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TrickyKid B-Side #15 – Unique Tribute Acts w/ Mac Sabbath, Tigerbox, Corey Glover Does Hendrix & much more

What I hope to accomplish in this series is to analyze, compartmentalize and paint a clear picture of the phenomenon of the Cover Band as career from an anthropological view point. I am not an anthropologist, or an apologist of any sort for that matter and I guess that’s what qualifies me. That and my desire/knowledge of music and its extension of the human spirit – I’m fascinated as much as I’m confused by the idea of a professional cover band – and in complete anarchy of the idea of a Tribute band – one who performs solely as another more established band – hence the term tribute.   
Is this just musicians cosplaying? What is it?   
Some of these groups are doing more than just performing the music – their dressing up and putting on a real show together and taking it on the road as a professional but questionably legit act. Some are doing it in tandem while the original act is also touring and doing it better, younger and doing big business.   

If you check the concert calendars of venues around town, you’ll find a night or two dedicated to cover or tribute acts: bands paying homage to specific bands or the eras that birthed them.  
The appeal to fans is pretty straightforward: Nostalgia, curiosity & well…fun. 
These tributes bring bands that have broken up back together or the spirit of musicians that have passed away back to life. People wanna hear songs that remind them of their youth.

In this segment we take a look at already established acts paying tribute to their heroes either as one off, an entire tour to the very unique hybrid types of the unexpected or the just plain weird or undefinable. 
  

Corey Glover & Eric McFadden & friends do Jimi Hendrix – July 18th 2014 – The Gypsy Lounge – Austin, TX

So Corey Glover ( Living Colour) & Eric McFadden (P-Funk) got together to pay homage to Jimi Hendrix in addition to playing original Living Colour & Eric McFadden material. Joined by a few locals Brad Houser ( Edie Brickell and New Bohemians) & Rachel Fuhrer formerly of Austin powerhouse trio Ume together they tore the house down with a wide mix & unique take on the Hendrix catalog.
A testament to the collective output of LC & Funkadelic as how well it seamlessly fit in with the Hedrix ethos.  

Earlier that morning they joined Austin’s FRINGE station, 105.3! to beg the question –  Are you experienced?
Good times ?



Mac Sabbath – September 27th 2015 – Trees – Dallas, TX
 

The self-appointed founders of “Drive Thru Metal”, the band is primarily a parody of English heavy metal group Black Sabbath, utilizing lyricism and imagery centered on fast food. 

Musically, Mac Sabbath performs faithful covers of Black Sabbath’s songs with only the lyrics humorously re-written and re-arranged.
For example, the band’s repertoire includes such parodies as “Pair-a-Buns” (“Paranoid”) &  “Frying Pan” (“Iron Man”),
Although all of the band’s lyrics focus on the umbrella topic of fast food, Mac Sabbath takes a decidedly satirical and condemnatory perspective on the corporate food industry, addressing areas such as fast food’s negative health effects and lack of nutritional value as well as genetically modified food, consumerism and low wage.
I first was exposed to Mac Sabbath by my friend & pro wrestler Sinn Bodhi at a party during the Sundance Film Festival earlier that year.
He was wearing one of their shirts & it was so striking I had to ask him about it. 
Visually inspired by characters from McDonaldland, they perform in elaborate costuming, the band’s line-up consists of vocalist Ronald Osbourne, guitarist Slayer MacCheeze, bassist Grimalice and drummer the Catburglar, alternately known as “Peter Criss Cut Fries”.

So going into this show I STILL had really no idea what to expect & I purposely stayed off You Tube as I wanted to see their stage set for the first time with my own eyes.
 


It was somehow even stranger & more arresting than I had prepared for – While something like this does (& should) lend itself to a healthy sense of unique humor, it was actually so weird that I almost felt uncomfortable, increasingly so that by the 4th song I could feel myself resisting the urge to leave. Now full disclosure, my girlfriend of 3 years had just stomped on my heart a few days before & I really wasn’t into laughing at all but I still think their’s a valid argument that suggests that kinda like Neil Hamburger, once your in on the joke, it kinda loses it velocity & also kinda like GWAR, after I’ve had blood squirted in my eye for the fifth time, I’m kinda over it. 
So after about 20 mins I actually started longing for the actual Black Sabbath songs.
At the same time, I’m still so intrigued by this band that I’m planning on seeing them again (this time in a much better mood to be sure) as if anything you MUST respect the unique mythology behind it all, the one of kind concept (no matter how unnecessary) & their work ethic.

All of the members of Mac Sabbath attempt to maintain total anonymity behind their characters, refusing to grant interviews. Instead, the band speaks only through their manager Mike Odd, lead singer of the Los Angeles hard rock band Rosemary’s Billygoat, who handles all interviews and continually asserts outlandish claims about Mac Sabbath’s origins.

Setlist 

More Ribs 
Chicken for the Slaves 
Sweet Beef 
Brand of Doom 
N.I.B.B.L.E. 
Lord of the Swirl 
Zipper Up the Uniform 
Frying Pan 
Cherries are Fruits 
 
Encore: 

Pair-a-Buns 
 

Ellismania XI w/ Tigerbox – October 9th 2015 – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV

This will require some unpacking – I was in Vegas for entirely different reasons (reuniting my mother with her birth family for the first time, a big deal you’ll hear about later as I’m currently in production of a documentary on said subject).
Ok, so I always stay at the Hard Rock when I’m in Vegas & knew my mom would enjoy it.
As we are checking in, I see in the back splash behind concierge a running advert for something called Ellismania using an appropriation of Metallica’s instantly recognizable Ride the Lightning motif that naturally caught my attention.
Call me square, but I had no idea (& still really don’t) who Jason Ellis was.
Since then I learned that he hosts a namesake show on Sirius XM, he’s bit of an everyman, former MMA fighter & lover of mayhem.
I’m friendly with Joanna Angel & the Burning Angel crew & know that they have made several appearances on the show.
It’s that heavily tattooed, lover of Jackass stunts, celebration of bad decisions kinda thing.
So what is EllisMania? From what I can tell it’s a series of fights between the likes of celebrities, radio personalities, MMA Fighters and even listeners.

While this might of only mildly interested me & given why I was in Vegas I had much bigger fish to fry but then when I ran into Brant Bjork, drummer for desert legends & MY FAVE BAND EVER Kyuss, & found out he was playing in a makeshift band with Ellis’ crew called Tigerbox & they were gonna rock it later that night by the pool, it now had my undivided attention.


I honor my family responsibilities first naturally (& by this time I could really use a break anyway) so I headed back over to the hotel to pick up my tiket at Will Call that Brant was so kind to leave for me.
I also discover that B Real from Cypress Hill is gonna headline this shit later too so added bonus. I grab a drink and head for the stage.


It was kinda exactly what you would expect in a sense – You know how these days most radio station crews have their “own band” and when the station has their yearly bash, that “band” opens the show with covers conducive to the stations’s format, however, this is the only gig that the “band” plays all year? That’s what this was – Still have no idea how Brant is involved either than he’s just a cool guy that’s probably is friends with these guys.

It was exactly what it should have been, friends getting together to play their fave songs for fun in a completely non-serious format. 
It certainly didn’t hurt also that high-profile go-go dancer/adult entertainer tattoos enthusiast Malice McMunn & company were rawking the stage along with them bringing a genuine sense of debauchery & that anything could happen. All the reasons you start playing music in the first place right?
Good times – 

Steel Panther – March 16th, 2017 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX

Ok to keep the theme of debauchery & tribute acts going, to those not already initatited, let me introduce you to Steel Panther.
Now, I’ve written about the Panther of Steel at least twice a year every year this decade (& already once this year) but I’m including them here because they fit the bill of what we are examining, & I just saw them a few weeks ago & have a story to tell.

The most important reason I’m including them is because as far as I know besides Weird Al, they are the only tribute act to transition to being successful making original songs while maintaining their own unique schtick of an exaggerated on-stage personae that parody the stereotypical 1980s “glam metal” lifestyle.
However, these guys after langering for years doing the gimmick on Monday night residencies in Hollywood are straight up legitimate, doing big business, playing huge festivals & their own sold out tours, releasing albums of new original music including the just released Lower The Bar that was even featured in a national Best Buy ad.
The albums are great fun of well written but hopelessly filthy songs that are difficult not to enjoy especially if your a perpetual teenager like me that grew up loving Motley, RATT etc.

They still throw in the occasional cover or two (& recently in Vegas it was back to mostly covers oddly) but the songs are bombastic and designed to be performed & their unhinged wild live shows where parody & reality become blurred as while at it’s core, it’s taking the piss out of the cartoonish excess of the 80’s Glam Metal scene while simultaneously not only endorsing it, but at time completely indulging it.
A staple of a live Panther show is when they bring a group of all-too eager girls on stage to either perpetuate or live the myth of the Sex/Drugs/Rock N Roll ethos.


Ok so here’s a funny story, you can see her in the below pic (she’s on the far right end….as a late arrival) but at this show I took along an adult performer friend of mine as my “date” – I thought “hey who better to take to see Steel Panther than a porn star?”. 
She performs under the name Domino & appeared on a recent episode of our weekly TrickyKid Radio Podcast .
When the band called for girls to come onstage she tosses me her phone/smokes/wallet & heads for glory (hole).
She is so smokin hot that naturally singer Michael Starr noticed her in spite of her being the furthest from him and suddenly she had his undivided attention. He brings her to the mic and does the usual what’s-your-name-honey routine. When she responded with Domino, Starr announces that he’s gonna be “ordering some Domino’s tonight!” Classic


To double down on the dysfuntion/debauchery she returns from the stage, the show ends soon after and she actually asks me to help her find their bus. I get her within sight of them, give her a good luck and I don’t see her for the rest of the night. Good times ?

