So EMO-tional (again)... Part One!

The term "emo" (when it pertains to music, lifestyle, etc.) is pretty loaded. You might conjure up images of sobbing, tatted-up, gothpunk kids with spikyanime, pink hair -- or what have you. (Actually, I hear there is a  significant difference between "North American Emo" and "European Emo" -- being much more extreme). Whatever the case,  I don't want to get too into it. But for the purposes of this blog post, let's agree that "emo" was the label slapped on a bunch of rock bands I liked in the '00s.(And yes, I do think that Emily the Strange is pretty badass and adorable.)

I remember reading articles in SPIN magazine about all these newer bands that were influenced by bands that I loved like Sunny Day Real Estate, Superchunk, and the other usual suspects that I grew up with in the 90s....punk aesthetic but with a touch of "emotion". Sounded like they would be right up my alley:  Dashboard Confessional, Alkaline Trio, The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, Brand New, Thursday, Thrice etc.

A decade later and some of these bands are now indie darlings (Bright Eyes, Death Cab for Cutie) and others are in stasis (Fall Out Boy), and yet others are now reuniting after breaking up... Whatever the mainstream (or Sterogum and Pitchfork sneer-ers) say about "emo" music -- for me, it marked a decade of  becoming independent, learning about the world as a young adult, and yes, having my heart broken.

Recently, I got to see two of my favorites play live...but a decade later my heart was full, my eyes were clear, and I went to see these shows with my future wife. And let me tell you, the music was familiar and comforting, but it took on a whole new perspective.


PART ONE--
November 19th at the Music Hall of Williamsburg: Hot Rod Circuit

I have a real soft spot for HRC, and not only for nostalgia's sake. I first saw them on tour with Superchunk and The Get Up Kids. At first, I was absolutely incensed that one of my fave bands of all time ('Chunk) was opening up for these fratty emo kids (GUK), but I quickly latched onto their entire discography and learned to appreciate them for what they were: loud guitars and some fun songs (tinged with "emotion"). [And yes, we got to see The Get Up Kids reunite and play live last year.] The biggest surprise for me was HRC -- the even younger upstarts--and how much I ended up loving the album they were touring behind, Sorry About Tomorrow.

The songs were supercatchy and they were about spending time with cool chicks and how that meant the world. Simple and not too deep -- and yet it was. It's one of those classic albums where every song just works.  I went back to the album repeatedly and picked up the follow-up Reality's Coming Through.

I saw them again years later at Bamboozle 2007 (a festival show that was at the Meadowlands -- I took my little brother Justin, and the day we went we got to see Muse, My Chemical Romance, Thursday-- pretty cool). They played songs off what is currently their last album The Underground Is A Dying Breed and I was...moved.

 The first time I ever heard the song "45s", it just hit me -- playing records and listening to them with an amazing girl despite the world spinning and crashing outside. That's all I ever wanted and it  seemed to be something that had alluded me for so long. *tear*  (Clip below is an acoustic solo version by Andy.)

Needless to say, their music helped me to get through (at least) two really significant break-ups. (Funny to think that the years where I suffered the most heartache were when "emo" was all the rage.) Andy Jackson, Casey Preston, and the rest of HRC just seemed to tap into something mournful, exuberant, and liberating at the same time. The pedal steel guitar, the chainsaw roar of power chords, the soaring choruses--these elements made up some serious magic.

I ended up seeing one of HRC's last shows (at the now defunct Knitting Factory in Tribeca) before they broke up later in 2007 and it was pretty amazing. I was incredibly sad that the band was going off to do their own things. I followed Andy Jackson's side projects (Safety in Numbers, Terrible Things, Death in the Park) but always hoped I'd get to hear more Hot Rod Circuit. As luck would have it -- HRC got back together for a round of reunion shows and we got to see them in November 2011.

The night of the show, I made sure that ERL and I were UP FRONT. In fact, for 90 percent of the show, we were leaning up on the stage and were within spitting distance of Andy. It was the only option--considering that I have no idea if there will be more HRC shows or music in the near (or distant) future. In any case, it was one thing for me to be completely excited to see one of my favorite bands play again--but add the fact that I got to share the experience with someone I absolutely love with all my heart--and it was transcendent.

