Joe Satriani is my #2 favorite guitarist just right behind Steve Vai. I usually purchase everything he comes out with and go see him every time he comes to San Diego. But when it comes to any concert DVD, I try to rent them first from Netflix before I buy. I am so glad that Netflix had the I Just Wanna Rock DVD. I watched it this past weekend and I strongly recommend to everyone to not purchase this one!! I had to turn it off after three songs. The complete over use of visual effects, colorization, zooming in and out and MTV like editing (switching views every second or less) caused me to quickly hit the eject button! Most of the time it looked like the video and audio weren’t even in sync! If I had Epilepsy, I would have quickly gone into a seizure.
I have met Joe and know he is a perfectionist (most great guitarists are) and I can’t believe he saw this before it was released!!! Maybe he was too busy with his other bands. So save your $15 and wait for the next one. Sorry Joe.
Mega rock band AC/DC released today their DVD from the Black Ice tour that spanned 2008 – 2009. I saw the concert twice and it was one of the best AC/DC shows I have ever seen. Brian and Angus were having the time of their lives. Nice to see that after so many years of the band being together. I have not seen the DVD yet but I’m sure it’s great (review to follow). Here the scoop on the DVD:
Shot with 32 cameras entirely in HD in December of 2009, AC/DC Live At River Plate marks AC/DC’s triumphant return to Buenos Aires where nearly 200,000 fans, and 3 sold-out shows, welcomed the band back after a 13 year absence from Argentina. This stunning live footage of AC/DC underscores what Argentina’s Pagina 12 newspaper reported by saying “no one is on the same level when it comes to pure and clear Rock ‘n Roll.”
Additionally the DVD contains a bonus feature titled “The Fan, The Roadie, The Guitar Tech & The Meat,” features interviews with AC/DC, their crew and fans among the excitement of the creation of the concerts and the city of Buenos Aires.
The summer concert season is just about here and I’ve been looking at who I’d like to see this year. It looks like I won’t be seeing any bands listed below. I can’t believe how much they and the venue wants for a show. I’ve always wanted to see U2, but $250 for good seats? You have got to be kidding! Most of the bands below have not had a hit song for 20+ years and they want up to $865 for a show. It’s almost laughable to me.
Many of the bands below don’t even have most of their original members left. Grand Funk Railroad is missing their lead singer/ song writer Mark Farner, only the original drummer and bass player. Journey has a very high energy Philippine singer that they found on YouTube. Sure, he sings almost like Steve Perry, but when I saw them a number of years ago I couldn’t stop laughing when he hit the stage. I swear lead guitarist Neal Schon at one point was laughing at him too or maybe he was laughing that we actually paid to see them!
BB King at Humphreys Concerts By the Bay = $93
Doobie Brothers at the Del Mar Fairgrounds = $145
Grand Funk Railroad at the Del Mar Fairgrounds = $106
Jethro Tull at the Greek Theater = $99
Journey, Foreigner & Night Ranger at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater = $216 – $751
Michael McDonald (formally in the Doobie Brothers) at Humphreys Concerts By the Bay = $83
REO Speedwagon at the Del Mar Fairgrounds = $106
Rush at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater = $120- $865
Steely Dan at the Greek Theater = $145
The Moody Blues at Humphreys Concerts By the Bay = $99
U2 at Anaheim Stadium = $250
Weird Al Yankovic at the Del Mar Fairgrounds = $106
Yes and Styx at the Greek Theater = $116
Yes at Humphreys Concerts By the Bay = $83
Foreigner does not have any original members except for the guitarist? Really? How can they be called Foreigner without Lou Gramm? I guess the Doobie Brothers and Michael McDonald can’t mend their differences since they tour separately. The only bands with all original members are Rush and U2. And still they want this kind of money? Some bands like Grand Funk Railroad, Foreigner and REO Speedwagon should really be called tribute bands since most original members are gone.
