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In this issue: 1/2 Ast, Alice Cooper (2 reviews,) Batusis, Blownload, Blue Öyster Cult, Cinderella, CrashDiet, Danzig Legacy, Faster Pussycat, Jane's Addiction, Jani Lane Memorial, L.A. Guns, Livan, Lords of Acid, Megadeth, Michael Monroe, Motörhead (2 reviews,) Murderdolls, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Scorpions, Slayer, Testament, The Vermin, X Japan
Reviews by: David Necro, The Pusher, KK, EvAl, Melissa, Sunset Vampyre, Lexa Vonn, Christopher Lee,
Alice Cooper
The Whisky A Go Go
Hollywood, CA
I received word about this very special show the moment it was announced, and there was no hesitation about buying a ticket, it was a no brainer!
The one I refer to as "The Frank Sinatra Of The Darkside" who even in his 60's is still one of the best entertainers out there (let's not forget Iggy!) performing an intimate club show? I am there! Knowing full well the show would take place at one of the worst places you could possibly see a show, a place I avoid like the plague, that for the past 3 years I vowed not to frequent ever again, The Whisky...I couldn't resist! Cause I love to be abused!
With the show just 10 days away I had my reservations, cause for a place that prides itself on being a rock n' roll landmark, where many legendary acts at one time graced the stage (The Original Alice Cooper Band, RAMONES, Iggy Pop) the venue is NOW the antithesis of everything rock n' roll is about, but I ask you, can anyone define what it means to be rock n' roll anymore? There will be a pop quiz! Unlike CBGB which stunk like dog shit right up until CB's closed it's hallowed doors, all traces of rock n' roll debauchery and history that have commenced in this building have been wiped away clean, replaced with a cold and sterile atmosphere and lame rules! Almost making it like a museum (that's what The Hard Rock is for!) where you, the patron, are not allowed to touch anything, or have
a good time as they security and staff make for a miserable experience!
On with the show, I waited in line while security took their sweet time, checking everyone's bag & doing patdowns, it seemed like they were taking forever when I heard Alice taking the stage and I was now overly anxious to get in and not miss a second, and I was getting agitated! By the time I finally made it inside, he was performing Under My Wheels and I was ecstatic! Nothing mattered at that point in time, and I proceeded to lose it (my mind), screaming along, "throwing shapes", etc! With so many people on the floor, it was hard to get a good view at times, so I moved around every so often and like clockwork I had security telling me to move, doing all they could to ruin my evening!
Next up was No More Nice Guy, followed by a classic from the groundbreaking Love It To Death record, Is It My Body! Alice looked really good and sounded amazing...the band featuring new guitarist Orianthi seemed to be having a great time as well, the same which could not be said for the crowd, who just stood there! Noone singing along, noone getting crazy, is anyone passionate about anything anymore? Apparently not! Blame Steve Jobs! With this being a rare appearance, I was hoping Alice would commemorate the event pulling out some obscure material from his career, I would have killed for Hallowed By The Name, Second Coming, or anything off one of the original line-up's best records in my opinion, Muscle Of Love to which he played the title track and I lost it!
Ooops, gotta move, can't stand here, security again! ASSHOLES!
Now where was I? Oh yeah, I kept waiting for something rare, but he played the usual setlist, Robbie Kreiger from The Doors came up, and Alice told a story about meeting Jim Morrison at The Whisky...and since he was taking requests, I screamed for Desperado, written about Jim, logically thinking they would play it, but instead they performed 2 Doors tracks!? He then asked the crowd what they would like to hear and someone screamed out the most obvious thoughtless request for a song ever....POISON! Really? With the body of work and history this guy has, THIS is what you want? How about Escape? What about Blue Turk? You ask for Poison? Really? Big fan I could tell (sarcasm mode turned ON)!
So with that, I was hoping one or all 3 surviving members of the original band (RIP GB!) would make an appearance during the show since it was the original lineup who last played here some 30 years ago. Well, Alice introduced a special guest, and someone came down from the stairs taking the stage wearing an Alice mask, I was very excited wondering who it could be, only to reveal it was Ke$sha who sings on the new album and then tearing into Schools Out, what is his fascination is with this girl I will never know!?
In all honesty, the show was turning out to be a disappointment, if your going to do a stripped down show, minus the stageshow and theatrics, why not play some obscure stuff or songs you don't normally play, otherwise whats the difference from this and your typical Alice show? To be honest...not much!
With that he closed with the classic Elected, and I personally could not wait to leave vowing it would be a cold day in hell before I would give The Whisky my hard-earned blood money ever again! But with my luck, Iggy Pop will play there one of these days, and I will have to eat my words! For those fellow Alice freaks who couldn't be there for geographical reasons, you didn't miss much! -CL
Set list
01. The Train Kept A-Rollin'
02. Under My Wheels
03. No More Mr. Nice Guy
04. Is It My Body
05. Brown Sugar
06. I'll Bite Your Face Off
07. Muscle Of Love
08. Cold Ethyl
09. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (THE ANIMALS cover)
10. Billion Dollar Babies
11. Break On Through (THE DOORS cover, feat. Robbie Krieger)
12. Back Door Man (THE DOORS cover, feat. Robbie Krieger)
13. Poison
14. I'm Eighteen
15. School's Out (feat. Ke$ha)
16. Elected
Alice Cooper wsg Livan
LC Pavilion
Columbus, OH
Alice Cooper needs no introduction; he's been kicking ass all over the globe for over 40 years straight, consistently one-upping his shock rock peers with more bang for your buck than a truck load of TNT. And last night was no exception...
Steamrolling into town to promote the upcoming 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare', Alice & his revamped band of scary men (guitarists Tommy Hendriksen, Damon Johnson & Steve Hunter, bassist Chuck Garric & drummer Glen Sobel) kicked things into high gear right from the get-go, opening with "The Black Widow" before launching into a particularly caustic rendition of 2000's "Brutal Planet" that practically blew you back into your seat like that guy in the old Memorex commercials.
The set that ensued thereafter brought the usual batch of fan favorites (1971's 'Love It To Death' anthem "I'm Eighteen", the tour namesake "No More Mr. Nice Guy", late 80's MTV staple "Posion"), alongside forgotten gems like "Muscle Of Love", 1980's "Clones (We're All)" and an impromptu cover of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall" that spliced seamlessly into set closer "School's Out"... Nothing post-2001 found its' way in, with the exception of new track "I'll Bite Your Face Off", but no one in attendance seemed to mind.