 

We rocked out. I defended her from the flailing limbs of idiotic stage divers. She was actually worried I might get in a fight with any one of the lunkheads in the crowd. (**Fun fact -- the only time I ever really got close to throwing down at a concert was in London...at an Erasure concert. Should have been happy- gay- fun- unicorn- and- rainbows- time -- but some punter was looking to start something.**)
But the night was just pure fun from beginning to end (including openers The Front Bottoms and Cartel). 

HRC played nearly all of my favorites. We left drenched in sweat and happy (and in love...though it could have been just the adrenaline :P ). Andy high-fived us as the band left the stage. I got some amazing photos (as you can see) and had one of the best concert experiences ever.

Singing along to the songs I knew so well (going on a decade) -- the lyrics took on a whole different sheen that night. HRC provided the soundtrack for some difficult times, and I took a lot of it to heart. But with ERL right beside me, a certain kind of longing was gone. I was happy to just jump around and latch onto the melodies -- and get lost in the euphoria of watching a killer band, because I had found that one cool chick and she had found me.

Punk rock geek with my Marvel T-shirt.

These past years, I've slowly introduced ERL to HRC. I played their songs on our road trips to Rhode Island and Philly, made sure she had their whole discography on her iPod-- so in essence, they've been the soundtrack to some new, great memories. It's rare when we can agree on a band that we like (*sidenote of the bands that we mutually LOVE: The National, Alkaline Trio, Wilco ...and that might be it so far) -- so having her enjoy Hot Rod Circuit meant even that much more.

Setlist!

Check out some Hot Rod Circuit for yourself. Here are some favorite tracks: "Knees", "Cool for One Night", "Let's Go Home", "Safely", "The Pharmacist",  "Now or Never", "Save You",  "Failure", "The Best You Ever Knew", "Power of the Vitamins", "Stateside", "Battleship", "Vampire", "45's".




Here's hoping that Andy and the boys continue to make some heartfelt, kickass tunes well into the future. Rock on.


Next time: Part two: Dashboard Confessional! 

*Images sourced from the web and copyright the owners....or they are photos I took.

Loving Leia

Star Wars has been on my mind lately (When hasn't it?), mostly because the films were recently released for the first time on Blu-ray. (And Carrie Fisher has been losing weight in some Jenny Craig commercials lately. Good for you, CF!)

I remember seeing The Empire Strikes Back in a theater that had a decorated proscenium. It was thrilling to see it in such a "fancy" theater. I remember feeling so confused and sad that Han was frozen and (at least to my 4-5 year old self) probably dead. I have a vague recollection of seeing the original film in the theater also -- probably at a second-run theater back then. I do clearly remember the SCROLL. Those yellow letters that were so immense and the music so dramatic and blaringly loud. Insanely intense and exciting!

As for Return of the Jedi -- I saw that one 14 times in the movie theater. My mom would take me, my brother, and some of my friends and drop us off at the theater with a backpack full of Chinese buns and juice boxes.

Other than comic books, Star Wars has had the most significant effect on my nerd quotient and has been such a huge touchstone in my life. I had the soundtrack, the books, the toys, the lunch boxes, the t-shirts, the bedsheets (Empire ones of Bespin Cloud City...the memories!) everything that a typical Star Wars fan would have back then. I even did a school paper on Star Wars and what being a "fan" meant. (I cut up a picture book and used the photos in my report. Gah!)

But above all...my love of Leia.

I was convinced that I was going to grow up and marry Carrie Fisher. (I'm sure I wasn't the only little boy that had the same dream.) In Episode IV and V -- she was the princess, the one that you were supposed to love. She was feisty, plucky, and could handle a blaster -- how could you not? (**And yes, when she married Paul Simon I had a bit of a breakdown. I think I cried and threw my uncle's Simon and Garfunkel records out the window. Ok, I'm exaggerating, but not by much.)


And then in Return of the Jedi -- the gold bikini.

Mind you, I was 7 or 8 years old at the time. But I felt like I had become a man.

I remember thinking that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was just stunning and breathtaking -- she was the same princess, but even more so.

(**While I was in London in 2007, I was lucky enough to check out the Star Wars: The Exhibition and visit "the outfit". Awesome.**)

The "Leia-in-gold-bikini / Slave Leia" phenomenon is not unique. There are likely thousands upon thousands of nerds and ("non-nerds") who have fallen under Leia's spell. I'm sure plenty have thanked Jabba the Hutt for being such a playa.








