JACK FM's 7th Show: A Benefit for Autism

When: Saturday, September 15, 2012
Where: Verizon Amphitheater, Irvine CA
Accompanied By: Steph
Genre: Rock/Alternative/Pop/Rap
Line Up: Missing Persons Featuring Dale Bozzio, Gin Blossoms, MC Hammer, Toto, Pat Benetar & Neil Giraldo, Joe Walsh

Set List (not necessarily 100% accurate)

Missing Persons: Destination Unknown, Here & Now, Noticeable One, Windows, It Ain't None of Your Business, Mental Hopscotch, Action Reaction, Walking in LA, Words

Gin Blossoms: Allison Road, Learning the Hard Way, Don't Change for Me, I'm Ready, Until I Fall Away, As Long as It Matters, Found Out About You, Wave Bye Bye, Go Crybaby, Til I Hear From You, Hey Jealousy

MC Hammer: Let's Get It Started, Pumps and a Bump, Have You Seen Her, It's All Good, Pray, Addams Groove, 2 Legit 2 Quit, U Can't Touch This

Toto: Only the Children, Rosanna, Human Nature, Manuela Run, Pamela, I Won't Hold You Back, Stop Loving You, Hold the Line, Africa

Pat Benatar: All Fired Up, Invincible, So Sincere, Go, Promises in the Dark, We Belong, Hell is For Children, You Better Run, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Love is a Battlefield, Everybody Lay Down, Let's Stay Together, Heartbreak

Joe Walsh: Rocky Mountain Way, A Life of Illusion, Walk Away, Analog Man, I Shall Be Released, The Bomber, Turn to Stone, Personal Manager, Funk #49, In the City, Life's Been Good, Life in the Fast Lane

Foo Fighters perform at Obama Fundraiser 2012

An Evening with President Obama and Foo Fighters
When: Sunday, February 15, 2012
Venue: Private Residence, Holmby Hills, CA
Accompanied by: Gabrielle, Kathryn, Nicole, Susan, Megan, Sarah, Cheryl
Genre: Rock

Email received setting it all off in motion....

Jack Black introduces Foos
© Tai James 2012

Dave Grohl
© Tai James 2012

Pat Smear
© Tai James 2012

Nate Mendel
© Tai James 2012

Foo Fighters
© Tai James 2012

President Obama
© Tai James 2012

President Obama
© Tai James 2012

Set List: Skin & Bones, Times Like These, My Hero, Walk, Everlong


This will go down as one of the coolest nights of my life....ever.

Foo Fighters Perform at Grammy Awards 2012

Foo Fighters - 54th Grammy Awards
When: Sunday, February 12, 2012
Venue: LA Live 
Accompanied by: Kathryn, Nicole, Jose, Linda, Anthony, Maria, Cheryl...etc
Genre: Rock

Mariachi el Bronx kicks off 2012

When: Friday, January 6, 2012
Venue: Natural History Museum, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: Elizabeth, Kelly and Lisa
Genre: Mariachi with a kick/Pop


Gotta get this posted before the month slips away and I forget to document the first gig of 2012! As I have mentioned before, Friday night shows are tough. There were a few moments when one or all of us considered backing out of going to this show. In the end, Elizabeth offered to be designated driver and off we went to LA.


First off, how cool are dinosaurs? Seriously! What fun it was to have the museum set up with bar service and live music. We were able to wander around and visit the various displays and contemplate what life was like long before man ever came along. Needless to say, we kept plenty busy while waiting for Mariachi el Bronx to take the stage.

As the night progressed, the masses made their way into a small area of the museum that houses the habitat view dioramas - Mariachi el Bronx front and center while surrounded by visions of various wildlife all around. This made for one hell of a Friday night.

In regards to a review of the event, I'll leave that to the LA Times Music Blog. For those who don't feel like clicking the link, here is the full article:

The members of Mariachi El Bronx first joined forces in the Bronx -- not the northernmost borough of New York City but one of L.A.'s crankiest punk bands. So it came as no surprise Friday night to find that, like so many punk gigs, Mariachi El Bronx's concert at the L.A. County Natural History Museum took the form of a provocation. Here before the elaborate dioramas of the North American Mammal Hall was a group of admitted cultural tourists daring its audience to view it as more than a curious museum piece. Ask the longhaired slam dancer in the Budweiser cap and he'd probably agree: The band pulled it off.

Despite the complicated overtones, Mariachi El Bronx's creative project is as straightforward as its name. This eight-man outfit -- clad in matching charro suits and wielding acoustic instruments such as the vihuela and the guitarrón -- transfers themes of struggle and misanthropy from the Bronx's febrile hard rock to the traditional sounds of Mexican mariachi music. The result feels startlingly natural; on the pair of self-titled albums it's released since 2009, Mariachi El Bronx inhabits its adopted setting as though it were the unavoidable fate of any Southern California band.