Worth noting, however, was show opener Livan. Hailing from London & having recently concluded tours with Peter Murphy & Mushroomhead, few in attendance were unaware they were even on the bill prior to showtime ~ but they soon made short work of winning them over with their electronically tinged take on 70's era glam rock & early 80's goth/new wave (think Ziggy Stardust meets Bauhaus, with a side of The Clash).
Collectively, the band was on fire from set opener "Happy Returns", through their take on The Velvet Underground's "Venus In Furs" and latest single "Undead" (from 2010's "Off The Grid"), before closing out with a cover of "Black Cherry" (by bassist David Ryder's previous band, Rachel Stamp).
In all the years I've been going to shows, I can't think of more than a handful of bands who truly gave the headliner a run for their money, but this was the first time I've witnessed it in a long, long time... Keep your eyes peeled & your ears open, because I'd be very surprised if you're not hearing a lot more about them in the not too distant future. ~ The Pusher
ALICE COOPER SET LIST:
Vincent Price intro
The Black Widow
Brutal Planet
I'm Eighteen
Under My Wheels
Billion Dollar Babies
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Hey Stoopid
Halo of Flies
I'll Bite Your Face Off
Muscle of Love
Only Women Bleed
Cold Ethyl
Feed My Frankenstein
Clones (We're All)
Poison
Wicked Young Man
Killer (excerpt)
I Love the Dead (excerpt)
School's Out (including Another Brick In The Wall excerpts)
Encore:
Elected
Batusis
The Vermin
1/2 Ast
Las Vegas Country Saloon
Las Vegas, NV
photos by: Bob Mandocki
article can be also seen at: http://www.rockoveramerica.com
This night was a great night of pure punk and rock n' roll. You had 2 of Vegas' finest punk/hardcore bands in 1/2 Ast and The Vermin. To top it all off, you had the rock n' roll supergroup fronted by 2 legends of rock n' roll; Cheetah Chrome and Sylvain Sylvain. If you're not familiar with these 2 names, lemme tell ya, in their respective bands (Dead Boys and New York Dolls) the invented the sound, image, and style of punk rock and glam rock!
1/2 Ast jumped on stage first. With their blend of humor and hardcore punk, they were mostly entertaining and the music made you jump out of your seat. Not enough people there at this point for a mosh pit, however. But the band took it in stride and hit you over the head with one tune after another.
The Vermin were even more entertaining. Very good approximation of old school punk, they steamrolled you with their fast and hard songs. Bassist Rob Ruckus was impressive with his fluid bass lines. They too made you wanna jump out of your seat and go crazy.
They also had great timing and rhythm. Rather than just senselessly pounding away. This made for an exciting presentation altogether. Interesting stuff for sure. They were good at grabbing your attention and were never boring.
Then the piece de resistance, the Batusis. From the first chord to the last, they showed why they are truly the pioneers of punk and glam. The Batusis songs were played, and as an added bonus, so were New York Dolls and Dead Boys tunes played as well. They just basically tore the place apart, and the crowd ate it up over and over again.
Displaying excellent musicianship as well, it was more about heart and soul. The guitar playing of Sylvain and Cheetah was top notch. This was music and a performance that really grabbed you by the throat and didn't let go. It was pure rock and grabbed you by the throat. It refused to let go.
In addition, they made everything look easy and are truly gifted. This is always a hallmark of a great band. And the Batusis are no exception. This is a truly solid and rockin' band that I would put up against many bigger names out there. That includes the Rolling Stones and AC/DC. No kidding. It is that good.
Finally, the Batusis were more than the sum of its parts. It was a whole that worked together flawlessly and the creative force that Sylvain and Cheetah bring to the table has not lost any steam over the years. They have earned their legendary status. Long may this band run. -DN
Blue Öyster Cult
The Railhead at Boulder Station
Las Vegas, NV
Photos by: Melissa
Legendary rockers, Blue Öyster Cult, took the stage at The Railhead in Las Vegas. You may think that after more than thirty years they can’t possibly still put on a great show, but I’m here to tell you that they can, and they did.
Only two original members remain, Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom. The vocals performances of both Eric and Buck were wonderful . Eric moved seamlessly from guitar to keyboards and never missed a note, and of course what would BÖC be without Dharma‘s signature guitar sound? Joining Eric and Buck on stage were Richie Castellano on guitar and keyboards, Jules Radino on drums, and legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo. These five men played classic songs that made everyone in the audience happy.
The band began their set with The Red & The Black, and I knew from then it was going to be a great night. They sounded amazing from the start with tight rhythms and great guitar riffs. Then they launched into The Golden Age, again a great song played really well. But it was the next song that really got the crowd going. From the second the guitar starts and Burnin’ For You begins, you start singing and wanting to move around. It’s a legendary song that still sounds as good today as it did the first time you heard it.
Next the band played Harvest Moon, Bucks Boogie, and the classic The Vigil. Any fan of BÖC knew that it was about to be played when Eric held up his fingers in a ‘V‘. It’s the first time that I’ve heard it live and it was incredible. After that Eric mentioned that there was a friend in the audience and invited him on stage for the next song. To the delight of the audience, guitarist for Meat Loaf, Paul Crook joined BÖC for The Last Days of May. What an amazing thing to witness! Not only did we get treated to wonderful solos from Eric, Buck, and Richie, but the band also gave Paul a chance to shine too. All four men just shredded and had the energy level at a peak, what a perfect time to launch into Godzilla! There wasn’t one person in the crowd who didn’t know the song. In between verses Rudy played a phenomenal solo that paid tribute to other bands that he’s toured with including Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne, and then Jules played a tight drum solo.
Then of course it was time for more cowbell and (Don’t Fear) The Reaper. People were on their feet dancing and I even saw a woman with a cowbell app on her phone. It just speaks to the popularity and longevity of the song. The band took a bow and left the stage on a very high note. Amid shouts of “Blue Öyster Cult” they returned to the stage. Hot Rails to Hell ended the night, with just one more song of the legendary BÖC sound.
