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Live and Sweaty in 2014

TransMonk Jan 19 2014 05:16 PM

I'm taking a two day mini-vacation to Vegas to see Queens of the Stone Age in mid-February.

Gwreck Jan 20 2014 11:01 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I don't know if I mentioned it in the 2013 thread but I saw them twice last year. One club show and once in December at the arena in Brooklyn. Both great shows. Homme is just a fabulous frontman, and their drummer (new, apparently) fits in quite well. Have fun!

TransMonk Jan 20 2014 11:30 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I've seen them a couple of times before...I'm excited to see them with the new drummer and hear the songs off the latest album. The closest they came to my neck of the woods on this tour was Chicago as part of Lollapalooza. I didn't feel like hanging out with 100,000 people only to see them play a shortened festival set. They're playing at one of the Vegas Hard Rock Cafe theaters which I think only holds a few thousand people...ideal in my mind. Can't wait.

Fman99 Feb 02 2014 08:45 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Just purchased tickets to see blues guitar hero Joe Bonamassa on May 10th when he swings through the 'Cuse. Going with my ex-brother in law. Should be a hoot. [youtube:32y162gh]Y40o5ddhxcI[/youtube:32y162gh]

themetfairy Feb 03 2014 09:18 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Billy Joel at MSG. I know that a lot of you guys aren't fans, but the Piano Man puts on a great show!

Mets – Willets Point Feb 04 2014 07:49 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I like Billy Joel, although I can't say I listen to him a lot these days. He was the first rock star I was big fan of as a kid. I saw him in Washington back in 1998 and he's very entertaining.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 04 2014 07:52 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I've sort of forgiven Billy Joel. Sort of.

themetfairy Feb 04 2014 07:53 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

It was a great show - he was in good voice and the band was terrific. This was the set list

A Boy Named Seo Feb 12 2014 01:23 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Went to the Band of Horses record release show tonight. The guys were supporting their "Acoustic at the Ryman" release which 'dropped' today. The album's really pretty and these kinda big rock songs with the soaring harmonies do really well stripped down. Curious watching the set tonight why the album is only 10 songs when it could easily be double that and still be killer. I foresee an expanded edish, re-release down the road. Anyway, they added a second show in the cathedral of this cavernous Presbyterian church in LA & I'm a sucker, so I'll be watching all this again tomorrow night. The venue should be stellar. The rekkid in question:

A Boy Named Seo Apr 08 2014 04:20 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I killed the thread with my Band of Horses shit, but the second night at the church was outrageously good. Best of 2k14, so far. A couple other stand-outs so far have been Daniel Rossen (Grizzly Bear) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and the adorable Aussie Courntey Barnett at some other place, I forget. This song's been flogged to death, but it's still great. [youtube:qh24q146]bcnIhzaDTd0[/youtube:qh24q146]

Edgy MD Apr 09 2014 08:17 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Oh, here we are. The guy above is Steve Sachse. He plays bass on my wife's recordings and does such a job that we asked him to produce. We're going for a Daniel Lanois-inspired sound and he's poured himself into it. Our engineer is a really good guy but his rock sonic palate kind of runs from Allman to Brothers. His country range, on the other hand goes from Alison to Krauss. He'd be ducking out of sessions for a cigarette break, or not quite clear headed from the previous night's pot, and we'd be left rudderless. So Steve calls us up and asks if we want to do go see EmmyLou Harris on Friday. Apparently, it's an anniversary tour for Wrecking Ball. It's rough when you're doing 20th anniversary shows for your comeback album. But it'll be cool, because the Daniel Lanois band is not only backing her, but doing an opening set, so we can steal lots of ideas. But I'm realizing that four of the last six shows I will have seen --- having seen Los Lobos in the week before my birthday and then running out at he last minute to see Bob Mould on my birthday --- will be of the anniversary-of-an-album variety. What, besides the fact that I'm aging, does it all mean? Is this a good thing or have album shows become a stale copout? I think Daniel Lanois' great overlooked contribution to U2 was teaching the Edge that it's OK to deal with male pattern baldness by wearing a ski hat year round.

sharpie Apr 09 2014 08:29 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

The whole "doing an album in its entirety in order" is a weird trend. I recently saw both Richard Thompson and Roseanne Cash do their latest albums in order. I've seen Patti Smith do "Dream of Life", Lucinda Williams do "World Without Tears" (in a run of shows where she did all of her albums in order); and Roger Waters doing "The Dark Side of the Moon." I dunno, I'd rather they pick and choose from their repertoire 'cause there are few albums that don't have some weak spots.