Pop culture has addressed this in films and TV shows. Most notably in a Friends episode where Ross confesses to Rachel about his fantasy (she puts on Leia's Episode IV white robes at first, and then gets it right with the gold bikini -- though she leaves the cinnamon buns in).

The film Fanboys is about a bunch of nerds trying to get their dying friend into see the Phantom Menace (ugh...what a downer...and ugh...what a film). Kristen Bell (one of my more recent celeb crushes) dons the gold bikini at one point as well. (I am going to refrain from going on a major tangent, but just know that Veronica Mars was one of my all time favorite TV series -- one that ended much too soon. If an Arrested Development/ Family Guy/ Futurama/ Buffy style resurrection as a mini-series, webseries, comic book, and/or film ever happens -- sign me up to be the first in line. **Tangent two -- I did get to meet her for a millisecond at Comic Con and she did sign something for me. Blog post for another day!)

And geek goddess Olivia Munn (former co-host of G4's Attack of the Show and Daily Show correspondent) put on the slave gear at Comic Con with well received results.

Now, you've got Jennifer Aniston, Kristen Bell, and Olivia Munn in the same iconic outfit --- all extremely gorgeous and sexy women ... and yet, they don't even come close.

So, what's missing? Well, obviously they aren't Leia. They lack a certain Leia-ness about them that only Carrie Fisher circa 1975 -1984 had. The fake-British accent that drifted in and out, the mad Speeder Bike skills, the Hutt-choking chutzpah -- all elements that make up Leia.

From the first time we see her as a help-seeking-hologram to the last shot of Leia celebrating and Yub-Yub-ing it up with the Ewoks -- for us nerds, she epitomizes what a woman should be. A woman who at times needs our help, and yet ends up saving us after all (especially if we get frozen in Carbonite). A woman that has the sass and gumption to kick-ass and claim the respect and decorum due her royalty. A woman who can throw on a uniform in the trenches and stun us with her sexuality.

Like other superheroines who end up fighting the good fight in skimpy outfits -- sexuality can become the greatest weapon as well as one's most vulnerable weakness. But while the enemy is distracted by super assets, they usually get a super ass-kicking. (**see also: Wonder Woman, Power Girl, Spider-Woman, Buffy, Cylon Six, etc.)

"Leia-in-gold-bikini" has a place in nerdhistory forever. Grown men are reduced to jibbering idiots and rightfully so. A powerful woman who doesn't have to compromise her brains, brawn, or beauty may be the strongest Force in the universe.

*images sourced from around the Web. Lotsa Leia love out there.

The Big 4: Metal in da Bronx!

Big 4, baby. The big day finally came and I was off to Yankee Stadium. The metal love was totally felt, even on the 4 train where kids in metal t-shirts gave nods to each other. We knew we were all headed to the Big 4. Where else would we be going?

First impressions: I splurged and got tickets for the floor (not the floor VIP -- which would have been even more) and it was totally worth it. Getting to stand in the outfield of Yankee Stadium (albeit on temporarily installed plastic flooring) was amazing. I literally could stand just shy of where Mark Teixiera would be by first base. Amazing.




First up: Anthrax!

Anthrax took the stage at 4:00 and we were off thrashing. Since a few of the boys in the band are from the Bronx -- it was officially declared as "Anthrax Day" in the borough. Joey Belladonna sounded great. Scott Ian and Frankie Bello got the crowd psyched up. The set was capped with a group photo -- complete with the band in Anthrax/Yankee shirts and jerseys. There was also a pinstripe banner with the Anthrax logo merged with a Yankees one. Pretty effin' cool.

[On the whole Anthrax using pentagrams thing -- supposedly a lot of fans are divided about them using this cliche so late in their career. Basically, someone designed it with an Anthrax "A" in it and it looked badass and stuck. Even though it's not the 80s and as controversial -- I think the perceived use of the pentagram symbol is more "horror film/ comic book/ metal fun" than anything more sinister. Case in point: Alex Ross -- one of my favorite comic book artists has done a few album covers with it. Also-- they are freakin' Anthrax. Fun guys of metal -- not gloom and doom.]

There were a few pits started -- but mostly friendly pushing and stomping. It was a quick 45 minute or so set -- with two songs from their new album. Highlights for me were "Caught in a Mosh", "Antisocial", and "I Am the Law" (about Judge Dredd -- tapping into the geek side!) -- a great way to start the evening.

