Category / Music

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Concert Flashback: Chicks With Attitude

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So, how do you top accusations of selling out after putting out a pop album that puts off your vocal indie fanbase?  How about teaming with Maybelline for a tour meant to promote a new brand of edgy makeup.  The artists, Liz Phair, The Cardigans, Katy Rose and Charlotte Martin, “have been handpicked to represent Chicks with Attitude–strong young women on the rise who are an inspiration to other young women looking to find their own voice,” according to a press release.  Because why not, I was in attendance, along with Tina and some of her friends, when the tour rolled in to the House of Blues, just under a year since I saw Liz Phair previously.

I have no particular memory of Charlotte Martin or Katy Rose, either of their performance that night or their careers in general.  The Cardigans were next, and they delivered on the few songs of theirs that I know and enjoy.  Finally, Liz Phair performed, once again in support of her self titled pop album.  Just like the show from the year before, I don’t have any particular memories of her performance.  This album was probably the end of my Liz Phair fandom, so I’m sure I at least somewhat enjoyed myself.

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Concert Flashback: Liz Phair

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10 years after her seminal debut album, Liz Phair returned to her hometown to support her latest release, an attempt to be an out and out pop star.  At her best, Phair was always a timid stage performer and, according to the Chicago Tribune, this wasn’t her at her best.  I can’t claim to have much in the way of particular memories about this show, but the story of her sharing the stage with a fan to perform Flower does ring a bell.

I had been a fan of Liz Phair since the release of Exile In Guyville back in 1993 and the occassional appearance of her video on MTV’s 120 Minutes.  While it may not have been the  best performance, I could at least cross her off the list of acts that I would need to see.  Of course, she would also play a part in the next show I would see.

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Concert Flashback: Garbage

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In 2002, Garbage went on a headlining tour in support of their third release, Beautiful Garbage and their Chicago stop was at the Riviera, my first trip to the historic venue.  Abandoned Pools opened the show, followed by the Butch Vig-less Garbage.  The drummer had dropped off the tour after coming down with Bell’s Palsy and was replaced by Matt Chamberlain, at least according to the Interwebs.

I don’t remember much about the show itself, but it does live on as a bootleg that I have and can listen to whenever I’d like.  The 17 song set was evenly divided between the 3 albums, with 5 songs from their debut record and 6 each from the two followups.

After this show, I’ve only missed one Chicago performance by Garbage, which took place last year.  I certainly don’t plan on missing them the next time they come to town.

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Concert Flashback: The Monkees

01monkeesFollowing a resurgence in customer interest after their appearances on VH1’s Behind The Music and the E! True Hollywood Story, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork decided to regroup (sans Michael Nesmith) and go on their first tour since 1997 as the Monkees.  Their Chicagoland appearance was a Sunday afternoon at the Star Plaza Theatre in beautiful Merrillville, Indiana.

To say this was unlike any other show I had been to would be a bit of an understatement.  For one thing, it was a Sunday afternoon.  Also, the average age of the crowd was about 75, give or take a decade.  Which meant that everyone stayed in their seats for the entire show.  Thirdly, there was no opening act.  Instead, the supporting act, the never heard of before or since group known as Natural, came out in the middle of the show to give the old timers a bit of a break.

According to the Interwebs, the trio hit all of the bands biggest hits, even those originally fronted by Nesmith.  I suppose a good time was had by all in attendance.

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Concert Flashback: The Bangles

00banglesNearly 2 1/2 years after my last concert, I headed down to the House of Blues to meet up with Tina and some of her friends to see the Bangles.  The band had gotten back together the year before to record a song for the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack and were touring for the first time in a decade.  I don’t remember much about the show, other than being entertained.  A good time was had by all as the band mixed in new songs from their upcoming comeback album with the hits that everyone was there to hear.

