The Police: Giants Stadium 8/5/07

Almost a year to the day since I posted this, I finally got my wish to see The Police in concert last night at Giants Stadium. I have to say that I was very impressed with how the sounded. Sting's voice was right on, Andy Summers guitar sounded great, and Stewart Copeland never missed a beat. I was happy to see that it was just the three of them on stage and not a bunch of back up singers and instruments. This really impressed me since they sounded very full on every song.

I tailgated in the parking lot with a bunch of family & friends (Jenn unfortunately did not go. She's been having a difficult time walking in her last tri-mester of pregnancy). They opened the show with Message in a Bottle, followed by Synchronicity II (which is one of my favorites) and Walking on the Moon. There was very little talking going on between songs which I was happy about.

They also played (in no particular order):
So Lonely
Roxanne
Don't Stand So Close to Me
Voices Inside My Head
When the World is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Invisible Sun
Walking in your Footsteps
Wrapped Around Your Finger
King of Pain
Can't Stand Losing You
Every Breath You Take
(I know I've missed two or three here)

The only song I wish they did was Murder By Numbers. It was surprising to look around and see how many people didn't know some of the songs though (Voices Inside My Head, When the World is Running Down & So Lonely for example). I guess they just went to hear King of Pain and Every Breath you Take.

My friend Matt drank so much that he actually missed half the show because he passed out. I have a picture of him sleeping in his seat, but I'll spare him and not post it. I took more with my camera phone, but they came out crappy, so I'll spare you the blurry light streaks I got.

If they come to a town near you, do what you can to see them. It was definately worth the $100, except for Matt, but that's a whole other story....

Ozzfest

I was watching a special about the 2005 Ozzfest tour last night. They were saying how it was the 10th anniversary. They had guests on like Rob Zombie, Slash, Zakk Wilde, and each of them were talking about how great it was to be on the same stage and bill as Ozzy and Black Sabbath. One of them (I think it was Zakk) even mentioned that he gives Ozzy a lot of credit with how well he performs and how he has kept his fan base for so long. A few of them even mentioned that Ozzfest was so big now, that Ozzy probably didn't even have to play every show and it would still draw a crowd, but he still comes out every night, and still sounds awesome.

It got me thinking about the last time I saw Ozzy in concert. It was on the “No More Tears” tour. (WOW!! 15 years ago!! ). He was very energetic and appreciative of the crowd coming out to see him. I noticed that at almost 60 years old, he still puts on a great show, much like he did when I saw him in the 80’s and early 90’s. He said that he hopes to still be doing this in another 10 years. I can only hope that at 60, I can run around like he does.

Queensryche - House of Blues 9/23/06

On September 23, 2006, Queensryche took the stage at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ and performed both Operation: Mindcrime albums back to back. As expected, the room went dark and the screen behind the stage began playing a cartoon that should be more than familiar to all Queensryche fans. Enter a whistling nurse walking down a hospital hallway and entering Nikki's room. The place went nuts as the band began playing Anarchy-X. Geoff Tate came out on stage wearing a leather jacket displaying the Mindcrime symbol and performed well, as I expected. His voice sounded great and he was hitting every note. He didn't scream as much as on the album, but when he did, it was spot on.

There was an actor portraying a young Nikki running around the stage with a bullhorn screaming, "HEY!! HEY!! LISTEN TO ME!!!" just as the band began playing "Speak". Mary (Pamela Moore) also was on stage dressed in a skimpy, black leather dress and began dancing around the stage seductively during "spreading the Disease". The video the shows Nikki walking into a church, a priest turning around just as he is shot. Nikki then slowly walks out to meet Mary. During "Suite Sister Mary", Geoff and Pamela (as Nikki and Mary) were singing to each other, acting out their emotions for everyone. Just before "The Needle Lies" began, young Nikki was back on stage speaking with Dr. X on the phone arguing and then eventually screaming, "I've had enough and I want out!!", with Dr. X's reply of, "You can't walk away now...............*evil laugh".

Then just before "Electric Requiem" began Mary was on stage alone. He phone rings and DR. X is on the other line. The crowd was a little loud at this point, so I couldn't hear everything clearly, but it sounded like Dr. X told Mary that Nikki was dead. She screams out how that can't be true. Then He tells her to go into a box that she has, take out the gun, put it in her mouth, and shoot herself. She does so, reluctantly, but with Nikki supposedly dead, she is distraught and pulls the trigger. Nikki shows up and finds her lying on the floor in her apartment and screams "Don't leave me.............here!" He hovers over her body momentarily, then grabs a bottle of alcohol, drinks some, pours the rest all over her, and lights the place on fire. This was a surprise to me as I thought Dr. X killed Mary himself, and never thought that Nikki burned her body!

