Thanks to CMoore Evil, I got to go see and meet this wonderful band at a sold out show at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ. For those of you who have already seen the photos and videos I’ve put up, you can see they are all about the 80’s hair metal, which I love. It felt like I got put in a time machine and got to go back to the decade I really belonged in! Hot guys with big hair, spandex leopard print pants, and more makeup on than me! They really showed me up in the photos. They made me truly wish I could go back in time and go to some shows with my Mom!

A lot of people think that these guys are a tribute band, and although they do spend a lot of time talking about the best bands from the 80’s, their songs are original and HILARIOUS. Their shows are a 2-in-1 deal, comedy and kick ass music. My favorite song of the night was “Fat,” a song about a fat-ass groupie that apparently got it on with the drummer, Stix.

They were also extremely interactive with the crowd. Pointing people out and either talking about how lame they were, how hot they were, or how many STD’s they were going to give them later. Personally, the singer pointed me out and gave me the horns or made other sexual suggestive motions to me during quite a few songs, which I thought was hilarious. Ted [Tad] Poley from Danger Danger also came out on stage and sang a song while wearing a shirt that said “Boobies make me smile” and then towards the end of the night, Steel Panther did a cover of Kickstart my Heart by Motley Crue.. My favorite!

Overall, when these guys get into character, they put on one hell of a show, and will keep you cracking up all night. I very highly suggest seeing them if they come to your area.. I know I will if they come back! If you haven’t checked out the videos yet, definitely go take a peek. I have “Fat” as well as their opening song, and tons of video of them bashing on each other and the crowd in-between. I would have recorded the entire show if my camera battery didn’t die!

Videos: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/?of=43102239

To be honest, gwar is not quite my type. I definitely don’t like the music.. and the theatrics just kinda make me laugh…or feel wrong. haha. Regardless, I did catch a couple pictures and videos that I will post soon. It was quite entertaining seeing everyone come out of the pit dyed in green and red! It was like Christmas! A very metal Xmas!

Lamb of God sounded great. Unfortunately I was only able to stay for 3 or 4 songs, but I got to hear Now You’ve Got Something To Die For which was kick ass. Their stage set up was actually very nice.. not what I would expect from a metal band.. definitely a band I would and hope I get to catch again.

I will have pictures up soon and a video of Now You’ve Got Something to Die For hopefully tonight.. but if not then for sure within the next couple of days.

I’ve noticed while listening to a lot of music from The Faint lately that a lot of their songs tell stories. This song in particular struck an emotional chord in me…it may be because I just watched an episode of True Life on MTV last weekend about a 17 year old paralyzed boy…but either way this song really makes you feel the subject’s pain, and not just from the lyrics. The overall mood of the song is pulled together with a very somber, slow and cold electronic beat, which leaves you slightly depressed..but grateful for things we usually take for granted.

If you like this song, I also suggest their song: The Conducter [Thin White Duke Remix] It’s not nearly as depressing, but another very story-like song. There are a few versions, but personally I like this one the best.

Lyrics of Ballad of a Paralysed Citizen:

I’m paralysed and things could change for you as well
you’re not so bad off now, you can move anything you need.
I’m not this way because of an emergency I caused
at seventeen a guard perched above the chlorine floor
when I saw a hand raise up from just beneath the air,
a frantic move for help, I made an instant judgment call.
dive- I arced my feet to dive, I broke the elemental line
to save a child. dive- into the shallow floor
the bottom scraped my palms and compressed my spine.
now i’m paralysed while they just hope to make amends
the family and the kid who faked the drowning incident,
i’ve felt the hand of god and that’s the last thing that I felt
at all below my back, i’ve lost the faith I thought I had.

SYKE! IT WAS FREAKIN’ KICK ASSSSSS! And all those people that told me they suck live were WAY off and certainly did not see this tour. The set list was great.. lots of their hits along with some songs off of S.C.I.E.N.C.E. which everyone claimed they never play. They also did a cover of a Prince song, with lots of funky colored lighting and great energy!

