Punk Rock Bowling @ 6th Street

Unfortunately I was only here for 2 bands on the 3rd day.  GBH played some old school hardcore punk, but I wasn't that into it.

I was there for Pennywise.  This was my 7th time seeing them, but the first with their new singer Zoli. I'm a huge fan of this band live but slightly skeptical of seeing them without Jim Lindberg.  Plenty of familiar songs, with Society, Perfect People and Black Flag's Nervous Breakdown highlights.  But finally I got to hear my favorite Pennywise song, Same Old Story, live.  I think Pennywise will continue strong.  After years of probably watching Lindberg, Zoli has developed a similar style that is not his own yet.  Once he settles in, and fans get over the fact that the new singer is here to stay, Pennywise will be their awesome selves again.

I hope not to be in Vegas by this time next year (9 years has been enough so far), but if I am, I'll be back for PRB.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 332nd concert.

This is my 3rd concert at 6th Street.

This is my 128th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 128th concert in Nevada.

This is my 140th concert in the USA.
GBH are the 399th band I've seen.
GBH is the 50th time I've seen an English band.
This is my 7th Pennywise concert.

Punk Rock Bowling @ 6th Street

For some reason security were unable to get people in at a timely rate on the 2nd night, so we missed Street Dogs and the first few songs of Hepcat.  With their swing-ska style Hepcat made for a casual start in the cooler weather this evening. 

Up next were the Cockney Rejects – the Godfather’s Of Oi!.  These East Londoners gave all in their hardcore set.  While it wasn’t quite my cup of tea, it was a blistering set.  I loved their football songs (which none of the crowd seemed to get), Trouble On The Terraces and West Ham’s unofficial theme I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles. 

Last band for the night was Rancid.  I can’t get enough of these guys live.  They are a great band, who put on a fantastic show, and fans aren’t afraid to show their appreciation for what they do on the stage.  Rancid's punk gives you no choice but to dance.  Their love of their music is infectious.  All the way through the set the band played great song after great song.  Roots Radicals and Olympia, WA were standouts.  And the encore with Time Bomb and Ruby Soho left me wanting for more.  That will have to wait for tomorrow night.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 331st concert.

This is my 2nd concert at 6th Street.

This is my 127th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 127th concert in Nevada.

This is my 139th concert in the USA.
Hepcat are the 397th band I've seen.
Cockney Rejects are the 398th band I've seen.
This is my 4th Rancid concert.
Rancid are the 200th time I've seen a band in Las Vegas and Nevada.

Punk Rock Bowling @ 6th Street

9 years in Vegas and this is my first Punk Rock Bowling.  How did that happen?

While the main festival goes all day, work (and the fact that I’m old restricts me to just a few bands a night).

The first night we got situated to see The Briefs.  A band I’d not heard of before, The Briefs started my festival blazing through a set looking like 80’s pop stars.  

The Briefs Setlist

I thought I knew English Beat songs but I found I was limited to just a couple.  Their ska-tinged rock was a nice interlude between the pace of the rest of the night.  It was also great to see lead singer, Dave Wakeling, rip into some idiot who threw something at him during the first song.  Wakeling berated the guy all the way out of the venue, with everyone (myself included) laughing at the tool as he unsuccessfully tried to save face.  Mirror In The Bathroom and Tears Of A Clown were crowd, and my favorites, but a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone will always make this Liverpool fan happy.

The Addicts were up next.  This English band pulled out all the theatrics for the night.  Great show and the lead singer in his garish costumes (while the rest of the band look like A Clockwork Orange) have a great presence.  Add the few hilarious costume changes and even though I didn’t know a song, I thought it was a great set.

It had been over 13 years since I’d last seen NoFX, and then I wasn’t that into it.  Tonight it is completely different.  From the get go, the show was fun, funny and rocking.  I’m not familiar with a lot of their songs, but they played Leave It Alone, which is my fave, as well as the Punk In Drublic album.  Between song banter within the band and to the crowd was funny, and the tiny banner on the stage was a big f–you  to other bands and their large displays.  A great first night.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 330th concert.

6th Street is the 88th venue I've seen a concert in.

This is my 126th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 126th concert in Nevada.

This is my 138th concert in the USA.
The Briefs are the 394th band I've seen.
The English Beat are the 395th band I've seen.
The Addicts are the 396th band I've seen.
This is my 2nd NoFX concert.
NoFX are the 50th time I've seen a band in at least 2 states.

Larry S. Lau

b 19 October 1935

d 18 May 2012

Survived by his children

Michael, Barbara , Lisa, Jenny & Jon 

his stepchildren

Drew & A 

and his grandchildren

Megan, Braden, Mitchell, Julie, Beth, Ian, Tyler, Amethyst, Patience, Holden, Harley, DJ, Mason, Barrett,  & Leland 

Our regret is Goo never met Barrett & Leland.  Hope you have landed at heaven's largest model railroad, surrounded by Morgan, Jesse, Sherman & a million labs.

