You don't bring me pleasure

You just bring me pain and nothing in between

For the third Wednesday in a row, I saw yet another amazing concert at The Rave. First it was Shinedown and Bush, then it was Alice in Chains. Last week it was Bullet For My Valentine with special guests, Halestorm and Young Guns. If these three shows were the only concerts I get to see this year, then I can definitely live with that. So amazing! So awesome!!  The year isn't even half over yet. Summerfest is a month away. Who knows what other amazing bands will make their way through Wisconsin before year's end?!

Opening band for this night was Stars on Stereo. Young rock band with a female lead singer. I've made it no secret how I feel about female rock vocalists. Not all do it for me. This young lady was good. Band had good energy. I didn't know any of their songs, but she did a fantastic cover of Aerosmith's Dream On.

Next up was another young band out of London, Young Guns. Just two albums out, but their latest album, Bones, is a must listen for any rock fan. If Stars on Stereo had energy, these guys were on speed or had several red bulls before hitting the stage. Great set. Definitely recommend you check this band out!

After Young Guns, it was Halestorm. Saw this band for the first time at Summerfest 2012. I was quite impressed then and I'm still impressed now. I was much closer this time around than last year. The show was nonstop rock all the way through. Lzzy is still hot and has probably the absolute best female rock vocals today! And I still believe her drummer brother, Arejay, is the human version of the Muppets' Animal. Another must see band!

Headlining this evening was a band that quickly became my most favorite band since I first heard Metallica. Bullet For My Valentine have been my 21st Century "Metallica". Since I heard my first song from them, "Tears Don't Fall", I was hooked. This is my second time seeing them live. The first time being back in 2010.  Absolutely amazing metal band!

"Of Fortuna" plays just before Bullet For My Valentine take the stage. They rip right into a song of their latest album, Temper Temper, called "Breaking Point." After that is was song after killer song, including "Your Betrayal", "Waking the Demon", "Riot", "The Last Fight", all hell, checkout the setlist below. All of the songs were awesome!!

Check out pictures from the show.

Even after they bonus encore of "Begging for Mercy", I was still wanting more. But, alas, no more concerts scheduled until Summerfest. Summerfest should be a good time...it always is. But don't tell my brother that I'm not exactly thrilled with this year's lineup. Maybe I'm spoiled because I get to go to Summerfest every year, because it's in my own back yard. Maybe I'm spoiled because I get to see so many great bands at a great venue like The Rave, which is also just minutes away. I won't even mention The Riverside Theater, Turner Hall, or any of the other smaller venues. Being a diehard music lover like myself, who goes to dozens of concerts each year, even I know that there will be times that I'll be less than satisfied. You can tell my brother this though...we will have an amazing time. Summerfest is amazing and sharing it with my brother is pretty cool!

Until the next show, keep rocking!!

Into the flood again

Same old trip it was back then

So I made a big mistake

Try to see it once my way

I just watched the second of three consecutive Wednesday night concerts in May 2013...Alice in Chains. Wow! Totally rocked! Totally awesome! I wasn't sure I would see a show this year that would rival Soundgarden, but Alice in Chains certainly made it difficult to choose a favorite. After Soundgarden, Stone Sour, and now Alice in Chains, every other concert this year is icing on the musical cake. And Summerfest isn't even here yet! So about the show...

Opening band was called Bloodnstuff. I figure with a name like Bloodnstuff - if you were to judge a band by its name - would be a heavier band, maybe even a little metal. Not to be.  There was no blood. Just some stuff. They were just two guys, a drummer and a guitarist/singer. All of their songs really sounded like one very long song. They didn't catch my interest.

Alice in Chains take the stage and immediately rip into Angry Chair. Much like Soundgarden, they got out there and played no frills, nonstop rock music. A lengthy nineteen song setlist consisting of a few from their latest album, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" - Hollow, Phantom Limb, Stone - , and many of their greatest hits - Your Decision, Down in a Hole, Man in a Box, Would?. Here's the setlist...

5/15/2013 at The Rave

Alice in Chains are only doing a handful of Midwest shows. Super excited that they came to Milwaukee. What an amazing show!

I know I've previously written about how I feel that the drummer is the heartbeat of a band and the drummer can make or break a band. I've also written about how I feel the lead singer is the voice, the face of a band, especially if that lead singer has an iconic voice. Layne Staley had an iconic voice that was a signature print to the sound of Alice in Chains. When he died in 2002, I know I felt that Alice in Chains would never return. When they returned, they surprised me. They found a singer in Will DuVall that had some of those same vocal characteristics. He's not Layne Staley, but Will DuVall has a very distinct sound in his vocals that really works with Alice in Chains. If this band comes to a city near you, you need to see them!

Here are some pictures from the show.

Rock on!!

