An Unbelievable Birthday - Kings of Leon at The Pageant

Last night contained all of the elements of a perfect show. I don't know if a concert this year will be able to match it for me. Here are the top ten reasons why in no particular order.







1. The concert was on a Friday night of a long weekend. For us working stiffs who are usually dragging the next morning after a weeknight concert, this is the ultimate.
2. This is absolutely my favorite band of the moment.
3. The Features were one of the best openers I have ever seen.
4. K and I attended our second show in a week's time. The tickets were my birthday present from K. She gets me.
5. Getting what we now think are the best seats in the entire house at our favorite venue.
6. Vodka and Red Bull
7. I had to giggle listening to probably over a thousand guys singing along with Caleb with so much conviction to "Soft". When he yelled, "I'm Soft!" they were all right there with him.
8. Caleb's rock and roll smackdown of his microphone
9. Getting to watch Nathan Followill two weeks in a row, chew bubble gum and drink beer while playing drums.
10. Getting to watch the Followills interact with their fans after the show and seeing the skin-tight jeans up close.
--J

Setlist for Kings of Leon at The Pageant in St. Louis

Here's the setlist from last night's show.
Black Thumbnail
Taper Jean Girl
King of the Rodeo
True Love Way
My Party
Soft
Fans
Arizona
Molly's Chambers
The Bucket
Milk
Four Kicks
On Call
California Waiting
Spiral Staircase
Trani

Knocked Up
Charmer
McFearless
Slow Night, So Long

Officer, I can explain. See, The Killers' latest cd is, in my opinion, phenomenal...

I was driving west on Olive Blvd when The Killers' "Read My Mind" came on The Point. I turned it up, rolled the windows down (or pushed a button to do it) and just felt really great. The sun was shining. For a second I was riding high. Then I turn left at a light only to be pulled over for running a red a few seconds later. To top it off I didn't have proof of insurance on me. So, I'm $300 in the hole today because I was distracted by a Killers song. Unbelievable. -K

Morrissey at the Pageant

Together in Misery - This was written on a sign held up in front of the stage Tuesday night. I found it kind of funny since the person holding it up was probably experiencing a state of euphoria reserved for very special occasions. During work on Tuesday K, RB, and I were discussing Morrissey concerts. RB described the shows of her past which included lots of boys crying. On we chuckled over that. It was a bright spot in a dull day. When Morrissey came out on stage in a pristine black suit singing an unhappy birthday to himself after we had just listened to a recording of a woman reading depressing words like cancer, apartheid, etc., the crowd erupted. As K would say, he cuts quite a figure on stage, a distinguished gentleman. My favorite moments were Panic, Irish Blood, English Heart, How Soon is Now, and Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want. There were two songs I was hoping he would perform that he didn't, Shoplifters of the World Unite and The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get. The show made me really wish back in the day I could have seen a Smiths show. This is the origin of emo, yes? Hearing How Soon is Now gave me chills. Here is this wall of sound with a beautiful voice lofting on top of it, singing the most raw lyrics. It was a moment my God and to see it live was moving.

After all my laughing at the emotions of others earlier in the day, it was me who had tears streaming down my cheeks to the sounds of Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want. Why? I don't quite know, but it was a beautiful moment. --J

I Have No Title For This Post

While J and I waited patiently upstairs in the Pageant to see Morrissey for the first time we got ourselves a yummy drink: red bull and vodka. After I bled the cup dry of any drop of drink I looked at J, inhaled a quick and shallow breath, and blurted out: HEY so aksdhashdfasdhfkja;sdkfjha;skdfjh;askjdfh;aksjdhfa;ksjdhf;aksjdhfa;ksjdhf;aksdjfhaksjdhfkajsdhfkjsdhf;kjshdf;Ville Valo jashdfkjhsa;dkfjha;skdjfh;skdjfh;ksjdfh;akjkeyboards jdhf;kasjbwahahahahdhf;a######@@@@@@@!!!

That's literally what it sounded like to me as it came out.

What I was trying to tell her, but was so high from the gorgeous drink, was that in a recent Gauntlet post I saw a quote from Ville Valo talking about the guitar-focused sounds of the new album, due out in September. The quote is: Keyboards are so fucking full blown gay. I love Duran Duran, but there is only so much you can take.

As one may recall, J (who happens to be a lifelong Duran Duran fan) is one of many people who believe that keyboards don't belong in metal. I rather like them, thus I'm a fan of HIM and she is not. I appreciate this and have ragged her about it to no end. So, imagine my surprise when I read that quote. Of course, I had to discuss this with J asap because like a daughter constantly seeking a mother's approval of a questionable boyfriend there's a part of me that still can't quite give up trying to make J like the music as much as I do. I don't lose sleep over it, but I find myself wishing often that there would be that ONE moment that would make the change. Alas, it's just one of those things I have to accept in life. I will say that though MCR might be the real attraction for J to attend two Projekt Revolution dates with me this summer, J will be standing next to me for two HIM performances two nights in a row. (Hello, yes MCR and HIM are performing on the same tour. I'm not going to be able to take it!) A good friend and sister she is.