I was very impressed with the tightness of the set. The sound was great, and every man on stage gave 110% for the fans that were there. I had seen BÖC before and enjoyed it, but this time around was even better. There was an energy that had everyone feeling as young as they were the first time they heard their favorite BÖC song, and chances are that on this night they heard it. -Melissa
CrashDiet
The Key Club
Hollywood, CA
Photos By Lexa Vonn
The buzz on Sweden's glam band Crashdiet had been stirring the Hollywood streets for years. It seemed every local musician and rock chick in town had been following their career and avidly awaiting for them to one day grace the stages of the Sunset Strip. That day finally arrived in late November as the boys hit the United States for the first time. I had the honor of spending a couple days with the boys, and it went a little something like this:
Day 1
I was sent by the band's management to a house in Hollywood Hills where I was to meet the boys for the first time and conduct an interview. Along with one of my eager Plastics, Shawna Alexis we arrived at the location, helped ourselves to some Jack and Coke and patiently waited for the boys to return from their photo shoot. As we stood in the dim tiki torched backyard, we got our first glimpse of the band as they entered the grounds, each one stunningly beautiful as they politely introduced themselves. After chatting and having a few more drinks, we went into the living room to conduct our interview where everything from music to relationships to Kermit the Frog was discussed. The boys all expressed great delight at being able to finally see America as well as to play in Los Angeles, one of the world's most famous rock n' roll meccas. "The girls here are even prettier than the ones in Sweden," stated Crashdiet's newest singer Simon Cruz. After a few photos and several more drinks, we decided to let the boys get some rest to prepare for their upcoming gig at The Key Club.
Day 2
Shawna and I add a few more girls to our posse and head out to the Key Club for the show. As we arrive, the Strip is already littered with mobs and lines of people waiting to get into this sold out event. I was barely able to take a step without someone I know stopping me in my tracks to chat. It was definitely the place to be that night. After getting our wristbands, we duck inside and run into Crashdiet's drummer, Eric Young who buys us a round. We then get ushered into a photo shoot for Metal Sludge and then finally its show time! Squeezing my way to the front of the stage to photograph the band was no easy task on this occasion. Fans both young and old crowded and pushed as the band made their entrance. Exploding with the first song, "Breaking the Chainz", the band kept a steady energy throughout the night. Lots of songs off the new album, Generation Wild were played, which I think is some of their best work. Crashdiet isn't your typical glam-sleaze band. They add in some metal, punk, and insightful lyrics to balance out the leather and eyeliner image. I was particularly impressed with the band's third and current singer Simon Cruz. It's not easy to come into an established band and fill the shoes of a previous singer. But Simon is such an amazing performer, I don't think anyone in the audience thought twice about it. He reminds me a little of a young Billy Idol. With his three foot mohawk, its easy to see that he his responsible for some of the punk element on the new album. He even takes a tradition from Iggy Pop and dives into the crowd at the end of the show. I wasn't at all disappointed with the night's performance. In fact, I just couldn't get enough of these boys so we met them backstage afterwards and kept the party rolling. Our girl posse seemed to grow as we made our way to the bus in back on the club. But who could blame the ladies? What girl wouldn't want to take a stab at these Swedish hotties?
Day 3
Way past midnight at this point, the boys were nowhere near ready to call it quits. They demanded a party so we happily obliged. They were eager to mingle with the local scene so we escorted them to the Hollywood party pad of local musician Grey Dee, bassist of Band of Bigfoot. The party was already in full swing when we arrived with members of local bands and hot girls scattered about the place. Everyone was excited to party with Crashdiet and party we did. It was an epic moment to sit on the patio and watch the sunrise with the band. I lasted till about 9am before deciding to call it quits. Crashdiet on the other hand, stayed at the party that probably kept going for another day. Yep, these guys fit right in L.A.!! -LV
Danzig
The Legacy concert
Gibson Amphitheatre
Halloween 2011
It was the first cold night of the year in Los Angeles, a fitting atmosphere for Halloween night. And what more fitting of a band than Danzig to host the evening's ghoulish festivities? And they'll even one up you on that by adding in mini-sets by Samhain and The Misfits! For fans of the man and legend that is Glenn Danzig, this was the concert of a lifetime and probably one of the longest shows I've ever seen! I was near exhausted by the end of the performance, but only because I couldn't help but to dance and sing a long to the best of the catalogs of these three epic bands.
The evening ran backwards in chronological order, beginning with Danzig, merging into a passionate and power fury set by Samhain complete with the leather mask, then the classic punk rock hits of The Misfits, and finally back to Danzig. Glenn, who was in stellar shape both physically and vocally, barely missed a note despite the continuing technically difficulties that progressed throughout the show. The microphone kept shorting out and at one point during The Misfits set, Doyle's guitar went completely out! Although, it was irritating to both audience and band members alike, what's a Halloween show without a few odd occurrences? Luckily, most people present knew all the words to fill in the silent gaps and kept the party rolling full steam.
I'd have to say that out of all three acts, the crowd was most excited to hear The Misfits songs. I personally, wish they had given more time to Samhain and The Misfits and less time to Danzig. Don't get me wrong, I love Danzig but they tour pretty regularly. It isn't too often we get to hear The Misfits sung by Glenn. If only (no pun intended) we could be treated to a Misfits tour with the original line-up. Not something that I foresee happening of course, but a fan can dream. After all, it is Halloween! -LV
Set list:
Danzig
Overture of the Rebel Angels
SkinCarver
Hammer of the Gods
Rebel Spirits
Twist of Cain
Her Black Wings
Devil's Plaything
How the Gods Kill
Dirty Black Summer
It's Coming Down
Samhain
Initium / Samhain
(Samhain cover)
All Murder, All Guts, All Fun
(Samhain cover)
Horror Biz
(Samhain cover)
Unholy Passion
(Samhain cover)
Let the Day Begin
(Samhain cover)
To Walk the Night
(Samhain cover)
Mother of Mercy
(Samhain cover)
Misfits
Death Comes Ripping
(Misfits cover)
Vampira
(Misfits cover)
Bullet
(Misfits cover)
I Turned Into A Martian
(Misfits cover)
Night of the Living Dead
(Misfits cover)
Halloween
(Misfits cover)
Astro Zombies
(Misfits cover)
Last Caress
(Misfits cover)
Encore:
Bringer of Death
Not of This World
Mother
Encore 2:
Skulls
(Misfits cover)
Jane's Addiction
John Anson Ford Theater
Hollywood, CA
Photos by: Lexa Vonn
Those that haven't experienced a show at this intimate outdoor theater are truly missing out. The theater sits tucked away in the Hollywood Hills and comes equipped with its own backdrop of landscaped hills and slopes. Surrounded by trees and the open night sky, it was the perfect dreamscape to set the mood for the rock n' roll ritual otherwise known as Jane's Addiction. As I entered the general admission theater, I realized there was no barricade between the audience and the stage for me to shoot from. I felt a slight wash of anxiety as I remembered the first time I saw Jane's Addiction back in 1993 and the pit got so out of control that the barricade broke and fans were injured. The situation worked out fine for me as opening artist Tricky fished my scantily clad teenage self from the crowd and allowed me to watch the remainder of the show from the side stage. As I gazed at the current crowd surrounding me, my anxiety ceased as I realized everyone was all grown up! There wasn't a teenager in the place!