Edgy MD Apr 09 2014 08:40 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I'm crazy about Rosanne Cash. She might even make me forget Erin Arvelund. But doing your current album in order is total copout. Unless there's a dramatic narrative like Pink Floyd or the Who, come on! Mix it up! Surprise me, lassie!

A Boy Named Seo Apr 09 2014 08:55 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Ah, I love that album. That show should be real good. PS - she's 67 and still looks sexxxy rocking that silver fox look, agree? I've seen a couple of those types of shows - Flaming Lips (Soft Bulletin), Matthew Sweet (Girlfriend), Lemonheads (Ray) - it's a powerful line in the flier advertising the show to hear that "album I fell-in-love-to/did-some-shady-shit-to/finger-banged-that-girl-to", but for me, the actual show hasn't lived up to the nostalgia once. Mostly because I'm watching the show, thinking about "the good ole days", but now I'm also yawning because it's almost 11 and I've gotta work early - stupid goddamn work - and my back hurts like shit for some reason, and I realize I'm light years and galaxies away from the dude who originally enjoyed those albums without a single effing care in the world. And why the fuck's my back hurt? Did I send the car payment? I think I want to blow off that meeting in the morning... ah, the boss'll be pissed. I never liked this song on the record, wish I could skip it. I'd love another beer, but $11?? Shit, my back............................................................. Enjoy the show!!!

Edgy MD Apr 09 2014 09:00 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

God, I hate you.

Edgy MD Apr 09 2014 09:18 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Seriously, though, that pretty much sums up a lot of what I was feeling at Mould. My wife was, certainly. Workbook has perhaps as good a start in the first four tracks as any album I know. But after that, it was all about the car payment.

A Boy Named Seo Apr 09 2014 09:25 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I think there was discussion here about how Girlfriend is kinda like that. It gets out of the gate quickly and starts to fizzle a bit after "Evangeline", maybe.

sharpie Apr 09 2014 09:44 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

The Roseanne Cash show was sort of great. Played the new album, took a break and then came back and did a bunch of songs. One of the thrills of going to live music, at least for me, is being surprised (and, hopefully, delighted) by what they are doing which doesn't happen at an album show. Roseanne did say that she saw Lou Reed do the whole "Magic and Loss" when that came out and she thought to herself that she wanted to do that for one her new albums one day. Now she has.

MFS62 Apr 11 2014 07:50 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I'd like to go to a Jeff Dunham show, but I have a Peanut allergy. Later

seawolf17 Apr 11 2014 09:12 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

MFS62 wrote: I'd like to go to a Jeff Dunham show, but I have a Peanut allergy. Later That actually made me laugh out loud.

Mets – Willets Point Apr 13 2014 10:56 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I took my daughter to see Sesame Street Live. I really liked it. All the punk rock cred I never had is all gone now.

Edgy MD Apr 14 2014 08:02 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I have to say the Emmylou/Lanois/Wrecking Ball show was surprisingly excellent also. No time for a long-form review, but although she surprised me a little by (yup) doing the album in order, the experience contained few of the elements ABN Seo notes above. Part of the effect is that, with the album in question 19 years old (and who celebrates a 19th anniversary?), I was already a full-grown and fully broken adult by the time it came out, so I didn't have to spend the evening reconciling myself with my lost youth or anything.

A Boy Named Seo Apr 14 2014 06:00 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Cool. How was Lanois? Anything worth ripping off? Next for me is Neutral Milk Hotel. Been waiting a long-ass time to see these guys.

Edgy MD Apr 14 2014 06:29 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

The thing is, for a guy who's working with feedback and distortion, the sound was surprisingly full and rich while never being piecing or making my eyes feel like melting. Steve took the time to stop back by the sound board and tell the mixing tech what a great job he did. Don't know if he was the house mixer or part of the tour. I hope the latter. Part of it is that Lanois, like Jeff Beck, plays mostly with is thumb, grabbing a pick maybe twice during the evening.

TransMonk Apr 24 2014 04:36 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

It's finally happening. I'll be in the e-line to buy tickets on May 3rd.

Ashie62 Apr 24 2014 06:32 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

This is their "We are finally going to make some money" IRA tour Great news

TransMonk Apr 24 2014 07:41 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Yeah...they've been playing since last fall. I'm sure they're making more for these shows than they did for the ones in the 80s. But, I'm glad they're finally playing Minneapolis.

Edgy MD Apr 25 2014 06:55 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I want to give them money just for aping the Twins logo.

Gwreck Apr 25 2014 11:24 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

The Gwreck household booked our hotel and flights; we'll be there. I have heard good things about the opening acts too.

TransMonk Apr 30 2014 01:50 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I got tix on the pre-sale this morning. I'm very excited that this is really happening (unless they re-break up between now and September)!

