Help Needed: Lineups of RIP Magazine Anniversary Parties

Friends...
Lonn Friend is looking to gather the complete and full line ups of every band that performed at the RIP ANNIVERSARY Parties which took place in the fall every year between 1987 and 1993 or '94. Here is Lonn's email to me:

We threw seven anniversary parties during my tenure at the magazine. There are You Tube clips galore of the most legendary moments but what I'm looking for is a complete itinerary of the bands that performed at each blowout beginning with the humble lst Anniversary Cathouse in '88 jam through the Pantera finale in '94. I've got partial bills but a lot of holes. Thanks for your assistance! xL.

I have some old RIP magazines but due to water damage in my basement, many are in storage. Here is what I have:

1989:
GNR

1990:
GAAK (including members of GNR, Metallica and Skid Row)

1991: Seattle Party
Soundgarden
Pearl Jam
Temple of the Dog Jam
Alice In Chains

1992:
Bon Jovi
Warrant
Spinal Tap?

Any assistance would be appreciated, Feel free to post here or email me directly.

Inside The World of Wes Anderson

"He knows how to convey the simple joys and interactions between people so well and with such richness."
-Martin Scorsese on Wes Anderson

The AP Newswire and the Washington Post had a excellent article and interview, by Jack Post, with wildly eccentric director Wes Anderson a few months back and I wanted to re-post it here. The original link to the Washington Post can be found here.

Anderson has become one of my favorite directors working today. His films light up the screen and immediately have a distinctive mark that when you see them, you know they belong to Wes Anderson. I'll be writing about The Darjeeling Limited shortly but wanted to post this interview as a precursor to my article for those of you who are not familiar with the quirkiness and brilliance of Wes Anderson.

John Mellencamp Pictures from Rockford, IL Show

Numerous people emailed me inquiring about pictures from the John Mellencamp show I reviewed last month in Rockford. I did not take any, but John Elbers of Rockford Register Star did and they all can be found at this link. He caught some rather striking poses and I suggest everyone checking them out.

Photo credit: JOHN F. ELBERS II RRSTAR.COM

Acoustic Performance by Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows on 2/1/08 in Baltimore

I dig Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows and even though his band has taken far too long in between albums (:-)), he's serving a great cause here in Baltimore and I admire him for taking the time and lending his name to the cause. Ticket info is here.

Carson's Feel Good Fest
With an Acoustic Performance by Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows (full set) w/ The Flood
Friday, February 1
Doors 7pm
$125 ($75 of each ticket is tax deductible)
21 AND OVER

Grammy nominated and multi platinum selling artist Adam Duritz of Counting Crows is set to play an acoustic set for the Carson Harris Foundation Charity Event Feel Good Fest." The event will raise money and awareness for pediatric neurological disorders. Duritz, the lead singer of Counting Crows, will be performing with Dave Gibbs from the band Low Stars, following the opening act The Flood.
http://www.ramsheadlive.com/
***ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT JOHNS HOPKINS PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY***

2007...300+ Posts Later

2007 has been a rather exhaustive year, but a good one. The latter half of this year proved to be very fruitful from a writing perspective and today, 12/31/07, I posted my 300th post for the year. Some were a few mere sentences and others were pages upon pages long. The feedback I received proved to be the most rewarding because it was proof that people actually read this blog.

Look for a bigger and better 2008 and thanks for stopping by!
xTony

Vintage AC/DC, Nirvana, Bon Jovi, Metallica & Guns N' Roses Still Big-Sellers

This was all over the net a few months back and despite the increase of illegal downloading, it's rather amazing...scratch that, flat out stunning to see how some of these albums continue to find and forge audiences year after year. Also, in case anyone is ever wondering why AC/DC has never put out a "Greatest Hits" record, read below and you'll understand all too well.

xT

Vintage AC/DC, Nirvana still big-sellers

By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer
Mon Jul 16, 5:31 PM ET

NEW YORK - Much of the rock 'n' roll and pop canon is well established.

Buying the albums of `60s and `70s acts like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley is akin to a rite of passage for any young music fan. These are the artists that baby boomers love to keep buying, and with whom seemingly every teenager at some point experiments. (Remember A.J. hearing Bob Dylan for the first time in the "Sopranos" finale?)

Now that the `80s and `90s are ancient history, what albums are people still buying from those decades? Do critical favorites like Radiohead and the Pixies grow more popular with time? Or do the Backstreet Boys and Madonna still rule the charts?

The short answer is that, above all, people are buying vintage Metallica, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Guns 'N Roses and, well, Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

AC/DC's "Back in Black" (1980) last year sold 440,000 copies and has thus far sold 156,000 this year, according to the Nielsen SoundScan catalog charts, which measure how well physical albums older than two years old are selling. (All figures for this article were provided by Nielsen SoundScan.)

Those "Back in Black" numbers would make most contemporary CDs a success. Metallica's self-titled 1991 album is altogether the second-biggest selling album of the Nielsen SoundScan era, which began in 1991. "Metallica" sold 275,000 copies last year.

Bon Jovi's greatest hits collection "Cross Road" last year sold 324,000 copies, while Guns 'N Roses "Appetite for Destruction" (1987) sold 113,000. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas Eve and Other Stories" (1996) continues to be a holiday favorite; it was bought 289,000 times last year.

Greatest hits compilations are counted as catalog releases, and account for the majority of vintage best-sellers. Artists that commercially peaked in the `80s or `90s that have had lucrative best-of collections include Garth Brooks, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tim McGraw, Creed, Queen, Tom Petty, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Def Leppard, Aerosmith and Lionel Richie.

U2, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Dave Matthews Band and the ever-touring Jimmy Buffett also all continue to sell large amounts of old records.

Michael Jackson, of course, still has one of the most desirable back catalogs. His best- selling "Thriller" moves over 60,000 copies a year and his "Number Ones" collection yielded 162,000 sales last year.

Avid fans may be buying everything their favorite artist puts out, but there's more than nostalgia fueling vintage sales.

"Young fans aren't excluded from catalog sales — especially the ones who really get interested in music, there's always that sense of discovery," says Geoff Mayfield, the director of charts at Billboard Magazine.

Not everything maintains long-term success. Asia's self-titled 1982 album was the biggest seller of 1982, but only sold 5,000 copies last year. Whitney Houston's 1985 debut, also self-titled, was 1986's top album, but now sells about 7,000 discs a year.

The same trajectory has befallen past mega-hits like Ace of Base's "The Sign," Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" and the Spice Girl's "Spice." Though one of the best selling artists of all time, Mariah Carey's self-titled debut sold a measly 5,000 copies last year. The Backstreet Boys' "Millennium" managed only 9,000 sales.

Alas, the turning wheel of fortune isn't always kind to boy bands.

"The only thing that kept coming to mind to me was that line in the Bruce Springsteen song: `Someday we'll look back at this and it will all seem funny,'" recalls Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke.

Now, some critical hits that were trounced on their initial release by the likes of 'N Sync can claim a measure of commercial superiority. The Flaming Lips' "Soft Bulletin," often hailed as one of the best albums of the `90s by critics, sold a solid 38,000 copies last year.

