Another Rocktober

Rocktober... THE most wonderful time of the year.

The Sword / Black Cobra / Bison b.c.
Slim's, San Francisco
October 10. 2008

Up until around 6:00PM, Umlaut was going to skip this show (Showtime = 9:00PM)... but then I decided to take Johnny up on his +1... The tiebreaker was the fact that Umlaut friend Lori was gonna be in the house and she was leaving for Istanbul (!) the next day, so seeing her was the real headline event of the night (Awww..). The Umlaut Nation was nicely represented by Timo, Lori, Dave, Joey, and Rich... as well as Rafa and Jason onstage as Black Cobra of course.

Black Cobra are the definitive Rock Road Dogs; Rafa and Jason are ALWAYS on tour.. For those who aren't aware, The Sword have taken Black Cobra out as their direct support act on three U.S. and European tours over the past year and a half... Because of this, I was curious how Black Cobra would go over on this bill, because the two bands seem like an odd pairing to me. However, to my surprise, Rafa and Jason went over quite well with the crowd.

The young kid in front of me wearing the denim jacket and doo rag initially seemed confused by Black Cobra's wall of sound and their lack of traditional song structures... Plus the fact that it was only 2 musicians onstage... but after a couple of songs the kid was nodding his head in time to every chord that Jason struck and every beat that Rafa hit.. That kid is gonna be alright.

It's been interesting following The Sword over the past 2 years as they went from a rookie band on their debut tour to a seasoned act opening stadium shows for Metallica in Europe... However, no one can say success was given to them; The Sword have toured their asses off and this was their 6th time through San Francisco... Also, two years on and the band has developed an almost Southern Rock swing to their sound. Remember when they covered ZZ Top's 'Nasty Dogs & Funky Kings' in their set? Me too.

That being said, I have to say that I'm over The Sword now; I am done. All of that touring may have given the band confidence onstage, but it's also made them a slick Rock band... and I don't mean that in a good way... Although only 4 months have passed since I last saw The Sword and liked the performance, in that time the band's live sound has become really clean and safe.

Much to my dismay, even their signature song 'Freya' lacked the teeth that made me love it in the first place... but I suppose that will happen when you become Lars Ulrich's favorite new band and learn from The Master how to appeal to a more mass market Rock N' Roll audience. I mean, more power to the Austin lads, ya know? I'm just gonna get off this train here, okay? I can say I saw The Sword 5x and it was a fun ride while it lasted, but now I can wear my Sword shirt while I'm painting the house and not worry about ruining it. I also couldn't help but notice the sizeable Jock element that kept bumping past me with their beers.

Best Quote: "When Jocks start coming to your shows you're making money, but then you start leaving friends off the guest list." - Umlaut

Scorecard: According to the Umlaut Archives, this was my 57th visit to Slim's dating back to when it opened in 1988. Yes, I keep score... it's on an Excel spreadsheet... I think it's about 90% accurate documenting every concert I've attended since losing my gig cherry in 1978. The Geeks shall inherit The Earth.

Bootleg Motörhead hoodies = 1. If you bought one of every Sword merch item you would have paid $170. However, I FINALLY scored the "Eagle / Cthulhu" Black Cobra shirt for a mere $12. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Black Cobra won't be home from tour until December, so if they're playing in your town and you like your music LOUD check 'em out and tell them Umlaut sent you.

Saros
DNA Lounge, San Francisco, CA
October 12, 2008

This show was originally scheduled for The Metro in West Oakland and because of that I was going to pass on it.. Not because of the distance, but because I'm in fucking West Oakland every work day. Maybe when I'm not visiting The Ghetto on a daily basis I might feel differently, but only time will tell. However, The Rock Godz work in mysterious ways and the show was moved to the DNA, which made attendance mandatory since I could go from driveway to venue in no more than 20 minutes.

Prior to the show Timo, The Coal Miner's Son, and Umlaut used the show as an excuse to eat dinner at The Irish Bank. It must be noted that my eyes were bigger than my stomach on this evening.

Apologies to Wolves In The Throne Room, Nachtmystium (say that 3 times fast!), and Embers, but the only band on the bill I wanted to see was Saros. The band's 35-40 minute set consisted of all new songs from their upcoming album Acrid Plains. The new songs were, like, GREAT and leaned more towards the band's Progressive Rock side (hence Tim's Rush shirt onstage, natch!), with intricate melodies guiding the hammer of volume.