Edgy MD Apr 30 2014 02:05 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Edgy MD wrote: I have to say the Emmylou/Lanois/Wrecking Ball show was surprisingly excellent also. No time for a long-form review, but although she surprised me a little by (yup) doing the album in order, the experience contained few of the elements ABN Seo notes above. Part of the effect is that, with the album in question 19 years old (and who celebrates a 19th anniversary?), I was already a full-grown and fully broken adult by the time it came out, so I didn't have to spend the evening reconciling myself with my lost youth or anything. I don't know where this tour is now, but the more I recall this show, the more I like it. As I said, our producer initiated this trip, and he took the time to stop by the sound board afterwards to tell the mixer what a great job he did. Somehow, he managed to mix a soundscape highly dependent on distortion and feedback and delivered it full and lush without offending the ear. I had the plugs in my pocket and never reached for them once. I don't know if the mixer came with the tour or the venue, and maybe the venue suited the sound well, but high fives to whoever gets credit on that one.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 07 2014 09:38 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Ben Kweller last nite at Bowery Ballroom. He is touring without having anything new to support, since he's apparently gone totally D.I.Y. (no label, looking into releasing new stuff through the Internet, merchandise table was like a rummage sale, etc etc). It was all good from a loosey-goosey performance standpoint but would have been nice for at least some songs if they could have afforded a piano player and maybe a few more harmony singers; just a trio up there. Opener was a trio called Slothrust which did a combo of punk and plodding Black Sabbath-style blues rock led by a morose chick singer-shredder. They followed their set by assembling behind me and talking loudly.

TransMonk May 07 2014 09:57 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I really enjoyed Kweller's first album...but haven't really gotten into his work since then. I would go see him if he came to town, though (and by looking, it looks like he is playing Milwaukee in July). I'm off to see QOTSA again in Milwaukee tonight.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 07 2014 10:05 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

His last album (GO FLY A KITE, 2012) was super IMO: Still rough & fuzzy in places but also airy & sunny.

TransMonk May 07 2014 10:15 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I will give it a spin. My initial assessment was incomplete...I only have his first three albums and I really enjoy the first two.

Edgy MD May 07 2014 10:17 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

[fimg=425]http://slothrust.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/cropped-slothrust2014_fb-02.jpg[/fimg]

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 07 2014 10:19 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Nice brick wall! The big guy is the bass player (of course); he was the one talking.

sharpie May 07 2014 11:29 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Saw The Nels Cline Singers, an instrumental group, last week at La Poisson Rouge. A friend of mine works for him so it was guestlist time for me. Anyway, they sounded great and they were clearly having a good time (big smiles on the drummer and the percussionists faces all the time). They rarely play since Nels is in Wilco and the other guys are in other bands so they have to plan these short tours long in advance but its kind of like Sonic Youth meets the Allman Brothers minus any vocals.

TransMonk May 07 2014 12:26 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Very cool. Nels Cline is one of the few "names" I can throw as sharing album credits with. One of my favorite guitarists of all time and a super nice guy.

TransMonk Jun 16 2014 03:51 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

So now this is happening...basically a dream lineup for me. I recommend this show for all New Yorkers. The Mets are in ATL that night. I'll be seeing Deer Tick on August 23rd and 24th.

seawolf17 Jun 16 2014 05:18 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Really want to see Tesla at Irving Plaza Wednesday night.

themetfairy Jun 16 2014 07:10 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I'll be seeing Ringo at the Beacon that night.

TransMonk Jun 21 2014 05:50 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I saw Guided By Voices as part of a friend's bachelor party last night. Today is the 20th anniversary of the release of Bee Thousand. They didn't play the whole album like a lot of bands are doing these days, but after 40+ songs and two encores, Bob Pollard and the boys can still rock.

themetfairy Jun 25 2014 10:47 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Ben Folds and The Philadelpia Orchestra in Philly last night. A uniquely awesome show!

themetfairy Jul 15 2014 08:27 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

My new greatest concert moment ever - Pharrell Williams performing "Happy" in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden crowd. Simply outstanding - And the reason I was there in the first place was to see Bruno Mars, who was spectacular - It was a good night to be at the Garden.

seawolf17 Aug 06 2014 10:00 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Taking MiniWolf to see Kiss & Def Leppard at Jones Beach tonight. His first Beach show, and my first in a long time.

seawolf17 Aug 07 2014 07:33 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Hadn't been to Jones Beach in at least ten years, maybe longer. Def Lep absolutely brought it. The mix sucked (Sav's bass was way too loud), but they sounded a lot better than they did fourteen years ago. They didn't play a single song that wasn't on their 1995 greatest hits record, and even then, only two of their fifteen or so songs was from later than 1987. KISS was KISS. I liked Def Lep better.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 07 2014 07:59 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I hope you gave their drummer a big hand. (too soon?) I've heard that Paul Stanley has no pipes left. True or false? 'm only now coming around to the fact that he was kind of a good vocalist back in the day, and I have to say I like the songs where he and Gene trade vocals.

