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I Finally Saw Steely Dan in Concert
- Date of Concert: July 19, 2011
- Location of Concert: PNC Pavilion in Cincinnati, OH
After being a fan for 13 years, I finally saw Steely Dan in concert.
Steely Dan is comprised of founders Donald Fagen (Vocals/Keyboards) and Walter Becker (Guitar/Bass/Vocals) and they always have the best musicians in the world playing with them.
Thanks to my brother Christopher, I became a fan of this band when I was still in high school.
I love their albums and songs soooooooo much.
And live, they deliver the songs to the fans very well.
I’m sooooooooooooooooo glad I finally got to see them.
Set List:
- Dizzy’s Bidness (Cannonball Adderly cover)-The Miles High Band played this song to introduce Donald and Walter onto the stage
- Aja
- Black Friday
- Hey Nineteen
- Your Gold Teeth
- Black Cow
- Time Out Of Mind
- Green Earrings
- Show Biz Kids
- Bodhisattva
- Dirty Work (The Embassy Brats sing this song)
- Home At Last
- Neighbor’s Daughter (Lee Dorsey cover-Walter talks and introduces the band during this)
- Josie
- Peg
- My Old School
- Reelin’ In The Years
- Encore: Kid Charlemagne
- Last Tango In Paris (Gato Barbieri cover-The Miles High Band plays this as Donald and Walter exit the stage)
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70s and 80s Classics: Motley Crue/Poison/New York Dolls Concert Review
- Date of Concert: June 26, 2011
- Location of Concert: Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH
This was another great show my cousin Zachary and I saw.
The New York Dolls opened the show.
They included original members David Johansen on vocals and Sylvain Sylvain on guitar.
They played some songs from their most recent albums, plus songs from their cult classic first album.
Some people may know of David as an actor and as Dexter Poindexter of the 1980s with the hit song “Hot Hot Hot”.
Very good band and please seek out their music. Highly influential, but never got past cult status.
I’m glad we saw them.
Then Poison played.
This was the second time I had seen them.
Still all original members (Bret Michaels on Vocals and some Guitar, CC Deville on Guitar, Bobby Dall on Bass, and Rikki Rockett on Drums).
This band was one of the kings of the late 80s/early 90s and are always at the top of their game.
I wish they would make more new music (nothing since 2007, although Bret continues to make solo music), but when they play live, they’re always great and a lot of fun.
Then Motley Crue closed the show.
Again, all original members (Vince Neil on Vocals, Mick Mars on Guitar, Nikki Sixx on Bass, and Tommy Lee on Drums).
This was my 5th time seeing Motley (8 as I type this in 2023).
They’re one of my favorite bands of all time.
The last time I saw them in 2009, Tommy could not play the drums because he had an accident, so it seemed to me that he had something to prove this time and played extra hard.
Some give them crap live, especially Vince because of him skipping every other word on a lot of the songs, but it’s never bothered me and he’s always sang enough to satisfy.
I’ve always had a great time seeing them, and I love their albums. All of them.
Again, great time. Zachary had a great time too.
I don’t have a lot of pictures to show, and they’re not great, but again, this was a disposable camera, so unless you were super up close, they were never that great.
Motley Crue Set List:
- Wild Side
- Saints Of Los Angeles
- Live Wire
- Shout At The Devil 97
- Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)
- Primal Scream
- Home Sweet Home
- Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)-also featured some of the Cee Lo Green song Fuck You
- Drum Solo
- Guitar Solo
- Looks That Kill
- Dr. Feelgood
- Too Young To Fall In Love
- Too Fast For Love
- Girls, Girls, Girls
- Smokin’ In The Boys Room
- Kickstart My Heart
Poison Set List:
- Look What The Cat Dragged In
- Ride The Wind
- We’re An American Band
- Your Mama Don’t Dance
- Guitar Solo
- Fallen Angel
- Unskinny Bop
- Drum Solo
- Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
- Talk Dirty To Me
- Nothin’ But A Good Time
New York Dolls Set List:
- Looking For A Kiss
- Dance Like A Monkey
- Cause I Sez So
- Talk To Me Baby
- Kids Like You
- Pills
- Trash
- Personality Crisis
- Jet Boy
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I Went to a Wrestling PPV!!