I believe the venues like the Greek Theater and Cricket Wireless Amphitheater are at fault too for gouging consumers. What is the deal with tickets up to $865 per seat? For that price I better get the best meal of my life and they better include a nude stripper giving me lap dances the entire time! The recession is NOT OVER! I don’t know how anybody can afford these prices.
Most of these prices do not include parking that can be $20+. Also don’t forget the high price of beer that can be up to $12 for a small cup and concert shirts (etc.) that can range from $40 on up. If you pay for these shows I’d like to know if it was worth it. I’ll just wait for the DVD’s. I’ll just stick to the smaller, more intimate venues around San Diego like the Belly Up and the House of Blues where I can see great bands for a lot cheaper.
New York, NY: Four-time Grammy nominees Queensryche have signed a multi-album, worldwide deal with Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records. The band’s label debut –their twelfth studio album overall- is tentatively scheduled for a Spring 2011 release. Singer and founder Geoff Tate remains the creative nucleus of the band, which continues to make relevant, against-the-grain hard rock that entices fans, both new and diehard.
Queensryche have been – and unquestionably remain- one of the most respected and innovative names in forward-thinking hard rock throughout the course of their nearly 30-year history. Since their inception over 25 years ago, Queensryche have sold over 20 million albums worldwide and have performed in over 22 countries.
“We are very happy to be signing with Road Runner/Loud and Proud. This is the rock label and a place where they are as excited about our music as we and our fans are,” Tate said.
“We are excited to welcome Queensryche to the label” stated Loud & Proud President Tom Lipsky. “They have earned global acclaim for their distinctive approach to music and we are confident of a successful partnership with them.”
Queenryche’s 1988-issued album Operation: Mindcrime is universally respected as a classic concept release about rock, revenge and redemption. The album elicited comparisons to The Who’s Tommy and Pink Floyd’s The Wall and is ultimately regarded as one of the most important and essential hard rock records in the genre’s expansive canon. 1990’s follow-up, Empire, yielded a #1 single, the Grammy-nominated ballad “Silent Lucidity,” which the band performed at the 1992 Grammy Awards accompanied by a supporting orchestra.
In 2006, the band released Operation: Mindcrime II, a scorching sequel to their original. The band then hit the road performing both albums Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II back-to-back in their entirety in an incredible theatrical presentation throughout the year. The final performance was recorded at The Moore Theatre in Seattle that October and the Mindcrime at the Moore double CD/DVD release debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Music DVD Chart and eventually reached Gold status.
Still reeling from last night and my ears still ringing and sleep deprived I muddled through the work day and on the drive home, sometimes the only time I get to think, I started thinking about the winning bands from last night… or are they? Based on what the lead singer of Super Magnetic told me herself, they put this line up together just for this competition. Now that I think of it, the Dave Band’s first time every playing live ever was at UMC4 on May 16th and the lead singers major mistake was actually saying that during their 20 minute set! (I can find no reference to the “Dave Band” on the web anywhere)
Before continuing with this post, you you haven’t done so, you should first read Part I .
Thanks to the power of the Internet (Google) let’s look at the winners shall we?
Super Magnetic (won $25K)
This band started 2008 as a house band for a local cable TV network labeled as a Motown – funk music. But that project got shelved at some undisclosed time. I can’t find any reference of them until they registered their web site March 26th of 2010, right before this contest started. I can’t find anywhere in their current line up where they have played any gigs except for this contest. One of the waitresses told me that the current female singer has a contract with a three female group that sings at Viejas. (searched all over their web site but could not find the group name)
Radio Karma (won $10K)
Labeled themselves as Top 40, 80′s, Latin, Hip-Hop, Dance (English and Spanish) from what I can find started around late 2009 not long before this contest. No web site, and had four gigs before this contest. If anyone wants, RadioKarmaBand.com is still up for grabs (maybe they can use $9.95 of their $10K to purchase it)!
