• Blog,  Concerts

    The Papa: Ghost/Purson Concert Review

    September 24 2015 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: September 23, 2015
    • Location of Concert; Newport Music Hall in Columbus, OH

    The night after we saw Scorpions and Queensryche, my best friend Jamie and I went to see another concert in Columbus, OH.

    This time, we saw the band Ghost.

    Purson, who I had not heard of, opened the show.

    They were pretty good.

    Definitely have to check out their music.

    Afterwards, Ghost took the stage.

    They are a band on the rise (edit:  In 2023, they are a very big band.), about to release their 3rd album, which they played a lot of on this night.

    I honestly do not know who anyone is in the band (the musicians go by Nameless Ghouls), but the singer is known as Papa Emeritus (edit:  He was later revealed to be Tobias Forge).

    Each album/tour he goes by a different Papa (Emeritus II, III, etc.).

    I first became aware of them from James Hetfield of Metallica, who mentioned them in an interview.

    They are very different.

    Live, they’re quite heavy and loud, almost marching band I would say in tightness.

    They get compared to Blue Oyster Cult a lot, which I don’t really hear that, but OK maybe I’m wrong.

    Their show is very satanic/gothic I guess, although it’s just for show.

    I think they’re very good, but maybe not for everyone.

    Check them out though.

    You may be surprised.

    Either way, Jamie and I had fun.

    Ghost Set List:

    1. Spirit
    2. From The Pinnacle  To The Pit
    3. Ritual
    4. Con Clavi Con Dio
    5. Per Aspera ad Inferi
    6. Majesty
    7. Stand By Him
    8. Prime Mover
    9. Body And Blood
    10. Devil Church
    11. Cince
    12. Year Zero
    13. He Is
    14. Absolution
    15. Mummy Dust
    16. Jigolo Har Megiddo (Acoustic)
    17. Ghuleh/Zombie Queen
    18. If You Have Ghosts (Ricky Erickson and the Aliens Cover)
    19. Encore:  Monstrance Clock

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


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  • Blog,  Concerts

    Rock You Like A Hurricane & Queen of the Reich: Scorpions/Queensryche Concert Review

    September 23 2015 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: September 22, 2015
    • Location of Concert; LC Pavilion in Columbus, OH
    Hi everyone!!
     
    Well, I saw two of my favorite bands for the first time in many years last night.
     
    They were the Scorpions and Queensryche!!
     
    I saw them with my best friend Jamie.
     
    Queensryche opened the show with a blistering 45 minute set.
     
    This was my 2nd time seeing Queensryche, but the first time I saw them with their new singer of 3 years Todd LaTorre.
     
    I will forever be a fan of their original singer Geoff Tate, who is doing his own music now, but Todd sounds a lot like Geoff. It’s uncanny.
     
    The band were amazing, as always.
     
    Their new album, Condition Human, is out October 2. They played one song from it at the show, Arrow Of Time.
     
    Very good song.
     
    Now to the headliner: the Scorpions!!
     
    I had not seen them since 1999, and I swear they are as good or better now as they were then.
     
    Lead Singer Klaus Meine is still amazing and has lost nothing in his voice.
     
    Guitarists Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs are just stellar, Bassist Pawel Maciwoda is solid, and Drummer James Kottack is a beast on drums.
     
    They played so many songs from their lengthy catalog, including a medley of some of their 70s songs, plus 4 songs from their great new album Return To Forever, and of course their biggest hits.
     
    They even had an acoustic set, in which they played several of their ballads.
     
    Very cool stuff, and just such a phenomenal show.
     
    They were sooo loud and sooo rocking.
     
    The Scorpions have been around since 1965, but really made their name in the 80s.
     
    Either way, though, they still rock harder than most bands ever could or will.
     
    Go see the Scorpions!!

    Scorpions Band Members:

    • Klaus Meine (Lead Vocals)
    • Rudolf Schenker (Guitar)
    • Matthias Jabs (Guitar)
    • Pawel Maciwoda (Bass)
    • James Kottak (Drums)

    Queensryche Band Members:

    • Todd LaTorre (Lead Vocals)
    • Michael Wilton (Guitar)
    • Eddie Jackson (Bass/Backing Vocals)
    • Scott Rockenfield (Drums)
    • Parker Lundgren (Guitar)

    Scorpions Set List:

    1. Going Out With A Band (New Song)
    2. Make It Real
    3. The Zoo
    4. Coast To Coast (Instrumental)
    5. Top Of The Bill/Steamrock Fever/Speedy’s Coming/Catch Your Train (70s Medley)
    6. We Built This House (New Song)
    7. Delicate Dance (Instrumental)
    8. Always Somewhere/Eye Of The Storm (New Song)/Send Me An Angel (Acoustic Medley)
    9. Wind Of Change
    10. Rock And Roll (New Song)
    11. Dynamite
    12. In The Line of Fire (Instrumental)
    13. Kottak Attack (Drum Solo)
    14. Blackout
    15. No One Like You
    16. Big City Nights
    17. Encore:  Still Loving You
    18. Rock You Like A Hurricane

