Ok, you have not listend to FF untill you go to one of there live shows. Wow it was ammasing. I got to Richo collussium at like 6 o'clock, and frose my a$$ off for half an hours untill they opened the gates to let us in. But let me tell you, it was worth waiting all that time, since there was not a very big lineup for t-shirts. *pokes new FF t-shirt*. The first cover band whent on at like 7:15 and ended at like 8:00. They were not bad, and they came from Australia. The second cover band came on at like 8:20 and finnished at like 8:45. Thank god that they were not very long, because they were realy bad. Finnaly after much waiting, FF whent on stage at 9:00 and started of with "Jacqueline". They changed the arena into a dance hall, there was like no one not dancing. I must say they are almost as mad as me, when Alex, the lead singer, got up and played on the drums in "This fire". "Outsiders" was crazy, as they had 3 people playing on one set of drums at the same time!

In all, the best gig I have gone to in a LONG time since my dad brought me to a Genesis concert.

Raiting: 9.5 out of 10

The only reason I removed half a mark, is cuz there second cover band was crap, and killed a bit of the atmosphear.

Now all I have to wait for is when Kasabian disides to come to town.

*Walks of rubbing hands suruptisiosly*

Er-Murazor

Well, I saw System of a Down and Mars Volta at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, USA. The opening band was called "Hella", and they went by the theory that louder is always better. Well, they were wrong. I didn't like them, but some people might have. Then, I went to get some Cotton Candy, and Mars Volta came onto stage. They were incredible. The only song I really know of theirs is the Widow, and it was alright, but their solos were the highlight of the performance. Especially one that went on for about 20 minutes. I was entranced during the whole thing. It was that good.
System of a Down was pretty good. Their first song, BYOB, was a great song to start on. It seriously rocked. The first half hour was really good, actually. After that, all the songs started to sound exactly the same, so I got bored. There were a few highlights, like Toxicity, and especially Chop Suey, but they were sort of few and far between.
Overall, I would give the concert an 8 out of 10.
Oh, and I got a hat and drumsticks.

Master Mushu

Alright, tonight I went to this cafe deal called Koffeeheads, and watched this one band (I've completely forgotten what it's called, but I can find out tomorrow). They did quite a few covers, but in their own style, so it was cool. Some songs they played were their own, and those were even cooler. Altogether, they had a keyboardist, a bass, a guitar, a drummer, and a trumpeter. I just happen to know that the keyboardist/singer and the trumpeter are two of the most talented musicians I've ever met (and that's saying something). Oh yeah, I kinda know the band (except the drummer, never met that guy before), but this was the first time I'd heard them play. They played for about 2 and a half hours, and played songs like Float On, Never There, Toxic (which I surprisingly liked by them), 99 Red Balloons, 7 Nation Army, Murder 11 (I think Sitara's the only one who knows that song here), and many others.

Master Mushu

WOOOO this was an awesome show on the 10th at capital music hall in Ottawa *tear* they are closing soon. Anywhoo you know how you get those shows where you just wait through all the crappy opening bands till the headliner(s) come on? Well this was not the case! all four bands were awesome. Gotta love No Use For A Name and Bigwig (naturally) but The Fully Down were AWESOME!!! i recomend listening to a selection on their website:

http://www.thefullydown.com/media/

And The Reason was pretty cool too. I was up front the whole show and in the mosh... safe to say i was hot and exausted by the end of it but No Use was selling their new album for $10!!! yes thats canadian!!! i was shocked! well worth the money.

Sitara

I forgot this was here so better late than never!!

29 March 05

The Bar room at bullfeathers was hazed with the hacked spirit of tobacco stained teeth. The ceiling fans swirled the bellowing fog causing plumes of the white vapor to dance. The sight would have seemed peacefully had it not been for the exploding noise that also filled the bar. From every corner sweat slicked faces were filling their gullets with cold bear and stale pretzels. Their foreheads had an eerie glow against the cold neon blues and reds of the numerous signs hung through out the bar. Their voices seemed like locust in the field. The dry rasping and crunching echoed in my ears as though it was my bones they were feasting on.