Times had changed and we were treated to a more mature version of the band. Perry, who once strutted the stage in corsets and garters now emerged in a stylish grey suit. His once political rage had turned into references about driving his kids to school. The one thing that remained constant was guitarist Dave Navarro, who must be a vampire cause his sexy and sultry looks haven't faded one bit over the years.
I thought for a moment that I was going to be watching a stripped down version of the brilliance this band usually exuberated onstage but as the show progressed, I realized I was wrong. The show was as beautiful, magical, and as full of surprises as it ever was! The set list, which minus two songs was all old favorites including "Stop", "Mountain Song", "Ted Just Admit it", "Been Caught Stealing", played like a rock opera. Every time you batted an eye there was another dancer or other strange character popping up somewhere on the multi-tiered stage. Dancing bondage girls and a Perry Farrell doppleganger who exploded out of a box tantalized the senses while glittery cave women crawled around in the hills behind the stage. Swirls of smoke and spiral lights twirled around the band as they played through each hit song flawlessly. The crowd, who although older, still reached heights of ecstasy as they took advantage of the absent barricade and rejoiced at being able to touch the band. Perry and Dave gladly indulged their desires by frequently grabbing hands and giving away souvenirs from the stage. My personal favorite live was "Three Days" with its hypnotic melody seducing the crowd into a meditative state of unity.
Predictably but in honor of tradition, the encore was "Jane Says" which led the crowd into a sing a long amidst the acoustic guitar. All and all, the band as well as the fans may have grown up but we grew up together. And what in the world is more beautiful than being a part of a band you love's lengthy career by witnessing it in all its metamorphosing stages? I am forever your fan, Jane's Addiction. -LV
Jani Lane Memorial
Key Club
Hollywood, CA
Photos by Lexa Vonn
It was a somber day when word of former Warrant frontman, Jani Lane's passing hit Los Angeles. Clubs up and down the Sunset Strip, where the band first made their impression on the music industry, posted farewell's on their marquees. The Key Club graciously lent their venue to host an official memorial on Aug. 29th, in which 300 free tickets were given out to fans. The very first time I ever scored a backstage pass as a young teen was to a Poison/Warrant show. Over the years, I had crossed paths with Jani and he had always been a very down to earth, sweet guy. I knew that as a child of the 80's, I had to be there to lend my energy to raising Jani's spirit on to his next existence.
As I walked through the crowd, there was a certain heaviness that hung in the air. I found myself front row and center where I always was for every concert, deciding that this event would be of no exclusion. The evening was full of speeches from Jani's family, friends, and musical peers. On the bill, were mini-sets by Enuff z nuff, L.A. Guns, Quiet Riot, and Great White. The evening kicked off with Enuff z nuff who played their hit "Fly High Michelle", a sad but fitting ballad about drugs and premature death. Jani's brother, a musician as well, also took to the stage to play some Beatles covers. Jamming was a hobby that the Lane family apparently enjoyed throughout Jani's life. L.A. Guns picked up the speed of the night a little bit by playing some heavier tunes. They did, however dedicate "Ballad of Jane" to Jani and changed the lyrics to "ballad of Lane". Great White had to perform without original singer Jack Russell, due to the fact that he just got out of surgery. Russell did, however attend the event cane in hand, and make a speech. After the bands mini-sets, various members from various bands made way to the stage for an all-star jam. The crowd reveled in covers of "Down Boys", "Cherry Pie", "Blind Faith", and "Uncle Tom's Cabin". But the highlight of the evening was definitely when an empty chair was placed on stage with a microphone pointing down while the band went into a rendition of "Heaven" with no vocals. Instead, they asked the crowd to sing the words. It seemed as though every person in the place knew every word to that song as our voices rang as loud as they would have if someone had been signing onstage. I knew that this was the moment for us all to send our loving thoughts to elevating Jani's soul and I felt that everyone else knew it as well. I got a little teary eyed as I sang my heart out. "Heaven" was always my favorite Warrant song.
After it was over, the night went a little downhill as the bands continued to jam on some of Jani's favorite tunes. An extremely drunk Donnie Vie from Enuff z Nuff was suppose to lead the first few songs of the jam, but only made it through half of the first song. Somewhere in the middle of Cheap Trick's "Surrender", he began acting and sounding like Sid Vicious until he just stumbled offstage in mid-chorus. Given the circumstances surrounding the event, I suppose we should cut him some slack. Losing a friend is one of the most difficult things to overcome in life. Apparently, so is alcohol addiction. -LV
L.A. Guns
Faster Pussycat
Las Vegas Country Saloon
Las Vegas, NV
Photos by: RC
On this night, a very hot and sizzling summer night here in Vegas, you had 2 pioneers of Hollywood sleaze, L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat.
We were all looking forward to seeing them, and to see if they still had it.These 2 bands are definitely in the territory of legendary and historic status. It would only be a matter of minutes before we found out if they still lived up to the hype that surrounds them.
Taime Downe excelled in his stage presence and the way he interacted with the crowd. He seemingly electrified every one of us there that night. It was very evident that everyone was having a great time. All the classics such as "Don't Change that Song," "Babylon," "Cathouse," as well newer material such as "Power and the Glory Hole" were played with a zeal.
Taime and co. proved once and for all, that Faster Pussycat has always had it and always will.