One thing that I realized while watching Saros this time was how much they remind me of bands from the early-80's San Francisco Metal Scene (aka Umlaut's Salad Days). Back then, most S.F. bands were not concerned about image; bands from L.A. cared about that bullshit.. Most of the best S.F. bands back then simply got onstage armed with musicianship and well crafted songs; it was about the music, man. Yes, loud aggressive dark music... but when you looked past the volume you'd hear musicianship of the highest order... and that's what Saros' art is all about too.

Note: The new Saros album was produced by the man, the myth, the legend Billy Anderson and will be out on Profound Lore Records in early 2009. Start saving your pennies now, kids!

I spaced on doing a merch audit, but the Saros decal / button package was only $1 (ONE DOLLAR). On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. After Saros were done, we said our goodbyes and were out the door and headed home. A surgically precise evening fo' sho'.

On another note: Based on the urging of a best selling music journalist friend, Umlaut got a copy of the book All Known Metal Bands that was published by San Francisco's own McSweeney's in May.


The names of 50,000 Metal bands were collected in a beautiful hardbound book done with that attention to quality that makes McSweeney's my favorite publisher... Also, at least 9 bands that Umlaut knows are listed, so kudos to the "author" for that... Although I can't really call Dan Nelson an "author" since he probably stole the name list from The Metal Archives web site, but who am I to say, right?

Whatever the case, I like how the book is presented as a pseudo-religious text for future generations to examine and to "read in it a fallen civilization". Would a similar book about Indie Rock be as fun? Nope.

Oh... Before I forget, it was THIS news that made my Music Geek Week:

Out on DVD on November 18th is The Who at Kilburn 1977, otherwise known as Keith Moon's final full concert with the band (!). The Who when Townshend still threw himself and his Les Paul around the stage with disregard for his own safety and Keith Moon sat behind the kit.

Also included in the set is a 1969 London Coliseum show from the 'Tommy' Tour.. DOH! Umlaut has always said that if he could go back in time to see one band, it would be The Who circa 1969 when they were at the top of their creative game.

Time Travel is cool.

The Who

Lester Bangs: "It's just a shame you missed out on Rock and Roll. You got here just in time for the death rattle, the last gasp, the last grope."
William: "Well, at least I'm here for that."
- From Almost Famous

I realized late this year that The Who are probably my all-time favorite band. The Who are more important to me than Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden (the other contenders for that dubious honor).

While I'm a fanatic now, Zeppelin had absolutely no influence on me as a teenager. I hated Zeppelin in high school because everyone else was into them (I felt the same way about The Beatles). I didn't appreciate Zeppelin (and The Beatles) until I was in my 20's. Better late than never. Note: If you want to talk Zeppelin see Skychick, who saw them on acid in 1977 (LSU Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana - May 19th).

I've seen Sabbath many times during their spotty history and multiple lineups and they hold no mystery for me anymore (although Tony Iommi is still a Guitar God). I've seen Maiden many times as well and, although they're still as great a live act now as they were 23 years ago, they hold no mystery for me anymore either (although they are still THE quintessential Metal band IMO).

The catalyst for this realization about The Who was Green Day's American Idiot album. That album reminded me of The Who in so many ways, and I wasn't the only one who felt that way. The ghosts of Townshend's riffs, 'A Quick One', Moon's maniacal drumming style, and Tommy were all there and it was fucking good... And Green Day didn't shy away from acknowledging The Who influences in interviews and onstage they covered 'The Kids Are Alright' and 'Won't Get Fooled Again' over the past year. Green Day inspired me pull out my Who albums and really listen to them again.

The Who were one of the very first Rock bands that fascinated me as a teenager and their music is still mysterious to me. A couple of days before Christmas I listened to Tommy as I wrapped gifts for my family. It was perfect.

"Listen to Tommy with a candle burning and you will see your entire future..." - From Almost Famous

Seeing Quadrophenia and The Kids Are Alright at midnight movies in high school made a huge impression on me. I credit Quadrophenia and Monty Python for my lifelong Anglophile ways. Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy was also one of the first albums I ever bought with my own money.

I grew up in the pre-Internet world where you had to work hard to be a Music Geek. When you found the latest info on bands via magazines or talking to the local record store guy you appreciated it. If you wanted a bootleg of a band you didn't log onto a file server from the safety of your room... You had to go to the scary part of town to the Head Shop that kept the bootleg albums in the back room. Kidz today don't know... We'd walk 5 miles.. Uphill.. In the fucking snow.

The lack of easy information also kept the Rock Mystique alive to an impressionable teenager like me. This photo in particular (from a 1971 show in England) made The Who mythic Rock Godz in my teenage mind:



I was lucky enough to see The Who live very early in my Music Geek career. The Who's 1980 Tour were their first S.F. Bay Area shows in 4 years and they sold out immediately. I was 16-years old and wasn't together enough to get tickets when they went onsale. However, The Rock Godz work in mysterious ways. They had a plan for me.



