Incubus x 2

Incubus
When: Friday, October 7, 2011 and Saturday, October 15, 2011
Venue: Hollywood Bowl (10/7) and Verizon Wireless, Irvine (10/15)
Accompanied by: Gabrielle
Genre: Rock


Couldn't ask for a better partner in crime...I owe my love of Incubus to Gabrielle and will eternally be grateful. The Hollywood Bowl show was a bit exhausting - being on a Friday night, after a full work day and hopping on a bus from Lakewood. We arrived just in time before the band took the stage. An absolutely gorgeous night surrounded by thousands of fans. The following week in Irvine was pretty much the same, but a lot less road to travel to and from. 


Having come in a bit late to this band, it seems that I've entered into the more mellow sounds of Incubus. And I like it plenty. However, reading reviews from long time fans, the newer sounds don't appear to hold the same appeal. Regardless, it has been a delicious journey traveling back through albums prior to 2009 only to discover that I like pretty much everything this band has done. And chances are I will like all they continue to do. I guess I'm easy that way.


10/7 Set list: Megalomaniac, Wish You Were Here, Adolescents, Anna Molly, Promises Promises, If Not Now When, Circles, Privilege, Vitamin, In the Company of Wolves, Defiance, Love Hurts, Are You In, A Kiss to Send Us Off, Dig, Drive, Switchblade, Nice to Know You, Pardon Me, Tomorrow's Food


10/15 Set list: Privilege, Wish You Were Here, Adolescents, Pardon Me, Promises Promises, Isadore, A Crow Left of the Murder, Talk Shows on Mute, A Certain Shade of Green, Stellar, In the Company of Wolves, Defiance, Love Hurts, Warning, Anna Molly, Dig, Drive, Switchblade, Magalomaniac, Nice to Know You, Tomorrow's Food

Foo Fighters x 2

Foo Fighters
When: Thursday, October 13, 2011 and Friday, October 14, 2011
Venue: The Forum, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: Kelly & Elizabeth (10/13), Gabrielle, Jonah & Marissa (10/14)
Genre: Rock


Not much to say. Two nights of Foo Fighters. Life is good. Good friends, good music, good shows. What else could I possibly ask for? I suppose more, but not this tour. I was spoiled with the handful of "secret shows" earlier this year, starting off with the Paladino's gig last December. So, not being able to catch the San Diego, Oakland, Bridge Benefit or Sacramento shows is something I had to accept right off the get go.


But then again there is always the elusive dare to dream Foo Vegas in 2012??  When that rolls around, trust, nothing will keep me away!! 


10/13 Setlist: Bridge Burning, Rope, The Pretender, My Hero, Learn to Fly, White Limo, Arlandria, Breakout, Cold Day in the Sun, Stacked Actors, Walk, Monkey Wrench, Let it Die, These Days, Skin and Bones, This is a Call, In the Flesh (Floyd), All my Life, Long Road to Ruin, Best of You, Times Like These, Miss the Misery (w/ Fee Waybill), Dear Rosemary, Break Down (Petty cover), Everlong


10/14 Setlist: Bridge Burning, Rope, The Pretender, My Hero, Learn to Fly, White Limo, Arlandria, Breakout, Cold Day in the Sun, Stacked Actors, Walk, Monkey Wrench, I Should Have Known, These Days, This is a Call, In the Flesh (Floyd), All my Life, Long Road to Ruin, Best of You, Times Like These, Miss the Misery (w/ Fee Waybill), Dear Rosemary, Break Down (Petty cover), Everlong

Awesome Photo by Anthony Palacios

Conan + Foo Fighters = A Damn Good Time!

Foo Fighters perform on Conan O'Brien 

When: Thursday, September 8, 2011

Venue: Warner Brothers Studio, Stage 8, Los Angeles

Accompanied by: Briya, Megan and Sarah
Genre: Rock 

Getting a ticket to the Conan O'Brien show is a challenge in itself, but getting a ticket to the Conan O'Brien show when the Foo Fighters are performing seemed impossible. But with friends like the ones I have in my life, it turns out that nothing is impossible! So while I probably should have been home in bed recuperating from a silly sinus infection, I was instead out in Burbank waiting to see one of my most favorite bands. Those of you who know me would expect nothing less.

First off, I gotta say that the Conan O'Brien show is one well put together gig. I've only been to a handful of other tapings for various types of shows, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But the fact that this has been one of the hottest weeks of the year, I was a little worried. Turned out the waiting area was in a parking structure  with a decent amount of bench seating...which meant no having to stand in the hot sun. That was a huge relief. Then a guy handed out popsicles to help keep us cool. Very nice. And best of all, rather than making everybody walk the 1/2 mile from the parking structure to the studio, they provided air conditioned buses to get us there in style. A+ all the way around!! Oh, and when we got to the studio, gatorade was made available to everyone. And when we left the studio, we were given a DVD of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Season 6.

If you watched Conan last night, 9/8, you got to see the boys do Walk. But also be sure to tune in Thursday, 9/15 to catch their performance of Dear Rosemary, with Bob Mould. A M A Z I N G!

