Because I do travel for some concert events, I thought it might be helpful to share my impressions and experiences staying at various hotels and resorts, and doing so will build on the “travel for concerts” theme of this website. This review is for the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, during my recent Las Vegas Trip (April 2012). [Read more…]
During my trip this past week to Las Vegas, I had taken an opportunity to check out the Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas, and was treated to a lengthy private tour, so I thought I would share some photos of some of the material on display at this location, including stage and studio used instruments, wardrobe, and other rock and roll memorabilia.
Last night I finally saw a band I’ve been following since their first album, but have never seen live – Florence + the Machine. I’ve always been a huge fan of their work, their unique sound, and, well, everything about them. However, they are one of those bands who turn real fans into something more than that… I really expected true musicianship and a real stellar performance, but all the same, the passion and energy that came from the stage was unreal. You don’t expect a band with a harpist to rock that hard. I was extremely fortunate to have a front row center seat, which always offers such a unique perspective and experience, and of course much of the purpose of this website and these articles is to share in these experiences (through my review and photos) and inspire people to go out and see live music. I really cannot recommend enough going to check out Florence + the Machine if you ever have the opportunity. Stellar. [Read more…]
My two fondest memories of sporting events in my life both featured Mike Tyson… the first being his shocking defeat by then unknown Buster Douglas in Tokyo on February 11, 1990, and the second, his defeat at the hands of Lennox Lewis in New York on June 8, 2002. For the majority of his career, and life really, both in and out of the ring, I viewed Mike Tyson as a villain. However, I’ve been curious about him for the past few years (as a result of his appearance in The Hangover), and had a sense that he may be a significantly changed man. Though I’d speculate that there have been a few different versions of who that man even is – a true enigma, much like his tattoo, a symbol he has embraced with visual marketing collateral of this attraction. With the announcement of his limited, week long “Undisputed Truth – Live on Stage” show in Las Vegas, I was curious enough to check it out to hear what he has to say about his life, and the way he has lived it, and to do so with an open mind. [Read more…]
Bennie and the Jets, Rocket Man, I’m Still Standing, Tiny Dancer, Blue Eyes, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Sad Songs (Say So Much)… some of the best pop songs ever recorded. This is an easy concert for me to preface, as Sir Elton John needs no introduction – he is a genuine legend in music. His work is universal and timeless. And having a chance to experience a performance of many of his greatest hits is indeed an honor. [Read more…]
Garbage played The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas tonight, and it was one of those events that inspired me to book a flight out of California to see the band perform live – and traveling to see gigs such as this one is one of the founding principles of this website, with hopes of sharing such experiences and inspiring others to do the same. Garbage played two small L.A. shows just prior to this one, as part of their reuniting to record and release their first studio album in seven years. The eagerly anticipated ‘Not Your Kind of People’ will be released in about a months time. The concert was phenomenal, and I expect even greater success for this band than was found in their mid-90’s origins.
Tonight was the first Berlin concert of the year, in Lincoln, CA in the foothills of the greater Sacramento area. The legendary band that was prominent on the radio and MTV in the 80s played through many hits, one less played song (as voted on by Facebook users) and two new songs never played before a live audience prior to tonight. It was a fantastic show with a lot of energy, and Terri Nunn put on an amazing performance, both vocally and in terms of sheer audience interaction. The band killed it.
Backstage Auctions has today published their auction catalog qith 1,250 lots for their upcoming “2012 Rock Gods ‘n Metal Monsters Auction’, with bidding running April 21st through April 29th. Included in the sale are items personally owned and used by principals from leading rock acts such as Anthrax, The Cult, KISS, Quiet Riot, Ministry, Dio, Whitesnake, Queensryche, Pearl Jam, Ozzy Osbourne, and others. “Headliners” are also being made available for a special VIP Meet and Greet. [Read more…]
Jack White’s record label, Third Man Records, released 1,000 flexi-discs of “Freedom at 21” – the first single off the new “Blunderbuss” album – via helium balloon on April 1st in Nashville. Someone found some of these, and has put the first of them for sale on eBay, which is currently bid up to $1,803, with five days left at auction. [Read more…]
One of my real life altering experiences in the past few years has been combining travel (i.e. you at least have to get on a plane, and maybe go so far as to travel to another country) with rock concerts. I never would have imagined doing this years and years ago, and now that I have done this a few times, I am always looking for the next opportunity to jump on a plane and see someplace new, experience a different culture, and attend a concert from a favorite artist or band. I would have thought this to be both implausible as impractical financially years ago, but one of my missions with the Rock Subculture Journal is to share tips and suggestions about making such a dream a reality. [Read more…]