- Date of Event: April 17, 2011
- Location of Event: U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati,OH
My cousin Zachary and I went to a TNA Wrestling PPV event in Cincinnati, OH.
It was called Lockdown.
This was a lot of fun.
We both had ringside seats.
We got to see Kurt Angle wrestle Jeff Jarrett in a steel cage (in fact all of the matches at this PPV were in a steel cage, hence the title Lockdown). Kurt actually did a moonsault right off the top of the cage, which was AWESOME to behold.
We got to see one of our favorite wrestlers Scott Steiner wrestle in a tag team match, which was cool.
We got to see Sting vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Mr. Anderson, which was really cool. Especially when my favorite wrestler ever, Hulk Hogan, came out to ringside to interfere.
We got to see two feuding factions (Fortune and Immortal) face off.
That’s just some of the highlights.
I took lots of pictures, but as I type this in 2023, I cannot find them, but I know they are somewhere I can find them at. Once I do, I’ll post them to this review.
Until then, I’ll just post my ticket stub, as well as the front and back cover of my DVD I bought of the PPV later on that year.
This was a great event to see in person.
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I Saw Edge and Christian Wrestle!!
- Date of Event: March 20, 2011
- Location of Event: Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, WV
I went to a WWE house show (non-televised event) a few days before their huge PPV Wrestlemania.
I got to see The Big Show and Kane tag together and what was billed as a singles bout (Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio) turned into a tag team match of Edge and Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio and Brodus Clay. Edge and Christian won, making the fans happy, myself included.
That’s about all I remember of it, but I have found the results and posted them below, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com web site, as well as my ticket stub.
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My 3rd TNA Wrestling House Show
- Date of Event: February 18, 2011
- Location of Event: Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, WV
I went to my 3rd TNA Wrestling house show (non-televised event) in Huntington, WV.
At this point, TNA Wrestling was coming to my area a lot, which was great to see.
I’m sure I have pictures of this event, but until I can find them, here are my memories (I’m typing this in 2023.).
I remember Kurt Angle and Beer Money (Robert Roode and James Storm) wrestling Jeff Jarrett, Jesse Neal, and Shannon Moore in the main event and that Kurt and his team won.
Mick Foley was there too and managed Crimson earlier in the show.
I was also able to get Mick’s and Beer Money’s autographs that night (they were doing signings in an intermission).
Sorry I don’t have a ton of memories but again, it was fun. Wrestling shows are always fun to go to.
However, I did find the results and am posting them here, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com web site, as well as my ticket stub.
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Avenged Sevenfold/Stone Sour Concert Review
- Date of Concert: January 25, 2011
- Location of Concert: Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, WV
- Openers: Hollywood Undead and New Medicine
My cousin Zachary and I went to see Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour in concert.
New Medicine and Hollywood Undead opened.
I don’t remember a ton from them, but they were good to start the night.
Stone Sour, which was the biggest reason why I wanted to go to this show, played next.
I think every album they’ve released is great and it was great to see them play live.
Singer Corey Taylor, also of Slipknot, is a great singer/songwriter/frontman.
I love Slipknot but I love Stone Sour too. They’re a little more hard rock, and not quite as heavy and intense as Slipknot is and I like that too.
As I type this in 2023, Stone Sour is on a indefinite hiatus (Corey is still in Slipknot and has a solo career now too.) but hopefully they will someday return.
Now to the headliner: Avenged Sevenfold.
I’ve been a fan of theirs since college, but I still don’t quite worship them like a lot of people do.
But I definitely like them and they’re a huge band.
They put on a big rock show and give the fans what they want.
Can’t ask for anything more.
