You are Never Too Old to Rock!

When you go to a Black Crowes show, you never know what you are going to get.

They are one of the few bands that change their set lists NIGHTLY.

You could have seen them play down in Hyannis on Friday and then see a completely different performance at the Hampton Beach Casino two nights later.

And never be disappointed.

I didn't see them on the Cape, but damn they rocked the Casino. Rock 101 was broadcasting the show, so the crowd seemed even more amped for the performance.

For those who do not know the Black Crowes, the best way to describe them is by sticking the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Rolling Stones into a blender and pressing high speed.

They are bluesy, melodic, and rocking all at the same time.

If you don't find yourself dancing, tapping your feet, or clapping your hands, you must not be alive.

The Crowes played many songs off their first album.

I saw them five years ago for the first time and they rocked the place. My friend and I called it the best worst show we ever saw. Not because of their performance which was incredible, but because of their set list. We had no idea what most of the songs were and we are big Crowes fans but I guess not fanatical.

The show at Hampton started off with the Black Crowes playing hits like "Stare It Cold" "Hotel Illness", "Hard To Handle" and "She Talks To Angels" off their first two albums.

To say the joint was jumping was an understatement.

The floor was actually moving from the sea of humanity grooving to the Black Crowes bluesy beats.

The smell of whacky tabacky was in the air.

Chris Robinson with his 70 lb frame and 60 lb beard, was the embodiment of a front man.

His booming voice and flaring dancing gyrations put the crowd in the palm of his hand.

The rest of the band was as tight as a band could be. They showed their true chops by inserting 10 minutes jams into songs like "Thorn In My Pride."

Good Ole Southern rock at it's best.

They are incredible musicians and I love their style, but I am a greedy fan. I want to hear as many as my favorite songs in two hours. The jam fest was stealing away from my extravaganza of musical selfishness.

However, my prayers were answered!

For the encore, Chris Robinson came out with a guitar which seemed to weigh him down. You almost thought a roadie was going to help him play his axe.

When the band broke into "I Ain't Hiding" off their new album, "Before the Frost", I went out of my mind. My aching knees from a night of wedding dancing quickly became rejuvenated as the music injected rhythm into my tired limbs.

No better way to end a show but playing the song that put you on the map. The opening lick by Rich Robinson of "Twice As Hard" was a perfect ending to an incredible night of pure rock.

Not hard rock.

Not rap rock.

Not metal.

Just good ole southern fun lovin'rock and roll.

Can't wait to see them again in the fall when they come back on their "Greatest Hits" tour.

But of course I will complain then too because I didn't hear EVERY song I love.

That is a disappointment I can surely live with.

Twice as hard as it was the first time...

I have been looking forward to this concert for months. I finally was going to see one of my all time favorite bands, Alice in Chains in concert.

I have been a huge fan of AIC since they came on to the scene in the early 90's. Their tapes/CD's were staples in my music collection and part of the soundtrack for my college years at UMASS-Lowell. People on campus or the shuttle bus could probably hear "Dirt", "Them Bones", and "Man in the Box" blaring on my walkman and/or discman at any given time.

Sure they were dark and not exactly cheery but that was grunge. Alice In Chains led by the screeching sounds of guitarist Jerry Cantrell and the haunting vocals of Layne Staley were going to be a band that would stay relevant for years to come.

However, Layne Staley had demons and addictions. He ended up losing his battle with drugs especially heroin and crack. Layne passed away on April 5, 2002.

So what of the future of Alice In Chains?

Jerry Cantrell, the heart and soul of AIC, went on to a successful solo career. His albums "Boggy Depot" and "Degradation Trip" were very Alice In Chains influenced but still had a sound of its own.

I was a huge fan of Jerry's work and was luck to get tickets for him when he opened up for Nickleback in 2002. I never heard the Alice in Chains songs live and when I did, I was out of my mind. Jerry and his band, which included unknown William Duvall, were doing completely justice to every Cantrell and Alice in Chains song they played.

I hoped that perhaps Jerry and the rest of AIC would get back together, but who would sing. Little did we know that he was with the band the whole time.

Could William Duvall be AIC's Brian Johnson? Johnson replaced the deceased Bon Scott and AC/DC didn't miss a beat.

When AIC reformed and released "Black Gives Away to Blue", I was finally going to have the opportunity to see one of the bands that helped shaped my love for music especially hard rock.