Radiohead's legendary "OK Computer," currently celebrating its 10-year anniversary, last year sold 94,000 copies. Nirvana's "Nevermind" has done even better; it sold 143,000 copies in 2006.

Current events can alter the charts. When Ray Charles died, his older albums spiked for months, says Mayfield. A new album from Alanis Morissette would surely increase sales of her 1995 disc "Jagged Little Pill," one of the best selling albums of the past 20 years.

Likewise, recent reunions of the Police and Genesis can be expected to increase sales of their catalogs. The Police's 1986 compilation "Every Breath You Take" has already doubled its already strong 2006 sales by selling 107,000 copies so far this year.

Many well-regarded albums continue to do healthy business, including: U2's "Joshua Tree," Dr. Dre's "The Chronic," Beck's "Odelay," Wu-Tang Clan's "Enter the Wu-Tang," the Clash's "London Calling," Weezer's "Weezer," and the Pixies' "Doolittle." Each sold at least 20,000 copies last year.

Still, many albums that are consistently revered on critic top-ten lists of the `80s and `90s have not sold much. Joy Division's "Closer," the Smiths' "The Queen is Dead," My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless," and REM's "Murmur" all sold 12,000 copies or less last year.

Labels often reissue classic releases to capitalize on the devotion of die-hard fans and to attract a new audience. In the past few years, revered indie label Matador Records has released Pavement's first three albums, including "Slanted and Enchanted," a disc frequently ranked among the best in the `90s.

"It's almost like a new release for us," says Matador founder Chris Lombardi. "We probably sold in a one-year period, pretty much what those records sold in their first year period when they were initially released."

Though hip-hop continues to rule today's charts, many of its most historic albums don't enjoy the catalog sales that those from rock's heyday do. Public Enemy's "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" sold 15,000 copies last year; Beastie Boys' "Paul's Boutique" sold 22,000; and Run DMC's "Raising Hell" sold far less than both.

So far this year, catalog sales are down 11.7 percent, but that's stronger than overall sales, which are down 14.7 percent, according to Billboard. It's a major portion of the music business. This year's total catalog sales of 95.6 million copies accounts for about 40 percent of all albums sold physically.

When people switched from cassette tapes to compact discs, catalog sales received a windfall as people re-bought their collections. The onset of digital downloading hasn't had that affect because CDs can easily be downloaded to your iPod, but digital stores do have the advantage of unlimited (virtual) store space to sell older music.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has pegged catalog downloads as 64 percent of all download sales in the U.S. (Apple declined to share its iTunes data on catalog sales.)

That still leaves illegal downloads unaccounted for, as well as a more important quantity: cultural impact. Though bands like Sonic Youth, the Ramones and Public Enemy may never sell as much as other acts, their influence remains immeasurable.

"Impact is not strictly about sales," says Fricke. "Otherwise everyone would be running around forming bands that sound exactly like Poison."

Ickmusic's Year In...Music (2007)

One of my daily stops in blog land is over to visit Pete at Ickmusic. He has a delightful delicacy of artists he blogs on with fervent passion and even though I don't agree with his opinions from time to time, one can not deny passion when it bursts off the page and in our cases, the screen.

I highly suggest you check out his blog here and his Pete’s Year in (Ick)Music: 2007 is essential reading.

For those who are wondering...YES I will post a few Year End Music Lists, albeit, later this week. There isn't a ton of blog traffic to be had with everyone visiting family and friends so I'll be posting them when traffic and life picks back up.

Green Day's Secret Album (Foxboro Hot Tubs)

In 2004, Green Day released what was potentially the best album of the decade; American Idiot. So what to do with a follow-up? Well, they won a few Grammy's, did a OK cover of "Working Class Hero" and have largely been underground. But Green Day fans received a early Christmas present a few weeks back.

But then a few weeks back, the internet was a buzz with hype that there was a secret Green Day album released at this site, under the name of Foxboro Hot Tubs, for free no less. How they are getting away with this is beyond me. I can see the suits at Warner Brothers losing their minds at the potential loss of revenue from arguably one of their biggest and most important acts. It sounds A LOT like Green Day, but there has been no official announcement. The exultant, earnest and damn fine garage rock recordings have been in constant rotation on my iPod regardless of who it is. The album is no longer available for download, but keep your eyes out after 1/1/08, I have a feeling there will be some kind of confirmation or announcement. If something does happen, I'll post it here in a timely fashion.

Billy Joel To Play with the Philadelphia Orchestra and possibly Shea Stadium?

I missed Billy Joel both times he was here in Chicago this year. Chalk it up to bad timing and not hearing back from Sony or his PR people. Regardless, it has just been announced that Joel will be performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra on January 26th. I will attach the full press release below.

In other Billy Joel news, this news source is reporting that Billy Joel will perform at Shea Stadium next summer. I caught two Springsteen shows at Shea in 2003 and have to admit, it's a rather horrendous place for a concert. I can't see any reason why anyone would want to play stadiums anymore let alone Shea. However, he's Billy Joel and sold out twelve nights back in 2006 at Madison Square Garden setting a record and one of the main reasons why has to be credited to ticket prices. No tickets were priced over $89. However, it appears that many of the Piano Man's Canada prices were well over $100. Here's to hoping he takes the high road and makes the majority of the seats less than $50.

Billy Joel & Cass Dillon Performing "Christmas In Fallujah"
Billy Joel Miami 2017 Live @ Yankee Stadium

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 27, 2007

THE Philadelphia Orchestra celebrates
151st anniversary of Academy of Music
WITH STELLAR CONCERT AND ANNUAL BALL

Grammy Legend Billy Joel Headlines Celebration Concert in his Philadelphia Orchestra debut, performing selections of his popular works; Philadelphia Orchestra to give world premiere of his classical composition Waltz No. 2
in its orchestral version

Music Director Christoph Eschenbach leads program from classical to pop to avant garde, showcasing the innovative Blue Man Group and rising talents
Dísella Làrusdóttir, soprano, and Conrad Tao, piano,
hosted by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews

Anniversary Ball follows at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue

Philadelphia, December 27, 2007 -- The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Christoph Eschenbach will host an evening of eclectic performances on Saturday, January 26, 2008, to celebrate the 151st anniversary of the Academy of Music. Quintessential American singer, songwriter, composer and performer Billy Joel headlines in his first appearance with a major orchestra. Emerging artists Dísella Làrusdóttir, soprano, and Conrad Tao, piano, showcase stellar classical repertoire, and Blue Man Group show their colors in an original work with the Orchestra. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews hosts this special night, supported by main underwriter Blank Rome LLP. The Academy Ball immediately follows at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue.

