2016 Concert Review

After having my son in 2015, I attended few shows; I’ve more than made up for that in 2016. Here’s the lowdown:

What I Saw:
Again/Revolver, Pop’s, Sauget, IL, (5/14)
An Alice in Chains tribute band and a Velvet Revolver tribute band walk into a bar… and that bar is Pop’s. A joke within itself. The overarching joke was on me, though – this show was terrible. Irony made an appearance as well; the set list provided by a band covering a supergroup is wide-reaching and entertaining. The show was free thanks to my friend Dave who scored us free tickets, and we left when Again started butchering “Nutshell” to head to Flannery’s for nostalgia’s sake.

Mark Lanegan, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL (6/17)
Imagine you’re about twenty feet from one of your favorite musicians, close enough to see the twinges of their limbs while they perform. Surreal? Yes. This is exactly how I felt watching the former Screaming Trees frontman perform with only a guitarist, in an intimate 250-seat venue. And then imagine you MEET THEM. I hardly remember shaking his hand, but have a photo recounting my experience. While my memory of the night is cloudy due to extreme excitement, I felt ALIVE that night. (I also slept away from the baby for the first time, and knowing I would have uninterrupted sleep that night probably helped.) Closing out a set list of mostly solo tracks was a cover of”Halo of Ashes,” a moderately popular Tree’s track. But it wouldn’t have mattered if you’d heard it before or not, because it stood independently just fine. Knowing it was just that.much.sweeter for audience members that night. This show might just be my favorite of the year. (Special thanks to my friend Brian who accompanied me and gave me a couch on which to crash.)

Chris Cornell, Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL (7/11)
If you know me, you know how sweet my heart is on grunge music. When I missed Cornell’s solo appearance in St. Louis in December of 2015, my cold heart hurt, and the sting was real. I vowed to catch him elsewhere when I could. Cashing in on a Monday in July, I worked an eight hour day, hopped in the car, and drove three hours for this show. When it was over, I drove three hours straight home, and then jumped out of bed at 5AM to go back to work. In a word: dedication. And it was worth it. While the venue was a bit larger than I would have liked, Cornell made the room smaller and more intimate though conversation. He was humble and funny. He was vulnerable and true. He was amazing. The set list missed just a few of my favorites. For Cornell-original work, my favorite song of the night was definitely Soundgarden’s “Fourth of July.” Cornell does a number of covers true to other artists. If you have, say, three hours, this live show gives the full picture. But, if you watch nothing else, listen to this mashup cover of “One,” melding Metallica and U2. This show is right up at the top with the Lanegan performance.

Violent Femmes, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO (7/14)
It’s been almost 35 years since the Femmes made it onto the scene, a fact their fan base showcases. Most of the show, the audience stayed seated or stood moderately still in the rarely quiet pit area. Perhaps that is just a reflection of the band themselves; they were not incredibly energetic,but that didn’t matter. There’s something satisfyingly sweet about hearing their hits live. While they didn’t perform my personal favorite song (“Country Death Song”), they did cover the gambit of the good. And I got to hang with one of my favorite gals for this show. Well worth the time, but not a favorite from the year.

The Doobie Brothers, Journey, & Dave Mason, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater RIVERPORT, St. Louis, MO (7/30)
This show was a Christmas gift to my father who loves the Doobies; he got a little misty-eyed opening the gift. After waiting several months to cash in on the gift, I do not think dad was the only one who was to benefit. This was the first show either of my parents had seen in decades – yes, DECADES! My mother claimed that the last show she saw might have been Debbie Gibson at the old arena when I was five. (Which, by the way, was probably a great show because Electric Youth was incredible.)
We arrived a bit late for a reason I cannot remember, and we heard Dave Mason play “We Just Disagree” as we wound around the back of the venue and “Feelin’ Alright” as we sat down on the lawn. Mason sounds incredible and I wish we had arrived just a little sooner. The Doobie Brothers might not sound as polished as Mason does, but they do bring the hits. We skipped out on Journey closing down the show, because I’ve already seen that one-armed drummer do his thing and there’s no Steve Perry to be found. One of the most fun shows of the year.

Slipknot & Marilyn Manson, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, St. Louis, MO (8/4)
There’s something deeply unsettling about seeing the goth king himself performing with the Midwest sun glaring in his eyes. I have wanted to catch a Manson show for years and this was my chance. I assumed (fairly) that I’d feel a sense of horror or doom or… zzzzzzzz. My apologies, I must have zoned out there momentarily. Manson was underwhelming. The concert crew I was with this night (my husband and superfriend Dave) commented on how old he appeared and I couldn’t disagree; he is aging at the same rate as the rest of us. His setlist was staccato. If I ever desire to see MM in the future, I’ll shoot for a show in an intimate venue, perhaps during the winter months.
Now, for the real portion of the show, with background.
In my youth, I regularly attended a St. Louis radio station’s (mostly) annual alternative music festival. (coughpointfestcough) One of those years, Slipknot was scheduled to appear with Mudvayne (you’re welcome for the flashback), however both bands cancelled the day of the show. I was not the most disappointed person in my group, but maybe just a little bummed.
In adulthood, I’ve fully embraced that I like metal music of all walks and promoted it on my sleeve this year. Slipknot was no exception. Respect for Corey Taylor comes naturally after seeing this band perform. I’ve sought out more of the band’s music and would love to see them perform again. The show consisted of two-plus hours of heavy-hitting drums and a lot of headbanging. Just thinking about the night energizes me. I can’t wait for their return.