Setlist – 

It Won’t Suck Itself 
Tomorrow Night 
Party Like Tomorrow Is the End of the World 
Asian Hooker 
Poontang Boomerang 
Let Me Cum In 
Turn Out the Lights 
Girl From Oklahoma 
17 Girls in a Row 
Gloryhole 
Anything Goes 
Community Property 
Death to All but Metal

Echo in the Canyon w/ Beck, Jacob Dylan, Fiona Apple & more – October 12th 2015 – Orpheum Theater – Los Angeles

Ok so now for something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT hahaha – I had gone to LA for biz after Vegas (see above) when this unique concert Echo in the Canyon arranged on relatively short notice to mark the 50th anniversary of the release of The Byrds’ debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man, the 1965 record that first brought attention to Hollywood’s burgeoning folk-rock scene.
The lineup alone was enough to get me there, not to mention I’ve always wanted to see a show at the Orpheum Theatre & my then girlfriend of three years LIVES for this kinda stuff and though she wasn’t with me on the trip I kinda felt I needed to go in her place.

Jacob Dylan, son to Bob & The Wallflowers leader sounded clear and confident during two sets as a charming and garrulous host onstage, in distinct contrast to his notoriously laconic father. 
The two shows were filmed as part of the promotion surrounding the Echo in the Canyon compilation, which was scheduled to be released next year and features remakes of songs by groups who were part of the era’s fabled Laurel Canyon music scene. 

Jacob Dylan & Regina Spektor

For a brief but magical spell in the mid-1960s, Los Angeles was the center of the rock & roll universe. The British Invasion had already crested, and the public consciousness hadn’t yet shifted north to San Francisco for the Summer of Love. Garage-rock bands like The Seeds and East L.A.’s The Premiers and Thee Midniters were still thriving, but the Sunset Strip was starting to be taken over by a new breed of folk-influenced musicians, many of whom settled in Laurel Canyon. Although it’s hard to imagine today, rents in the area were low enough to attract rising musicians like Joni Mitchell, The Doors and Frank Zappa, and the hilly neighborhood offered the illusion of being a sylvan escape from urban Hollywood. 

Ads for the Orpheum concerts listed well-known figures like Beck, Cat Power, Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor in addition to Dylan, but it might have been more accurate to bill the evening as a night with Jakob Dylan and friends. As Dylan and his backing band performed all the songs, the other singers popped in for a couple cameo appearances apiece. 

As it was, there were several interesting collaborations on Monday night, even if it wasn’t always clear if the entire affair was merely an exercise in sentimental, easy nostalgia or represented a sincere attempt to re-create the sense of community that once existed in Laurel Canyon. 

Fiona Apple

The mood shifted again when Fiona Apple strolled out, wearing a sleeveless, floor-length black dress, and dueted dreamily with Dylan on The Beach Boys’ In My Room.Their languidly enchanting version floated in the large theater with an idyllic, almost-tropical coolness. Apple and Dylan followed with another country-flecked Byrds song, It Won’t Be Wrong, which jangled airily and was pumped up by circus-y keyboards. 

With its tall walls and high ceiling, the Orpheum can have a muddy, echoing sound, but Cat Power’s tremulously soulful vocals cut through the murk like a beacon on a candied remake of The Association’s “Never My Love.” Dylan took back the reins for an unexpectedly stately version of The Monkees’ “She,” although the tempo dragged a little. It was a bit of a kick to hear Dylan take on The Monkees, a band that was rarely taken seriously in the ’60s, as well as bring things full circle by covering The Byrds — the band that rose to prominence with versions of songs by Dylan’s dad. The enigmatic Power, dressed down in dark pants and a black shirt, returned for a moment to purr The Turtles’ “You Showed Me,” giving the already slinky melody a newly mesmerizing spin. 

Cat Power

Beck 

“It is Monday evening, after all,” Dylan mused before Beck, Castrinos and Spektor joined him for a pleasant if unremarkable encore of the Mamas and the Papas’ “Monday Monday.” Like most of the night’s covers, the remake was sweetly sung and generally faithful to the original version.

Photos – 

Roy Turner
Chad Elder
Thomas Moore

 

2017 AVN Expo Part II: Cam Girls Takeover (NSFW)

For the third consecutive year, I returned to Las Vegas to cover the AVN Adult Industry Expo & for the second time I would be attending
the AVN Awards ceremony that caps off the industries biggest weekend, often referred to as the “Oscars of Porn”.
(Check out Part 1 here)
For me personally however its the 4 day AVN Expo leading up to the big night that is the most fun.
A hotbed of networking activity, but also a super fun & often times surreal environment & the best of those terms possible.

It’s also a barometer for who’s hot, rising or still on top in a world where branding is everything and being the next big thing means both career leverage and more lucrative contract offers.
Social interaction is what the Expo is all about though, and respectful requests for photos are rarely denied. Mindful behavior is expected at the parties as well, albeit in a looser nighttime atmosphere.
Social interaction definitely seems to be the future of how patrons prefer to receive the product & that was never more apparent as the most popular girls at the entire convention were the Cam Girls – they just freaking took over!
The main sponsor for the event itself is big league cam site MyFreeCams & one of their most popular models Stefanie Joy was selected to cut the ribbon opening this year’s festivities.

Stefanie Joy

Think about that – not a mainstream performer but a cam girl was selected for that honor as a sign that a change is brewing in the air.
It’s like a movement – there is something very punk rock/grassroots about the rise of the Cam Girl that’s irresistable to get behind.
Not necessarily in a us vs. them (in terms of the mainstream performers) but they are a united front.
All lined up together camming together decked out in gear of the cam site they represent, almost like in uniform, like an army ready to take on the world.

Sunnie Jones, Emily Tokes & Avalynn Rose

Aubrey Cycles & Hunny Bear (left)
&

Willow Wisp & Emma Chase (left)
Sandy Bee (right)

The Girls of Cam Soda:

Gianna Michaels, Tori Black, Olivia Austin,
Alexis Monroe, Kylie Quinn, Alice Gomez & Kathy Rose

And whereas mainstream performers do exactly that, perform – the popularity of the cam girl stems largely as a live, interactive, personal one of kind experience, as compared to the at times disposable, easy to reproduce experience of it’s mainstream counterpart.
And they came to put on a show –

Roxy Nelson & Jade (left)
& Jenna Jade right)

Maren

Whereas the top performers in the adult industry can seem larger than life & virtually untouchable, these are the girls next door, in every corner of the globe, in every shape & form. Since the medium really only requires a wi-fi connection & desire to do it & can be done (just about) anywhere.

Amber Sonata (right)

Corty Blue (right)

And because it can become a crowded field, naturally performers wanna stand out & what the cam medium allows is exactly that, it’s a blank canvas for the performers own creativity with the only limits of their imagination (& naturally some state & moral laws).
That’s what so genuine & irresistable about it is that when you hear a song on a radio you often wonder:
“Did they write that song?, Is that Autotune making that sound so good?” – Your skeptical
But in a cam performer’s chat room, there is no faking the funk as it were, you either got the goods or you don’t.
Leading with creativity as well as charm & humility will get you everywhere.
Here are some of the friendliest folks we met at the Expo –

Ivy Brooks

On the last day in the last hour of the Expo fortune smiled upon us by meeting the force of nature that is Ivy Brooks.
Funny, sharp witted & impossibly radiant, we knew we had to have her co-host our AVN Special on our weekly TrickyKid Radio Podcast,
which you can stream & download for free here.

Pervy the Clown & Candy (left)
& Braislee Adams (right)

Last year I wrote a piece on the rising Cam movement called Of Clowns & Cam Girls featuring easily one of the most unique & fun loving performers, the dynamic duo of Pervy the Clown & Kinky Candy from the 1st Annual Cam Girls Awards show & Conference.
The gang already have their OWN awards & expo -Though it was supposed to return this year, it did so in online form only, but that’s just a minor setback and will return next year bigger & better & isn’t indicative of the popularity of camming in the least.

Avery Blvck

Casey Online

Alex Coal

Misty Kitten

Readers of this site & listeners of TrickyKid Radio will remember Misty Kitten from last year’s AVN Special & print pieces.
Misty returned to AVN this year looking better than ever & was great to have a chance to catch up with her over lunch & for a quick photo shoot.

And just like anything while they are united in desire & many carry the same banner, the cream always rises to the top so naturally stars are born & many have seen their popularity (& bank accounts) soar amid competition.

Amy Day

Stormy

Reya Sunshine (right)

And while the mainstream performers were hosting parties all over town the models of main sponsor My Free Cams were treated to not one but two private parties at Vinyl the cozy nightclub at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Harlow Money

The casual affair inside the intimate, brick-walled nightclub featured live performances by all-girl cover band Misty Day.

The MFC staff set up a 30-foot table of MyFreeCams-branded swag for the models to grab on their way out with items such as baseball caps, hoodies & glow sticks. Even the stage was bathed in signature MFC green lighting effects.

On night number 2 an exclusive event that without question turned into one of highlights of the week with special musical guest who was only revealed hours earlier to —platinum recording artist Flo Rida.
Understand he was also booked as the main act for the freaking AVN Awards & here the the MFC community was being treated to a private,
full-length concert & an even more intimate setting.

Flo Rida tossed a dozen long-stemmed roses to the girls, passed around bottles of Patron and Ciroc and even pulled AVN Media Network CEO Tony Rios onto the stage for a wild duo performance of My House.

And as always the private after-after parties are always the best.
Just ask Bailey Rayne, Raven Friday & Harper Madi

Stay tuned for Part III with Girls of the Expo, Crossover Stars, Legends, After-Parties & much more!