Before L.A. Guns' set started, Tracii Guns layed down a ripping guitar solo from Hell. It caused members of the crowd who had filtered out during intermission to come roaring back inside. Our pied piper, Tracii, had blown the initial sounds off his "horn" and we were mesmerized from the note; he had us. Jizzy Pearl hit the stage and from note one had the crowd in the palm of his hand and knew just how to work them.
It was a sleaze fest from the beginning, band and crowd were in unison as one in debauchery. They did the following songs that we all love such as "Sex Action," "Never Enough" "Rip and Tear," "The Ballad of Jane," and "Over the Edge." The highlight of the performance Tracii's guitar playing throughout. Start to finish, it rocked our world. If you missed this performance, you missed something to truly behold. You'll just have to wait until next time! -DN
Michael Monroe
The Whisky-a-Go-Go
Hollywood, CA
Photos by: Lexa Vonn
One has to really love rock n' roll to maintain the passion that an artist like Michael Monroe expels with continuity. For over 20 years this man has battled every band issue from hard core drug abuse to death and yet remains to hit the stage every time like a bolt of lightening sent to electrocute the audience. He is far from just a singer, he is a true performer and one that I can only equate to shamanistic. His spirit is so powerful and energetic that it's impossible to take your eyes off him… Well, maybe just long enough to check out the guitarist Dregen, originally from Sweden's Backyard Babies. Dregen is the perfect compliment to Michael's platinum blonde explosiveness with his sultry dark locks and flirtatious interludes with audience members. Together they feed off one another's energy and lock into a magical synchronicity.
The set was comprised mostly off Michael's latest album, "Sensory Overdrive" which just won "Album of the Year" at London's 7th Annual Classic Rock Awards. The crowd was receptive to the new material, which I feel is a little more crunchy and bluesy than the glammier days of Hanoi Rocks. As an avid Hanoi Rocks fan, I wish they had played a few more songs but I understand the importance of promoting the new album. I'll just never be able to get enough of Hanoi, I guess. In my opinion, they are the most underrated band of the eighties. Luckily, we were treated to a handful of the Hanoi catalog as well as some of Michael's earlier solo material. All of which were known word for word by the loving audience who seemed to be a sweaty mush by the end of the performance. And just when we thought we'd be released from our excitement, we were surprised with an encore featuring Sebastian Bach performing a duet of "Taxi Driver"! Bach, who's vocals are never anything short of perfection, was in high spirits and seemed genuinely honored to be onstage with his idol. He even went into an impromptu version of Hanoi oldie, "Million Miles Away". As exhausted as the crowd was by the end, I think I am speaking for everyone when I say I could've stood through Michael's entire catalog from start to finish. He truly is an exceptional songwriter and performer. -LV
Motörhead
Club Nokia
Los Angeles, CA
Photos by: Sunset Vampyre
'THE WORLD IS YOURS' Tour
Defining what is quintessentially English is very easy; cups of tea, fish and chips and Royal Weddings (I'm nothing if not abreast of the latest news). If I'm not mistaken, there are (were) but 3 bands that waved the flag for ENGLAND PLC: Queen, with the still vivid memory of Freddie Mercury wearing his Ermine cloak and Crown; Def Leppard, who show the Union Jack on the giant screens behind them at every show (they used to wear the flag In their younger days);and Motorhead, whos t-shirts bear their own Coat-of-Arms with the bold trademark stamp: MOTÖRHEAD, ENGLAND.
It was at the latter's show that I ventured into the midst of an ocean of black t-shirts all proclaiming homage to that long-standing institution of Rock'n'Roll, Lemmy and the boys. The opening bands were all well received but when the lights dimmed and the first few notes of WE ARE MOTORHEAD rang out, announcing the fact that MOTORHEAD WERE ON STAGE! the place absolutely erupted. For the life of me I don't know how just 3 guys can make so much noise. Those t-shirts proclaiming 'Louder Than Everything Else' weren't exaggerating - I've only just got my hearing back!
Mikkey Dee did one of the best drum solos I'd heard in a long time, and Phil Campbells guitar solo would have given Eric Clapton a run for his money, it was that great.
They played all their hits (see set list below), with Lemmy making jokes about their longevity ('We made this in 1983 - before you were born!') and played several new songs from their brilliant new album 'The World Is Yours', which I was delighted to hear.
I spoke with Cherie Currie from The Runaways in the mosh pit, who was thrilled to be there, along with her friend, Thin Lizzys manager, who took my camera and got a few extra shots of the band. Cherie then got up on stage with Lemmys son Paul and did a Rockin' rendition of 'Killed By Death'. Then it was back to Lemmy and the boys to crank up the volume yet again.
The one thing you can't deny about Motorhead is that they really know how to throw a party!
It was fast, good-time Rock'n'Roll that the boys could have played anywhere and the effect would have been the same, whether down the pub or in a stadium - people of all ages, from a 10yr old lad I saw in the mosh pit to the pair of 70+ fellas at the bar, were all singing, dancing and beaming from ear-to-ear as they and I enjoyed the best night out we'd had in ages.
Long may Motorhead continue to show the world how hard England can Rock! -SV
THE BAND
Lemmy Kilmister - guitar/vocals
Phil Campbell - guitar/backing vocals
Mikkey Dee - drums
SET LIST
We Are Motorhead
Stay Clean
Metropolis
Over The Top
Rock Out
The Thousand Names Of God
I Got Mine
I Know How To Die
Chase Is Better Than The Catch
In The Name Of Tragedy
Just Cause You Got The Power
Going To Brazil
Killed By Death
Ace Of Spades
Overkill
Motörhead
House of Blues
Las Vegas, NV
Photos by: Melissa
Motörhead very rarely deliver a lackluster performance. Pretty much never, really. It is because of this that it is difficult to review this band! And it's certainly a challenge. On this particular night, they definitely did not disappoint. From Lemmy's opening mantra, "We are Motörhead, and we play Rock n' Roll!", it was quite an experience to say the least.
What we were treated to is a very powerful and dynamic concert that was heavy and hellraising. You had frantic drumming from Mikkey Dee. Sizzling riffs and leads from Phil Campbell. And last but not least, Lemmy's braineating growl and heart attack inducing bass riffs.
But that's not all. The combination of the above brought out true emotion in the audience and commanded your attention at all times. It really was a kick in the ass, which all of us need whether we like it or not. Classic and soon-to-be classic songs were interspersed in the set list very well.