Setlist:

1. Fight 'Em Till You Can't
2. Got the Time
3. Madhouse
4. Caught in a Mosh
5. Antisocial
6. The Devil You Know
7. Indians
8. Metal Thrashing Mad
9. I Am The Law

Next up: MEGADETH!

I have a long history with Megadeth. Admittedly, I was a Metallica fan first, but it wasn't much later that I got into Megadeth. I was always fascinated with the back story -- of how Dave Mustaine was originally in Metallica and how he got kicked out. He always seemed to have a chip on his shoulder because of it. (Famously caught on film in the Some Kind of Monster documentary.) His attitude -- all sneer and snottiness -- was pretty amusing to me. Add his struggle with addiction, the possibly career ending injury,  and his journey of faith (which really got me) and I was a fan for life. (For more on Mustaine-- check out his awesome, eponymous memoir that was released not too long ago.) I even won a contest and got a limited edition LP of Youthanasia back in college!  But the killer riffs and grooves were what got me hooked. (And the fact that they had a song about Hangar 18.)

Mustaine looked like Mustaine -- button down shirt with that head of hair. I was a little worried that they wouldn't play since he was injured over the summer. Mustaine said that he was due for surgery, but wanted to kick ass and play this last show for us. Thanks, Dave. I would have been really disappointed if they weren't on the bill. Great to see Dave Ellefson (The "Owen Wilson of Metal" -- as I'd call him) back with Mustaine -- it really isn't Megadeth without "Junior" in tow.

It was a pretty amazing hour of metal. The band sounded incredible and tight. Megadeth's music was definitely the most melodic of the day. The crowd even sang along to the guitar riffs of "Symphony of Destruction" with the chant of "MegaDETH, MegaDETH, I'm watching MegaDETH!!!" (it makes sense if you know the song). Vic Rattlehead even made an appearance at the end. (The "American Eddie --Iron Maiden's mascot"-- as I'd call him).

Dave came out at the end with hands in prayer and thanks and closed out the show with the band together. It was awesome. I really need to catch them on their own tour the next time they come around.

Highlights for me: "Hangar 18", "Symphony of Destruction", "Peace Sells",  "Holy Wars" (the only way to close out the set)

Setlist:

1. Trust
2. Hangar 18
3. She-Wolf
4. Public Enemy No. 1
5. Head Crusher
6. A Tout Le Monde
7. Sweating Bullets
8. Symphony of Destruction
9. Peace Sells
10. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due

Next up: Slayer

Okay, first off. I am not a fan. I'm sure any metalhead worth their salt has at one point bellowed out "SLAAAAAYYYEEERRRR!" -- but not me. Credit my scaredy pants growing up, my church upbringing, or my need for melodic singing in my metal (ie. hairmetal leanings) and it does not add up to a prototypical Slayer fan.

Slayer's album cover imagery, thematic choices for their songs, etc. -- to this 12 year old kid (when I first got into metal) -- was just too much. Over the years, I had too much music to get into that I never got around to giving them a try. Despite reports of Tom Araya and Dave Lombardo's Christian side band (if that was ever true or not) and my fascination with horror movies and comics -- one thing kept me from Slayer and that would be Kerry King's feud with Mustaine...and pretty much anyone he didn't like.

All-in-all -- they are ok in my book. I don't think I will ever be a fan, but I can appreciate why other fans like them and understand their influence (newer bands I do like: Slipknot, Lamb of God, Mastodon, etc.). All I can say is they no longer scare me (the 12 year old grew up...a little. * Funny thing: I went to the bathroom just before the Slayer set and stood on line for five minutes -- the sun was still out when I went in, when I came out the stadium was dark and the sun was down...and Slayer was on. Spooky!*)  and I do like a few of their songs, but that doesn't mean I am going to love them.

Setlist:

1. Disciple
2. Postmortem
3. Hate Worldwide
4. War Ensemble
5. Psychopathy Red
6. Mandatory Suicide
7. Chemical Warfare
8. Silent Scream
9. Dead Skin Mask
10. Snuff
11. South of Heaven
12. Raining Blood

Next up: METALLICA!

The big boys came out to a clip from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and just ripped into it with "Creeping Death". I FINALLY got to see Metallica live. Ever since ...And Justice For All, I've been waiting to see them. So many years ago and so much has changed....but they sounded amazing.

