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    Cruefest 1 2008 Review

    Motley Crue announced they were doing their own festival:  Cruefest.

    It was pretty cool, but unfortunately, they only did it in 2008 and 2009.

    But I went to both years and I really enjoyed it both times.

    This year it was Motley, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, SIXX AM, and Trapt.

    Trapt opened.  I don’t remember much of them (I’m typing this in 2023.) but I know they did a solid set.

    SIXX AM played next.  I’ve been a fan of theirs from the start.  It includes Nikki Sixx of Motley (he did double duty on this tour) on Bass, DJ Ashba on Guitar, and James Michael on Vocals.  Really good band.

    Papa Roach I’ve never been a big fan of, but I must say they put on a great show.  Singer Jacoby Shaddox even went into the audience at one point, which was awesome.  I give it to them, they were very good.

    Buckcherry were next.  Been a fan since their first album in 1998.  They were in the midst of a comeback at this point and they were rocking big time.  Great stuff.

    Then Motley closed with a great set of classics and a couple of new songs from their great latest album at the time, Saints Of Los Angeles.

    Really good show all around.

    Motley Crue Set List:

    1. Kickstart My Heart
    2. Wild Side
    3. Shout At The Devil
    4. Saints Of Los Angeles
    5. Live Wire
    6. Motherfucker Of The Year
    7. Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
    8. Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)
    9. Primal Scream
    10. Looks That Kill
    11. Girls, Girls, Girls
    12. Dr. Feelgood
    13. Encore:  Home Sweet Home

    SIXX AM Set List:

    1. X-Mas In Hell
    2. Pray For Me
    3. Heart Failure
    4. Van Nuys
    5. Accidents Can Happen
    6. Tomorrow
    7. Life Is Beautiful

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Concerts

    Plant & Krauss Part 2

    I saw Robert Plant & Alison Krauss w/T Bone Burnett again in 2008.

    This time in Lexington, KY.

    I went with my Aunt Kim and her friend and mine, Barry Gillum.

    Like before, they sang and played a lot of songs from their great album Raising Sand, plus some Led Zeppelin songs, solo songs from each of their catalogs, and other songs.

    Mostly the same set from the first time we saw them, but with some differences.

    Another very fun show.

    Everyone was having fun on stage and in the audience.

    Hearing Robert and Alison sing is always magical.

    I’m glad I got to see them again.

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Conventions

    I Saw Shawn Michaels Wrestle!!

    Another WWE house show (non-televised event) I attended.

    Don’t remember a lot from this (I’m typing this in 2023.) but I do remember finally seeing someone I grew up watching as a wrestler:  Shawn Michaels!!

    He wrestled one of his proteges, Lance Cade (RIP).  It was great seeing Shawn in person.

    I also finally got to see one of my then new favorite wrestlers Batista (now actor Dave Bautista) wrestle CM Punk.  I was supposed to see Batista wrestle twice in 2007 but he was not there.  I’m glad I got to see him wrestle this time.

    I’m sorry but that’s what really stands out to me, but again, it was a fun show.

    I found the results of the night and am posting them here.  The results I got from thehistoryofwwe.com web site.

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Conventions

    The Undertaker vs Edge

    This was another WWE house show (non-televised event) I went to.

    The legendary Howard Finkel was the announcer of the night.  I grew up watching Howard as the main WWF (now WWE) announcer so it was great seeing him in person.

    The main event was The Undertaker vs. Edge in a falls count anywhere match.

    At one point when they were wrestling outside of the ring amongst the audience, I was almost so close to them I could touch them.

    It was great seeing these greats so up close do what they do best.

    I remember The Big Show wrestling Mark Henry, which was cool to see.

    That’s about all I remember of it (I’m typing this in 2023.), but it was fun, as these shows always are.

    I have posted all the results below that I found, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com web site.

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Concerts

    I Finally Saw a Member of Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss with T. Bone Burnett Concert Review

    A close friend of my Aunt Kim’s, Barry Gillum, and I went to see Robert Plant & Alison Krauss w/T. Bone Burnett playing guitar with them in Louisville, KY.

    This was actually the first night of their Raising Sand tour.