Obituary in the Charlotte Observer 17 June 2012

Viva Elvis & Julian Serrano @ Aria

Ahhh! The trusted comp. A great perk of my job, which I have taken advantage of while my mum is here to see Viva Elvis for the 4th time. Because I sell the show we have been given some great seats and mum is excited. Unlike the free Elton tickets, which came out of the blue, I knew mum would want to see this and had this planned for a while.

I’d heard there were some changes since I’d seen it 17 months ago so I was interested to see what was changes to a show that is leaving Las Vegas in August. Mum loved it, she had a blast. I on the other hand was kind of bored. I didn’t think the changes did much to enhance the show, but I was still dazzled by the trampoline act once again. That was amazing! It’s kind of sad that this show could not find it's spot in Vegas' Cirque realm.

After the show we went and sat up at the bar at Julian Serrano. This is my favorite restaurant in ARIA. The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is not as stuffy as the other more formal dining rooms. Steak & Brie, patatas bravos, shrimp tempura and some sangrias were the end of a good night out.

RM Seafood & Santana @ House of Blues

Before I had gotten the freebies to Elton, I had bought tickets for Santana to take Mum for Mother’s Day.  Santana is a childhood holiday memory for me.  Mum and Dad always had Santana (and The Who) in the car as we headed north on a car-breaking-down holiday.  I had seen Santana before at the New Joint, but am looking forward to seeing him in the smaller House Of Blues.

We started off the night sitting up at the bar at RM Seafood.  Great restaurant right across way from the House Of Blues.  I think mum now understands how lucky we are here with all the dining options.

The show seemed packed in the seating, but there was plenty of room on the floor, closest to the stage, where we were.  This is to advantage of my 5ft mother.

While his guitar playing is amazing, Santana does not have an exuding stage presence – standing back from the stage and rarely interacting with the crowd.  We got some early classics - Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va - set the crowd alight.  Tonight he played a lot of songs I was not familiar with, but mum was having a great time, which was the whole plan.  Near the end, I loved Jingo & Evil Ways and the crowd went nuts for Smooth.  A great night seeing another great performer / legend.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 329th concert.

This is my 42nd concert at House Of Blues.

This is my 125th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 125th concert in Nevada.

This is my 137th concert in the USA.
This is my 2nd Santana concert.

Elton John @ Caesars Colosseum

Out of the blue came the invite I’d been waiting years for, and at the time when mum was here. Elton John at Caesars Palace. It is the first time I’d seen him and mum’s 2nd show – the 1st one was 42 years ago. How great is that!

We had some great seats in the rear orchestra. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would he do new stuff I didn’t know? Does he have the same flamboyance he used to? It turns out I need not worry as this is a great show.

The Bitch Is Back was the appropriate opener as Elton had many digs at other performers (Madonna, Britney) during his show. From there it was near on 2 hours of a mixture of classics and a few unknowns (to me). Bennie & The Jets, Tiny Dancer (cause that’s A's fave) and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road were highlights for me. And the set ended on a rocking note with I’m Still Standing, Crocodile Rock and the first 5 rows getting on stage for Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting. His one song encore was from the Lion King Soundtrack, which I didn’t know but everyone loved.

He is no longer as flamboyant as his younger days, but the electronic backdrop and the Million Dollar Piano more than makes up for this. This was a great show, and made even better that I could take mum – who had a blast! Hope I get the chance to take Amy in the future.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 328th concert.

This is my 6th concert at Caesars Palace.

This is my 124th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 124th concert in Nevada.

This is my 136th concert in the USA.
Elton John is the 393rd band I've seen.

Cage The Elephant & Bad Cop @ Cosmopolitan Pool

It had already been a long day by the time I got to the Cosmopolitan Pool.  What with Reggae & Phil arriving at 7am, the boys first birthday party at a park in Summerlin, and a house full of people, I could've easily just called it a night.  Thankfully I didn't!

It had been unusually cold all day, with rain while we were outside with the boys.  But with my trusty cardigan and beanie, Reggae, Phil & I met Erik & Shelly and braved the elements.

We were there early to see Bad Cop, a Tennessee band who were pretty good.  While it seemed as though no one in Las Vegas knew who they were, they played some great rock and got the crowd warmed up for the main event.

From the get go Cage were on fire!  They were out of the gates with 2024 and lead singer Matthew Shultz was dancing around stage like these songs were all his favorite of all time.  He has a crazy energy and does not stop for the whole show.  Even with the wind and the cold, the sound was great and there was not one lowlight to be spoken of (except maybe the small amount of attendees at the show).  In One Ear was wild, as was Back Against The Wall, and to hear everyone sing Ain't No Rest For The Wicked at full belt was awesome.  I had been listening to the Live At Chicago's Vic CD and was hoping they'd do the Psycho Killer cover, but was just as stoked to hear Pavement's False Skorpions finish a blazing show.

