one half of the smashing pumpkins

I also saw one half of my favorite band since the 8th grade, the Smashing Pumpkins. Now I hear you saying already "gee steph grow up already." But my reply is, "I've just always been very sophisticated. Not every 13 year old is attracted to 9 minute 70's style rock."

Having very restrictive parents, I was never really able to fulfill my middle school fantasy of seeing Mr.Corgan live with his original line up. I saw Zwan once, but it wasn't the same. In fact, the lights kind of cancelled out half my memories of that show. I think I had some type of seizure. But I digress, in 2008 I got to see Mr. Corgan and Mr. Chamberlain live.

I really enjoyed the cracks Billy C made at us for being old. I really did feel old. I stood for the majority of the concert, I was angry at the woman who was obviously on crystal who would periodically elbow my concert friend, and I was a little bit peeved at the couple who was making out in front of us.

I loved the opening where Billy came out wearing a big theatrical headpiece and a foofy dress. At first I thought it was part of the set, but no it was our personal, our ultimate, our court appointed heavy metal machine- Billy Corgan.

A Set List:

tarantula,
glow,
i am one,
mayonaise,
eye
the end is the begining is the end (watchmen trailer style, not batman and robbin)
a 10 min version of heavy metal machines
today
rosemart
stand inside your love
tonight tonight

and we only come out at night

Once upon a time:



We are all slaves to rock and roll.

the hold steady

This month I went to the Hold Steady show with a friend from law school. I felt very angelino while going to a show on a weeknight and running around in/from the torrential downpour that occurred at the end of the show. Those of you who are familiar with the phenomenon, those in California can't drive or deal with the rain. It's one of the reasons why no one walks in L.A. it's the rain (or fear of the rain.)

I'd been very curious about the Hold Steady for some time now and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. RRS now stands for "Rebel Rock Steph" as friend from law school says. The Hold Steady is a band which gives you a healthy dose of rock rock rock. Our energetic front man, Craig Finn is like an ultra excited Elvis Costello.

I often do a little research before going to the show and this guy catches a little flack for being a little chubby. "Who really cares?" is my immediate reply. We've been loving that bald Billy Corgan and also chubby Frank Black for years. Get over it fourteen year olds.

One of my favorite songs, and a crowd favorite as well was called "Chips Ahoy"

the Rentals

I saw the Rentals on September 21, 2007. I was really into them like in September of 1995; so it was a kinda retro feel. I liked the songs about not having a brain and wishing to learn a foreign language. D said he liked all the songs where there was some "whoo ooh" going on. Isn't that like 75% of the songs? But I would concur that approximately 75% of the songs were catchy danceable awesome songs. Especially enjoyable were: "Life Without a Brain", the "Barcelona" song and nostalgic favorites "Friends of P" and "Waiting." Here's just a little sampling of the current rentals material:


What I really love about the Rentals is Matt Sharp. Not only was it his birthday, and the last day of the tour, and the day of the "all night dance party." But he's a great front man. I felt more enthusiastic about the Rentals as he was signalling for us to cheer etc. Super energetic.

Justin Timberlake

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Justin Timberlake with Pink and Timbaland. I'm sure I wasn't the oldest person there, however the screaming throngs of 13 year old girls were quite overwhelming.

Notably, I saw one a-hole try to evict a thirteen year old girl from her seat while her mom was away. When I have kids I'm going to teach them to yell "pedofile! why are you even talking to me?!" when some adult tries something like that.

Further, the stage show was awesome. I was just thinking of the amazing feats of engineering that went into making his futuristic four pronged stage complete with four tiny bars and bartenders.

Almost stealing the show was Pink's ribbon-ey acrobatic act and Timbaland's musical homage to his own career.