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Post image for Review | My Morning Jacket at Orpheum Theater

Review | My Morning Jacket at Orpheum Theater

by Jamie Taylor on June 30, 2011 · 0 comments

MMJ2 685x513 Review | My Morning Jacket at Orpheum Theater Concert Addicts

So what would be a great show to follow up the double billing of The Black Keys and Cage The Elphant on Monday night? The answer is, My Morning Jacket. Last night the boys from Louisville, Kentucky were on fire, unleashing a fury of musical mastery on a hipster ridden crowd. Had I not just seen been blown away two days ago by Dan and Patrick and Matt Shultz and his crew, the MMJ show would have been my favorite show of 2011, hands down.

I walked into the venue after the openers had already vacated the stage. The feint smells of theatrical smoke and Stella Artois lingering in the air. The theater itself was filled with an eccletic gathering; from hipsters and hippies to music afficiandos and casual fans. All eager to see Jim James (lead singer) and Carl Broemel (lead guitarist) take over the room. The proverbial and physical stages were set, we all lay in anticipation.

The lights extinguished and the quintuple that is My Morning Jacket took front and center. After a second or two, to grab their instruments, they tackled their first song; Victory Dance. It was on. I stood before the band in awe. Their sound was larger than life. No album or recording equipment couold do justice to what I was experiencing. James has this manner of singing where he has his tongue hanging from his mouth. It adds this unique curl to the tone. Add that to the simple fact that he is a hard working, crowd pleasing, passionately over-the-top mad musical scientist, and you sir have yourself an epic front man.

I will have to admit that prior to seeing them last night, I was a casual fan. I have a couple albums, and listen to them occasionally, but after seeing the genius they produce life, they have converted me into a obsessive devotee. This sentiment is something shared by their fan base as a whole. Much like Pearl Jam or the Grateful Dead, this group earns their stripes by playing their asses off night after night.

Jim is also a bit of a cooky character, which adds mystery and a little bit of that is-he-mad feeling to his persona. During the set, he would drape a navy blue wool cape over his body, something he is well known for. Then skulking around the stage while his intense gaze peered between the opening. This man is eccentric, and I, along with the audience, were eating up every moment of it.

The music that echoed through that theater last night was majestic and powerful. Regardless if you have heard any MMJ songs before, if you have not heard them live, you simply have no idea about what they produce. The vocals projected by Jim James were so intense, that I literally had chills through a good seventy five percent of the show. Broemel adds to it all by injecting sexy guitar, which works off of James in this incredible back and forth. They would break into a jam during a song and it would flow into vocal versus guitar spread, that would leave you drooling.

At the end of it, they sadly had to leave the stage. The groupd laid our a solid two hour set, that left the fans, and myself, dying for more. The road crew came out and started divvying up the setlists. I unfortunately missed out, but as I retreated from the stage, suddenly a drumstick came flying my way. A few steps later, I turned to see a drum skin floating past my head, it was my lucky day after all. With a smile on my face I exited the theater. I had just been converted into a devout My Morning Jacket fan. Halfway down the street I turned the drum skin over, to my surprise their was a setlist taped to the inside. All I can say is, what a night.

Set List
Victory Dance
Circuital
Outta My System
Off The Record
Gideon
First Light
You Wanna Freak Out
Wonderful
Golden
Way He Sings
I’m Amazed
Wonderful Man
Black Metal
Lay Low
Slow
Dondante
Smokin From Shootin
Touch Me I’m Going to Scream, Pt. 2
Mahgeetah

Encore
Wordless
Day Is Coming
Anytime
One Big Holiday

Post image for Interview | Steven Adler of Adler’s Appetite and Guns N’ Roses

Interview | Steven Adler of Adler’s Appetite and Guns N’ Roses

by Jamie Taylor on May 5, 2011 · 0 comments

AA 8x10 Watermark 2011 685x424 Interview | Steven Adler of Adlers Appetite and Guns N Roses Concert Addicts

Concert Addicts: So I just wanted to start by talking about your tour. It’s pretty in depth and wide spread , so you must be excited?