Damaged Inc. (won $5K)
This Metallica tribute band is the first non-dance top 40 bands to win any money! Formed in 2002 by vocalist / guitarist Aaron Pearson. On bass guitar, is Stephen Goodwin, lead guitar, KK, and drumming, Larry Howe. This was the only true rock band that won any money in this dang contest, so my hats off to you guys. They are based out of Los Angeles so check them out if you are a Metallica fan!
Something Smells Fishy
There are many seasoned musicians that have been in the business for a long time looking to have fun and maybe some extra cash for their time some need to do it to supplement their income in these hard times. Since I’ve been in San Diego, there have never been many places for original bands to play, especially that pays or people actually come to. Back in the day, bars were filled with cover bands and that was the only way to make money. Bands bring in drinkers that sell more liquor, which has a huge markup for bars/ casinos etc.
So as most of you might have guessed by now, I’m not a huge fan of dance, top 40, R&B music. Sure I like it, and if I’m with a date I might actually get on the dance floor (not a pretty site). But no offence to the musicians in these bands, but these bands in San Diego are a dime a dozen. You can’t shake a stick on Friday or Saturday night without hitting one.
As a matter of fact on a whim, I went down to Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge on Saturday night hoping to hear some jazz or blues. Nope, just the same old top 40 dance music, after I paid $24 to get it! I could not take it anymore so I went outside on the deck to get some fresh air and guess what was playing in the main Humphrey’s outdoor venue… you guessed it the same top 40 dance music, just a bigger stage! Actually they were playing the same damn songs they were playing in the Backstage Lounge! I had to run out of there to find some real music. If I weren’t running so fast I would have asked for my $24 back!
The night was saved by Patrick’s II and the Dennis Jones Band who by the way is one of the best blues players around and the most friendliest. Dennis Jones came by my chair twice to chat. Don’t see any of those dance bands doing coming around to chat.
My point, if I get around to it, is that there are lots of musicians that are trying to be “original” tribute bands (kind of ironic) and do something different than the same old top 40 dance bands that litter the San Diego county/ southern California landscape. Give people a choice over that mindless, buy more drinks until your wallet is empty music or puke… which ever one comes first, and actually work their asses off recreating adding their own spin to music from The Stones, Queensrÿche, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Oingo Boingo, Bad Company, Heart, INXS, Jonny Cash just to name a few. None of which ended up as money winners in this contest. Because lets face it, most new music is crap because record companies think everyone has ADD. That’s why young people, middle aged and older people are flocking to these type of shows! Why the hell to you think the Belly Up is featuring this type of music for a large portion of the summer on Friday nights? They get it and what better way to finish off your crappy work week working for the man with a great “tribute” band at a very cool venue that’s easy to get too but the ocean and a cool beer? Doesn’t get much better than that!
Went off course again, so maybe I’m disgruntled, upset what ever. Maybe so, but something smells fishy when the two biggest winners of the night last night won a total of $35K from the Viejas Indians and the winning band does not really exist. The fishy part to me is that these two might or might never be heard from again, while all the other bands are left empty handed for their years of hard work.
If Super Magnetic and Radio Karma end up with a contract at Viejas, I feel they should donate ALL their prize money to local school music programs. Then I (and hopefully others) will be happy and maybe some good will come from all of this.
Judges Blog
I read the blog posting from the judges on what happened last night after I left and rioting started. Some people there have been drinking since 4pm or so, what do you expect? When I left I was following a bunch of drunks on that horribly dangerous Willow Road that could not do over 30mph and almost could not find the freeway entrance (last week I almost got hit by an SUV full of four drunks with no lights on). Funny how the Casino doesn’t do anything about that (just worried about people taking pictures)? But I have to call you all on your shit on what you wrote on your blog. Not sure where you got your facts from but they are wrong!
Dave Patrone (1st judge) stated “I think Dazed and Confused were morons to play four shows before this one.” Well Dave, it’s you who is the moron, and I’m not sure who told you this and if this in anyway effected your judging then I have lost all respect for you, not that I knew who you were before this contest. Did you even bother to check their web site to verify this (didn’t you have a computer up there)? Dazed and Confused has had NO public gigs since the semi-finals and the finals. Their next public gig is not until June 26th. Some of people, like you, have to make living, pay bills. It’s tough out there. Figured you would realize that before shooting your mouth off.
