Interpol / Secret Machines
The Warfield, San Francisco
October 25, 2004
"You are the only person who's completely certain there's nothing here to be into.."
Show's indie cred = 50% since Secret Machines are on a major. I had a flashback to seeing a Jesus & Mary Chain / Spiritualized / Curve show (The Warfield, S.F. 1992). Both bands put up a nice wall of sound, but had all the showmanship of a box of kleenex.. but that doesn't mean I didn't dig 'em. The good indie bands can always walk-the-walk and deliver onstage. The youngster sitting next to Timo was seeing Interpol for the 6th time. Impressive, but I wish I'd quizzed her on the band members' names 'cause I can't name any of 'em. On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. There was far less chain smoking onstage than at Interpol's 2003 S.F. show.
Dio / AnthraxThe Grand, San Francisco
Oct. 29, 2004
"We're off to The Witch, we may never never never come home, but the magic that we feel will last a lifetime..."
Show's indie cred = 100% since both bands are on an indie. I had a flashback to seeing the very first, world debut Dio show ever (The Concert Barn, Antioch, CA 1983). The good Metal bands always walk-the-walk and deliver onstage. I was seeing Dio for the 7th time since 1980 (Sabbath & Dio incarnations)... Following Old Metal can be like following Pro Sports since after awhile members start revolving in and out of other "teams".. With that in mind, this will bring the Rocktober Percentage Theme to a close: 2/5 of Anthrax used to be in Armored Saint. 1/5 of Dio used to be in Quiet Riot and Ozzy's band.. and another 1/5 of Dio used to be in AC/DC. On the way back to the car some pimply-faced Hispanic teenaged transvestite prostitutes called us fags. When was the last time YOU saw a drum solo that included the drummer pounding along to Tchaikovsky's '1812 Overture'??
The Winner: Now, I could easily win points with the kidz out there by saying Interpol won this Battle of the Indie Bands...However, straight up, Interpol will never write a song lyric as profoundly esoteric as Dio's "Love can be seen as the answer, but nobody bleeds for the dancer..."
Interpol has fashion sense. Dio has MAGIC.
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ADDENDUM:
Reported on Blabbermouth and another reason why Lord of the Rings is better than Star Wars:
'Lord Of The Rings' Star Attends DIO / ANTHRAX Show In L.A.: Photos Available - Nov. 2, 2004
"Lord of the Rings" star Elijah Wood was among the attendees at the DIO / ANTHRAX show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday (Oct. 30). Check out pictures from Launch.
