X marks the spot

Austin, Texas won the bid to host the X games  (http://xgames.espn.go.com/xgames/) for 4 years starting on 2014. Although there were no major reported problems with the event or locale, it did seem if X Games and the    Circuit of the Americas   (http://circuitoftheamericas.com/) learned and grew for 2015.

Events were much closer together. The main village (called the Galleria) was located in the Grand Plaza. Food and vendor booths abounded. Traveling to the Big Air or Skate Park event areas were close and there was much to see on your way to any event. The dirt courses were also very close to the central hub. So it seemed an overall and overwhelming kudos is on deck.

The music portion is what I care about. It was a varied and wide selection of genres to keep a broad spectrum of the crowd pleasantly entertained. The 360 Amphitheater  (http://austin360amphitheater.com/) was the prefect anchor for all of the sights and events. I only caught one act here. It was exactly who I wanted to see. Although there were several other amazing performances that happened throughout the weekend, I knew I had to pace myself for Saturday.

Phranchyze (http://www.phranchyze.com/) is one of Austin, Texas many outstanding hip hop performers and rappers. It was amazing to see him on the big stage and having the opportunity to strike. His set was fast paced and fun, Lyrically entertaining, and with some catchy hooks. I have seen Phranchyze on the small stage in a club set, this was UNDOUBTABLY a different experience aurally. By the end of his set, the crowd grew from several of us on the floor, to close to a hundred. This did not include the many people hanging around the upper edges of the Amphitheater.

It seems the lesson learned from last year's main act in a venue that holds ~15,000 people was solved. With the construction of the Super Stage on turn 11 of the Circuit of Americas track, more than 40,000 people... Not a problem.

  Metallica (http://www.metallica.com/) made their triumphant return to Austin on the Saturday of the Xgames. With years from their last performance in Austin, no relevant new album out, and not even currently on a tour (all of 3 shows scheduled in 2015) they proved what almost 30 years of music does to a fan base... It makes it Generational!
 

The Super Stage lived up to its name. With 2 huge screens on either side of the stage and the entire back of the stage being a giant screen. There was really not a moment to miss of Metallica's performance. Whether you were looking through a lens or not, the whole performance was dumbfounding. There was even a crowd of about 200 onstage that joined the band for the entire performance.

The use of lasers during Metallica's epic song, One, was timed perfectly and visually stunning. This is not to disparage the entire performance. It was completely complete! From start to finish. Opening with what is now their standard, 'Quest for gold' (including video from 'The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly') until the bitter end and what seemed to be 3 en cores.

For all of those in attendance, the ones who have never seen Metallica, those who have, and those who ARE Metallica, it was an EPIC near 2 hour performance. It left me wanting for no song in their catalog. In the time that has passed from this performance, I have not heard one complaint about a song they didn't do. Even listening to my Metallica CO'S again and realizing what songs they didn't do... It was metal head, metal mulisha perfection.

Here is the link to the full photo album from the XGames (https://goo.gl/photos/SqpxgTtTNtQskM6a6)

Laters

What little girls are made of....

Seems to me the Austin360 Amphitheater (http://austin360amphitheater.com) has my number...and in a good way. Although I haven't done press for every single show I have put a request in for, I have still done some key shows and am very happy the way it has panned. New professional acquaintances and some great life experience(s) always make any sweat and hard work worth it.

Being at the Circuit of The Americas (http://circuitoftheamericas.com) for  the inaugural and mind blowing F1 races, to the grand opening of the Austin360 Amphitheater with Kenny Chesney and the No Shoes Nation (. Shooting photos and writing up the hottest rock tour of the summer in the form of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival featuring Rob Zombie and then capping it off with Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert on the Locked and ReLoaded Tour. Pretty damn nice.

The changes to the whole environment of what is The Circuit of the Americas and the Austin360 Amphitheater are tangible and worth while over the course of the last year. On the COTA side there is  the growing grass, solutions to traffic, and shuttling patrons around. On the Austin360 Amphitheater side there is the improvements to path lighting, ambient surround lighting, and location/lighting of the portable bathrooms.

If you have only been out to this facility once and didn't notice, fine and understandable, but if you have been out there 4, 5, or 6 times and seen the growth and improvement, you know and understand. COTA was world class from day 1, but with the arrival of the Summer X Games in 2014, COTA is now putting its Austin footprint on the world!

Enough BLAH BLAH BLAH and butt smooching to COTA and the Austin360 Amphitheater (though  I will be back in November for the F1 races again), let's talk about some fun ass country music and a few great performances.