Edgy MD Aug 07 2014 08:15 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I never put enough thought into it to distinguish Gene's vocals from Paul's. I mean, I sometimes think about it and say, of course, that's Paul! But then I forget. It's kind of lame of me, because I get bitterly frustrated when folks can't tell John from Paul on Beatles songs. I have no problem, on the other hand, recognizing Ace and Peter's pipes.

seawolf17 Aug 07 2014 08:33 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I've heard that Paul Stanley has no pipes left. True or false? 'm only now coming around to the fact that he was kind of a good vocalist back in the day, and I have to say I like the songs where he and Gene trade vocals. You're right. I honestly wasn't all that impressed by KISS. Paul does a lot of talking -- if you're that concerned about the curfew, Paul, then just shut up and start the next song -- and it's all about the explosions and the flying around. And he's a lot squeakier than I thought he would be.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 07 2014 08:55 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

A classic Kiss trade-the-vocal: Gene Kisses in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis Paul kisses in Dallas, Philly, Atlanta and Tennessee Ace keeps his trap shut and shreds Catman kisses in Seattle, Baltimore, San Francisco and Detroit [youtube:3mahjp8f]_QTLPLo_NkQ[/youtube:3mahjp8f]

TransMonk Aug 11 2014 07:57 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I got to see The Baseball Project for the third time in four years last night. The best part is that instead of playing the local minor league stadium, they were actually playing an invite-only basement party at the house of one of our local music lovers. I got invited last minute by a friend of mine who had an extra pass. They literally played for about 50 peeps in the basement of a house and everyone, including the band, hung out before and after drinking beer and talking music. It was a great time. Their Lenny Dykstra song was part of the set. I'm now on the mailing list to be informed of other upcoming shows the house is doing. I'm super excited.

Gwreck Aug 11 2014 08:24 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Nice! They were in town here a couple of weeks ago and it was a fun show. I had only seen them with Buck before (and it was my first time seeing them with Mills). No offense to Peter, of course, but I think Mills fills out their lineup a bit better.

TransMonk Aug 11 2014 08:39 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I've never seen them with Buck, but yes...Mike Mills is awesome! Even for a Braves fan.

Gwreck Aug 31 2014 01:30 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Went to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers last night at Fenway Park in Boston. Had a date conflict with the local show here and hadn't been to a concert at Fenway in 11 years so a return seemed like a good thing. There aren't that many more bands left that I both care about and can fill that park. The Fenway experience for a show remains a lot of fun even if stadium shows in principle are generally terrible. Sitting anywhere other than the field wouldn't be worth the hassle in my opinion -- but if you are down there, it makes for a lot of ancillary fun, being able to walk around the field, have one's picture taken in front of the wall, etc. In the last decade since they started having these concerts, security seems to have wised up to the idea that fans may be looking to take some grass or dirt home with them however. A great experience even for those ambivalent or slightly hostile to the Red Sox. The Heartbreakers were playing very well, and I was pleased to see that the show was not merely a greatest hits event but also incorporated a good portion of songs from their new album. I suppose if one discounts the Petty "solo" albums (Full Moon Fever, Wildflowers) this new album, "Hypnotic Eye," is probably their best since "Southern Accents." The deep cut of the night was an outstanding version of "A Woman in Love (It's Not Me)," and stripped-down version of "Rebels" was one of my favorites, if perhaps not the crowd's. From more familiar material, "Running Down a Dream" was fantastic, and the show opening with their cover of "So You Wanna Be a Rock n Roll Star" was a reminder about how this band is one of the all time best at doing cover songs. I was struck generally about how the band avoided the old songs that I imagine they may be a bit tired of playing by now. There was the obligatory "American Girl" and of course "Refugee" but almost everything else was from the last 25 years. I like seeing Petty and the Heartbreakers from time to time, and the cross-generational appeal of the material is nice to see. It's a shame his music also attracts so many unredeemable douchebags as well. I like the idea of a reserved seating show (not having to line up early for a spot is convenient) but this was an event that reminded me that unless I really want to pay for a VIP package to get right in front of the stage, going to a reserved-seating stadium show is simply not worth the money. People who cannot shut their mouth for a couple of hours are the fucking worst.

Ashie62 Aug 31 2014 03:15 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Mike Campbell is in my guitar player HOF.