The small stage at the front was accompanied by a now dead Big screen TV used during sports time to taunt ppl into the establishment. The ominous screen loomed and stared, screaming "YOU SHALE NOT TAKE THEM FROM ME!!!!" Its blank face seemed like death cold and lifeless.

My hands sweat on the grip of my case.
"Shannon Nethery your up."
Simple words now, innocent and free standing, like a martyr to the beast of this crowd. "Shannon is from Knoxville and will be playing alone, come on up."
God how I wish My name were frank.
"lets make him feel welcomed"

Those cold eyes resting on me, raping my sole to the the inch of innocence that existed before now. These are my words my music why do I share with them. These creatures of the age stained tables and beer stained eyes. These are my six strings, my five fingers, my heart. The locusts stare bugeyed and slobbering.

My case is black nylon not hard plastic like every one else. That doesn't matter. My Guitar is Blue and made by a little known off brand, not clean wood like ever one else's. That doesn't matter, does it Blue. I'm in T-shirt and blue jeans, not the flash get up every one else is wearing. That doesn't matter, they really aren't all dressed up.

The monitor blast back into my face as I start to play. Is it too loud? My fingers dance and explode in friction flesh. My strings shake and roll as the cords blast in to the crowd. The locust be damed, I will play. The locust stop and the smoke dances, Swirling in the ceiling fan. My fingers hurt and pain shoots through my hands. I played to much yesterday.

Three songs, twenty min and a life time later. The locust clap and stop their chewing the crunching of dry bones is calm for the moment.

I lose but I shall play again. Bring on the Locust!

 

Magnus Canis Rufus

It was 6:00 pm when we left for the Blacktown RSL. First, we dropped off my girlfriend at home and then my mum and i went to see Swanee. For those of you who dont know, John Swan is the half brother of Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes.

We blew $10 on the pokies, and i will never do it again. It was sooooo boring. 3 lemon ruski's later, we went to the stage where they were setting up.

At 9:00, the music began as swanee and his men finished setting up. Then at 9:30, they came out.

They played for about an hour, in thier song list - Sweet Home Alabama, You Better Be Home Soon and He's Gonna Step On You.

Afterwards, i got to meet Swanee and talk to him for a while.

Then, i went back to my girlfriends house and fell asleep  

Turelio 

After our day of fun in the sun at Geaga Lake on Friday, my fiance and I trekked out to Meadow Ridge Farm in Huntsburg, OH. on Saturday to attend the 14th annual Midwest reggae fest. We make it a special point to attend this festival every year, because of the incredibly happy and positive vibrations that abound. There are always many bands, many vendors, and many many happy people listening to reggae music! Unfortunately, we had a late start and missed most of the first act, Outlaws I & I, but what we caught was pretty good. Up next was Carlos Jones and the P. L. U. S. Band (peace, love and unity syndicate) regular performers at the fest. Now, Carlos Jones is the hottest Cleveland area reggae artist and I've been going to his concerts since I was 16 (hmmmm..that's like 13 years) I LOVE CARLOS!!! My favorite song for this performance....Lively up yourself!! But I love everything he sings. He's always got a smile and he always walks around the farm and mingles with us common folk. This guy is Fantastic!! Following Carlos was a band called SOJA out of Washington, d.c.. They were ok, but I liked Carlos better which is usually what happens. Nothing really remarkable about them. This years headliner was none other than that British legend Maxi Priest. FYI Maxi is like 5 ft nothing with dreadlocks to the backs of his knees and a smile like the sun. How cool is that? MAXI ROCKED THE STAGE!! I probably could have touched him but I was too busy dancin'! He even did Shabba's rap in House call. I thought he did an excellent job too! (Carlos is better, though. He should close every year. as a matter of fact it should be called the Carlos Jones Midwest Reggae Fest ) I did however pick up a strangely antisocial attitude from Maxi's band. I still don't know what that was about but it did put a small damper on my fun. The VIBRATIONS are the most important element.
Other than watching bands all day, we hiked through the wonderful trails on the back side of the farm, we swam in the lake, hacked the sack around, ate good food and bought cool stuff!! All in all, a wonderful day at a wonderful event!