Charlie Worsham (http://www.charlieworsham.com) you, sir, KICKED ASS! I was not able to shoot any photos of you (but thanks to my friend Suzanne from Front Row, there are some great ones here - http://flic.kr/s/aHsjKaYVQN ). I WAS however able to enjoy the whole performance without the distraction of a lens to my face. I have no doubt that I enjoyed your musical genius and talent as much as every other lucky person that was there early enough to. Without a doubt, if there is someone out there in the world that is going to do a cover song and make it there own, but still recognizable....'Crazy Train' is the EPIC, UBER COOL, top of that pyramid, done by Charlie. To my surprise I overheard someone who was saddened that Charlie chose to close with the title track to his debut album 'Rubberband' and not his up and coming hit single 'Could It Be'. I personally don't give a shit as I thought the performance was pretty damn cool and just flowed perfectly.

I am a fan of music, get star struck like most, and act like an idiot when I am lucky enough to meet someone. After shooting the obligatory first 3 songs of the Dierks Bentley set, all of the photographers where being herded back to out stoop when I was stopped DEAD IN MY TRACKS. None other than Charlie EFFING Worsham is standing, leaning against a rail, in the crowd watching Dierks perform. Both "WOW" and "HOLY SHIT" come to mind. I simply stopped dead in my tracks called him out by name '"Charlie?" and then proceeded to shake his hand like crazy and pat him on the shoulder. Looking around to my photography peers, I was in awe. To you Charlie Worsham, I can't say enough "Thank you's" to express my gratitude and happiness that you took the time to go hang out and watch the show from our perspective and were cordial enough to accept my praise. Thank You, and if I am lucky enough that you read this...call me or email me...

Dierks Bentley (http://dierks.com/full-home). This was ALOT different of a performance than the last time I did a write up 3 years ago (http://livemusicinaustin.blogspot.com/2010/08/you-know-its-country-show-whenthe-band.html). Although Dierks wasn't the headliner, it didn't matter and you would have never guessed. The stage show and performance were really to the moon! Kicking it into gear from the opening song and not looking back, Dierks really put the crowd on its feet. This was not a warm up for Miranda, it was a damn barn burner! Even when Dierks settled for a slowdown it was nothing like that in the crowd. Hot and sweaty, with woman ripping off their little white tank tops, throwing them in the middle right next to him, it was crazy. I swear there is one lady I saw before and after Dierks and she WAS wearing a little white tank top before his performance and then magically was wearing a black one afterwards...she denied it to hell,...I SWEAR! Even having the band as a whole, climb onto the scaffolding at the back of the stage as a giant, full moon rose across the screen to perform 'Up on the ridge' was pretty damn cool.

 I strongly hold the opinion that people pay money and go to live performances to not just hear and see that musician play the songs, but to give us all a little piece of themselves. It's not just the story telling that is woven into the music, but it is the VH1 Storytellers that the artists become onstage. Telling us those intimate moments about writing this song or that one. Dierks does it
wonderfully and with a smile. From the tear jerking moment about the song in memory of his dad ('I Hold On'), to getting the girls to throw it onstage, it's what makes a good show it to a great memory! BTW Dierks, don't EVER get rid of the Stubbs cap! It was cool seeing you were that for the live performance broadcast from New York.

Miranda Lambert (http://www.mirandalambert.com). Ohhhh Miranda Lambert. What could be better than Dierks Bentley....how about that blond hair woman with all the attitude, spark, and confidence ONLY a Texas woman would have the balls to be! Miranda Lambert's very cool opening and tribute to all the strong woman of the world and of the west, was right on the money. The unexpected, but 'HELL YEAH', moment in realizing what her opening song was, to her non stop movement on the stage. If you like Miranda Lambert, then you Love her. For the kick ass,  don't take no shit from anyone attitude she has in songs like 'Gun powder and Lead' to the moving and
heartfelt 'The House that built me', whew...it was a roller coaster ride. Intricately tying her videos to her performance and mashing up some covers was just loads of fun. All the way down to how she introduced the band mid set....very cool. From the crowds perspective and  for the love of all that is Texas...Miranda kept it locked and reloaded!

Can't forget to mention Jukebox Mafia (http://www.jukeboxmafia.com) and their ninja like performance in between Dierks and Miranda. Yup! If you didn't know, that is actually a real band playing all those country mash ups of your favorite hit songs! Those guys are GREAT FUN and big props to Miranda for letting these guys work up the crowd in between sets. F N Genius!

