The Jesus Lizard & Fantomex @ Orange Peel

26 years ago was the last time I saw the Jesus Lizard and if you think a 2.5 hour drive was going to stop me seeing them again, you'd be sadly mistaken.  I made the drive up to Asheville and booked a night at the Hotel Indigo, so I didn't have to turn around and drive back the same night.  

Another reason to head up to Asheville, was to see how recovery was going after Hurricane Helene last October.  And the result is heartbreaking.  Driving up past Swannanoa and Old Fort, you can still the debris in these towns (whether still laying around, or pushed to a spot near the freeway because there is no where to put so much of it).  Asheville itself is also not great.  The Biltmore Village, just outside the Biltmore entrance, looks like a warzone.  Building with out walls, mud, and debris everywhere.  The Village is closed off to road traffic and looks like a long way from reopening.  While downtown Asheville, up on the hill, looks fine, it is a ghost town.  Gone is the hustle and bustle of tourists (though it was a Tuesday night).  Shops with limited hours and just people nowhere to be seen.  This is such a great town.  A week before Christmas, you'd hope it would be a hive of activity.  It's far from it, but hopefully it will recover quickly.

I walked down to the Orange Peel via Maguro, a Japanese restaurant, where I stooped for some good sushi and a Sapporo.  Walked into the venue just as Fantomex hit the stage.  Was great to see a local band get a good size crowd.  And they didn't disappoint.  Well suited as an opener for the Jesus Lizard, Fantomex ripped through nearly a dozen rocking punk / hardcore songs.

Fantomex Setlist

I got about halfway to the stage, in front of guitarist Duane Denison, for the Jesus Lizard. Just a perfect spot. When the first drum beat was hit for the opening, Grind, David Yow was in the audience, being passed around till he he to the mixing desk. I thought that was crazy when I saw him do that, now that he's in his 60's he's just putting his life in our hands. He's be in and out of the crowd all night. It felt like the next 4 songs were put on just for me. Puss, Mouth Breather, Boilermaker & Nub - one after the other. Just brilliant. And the crowd was amped. The band sounded so good. Tight and just killing it. A third of the set was the new album, but that left plenty of nostalgia during the evening. Gladiator and Seasick were other highlights for me, and hearing Wheelchair Epidemic during the encore was amazing.  I was surprised how many people left after the encore.  The lights never came on, and no taped music came on, but people were bailing out.  Good for me.  I walked right up and stood on the barricade for the 4 song second encore. 

It was such a great show.  It's a shame they don't come around this area more often (or anywhere for that fact).  But put me down for any more Jesus Lizard shows that come through.  It was the show of the year.

The Jesus Lizard Setlist

The Crap Facts
This is my 514th concert.
This is my 4th concert at Orange Peel.
This is my 15th concert in Asheville.
This is my 135th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 314th concert in the USA.
Fantomex are the 599th band I've seen.
This is my 5th Jesus Lizard concert.

Jesus Lizard is the 600th time I've seen an American band.

Carolina Panthers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Bank of America Stadium

So L went on a date, so B & I decided to go and see the Panthers play the Bucs (L's a Raiders fan so he wasn't bothered).  .  About an hour before the game I bought some cheap seats off Stub Hub in the lower bowl on the 15 yard line.  It's cold!  but we will endure for our first NFL game in 7 years.

We had great seats and settled in for the 4pm kickoff and watched the Panthers grind away to go down 3-7 at quarter time.  2nd quarter had Bryce Young scrambling for a touchdown right in front of us.  The crowd went wild.  Panthers went into half time with a 13-10 lead, which could have been better had we not missed 2 fields goals.  One of those misses came after a 3rd down that looked like Thielen scored a touchdown, but was ruled out.  Even after seeing the replays, I can't see the fault in the play.  Looks to me like both feet were in when he caught it.  Left the home crowd pretty pissed.  19-10 half time would have been more comfortable.  23-10 would have made all the difference.

B& I, Panthers v Buccaneers, Bank of America Stadium

B & I headed for the concessions with every other person in the stadium.   A new sweater for him, as the poor kid was underprepared for the cold wind in the stadium.  Also a thermos of hot chocolate for both of us.  Not to drink.  Just to hold for the next quarter at least.

3rd quarter was a bit of a slugfest with scores ending even at 16-10 to us.  The Panthers were attacking our end again in the last quarter.  When Thielen did score with 2:35 left, a 23-20 result was a possibility, and the crowd were pumped for it.  Unfortunately 3 1st downs got Tampa in kicking range, and McLaughlin hit a 51 yarded with 30 seconds left, that sent the game into overtime.

You could see when McLaughlin missed a 55 yarder in overtime, the Panthers were revved up.  When Young found Thielen for a 16 yard gain, putting the Panthers close to field goal range, the crowd went nuts.  We were on our feet for the next paly when Hubbard burst trough again, only for the ball to be stripped away and recovered by the Bucs.  When the Panthers gave up 38 yards and the Bucs got to the 10 yard line, the game only needed the following McLaughlin 30 yard field goal for the crowd to leave disappointed.  Another loss for the Cardiac Cats.

While the Panthers have not had a good season, there were some positives to come out of this game, and hopefully the rest of the season will improve and hopes can be held high for next year.  We'll be back

Tampa Buccaneers 26 (M. Evans, B. Irving touchdowns; C. McLaughlin 2/2 extra points, 4/5 field goals) defeated Carolina Panthers 23 (B. Young, A. Thielen touchdowns; A. Pineiro 2/2 extra points, 3/5 field goals).

Paid Attendance: 69,214