Photos – 

Roy Turner
Ray Massey
BraisleeAdams
Morbid Thoughts
Jeff Koga

2017 AVN Expo: Inside the World’s Largest Adult Industry Convention (NSFW)

For the third consecutive year, I returned to Las Vegas to cover the AVN Adult Industry Expo & for the second time I would be attending
the AVN Awards ceremony that caps off the industries biggest weekend, often referred to as the “Oscars of Porn”.
For me personally however its the 4 day AVN Expo leading up to the big night that is the most fun.
A hotbed of networking activity, but also a super fun & often times surreal environment & the best of those terms possible.
Imagine a convention trade floor with several rooms filled with some of the most desirable women on the planet, most nearly naked or in outfits that would never see the light of day outside the Hard Rock Hotel on a mid-day afternoon.
It’s bustling with corporate ambition & fervor while at the same time there are rows of cams girls in thongs & pasties the entire length of the main hallway performing for a world wide audience, there is truly nothing else like it.
It really is a time to truly let it all hang out as by Day 4 it was nothing to see someone, patron or performer, roaming around the casino in not much at all & to give those outfits & the exibitionist urges that inspire them a trip around the sun.

One thing I must disclaim before we go any further: I mentioned this on our weekly podcast on the AVN episode:
As a legitimate member of the press you would think a certain distinction comes easy but it doesn’t.
If nothing else I refuse to be just another dude asking for pics (& in some fans’ cases that bordered on harassment) in a room where unfuckable gross men are the majority, so with that in mind, I took alot less pictures this year & focuses primarily on interviews & meeting people.

Now this is not a race, competition (if your not counting the awards) nor class system –
However for fun (& for the sake of organization) I’ve ordered the photographs in the following ascension:

Most Popular Performers
Newest Starlets
Girls of the Expo
Crossover Stars 

When you enter the larger of the two main rooms outside of the Joint at the Hard Rock (& I noticed this last year) – Each side is flanked with the largest production value that hosts signings & appearances from contract performers from the largest studios & distribution companies. We’ll start with the larger of those two where a literal frenzy of activity seems to persist during the entire weekend.
Part II will be all about the cam girls so I’ll save them for that but for this year, it was like fans were either at the Jules Jordan or Tushy booth or creating a mob around the cam girls and everyone was just receiving residual attention from them going back & forth.

Kimmy Granger

I shot Kimmy Granger last year & made an easy prediction that in 2017 she would be in the main room with a major company & as you can see there is zero question as to why.
Off the charts charm. Loved talking with Kimmy who is well on her way to be a huge star.
Up for the prestigious Best New Starlet this year – I’ll predict right now this girl is going to freaking SWEEP the awards next year!

Melissa Moore

Also nominated for Best New Starlet, Melissa Moore is just awesome & was everywhere at the convention this year.
Always looking stunning with style, grace & the total IT factor.
She KILLED on the red carpet & had a real buzz around her, a total star.

Greg Lansky‘s Blacked/Tushy/Vixen booth had its own bar & Riley Reid whom for the 6th year in the row was the most popular performer of them all.
It was like BeatleMania everywhere she went. For skeptics that don’t think these girls are stars or have a concept of how much work this is,come to AVN & you will see how in this environment there is no difference between the adult industry & any sort of so-called “legitimate” showbiz.

Riley Reid

Eva Lovia, Keisha Grey & Valentina Nappi

Abella Danger & friends

Veronica Rodriguez, Kissa Sins

Veronica Rodriguez in my opinion just might be the most beautiful girl in the world & certainly one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen.
It’s hard to contemplate such perfection & when your in front of it, nothing prepares you for it.
The word hot is just simply below Vrod, she is simply perfect & an awesome personality to match.

Uma Jolie

If I had made a wishlist of who I had hoped to meet & photograph, Uma Jolie would be at the top of that list.
You’ve never seen such smoldering beauty & just a natural sexiness quite like hers.
Agenda besides, it was kinda meant to be as among the first few mins after arriving I ran into my friend Matt Solon setting up in the lobby to do interviews for his 288 Podcast that he does with Burning Angel sensation Draven Star.
While catching up we both see the most stunning girl ever walk by, so much so that his friend Pierre literally went to get her & brought her back for an interview & it just so happened to be Uma!
Outspoken, brash & just a whole lotta fun, easily one of my fave people to have met & speak with.
Her star is on the rise with a bullet, this is only her first year at AVN & she snagged a coveted Trophy Girl slot at the AVN Awards & was just named
Penthouse’s Pet of the Month for Feb/2017.
It’s not hard to see why –

with Matt Solon for 288 Podcast

Piper Perri

What makes Piper so popular (say that three times fast) besides her gorgeous body & looks is that you have girls who are fun-sized (my personal favorite) but this girl could fit in a fun-sized girl’s pocket! Seriously, she is under 5′ tall & well under a 100 lbs.
She first came into notoreity when she was able to accomplish a position never quite seen before that her small stature allowed her to complete.
She just seems fearless & eager to try just about anything.
Also up for Best New Starlet as you can see how competitive the field was this year. Not sure I’ve seen anyone busier or shot more & just consistently amazing content.

Elsa Jean

Yes their is a reason her stage name is Elsa, just look at her, another performer where the word “perfect comes to mind”.
Really enjoyed speaking with Elsa this year, always so fun & easy to chat with.
Another Best New Starlet nominee – Can you believe how amazing this category was this year?

Emma Hix

Another first timer to AVN, the stunning newcomer Emma Hix who was just everywhere at the convention this year & KILLED on the red carpet leading up to the awards.

Holly Hendrix

And the winner is – This has been a huge year for Holly Hendrix, last year she was brand new & just one of many pretty faces but in the year since, she has put together such an impressive body (& body of work) that landed her Best New Starlet at the AVN Awards & has just been everywhere this past year.
She’s just so fun & has seemingly endless aspirations for the business, this is just the beginning.
Congratulations Holly!

Stay tuned for Part II as the Cam Girls takeover & more!

Photos – 

Roy Turner
Nate Igor Smith
Fleshbot

AVN Expo 2017 (Part 3)

2017 AVN Expo Part III

 

For the third consecutive year, I returned to Las Vegas to cover the AVN Adult Industry Expo & for the second time I would be attending
the AVN Awards ceremony that caps off the industries biggest weekend, often referred to as the “Oscars of Porn”.
(Check out Parts 1 here & 2 here)
For me personally however its the 4 day AVN Expo leading up to the big night that is the most fun.
A hotbed of networking activity, but also a super fun & often times surreal environment & the best of those terms possible.

It’s also a barometer for who’s hot, rising or still on top in a world where branding is everything and being the next big thing means both career leverage and more lucrative contract offers.
Social interaction is what the Expo is all about though, and respectful requests for photos are rarely denied. Mindful behavior is expected at the parties as well, albeit in a looser nighttime atmosphere.

So what I hoped to accomplish in this final installment on the 2017 AEE Expo is simply what it looked like & for those that couldn’t or have never attended what they can expect & just an overall look at what the conference felt like this year.
We include the Girls of the Expo, Crossover Stars, Legends, After-Parties & much more.

Girls of the Expo

Just walking around you can get dizzy & nearly lost, though your in a small space from the intoxication of so much carnal activity.
Nearly every star working, or who wants to keep working & studio is represented in various exhibits on the show floors.

Rebel Lynn

Rebel was someone that I wasn’t familiar with prior to this year’s expo but someone I will remember most as she was such the genuine article.
Much is said about separation of performance & legitimacy. Spend 5 mins in her presence & you will be convinced in no uncertain terms this girl loves what she does & is a total star. One of the hottest & most performers we met all weekend.
Big things coming her way.

Cameron Canela (left)
who was Pornhub‘s Amateur of the Year in 2016

Jill Kassidy

Nikki Knightly & Shavelle Love (left)
& Eliza Jane & friend (right)

Now to be clear to those that have never been to the AEE Expo – To observe certain local & national laws & to keep things from getting completely out of hand & to maintain something of a still business atmosphere, nudity (including being topless for females) is strictly forbidden & for the most part in past years it’s a rule that’s always been adhered to.
However, this year, flirting with that law was IN as everywhere I turned it was simply pasties to other cases of of straight up topless to even more extreme of being full on nude, to other acts you won’t find at any other trade show in the wolrds.
It was WILD this year!

Riley Steele

Lily Adams (left)
& The Girls of 360 Modeling

Alisha Fires always gets the party started at the Clips4Sale footprint – One of the most fun & fearless performers you will ever meet.

Avi Love

Ok so if that wasn’t crazy enough, I turn the corner & see newcomer Avi Love trying out a Sybian (google it) which isn’t entirely unusual (& normally the sybian ride is at the above mentioned Clips4Sale footprint & done with the device covered in saran wrap & the rider fully clothed) but in this case what else was different is that Avi gave zero fucks and took her ride bareback while being totally naked.

Either as a newcomer she was unaware of the rules/laws or mischievously breaking them on purpose, regardless the outcome was Avi creating one of the most fun & delightfully unpredictable atmospheres everywhere she went.
In turn, she created what you actually want from a show like this, with wild abandon, if only in short bursts to get the party going.

Miss Cleio & friend (left)
& Syren De Merr (right)

Kimberly Chi (left)
& the girls of Sex.Sex

Charlotte Sartre (right)

Charlotte just might be my favorite performer I met all week. While we were introduced by mutual friends outside of the industry, I still got the impression that she treats most people with the same warmth & kindness she showed me. This was also her first time at AVN & the contrast of her onscreen persona as one of the dirtiest girls in porn to in person as a quiet but still a hugger, genuinely nice girl was irresistable.
This is how you do it.

Kendra Cole

Kendra is one of my favorite performers to speak with as each year, she just gets better & better. This is both our third year so it’s fun to see how we both adapt more & more to the industry & Kendra just only keeps getting better (& somehow hotter).