I have to finish up by talking shit to a buddy of mine. Jorge, I shouldn't get my man card revoked for going to a Miranda Lambert show....I GET THAT CARD DOUBLE D STAMPED!!!!!

Laters

R.E.D.M.F.

The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival (http://rockstarmayhemfest.com)...what a mouthful, but what a show. The REDMF rolled into Austin, Texas on a beautiful triple digit day at the Austin360 Amphitheater (http://austin360amphitheater.com).  

The Austin360 is, no doubt, turning into Austin's premier entertainment facility. Not only for the outstanding concert venue the amphitheater is, but for the history making Circuit of the Americas track that encompasses it. All of the different music and entertainment events coming out will definitely put Austin on the map as a stopping point for many years to come. Although you may hear occasional complaints of parking prices or the location of the facility just outside of the city of Austin proper, the truth is, any major city you go to which has a world class facility like this is not much different.

For the Austin360 itself, it seems to me there have been some subtle improvements since the grand opening with Kenny Chesney (http://livemusicinaustin.blogspot.com/2013/04/shared-experiences-kenny-chesney.html). The grounds and facilities are greatly improved with more lighting on common ways and more seating around the circumference of the amphitheater. When you get your opportunity to go here for an event, be prepared to be 'Wowed' and have a great time.

It is Austin, in the summer, so anyone who goes to an outdoor festival here and bitches about the heat is just stupid. I would love to thank all the bands that endlessly reminded the crowds of that triple digit fact. Albeit, the fans and crowds were insane for all of the bands who performed on the side stages at the REDMF, but for the purpose of keeping it somewhat concise, I will just be reviewing the performances from the main stage!

Amon Amarth (http://amonamarth.com) proudly stormed the main stage to kick off the final portion of the REDMF. With the giant, front end of a Viking ship center stage, everyone in attendance should have gotten the clue this was going to be intense. However, after blasting into their set, these Swedish rockers did pull out some tired cliches like, "Are you ready to Rock?", "This is the loudest crowd of the tour?" and "We know it's hot, but lets turn up the heat some more!" It doesn't matter! The crowd loved them. Swedish metal gods they are, with the themed songs that Amon Amarth is known for this crowd was up for the aural punishment! God I loved it. It was fantastic to be in the back on the grass and just watch the frenzied thousands in attendance down on the floor, in front of the stage, with their 'horns' up. There is never anything quiet like that Scandinavian metal to get the blood flowing on the concrete.

Mastadon (http://www.mastodonrocks.com) rocked the stage next. With their killer bass and guitar riffs from Atlanta, Ga, Mastadon had no problem grabbing the audience by the horns and stomping their collective ears into the concrete...and the crowd loved it. Commenting on the (unfortunately small) size of the crowd, but acknowledging the rowdiness was proof enough of how much this crowd enjoyed their power. Mastadon did appear to be the favorite for local rockers Vallejo, as two of the Vallejo members were spotted backstage rocking out as the band powered through their set. Mastadon's set was just long enough to make the audience realize it was too damn short!

Five Finger Death Punch (http://www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com). Oh Yeah! HELL YES! The sun went down, it was STILL triple digits, and Austin got a dose of FFDP right to the groin. Being down in front when the deep, DEEP, Bass tone started to emanate from the speakers, was completely numbing to your head, and damn near heart stopping. It was the signal. The black curtain dropped and FFDP exploded onto the stage with EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THEIR FEET. With one of the most distinctive voices in the current metal world, Ivan had the Austin360 Amphitheater completely at his beck and call. At one point playing a game of "Ivan says" (simply because his mom didn't name him Simon), and gave the audience a few laughs. Then it was off through the music again. The story told leading into the song 'Bad Company' is simply too much to repeat here, it has to be experienced at a show. The amazing control that FFDP had over the audience was evident in its purest form when I beheld a sight rarely seen now a days....REAL lighters in the air. EPIC!

As if all of the above was not enough, Rob Zombie (http://robzombie.com) set the stage on fire to finish off the night. Once again, the black curtain fell, revealing a massive stage set up with risers, l.e.d. screens,and pyrotechnics you felt 100ft away...Unholy Hell! If you are going to put on a show, dammit man, doing it Zombie style is the way to go. It was better than expected and more powerful than that. The audience, 'smallest of the tour' as Rob reminded us, went crazy with the largest mosh pit I have witnessed in 13 years. People poured down from the lawn, flooded through the rails (through them, over them, under them), and basically stormed the floor! Security be damned, IT WAS ON!

