Experienced Rockers in the Big Easy

Thursday, January 6, 2011
House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
Styx

(L-R) Tommy Shaw, original bassist Chuck Panozzo and Ricky Phillips of Styx at the House of Blues New Orleans.

It’s a New Year and time to restart my yearly concert calendar. It’s always an exciting time for me, wondering what the year holds and who I’ll see next. And it’s just as exciting to know that I’ll kick it all off with an “old friend” of sorts. Yes, folks, we’re starting 2011 with a tried and true favorite of mine… Styx.  I guess it’s ironic that the last concert review I posted was from a Styx show. Ironic, but not surprising.

A blog, a fan and slapstick videos

Well, folks. It’s a new year and I have a new pet project. After spending a few weeks getting the hang of Blogger and backlogging some of my concert experiences from 2010, I’m “officially” launching my rock blog. Many of you know it was a long time coming, so I’m proud to finally put it out there. It’s your average fan’s perspective on things such as concerts, album releases and rock news. Plus, there’s a whole load of my own random thoughts mixed in. Which is where we begin today…

Final Classic Rock Show of the Year

Friday, November 12, 2010
Hard Rock Casino and Hotel – Biloxi, MS
Styx

(L-R) Tommy Shaw, James "JY" Young and Ricky Phillips of Styx.

I know. This is typically a blog about hard rock music. I guess everyone has their vices and Styx just happens to be mine. I can think of worse things.

So before I start with this entry, let's get a few things straight. Don't bother asking how I got into their music. That's a story for another time. Don't ask how many shows I've been to. I lost count after 30. Don't comment just to tell me that you think Styx sucks without Dennis DeYoung. I really don't care. And don't ask me for tickets or backstage passes. Just because I've been to a crap-load of shows does not, in fact, mean that I actually know the band. Now on to the show...

Unexpected Show Introduces Me to the World of Robots

Thursday, October 28, 2010
Emo’s – Austin, TX
Powerman 5000

You know how some of your family and friends ask for list of gift ideas around the holidays? Or maybe your birthday? You spend time thinking about suggestions based on appropriateness and cost. You might even be careful to not give the same ideas to different people so you don’t end up with the same gift. When you open that gift you are grateful, but not surprised, at what you find. But every once in a while, someone goes out on a limb to buy you something you didn’t ask for. And sometimes those are the best gifts of all.

Concert-going is a lot like this. I spend a lot of time planning who to see next. I check online resources for concerts and my favorite bands daily, keeping my fingers crossed for a show near me to be announced. But once in a blue moon, I happen to be in the right place at the right time. Unexpected. Unplanned. Fly by the seat of my pants kind of stuff. Such was the case with Powerman 5000.

Memphis Boy Comes Home for Rare Performance

Friday, October 22, 2010
Hard Rock Café – Memphis, TN
Zach Myers Band

Zach Myers looks back on a photo of the group from when he was just 14 years old.

It seems a rarity that I actually get to see a rock show at home nowadays. There just don’t seem to be that many coming through Memphis as compared to some other nearby cities. But this night was an exception as hometown boy Zach Myers took a break from touring with mega-group Shinedown for a rare performance with his original namesake band, the Zach Myers Band.

Back to Atlanta for Project 961

Sunday, October 3, 2010
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, Georgia
Project 961 Family Reunion Concert

Another outdoor concert in Atlanta. I feel like I was just here. At least this time I’m not melting from unbearable heat. Local station 96.1 put on a concert with a lineup strong enough to entice me into a quick weekend trip. Unlike last time I headed further into the “Dirty South,” this trip went smoothly. And a couple of unique concert experiences made it all the more worthwhile.

Uproar Music Festival Hits "Hot-lanta"... Part III

Saturday, September 4, 2010
Aaron’s Lakewood Amphitheater – Atlanta, GA
Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival
Part III… The Main Stage Headliners

(From Part II…) Avenged Sevenfold was up next, but how would their set be received during their first tour without drummer, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan?

After 20 minutes filled with the anticipation of the ginormous crowd, it was finally time. A long, black curtain had been drawn across the stage to hide the massive set being built just a few feet beyond. With an explosive bang, it dropped to reveal a stage the likes I haven’t seen since Motley Crue’s Carnival of Sins tour back in 2006. But we’ll get to that in a minute, because there was something else to quickly gain our attention.

For months leading up to this show, I’ve been hearing rumors about a crazy opening to the A7X stage show. It’s been perpetuated in recent weeks by the DJ’s on Sirius/XM satellite radio’s Octane channel, who caught an earlier show on the tour and went as far to say something along the lines of “… if you miss the first five minutes of their set, you’ll never forgive youself.”