    They released this album in 2007, and it became a huge hit, winning a lot of Grammys.

    The show consisted mostly of songs from the album, plus some songs from Robert’s time as the singer of Led Zeppelin and some solo stuff, along with some of Alison’s stuff, and T. Bone sang a few songs too.

    The band was a super tight unit.

    And hearing Robert and Alison sing together is just magical.

    Everyone was having fun, but also very casual and laid back.

    It was a great night and start to a tour (We along with my Aunt Kim saw them again later in the year.)

    I’m not saying much I know, but this is 15 years after the show, so I’ll just say it was great, and I’m glad I got to see the singer of Led Zeppelin singing with another phenomenal singer in Alison.

    Set List:

    1. Rich Woman
    2. Leave My Woman Alone
    3. Black Dog
    4. Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us
    5. Through The Morning, Through The Night
    6. Fortune Teller
    7. Black Country Woman
    8. 29 Palms
    9. The Long Time Now
    10. Bon Temps Rouler
    11. Trampled Rose
    12. Green Pastures
    13. Down To The River To Pray
    14. Nothin’
    15. Killing The Blues
    16. When The Levee Breaks
    17. The Battle Of Evermore
    18. Please Read The Letter
    19. Gone Gone Gone
    20. Encore:  Stick With Me Baby
    21. I’m A One-Woman Man
    22. Your Long Journey

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Conventions

    I Saw Another Wrestling Show Twice in One Year

    I’m typing this in 2023 so it’s been awhile since this wrestling show has happened.

    I’m pretty sure I have pictures of this, but I cannot find them.

    If I do find them, I’ll add them to this, but until then, here are my memories/thoughts of this.

    I went to this show with my cousin Zachary and his Mom, my Aunt Karen.

    This was the second wrestling show I had seen in 2007.

    We saw John Morrison and The Miz in a tag team match.  I liked them as a tag team. 

    We saw Chavo Guerrerro wrestle.  He was great.

    The main event was The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane)  vs. Edge and MVP.

    This was really cool because not only of all the talent involved, but Edge had not officially returned yet (he had been out several months due to an injury and officially returned at the Survivor Series PPV shortly after this house show).

    Really fun night.

    I’m sorry I don’t have more, but trust me, it was fun.

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Concerts

    The Misfits Concert Review

    My cousin Zachary and I went to see The Misfits about 20-30 minutes from where we live.

    The lineup at this point (I’m typing this in 2023.) was Jerry Only on Vocals/Bass, Dez Cadena on Guitar, and Robo on Drums.

    They played a TON of classic Misfits songs (I’m sorry but I don’t have a set list).

    I don’t remember a lot from this but I know it was a fun show in a very intimate venue.

    I’m glad we went.

    There was an opening act, but I don’t remember who they were.

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Concerts

    Happy Birthday Dave!!: Van Halen Concert Review

    I never thought this would happen.

    David Lee Roth was singing in Van Halen again!!!!

    Aside from two new songs in 1996 and a few failed attempts after that, it finally happened in 2007.

    He was back with Guitarist Edward Van Halen, Drummer Alex Van Halen (Eddie’s brother) and Eddie’s son Wolfgang, who had just joined the band at this point, taking Michael Anthony’s place.

    Since it took FOREVER for them to reunite with Dave, I was not sure this would last very long.  So, my brother Christopher and I went to their Cleveland show, which was early in the tour.

    It also happened to be Dave’s birthday too!!

    Luckily, it did last until 2015 (although some of the later dates of this tour got pushed back because I think Eddie went into rehab but don’t quote me on that).

    The show was AWESOME!!!!

    Lots of classic VH songs.

    Dave is forever the showman and the band are one of the best bands ever.

    Eddie is one of the best guitarists of all time.  During his solo, he played “Happy Birthday” on guitar for Dave, which was awesome.

    Alex is always a great drummer.

    And Wolfgang was getting started, although he was already a child prodigy, basically (as I type this in 2023,  he is now a phenomenal solo artist).

    Sadly, Eddie passed away in 2020.

    There will never be another one like him.

    And because of his passing, VH is no more, but thank goodness the music will live forever.

