Special Guests +Live+ Antone's Austin TX, SxSW Festival Options

[OutToDry]

Sound check just completed....TGF up next

I alone
daoc
Aoy
Pod teaser

[OutToDry]

Ok, with some time passed, some sleep taken, videos up…time for the review!!!

My day started at 3:30 as I drove to Philly Intl for my flights to Austin. I got down there around noontime and headed to the hotel to change and then off to give Jimmy Lang a ride to the show. Spoke to Jimmy earlier in the week via Facebook. It was my first time meeting the legendary Jimmy. I knew today was going to be special. All these years, never met him. I never was at a Live meet n greet.

Once getting downtown in Austin, the craziness of SxSW was all over us. It was a mob scene on every corner. We headed to park the car and get some food before getting in for sound check.

At the venue, stopped and talked to Rock4A and then to Thrill. Introduced JL to them. Got into the venue about 3:30 or so and CB was in the starting to do their SC. Let me say, they have some major balls. Seeing them prep was a good indication for their set later in the night.

After speaking with some of the folks there, CT, CAG, PD & CS came in. They caught the last part of the CB sound check. Said hello to the guys, wished them luck and thanks for bringing things back in a stellar way on 3/12.

Live took their sound-check and with so much anticipation from me, I felt that familiar feeling when they started into Dam At Otter Creek…….sheer goose bumpy bliss!!! I Alone and STD followed and I was instantly super impressed with seeing Chris Shinn fit right in. He looked so comfortable with C&C&P and SH is going to fit in nicely if he continues on with Live. He’s going to be in for now. It was a super busy night for him as most of you may have seen a photo of him the next morning. I’ll detail that more later.

As Live finished up, the stage crew led by Matt Gracey got the TGF Bass Drum up there for a tuning. TGF came on and did the FEW……end of story….they were ready to go on. I knew they were going to kill on their set!

After sound checks were all done….people started filing into the venue. There was a line around the block (imheyjude gave a story about people not staying, but word got around on who the special guests would be.) I met a lot of newer fans who have never seen TGF or Live and they were really anxious to finally see these bands!! Some of them told me that they were super impressed after the show and were now going to be following TGF & Live…..see…good music can receptive by the younger generations!! When it’s quality….they will come!!

First up was Austin local band The Canvas Waiting. They were really excellent and they blew the house down with their cover of Bizarre Love Triangle. Kevin Martin raved about this all night. They set the stage.

TGF, as you know is near and dear to me. It showed me that there was life after the Live 2009. So many years I became sullen with what went down with Ed, the direction, the music…etc. TGF was a rebirth of C&C&P along with KM and SH to give us a project that basically meat and potatoes rock music, really fantastic music. It grabbed me and I was happy to carry the torch as were so many others from this site. TGF to those guys was proof that they had it inside them and it had to come out!

When those guys primed from their respective sound checks, they started up with Silly Thing and The Rest of You. I was hoping for Labor of Love and Closer in the set, but with 4 bands and guys playing in multiple sets…..we got what we did.

When TROY finished, I got the cam ready as I knew they were going to kill Guilty Fever!! Guess I fimed it sideways…got to figure how to fix it. It was def turned way up and as the video shows……pure bliss!!! Next was the popular Appetite. Lots of fans were singing along to this as it was a #1 Radio hit in Austin for many, many weeks. Kevin and crew made it memorable yet again. Checking the set list down on the stage and I was gearing up for my Fav…THE FEW!!! Video says it all. I always love Kev’s lyrics in this J. The Few left me fully charged up and knowing full well Live was coming on next. The night so far was perfect!! TGF then belted into Tredecim….the familiar low rumbling chords are still fresh as the first time I’ve heard it. Kevin belted the vocals across Antones incredible loud PA system and his ‘My Life is Flatlands’ always gets high marks!!! Awesome stuff!! So as TGF prepped for HM, CT laid the intro chord line and into his full stomp during the opening riffs. Let me say this…..CT, PD & CAG seem to age like fine wine and they are so freaking awesome….they are loose, happy, and in step as I’ve ever remembered them. Now that CT’s leg is better, his stomping that night…I’ll attest….was superb!!! Sean Henessey is simply an amazing guitarist in his own right and all this stage time is getting his name out in rock circles!! Honest Man ended their set to thundering applause!! New fans loved TGF and the night was only beginning!!