Anyway, J somehow understood what I was saying because she looked at me, smiled and said "yeah, Ville and I have been discussing it." -K

This is What 48 Looks Like

I didn't wake up this morning thinking I was going to see Morrissey at the Pageant tonight, his bday, but that's exactly what I ended up doing. There is something so sexy about a crooner backed up by electric guitars, I told J as we waited in one of our family cars to exit the metro link parking lot behind the venue. I love it about HIM, The Killers, and of course, the man who in my opinion has set the precedence, Moz himself.

When Morrissey came onstage one of the first things he said was "this is what 48 looks like."

He may have gotten the most audience reaction when he sang Smiths songs, but there is something so magnetic about this man who at 48 still gets screams when he takes off his shirt, which he did a few times during the set. His stage presence is undeniable and his voice is still chocolatey and easy. He seemed to truly appreciate his fans tonight as he stated his pleasure at being back in "the Lou."

Speaking of the set, it included Panic, Everyday is Like Sunday, You Have Killed Me, How Soon is Now, and the song that made me embrace J as we sang along, Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.

As I stated, it was his bday tonight and there was a line of fans up front who wore bday hats. At some point there was a collective rendition of Happy Bday sung to the man who has made a lifelong career out of translating self-loathing into an aphrodisiac.

The audience was not what I expected. I expected more pompadours, more weepy boys, and crazy fans throwing themselves at the stage. Instead, it seemed that those fans had all grown up and were more conservative than they were in their halcyon days. It was a sold-out crowd and I was more than happy to be a part of it. Definitely an Unbelievable. -K

Rock on...and maintain good dental hygiene.

While visiting my brother M and family this weekend I noticed in their bathroom that one of my little nephews uses a KISS Tooth Tunes toothbrush. I didn't know such a thing existed. --J

One Convert at a Time - Kings of Leon at the Riviera

I find it harder to write about an unbelievable show than anything else, probably because what I would like to say is that it was amazing, and then retreat back into my head so I can re-live my favorite parts. D went with me last night. His only exposure to them was the occasional video and their MySpace page. As usual, when going to a show with someone unfamiliar with the headliner, I get nervous.

About the venue, I talked to probably a dozen people before going to this show who had all been to the Riv and I find it funny that no one mentioned how run down it was on the inside. I know there are lots of shows there and maybe people like the spontaneous feel of it seeming like a rock show just sprung up in an abandoned old theatre way past its glory days. It just made me miss The Pageant in St. Louis where KoL will play this Friday night.

The show was sold out and D and I were up front to the right. Three bands were on the bill, The Features, Snowden, and then Kings of Leon. Naturally, I would assume that the bands would increase in popularity as the night progressed but while The Features were excellent and got a lot of attention, most wanted Snowden off the stage. All D could say during this set was "Dead Meadow", which has now become our codename for painful opening bands (see Wolfmother concert in November for more details). I texted K during this set and her response was, "Keep your eyes on the prize".

Those who suffered through were rewarded. As you can see from the setlist, there was a good mix of all three albums. The crowd went wild and I think the energy hit a high point during Four Kicks. My faves were Charmer, McFearless, California Waiting, and King of the Rodeo. Friday night I was talking to my brother S's friend A and he mentioned that the sound at The Riv can sometimes be off. That was true last night and you can tell the band was a little frustrated but working through it. Sometimes the bass wasn't loud enough and then the drums at times would be turned up loud and then turned back down. Caleb said that Chicago was their favorite city in America which made the audience love them even more.

D left the show impressed and a fan. As I expected from seeing them before, all of the songs were more ferocious live. Get ready St. Louis. --J

Ick

I stumbled upon Marilyn Manson's new video on his website before I read about the controversy. Having watched it, I really don't think that's simulated. I'm gonna rate this an unsexy. I'm not a prude at all, I just don't want to see that much of him. --J

Kings of Leon - Chicago Setlist

I'll post a proper review when I get back to STL, but the show was unbelievable. Here is a setlist.

Charmer
King of the Rodeo
Taper Jean Girl
True Love Way
My Party
Soft
Fans
Arizona (?)
Molly's Chambers
The Bucket
Milk
Four Kicks
On Call
California Waiting
Spiral Staircase
Trani

Encore
Knocked Up
Black Thumbnail
McFearless
Slow Night, So Long

J, Can You Hear Me? J, Can You See Me?

