Category Archives: Cleveland

00's, 90's, Cleveland, Good Times, Live Shows, Music, Music Video, Personal Entry, Rap, Review, Rock

Let’s Talk About 311

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So last night thanks to Cleveland.com I got to attend the 311 show at the Time Warner Amphitheater VIP style.  I was not planning on going at all but last week I “re-tweeted” a Twitter post that Cleveland.com put up for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Unity Tour 2010 and I thought to myself “why not?”

A day later I got a message saying I won the tickets.  I was stoked.  I mean why wouldn’t I be?  Free is good these days plus I got to rendezvous with an old musical friend of mine.

311 and I go way back.  I am not trying to sound like one of those music trendy scraps out there who just say random things to impress others.  311 and I have been down (no pun intended) since I was in high school.  I have seen them many times live, owned countless overpriced bootlegs, was a member of their fan club before the internet existed, and even was knocked out at once of their shows at the Cleveland Agora.

I vaguely remember what happened but will always remember the incident.  I know I was in the pit of that show when a size 12 combat boot slammed into my head knocking me the hell out.  The next thing I remembered was my pal Philippe asking me if I was ok.  I think I said yes but I was more confused over anything trying to figure out why I was not in the pit anymore.  Apparently Philippe dragged the knocked out me from the pit and into an alley through some emergency doors.  He told me that I looked at him, smiled, and ran back into the pit.  And I wonder why my body hurts so much these days… (Additional note: I bought a 311 work shirt at that show and I still wear it to this day)

High school ragers were not only fueled by cheaply processed beer but also Grassroots and Music.  I remember when their self titled album came out in 95 my friends and I freaked out and basically listened to the album on repeat until the cassette wore out.  Yes, cassette.

We wore 311 apparel, did our best to emulate Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez (sounds terrible when thinking about it these days), and might have stolen room number signs from various secret locations that said, you guessed it, 311.

In 96 Enlarged To Show Detail was released on VHS and we had competitions on who could watch it the most in a three month period.  I made it to 278 if I am not mistaken and my pal Brent surpassed 301 times.  We were addicted.

By 1999 though most of us friends were growing up, attending college, or maybe even raising babies.  311’s music style was growing up too and to be perfectly honest I lost interest in them.  I stopped wearing the shirts, the CDs collected dust, and I moved on to other things. I never stopped liking what they had done in the past but I just could not get into their material after Transistor (minus the cover of The Cure song of course).  311 kept putting out albums and touring obviously but I just did not care, that is, until those tickets I won reached my hands.

***Time Out – As I am typing this I can not help but grab my copy of 311’s self-titled record (yes, record) and throw it on the turntable…

It was a unseasonably chill night in Cleveland as I arrived to the venue.  Parking the car and walking the lot all I saw was kids who were either in college or never lost the college mentality pre-game it with beer pong games and jello shots.  Not into that anymore I walked past them and aimed towards the VIP entrance.

For the record, VIP is not that much better.  There is a little bar to the side that still charges you $42 for a beer as well as a private bathroom that some other VIP drunk ass will most likely vomit all over in (it happened later in the night).

After making it through a terrible set from a shirtless, shoeless, surfer boy band called Pepper I found out that the Offspring were not even playing the Cleveland stop of the 2010 Unity Tour.  I was bummed out as they were another band I used to really like in the 90’s but that is a whole other story.

While waiting for the headliner to take the stage I glanced at my ticket stub and realized I had box sets.  VIP and box seats?  That was a pretty good prize if you ask me…  I took my place in the box sets, which are not that good at all if you ask me, and took in a 311 show.

The boys, who are all almost 40 with the exception of P-Nut (36), took the stage just as the sun was saying goodbye to the day.  They all looked very youthful as they did 15 years ago and almost the same except this time there was no bleach blond hair.  More importantly they sounded amazing and I am not just saying that as well as were genuinely excited to be on stage.  They were on point for all of their songs regardless if I knew them or not and were all about the crowd.

It was not until 5 songs in when the band dished out “Taiyed” that I started feeling like I actually belonged there.  Immediately after they dropped into “Plain” followed by their first chart breaking hit “Down”.  During those songs I started having non-drug induced flashbacks of the times I previously mentioned.

Shortly after all the members of the band minus Chad Sexton left the stage so he could beat on the skins for a while.  He put on an amazing drum solo that lasted at least 15 minutes and to make the little segment cause for more applaud, the rest of the band came back out and joined in on a synchronized drum circle of sorts.  Kind of jam band if you ask me, but it sounded great and all the fans loved it.

The remainder of the night again consisted of a good blend of older and newer material.  I do not think at any time did I not see movement in the huge crowd.  Song after song people were jumping around having a good old time just enjoying themselves.  The band really pushed forth a solid set and delivered just as good of a show as when I saw them almost 15 years ago live.

This was a shirt at the merch booth and I am kicking myself in the ass for not buying one...

During that show all these juvenile memories of my friends and our love for 311 hit me.  I could not help but shoot a few texts to a couple of the guys who I remain in touch with letting them know where I was that night.  It was a good night indeed thanks to a one time unknown Omaha act that has been rocking out since 1988.

