Lots of people are hatin’ on SNL right now. It is going through a big transition period. But, as a long time fine, I still watch it religiously. Currently they are experimenting with some form of suspending the suspension of disbelief that usual comes with theater- I’m sure there is some term for it that I can’t seem to find.
The best addition to SNL has been their Digital Shorts segments. It seems to have coincided with last season’s addition of Andy Samberg. Here a few clips:
i am majorly behind! but, i am excited to mention that i have a new project brewing: i am starting a new blog dedicated to music only, which will soon be found at www.hardrockchick.com. rock on!
GWAR, 11/14/06, The Warfield:
Yes, I saw GWAR. I just had to. I mean, how many chances do you get to see space alien rockers kill political figures onstage?
I went solo on this one, prepared for some scary shit. I hovered at the back of the pit, mouth agape as I walked in during the decapitation of Hitler, or something like that. The pit was basically the whole floor on this one, from little girls to big burly men. Some well prepared people were wearing all white, so that they could create their own moving art pieces with the myriad of fluids that GWAR sprayed on them. It was beautiful.
I managed to stay dry through all of the skits. It was a near miracle. I got some pictures that probably need explanation, but I’ll leave it up to your imagination. And yeah, that’s our lovely Prez and a dinosaur. And Jesus. And the Pope.
And here’s a highlight reel from the same tour, different city. Now you can see what I’m talking about!
Hot Chip, 11/17/06, Mezzanine
And I was a boy from school……..
Hipster heaven was alive and well at the Mezzanine once again. What can I say, it was nerd electronica at its best. The hot rockers of yesterday are gone, ladies. Now you must learn to love the sexy geek. Complete with keyboard and coke bottle glasses. Enjoy.
Alice in Chains, 11/26/06, The Warfield
Ah. I had been waiting for this most of my life. And I never thought it would happen, not after Layne Staley died. And I was really unsure about this new singer, William. But it was awesome beyond words.
What really made the show was the band’s connection with the audience. You could tell they really wanted to be there. They played an unbelievable encore. They made eye contact with the fans and really involved them in the show. And they brought James Hetfield out to perform Would. How freakin sweet is that???
Though intially struck by William the new guy’s look, I got over it. He looked like he belonged with Lenny Kravitz and Ben Harper. Layne was so wicked looking, and I loved that. But I am glad that they chose someone that sounds more like Layne than looks like him. The boy’s got some pipes.
Donnie and I got 2 picks- one from Mike Inez and one from Cantrell himself, used in the show. That always makes me happy when I come away with a score. It was a great night.
The strange thing about this show is that they gave ‘free’ tickets to a bunch of people as part of a Camel promotion. The Faint designed a Camel box that they were selling or giving away at the show or something. Interesting promotion, even though I don’t smoke…
And they totally rocked as usual. Due to a stressful week, I decided that I was in the mood for a slamdance-athon, and Donnie and I stuck it out in the front by pushing and elbowing the dumdums around. It was fun. There was only one guy that was a major drag, drunkenly falling around all over everyone. He attempted to crowdsurg several times, and was dropped several times. I was extremely happy when he came near me, as I took his faux fur-lined hoody and pulled it up over his face. I proceeded to do this 3 more times. He never even noticed. Finally he wandered off.
While it was fun, I think that the Mezzanine stage is much too small for these guys. They are great crowd entertainers, and it just looked like they were smushed up there.
Prince, Club 3121, Las Vegas
Prince Show…..Prince Show….
Another solo show for me, this one proved to be quite different. 3121 is a very upscale club, and people were either coupled off or in pretty large groups. And they were older. I felt like the only single in there.
Seeing Prince was like seeing Michael Jackson, Little Richard, and PeeWee Herman all wrapped up in one tiny orange creamsicle suit wearing package. The man can shred a guitar though.
Hearing Purple Rain live made little hairs stand up on my neck. Plus, I think this was my first show to ever see dancers up on stages that weren’t tongue and cheek. The Twins…..very Robert Palmer girls-esque. The stage was impressive, 2 levels, indutrial with a spiral staircase- the band spread out across the set. There were different colored neon ‘pipelines’ in the background.
Prince talked a lot more than I thought he would. Maybe I really thought he was going to whisper everything into Beyonce’s ear or something. He would say throughout: What’s my name? How you doin Las Vegas?, hokey things like that.
He played a cover of Johnny B Goode, Cream (which was super awesome!), Nothing Compares To You, U Got the Look, and Let’s Go Crazy, among others.
Those fans that did not go to work the next day could go over to the restaurant portion of his club and listen to him play a more intimate set that apparently lasts until 5am. I was not among that group, but that’s a pretty cool opportunity.
So I heard he’s doing the Superbowl Half-Time show this year. Hope he doesn’t expose his nipple!
Well, I have no shows lined up for the new year and that makes me sad!!! Someone cool come to town!