The night finished with me dropping Phil & Reggae off at the airport as they continue their journey home via Hawaii (I wish that was me).  I think they liked the show, I know Erik & Shelly did, and I as sure loved it.  Hope they come back through town soon

 

The Crap Facts:

This is my 327th concert.

This is my 3rd concert at Cosmopolitan Pool.

This is my 123rd concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 123rd concert in Nevada.

This is my 135th concert in the USA.
Bad Cop are the 392nd band I've seen.
This is my 3rd Cage The Elephant concert.

Mastodon & Opeth @ House Of Blues

Because I'm old now it is very rare that I don't call a venue to find out what time a band starts and I arrive a couple of minutes before they take the stage.  This was going to be the case with Mastodon, until I read an article about Opeth.  Described as a European black metal band, who unbeknowst to me, have been around for years, I decided to get in a little early and check these guys out.  They have a big following as the House of Blues is already near full.  I don't know any songs but instead of metal, it was more of like an atmospheric rock, which after time was agitating the crowd.  This is apparently Opeth's new direction and not so popular with their old-school fans.  It is not until the last 2 songs that they, and the crowd, cut loose with some great riffs and some music befitting of a Mastodon opener.  Glad I made the effort to get there to see them, but probably wouldn't see them again - unless it was guaranteed they'd play old stuff - I'm not much into the atmospherics.

Opeth Setlist

Soon after, Mastodon arrived to thunderous applause, though the crowd seemed to have thinned out slightly after Opeth (fine by this old guy).  Now that I'm a dad, I notice a lot of dad-like things, and early on in the set it was great to see the lead singer spot his young son watching from above.  Father & son got a great buzz out of the exchange and it seemed to spur Troy Sanders on.  This is the Heritage Hunter Tour, so Mastodon played a lot from their latest album.  Highlights for me were Crack The Skye, Curl Of The Burl & Blood & Thunder.  This is my 4th time seeing Mastodon, but 1st time at one of their shows (had seen them at festivals and opening for Alice In Chains before).  Great show, but a little short for my liking.  With 5 albums worth of material, I thought we may have gotten more, though the 10pm House Of Blues curfew for all ages shows probably had something to do with it.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 326th concert.

This is my 41st concert at House Of Blues.

This is my 122nd concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 122nd concert in Nevada.

This is my 134th concert in the USA.
Opeth are the 391st band I've seen.
This is my 4th Mastodon concert.

Madness @ House Of Blues

Another older band to check out! These are usually hit (Leonard Cohen) or miss (Bad Brains) but a risk that need to be taken.

Needless to say a right decision was made.

After dinner at Hussong’s in Mandalay Place, I walked into a relatively packed House of Blues with Erik & Dave and got our regular spot, down the front on the left hand side. We only had to wait a few minutes before we were graced with the presence of the 10 piece English legends. And from the get go it was all good. The crowd, a lot of which were English – and a lot older than I (it’s nice not to be the old guy at the show for a change) – reacted with wild abandon when the band started with One Step Beyond. Madness then proceeded to give Las Vegas a lesson in great ska shows over the next hour plus. Songs were somewhat familiar to me but the energy of band and the crowd made this a night to remember. It wasn’t until the last four songs that I got to hear all I wanted. House Of Fun, Baggy Trousers, It Must Be Love & Our House finished off the set, and the crowd was going nuts. After a brief break, we got a 3 song encore which left me wanting more. Unfortunately we did get Chas Smith coming back out to thank the crowd, wearing nothing but a towel – which was taken from him by the saxophone player. Leaving him to walk off stage nude as the crowd roared approval again.

I love going to concerts, and there is nothing better than a good one. But tonight I’ve never been so glad to see a show. The thought of reading about how good this show was would’ve been devastating. I wonder what the chances of ever seeing Madness again are.

The Crap Facts

This is my 325th concert.

This is my 40th concert at House Of Blues.

This is my 121st concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 121st concert in Nevada.

This is my 133rd concert in the USA.
Madness are the 390th band I've seen.

Kooks @ House of Blues

On the strength of 1 album (their first – 2006’s Inside In/Inside Out) I went to see the pop rock of the Kooks at the trusty of House of Blues. Also got Dave to come along.

Not sure if there was an opener as we wandered in as The Kooks hit the stage, as is my planning with the twins and work these days, I only get to a show in time to see who I want. There is a decent sized crowd, probably mostly English, but it’s a great venue with this size a crowd.