311 Setlist:
Jackpot
Sick Tight
Mix It Up
Freeze Time
Taiyed
Plain
Down
Hostile Apostle
Brodels
Applied Science
All Mixed Up
Livin’ & Rockin’
Come Original
Eons
Hey You
Never Ending Summer
Nix Hex
(bass solo)
Off Beat Bare Ass
Amber
Creatures (For a While)
Encore:
Beautiful Disaster
F*ck the Bullshit

Cleveland, Good Eats, The Awesome, TV Party Tonight!

Man vs. Food Takes On Melt Tonight @ 9pm!

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If you have not heard yet, tonight is the night that the Man Vs. Food visits Cleveland to take on the Mighty Melt Challenge at Melt Bar & Grilled.  Make sure you turn to the Travel Channel at 9pm to see what happens when Adam Richman takes on an almost 5lb. grilled cheese sandwich.

Just look at this thing:

I should also mention that yours truly will be cheering on Adam.  Literally.  I will be behind him to the right of the screen during the actual challenge (see here for a previous post on my experience).  Come 9pm tonight you will find out if he conquers the sandwich or if he fails.

I’m getting hungry just thinking about it…

Babble Blog, Cleveland, Good Eats, Got Local?, Personal Entry, Photography, The Awesome

Babble Blog: Melt My Day

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Odds are if you live in or around the Akron/Cleveland area of good ol’ Ohio you have probably heard of a little place called Melt Bar & Grilled (aka Melt).  Honestly though if you have no idea of this Melt I speak of you might live inside a box and do not read this blog very often.  As many readers of BHP know, I have a slight obsession with the establishment.

How obsessed you ask?  Well not only to I try and make it there once a month but I also am one of those folk who prove their undying love for Melt by sporting a Melt tattoo (25% off for life yo).  I even have gone so far as to attend a filming of a Man vs. Food episode at the Lakewood, OH location just a couple months back and will enjoy watching myself scream/cheer at Adam Richman as he took on the Melt challenge.  The episode will be showing sometime this summer on the Travel Channel as the all new season is starting on June 16th.

I love the place and I can honestly say I am not the only one.  With a 2+ hour wait on most days just to be seated to grab a delicious bite to eat, I would say that most folk in this neck of the woods have at one time enjoyed some Melt.  The gourmet grilled cheese restaurant, owned and operated by Matt Fish, recently spawned (pun intended) across Cleveland for a second location in Cleveland Hts.

This little babble blog is about that new location.

A few weeks back I had received a piece of mail with the Melt logo on it.  Having no idea what it was I opened it up and there it was, an invitation to a pre-grand opening to the new location.  I seriously felt like Charlie from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory as this was my “golden ticket” to a special event.  I was invited to check out the new location before the public and might have been a little excited about it.

So about a week later I headed out to Cleveland Hts. to check out the new eatery.  I had heard bits and pieces about the location and the extent of the renovations it took to turn what used to be the Rhythm Room (RIP) at one time into the new Melt.

Anyone remember that place?

The Rhythm Room was less of a room and more of a a hole-in-the-floor bar.  When you walked in the bar there was a large opening that peered down into the basement where the stage was.  There is more to that of course with rails and a stairwell but it was always interesting to see a punk show there.  You would either cram in the basement or hang out above and lean on the rails to watch the shows.

I miss that place a lot and have some fond memories thanks to my good friends who used to be in the “Clevland” punk rock band The Narcoleptics x5.  I used to hang out there a lot actually and saw my fair share of local independent punk acts as well as even caught The Unseen there.  Sadly the place stopped hosting punk shows and morphed into a reggae club before finally calling it quits.

Enter Matt Fish and his idea to expand his amazing creation.  I am not sure how or why he chose the location but I am in the works of interviewing him so that will be told at a later time.  Knowing though on what the place used to look like I was highly curious to see how he was going to pull it off.

Walking up to the building nested on the corner of Cedar and South Taylor I started having mini flashbacks of fun times with my pals usually fueled by cheap beer but it all stopped as soon as I looked up and saw the giant Melt sign located just above the entrance.  Imagine if you would a giant grilled cheese and crossbones…  All I could do was smile as I opened the doors and made my way in.

I was wowed by what I saw.  The place looked nothing like the Rhythm Room and was completely renovated.  There was a large bar in the center of the building that spanned over where the hole-in-the-floor used to be.  Retro decor graced the walls of the much larger new restaurant including a giant Dairy Queen sign on the wall over by where I sat.  There were arcade signs incorporated into the liquor racks, old advertisements, and of course random plastic light up pumpkins and other holiday items that make Melt so unique over many other places.  I even spotted some broken bottle stained glass windows over the entrance – sounds crazy unless you have seen them at the Lakewood location.  Flat screen TVs hung about showed The Goonies while music blasted from a very impressive PA system.

The place looked like the Lakewood Melt in a sense but was much larger and just…new.  Staff ran around the floors seating other special guests and basically getting a preview for what they were hired for.  With in about 20 minutes of me being there the place was packed.  It was no surprise to me at all and I can see this being a trend from here on out.