As the shows drew near, a friend won a pair of tickets from a local radio station and asked if I wanted to go. I have a vivid memory of listening to a cassette of the Who Are You album while we drove to the show.

The comp seats were actually really good and gave us an excellent view of the stage. This was my 3rd concert ever and to say it was any epiphany would be an understatement.

Of course, there was no Keith Moon at this point... But it was only 4 months after the Cincinnati show where 11 people died and the band still had a fire burning onstage (at least to my 16-year old eyes). Townshend did his trademark leaps and windmill power chords. Daltry swung his mic by the chord like a lasso. Entwistle's bass playing was thunderous. I was mesmerized. The huge pyro explosion during 'Won't Get Fooled Again' was my very first exposure to that beloved concert experience. Amazingly, I captured the moment with my piece of shit Instamatic camera:


(Pic by Umlaut)

The pic was snapped right before Daltry screamed "Yeeeeeeaaahhh!!!" and sang "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..." Amazing, innit?! The wonder of 126mm Instamatic technology. For those who care, the setlist was:

• Substitute
• I Can't Explain
• Baba O'Riley
• My Wife
• Sister Disco
• Behind Blue Eyes
• Music Must Change
• Drowned
• Who Are You
• 5:15
• Dreaming From The Waist
• Pinball Wizard
• My Generation
• I Can See For Miles
• Sparks
• See Me Feel Me
• Won't Get Fooled Again
• The Relay
• The Real Me

Being the naive 16-year old, I bought a bootleg shirt in the parking lot. It was a piece of shit.. I washed it once and afterwards you could literally see through it. I've never bought a bootleg shirt again. Inside the arena I also bought a program, which lasted alot longer than that fucking shirt.

Recently, someone was selling that exact same shirt on Ebay so I was able to grab pics of it. Funny.

Later that Summer I saw Black Sabbath for the first time (Heaven And Hell Tour) and went off on The Metal for several years. Obviously, I was very impressionable back then. One moment I was all into Daltry twirling his mic and the next Ronnie James Dio giving the Devil Sign was what appealed to me.

Unfortunately, I skipped The Who's 1982 Tour because I was deep into The Metal....So I missed them with The Clash supporting (BUT that year I did see Iron Maiden 2x on the Number Of The Beast Tour and Metallica 3x when all they had out was a cassette demo..). I remember hearing about The Who shows and having a tug in my gut that I wanted to go, but all my concert friends at that time were Metalheads and asking them would have labeled me a Poser (a fate worse than death!).

I did see The Who again in 1989 when they played 2 nights at Oakland Stadium. Some of the guys I was hanging out with at that time were Who fanatics. One of them had backpacked through Europe a couple of years before and made a pilgrimage to Townshend's Eel Pie Studio in London. When the receptionist told him Pete "wasn't there" he left a note about his Who / Pete fandom and went on his way. When he returned home several weeks later an autographed photo and note from Pete had arrived in the mail. Isn't that a cool Rock Star story?!

Since it was the 20th Anniversary of Tommy they opened the shows with a 9-song set from that album. The main set was the same both nights, but the encores were completely different. The 1st night's encore was only 2 songs but included 'Naked Eye' (!). The 2nd night's encore was 5 songs and featured a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Born On The Bayou', which was a cool nod that the show was in CCR's hometown. The performances themselves were toned down compared to the 1980 show, but on the 1st night during 'Who Are You' Townshend did throw his guitar across the stage and kicked it. Those two nights in Oakland were amazingly fun. Drunken nostalgia has it's charms at a certain time in your life, dyaknowwhatimean?

My cohorts and I had kind of shitty seats for the 2nd night, but another friend had scored a great seat in the Field Level section. In a classic concert scam we made our way to the Field Level and as soon as the bouncer checked the ticket, my friend quickly passed it behind his back to me. Then after the clueless bouncer checked "my" ticket I quickly passed it behind me to another friend. It worked! We ran towards the front section with glee when another security guy yelled at us.. We thought we were busted... but he was simply telling us not to run. The 3 of us squeezed into the row and since everyone was standing during the show no one complained.

"Too much, Magic Bus..."

However, despite those gloriously fun shows, I haven't seen The Who again. Even in 1996 when they performed Quadrophenia (my favorite Who album) in its entirety. I realize now that I should have seen them again at some point, especially now that Entwistle has passed away.

"Here by the sea and sand, nothing ever goes as planned.."

