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Concert of the Year: Mammoth WVH w/Plush Concert Review
- Date of Concert: August 7, 2021
- Location of Concert: The House Of Blues Cleveland in Cleveland, OH
- Opener: Plush
My pick em for my concert of the year (yes I have more awesome ones to see this year as long as the world doesn’t shut down), but this is how awesome this show was.With my friend Kevin Montavon, I saw the third ever headline date of Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth WVH.They rocked the House of Blues Cleveland.He’s currently on tour opening for Guns N Roses, but he’s also doing some headline dates.Again, this was headline show number three.He and the band received an incredible response, and they delivered!!!They played most of Wolfgang’s debut album, called Mammoth WVH, it’s Japan bonus track, and an unreleased song.Wolfgang is the real deal.He joined his Dad’s band, Van Halen, at 16 years old (he’s 30 now) as the bass player.Well let me tell you, he can play bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, writes great songs, and is a PHENOMENAL singer.His album is probably going to be my album of the year.I love every song on it, and the bonus track and unreleased song are both great too.Even though he has a great band, his album is solely performed by him.Again, he can do it all, and regardless of who he is related to, he deserves all the success that comes to him.I can’t wait to buy more albums from him in the future and to see him in concert again someday.Rock on Wolfgang!!!!More shows to come.Oh and the opening band Plush, an all girl band, are very good too and I look forward to their debut album (Edit: I did buy it and it’s very good).They played mostly original songs and a Heart cover (Barracuda).Check Plush out too. They are also the real deal.Mammoth WVH Set List:
- Don’t Back Down
- Horribly Right
- Mammoth
- Mr. Ed
- Resolve
- Talk & Walk
- Think It Over
- You’re To Blame
- The Big Picture
- Circles
- Feel
- Stone
- Encore: Distance
- Epiphany
- As Long As You’re Not You
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Sweet Baby James & The Pretender: James Taylor/Jackson Browne Concert Review
- Date of Concert: August 6, 2021
- Location of Concert: Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston, WV
I saw another really fun concert.This time near where I work, in Charleston, WV.I saw James Taylor and Jackson BrowneJackson played an hour set of hits and three songs from his great new album Downhill From Everywhere.This was the second time I saw Jackson in concert.Great both times. He still sings phenomenally well and his band is great.James even came out and sang/played the song The Pretender with Jackson!!After roughly a 30 minute change over, James Taylor and his great band came on and played roughly an hour and 40/hour and 45 minutes.My first time seeing James.Lots of classics. Jackson returned the favor and came on and did Take It Easy with James, as well as the final song of the night.Great show.James has a very good sense of humor and everyone was having fun.His saxophone player was in The Blues Brothers!!One of his backing singers used to work with Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.Another backing singer has worked with Phil Collins for decades.And another backing singer is one of James’ sons.Again, both sets were great.Fun night.More to come.Jackson Browne Set List:
- I’m Alive
- The Long Way Around
- Fountain Of Sorrow
- Downhill From Everywhere
- My Cleveland Heart
- Until Justice Is Real
- Doctor My Eyes
- Late For The Sky
- The Pretender (w/James Taylor)
- Running On Empty
James Taylor Set List:
- Country Road
- That’s Why I’m Here
- Never Die Young
- Copperline
- Mexico
- You Make It Easy
- Line Em Up
- Chili Dog/Steamroller
- As Easy As Rolling Off A Log
- Sweet Baby James
- Fire And Rain
- Carolina In My Mind
- Shower The People
- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- Encore: Shed A Little Light
- Take It Easy (w/Jackson Browne)
- You’ve Got A Friend
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Still Delivering the Rebel Yell: Billy Idol Concert Review
- Date of Concert: August 3, 2021
- Location of Concert: The Rose Music Center at The Heights in Huber Heights, OH
- Opener: The Foxies
He, long time awesome guitarist Steve Stevens, and the band rocked the house with hits, deeper cuts, and actually some new songs that will be out next month as part of a 4 song EP.Billy Idol still has that voice and look of his and Steve Stevens still has his big hair.But they rock and the band is solid.Billy kept throwing drumsticks, frisbees, and even one of his shirts to fans.Fun show.The opening band, The Foxies, were a lot of fun too.Two more concerts to see this week.I can’t wait!Billy Idol Set List:
- Cradle Of Love
- Dancing With Myself
- Flesh For Fantasy
- Rita Hayworth (New Song)
- Scream
- Bitter Taste (New Single)
- Eyes Without A Face
- Acoustic Guitar Solo Piece (Incl. Over The Hills and Far Away and Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin)
- Mony Mony
- One Hundred Punks (Generation X song, which Billy said he had not sung since being in that band.)
