The Newport Music Hall; 05/07/02.
WOW, this was like a "spiritual" metal show,, I can't begin to review this show with out first describing the ambience, so pardon me if this is long and drawn out. The show was billed "An evening with Down." If you have ever been to "an evening with" show, you know this means no opening band. This is usually reserved for acts like Elton John or Rush, rarely a metal band. The doors opened at 7, but my friend and I didn't want to have to wait forever, so went to a mall a couple of miles from the venue and ate some Don Pablos. Then we went over to the Newport at about 7:45, and there was still a line. So we went to Starbucks and made fun of the metal heads in the li ne with the yuppies at Starbucks. Then we got in line and made from of the yuppies at Starbucks with the metal heads in line. We got in at about 8:10, and within 10 minutes they (down) started playing a movie on this giant white tapestry covering the stage. The movie was cool, yet surreal. It was a collection of live clips of stuff like Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones (from the Rock n Roll Circus gig), KISS (in black and white from 1974) Queen, and even Slayer. What was sad and appalling was listening to the uneducated music fans who were actually watching the Stones perform "Sypmathy for the Devil" and were asking "who's that??" I swear, I am not making this up, but when they showed a clip of Sabbath, some kid behind me was asking his buddy who it was, and he wasn't joking. "Oh that was what Ozzy used to look like." Interspersed between these clips, were clips of Down recording Down II , and the video for "Stone the Crow." Finally, after an hour of this tripped out video, Black Sabbaths' "Superczar" started blaring over the PA, and then Down appeared. They opened with "The Seed" and it was on. They were on. Phil seemed very much in his element with Down. He sat thru much of the show, but it was actually cocl, he was interacting with the kids down front, getting "loaded." They played for over an hour, and jammed out everything: "Lifer," Temptations Wings," "Something on My Side." The pit moved for the heavy songs, but often, everyone just stood and chilled and danced, like I said, it was almost spiritual, and of course, most people were very well lit on any number of substances. It was a near sell out, and a very fun time. If Down come to your town, do go. I don't know how to explain the vibe. It was just like 5 metal head / 70's rock head truck drivers from the swamp playing in your living room.
WOW, this was like a "spiritual" metal show,, I can't begin to review this show with out first describing the ambience, so pardon me if this is long and drawn out. The show was billed "An evening with Down." If you have ever been to "an evening with" show, you know this means no opening band. This is usually reserved for acts like Elton John or Rush, rarely a metal band. The doors opened at 7, but my friend and I didn't want to have to wait forever, so went to a mall a couple of miles from the venue and ate some Don Pablos. Then we went over to the Newport at about 7:45, and there was still a line. So we went to Starbucks and made fun of the metal heads in the li ne with the yuppies at Starbucks. Then we got in line and made from of the yuppies at Starbucks with the metal heads in line. We got in at about 8:10, and within 10 minutes they (down) started playing a movie on this giant white tapestry covering the stage. The movie was cool, yet surreal. It was a collection of live clips of stuff like Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones (from the Rock n Roll Circus gig), KISS (in black and white from 1974) Queen, and even Slayer. What was sad and appalling was listening to the uneducated music fans who were actually watching the Stones perform "Sypmathy for the Devil" and were asking "who's that??" I swear, I am not making this up, but when they showed a clip of Sabbath, some kid behind me was asking his buddy who it was, and he wasn't joking. "Oh that was what Ozzy used to look like." Interspersed between these clips, were clips of Down recording Down II , and the video for "Stone the Crow." Finally, after an hour of this tripped out video, Black Sabbaths' "Superczar" started blaring over the PA, and then Down appeared. They opened with "The Seed" and it was on. They were on. Phil seemed very much in his element with Down. He sat thru much of the show, but it was actually cocl, he was interacting with the kids down front, getting "loaded." They played for over an hour, and jammed out everything: "Lifer," Temptations Wings," "Something on My Side." The pit moved for the heavy songs, but often, everyone just stood and chilled and danced, like I said, it was almost spiritual, and of course, most people were very well lit on any number of substances. It was a near sell out, and a very fun time. If Down come to your town, do go. I don't know how to explain the vibe. It was just like 5 metal head / 70's rock head truck drivers from the swamp playing in your living room.
