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In This Issue: Live Review: Foo Fighters @ Pengrowth Saddledome All I can say is; This show fucking rocked!!! Here's the set-list:
Of course I couldn't bitch-out on a Foo Fighters review. However, before I get into the details, I must say that there is simply no other way to see the Foo Fighters than to get down and dirty. Well, that may be an exaggeration, but when Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett take a stage, it's hard not to let the music take over you. If you do, you'll soon find yourself as far up as possible amongst the throngs of Foo fans on the floor and you'll likely leave with some bruises, drenched in your own (and others') sweat, and a euphoric feeling that will last for hours. The boys started off the show exactly as I had wished it to a couple of weeks back; with the title and lead track from their double disc, In Your Honor. In all, they played a total of six songs from their latest release, all but one of them from the heavier, electric album. I have to admit that I'm a bit surprised they only played one song from the acoustic album, which was the lead encore song Cold Day In The Sun, which funny enough wasn't played acoustic at all. It was fantastic to see Grohl behind the kit as Hawkins sang though. When the first single from the double disc, Best Of You, was played the crowd erupted and it provided me with a new-found appreciation for the song. Their selection of the other new songs impressed me as they are certainly the more impressive cuts off the album, especially The Last Song and the next single, D.O.A. (which has a video coming out soon.) Now, I am normally of the opinion that the best songs are more often not the hits and/or singles, especially live. It's also no secret that although I'm a tremendous FF fan, I have always favoured the heavier, edgier songs than the more radio-friendly tunes and rock-ballads. With that said, when you take one look at the above set-list, you may think that I would be disappointed with this show because it's made up mostly of songs of that nature. That is untrue because when it comes to the Foos, even songs you've grown tired of hearing sound so much more energetic and rocked out than when you listened to it previously. Stand-outs included My Hero, Stacked Actors, Break Out, This Is A Call, Up In Arms and Grohl doing a solo version of Everlong (which sounded like the acoustic version of the song although he played it on his electric guitar.) The only way they could've made Everlong any better than it already was, is if the rest of the band jumped in at an appropriate point to slap you in the face with full force. Regardless, it was a memorable moment, and that is one of their true talents; the uncanny ability to put on a show that's focused so much on the music. Considering the previous comments, this is their first big arena tour and they decorated the stage in a subtle yet visually impressive manner. The stage was back-dropped by a wall of old amps and speaker stacks which flanked Hawkins and his drum kit. Shiflett, Grohl and Mendel held positions up front with Grohl moving around only a few times to either rock out next to the kit, or to give fans on both stage left and right a closer glimpse of the man. The video screens, of which there were five, were basic yet unique and displayed random images through-out most of the show although they did display video footage of the show in action from time to time. The monstrous banner display above it all was formed in a half circle of sorts and was of the old Broadway marquee in that the bulbs were spaced out to give the illusion of poor resolution. Instead of it looking crappy, it provided an interesting visual to the entire set-up. Grohl avoided talking too much, although he does a great job of between-song banter. At one point, he explained how the band was greeted earlier in the day by our city's mayor and presented with the white cowboy hats and certificates. The comments were undecidedly sarcastic although he commented on how other cities give distinguished guests a key and posed the question, "What the fuck am I gonna do with that?" The band would later return to the stage wearing said cowboy hats for the encore and Hawkins would delve into his own banter before he would sing Cold Day In The Sun, complete with a vocal warm-up exercise of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody he encouraged the audience to join him in. If I had to point out one complaint, it would be that they only played one song from their self titled debut album (being This Is A Call). Although Grohl would like people to consider In Your Honor as the band's ultimate release, the one you'd recommend to anyone unfortunate enough to have not heard their music, I still consider the 1995 release some of their best material ever. However, it's probably best they limited themselves to one song from that disc for my own physical well-being. Those songs would have certainly thrown me into a mosh-pit frenzy I may not have emerged from intact. www.foofighters.com
Arcade Fire To Open Three U2 Shows; U2 To Be Honoured In Portugal
Things seem to just get better and better for the Arcade Fire. You can add U2 as another group of high-profile artists who love the band. U2 have been opening their Vertigo world tour shows with the Montreal act's Wake Up, and now they've been invited to open three Canadian dates. The U2 shows follow an appearance on this year's annual Fashion Rocks concert in Manhattan on September 8th, and a short tour with Wolf Parade and The Bell Orchestre which hits Winnipeg on September 30th, Saskatoon on October 2nd, Edmonton on October 4th and Calgary on October 5th. They then head down to Las Vegas for the Vegoose Festival the weekend of October 29th and 30th with the likes of Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, The Flaming Lips, Primus, Ween and many more. They’ll have a few weeks off (for now) before heading back home in November for the U2 dates in Ottawa on the 25th and in Montreal on the 26th and 28th. www.arcadefire.com While we're talking about U2, it should be noted that the band will receive one of Portugal's highest honours, The Order of Liberty this Sunday when they wrap up their European tour in