- Blue Highway (Incl. Guitar Solo/Top Gun Theme bit)
- Rebel Yell
- Born To Lose (Johnny Thunders song-1st time played on this tour)
- White Wedding
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Two Great Bands: Winger/Autograph Concert Review
- Date of Concert: July 31, 2021
- Location of Concert: Rock The Block Wilmington in Wilmington, OH
My girlfriend Mariah Startzman and I saw Winger and Autograph in concert last night in Wilmington, Ohio.It was a very fun night of music.Autograph, mostly known for the song Turn Up The Radio, did a very rocking set, mixing old and new songs.Bassist Randy Rand is the only original member but the whole band was great (Edit: Randy unfortunately passed away April 26, 2022. Forever missed).The current singer, Simon Daniels, who also plays guitar, was really really good.Rounding out the band was lead guitarist Jimi Bell and drummer Marc Wieland.Very fun set.Now Winger I’ve been wanting to see for a long time, but just never got the chance.I love their older albums but I really love the albums they’ve done in the last 15 years (they’re currently making a new album).They played a lot of old songs and some of the newer songs. All great.Kip Winger is still an incredible singer/musician.Reb Beach is one of my favorite guitarists.It’s actually the original band (Singer/bassist Kip Winger, guitarist Reb Beach, drummer Rod Morgenstein, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Taylor, and another guitarist John Roth, who’s been in the band for the last almost 30 years).I love Winger. Period.I’m soooooo glad I finally got to see them.Mariah and I had a great time.Winger Band Members:
- Kip Winger (Vocals/Bass)
- Reb Beach (Guitar)
- Paul Taylor (Guitar/Keyboards)
- Rod Morgenstein (Drums)
- John Roth (Guitar)
Autograph Band Members:
- Randy Rand (Bass)
- Simon Daniels (Vocals/Guitar)
- Jimi Bell (Guitar)
- Marc Wieland (Drums)
Winger Set List:
- Midnight Driver Of A Love Machine
- Junkyard Dog
- Easy Come, Easy Go
- Hungry
- Pull Me Under
- Down Incognito
- Rainbow In The Rose
- Miles Away
- Deal With The Devil
- Rat Race
- Drum Solo
- Headed For A Heartbreak
- Can’t Get Enuff
- Madalaine
- Reb Guitar Solo
- Seventeen
Autograph Set List:
- Loud And Clear
- Dance All Night
- You Are Us, We Are You
- Bad Boy
- Souls On Fire
- Blondes In Black Cars
- Send Her To Me
- Guitar Solo
- My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend Isn’t Me
- Get Off Your Ass
- Turn Up The Radio
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First Concert Together: Mariah and I saw Michael Bolton in Concert!!
- Date of Concert: July 25, 2021
- Location of Concert: Columbus Commons in Columbus, OH
My girlfriend Mariah Startzman and I saw Michael Bolton in concert last night.This was his first show since COVID.He and his band performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.He actually said at one point that he wished he could go out into the crowd and let the crowd get on stage and perform because it had been so long since concerts were allowed due to COVID.He did many of his hit solo songs and cover tunes.He’s still a powerhouse vocalist.He’s actually a great guitarist too.Believe it or not, he used to be more of a rock singer.He was once the singer of the band Blackjack with future KISS guitarist Bruce KulickThey made two awesome albums and my girlfriend and I will forever say that those two albums are masterpieces.And he made a few other more rocking albums before he became the superstar that he is today.Anyway, Michael Bolton is a phenomenal singer/songwriter/musician.We had a great time.I’m so glad Mariah and I were able to see him together.Michael Bolton Set List:
- Stand By Me
- To Love Somebody
- (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay
- Said I Loved You…But I Lied
- You Don’t Know Me
- That’s Life
- How Am I Supposed To Live Without You
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
- The Prayer
- Sweet Home Chicago
- Lean On Me
- When I’m Back On My Feet Again
- When A Man Loves A Woman
- How Can We Be Lovers
- Steel Bars
- Time, Love And Tenderness
- Georgia (On My Mind)
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My First Concert Since Before the Global Shutdown: The Dead Daisies
- Date of Concert: July 10, 2021
- Location of Concert: The Bluenote Harrison in Harrison, OH
