Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Book & Stage

New venue. And one that is having BRMC play for free. Am I dreaming? Am I still in Vegas? Could this be too good to be true. Apparently not. The Cosmopolitan has a bar which they are treating as a sports book during the day and a music venue at nights (hence the name Book & Stage). They are featuring bands doing 1 or 2 sets a night in a mini-residency. And tonight it's Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

It is an odd shaped stage, which sees the band separated from the crowd by the oval-shaped bar. But still it's free. A good size crowd packed into the small venue and the band were awesome. There was supposed to be 2 sets and I got there for the 10pm, and it went longer than expected and from I what I heard there was no return at midnight. Highlight for me was Spread Your Love, which the Cosmo had actually been using for their advertising campaign. Would love to have known what uncultured punters in the casino thought when they heard the song.  Also saw the Black Keys in the audience - bit of celebrity spotting.

It will be interesting to see what other bands the Cosmo will bring in (I have already missed Fitz & The Tantrums), but I hope there are plenty more. It is a good small venue, and you definitely can't beat the price.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 311th concert.

Book & Stage is the 84th venue I've seen a concert in.

This is my 107th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 107th concert in Nevada.

This is my 119th concert in the USA.

This is my 2nd Black Rebel Motorcycle Club concert.

Crazy Horse @ MGM Grand

If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all.

The Crazy Horse stole only 1.5 hours from my life and the ticket was free. Otherwise......

P.S. Could be the worst show we've seen in Vegas (and I've seen Barry Manilow & Cher)

Weezer @ The New Joint

2nd Weezer show with us and the Hills. I can't believe it has been 5 and half years since we first saw them (back in the Old Joint). That was a great night.

2 albums from start to finish. One I love and one I am not too familiar with.

The night started with the Blue Album, and it was one great song after the next. This is my favorite Weezer album and it was kind of weird being at a show and knowing what the next song was going to be. Regardless it was all good. Buddy Holly, Surf Wax America and Say It Ain't So we great. It was funny that the guitarist started a song out of order - priceless were the looks the rest of the band gave him.

After a 20 minute break, where we entertained by a roadie's stories of the past (including photographic evidence), the band cam back onstage to do Pinkerton. Not as entertaining as the first set, but who doesn't love El Scorcho and Good Life. They then finished off the night with an unknown to me one song encore.

Personally I think they would have been better off starting with this album and finishing with the Blue Album.

Not quite as fun as the last show we saw, but good enough for me to want to go again when they return to Vegas in August to play at the Red Rock pool.

 

The Crap Facts:

This is my 310th concert.

This is my 9th concert at The New Joint.

This is my 106th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 106th concert in Nevada.

This is my 118th concert in the USA.

This is my 2nd Weezer concert.

Leonard Cohen @ Caesars Colosseum

Wow!!! What a night!

Carolyn, A and I started the night off with a nice dinner at The Palm in the Forum Shops. Surprisingly this was the first time I'd dined there (and have lived in Vegas for 7 years). I had attended meetings and social functions, but not actually dined there. Great meal, and a good way to start the evening

I had heard that Leonard Cohen puts on a fabulous show, but there was no way of knowing how good it could possibly be.

This was the last show of a 3 year - 246 show world tour. Cohen joked that he had started this tour as a pipe dream as a young 73 year old kid. But the road certainly did not seem to weary this unbelievable performer. From the start there was so much passion in both his singing and on stage presence, you knew you were seeing something special.

I knew sporadic songs throughout. Opening with Dance Me To The End Of Love set the tone for me and I watched, just mesmerized, as song after song this man poured everything out for a very appreciative and loyal audience. I felt amazed when he left the stage after 13 songs and was excited to hear Hallelujah for the encore. Little was I to know, that Cohen was just getting started.

After about a half hour break, where a lot of fans moved down to the stage to serenade him back on, Cohen (and a wonderfully talented band) took the stage for Part 2 of the evening. Another 11 songs - of which Hallelujah almost bought me to tears, followed immediately by I'm Your Man. This guy just did not know how to stop.

Finally (I thought) he said his goodbyes to a very appreciative audience. But no - he still had 3 encores and 6 songs left in him. Finally at midnight - THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATER - Leonard Cohen said his final goodbyes and a packed Caesars Colosseum left knowing they had just witnessed one of the best shows ever!