Lisbon. Bono and company will be presented with the humanitarian award by President Jorge Sampaio. www.u2.com All right kids, here's your chance to redeem yourselves and prepare for the arrival of the new Danko Jones album. I've made it clear that Canadians seem to have abandoned this excellent home-grown rock band, forcing them to go South of the border and cross the seas in search of success. Thankfully, they have found it in Europe and are starting to see progress in the US, but it's still a shame that we seem to ignore them right here at home. Well, despite not having a record deal here in Canada, we can expect to see the next full length release, Sleep Is The Enemy, in both the US and Canada, although release dates for us North Americans are still to be announced. The album has already been completed and was slated for an October release date in Europe through Bad Taste Records, but they decided to push it back until February 20, 2006 because of the impressive success Danko Jones have been experiencing in the US due to the Lovercall single and We Sweat Blood album. They've just completed a second tour of the US and will embark on a third starting on September 1st in Detroit. There are plans for some Canadian tour dates before this year is over, and I'll pass that information on to you as soon as I have it. It will certainly provide you the opportunity to go out and support this great band. Keep watching for more news as I get it. www.dankojones.com I Told You Record Companies Are Largely Evil! You mean, artists like Jessica Simpson and Good Charlotte didn't attain huge success all on their own? Those lying bastards! http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/08/0908.cfm Stones Play Club Gig In TO; New Song Targets American Right-Wing The Rolling Stones have been hanging out in one of their favourite cities, rehearsing for their upcoming world tour. So, as in years past, the band treated Torontonians to a special club gig on August 10th at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. Tickets went on sale the same day of the show and were extremely limited. They invited New Brunswick natives The Trews (who have a new album, Den of Thieves coming out next Tuesday, August 16th) to open up for them. The world tour launches on August 21st in Boston and will take the band into the new year, wrapping up on January 23rd, 2006 in Chicago. Support acts for the world tour are varied and include big-name acts like the Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Our Lady Peace, Pearl Jam, Beck, The Tragically Hip, Metallica and more. All of this is in support of their forth-coming album, A Bigger Bang. The album hits stores on September 6th and will feature a rarity for the band; a political song by the name of Sweet Neo Con. The album targets the American right-wing with the lyrics "You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite. You call yourself a patriot, well I think you're full of shit." Singer Mick Jagger was quoted in Newsweek Magazine, saying the song is "direct" and that band-mate Keith Richards was "a bit worried" about backlash. I suppose Jagger doesn't seem to be too concerned since he doesn't live in the US like Richards does. The song wasn't included in a 12-song advanced copy to critics earlier this year. The final cut of the album contains a total of 16 tracks. www.rollingstones.com Exclusive SOAD Audio Of Question! Live All right friends, because you are faithful readers, I'm presenting you with the opportunity to listen to a live version of the next System of a Down single from Mezmerize, Question! All you have to do is click this link and enter Username: allyo and Password: hurricane (be patient as it may take a while to load). Enjoy! www.systemofadown.com Next Tuesday, August 16th we see the arrival of 311's new album, Don't Tread On Me. It's the first release of new material from the band in just over two years (when Evolver came out in 2003). It's not like 311 fans have been lacking though, as the band did release their Greatest Hits '93-'03 last summer and a DVD of their 3-11 Day performance in New Orleans. The band re-launched their web-site in anticipation of the new album recently, and you can even hear the entire album streamed on their www.myspace.com/311 site. That should provide you with a decent indication of whether or not you should run out and buy it. From my initial listening, I can safely say that these guys have certain come into themselves quite nicely. The songs sound very tight and don't seem to stray far from the sound you may have become accustomed to. Their US tour continues right through mid-September, and since us Canadians aren't lucky enough to have them visit our home towns, the cure for 311 fans could very well be this new album. If nothing else, you should consider buying the CD because they have a song called Speak Easy. You know, like that famed Calgary establishment... www.311.com "Think for yourself. Question authority. Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are going in this ocean of chaos, it has been the authorities, the political, the religious, the educational authorities who attempt to comfort us by giving us order, rules, regulations, informing, forming in our minds their view of reality. To think for yourself you must question authority and learn how to put yourself in a state of vulnerable, open-mindedness; chaotic, confused, vulnerability to inform yourself. Think for yourself. Question authority." You can read what the Chart Magazine staff had to say about this week's new releases such as Pennywise's The Fuse, Staind's Chapter V and more, but always remember....think for yourself: http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/08/0901.cfm ON SALE TOMORROW!!! Geez, all of a sudden, The Most Serene Republic seem to be everywhere. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (August 12th) for Metric, who TMSR and The Lovely Feathers are supporting acts. The show takes place on October 26th at one of my favourite places to see a show in Calgary, MacEwan Ballroom.
~~ kMNR v2005.079 ~~ If you would like to hear about or if you have any information on a particular band or artist, please email and I will do my best to cover them.
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