Their new album was superb. It was a great mix with skull crushing hits like "Check My Brain" but also included eerie tunes like "Your Decision". You could picture Layne singing some of these songs but not all of them. William Duvall was putting his own stamp on the band.

I missed out on their gig at the Paradise in September 2009 due to a pre-planned trip to Atlanta. I wasn't going to miss out on them again!

I bought tickets for their show at the Orpheum on March 14th and the countdown was on.

Alice in Chains training was in full swing.

Training you ask?

I do a music listening marathon of the artist I am going to see.

My friend Anthony, who is part two of the concert going duo of Chazz and Rocko, was on board and pumped to see AIC for the first time in almost 15 years.

March 14th was in the middle of a monsoon that hit Boston. Blinding rain and gusting winds gripped the Commonwealth. However, washed out roads were not going to thwart us in seeing one of our favorite bands.

On the way to the show, we discussed what songs that AIC would have a hard time pulling off without Layne and his distinct vocals. The song that stuck out was "Nut Shell". We thought there was no way William DuVall could do this song justice.

After we settled into our miniscule seats at the historic Orpheum (which was built in 1852), Alice In Chains especially Mr. DuVall proved us very wrong.

Sean Kinney, Mike Inez, Jerry Cantrell and William DuVall were as tight as a band could be. It was like they have been playing together since the late 80's.

Every AIC fan was satisfied with the set list. They played songs off their new album like the thunderous "A Looking In View" and the aforementioned hit "Your Decision". But, they spent most of the night playing the historic hits.

Man In The Box.

Would?

Got Me Wrong.

Them Bones.

Damn the River.

They played almost the whole "Dirt" album which arguably could be their best. No one could tell that they haven't played these songs since the damn of the new millennium.

William DuVall hit the ball of the park. His singing complimented the rest of the band to a T. The transition to William from Layne was almost seamless. The songs that were Layne staples such as "Man In The Box" and "Nutshell", William was incredible. He didn't let us forget Layne but he didn't try to replace Layne Staley either.

Alice in Chains passed all the tests and there is no reason they won't be as successful with William behind the mic. Jerry Cantrell found his vocal heir apparent and I am looking forward to seeing AIC be a force on the music scene again!

You all did Layne proud!

Chickenfoot is a Rock and Roll all star team. Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony from Van Halen, drummer Chad Smith from the Peppers, and guitar virtuoso, Joe Satriani make up this music juggernaut. They are a super group that is indeed super!

The Hampton Beach Casino was sweltering inside as Hurricane Bob was pounding the shores of the New Hampshire. However, there was a Perfect Rock storm brewing in the casino.

The Red Rocker flanked by his all star cast took the stage. Chickenfoot's self titiled album is rock music to its finest. If you want something political or off in outer space you came to the wrong place. CF brings the rock and brings it with a classic flare.

You wouldn't consider Hagar as a spring chicken at the age of 61, but you would never know it. His voice was superb and his Cabo Wabo stage presence was dead on. It was like having a party with 2000 of your friends.

Being 36, I could have been one of the youngest people there. However, the old folks were singing, dancing, and clapping along with band. The Casino had as much energy as the Seabook Power Plant down the street.

The highlights of the show was the acoustic intro and rocking outro of "Bitten By the Wolf". They also played new rock anthems "Soap on a rope" and "Oh yeah" which made the casino feel like a 60,000 seat arena. Big guitars, big drums, and big booming shrieks of Sammy Hagar were a perfect recipe for a rocking night. My friend and I exited after my fave song, "Get it On" and headed home, but not with the visions and sounds of musical royalty in our heads. Ariba! Ariba!

I have seen the Peppers, Joe Satriani, and Van Halen on separate occasions but it was a real treat to see them work so well together. I want to thank the Morning Buzz for giving me this chance of seeing this great collection of musicians. I probably wouldn't have gone due to the $60 price tag.

Chickenfoot is indeed the perfect storm of rock....

After seeing Metallica and now AC/DC, the old guard can still rock! They could teach the younger generation a thing or two!

The weather was superb and ripe for a Thunder storm which is called AC/DC. I have never seem them live, but you could step in your Rock N' Roll time machine to any one of the Stadium shows in the 80's and get the same quality performance. Angus and Brian Johnson stole the show. They did not resemble gents in their 50's. They looked and acted more like young rock gods playing one of their first gigs.