Steven Adler: Ya I’m very excited, it starts tomorrow night at the Brixton. We basically have about forty five shows, all over the US. Very excited, we love being on the road, the band love to perform, cause you know, that’s what a band does. And, you know, we put on an arena show in a club or a theater, it’s a really exciting show. Plus we’re adding a couple new GNR tunes that we haven’t done before. Plus Axl, Slash and even Duff doesn’t even do these songs.

Concert Addicts: Wow!

Steven Adler: Ya, you know, it’s very exciting. Everyone can check out AdlersAppetiteOnline.com . Check out the show, check out when we are heading to your town. So we have these new GNR tunes, and we got our three singles Stardog, Alive and Fading (Adler’s Appetite on iTunes)we will be playing in the set too. And anyone who is interested can check it out online, on iTunes and Youtube.

Concert Addicts: That’s awesome, we see you have a date coming in Vancouver, not until August, but we’re excited to check that out. It’s going to be a nuts show.

Steven Adler: Oh ya! Oh I’m sorry, I thought this was for the US, I didn’t know you were in Canada, I love Canada.

Concert Addicts: Ya we’re up in Vancouver on the west coast.

Steven Adler: I’m very excited about doing those shows, you know we’re be playing with some old good friends of mine, the guys from Warrant. We got a few shows up there, we’re very excited. We’ve never played up there. Adler’s Appetite has never performed in Canada.

Concert Addicts: I know were are very excited too.

Steven Adler: I was up there for a book signing quite a few months back, and that was just great. I really got a lotta love. It’s a beautiful, beautiful country. A beautiful place, and beautiful people. America should be so fucking cool.

Concert Addicts: Thank you so much. We are excited, I think the closest that I have seen you guys come up here was you guys were in Bellingham, which is just over the border. That was last year.

Steven Adler: Ya this year is a new year and a new time, a new stage show and we added a new guitar player Lonnie Paul. He has just brought so much to the band. The band is more powerful than ever.

Concert Addicts: I have been checking you guys out, watching some of you live footage. It just blows me away how powerful you guys sound live.

Steven Adler: Thank you brother, it feels good to hear that. Cause now I know for sure I’ve achieve my goal, I’m going to pass that on to the other guys.

Concert Addicts: Especially with your book out. I see you are releasing the book in paper back in a couple weeks.

Steven Adler: Yes, May 17th, it’s coming out in paperback. You know doing that book, it was such a powerful, wonderful experience in my life. I got the opportunity, to.. Well once I faces the facts and took responsibility for everything that happened in my life. It was really easy, and good to put together, and once I got a very truthful and very honest. And like I say I take full responsibility for everything that’s happened in my life. For 20 years of my life I blamed the guys, you know Slash, Duff, Izzy and Axle for what happened to me. And once I was able to get together with Slash again, and apologize to him for blaming him for all the down falls in my life. I was, like, reborn.

Concert Addicts: That’s amazing.

Steven Adler: Ya, and the book came out last summer and I was on tour at the time. And my book is very easy to read. So I was reading it, and it’s funny when I’m reading it, I get so excited, because I can’t wait to see what the hell I’m going to do next.

Concert Addicts: {laughter}

Steven Adler: And, I already know!

Concert Addicts: And it was a New York Times bestseller.

Steven Adler: It’s like getting a new gold record, it’s really great. But what I was trying to say about the book, is, once it came out I got to read it. And I got home and built a big fire at my fireplace and I threw the book in there.

Concert Addicts: And that was it?

Steven Adler: I wanted to leave my past behind, live in the now and believe in the future. I can’t change anything that’s happened in the past and I can’t relive it. I’m just thankful that I came out of it okay.