Avery Adair (left)
& Kim Gold (right)

Crossover Stars

While Blair Williams maybe primarily known for her career in the adult industry I list her as a Crossover star because she literally has it all.
The words “A Star Is Born” have never rang truer after she won the adult reality competition The Sex Factor last year.
While only less than 2 years in the biz, Blair has never seemed like an amateur & is already in that elite class that will most certainly go on to mainstream films & other high profile opportunities.

Kendra Sunderland

Forever known as the Library Girl & like Blair, some people are just born stars & Kendra is a just a Force of Nature from Day 1.

Aurora Snow (left)
& Evan Stone (right)

If it’s fair to say that everyone that is interested in consuming pornography, there is a special connection to the performers they say first.
For me that is these two legends right here.
Not only is Aurora Snow the first performer I really gravitated towards but IMO the best to ever do it. To this day I’ve never seen a more genuine performer & when they talk about academia & sophistication in porn stars it’s usually Sasha Grey & Nina Hartley & while that’s deserved,
Miss Snow is one of the smartest, articulate & gifted writers of any genre, dazzling with her recent work for The Daily Beast.
And what more can be said about Renaissance Wild Man Evan Stone is always a blast to hang with.

Sunny Lane

Another legend of the industry I always wanted to meet because their genuinity & spirit matched their attractiveness & drive for the business
is Sunny Lane. You remember here first from the HBO series Cathouse but Sunny has come so far & still a major force in the industry developing her own brand & always with the friendliest of smiles.
She was such a blast to spend time (that’s me with her on the right) with – We met through a mutual friend & just go on like gangbusters which isn’t hard to do when your as awesome as Sunny. She’s hosting Nudes-A-Poppin this Summer & stay tuned as we might just be making our first foray out there, if not for nothing just to hang with Sunny again ?

Sunny leading a panel featuring other legends of the industry.

Seeing pro wrestlers at AVN is actually not anything new, but still for me as a life-long wrestling fan still a novelty.
One thing that was unique was seeing a wrestler setup shop as a vendor. Sure you might run into Rob Van Dam at a party or pass a few others in the elevator, but to straight up advertise & sell merch was kinda odd, but Rikishi is also a dude that once tried to sell me a selfie for $20 after he was manning the snack bar at a gym he owns.

Another pro wrestler I see every year is Dolph Ziggler (usually at the White Party) He & I are both diehard Motley Crue fans (& seen here in his best Shout of the Devil attire) so it’s always fun to run into him.

Dolph Ziggler & Teagan (left)
& Celebrity Adult Industry Podcaster Mr. Skin

The Joint hosts special entertainment by “X” Rocks Dance Revue and “X” Burlesque each day

On January 19th I participated in a very unique event of The O Awards hosted by Sunny Megatron.
The O Awards, a perfect name for an awards dinner that recognizes excellence in the field of sex toys & marital aids.

Sunny Megatron (left)
& Roy Turner (right)

Parties –  

One of the highlights each year (& that of of any convention) of course is the after party & at AVN there are so many (public & private) to attend hosted usually by an all-star lineup of performers.

Things kicked off Wednesday night with an AVN Party at Vanity Night Club

Thursday night took a turn for debauchery at the Saints & Sinners party inside the Hard Rock’s Culinary Dropout.
Hands down the start of the night (& for that matter of the entire convention) was Natalia Starr.

She KILLED everywhere she went, with new exciting looks each day & then saved her most daring for the party as she made a grand entrance & a gorgeous dress that could only be described as “barely there” & most of the time it “barely wasn’t”.
This was a WILD & super fun party.

and on Friday Tori Black hosted the official Expo after party at Mandalay Bay’s Foundation Room

while the 5th annual Latata White Party was going down at Vanity.

After the AVN Awards I ended the night (& the expo & awards experience) as I’ve done the previous two years with my friends in the
Burning Angel crew. This year, they were actually performing & Draven, Amber Ivy & lead girl Joanna Angel put on a great show over the Hustler Club.

Good times & until next year – Hope you’ve enjoyed the coverage as much as I enjoyed compiling it ?

Photos –

Roy Turner
Fleshbot
Morbid Thoughts
Nate Igor Smith

Britney Spears Piece of Me Vegas + Sheena Easton & More (Jan/2017)

Britney Spears – January 20th – Planet Hollywood – the Axis Theatre – Las Vegas

While I’m a life-long flag bearer of Rock N Roll & Heavy Metal (see above) I also love pop music especially when it’s well done & it’s almost impossible I’ve found to not find Britney Spears endlessly fascinating. I also was out for something else too. In all my years of coming to this crazy city, I realized I had never been to one of the big shows at one of the big casinos.
No Elton, no Wayne, no Celine, not even the Beatles revue (though I did try once).
I was out to change that most importantly & second I thought of the big shows, this would be the one I wanted to see as I love alot of her songs & thought it would be the most fun.

The whole experience of this show at times feels like a commercial – when you get there, they take your picture against a branded wall (only to attempt to sell it to you for FIFTY DOLLARS at show’s end. It’s designed to make you feel like a star and it succeeds until you find out what it cost.
After your own paparazzi moment, the main lobby has artifacts from famous video shoots & other parts of her career enshrined like a museum.

I get to my seat which is ample (shout out to Amy at Will Call) while an unseen DJ is playing free jams while everyone gets seated.
Soon the curtain rises after a countdown & the show begins.

Her show is broken down into seven mini-sets, with different sets, outfits & features racy choreography and elaborate props & at one point straddles a giant guitar

Britney began her Planet Hollywood residency in 2013, was last year named Best Singer/Musician in the Las Vegas Review &
what sums up why its working so well is its not so much something you watch as something you share with your friends.

Between the lip-syncing and the scarcity of live video close-ups, the performer doesn’t resonate, but the songs do & here it’s more like a celebration of the songs, with Britney as head cheerleader & she looks amazing.
At 34, Spears has been around for the entire music-listening life of fans her age and younger. Las Vegas is always fretting about what comes after the baby boomers, and these promoters figured it out; especially when it comes to the lucrative gay male demographic in need of a new Cher.
The show’s detached quality is oddly a plus. The audience is encouraged to get up and dance from the get-go, and no one dances much harder than Britney herself.

That comes after she floats on angel wings amid pink video blossoms and real confetti snow for “Everytime.” And before the luscious green jungle projections frame a physical tree prop, one that lets Spears step out to the edge of a branch and do a bungee Tarzan glide down to the stage for “Toxic.”

Director Baz Halpin keeps the massive space filled with 14 sexy dancers, who take the spotlight for an athletic workout of Missy Elliott hits. But size doesn’t sacrifice detail. For that “Breathe on Me” moment when Britney borrows Lauren Bacall’s line “Just put your lips together and blow,” she cups her hands and blows a cloud of glitter sparkle into the air. But think of her more as a dancer who sings (at least in the studio).
Fun show!

Setlist – 

Act 1 –

Work Bitch
Womanizer
Break the Ice / Piece of Me

Act II 

Radar (Interlude)
Me Against the Music
I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll (The Arrows cover)
Gimme More

Act III

Everytime
Baby One More Time / Oops!… I Did It Again

Act IV

Boys
Do You Wanna Come Over?
Work It / Get Ur Freak On / WTF (Where They From)
(Missy Elliott Break Dance)

Act V

Get Naked (I Got a Plan)
I’m a Slave 4 U
Make Me…
Freakshow
Do Somethin’

Act VI

Circus
If U Seek Amy
Breathe on Me
Slumber Party
Touch of My Hand

Act VII 

Toxic
Stronger
(You Drive Me) Crazy
Till the World Ends

 

Sheena Easton – January 22nd – Suncoast Showroom at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas 

This might seem random given all that you’ve read in this post as if I’d just really go to any show (& you’d be right) but I was so excited to add to this motley crew of diversity & to spend my last night in Vegas wrapping up this whole adventure with Sheena Easton. I knew nothing of the show until I happened to be randomly reading that week’s travel guide while in bed at my hotel. I LOVE her & was so excited to finally see her live.
However sadly, the fun pretty much stopped there but not in time to keep me from going.

I hauled ass in the rain out to Henderson about 10 miles outside of Vegas proper to the saddest, most geriatric of casinos.
I don’t say that to be mean, just accurate. When I arrive my ticket is not a Will Call & a nice man with debilitating Parkinson’s Disease took pity on me & said he had an extra ticket & invited me to join him.

While I was grateful & enjoyed his company very much, actually meeting him was the best part of the experience as when you hear the stereotype about Vegas residencies, they usually aren’t meant as still high-profile affairs like Miss Spears above, but as a punchline as to where no longer relevant performers “end up” if they want to keep getting paid to perform as a last resort. Even in those instances can remain a dignified later chapter to their career. Then you have the “it is what it is” thing that is dinner theater for centenarians & that’s exactly what this was.

I was easily the youngest person here by 30 years or more & it never occurred to me that Easton was now close to 60 & then I thought “How is she gonna sing the lyrics to Sugar Walls at this age to this crowd?” I was deflated & it was my own naive fault.
To Sheena’s credit, she’s very humble & self-effacing about the whole experience & still looks great.

She stayed in the safest of territories doing mostly well known (at least by this crowd) covers of staples including starting off with the Beatles’ Got to Get You into My Life – There were some certainly advised omissions of lyrics to some of the racier material she wrote with Prince & while I was glad to hear them, it still felt like I was watching a cover band…..at Luby’s.

Thankfully it’s still not her only option as this was the last performance for awhile as she was off to London for a year-long stint in a revival of 42nd Street at the Theatre Royale Drury Lane, the next day.