The event is a night of firsts. Billy Joel will make his Philadelphia Orchestra debut, performing a selection of his own songs taken from an extraordinary 30-year career. The Orchestra also will present the world premiere of his classical composition Waltz No. 2 (Steinway Hall) in a new orchestration. A portion of event proceeds will support The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Billy Joel Endowment Fund for Education, which Mr. Joel has generously created for the first time with any orchestra. He has previously made significant donations to the music programs at New York University, the Juilliard School, Syracuse University, Eastman School of Music, the State University of New York at Purchase, the New England Conservatory, Tanglewood Music Center, and the Boston Symphony’s Academy for Advanced Musical Study.
Concert program
As the “Grand Old Lady of Locust Street” commences her next 150 years, the Academy of Music 151st Anniversary Concert celebrates the theme “From This Moment On” with a program highlighting classical, popular and the avant garde. The concert commences with an orchestral piece performed by Christoph Eschenbach and The Philadelphia Orchestra, and performances by Dísella Làrusdóttir and Conrad Tao will follow. The special highlight of the evening will be the Orchestra’s world premiere performance of the new orchestration of Waltz No. 2 composed by Billy Joel, followed by the innovative Blue Man Group, who will present a new approach to symphonic performance. The final portion of the concert features Mr. Joel, with his own band members and The Philadelphia Orchestra performing selections from his songbook repertoire specially orchestrated for the occasion. The Anniversary Concert is created and produced by Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton, who also produced the spectacular Academy 150th Anniversary Concert. For concert-only tickets, which are available on the Amphitheatre level, please call 215.893.1999 or visit www.philorch.org/academyofmusic.
Dinner and Ball
The gala champagne dinner and ball at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue hotel follows the concert. Nine dance orchestras will be located throughout the facility. Blank Rome LLP is the lead underwriter of the 151st Anniversary Concert and Ball, which is chaired by Mrs. Joseph W. Rogers, Jr., and Mr. David F. Girard-diCarlo. For gala information, call the Academy of Music Restoration Fund Office at 215.893.1940.
History of the Academy of Music and the Anniversary Concert and Ball
The region’s premier gala benefit, the annual Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball has been held each January for 51 years. One of the region’s most successful fundraisers, last year’s 150th anniversary raised over $11 million, with over $7 million dedicated to funding the restoration and preservation of the Academy of Music. Owned by The Philadelphia Orchestra Association, this National Historic Landmark served as the home of The Philadelphia Orchestra for more than a century, from the ensemble’s founding in 1900 to the opening of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in December 2001. The first Anniversary Concert and Ball took place on January 26, 1957, and celebrated the Centennial Jubilee of the Academy of Music. The event showcased a star-studded line up which included Marian Anderson, Hilde Gueden, Arthur Rubinstein, Isaac Stern, and Dinah Shore. Eugene Ormandy shared the podium with Danny Kaye.
More About the Artists and Event

For full biographical information on The Philadelphia Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach and special guests Billy Joel, Blue Man Group, Dísella Làrusdóttir, Conrad Tao, and Chris Matthews, access the pdf document at: http://www.philorch.org/pdfs/newsreleases/Academy%20Concert%20and%20Ball%202008%20-%202007-09.pdf.
Academy of Music 151st Anniversary Concert
January 26, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. – Saturday evening – Academy of Music

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Special guest Billy Joel
Dísella Làrusdóttir, soprano
Conrad Tao, piano
Special guest Blue Man Group
Hosted by Chris Matthews

Concert Program:
Berlioz “A Ball,” from Symphonie fantastique
Puccini “O mio babbino caro,” from Gianni Schicchi
Donizetti Excerpt from Act II, Scene 2, of The Elixir of Love
Rachmaninoff Excerpt from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Billy Joel Waltz No. 2 (Steinway Hall)
Wink, Goldman, Stanton, Etude for PVC Pipes and Orchestra
Heinemann, Pai (Some Assembly Required)

Billy Joel Billy Joel in performance with The Philadelphia Orchestra, performing selections from his songbook


This concert will be performed without an intermission.
This concert is sponsored by Blank Rome LLP.
Members of The Philadelphia Orchestra are graciously donating their services for this concert in support of the Musicians’ Pension Fund.

Gala tickets are available -- for information, please call the Academy of Music Restoration Fund Office at 215.893.1940.
Concert-only tickets are available in the Academy of Music’s Amphitheatre: $150, 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org/academyofmusic.

Tree in Anne Frank diary to be cut down

"As long as this exists, ... and I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies — while this lasts I cannot be unhappy."

I've been to Amsterdam twice; once in December 2002 and another time just last May with my wife. The most recent trip was for less than 12-hours, but it proved to be quite eventful. My wife and I made a week long trip to Brussels and we decided to take a day trip to Amsterdam. Considering I don't drink, smoke and am married, well, needless to say, the guilty pleasures I take in involve art museums. The Van Gogh museum may be one of the finest museums on the planet, but the experience that stops me in my tracks every time is Anne Frank's House.

Here was a young girl who made the harsh reality of the holocaust hit home and feel real. To see the things we complain about in daily life and to see how she lived for years while hiding from the German's is heart wrenching. Just a few weeks back, the tree that offered Anne solace during her years in hiding was torn down. The full article can be found here.

It's a sad to have this tree torn down, but only 28% of it is still healthy. It's a reminder that life isn't forever and we all meet our maker some day. Even more importantly, as blessed as I am with my life, seeing and experiencing great art reminds us there is good in the world. Just like Anne Frank felt hope when she saw the tree, sometimes the mere sight of a perfect blue sky, full moon or subtle nature involvement reminds us there is a world that does not involve corporations or cubicles. And even though most of us live in a world that is unrelenting, it's important that we acknowledge and recognize the beauty of simple things...because like a great film, song or book...it helps us get through the day.

X-Files: The Truth Is In Vancouver

As I stopped for breakfast this morning, I parked behind a car with the license plate of "XFile 93", the year the iconic show started. It reminded me of a draft of a blog I had but never published. A new X-Files movie is currently shooting in Canada and after years of false starts, I'm not just pleasantly surprised, but thrilled. I was a late comer to the series (got into it after witnessing the first movie). But I've spent many hours since seeing that movie watching the series in re-runs and on DVD. I even like the last two seasons which is something you won't find anyone admitting. Even when the writing wasn't up to snuff or when the episode became a tad unrealistic (and this was a show that thrived on it), I still ate it up and found it to be better than 90% of the television produced in the last two-decades.

FlynetOnline has some great video and pictures from the first week of shooting which can be found here. The truth is definitely out there and it will hit theaters July 25, 2008. A full article on casting can be found here.

Scorsese's Next Project 'Shutter Island' Is One Step Closer To Reality

According to AICN, Scorsese's next project is about to take off. Leo DiCaprio (surprise, surprise) is once again attached. However, it appears Mark Ruffalo has also just signed on. The full story can be found here. Hopefully the writer's strike will come to an end soon so they can get this on the screen pronto. As much as I love Scorsese, at times I wish he would take the Spielberg approach and do two or three back to back. Regardless, Scorsese is still the best living director today.

Want Some Kansas With Your Yamaha?

Holy classic rock cover! Check this out...I've never been a fan of Kansas in the least. They're one of those bands classic rock radio killed. In one of my versions of hell, "Carry On Wayward Son" is mashed up with a Boy Band song. But I must admit, the performance below blows any American Idol contestant out of the water!

Thom Yorke: ''In Rainbows' Has Outsold All Our Previous Albums'

Heads spun a few months back when Radiohead decided to sell their latest disc, In Rainbows, only online and allowing their fans to pick the price. Since then the big question was whether or not the model worked. It's not a model for the future, but here was one of the biggest bands on the planet, playing their cards well and according to this article on Gigwise, it appears they reaped huge benefits.

