Rest in Peace (or not, your choice) Dimebag. You will be missed.
I’ve never been the total metalhead that some people are, but I still get into the loud stuff. And Pantera was loud. The new band Damageplan sounded pretty good too.
Ah, well. Yet another talented musician cut down in his prime by an asshole. In an amazing blast of Universal Coincidence, this murder occurred 24 years to the day from the murder of John Lennon.
How’s that for a duet?
Sunday, August 29, 2004. Mohegan Sun Arena
Judas Fuckin’ Priest! (Okay, it didn’t actually SAY that on the tickets…)
Rob Halford is back. And he can still scream. 30 Years. These guys have been rockin’ out for 30 years. Is this a new precedent? Rockers dying of old age???
The opening act wasn’t anything to write home about. Just loud drums and screaming. Seriously - you could not hear the guitar and bass over the screaming. Although, we were sitting on the side of the stage, so actually HEARING the concert was a bit of a problem.
Priest did a pretty short set, actually. If I had to guess, I’d say it was the same as their Ozz-fest set (I wasn’t at Ozz-fest, so I can’t say for sure). I’d be that after being apart for so long, and working on a new album, they only had time to work on these few songs and get them tight enough to go on stage with them. Rob’s not been doing much lately, so he’s gotta get back in shape anyhow!
Even though I’ve never been a hard-core fan of the Priest, I’m actually looking forward to the new album. I’m really liking the resurgence of metal.
Saturday, August 28, 2004. Jones Beach Ampitheatre, Wantagh, NY.
Yes, with special guest Dream Theater.
I’d heard good things about Jones Beach. I knew that it was an outdoor venue, but that was about it. I was worried that the sound would be as muffled and muddy as it is at some of the other ampitheatre-style venues (like The Meadows in Hartford, CT). I was pleasantly wrong.
There was a bit of the highs getting muffled intermittently. I suspect the wind was moving speakers just enough to cause the problem. It didn’t do too much damage to the music, though.
I’d never seen Dream Theater before. I’d heard their music before, and I would have classified them as “Art-metal”. Kind of like a harder version of Yes. Lots of intricate music, but with crushing drums and very crunchy riffs. Judging by the shirt-count of those walking in, I’d say they have quite a dedicated following. And after seeing them play, I understand why.
Anyhow, to get to the real reason we drive all this way for a show - Yes. Same set as the first leg, with the addition of a pair of “Peace” banners on the side of the stage. Hey, can’t hurt, right? The inflatable bird was having quite a bit of fun in the breeze. Jones Beach is right on the water, and you sit facing the water, so the way the wind blows, it comes down behind you and then blasts across the stage.
Marc went to the Hartford show last weekend (which is also part of the second leg of the 35th anniversary tour), and they changed the set-list quite a bit from then. The acoustic set was the same. But it sounded bigger, somehow. In fact, I think the openness of the stage (basically, there is the roof over the stage itself, and then nothing. Completely open.) made everything sound bigger. Close to the Edge sounded bigger than I have ever heard it in my lifetime.
Chris Squire may be the only man on Earth happy that the RNC is in New York this week. He said he’s never made it across town faster, now that everyone’s left!
Everyone was absolutely brilliant, and I’ll leave it there. I’ll also be going back to Jones Beach for more shows.
May 12, 2004. Uncasville, CT. Mohegan Sun Arena.
We were as far back as you could be - the sound was still near perfect. Especially considering that this is primarily a basketball arena!
The set was beautiful. If you didn’t know going in that it was Roger Dean, you’d figure it out quickly enough. The organic lines were a dead giveaway.
This is the only band I know of that can come out on stage, rock out for an hour, and only have played seven songs. It’s a beautiful thing. I won’t bore you with the entire setlist. Besides, I can’t take credit for remembering it perfectly, that goes to the people at Forgotten Yesterdays.
So anyhow, they come out and open with “Going for the One”. They split “Mind Drive” up the middle, and slap “South Side of the Sky” in there (Jon didn’t hit the high note, but he tried). They closed out the first act with “Yours is no Disgrace”, and took a nice little break.
During this break, someone snuck a grand piano on stage. How I didn’t notice is beyond me. I wasn’t paying attantion, I guess. Rick sits down at the piano, and immediately starts blowing minds, as only Rick Wakeman can. Jon joins him for “The Meeting”. From there, they do an hour-long acoustic set. High point: “Wonderous Stories”. First time in my life I have ever been overcome at a concert. It was probably the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard. Roundabout as a blues piece is deranged. But it works!
After a lovely set, Jon, Chris, Rick and Alan take off, and leave us in the care of Mr. Howe. I don’t think I’m the only one who noticed, but Steve seems much more sprightly this time ’round compared to the last tour. I didn’t ecognize the piece, but it’s Steve, so the title is unimportant.
The gents come back, and play for about another 40 minutes, finishing with another song they haven’t played live in a dog’s age. “Every Little Thing” was their first song ro be released, over 35 years ago. I can’t tell you what it sounded like then (I was -1 at the time), but it sounded like completely fresh and groundbreaking stuff now.
Since they had already played Roundabout, it was obvious that we were going to get a different encore tonight. I was hoping for “Perpetual Change” (I always do…) but I was happily stunned to be greeted by Starship Trooper.
This ranks among the best performances I have ever experienced from this band. I’m going to have to catch another stop on this tour.
Anyone up for a trip to Wembley?
I cannot seem to stop listening to Linkin Park’s Meteora. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. I don’t know why, of course. The energy level of this album is absolutely incredible. And there’s a palpable sense of seething rage hiding just under the surface.
Anyhow, I’m not a music reviewer or music critic. I just know what I like, and I like this.