From the start the band and crowd had some fun but it wasn’t until after the 5th or 6th song, when the lead singer did an acoustic solo, that the show got out of 3rd gear. I had a blast, all the songs were good, but obviously I enjoyed the one’s I new best. Ooh La, If Only, She Moves In Her Own Way were the highlights. But they played only for an hour - what?! All the way from England and you can only put in an hour. That's a bit rawkus. I’m not sure Spooner was quite sold - but nonetheless a good night.

PS. Dear House of Blues Las Vegas, $17 for a Bud Light and a bottle of Dasani water!! Really? Really????

The Crap Facts:

This is my 324th concert.

This is my 39th concert at House Of Blues.

This is my 120th concert in Las Vegas.

This is my 120th concert in Nevada.

This is my 132nd concert in the USA.
The Kooks are the 389th band I've seen.

Las Vegas, NV

Today A is having her meeting. It’s our last day, so the boys and I are going to spend the day exploring. Around midday we head down to the Harbor to have a wander. I do the fatherly thing and show them the ocean, seals, seagulls, sand etc, but they are not interested – actually they are a pain in the butt with all their fussing. After an hour I can’t take it any more so we get back in the car to see if they will calm down. They do – by falling asleep. I decide to drive around, just for the peace and quiet. I try and stay along the coast as long as possible, just to enjoying being near the water. We ended up back at the hotel in time for them to eat, and after lunch the fussing continued, so we stayed inside. I tried to get them to nap later in the afternoon, as I wanted one as well before the long haul home.

When A came back I went out and got her a sandwich for dinner. We fed the boys, packed the car, and at 7.30pm we were on the road back to Vegas. The drive home was uneventful (thanks mostly to nobody being in the HOV lane for a majority of the drive), though we stopped just outside of Baker, where Amy took over driving as I was starting to nod off a little.

A good weekend – as usual not long enough. But a great town. We will hopefully be back someday, though I say that with many other places on list to visit.

Santa Barbara, CA

This is our whole day to ourselves and we decide to drive up to Solvang. We’d heard about this town, but neither A nor I had been there. Solvang is a small town an hour northwest of Santa Barbara that was settled by Danes in 1911. The northern European influence is evident in this small touristy town. We got there just as things were opening, and I think Mondays are their hangover day from the weekend, as there were very few people around. It was nice to wander around the small shops (and not see any large chains that you see in every other US city), and just spend time somewhere different with the family.

We headed back to Santa Barbara after a couple of hours. We stopped at Solvang Mission, but did not take the tour. We drove up via the coast road, which was picturesque. Just to be different we went back via the inland road. This was just as scenic, but of the surrounding countryside, rolling hills and Lake Cachuma, but not the Pacific Ocean. We stopped at Whole Foods back in Santa Barbara to pick up some lunch for all of us.

After feeding the boys their 2pm feed, we went out and wandered around the town – checking out State Street in Santa Barbara . Such a beautiful town – and again just being outside in the perfect weather made for a relaxing afternoon.

Santa Barbara, CA

Once we got the boys started for the day we headed down to Oxnard Beach for an afternoon of sun and sand. The weather was just perfect for us to put up an umbrella by the channel and watch the boats drift in and out. The boys, as always, loved being outside, though they wouldn’t venture off the blanket and on to the sand. We picked up some take away from Manda’s Galley and enjoyed the sights and sounds that I miss from living so far from the coast.

In the afternoon we made the 45 minute drive up to Santa Barbara , where we are staying at the Inn of Spanish Garden. The drive was non eventful, actually we went beyond as the boys were asleep and we were happy with the quiet.

After working in a 4000 room hotel, staying in a 23 room hotel was bliss and this one was beautiful. We are 3 blocks away from State Street (Santa Barbara's main drag) and about a mile from the beach. By the time we got settled in and fed the boys, we decided we’d head towards the beach to find dinner for us. We walked out on to the pier and picked up some fish and chips from Char West and sat on the pier. While it was a little cool, it was great to be outside (again) enjoying the ocean air.

Oxnard, CA

Up and out pretty early for our quick trip to Carolyn's. We reached Oxnard in no time and after a drive past the beach, we arrived early at Carolyn’s. It was a beautiful day and we took full advantage of being able to sit outside on the lawn. The boys loved it! While a little hesitant at the feel of the grass they were content to play on their blankets and enjoy the outdoors.

After their lunch we all drove into Ventura and we wandered around the small town and headed towards the beach. Again the boys were in their element. Feet up in the stroller, girls fussing over them and the warm sun on their faces. For me it was just great to see the ocean. All the smells and the people enjoying themselves – the ocean just seems to relax me. After wandering we settled on Corrales for lunch. This little, local hole in the wall Mexican place was fantastic. The best burrito I have ever had. And not just because we were both starving.

We drove back to Carolyn’s on the local roads. It is amazing that this area is mostly farmland, just a couple hours north of LA.

That night Tina, Grace & Sophia came around to see the boys and split a pizza. The boys had fun until they hit a wall, then it was all over for the night.