Crue Fest

Sunday July 20, 2008

St. Louis, MO

Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Signs of a rocking concert:

A) Your ears still ring the next morning.

B) Your neck aches from head banging the day after

C) You wake up with crabs.

Well, as Meatloaf would say “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” and I was fortunate enough to miss out on a dose of VD after my experience at Crue Fest.

Four gents who are certainly no strangers to penicillin (Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee) have taken the beast that is Motley Crue on the road all summer in their very own travelling festival called Crue Fest.

Crue Fest features new metal/hard rock bands Trapt, Sixx AM, Papa Roach and Buckcherry opening for their idols in a six hour long celebration of depravity.

The shining stars of the night are obviously Motley Crue and they cruezed through a 90 minute set list that featured their most popular hits, plus the addition of new tracks Mother F*cker of the Year and Saints of Los Angeles. Saints of Los Angeles featured the singers of the other bands onstage with their mentors for a rowdy final chorus.

The best time to see Motley Crue was on the reunion Red White and Crue Tour back in 2005 because the performance lasted over 3 hours and featured numerous obscure tracks that diehard Motley Crue fans relished. That is really the only problem with Crue Fest – NOT Enough CRUE!!

Though Too Fast For Love, Red Hot, Ten Seconds To Love and Save our Souls are all absent, favorites like Primal Scream, Wild Side, Looks That Kill and Live Wire were delivered almost perfectly. I say almost perfectly because anyone who is a Motley fan knows that Vince Neil is a lazy live singer and leaves out many words during a show. Unfortunately, it’s just something he does (even though he shines on albums), but where he lacks in efficiency the other 3 members pick up the slack, and more than make up for his indolent singing. Though crippled by his debilitating disease Mars’ fingers are as nimble and fierce as ever, Nikki bludgeons the bass guitar and Tommy continues to be his animal self on drums.  With the support of his gang, Vince still delivers those piercingly high notes, and its amazing his voice was still intact by the end of the show when he faced his greatest challenge Home Sweet Home. Home Sweet Home might not seem like the ideal encore, but seeing Vince, Nikki and Mick all huddled around Tommy playing piano on a darkly lit stage was sensational.

Motley Crue proved that they more than still “got it” and showed off a whole new meaning of the phrase “respect for your elders” to the young bands that opened for the kings of sleaze.

Trapt opened the night, but I missed them – Darn (sarcasm).

Sixx AM really impressed the crowd, especially me since Nikki Sixx performed with them and then again with the Crue.

Papa Roach was to me the weakest band on the bill (other than Trapt), but they had the fans in attendance jumping up and down and signing along so I cannot bash on them too much.

Buckcherry, the most fitting band on the bill, exhibited a younger generation of debauchery that must make the members of Motley Crue feel like proud fathers.

The bands chosen for this year’s Crue Fest seemed to be picked to ensure both young and old fans come out to partake in the festival, but also to show that Motley Crue is still relevant in the current music business. After all, they do have a new album (Saints of Los Angeles) that is selling quite well for an aging band. However, many 80’s metal fans wished that some of the other big names of the heyday where on Crue Fest instead of new bands. Though I would love to see bands like Ratt share the stage once again with the Crue, it almost makes sense that they avoid doing an 80’s nostalgic tour since Poison has been doing one for the past several years. However, as I mentioned before I would like more Motley for my money so maybe next year the festival can feature less bands and a longer Motley Crue set. I think a brilliant Crue Fest idea could feature some of the Crue’s Idols rather than new acts. How great would it be to attend Crue Fest next year and see Ace Frehley open, followed by 2 of the Crue’s biggest inspirations Cheap Trick and The Sweet? Now that would be a spectacle.

Rush

Second Leg of Snakes & Arrows Tour

June 28, 2008 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St Louis, MO

You would think that they were being forced at gunpoint to play for over 3 hours, but no, that’s just Rush being Rush.

Rush took the stage at 8 pm and didn’t leave (despite a well deserved ten minute intermission) until 11:20 pm.

Seriously, who does that? The answer is simple; nobody but Rush does that, and that’s just one of a long list of characteristics that sets this band apart from the competition.

This was my 4th Rush show and my mind continues to be blown by how ridiculously stellar this trio is live. There is not a single band on this planet that sounds as good live as Rush does, and with each song they perform, Rush mirrors a studio sound quality that makes you feel like you are listening to the original album cut. I should be used to Rush’s commitment to music by now, but still find myself scraping my jaw off the pavement after one of their concerts. The impression Rush instills in you was perfectly captured on the face of the 4 year old boy sitting atop his father’s shoulders in my vicinity. As Rush opened with the always pleasing Limelight, the little tykes eye’s grew to the size of baseballs and his mouth gaped open with bewilderment (I stood by waiting to catch his pretzel because I swore he was going to drop it). I’m pretty sure the youngster was instantly scarred for life as a Rush fan.

