07/01/2004 Sister Hazel, JD Strumm (Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Cafe)
By Eric | July 1, 2004 11:59 pm
This was a fun road trip adventure of sorts… We made our way down to Pittsburgh, after checking into the hotel we arrived at the Hard Rock at about 5:00… at the same time the guys in Sister Hazel arrived in the taxi! Tiff briefly said hi, and we left them alone to get ready, while we bummed around Station Square. We decided to enter the Hard Rock at about 5:30, and had dinner there while we waited for the show to start, as they don’t kick you out if you’re eating. Which is awesome, because we got a table right in front of the stage, and then got to see the guys soundcheck! They played Effortlessly for the soundcheck, which they didn’t play during the regular set. The hard rock is a wonderful place to see a show, as its not very big at all. So about 8:15 they started clearing the tables out from the front of the stage, and we took up residence right at the front of the stage alongside some members of the bulletin board. JD Strumm was up first, and they were two guys with acoustic guitars just singin and playin… not too bad for an opener, definately kept everyone’s interest. Then it was Sister Hazel time! Since they took the railing down separating the band from the fans, we were practically on top of the guys while they were playing. They ran through an hour and a half set, marked by the fans singing along to just about everything. Tiff snagged a setlist, so you can scope that out down below. One addition to the list however, at the beginning of the encore, Ken came out by himself to play “Out There” acoustically, which was incredible. Tiff also got autographs from all the guys after the show, and pictures with 4 of the 5 guys. We had quite the excellent time in PA!
[flickr-gallery pagination=”0″ mode=”tag” tags=”2004-07-01″ tag_mode=”all”]
Topics: Concerts | Comments Off on 07/01/2004 Sister Hazel, JD Strumm (Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Cafe)
Tags: 2004, Hard Rock Cafe, JD Strumm, Pittsburgh, Sister Hazel
Best Buy Employee Bashing
By Eric | June 29, 2004 10:05 pm
So yeah, about that wonderful help at Best Buy yesterday. Two kids that look like the Abercrombie models from the MadTV spoof come up to me as I’m perusing the “T” section looking for the new Tragically Hip CD, which I kinda had a hunch that they wouldn’t have. Notice how the one kid just assumes that because its new, and I’m shopping on a Monday, that I’m a retard and the CD isn’t released till tomorrow…
Kid 1: “What can I help you find?”
Me: “The new Tragically Hip album”
Kid 1: “It comes out tomorrow.”
Me: “It came out on the 22nd as far as I know, did it get pushed back?”
Kid 1: *checks his little sheet* “Uhhhhhhhh…. yo, do we have the new Tra… what are they called again?”
Me: “The Tragically Hip”
Kid 2: “They’re Canadian.” *way to go dumbass!*
Me: “Yeah, it came out last week, do you have it or no?”
Kid 2: “Um, it doesn’t look like we have any, if we don’t have their older stuff, I doubt we’re gonna start picking them up now.”
Me: “Yep. I’ll go to Record Archive instead.”
Morons. My pet peeve about the whole thing is not that he hadn’t heard of them, I didn’t expect him to… but automatically assuming that I’m in on a Monday, and if I can’t find it, it must come out tomorrow (Tuesday is the traditional day for new music and movie releases). Grr.