Concert Addicts: It’s amazing the books touched on a lot things, you seem like a new man. I guess it takes a huge weight off your shoulders to get that out of your system.

Steven Adler: Ya, you know, apologizing to the guys. That was the biggest thing, that , I mean. After I apologized to Slash, then I woke up the next morning and my muscles hurt so bad. Like when you work out with weights too much. You know that feeling?

Concert Addicts: {laughter}Ya ya.

Steven Adler: It was all the hatred and anger and denial that I was holding in to my body for twenty years, I let it free. The truth will set you free my brother.

Concert Addicts: Here Here! Ya, that’s fucking amazing. I mean I’m glad you got that book out there. It’s doing so well. We’re excited for the release of it, May 17th the paperback comes out. Just with the public battles you’ve had with your struggles with your demons, is there anything you might want to say, to motivate anyone else out there, that’s had or having a similar situation in their life?

Steven Adler: Well, if someone has somebody in their life that they love and care about and that is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Then I have to say the best thing that happened to me was that I was video taped, high. And I got the video tape a couple days later. Cause you know if you’ve ever done drugs, or drink and have blackouts, your friends will tell you, you did this, that and can’t believe this shit. Then cause you video tape them, let me tell you when I saw myself on heroin on video, I was crushed.

Concert Addicts: I could imagine

Steven Adler: It was brutal to see. Cause you know if you do drugs, people do drugs. Well let me just say, I did drugs because it made me feel more comfortable, made me feel like I was bigger, like I was better and stronger. And then I saw myself on video tape, and I was like – Holy Shit! Imma ugly son of a bitch!

Concert Addicts: We could relate to that.

Steven Adler: It was a big eye opener. And also just believe in yourself. All I can say is I have been down a shitty ass road you can’t imagine, and came out of it. You know in my book, I burned the candle with superstars and survived to share my story. Okay and I’m thankful for that. You know the books about all the warts and the scars and the tattoos my life in rock n roll. And I wouldn’t change if for nothing, now that, I mean I would change the drugs, because I wasted twenty years hating people, who weren’t even thinking about me.

Concert Addicts: It sounds like you gotten to a place where you’ve let things go. And it sounds like your happy and ready to rock and kick some ass on stage. We’re all excited to see that. I’m really glad you took the time out of your busy schedule to give us few moments to give us some of your words. It’s really inspiring to hear you talk about the
drugs, and I think a lot of people out there will get a lot from your story. We want to thank you up here.

Steven Adler: Dude, you rule brother. Thank you much for your time, I appreciate it.

Concert Addicts: Thank you.

Post image for Ice Cube Gets The Crowd Bumping

Ice Cube Gets The Crowd Bumping

by Jamie Taylor on April 13, 2011 · 0 comments

img 3762 980 Ice Cube Gets The Crowd Bumping Concert Addicts
On Monday night I found myself, yet again, walking up the winding staircase at the Commodore Ballroom. A feeling of nineties nostalgia washed over me as I gazed through the crowd and saw what you could only call a gangsta reunion. The baggy jeans, over-sized t-shirts, boxed ball caps, and flashy chains were as far as the eye could see. This was how I could tell I was at an Ice Cube concert.

The opening act was a DJ by the name The Freshest, and his name said it all. The music he was spinning was the freshest, classic rap and r&b you could think of. With hit after hit pounded through the house. Tracks like Slippin by DMX, or Player’s Holiday by Too Short were well accepted by the audience, and had them ready to party, from the first beat. This DJ was slick and quick, swapping out vinyl like it was a race.

The group in attendance was eager. More so than your usual Monday night concert go-er. By the looks of them they were big fans, that had waited a long time for an evening like this to present itself. Very few of them took their time pounding back those drinks. It seemed like the perfect storm for something intense, aggressive and, for lack of a better term, off the hook.

