June 03, 2011

#114. This is the year Wilco played, making up for the cancellation the year before.  It was also the year Cocteau Twins were supposed to play, but they canceled and have yet to reschedule.

Other highlights in 2005-New Order playing Joy Division songs, Arcade Fire clearly playing too small a stage for them (they would make up for that soon), Futureheads and Bloc Party showing that some of the most exciting music was coming out of England, Gang of Four showing where Bloc Party and Futureheads stole a few riffs, and Peter Murphy signing Bela Lugosi's Dead hanging upside down.  That last one I missed, since stupid Secret Machines played a little late and even stupider me didn't tear myself away from their stage in time.  Got to the main stage only to hear the last notes of Bela and to also hear from everyone what a cool spectacle I just missed.

June 02, 2011

#113.  True San Gabriel Valley boy here.  Born near Alhambra.  Grew up in San Gabriel.  Lived in Pasadena since 1990.  Showing my local pride.

June 01, 2011

#112. Prior to this 1999 show at the Anaheim Pond, I had only seen the Stones in mega venues, playing the Coliseum, Rose Bowl and the dreaded Dodgers Stadium.  If I recall correctly, The Stones decided to postpone some European dates in 1999 because of tax reasons, so they did an arena swing through the states, their first since the late 70's.  I don't know if it was the relative intimacy of the Pond (which, compared to the arenas they would have played the last time, wasn't very intimate), but at the time it was my favorite Stones show.  It was great to see such an iconic band stripped down to just the musical elements, and totally deliver. 

Forget the trappings they need to play a stadium, the Stones are a great band.  Period.

May 31, 2011

#111. When I heard Van Halen were reunited with David Lee Roth, I was ambivalent. I mean, I completely hated the Hagar years and only cared about the VH albums with Roth, but Roth's voice is not the instrument is used to be. However, I did see a solo Roth show a few years before, and found him to still be quite the showman.

Then I heard Michael Anthony wasn't in the band, and I knew I wasn't going to go. Besides being one of rock's greatest bassists, he is also one the more important background singers in rock. I don't know how many people realize it, but his background vox laid a similarly strong foundation to the VH sound as did his bass playing. Not only was Michael Anthony out of the tour, but Eddie Van Halen's teenage son Wolfgang was filling his shoes. NOT INTERESTED.

And then the day of the show, my friend called me and said he had an extra ticket that was mine if I could drive. And that's how quickly I will sell out.

I'm glad I went. The show did kick ass. The Roth-era Van Halen songs are still some of the best in rock. And Eddie's guitar playing was perfect. It was so good, I bought a shirt.

May 30, 2011

#110. Who would think that the best album from a Beach Boy would have come from Dennis Wilson? Even though Brian has released some fine music since he parted ways with the band he founded, younger brother Dennis released Pacific Ocean Blue in 1977 and surprised everyone who gave it a chance. Sadly, most people didn't give it a chance and it faded away and poor Dennis never got it together to release a follow up album. After being out of print for years, there was a nice CD reissue a couple of years ago. Get it.

May 29, 2011

#109. If you don't what this is, you are probably not yet 40 years old. However, on my 45th birthday I could think of nothing better to do than to get this image tattooed on my leg.

May 28, 2011

#108. One of my favorite albums ever, and also one of my favorite album covers. It's one of those albums where the cover and the content really work as one.