Melvins, The Firebird, St. Louis, MO (8/17) **Bucket list item**
The notification for the Melvins came to me quickly and I was stoked that they’d be making their way to the hidden gem that is the Firebird. Dave an I both wanted to see this show, although we probably couldn’t name a Melvins song between us. And this show was AMAZING! King Buzzo is a complete dick, but he’s also a complete genius. If you didn’t know, the Melvins were one of the very first grunge bands out of Seattle in the early 80s. I’d definitely see them again. While I couldn’t find a set list for this show, you can see a live YouTube performance here. (I recommend listening to the second track, “The Water Glass” because of its chant-like ending.)

Prophets of Rage, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, St. Louis, MO (9/4)
Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, and Rage Against the Machine teamed up to create Prophets of Rage. For those of you who refused to see them because Zack de la Rocha wasn’t a part of the setup, you missed out on a fun night. I wouldn’t say this is the most talented group of musicians (especially if one were to remove Tom Morello). However, they were fun and mixed the setlist appropriately. They were a one-off and probably will not tour again, and I’m okay with that plan.

Fucking Slayer & Anthrax, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO (9/21)
Transition to metalhead complete. I’d attempt to give you a review of the Anthrax performance, but I can’t remember it, so I’ll skip straight to the good stuff.
I have heard stories of just how rough a Slayer crowd can be, which brought undue anxiety before the show. As much as I wanted to deny it, this show ROCKED. My concert partner recently told me that he was sure I would hate this show, but was glad that I enjoyed myself. I found myself purchasing Slayer songs on iTunes (personal favorite – “South of Heaven”)and recently added some vinyl to my wishlist… safe to say, I’ll most definitely go to a Slayer show the next time they roll through, with the same dudes who accompanied me to this show.

Temple of the Dog, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA (11/11)**Bucket list item**
Woo. Buddy. There’s a lot to discuss here. First, travel. I believe, if my calculations are correct (and my memory serves me well), I spent about fifteen hours traveling over four days to get to San Francisco and back. I drove to Chicago late on Thursday, the same day that Leonard Cohen died, and cried in a gas station about an hour outside of the big city. The next morning, Brian and I flew to San Francisco at 8AM and eventually settled in our hotel room that afternoon. We stayed put until early Sunday, when we caught a 6AM flight back to Chicago, and I hopped into the car and drove the five hours back to St. Louis. I also had a toddler at home waiting for me, so I was all-around tired of traveling. Next, let’s chat about this venue. Accurately described as a warehouse with a balcony, this place holds 6,000 people. And ALL OF THEM were up in my business near the front of the stage. Yes, I’m exaggerating here. But that’s how it felt. Tall men stood in front of me and I repeatedly threatened throwing an elbow or two (sorry Brian). The crowd was suffocating and I blame the venue. I’m also spoiled by great places to see shows in St. Louis, which makes me bias and I’ll admit to it. Lastly, but most importantly, let’s talk about the music. I would categorize Temple as a band that is like a reverse supergroup, considering that it’s a blend of Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam, but before they were actually Pearl Jam. While I’d like to elaborate on how Temple of the Dog came to be, it’s doubtful that I’d ever stop and you can just read their Wikipedia page. The songs that came out of their only album are just simply incredible. They played them all. There’s a depth to the shallow Mother Love Bone catalog, and they chose a few bright spots to cover. But, my favorite song of the night was a hidden gem that resides on the Singles soundtrack, Chris Cornell’s “Seasons.” The song is beautiful, the man is beautiful, and although I spent way too much time traveling to see this band, I don’t regret it. A show that will be considered rare, I am glad to have been a part of this tour. You keep keepin’ on, brilliant Chris Cornell.

Henry Rollins’ Spoken Word, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO (11/16)
Henry has always been a favorite of mine. It’s the punk angst, no doubt; that the man gives zero fucks and calls it like he sees it. I can recall seeing him during the latter Bush Administration, and can hear his anger still. Henry calmed down during Obama’s time in office, presumably because he agreed with liberal policies much more than conservative ones. So, you can imagine my joy when this show was annouced, just days after what would be a shit show of an election. I hated the results, and knew that Henry would have something to say to boost the spirits of all of us hanging our heads lower than normal. We sat front how. The show was shorter than usual. I left feeling… uninspirired. Perhaps it was posing in a Calvin Klein ad that has softened him – who is to know for sure. The Misfits reunited at Riot Fest this past year, but my punk idol is dead.

What I Hope 2017 Brings
– The third installment of Coheed’s Neverender single album series, which would highlight the masterpiece Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. (And, this one is likely, because they’ve already hinted it.) Once I proclaimed that I’d travel to London to see it. That’s still true. (Update: THEY ANNOUNCED IT.)
– A Faith No More album and subsequent tour
– An extension of the already announced Less Than Jake tour, preferably at the Firebird