As the lights were washed away by the darkness, the DJ could be seen wheeling his tables off the stage. After a bit a waiting, and some overwrought screaming from the fueled up mob, it was time. Ice Cube and his three man crew stepped to the stage. It was like stepping back in time. A time when pants were baggier, and clothing had less metallic inks.

Right off the bat their was a bit of a technical dilemma, as the power to the turntable was accidentally disabled. O’Shea Jackson, Ice Cube’s birth name, left the stage and announced he would “Come back out and try that shit again”. That was the single fault in an otherwise perfect set. The rest of the performance was seamless, and flowed perfectly. Jackson, strutted around like a mad man, spitting fire and sporting the most glitter adorned Chuck Taylor Converse I have ever seen (check em out). This man has lost nothing over the years. If anything he has become more refined in his delivery and presentation.

The night was filled with the hits you would hope to hear when seeing this rap titan live:

Life In California
Hello
Natural Born Killaz
You Scared
Jack N The Box
Chin Check
Gangsta Nation
A History Of Violence
Check Yo Self
The Pledge
Bow Down
Almighty Oz
Drink The Kool-Aid
Hood Mentality
Why We Thugs
You Know Me
Go To Church
You Can Do It
We Be Clubbin’
Bop Gun
It Was A Good Day
She Couldn’t Make It On Her Own
I Rep That West
Too West Coast
Urbanian

I would consider myself to be a casual fan of this genre of music in my day to day. Someone who enjoys it as background noise. Maybe a as a sort of soundtrack. But during a live presentation, it really blows you away. I was taken back many times, at the amount of skill it took to maintain the show. The vocal control, the rhythm, the fierce pace at which Ice Cube was moving on stage, and it was all pulled together so seamlessly. On top of that, this was one of the most high energy shows I have seen in a while. The eagerness of the fans and the delivery of the performer added to one another multiplying the experience. Ice Cube had that crowd bumping in perfect time. He is a true master of his craft.

Ice Cube Photos © Jamie Taylor

Post image for British Sea Power Mesmerize The Biltmore

British Sea Power Mesmerize The Biltmore

by Jamie Taylor on April 4, 2011 · 0 comments

img 3509 980 British Sea Power Mesmerize The Biltmore Concert Addicts
On April Fools Day the Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver, played host to the English rockers, British Sea Power. It was a stellar performance that had all in attendance basking in the most delectable of indie rock. This six piece, play with an unbridled passion that is both contagious and fast spreading. On this fateful night they were poetic and pure as they delivered, what I can easily call, the best show of 2011, thus far.

In anticipation of this particular show, I in fact had found myself listening to almost nothing but the back catalog for this amazing band. The Decline of British Sea Power, Open Season , Do You Like Rock Music?, Man Of Aran and the newest album Valhalla Dancehall, were on continuous spin on my iPod for the better part of a week. This, in itself, was strange. I rarely find myself obsessing over a newly discovered musical love, but with this act, I was like a love sick puppy.

With all that in mind, I had arrived at the venue much earlier than I would normally for most shows. I walked in and stood near the sound board, watching as flocks of passers-by went up to the near by merchandise table. After a few minutes I noticed that the consumers before me were spending an inordinate amount of time chatting with the person selling the products. After closer inspection, I realized these “sales people”, we in fact the two acts of the evening. Several members of British Sea Power with Yan, Noble and Abi Fry, as well as the opening act A Classic Education, were mingling with their fan base. I decided it was a good time to jump in, buy my vinyl copy of Valhalla Dancehall and get it signed before the group split.

First to the stage, was A Classic Education from Bologna, Italy. They have that great orchestral indie sound, with jangly, sweeping instrumentals and raw, cocky vocals. The gathering before them, was mildly amused at first, but by mid-third song they were well received. The toe tapping, and head swaying was in full effect, and the room began to move harmoniously to the rest of the set. I found this group to be fun and energetic,which made for a perfect opening act. They got the blood flowing and had everyone in attendance, adjust themselves to “concert mode”.