It doesn't matter how young or old you are, or the type of music you generally like, if you have a music bucket list - make sure Leonard Cohen is on it. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I certainly hope I get to see him again. I also hope other bands with extensive catalogs take note as to how long he played for. Living in Vegas, I feel a lot of performers take the easy money and phone it in here, especially when, on average, we seem to pay more per ticket than other cities surrounding us.

The Crap Facts

This is my 310th concert.

This is my 5th concert at Caesars Colosseum.

This is my 105th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 105th concert in Nevada.

This is my 117th concert in the USA.

Leonard Cohen is the 381st band I've seen.

Dandy Warhols @ Hard Rock Cafe

First time seeing a band in a brand new venue. Good start!

I'm not sure why I have never seen the Dandy Warhols before? Maybe we just have not crossed paths, but I like their laid back rockin' style so time to check out the relatively new Strip location of the Hard Rock Cafe.

Good size venue, though I was disappointed with the turnout. The Dandies were great. Plenty of crowd interaction and heaps of great songs. And the sound, as Courtney kept saying, was flawless.

I lived in England when Bohemian Like You was everywhere (thanks mostly to Vodaphone) and live it was something special. Junkie & Get Off were also highlights, as well as a great set ending Little Drummer Boy. Will definitely go and see The Dandies again (if they ever come through Vegas anytime soon). Also looking forward to seeing more shows at the Hard Rock Cafe - a great smaller venue with great sound.

The Crap Facts

This is my 308th concert.

Hard Rock Cafe is the 83rd venue I've seen a concert in.

This is my 104th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 104th concert in Nevada.

This is my 116th concert in the USA.

The Dandy Warhols are the 380th band I've seen.

Ditch Diggers @ Double Down

For way too long I have been promising my mate, Roman, I would go and see his band - The Ditch Diggers - play. After many false starts tonight was finally the night.

The Double Down is a great, seedy Las Vegas dive-bar where bacon martinis and ass juice are the house specialities. It is also a nightly live rock venue that always has free music - and the best jukebox anywhere. I would like to come here more often to see shows but with my early starts at work, midweek days off and their late starts (usually 11pm) it is not the ultimate combination.

However after an afternoon nap (yes I'm that old) I got down to see the Ditch Diggers open the night to a decent sized crowd and see Roman tear it up. In the tradition of pyschobilly, rock and country this 3 piece can catch a crowd's attention. Roman's guitar playing and general humble-like presence (I hope having work friends there didn't make him hold back) is a unique blend which will enamour you to the band. I hope to see them more often and learn some of the songs as they put on a good show. I would also like to see them in a venue that could give their sound a boost as tonight's sound, through their own amps, was a little weak. A proper PA would do them wonders.

I did not stay for any of the other bands due to the previously mentioned early start at work the following day. After a year of hearing about the Ditch Diggers, I hope not to wait that long to see them again.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 307th concert.

The Double Down is the 82nd venue I've seen a concert in.

This is my 103rd concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 103rd concert in Nevada.

This is my 115th concert in the USA.

Ditch Diggers are the 379th band I've seen.

A Perfect Circle @ The Pearl

An extremely rare appearance by A Perfect Circle - their first shows in Vegas 6 years - which I saw at the Joint. Thanks to Erik not wanting to go to a party, we managed to pick up 2 tickets through Stub Hub, as both tonight's and the next sold out in no time.

This was the first show at the Pearl where I had sat in the upper tier and while seats at a rock show aren't usually my thing, tonight it came in handy. After foolishly paying $34 for 4 beers (Pearl: please note I will not be drinking at your venue EVER again unless for some unbelievable reason you make your drinks prices more reasonable) we got to our seats as A Perfect Circle started (right at 8.30pm). Tonight's show was them playing their first album - Mer de Noms - from start to finish. Naturally I was on my feet from the start as I was just waiting to hear one song - Judith - and I was not let down. This definitely an all time favorite. However the rest of the set was not fantastic and this is where the seats came in handy.

After they finished the album, they finished with 2 great covers - David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes (another fave of mine) and John Lennon's Imagine (a dark and disturbing version).