TransMonk Aug 31 2014 03:45 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I saw Deer Tick in Chicago last Saturday (a very good show which was their last date on a summer US tour before going to Europe). However, I found out too late that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were at the United Center in Chicago that night as well. I've never seen them and they are on my R&R bucket list along with Springsteen and Prince. I feel like I'm running out of chances each time I miss one of them.

Edgy MD Aug 31 2014 08:11 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Gwreck wrote: The deep cut of the night was an outstanding version of "A Woman in Love (It's Not Me)," ... . This is perhaps my favorite Petty song, and certainly my favorite that can't be found on Damn the Torpedoes, which is as good a piece of vinyl as has been known to exist. Couldn't get any support for "WiL(aINM)," though, back in the days of the Rock Band Ladder Challenge. Tracks I've heard from the new album seem as boring and passionless as much of his past two decades --- a tuneless tune over a plucked-out four-chord progression, redeemed only by the irreproachable accompaniment of Campbell and Tench. But I've also heard radio dudes raving about it. And not just the ones paid to rave, neither. So I'll have to suspend judgment before consigning the new old TP&tHBs.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 31 2014 08:30 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Gotta say that "Greatest Hits" CD was about the worst thing that ever happened to that band. I'd guess it came out around 1992 or 1993 and there's barely been a dent since. I sped though the new disc once and was kinda "eh" on it.

Ashie62 Sep 01 2014 06:27 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

With Petty I go back to "I need to Know" to hear a band breaking out that did not really fit into any of the genres of that time and still get goosebumps with those early years. Again.. kudos to Mike Campbell for decades of heavy lifting.

Gwreck Sep 01 2014 07:32 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Gotta say that "Greatest Hits" CD was about the worst thing that ever happened to that band. I'd guess it came out around 1992 or 1993 and there's barely been a dent since. I sped though the new disc once and was kinda "eh" on it. The Greatest Hits album indeed came out in 1993 I believe. 1994 was Petty's second "solo" album, Wildflowers. That's a fabulous album. Since then, there was The soundtrack to the movie "She's the One", 1996 or so "Echo," in 1998 "The Last DJ" in 2002 "Highway Companion" in 2006 "Mojo" in 2010. "Echo" was the divorce album and has a few good tracks. But overall, there's not a lot of great stuff on those 5 albums combined. A few things here and there but not much that I was enamored with. I thought the new album was better than all of those.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 01 2014 08:39 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Well, I guess the point still stands, even if the results mostly bear it out. It's as though that Hits record was a dividing line between his profile as a contemporary and "classic" popular artist, and (I think) it allowed lotsa lazy fans to hop onto the TP&H bandwagon without a whole lotta investment.

Edgy MD Sep 01 2014 08:43 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

"Highway Companion," which was 95% a true solo album, was the most tuneful of the batch. I heard it during nearly every Met commercial break that season and have enjoyed it. I can only imagine how good a Heartbreakers album it might have been. The rest I've mostly heard, but can't think of anything that doesn't bore, depress, or disappoint me. He just seems to have hit peak stoner, and has come to think that he's clever when he's totally not. This may also have nothing to do with being a stoner but just be about being in Los Angeles too long and too much. "Last DJ" and "Mary Jane's Last Dance" --- boring singles both --- seem to sum up his post-Greatest Hits persona as a tired and irritated profit of doom. If you see culture as full of last-ness, Tom, be an artist, and create some first-ness and new-ness to stand up in it's place.

TransMonk Sep 02 2014 07:29 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

TP's work with Rick Rubin on Wildflowers and She's The One in the mid-90s is amazing, IMO. Those are my two favorite TP albums (though, a lot of his early work is not far behind). Jeff Lynne and Jimmy Iovine did really well, but those I think Rick got the best out of Tom.

Ashie62 Sep 02 2014 04:50 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Torpedoes united Rockers, punks, new wavers and assholes..

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Sep 02 2014 05:31 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

So, we have tickets to this big, free, no-doubt-pain-in-the-ass-y Central Park show with Jay-Z, Fun, The Roots, Carrie Underwood, and-- ha-- No Doubt (Among others?) on September 27. Do we make time for it, owing to the event-ness of it all, and the fact that we don't do things like this so often these days... or do we avoid it because of the event-ness of it all, and the fact that we don't do things like this around so many people for a good reason?

Ashie62 Sep 02 2014 06:31 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I'd go see the Roots and then split.