Rob Zombie was an entertainment extravaganza. The lights, the sounds, animatronics, costumes, AND the music, soul satisfying heavy metal rock and roll! This is EXACTLY what every single, sweaty, tired ass body was here for, came to see, and got! Every song that every Rob Zombie fan wanted to hear, was performed, including the unexpected treat of The Guess Who's classic anthem 'An American band'. The whole set was beyond epic as Rob Zombie made complete use of the visual and aural elements to just stun the crowd. Maybe not stun, how about whip the crowd into a frenzy. With bodies flying in the pit, slamming into each other, slamming into the ground, and even seeing chanclas (look it up if you don't know what it means, but by definition this is the epitome of Austin keeping it weird - chanclas in the pit at a metal show) flying in the air. It was a show that will not soon be forgotten and hard to top.

 

Laters 

Double trouble

I am going a little out of the norm here. Although I did see both Tee Double and P-Tek live at a performance, I will not be talking about the venue and straying a little from a review of the performance  and more of their individual styles as Hip-Hop artists.

P-Tek The Professor! (http://www.ptekmusic.com) was crazy phenomenal. I didn't know what to expect and what I heard I didn't expect! In one aspect it was typical good. You know, it was a live vocal performance over the pre-recorded track, but the technical aspects of the music would have made it near impossible to reproduce, fluidly, live. P-Teks voice is recognizable as his own, even when he gets amped up and starts to put the passion behind his voice, he still has his own timbre to his music. I do believe that P-Tek is part of Brain Ninjazz Edutainment, if not, he still has an association with them for all of the guest spots on his disc (my personal favorite is Doc Deuce talking about getting it on with his 'own personal Fun, Fun, Fun Fest'). The content that he raps about is heady and deep. Smart lyrics that are as far out left field as you can get while being conceptual and witty. As for the music...



I was lucky enough to have P-Tek drop me his disc. I have blasted it on repeat since then, with only a couple of exceptions (Magna Carta Holy Grail and Tee Double)! I would say that the nickname "The Professor" should and would stick because of the lyrical and musical genius this album is. It sounded crafted and created in the most positive way possible. Like The Professor from Gilligan's Island, P-Tek creates some music and rhymes from seemingly nowhere, then blasts them to the great joy of your ears! Pulling you in all directions, throughout the disc the music sounds current, up to date, and at times almost futuristic. BUT, the disc is so totally retro I was laughing at things that I picked up and how they translated to me. I heard pieces of BDP, Sugar Hill Gang, and 3rd Bass (yup! I said that and that is what I heard). Please jump to his website, give him a listen, go out and support the hip-hop scene in Austin, Texas and P-Tek 'The Professor' will leave you with a smile.

Tee Double (http://www.teedouble.com) and I have that common thread of going to school here in Austin, Tx in the late Eighties and early Nineties (McCallum for Tee and Reagan for me). Austin is not much of a different city now from then to now. Oh yes it has changed over the last 2+ decades, but not anymore than your hometown has grown and changed over that same time span. This common thread does put my brain on backspin though, thinking of life in Austin 20 something years ago and what shaped and influenced our lives and our musical tastes. How we have developed our opinions and singular paths now from then is surprising as diverse and different as our musical backgrounds are. I am happy that I have maintained that connection with the music world by writing about all of the awesome and diverse things that Austin, Texas offers not only to it's children, but the rest of the world. I am even happier to have reconnected with a child of the city that has chosen to stay, create, and maintain something worth while for the city of Austin to be proud of! I am sure that I could write a book, go on and on, and yet that has nothing to do with the blog or the artist known as Tee Double.


Tee Double on stage is smooth, serene, and yet deadly serious and focused. Stabbing his rhymes into your head with crazy precision making you think with his pointed lyrics. A gifted and talented producer and exquisite creator of beats, his is 100% Austin and original. Sounding (IMO) a lot like Too Short, if Short was intelligent, political, and had stayed off the pipe. His voice is low key, but the stories he weaves are deep, intellectual and no doubt the reason that the City of Austin has graced him with his own day (September 30th). Go to his web page to really get a glimpse at all of the work he has done for Austin and the Hip Hop community here.

The disc that I am proud to be listening too (in between the new Jay Z and that P-Tek dude) is pretty powerful shit. It has a completely retro sound to it, but he maintains and weaves the story intricately throughout the whole disc. It all ties together musically! The lyrical content is sharp, as I said, and you have no trouble picking up Tee Doubles pride in his home town. With absolutely no hesitation I tell you to go see Tee when you can, the problem is that he is in such high demand, his performances seem to be opening for some of the biggest names in the music game.