What more can I say? Well, it was an exciting and fantastic affair. And every time I see these 3 motherfuckers, they raise the bar higher and higher. They're untouchable live and I believe they know it. They sure acted like it.
Pure confidence and compitence. That's what Motörhead live is all about. Hopefully, other bands out there can learn from concerts such as these. Many lessons were taught on what a true Rock n' Roll band is all about. Some bands come close, but no cigar. The music scene absolutely needs more bands like Motörhead. Long may they run. -DN
Set List:
We Are Motörhead
Stay Clean
Get Back In Line
Metropolis
Over the Top
One Night Stand
Rock Out
Phil Campbell guitar Solo
The Thousand Names of God
I Got Mine
I Know How to Die
The Chase Is Better Than the Catch
In the Name of Tragedy
(with Mikkey Dee drum solo)
Just 'Cos You Got the Power
Going to Brazil
Killed by Death
(with another guitarist--guy from Vegas)
Ace of Spades
Encore:
Overkill
Murderdolls
Roxy Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
Photos by: Sunset Vampyre
The long line outside the Roxy 3 hours before the doors opened told
you loud and clear that Joey Jordison, the drummer from Slipknot was
playing there tonight. Which was good news for the Murderdolls, but
not so good for the Murderdolls brilliant frontman Wednesday 13, who
is one of Metals most overlooked superstars of the decade.
This was the last night of the Murderdolls tour - Joey was going back
to the money-spinning Slipknot, leaving Wednesday to go back to doing
what he does best - touring in his own name with his own shock-rock
brand of hellfire-driven, brilliantly-crafted songs.
Which is not to take anything away from the Murderdolls - they played
great songs from both the old and new albums, and even threw in one of
Wednesdays songs from his brilliant album Transylvania 90210, Bad
Things.
The band came out covered in white powder (Cocaine? No, more likely
Baking Soda!) And, with their black clothes and ghostly white faces,
they looked like the local funeral home had lost a few bodies. The
animated corpses then gave a sterling performance of a 'live' rock
band (pun intended), with an exhausted Wednesday 13 that I had
interviewed a short time before giving the audience 110% of bounding
energy that belied a promise to sleep for a week after the show was
over. This professional, ever-friendly showman is truly one of R'n'R's
hard-grafters. But it was Joey Jordison who commanded the attention,
the ringmaster with a guitar instead of a whip, who at one point
jumped into the audience on his back, and carried on playing his
guitar while the audience gently held him up.
This was the same brutal male audience that pushed, surfed, elbowed
and literally tried to pull out the females at the front so they could
squeeze their 6 foot frames into the front row, proving how manly they
were. I resorted to telling the guy trying to use his elbows to get in
front of me that I was about to grab his testicles and squeeze them
until the blood spurted from his eyes, causing a look of terror and
apologies - he moved away from me as fast as possible!
Meanwhile, the (nice!) guy next to me had brought along a Joey
Jordison Slipknot mask, and Joey put it on for an entire song, playing
his guitar and looking very freaky, which simply served to push the
audience brutality up a notch. Joey himself was a victim several times
of this - Mexicans in the audience literally tore the guitar pics from
his hand, forcing his fingers open just inches before my eyes. He was
in danger of getting his fingers broken by the determined thieves in
the audience.
But Joey took it all in his stride, and was very sweet to a small
child aged around 6 or 7, going over to her several times and playing
just for her - she was thrilled, as were her parents. I've seen him do
this before, and it was a nice glimpse of the gentle side of the
sadistic drummer for Slipknot!
It was also about to be Joeys birthday, and a birthday cake was
brought out onto the stage, much to Joeys surprise, but he managed to
blow out all the candles and celebrated a short time later by playing
with a girls bra on his head!
But of course, all 'Bad Things' must come to an end, and in another
sign that this truly was a tired band following an intensive world
tour including being in Japan when the earthquake struck, they decided
to leave out the usual
'I Love To Say Fuck' and instead finished with 'Dead In Hollywood' -
a fitting end from an exhausted band who's very last gig was indeed in
Hollywood. -SV
SET LIST
Chapel Of Blood
Bored
Homicide Drive
Slit My Wrist
Twist My Sister
She Was A Teenage Zombie
Dark Place Alone
Drug Me To Hell
Summertime Suicide
Die My Bride
People Hate Me
Bloodstained Valentine
Pieces Of You
Bad Things
Nowhere
Welcome To The Strange
197666
Motherfucker I Dont Care
Dawn Of The Dead
Dead In Hollywood
Scorpions
Cinderella
Thomas & Mack Center
Las Vegas, NV
Photos by: Alexander Langsholt
On this night, you had 2 big names of 80s Metal rockin' out for a ravenous crowd. Even though the Scorpions go back 40 years or so, they are most well known for their 1980s era material, and really it heavier and is tighter than their 70s output.
Openers Cinderella seemed to be going through the motions. This could be because of a bad sound mix where it was pretty much nothing but kick drum. The vocals seemed strained, and the guitars were tinny and didn't rorar like they're supposed to. This gave the impression that the band was not up to par.
Scorpions came on stage with a "bang" and didn't let up. It was a very high-energy affair and they stayed energized. We got to hear 3 songs off of the new album, 'Sting in the Tail,' including "Raised on Rock." For those that don't yet know, "Raised on Rock" encompasses that quintessential 80s Scorpions sound that all of us have come to know and love. It is a fitting farewell tribute to a band of such legendary status, fame, and acclaim.
All of the classics such as "Make it Real," "Dynamite," "Blackout," and "Loving You Sunday Morning" were played with reckless abandon. One right after another with again, high-energy as well as stellar musicianship. It is an amazing feat for a band to do both of these things. Very few bands are able to do this. But Scorpions did it like it was second nature. Very impressive to say the least.
Also featured this night, was a drum solo called "Kottak Attack," that went for 10 minutes plus. The stage had a runner that went into the crowd. And they came to jam out in the midst of us, and we loved it. At this time, they did "Send Me and Angel" and dedicated
it to the memory of the late, great Ronnie James Dio, and the crowd ate it up.