Topics: Blog | 1 Comment »
Tags: music, shopping
06/27/2004 Lucky Boys Confusion, RX Bandits, Big D and the Kids Table, The Budgets (Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall)
By Eric | June 27, 2004 11:59 pm
This was a date on the Reel Big Fish Coast to Coast tour, whom we ultimately ended up not staying for. Since Tiff is the big Lucky Boys fan, we stood in line only to be crammed into the smaller side of Water Street to watch The Budgets play first. Usual punk fare, they weren’t awful, but they weren’t great. It’s really not my thing, so my opinion doesn’t count for much. Then everyone piled into the other, larger side of Water Street, and after securing a barrier spot, it was LBC time. They ran through a 35 minute set, playing Hey Driver, Saturday Night, Medicine & Gasoline, City Lights, Blame, Sunday Afternoon, 40/80, and then an obscure 80’s cover of a Dramarama song called “Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)”. I had never heard it before, but they did a pretty rockin version of it. After their set, we made our way back to the merch booth, and Tiff got autographs from the guys in the band, and we wandered over to the other side to check out Big D and the Kids Table, a ska band that had tons of energy, and what seemed like a decent fanbase. Entertaining to say the least! Back on the main stage, we stuck around for the RX Bandits, and while they had a ton of fans, I was less than impressed. They almost seemed like a punky jam band. Very odd, but not very musically redeeming. Eh, whatever. Tiff and I got tired and packed it in early, having already seen who we wanted to see. Tiff managed to score a Lucky Boys setlist, and the scan is below.
[flickr]6936155918[/flickr]
Topics: Concerts | Comments Off on 06/27/2004 Lucky Boys Confusion, RX Bandits, Big D and the Kids Table, The Budgets (Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall)
Tags: 2004, Big D and the Kids Table, Lucky Boys Confusion, rochester, RX Bandits, The Budgets, Water Street Music Hall
06/10/2004 Fuel, Seven Day Faith (Buffalo, NY @ Lafeytte Square)
By Eric | June 10, 2004 11:59 pm
The first Thursday in the Square show I’ve been to in awhile. Tiff and I got there about 7, just as Seven Day Faith was finishing up. Stood around until about a quarter to 8, when Fuel finally took to the stage. Thankfully it wasn’t too hot, wasn’t too cold, the weather was just right for an outdoor show 🙂 They opened up with Quarter, then right into Jesus or a Gun. Continuing the harder stuff, Won’t Back Down was next, then Shimmer got the place into a frenzy. Speaking of frenzies, free shows coupled with beer always draw a lot of interesting people to shows, and this was no exception. Lotsa kids, and just-past-kids that wanted to mosh and crowdsurf, and that’s exactly what they did. Next up was Scar, and while Brett sounded great up until this point, the next song, Untitled, he really sounded like he was straining to hit some of the notes. Fortunately, this was the only song that sounded like that, as the rest of the show both before and after were excellent… Million Miles, Down Inside Of You, and Sunburn came next, all with the trademark Carl Bell guitar riffing. Another huge crowd singalong for Falls on Me, and then the crowd went bezerk during Down, all the moshers had a field day. Continuing the hard stuff, Fuel played Empty Spaces and Prove, before closing the main set with Hemorrhage. Back out for the encore, first was Bittersweet, and the closer closer was Last Time. Lotsa energy, lotsa fun, and to cap it all off, there was a hell of a fight at the end of the show in the crowd. Not too bad for free!
Topics: Concerts | Comments Off on 06/10/2004 Fuel, Seven Day Faith (Buffalo, NY @ Lafeytte Square)
Tags: 2004, Buffalo, Fuel, Lafeytte Square, Seven Day Faith
Stolen Music Quiz!
By Eric | May 10, 2004 11:11 pm
Stolen from Amber:
On your current playlist, hit shuffle and pick the first twenty songs on the list (no matter how cheesy or embarrassing), and write down your favorite line of the song. Try to avoid putting the song title in the line. Then, have your friends comment and see if they know the songs. I suppose I’ll post the answers after some people have taken a stab at it 🙂
I know some of you will be good at this 🙂
Update 5/13/04 – Here’s The Answers:
1. Nickelback – Slow Motion “Well how about you now that you’re needing, don’t worry ‘cuz they’re laughing, and you’re bleeding.”