The current Rush tour is a continuation of last years Snakes & Arrows Tour, which was one of the biggest grossing Rush tours of all time. Rush decided to treat their fans to another round, and though the set list stayed pretty much the same as last year’s, it was revamped just enough to not seem recycled. The third song Rush played was worth the price of the ticket alone. Ghost of a Chance, a favorite of mine, which was only played during the Roll the Bones Tour and has been in storage ever since, caused me to have goose bumps it was so wonderfully executed. Geddy Lee’s voice shines on this exquisite song, and its addition to the set list left me overwhelmed.

Along with the classic oldie Rush songs (which Geddy referred to as “veteran” songs) like Red Barchetta, The Trees, Tom Sawyer, Spirit of Radio, 2112, A Passage to Bangkok, YYZ and Freewill, the new tracks from the Snakes & Arrows album measure up with the mighty Rush classics. Spindrift (the beginning sounds like Pantera’s This Love), Amour & Sword, Far Cry, Workin’ Them Angel’s and The Main Monkey Business continue to prove Rush can still churn out fantastic songs 34 years after their first album.

Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and the best drummer of all time Neil Peart are so musically gifted that they are in a completely separate stratosphere than the typical musician. Rush impeccably delivers their complex music with a professionalism that is unmatchable. Rush plays like they are scientists curing cancer, and if you have not been to a Rush show then you have not been to a concert. I cannot say enough about this uniquely underrated band and am forever indebted to seeing them live, buying their albums and flaunting their shirts.

Set List:

Limelight
Digital Man
Ghost of a Chance
Mission
Freewill
The Main Monkey Business
The Larger Bowl
Red Barchetta
The Trees
Between The Wheels
Dreamline

Intermission

Far Cry
Workin' Them Angels
Armor and Sword
Spindrift
The Way The Wind Blows
Subdivisions
Natural Science
Witch Hunt
Malignant Narcissism (Neil Peart’s drum solo)
Hope (aka Alex Lifeson’s Guitar Solo)
The Spirit of Radio
2112: Overture / The Temples of Syrinx
Tom Sawyer

Encore:
One Little Victory
A Passage To Bangkok
YYZ

Jagermeister Music Tour Spring 2008 Featuring Type O Negative, Hatebreed, 3 Inches of Blood and Conquest

June 13th, 2008

Sauget IL, Pops Nightclub

The Drab 4 known as Type O Negative gave a rather positive performance making yesterday’s Friday The 13th perfectly ghoulish.

After seeing such a grandiose Iron Maiden concert a mere 48 hours ago, Type O Negative had very big shoes to fill, but the self deprecating band absolutely blew me away leaving me so hyper and hungry for more I was resembling a kid in a candy store.  

The scene was quite different having gone from an arena and pyrotechnics to a small club with nothing more than a band genuinely enjoying themselves, and working their tails off for a much obliged audience.

Out of the 140 concerts I have attended only one band sounds exactly the same live as they do on their albums and that is Rush. However, second place belongs to Type O Negative, whose completely original catalogue of tunes where delivered strikingly close to studio quality.

Since Type O Negative was the first headliner, which by the way makes no sense giving top billing to Hatebreed, they only had a little over an hour to wow the crowd, but they did just that. Known for 10 minute long masterpieces, Type O usually can only get through a handful of songs before the show unfortunately has to end. The crowd was treated to Prelude to Agony, World Coming Down, Kill You Tonight, Christian Woman, Black No. 1, Kill All The White People, Some Stupid Tomorrow, Halloween In Heaven and a snippet of Ode To Locksmiths.

Now Type O Negative is definitely an acquired taste, but this band is unbelievably underrated and everybody should at least give them a chance. I discovered them about 2 years ago when I was in a metal funk, just tired of everything, and their signature brooding sound breathed new life into my taste in music. Type O Negative’s sound is filled with Black Sabbath D.N.A., with just the right balance of The Door’s, The Cure and the Sunday church lady playing away on her organ. Peter Steele’s voice is unlike anything you have ever heard, and when he harmonizes with guitarist Kenny Hickey the result is hauntingly beautiful. The two flawlessly complement each other, much like Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley did during Alice In Chain’s glory days.  The icing on the cake for me is Type O Negative’s sacrilegious themes (Peter Steele was dressed like a priest and stood at a pulpit during the show), which rather appeal to me since I suffered through 12 years of Catholic school.

The opening band Conquest, who I expected to be painfully terrible, were actually decent and much better than 3 Inches of Blood who made me bust up laughing while listening to their performance. 3 Inches of Blood’s singer sounded like a midget version of Rob Halford who just couldn’t “deliver the goods” – and that is no way a slam on little people, I myself am only Five Foot Six and am a great admirer of DIO. I opted not to stay for Hatebreed because I did not feel like being punched in the face by angry moshers, and quite frankly, there is no following Type O Negative.

The next best thing to a Led Zeppelin reunion is of course a Van Halen reunion, with the original lineup, and 22 years in the making was completely worth the wait.

Actually the wait for the St. Louis crowd was 23 years since the original concert date was in late October 2007, then postponed to March 31, 2008 and again rescheduled and finally carried out on April 26th.