The other notable thing of this show was the massive LED lighting backdrop made for one Hell of a memorable concertgoing experience, it added flavor and vibe to
the show. They left and came out for the encore, and gave us 2 more to remember them by. This performance was something that I, as well as everyone else,
will never soon forget. -DN
Slayer
Megadeth
Testament
'American Carnage Tour'
Chevrolet Theater
Wallingford, CT
Photos by: KK
Last night at the fights, a SLAYER concert broke out…except there were no fights this time around; it seems that Slayer’s rabid fans have ‘mellowed with age’, praise God. And since the fans of co-headliners Megadeth have grown up to be relatively peaceful rocket scientists, a good time was had by all. The carnage delivered by both bands’ AMERICAN CARNAGE tour was of the sonic variety, which stunned the decent-sized crowd of Wallingford’s Chevrolet Theater in a good sort of way.
In some ways the show was reminiscent of the CLASH OF THE TITANS Tour, where Slayer and Megadeth mixed it up with Anthrax, but this time around thrash veterans Testament opened up, giving the Carnage tour even more bang for your buck. For better or worse, Testament started early, around 7 pm, so more than a few people missed out on most of their set (myself included). Nevertheless, they were in fine form, under a scary Lovecraft-style backdrop. Their lead singer Chuck Billy recently fought brain cancer and won, so it’s good to have Testament still around in any event.
There had been quiet rumblings during the Clash of the Titans tour about exactly who should headline, resulting in a different headliner every show; Slayer claimed it wasn’t exactly ‘right’ for Megadeth to headline, even though Megadeth’s album sales have normally outdone Slayer’s. But Megadeth claimed not to care about ‘the competition’, and bandleader Dave Mustaine simply said “I’d be happier than a pig in sh*t if I was on the other side of this barricade”.
And everyone on the other side of the barricade was, because Megadeth chose this tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of their best albums of all time—if not one of the best speed-metal albums of all time—Rust In Peace. The machine-gun riffs of “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” electrified the crowd, and “Take No Prisoners” kept up the frenetic pace. Vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine shredded away with precision, although it was impossible to tell if he was having a good time doing it: his hair made him look like Cousin It from the Addams family. It was also good to see ‘Deth’s original bass-invader David Ellefson back in the fold, fresh from his side projects F5 and HAIL. Megadeth invented jazz-metal in their sci-fi epic “Hangar 18”, which played to ravenous applause, and they never slowed down. “Tornado of Souls”, “Poison was the Cure” and “Five Magicks” rang out at top volume, proving there’s really not a bad song on Rust In Peace. They ended with “Rust In Peace—Polaris”, an anti-nuclear proliferation song I’d never heard them play live. After deafening applause, they came back to play a brief but welcome encore of “Trust” and “A Tout Le Monde”, perhaps just to show they could play slower once in a while. Of course, the brutal intensity of “Head Crusher” from their latest album Endgame proves that only a handful of bands have metal talent on a scale with Megadeth.
Slayer, fortunately, is one of those bands; one would think any other band following Megadeth would have been lunchmeat. But when Slayer stormed onstage with “World Painted Blood”, the crowd apparently forgot about everyone else.
While guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman churned out brutal riffs, neither moved, seemingly locked in concentration like heavy metal golems. However, bassist Tom Araya (fresh from a successful back surgery that had previously postponed the tour) was continually smiling as he roared their lyrics of aggression and horror (“Expendable Youth”, “War Ensemble” “Dead Skin Mask”, et. al.), and two things became apparent:
One, nobody in the crowd was stomping on one another…which I noticed had become a trademark of past Slayer concerts. During Clash of the Titans, and on another tour with Motorhead and Overkill, I’d noticed the fans air-guitaring, chanting or waving…perhaps moshing a bit during the other bands. But when Slayer came on, it seemed that everyone wanted to kill each other! It was as if Slayer’s hardcore/punk influence added an actual element of evil, if not simple amplified aggression. I’d seen metal’s actual practicing satanist King Diamond on several occasions, and violence was nowhere to be seen in the crowd. I was overwhelmed when Tom Araya had said during COTT: “Hey, if you see someone in the pit goin’ down…help ‘em back up, right?” (This is coming from the guy who wrote “Kill Again”? I thought.) Perhaps the majority of their fans are my age and have a ‘been there, done that’ attitude towards slamming each other. I was amazed to see one fan teaching his seven-year-old son how to ‘throw up the horns’.
Two, neither Slayer or Megadeth wasted the audience’s time with chit-chat or banter. In fact, they barely even announced what their songs were. Of course, such legendary bands barely need to do so. Slayer once advised other bands to arrange their songs in ‘sprints’, or specifically grouped sets, instead of yelling at the crowd to yell something back. (A member of Slayer claimed he’d seen Metallica force the crowd to yell for over ten minutes on one tour.) Some stars probably feel the “Make some noise” routine makes the crowd feel ‘involved’, but it’s tripe. The crowd’s already involved, and they’re paying the bands their hard-earned money to make the noise.
Slayer kept cranking said noise with “Hallowed Point”, “Skeletons of Society”, “Born of Fire”, “Seasons in the Abyss” and “South of Heaven”. All great songs, using the same night-black tone color Slayer is famous for. Moreover, their chosen set list seemed to have evolved from celebrations of violence (eschewing older works like “Die By The Sword” and “Altar of Sacrifice”) to commentaries on violence (“Dead Skin Mask”, “Expendable Youth” et. al.). After thirteen songs, the crowd seemed sated, but then Slayer closed out with a medley of their most hammering hits: “Raining Blood” and “Angel of Death” which brought the crowd over the top in a crescendo of screams. While neither band’s set was very long, they both cranked out enough fan favorites to make the AMERICAN CARNAGE tour a must-see event. Do not miss this tour if it comes anywhere near your town! --KK
Sextreme Ball 2010
Lords of Acid
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
Blownload
Peabody's
Cleveland, OH
Photos by: The Pusher
In a word: WOW.
That was the first thought that went through my head when I got word that Praga Khan was FINALLY bringing the Lords of Acid back on the road... The haven't toured the states in close to ten years, and haven't toured with Thrill Kill since the now legendary Sextacy Ball tour back in 1995. So to say that the was the best news I'd heard in a LONG time was, to be it mildly, a TREMENDOUS understatement.