My memories of Metallica are inexorably linked to junior high/high school, learning to play music, jamming and listening to music with my friends (Jack, Ben, Brian, Chris, Marisa, Danielle in particular), and making sense of the world and my place in it. Metallica offered something different ...and heavier (music and theme-wise) than what I had known before. I busted my fingers learning to play "Fade to Black." I read Dalton Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun because of "One". I had a denim jacket with three patches: Def Leppard, Guns n' Roses, and Metallica. These are just some of my memories.

In the years that followed, Metallica has come and gone in my life. I've bought all their albums, seen their film, etc. But it wasn't the same as it was back then. But I am thrilled to have been able to see them live and in Yankee Stadium of all places. The old songs (and even some of the newer ones) really hit me and helped the adrenaline get pumping again. I kind of wished they were the Metallica from my memories: long hair, mustaches, with Jason Newstead -- but the current Metallica is as awesome as I imagined. (And yes, there was pyro -- especially during "Fuel" and "One" ... and there was a killer laser show during "Blackened".)

Highlights for me: "Creeping Death", "Fade to Black", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "One", "Master of Puppets", "Blackened", "Enter Sandman"

Setlist:

1. Creeping Death
2. For Whom the Bell Tolls
3. Fuel
4. Ride the Lightning
5. Fade to Black
6. Cyanide
7. All Nightmare Long
8. Sad But True
9. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. Orion
11. One
12. Master of Puppets
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
16. Overkill (Motorhead cover -- with Big 4)
17. Battery
18. Seek and Destroy

It was cool seeing the Big 4 come out to jam on a Motorhead song (though Mustaine was a no-show--likely due to his injury), but the song wasn't all that great. It was more novelty than anything else -- but considering the past feuds and egos, it was great to see some metal love. 

The way I see it: Metallica is the good looking brother that's got deep pockets; Anthrax is the class clown / little brother that is growing up; Megadeth is the black sheep / prodigal with something to prove; Slayer is the overweight scary uncle with a belt in hand. 

Whatever the case -- it was absolutely worth it. 7 hours of metal on our home turf. Flat out amazing. My neck still hurts. 

And like old school metal concerts of days gone by --- there were bootleg t-shirts! $10 bucks and I got me one. Now, that's effin' metal. 

 

 

GeekOmnivore rating: RAAAAAAAAAWWWWWK.

Heaven isn't too far away...

Been having a very metal week. (And I promise, I'll get to the second part of my "Soundtrack to Your Geekdom" post on heavy metal)  I finally caved and bought a ticket to the BIG 4 (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax) at Yankee Stadium. I figured it was a once in a lifetime experience (getting to be ON the field at Yankee Stadium is going to be killer) and I've been wanting to see Metallica and Megadeth since I was in 7th grade. More on this after the show!

Well, that was the good stuff.

Jani Lane's death came as a big shock. One of those things that you come across on a newsfeed or something that you might not think twice about. The more I reflected on it, the sadder I got. Jani Lane was the former lead singer of 80's hairmetal band Warrant, probably best known for their ballad "Heaven" and the horny hit and karaoke standard "Cherry Pie".

But to me, they represent my adolescence. "Down Boys" was the first song I ever learned to play on guitar! I remember practicing it every day on the cheapo acoustic guitar that I got for my birthday in 6th grade. I played the song over and over on my stereo and played along with it until I got it "right". I also remembered changing the words to "Blind Faith" and playing it for my church group (!!). Sigh.Memories.

I actually own 4 or 5 of Warrant's albums (which qualifies me as a fan--since only their first two albums had any hits). I have a Warrant t-shirt somewhere in the attic. A souvenir from seeing them open for Poison some 25 years ago. And the video to "Cherry Pie" is probably responsible for me successfully making it through puberty. (And yeah, Jani Lane ended up marrying Bobbie Brown -- the girl in the video). Case in point:

But in all seriousness, Jani Lane's passing is incredibly sad. After years of struggling with addiction and weight issues (Lane even appeared on Celebrity Fit Club) he seemed like he was on a healthy path and ready for the next chapter in his career. He looked clean, healthy, and focused on his last appearance on VH1 Classic's That Metal Show (which aired shortly after his passing).

Weeks after Amy Winehouse's death, Jani Lane's passing might not be as newsworthy to some -- but it was to me. It made me think of some really great memories in my life that was associated with his music. I'm not going to pretend that he was a deep philosopher, but his music did teach me about fun and love -- especially in my most formative years. And for that, I thank him and will remember him fondly.

R.I.P. Jani.  We'll be playing "Heaven" here.