QOTSA Perform Like Clockwork & an Assortment of Deliciousness

When: May 23, 2013

Venue: The Wiltern, Los Angeles
Accompanied By: Nic
Genre: Sexy Ass Rock and Roll

Two hours of multiple orgasms is what this night was all about, mixed in with a bit of dark Tarantino/Rodriguez like madness thanks to the vivid videos created for the new album Like Clockwork. 

When we arrived, I was informed that no cameras would be allowed. I so wanted to be able to zoom in on every inch of Josh, but it wasn't to be. Once we were inside The Wiltern, we discovered that our tickets were loge seating, but oh my, what a magnificent view! The downside was there was no use for the cell phone camera from that distance. Fortunately, I had a friend who had managed to get himself a spot dead center rail and I knew he'd come through with some amazing photos to share (see below). 

No camera. No real use for my cell phone, other than the occasional text message to my friends down on the floor. It was just me and the music. And I was in heaven. I had a direct view of everything taking place on the stage, but my eyes were fixated on Josh. Everything about that man oozes deliciousness. Add to that 6'5" frame all the talent that goes along with it, and I really can't think of a more perfect package. 

Last night, just like really good sex, left me wanting more.

LA Weekly Blog Review

These are the only photos I allowed myself to take last night.

Photos from center rail courtesy Anthony Palacios

KROQ Weenie Roast 2013

When: May 18, 2013

Venue: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine

Accompanied By: Steph (Birthday Girl)

Genre: Alternative; Rock

Line Up: Twenty One Pilots, New Politics, Capital Cities, C2C, The Neighbourhood, Fitz & The Tantrums, Atlas Genius, Awolnation, Imagine Dragons, Silversun Pickups, Jimmy Eat World, Of Monsters and Men, Vampire Weekend, Thirty Seconds to Mars, The Black Keys. 

Surprise Special Guest: Stone Temple Pilots w/ Chester Bennington

Photo Gallery by KROQ

© Tai James

Silversun Pickups Setlist: Skin Graph, The Royal We, The Pit, Panic Switch, Dots and Dashes (Enough Already), Lazy Eye

Silversun Pickups

© Tai James

Jimmy Eat World Setlist: I Will Steal You Back, My Best Theory, Work, Pain, Sweetness, Damage, Hear You Me, Big Casino, The Middle

Jimmy Eat World
© Tai James

Of Monsters and Men Setlist: Dirty Paws, From Finner, Mountain Sound, King and Lionheart, Lakehouse, Little Talks, Six Weeks

Of Monsters and Men
© Tai James

Vampire Weekend Setlist: Cousins, White Sky, Diane Young, Holiday, Unbelievers, A-Punk, Ya Hey, Campus, Oxford Comma, Walcott

Vampire Weekend
© Tai James

Stone Temple Pilots Setlist: Vasoline, Big Bang Baby, Wicked Garden, Sex Type Thing, Interstate Love Song, Dead & Bloated, Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart

Stone Temple Pilots (w/ Chester Bennington)
© Tai James

Thirty Seconds to Mars Setlist: Birth, The Kill (Bury Me), Kings and Queens, This is War, Night of the Hunter, Closer to the Edge, Conquistador, Up in the Air

Thirty Seconds to Mars
© Tai James

The Black Keys Setlist: Howlin' For You, Next Girl, Run Right Back, Same Old Thing, Dead and Gone, Little Black Submarines, Money Maker, She's Long Gone, Tighten Up, Gold on the Ceiling, Lonely Boy, I Got Mine

The Black Keys
© Tai James

Rolling Stones - Honda Center

When: May 15, 2013

Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim

Accompanied By: Rosey G.