Friday's show opened the season of the Natural History Museum's First Fridays series, in which musical performances are presented alongside guided tours and science-related talks. (Before Mariachi El Bronx played, Michael Shermer of the Skeptics Society discussed the human brain's belief-making machinery.) Yet the concert also served as something of a bookend to an especially busy period for Mariachi El Bronx. Last year, the band toured arenas with Foo Fighters and appeared on "Conan" and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno"; 2011 might well be remembered as the point when the Bronx, which continues to perform, was outpaced by its own alter ego.

Matt Caughthran, the act's cheerfully pugnacious frontman, acknowledged his and his bandmates' unlikely ascent, saying they never expected to find themselves playing next to the biggest sea lion he'd ever seen. (Caughthran's actual language can't be quoted in a family newspaper.) "Our goal tonight is to pass out amongst the buffalo," he said later, adding slyly, "It wouldn't be the first time."

In fact, Mariachi El Bronx's energy stayed high through its hour-long set; it never gave any indication of an impending collapse, even during "Matador," a sympathetic ballad Caughthran sent out Friday "to the dying breeds." Energy, of course, is the lingua franca of all punk bands, no matter their respective stylistic quirks. Yet Mariachi El Bronx wasn't simply animated at the museum; it coupled that with a precision that reflected the group's extensive road work. Vincent Hidalgo on guitarrón and Jorma Vik on drums were particularly nimble, driving the music's assiduous syncopations while Joby J. Ford unspooled florid lead lines on guitar and accordion. (Mariachi El Bronx also includes a violinist and two trumpet players, each of whom sliced through the Mammal Hall's unkind acoustics.)

Near the end of the gig, Caughthran introduced a cut from the first Mariachi El Bronx album, "Silver or Lead," as "a song about the similarities between religion and drug abuse." (He dedicated it to Pablo Escobar and Jesus Christ.) The comparison was clearly designed as another incitement in a performance fueled by a kind of thoughtful confrontation. But if Caughthran had ruffled any feathers, the crowd didn't show it. By then he'd earned the use of a bully pulpit, and the band's listeners were happy doing what listeners do.

Written by Michael Wood

Photo: Mariachi El Bronx performs during First Friday at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

2011 Musical Mischief

A look back at the year of music in 2011...


Jan '11

• 1/14 Thirty Seconds to Mars/Middle Class Rut @ Fox Theater, Pomona
• 1/28 Foo Fighters "Secret Show" @ Velvet Jones, Santa Barbara

Feb '11

• 2/8 Foo Fighters "Secret Show" @ Spaceland, Silverlake
• 2/15 Foo Fighters "Secret Show" @ The Troubadour, Los Angeles
• 2/20 Henry Rollins Speaks @ Largo, Los Angeles
• 2/26 Catalina Jazz Club, Los Angeles

Mar '11

• 3/3 Meshell Ndegeocello, Largo, Los Angeles
• 3/10 Meshell Ndegeocello, Largo, Los Angeles
• 3/23 Duran Duran @ Mayan Theater, Los Angeles

Apr '11

• 4/5 Back and Forth Documentary Premier
• 4/12 Queens of the Stone Age, The Wiltern, Los Angeles
• 4/13 Queens of the Stone Age, The Wiltern, Los Angeles
• 4/16 Foo Fighters, Record Store Day @ Fingerprints, Long Beach
• 4/23 Santana, The Joint, Hard Rock Casino, Las Vegas

May '11

• 5/3 Bootsy Collins, Grammy Museum, Los Angeles
• 5/6 Prince 21 Night Stand, The Forum, Los Angeles
• 5/7 Tiesto @ The Joint, Hard Rock Casino, Las Vegas
• 5/12 Booker T, Grammy Museum, Los Angeles
• 5/26 Foo Fighters, Adams Center, University of Montana
• 5/29 Prince 21 Night Stand, The Forum, Los Angeles

June '11

• 6/22 Rush @ The Gibson, Los Angeles

July '11

• 7/8 Steely Dan, The Greek, Los Angeles
• 7/25 Queens of the Stone Age, Fox Theater, Pomona
• 7/28 A Perfect Circle, Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles

Aug '11

• 8/4 Weezer, Pacific Amphitheater, Orange County Fairgrounds
• 8/24 Red Hot Chili Peppers, Club Nokia, Los Angeles

Sept '11

• 9/2 Thirty Seconds to Mars, San Manual Casino
• 9/8 Foo Fighters, Conan O'Brien, Warner Brothers Studio, Stage 8, Los Angeles

Oct '11

• 10/7 Incubus, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
• 10/13 Foo Fighters, The Forum, Los Angeles
• 10/14 Foo Fighters, The Forum, Los Angeles
• 10/15 Incubus, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine
• 10/21 Face to Face, Alex's Bar, Long Beach
• 10/22 Face to Face, Verizon Wireless, Irvine

Nov '11

• Dark Month

Dec '11

• 12/9 Camp Freddy @ The Roxy, Hollywood
• 12/16 Chris Cornell @ The Orpheum Theater, Los Angeles
• 12/23 Camp Freddy @ The Roxy, Hollywood

Last Hurrah of the Year - Camp Freddy 2011

Camp Freddy


Camp Freddy is Dave Navarro, Billy Morrison, Matt Sorum, Donovan Leitch, Chris Chaney