Nikki then leaves and feels lost without knowing what to do. The screen shows the cops picking him up and begin interrogating him about the murders as the band plays "Breaking the Silence". Then "I Don't Believe in Love" is played the screen shows video of Nikki and Mary walking the streets together, just enjoying each other's company. The stage goes dark and Geoff sits on a sofa as "Waiting for 22" and "My Empty Room" plays in the background. He stand and screams just as the video for "Eyes of a Stranger" begins playing. A doctor and a nurse rush out on stage as Geoff is freaking out to put him in a straight jacket. He sings the whole song and out come the hospital staff again to put him in a wheel chair and push him off stage to the crowd going nuts.

*if anyone wants to take a bathroom break at this point, it might be a good idea*

After a 15 minute intermission, the band returns to perform Operation: Mindcrime II. There was much more theatrics the second half, with a lot of video playing on the screen. Beginning with Nikki (now always being played by Geoff) being released from prison. He then comes out on stage to perform "I'm American"& "One Foot in Hell". As "Hostage" begins, the screen displays "18 years earlier..........." and a judge and lawyers appear on stage and act out the courtroom battle that takes place in the song.

Nikki then walks around the streets of almost 20 years ago with a picture of Dr. X, asking people where they can find him. Finally, he knows where Dr. X is and the debate of what to do while"Speed of Light", "Signs Say Go" and "Re-Arrange You" are played ensues. Geoff exits the stage as the band plays "The Chase". The screen shows a semi transparent face of Ronnie James Dio singing his parts over what is a chase scene that involves Nikki on a motorcycle chasing Dr. X's limo around the city. The song ends with Nikki crashing is bike into the limo at full speed (which was a little unrealistic). Nikki then drags Dr. X down the street back to an apartment. Nikki is tortured as to what to do as he has Dr. X tied to a chair during "Murderer?" and he finally shoots him, to the delight of the crowd. The balance of the performance was Nikki not knowing what to do with his life now with Dr. X and Mary both dead. He debates killing himself in many different ways. Finally during "Fear City Slide", Geoff (Nikki) sits on the sofa, ties his arm off, sticks a needle in his vein and od's. Mary appears again during "All the Promises" and Nikki greets he on a stairway. The two embrace, happy that they are finally together, and coming to the realization that all they needed was each other and that their lives would have had a purpose if they were alive and together.

The band came out for a two song encore, which began with "Take Hold of the Flame" and ended with "Jet City Woman". You could tell that everyone wanted more, but the band bowed and departed to a screaming crowd. Overall it was a great show, but I had to wonder whether the rest of the band was really into the whole theatrical part of the show as much as Geoff was. Either way, as a Queensryche fan, I would recommend seeing this tour. It's something that probably won't happen again. For pictures and a review of the Nokia Theater Show, check out Theodore over at Metal Mixtape.

"So take this number.........."

"...........and welcome, to Operation: Mindcrime!"

This Saturday, I am going to see Queensryche at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ. Geoff and the boys will be performing Operation:Mindcrime I & II back to back in their entirety. I'm not in love with the second album, but I've seen them perform O:M I before and they're great! It should be awesome at such a small place.

There was supposed to be five of us going, but now one person can't make it. Anyone interested in one General Admision ticket?

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And now for something completely different - My wife and I have our first post on Dad Said, Mom Said. So far we're actually getting quite a few comments. She's very happy.

Which one's Pink?

In 1994, I had the opportunity to go and see Pink Floyd. Long story short, I skipped the show for a girl that I had been dating for about four years and as it turns out, we broke up that night. I never got to see them and I always was disappointed and annoyed about that.

*BITCH*

Anyway, fast forward 12 years.
My daughter got sick over the weekend (see my wife's post here for all details) and passed it along to both of us. I got tickets for the opening night of Roger Waters' US tour at the PNC Bank Arts Center for this past Wednesday night. I did not want to miss the show, but I did not feel well enough to go to work. As they day went on, I felt better and so did my wife, so we decided that I should go. Yes!! FINALLY!

The show was awesome. There are a lot of details about the show that are hard to explain, but I’ll do my best. Before the band came out, while people were still finding their seats, there was a video of an old 1940’s type radio sitting on a table with a full ashtray in front of it. Occasionally, you’d see a hand flick a cigarette into the ashtray and possibly even fill up a glass with Johnny Walker. As the show got closer to starting, the hand began changing the radio station, which in turn changed what we were all listening to.

