Category Archives: Concert

The Weakerthans – Live At The Burton Cummings Theatre – DVD/CD Review

Many fans of indie rock know who The Weakerthans are and what exactly they do.  For years now the Canadian four (and sometimes up to six) some have been creating amazing albums that are heavy on the indie but also incorporate folk and twang into their material.  They are a band that I label as an “accident band”.  What I mean by that is I became a fan of them by accident.

Back in the days of slinging coffees at the café at the Borders Books & Music I worked at I came across a Weakerthans’ album at a listening station one day while on break.  This was at a time and age when the internet was still ruled by AOL and MySpace was just an idea waiting to be hatched out.  I remember clearly putting the headphones on at the listening station and checking out a couple tracks from Left and Leaving.  Liking what I heard, I recall reading a bio about the band while listening to more tracks and taking a double look at the card when it mentioned one time Propagandhi member John Samson.  Seriously, my mouth dropped open.

I was maybe 23 at the time and was slowly opening my musical tastes more.  Being a punk rocker at heart I was in awe that the bassist of one of my favorite punk rock bands was fronting such a melodic and low-key band.  I heard enough, grabbed the CD, and took it to the register for purchase.  Needless to say my musical appreciation was given a boost thanks to the Weakerthans and to this day I am still an avid fan though I have yet to see them live.

Having missed them the couple times they did roll though Cleveland one could say I was excited to see that they had released  a live DVD/CD titled Live At The Burton Cummings Theatre on Epitaph Records/ANTI- Records.  Performed in their hometown of Winnipeg, Canada in April of 2009, the band recorded the performance at the Burton Cumming’s Theatre (yes, the sweet mustached Burton Cummings of The Guess Who).   Just to clarify I believe the theatre was named after the classic rock musician and that he has nothing to do with it.

The DVD/CD captures the perfect evening of a show with the talented indie rockers as well as their dedicated fans who filled the venue up the night it was recorded.  With no fancy light shows or theatrics the band hit the stage and played a very fun and great sounding show.   Their sound, I should add, almost sounds studio and one could be fooled until the fans started hooting and hollering after every song.

Playing songs old and new the band just sounded amazing and looked ever so comfortable on the stage.  Hearing them open with “Everything Must Go” really reminded me why I have been a fan for so long but seeing how happy they were performing the song brought a whole new appreciation from me for them.  With the crowd cheering and the band just having fun it was apparent that this show was going to be a good one.  Speeding things up they broke into “Tournament Of Hearts” immediately after.  With five members on stage it appeared as if Samson’s wife Christine Fellows was hiding in the shadows offering vocals as well.

The band’s (and the crowd’s) friend Julie played on some songs as well including “Night Windows” where she offered some violin. Keeping the show rolling the band broke into “Reconstruction Site” a twangy delight of a song to listen to as well.  The band completely rocked out during “Aside” all while Samson smiled big while singing.  “Bigfoot” was another track I really got a kick out of with all the instrument playing.

Hearing perhaps my favorite Weakerthans song of all time, “Plea From A Cat Named Virtue”, put the biggest smile on my face even if I was watching a recording of the show.  The song revolving around a wise feline carried on perfectly, even the trumpet playing at the close of the song.  Samson also offered a simple impromptu guitar solo that was cut short on the CD but the DVD shows the humorous moment.

During “Wellington’s Wednesdays” Samson pulled up a fan on stage named Ernesto who had the pleasure of filling in a guitar solo in the key of E.  I must say after a nervous start Ernesto started jamming hard with the rest of the band as Samson took the honorary member’s place in the crowd for a short moment.  The band then followed up “The Reasons” as well as “Sun In An Empty Room”.  I swear if it were not for the fans cheering at times my mind tried to argue with me that I was not listening to a live album.

Overall the show was a fun time full of a great set by an outstanding band.  The DVD featured shots of the band throughout the 75 plus minute performance with good angles as well as occasionally would focus in on a true fan singing along.  Capturing The Weakerthans in their hometown was one hell of an idea and even if I have not seen them live in the flesh, I am glad I had the opportunity to have this performance in my possession.

The DVD/CD ranks high with my all time favorite live albums and I have listened to it multiple times now and I am not just saying that.  Great music by a bunch guys made even more entertaining by the simple fact that they were having a blast while doing their job.  If you are a fan of indie rock or just want to spend the evening with some great music do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Live At The Burton Cummings Theatre.