It's important to note, that the article specifically speaks to the DIGITAL sales of the album. Regardless, a band of their stature did a very crafty and smart thing here. Even better was the 100,000 box sets they sold worldwide at $82 a pop. Do the math, that's $8 million. For example, for Metallica to make that much money from their records, they need to sell 2 million records.

Love Radiohead or hate them...you gotta admire their business sense. In Rainbows will be available for purchase via CD at traditional retailers next week (starting January 1st).

Jambase on Will Hoge

It's no secret that visitors of this blog know that I love Will Hoge, he's one of the most genuine and sincere artists I have met and listened to.

Jambase.com has a great biography on Will which can be found here. On another note, Will has just expanded his tour schedule through the rest of the winter and the good news for me is there are a number of stops in the Midwest. The full list can be found here. Do yourself a favor, check the show out and prepare to be bowled over.

Bon Jovi, Southside and Gary U.S. Bonds Rocks the Basie!

This is courtesy of Backstreets magazine. No Springsteen appearance but it appears that Jon Bon Jovi stole the show with his former hero, Southside Johnny. I've travelled to Jersey quite a few times to see Spriongsteen holidays shows, but never caught a Bon Jovi one (which they did every single year from 1990 through 1996). In my opinion, the performances from these seven shows are among the best the Jersey Brotherhood ever performed. It's a shame they weren't preserved for posterity...or were they? Regardless, despite a hefty ticket price, the Hope Concert is an important event and it's great to see the artists give a once in a lifetime performance that appears to have left no one disappointed.

JERSEY SHORE MUSICIANS ROCK THE BASIE
Friday night's Hope Concert III raises a cool half-mil
Bruce Springsteen was not in the house for Bobby Bandiera's third Hope Concert at Red Bank's Count Basie Theatre last night, but as headliner Jon Bon Jovi said, it was a "mish-mosh of old and new friends."

The concert's mission was to raise money for The Valerie Fund, which provides support for children with cancer and blood disorders. The show raised more than $500,000 for the non-profit organization, exemplifying the spirit of generosity that defines the Jersey Shore music community.

Musical highlights included Jon Bon Jovi (who definitely brought his "A" game) performing a moving cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," Southside Johnny and Bon Jovi duetting on "Broke Down Piece of Man," and Southside's smoking solo turn on Marvin Gaye's "Can I Get a Witness," complete with euphoric backing vocals by Bobby Bandiera's Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Review (featuring Lisa Lowell).

Gary U.S. Bonds turned in a heartfelt cover of Otis Redding's "Dreams To Remember," while restaurateur Tim McLoone (whose son suffers from a blood disorder) dedicated Warren Zevon's "Keep Me in Your Heart for Awhile" to the late Terry Magovern.

The show closed with an ensemble version of Lennon & McCartney's "A Little Help From My Friends," summing up the spirit of the evening.
- Report by Craig Scupp, photographs by John Cavanaugh

- December 22, 2007

How Will Live Nation To Win Back Concertgoers? (antiMusic-The Biz)

How Will Live Nation To Win Back Concertgoers?: Convenience or Ripoff?
(Originally Posted on antiMusic.com)
By Anthony Kuzminski

It was reported last week that short of a miracle, Ticketmaster will lose its biggest client at the end of 2008; Live Nation (formerly known as Clear Channel). Is this a good or bad move for consumers? It is anyone’s guess, but I am hoping and praying that it is for the better. I still see a lot of concerts, but very often use alternate means to get my tickets so I can get around paying the exorbitant service charges. Why do I do this? I’ll break it down for you based on a truly horrendous experience I had in the summer of 2003. At the time, the huge outdoor amphitheater outside of Chicago in Tinley Park was known as the Tweeter Center. The Counting Crows and John Mayer were in the midst of a co-headlining tour and played to their largest paying crowds of their careers up to that point (approximately 30,000 seats were sold). I scored a ticket in the twentieth row a few days earlier and I was delighted until I checked out. Face value on the tickets were $36.50 and somehow, my final bill was $59.50 for one ticket. How can this be? Let me break it down for you.

Ticket: $36.50
Convenience Charge(s) US $12.50
Building Facility Charge US: $3.50
Order Processing Charge US $4.50
Print At Home Charge US: $2.50
TOTAL CHARGES US $59.50

What kind if a world do we live in where this is allowed? The artists were only seeing $36 of the $59.50 I paid. There was a total of $23.50 in service fees. This was whacked and from that moment on, I began seeing fewer and fewer shows as a result. I love music and experiencing it live is unlike anything else, but when does it become too much? If Live Nation ever wants to win back its customers they must begin to slash prices. There is no other options because it is not as if we are in a shortage of entertainment options. Now, I do believe in capitalism and I do feel that if someone provides excellent customer service, they should get paid, but not double the price of the ticket. Can you imagine going out to dinner and having the bill be $100 and all of a sudden with “service charges” its $135 and they still expect you to tip? People would stop going out to dinner.

Here are five simple and no-nonsense ways to win back people into the seats of concerts.

#1 Drop Excessive Charges
Why is there a processing fee after the “convenience fee”? There is no reason for this to occur and it’s merely slapping the customer in the face. Drop this charge entirely.

#2 Do Not Charge For Parking In Sheds
One of the most insane charges is the $2-$10 charge to park your car in a field a half-mile from the venue. Want to really attract people to come to your venue, make sure there is free parking, especially when space is widely available. Just a few weeks ago at Ozzfest, which was to be free all around this year, the shed I went to charged me $20 for parking even though the ticket stated that parking had been taken care of. Needless to say, I may not venture back to this venue ever again no matter who performed there.

#3 Make “At Home” Ticket Printing Free
This is one fee I have never understood. There is no charge for mailing you tickets (which has paper, envelope and postage costs)…but they charge you $2.50 to print your tickets at home (where you incur all of the costs of supplies). If anything, they should offer a discount for printing your tickets at home. This is the future of ticketing. If anything, make it attractive for the customer to print their tickets at home by offering a free download, $1 off your order or anything where the customer truly feels that you are trying to accommodate them. Why do people return to their favorite restaurants time and time again? It can be summed up in one word; service. If you provide them with simplistic and easy service, everyone will print their tickets at home.

#4 Offer Incentives For Buying Multiple Tickets
It’s insulting buying upwards of four or six tickets and seeing service fee’s add up to close to $100. How about offering four packs of tickets in undesirable locations (the lawn, back of the arena, or for shows that have lots of empty seats). Place one $5 service fee for four-packs of tickets instead of putting one on each ticket.

#5 The $5 Service Fee
Give one flat service fee. No service fee should be more than $5. No hidden charges, no parking, no building fees. Plus, $5 should be the high end of the ticket charge. If a concert ticket is $15, charge $2.50. If it’s $25, charge $3.50. Tickets for the Stones and Streisand should be $5 or $6 tops. People will feel like they are being taken care of and will spend more money on food, beverages, merchandise and most importantly…they will venture out to more concerts which at the end of the day will be Live Nation’s greatest long-term financial reward.

