I met him in a swamp down in Dagobah
DOUBLE CONCERT RE-CAP! READ IF YOU LIKE MUSIC AT ALL
So...The Zao/Devil Driver/Trivium/In Flames show on Wednesday was pretty intense! The speakers sounded HORRIBLE for most of the night, but the show was pretty rad. Zao's set was about 30 minutes, leaving them storming through a whirlwind of 8 songs - sounding more like flight of the bumblebee, but metal. They played a couple new tracks, but I couldn't really hear well - one of the riffs Scott was playing was pretty sweet, though. The crowd response was pretty decent for them, as well - it was a sold out crowd - the most people I've ever seen there in my life. Devil Driver was on next, and about that time I had to take a much-needed restroom stop. I could hear them from the bathroom, it sounded like people were having a good time - so I went back into the theater and gave them a listen. I was blown away...needless to say, I thought they were going to suck major popsicles, but it was so precise and energetic - I couldn't help but just start smiling. The way Dez had the crowd going was impressive - they heeded his word like sheep to the slaughter. I'd never seen so many horns in my life! They played through the rest of their set, bludgeoning everything in their path, and then Trivium was slated to play next.
I hate Trivium. They are pop-metal douchebags that I wish would befall a car accident in the near future. Arrrgh! Just the thought of them makes me cringe. So, you can probably guess that I was outside smoking myself to death as they were playing. I ran into Casey (ex bandmate from the pilot episode days), his girlfriend Heather, and some other random people. I also saw Alycia - which is humorous, because we first met after a Zao show at the Clubhouse - I just found this all kind of amusing and interesting. Finally In Flames went on - and the place was going nuts. I listened to about three songs, not knowing any of them - then decided I wanted to go outside for a cigarette. I decided that I LIKE In Flames, but don't love them. Soundtrack to your Escape is a good album, but live - all their stuff kinda just muddles together for me. That, and the crappy sound system convinced me I'd had enough for the evening. As I wandered outside, I found Darrell and his friend, who I drove to the show from my work, and they were conversing with Jeff, the new (est) drummer of Zao. I said a couple words to Dan, but it's always awkward when I talk to him. I think I intimidate him or something - perhaps because I think he's one of the greatest vocalists/lyricists today, and I'm also intimidated by his greatness. I was eavesdropping on Jeff and Darrell's conversation, then finally Darrell introduced me to him - and we all talked for about an hour about record labels, touring, recording, merchandise, videos - everything. It was nice to hear some good and bad things about their situations - things I can learn from in the future.
On Friday night was Cake/Tegan & Sarah/Gogol Bordello. WOW. The show was sooooo good! I walked in as Gogol Bordello was finishing up their set, and they really intrigued me. I saw a girl running around the stage with a huge marching-band-style bass drum, keeping a steady beat. There was a man with a fiddle playing furiously to the beat - it was a pretty cool sight! I think they had an accordion too, which is badass - I LOVE accordion. Every band should have accordion. I think I should propose that MY band use accordion. Haha, that's metal. So Tegan & Sarah were up next, and I don't care what you think about them - they were pretty spectacular. Especially Sarah (I think), her voice/vibrato/whatever she does is incredible. When they both were playing guitar and singing harmonies, I could only help but have a huge grin on my face. They were relatively quiet onstage, they didn't say much - maybe because the room might be a little threatening with the audience surrounding you in a 3/4 circle?
Cake took the stage last and totally tore it up. They were right on with all their parts, vocal lines, everything. The singer started talking about how they're no longer with Columbia Records, and I couldnt've been happier for them. It really put into perspective how shady record labels can be sometimes. I don't want someone taking my money that I'M earning, the government already does that crap. I want my band to be self-sufficient, and never have to have a record label front us money. Let's see how THAT goes, eh? Towards the end of the set, Cake had the audience going back and forth along the opposite sides of the stage, singing one line of the song; a vocal ping-pong match! On another one, they had the men singing a line, then the women, and back and forth for a solid few minutes at least! I thought it was incredible how they took control of the crowd - I can only hope to be able to have that much fun with an audience someday. That pretty much sums up the last week, with occasional hangings-out with random people, and a band photo shoot. @*#)(@ The music is coming along awesomely - it's soooo intense, we can't wait to get it on tape. Also, Grant(Chief Eagle) is going to front about $200 a song to record our old/new music! I checked out the studio, and it's pretty rad - in an old house in Mesa, really similar feeling to Bob Hoag's old Flying Blanket studio. I'm STOKED ON LIFE!