The great year for concerts continues

I've been fortunate to have seen some amazing concerts so far in 2013 and the year isn't even half way over. In January, I was 'Kicked in the Teeth' by Papa Roach and Stone Sour. February 1st brought Soundgarden to The Rave after nearly twenty years away. Killer! In March, I saw the Lovehammers, from Chicago, at a small bar (Club Garibaldi) here in Bay View, WI. April brought me a couple of different shows in The Joy Formidable and The Revival Tour, which was a collection of guys from different bands, including Chuck Ragan from Hot Water Music and Tim McIlrath from Rise Against, playing each others songs acoustically. Totally amazing! Last night, May 8th, I saw what will be the first of three concerts yet in May of 2013...Shinedown with Bush and Airbourne.

Airbourne is from Australia and they look like the were dropped right out of the 80's. It was like time stood still. You could definitely hear the AC/DC influences in their songs. In fact, on a few of the songs, I thought they were going to do covers. They ended up being background music. Not completely terrible, but I'm not buying a CD either.

Airbourne

After a short intermission, Bush takes the stage. This is the 4th time I've seen them since 2011 and every single time has been nothing short of a great show. Not only do they have great songs, but I enjoy the fact that they just come out and rock your face off. No theatrics. Just performing hit after hit after hit. It was really cool to see Gavin get off stage and get up to the balcony and mingle with the fans up there, something I'm not sure I've seen any other singer do at The Rave. It's obvious he enjoys getting close to the crowd.

Bush's Setlist

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Headlining the evening was none other than Shinedown. Third time I've seen them. Once at Summerfest 2009 and the other time was an unplugged, acoustic show at the Riverside Theater. The acoustic show was fantastic! Last night was amazing!  I can remember when I first heard Shinedown on MTV years ago. It was a video for their cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man. I remember thinking that this guy had such an amazingly, powerful voice. Watching them last night only made me believe that more. Brent Smith is up there as one of the best, most powerful, rock vocalists out there. With as much talent that is out there, that's saying something. Simply amazing! Shinedown powered through fourteen songs and every one of them was solid. I look forward to seeing them again.

Shinedown's Setlist

You are probably wondering where the pictures are?  Here they are.

I mentioned that this was one of three concerts in May. Coming up are Alice in Chains and Bullet For My Valentine with Halestorm and Young Guns.  All you music lovers out there who enjoy good, new rock bands should check out Young Guns. They are good.

Until next time...ROCK ON!!

I'm gonna break my...

After nearly twenty years away, Soundgarden returned...and they haven't lost a step. Soundgarden played at The Rave in Milwaukee, WI this past Friday, February 1. Burst onto the music scene in 1984, years before the grunge era took the music world by storm, Soundgarden often got lumped into that genre. Sure there are similarities with some of the darker, mysterious lyrics, but Soundgarden definitely has more of a hippy, bluesy, rock to their sound. What an amazing show!

Leading up to the concert, I had checked out some of the setlist from their tour and saw that they were playing anywhere from 25 to 30 songs every show and changing it up every night. I knew I was in for a treat. With no opening act, Chris Cornell took the stage with the other members of Soundgarden and proceded to play no-frills, no bullshit, rock n roll for nearly two and a half hours. Twenty-seven songs in the setlist from every one of their albums. They performed many of my favorites, leading off with Been Away Too Long and playing others such as Jesus Christ Pose, Spoonman, Outshined, Rusty Cage, Fell On Black Days, and one of my favorites from their newest album, By Crooked Steps.

I did notice that the crowd was a bit older than many shows I go to, but that's to be expected. Many younger kids may not know who Soundgarden is, especially since they have been out of the limelight for some time. But everyone should know that Chris Cornell has one of the most amazing voices in rock n roll. Amazing show! Amazing band! If they come to your city, I strongly recommend you see them!  Oh and before I forget, check out some pictures from the show.

Stone Sour and Papa Roach one week followed by Soundgarden the next! Wow, what a fantastic start to my 2013 concert year.  Stay tuned to who I see next.  Keep on rockin'!

I'm looking at you through the glass...

Don't know how much time has passed

Oh, God it feels like forever

But no one ever tells you that forever

Feels like home sitting all alone inside your head

How do you feel? That is the question...

I feel freakin' awesome!! First concert of 2013 in the books...Papa Roach and Stone Sour at The Rave last Friday, January 25th. Great show! I've seen Papa Roach a few times, but this was my first time seeing Stone Sour.

Despite having some recent health issues and having had vocal surgery in 2012, Jacoby was full of energy and all over the stage. I thought his voice sounded great as he belted out some of Papa Roach's greatest hits - Scars, Forever, Getting Away With Murder, and Last Resort - as well as a few from their newest album - Still Swinging, Before I Die, and Give Me Back My Life. If you haven't heard Papa Roach's new album, I recommend you check it out.