TransMonk Sep 15 2014 10:43 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I got up to St. Paul to see the Replacements show on Saturday night. They played the former home of the St. Paul Saints, which is apparently on its way to being demolished soon. It was a chilly and windy evening with Lucero and The Hold Steady opening up. The mayor of St. Paul came out between acts and formally announced that Saturday, September 13th, 2014 to be "The Replacements Day" in St. Paul. The band came out in matching plaid suits and ripped through over 30 songs in about 2 hours. They didn't have much to say between songs (they rarely ever did) and they kept the same "warts and all" attitude that they had in their prime while botching some chord changes and dropping some lyrics. I expected nothing less. I'm fairly certain that every hipster in the mid-west was at the show. They may have been disappointed that the event was not more of an "event". I had a great time and am glad I went. Favorite Thing / Takin' a Ride / I'm in Trouble / Don't Ask Why / I'll Be You / Valentine / Waitress in Sky / Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out / Take Me Down to the Hospital / I Want You Back (Jackson Five cover) / Going to New York (Jimmy Reed cover) / Color Me Impressed / Nowhere Is My Home / If Only You Were Lonely / Achin' to Be / Kiss Me on the Bus / Androgynous / I Will Dare / Love You Till Friday (with Chuck Berry's Maybellene) / Merry Go Round / I Won't / Borstal Breakout (Sham 69 cover) / Swingin' Party / Love You in the Fall / Can't Hardly Wait / Bastards of Young / I Don't Know ENCORE 1: Skyway / Left of the Dial / Alex Chilton ENCORE 2: Unsatisfied

Edgy MD Sep 15 2014 10:49 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

That's a set and a half right there. Wow. In my mind, for some reason, "Achin' to Be" is a song from Westerberg's solo catalog, rather than the Replacements', but it's certainly not. Takes a lot of guts to close with "Unsatisfied," instead of leaving' 'em with "Can't Hardly Wait" or "Alex Chilton." Did Paul switch to piano or mandolin at all?

TransMonk Sep 15 2014 11:04 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Paul came out and did "Skyway" on a 12-string electric guitar by himself to open the first encore and used it again for "Unsatisfied". There were no pianos/keys used in the show (which gave "Androgynous" a bluesy, guitar-shuffle feel rather than the piano performance from the album). They did invite a harmonica player out for a song or too (the Jimmy Reed tune, IIRC), but as far as I could tell, no other strings or horns. I got the impression that this was very much a money show (thus, no real effort put into having anyone learn or re-learn piano or mandolin parts). I don't remember them making any spoken on-stage references to being "home" other than Paul saying "Sorry it took us so long" near the beginning of the show (to which Tommy replied, "No he's not"). The Replacements have always been first and foremost a bar/club band...it seemed that they were somewhat uncomfortable playing in front of 14,000 people in a stadium. I think it would have been great (and maybe more genuine) had they been able to do 3 nights at First Avenue to smaller crowds...but honestly, I think it would have bored the band to do so. That said, I don't see where they played "Swingin' Party", "Skyway" or "Unsatisfied" at many other shows on their mini-tour, so perhaps those were treats for the hometown fans.

Ashie62 Sep 15 2014 04:25 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

They always reminded me of the Kinks.

TransMonk Sep 15 2014 04:50 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

[youtube:2bmgq5je]YYTZ8gmJWng[/youtube:2bmgq5je]

Gwreck Sep 15 2014 09:40 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I went to this show as well. I did not discover Westerberg's music until well after the Replacements had broken up so I am not going to necessarily have the same reaction that others did (I couldn't tell you what it was like to see them in a club, for example). I did think the show was fabulous, and the setlist covered just about everything that I could have wanted to hear. Well, maybe they left out "Little Mascara." (There's always this Friday in Forest Hills). I was impressed by the "tight sloppiness" the band had, and I really credit Josh Freese on drums for that. He was precise but able to follow Westerberg as necessary, whether it was an abrupt ending or a improvised middle section. Personal highlights included "Valentine," "Kiss Me on the Bus" and an unexpected "I Won't." The setlist had them planning to end the show with I.O.U. and the change to "Unsatisfied" was indeed amazing. One note: I would challenge the idea that this was a "money" show, however. Of course they were getting paid well, but they kept things reasonable with a $50 ticket price. Demand far exceeded ticket supply, and they could have played much larger venues or more nights (at either the basketball or hockey arenas, for example) if money was the overriding concern.

