Devo & B52s @ PNC Pavilion

B52s Setlist

Devo Setlist

The Crap Facts

This is my 536th concert.
This is my 6th concert at PNC Pavilion.
This is my 132nd concert in Charlotte.
This is my 157th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 336th concert in the USA.
This is my 2nd B52s concert.

This is my 4th Devo concert.

P.O.D. @ Skyla CU Amphitheater

P.O.D. Setlist

The Crap Facts
This is my 535th concert.
This is my 24th concert at Skyla CU Amphitheater.
This is my 131st concert in Charlotte.
This is my 156th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 335th concert in the USA.
P.O.D. are the 628th band I've seen.

Everclear, Local H & Sponge @ Neighborhood Theater

I have been excited for this show for a long time.  Tickets were secured the day they went on sale.  Everclear always put on a good show, and Local H know no other way.  

I got to the Neighborhood Theatre just before 8 and was surprised by a line still at the door.  It took a while to get in, and it was hard to find a spot for Sponge, as the place was jammed solid.  I ended up side stage - just behind the VIP tables and caught the last few songs of their set.  I don't remember them being big in Australia in the 90s, and I didn't know any songs.  But the crowd knew Plowed (the last song) and the venue was jumping.  The band were humbled by the turnout so early in the night, and their energy let fans remember back when it was easier to be at concerts.  And let us pretend were were in out 20s again - and not our 50s.  well, me anyway.

Sponge Setlist

Once Sponge was over, and the crowd came tot he bar for drinks, I headed into the main room and got myself a great unobstructed spot midway down the hall.  I may actually be here more because of Local H.  They have been a favorite since I first saw them at Equinox in 1997.  Tonight they continued their run of 7 awesome shows.  They played my favorite song first.  High Fivin' MF set the tone for the rest of the intense 45 minute set.  As loud and as fast as you want it, this is such an awesome song, and a real ballsy opener.  A couple more songs off As Good As Dead filtered into the opening part of the set.  Fritz's Corner was great, as was Eddie Vedder.  Everyone loved, and shouted the chorus for California Songs.  And Bound For The Floor was the hit that sent the crowd over the edge.  I thought it was great, and the TV Eye snippet mid-song was the chef's kiss.

Local H Setlist

Everclear are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the great Sparkle & Fade album.  It's only appropriate the I see it, because they toured Australia on the back of that release in 1996, and they played an awesome show at the Metro opening for silverchair.  The band itself has changed with age.  Songs don't hit as fast as they used to, but Art Alexakis and band still enjoy themselves up there.  The songs do stand the test of time.  Heroin Girl was a great song, even if it sounds a little different when slower.  It is still my favorite Everclear song.  Father Of Mine got the crowd really going, and Heartspark Dollarsign was another great trip down memory lane.  The band didn't play the whole album start to finish but sprinkled some other songs into the set throughout.  In the meantime we got a couple of great covers, including Highway To Hell and Whole Lotta Love (with Scott Lucas).  

When the main set was finished I rushed over and got myself and Everclear shirt.  Then, Lucas was at the Local H table, with his dog, Karen, who was taking all the attention at the time.  I bought a vinyl copy of Whatever Happened to PJ Soles and he was kind enough to sign a poster for me.

I went side stage again for the 3 song encore.  So Much For The Afterglow was great, as was I Will Buy You A New Life.  But it was the crowd at its loudest singing Santa Monica put the icing on tonight's rock n roll cake.  Such a good song, and the perfect way to end the night.

Everclear Setlist

The Crap Facts
This is my 534th concert.
This is my 12th concert at The Neighborhood Theater.
This is my 130th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 155th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 334th concert in the USA.
Sponge are the 627th band I've seen.
Sponge are the 350th American band I've seen.

This is my 7th Local H concert.

This is my 5th Everclear concert.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club & Humanist @ The Orange Peel

I can't believe it's been 7 years since Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have been close enough for me to go and see.  Their show in 2018 was a pearler.

The Orange Peel filled up for the show and I got there early enough to catch the last half of Humanist.  There is a dark Depeche Mode influence in this sound, but not what I was really into tonight.

Humanist's sound did blend well with BRMC playing their 3rd album, Howl,  celebrating its 20th anniversary.  I don't know why this album escaped me, as I loved the first 2, but there was definitely a different sound to what I expect from BRMC.  More atmospheric and moody, not the straight forward rock I was used to.  So for me, the first half of the show was a slow start.  Once I heard Red Eyes and Tears, everything changed.  I think the band felt the same.  The crowd definitely did.  BRMC seemed more relaxed and ready to blaze into the night.  And they did!  Every song got better.  And the crowd really started to get into it.  White Palms was good.  Berlin was excellent!  Whatever Happened to My Rock & Roll was almost an out of body experience.  And Spread Your Love....  This song sits in my Fave 40 playlist.  I can't hear it often enough.  And tonight was as good as I've ever heard it, except that 1 time they played it in the Cosmopolitan, when the casino was using it in it's commercials.  One more song from Howl, Open Invitation, calmed the crowd down before being unleased back on the Asheville night.