Track Listing (DVD/CD):
01. Everything Must Go
02. Tournament of Hearts
03. Our Retired Explorer (Dines with Michel Foucault in Paris in 1969)
04. Night Windows
05. Reconstruction Site
06. Aside
07. Civil Twilight
08. Bigfoot
09. Plea From A Cat Named Virtute
10. The Reasons
11. Sun In An Empty Room
12. Left and Leaving
13. Wellington’s Wednesdays
14. Benediction
15. Manifest
16. One Great City!
17. This Is A Fire Door Never Leave Open
18. Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure

Bonnaroo 2010 Dates Announced / Holiday Ticket Pre-Sale

It’s that time of the year again everyone.  The time to give gifts…of Bonnaroo tickets!!!

Matt over at Addicted To Vinyl promised me that there would be a golden Bonnaroo ticket in my stocking this Jesus Day 2009 but I am not too sure if I believe him.  He also ensured me that he would never ever ever ever ever go with me and Rad-Am again to a crazy festival like that again.  2 days was just too much (yes folks, it is a 4 day festival – Matt I still love you…haha)

Luckily for me if I decide to go for my third venture I can pre-order a ticket for myself at the Bonnaroo website starting on November 27th 12pm EST.  General admission tickets will be available again on a payment plan for 5 easy payments of $50.00 plus applicable fees or a pair of VIP tickets for 5 payments of $285.00 plus applicable fees through the holiday pre-sale that lasts until December 31st.  Visit the Bonnaroo Payment Plan page for more information on the payment plan.

The 9th Annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival has been confirmed for the weekend of June 10- 13, 2010. The four-day music and camping festival will once again be held at the Great Stage Park otherwise known as the huge 700-acre farm in Manchester, TN that the huge festival takes place on.

The artist line-up has yet to be determined but I am pretty confident that it will be amazing as always.  Again, I am not sure if I am going yet but I said that last year and once I saw the line-up I had my mind set on going.  I had the time of my life and saw some amazing performaces.  No regrets at all.

Here’s a great video created by Shadow Machine (Robot Chicken, Moral Orel) in honor of the Bonnaroo pre-sale featuring folk artist Gary Chardonnay for your visual entertainment.

I completely forgot that I pre-ordered the Bonnaroo 2009 Live DVD and should be getting it soon.  I was able to pre-order it when I bought my 2009 Bonnaroo tickets.  For $15 you can own a copy too.

Bragging Rights: Coheed & Cambria – Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition

After 4 long months of waiting it finally came:

Coheed & Cambria: Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition
Coheed & Cambria: Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition

I am now the proud owner of Coheed & Cambria’s Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition DVD/CD box set.  This is the ultimate Coheed & Cambria collection and I know I have mentioned it before on my site and I have the right to as I am a HUGE Coheed & Cambria fan. That’s what fans do!

For those of you that did not know, Coheed & Cambria put on a concert series tour like none other last October that spanned four days in the select cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London.  The band performed one of their four albums from beginning to end each night in sequence.  This DVD/CD box set is all four performances both on DVD and CD from the live show in NYC.  As bummed out as I am for having missed this amazing set of shows I am so happy I have this box set in my possession.

The Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition includes:
– 4 Live DVDS
– 4 Live CDs
– 1 Documentary DVD
– 10×10 hardcover photo book (and I have to mention that my actual name appears in the “Children Of The Fence” portion of the book as I was quick to order this back in December.  I know, I am the ultimate geek)
– Custom metal dragonfly keepsake piece 7.5 x 5.5

The collection comes boxed and lucky me even got an added certificate of authenticity signed by all four band members.  During the initial pre-sale it was said that the first 3000 copies sold would be autographed by the band.  I feel gypped in a sense as I thought they would sign the actual box set and not a tiny piece of paper.  Still this thing is awesome.

I have yet to watch the actual DVDs as I know I will want to try and watch it in one sitting.  I listened to all of the CDs already and loved it.  Coheed & Cambria really put on an amazing live show and I can say that having seen them three times now.  Add a sold out crowd that is just as excited as the band is to be a part of music history and you have yourself a masterpiece of a live show.

Having ordered months ago, this was well worth the wait and undisclosed amount of money I shelled out for it.  I am pretty sure this will tie me over too until I cross paths with them at Bonnaroo in a couple of months…

NOFX – Backstage Passport – DVD Review

NOFX
NOFX

For the first time ever punk veterans NOFX did something that might be actually considered “going commercial” by creating a show that was broadcast on TV in 2008.  Last Spring NOFX teamed up with real music station FUSE TV and put out the hilarious yet eye opening series called NOFX Backstage Passport.  The two disc DVD was finally released by the band’s very own Fat Wreck Chords so that now fans can watch this very original show over and over again.

The eight episode documentary that took place from September of 2006 to November 2007 featured NOFX on tour in unfamiliar countries showcasing not only their live performances to their fans but also aired their down time and behind the scene troubles trying to get from one country to another.  The result is a show that is like a punk rock No Reservations complete with drunks, drugs, and disaster.