Alicia Champion (2nd judge) IM’d judge #3 “The whole drive home I kept thinking if I should’ve pushed harder for Radio Karma.” I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. Where is that guy from Damaged Inc. so he can kick you in the mouth for saying that! I also think who ever called Alicia the “B” word, well that is just uncalled for. Pissed off people + hours of drinking = idiots.
Edwin Decker (3rd judge) Ran around with a recording machine taping people. Good thing he did not talk to me. He actually seemed to take much the brunt of the anger last night but to actually say that Dazed and Confused pulled a DSB (some reference to the Journey band last year), I think I just threw up in my mouth again, is utterly insane. Like most finals, they are usually a let down from the shows running up to it. If you say that Dazed and Confused pulled a DSB, well all the other bands did not do very well either, you admitted it in your own blog! The only band that sounded halfway decent was Radio Karma because who knows how long they had to do a sound check. The other bands had 15-20 minutes or less under crappy house rules that made it worse. Not near enough time if you want your band to sound good for a final contest.
Let’s Meet The Judges
So who are these judges who have been presiding over 40 bands since April 11th? Deciding who goes home, who doesn’t and who wins $40K (if that is what we are supposed to believe). What qualifications do they posses to tell bands if they are good or bad? Not sure how much they got paid by Viejas for 11 weeks of work but hopefully enough to endure this, because I’m not in a band (might never be after this post), so I don’t have to kiss up to them or Viejas.
Dave Patrone
Dave Patrone
I believe he was new this year… might be his last. Dave is 2009 San Diego Music Award winner for “Best Jazz”. Here is what his web site says: “San Diego’s Premier Male Jazz Vocalist and Master of Ceremonies. He croons and delivers Jazz standards with the distinctive swagger found in Frank Sinatra, and the Rat Pack, with a legitimate Jazz foundation”. Seems he has some regular gigs at restaurants, weddings. So how did he get hooked up with this event? Full of rock bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche, Bad Company and more with a mix of top 40 dance bands? Lets call him the Randy Jackson of the group. Had one real working stint in Journey and never heard from him again until American Idol (puke) and both of them have no hair.
Dave also kept trying to get people to go bowling with him after the show each week. Not sure anyone went. Sorry Dave, like your first name though. Last name sounds fake.
Alicia Champion
Alicia Champion
Here is what her bio said on the UMC4 site: “is a full-time record producer officially under the Universal Music Group (note here the only producing I could find is her own company which I can not find any updates on in awhile). She is endorsed by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and WINNER of VH1’s nationally televised reality talent competition, “You Rock With…” (2001) Alicia is also co-founder and producer of the San Diego IndieFest (2004). As a performer, Alicia has shared the stage and worked with Artists such as Melissa Etheridge (2001).” What they left off were the what year this happened, which I happily filled that in for you. Born in 1981, she is from Singapore (I’ve been there, wait, that might have been around the time I was there, she might be my daughter). Below for your enjoyment is the latest video of our dear Alicia at IndieFest 2008 playing rhythm guitar unknown band (maybe she will write and let me know). I wonder how well you would have done in the UMC4?
Lets call Alicia the Paula Abdul of the bunch. Cute, had one hit, and just faded away until American Idol (puked again) came along to turn her into a drunk (not talking about Alicia). Still not sure why she was picked for the UMC either. Most of the music that she is judging came into existence before she was born or while she was a baby. Not that she can’t have an appreciation of it.