Of course, Brandon [the lead singer], was gorgeous. Kiwi and I were certainly ready to jump on stage with him… but we got beat by a group of 3 or 4 guys! We were back in section 300, and we see these 2 guys slap hands and run off. I kept my eye on one of them and saw him jump over a row of seats. I didn’t think twice until, about 15 seconds later, he was running across the stage along with the others! It was hilarious watching the Live Nation security guards run after them across the stage.  Amazingly, they got away and he ended up right back next to us. Then, about a half hour later, another kid ended up on the stage…though not as smart because he stopped in the middle and got tackled by a guard haha.

There were tons of frat boys there, too… which was definitely a change of scene for me. I’m used to either goth kids, emo kids and the ocasionally biker/metal dudes… so the dress code is usually.. well… black. haha.  Here, there were popped collars and pin stripes left and right! And I must say it was quite the sausage fest… but I’m not complaining!

I’d have to say one of my favorite songs of the night was Dig. They did it acoustic, but I still got a lot of energy out of it and enjoyed watching/listening to a little bongo battle they had going on. Overall, they sounded great, his voice was just as powerful, if not more powerful, then it is on the albums, and watching the band interact with eachother made it really exciting. Even their slower songs really hit home.

Well, I still have a few more concerts this summer… so I’ll be writing more soon!!

xoRoxie Rosexo

So all in all, amazing Static show… if you ever get the chance to see them, I highly recommend! Even if you don’t know the music well, as long as you like to rock out, you’ll have fun.

So then on Monday I went to Depeche Mode with my parents. I had seats up in the nosebleeds of Madison Square Garden, which sucked…especially since I already hate the layout of MSG… being up on the highest section side stage wasn’t exactly ideal.. but I wanted to have a good time anyways.

Unfortunately, there was a super drunk couple in front of us. Usually, I could care less.. but these two were MACKING IT like CRAZY and were so noisy and obnoxious. It’s one thing to have a good time… another to be a drunken mess and ruin it for everyone around you. I like to get up and dance but I still have respect enough for other people around me. Anyways, enough of the rant… though it was funny when the girl was propped up on the bar and almost fell off into the lower level.. haha!

So Depeche Mode came out, and opened up with “In Chains,” which is probably my favorite from their new album, along with their single “Wrong.” I was hoping since Depeche Mode has been around for so long, that they would play a lot of their hits from over the years instead of all stuff from the new album… but that didn’t really happen. The first half of the show was pretty much all new stuff.. but it was still fun. Their visuals on stage were okay… it was the normal video screens but there was a big bubble in the middle that popped out and the coolest thing they did with that was put a video of a giant crow’s eye up.. and it was looking around and blinking and stuff which was creepy but even that got boring by the end of the song. I feel a lot of bands put pointless crap up behind them while they play that is on a loop that no one really cares about.. might as well put an iTunes visualizer up and atleast it’d go with the music. Fans would way rather see the band just blown up on the screens for the people in the farther seats, or put on something that compliments the performance. Now, I know everyone knows I’m obsessed with NIN, but really, the visuals they have during their shows makes SENSE. It’s interactive with what the band is doing, rather than having pictures of hot chicks and beer and flaming hippos in the background of a song about hating your dad. Okay maybe that’s an exaggeration but you get the idea. haha.

So, back to Depeche Mode… the band ended their set with almost no attention to old music. Of course everyone knew they’d come out for an encore… actually, 2 encores. haha. Apparently, that was the norm in the 80’s… so that was a surprise for my young self. They played Personal Jesus, which made me happy, though I do wish I coulda heard People are People. The most unexpected song of the night was Stripped, which is one of my personal favorites.. so I suppose that made up for no People are People encore! Dave was great with engaging the crowd…had lots of arms flailing in the air, singing choruses, and showing off his moves on stage.

I’m gunna have to say out of the 2, Static X took the cake for a more exciting and fan-engaging show, but I’m really happy I got to see Depeche Mode… a band that has stayed on the scenes through generations, and can still rock a full crowd.