    Queensryche Set List:

    1. Anarchy-X
    2. The Needle Lies
    3. Walk In The Shadows
    4. Jet City Woman
    5. Silent Lucidity
    6. Arrow Of Time (New Song)
    7. Eyes Of A Stranger
    8. Empire
    9. Queen Of The Reich

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


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  • Blog,  Concerts

    The Best: Van Halen Concert Review

    September 1 2015 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: August 31, 2015
    • Location of Concert: Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH
    • Opener: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
    Hi everyone!
     
    Well, as of this writing, I’ve been home for about an hour after seeing the mighty Van Halen in Cincinnati!
     
    If you saw my post earlier, you will know this is the 2nd time I’ve seen Van Halen.
     
    And once again, they did not disappoint.
     
    First, let me get to the opener: the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band.
     
    They were very good, very bluesy, but rocking.
     
    Their bassist, Tony Franklin, was in 2 rock bands that I really like, The Firm (with Paul Rodgers, Jimmy Page, and Chris Slade, whose drumming for AC/DC again now), and Blue Murder (with John Sykes and Carmine Appice).
     
    Kenny Wayne Shepherd is definitely a talented guitarist.
     
    They played for about 50 minutes.
     
    Now, to the reason why I went to this show: Van Halen, one of the greatest rock bands in history.
     
    Most people seem to love to hate David Lee Roth these days.
     
    It seems that nearly everyone I talk to wants Sammy Hagar back in the band.
     
    As cool as that would be, I don’t see it happening anytime soon, if ever.
     
    And I’m okay with that because you know why: I love David Lee Roth in Van Halen.
     
    He has his own style of singing, and regardless of what anyone says, he still has it.
     
    And to be honest, I have always preferred Dave in Van Halen because when he’s in the band, their songs are much more rocking and in your face, which I love.
     
    And they’re just more fun with Dave.
    Anyway, Dave is one of my favorite singers/frontmen ever.
     
    Guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang has been the band’s bassist since 2007, and as much as I would love to see their original bassist Michael Anthony there, Wolfgang is a solid player and very good.
     
    Drummer Alex Van Halen, Eddie’s brother, is still a solid, amazing drummer.
     
    And now to the man, the
    myth, the legend, one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Eddie Van Halen!!
     
    This man is a sight to see and hear play.
     
    He truly is like a mad scientist. And I mean that as a compliment.
     
    His riffs and solos are so innovative, loud, heavy, in your face, and perfect.
     
    Every accolade he gets as a player he deserves and more.
     
    I can go on forever talking about Van Halen, but I’ll end this by saying that Van Halen is one of my favorite bands of all time. Especially with Diamond David Lee Roth on the mic.
     
    And no one is going to change my opinion on that.
     
    I hope you have enjoyed this review.
     
    There will be more to come soon.
     
    I wish the pictures were clearer, but oh well.
     
    I still had a blast, and even though the pics are not perfect, I really did have a great view.

    Van Halen Band Members:

    • David Lee Roth (Lead Vocals)
    • Edward Van Halen (Guitar/Backing Vocals)
    • Alex Van Halen (Drums)
    • Wolfgang Van Halen (Bass/Backing Vocals)

    Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Members:

    • Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Guitar)
    • Noah Hunt (Lead Vocals)
    • Tony Franklin (Bass)
    • Chris Layton (Drums)
    • Riley Osbourn (Keyboards)

    Van Halen Set List:

    1. Light Up The Sky
    2. Runnin’ With The Devil
    3. Romeo Delight
    4. Everybody Wants Some
    5. Drop Dead Legs
    6. Feel Your Love Tonight
    7. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
    8. She’s The Woman
    9. China Town
    10. I’ll Wait
    11. Drum Solo
    12. Little Guitars
    13. Dance The Night Away
    14. Beautiful Girls
    15. Women In Love
    16. Hot For Teacher
    17. In A Simple Rhyme
    18. Dirty Movies
    19. Ice Cream Man
    20. Unchained
    21. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
    22. Guitar Solo
    23. You Really Got Me
    24. Panama
    25. Jump

    Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Set List:

    1. Somehow, Somewhere, Someway
    2. Slow Ride
    3. Deja Voodoo
    4. Come On (Part 1) (Earl King Cover)
    5. Shame, Shame, Shame
    6. Blue On Black
    7. I’m A King Bee (Slim Harpo Cover)
    8. Oh Well (Fleetwood Mac Cover)
    9. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (The Jimi Hendrix Experience Cover)

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


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