to offer in this retread world. They did all their hits and cult favs. They looked good and they looked pissed off and scary still. This was not a feel good comeback gig, this was a "wtf" here we are again and will will pound you into submission. It also had the fell of one of their legendary Lounga Ax gigs with Sue Miller, Juia Adams, Bernie T Fan and Elliot Dicks all stage side. Good times once again, The Lizard rida again. at least for the moment. They are doing some european fest and i hear there are 2 nights at metro in November. Then that's it???? Say it ain't so Yow. I know you guys have one more killer LP in you brains and stomachs......really!!!!