After getting into it with people who were standing in front of us(no need to stand if you are in the front row), I was in full rock concert mode. My friends and I were rocking out to iconic songs like Thunder Struck(see my video below), Back In Black, and Dirty Deeds. They even played one of my favorites, Shoot to Thrill, which got my motor hummin'.

The band was sounded great and Angus was a man posessed. His hands and fingers were in a frenzy running up and down his battle axe of aggression. Guitar solos are usually pit stops for the rest of the band to energize, but not for Angus. He indeed is one of the best guitar players in the world and one of the few guitar front men. He had the crowd on edge of their seats with every riff. By far one of the best shows, I have ever seen.

It was a kick in the you know what when the tickets got reduced to $30 from the $80 I spent, but it was well worth it. F recession rock! It was a great night for friends, good times, and to get saluted by the fore fathers of hard rock! That's the way I wanna rock and roll!!!!!

Next show.....??

STP is one my favorite bands that I never saw. The closest I got was Velvet Revolver a few years ago at the same venue. Slash and Weiland were a lethal combination belting out VR, STP, and GNR tunes to perfection. However, Weiland is more at home wearing a suit than leather. He is more lounge singer than hard rock god.

My friend Rich and I had great seats, oops I mean standing room on the floor. We had freedom to roam around the floor at the half house show. The economy must be hitting hard if one of the best 90's rock bands can't sell out a 10 thousand seat arena. However, the light crowd didn't stop their 90 minute greatest hits extravanganza!

Weiland came decked out in a white suit and dark sunglasses. The dude just wreaked of front man coolness. The band belted out all the hits including Plush, Sex Type Thing, and my favorite, Interstate Love Song. They also threw in less popular songs like Dead and Bloated to keep the crowd guessing. The band was jumping all around the stage and trying to engage the crowd at every riff and sing along.

As I have mentioned in pervious entries, the crowd makes the show just as much as the band and the Mancha Vegas folks didn't hold up their end of the bargain. I am not sure if the beer was turned off or the herb supply got busted at the Mass border. People step it up!

The show was a trippy rock experience with one of the best frontmen in the last 10 years. The rest of the band is pretty much a second thought and could just be called Weiland. I hope he stays clean so we can hear a new album from STP! Good show, lousy crowd!

Next up Hard Rock Icons, AC/DC at Gillette Stadium, the summer of music continues....

Nothing beats getting out of work at noon, meeting up with your buddies for brews, and preparing for a hair metal concert! The bill was Def Leppard/Poison with Cheap Trick as the opening act. The weather finally broke after what it seemed like 40 days and 40 nights of endless rain in the New England area. The beers were flowing and tunes blaring in the Comcast Center parking lot.

I have seen Poison probably 5 times in the last 9 years, but I have only seen Def Leppard three times ever. I was really looking forward to see what they had "left in the tank" and they did not disappoint at all! Poison was good but nothing special. I kind of wished them off the stage, so I could see and experience the Main Act!

Def Leppard brought not only the audio experience but a visual one as well. Not your run of the mill pyrotechnics but also great videos and imagery from their 30 years of rocking until they dropped! The tunes were tight and Joe Elliott's voice held it's own unlike fellow 80's frontman, Vince Neil from the Motley show earlier this year. The success on any concert is the quality and distinction of the lead singer. Without a powerful and gripping voice, a metal band just ends up in the bargain bin at Wal-Mart.

Leppard played all the hits and mixed in a few new ones as well. All the favorites like "Hysteria", "Photograph", and "Pour Some Sugar on Me" were on all of the lips of the thousands of Def Leppard fans in attendance. However, the lesser known tunes like "Too Late for Love" really got my motor runnin'. A band that made rock anthems popular, like "Rock Of Ages", had their fans unite in one nation under Def Lepp!

Def Leppard helped launch Pop/Hair Metal but they also perfected it. They gave us all the power ballads and party songs that a hair metal fan could ever want. Their peers who are still touring need to look at Def Leppard as the bar and want to strive to bring the same quality show to their fans. Money is tough to come by these days. However, if you provide a quality product/experience, they will come with hair teased to the sky and lighter in hand!

Stay tuned for my review of STP and AC/DC....

I would consider myself a major CB fan. This is my fourth time seeing them in the last 3 years. Twice at the Hampton Beach Casino, once at Penn's Landing in Philly, and now at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston.