Given the tumultuous relationship that is Van Halen, I thought after the second cancellation my dream of seeing the real Van Halen live, not Van Hagar, was official dead in the water. However, the Scottrade Center went pitch black promptly at 8:30pm and Eddie’s signature sound could be heard in the dark and a calm washed over me knowing that there would be nothing to stop me from witnessing the Van Halen legacy.

David Lee Roth appeared in an outfit that looked like James Dean, Viva Las Vegas era Elvis and Andrew Dice Clay had a mange et tois, but in typical Diamond Dave fashion, he was able to actually look cool in such a flamboyant costume.

Opening with You Really Got Me was really a metaphor for the show because Van Halen truly did keep us going all night. With the crowd already going nuts after that one song, Diamond Dave announced in a voice I will never forget, probably because it sounded like a nasally male Fran Drescher, “Better Late Than Neverrrrrr!!” All was officially forgiven for Van Halen’s tardiness.

Van Halen is BACK, and all those that are still sore over Michael Anthony’s replacement Wolfgang, should really get over their brooding because father and son Eddie and Wolfie and Uncle Alex are really quite fun to watch as family – father and son played back to back, Eddie messed up his son’s hair, Wolfie hugged his pop and Alex laid down a ferocious and dedicated backing sound that his nephew and brother continually applauded. Only Diamond Dave shares no Van Halen lineage, but he certainly seemed like a brother to Eddie the way they were getting along onstage.

As Van Halen tore through their amazing setlist (all Dave era) , Roth executed his signature kung fu kicks and comical stage presence proving that he is still the quintessential front man.  No front man has ever encompassed such an entertaining stage presence like Diamond Dave. And of course Eddie is still a Guitar God continuing to prove few, if any, can keep up with his style of playing.

The reunited Van Halen all seemed to be having such a fun time performing together it forced me to contemplate, “Why on earth didn’t you do this sooner?”  Let’s face it; the original Van Halen is the one we all want on the road. The difference between Van Halen and Van Hagar is that Van Halen is a dirty rock and roll party band with unbelievably rocking tunes. Van Hagar on the other hand, borders on soft rock that can be played in the background at the dentist when you are having a cavity filled. And those timeless Van Halen classics were perfectly performed Saturday night and kept my head banging so hard that my neck still hurts two days later.

The highlights of the show were Jamie’s Cryin’, Everybody Want’s Some, Hot For Teacher, Beautiful Girls, Little Dreamer, Ice Cream Man, Runnin’ With The Devil, Unchained and I’ll Wait.

If I was forced to make any negative comments it would be not hearing Feel Your Love Tonight or Drop Dead Legs, and the $150 ticket price, which is the most I have ever paid for a single ticket. However, the 2 hour show was certainly worth the price given the commitment the band delivered to their admiring fans.

I keep telling myself Hell has officially frozen over because I saw Dave and The Van Halens onstage harmoniously. The future looks bright for this band of rocking egos.

It's that time of year again -- the summer concert dates are pouring in one right after the other. Here is a list of local shows that shouldn't be missed. Note: Only quality shows worth mentioning will be covered.

April 26 -- The already twice postponed Van Halen reunion show finally comes to St. Louis, Scottrade Center.

May 24 -- St. Louis Rib America Festival (a good FREE time) Atlanta Rhythm Section, The Georgia Satellites and KC and The Sunshine Band.

May 25 -- St. Louis Rib America Festival (a good FREE time) Jonny Lang & Night Ranger.

May 26 -- St. Louis Rib America Festival (a good FREE time) 38 Special and Head East.

June 8 -- The Stone Temple Pilots Reunion, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Riverport).

June 11 -- Iron Maiden's Somewhere Back In Time show, Rosemont IL. Messing my drawers just thinking about it.

June 13 -- The Jagermeister Tour featuring Type O Negative, Hatebreed and 3 Inches of Blood comes to Pop's in Sauget. On a Friday the 13th; should be a ghoulish good time.

June 19 -- Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Fox Theater St. Louis. As a Zeppelin maniac I just think it would break my heart hearing Plant sing covers of folk songs knowing Led just tore it up in England back in December.

June 22 -- Chicago and The Doobie Brothers, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Riverport).

June 28 -- The best trio of all time comes back to St. Louis where they always deliver - Rush at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Riverport).

July 18 -- Yes @ The Charter One Pavillion Chicago IL.

July 20 -- CrueFest featuring Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Trapt, Sixx AM and Papa Roach, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Riverport). Yea so the other bands suck, but Motley Crue will be there!

July 26 -- Foghat Peoria, Ham n' Jam.

August 2 -- The Bay City Rollers, Decatur Celebration. Hmm, they are still alive?

August 3 -- Edgar Winter, The Decatur Celebration. That is one rocking Albino.

August 8 -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Steve Winwood, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Riverport). Stevey would be worth the ticket price alone, especially since you just know he will play Dear Mr. Fantasy.

August 16 -- Blue Oyster Cult Peoria.