TransMonk Sep 16 2014 07:43 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Gwreck wrote: I did not discover Westerberg's music until well after the Replacements had broken up so I am not going to necessarily have the same reaction that others did (I couldn't tell you what it was like to see them in a club, for example). Same here...I didn't discover the music until well after the band had broken up. I have many friends who recall seeing them back in the day and talk about what a great club band they were. Tight slopiness, indeed. Gwreck wrote: Well, maybe they left out "Little Mascara." (There's always this Friday in Forest Hills). Yes, yes, yes! If there was one song I wished they had played that they didn't, it would have been "Little Mascara". But with a set like the one they put on, I can't complain. Like I said earlier in this thread, I would love to see them in Forest Hills. Nothing against Lucero, but Deer Tick is one of my favorite modern bands. Gwreck wrote: One note: I would challenge the idea that this was a "money" show, however. Of course they were getting paid well, but they kept things reasonable with a $50 ticket price. Demand far exceeded ticket supply, and they could have played much larger venues or more nights (at either the basketball or hockey arenas, for example) if money was the overriding concern. I didn't mean to push that issue so hard. I think it was great that they played, that it was an original venue and that the prices were reasonable.

Edgy MD Sep 16 2014 08:12 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I love "Little Mascara" the way I love "Valentine." But The Replacements are such a favorite band that I imagine any set would be missing a huge favorite. Could probably build a heckuva set list on what was discluded.

Gwreck Sep 16 2014 12:03 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Damn. You're probably right. I could think of 15 songs, easy, that I would have loved to see them try as well. Little Mascara Never Mind We'll Inherit the Earth Answering Machine Someone Take the Wheel Hold My Life Within Your Reach Here Comes a Regular Talent Show Back to Back Sixteen Blue I.O.U. The Ledge Asking Me Lies One Wink at a Time Solution! They need to play a longer show. Saturday was only about 1:45. I try to not belabor this point too much and I enjoyed this show tremendously but a headline band (especially with a big back catalog) should be doing two hours. Period.

TransMonk Sep 19 2014 08:17 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Spoon is one of a few bands (Wilco, Radiohead) that I loved 10 years ago, but their albums over the past decade don't thrill me as much. The releases are good, but they all seem to follow the same formula now and so they just don't seem as fresh to me. Spoon last played my town 10 years ago on their Kill The Moonlight tour where the set was jam packed with my favorite songs from that album, Girls Can Tell and A Series of Sneaks (probably one of my top ten favorite albums of all time). I went to see them last night with low expectations because I knew they were not going to play a lot of the old stuff. They did, however, rock. The sound was great, the band was tight, the light show was simple but effective and even though they only played two songs out of about twenty-ish from those early albums (and none from Sneaks), I did enjoy myself.

sharpie Sep 20 2014 12:50 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Saw King Crimson last night at the Best Buy Theater, formerly the Nokia Theater. Both names suck but the show was really good. I first saw several renditions ago of King Crimson in 1973 so it has been 41 years from first to latest. Robert Fripp, as usual, the only constant. First two times in 1973 and 1974 they were in what is generally considered their classic lineup touring behind Larks Tongues in Aspic and Starless and Bible Black. I saw them again in 1996 and 2000 during the depressing Adrian Belew years. They now feature a 7-man band with three drummers at the front of the stage, a horn player from the original band, Tony Levin on bass, a new singer/guitar player and Fripp. They played stuff from throughout their long career and sounded great. I don't think you could go see another rock band who plays so many instrumentals and even the vocal songs tend to have few words. Finished with "21st Century Schizoid Man," the first song from their first album. I was impressed that they had sold out four nights. A fine time.

seawolf17 Sep 22 2014 10:34 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Bought my ticket this morning for Ryan Adams and Butch Walker at Carnegie Hall in November.

TransMonk Sep 22 2014 01:48 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Gwreck wrote: There's always this Friday in Forest Hills. Did you end up seeing this, Gwreck? I was hoping for a mini-review or comparison to the St. Paul show.

Gwreck Sep 22 2014 04:09 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I did. And it was excellent again, although a shorter show and also one that felt a little rushed at the end due to the venue curfew. I would say that Westerberg in particular seemed more comfortable in Queens. Performances were similar, but perhaps a bit more precise simply because he was more relaxed. One notable difference was that the crowd was singing things back to the band louder; although in fairness it was a concrete bowl they were playing to, which amplifies the sound. Setlists were very similar, but was a bit longer in St. Paul. Overall, I thought the St. Paul show was slightly stronger but the differences were small. -- It also bears noting that the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium is a truly awful place to see a concert. I didn't think it possible that there could be a New York City venue worse than Terminal 5, but sure enough, they created one.

TransMonk Sep 22 2014 04:11 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Awesome! Thanks for the update.