After a short intermission, Stone Sour took the stage and proceeded to rock the house. The last time Corey Taylor was at The Rave was for his solo tour promoting his book. That's the last time I've seen him anyways. They kicked the night off with the first two tracks off their latest album, House of Gold & Bones Part 1. Later on in the evening, Corey revealed that Part 2 would be coming out this Spring. The setlist was jam packed with solid Stone Sour hits...Digital (Did You Tell), Made of Scars, and others. For the encore, Corey slowed it down a bit. He started playing the first verse of Alice in Chains' Nutshell before flowing right into Bother. Finishing the night with 30/30-150 was absolute killer!

Oh, I did take a few pictures.

Pretty awesome first concert of 2013. It's only going to get better. Coming up on February 1st...SOUNDGARDEN! That should be epic!  Other bands coming soon to Milwaukee include Alice in Chains and Bullet for My Valentine. I'm sure there will be more great shows coming and that's all before Summerfest 2013 hits Milwaukee.  Until the next show, keep rockin' my friends!!

Happy New Year!

So what if I'm more than three weeks late! It's still new and it's still Happy! In fact, there's quite a lot that has happened since my last post, which happened to be my 40th birthday and probably one of my best days of 2012. So let's catch up.

Plenty of good times were had after my 40th birthday...

...I went zip lining up in the Peshtigo River area at Wildman Adventure Ranch. That was so awesome! Definitely have to do that again! On the return trip, stopped in Green Bay to check out Lambeau Field and Titletown Brewing Company.

Titletown Brewing Company

...went to Chicago to celebrate friends getting married. Of course stopped in at Goose Island's Brewpub. Not sure where the pictures are. Good times! Congratulations Ray and Alexis!

...went to the Harvest Fair at Wisconsin's State Fair Grounds and spent time at The Micro to sample Autumn Seasonal beers from many craft breweries. I finally killed my first keg!

The Micro

The Autumn Beer List

...saw Rise Against and Gaslight Anthem at The Rave, my final concert of 2012.

...the month of September I was really busy...busy buying my new home! I finally decided to plant some roots here in WI and purchase a house. I closed on October 1. It was exciting and stressful all rolled into one. You homeowners out there know what I mean. Check out my new home. So much storage, I don't know what to do with it. It's also still quite empty, but I have plenty of time to fill it.

...I had an awesome house warming party in November. Opened up my new home to my friends and we warmed it up!

...in November, we did a small, Milwaukee-only brewery tour that I set up. Started at Milwaukee Ale House. No tour here, just sampling some of the fine beer on tap. the Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery for a historical tour of the old Pabst corporate offices. Yes, beer was included. It's very cool to learn the history of beer in Milwaukee and to also learn and see how the new owner is renovating the building. Last stop was a tour of Sprecher Brewing Company.

..each year at work, we have a two-week long employee giving campaign, consisting of many activities, raffles, and fun events to raise money. For the last seven or eight years, a couple friends and I coordinated and ran Office Olympics. We passed the torch last year and this year was the first year we were able to participate. So much fun! I ended up as Grand Champion for 2012!

...December saw a road trip to Potosi Brewing Company. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive to get there but sooo worth it. Food was fantastic and the beer excellent!

2012 finished with a low-key New Years Eve celebration at my new house. Nothing too exciting. Just a few friends enjoying some adult beverages and having a good time.

The new year is full of promise and hopefully some choice opportunities. Only three weeks into it and things look promising.  From a music perspective, some great new albums have been released and the concert scene is shaping up very nicely. Looking forward to seeing Stone Sour, Papa Roach, and Soundgarden. Also coming to town are Alice in Chains and Bullet for My Valentine, which I plan on seeing. Never a shortage for concerts. As the weather eventually starts warming up, the many ethnic and music festivals will begin.  Milwaukee is a great place to live!  Cheers to 2013!

Milestone achieved

I just turned 40 yesterday (August 26th). It's definitely a significant birthday, but not for negative reasons. They say 40 is the new 30 and I am inclined to believe it. I'm a firm believer that you are only as old as you feel. Most often I feel like I am 5 to 10 years younger than I really am. I do my best to eat healthy and stay active. I surround myself with good people and fill my life with various activities. Though it's only been a day or two, life at 40 is great!

I celebrated by birthday on Saturday and, let me tell you, it was a fantastic day! Nearly 20 of my friends joined me on a riverwalk boat brewery tour. We started out at one restaurant, Molly Cools, and got on a boat that took us to two breweries (Milwaukee Ale House and Rock Bottom) before returning to Molly Cools for dinner. The tour included two drinks at each location. Rock Bottom had their basement tasting room set up with a bunch of drinking games such as bags, beer pong, flippy cup, and giant jenga. I played giant jenga, but lost. We all had such a great time.

Life is great and it will continue to get better. I am truly blessed to have so many great friends and family in my life. I want them to know how much they mean to me and how much I value them. I've always been told to treat people just as you would want to be treated and I live by that rule. This weekend I felt honored that so many of my friends joined me to celebrate my milestone birthday and we had an absolutely fantastic time!

Thank you!!