Genre: Rock N Roll
Surprise Guest: John Mayer

Setlist: Get Off of My Cloud, The Last Time, It's Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It), Paint in Black, Gimme Shelter, Rocks Off, Waiting on a Friend, Champagne & Reefer (Muddy Waters cover w/ John Mayer), Emotional Rescue, Doom and Gloom, One More Shot, Honky Tonk Women, Before They Make Me Run, Happy, Midnight Rambler, Miss You, Start Me Up, Tumbling Dice, Brown Sugar, Sympathy for the Devil

Encore:  You Can't Always Get What You Want, Jumpin Jack Flash, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Face to Face

When: May 11, 2013

Venue: House of Blues, Anaheim

Accompanied By: Steph and Susan

Genre: Punk; Rock

Setlist: 123 Drop, Walk the Walk, I'm Not Afraid, A-OK, Ordinary, Bright Lights Go Down, I Won't Lie, Bill of Goods, Disappointed, I'm Trying, Big Choice, Smokestacks and Skyskrapers, Blind, Shoot the Moon, You've Done Nothing, Disconnected, It's Not Over

In honor of the 20th Anniversary of House of Blues, the lineup for the show this evening was Blacklist Royals, Teenage Bottlerocket, and Face to Face.  We arrived in time to catch the final 2 songs of Teenage Bottlerocket and enjoyed what we heard. But the reality was I was there for Face to Face. Originally, this show as to be shared with my friends, Lara, Megan and Sarah, but sometimes life gets in the way and things change.  I was fortunate enough to enjoy the show with my friend, Stephani and her sister, Susan.  An evening out with friends, listening to live music ... it doesn't get much better than that.

Tenacious D

When: May 5, 2013

Venue: Bootleg Bar, Los Angeles

Accompanied By: Gabs

Genre: Rock; Metal; Acoustic; Comedy

Setlist: Rize of the Fenix, Low Hangin' Fruit, Senorita, Dude (I Totally Miss You), Kyle Quit the Band, Friendship, Kielbasa, History, Kickapoo, Saxaboom, Roadie, Rock N Roll (Zeppelin), Rock is Dead, The Ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage, To Be the Best, Cosmic Shame, Tribute, Double Team

Encore:  Baby, 5 Needs, Fuck Her Gently

Celebrity Sighting: John C. Riley

Not too much to say about this evening other than it was awesome. And damn, Tenacious D have loyal fans. Bootleg Bar packed us in with minimal room to move or breath. The upside for this tiny industrial warehouse type bar/club is that they have a fairly extensive beer and wine list...AND have tasty cider options as well.  

It was great fun seeing Tenacious D minus the "jazz hands".  This night was all about face melting mind blowing metal and the D did not disappoint.

An Afternoon with Composers Stewart Copeland and Michael Gordon

Presented by LACMA and Long Beach Opera

When: May 4, 2013

Venue: LACMA

Accompanied By: KJ

Genre: Opera

I'm so not an opera fan...but you add the name Stewart Copeland to pretty much anything and my ears are going to perk up.  The chance to sit in a small theater and listen to Stewart talk about his musical adventures was too good to pass up. Granted, after all was said and done, I had no desire to run out and buy tickets to the Long Beach Opera for the following weekend performance of "Van Gogh" by Michael Gordon and "Tell-Tale Heart" by Stewart Copeland, I definitely left with an appreciation for their vision.

From Stewart Copeland's Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/StewartCopeland

Press Telegram Review

Rolling Stones - Staples Center

When: May 3, 2013

Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles

Accompanied By: Rosey G.

Genre: I know it's only Rock and Roll, but I like it
Surprise Guests: Gwen Stefani, Keith Urban

Setlist: I Can't Get No Satisfaction (performed by the UCLA Marching Band), Get Off of My Cloud, The Last Time, It's Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It), Paint in Black, Gimme Shelter, Wild Horses (w/ Gwen Stefani), Factory Girl, Emotional Rescue, Respectable (w/ Keith Urban), Doom and Gloom, One More Shot, Honky Tonk Women, Before They Make Me Run, Happy, Midnight Rambler, Miss You, Start Me Up, Tumbling Dice, Brown Sugar, Sympathy for the Devil

Encore:  You Can't Always Get What You Want, Jumpin Jack Flash, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction