What a show! And what a name for one!
My first question is: Was it intentional to have all five bands playing that have names that start with the letter "s?" I don't know if that helped anyone. For someone who hadn't heard of any of these bands, except for Scent of Remains, I was confused. It was a wonder I didn't sound or act like an idiot at this show.
My next question is: Was it planned for all of these bands to play when they all have one thing in common (other than playing some aspect of metal): they're all about to release a new CD.
Whether you take those questions as rhetorical or not is yours for the taking.
Apparently, 6:45, the start time of this show, couldn't come fast enough. Scent of Remains was the first band up-before that time. Having gone to shows in which many bands were playing, I'm not sure if I had seen this one. But what I do know is that I like their music. This band is worth following and seeing whenever I get the chance. I did like their heavier version of Ozzy's "No More Tears," and how their last song vibrated and lingered.
The audience didn't really start filing in until Shattered Sun of Corpus Christi, Texas, came up to play. What I think about the lead singer Marcos Leal: he's a great metal advisor. Let's heed to anything he advises us to do. Reminder: We sold our souls to metal, didn't we? Underneath all the lights and standing up on a box, he told us to bang our heads. Suffice it to say he used enough strong language in saying so. Though we seemed slow in doing it, we did it.
It was to prepare us to Soilwork. Let me be more specific about the theme of the show when this band (and the others to come) played: Knoxville has sold themselves to Swedish metal. My "moment" happened during this set. I believe the title of the song was "Life in the Aftermath." The vibrations that came from every one of these bands went straight to my chest during this song.
Soulfly could have just led the audience in singing over and over, "WE SOLD OUR SOULS TO METAL." But that wouldn't do them justice. I'll just say, as the evening progressed, the more metal it got-and louder. Soulfly should have the award (from me) for the most audience response. That's what it's all about. It's all because Max Cavalera, lead singer, made it happen. It was around ten at night. I gotta say, no one was allowed to be drowsy.
I have been to many shows in which there was more than one encore. But I don't recall going to one in which there were not one, not two, but three encores. In one of the encores, Max played his (I think I have the name of this right) didgeridoo, a Brazilian instrument. That by itself was worth coming out on a Thursday night to see.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Monday, October 12, 2015
Forever Abbey Road at Open Chord
There was a Tennessee-Georgia game this past Saturday? And they won? Really? I didn't know that. I took a trip down memory lane, to a place where I had never been before, to a road where lots of people of all ages and walks of life are: Abbey Road. Forever Abbey Road , to be exact, a new Beatles tribute band out of Nashville.
The way this band pays tribute to the Fab Four is having parts in their set dedicated to each band member. Their first focus was Paul, my favorite, starting with "Can't Buy Me Love" three songs into the set.
What made this show interesting was the Beatles trivia at one point between songs. At one point, lead vocalist Adam said something about a few of their songs having punch lines, like "Norwegian Wood" (I know that one). That led to "Drive My Car." Right now, I'm drawing a blank. I'm going to have to re-read that part of A Hard Day's Write to refresh my memory.
That brings me to my next point. Three words: "1 After 909." I had never heard of this song. And it's a Paul song! My point in saying this is you could live your whole life listening to the Beatles and never know everything about them, not know every song. That's what makes them so unique, even after 50+ years!
Continuing in the punch line/trivia vein, there were not one but two birthdays to be celebrated that night. It's a no-brainer what song the band played...and a lot of the audience danced to.
In fact, Adam asked the audience to sing along at the end of a song I had never expected: "Hello, Goodbye." There's a first time for everything, right? And my writer-self brain has been stretched and enlightened. And I have cued to Magical Mystery Tour again. It sounds sweeter than it ever has been.
There were even more surprises: the drummer led in some of the songs, a few of which were "Something" (another one of those George songs), "With a Little Help From My Friends," and "Come Together."
I can't forget to mention keyboardist and backup vocalist John Lloyd. What talent in the band! He is multi-talented, not the least of which is having that high note. Needless to say, that's what's needed in a Fab Four tribute band. He led in an amazing cover of "Let it Be" and "Carry That Weight," which was the last in the second set.
Forever Abbey Road will be playing in Lebanon, TN, at the end of November. Those who saw them Saturday night wanted to get a bus to go see them. If that were to happen, I think it would be appropriate to call it the Magical Mystery Tour bus.
Before I close, this band has some interesting trivia, themselves. Except for the lead singer's name, all of the band members' names start with J. If I have this correct, the keyboardist's name is John Lloyd, the drummer John, the bass player John, the lead guitarist Josh, and the lead singer...Adam. I think he should be called J'Adam. It almost reminds me of how we all list the Beatles' names.
I hope I see you at Abbey Road on the River.
The way this band pays tribute to the Fab Four is having parts in their set dedicated to each band member. Their first focus was Paul, my favorite, starting with "Can't Buy Me Love" three songs into the set.
What made this show interesting was the Beatles trivia at one point between songs. At one point, lead vocalist Adam said something about a few of their songs having punch lines, like "Norwegian Wood" (I know that one). That led to "Drive My Car." Right now, I'm drawing a blank. I'm going to have to re-read that part of A Hard Day's Write to refresh my memory.
That brings me to my next point. Three words: "1 After 909." I had never heard of this song. And it's a Paul song! My point in saying this is you could live your whole life listening to the Beatles and never know everything about them, not know every song. That's what makes them so unique, even after 50+ years!
Continuing in the punch line/trivia vein, there were not one but two birthdays to be celebrated that night. It's a no-brainer what song the band played...and a lot of the audience danced to.
In fact, Adam asked the audience to sing along at the end of a song I had never expected: "Hello, Goodbye." There's a first time for everything, right? And my writer-self brain has been stretched and enlightened. And I have cued to Magical Mystery Tour again. It sounds sweeter than it ever has been.
There were even more surprises: the drummer led in some of the songs, a few of which were "Something" (another one of those George songs), "With a Little Help From My Friends," and "Come Together."
I can't forget to mention keyboardist and backup vocalist John Lloyd. What talent in the band! He is multi-talented, not the least of which is having that high note. Needless to say, that's what's needed in a Fab Four tribute band. He led in an amazing cover of "Let it Be" and "Carry That Weight," which was the last in the second set.
Forever Abbey Road will be playing in Lebanon, TN, at the end of November. Those who saw them Saturday night wanted to get a bus to go see them. If that were to happen, I think it would be appropriate to call it the Magical Mystery Tour bus.
Before I close, this band has some interesting trivia, themselves. Except for the lead singer's name, all of the band members' names start with J. If I have this correct, the keyboardist's name is John Lloyd, the drummer John, the bass player John, the lead guitarist Josh, and the lead singer...Adam. I think he should be called J'Adam. It almost reminds me of how we all list the Beatles' names.
I hope I see you at Abbey Road on the River.
Monday, October 5, 2015
A Foreigner's Journey
I love Journey.
I love Foreigner, too.
What happens when I do the same with both, think outside the box, and take time to explore things? I discover via LinkedIn A Foreigner's Journey, a cover band for both bands.
A Foreigner Journey is a cover band for hits of both Journey and Foreigner. Based out of the UK, and having mostly shows in that area, many live coverage videos on YouTube, and a social media presence, they're not unknown.
The one video I can't seem to not see enough of is one from December 2011 when they're playing "Don't Stop Believing." Here I am, sitting in front of my computer watching this, singing along with every word. The audience is doing that very thing, nailing every note. It's almost as if the lead singer, Matt Black, doesn't have to sing; he can give his voice a break, at least during this song. Not even a minute of seeing this video, and I'm green as the lights on stage with envy, wishing I had been there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hPLACmHTW6g
The video ends. But I, myself, shouldn't stop believing it's possible for me to be in this audience. Now, I should view a video in which they're playing a Foreigner hit.
Because I'm star-struck, I chose "Juke Box Hero."
https://youtu.be/V-IPAhtJX-o
All I can say is: Wow. Though this is neither Foreigner nor Journey, this band does well in covering both and engaging the audience. I'll admit I may be like some of the others who'd be in the audience who are spoiled, wishing it would be the original of the two bands. But there has to be someone to keep the music alive.
I will not stop believing in juke box heroes.
Now, where is my passport and airline ticket to fly overseas to see this band?
(Click here http://www.aforeignersjourney.com/ for tour dates and other information.)
I love Foreigner, too.
What happens when I do the same with both, think outside the box, and take time to explore things? I discover via LinkedIn A Foreigner's Journey, a cover band for both bands.
A Foreigner Journey is a cover band for hits of both Journey and Foreigner. Based out of the UK, and having mostly shows in that area, many live coverage videos on YouTube, and a social media presence, they're not unknown.
The one video I can't seem to not see enough of is one from December 2011 when they're playing "Don't Stop Believing." Here I am, sitting in front of my computer watching this, singing along with every word. The audience is doing that very thing, nailing every note. It's almost as if the lead singer, Matt Black, doesn't have to sing; he can give his voice a break, at least during this song. Not even a minute of seeing this video, and I'm green as the lights on stage with envy, wishing I had been there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hPLACmHTW6g
The video ends. But I, myself, shouldn't stop believing it's possible for me to be in this audience. Now, I should view a video in which they're playing a Foreigner hit.
Because I'm star-struck, I chose "Juke Box Hero."
https://youtu.be/V-IPAhtJX-o
All I can say is: Wow. Though this is neither Foreigner nor Journey, this band does well in covering both and engaging the audience. I'll admit I may be like some of the others who'd be in the audience who are spoiled, wishing it would be the original of the two bands. But there has to be someone to keep the music alive.
I will not stop believing in juke box heroes.
Now, where is my passport and airline ticket to fly overseas to see this band?
(Click here http://www.aforeignersjourney.com/ for tour dates and other information.)
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