Back from my Baltic Sea/Hamburg trip! I don't know why, but every time I come back to the USA I breathe a sigh of relief. While I love the culture of my quasi-homeland, it is so great to be home. Loved seeing family, hearing HIM on the radio as often as one hears Hinder over here, and walking on cobblestone streets that were laid in medieval times, but as per usual when I'm out of this country I found myself constantly wondering what I was missing back home. Of course I knew that I was missing Pointfest with J, which burned. *sniff* Unfortunately, I didn't have any time to see any shows, but my brother educated me on current musical hotness. Soon I will post a report on one young German band in particular that is definitely smoking hot over there right now called Tokio Hotel. I will also write about how happening upon a Starbucks in Lübeck brought a tear to my eye. Maybe I'll include a tidbit on Eurovision as well. That Eurovision shit is awesome when you've had a bit too much Applekorn. Must run and purchase Projekt Revolution tix! -K

The Killers - An Unbelievable Set

Dear Brandon,

I’ve been a little mad at you. I was not so impressed with the new album although you arrogantly hyped it during the fall. Both K and I discussed on a recent road trip how we probably would never go see your band again. Been there, done that was our reasoning. I bought the ticket to Pointfest to see Wolfmother but thought well, I’ll stick around and see how the new stuff works out for you. The weeks leading up to the show, a slow transformation was occurring. I was getting excited about seeing your set. In fact, K said to me recently that she would like to see you again in concert too. Are you working some voodoo on us? After Wolfmother left the stage with all of their playful aggression and testosterone, I was a little worried for you. Well, what can I say, I was probably the embarrassing one at this show, all alone and singing with every song. The set was beautifully decorated with satin curtains, flashy Vegas sign and flowers strewn everywhere. You came out dressed like a blackjack dealer, with glittery confetti flying throughout the entire first song and it all worked. You played my faves from both records and goddamnit it sounded just like the record! While I don’t mind some jamming every once in awhile sometimes you want to go to a show and have it sound just like what you came for. Your nervousness seems to be gone. You seemed to actually be having a good time. The mix of the cool night air and the music made everything better. Come back Brandon, I promise to buy a ticket. --J

More Cowbell - Wolfmother at Pointfest

By the time 8:30 had rolled around and I had been subjected to a bunch of bands I didn’t enjoy plus having to watch the winner of the Guitar Hero contest play in front of the entire crowd, I was ready for something real. Andrew let the crowd know that they had been sitting in their bus for about fourteen hours and were ready to release their primal urges on the crowd during their last U.S. show this tour. Wolfmother played a blistering hour-long set which included crowd pleasers like Dimension, Joker and the Thief, Woman, and Colossal. They also mixed in some two new songs that had the crowd on their feet. Chris and Andrew were all over the place jumping off the bass drum and amplifiers. The sun had set and yet the clothes in the crowd kept coming off. While nothing could match getting a personal concert as we did back in November, it was a great set. While The Killers’ set was like a sensual kiss, Wolfmother was the strip down and get to business band. --J

Mother's Day Eve

I couldn’t pass up the one day festival called Pointfest here in STL. The festivities began at 10:30 am Saturday but I didn’t arrive until around 5. I thought about going early to support the local bands performing and to hear some different music, but the chores of a responsible adult won out. Also, K is out of town so I was going it alone. As I was pulling into the parking lot of the amphitheatre, I saw a kid being held up by a security guard as the kid mega puked all over the place. Walking to the front gate I saw a guy goofing around with his buddy who was in a wheelchair, pushing him quickly, cutting quick turns to the left and right until both tires fell off of the wheels of the chair. To help his buddy get the tires back on, the guy in the chair got out of it and stood up. I began to wonder, is the show out here? I came to see Wolfmother mainly and The Killers secondly and I will talk about those in separate posts. What else did I see? Well, lots of half-naked people who shouldn’t be half-naked, lots of beer, and some bands I did not enjoy. I saw one of the guys from I think Bullet for My Valentine eagerly signing breasts and stomachs and some other poor sap from a band reluctantly sign some big sweaty guy’s back. Also, the guy sitting in front of me was wearing what I believe to be the ugliest shirt I have ever seen. Maybe it was partly my mood this week or just being alone at the festivities, but I desperately wanted to be entertained and Papa Roach just wouldn’t do. I also saw a local band called Lye that won a battle of the bands to be the opener on the main stage of the festival. All I can say is if they won, the other bands must have totally sucked. It was that brooding metal with no hooks, just dramatic stage attire. The lead singer had on a priests cassock and the bass player was wearing what I call Hot Topic pants. The lead singer kept the bottom half of his body stationary as he moved the top half of his body almost into a back bend. But even the onstage antics didn’t keep me interested. Having no one to talk to and a real chatterbox sitting behind me, I had to listen to her take on the world including the conspiracy that some call Kurt Cobain’s suicide. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus also played the main stage and all I can say is that they are so unnecessary. That has got to be one of the worst band names ever. Can you tell I’m not a big fan of the outdoor festival? –J

The One We've Been Waiting For

As I was driving home from work today trying to lift my spirits, I was thinking of some of the shows I'm looking forward to seeing this summer like The Killers/Wolfmother this weekend, Kings of Leon next week, and The Police in July. At that moment a booming radio voice announced that the "reunion we've all been waiting for" was going to soon be touring in my city....Poco. Really? --J