    Set List:

    1. You Really Got Me (The Kinks cover)
    2. I’m The One
    3. Runnin’ With The Devil
    4. Romeo Delight
    5. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
    6. Beautiful Girls
    7. Dance The Night Away
    8. Atomic Punk
    9. Everybody Wants Some!
    10. So This Is Love?
    11. Mean Street
    12. Oh, Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison cover)
    13. Drum Solo
    14. Unchained
    15. I’ll Wait
    16. And The Cradle Will Rock…
    17. Hot For Teacher
    18. Little Dreamer
    19. Little Guitars
    20. Jamie’s Cryin’
    21. Ice Cream Man
    22. Panama
    23. Guitar Solo
    24. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
    25. Encore:  1984 (Tape)
    26. Jump

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Concerts

    An Evening With RUSH!!

    My brother Christopher and I went to see one of our mutually favorite bands:  RUSH!!

    This was my 1st time seeing them.  My brother had seen them once before in 1994.

    I’m glad we got to see the band together because not only do we both love them, but he was the one that made a fan.

    Here is some backstory:

    I came home from high school one day (I was 16.  I’m 41 as I type this.) and he told me to come into his room because he wanted me to hear something.

    So I did and he played some of what was the band’s most recent live album, Different Stages Live.

    I was instantly blown away.

    I had not heard anything quite like this.

    I asked him if I could borrow the CDs (Triple live album) and he said yes.

    I dubbed it over to cassettes (I eventually bought it.) and played it to death.

    I used to play it with a dark light on air drumming to the great Neil Peart’s (RIP) parts and cranked up the music.

    Geddy Lee (Vocals/Bass/Keyboards) is my favorite bassist for all time.

    Alex Lifeson (Guitar) is such a special player and was perfect for this band.

    Just 3 guys that made a PHENOMENAL sound, made tons of albums, and were around for over 40 years (the band stopped in 2015, Neil passed away in 2020.).

    Anyway, we saw them on their Snakes And Arrows album tour.

    They played a lot of songs from that great album, along with lots of other songs from their massive career.

    They never disappointed.

    They were always great.

    We will love them forever.

    Thank you Geddy, Alex, and Neil for all the great music.

    Set Lists:

    1. Set 1:  Limelight
    2. Digital Man
    3. Entre Nous
    4. Mission
    5. Freewill
    6. The Main Monkey Business (New Song)
    7. The Larger Bowl (New Song)
    8. Secret Touch
    9. Circumstances
    10. Between The Wheels
    11. Dreamline
    12. Set 2:  Far Cry (New Song)
    13. Workin’ Them Angels (New Song)
    14. Armor And Sword (New Song)
    15. Spindrift (New Song)
    16. The Way The Wind Blows (New Song)
    17. Subdivisions
    18. Natural Science
    19. Witch Hunt
    20. Malignant Narcissism (New Song)
    21. Drum Solo
    22. Hope (New Song)
    23. Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran cover)
    24. The Spirit Of Radio
    25. Tom Sawyer
    26. Encore:  One Little Victory
    27. A Passage To Bangkok
    28. YYZ

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Conventions

    My 1st Wrestling Show in 16 Years

    I’ve been a wrestling fan since I was 6 or 7 years old, but I did not watch it as much for many years because I was focused on other things. 

    However, I got back into it more many years later and this was the first wrestling show I went to since 1991 when I was 8.  I was 25 at this point.

    It was the same venue I saw my first wrestling show at too.

    I know I have pictures of this event, but I currently cannot find them.  If I do find them, I will add them, but until then, here are my thoughts, and the results of the show, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com web site are listed below.

    It was great seeing “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan wrestle.  I’ve been a fan of his since I was little.  I got to see then WWE Champion John Cena wrestle Randy Orton.  They had a big feud at the time and have wrestled each other many times.  And it was cool to see Jerry “The King” Lawler wrestle King Booker (more known as Booker T).

    There were other wrestlers too but those are some of my thoughts.

    This was a fun show and it was great seeing wrestling live in person again.  I’m sorry I did not see as much of it in person when I was younger.

    Here are the complete results below, again courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com web site:

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)