Helike

I know its a bit late , but it was awesome...

At 4pm, our journey begins, travelling down the highway to get to the University of New South Wales in Sydney city. Getting lost, backtracking, going left on a no left turn and going up the gutter and speeding away while everyone looked at you....it was all part of the excitement, Mudvayne blaring though the car speakers.

On arrival, the parking was impossible with all the Uni only parking! Argh, that was a nightmare, but we got a good spot. Then after waiting for two hours, until 8pm, the doors opened and 3000 people rushed into the hall and it was already filled.

There was a range of people from people like me, metal head, to people who were trying to look likt those living dead dolls....

The first band came out, a local band from Newcastle, they were mediocre, but out came all the death circles. Between each song, the chant "Mud-vayne, Mud-vayne" was heard. Until at long last....they came....

The psychos had really come out in the circles and all the hardcore freaks were at the front of the mosh.

First they playing "Determined" off thier new album "Lost and Found". It went wild!!

Throught the night songs such as "Happy?" and "Silence" were rocked out and sent everyone insane.

When the night was dying down, they brought out the big guns. Starting with 'World So Cold", going into "Not Falling" and ending off with "DIG", the entire hall rocked with the mosh and the yells of those loyal could be heard miles away.

The night ended with many joyful yells as fans walked out of the arena with their AU$56.50 well worth spent.

Turelio

righty oh then, one of my uni mates is heavely into Jazz music (nice!) and bought 5 tickets for him and his mates to go, and we went and it was Funky with a capital F (jingle bells!)

i had no prior knowledge of Miss Marlena Shaw beforehand, i was told that she sings the 'California Soulf' song on the chicken advert (im thinking this is a KFC one on the UK), she also sings 'Remember Me' (the one with the lyrics "ging ga ga ging ging ga ga ging etc etc) - was remixed in about 1995 by some dance group.... anyways....

... the Jazz club is a kinda upmarket intimate live venue, there's a small stage which means the people stansing get up close and personal woth balconys over looking, nice décour etc and reasonable priced drinks (brew unfortunatly wasn't avaliable)...

..arrived slightly late due to a massive power cut wiping out half of the tube services and caught the end of the warm up act, didn't catch the name but consisited of a female acoustic guitar performer, she was very good and sang of songs of happiness and blissful times (presumibly young love etc), delightful performance and then the main event...

...Marlena Shaw sang onstage with 5 very talented musicians (elec guitar, bass, piano, drums, clarinet/saxaphone/flute player). Marlena's voice was awesome, a sometimes raspy pure soul voice that could reach most notes and go low as well as high and long, her songs were mainly about her love life and women getting the better of men, but the great thing about this gig was her interaction with the audience, as one song ends and goes into an extended intro for the next one, she would tell funny stories/jokes etc that related to the next song, and they were very funny (though some went over my head as i was by far and away the youngest person there). the musicians all had solos inbetween songs and they were immensly good and she finished her set with 'remember me' and 'california soul'.

not the best of reviews as it i don't know a lot about Jazz and Marlena Shaw but still was very enjoyable and was a little jem on a otherwise boring thursday night.

(btw, the 'nice' and 'jingle bells' in brackets in the opening paragraph are a homage to the 'jazz club' sketch on The Fast Show - a hilarious comedy show that used to be on TV in the UK, i couldnt help myself saying it as it always makes me laugh, in particular that sketch)

Pilgrim

May 27th. Was at concert featuring:
- 30 Seconds to Mars
- Unwritten Law
- My Chemical Romance
- Sum 41
- Social Distortion

Setting was outdoorish, i guess, even though there was a big plastic/metal framework canopy over the whole thing. But it was open on all sides, so i think outdoors could describe it. It's the Chevrolet Ampatheatre at Station Square in Pittsburgh, in case anyone recongnizes it.

