NYE with Shelia E & Sergio Mendes

When: Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall
Accompanied by: KJ
Genre: Brazilian Bosa Nova, Jazz & Funk

Set List: unknown

New Years Eve plans are generally spent low key and at home. But this year, KJ decided that this show was something he wanted to do. And while this isn't necessarily my particular musical choice, I knew that I would enjoy it all the same. 

To be honest, the fact that Sheila E. was opening the show was what had me sold on looking forward to this show. I can only hope that when I'm 56 years old, I look that good. We've seen her perform a handful of times over the years, and she never ceases to amaze me. And she makes it look so easy.

As for Sergio Mendes. I can't tell you much. I recognized one song that was from the 80s and was super cheesy then. And is still super cheesy now. Overall, it was a fun show, and I'm glad that we were able to end the year doing something that we both could enjoy.

Camp Freddy Night #2

When: Friday, December 20, 2013

Where: The Roxy, Hollywood
Accompanied by: Gabrielle, John, Nicole, and Kathryn
Genre: Rock N Roll

Line Up: Billy Morrison, Matt Sorum, Donovan Leitch, Chris Chaney

Guests: Franky Perez, Gilby Clarke, Mark McGrath, Austin Winkler, Billy Ray Cyrus, Courtney Love, Billy Idol

Set List:

I'm reviewing this set list and hate to say that I don't remember a lot of it. I blame the awesomely hawt bartender lady who was pouring my vodka & red bull cocktails that night. Along with a little shared audience "puff, puff, give" and I have to admit I was not all right in the head. But hell, it's Camp Freddy after all, and the goal of these shows is to have a damn good time.  And that is exactly what we did!!

I'd love to be able to share memories of this evening, but it's all a blur. I do recall when seeing Billy Ray Cyrus on the stage, I questioned the sanity of Navarro and company, but hey, it's their party, they can do whatever the hell they want.  While I'm not a big Courtney Love fan, I have to say that seeing her perform Celebrity Skin was pretty fantastic. I know for a fact that I swooned a bit when Franky Perez took the stage. I just love his voice.  Can't say a damn thing about Austin Winkler because I didn't know who he was but I'm sure he was great. And of course Billy Idol taking the stage is still a huge thrill.

Considering I wasn't planning on Camping at all this year, I'm really glad that it worked out where I was able to catch at least one night.  Dinner, cocktails and rock N roll with the Baklayan duo was a treat. And getting to see Knox, Nic, Debbie & Company made the evening complete.  Long live Camp Freddy's annual residency at The Roxy. Let's see what sort of surprises they will have in store at the end of 2014...and from my lips to Navarro's ears, "please don't bring back Billy Ray."

Camp Freddy Night #2 - 12/20/13 (c) TaiDyed

91X Wrex The Halls 2013

When: Sunday, December 8, 2013
Where: Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, 91X Wrex The Halls
Accompanied by: Sarah, Maria, Steve & Katz
Genre: Mix of Alternative

Line Up: J. Roddy Walston & The Business, The Silent Comedy, Alt-J, Arctic Monkeys, Cage the Elephant, Vampire Weekend, Queens Of The Stone Age

Absolutely worth making the long ass drive out to San Diego for a 2nd night of Queens of the Stone Age.  Sure it meant having to sit through Vampire Weekend again, but whatever. These are sometimes the things that need to be done to fulfill the desires of the heart and soul. 

Arctic Monkeys were just as good as they were the night before at KROQ's AAX, as were Cage the Elephant.  The Silent Comedy are a band that my friend Steve absolutely loves and I have to admit, they have a really good sound. I'd totally go see them again and since they are local boys, chances are good that will happen.  Tolerating Vampire Weekend before Queens took the stage was a whole lot easier than having to endure them following QOTSA as was the case the night before. Seeing Queens headline this show was the highlight of my night. And coming home with a new hoodie was icing on the cake. Hot damn, I love this band. 

Not much else to say other than it was a good night. The drive home was brutal, but I managed to pull it off and still make it to work the next day. Such is the life of a rock star. 