September 13 -- Heart, Cheaptrick and yet another Journey lineup without Steve Perry, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Riverport).

TBD -- A Travelling Metal Festival featuring Metal God's Judas Priest, Heaven & Hell (Black Sabbath featuring Ronnie James DIO), Motorhead and Testament is supposedly in negotiations with dates to be announced anytime. Choking on my own excitement.

Hello To All:

This is my first posting on my new FOX BLOG!!!  I will be making posts for the whole month of December! 

Don't forget to check out www.wdbr.com

Blake

The Cult – Jagermeister Music Tour, November 29, 2007 The Pageant St. Louis

Typically, one should stay away from cults because they feature brainwashing and toxic Kool Aid. However, unlike Scientology, the superb rock group The Cult, is one cult actually worthy of idol worship.

On Thursday night at The Pageant, The Cult, who is headlining the current Jagermeister Tour, proved that they not only sound exactly the same as they did in 1985, but that they have perfected true rock n’ roll, which will without a doubt enable them to continue their already legendary career indefinitely.

For the past few years The Cult has been dormant while Ian Astbury enjoyed filling in for Jim Morrison as lead singer of The Doors. I was fortunate enough to catch the “The Doors of The 21st Century” at Tinley Park in 2004 where I witnessed a once in a lifetime opportunity. Ian, Robby and Ray were so remarkable it literally scared me. I thought to myself, “If they are this good now, what were they like in their prime?” Ian left The Doors because he felt that “the world needs The Cult” – and we do, especially given the current state of rock and roll (I’m talking about lackluster acts like Nickelback).

The Cult is out of hibernation and better than ever with their new album Born Into This, and every song on the album is pure Cult. On the new album, that distinct Astbury voice, who I rank as one of my top 10 vocalist of all time, sounds rejuvenated and as usual perfectly complements Billy Duffy’s elegantly heavy guitar style. Born Into This sounded amazing in my stereo, and was just as powerful live as the Cult classics we all know and love.

The Cult opened red hot with Nirvana, Electric Ocean and Lil’ Devil, and remained on fire the entire show. Ian’s rhythmic dancing proved to be infectious among the crowd and it was impossible not to join in the fun. I felt like Robert Downey Jr. dancing to Lil’ Devil in the film “Less Than Zero,” however, in the movie Downey’s dance was fueled by drugs, but I was simply high on The Cult. Also, the crowd was very lucky the sprinkler system did not activate, because Astbury looked like a Shaman doing a rain dance most of the night. The tambourine is often thought of as a lethargic instrument due to artists like Linda McCartney (Wings) just standing on stage banging away like a robot. However, Astbury makes playing the tambourine look just as cool as Duffy shredding on guitar.

The best thing about The Cult is that with their unique sound you get a little bit of everything. One second I’m completely mesmerized by how beautiful my favorite Cult song Revolution sounds, and the next second I’m banging my head away faster than a bobble head to the furious riff of Rise. On a side note, a complete moron threw ice at Astbury during Rise, but rather than stopping the show ala Axl Rose, Astbury kept a cool head and pointed to the misfit to watch himself. Only a colossal clown shoe would come to a concert and throw items at their idols.

During the set, my buddy turned to me and excitedly yelled, “Now that’s rock and roll.”

Pure and simple the above quote perfectly describes The Cult. She Sells Sanctuary, Love Removal Machine, Born Into This, Dirty Little Rockstar, I Assassin, Firewoman and Wild Flower rounded out an unbelievably rocking concert. The Cult’s refusal to retire and their ability to put out such a fantastic new album truly sets the rock and roll bar for the future.

Astbury took time to comment on the current state of rock and explained that his band was beginning to get noticed once again in the industry. He urged young bands to try harder because you cannot simply grow long hair and a shaggy beard and be rock and roll – it takes much more. Astbury continued to address what’s wrong with music today by bluntly yelling “F*%k American Idol” during the performance. (Perhaps the funniest thing ever to come out of a frontman’s mouth) That type of humor made the show very entertaining and Duffy even chimed  a few times and made a very amusing joke by explaining a backstage party in the basement with The Cult would be much more fun than hanging out in John Wayne Gacy’s basement.

The only grievance I have with the show is that it could have been much longer and I would have liked to hear Sweet Soul Sister. However, the hour and twenty minute show was so continuously energetic and fun that if it would have been any longer my head may have exploded from a pleasure overload.

To say The Cult is phenomenal would be an understatement.

P.S. You know how people are lucky if they catch one guitar pick? Well, I scrambled around on my hands and knees in beer and sweat and caught 4, yes count’em 4, Billy Duffy guitar picks, which I shared with my friends.

Jethro Tull October 15, 2007 Sangamon Auditorium

The long awaited Jethro Tull concert finally came to Springfield last night and a sold out crowd was treated to Ian Anderson’s energetic showmanship.

Anderson’s exhibited how vibrant and perfectly balanced a senior citizen can be as he frolicked around the stage and stood perched on one leg like a pink flamingo during his flute solos.

