Soundgarden/Nine Inch Nails

When: Saturday, July 19, 2014
Where: The Axis at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas NV
Accompanied by: Anthony, Vanessa, Will, Nick
Genre: Industrial Rock

4th row center. Nothing else really to say. A weekend relatively solo, with the exception of hanging out with friends when it really counted. 

I had plenty of alone time to reflect, wander, ride the High Roller, drop a few coins in the slot machines, work out at the hotel gym, and drink. A lot of drinking. Too much. But it is Vegas after all. 

Grease Sing Along

When: Sunday, July 13, 2014
Where: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: Tiffany, Bobbie, Lisa & Jennie
Genre: Grease is the Word

A girls night at Hollywood Bowl where we got to sing a long to every Grease song... really couldn't ask for a better evening.

Birds of Satan/Chevy Metal

When: Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Where: Maui Sugar Mill Saloon, Tarzana CA
Accompanied by: Tiff, Lisa, and all the other gorgeous girls
Genre: Rock N Roll


Yeah, I know, I know...we get all the great shows here in Southern California. Yes, we are spoiled. I know how lucky I am when shows like this pop up within a 50 mile radius from home...and while there are never any guarantees that we will get in, we sure as fuck try when the opportunity arises. How could we not, right?  

Lord knows you would given the chance, right??!!

Once again, the boys announced on their Facebook page a surprise show!!  $10...Hell, I toss down 10 bones at Starbucks on any given day, so a night like this was a bargain for sure!!

Tiff, Lisa and I hit the road at 5pm with fingers and toes crossed that we'd get there in time to get a spot for this intimate gig. And damned if it didn't pay off. Not only did we get in, we were saved a spot at the front of the stage with the rest of the crew that was there to get their rock on (or rocks off, depending on how you look at it)...

Yup, smack dab in the front. Seriously, it was just crazy close. And yes, that is Dave Grohl... I guess that another one of those surprise factors added to the night. 

The first half was Birds of Satan tossed along with a handful of Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders...

The second half was Chevy Metal..which was where Dave joined the guys and appeared to have a damn good time. As did we.

I don't know how many more of these shows will pop up in the future of my lifetime...reflecting back over the years, I suppose I've had more than my share and not to be too terribly greedy, but dammit, I want more. I make no apologies for my addiction. 

Queen with Adam Lambert

When: Thursday, July 3, 3014
Where: The Forum, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: Steph
Genre: Rock

*Thanks to KLOS for the tickets!!  Winning is fun!!

Set List: Procession, Now I'm Here, Stone Cold Crazy, Another One Bites the Dust, Fat Bottom Girls, In the Lap of the Gods...Revisited, Seven Seas of Rhye, Killer Queen, Somebody to Love, I Want it All, Love of My Life, '39, These Are The Days of Our Lives, Bass Sols, Drum Battle, Under Pressure, Love Kills, Who Wants to Live Forever, Last Horizon, Guitar Solo, Tie Your Mother Down, Radio Ga Ga, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, The Show Must Go On, Bohemian Rhapsody

Encore: We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, God Save the Queen

I was on the fence about this show. It's not something I would have thought to buy tickets for. Not that I have anything against Adam Lambert. I think he is incredibly talented... but this is Queen we are talking about. And I guess I felt too stingy with my money to consider buying tickets for this particular collaboration. But free tickets? That's another story... so when my friend, Stephani told me that she wanted to go to this show and knowing that KLOS was giving away tickets, I had to at least try to win. And win is what I did. 

I appreciate that Queen markets these shows as "Queen featuring Adam Lambert"... everyone knows that Freddie Mercury can never be replaced. But the music lives on and whether its Queen featuring Paul Rodgers or Queen featuring whoever...I was happy to have the opportunity to hear the music that shaped my childhood live and in person. And the fact that they paid tribute to Freddie with video footage really made it come to life.
An amazing night with a good friend. I couldn't ask for more.

Chevy Metal/Birds of Satan

When: Friday, June 27, 2014
Where: Joe's Great American Bar & Grill, Burbank CA
Accompanied by: Tiff, Jazz & Mark (special thanks to Daryth M for saving my ass)
Genre: Rock N Roll

Another one of those crazy opportunities that popped up...announced on the Chevy Metal/Birds of Satan Facebook page the day before the show, we figured what the hell and threw caution to the wind and took our chances despite being told that chances were slim to none by driving out there immediately after work.





I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Daryth for saving my ass on this one...the craziness behind this little gig was that tickets were via scavenger hunt only. The goal was to keep the crowd small and intimate. Totally understandable.  However, when it came time for those last few tickets to be distributed, I must have blinked.  Regardless of what transpired, it all worked out and I was able to get a ticket into the show.  




I have to hand it to Joe's - they did not over distribute the number of tickets for this free gig. Oh, yeah, did I mention it was free??  Man, do I like free.

One of the evenings highlights was Nate Mendel taking the stage to perform with CM/BOS for a song. Always a treat!!

And of course since it was a small show...I had an opportunity to upgrade a new photo w/ Mr. Hawkins....

Marcus Miller

When: Thursday, June 19, 2014
Where: Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood CA
Accompanied by: KJ
Genre: Jazz

Birthday dinner celebration for "he who endures my madness."  Catalina Bar & Grill is a great venue, despite the outrageous prices for food and drinks...small and intimate and not a bad seat in the house.  I've seen Marcus Miller a few times - of all the jazz artists that the other half likes, I truly enjoy this one. All in all, a good night.

Eagles of Death Metal

When: Saturday, June 7, 2014
Where: Pappy & Harriets, Pioneertown, CA
Accompanied by: Tiff & Anthony
Genre: Rock/Desert Rock


June. Summer. Hot. Desert. Enough said.  But a damn good night all the same.

The upside is this was the first road trip for Bellatrix and she drove like the champ that she is. The other upside was that I got to spend the evening with my 2 favorite girls, Tiffany and Anthony.

No set list. No photos. Just memories of a really good time.