The concert industry has lost thousands upon thousands of customers in the past few years because of Ticketmaster’s excessive greed. It’s time to make the average customer feel empowered. If you give them a break on the charges and fees, you will be surprised at how many people will begin to attend concerts in large quantities once again and who knows…maybe then you will see a nation of people once again embrace the industry who has largely alienated them.

Anthony Kuzminski can be found at The Screen Door

Merry Christmas! (What posessed Springsteen to wear that hat?)

Wishing the readers of this blog a very Merry Christmas. I'm home attempting to clean the madness of my house but am enjoying the feeling of Christmas in the Windy City. I will be updating the blog all week without a break throughout the week, so come back. I'll leave you with one of my favorite Christmas songs...albeit sung by a guy in a strange hat!

Bruce Springsteen Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - London
Bon Jovi & Bruce Springsteen Christmas in Asbury Park 12/03

Santa Claus is Coming to Town 1978

Killer Springsteen Pictures from Europe!

Springsteen just wrapped a four week tour of Europe to rave reviews (even if fan reviews were less than stellar notably because of the semi-static setlists). Regardless of what anyone says, there is a exultant gallery of live pictures from early in the Euro tour on the net which can be found at this link.

What's nice about these pictures is that they appear to be from the entire concert and not just the opening two songs. The joy, physical and mental release that embody every Springsteen show are showcased beautifully in these shots. I highly suggest checking them out now.

Kathleen Edwards Sets Release With 'Asking for Flowers'

Kathleen Edwards came onto my monitor a few years back and I must admit, despite a few friends who admire and love her to pieces, I have had a hard time following their admiration. Now, don't get me wrong, she has immense talent. I haven't fallen in love with her, but the song "Six O'Clock News" has one of the most poetically brutal storytelling lyrics of the last decade. A proclamation of love and devotion for a man who has been pushed one time to many and snaps. Call it the female version of "Johnny 99". This is a slice stinging lyric storytelling taken directly from the Springsteen, Dylan and Cash's songbook. The 2003 album Failer is a solid effort, but "Six O'Clock News" is a staggering achievement sung with subtle conviction but eerie vulnerability and yearning that puts you right in the middle of the song. I have never grown tired of this song and when she appeared on the second Elizabethtown soundtrack a few years back, I figured that if Cameron Crowe digs her, then she must be damn good and I need to keep delving into her catalog. Needless to say, I've never taken her off my iPod.

The good news is that she is set to release a new album in early March and based on the short but sweet press release below, I must admit to being a tad excited. I'll definitely be checking her out as well in concert. If you haven't hear her before, check out the links below.

Videos
"Six O'Clock News" Live Clip
Other YouTube Kathleen Edwards clips

Here is the full press release for her new record:
(PR) On March 4, 2008, Zoe/Rounder Records will release Kathleen Edwards' Asking for Flowers her first new album in three years, and the acclaimed artist's most penetrating collection to date. The album features eleven new songs, all written by Edwards, and finds her performing at the peak of her creative powers, supported by a group of master backing musicians. Flowers tells indelible, clear-eyed stories of hope and resignation, humor and death, unconditional love and brazen inequality.
Flowers was recorded in 2007, mostly at Plyrz Studio in Los Angeles. The album was co-produced by Edwards and Jim Scott (Whiskeytown), and features, among others, keyboardist Benmont Tench from The Heartbreakers, drummer Don Heffington (Bob Dylan, The Wallflowers), bassist Bob Glaub (Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Leonard Cohen), guitarist Colin Cripps (Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams), and pedal steel ace Greg Leisz (Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss).

Asking for Flowers track list:
1. Buffalo
2. The Cheapest Key
3. Asking For Flower
4. Alicia Ross
5. I Make The Dough, You Get The Glory
6. Oil Man's War
7. Sure As Shit
8. Run
9. Oh Canada
10. Scared At Night
11. Goodnight, California
myspace.com/kathleenedwards

Who is Lloyd Zeffler?

One of my antiMusic co-writers have become one of the handful of essential daily stops I make when searching blogs. Not only are his articles great on antiMusic, but his blog is rather spectacular as well. I'm not entirely sure of the inspiration of the title of the blog, but damn if his interests are not wide and vast. There are album, live and book reviews on the blog.

My two current favorite are:

Clapton - The Autobiography Review

On the Road - a Jack Kerouac book review

His blog can be found here and I highly suggest checking it out on a daily basis.

Puppet Bike: Puppet Life-Cooler Than Cool

Working in downtown Chicago has its perks. One of them is when I escape from the office and venture out into the Jungleland of the city. I try and walk a few miles everyday which can be challenging depending which areas you walk through, what time, etc. While I was walking through Daley Plaza this holiday season, I discovered Puppet Bike!

When my in-laws came to town and we went downtown, I told them we must see the Puppet Bike and they all looked at me as if I had fallen off a bike and hit my head. Let alone even in the sub zero weather when I took them, they wouldn't leave.
Puppet Bike! The Best Thing Ever!

Puppet Bike Blog
YouTube Puppet Bike: Puppet Life Links

GUNS N' ROSES: CHINESE DEMOCRACY 2008 (From Talking Metal)

By Anthony Kuzminski and Mark Strigl
For the last 9 years, we have been anticipating the release of Chinese Democracy. This will be Guns N' Roses' first album of new material since 1993.

Despite the years of waiting, and the departure of 4 of 5 original members, the public has not abandoned this band. Gn'R's Greatest Hits record, which had virtually no promotion, hit Billboard's top 100 at #3 in March of 2004 and hasn't dropped off the charts since. Online discussions about the highly anticipated Chinese Democracy have been going on for years. Over the past few years, live performances and a few rough mixes of new songs that have leaked to the net have whipped both devotees and cynical journalists into an excited frenzy. It is evident that the craving for a new Guns N' Roses record is so intense that fans will buy or do almost anything to feed their appetites for destruction.

Today we would like to go on record by saying that just because there is no longer an iconic guy wearing a top hat on lead guitar, doesn't mean we can disregard the current incarnation of Guns N' Roses. Axl Rose is a brilliant artist who defies the norm with his unrelenting willpower. New cuts such as "Better" and "Madagascar" confirm that Guns N' Roses still have thunderous artistic expression inside of them. In a day and age where rock has become way too safe, Axl Rose brings back uncertainty and danger to art form that has been lacking it for far too long.

A massive league of loyal fans continue to keep the legacy of Guns N' Roses alive, and whenever Chinese Democracy finally drops, the fans' patience will be rewarded.

The Swell Season Chicago Review Up On antiMusic

The Swell Season...or better known as "the couple from the movie Once" performed in Chicago last month and it was a vigorous and passionate performance. It was truly one for the ages and my review of the show is now up on antiMusic and it can be found here.

I'll get it added to the blog shortly. In the meantime, here was the setlist from the show at the Vic from Sunday 11/25/07.