This is the 3rd show I've seen in Asheville since the devastating Hurricane Helene 13 months ago.  and the town is still struggling.  There were not many people around before the show (I had another good meal at Farmburger) and I grabbed a quick breakfast before driving home, and it was like walking through a ghost town.  I hope things get better for this great place.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Setlist

The Crap Facts

This is my 533rd concert.
This is my 6th concert at The Orange Peel.
This is my 17th concert in Asheville.
This is my 154th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 333rd concert in the USA.
Humanist are the 626th band I've seen.
This is my 5th Black Rebel Motorcycle Club concert.

Neil deGrasse Tyson @ Ovens Auditorium

This is one for L.  He has taken an interest in space, so who better to tell him about it but Neil deGrasse Tyson.  A is out of town, and B wasn't interested so it is just the 2 of us, which is unusual.

Tonight felt like a university lecture done by everyone's favorite professor, but not necessarily my favorite topic.  Tyson spoke of other planets being able to support human life, what other universes might be like, the heat of suns, and his role in the de-planetizing of Pluto.

Like a comedy show, it is hard to go over everything that was said, but needless to say his 2 hours on stage was well received.  WHo knows?  Maybe we'll make a scientist out of L.

 

Wicked @ Belk Theater

I think I've been oversold on Wicked.  It's been around forever, and it is critically acclaimed everywhere, and I was super excited to see it.  A really wanted to go, and we thought the boys would like it too, so it became a family day.

For me though it didn't quite live up to the hype.  I just wasn't into it.  But I am also get less tolerant of musicals (for the most part) as I get older.  That and the fact that the Wizard of Oz is such a classic, I feel a prequel (or a sequel if it had of been) could never live up to that expectation.

On the other hand A&B loved it.  A has seen it before, and sang along with every word, and B was really into it.  L, well L wished he could be anywhere else.  Especially with Arsenal being on tv today.  It's not that I didn't like the show, but it just wasn't a favorite.  And obviously it's important to give the boys different experiences and let them make their own choices.

I was surprised at how packed the theater was for a matinee.  I had picked a Sunday afternoon, thinking that it wouldn't interfere with the boys soccer.  I knew there'd be a few families in there, but there wasn't a spare seat.  Turns out because to the incoming ice storm, the night show had already been cancelled and everyone scrambled for what was left in the matinee.

Papa Roach, Rise Against & Underoath @ Skyla CU Amphitheater

Another work shift at the  top of the stairs.

Underoath got things kicked off.  To be honest I didn't get to see much of them, as this is when the bulk of people were coming in.  With Rise Against being the 2nd band, crowds were getting in early and I didn't really have time to think let alone see Underoath.

But a majority of people were in seats by the time Rise Against started, so it was quite for me and I get to watch them for the 6th time.  While I've seen them now 6 times, it never seems to be on purpose.  It's either they have a great support band (Gaslight Anthem, Rancid, Bad Religion), supporting a great band (Deftones), at a festival and now at work.  It kicked off big time with Re-Education (Through Labor).  Give it All was great.  Prayer For The Refugee was a crowd favorite mid set.  And Savior to close their set, was a popular choice.  Overall a good set, and a solid show as always, but I'm still not sold on this band.  I wish I knew why.

Rise Against Setlist

So apparently Rise Against fans aren't necessarily Papa Roach fans.  I was busier bidding fans a farewell, rather than receiving more during the set changeover.  Regardless Papa Roach came on stage with a mission of matching and ultimately exceeding Rise Against's energy.  And they did a great job of it.   I didn't know any of their stuff until a California Love cover was played.  Lead singer Jacoby Shaddix was having a great time.  By his admission, this came about by turning his life around, as well as run ins with suicidal thoughts.  As an entertainer with a voice, he was really impressive in his advocating for suicide prevention - all the way through the night.  This is not a passing fad for him.  He is keen and willing to help.  While I don't know a lot of their songs, obviously the crowd did, and they loved every moment of it.  Especially during the 2nd last song, Help, when Jacoby came out into the crowd, and all the way back to the lawn.  During the 4 song encore, Papa Roach dropped a heavy medly including Bling, My Own Summer, Break Stuff & Chop Suey.  An absolute corker!  And a wild lead into the penultimate Last Resort, which is their song I do know.  THe perfect finish to a rocking night.

Papa Roach Setlist

I would not have come to this show if I wasn't working.  But I'm glad I was here.  Good crowd and good rock!

The Crap Facts
This is my 532nd concert.
This is my 23rd show at Skyla CU Amphitheater 
This is my 129th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 153rd concert in North Carolina.
This is my 332nd concert in the USA.
Underoath are the 625th band I've seen.

This is my 6th Rise Against concert.

This is my 3rd Papa Roach concert.