During the hiatus between acts, you could see the hustle and bustle of the house staff, as they help setup for the main act. People running by with chairs, trays of booze being rushed out, while the crowd was spaced widely apart. This place works hard, and makes it look all to easy at times.

Finally the time had come, the faux velvet curtain was pulled open and the dimly lit stage was a smattering of musical instruments and strategically places silk flowers and plants. Yan, vocals, and Noble, lead guitar, walked on to stage, with the rest of the majestic six closed behind. Without too much yammering on, they stepped into their performance. The vocals were aching, and the instruments were deep and vibrant. From the word go, the house was in full swing. Like one solid amorphous mass, we swayed in rhythm with each song. Abi Fry, on violin, was delicate and gentle, which seemed to tie a nice bow on the whole presentation.

Walking around the platform, to gain a better angle, I wound up directly behind Phil Summer, on keyboards. I watched contently as he worked over the keys and made adjustments on the open laptop set to his side. I then worked my way over and peered between the equipment at Wood, on drums, as he stoically bombarded the skins with his rhythmic assault. His face a tell of his complete encapsulation in the music. The rest of the set, I sat in the crowd. Surrounded by the grins and gawking gazes of those in absorbed into the music. The smell of ale wafted through the air. I was on cloud nine, this was a near perfect night.

The band worked hard, the music was solid and they delivered it with an aggressive energy. There was not much more you could ask for. I said this evening was near perfect, because, it eventually had to end. Had it been perfect, the group would have stayed on the stage until six in the morning. But I guess all good things have to end. I was just ecstatic I was able to experience it. With the caliber of music this group puts out, they could easily be selling out the Commodore Ballroom. It was nice to be able to see them, in such an intimate setting.

Overall I was glad I invested so much time in indulging in this bands back catalog. Their live show was even better. I am glad I warmed myself up their greatness prior to experiencing them live, otherwise I might have gone into shock. At least by having had the foresight, to take in their discography, I already new how beautifully they compose tracks, and how poetically they execute them. Seeing them live was a thrill, I was completely blown away by them, and they have secured themselves a new life long fan. This band works hard, but makes it looks near effortless. British Sea Power is the bar by which other bands should be measured.

British Sea Power photos © Jamie Taylor

Post image for Album Review: Angles by The Strokes

Album Review: Angles by The Strokes

by Jamie Taylor on March 22, 2011 · 0 comments

The Strokes Angles Album Review: Angles by The Strokes Concert Addicts
After a few spins of the new album Angles by The Strokes, I can firmly say it is pretty good. There is nothing groundbreaking here, but this is a solid album, which exhibits growth by the group. They work their way through many influences here. Topped with some dancier, thicker beats to get you really swinging. What they have pulled together is a sexy little album, that will surely populate space on many iPods for years to come.

In the song Machu Picchu you feel a definite Clash jangle, that reggae-punk crossbreed that gets you feeling a little erratic. Then if you take Two Kinds Of Happiness you are treated to a different 80s stimulation, more pop. Something that could easily be housed in the soundtrack to The Breakfast Club. I particularly loved Julian Casablancas’ vocals around the 2:00 minute mark, a tortured rasp. Anyways, back to what I was saying, these are two very different styles, yet the band found a great way of fitting hem all together. I guess you can really say that The Strokes were in the mood to relive some true eighties rock, and added in their own Stroke’esque interpretation.

Overall I wasn’t blown away by this gathering of musical numbers. It’s a solid album, that at the very least, will field a great tour. Each song has a great energy about it, that will be perfect for a live performance. If you are a huge fan of The Strokes, then you will love this album but the casual listener will find this album a great filler piece. Still, anything that gets this band on tour, is wonderful in my books. They have a notoriously infamous stage presence, and I will be gearing up to see them on this your, regardless of what they will be playing.