During the hiatus, Live was starting to be discussed here and we got to see some updates from CT regarding what was going to happen to Live. Things became clear that something was going on. I’ve had the good fortune to know that someone was being brought in to see if Live could go forward. I had to keep things quiet for confidence sake, but seems as time went on, people were seeing and hearing things and adding things up. I can say Chris Shinn is an awesome, funny person…down to earth, humble and an excellent singer with a huge range. I’ve heard Chris sing I Alone around July of last year and I couldn’t tell if it was Ed or not. Then I got to hear AOY, (some other snippets), what we’ve heard as of today, and last week’s show in York. Amazing stuff I’ll say. The boys def got the right person to continue Live in the spirit of their mantra!!

During the TGF segment, the stage area was starting to get a but crowded and I wanted to get the full view of THE EVENT!!! I saw Thrill up in the birds nest (where the lighting tech was), he motioned me up and I shot up there and found an open spot to take it in. I was so nervous at this point to get this in and try to temper my excitement. As they started into DAOC, I was transported back to older days of Live and said, let’s have it boys! Time to document. Shinn is the man.

They entire stage was awash with super energy, low nerves and high volume!!! Next up was AOY which I’ve heard a zillion times now as we’ve had the clip out for a few months. Shinn is the real deal. Mind you he’s still getting immersed as the singer and in time will have everything down pat, and some of the lyric mess ups will be gone. Next was our bread n butter blood & guts Lakini’s I liked the little intro clip that sounded a lot like the preacher bit that Ed did on TC…I can’t place where this clip comes from so if anyone knows, feel free to contribute. This was brilliant!! CT laid into it and the guys performed this as it’s meant to be….balls out!!!

Then into Freaks!!! I was super stoked to hear this old favorite of mine. Don’t think I ‘ve heard this in concert since SS days. Gosh I love this tune and Chris really makes it in his own way. The guys are really ready to break this thing out even more badass!! I am trying not to yell out over the video and I wanted to scream hell yeah!!!

Selling the Drama up next…Chris asks the crowd if they love his new band, gives it up for TGF and says stick around for a killer CB set!! Shinn really nails this song pretty well…..so good!! The crowd is really into the show and is singing along……not missing a beat. I heard from a reliable source that a certain record producer was there to witness this show. The crowd is really supporting Shinn now….the momentum is carrying!! I’ve never seen Pat this loose other than the TGF shows, and mind you the SS shows. It’s so cool to see this. Gracey is beating that drum kit like crazy all night….i wonder if it didn’t suffer any damage!!

LC Chad Taylor starts to tell a little story of the time he started into this legacy song for Live and how he began it in the wrong key at Nelson Mandela’s show in SA. Stadium full and it going out on national tv. So he’s telling us he’ll get it right….LOL. Well Shinn has them on their tip toes as they join in again and sing. Place is electric, I wish this could go on much longer.

If the crowd did get rocking with LC, The Dolphins Cry got them even more into it. This was a nice heavy and unified performance. CT really gets into the backing vocals. Awesome applause at the end. I was impressed with how this one went off, considering it was one of Ed’s masterpieces. Well done Chris!!!

By the time I Alone starts, I am starting to be overcome by the magnitude and history this show is building on from Monday’s York show. The Live ball is rolling folks!! The fans are even more into the show, singing every verse. CT gives us an awesome stomp in the bridge….so cool. Shinn takes to the drum riser to the right of Gracey and belts in total proclamation!!! I ALONE LOVE YOU!!! Dahlheimer dances the night away and is looking happy as a clam!!

Look what all this talking got us baby!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvlaUSrZtB8

God I was in heaven when my Fav WD came crashing into my lens and my ears!!! Oh like fine aged wine!!

As they walked off the stage to incredible applause, I was riveted like I just got jack hammered!!! I quickly made my exit to get down seeing the guys and telling them congratulations. Got to see all of them before the CB show commenced, also hung around till they closed up shop. Loud With Live is on folks!!! Come on for the ride.

Finally got out of Austin downtown at 3:45 after the big girl fight held up traffic and Jimmy and I dodged a truck with porto-potties depositing them on I-35. That could have been a big problem, but we got around them without incident. On for food and I got back to the hotel only to change, pack, and check in here. I had a 7:30 and I needed to get rolling with no sleep. Made it up to Dallas and when I sat down at my gate, I noticed this guy sleeping with a tuque and sunglasses……..Memphis. I looked and recognized his girlfriend first, and then I knew it was. You saw the pic!!! We chatted and then I made my way….he had to wait for a later flight and his girl got to go earlier. He’s the hardest working rock man out there I think…….Cheers Memphis!! Welcome to Live man. Juggle it all well son!!

The Candlebox show was an experience for me, as I was totally floored seeing them live for the first time. I documented with ‘You’….my favorite song. They are impressive. If this supposed 3 bill tour with Live/TGF/CB goes off…..holy mother….it will a hot ticket!!!

This post has been edited by OutToDry: Mar 19 2012, 11:31 pm