102.2 x 2 = Totally Worth It

Set Lists:

J. Roddy Walston & The Business: not a clue. We were shopping for merch during this time.

The Silent Comedy: unable to locate a set list

Alt-J: Ripe & Ruin, Fitzpleasure, Matilda, Something Good, Tessellate, Taro, Breezeblocks

Arctic Monkeys: Do I Wanna Know?, Brianstorm, Dancing Shoes, Snap Out of It, Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?, I Bet You Look Good Dancing on the Dancefloor, Crying Lightening, One for the Road, Arabella, R U Mine?

Cage the Elephant: Spiderhead, In One Ear, It's Just Forever, Aberdeen, Take It or Leave It, Back Against the Wall, Teeth, Ain't No Rest for the Wicked, Come a Little Closer, Shake Me Down, Sabertooth Tiger

Vampire Weekend: Diane Young, White Sky, Unbelievers, Holiday, Step, Cousins, A-Punk, Ya Hey, Campus, Oxford Comma, Giving Up the Gun, Walcott

Queens Of The Stone Age: Feel Good Hit of the Summer, No One Knows, My God is the Sun, Smooth Sailing, If I Had a Tail, Sick Sick Sick, Little Sister, Make It Wit Chu, I Sat By the Ocean, Go With the Flow, A Song for the Dead

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night #1

When: Saturday, December 7, 2013
Where: The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: Tiffany
Genre: KROQ's hodge podge of alternative


Line Up: Foals, New Politics, GroupLove, Cage the Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, AFI, Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend, Kings of Leon


Big thanks to The World Famous KROQ for yet another free gig!!  Tiffany and I promised each other that we would both do whatever we could to win tickets for this event, because truth be told, there was no way in hell we could afford this show.  For weeks upon weeks, we messaged back and forth as to when it was time to call in to win tickets.  We were down to the final week, and KROQ was generously giving away tickets for BOTH nights to caller 20 every hour on the hour. 

The rock gods were smiling on us when I miraculously got through with the cell phone (which very rarely occurs) and heard those very important words "...have you won anything in the past 30 days...?"  Nope. Sure hadn't. At least not in the last 30 days. And that is all that mattered!!

Let's be honest...the ONE reason Tiffany and I wanted to go to this show on this night was for one reason. Queens of the mother effin' Stone Age. Don't get me wrong, the other bands were good. But I'd gladly have given them all up (except maybe Arctic Monkeys & AFI) for more time spent with our beautiful 6'5" ginger.  Regardless, the night was an absolute blast, the music was awesome (minus Vampire Weekend, yawn), the company was fabulous, the seats were magnificent, and to have this all for free made it pretty much perfect.

Set Lists:

Foals: My Number, Providence, Spanish Sahara, Red Socks, Pugie, Inhaler

New Politics: Give Me Hope, Fall Into These Arms, Just Like Me, Tonight You're Perfect, Harlem, Yeah Yeah Yeah

GroupLove: I'm With You, Itchin' On a Photograph, Shark Attack, Tongue Tied, Ways to Go, Colours

Cage The Elephant: Spiderhead, In One Ear, Back Against the Wall, Take It or Leave It, Ain't No Rest for the Weekend, Come A Little Closer, Teeth, Shake Me Down

Arctic Monkeys: Do I Wanna Know?, Brianstorm, Dancing Shoes, Snap Out of It, Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?, I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor, One for the Road, Arabella, R U Mine?

AFI: The Leaving Song Part II, 17 Crimes, Love Like Winter, Silver and Cold, The Days of the Phoenix, I Hope You Suffer, Girl's Not Grey, Miss Murder

Queens of the Stone Age: Feel Good Hit of the Summer, No One Knows, My God Is The Sun, Little Sister, I Sat By the Ocean, Go With the Flow, A Song for the Dead

Vampire Weekend: Diane Young, White Sky, Unvbelievers, Holiday, Step, Cousins, A-Punk, Ya Hey, Campus, Oxford Coma, Giving up the Gun, Walcott

Kings of Leon: Black Thumnail, Radioactive, The Bucket, Notion, Supersoaker, Closer, Temple, For Kicks, Wait for Me, Use Somebody, Sex on Fire

KROQ AAX #1 12/7/13