Aziz Ansari @ Ovens Auditorium

Again, I struggle to write a review of a comedy show.  Needless to say - it was funny.  Not quite as good as the first time we saw Ansari, which was fall out of your seat funny, but funny nonetheless.  I can't write down specifically what was said, as it would never do the stories justice, but A&I had a great laugh and would be happy to see Ansari any time he came through town.

GWAR, Helmet, Dwarves & Blood Vulture @ Piedmont Hall

As my las scheduled show of the year, I've picked GWAR at a new city to see a concert.  It's only just over an hour up the road, and I got a cheap ticket off Groupon, so, as tired as I weas, I jumped in the car and headed north.

I caught most of Blood Vulture's set.  A hard rock band with an 80's vampire vibe.  I feel that it was an odd combination for GWAR, but who on this line up isn't.  Not really my thing, but they did a job as the first of 4 bands.

Blood Vulture Setlist

Dwarves are one of those bands that I've wanted to see, but they've neve been where I have (except last years Punk Rock Bowling where they played a side show with the Queers, that I kick myself for not going to).  After some problems with sound a the beginning, Dwarves ripped through a 30 minute set of 15 songs of pure punk, anger, sarcasm and humor.  The bass player, Rex Everything, looked familiar.  I finally worked out it was Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age.  He was having a blast on stage.  I really liked this show, but you know it would've been better in a smaller venue on a shorter stage (like New Bomb Turks).  I hope the chance to see them again comes around.

Dwarves Setlist

Helmet being on the bill was definitely a draw, and probably the reason I drove to Greensboro for the show.  I took my spot, close to the front in front of singer Page Hamilton, and proceeded to have my ears ripped off (even with earplugs in).  This set had a lot of songs I didn't know, but when something came of that I knew, it was sonic perfection.  Wilma's Rainbow was 5 songs in and got the whole crowd moving.  Unsung was as brilliant live, as it was the first time I ever heard it. And then to end the night the trifecta of Milquetoast, Give It and the fucking awesome In The Meantime just left me wanting more.  50 minutes, and I felt the audience was just getting into its stride.  Helmet don't know how to put on a bad show. 

Helmet Setlist

It's been 11 years since I saw GWAR at Riot Fest.  I'm not sure I'd say I was a fan of the music, but the theatrics are stellar.  Tonight's show was about Gor Gor, the dinosaur GWAR found as an egg, raised as one of their own, taken from then, and his travel back to them.  So funny.  I'm not sure if this really counts as being at a GWAR show, as I was standing in front of Grodius Maximus, but never got covered in any stuff constantly spurting from the stage.  I don't really know GWAR's songs but I picked up on Sadaam a Go Go, Cracked Egg and Fuck This Place.  But it was the story of Gor Gor that was front and center.  His appearances from the egg, as a baby, as a teen to a full grown dinosaur was a feat in itself, pulled off fantastically.  The irony of the crowd singing along to America Must Be Destroyed as the final song of the main set was not lost on me.  A 3 song encore was perfect for what the crowd wanted, as a messed up crowd poured out of Piedmont Music Hall.

GWAR Setlist

Again, I struggled to get motivated to go to this show, but I'm glad I made the effort.  Dwarves were a great find.  Helmet was a powerful as always.  And GWAR is definitely the most I've laughed at a heavy metal show.

Balsac The Jaws Of Death

Beefcake the Mighty

Grodius Maximus

The Crap Facts
This is my 537th concert.
Piedmont Hall is the 143rd venue I've seen a concert at.
Greensboro is the 58th city I've seen a concert at.
This is my 158th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 337th concert in the USA.
Blood Vulture is the 629th band I've seen

Dwarves are the 630th band I've seen

This is my 6th Helmet concert.
This is my 2nd GWAR concert.

Six @ Belk Theater

This is a show that A has wanted to see for a long time, so when it comes into Charlotte, it's a no brainer to buy tickets.  The boys have had a mixed reaction to musicals, so tonight it's just Mom and Dad.  I picked a Sunday matinee, so as to not interfere with the boys soccer, and of course they were scheduled a game that day, so they wouldn't have made it anyway.

I was skeptical about a musical about Henry VIII's 6 wives.  But, to my surprise, this was a good show.  A modern version of each his wives sang their tales of woe, while mixing in the comedy of making themselves better than the other 5.  I really liked that it was just them, and a live all girl band on stage for the whole show.   While I knew a little of the story of his first wife, Catherine, and 2nd, Anne Boleyn, it was fun to hear the stories of the other wives.   And from a female perspective, and not a history book.

I too have not enjoyed some of the musicals we've seen of late, but this one I did.  And more importantly so did A.