When: Friday, December 9, 2011
Venue: The Roxy
Accompanied by: Kelly, Trevor and Elizabeth
Genre: Kick Ass Rock N Roll


Guests: Paul Stanley, Evan Stanley, Tommy Thayer, Fred Durst, Sebastian Bach, Billy Duffy, Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, George Lynch, Linda Perry, and Franky Perez







When: Friday, December 23, 2011
Venue: The Roxy
Accompanied by: Kelly & Lisa
Genre: Kick Ass Rock N Roll


Guests: Dominick Monaghan, Corey Taylor, Jason Bonham, Mark McGrath, Scott Ian, Glenn Hughes, Steve Stevens, Billy Gibbons, Franky Perez, and Lemmy Kilmister


Not too shabby for 66 years old, Lemmy!!



Bon Jovi was one of my favorite bands back in the 80s...so hearing this last night at Camp Freddy made me very happy.

Chris Cornell at the Orpheum Theatre

Chris Cornell, Songbook

When: Friday, December 16, 2011
Venue: Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: Sarah Rogers
Genre: Rock


Friday nights are sometimes a bit challenging to get really excited for a show. The end of a long work week and the the general hassle of Friday night traffic, etc can almost convince me to stay home. But sometimes, going through the trouble pays off. And this particular Friday evening was well worth any inconvenience that came our way.


Thanks to Sarah Rogers for making drive down from San Diego - who really hit the crap traffic between weird weather and pre-holiday insanity. She was kind enough to pick me up from my new Signal Hill home (and got to see the new paint and one piece of furniture that has arrived thus far). Fortunately by the time we headed to LA from my neighborhood traffic had died down a bit.


While the doors opened at 7pm, we made it there in time to catch most of the opening act. Craig Wedren was an excellent prelude to what was to come. 


A little after 9pm, Cornell took to a stage that felt like we were all hanging out in his living room. Aside from the inconsiderate women that were seated behind us who felt it necessary to carry on conversation at full volume, the evening was beyond perfect.  Cornell connected with the audience in an amazingly personal way. Sharing stories and a lot of humor. By the time the show ended, I was rejuvenated and so very happy that Sarah and I did not allow the brutal exhaustion of a long week hold us back from what we love the most.  


I couldn't find a video from the Orpheum Theater show, but here is one from this past April. Chris Cornell performs one of my most favorite Led Zeppelin songs, Thank You...

The following review is from Artist Direct

For William Shakespeare, the apex of art was the convergence of comedy and tragedy. The same maxim holds true for Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. During the Los Angeles stop of his "Songbook" Tour at the Orpheum Theatre, Cornell dispensed enough humor and darkness to make for a transcendent and timeless show. As he sauntered onto the stage, he asked the packed crowd, "Is this going to be rowdy at all?"

They responded with overwhelming applause and cheers as he began "Scar Upon the Sky". Strumming his acoustic guitar, Cornell's voice reverberated with a divine prowess flawlessly filling the theater and beyond. He transfixed as he hypnotically wove lyrics and chords together.

Before beginning "As Hope and Promise Fade", he explained, "Originally, this song was called 'Two Drink Minimum'. I changed the title later. I'm eventually going to change the title of all of my songs because as we age words mean different things".

Regardless of the title, the song touted a smoky jazz elegance that was utterly entrancing. "Can't Change Me" showcased Cornell's knack for an immortal hook, which was preface by his realization he has "German" in his forearms. His scream proved gargantuan during the crescendo of Audioslave's hurricane remembrance, "Wide Awake".

The singer songwriter deftly examined tragedy during the unreleased Songbook gem, "Cleaning My Gun". He declared, "It's about somebody who's sitting at home thinking it's time to do away with their life. Everyone goes through this once in a while, probably...It's that moment when somebody's sizing it up and wondering if it's worth it."

Cornell would be the one to talk them off the ledge as the tune evoked a myriad of emotions wrapped up inside of a strangely welcoming refrain. Notched between a heavenly chorus and somber verse, Cornell struck a brilliant balance between good and evil with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and that voice. His lyrical genius shone through Soundgarden classic "Fell on Black Days" as every word painted a pastiche of darkness. "Seasons" remained a standout. He delivered it with a sense of dark folk poetry that carried into the elegaic desert anthem "Burden In My Hand".

With his cover of Bruce Springsteen's "State Trooper," he picked up an electric guitar and built menacing live loops as he screamed The Boss's story of police pursuit on the Jersey Turnpike.

Before a gorgeous take on The Beatles's "Ticket to Ride", Cornell announced it as one of his favorite songs and that it "turns out it was one of my daughter's favorite songs. She had the immediate honest reaction only children have."

He still possesses that same fire and passion for music and that's why he's even more potent, powerful, and relevant than ever. "Black Hole Sun" bristled with a similar immortality as Cornell's voice highlighted this apocalyptic story beautifully.

Ultimately, Cornell is still one of the most important and incredible singers of all time. His voice bares an unmatched vibrancy and vitality that echoes through songbook and every show he plays. Shakespeare would be proud of Seattle's preeminent bard.

—Rick Florino

12.18.11