The crowd was typical. 17 year old kids who dress in black, fishnets, low cut, leather, hardware because it pisses off thier parents, and they think that the way they look says something profound about themselves. It does, but probably not the think they want.

In summation: the new band, 30secs2mars was surprisningly good. Sort of an atlernative rock, screaching on guitars sort of thing.

Unwritten Law - not my thing really. I dunno, The lead vocalist liked to prance around stage with his pants a few inchs below his waist, like he wanted you to see his groin, but not his junk. Could have gone without that. *shudder*

in the middle of UnwrittenLaw, i decided that i needed a drinky. The were selling all kinds of mixed drinks and brew at the stand, but i decided to buy a glass plastic cup of Cabernet Savinion for the pure irony of drinking wine at an alternitve rock concert. Well, *I* thought it was funny.

My Chemical Romance - pretty good, seemed like nice guys. Vocalist called for "mosh pit ettiquette" which means, no groping the women, and if someone falls, help them up, which is refreshing to hear from a band. Music was alright too.

Sum 41 - Coudn't say how they were. One or more of the band members got sick and they didn't play. Sigh. I wonder what this does to their image?

WOO!!! FIGHT THE MAN! REBEL AGAINST THE CORPARATE CULTURE!! ROCK AND ROLL 4EVER!! *cough, cough* ...ehh, I don't feel to well, I'm gonna take some TheraFlu and sleep this one off. Well spark cultural revolution tomorrow.

Social Distortion was great. Old Fashoned rock and roll with a modern edge to it, and for some reason, the lead vocalist's raspy voice sounds good. can't explain that one. He seems like a rock vetern who finally grew out of the Drugs-Booze-Party-Screw-Loose-Women-Get-Arrested phase of the rock and roll band and now has finally settled down and lives clean. Google for his new song "Reach For The Sky" and check the lyrics. That was pretty much the theme of his set.

Fun night, overall a 6.5 out of 10, could have had an 8 if Sum41 had just sucked it up for a few hours

Pilgrim

Well, last night, after school, I was just reading a book, and my brother was like "Hey, lets go." Then, I'm all like "Where?" And he's all like "Just come on, man. We're going."

Anyways.
So, we go over to his friend John's house, they get a little messed up, and we go to this place that was incredibly hard to find. So, we waited in line for about 5 minutes, get in, and hardly anyone is there.

I walk into the dark, smoky room, looking around me. All I see are people talking to each other, and a laserlight making shapes on the ground. Then, all of a sudden, the band gets on stage. And they play.

Unfortunately, this was the opening band, and they blew big time.

The next band comes on to the stage. Excitement is running through the audience, as they start to chant. They play the opening chords, and the crowd goes insane.

Unfortunately, this band sucked too. It was another opening band, dammit. By this time it was about 10 o'clock, and I could have fallen asleep right there, music and everything. It "rocked" that much. But, then Pepper came on stage.

The next band comes on to the stage, and they begin to tune their guitars, and warm up for a few seconds. Everyone is chanting their name, and making signs in the air. The lead singer comes up to the microphone, and says "Check 1, 2. Check, Check." Exhilirating. But then, they just blast into a song, that rocked, like nothing has rocked before. It also made my ears ring. After 4 minutes.

So, the band was really good. They played until about 10 after midnight, even though the Fire Marshall said they had to be gone 15 minutes beforehand. It was really good music. It was the first time I had ever heard them, though I heard of them a few times, and I loved it. My favorite song was probably "Love Affair" I think it was, but all of them were good.

Altogether, I'd give this gig a B+, because of the openers. Damn opening bands.

Master Mushu