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It’s Off To Work I Go

Monday had me chained to a chair doing mindless, repetitive work all day, so I pulled out my phone and listened to some tunes.  This list is the music that got me through the drudgery of that day.

You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC Back In Black 2/10/2014 10:53 AM
Baby One More Time Travis 2/10/2014 10:57 AM
Hand In My Pocket Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 2/10/2014 11:00 AM
Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon Urge Overkill Pulp Fiction OST 2/10/2014 11:04 AM
In Your Eyes Peter Gabriel So 2/10/2014 11:16 AM
All Apologies Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York Rock 2/10/2014 11:20 AM
Our Party Mexican Cheerleader Mexican Cheerleader 2/10/2014 11:22 AM
If You Dont Know Me by Now Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes The 70s Love Collection 2/10/2014 11:26 AM
Girls & Boys Blur The Best Of (Disc 1) 2/10/2014 11:30 AM
Crazy Seal Crazy 2/10/2014 11:36 AM
You Suck The Murmurs The Murmurs 2/10/2014 11:39 AM
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Concert Flashback: Stone Temple Pilots

97stpWith about a month to go before graduation, I headed to the Elliott Hall of Music to take in a performance from Stone Temple Pilots with opening act Cheap Trick.  I don’t even remember who I went with, though I have to imagine that either Tracie or Courtney had to have been involved.  Cheap Trick were between their late 80s comeback and their soon to come That 70s Show renaissance.  My memory tells me that they skipped their 80s hits and instead focused on their 70s anthems along with a few tunes from whatever CD they were trying to push at the time.

My main memory of the Stone Temple Pilots portion of the show is them breaking everything down for a short acoustical set in the middle of the show, including a giant wooden rocking chair from which Scott Weiland would sing.  The show must have rocked at least somewhat since the band had to fork over $8500 in damages after inciting the crowd to head towards the stage.  Everything seemed to be repaired by the next time I was in the building, which would have either been for a final or for graduation less than a month after the show.

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Concert Flashback: Alanis Morissette

96alanisLabor day weekend of 1996 brought what seemed like half of the people in my major up to the New World Music Theatre for a scheduled performance by Alanis Morissette.  If I remember correctly, I attended with Joe, Tina, and their younger siblings.  I don’t recall there being an opening act, or, if there was, we showed up after their performance.

I don’t remember much of the show itself, but I’m pretty sure the setlist consisted of the first album on shuffle.  I do seem to remember a post-show visit to the Dennys in Orland, because what is more classy than that.

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Concert Flashback: Bush

96bushIn the spring of 1996, Bush brought their headlining tour to the campus of Purdue University to perform at the Elliott Hall of Music.  Their opening acts were No Doubt, who hadn’t become No Doubt yet, and the Goo Goo Dolls.

No Doubt kicked off the show and, while they turned out to be my favorite band on this bill, I hadn’t heard of them yet.  Their first hit, Just A Girl, had just come out and this was my first exposure to it.  If there was any show I could relive later in life, this would likely be it.

After No Doubt came the Goo Goo Dolls, who probably played a few songs other than Name, but I think anyone would be hard pressed to tell you what they were.

Finally, Bush came out and played all of the hits from their debut album.  I don’t really remember much about their performance, but I’m sure it was a perfectly fine show.  At worst, it was a decent way to waste away a night with about a month to go before finals.

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Concert Flashback: Tripping Daisy

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As I recall, there were 3 problems heading into this show:
1) I only got tickets to impress a girl I had a crush on, who happened to have seen them the week before and wasn’t interested in seeing them again
2) It was the day after my 21st birthday
3) It was Tripping F’n Daisy

In my hungover state following the celebration of my birthday, I drove home from school with Mike, who had come down for the big birthday bash, and Tracie, who was going to attend this dud of a show with me.  All I remember of the show is that they played their one big hit, I’ve Got A Girl, and that the show wasn’t all that well attended.  I’ve been to a few shows at the Metro since then and have never seen that much room on the floor.