Setlist – 

Got to Get You Into My Life (The Beatles cover)
Strut
Almost Over You
You’re No Good (Linda Ronstadt cover)
How Deep Is the Ocean
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) (Marvin Gaye cover)
I Wouldn’t Beg for Water
U Got The Look / Sugar Walls ( with The Glamorous Life snippet)
We’ve Got Tonight (Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band cover)
The Lover in Me
When He Shines
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson cover)
You’re All I Need To Get By / Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing (Motown covers medley)
Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)
Morning Train (Nine to Five)
Anyway (Martina McBride cover)
For Your Eyes Only

Photos – 

Roy Turner
Denise Truscello

Girl Power II: Dolly Parton, Lita Ford & Phantograms’ Sarah Barthel – Three infinitely influential women on longevity & style

In our last installment, spotlighting powerful women in entertainment, we focused on impact,influence & legacy.
That thread continues here with three very different yet unforgettable woman & their priceless contributions to the arts & quality of life.
Plus we welcome contributions from J Skinner & more.

Dolly Parton – Dec 3rd – Verizon Theatre – Grand Prairie, TX

For me (& I think for alot of people) seeing Dolly Parton live is definitely bucket list material.
She doesn’t just inspire as she does enthrall – no one is a casual fan of Dolly, most like me are all in.
Some of my favorite memories have been either seeing movies she was in or a moment her vast songwriting catalog provided the soundtrack for.
Even just recently this Holiday season with her appearance on Christmas in Rockefeller Center & the made for TV autobiography Christmas of Many Colors Dolly still generates so much happiness.
I remember being on tour with Ween in 2007 when they played Bonnaroo – it was the closest I’d ever been to actually making it to Dollywood but alas it wasn’t to be on that trip.
The year 2016 wasn’t kind to many of our favorite music legends, so more urgently than ever & still high from just seeing the aforementioned television specials, I made my pilgrimage to finally see Dolly in concert.

However, as I previously stated I know that alot of people dream of seeing her at least once in their lives but I definitely underestimated her popularity in her 5th decade as an entertainer. I think her booking agent must have to because when I arrived at the 5200 seat Verizon Theatre, even on a cold rainy night it appeared that the entire 214 area code was trying to get in to see Dolly.
They were turning hopefuls away in droves, this show could have easily been at a venue twice it’s size and still been a sell-out.

Once inside, there she was –  living legend Dolly Parton radiating love, laughter and life at this joyous career-spanning show. 

 

Even under the guise of the tour name “Pure and Simple,” taken from Parton’s new recently released studio record of the same name, the 70-year old entertainer expertly displayed evidence that she’s a relevant modern artist.  
I’ve been to at least a thousand concerts as an adult & I can’t remember the last time I ever felt such anticipation and then just sheer release by finally being in her presence.  

A presence &  continued allure has been near unavoidable as in addition to the two shows mentioned she turned in a stellar two-song appearance on NBC’s The Voice. The destruction caused by the fires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee thrust Parton into a spokesman type of role, since her famed Dollywood theme park has long been that region’s claim to fame.  
Long admired for the generosity she has showed her fans, Parton announced a number of fundraising initiatives she’ll spearhead in the coming weeks to help those most devastated by the Tennessee fires.  
But for a woman who jovially boasts about how the only “real thing about me is my voice,” thanks to her collection of cosmetic surgeries, the night carried a vulnerable authenticity.   
To be in front of her is to be under her spell & her jokes cracked just right and her lengthy anecdotes were warm and insightful.   

 

And that was just the first half! – Who knew this was gonna be a truly traditional old school show complete with intermission with two acts + a lengthy encore for this amazing, marathon like show clocking in at almost three hours. I love that too because there were clearly a large percentage of patrons who may not have been to any show in years (& may not again for several) so they were really getting their night out in full. 

Few artists in modern history have crossed over from country music into popular consciousness the way Parton did a generation ago. 
Box-office smashes, primetime hits and timeless pop standards are as important to her legacy as the tender stories of her Smoky Mountain childhood.  
Few performers touring today could offer a trio of songs to highlight their icon bonafides the way Parton can. As the night entertainingly rolled to its conclusion, unassailable pop-culture touchstones Islands in the Stream and 9 to 5  beautifully laid out the case for Dolly as a living legend not unlike Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan or Willie Nelson. 
Thank you Dolly – I Will Always Love You. 

Setlist –  

Train, Train  
Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That  
Jolene  
Pure & Simple  
Precious Memories (John Wright cover)  
My Tennessee Mountain Home  
Coat of Many Colors  
Smokey Mountain Memories  
Applejack  
Rocky Top / Yakety Sax  
Banks of the Ohio/  
American Pie / If I Had a Hammer / Blowin’ in the Wind / Dust in the Wind / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down  
The Seeker  
I’ll Fly Away ([traditional] cover)  
  
Set 2:  

Baby I’m Burnin’ / Great Balls of Fire / Girl on Fire  
Outside Your Door  
The Grass Is Blue  
Those Memories of You (Alan O’Bryant cover)  
Do I Ever Cross Your Mind  
Little Sparrow / If I Had Wings  
Two Doors Down  
Here You Come Again  
Islands in the Stream (Bee Gees cover)  
9 to 5  

Encore:  

I Will Always Love You  
In the Meantime (Monologue)  
Hello God / He’s Alive

Phantogram – Dec 15th – Metroplex Event Center – Little Rock, Arkansas

(Story & Pics from contributing staff member J.Skinner)
 

In the band’s first ever trip to Little Rock, Phantogram found themselves at the for an intimate affair. From the opening chords of Funeral Pyre, the roughly five hundred in attendance were immediately engaged and knew that they were in for what will likely be a once in a lifetime experience. The smaller venue was an apparent change of pace for the New York based duo fresh off an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, but effectively served as a catalyst to envelope the crowd in the band’s performance and the interactive video art provided by GSP Studios.  

Front woman, Sarah Barthel, was nothing shy of electrifying as she transported the Little Rock audience through the band’s decade long catalog. After performing new offerings from THREE, the fans were treated with old favorites such as When I’m Small and Mouth Full of Diamonds. 

The event culminated in an encore set lead by Barking Dog, a tribute to Barthel’s sister Becky, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. Accompanied by an incredible video homage provided by interactive artist Greg St. Pierre of GSP Studios, Josh Carter’s emotional vocal performance was well recieved. 

After the performance, the band and crew took advantage of the break in tour, hitting the city to enjoy some well deserved time off before moving on to Tennessee. “This time around we are able to visit some of the smaller cities and really experience the country” said St. Pierre
“This has been the most enjoyable stop so far.”  
Promising words for the Little Rock fans, though I suspect the band will be selling out the arena in their next visit.

Setlist – 

Funeral Pyre 
Black Out Days 
Turning Into Stone 
Don’t Move 
You’re Mine 
Same Old Blues 
Answer 
Mouthful of Diamonds 
Howling at the Moon 
Bad Dreams 
Destroyer 
When I’m Small 
 
Encore: 

Barking Dog 
Cruel World 
Fall in Love 
You Don’t Get Me High Anymore

Lita Ford – Dec 8th – The Rail Club – Fort Worth, TX

Back for the attack the second time this year, as a Runaways fanatic & just a fan of fun, I’m always excited when I hear that Lita Ford & I are in the same town on the same night.

Taking the stage guns-a-blazin wearing a tight red leather bodysuit (just like she did for her Valentines’ Day show back in February) still looking impossibly sexy and yet still looks and sounds this good today. Lita and her band, which includes charismatic bassist Marty O’Brien, world renowned drummer Bobby Rock and Texas guitarist Patrick Kennison, played a great setlist that honored her past and present.
 

 

 

The set opened hard and fast with the classic, Gotta Let Go, and never slowed down. 
Perfect for the occasion, Lita paid tribute to her good friend Lemmy with the song Can’t Catch Me, which the late Motorhead frontman co-wrote.  

Then it was time to jump into the way back machine as first Lita played the title track from her very first solo album, Out For Blood, followed by
The Runaways’ classic, Cherry Bomb, which was featured recently in The Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Lita joked about how it only took nearly 40 years to become a number one song. 

 She has new products out as well. Time Capsule, her latest CD is actually filled with tracks that were recorded back in the day when she would lay them down in the studio, as a glorified demo. You’ll hear a few familiar songs on there, albeit alternate versions. I just finished reading her
book Living Like A Runaway and it’s awesome. 
To prove she’s still living like one (& the pace of the Rock N Roll circus) she told a story onstage about how she remembers the last time she was here prompted by a gift she had received was trying to guesstimate how long it had been & her guess was over two years ago.
I had to tell her after the show it was only 10 months ago. Good times ?

Setlist – 

Gotta Let Go 
Larger Than Life 
The Bitch Is Back (Elton John cover) 
Relentless 
Hungry 
Playing With Fire 
Back to the Cave 
Can’t Catch Me 
Falling In and Out of Love 
Out for Blood 
Cherry Bomb (The Runaways song) 
Black Leather (Sex Pistols cover) 
Close My Eyes Forever 
Kiss Me Deadly

Photos – 

Roy Turner
Andy Laundano

Merry Metal Christmas w/ Trans-Siberian Orchestra + Hair Metal Holiday w/ King’s X & Slaughter + A John Water Christmas & more (Dec/2016)

It was another great Christmas with two traditions that began last year that continued this year and a new one that be a regular thing ?
Happy Holidays!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – December 22nd – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX

Last year I finally experienced the Trans-Siberian Orchestra after longing to since it began almost 20 years ago & was well worth the wait. 
If forced to give an immediate brief description, TSO felt like watching KISS meets Yngwie Malmsteen at Christmas. That could sound dismissive but trust me it’s definitely its own, original thing.  Very Broadway but very Metal.  