Setlist:
Say It To Me Know
All The Way Down
Lies
This Low
Heartstrings
When Your Mind's Made Up
Drown Out
Moving Slowly
Leave
I Want My Life To Make More Sense (Frames)
Fake/ Private Dancer
Astral Weeks (Van Morrison cover)
Once
If You Want Me
Instrumental Violin Piece
ENCORE:
Star, Star
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Dylan cover)

Guns N' Roses: Chinese Democracy 2008

When Talking Metal hit Fuse last month, I did some writing for it for what I assumed would be voice over work, but because what Mark and John do with the show is off the cuff and personal and real, nothing from me was really needed. However, the guys were nice enough to post it on the Talking Metal webpage here.

It was then picked up by Gn'R Daily and posted on their site here. I didn't even know about this until I was reading Bravewords and it was posted as a headline of "Guns N' Roses: Chinese Democracy 2008", which I clicked on and was surprised to see my name. My apologies to all of those who clicked on the link thinking they would find some news about a release date.

From what I have heard and based on comments by people like Sebastian Bach, the album for intended purposes has been completed and delivered to the record company. Which makes one wonder why it was not put on the fall 2007 release schedule. Aside from the Eagles and Garth Brooks, it's a dismal time for records unless it's a holiday one. The two American Idol winners barely cracked the Top-10 in their inaugural week with sales of barely 100,000 copies. Sure, it's not bad, but it's horrendous when 40-million people watched you mere months earlier. Do the math, That is .003 percent who watched the season finale of AI who actually bought their albums. hell, if you combine and triple those numbers, you still only have .015 percent actually buying these albums. Call me crazy, but I bet Chinese Democracy would have sold more.

So Universal Music...what's the old up? You could be reaping the rewards of major fourth quarter sales from this album and instead its sitting on a shelf while the charts are ablaze with Josh Groban. This was a missed opportunity of the worse kind and I blame the record company. One can only hope the politics gets sorted early in the year and we finally get to hear this record.

My GN'R Live Review from November 2006

My Talking Metal article on the Use Your Illusion albums

Richie Sambora Confirms Greatest Hits Volume Two

As Bon Jovi brings their Canadian tour to a close, Richie Sambora has been doing a slew of press. One of the more interesting topics can be viewed here. However, one comment jumped out at me:

Though Sambora has songs for a solo album in the can, his priority is Bon Jovi. He says their next release will be a Greatest Hits Volume Two, with a handful of new songs. "We're due for another Greatest Hits, then that will get us ready for the next studio album," Sambora says.

I'm actually one of these people who are OK with Greatest Hits records. Many people despise them, but in truth, they may be evil but serve a means to the end. These bands have financial obligations to their record companies and the employees of these companies. But more so, I love nothing more than the refreshing look a compilation can give someone. It makes you re-digest their catalog of work and in some cases, shines a new light upon it. Not all Hits packages are perfect, but they can be more than just fourth quarter financial saviours.

As far as I am concerned, Bon Jovi should NOT do a Greatest Hits Volume Two under any circumstances. It's been thirteen years since Crossroad and I'm not entirely sure that a single disc retrospective and companion piece to Crossroad will move a lot of copies. Plus, have you ever noticed that when artists release double disc sets they tend to retail for $12 to $16 whereas single discs retail for $10-$13. You tell me what the better value is? If you want to argue with me, go ahead but then tell me why Keith Urban's new Hits package is faltering on the Billboard chart while Garth Brooks new Hits set is thriving? It's all because of value.

If Bon Jovi is serious about releasing a second Greatest Hits record, I would highly suggest they read a former blog of mine posted earlier this year. It can be found right here at this link.

Bon Jovi-Half Way There: The Best of Bon Jovi 1982-2007

Dave Mustaine and Nikki Sixx on Talking Metal

When I got ready for my honeymoon, I ventured into the world of podcasts. I did some searches on the iTunes podcast store and downloaded about a dozen different podcasts and of all of those I downloaded, I listen to one of them still...Talking Metal.

I must admit to being partial to the podcast because I reached out to them when looking for outlets to promote Lonn Friend's book, Life On Planet Rock and as a result, I struck up a friendship with the guys. I even did some writing for the television pilot which has recently aired on Fuse. I can't tell you how happy I am for both John and Mark because they have busted their asses and deserve it. Plus they have been good to me, especially with the posting of two special and unique Guns N' Roses articles. One was a look back at the Use Your Illusion albums and another was a live review of their Chicago show from November of 2006. To Talking Metal's credit, they made sure that the Guns N' Roses manager saw it. As a result of them reading it, they asked for me to have it posted on the official GN'R website because they were thrilled to see someone "get it". Needless to say, within 24-hours of being contacted, Axl Rose parted ways with that manager and my review never made it to the official website, but it didn't really matter because it got more hits and attention from Talking Metal than anything else I've ever written. For that I am eternally grateful.

When they did the official pilot for Fuse, they did extensive interviews with Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth. I'm happy to say these are two of the best interviews these guys have ever done. Do yourself a favor and download them now at this link. Also, they can be downloaded through iTunes, just search "Talking Metal". Even if you are not a fan of heavy metal, I suggest checking the podcast out because these guys are fans first and foremost and you can hear the excitement and passion with which they do this show. Their love of music is infectious and as I said earlier, you may find yourself surprised as you begin to bang your head to Black Sabbath or Lamb of God before it's over.

Bon Jovi: What's In The Vancouver Water?

I must admit to being awestruck at the last two setlists Bon Jovi played in Vancouver. In fact, I'll go on record saying that the and appeared to outdo themselves on every show of the Canadian tour in December. My good friends Andy and Karen scored some prime seats for both Toronto shows and called me immediately upon completion of both of them to tell me the band had reinvigorated their senses. Now, it's important to note that both Andy and Karen went to New Jersey for the opening Prudential stand and was so unimpressed, they decided to not buy any tickets for any of the three Chicago shows. The Toronto shows were a fluke for them.

Now when my inbox began filling up Saturday night, I knew something was up. I thought Saturday's show was very good, but Sunday's took the cake with a total of 32 songs. Between the two shows, Bon Jovi played a combined 59 songs. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear that because this is venturing into Pearl Jam territory. More bands need to do this. The artists whose shows feature marathon shows (Springsteen, The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band, Phish) are the ones who have long term careers. If you give the fans every last ounce of your mind and soul while on stage, they'll follow you anywhere...anytime.

I can only hope that Bon Jovi continues to dig deeper into their catalog and make these marathon shows a regularity.