2. Pearl Jam – Alive “What you thought was your daddy, was nothing but a…”
3. Cool For August – Spinning “And I see there’s blood in the sun, pouring through my window when the evening light has come”
4. Sponge – I Am Anastasia “I found your name in a book, and in that book a letter…”
5. Our Lady Peace – Let You Down “there’s a bicycle show, where the bicycle’s float, and I, I wouldn’t have cared”
6. A Perfect Circle – The Outsider “Medicated drama queen, picture perfect numb belligerance…”
7. Edwin – Trippin “Falling down, burnin up shooting through the sky watch the meteor fly…”
8. Sevendust – Xmas Day “Still she hasn’t seen sun, But I promise you now when she wakes there will be none…”
9. Eric Clapton – Five Long Years “Have you ever been mistreated? You know just what I’m talking about.”
10. Systematic – Pitch Black “Taste the colors that run over you, A touch of gray that numbs the mind…”
11. Oleander – Halo “There’s an anchor around my heart, Dragging me down. Beneath the waves in silence I fall.”
12. Guns ‘n’ Roses – Civil War “My hands are tied… The billions shift from side to side…”
13. Tonic – You Wanted More “I dont know when I got bitter, Love is surely better when it’s gone.”
14. Godsmack – Now Or Never “Why don’t you just fly, fly to me? How long will you wait for me? Never?”
15. Nonpoint – Excessive Reaction “Standing, responses. Failing the answers. Screaming so foreign.”
16. Korn – Wicked “I get them skins, and I ain’t talking about pork. You’re sly, you pig, dig, listen from the flow from a soul fro’ed caucasian”
17. Damageplan – Save Me “I’ll create or I’ll destroy, But either way it’s always in my veins”
18. Matthew Good Band – Alabama Motel Room “I have one of them tied up in the bathroom, I am down and out, but he will not get away with it again”
19. Reveille – Plastic “Pretty my pink, I can smell your stink – makes me sick”
20. Black Crowes – She Talks To Angels “She never mentions the word addiction in certain company. She’ll tell you she’s an orphan, after you meet her family”
Topics: Blog | 16 Comments »
Tags: cat, family, friends, music, NT
Pictures of Precious
By Eric | May 4, 2004 11:14 pm
It’s supposed name is Precious… Yes folks, Dad bought a Vette! A white 1990 beauty, I guess if anything had to succeed the Escort in the garage, this would be it, eh? I have yet to see it in person, but I’m told it’s pretty impressive. Of course, the pictures found a home on the internet here… besides, Dad needs a spot to direct everyone to so they can see the pictures, right? 🙂 (Maybe I oughta start charging for bandwidth hehehe). Check them out on the picture page!
In other news, I picked up the Sevendust Acoustic CD/DVD set today, and it rocks, especially for an acoustic album! I also picked up the new Flaw disc, and judging from the first song, it should be as good as their first disc. Rockin times!
Topics: Blog | 7 Comments »
Tags: NT
R.I.P. Woomobile (1988-2004)
By Eric | April 23, 2004 9:19 am
Woo Mobile (nee Mom’s Car) (1988-2004) of North Tonawanda, NY, April 20, 2004, beloved car of Eric J Bonus, dearest transportation for James, Linda, Amanda and Jacob Bonus, also for many friends and relatives. No prior visitation. A memorial service will be held at Crittenden Way Apartments on Saturday, April 24th. Funeral services were arranged by Frontier Auto Wrecking, 493 Young Street, Tonawanda. Mr. Mobile was a 1988 Ford Escort, licensed to drive in the state of New York, and served as a “student’s car” for 6 years, with a short stint in Lockport, NY, followed by a 5 year tour of duty at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Mr. Mobile will be most fondly remembered for his decorative stickers adorning the trunk lid and windows, and for terrible music blaring loudly from his speakers. Memorial donations in Mr. Mobile’s name may be made to the “Pay For The Sonata Fund” or instead deposited directly into the account of Eric Bonus.
Topics: Blog | 16 Comments »
Tags: friends, music, NT, rochester
Hardcore Mooching
By Eric | April 15, 2004 2:33 pm
Seen on Fark today:
“of course all punk rockers are lefties [politically], that way they dont have to get jobs and “sell out”, they can mooch off of the rest of society.”