Ridiculously entertaining, a pop-cultural crossover phenomenon marrying two seemingly disparate concepts – holly jollies and the heaviest of musics – and lasting far beyond mere novelty. Finding the median between Hallmark-card holiday sentiment and shredding guitar solos, blending warm, schmaltzy storytelling with classic Christmas carols, rearranged, augmented and amplified via the tools of Metal. To be accessible to the wide audience it draws, the music is played at a moderate, pleasing volume, not up to 11, but absolutely in the holy spirit of going to 11.  
This was the second of  two shows today – a pair of local concerts is customary – and, according to guitarist and frontman Al Pitrelli, part of eight-shows-in-five-days run. It’s a massive production: a five-panel digital screen, nine-piece choir, seven-piece string section, a regular shuffling of lead vocalists and dancers, the world’s most athletic (& hottest) violinist in Asha Mevlana, flames and fireballs, rising platform stages, a large pyramid prop spinning out from behind the soundboard and more lasers than the Star Wars film I would see the next afternoon. 
  

  

  

Solo singer Chloe Lowery  threatened to steal the entire show when they took leads as they both were just phenomenal singers 
For me personally the musical highlight was when vocalist Guncikova, a finalist from the Czech Republic equivalent of American Idol, took center stage & just killed – For me she represented everything great about this production & looked like a total badass doing it. 

Part of TSO’s annual onslaught is a holiday tale, narrated by live storyteller Phillip Brandon. This year, it was Ghosts of Christmas Eve,a revamped version of the television special I had just watched for the first time the previous week.     

The narrative took flight with Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24), the track that launched TSO. Originally by Florida metal group Savatage – the group turned one Metal track into a full-blown sensation, the most popular holiday tour on the arena circuit. (So popular, two fleets run simultaneously on the East and West Coasts, so demand can be met, this was the West version) The song, is so key to the TSO experience, they play it twice, resprising it at show’s end, as sparks shower and pyro pops and guitars wail and stupid grins spread across our faces. Good times.

Setlist:

Who I Am 
The March of the Kings / Hark the Herald Angels Sing 
The Lost Christmas Eve 
Ghosts of Christmas Eve 
O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night 
Good King Joy 
Christmas Dreams 
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Savatage cover) 
Christmas Canon Rock (Chloe Lowery and Jodi Katz on vocals) 
What Child Is This? 
Music Box Blues 
First Snow 
Promises to Keep 
This Christmas Day 

Christmas Jam 
A Mad Russian’s Christmas 
A Last Illusion 
Christmas Nights in Blue 
Wizards in Winter 
O Fortuna (Carl Orff cover) 
Madness of Men 
Not the Same 
The Night Conceives 
The Mountain 
Find Our Way Home 
Requiem (The Fifth) 
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Reprise) 
 

Hair Metal Holiday w/ King’s X & more – December 10th – The Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX

Ahh, a show that proudly declares itself Hair Metal is a show that will get my patronage. I also had been wanting to see the newly refurbished Bomb Factory, a building I saw some of my favorite shows ever in, that I hadn’t stepped foot since it closed in 1996, only to reopen earlier this year. 
Now I’m definitely Metal to the bone & while purists take exception to Hair Metal, I LOVE it, but admittedly I love the first wave of it, Motley, RATT etc. 
I even love some of the second wave that came in the mid 80s, CInderella, Faster Pussycat etc – But by the end of the decade my allegiance to Thrash kept all of the rest that came after off my radar.
For good reason mostly as by that time that whole scene had completely exhausting itself. 
I mention this because as for the lineup of this show, this was definitely from that late era – yet I was still very excited to bear witness to some 80’s Hair Metal & their fans.

King’s X

Kix

Slaughter


 

A John Waters Christmas – December 15th – The Kessler Theatre – Dallas, TX
 

Crash your car into a life-sized nativity scene, gift a recalled toy and host a 4th of July cookout while everyone else is carving a ham — these are just some of the holiday tips John Waters offered up during his stop at the Kessler Theater last night. The raunchy, hour-long show, which lived up to Waters’ nickname, “the pope of trash,” was part of an annual Christmas tour that the director of Pink Flamingos and numerous other cult films now brings to 17 cities every year. 

It wasn’t your traditional holiday production in that there was no song and dance, nor any gaudy props; the one-man-show played more like a themed stand-up comedy set. Waters found a way to tie all kinds of current events into Christmas, railing on everything from Hollywood to our “hair hopper” president-elect, but the show was largely structured into two segments: gifts he’d like to receive (at Atomic Books in Baltimore, where he takes all of his mail), and gifts he’d like to give.  

The multi-hyphenate artist-writer-director-comedian proves that as a show business veteran, all you need is a big personality and a vintage statement blazer to carry a show. Within the first five minutes, he was throwing packets of anal bleach in the air toward the audience. He’d once received a few from Johnny Knoxville and held them up as an example of an interesting, albeit perplexing, gift. “Who cares about the color of your anus?” 

The only gift that Waters roundly despises are gift cards. He said they indicate you think the recipient is boring and has no interests. And don’t bother trying to make a few pears look fancy with some tissue paper. “I can buy a pear!” he said. If you’re set on a gift basket, he suggested you instead fill it with unfiltered Kool cigarettes — the kind you only win at a backwoods carnival. 

Waters’ discussion of politics was lighthearted, advocating the use of humor as a means of retaliating against the looming Trump administration. “Mike Pence wouldn’t want me to be straight,” he said. “What would I be doing now? A Santa pub crawl?” His references pulled from high culture (Proust) and low culture (RuPaul’s Drag Race) alike and his comedic timing was impeccable. The set often appeared to be off-the-cuff rather than memorized, although this could also be attributed to skillful delivery. 

In attendance were all the fellow artists, weirdos, punks and misfits of Dallas. When the show was over, I surveyed the crowd to ask what they thought would make a good Christmas gift for the man of the hour. The responses included rosary anal beads, a glass dildo filled with a deceased lover’s ashes and a big turd. “Do they make rosary anal beads?” I asked the fan. “I’m not sure, but I would make them,” he said. Custom-made anal beads — now that’s the kind of following befitting of a cult hero.

 

Girl Power: Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, Taylor Momsen & Die Antwoord’s Yolandi Visser: (Nov/2016))

Last entry we profiled four different creative men doing extraordinary things in their respective fields.
This entry we focus on four very powerful & very different women using their talent, strength & voices to create something legendary & unforgettable.

Four powerful & very different women kicking serious ass

Stevie Nicks – October 30th – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX  

Finally in her presence – I had only seen Stevie Nicks briefly once before at a special performance with the Foo Fighters for a series of gigs they were performing as the Sound City Players with a revolving door of guests that were part of the documentary Dave Grohl had produced about the legendary studio Sound City.
She announced early that she would be shaking things up a bit, not playing the kind of set list her fans had been used to been hearing for decades. Then she and her band quickly played her 1983 hit If Anyone Falls, a reassuring sign that although she’d be playing some unfamiliar material, the show wouldn’t be all obscurities.

And it wasn’t. But it was weighted heavily toward deep cuts and non-hits, including a song that dated back to 1973 and her Buckingham-Nicks days, and others that for one reason or another never made it on to an album — at least till the 2014 release of 24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault found a home for songs such as Starshine (which Nicks said she wrote while hanging out with Tom Petty) and Belle Fleur.

But about a third of the show was hits, from Nicks’ solo career and from Fleetwood Mac, with some excellent twists and turns —
extending Gold Dust Woman with Nicks going into her iconic spin with the shaw thing she’s known for.; singing Leather & Lace with background singers Sharon Celani and Marilyn Martin doing the Don Henley parts; the expected but still climactic intensity of Rhiannon, a song Nicks somehow manages to invest her entire self (and possibly more) in every time she performs it.

There was warmth and humor in Nicks’ show, during which she told the stories behind several songs (including how she wrote Leather & Lace for Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, then asked for it back when they split up, and how Prince’s Little Red Corvette helped inspire her hit Stand Back, which he played on). I had thought that she may pay some tribute to Prince like alot of people have in their performances this year & she did something very powerful & unique.
It started with the last song over the PA before the show began was Sign ‘O The Times & after that Prince held an almost constant precense.
Instead of just a moment of silence, she told stories & his image would appear from time to time, most notably during Edge of Seventeen.
She said it best when she delcared it being “completely unnacceptable that he is gone”.

Setlist –

Gold and Braid
If Anyone Falls
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (with Chrissie Hynde)
Belle Fleur
Outside the Rain
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac song)
Wild Heart
Bella Donna
Annabel Lee
Enchanted
New Orleans
Starshine
Moonlight (A Vampire’s Dream)
Stand Back
Crying in the Night (Buckingham Nicks song)
If You Were My Love
Gold Dust Woman (Fleetwood Mac song)
Edge of Seventeen

Encore: 

Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac song)
Leather and Lace

Chrissie Hynde

Opening the show was the second woman in our profile – Chrissie Hynde & her band the Pretenders who Nicks brought out early on to do the Tom Petty parts on Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.

Her along with the Pretenders blasted through a tight first act, with Hynde in a great mood, greater voice and appealing loose form. She came onstage wearing a cowboy hat and, a few songs in, doffed her jacket to reveal a sleeveless “Everything is Bigger in Texas” T-shirt.

They were on fire — starting off great and really getting locked in about midset, especially showy guitarist James Walbourne and Martin Chambers, the band’s longtime, sledgehammer-force drummer, with bassist Nick Wilkinson and pedal-steel player Eric Heywood making more subtle contributions.

Back in 1984, Hynde wrote the lines, “I’m not the kind I used to be/I got a kid, I’m 33, baby.” That was more than 30 years ago, but she seemed like she was 33 again, just so equally powerful, playful & ultimately unforgettable.

The Pretty Reckless – October 27th – Gas Monkey Live – Dallas, TX

Back after two years with the just released Who Ya Selling For? – Taylor Momsen & the Pretty Reckless were firing on all cylanders from beginning to end of this amazing performance. Her work as an already iconic frontwoman is next level business.


