For a good time call....

well actually just go by, Don't call! AND IT'S FREE!!!!

Little Woodrow's (http://littlewoodrows.com/aus_southpark/) is hosting a Wednesday edition of Austin Live and Local (http://www.mix947.com/Austin-Live---Local/15183509) with host Patrick Davis and guest host MC Overlord (http://www.overlordmusic.com).

This takes place in the back of Little Woodrow's from 8 - 9 every Wednesday. It is good raucous fun with a little touch of some local music in every show AND it's is a radio show that is created right before your eyes.

I, myself, did not know what to expect and was surprised at what I got. You will be too!

Austin Live and Local is set up in a talk show format. The hosts and usually a couple of guests cover everything from current events and sports in the most irreverent way possible to a quick fire exchange of banter during conversations. The hour long show ends with a special musical guest performing a couple of songs.

The show is pod cast on MIX 94.7 the next evening and there is nothing quite like being part of that live audience and then listening back to the (sometimes edited) show the next day. It makes it all the more fun.

So go do yourself a favor, get out of the house, get off the sofa. It is on Wednesday nights and is only for an hour. You can be back home and in bed by breakfast!

I loved it and plan to participate again, hope to see you there.

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