I have been to the Paradise a few times before to see Days of the New and For Good Homes(folk band), but neither could hold a match to Candlebox. The venue allows a close intimacy with the band. Even the "balcony" is only 15 yards away. The waitstaff was super-friendly and they even gave you free water to quench your rock and roll thirst!

The band came out and rocked the Paradise into a frenzy. They played most of their new album, Into the Sun and hard rocking favorites like Changes, You, and Far Behind. Kevin Martin had the energy of a supernova and Peter Klett's guitar playing had my female friend in a tizzy! They bring it 110% time all of the time.

What I like about Candlebox, is that you never know what you are going to get.Kevin Martin blared out iconic songs like the Immigrant Song, Highway to Hell and Crazy Train accompanied by his Ozzy impression. Its never the same 'ole show with these guys. They always have a surprise or two up their sleeves.

If you want to see a show that leaves you tired and your voice hoarse, Candlebox is the show! Best $26, I ever spent. Yes only 26 bucks! A great time in a sh*tty economy!

June: Def Leppard & Poison
July: AC/DC

Stay tuned for the reviews that ROck!

I attended the Motley Crue show at Mohegan Sun on March 13th. Yes Friday the 13th and it was a scary night for sure!

My friend Joe and I were recovering from our hangover the previous night. Tommy Lee was allegedly in Lucky's Thursday night, the place we got our drink on. After a 3 hour nap, it was time for the Crue!

We got some drinks and food at Margaritaville, did some gambling, and then made our way over to Mohegan Sun Arena. I missed half of Theory of a Dead Man's set but they were really good. They ended their set with hit; "Bad Girlfriend" and alot of the ladies were going nuts.

We went to the concourse during Hinder's set and oh my. The crowd was as diverse as the aliens in the Star Wars Cantina! People wearing clothes they shouldn't be, now or back in 1986! Alot of folks were walking around like drunken zombies. I think I even saw Kiefer Sutherland circa the Lost Boys movie. As I said before, half of the experience is the crowd!

Crue hit the stage with their compliments of pyrotechnics, S&M video footage, and other 80's concert staples. I felt they tried a little too hard sometimes. Do you really need pyro after EVERY song? I don't really think so.

They sounded okay. Some songs they hit dead on like "Live Wire" which got the crowd into frenzy. They also played new songs such as "Saints of Los Angeles", "Motherf*cker of the Year", and "White Trash Circus" which was actually taped for the Jimmy Kimmel Show. They played the song twice to make sure they had the right take for the show.

However, songs such a "Home Sweet Home" fell short of expectations. Vince's voice was either on its last legs or the sound system was shoddy. I could barely hear the vocals. Major letdown for an encore!

Seeing Mick Mars fight through his ailment was inspiring and seeing Tommy Lee loaded wasn't surprising. Nikki Sixx was a crowd favorite as always and seeing his girlfriend Kat Von D at the show didn't hurt one bit! This concert showed the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Motley Crue. What else do you expect?

I bought the new album based on the concert, so I guess their mission was accomplished! See them again? I am not sure.

Next show...either Disturbed or Def Lepp/Poison...stay tuned!

What can I say say? Metallica still f'n rocks! My neck hurt for 3 days and it was well worth it!

I went to the January 18th show at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. My bro in law and a few friends accompanied me to one of the best metal shows in years! For guys in their 40's, they rock harder than any "metal" band today! They mixed new songs like "Broken, Beat and Scarred" with classics like "Master of Puppets" and "Harvester of Sorrow." No fan could leave this show unhappy(except the lame 20 year olds who look like they were sitting in a 8am class after partying all night at the frat)!

Metallica came, saw, and dominated like they did in the 80's and 90's. They are back and I am going to wear my $35 concert t-shirt proudly! As you know rock t-shirts are in style again and so is real METAL!!!

Yes Folks! I actually saw White Lion earlier this month. They played a small venue in Danvers, MA. My friends and I are like $20! No Brainer!

The only problem was that the Patriots-Colts game was on. The only thing that can distract me from some good ole hair metal is NFL football. To be fair the music was just the soundtrack for the Patriots Tilt. The Patriots lost a close one 18-15.

White Lion attracted the usual "Star Wars Cantina" crowd like most 80's hair metal shows do. People from all walks of life, I mean all! People trapped in the 80's, people in their 80's, and people driving cars from the 80's. I mean this is about 20% the reason I go to this shows! It's all about the crowds and the experience!