Anderson alone was a show all in himself due to his hilarious banter with the crowd (dedicating the classic Fat Man to an overweight man in the front row) and ridiculous facial expressions. If he never became a maestro of the flute, Anderson would have made an exceptional mime.

Fellow Tullian Martin Barre was red hot on the electric guitar and he and Anderson frequently played the same notes in a call and response manner between the flute and guitar, which was quite enjoyable to the ears. 

Though the band sounded sensational, their repetitious set list began to take its Tull.

I am one of the biggest supporters of bands playing a heavy dose of album rock during a live show, but Tull’s instrumentals and medieval soft rock all began to sound way too similar and it was hard to tell where one song ended and another began. However, when Jethro Tull would come through and play their amazing classics like Living In The Past, Fat Man, Thick as A Brick, Nothing Is Easy, Aqualung and Locomotive Breath the crowd was treated to a snippet of just how remarkable Jethro Tull is.

The show was a huge tease – just when the band would come alive, they would segue right back into a song that would fit perfectly in a movie like Willow or the Labyrinth. Songs like The Donkey and the Drum and The Water Carrier had me telepathically pleading with Ian to rip into Cross-Eyed Mary, Teacher, Bungle in the Jungle and Skating Away. To not play such staples of classic rock was a slap in the face to the crowd and a bit of a rip-off given the obscure set list (oh, and the ticket price). Only the most diehard Jethro Tull fan could have honestly appreciated the show, and I felt quite upset that Tull could have tore the roof off the auditorium, but chose instead to give us only a taste of their greatness. Also, Jethro Tull does not have a perfect catalogue of music like Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Pink Floyd or The Eagles – they cannot play just any song and command a crowd like their peers I have listed.

I have never seen Tull live since I am a mere 25 years of age and was looking forward to hearing the songs that made this band legendary. I think Tull owes it to their new generation of fans to deliver a truly stellar set list instead of playing their own personal favorites. After all, your fans make you famous so give them what they want. What could have been a phenomenal performance turned out to be just average.

Jethro Tull should have followed in the footsteps of the last rocker to grace us with his presence at Sangamon Auditorium. In 2006, Alice Cooper fully delivered a perfect mix of album rock like Is It My Body and radio favorites like Poison to ensure he reached all the fans in the packed house. I commend Sangamon Auditorium for bringing us two rock legends two years in a row and look forward to a third great in 08.

Note: Once and for all, No One in Jethro Tull is Named Jethro Tull.

 Britney, Britney, Britney.  Thats all I hear, see and read about.  I am kind of sick of it.  But then again I'm not.  It's the typical car crash analogy.  No one wants it to happen to them but they will stop to watch when it happens to someone else.  So what is next?  I was reading a friends blog about Britney and agreed totally with what he had to say.   So the following comments are from a friend of mine who works at a radio station in Peoria.  Even though they are not my words, I totally agree with what he has to say.

"So the worst kept secret in these United States is finally official and Britney is losing the kids. Great, awesome, and good riddance. The only unfortunate thing about the entire situation is that they're going into the "loving care" of Kevin "Holy Crap, I Managed to Knock Up a Pop Princess Twice!" Federline... as if THAT situation is going to be better than the nudity, drunkeness, and alleged drug use that the little brats are leaving behind? Am I the only one the who believes these kids are destined to grow up to be in the "adult entertainment" industry and / or be dumber than the dumbest of bleach blond airheads?"

"The "watch" begins now, my friends... and yes, I am - unfortunately - referring to the Britney Spears death watch. Flame me, hate me, spite me if you must, but it's true. I don't see her handling the removal of her kids from her life very well. I'm (obviously) not a female, but I can't believe that would bode well for ANY female's psychological well-being, much less Britney in all of the stress she's put herself through in the last two years."

I know there have been more developments in the past couple of days.  She did finally have her first visitation with her kids and cried when they had to leave.  She did just recently pass a drug test and also recently applied to be a BARTENDER at the Viceroy hotel.  Hopefully Britney can pull herself out of this hole and I mean HOLE that she is in and we can cancel the whole Death Watch.

Fact: Geddy Lee is the best bass player of all time.

Fact: Neil Peart is the best drummer of all time.

Fact: Alex Lifeson is without a doubt one of the most underrated guitarist of all time.

Fact: Rush is the best trio of all time and the best Progressive Rock band of all time, and their performance on August 24, 2007 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis is all the evidence one would need to support such bold claims.

My 127th concert was quite a lengthy one due to Rush playing a 28 song set list that clocked in at over 3 hours. I can’t think of a band that plays for over 3 hours except the last two times I have seen Rush when they did the same exact feat. I can barely play guitar for 30 minutes at a time without my fingers hurting, and neck requiring an aspirin because of the weight of the guitar. Therefore, any band willing to perform for 3 hours obviously loves their job and their fans.