But even once the show was over, it really wasn't over for those of us lucky enough to be a part of the studio audience! To help "warm up" for the upcoming tour, they broke into the majority of songs off Wasting Light and ended with 2 classics. A 9 song set that made everyone dance in their seats. Which, to be honest, was the hardest part about the whole day. We wanted to stand and rock out, but it was not the consensus, so we made do. Chances are the whole set will be online somewhere down the line because the cameras never stopped rolling. And I'm sure there a few people seated in the front that would like nothing more than to relive Dave shredding in their laps. Oh what a day!!

Setlist: Walk, Dear Rosemary (performed w/ Bob Mould), Bridge Burning, Rope, White Limo, Arlandria, These Days, All My Life and Everlong

August Highlights - Weezer and RHCP

Weezer

When: Thursday, August 4, 2011
Venue: Pacific Amphitheater, Orange County Fairgrounds CA
Accompanied by: Cosmo, Gabrielle and John
Genre:  Alt/Progressive Rock

Nothing quite says summer like giant sized corn dogs, a variety of fried foods (ranging from butter to Jello), over sized turkey legs and an evening spent with Weezer and good friends!!

Granted, we stayed away from the fried foods, but I did pick up a bag of delicious kettle corn to enjoy during the show. And what a show it was!! Weezer is one of those bands where you can't help but have a good time. Add to it, being outdoors on a warm summer night and all is right with the world.

Not a terribly long set list...but good for a Fair gig

I came across this review of the show, and it sums it all up quite nicely. 

RHCP

When: Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Venue: Club Nokia, Los Angeles, CA
Accompanied by: Gabrielle
Genre:  Alternative Rock

Club Nokia hosted the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ benefit concert for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a non-profit musical education organization founded by Flea and Keith Barry that teaches kids the fundamentals of music and provides instruments. And thanks to my amazing friend, Gabrielle, we were there to enjoy the show!!

This is one of those iconic bands that I have not followed closely. Always enjoy what I hear for radio play, but don't own a single album. I think Flea is an amazing musician, so when the opportunity came up for me to see RHCP, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. The energy of the crowd was intense...and it didn't take long to figure out why. When the band took the stage, it was non stop insanity of a rock n roll kind.  It's no wonder they have minimal body fat!!

Setlist: Monarchy of Roses, Can't Stop, Charlie, Ethiopia, Meet Me at the Corner, I like Dirt, The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie, Throw Away Your Television, Factory of Faith, Right on Time, Did I Let You Know, Californication, Look Around, Soul to Squeeze, By the Way

Encore: Drum Solo, Jam, Sir Psycho Sexy, They're Red Hot (cover), Give It Away

A Perfect Circle

When: Thursday, July 28, 2011

Venue: Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles CA
Accompanied by: Cosmo
Genre:  Alt/Progressive Rock

A dark, theatrical, and hauntingly delicious show that was perfect no matter where you sat or stood. Again, one of those bands that I'd be unable to name a song, but can recognize their sound and am so very glad that I got to experience them a 2nd time. I'm not entirely certain I'd see them again....this genre of music takes me to a place inside my head that is difficult to shake. But that very part of me can appreciate those feelings - so never say never.


Review from Artist Direct - Click Here to read

Queens of the Stone Age

When: Monday, July 25, 2011

Venue: Fox Theater, Pomona CA
Accompanied by: Megan, Robert, Tiffany, Cosmo
Genre:  Rock

No words. But what a night!!  


Setlist: Regular John, Avon, If Only, Walkin' on the Sidewalks, You Would Know, How to Handle a Rope, Mexicola, Hispanic Impressions, The Bronze, Give the Mule What He Wants, I Was a Teenage Hand Model, You Can't Quit Me Baby.


Encore: You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire, First It Giveth, 3's & 7's, Sick, Sick, Sick, Make it Wit Chu, Little Sister, Go With the Flow, 

Steely Dan - Aja Night

When: Friday, July 8, 2011

Venue: The Greek, Los Angeles CA
Accompanied by: My better half
Genre:  Rock/Jazz

Set List: Dizzy's Bidness, Black Cow, Aja, Deacon Blues, Peg, Home At Last, I Got the News, Josie, Your Gold Teeth, Hey Nineteen, Everything Must Go, Time Out of Mind, Godwhacker, Show Biz Kids, Neighbor's Daughter, You Got the Bear, Reelin' In the Years, Bodhisattva

Encore: Kid Charlemagne, Last Tango in Paris

Steely Dan - July 8, 2011

So originally I had told my husband to go enjoy this show with someone else. In my mind, I was pretty certain that I did not care for Steely Dan. But giving it more thought and realizing that the gig was at a beautiful outdoor venue, I decided that I would be the ideal date. And damn I'm glad I went!!  Of course, truth be known, I would not be able to name you one song by Steely Dan. Oh wait, Hey Nineteen- that's one of theirs, right? Regardless, this little fact did not inhibit me from enjoying our evening under the stars.


And since I don't write reviews - that's not what this blog is about, here is a little something from The Hollywood Reporter - Steely Dan at the Greek Theater. 


Thanks to my other half for taking me as his date....and not his ex. I think he made the better choice.