I FINALLY went to another concert.I’ve only been waiting every day since March of 2020!!!!!!It was great to finally be at a concert again.Back where I belong.I saw The Dead Daisies in Harrison, Ohio at The Blue Note Harrison.I’ve seen them twice before but this one was different because it was a headline show (I saw them open for KISS two other times), and this time one of my favorite singers/bassists ever Glenn Hughes is now in the band.They put out a great album called Holy Ground, which the set mostly consisted of, and also some other Dead Daisies songs, a Creedence Clearwater Revival song that the band covered a few years ago, and two Deep Purple songs from Glenn’s era of the band (both he and David Coverdale were the singers in Deep Purple at the same time during the 70s for 3 great albums and tours).This was exactly what I needed.I got fully vaccinated in April but this was REALLY the shot in the arm I needed.Music is everything to me. It’s my passion and live music is something I crave.I have many more concerts booked this year, but this was the perfect relaunch of my concert life.Thank you Glenn Hughes, guitarist Doug Aldrich (thanks for the guitar pick!!), guitarist David Lowy, and drummer Tommy Clufetos for this awesome rock show.More concerts and reviews to come!!As Paul Newman said in The Color Of Money, “Hey, I’m back!!”The Dead Daisies Band Members:
- Glenn Hughes (Vocals/Bass)
- Doug Aldrich (Guitar)
- David Lowy (Guitar)
- Tommy Clufetos (Drums)
The Dead Daisies Set List:
- Unspoken
- Rise Up
- Dead And Gone
- Chosen And Justified
- Mexico
- Bustle And Flow
- Lock ‘N’ Load
- Fortunate Son
- Mistreated
- Righteous Days
- My Fate
- Leave Me Alone
- A Song & A Prayer
- Like No Other
- Holy Ground
- Long Way To Go
- Burn
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My First Event Since Global Shutdown: Huntington Comic & Toy Convention 2021
- Date of Convention: June 6, 2021
- Location of Convention: Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, WV
It’s official: I’m back going to events again!!I went to Huntington Comic & Toy Convention in Huntington, WV.This is the first year for this event.The same people who run Lexington Comic & Toy Con and The Inner Geek run it.It was a great time.I saw several people there, including John Wesley Shipp (The Flash), wrestlers Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, Sgt. Slaughter, and more.I went to Kevin Nash’s Q&A, and Scott Steiner showed up during it.I was able to ask them a question.I was able to ride Battlecat and Panthor from He- Man And The Masters Of The Universe!!! That was fun.And for the first time since 2005, I saw my college professor Joe Barta IV and his wife V Brittany Barta.They have a company called Be Kind Rewind VHS Notebooks, in which they make notebooks out of old VHS tape boxes.Great stuff.Thank you Joe and Brittany. It was great seeing you two again.All in all, a great, fun day.I’m glad to be able to go to events again.More to come soon, I hope.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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I Met John Carpenter on Zoom!
I spoke to another favorite of mine today.Mr. John Carpenter. Director/writer/producer/composer/musician.I’ve been a fan of his work for a long time.Assault On Precinct 13, Halloween, The Fog, Escape From New York, The Thing, Big Trouble In Little China, Prince Of Darkness, Memoirs Of An Invisible Man, Escape From LA, Ghosts Of Mars, and more.In recent years, he’s spent more time making instrumental albums and doing concerts.He has a great concert Blu-ray called John Carpenter Live Retrospective.I preordered his latest instrumental album called Lost Themes III. It’s out next month. I have his other two Lost Themes albums and they’re very good.It’s actually his birthday today too!!Happy Birthday Mr. Carpenter!!!!Hopefully I’ll actually meet him at a ComicCon for real someday and see a concert of his.Anyway, here is my chat with Mr. John Carpenter and some pictures!!Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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I Met Dolph Lundgren on Zoom!!
I actually got to speak to someone I really like today via the Internet.Actor/director/producer/writer Dolph Lundgren did a chat on GalaxyCon today and after the regular chat he did some one on one chats with people.I was one of those people.I’m not sure if this video will work on here but give it a try.I was having technical difficulties beforehand for awhile but it worked in time.He’s a great guy and he’s made a lot of good movies, not just Rocky IV.Masters Of The Universe, The Punisher, Showdown In Little Tokyo, I Come In Peace, Joshua Tree/Army Of One, 3 Universal Soldier movies, The Killing Machine/Icarus, Diamond Dogs, Jill The Ripper, Kindergarten Cop 2 (no not a sequel but a fun movie), Aquaman, The Expendables 1-3, Creed 2, and so many more.Check out the video.I have also posted autographed pictures I received from Dolph, courtesy of GalaxyCon and Wizard World.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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Thank You Melendy Britt!!
Thank you Melendy Britt (She-Ra and many other characters) for the great autographed photo and video message.
I am a huge fan and am grateful that you did this for me.
Yes I know I paid for it (thanks to the company Zobie Authentic Autographs for making it happen) but still I’m very grateful.
I hope I can meet you at a convention/expo someday.
All the best and take care.
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