The near sell out crowd erupted in pandemonium when Rush opened with Limelight. This would be one of the few radio popular Rush songs that the band played. The set list was definitely meant to appease the diehard Rush fans since it was full of obscure album rock, instead of the signature Red Barchetta and Working Man. Entre Nous, Digital Man, A Passage To Bangkok, Circumstances, Mission, Between The Wheels, Natural Science and Witch Hunt had me continuously repeating “I can’t believe they just played that.”

The great thing about Rush is they can literally play any song from their extensive career and still hold an audience in the palm of their hand. I found myself rediscovering certain Rush songs because I had never heard them live. Mission for example, came across as beautiful, symphonic, raucous and enlightening, and has become a new Rush favorite for me. The new album Snakes and Arrows also sounded brilliant in concert. It is so refreshing to actually want to hear a classic rock band’s new material and songs like Far Cry, Armor and Sword, Spindrift, The Way The Wind Blows and Workin’ Them Angels were just as memorable as the legendary Rush favorites. And only Rush can get away with incorporating three instrumentals in a set list. YYZ, The Main Monkey Business and Malignant Narcissism are so extraordinary musically, words were not necessary to keep a huge crowd entertained.

The highlights of the show were Dreamline and the visually stunning green laser show that accompanied the song, Mission, Entre Nous, A Passage To Bangkok, The Spirit of Radio, Freewill and Tom Sawyer.

Geddy, Alex and Neil are such a musical phenomenon that even though I know it is only three musicians onstage, the signature complex songs sound like they are being delivered by an entire orchestra, not just a trio. This is a band that plays so well together it’s almost scary. To put it simply; they are too good to be true. Rush’s music possesses an intellect that places them ahead of the pack, and is one of the reasons they are so underappreciated. St. Louis is a haven for Rush fans and it felt awesome to be around so much adoration. The crowd praised their beloved band and exhibited why St. Louis is one of Rush’s favorite cities to play. I look forward to future jaw dropping Rush shows since they are on my list of bands to always see when they tour.

The Class Clown of rock n roll amused a decent sized crowd on Saturday night, for what was the Fair’s only Classic Rock concert this year.

Joe Walsh is funny. Not just funny looking with his long white hair, but also downright humorous. His often unintelligible spoken word in between songs is an absolute riot. When I saw him a few years back perform with The Eagles, he ran around the stage in pajama pants and a construction hat with a built-in camera for the audience. However, at the Grandstand he stood in one place and was all business for just over an hour.

For 3 hours of The Eagles I paid $80, so I guess $22 for a little over an hour is the correct math. However, you would think that Joe would want to blow audiences away with all of his best tracks, but on Saturday he left off two of my favorites from the set list. I was shocked when the show ended with Life In the Fast Lane and we had yet to hear A Life Of Illusion and All Night Long – two songs where Joe’s musical talent reach new heights. Good ole Joe did remember to include my absolute favorite Walsh tune Ordinary Average Guy, which by the way is the ideal bar hangout tune. Immediately when the synthesizer starts I want to crack open a Coors and play darts with my buds.

The remainder of the set saw song highlights from his extensive solo career, James Gang days and of course classics like In The City from his flight with The Eagles. Turn To Stone, Walk Away, Funk #49, Life’s Been Good and Rocky Mountain Way made the short set a rocking one. *I knew it would be a bit of a long shot to hear, but Waffle Stomp would have meshed brilliantly after Ordinary Average Guy.

I have to knit pick now, which may come across as snobbish, but I still have to address the awful camera work at the Joe Walsh show. Why on earth would you ever continuously show a long shot on the jumbo vision? I can see that part with my eyes. The jumbo vision is meant to show close-ups of what my eyes cannot see. The camera would start to zoom in on Joe’s fingering during a guitar solo, but then quickly zoom out to a long shot again. And, when Joe introduced his band, the camera was one step behind each time he introduced a member (Example: the camera was still on the bass player when he was introducing the drummer). I had really close seats so the camera work did not ruin the concert for me, but it did make me take note of the difference between Grandstand camera work and the professional camera work at Riverport (Yes, I know its no longer Riverport, but it will always be Riverport to me) . On Friday, when I attend the Rush concert at Riverport, I’m sure the camera will zoom in enough so that I can count the hairs on Geddy Lee’s goatee. I had heard people complain about the sound quality from earlier concerts in the week, and perhaps the Grandstand’s technical difficulties are a couple of reasons why Fair attendance is decreasing.

Though I did not get to hear Joe utter “just a pinch between the cheek and gum” he still gave a fabulous performance, and no one can work a talk box like Walsh.

Lucky me, I didn't have to wait in line with the other 15,000 contestants because I won Illinois Idol, and was given a pass to the front of the line. I met so many people, from so many places at the audition: a family from Florida who spent over $2,000 for their daughter to audition in Omaha, people who came all the way from California, and even a few people from Chicago, IL. There were only about fifteen Fox affiliate winners like me who got to go to the front of the line. Immediately upon arriving at the auditions, we were escorted to a special holding room, and didn't have to wait outside in the hot and humid weather.