Ashie62 Sep 24 2014 01:49 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Coming up close to home "At the Tabernacle" in Mt. Tabor NJ has two shows close at hand. It is a special in the Country venue. David Johansen as "Buster Poindexter" 10/18 8:00 p.m. $35 Ian Hunter and the Rant Band 11/28 7:30 $55 I am interested to see how David "reshapes" the Buster look at an older age. Ian Hunter's band has a couple members of the old Hoboken band the "Bongos". Hope to see you there. Message me if you are going. Lots of great pictures with the artists can be had. [url]http://www.atthetabernacle.com/tickets/

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 19 2014 11:40 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

The Empty Hearts with maybe 100 other people last night in Brooklyn. I felt bad that so few were there, but it allowed for some close-up action, and the band was really great. Wally Palmar of the Romantics (vocals); Andy Babiuk of the Chesterfield Kings (bass); Elliot Easton of the Cars on (guitar) and Clem Burke of Blondie on drums. They're all around 60 years old or so. Played their whole album -- strictly 60s garage rock, but very good -- plus "Good Times Roll" (Elliot, who can't sing, sung); "One Way or Another" (Wally forgot the words); "Talkin in Your Sleep" (a little too disco for the set); "What I Like About You" (good!); "Just What I Needed" (Andy sung) and the Beatles' "I Wanna Be Your Man" (Clem sung, great). Wally (real name: Volodymyr Palamarchuk) was chubby and short (5-foot-6 probably even in his elevating rock-star shoes) but quite charismatic and likeable as a frontman. Elliot Easton (real name: Elliot Steinberg) played great but is anything but charismatic and looks the most like a 60-something among them. He just doesn't have good stage rap skills, was trying to talk about his boyhood in Brooklyn but just kinda fell flat. Bass player was good. The star was Clem Burke who only had 4 drums on stage but played the shit out of them. Fun to watch. Steve Van Zandt was there to introduce them but didn't stick around to jam. The whole project is so closely aligned to his whole aesthetic, he suggested the name for the band, got them together, etc. Nothing groundbreaking of course but fun to see some old pros cut loose and do their thing.

TransMonk Oct 19 2014 06:05 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

That sounds like it would be cool!

Edgy MD Oct 19 2014 09:26 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Clem Burke alone is worth most prices of admission. So is Easton. If I want to add a Blondie song to my set to emphasize that, yeah, that's Clem Burke back there, I add "Dreamin'." That whole song is one long drum fill. Clem is also a surviving card-carrying Ramone, having done a brief tenure in between Ritchie's fall and Marky's first return. Palmer always stuck me as a tall dude. Guess those boots worked wonders. The hair mousse, also.

seawolf17 Nov 18 2014 07:49 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

https://twitter.com/TheRyanAdams/status ... 3131578368 Brilliant last night. Just brilliant. Five songs from Butch Walker to open, then more than two hours of Ryan Adams, just him and a guitar. And I could have sat there for two more hours.

A Boy Named Seo Nov 18 2014 10:02 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I love RA and saw him on his current tour a month ago or so in Santa Barbara and I was left way flat. It was a full band set supporting his most recent self-titled album (which is inspired by late 80's/early 90's rock), so a lot of earlier country-leaning and acoustic stuff was re-arranged for the new format (and the songs off the new album just isn't as good as the rest of his catalog, IMO). I gave the night a C-/D+ and my g/f would've dropped the class altogether. But I saw him on the 'Ashes & Fire' tour where it was only Ryan & acoustic guitar and that shit was soooo much good. One of my favorite live show experiences. Can imagine Carnegie must have been special.

Ashie62 Dec 19 2014 06:56 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I an unusual twist I am going to a Christmas singalong by Uncle Floyd this Sunday. Its free and should be lotsa fun. Songbooks and all.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 19 2014 07:00 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

we're seeing the Nick Lowe xmas show with Los Straightjackets tomorrow. Ian MacLagan was also to have performed but he's dead at the present time.

Gwreck Dec 29 2014 11:17 PM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

I was lucky enough to be there for Michael Stipe's surprise set at Webster Hall, as opening act for Patti Smith. Stipe has song an occasional song at a benefit concert or two over the past few years but this was, by his own admission, the first time he'd sung like this (a proper set) since 2008, and was really his first ever solo set of this length. He did six songs: a Vic Chesnutt cover; a Patti Smith cover; a Perfume Genius cover; aand two REM songs: "Saturn Return" and "New Test Leper." Was accompanied by a guitar player and a piano player. I really was one of those who thought that Stipe was generally done with singing and this was an artform he wasn't interested in anymore. But there was that interview he gave recently to CBS where he said that he did think he would one day sing again, and here we are. Very exciting to see, and I think this could be a great model for shows for him going forward. Would really like to see him write new songs again.

sharpie Dec 30 2014 07:59 AM Re: Live and Sweaty in 2014

Yabbut, how was Patti? I went to her year-end shows for about 4 years running and wanted to go this year but tix went too fast.