Had to laugh… 🙂
Topics: Blog | Comments Off on Hardcore Mooching
Tags: NT
The Pulse of the Maggots
By Eric | April 15, 2004 10:57 am
So the show last night was pretty cool indeed… In a nutshell, Sworn Enemy was like every other NYC hardcore band… i.e. nothing to write home about. Chimaira sounded really good and really tight, and got the crowd into it… Fear Factory was kinda boring actually, I didn’t know much about them before, and they didn’t win me over any… and then it was time for Slipknot. They still can perform and entertain with the best of them. Yes, it’s mindless. But damn is it fun 🙂 The review (and the Sevendust one!) will be up shortly…
This won’t make it into the review, so I’m posting it here. Since this was the Jagermeister tour, naturally they’d sell Jager… and Budweiser… and Pop… BUT NO WATER! There wasn’t any place in the building that you could buy water. Yes, you could possibly drink out of the sinks in the one restroom they had open, but seriously, how can you have a show of that caliber (i.e. people moshing, jumping around, etc.) and not sell water? Not even getting overcharged for it, but none at all. Not the smartest course of action in my book.
Topics: Blog | Comments Off on The Pulse of the Maggots
Tags: NT
04/14/2004 Slipknot, Fear Factory, Chimaira, Sworn Enemy (Rochester, NY @ ESL Center)
By Eric | April 14, 2004 11:59 pm
After getting there right at 6 when the doors were supposed to open, I walked practially the entire length of the road leading to the building to get at the end of the line. Took the better part of an hour to get in, thankfully it was a nice day out. Once inside, I milled about the stands for most of Sworn Enemy’s set. They weren’t anything spectacular, typical NYC hardcore. Not terrible, just not great. Made my way onto the floor for Chimaira, and I’m glad I did. They ripped it up, and there were quite a few people there to see them. They opened with a chopped version of Implements of Destruction, right into Power Trip. Next was Cleansation, Impossibility of Reason, and Severed. Overlooked was next, then before they started The Dehumanizing Process, the lead singer, Mark, had everyone on the floor part down the middle, in a Red Sea type deal. Then as the song kicked in, everyone converged into a massive pit. Kinda neat, and I’m sure it looked even better from the seats. The closer was Pure Hatred, which got everyone into a frenzy (how can you not, with a chorus that just screams “I… HATE… EVERYONE…?”) I felt more whipped after their half hour than I did at the end of the whole Sevendust show, and that’s not to take anything away from Sevendust at all… Chimaira was that good.
I got off the floor after that, milled around for a bit, got a drink, then found a place in the stands to check out Fear Factory. They were actually rather boring, I didnt know much about them before hand, and they really didnt make me want to check them out after their set ended. Then it was time for Slipknot. They played some Corey acoustic song as the intro (I’m bad for not knowing!), and then into the intro loop from self-titled. Slammed into (sic), and right into a new song called The Blister Exists, then my order is shaky, but they played Eyeless, another new song called 3-nil, the new single Duality, Disasterpiece, Purity, Iowa, Heretic Anthem, Pulse of the Maggots, and then during Spit It Out, they again made everyone get down on their knees on the floor, in the stands, everywhere, and when the song kicked back in, everyone in the place popped back up. It looks incredible every time they do it. They closed the main set with Wait and Bleed, which whipped everyone up yet again. Back out for the encore, the (313) intro loop from Iowa into People=Shit, and closed out the night with seemingly everyone’s favorite Slipknot track, Surfacing. A rowdy show, to be sure, but damn if it wasn’t one of the more fun shows I’ve been to lately, mindlessness and all. The Slipknot boys still know how to put on a spectacle, and they sounded as good as that kind of music can sound. Well worth coming home sweaty and tired!
(sic)
The Blister Exists
Eyeless
3-Nil
Duality
Disasterpiece
Topics: Concerts | Comments Off on 04/14/2004 Slipknot, Fear Factory, Chimaira, Sworn Enemy (Rochester, NY @ ESL Center)
Tags: 2004, Chimaira, ESL Center, Fear Factory, rochester, Slipknot, Sworn Enemy