Any fan of punk rock knows who NOFX is; now admitting you are a fan of NOFX is another thing.  Formed in 1983 the band achieved their own success doing things their way with no commercial help.  Having never signed to a major label, they ignored requests for radio airplay as well as refused to have their music videos aired.  They are godfathers of punk to many and have toured the world as well as have been a staple to the punk rock summer camp also known as the Van’s Warped Tour.

I have been a fan of NOFX since I got my first taste of their adaptation of punk rock music when I was in high school.  14 years ago I purchased a VHS movie put out by them called Ten Years Of F*cking Up.  I swear I watched that video until the tape wore thin.  Their live videos were entertaining in a sense that they just did not care.  Not just seeing them on the television, I have caught them numerous times live as well, I guess you can say like these guys a little.

The moment I heard that they would be putting a show on FUSE TV I made sure I set my DVR to record because I knew I was going to enjoy it.  From the first episode of NOFX Backstage Passport started I was hooked.  With only eight episodes of course I wanted more but thankfully the two disc DVD is now a part of my collection so I can go back and enjoy their tour.

The intro song performed by NOFX pretty much summed up the entire series with:

“We’re NOFX, screwing up since 1983 / These days we’ve got mortgages and families / So we’re going on a sketchy tour / No country is too obscure / We’re going to drink and golf and fight and snort / We’re NOFX this is punk rock passport”

Just alone in the first episode, it is learned that the series would revolve around NOFX playing in countries that punk bands normally would never tour in.  While a comedic gesture it also proves to be the band’s biggest challenge ever.

The band, as if no one knows, includes Fat Mike, Smelly, Eric Melvin, and El Hefe.  Along side the band, their manager Kent was introduced (who becomes a major part of the show, mostly because of his drinking habits) as were multiple crew members (Rugly, Wilkie, Carlos, Jeff, Ryan, Limo & Jay) who are more like family over employees.

Seeing the band at the beginning of the episode leave their actual families for the tour proved that these careless musicians are people too and I almost felt bad for them.  As exciting as a world tour would be, I can only imagine how tough it is to leave your loved ones.

Hanging ten, on a camel...
Hanging ten, on a camel...

The reality of their idea soon is shattered at some of the first episodes when the fans actually turn on the band during a couple of shows because of an instrument mishap as well as a failed joke turned insult.  It’s wild to think that such a thing could happen to a band like NOFX but it did and fans were pretty pissed off at the band.  If that was not bad enough a later venue the band showed up at had no idea that they were even supposed to play and the band was soon forced to leave the country because of death threats their mindless promoter was receiving.

The promoters NOFX worked with to get this tour working were novice if not scam artists.  Some of them kept promising Kent money and never delivered while others just continued to dish out lies.

It was actually sad to see the band get screwed out of money from those brainless promoters, yet humorous to see Kent negotiate with them sternly, fueled by anger and sometimes alcohol.  Kent alone stole the show at times especially during the one episode where he just kept drinking and eventually was carried away.  At the end of the series Ken makes a wise and bold choice that will change his life for the good.

Though the band seemed to have nothing but disappointment during most of their tour in many of the episodes, there were a handful of stops that they made the best of.  From hanging out with curious youth who become excited at one of the roadie’s tattoos to cuddling with wild animals and even swimming in the Dead Sea, NOFX and crew seem to ignore the bad and enjoy their surroundings with what they had.  They even gave acoustic apologies to fans outside their hotel at one point due to a canceled show that quite possibly even lifted the band member’s hopes more so about the situation they were stuck in.

During one of the episodes NOFX randomly made friends with a local while hanging out at a bar.  The local had never heard of NOFX let alone punk rock music and the band was quick to invite him to see their live show for a real taste of punk rock.  The smile alone on the local’s face during the show was priceless.  The band even went so far in one country to self promote themselves reflecting their younger days as an unheard of punk rock band in California.  After all, many of the countries NOFX toured in had no real idea who they were let alone sold their material at local music shops.

From missing band members to strange green powders and some S&M whipping and pain, you clearly are involved in punk rock shenanigans like none other.  Throughout the series I was actually wondering to myself if the band would ever make it home alive and had a very hard time waiting in between episodes to see what happened next.  Thanks to DVD there was no waiting between episodes.  I watched the entire series in one sitting and was ok with my decision to kill an afternoon doing so.  I seriously could talk about this show all day but I really do not want to ruin it for you.

The first disc contains all eight episodes with the band touring in such countries as Brazil, Peru, and Russia.  The second disc is loaded with over two hours of bonus footage from each episode that soon loses it’s appeal.  I really wish the footage would have been included with each episode almost like an uncut version but other then that I have no complaints.  There is also a enclosed NOFX passport full of photos, set lists, and other added memories from the tour.