Anyone that reguarly reads this blog or knows me personally can attest that I’ve followed the band from the very beginning and witnessed her transition from child actor to a powerhouse singer, stunning front woman & just one bad ass rock star.
She along with the band have matured quite a bit in the six years since their debut & even a bit drastically just since their last record Going to Hell just over two years ago.
Taylor did what alot of young girls do when they are exploring their sexuality while under the spotlight, they push the limits as far as they can & for someone like her, so profoundly attractive, the results jaw dropping at least & scorched earth at her most extreme.
Her completely naked frame on the cover of Going to Hell & cathartic sillhouette on the inside sleeves might be the greatest example of tear inducing perfection science has to offer.

Taylor seems even that more confident now at the ripe old age of 23 & with that she appears to no longer see the need of the truly outrageous over-the-top sultriness as before. Even her voice is finding this bassier Janis Joplin thing & heart seems to be in allegiance with Classic Rock.

 

 

She still knows she’s dead sexy however & can effortlessly flip that switch at will which she did several times during this performance.
The transition is complete, enough time & she’s put in enough miles now to be known as the singer for the Pretty Reckless, not that chic from teen soap opera Gossip Girl which I’m sure is to her great delight.

Setlist – 

Follow Me Down
Since You’re Gone
Oh My God
Make Me Wanna Die
My Medicine
Sweet Things
Living in the Storm
Just Tonight
Goin’ Down
Heaven Knows
Going to Hell
Take Me Down

Encore: 

Fucked Up World

Die Antwoord – October 1st – House of Blues – Dallas, TX

The fourth ass-kicking female in our quadra-focus is the incomparable Yolandi Visser from Die Antwoord.
Those crazy and creative group we all love and admire for some reason, Die Antwoord, also consists of the intriguing, strange, talented and egocentric Ninja & producer DJ God.
Though Die Antwoord, or “The Answer,” may seem a little strange in the states with their wild antics and love for violence, sex and shock value, they’re actually representative of “Zef,“the counter-culture movement in their home country of South Africa.

Recently the band announced the end of their musical career, having always said that they would only make five albums. And that they did. Die Antwoord isn’t done making headlines by any means, given that they’re moving on to filmmaking after their involvement with recent cult hit Chappie.
Yolandi is seemingly fearless, has the most unique style I think I’ve ever seen, could give the aforementioned Miss Momsen a run for her money for Best Body Ever & does it all with an effortless cool that feels irresistably dangerous.

 

 

 

An instrumental introduction began before the floor lights faded out, creating an anticipation throughout the crowd that cannot be explained with words. The audience was shouting, clapping and masked with faces painted in unbroken stares. DJ God came out first with an instrumental opening. Spiritual electronica with diverse instruments and heavy beats streamed from the speakers as Visser’s voice crept in.

In the middle of the stage was an LED screen with an elevated walkway behind it for the duo to navigate through, and by navigate I mean pace, jump, dance and then some. Die Antwoord were active to say the least, living up to their talked-about stage presence and exceeding any expectations you may have had. Ninja immediately jumped into the crowd and Visser joined him soon after, tearing off her hoodie and aggressively whipping her hair free, before completely mooning the crowd in act of gleeful defiance & exhibitionism.

This was one of those concerts where the front of the crowd was truly blessed.
At this point in the show, Ninja had the crowd chanting Visser’s name. And they selflessly did so. Yo-lan-di, Yo-lan-di. Ninja disappeared off stage just as Visser returned wearing a hoodie dress covered in banana icons. She frolicked aimlessly around the stage, often bending over just enough for the audience to see what was under the hoodie.

Visser often left the stage for costume changes but departed with awesome electronic jams performed by DJ God and then returned in magnificently hilarious yet somehow fashionable wardrobes.

She along with the rest of Die Antwoord ended their set thanking the audience and then raging to some deep electronic music alongside their dancers. When the beats faded out the trio bowed at the front of the stage, and all I could think of what that we collectively should be bowing to her.
Good times.

Photos –

Frank Hoesch
Meg O Neil
Frances Noescen

Summer of Legends: Black Sabbath The End, Kraftwerk in 3-D, Prophets of Rage Make America Rage again + Faster Pussycat celebrates 30 years & more

Final month of Summer – It’s been a strange one if only an extension of an even stranger year. 
We spent it with some legendary bands – Black Sabbath finishing up after almost 50 years, Kraftwerk in 3-D with no signs of slowing down after 40 years & Faster Pussycat celebrates 30 years as a band in the only way they know how.
A new band made up of legends, Prophets of Rage hit the streets to Make America Rage Again.

Black Sabbath – September 7th – Gexa Energy Pavillion – Dallas, TX

After nearly 50 years, Black Sabbath took the stage for the final time in Dallas on Wednesday night. Since their inception, the English quartet has had a mythic quality to it, as though there’s a plausible deniability of the band’s mortality. And as Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne began the show, the finality of it all never quite felt tangible. Notably absent was founding member and drummer Bill Ward, a fact Jimmy Clufetos would sooner have you forget. Even the most ardent of fans knew that this was as good as they were ever going to have it. Sabbath wasted no time in their final attempt to melt the faces of their eager and willing audience. They burned and raged through their setlist like a well-oiled machine. Leading off this final act of revelry was the titular Black Sabbath The crowd responded with the loyal fervor of an army commanded by four seasoned generals on the eve of a great battle.  But that was really just as the appetizer. Sirens blared among the crowd, with the early refrains of War Pigs hung heavy in the air, as iconic a takedown of war hawks as any. 

 

Regardless of their politics, every member of the audience, young and old, came prepared to scream every line back at an eerily giddy Osbourne. It was almost as if he was finally realizing the scope and significance of the song for the first time, with the resounding chorus of voices in the audience echoing his every word back to him. As the song drew to a close, Osbourne smiled the smile of a man who was only just beginning.  

The setup for another key part of the show, as it segued directly into “Iron Man.” It was here that Iommi had his chance to assert himself as one of the most dynamic guitarists in metal, allowing his technical prowess to speak for itself, with no need for dramatic flair or erratic movements. Then, only a few more songs between them and the end of an era, Sabbath closed off the set with “God is Dead” and “Children of the Grave,” but the crowd cried out, begging for one last passage in a tome that was about to be closed. 

They were met with a wry look in Osbourne’s eyes as he returned to stage for the encore, and the rapid firing of the opening for “Paranoid.” It was a fitting end to a grand performance, and as the lights dimmed a solemnity washed over the crowd. Even after 50 years, Sabbath stayed huge to the end — and in their own way, that’s why they will never truly die. 

Setlist – 

Black Sabbath 
Fairies Wear Boots 
After Forever 
Into the Void 
Snowblind 
War Pigs 
Behind the Wall of Sleep 
N.I.B. 
Hand of Doom 
Rat Salad 
Iron Man 
Dirty Women 
Children of the Grave 

Encore: 

Paranoid

Opening the show was Rival Sons who warmed the crowd with a great performance.

They are tour managed by the great Pete Stahl from legendary D.C. Hardcore band Scream.
Pete is one of my favorite singers (& one of my favorite people) ever – The work he & his brother have done in bands like aforementioned Scream & Wool are the soundtrack to my youth. He’s in so many good bands, Goatsnake & also Earthlings w/ my old buddy Dave Catching.
After the show Pete treated me to unparalleled hospitality & we laughed, drank & talked baseball to the wee hours. Good times.

Kraftwerk – The 3D Concert – September 10th – The Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX

Kraftwerk have had a heavy hand in grandfathering all kinds of genres that did not exist in 1975.
They set the template for electro and gave techno a starting point. The influence of their catchy hooks by way of electronic instruments can be felt every time you hear modern pop music. 

However four decades later, technically in town for only the second time in their 40 year existence but they band that played in Dallas in 1975 was nothing like the foursome that put on this 3-D concert whom still felt well ahead of their time. 

As the lights dimmed and the curtain opened at the start of the night, the audience was greeted with an audio cascade of numbers in a vocoder-driven robot voice. Out of the darkness came billowing digits floating in the air in 3-D as the members of Kraftwerk walked on stage, single file. Ralf Hütter, Fritz Hilpert, Henning Schmitz and Falk Grieffenhagen — all four lined up in a row at the front of stage behind their stations. 


 

The show kicked off with the B-boy electro anthem, Numbers -When Computerworld came out in 1981 the idea of a world of computers was still very much a thing of science fiction. In an age where every person has a computer in their pocket to connect them to the international data streams, Kraftwerk’s over arching theme of the integration of technology and society has only reinforced their status as true prophets with eyes on the future.  

During the song Spacelab they had a 3-D flying saucer hovering in space and the audience among satellites from the perspective of a spaceship window. The 3-D effect carried a sense of motion on the audience. You could hear the crowd cheer every time a satellite would shoot off the screen, like they were going over another peak on a rollercoaster. A sea of 3-D glasses fixated on digital objects floating, hovering and surrounding the four robotic men.  

After a string of classic and oft-sampled tunes to close out their initial set, the curtain closed for a brief intermission. When it opened up again for the first encore the audience was greeted with four robots, all moving in unison, in place of the their human counterparts for the Man Machine pop anthem Robots. Far from your typical show, this was not four guys rocking on a stage, but — like the rest of the show — was something altogether different. There’s a totally different set of rules for performing Kraftwerk music.   

For the second encore Kraftwerk, connected the dots for those that do not get the direct connection between the seminal German legends and their techno progeny with Planet of Visions. During the song, a robot voice and giant 3-D letters spelled out “Detroit, Germany, Electro,” repeating them over and over in a cyber mantra. Although Kraftwerk began their music journey in 1969, they are not only well aware of the direct connection to Detroit techno, but took the time to make sure the audience knows it as well.  
There is a common criticism of why anyone would want to go see four guys standing behind modest pedestals of electronic gear. The 3-D extravaganza is front and center on this tour, and there truly is nothing else quite like it. Somewhere at the nexus of a movie, concert and off-Broadway musical about robots exists this wholly unique multimedia event.  