The other disappointment / surprise was that it was all over by 9.45pm. What happened to rock? Not that I ought to complain too much - I did have to be up early for work the following morning.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 308th concert.

This is my 9th concert at The Pearl.

This is my 102nd concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 102nd concert in Nevada.

This is my 114th concert in the USA.

This is my 2nd A Perfect Circle concert.
A Perfect Circle are the 200th time I've seen a band in the USA.

Wait! Wait!...Dont Tell Me @ Paris Hotel

Going to a theater......to watch a radio show being taped.

A Saturday favorite, when I can hear it, NPR's Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me, normally recorded in Chicago, is in Vegas for 1 night only, so even though A flies back from Phoenix from a work trip, we have tickets ready to go.

This is only the 2nd time I've been in this theater, but even from the 2nd last row, seats are not bad. The only disappointment is the place is not even 2/3 full. Oh well, Las Vegas' loss.

WWDTM is a current affairs / comedy program where the host, Peter Sagal, asks questions of a panel of 3 (usually comedians, journalists or political pundits), who are judged by the iconic, Karl Kasell. Listeners phone in and participate and, if successful, get Kasell's voice on their home answering machine. Tonight's show also included an opening performance by Harrah's Mac King, as well as an on-stage interview with Wayne Newton.

As with Jon Stewart earlier in the year, it is hard to describe a comedy show....unless you were there. Needless to say, there were 2.5 hours of laughs and in the end a little insight into the production of the show, as lines we re-read to "tidy up" the sound and the cast took audiences' questions.

I tried to get tickets to this last time we were in Chicago, but they were sold out. I'm so glad they came to Vegas and we got the opportunity to go.

The Hold Steady @ House Of Blues

I love The Hold Steady! And cannot understand why the rest of the whole world is not on board. We enter the House of Blues tonight to an only half full room. Which is good for me and A, because we are on the floor close to the band, and not packed in sardines.

The size of the crowd does not deter Craig Finn from putting on his usual energetic show. He seems to genuinely enjoy what he does and, at times, looks like he is ready to explode with enthusiasm. A lot of bands could learn a lot from seeing The Hold Steady.

Even with an album recently released, THS played a range of songs from their whole repertoire. Highlights for me were, Sequestered In Memphis, Barfruit Blues and Southtown Girls.

I really hope The Hold Steady become a huge success. They play great rock music, which backs some great story telling, told by an excellent frontman. I hope that one day, for their sake, they come to Vegas and play a stadium. But not right away, as their intimate shows (like last April's at the Beauty Bar) are a fantastic rock experience.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 305th concert.

This is my 35th concert at House Of Blues.

This is my 101st concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 101st concert in Nevada.

This is my 113th concert in the USA.

This is my 3rd Hold Steady concert.

Tshirt Retirement

There comes a time when you just have to let go. I have amassed a pretty good tshirt collection over the years, but I have decided to do a clean out and get rid of some of the shirts - some that no longer fit - some that I just don't ear anymore. I hope that someone else will get some enjoyment.

South Park shirt. I was always told that as a youngster I told that I used to mumble when I spoke. Making this shirt from a favorite show highly appropriate.

I got this shirt in 2008 on a trip back home. Since leaving Oz 10 years ago, I have a a heightened sense of patriotism. It took pride of place on Australia Day, but quickly shrunk and disfigured. Now it will be good for someone smaller.

Classic Cons tshirt. Unfortunately this cheap tshirt disintegrated quickly.

One of my slightly offensive shirts. But you gotta admit - pretty funny. Given to me by Reggae, at a time we were a bit larger and having fun with it.

Loved my Homer shirt. Wore my role model proudly for well over 10 years, while trying to live up to the Woo Hoo! feeling.

Interpol & White Rabbits @ The New Joint

Got in early enough to catch the White Rabbits, but was not overly enthralled with them.

One observation for the night - the downtown hipster bars must've been empty tonight because I have never seen so many skinny jeans, sports jackets, vests and paper boy caps in Las Vegas in one night.

I know only a few Interpol songs, but had heard they put on a good show, so here I am to see what all the fuss is about. It was pretty much a straight forward rock show. Obviously the songs I knew were preferable, with Narc, PDA and Slow Hands being the highlights. Otherwise there was nothing exceptional that would make me race back to see them again.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 304th concert.