In the back left corner at the pick-up window I could see that Matt Fish in the kitchen area showing all of the new cooks how it was done helping prepare countless amounts of various grilled cheeses.  Plate after plate was picked up by the waiters and waitresses and delivered to happy customers.

I wanted to try something new on the menu but went to my default and grabbed a Big Popper.  I lied to myself and said it was healthy for me.  There is nothing good for you about a jalapeno grilled cheese sandwich that is battered and then deep fried other than the guilty pleasure and the taste for that matter.  The fries and cole slaw too make it a pretty kick ass meal.

As I destroyed the sandwich I saw some familiar faces some of who were staff from Lakewood that came out to help train and others who were at the Man vs. Food event.  As if I was not full enough I decided to try the fried Twinkie for dessert and must say…amazing.  I left that place a full and happy man…maybe a little too full.

If you live in the Cleveland area you really have no excuse to hit up a Melt Bar & Grilled and try one of their gourmet grilled cheeses.  The new Cleveland Hts. location is located on the corner of Cedar Ave. and South Taylor Rd.  Parking is available on the streets or in a small metered area that is free after 6pm if I am not mistaken.  If you are not from the area and are worried you might not be able to find the restaurant,  just look for the giant Melt sign at the corner.  You can not miss it.

Cleveland, Contest, Music, Rock

Contest: Win A Pair Of Tickets To See Jimmy Gnecco on May 20th at Cambridge Room at the House of Blues

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This may be the shortest contest I will ever host on BHP but I have a pair of tickets to see Ours frontman Jimmy Gnecco on May 20th at the Cambridge Room at the House of Blues in Cleveland.

Jimmy Gnecco will be releasing his all new solo album titled The Heart on July 20th.

This contest is open to anyone 18+ and ends in 2 days.  Contest ends on May 19th at 10pm EDT.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with a valid email and I will pick someone randomly.

Good luck!

00's, 80's, 90's, Cleveland, Music, New Release, Post-Hardcore, Punk, Review, Rock

Leatherface – The Stormy Petrel – CD Review

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Unknown to some but adored by many, Leatherface is back with their ninth release this time around on No Idea Records.  The UK punk rock band holds the title for being not only an influence on many current bands of today, but also in shaping DIY punk rock.  Formed in the late 80’s, Leatherface continues to rock on The Stormy Petrel.   This is the bands first release in over six years.

Having been a fan of Leatherface for years now I really was curious to see if they band still could contain their sound still and I will say that they have not lost their punk / folky  / post-hardcore edge.

The best way for me to describe The Stormy Petrel is to imagine what Gaslight Anthem might sound like if a tired Lemmy from Motorhead fronted the band.  Of course I am not saying it sounded exactly like that, but with gruff vocals on top of catchy melodic guitars I could not help but find the similarity.  The combination of the soft spoken singing of Frankie Stubbs, the last of two original members (Dickie Hammond being the other) I might add, and appealing rock jams just kept inviting me to listen to the album over and over.

I also liked the symbolism encased in the album’s title as it is in reference to a bird called a storm-petrel who sadly is threatened by human activity.  If you want more information about what storm-petrels are all about you should click HERE.  Don’t ask me how I knew this, let’s just say I love the Discovery Channel.

Looking deeper into the meaning I also discovered The Stormy Petrel refers to Joseph Hodgson, a man named a hero over a dozen times yet to this day has no tribute for all he accomplished.  Check out HERE and HERE for more interesting information about this man who was passed up in the history books.

“God Is Dead” started off the CD and I found myself immediately digging what I heard.  The lyrics were a little bizarre speaking of burying someone of a higher power in a shed but it was enjoyable to listen to as was the refrain that begged to be sung along with.  “My World’s End” just maintained my interested with a little more punk rock edge to it.  The music was not too overbearing and just fit perfect with Stubbs’ vocal strain.

The song “Broken” really proved upon my earlier music comparison as the music mirrored something Gaslight might play.  Perhaps one of my favorite tracks on the album, I could not help singing along with the uncanny track.  The following track picked things up a bit with “Another Dance” proving this album was emotionally all over the place.  Other tracks worth mentioning were “Diego Garcia”, “Monkfish” and album closer “Hope”.

With more of a melancholy feel throughout, the album was still a good listen from start to finish.  At times the lyrics seemed to repeat too much on tracks but it was not enough to turn me away.  It’s nice to see that this band is still putting out worthy material to listen to and what’s even better is that the band is currently touring in support of the release.  To hear that a 22 year old band is still hitting the clubs and playing out just proves that you are never too old to do what you love.

Look for Leatherface to play May 9th at Now That’s Class in Lakewood with very special guests Ninja Gun, Dead To Me, and Cleveland’s F*cking Cops plus others.  Doors are at 9pm and I am sure there will be a healthy crowd there that night so make sure you get there before it sells out!

UPDATE: Sadly Leatherface had to cancel their Cleveland stop due to an uncontrollable situation including border control. Should I find any more information out I will be sure to post.