About three hours later, around 10 a.m., the fifteen of us and the other 15,000 contestants piled into the stadium at the Qwest Center (a huge convention center). For the next hour, we were all told to memorize "Born in the U.S.A." because we had to sing it for the cameras. This was the longest part...if one audience member in the part being filmed didn't put their hand up the right way or if they were sitting while filming, the entire crowd had to sing it all over again. After filming that, along with several takes of us all shouting, "OMAHA, OMAHA, OMAHA, OMAHA..." auditions began. My group was the first to go, since we were the Fox affiliate winners from around the country.

Four at a time, we went in front of two judges each. I was third in line. The first contestant, a short, blond and country-looking girl sang Martina McBride. She was O.K., and could carry a tune, but I wasn't extremely impressed. The second contestant sang a Beyonce song and it was really, really good. She was the only person in my group who made me nervous! I was unlucky number 3, and performed Christina Augilera's "Hurt". I was very pleased with my performance, I certainly did my best! The fourth girl sang more country very well, but wasn't as entertaining as the first. After whispering for about a minute, and shaking and nodding their heads, the judges told us that the first contestant got through to the next round. They looked at the three of us, and said, "Thank you for auditioning, you guys were good, really. You set the bar for what we expect. You may exit this way now." Disappointed and sad, we walked to two of the interns, who cut off our wristbands. After you audition, you get to go to one of two exits: either the "Loser" exit (what the producers called it), or the "Winners" exit. Walking to the lesser of the two, in front of all 15,000 people was slightly embarassing, as it was a long walk, all the way from one side of the stadium floor to the exit door.

I held my chin up high, and chatted with the two other contestants who were in my group who didn't make it through. "Wow, she was definitely the worst of all of us," one of them said. "You were so good, I thought you'd make it," the other one said. I congratulated them on their talents as well, and then we all met our parties outside. My sister was shocked and appalled as well, and vowed never to go to another American Idol audition again because she thought the whole judging system was ludacris.

But their was a bright side after the auditions. One of my favorite contestants from season 6 of American Idol was filming something for the TV Guide Channel (see photos!). He definitely turned my frown upside down. I waited twenty minutes for him to get done with shooting to take a picture. He was so sweet, and looks much better in person than he does in photographs! He even gave me a hug, it definitely brightened my day!

My sister and I wanted to go back into the building to watch the rest of the contestants audition, but we weren't allowed back in, because we had exited the stadium already (when the "losers" exit, they are ushered out of the building, and can't get back in).

Although I was disappointed, I still felt very blessed to have the opportunity. So many people dream of even getting to the auditions, let alone having a chance to audition for this show! I did my best, and felt proud and fortunate to have won Illinois Idol 2007, a title I will always hold! In retrospect, Carrie Underwood auditioned once and didn't make it through the first round either. The next year, she auditioned again, and look where she's at now! As one of the producers said before auditions, "American Idol is a TV show before it is a talent contest." Later, I found out from my mom who read an interview of one of the main producers, Patrick Lynn, that they were basically looking for country singers in Omaha. It now makes sense that a guy dressed as a cow got through the first round at auditions, along with anyone who was wearing a cowboy hat, and a lot of people singing country.

I will definitely try out next year, as I realize to make it in this business, I will hear a lot of "No" before I hear the one "Yes." This is what I want to do with my life, and I already feel I'm accomplishing at least a little. Last year, as a matter of fact, I won Illinois State University's Idol competition, as well as McLean County Idol, and now Illinois Idol! Who knows, maybe next year will be my chance to win a spot in American Idol? I know I'll never get there if I don't keep trying!

~*Kim*~

Fox gave me the opportunity to take one guest with me; I chose my sister, Tracy. As our limo pulled up (paid for by Fox Springfield/Champaign, what a lovely corporation they are!), we were so excited! Feeling like celebrities, we wanted to be SEEN! We requested that the limo driver stop at a local gas station, and as we got out, everyone stared. It was so funny, and we relished every minute of it!

Next, our flight (also paid for by Fox!) took us to our destination of Omaha, Nebraska. Expecting cornfields and farmers, I soon realized my expectations were wrong. The city was a melting pot, there were so many types of people there! Everyone was so nice and proper as well, it was very strange at first how kind they were!

Because we arrived late, we just crashed at the hotel (paid for by you-know-who!), and feasted on what Nebraska's known for: good steak. It was impressive, but a good steak restaurant in Illinois is just as good! I went to bed early, so anxious for my audition in front of Idol producers the next day!

~*Kim*~

I saw the audition for Fox Idol on a local news channel...that's when I decided to try out. I tried out in Springfield first, and was disappointed when I didn't make the cut there. My parents actually were the ones to push me to try out in Champaign the next weekend. Thankfully, I made the cut. They don't have the local fox Channel that Springfield and Champaign have in Peoria; therefore, I didn't even know until about 9:40 p.m. if I made it or not. It was nerveracking, all of the wondering! But a friend I made at the Champaign Idol called me and congratulated me.