Band website
Band Facebook
Band Twitter

Buy album

Track list:
Machu Picchu
Under Cover of Darkness
Two Kinds of Happiness
You’re So Right
Taken for a Fool
Games
Call Me Back
Gratisfaction
Metabolism
Life Is Simple in the Moonlight

Post image for Three Days Grace Impresses The Fans

Three Days Grace Impresses The Fans

by Jamie Taylor on March 21, 2011 · 0 comments

IMG 3468 980 Three Days Grace Impresses The Fans Concert Addicts

The mighty Commodore Ballroom played host to an amazing show last night. Three Days Grace and My Darkest Days both played stellar sets, and had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hand’s. It was a night of indulgence, hard rock and overly excited females.

Three Days Grace has spent the last few years playing arena shows. During this experience, their sound grew, they got bigger, louder and more aggressive. Taking all that growth and stepping back into the club scene, had me worried. Would they be able to rethink their performance, to come across more personal? Would they be able to incorporate their knowledge of big venue presentation into a smaller show? Well, we were about to find out. Both myself and the fans in attendance were ravenous with excitement. Regardless of what was presented to us, we were all ready to rock.

Starting the night, were the bad boys from Toronto known as My Darkest Days. After the continual airplay they had been receiving for their single – Porn Star Dancing, I was really anticipating their performance. The keyboardist, Reid Henry, stepped out into the dimly lit stage, and started to play an ominous, eerie sound from his Roland synth . The horror inspired entrance music set the tone, as the rest of the band took the stage with force. The lights brightened and their stood the group. With no warning they took to their set.

It was aggressive, and powerful. The lead singer, Matt Walst, worked the stage with a provocative glare cast out over the crowd. Lead guitarist, Sal Costa, looked like a classic brit-punk, in his tattered jeans and multi-colored Mohawk. As a whole they were on their game, playing a ferocious set, that had most of the horde before them asking – Who are these guys. During their time on stage they delved into about eight songs. Most notably Porn Star Dancing and a couple tasty covers in Apologize by Timbaland and Come Undone by Duran Duran. This band is here to kick some ass, and really proved they can deliver, live, what they pump out from the recording studio. My Darkest Days are the new Canadian band to watch out for.

During the hiatus between the two acts, we waited, and waited. The wait was longer than expected, and the crowd started to get rowdy. After about 45 minutes, the main act finally was ready to began. The lights extinguished, the shutters dropped over the windows and the roaring floor erupted in screams. The four piece stormed from the darkness and attacked the stage. Feeding off the initial energy of the openers, they wasted no time jumping into their set. It was high flying, high energy, no holds barred rock. Adam Gontier, lead singer, had the ladies in the audience, grinning and gazing with lustful intent.

The band was on the ball, and solid, but played with ease. They fed back and forth off the audience, fist pumping with them in unison. Gontier is hyperactive. He leaps and lunges with purpose. Delivering the lyrics with his facial display just as much with his voice and body. Neil Sanderson, on drums, is a fucking mad man, his limbs like blurs most of the night. Barry Stock, on lead guitar, is a master of his art, playing with mixture of aggression and delicate control. Finally, Brad Walst, on bass, crept around the platform, with a sort of demonic possession. His body playing host to the demon that is music.

I was so impressed with both bands last night. It was refreshing to see two Canadian bread groups, play with such passion and dedication. Three Days Grace proved they can still kill it and My Darkest Days showed that they are here to stay and are revved up and ready to rock. The one thing that really impressed me the most last night, was the fans. They were the purest kind of music followers. Not out following a fad, but following their band. Coming out to support a group that they have loved for years. That dedication showed through and through, and always makes for a great group to party with.

In answer to my two self imposed questions from earlier, the answers are yes and yes. They proved they can adapt. They proved they can rock. They proved that they are about their music, their fans and the passion. Three Days Grace are a Canadian mainstay. So here’s to both bands for putting on a stellar show for the fans that love them.

—-this is a non-edited draft—-


Three Days Grace photos © Jamie Taylor

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