White Lion was good. Mike Tramp, the lead singer and only original member, still sang well. He belted out all the hits like "Little Fighter", "Wait" & my fave, "Tell Me". The show was worth every cent. I could have done without Tramp's speech about how Rock n' Roll has died as we know it. It's like dude just play the hits!

Next on the concert schedule--Metallica in January and the Crue in March. Stay tuned for more concert reviews because you are NEVER TOO OLD to ROCK!

Here I sit 3 days after seeing Candlebox for the third consecutive year at the Hampton Beach Casino and they still are at the top of the kick @ss mountain for me!

Nothing beats the Casino for a show for sure. For those not familiar with the venue in Hampton, NH, there is no casino but rather a concert hall rich with history. It is not too big and not too small. It does provide the intimacy which is essential for a great rock show. On yeah...Zeppelin played there back in the day, enough said!

I never saw Candlebox back in their hey day in the 90's but always loved their music. Far behind, You, 10,000 horses, and Sometimes were some of my fave songs back in my "youth". I still can't put down their 1998 album Happy Pills. One thing was missing for me, it was seeing Candlebox live.

Back in 2006, NH morning show the Morning Buzz campaigned to have Candlebox play the Hampton Beach Casino. It was one of the best things they did! I was on the phone with my rock buddy, Anthony as soon as heard the news. We got tickets and arrived at the show.

I will have to tell you Candlebox was and still is one of the most energetic and passionate bands I have ever seen. For a band that didnt play together for almost 8 years, they never missed a note. Lead singer Kevin Martin is the show man, lead singer, and has the energy of a power plant. His voice can sound like a freight train rumbling down the tracks at one moment then he can sound angelic the next. I have never got better value for $20!

I have been hooked ever since. I saw them in 2007 and this year with my buddy, Missy. We rocked out to new Candlebox hits such as Surrendering and B*tches Brewin'. Believe it or not, they are BETTER than they were in the 90's. The music has evolved and Kevin Martin's rock vocals sound even more thunderous. This band has an energy that grips the crowd for 1 1/2 hours.

The band is the focal point of the event but the crowd can make or break the experience. A Candlebox crowd is very diverse and passionate about their music. Hands pumping, people dancing, and singing with the band are staples at all Candlebox shows. I leave each show partially deaf, sore, and exhausted but guess what? Its all worth it in the name of ROCK!

Oh yeah I may be going to see them tonight in Philly! The Concert experience is an addiction and I don't want to find the remedy!

The addiction continues...

My girlfriend, her sister, and niece(who is newly baptized now in the church of ROCK)joined me at the free 104.5 show at Penn's landing in Philly! After returning my kick @ss red mustang to the rental company, we headed to the show. When we arrived Candlebox already hit the stage.

This was a free show that started at 2pm with local alt rocks band so the crowd was a mixed bag to say the least. All ages and all types of folks made up the crowd. You were able to bring in cameras which was cool. I was able to capture some of the Candlebox experience in photo and video form. Stay tuned for my footage of "No Sense" from the show.

Candlebox mixed up their set a bit from their show in Hampton. They played a new song or 2 off their 2nd album, Lucy. They sounded phenomenal! The open aired venue cut down on the feedback that usually results in a closed structure.

The crowd, on the other hand which is an important variable in the rock experience equation, was a far cry from the Hampton Beach show. You must take into consideration this was not a crowd that came just to see Candlebox. I would say a third of the 1500 person crowd was really into the show. Hopefully Candlebox won over some new fans last night.

The highlight of the show beside the usual ear popping rock, was lead singer Kevin Martin's heart felt tribute to his late Father. The song "I Miss You" was written for his Dad who passed away 4 years ago. He was a WWII vet who stormed the beaches of Normandy. Not only was this song for him, Kevin Martin said, but also for all the men and women that are fighting for our freedom abroad.

At that time I scanned the crowd and noticed a man probably 5-8 years younger than me. He was missing an arm and made me think that he had given up his health and everyday life for US and this country. We owe EVERYTHING to these folks fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Gods speed to them all!

The show concluded with the mega-hit, "Far Behind." The crowd stepped up the energy level quite a bit during the finale by singing the lyrics back to the band. As I was walking back to our car, Kevin Martin's angelic voice filled the waterfront and made me think of my friend who is battling alcoholism. Music touches us not just in the ears but the heart, mind, and soul.

Until next year, keep rocking Candlebox!