I will be posting the videos and pictures on my facebook: facebook.com/rockin.roxie.rose   So come check it all out, see the creepy crow eye and Wayne Static’s mile-high-hair for yourself!

And now, I must go get ready for Incubus at PNC tonight! Keep checking for updates! =D

xoRoxieRosexo

Then on August 3rd, I will have a complete change of pace when I go to Madison Square Garden to see Depeche Mode. That’s right… I love my 80’s music… and I’ll be going with my parents! Haha. I can’t wait to go. I actually am not all that impressed with their new album, but as long as they play some of the old hits I will be completely satisfied… namely People are People.. my fave hit!

A mere 4 days later, I will be going to the Incubus concert with Kiwi at PNC. I actually won us tickets by going to a WDHA event at a bar in Morristown, which was hosted by C-Moore Evil. We will be somewhere in the 300’s.. I believe is was 305. I’ve heard Incubus isn’t necessarily great live, since they tend to play new, slower stuff. But I’m still excited to go and see for myself.

After that I get a break for a week or two. On August 20th, I begin my week stay in NYC. The 20th will be spent at the Upright Citizens Brigade to see the stand-up comics act with the YouTube sensation, Picnicface. It should be a ton of fun and if you’re around, come along! Kiwi will be with me, and hopefully Miss Machine as well. 

Then, I will be starting my first day of my second NIN fest this summer! On the 22nd and 23rd I will be seeing NIN with my journalist friend and fellow NIN lover, Dave. We had met back when With Teeth was first released at a listening party in NYC. We’ve stayed in touch and he will be flying to NYC for the NIN shows, and since I failed to get tickets for the Webster Hall and Bowery Ballroom shows, he invited me to come along because he’s the greatest! Then I’ll have a day break, and on the 25th will be attending the Terminal 5 NIN show with Kiwi and Michael Sossi, my NIN buddy. I am not quite sure if I am going to get tickets for the 26th show as well, but if I do, C-Moore Evil will be coming with me. Do you think I can handle a 4 day NIN fest?

 So that, my friends, is my collection of concerts for the next month. Soon after that I should be going back to school, so long as I can get the loan.. and then back to work I go. But damn, what a great end to a great summer this will be.

So if anyone will be going to any of these shows, let me know! Or just come up and say hello. I don’t bite.

xoxoRoxieRosexoxo

myspace.com/rockin_roxie_rose

twitter.com/roxieXrose

Roxie Rose Facebook

Now here I am, highly interested in the music industry, interning at a record label, going to more shows, and loving every moment of it…and I’ve noticed I’ve regained my love for metal. I probably would have come to this conclusion sooner, since for the past 2 years my taste in music has broadened like crazy, but no one I was around had been listening to any metal.. so I was never re-exposed. Lately, I’ve been working for a metal band, as well as hanging out with numerous metal heads.. and damn… it’s kick ass.

I spent last night with my best friend head banging like crazy to Lamb of God and just driving around town… man my neck hurts so bad I feel like I was at a concert last night. So now I’m at work, going between industrial goth music to metal music… and somehow, it fits so well. Must have something to do with my crazy moods.

Anyways, time to get back to work! …and maybe some tapping on my desk during good drum solos!

 xoxoRoxieRosexoxo

Everything is just put together so well, from the music, to the artwork, to the shows and the way he interacts with fans.. it is truly an experience. And I feel that there is a NIN song to match every possible mood you could be in.

So far, I’ve been to 7 NIN shows. I’ve met someone that’s been to 50.. so I’ve got nothing on them. haha. But, just a couple days ago, NIN announce another tour, which will be the last tour, at least for awhile. NIN is going to be touring with Janes Addiction, and I am DETERMINED to go to 3 shows in a row. I need to make my NIN number an even 10! Plus, their shows are by far the most exciting thing to go see.. it’s such a rush being surrounded by so many awesome people, and the light shows that Rob Sheridan [NIN's art director] put together are AMAZING even to someone who has never heard NIN before.

Well, I could totally sit here and cram all my NIN love into one entry, but I think I’d rather spread them out for dramatic effect. =P