When Waters came out, he opened with “In the Flesh”, not “In the Flesh?”. (I specify this for a reason that I will get to shortly.) They then played “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” & Shine on You Crazy Diamond” in tribute to Syd Barrett. Next was “Have a Cigar” and “Wish You Were Here”. Between Cigar and Wish You Were Here, the 1940’s radio appeared on the screen again and the hand changed the station in sync with the filler between the two songs. I thought it was cool. The only Roger Waters song that was played was a new song that was anti-war and political. About 1/3 of the cheered and the rest boo’d him. They the quicky went into the final song of the set, “Sheep” and out came the giant, floating pig balloon. Anyway, the reason I mentioned the “In the Flesh” thing is because the lyrics of that version say this:

Pink isn’t well,
He stayed back at the hotel.
They sent us along as a surrogate band,
We're gonna find out where you folks really stand.

…….and Have a Cigar Says this:

Oh by the way, which one's Pink?

I think this was Roger Waters’ way of saying, “HEY GILMORE! You don’t want to tour and perform Pink Floyd material, huh? Well I’m gonna do it alone then!” Just to kind of rub his nose in it. Of course I tend to read too much into things sometimes, so I could be way off base here.

After a 15 minute intermission, out came the whole band and they performed “Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety. I have to say that everyone sounded really good, but I’d like to give a lot of credit to the lead guitarist. He did a great job playing like Gilmore. Also, the back up singers were composed of three women, and one of them did an outstanding job on “The Great Gig in the Sky”. She hit every note perfectly. I wish I remembered their names, to give them proper credit.

The encore consisted of “The Happiest Days of Our Lives”, “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2”, “Vera”, “Bring the Boys Back Home” and Wrapping it up with “Comfortably Numb”. Overall it was an awesome show. I recommend it to anyone that is a Pink Floyd fan. I’m glad I didn’t miss this one.

Rock Concerts

I have been to a lot of rock concerts in my life. Most of them were when I was between the ages of 15 and 22, but there are two that stick out in my head.

• Whitesnake (1988) - I went to the Orange County Fair Grounds in NY (where I saw a lot of concerts) with a bunch of friends. Whitesnake was touring to support their self titled album. The Fair Grounds had their concerts set up on a dirt race track with the band in the infield and the general admission on the track itself. It was a pretty good place to see a show. Anyway, the concert is not what I specifically remember about that night. I know I ate something that didn't agree with me and I felt sick for the whole second half of the show. As we were walking thru the parking lot after the concert, I kept telling my friends that I felt like shit, but they kept saying I was being a pussy. Next thing I knew I was puking my guts out. The funny part was that I was leaning up against the front window to a pizza place projective vomitting in front of everyone eating. I remember looking up and seeing people eating.............stop...............look at me.............then all keep eating at the same time. It was just like when Rick Moranis in Ghostbusters is attacked by the "Vinz Clortho" beast in front of Tavern on the Green in Central Park. It craked us up later, because I didn't care that they were eating and they didn't care that I was throwing up!

• Ozzy Osbourne (1991) - I saw Ozzy on the "No More Tours" tour in support of the No More Tears album at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. I remember how packed it was. Everyone was getting rowdy and pushing towards the stage. There was one row of people between me and the "pit" where security protected the stage. I think Ozzy had just finished playing "Mr. Crowley" and he looks out at the crowd........sees us all pushing and shoving trying to get at the stage, and proceeds to yell out (in his drunken British accent), "If you bastards want to get up on stage, you've got me bloody, fuckin' permission!!!" Well that's all we had to hear. You could see the look of panic on the security guards faces as they braced for thousands of people rushing the stage. A fight broke out about 10 feel from me between some fans and a security guard, so the guys in front of us ran over to help leaving a HUGE hole in front of us. A few of us started heaving people over the pit and onto the stage. After a few people I thought to myself, "What the fuck are you doing?!?! GET UP THERE!!" I jump up on stage and get to less than 5 feet from Ozzy. I put my hand in the air and start yelling. The next thing I knew, I felt hands on my shoulders and BAM! I was flying thru the air back into the crowd. I weighed about 150 pounds back then, so I was no match for the "Brut Squad" they had working there. I landed on some people and then we all fell on the floor. As dumb as it is, I can remember that like it happened last week.

Do you have any concert stories?