This is my 8th concert at The New Joint.

This is my 100th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 100th concert in Nevada.

This is my 112th concert in the USA.

White Rabbits are the 377th band I've seen.

Interpol are the 378th band I've seen.

Alice In Chains, Deftones & Mastodon @ The New Joint

I cant believe it's been 17 years since I last saw Alice In Chains - and 11 since I'd seen the Deftones so I was really looking forward to tonight's show.

To start though it was Mastodon, who I've seen twice before and really like. Except for the sound, they played a great set. It's a shame their set was so short though only - 35 minutes. Still Mastodon ripped through some great songs - Crystal Skull being my favorite.

It wasn't long before the Deftones hit the stage, and they did so at full speed. The band were in fine form and all looked like they rather be nowhere else. Around The Fur and My Own Summer were incredibly awesome! And to be 30 feet from the stage was great. Strangely the Vegas crowd did really get into it - though this is something that happens a lot in this town. I must make an effort to see the Deftones again soon - their energy is unsurpassed by any band I've seen in a while.

It was mixed emotions about seeing Alice In Chains tonight. Obviously to see them without Layne is not for the "purists", hence I couldn't get A to come tonight, but still they have so many great songs that still need to be heard. So I went with an open mind. Just like the Horden in 93, Alice In Chains opened with a white screen across the front of the stage and different members of the band walking on - only their shadows showing. The hit of the first drums of Them Bones and the curtain dropped and the band were in full force. This was the last show of a quick 1 month tour through the US and while I'd read some not so flattering reviews, those people should have been at this show. AIC was smart enough to know that people want to hear the old stuff and put just a few new songs in the set. Every song better than the last. And as for William Duval - he is a more than suitable front man - even for Alice In Chains. His voice is spot on and anyone who may have had reservations would have left with a different opinion. Great show!

The Crap Facts:

This is my 303rd concert.

This is my 7th concert at The New Joint.

This is my 99th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 99th concert in Nevada.

This is my 111th concert in the USA.

This is my 3rd Mastodon concert.

This is my 2nd Deftones concert.

This is my 2nd Alice In Chains concert.

Carlsbad, CA

The night after the Melvins I woke up and had one of my migraines (my first for over 6 months). I took my time driving up to Carlsbad, driving via all the beach towns and the coast along the way. I had plans just to hang on the beach for the afternoon, but the headache and cool weather put the kybosh to that. Instead I checked into the West Inn & Suites to try and sleep off the pain, so I can hang out with Naags & Baden tonight, and get to the Hoodoo Gurus at Solana Beach tonight. The nanna nap helped.

I woke up feeling better, though kind of that hangover feeling I have after a migraine.  I called A in the late afternoon.  She was having a ultrasound appointment today about the baby.  I think my nerves about this was what may have caused the migraine.  And, as it  and turns out, rightly so.  We are about to become parents to TWINS!  Holy shit!  In the space of 2 years we have gone to not going to have children, to trying, to almost giving up, to parents of two.  What a change!  This should bring some wild reactions once people know we are pregnant.  I think I had an inkling that this was going to happen, because I wasn't really surprised when A told me.  With her mum being a twin, and my nan, (not to mention A's doctor joking about it when we first found out - boy that next conversation will be an interesting one), it seemed natural when she told me.  Interesting times ahead.

Naags came around around 6pm, and I couldn't contain myself.  He became the first person to know we were pregnant, let alone with twins.  Poor guy, shock had kicked in for me and I think I said fuck in front of Baden about 30 times.  We headed down towards the beach to have dinner at Vigilucci's Steak & Seafood. Great restaurant overlooking the water. Unfortunately fog stopped us from watching the sunset (growing up on the east coast of Oz, I am still fascinated by watching the sunset over the water - instead of rising). Was a great meal and good to do the annual catch up with Naags. As per my usual migraines I was completely wiped out after dinner and headed back to the hotel and missed the Hoodoo Gurus. Oh well, next time!

Still was a productive weekend. Another great Melvins show, a catch up with an old school mate, and the revelation that I'm gonna be a father of 2.  Except for all the driving it was a relaxing weekend. I'll have to go back to work to recover.

Melvins & Totimoshi @ The Casbah

Road Trip!