I've gone away and come back to The Who more times than with any other band. Yes, I'm fickle that way, but Music Geeks know what I mean. There are some bands you feel that you've outgrown, but years later you listen to them again and realize the band still resonates for you and your life. The Who are that way for Umlaut in a huge way.

There was a time when I couldn't listen to 'My Generation' because it was so overplayed (the same way some people are about 'Stairway To Heaven'). Plus, I never related to 'My Generation' for whatever reason; not in the same way I related to other Who songs. However, I've recently come to appreciate the song in a way I never have before... Because I really do hope I die before I get old. It's cool that after all these years a Who song I never appreciated before, and one that I've heard a bazillion times, can become an anthem for me as I ponder my 401K balance.

I've become jaded about so many other bands in my Music Geek career, but I can still lose myself in The Who's music. I can still listen to Quadrophenia or Tommy all the way through and come away with something different. Recently I've been fascinated with watching the Isle Of Wight DVD and being amazed how godlike the band's performance was on such a primitive stage at 2:00am on that day in 1970. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.

Several years ago I visited Brighton, England for the first time. As soon as I saw the rocky beaches, all I could think about was The Who and Quadrophenia. When we walked past The Grand Hotel where Bell Boy worked in the movie (and pictured in the original album's photo book) I almost had a Geek Meltdown. Almost. Well... I did grab some rocks from Brighton Beach and I'm actually looking at them as I type this. The Geeks shall inherit the Earth. Trivia: The front of The Grand Hotel was remodeled after the IRA bombed the hotel in 1984 in a failed attempt to assassinate Margaret Thatcher. Click HERE for the story.

"Bell Boy, I gotta get runnin' now.."

I know, it would be alot cooler if I could say my all-time favorite band was some Indie royalty like the Melvins or Sonic Youth... but I didn't listen to those bands during my impressionable formative years. I was already well on my way to becoming a jaded adult when those bands came around. Their impact on me, while important to my Music Geek career, wasn't as profound as The Who.

"There once was a note... listen.."

While I'm on this Music Geek Rant I might as well list my Top 3 Favorite Who songs:

• The Kids Are Alright
• A Quick One, While He's Away
  
• Baba O'Riley
  

I'm shocked that no Nu Metal or Punk band has ever covered 'Tattoo' (as far as I know)... and every Music Geek should own a copy of the The Kids Are Alright DVD and the Deluxe Edition Live At Leeds CD. Seriously.

I wasn't old enough to see The Who in their prime. I've always said that if I had a time machine, the one band I'd go back and see would be The Who circa 1969-71. Since I can't go back in time (YET), The Who are a band that I still regard with the same innocent fandom that I had as that 16-year old kid entering the arena in Oakland a million years ago.

"Sickness will surely take the mind where minds can't usually go... Come on the amazing journey and learn all you should know.."

Peel Sessions R.I.P. - Updated

Original post from Oct. 26th:

John Peel 1939-2004

Damn.. ANOTHER person who influenced my early music geekdom gone. The first Peel Session I remember hearing was a Billy Bragg 12" Peel Sessions EP around 1987. So many great Peel Sessions sit on my shelves: Birthday Party, Thin Lizzy, PJ Harvey, Nirvana, Joy Division, Nick Cave, Jesus & Mary Chain, White Stripes, etc. etc. etc.

Peel Sessions helped educate me in my Anglophile Rock ways during my formative years.

One of my favorite ones from recent years is a PJ Harvey session from his 'Peel Acres' show (which was done from his farm in Suffolk). At one point, he and PJ got all geek about Captain Beefheart and Peel offered to dub PJ a copy of a Beefheart bootleg she'd never heard.

Peace.
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ADDENDUM #1:

Miatomic adds: "I have a copy of the Close Lobsters Peel Sessions. It's got a brilliant version of 'I'm Going To Heaven To See If It Rains'."

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ADDENDUM #2:

John Peel was laid to rest today. Tijanna submitted her excellent Peel memories:

The first time I went to London I got to sit in on TWO John Peel Sessions. I saw him interview Brian May of Queen and I also got to see him interview John Entwhistle, who was one of my idols. I got John E.'s autograph and even asked him a question, which he answered!

The two 2-hour sessions were intimate and real and groovy maaaannnnn..... Yeah, there were these little advertisements in Time Out that were like, "Come on down and be part of the audience" type things. Like, "Run down to the grocery store for our special and bring this coupon with you."

I asked Entwhistle something about, since I'm small and have little hands, what type of bass would he recommend for me to play. He suggested a Steinberger. I tried one out shortly after that but they're too unbalanced for me (and really heavy). Too much on the body end and not enough on the neck."