Goo Goo Dolls Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN 10/17/11

     The trip to Nashvegas is always rather long for me. Takes about three and half hours. For ordinary people it takes four hours. Truth, i got a heavy foot when i got a long haul. I guess it was worth it though. All except the final prize of meeting the band, getting autographs, and taking pics for my special online album with musicians i get the pleasure of meeting.

     Nashvegas is Nashvegas for a reason. There is a surplus of talent as John Rzeznik remarked in his show that there were many who could out do him on guitar. The question is can anyone write that next big hit? The one that sells a million plus? That is the eternal question. Anyway, enough with my rambling.

     Ryman Auditorium is a great small venue holds  2,362. I would guess there was about 2,000 there for the Goo Goo Dolls and Ryan Star. Normally i see the opener. I could hear him from where i was sitting anyways. I busied myself looking around the Ryman. The place is rich in history. From Minnie Pearl's hat to Patsy Cline's hat. Which oddly enough i realized Patsy Cline  resembled my own mother more then just a little bit. I was eying a signed set list but  I wasn't paying $20 to buy it just for the review.... Sorry John love the Goo Goo Dolls but i honestly think you guys made your money in merchandise anyways. I saw the line be constantly full, then when it almost was nothing it would start up again.

     The show started "Still Your Song". Then onto one of my faves "Slide". I have been a fan of GGD for many years since their first single on radio but this is my first live experience. Honestly, i am glad i didn't see them all glitzy. I would have probably blew them off and not listened to anything after that.

      This was just a bare bones show. All songs no shit. All guts no glitz. That is the way i like it. It being my first time i was definitely pleased with that. Leave the solos, speeches, breaks for other times. The way they played it John got a break from vocals when Robby did his songs he leads on. Worked out great as far as i am concerned.

     The touring band consists of : John Rzeznik (guitarist, lead and backing vocalist, songwriter), Robby Takac (lead and backing vocals, bass), Mike Malinin (drums, percussion), Brad Fernquist (rhythm guitars, mandolin), and Korel Tunador (keyboards, guitars,saxophone,  backing vocals). Oddly enough the two founding members seem to be the constant, but others have joined and stayed on. In it for the long haul is John Rzeznik and Robby Takac...

     I guess honestly there were many highlights for me. I heard so many songs i know and love that it made it worth sitting in the car to get there. Shame they were playing Ithaca, NY the following night and couldn't stick around for a bit. With Tootsie's, Cadillac Ranch and 20 other bars and such just around the corner.

     I guess what was missing was an opening band i actually wanted to see and meeting the band. That is about it. But if they fulfilled all would there be a reason to go see them again? Probably not. They are a good band to see live for the ticket price is the truth of it....


The set list as follows:

Still Your Song
Slide
Here is Gone
Big Machine
Dizzy
Smash
January
Home
Black Balloon
Can't Let Go
Name
Now I Hear
Tucked Away
We'll Be Here
Become
Let Love In
Stay With You
Better Days
As I Am
Iris
Broadway
Naked

     So all in all a 22 song set is pretty good all things considered. I can't complain about the length of the show by any means. They covered just about every song i and most everyone else wanted to hear. I was quite sure they weren't going to play "Don't Beat My Ass With a Baseball Bat" for some odd reason.

     Anyway, was a good show put on by the Goo Goo Dolls. I can honestly say i have been gooed now. I look forward to their next tour. And have several good live pics to post up, so check'em out....And John there is no way back to the garage man....


     Who my next concert will be who knows? Who my last concert will be only god knows...stay tuned and find out!

Michael Monroe Band Live @ Fubar's in St. Louis October 10,2011

     If i was to tell you i was impressed that would be an understatement. This was my first time seeing Michael Monroe live and i hope it isn't the last. Michael and his band are definitely worth your time and travel to see. Even if it is a Monday night. They came to St. Louis and hit Fubar's of all places. Fubar's is a small club with 2 stages. Mainly it is a bar.

     The openers i was not impressed with. One band showed some potential. The singer should have stuck around and watched Michael Monroe perform it would show him what performing is all about. One of the other bands was pretty decent, just not really my thing is all. The rest were a waste of time. I always give the benefit of the doubt though and see the opening bands. Sadly i didn't write the band names down but i do think the one good bands name was Zuul and the one with potential was Drunk on Sunday.

     The atmosphere of Fubar's is pretty much that of any bar/club. Nothing fancy, just basically a bar and a couple of stages. The drinks as usual could be stronger. But anyway i wasn't there to drink, i was there to see the Michael Monroe band.

      The house lights went down at about 10:30 pm. As the band took the stage you could feel and see the energy. Michael has more energy than any 3 year old i have seen, i only wish i had half of energy. From start to finish it was the highest energy show i have seen live. From climbing on top of the speakers to doing the splits the man doesn't sit still. And trust me i tried to catch him for a good picture.

     The first song was off the new release "Sensory Overdrive" called " Trick of the Wrist". And yeah it sounds good live. Of course the show was peppered with old and new songs. I was hoping to hear a few of my faves like Dead, Jail or Rock N' Roll  and Motorvatin and yes they were played and well. Hearing Superpowered Superfly was great. Another excellent song off his latest disc. And 78 was spot on live as well. I must say it went over well with the rest of crowd as well. Hearing Mystery City was cool as it gets. I remember a good friend recommending that disc and i believe Two Steps from the Move when i was interested but had never heard much of Hanoi Rocks. Ironically i was listening to some old Hanoi Rocks and heard Taxi Driver on the way to the show and hell yeah they played it.

     This is the kind of show you dream of getting to see but rarely get the pleasure of actually getting to see it. Most shows like this just don't happen for one reason or another. If only Michael could have packed Crashdiet in his suit case and brought them i would have thought i won the musical lottery. To say Michael is a performer is an insult. He is nothing short of being one of the best front men in rock. He is humble, nice, and cool to his fans which is a rarity. I only wish more people in St. Louis and surrounding areas had enough sense to get out of their houses and come out to good shows like this. I would guess there was somewhere around a 100-125 fans in attendance. I hope this doesn't stop Michael and the band from stopping in the next tour. I guess for what we all lacked in numbers we had enthusiasm for the show and artist though. One guy recorded the whole show from right in front of the stage.

Much thanks to Michael and the band for taking the time to take photos, give autographs and just plain being great to your fans. Hope you make it back next tour!!! And Michael still has barely aged since the 80's and has stayed in great shape. Hard to believe the man has rocked it as long as he has....And if you see Michael Monroe "Sensory Overdrive" cd or in another form buy it, it is a good release and worth your money.

The band consists of: Michael Monroe on vocals, Dregen on guitar, Steven Conte on guitar, Karl Rockfist on drums, and last but not least Sami Yaffa on bass.

     Set list:

Trick of the Wrist
Got Blood
Miracle
Motorvatin
Hammersmith Palais
78
Nothin's Alright
Not Fakin It
Superpowered Superfly
Bombs Away
Dysfunctional
Mystery City
Malibu Beach
Dead, Jail, or Rock N' Roll
I Wanna Be Loved
Taxi Driver
Feel Alright


Some show pics: