First Concert in over a year

Otis Day · Wed Dec 21, 2022 11:20 am

Saw Mike Zito again about a week ago. He came to town. He does a helluva rendition of the Blind Faith song, "Presence of The Lord."

[video][/video]

Otis Day · Fri Mar 10, 2023 1:50 pm

A little Alley Venable, Eric Gales and Buddy Guy coming up Monday, 3/13. Buddy's farewell tour. Should be a good show. she is not bad to look at either.

karhu · Mon Mar 13, 2023 2:39 am

Otis Day wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 1:50 pm A little Alley Venable, Eric Gales and Buddy Guy coming up Monday, 3/13. Buddy's farewell tour. Should be a good show. she is not bad to look at either.

Thanks for the heads-up; I'll try to make it when he comes around.

Me, I'm looking forward to seeing these guys for the first time this spring. Three bands have really blown my head off and went beyond sounding like more articulate versions of what I thought and felt at the time into "how the hell did they know I was thinking that?" territory: Cheap Trick when I was a kid (I was too young to really enjoy the 70s, but Cheap Trick kept the best of 'em alive into the dark ages that followed), Game Theory when I grew up (still the best rock band ever IMSO--at least the best songs), and Sleaford Mods when I hit my late 40s. Fuck the wistfulness, this is the most essential band I've ever heard. It helps that I'm their age and that I tend to look like what would happen if Andrew ate Jason.

EDIT: I've got to share their newest, too. Video's great, "I want it all, like a crack forest gateau" is great, and I've got my 10- and 8-year-olds digging it (the little guy prefers "Smash Each Other Up").

Otis Day · Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:56 am

Well, Buddy was worth it although the entire night was just kind of strange. Ally Venable opened up. Started getting into her vibe about 4 songs in. Then she was done, 4 songs. I have never experienced a first act get such a short window.

Eric Gales was next up. He can get a little crazy, Jimi Hendrix like. His set was a little longer than Venables. He let everyone know he has been clean for 6 1/2 yrs which is great. He had some great stories between songs. A funny part of his set is when he stopped mid song and started talking about the signer (they had a woman off to the side signing). He stopped and gave her kudos as she was really getting into it. It must have been something because he commented multiple times after, sometimes in the middle of the song. He didn't jam out as much as I thought he would but he was still good.

Buddy was Buddy. 87 frickin years old and he still brings it. He also did some talking, great stories about his youth and how blues is no longer played on main stream radio. At one point he set his guitar down and used a drumstick to do the intro to Smoke on The Water. Funny thing about it, he was dropping the F bomb quite a bit. He said he never used to cuss until hip hop came out.

He was talking about his youth, leading to the song, Skin Deep. A woman must have seen this previously and she started yelling, repeatedly, "Skin Deep, Skin Deep!" He told her to "shut the fuck up and let me introduce my own song." Little crusty in his old age.

He is a legend and glad I caught him on his farewell tour.

Grizzled · Wed May 10, 2023 1:44 pm

Cheap Trick on May 21st. Saw them in '77, the opening act for Aerosmith, who absolutely sucked while CT burned the auditorium down. Can't wait.

Otis Day · Thu May 11, 2023 10:15 am

Cheap Trick was just in the area. I didn't go but some friends did. They said CT did not disappoint. I have always liked them but just never had the desire to see them in concert. Strange but I am like that with some bands.

Nothing lined up this month or in June so far. Taking the wife to a country show in July. She always sees who I want so I figured I need go along with her on a country show. Pat Benatar in August. I have seen some recent youtube vids of her and she still has the voice.

Otis Day · Wed Jun 07, 2023 9:15 am

Anyone got any concerts lined up for the summer. Only one I have tix for so far is Pat Benatar in August. I have seen some recent videos of her and she has still got the voice.

karhu · Mon Jul 03, 2023 3:47 am

Otis Day · Mon Jul 03, 2023 9:46 am

Just got tickets for Blackberry Smoke in September. I want to go see Band of Heathens in September also.

Peoria puts on a Heritage Music fest on Labor Day weekend. The lineup so far looks promising: Cristone "Kingfish" Ingram, Ana Popovic, Here Come the Mummies to name a few.

Locally, the Danielle Nicole Band (grammy nominated) is coming on August 6.

Grizzled · Tue Jul 04, 2023 9:39 am

Cheap Trick was most excellent. They just keep on rocking.

dplank · Tue Jul 04, 2023 10:25 am

Went to a local bar punk show last night. Don’t know the names of the bands lol, but the opener was the best one IMO

I’m a “small venues only “ guy, no interest in seeing music in a large stadium type place

Grizzled · Wed Jul 05, 2023 10:34 am

dplank wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 10:25 am Went to a local bar punk show last night. Don’t know the names of the bands lol, but the opener was the best one IMO

I’m a “small venues only “ guy, no interest in seeing music in a large stadium type place

My days of big stadiums are over. Bars are cool but casinos are very good, especially for the old-timey music groups I still love. Affordable, good seats can be had for $50 or so.

Otis Day · Wed Jul 05, 2023 12:34 pm

I saw America a couple years ago at a casino. Ticket price was right. Music was great. Only bad thing the seating. We were packed in like sardines.

Otis Day · Wed Aug 16, 2023 10:08 am

Saw Pat Benatar/Neil Geraldo last night in a theater which seats about 3000. Damn, that woman has still got the pipes. She was impressive. They started the show off with my favorite song by them, "Fired Up" and it certainly got everyone going. Geraldo kicks ass on the guitar. Surprised you don't hear more about him when people talk great guitarists. They did a hellish version of Helter Skelter. I would say that was probably the highlight of the evening for me (in addition to Fired Up). Great to see these classic rock peeps still being able to bring it.

karhu · Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:53 pm

I'm assembling a list of concerts I couldn't go to over the last year. Had tickets to Sleaford Mods, my folks both landed in the hospital and I flew out to help. Had tickets to Swans, fell through. I really need a Swans show right about now.

Otis Day · Tue Sep 19, 2023 3:08 pm

Attended the Leonid and Friends concert in the mighty metropolis, Home of the Decatur Staleys, Decatur, IL. Leonid and Friends are from Russia and they are marketed as a Chicago Tribute band. I will say, having seen Chicago about 6-7 yrs ago, this band sounds more like Chicago than the current lineup. Most people would not give a shit about a tribute band, but these guys are intriguing. From Russia, not having access to the music like most people would and sounding as good as they do. They do a few Earth Wind and Fire songs, a couple Steely Dan, Ides of March, Chaka Chan and Rufus and they do them all very well. They also have a hot ruskie babe singing as well.

If you like Chicago, check these guys out on youtube.

Otis Day · Thu Oct 05, 2023 9:11 am

Blackberry Smoke for the 2nd time in a year. The wife had heard me jamming on and she took a liking to them and wanted to see them if they were ever around again. They played in a recently renovated theater in Davenport, IA. The place sat about 1500-2000 tops. The place was beautiful. It was built about 100 yrs ago. The renovation was well done. They dropped about $3.5 mil into it.

Smoke just puts on a great show. They really seem like they are enjoying themselves. Charlie Starr is a very underrated guitar player. They played about 2 hrs.

Not sure who is next, but got my eye on Mannheim Steamroller in December. Always like to see some type of Christmas concert.