Avenged Sevenfold Band Members:
- M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
- Synyster Gates (Lead Guitar)
- Zacky Vengeance (Rhythm Guitar)
- Johnny Christ (Bass)
- Arin Illejay (Drums)
Stone Sour Band Members:
- Corey Taylor (Lead Vocals)
- Jim Root (Guitar-also is in Slipknot)
- Josh Rand (Guitar)
- Shawn Economaki (Bass)
- Roy Mayorga (Drums)
Avenged Sevenfold Set List:
- Nightmare
- Critical Acclaim
- Welcome To The Family
- Danger Line
- Buried Alive
- So Far Away
- Afterlife
- God Hates Us
- Bat Country
- Unholy Confessions
- Encore: Fiction
- A Little Piece Of Heaven
Stone Sour Set List:
- Mission Statement
- Reborn
- Digital (Did You Tell)
- Hesitate
- Say You’ll Haunt Me
- Made Of Scars
- Bother
- Through Glass
- Hell & Consequences
- 30/30-150
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Clash Of The Titans Part 2: Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax Concert Review
- Date of Concert: October 12, 2010
- Location of Concert: Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY
- Opener: Comedian Jim Florentine
My cousin Zachary and I went to see 3 out of “The Big 4” of Thrash Metal bands.
They called the tour American Carnage, but really, it was the Clash Of The Titans tour all over again, because these bands toured together with that tour name in the early 90s.
Comedian Jim Florentine, also known as one of the hosts of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show and in 2023 a YouTube show called That Rocks, did a stand up comedy set in between each act. It was cool to see Jim. I even met him briefly at the soundboard. Cool guy.
Anthrax started the show. Singer Joey Belladonna had recently rejoined the band for the 3rd time, while the rest was the same as it had been for many years (Guitarist Scott Ian, Bassist Frank Bello, Drummer Charlie Benante, and Guitarist Rob Caggiano).
It was a short but great set of classic Anthrax songs.
They’re always great live and it was great seeing Joey back in the band.
Megadeth played next and they played all of their classic Rust In Peace album, plus other Megadeth greats.
I honestly think Megadeth got the best crowd reaction on this night.
They were awesome, as always.
The lineup this time was founder Dave Mustaine (Vocals/Guitar), returning Bassist David Ellefson, Drummer Shawn Drover, and Guitarist Chris Broderick.
Again, Dave has had a lot of lineup changes in Megadeth, but they’re always great.
Slayer closed the night by playing all of their Seasons In The Abyss album, as well as other Slayer greats.
It was still the original lineup at this point (Singer/Bassist Tom Araya, Guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and Drummer Dave Lombardo).
Sadly, this would be the last time I saw Jeff play in person. He sadly passed away in 2013. He will be forever missed.
But anyway, Slayer were always great live (they ended in 2019) and if you were a fan, you knew what to expect and probably would not be disappointed.
All these bands are favorites of mine. And it was awesome to see them all together in one night.
Slayer Set List:
- World Painted Blood
- Hate Worldwide
- Seasons In The Abyss Album (Tracks 3-12)-War Ensemble
- Blood Red
- Spirit In Black
- Expendable Youth
- Dead Skin Mask
- Hallowed Point
- Skeletons Of Society
- Temptation
- Born Of Fire
- Seasons In The Abyss
- South Of Heaven
- Raining Blood
- Aggressive Perfector
- Angel Of Death
Megadeth Set List:
- Rust In Peace Album (Tracks 1-9)-Holy Wars…The Punishment Due
- Hangar 18
- Take No Prisoners
- Five Magics
- Poison Was The Cure
- Lucretia
- Tornado Of Souls
- Dawn Patrol
- Rust In Peace…Polaris
- Trust
- Head Crusher
- How The Story Ends
- Symphony Of Destruction
- Encore: Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying
Anthrax Set List:
- Caught In A Mosh
- Madhouse
- Antisocial
- Indians
- A.I.R.
- Metal Thrashing Mad
- I Am The Law
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I Met Mick Foley!!
- Date of Event: October 7, 2010
- Location of Event: Marshall University in Huntington, WV
I got to meet wrestler/writer Mick Foley at Marshall University.
He was there to promote and read some of his new book Countdown to Lockdown at the time.
He also took pictures and signed his new book and other things for fans.
I got him to sign that book and a DVD.
Super nice and funny guy.
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Aerosmith and Sammy Hagar Concert Review
- Date of Concert: September 2, 2010
- Location of Concert: Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH
I saw one of my favorite bands Aerosmith for the 2nd time in 2010.