Two weeks later, the other 5 winners (combined from Champaign and Springfield) and I auditioned a final time at the Fox Studios in Springfield to see who would be the lucky winner. I was anxious, nervous, yet excited to sing in front of the judges once again. Everyone was so wonderful, and when they called my name as the winner I was in shock! I felt so blessed to have the opportunity to go to the "big" American Idol auditions!

I prepared by buying a new dress, working out, and practicing whenever I had the opportunity! I was so excited for the next step...!

~*Kim*~

I consider myself a true Metalhead, but for me, the Nu-Metal bands at Ozzfest are anything but Metal. Just because you play fast and obnoxiously loud, and sing with a growl does not mean you are Heavy Metal. The heyday of Ozzfest is long gone, when bands like Pantera, Megadeth, Type O Negative and Anthrax embodied all aspects of Heavy Metal. Today, we are left with lousy, unintelligible performances by acts like Lamb Of God, Static X and Hatebreed. For as heavy as these bands would like to believe they are, the true prince of darkness gave them all an education in actual Heavy Metal.

Ozzy Osbourne is Heavy Metal. His voice and catalogue of quality Heavy Metal classics should be featured in the encyclopedia under Heavy Metal. The thing about an icon like Ozzy is even his slow songs like Road to Nowhere and Momma I’m Coming Home are heavier than the Nu-Metal bands of today because they possess a passion and power that the angry growl style will never comprehend.

Though Ozzy got off to a rocky start (it seemed he was just one step behind the music of the opener Bark At The Moon and some of the lyrics sounded more like gibberish than Ozzy in his prime), he got it together for Mr. Crowley. I am still utterly flabbergasted by how decrepit and “out of it” Ozzy appears in interviews, but when he hits the stage he transforms into the true metal demon he always has been. I want to provide Ozzy with a walker when I seem him on The Osbournes, but on Monday Night he ran around throwing buckets of water on the crowd and dousing them with a fire hose in a playful and youthful manner. You could tell Ozzy really enjoys his profession as he smiled, mooned and bantered with the crowd. He urged his legions of fans to “go (expletive deleted) crazy” as he performed I Don’t Know, War Pigs, Crazy Train, Paranoid, Suicide Solution, I Don’t Want To Change The World and  two new tracks Not Going Away and Here For You. War Pigs and Road To Nowhere where my favorites, but Ozzy sounded the strongest when delivering his two new classics.

I’m still so impressed that Ozzfest was free this year, but I am even more impressed with how great the Heavy Metal relic still is. Ozzy should be every senior citizen’s hero because he certainly does not abide by how a 59 year old should act in public.

Ratt infested St. Louis on Thursday August 2, 2007 and sounded exactly how metal should – down and dirty.

The years have been good to front man Stephen Pearcy and his voice was identical to Ratt’s heyday. Pearcy’s signature, gruff voice sounds like the perfect blend of someone suffering from pneumonia & who has smoked one too many Marlboro Reds.

Ratt has the opening slot on this summer’s Poison tour and from the minute they opened with Dangerous But Worth the Risk, I knew that Ratt was out of the cellar and ready to win over audiences all over again. Once Ratt got started they never stopped the onslaught of Ratt classics. Not even the Orkin man, with his strongest pesticide, could have put an end to the energy and showmanship that Ratt was exhibiting. To quote Pantera, Ratt’s performance was indeed a “Vulgar Display Of Power.” Lay It Down, Nobody Rides For Free, Slip of the Lip, Lovin’ You’s A Dirty Job, Wanted Man, Lack of Communication, Round and Round, Body Talk, Way Cool Junior, You’re In Love, Back For More, I’m Insane and You Think You’re Tough kept my fist pumping in the air the entire set.

Ratt have never received the recognition they deserve, and are truly one of rock’s most underrated bands. (Warren De Martini is a God on lead guitar, but has always lived in the shadow of slingers like Slash)

After hearing so many head banging Ratt classics there was no way I could endure Poison’s bubblegum rock. Therefore, immediately when Look What The Cat Dragged In unsurprisingly opened Poison’s set, I hit the road. A group of 29 year olds could not believe I was leaving and even ridiculed me for paying full price and driving so far just for Ratt. But hey, Ratt is the real deal when it comes to music and they belong to that inner circle of actual talented 80’s metal acts like Gun N Roses, Motley Crue, LA Guns and Great White. Poison on the other hand is a member of that soft pop rock circle that includes Bon Jovi, White Lion, Nelson and Firehouse. With their indulgent image and lackluster songwriting, Poison makes Duran Duran look like Megadeth.

Over the years Poison has recurrently grown on my last nerve. Putting out albums of covers and with the new reality show Rock of Love (which is a wretched show), it seems that this band is just in dire need of attention. For me, Poison has solidified themselves as a hack band with their continual inability to mature. However, to be fair, people love that hack band and come out in droves to see them live. Every summer Poison packs the house because they are great at what they do which is putting on a spectacle. I need more than just visual entertainment, and that is why my metal heart belongs to a rodent.