Vancouver, British Columbia #2 - GM Place - 12/16/07

INTRO
LOST HIGHWAY
SUMMERTIME
WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'
LAST NIGHT
(YOU WANT TO) MAKE A MEMORY
ANY OTHER DAY
TILL WE AIN'T STRANGERS ANYMORE
SEAT NEXT TO YOU
ONE STEP CLOSER
EVERYBODY'S BROKEN
WE GOT IT GOIN' ON
I LOVE THIS TOWN
PRAYER
BAD NAME
FAITH
RUNAWAY
IT'S MY LIFE
BORN TO BE MY BABY
KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR (Bob Dylan Cover Tune)
BLAZE OF GLORY
HAVE A NICE DAY
SLEEP
WHO SAY'S YOU CAN'T GO HOME
BAD MEDICINE W/ SHOUT

ENCORE:
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
RUN RUN RUDOLPH
SATURDAY NIGHT
BLOOD ON BLOOD
WANTED
TREAT HER RIGHT
TWIST & SHOUT

Vancouver, British Columbia - GM Place - 12/15/07

INTRO
LOST HIGHWAY
BAD NAME
RAISE YOUR HANDS
RUNAWAY
OLDER
KEEP THE FAITH
WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'
TILL WE AIN'T STRANGERS ANYMORE
BORN TO BE MY BABY
WE GOT IT GOIN' ON
IT'S MY LIFE
BAD MEDICINE W/ SHOUT
STRANGER IN THIS TOWN - RICHIE VOX
(YOU WANT TO) MAKE A MEMORY
DIAMOND RING
SATURDAY NIGHT
MYSTERY TRAIN
BLOOD ON BLOOD
SLEEP
WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME
PRAYER

ENCORE:
I LOVE THIS TOWN
WANTED
SANTA CLAUSE IS COMIN' TO TOWN
RUN RUN RUDOLPH
GLAD ALL OVER (DAVE CLARK FIVE cover tune)
TWIST AND SHOUT
TREAT HER RIGHT

Fuel Favorites of 2007

I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS has picked their ten best albums of 2007. If you have never heard of the National, the Star Spangles, Josh Ritter or the Broken West I highly suggest you check the blog out and get educated pronto! It's a slice of indie rock goodiness that even has myself heading back to place little check marks on these albums in my iTunes library.

Bon Jovi's Tokyo Show On January 14th To Be Televised on Wowow

Before you start to hyperventilate, it won't be on US television. But it appears that it will be the entire show from the Tokyo Dome on Tokyo television (WOWOW). Check out this link.

Back in the day, if you couldn't get to a concert, often the only way to witness the magic of a live performance was through the power of bootlegs. If you were a Bon Jovi fan, you sought out the Japanese ones as they always proved to be of the best quality. I remember back in June of 1996 when I had a friend from Japan send me the full Yokohama show on VHS and I nearly died as it showcased a band who re-did their entire setlist from the previous year and they performed numerous songs in different arrangements and in my opinion, it was probably the band at their creative zenith.

I'm sure clips will be all of YouTube within hours of the broadcast but I hope a good friend from overseas will be kind enough to capture it in first rate quality.

Cool YouTube Japan Bon Jovi Links:
"Runaway" 1984
"This Ain't A Love Song" 1995 acoustic
"Something To Believe In" 1996
"Ride Cowboy Ride" 1988
"Breakout" 1985
"Tokyo Road" 1990
"Living In Sin" 2000
"In These Arms" acoustic 2003

The Dark Knight Poster and Trailer Revealed!

This has been a great week for movie posters. Go to this location to get an early peek at the trailer. Rumor has it the trailer will make an official appearance online Sunday at this location. This is looking Battastic!

Keith Urban: Like A Rolling Stone (Live Review of Chicago Concert November 16, 2007)

Allstate Arena
Rosemont, IL
November 16, 2007
The sold-out crowd inside the Allstate Arena, just outside of Chicago, is on the brink of exhaustion but the beat to “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me”, one of Keith Urban’s preeminent songs, provides a second wind. The stomping beat is in sync with the heartbeats of everyone in attendance, and onto the walk way, front and center, Urban superfluously bends the low G string of his guitar out of tune as he kneels to the floor in an inexplicable moment of rock God awesomeness. The manner in which Urban delivers this nimble note is the equivalent of a great lover who brings their partner to climax without ever obtaining carnal knowledge. This simple act of down tuning one string bestowed an indescribable surge of adrenaline to the 13,000 in attendance. Urban sang the first few words (“Got no money in my pockets) and proceeded to let the audience take it over from there. The lyric “’Cause I’m ridin’ with my baby” reminds us of the uncomplicated joys of life while “It’s a brand new day” provides solace and “We’re on the wheels of an angel…Flyin’ away” restores faith. As the crowd sung “And the sun is shining!” the band kicked in full-force as they drove the sold-out crowd down the path of resurrection. The soul searchingly bright chorus is executed with blissful conviction. Through the sheer power of his six-string, Urban delivers exhilarating sexual tension in a way few, including Keith Richards, can master merely by the way their hands stroke the instrument. Others can copy it, some may execute it better but at the end of the day can they make the instrument in their hands an extension of their body and soul?

I got the one I love beside me
My troubles behind me
I'm alive and I'm free

As I sat in my seat waiting for the concert to begin, I thought to myself…”There is no way tonight can be as religious as the Milwaukee show last summer”. However, the Chicago concert attested that my watershed show in Milwaukee was no fluke. This time around, after the intro music prepped the crowd, the lights dimmed and an elated roar infused the arena. Center stage found a shadowy Keith Urban teasing the crowd with “Once in a Lifetime”. This wasn’t the album arrangement or even the one from a few months back but a restrained rendering accentuating Urban’s vocal before the band soared with vigorous momentum after the first chorus. As the song reached its conclusion, Urban channeled his inner Slash for a storming finish that achieved arena rock perfection. He very easily could have coasted through the next two-plus hours resting on his good looks but he did no such thing. Urban’s stage presence conjures a feral array of sensations with his captivating melodies, beguiling hooks, meditative lyrics and his titanic solos.

Keith Urban may possibly the preeminent live performer touring the arena circuit at this moment for reasons that extend beyond the high-spirited performances. His tickets are priced affordably (between $30 and $60) and his stage set up is one of the best without being distracting in the least. It’s very fan friendly with a walkway, B-stage, unbelievable high definition screen and a pristine sound system. This is no easy feat in the Allstate Arena; just last month Van Halen performed in the same building and produced the worst sounding show I’ve heard in fifteen years. When I wrote about it in my review, their soundman sent me an email saying there was “no way to get good sound in that building”. Whoever is doing Keith’s sound should have his salary doubled and show Van Halen how it’s done.

If you listen to a Keith Urban album in its entirety, you encounter a number of ballads, which makes his reviving concerts all that much more unanticipated. He understands how to frame a show and thematically connect his material in a way that ignites the audience. The energy in the room was palpable as the pop-wise “Shine” (with its iTunes-inspired video behind the band), the western swing of “Where the Blacktop Ends” and the Peter Frampton-esque “Faster Car/All Right Now” immediately showcased the multitude of sounds and genres that define Keith Urban. The show melded a dozen distinctive musical styles that complimented the deeply personal narrative structure of Urban’s catalog. In concert, the ballads tend to be more affecting than sentimental as the genuine and searing intensity he brings to each and every song can not be denied. There were songs I loved immensely that I came to love more (“I Told You So”) and others I originally dismissed but in concert, the poignant force and cohesiveness forced me to rethink my original stance (“Tonight I Wanna Cry”). Just a few days after the show, Urban released what will be the first of many Greatest Hits discs, entitled 18 Kids. In concert, he performed fifteen of these “kids” and I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t want this collection the second the show ended for the ride home, even though I own most of his albums. It’s a near perfect album (my vote is for the deluxe edition with a bonus DVD of twelve videos) that would compliment your collection or serve as the ideal introduction to Keith Urban.

