When Umlaut sent me an email about Cheap Trick playing at The Dixon May Fair, it took me all of about 30 seconds to decide that I would be taking a little road trip up and over to Dixon. I have been a fan of the band for almost 30 years, ("Live At Budokan" was the first 8-track I ever owned, and yes, I am that old) and in my opinion, they can simply do no wrong. Besides, how often do you get an opportunity to see Cheap Trick, eat some meat on a stick, pet some goats, and get strapped into some totally unsafe carny rides all in the same night? ( OK, I admit that except for seeing Cheap Trick, I didn't do any of that.)
Cheap Trick hit the stage in the middle of the field at precisely 7:10pm, and from from the first notes of "Hello There" to the last chord of "Dream Police", it was an hour and ten minutes of straight up power pop goodness, complete with Rick Neilsen wielding a different guitar for almost every song, while the smell of manure waifed through the air. Seeing Robin Zander, Rick Neilsen, Bun E. Carlos, and Tom Petersson on stage in the middle of a field was a tad bit surreal, but they looked and sounded great, and totally worked the crowd as only Cheap Trick could. To see a band still doing their thing after so many years was/is pretty mind blowing, and I really can't give them enough credit for still being on top of their game.And by the time they wrapped up their set wth "Auf Weidersehen", I was extremely stoked that we made the drive to see them. After the show we took a quick spin through the grounds to take in the surreal-ness, before heading back into S.F. for part 2 of the evening.
The best use of a Cheap Trick song ever...
Oh, and I did bring my camera and tried to get just a few shots of the band, but one of the redneck security meatheads quickly put the kibosh on that idea, and for a quick minute I though he was going to try and take my camera from me. After exchanging a few words, I realized that if I didn't blow it off I ran the risk of spending the night in a Dixon County Jail cell, where I would be losing a lot more than just my camera. Besides, I did have the opportunity to photograph Cheap Trick last year...
After cruising down I-80 at 85 M.P.H., we hit S.F. at exactly 11:20pm, and walked into a packed to the fucking rafters Annie's Social Club, were Oakland's Stormcrow was just wrapping up their dirty, sludgy, chugging like a frieght train headed straight for your fucking face set. Can't wait to see a full set from these guys, and hopefully soon.
Finally, just as this duel show evening was starting to make me think about having to get up early and going to work for the man, Japan's Coffins hit the stage at 12:15am and delivered some seriously fucking EPIC Death Metal, and they were just what I needed to catch my second wind. I don't know what it is about Japanese bands, but they just do it right, especially live. From Merzbow and Masonna to Angel In Heavy Syrup and Melt Banana, practically every band from Japan that I have seen live just seem to take it to a whole new level. Coffins was no exception. I don't think I have heard Death Metal that actually had a 'groove" to it, but somehow they seemed to incorporate it into their grunting, sub-bass, but still loud as fuck sound.
Walking out of Annie's on my way home, I couldn't help but think about what a perfect evening of music this turned out to be.
Over The Edge! Brilliant..
Posted by: umlaut | Saturday, May 09, 2009 at 05:59 AM
look at http://www.gucci-online-outlet.org/ - gucci online shop JltjWGoK [url - http://www.gucci-online-outlet.org/
Posted by: acushLar | Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 04:37 PM