Setlist – 

Numbers 
Computer World 
Home Computer 
Computer Love 
The Man-Machine 
Spacelab 
The Model 
Neon Lights 
Metropolis 
Autobahn 
Geiger Counter 
Radioactivity 
Electric Café 
Tour de France 
Chrono 
Trans-Europe Express 

Encore: 

The Robots 

Encore 2: 

Aéro Dynamik 
Planet of Visions 
Boing Boom Tschak 
Techno Pop 
Music Non Stop

 

Faster Pussycat 30th Anniversary Tour – September 11th – The Rail Club – Fort Worth, TX

Somehow though they’ve been a band for 30 years and this tour was in full swing to celebrate that fact, I had managed to somehow never seen the band before this show. One of my faves that I still listen to regularly. 
Lots to unpack here, as I was picking up a friend from the airport hosting his birthday party as well as a wrestling PPV that evening before headed over to the club. 
Unbeknownst to me was unique to this special tour was Eddie Trunk & Don Jamieson from That Metal Show were on all dates with Trunk doing hosting duties & Jamieson opening the show was his comedy set.
Can’t tell you how happy I was to seredipitiously miss all of that nonsense. While Trunk is known to be a nice guy & as always be cool to me, I still can’t endorse him, he does not represent me.
People think because he’s on the radio & on TV that validates him when he’s a charlatan at best & Jamieson is simply not funny & after the show seemed like the guy that still can’t laid in spite of receiving a little bit of exposure.

My buddy runs this club & I was more excited to catch up with him – The sparse crowd while not great for business was perfect for an intimate evening. Finally the band took stage – 

When I say sparse, I mean as in like their might have been 30 people here & I think that’s largely because no one knew about the show.
If I hadn’t run into the bar manager at the above mentioned Black Sabbath show even I wouldn’t have known.
However, again while bad for business it made the evening so much fun, I was dancing with this older rocker chic & singing songs and this being my first time, I was really excited to cut loose.
Earlier that day it was announced that Alexis Arquette had died of AIDS and singer Taime Downe slowed things down and told a brief story about Arquette before dedicating the power ballad House of Pain to her.

Things quickly picked back up and while it may have taken me 30 years to see them, it was well worth the wait.
After the show, the fun and story telling was only getting started as the band, bar staff and I closed down another bar a few blocks away.
Good times.

Setlist – 

Where There’s a Whip There’s a Way 
Don’t Change That Song 
Cathouse 
Slip of the Tongue 
Number 1 With a Bullet 
The Power and the Glory Hole 
House of Pain 
Nonstop to Nowhere 
You’re So Vain (Carly Simon cover) 
Bathroom Wall 
Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones cover) 
Sin City (AC/DC cover) 
She’s Tight (Cheap Trick cover) 
Pretty Fucked Up (Supersuckers cover)

Prophets of Rage – September 25th – Gexa Energy Pavillion – Dallas, TX In an election year, with too many controversial issues unresolved the members of Rage Against the Machine with a few other revolutionary contemporaries decided their was no way they were gonna sit this one out.
Formed earlier this year, Rage minus frontman Zach De La Rocha fronted by B-Real of Cypress Hill and Chuck D of Public Enemy to create a surreal super group with a dream lineup to play classics from all three legendary catalogs, appropriately dubbed Prophets of Rage.

They came ROARING out after a truly ill set from Public Enemy’s DJ Lord with that bands’ Prophets of Rage. 
 


Here’s the good and the bad of it:

First the good: 

1) Ummmm….holy shit 3/4th of Rage are on stage playing Public Enemy songs with freaking Chuck D
2) Ummm, holy crap theirs B-Real joining them for Cypress Hill joints (pun intended).
3) So glad to see everyone on stage together kicking serious ass in what could only be described as a dream team.
4) We need these guys and this message more then ever NOW.

The Not so Good:

1) I don’t know if it’s because the band is so new or they were over reaching the expected attendance but the show was largely underattended.
    For a venue that holds 20k their were easily less than 5k people here, that combined with it had an almost amateurish, rushed vibe to it in terms of         production. Kinda felt like train headed for disaster at times.
2) With all due respect to everyone involved, I never would have guessed that it would take not one but TWO Hip-Hop legends to carry the load of            absent Rage frontman Zach De La Rocha & combined it still felt like poorly done, impromptu karaoke at times & made it difficult to sing along.
3) I’m the world’s biggest PE fan & was sad to see that the PE songs they did seemed to be the ones that the crowd knew the least.

Having said all of that, it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a good time and not going really wasn’t an option. The message, noise and anger in each song was infectious. At one point the Rage guys took a mid-set break and Chuck & B-Real went out into the crowd and were trading PE & Cypress verses to a lit crowd right to their faces! 

That was the best part of the whole show for me personally. The night of course wasn’t without a spoken message and a powerful one came from Rage guitarist Tom Morello: After lamenting about citizens being worried about being killed by ISIS in the Middle East or ” a fucking cop right here in the United States!” The whole place unnervingly jumped and that was the essence that made Rage always so genuine.
He also announced that a portion of the proceeds from the show will go to homeless shelters in Dallas.

“Be the change you want to be in the world, but worry about that tomorrow; tonight we are going to have a good time!”  

The night concluded with what was to be expected, two massive renditions of “Bulls on Parade” and “Killing In The Name Of.” The finale would not be complete without a heated Morello guitar solo with his teeth, exposing the backside of his guitar that had a perfect and appropriate sign that read “nobody for president.”  

There is no telling what the future intentions of Prophets of Rage will be, for now they are back at the perfect time, spreading their message through the only way they know, music.

Setlist – 

Prophets of Rage (Public Enemy) 
Guerrilla Radio (Rage Against the Machine) 
Bombtrack (Rage Against the Machine) 
Cochise / She Watch Channel Zero
People of the Sun (Rage Against the Machine) 
Miuzi Weighs a Ton (Public Enemy) 
 How I Could Just Kill a Man (Cypress Hill) 
Take the Power Back (Rage Against the Machine) 
(Rock) Superstar (Cypress Hill) 
Testify (Rage Against the Machine) 

Chuck D & B-Real Medley Set:

Hand on the Pump / Can’t Truss It / Insane in the Brain / Bring the Noise / I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That / Welcome to the Terrordome / Jump Around 

Sleep Now in the Fire (Rage Against the Machine) 
Calm Like a Bomb (Rage Against the Machine) 
Bullet in the Head (Rage Against the Machine) 
Shut ‘Em Down (Public Enemy) 
Know Your Enemy (Rage Against the Machine) 
The Party’s Over 
No Sleep Till Brooklyn / Fight the Power 

Encore:

Bulls on Parade (Rage Against the Machine) 
Killing in the Name (Rage Against the Machine )

Referendum – 

Let me also get something off my chest: I have worked in the entertainment industry in some capacity for over 20 years. I’ve put in the miles, the work, made heartbreaking sacrifices to be a part of it & basically have given my life to it but always on my own terms. 
However it still seems apparent that I’m not (nor ever have been) the right brand of cool that inspires the teenage wannabe excecutives Live Nation has hired to run this particular venue & every time I go through the “proper channels” to secure the right credentials, it’s always an absurd hassle & even when I get confirmed to cover one of these shows as a photographer it’s a ghastly unpleasant experience.
Naturally you must submit a request but your yes or no comes from some barely of legal drinking age diva who seems to enjoy telling you no or acting like she personally is doing you some huge favor when it’s a yes.
Then a “yes” means having to show up super early to be erroniously linked with the same band of unfuckable over 50 parasites having pissing contests over the size of their lenses who think THEY are the talent.
Then you get herded by Divas Inc like a 3rd grade field trip where you are treated like an unwanted pregnancy to shoot three songs (unless the kids decide that only two songs was actually three & if you disagree than well your not getting any dessert for lunch).
Why would I ever put myself through that again? So to the Sorority Girls that think they run the place at this venue, let me make something clear:
You don’t know me, the people that hired you know me and respect me & because of that I do what I want, I come & go as I please.
For the above show, I forewent your bullshit procedure & walked in like I owned the place because I can because I’ve earned it.
And if for nothing else in the spirit Rage Against The Machine: FUCK YOU I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME.

Photos – 

Roy Turner
Catherine Downes

Hot August Nights w/ 311 & (Sept 2016)

Wrapping up Summer with a series of great events in the hottest month of the year!

Unity Tour w/ 311 – August 6th – Gexa Energy Pavillion – Dallas, TX

Spending a hot August night in Dallas with 311 has become an annual tradition that I look forward to every Summer.
Ever since our paths crossed back in NYC in 2010 when I heard bassist P-Nut was a Ween fanatic and I invited him and his management out to see them in LA which in turn they invited us to their show and have continued to do so every Summer they’ve been on the road ever since to which we owe P-Nut, Peter Raspler & the gang for their seemingly unlimited hospitality.

Normally I would have my oldest friend Chris in tow but the show fell on the same weekend as his wedding anniversary, so I trekked out their solo but knew I would run into a few people, some certainly more unexpected than others.
Last two summers they have come through have been indoors so this was great to be outside and catch that summer vibe they are so good at, but man it was HOT.

Show was a bit shorter than usual and relied mainly only their most familiar material which I can understand is ideal for an outdoor summer show whereas last year’s indoor show focused on more of the deeper cuts. Great show as always.

Setlist – 

Homebrew
Beautiful Disaster
Sunset in July
All Mixed Up
Flowing
Freeze Time
Beyond the Gray Sky
You Wouldn’t Believe
Do You Right
Lovesong (The Cure cover) (with Matisyahu)
Applied Science
Feels So Good
Amber
Jackpot
Come Original
Down

Encore: 

Creatures (For a While)

After the show I had a great post-hang with P-Nut like we do every year – We only see each other once a year but it’s always a fun, memorable & special thing when we do. Good times –

 

 

Photos – 

Roy Turner