If the fist pumping barnburners don’t convert you then a contemplative performance like the acoustic “Raining On Sunday” will. It showcases an unvarnished side to Urban not encapsulated on his records. As mesmerizing as “Raining On Sunday” proved to be, it was the unexpected raw emotion of “Stupid Boy” that erected understated perfection. Astoundingly, he didn’t even write the song, but one never would have guessed from the reactionary colossal nerves he struck. The six-minute track builds subtlety until the reprise finds Urban channeling staggering intensity as the heartrending performance ripens to a combustive climax. After the relentless and aggressive “Used To The Pain”, the band made their way to the B-stage, where as they were setting up, Urban invited a young boy on stage that had drawn a picture for of a turkey for him. The young child was rewarded by gracing the stage and conversing with Keith for an amusing and priceless moment. “You’re My Better Half”, “Making Memories of Us” and “You’ll Think of Me” all redefine themselves as captivating secular testimonials rather than light FM in this intimate setting. The B-Stage (where I was 3 seats from) allows those in the back to see the inner conviction Urban gives each song as he proves to be earnest, genuine and deeply poignant. I’ve managed to not be affected by “You’ll Think of Me” before this show, but the picturesque acoustic strummer penetrated with vulnerability that was emotionally intoxicating. It is the perfect antibiotic for a tormented psyche and if not for this intimate performance, I may have continued to underestimate this reflective number.

The most classic rock moment of the evening found Urban playing riffs from some of the most illustrious songs ever recorded; “You Shook Me All Night Long”, Smoke On The Water”, “Walk This Way”, “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Stairway To Heaven”, “Crazy Train” and “Seven Nation Army” before he and the band unveiled “You Look Good In My Shirt”, a deep cut from his Golden Road record. This was not included in set lists earlier in the tour and as I watched Urban channel the power of his emotions, through his guitar as an extension of his body, I wondered how the hell this was left off the set list a few months back. He even sang one verse from the stands in the crowd. It’s remarkable what an extra intro, outro, arrangement or shuffling of songs can do for a show and Urban doesn’t just know this, he puts it into action.

No one can deny Urban’s stage presence, but in Chicago he substantiated what an unparalleled musician and band leader he truly is. Immediately after the final note of “I Told You So”, a marching band graced the stage for a thunderous drum line performance. Moments after its completion, Urban and his fastidious band segued into the open road romanticism of “Days Go By”. Once begun, the arena shakes…literally. You think the walls are going to cave in on you, which is how potent the response is to not just this song, but the entire show. Urban’s alluring melodies are easily digested via the FM dial, but in concert they come out of their cocoon and flourish into rebellious rock anthems. “Better Life” and “Somebody Like You” prove to be more than warhorses as the band and Urban showcased their penchant for exceeding expectations with a crashing and surreal climax. No one playing an arena should be this good. There’s still a hunger inside Urban despite having made it to the big leagues. I saw this determination in July and it was unexpectedly outdone in Chicago. A few months back while watching the Nashville singer/songwriter Will Hoge, I found myself questioning, “Can anyone truly be this good?” In both instances, the answer is a resounding “yes”.

One of the reasons parents feared rock n’ roll upon its birth in the 1950s was that they thought it would corrupt the youth and to an extent they were right. Even though today’s pop stars leave little to the imagination, in truth they are far less sexual and precarious because everything they do is calculated and forced, whereas it came natural to the forefathers of rock n’ roll. Back in the 1960s, the Rolling Stones were feared for good reason; they were indeed out to compromise your daughters. It wasn’t because of the way they looked, but the swagger they evoked in their music and on stage. The way they wielded their instruments was enough to drive fans into a fury. As Urban fired off the solo to “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me”, it made me feel invincible and alive and free. In a year where I witnessed the live magic of the Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen, the Police, the New Pornographers, the Allman Brothers Band and a few dozen others, none could evoke the feelings Urban did with this five-minute performance. The best music on the planet provides a release that is physical, mental and sexual. Keith Urban doesn’t do just this, but he does it…just like a Rolling Stone.

'Cause I'm ridin' with my baby
and it's a brand new day
We're on the wheels of an angel
Flyin' away
-“Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me”

This review was originally published on the antiMusic Network and can be found here.

The in-depth review of the Milwaukee show from July 2007 can be found here and here.

Keith Urban Setlist from Rosemont, IL 11/16/2007
Once In A Lifetime
Where The Blacktop Ends
Faster Car
Shine
Raining On Sunday
Stupid Boy
Used To The Pain
You're My Better Half (acoustic)
Making Memories of Us (acoustic)
You'll Think of Me (acoustic)
I Told You So
Days Go By
You Look Good In My Shirt
Tonight I Wanna Cry
Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me
Somebody Like You

Encore
Blister In The Sun (tease on piano)
Got It Right This Time
Better Life
Everybody

Pearl Jam: Positive Synergy (Good tidings that make a difference all year long)

I am not quite sure why I have a MySpace profile because no one checks it out and I spend virtually no time at all on the service. I guess you have to be sixteen to enjoy it because I haven't even had a 1,000 profile views. Sad, huh? Anyway, I was viewing the bulletins on MySpace when I saw Pearl Jam had one entitled "Christmas Merchandise". Every act known to man is selling stuff on their site this time of year, so I thought nothing of it. I clicked on the link and was floored to discover that Pearl Jam wasn't plugging their own merchandise, but a list of products and projects they are passionate about.

A full list can be found on the band's official website on the "Activism and Information" page which can be linked to here.

What was so refreshing about this was the band wasn't hocking t-shirts, mugs, bottles of wine, lithographs or their extraordinary bootleg series. They each chose a few causes and organizations in need of help. We all too often get caught up in the commercialism of the holidays and often forget that what we should be doing is trying to make those who are less fortunate a bit more comfortable. Pearl Jam is a band who has never sold-out and they have remained true to who they are as musicians and more importantly, human beings. I can't tell you how much I admire and love this band. I only wish them continued success and hope they reconvene soon to begin writing and recording new material.

My in depth review of Pearl Jam originally published in January of 2007 can be found here.

Got $1,500? Get Your Bon Jovi SWW Pendant!

At the end of every world tour Bon Jovi hands out pendants in the shape of the Superman logo with the Slippery When Wet "S's" inside it to their most loyal crew members. It's a relatively cool item especially if you've busted your ass so the band could see a million faces and rock them all from Jersey to Germany to Tokyo and beyond. They made twenty-five of these to be sold on the official Bon Jovi website here. The full press release is below.

It is a long standing Bon Jovi tradition to honor those that have worked on at least two world tours. Bon Jovi gives each qualified crew member a diamond and gold Slippery When Wet pendant necklace to commemorate their loyalty and dedication to the band.

The band has now created a similar pendant for their most loyal and dedicated fans to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of Slippery When Wet. The pendant is made of 22K yellow and white gold with diamond accent on a 18K yellow gold chain. It is presented in a beautifully crafted wooden jewelry box with the Bon Jovi heart and dagger logo etched on top.

*LIMITED EDITION* Only 25 of these limited edition pendants have been made. Each necklace comes with an official Certificate of Authenticity.

These necklaces are shipped via Federal Express - so please do not list a PO Box as a delivery address. We can only ship these to physical addresses and someone will have to be available to sign for receipt of the item.