And then, as the details began to trickle onto the internet, I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive about what this was going to be like; this time around, we were basically going to have an American Lords of Acid (as the band now features Sin Quirin (of Ministry/RevCo) on guitar, Merv (formerly of Powerman 5000) on bass, "Berzerk Kirk" (formerly of Society 1) on drums & Lacey Conner (of Nocturne/VH1 Rock of Love fame) taking over on vocals) ~ made even more interesting by the fact that they REALLY didn't meet up or play together until the day before the tour was set to kick off.
Still, Thrill Kill Kult was touring with all original members, and I've been waiting to see Blownload for a FEW years now, so I sent off the media request & hoped for the best.
...And that may very well have been the best decision I've made all year.
If you haven't heard Sacramento's Blownload before, something tells me you will... They like to bill themselves as "the band that sounds like its' name", and their setlist included tunes like "Keep Sex Evil". "Suck It", "Legalize It" & "Milfin' USA", the latter of which is an ode to single mothers the world over. If you like your industrial with a sense of humor on the side, Erie & company have you covered. (So to speak, of couse.) Check 'em out their vids on YouTube or hit 'em up at http://myspace.com/blownload
Thrill Kill Kult was up next, but is now down an original member; drummer Otto Mattix had to drop off to get surgery on his hand, as he busted it on the face of somebody who tried to talk the group into coming to an afterparty in Salt Lake City at gunpoint a few days ago ~ so all the drums were sampled now, but nobody seemed to mind ~ including (but not limited to) a drunk, leather corset clad chick who singer Groovee Mann had to have security physically remove from the stage. All in all, their set drew HEAVILY from their back catalog and featured everything from "Nervous Xians", "Do You Fear (For Your Child)" & "Waiting for Mommie" to fan favorites "Sex On Wheelz", "Kooler Than Jesus" & "A Daisy Chain 4 Satan". And by the time the closed it all down with 1990's "Cuz It's Hot", I don't think anybody in the sold out crowd had ANY complaints, other than for maybe a better air conditioning system.
Anybody who's trolled YouTube for clips of this tour aren't getting anything even remotely close to a clue as to how amazing the new lineup is... Kicking their set off with "Sex Bomb" (from 2000's FARSTUCKER cd), the newly revamped Lords of Acid rolled into the packed house at Peabody's & basically steamrolled everything in their path - and I'm totally NOT exaggerating. The pit was swirling from start to finish, only letting up to witness the spectacle that ensued during the "audience participation" segments during "Spank My Booty" (which MORE than lived up to its' name) and first encore "Pussy", which you can see for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sitmfO-Af_M
Word around the campfire now is that, at least for now, the current lineup will be recording a new cd this fall, and plans to hit the road again sometime next year... So if you missed them THIS time around, fasten your seatbelt. If last night's production is any indication of what's on the horizon, the best is only yet to come. -The Pusher
X Japan
The Fox Theater
Oakland, CA
Photos by: EvAl
When the prospect of covering X Japan’s Oakland show came up, I must admit that my immediate reaction was, “X what?!? Never heard of them.” It turns out that I’m probably not the only one in the U.S. with that reaction. After a bit of research, it appears that these guys are a bit of a phenomenon in their home country (Japan, if you hadn’t figured that part out). They are one of the biggest rock bands in the country’s history, have sold more than 30-million units worldwide and have filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome 18 times. Stats like this, especially for a band that I’ve never heard of, get my attention but let’s face it, not all Japanese sensibilities translate well to the American market and X Japan is not simply dipping their toes. They haven’t even had their first U.S. CD release (set for early 2011) yet they’re embarking on a headlining tour of venues that normally cater to well-established acts. As the show approached I knew that I was in for a spectacle but figured that it would go one of two ways. Either I would witness a band suffer a tough lesson; one no doubt experienced by countless other successful bands that have tried (and failed) to crack the U.S. market. Or I would get my socks rocked off and walk away enlightened.
Arriving at the venue before show time I got my first inkling that something was going on here when I saw the line wrapped around the block. While the venue was by no means sold out, those folks filled the bottom tier of the floor and suffered politely through the opening band. The crowd was decidedly younger than I had expected, especially given that X Japan’s last studio release was in 1996 and they had been broken up for most of those intervening years. Drummer/pianist Yoshiki was the first to take stage, standing tall on his drum kit in the blue light as “X Japan” flashed across the LCD screen at the back of the stage and the crowd chanted. The rest of the band took to the stage all glammed-out and bedazzled and began their performance with their newest song, Jade.
To describe the performance to the uninitiated as “eclectic” would be an extreme understatement. Singer Toshi’s voice was impressive and at times reminded me of the operatic stylings of Bruce Dickinson when layered on top of a galloping thrasher. For the heavier stuff, guitarist Sugizo was a highlight not only in his playing but in his stage presence as well, especially in contrast to Pata (guitar) and Heath (bass) who shared the other end of the stage. But X Japan is not only about the metal. Songs like Born to be Free crossed into the softer side of arena rock and Yoshiki made several trips to the grand piano for some straight-up classical. Frankly, I spent a large portion of the set just trying to get my head around the sonic and visual dissonance.
My first clue to the passion of the crowd should have been the girl quietly weeping in the front row before X Japan took the stage, but it was clear by the first few notes of the first song that I was in the minority in my ignorance. The Fox was about half full but the lower level of the floor was packed with fans singing along and pumping their fists. By the time they played X, easily 80-90% of the crowd was singing along, jumping and chanting, “we are X” with their arms crossed over their heads.
When the band returned for the encore, Yoshiki addressed the crowd for the first time, “we’ve dreamed of this for a long time,” (referring to playing in the U.S.) and explained their determination to conquer the U.S. and fulfill that dream. Will they be successful in conquering the U.S. market? I honestly don’t know. They no doubt have the musical chops and the stage presence, but will people respond to their musical diversity? Let me put it this way … let’s say you like sushi and you also like pepperoni pizza. Now imagine that you go to a restaurant and everybody is raving about the pepperoni and sushi pizza. But do you really want sushi on your pepperoni pizza? You’ll have to decide that for yourself. -EvAl
Setlist:
Jade
Rusty Nail
Silent Jealousy
Drain
Violin and Piano Interlude
Kurenai
Born to be Free
I.V.
X
Endless Rain (encore)
Art of Life (encore)
© 2010-2011 Crypt Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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