The release on DVD was supposed to be uncensored but somehow the original footage was lost so the broadcasted episodes on disc one is exactly how it was seen on Fuse.  The deleted scenes however are full of wholesome cussing and fowl mouthed hilarity.  The series were limited on cable thanks to censorship, commercials, and week long waits but I assure you this DVD will make up for all of that.  Loaded with hilarious adventures this DVD will not disappoint and if you think all musicians have it easy, think again.  Granted NOFX traveled in no man’s land at times and narrowly escaped with their lives, this is visual proof of how badly a world tour can go and how awesome the experience can be by taking chances.

Want to buy a copy?  For only $15 it can be yours.  Head over to Fat Wreck Chords to buy a copy online.

DVD Specs:

DISC ONE:
1: Episode 1: Brazil, Chile Watch
2: Episode 2: Argentina, Ecuador, Peru
3: Episode 3: Japan, Singapore
4: Episode 4: Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, China
5: Episode 5: Indonesia
6: Episode 6: Israel
7: Episode 7: Russia
8: Episode 8: South Africa

DISC TWO:
Bonus Footage on all eight episodes

A classic NOFX video:

One more:

Contest: Turn Signals Are Used For…

UPDATE:  Concert ended on 03/18/2009.  Thank you to all who entered!!!!


Well I think today is a good day to start a contest.  FREE STUFF.  Keep reading…

Recently I was given some copies of the new Fountains Of Wayne live DVD for a giveaway of sorts thanks to my friends at The Syndicate.  I tried thinking of some witty contest to have people enter to win one.

Before I do that though I just wanted to talk about Fountains Of Wayne for a moment…  I know I know…bare with me.  Free stuff soon.

“Stacy’s Mom” is indeed the song that Fountains Of Wayne will be labeled with forever.  As amusing as the video was for the song I never cared for it and regretfully assumed that all other material that this band created sounded just like that song.  I wanted nothing to so with it so I never looked into their catalog.

I missed out.

In 2007 I attended the Virgin Mobile Festival with my pals Matt and ((RAD))am.  Matt kept talking about wanting to see the Fountains Of Wayne set and I thought he was joking or had a guilty pleasure I was not aware of.  I mean, Matt is a huge music lover and all, but a pop punk band?  Matt proceeded to correct my judgement of the band and told me to at least give them a shot.

I checked them out and loved them.  I was so missing out on this band and could not believe how great they were.  Why do I keep judging bands based off of one song?  Because that is how I am.  I’ll try anything once and usually it is the first taste that is a deal-breaker or not.  If not I have the tendency of spitting that initial taste out and never returning to it.  Fountains Of Wayne, I apologize.  You all taste just fine.

Win a copy of this DVD - See below for details
Win a copy of this DVD - See below for details on how this can happen...

So recently a Fountains Of Wayne DVD was released through Shout Factory Records called No Better Place: Live In Chicago.  This is the band’s first DVD to be released and features 80 minutes of live footage including live performances and even some extra goodies in there.  The concert was shot in front of a live audience in Chicago and was even recorded in 5.1 Surround.

So are you still hanging in there trying to figure out when I am going to tell you how you can win a copy?

I’ll tell you in a second…maybe…as in….right now.

Ok, I have 3 copies of this DVD for giveaway.  I could be easy and just say the first three people to comment get one but that is not far for people who may be away from the internet or who were too tired to read all the way to this point.

So here is the contest:

I have pet peeves.  I have a lot of them.  I can’t stand it when people do not use their turn signals while driving, it drives me mad (no pun intended).  I can not have the tag of a blanket be near my face when sleeping.  I hate when people type your and mean you’re… The list continues.  Enough about me though.  What about you?

I want to know one of your most random weird pet peeves of yours.

Post a comment with your submission and do not forget to enter a valid email where it asks you to so I can contact you should I find yours hilarious.  Once a winner is chosen I will email you for shipping info and boo ya, you have a Fountains Of Wayne DVD.  This contest starts now and will end on 03/18/2009.  Ready. Set. Go!

DVD info:

Performances:
I’ve Got A Flair
Mexican Wine
Janice’s Party
No Better Place
Denise
Hackensack
Hey Julie
Valley Winter Song
Sick Day
Red Dragon Tattoo
Stacy’s Mom
Bright Future In Sales
Maureen
Radiation Vibe
Survival Car
Sink To The Bottom

Extras:
(All-New, Never-Before-Seen Acoustic Performances from their 2007 release Traffic & Weather)
It Must Be Summer
Someone To Love
I-95
Joe Rey
Fire In The Canyon