Laters

"Shared Experiences" - Kenny Chesney

What a great Grand Opening event for the Austin360 Amphitheater (http://austin360amphitheater.com). With Kenny Chesney and the lovely Kacey Musgraves performing, all I can say is 'it was a perfect night.' With a beautiful crowd, and one Helluva good time, I am new citizen in the 'No Shoes Nation'.

Gotta talk about the venue first.

I was here in November for Clay Walker (http://livemusicinaustin.blogspot.com/2012/11/off-starting-grid.html) during the inaugural F1 races, from then 'til now the grass has grown, the permanent stage went up, and all the seats went in. Perfect! The set up is pretty sweet. The Grand Plaza has all of the eats, drinks, and swag you need. There was also a giant tailgate party to kick off the grand opening event, which was fun, and a great idea. To top it off, there was a stage in a large grassy area off the Grand Plaza. Here, Mickey and The Motorcars kept us entertained while everyone drank, ate, and took in the whole spectacle. -More about Mickey and The Motorcars performance in a separate post-

Once past the Grand Plaza courtyard and into the body of the amphitheater there are more food booths and drink stations. With plenty of spots to grab something, there are virtually no lines for food or drink. The staff from Sodexo that were assisting the patrons with food or drink were all great, friendly, and smiling.  In one location it was set up like an outside bar with nice, high top tables and comfortable stools. This was so cool to grab a drink (and maybe a snack), sit down next to the railing, and enjoy the music with a side view of the stage. Very nice!

I would like to see a little improvement to the lighting around the concourse of the amphitheater. Once it got dark, it was pretty damn difficult to see where you were going. Some sort of path lighting or l.e.d.'s would make a huge difference and not affect the ability to see the show. Although there were plenty of restrooms (thank you folks for getting that right), there was no type of lighting by the portable bathrooms, making that an experience I would have rather not accomplished.

Inside the actual Austin360 Amphitheater is were all the excitement really came out. The gates opened and the crowd raced in to get the best spots on the lawn for a great view of the show. As I walked around, during the Kacey Musgraves set, it seems there isn't really a bad seat in the house and the sound is just fantastic everywhere. With a couple of announcements, an intro by none other than Red McCombs himself, an explosion of streamers, and a toast to the future...it was showtime!

Kacey Musgraves (http://www.kaceymusgraves.com), what a special honor for her and a good time for us. She will forever take with her the honor of being the FIRST artist to have performed on this stage. And take it she did, she just strolled out onstage, picked up her guitar and off she went. Pushing through her songs with little fan fare, there was no doubt of her confidence onstage and in front of the crowd.  From the distant point of where I was standing, not only could you see her smile but you could hear her smile in her performance. It was also nice to see quite a few people in the crowd that had already taken their spots enjoying her tunes. To my surprise she broke out with one of her personally written songs ('Mama's Broken Heart') that is currently catching massive radio airplay from a different female artist. It was a nice performance from Kacey and a great opening for the Austin360 Amphitheater

And then there was Kenny Chesney (http://www.kennychesney.com/home.php)! The flag (No Shoes Nation) was hung, the music started, and then the flag went up, exposing what seemed to be a pretty simple stage set-up. Oh! I was wrong! The massive wall of video screens completely engulfed the back of the stage and came to life playing an intro video that was digitally and visually stunning. With folks like Willie Nelson and Matthew McConaughey welcoming all to the 'No Shoes Nation' and the Austin360 Amphitheater, it was pretty damn cool. Then, in a split second, the wall of screens rotated for a blinding explosion of light that really kicked things off. I mean this thing just lit up the night! There was also a large screen above the stage so you didn't miss the performance as it happened. No matter where you were, it was like a full on television production. That made it every bit worthwhile to be in the audience and experience this! Mariza Cruz has seen Kenny Chesney previously in San Antonio, and although she loved that show and the performance, this was the cake topper. Not only was the Austin360 venue exciting, but the performance was pulse pounding and rhythm inducing. She was happily dancing to everything Kenny Chesney performed.

For me it was about enjoying the music, liking what I heard, and the smile inducing feeling that came over me. Kenny proudly performed his set and made it easy for the audience to take it all in. There was not a seated soul in the house. In the cool Texas night air it was a sight to behold, thousands of people on their feet and feeling the music. There were a couple of songs that I had hoped to hear, but can understand, with a 15 album catalog, that would not be possible. Not even in the two hours that Kenny was on stage, and that time flew by!

Thanks to the Austin360 Amphitheater for this night and opportunity, I look forward to many more.

Laters