Edwin Decker
Edwin Decker
Is hands down the Simon Cowell (triple puke) of the group. His web site says: “Edwin Decker is 48 year old freelance writer and performance artist residing in San Diego. He regularly publishes articles in various newspapers and magazines in San Diego and around the country”. So what type of performance artist is Edwin… drum roll please… spoken word! Lets check out his video:
So what else did I find out about Edwin? All of you Dazed and Confused fans that live in Ocean Beach, guess what? He lives right where you do! So I checked out his web site and this is what it says towards the bottom, I was laughing so hard, thanks Edwin. “Decker is a bartender, having slung drinks in several San Diego’s premier live music clubs including the now defunct Bacchanal (gone), 4th and B (on it’s way out), Buffalo Joe’s (gone), Club 710 (formerly Blind Melon’s) and Winston’s Beach club where he served as General Manager before being abruptly fired by an alcoholic, semi-insane, though lovable boss.” (I see a pattern emerging here) Again Viejas and DMC4, where does Ed get his qualifications for judging this contest except for spouting his opinion like a writer and critic does and writing the blog (hope you got paid well Ed).
UMC5 in 2011?
So my fingers are getting tired and I need to go to bed for work tomorrow. So if Viejas actually holds an UMC5 in 2011, here are some helpful hints (that might ward off the boycott building against the casino and venues like Viejas Arena and the angry (as Edwin put it) rioting crowd:
Get some real, well known, musicians to judge the contest! All three judges. No puppet judges (just like American Idol) that need money or free publicity. There are tons in San Diego. San Diego has a huge music scene! If you need someone to write a crappy blog, that’s not hard to do. Heck, I’d almost do it for nothing. Wait, I’m joining the Viejas boycott. Maybe you can have a special guest musician each week to get different types of opinions.
Change the Rules! When I got home tonight for the first time I read the official rules. Here are the only real rules for the band entering (besides the music cannot be original):
All performers must be 21 years of age or older.
Bands can be a maximum of ten performers but cannot be fewer than three.
Make sure the bands have been around! And can prove it with real gigs (real paying bookings at clubs, venues etc., not friends parties or restaurants), blogs, web sites, photos, etc. for at least six months prior to the contest and a strong fan base. None of this crap when their first gig ever was playing in a $25K contest. WTF? Or like below, putting the band together just for the contest. My opinion on second place is still out too.
Does anyone but me see a huge loophole left open in #2 above that the winning band took advantage of, maybe because she (or others) work at Viejas? I’ll give you a few seconds to think about it. Do you see it? Well here is the scenario… maybe I’m wrong but here is what came to mind of… lets say you already work at Viejas and hear about this contest coming up where you can win $25K (5K more than last year). Call up all of your musician buddies (10 to be exact), your former second singer from 2008 (who by the way is awesome and left right after their performance last week), work out some songs, put sheet music in front of the horn section, maybe the keyboard players (which the one judge criticized them for last week). Do some practicing, play three times and never be heard from again? Maybe it’s late and things are getting fuzzy. But they registered their one page website on GoDaddy and expires on 10/13/2010. Now do you know why is smells fishy to me?
These three rules, maybe I will come out with more, should weed out many of the bands we saw this year. Viejas… you have your name on music venues and more. Make this a real music contest next year! Not an audition.
One last word to the judges, I apologize for my rant in advance, but you opened up your opinions, blogs and your ability to criticize others in this event, so it’s only fair. If you are judging hundreds of people’s careers, source of revenue, maybe we should look at you first. If I see you at an event soon well lets just say I’m not very worried. The comment box below is open to take your best shot back.
*Judges, your bios were too dang long so I had to edit them. This is already way too long. Already up to almost 3,000 words. (before you comment on it)
Joe Satriani is my #2 favorite guitarist just right behind Steve Vai. I usually purchase everything he comes out with and go see him every time he comes to San Diego. But when it comes to any concert DVD, I try to rent them first from Netflix before I buy. I am so glad that Netflix had the I Just Wanna Rock DVD. I watched it this past weekend and I strongly recommend to everyone to not purchase this one!! I had to turn it off after three songs. The complete over use of visual effects, colorization, zooming in and out and MTV like editing (switching views every second or less) caused me to quickly hit the eject button! Most of the time it looked like the video and audio weren’t even in sync! If I had Epilepsy, I would have quickly gone into a seizure.