Another one of my favorites, Sammy Hagar and his band The Wabos, opened the show with a rocking set of songs by The Wabos, as well as Sammy solo tunes, Van Halen songs from his era, and Montrose songs, also a band Sammy was in.
This was the 1st time I saw Sammy and he and his band did not disappoint.
Aerosmith Guitarist Brad Whitford was watching from the side of the stage for most of the show and eventually was welcomed on stage by Sammy to help he and the band play the song “Mas Tequila”. Brad even bowed with the band. Really special treat.
Then later on, Aerosmith played another rocking set. Again, they are one of my favorite bands of all time, and I truly am a fan of everyone in the band (Vocalist Steven Tyler, Guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, Bassist Tom Hamilton, and Drummer Joey Kramer).
Joey played one of my favorite drum solos ever that night too.
Love all these guys.
Great night.
Aerosmith Set List:
- Eat The Rich’
- Train Kept A Rollin’ (Tiny Bradshaw cover)
- No More No More
- Love In An Elevator
- Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)
- Livin’ On The Edge
- What It Takes
- Pink
- Last Child
- Cryin’
- Drum Solo
- Rag Doll
- Joe Perry Guitar Battle (He was playing guitar along to the video game of the Aerosmith version of Guitar Hero).
- Stop Messin’ Around (Fleetwood Mac cover)
- I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
- Come Together (The Beatles cover)
- Sweet Emotion
- Draw The Line
- Encore: Dream On
- Walk This Way
Sammy Hagar & The Wabos Set List:
- There’s Only One Way To Rock
- I Can’t Drive 55
- Top Of The World
- Space Station #5
- Rock Candy
- Bad Motor Scooter
- Best Of Both Worlds
- Three Lock Box
- Right Now
- Finish What Ya Started
- Heavy Metal
- Mas Tequila (w/Brad Whitford)
- Encore: Why Can’t This Be Love
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Mayhem Festival 2010 Review
- Date of Concert: July 21, 2010
- Location of Concert: Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH
My cousin Zachary and I went to this festival and boy what a show it was.
KORN, Rob Zombie, Lamb Of God, and Five Finger Death Punch.
All in one evening.
FFDP started the show, although for some reason, we ended up not being able to get to our seats for awhile (I know it rained but nothing should’ve prevented us from being as late as we were to our seats. They were under roof too.)
Either way, what we saw of FFDP was great. I’ve been a fan since then as I type this in 2023. They’re one of the bigger rock/metal bands now but they were just blowing up at the time.
Lamb Of God played next. Another band that is always great live and they’re sooo heavy. One of the best at what they do.
Rob Zombie was next. My 2nd time seeing him at this point (I’ve seen him 5 times as of 2023.). He and his band are always great and I love all of his albums.
This was the 1st and only time I’ve seen KORN to date, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see them again. I’ve just been busy as you’ve seen by these reviews.
Anyway, KORN were amazing. Again, great live band and for the most part, the albums I think are great.
Great show.
KORN Set List:
- Right Now
- Twist
- Here To Stay
- Did My Time
- Oildale (Leave Me Alone)
- Falling Away From Me
- Somebody Someone
- Let The Guilt Go
- Freak On A Leash
- Blind
- Shoots & Ladders (w/some of Metallica’s One at the end)
- Clown
- Got The Life
Rob Zombie Set List:
- What Lurks On Channel X?
- Superbeast
- Scum Of The Earth
- Living Dead Girl
- More Human Than Human
- Sick Bubble-Gum
- House Of 1,000 Corpses
- Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)
- Mars Needs Women
- Thunder Kiss ’65
- School’s Out (Alice Cooper cover)
- Dragula
Lamb Of God Set List:
- Intro Tape: The Passing
- In Your Words
- Set To Fail
- Walk With Me In Hell
- Now You’ve Got Something To Die For
- Laid To Rest
- Red Neck
- Black Label
Five Finger Death Punch Set List:
- Burn It Down
- Salvation
- No One Gets Left Behind
- Bad Company (Bad Company cover)
- The Way Of The Fist
- Never Enough
- The Bleeding
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