Got out of work half an hour early and made my way for 5 1/2 hours down the I-15 to San Diego for a weekend of rock and catching up with an old friend. The drive down was smooth except for traffic around Yermo because of that fucking ridiculous fruit checkpoint on the freeway. California has no better way to employ 30 people than to cause traffic on a major freeway?

Anyway I arrived at my close-by accommodations, Motel 6 at the airport at about 9pm. Just enough time to relax a few minutes and then walk around the corner to the Casbah - the scene of tonight's rock. I have no idea what time the bands start, but hopefully I hadn't missed anything. Got to the venue in enough time to have a beer before Totimoshi came on stage. I new nothing of this band but is seems they are the crew for the Melvins - using the drum set all ready to go. These guys are great. A perfect fit musically for the Melvins (take note Pixies). Totimoshi ripped through about 45 minutes of unknown-to-me rock which impressed the early crowd.

Instantly I am a big fan of the Casbah. It is a small venue (no more than 200 people) and great access to the bands. I just wish they had of got the air conditioner to work earlier. It's not particularly hot, but with the humidity, I can not stop sweating. Between bands 2 of the Melvins briefly lingered with the crowd before finally a door opened and Buzz walked on stage. The rest of the band arrived, walking through the crowd to the stage, in some sort of turquoise-bedazzeld-Gladiator outfit and the the twin drum attack set the crowd alight. Melvins powered through their set and it is amazing to watch them, especially the intertwined 2 drummers. I know plenty of Melvins music, though not the names of songs, and there were plenty that I recognized tonight (though in 5 shows they've never played my favorite - Honeybucket). The set was awesome, and the Pinhead (Ramones) cover was wild. I was supposed to come down a few months back, but left it too late to get a ticket. I am very happy that I got my finger out and got down for this one.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 302nd concert.

The Casbah is the 81st venue I've seen a concert.

This is my 2nd concert in San Diego.

This is my 8th concert in California.

This is my 110th concert in the USA.

Totimoshi are the 376th band I've seen.
This is my 5th Melvins concert.
Melvins are the 1st band I've seen in 4 states.

Pixies & Fuck Buttons @ The New Joint

I listened to Doolittle, my one and only Pixies album, on the drive to the Joint. This is another band I had never really gotten into (not sure why not) but they were a favorite of a favorite of mine (Nirvana), so Erik and I went to check them out.

Firstly though we had to endure the Fuck Buttons. Like Animal Collective, the Fuck Buttons are a couple of guys making electronic noise and boring the shit out of me. I understand that people have a wide variety of music tastes and that some people would like this (I'm looking at you Moz), but there is a time and a place. Surely being a band for 20 plus years, the Pixies could have come up with a better support act. Either that or it was genius to put such an ordinary support on the slot, so that way you look so good it is ridiculous.

The Pixies entrance was accompanied by a video in the background, which was highly surreal. The whole crowd cringed in horror as the clip showed a donkey's eye being slit. I had heard a movie that had this, but it was the only part of the movie I knew of. As it turns out, this was the move. The Luis Bunuel / Salvador Dali "Un Chien Andalou". The surrealists 16 minute silent film was the backdrop to the Pixies taking the stage.

So ignorant was I of the Pixies that as they started I found out that the tour was to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Doolittle. Which means at least I'd know some of the songs. And from the start the band had the crowd partying. A few b-sides and songs before Debaser sent the crowd into a frenzy. Pixies then proceeded to play Doolittle from start to finish. Great sound (the best at the New Joint since No Doubt) and a rockin', visual, quick set. When they finished after Gouge Away they made a big deal about farewelling the crowd. It looked like we were only going to get an hour - not happy (but it would give me the opportunity to possibly get to the Las Vegas Country Saloon to see a mate's band, Ditch Diggers, perform. Wheels were almost in motion until after a short break the Pixies were back on stage for the first of 2 encores.

Overall a great show, considering I wasn't familiar with a lot of their work, but the highlights for me were Debaser, Monkey Gone To Heaven and, from the 2nd encore, Where is My Mind? Another band off the bucket list.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 301st concert.

This is my 6th concert at The New Joint.

This is my 98th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 98th concert in Nevada.

This is my 109th concert in the USA.

Fuck Buttons are the 374th band I've seen.
The Pixies are the 375th band I've seen.