- Jun 1, 2008
- 2
- 0
- 1
Headbangers are members of that iconoclastic musical fraternity, Heavy Metal. Our culture was alloyed from exclusion, alienation and a deep and abiding hatred for all things conventional. Requirements for belonging in this unique brotherhood of sonic distortion and social dissonance is simple: you fucking love the guitar, thunderous percussion, and a bass line that rattles your fucking teeth. But let me be completely clear: this was not the pussy hair metal that your kid sister or the jocks from your high school listened to; this was not the same shit that was in heavy rotation alongside of Madonna and Michael Jackson on MTV. For us, the power ballad was anathema; whatever banal bullshit the radio was vomiting out in the 80s, we fucking hated it with a passion.
I was reunited with that fraternity in Phoenix on Memorial Day on my way to the Cricket Wireless Pavillion. As I walked through a convenience store before the show, two strangers sporting elongated sole patches spotted me and flashed me the horns-up salute. You goin, dude?
Fuck yeah. My son came out from the restroom and I addressed him by name.
Eddie?
Fuck yeah. What the fuck else is a Maiden fan gonna name his only son?
Irvine is not Phoenix. Walking through the mall before the show started, I saw a number of people wearing Maiden T-shirts. I made the mistake of flashing the horns-up salute to about two of them before their snotty looks showed me the differences in cultural geography.
I begin this review by confessing that I only have a casual acquaintance with Anthrax, having only owned one album that was not a greatest hits compilation; nor have I ever attended a concert by the esteemed member of The Big Four of Thrash Metal. Not knowing what to expect from a band is perhaps, not the best way to go into a concert, but seeing Anthrax for the first time, I base my judgment it on the experience itself, rather than comparisons to how they played when Dan Spitz, Joey Belladonna, and John Bush loaned their talents.
For those who follow the Iron Maiden FC Forums, you may recall Scott Ians review of Iron Maidens performance at the Forum in Inglewood on February 19 of this year. In addition to a killer review, Ian threatened to beg Maiden to let Anthrax open for them. However they managed to finagle it, Im just glad that they played with them at Irvine Meadows.
My review is this: I thought they fucking smoked. The 45 minute performance was orchestrated to appeal to all Anthrax fans, from both Joey and John eras and to those of us that liked what they did during both. I wanted to photograph some of Scott Ians footwork, but I kept fucking up and getting into the songs. My wife and son kept looking up at me, surprised that I seemed to know all of the words. I enjoyed watching Ian and Bello, who moved freely about the stage. Charlie Banante didnt miss a beat. Dan Nelsons voice reminded me of John Bushs with inflections that harkened to Philip Anselmo (formerly of Pantera), though he seemed to handle the old Joey Belladonna tunes quite well. It looked like Rob Caggiano missed his cue for Only, so the intro didnt seem to have the fortitude that I remember, but I thought he played great.
I admit that I was disappointed with the turnout for their show; getting a two-fer deal, like having Anthrax as an opening act for Iron Maiden, would have drawn metalheads from far and wide, but the pit was only loosely packed, no one moshed, and the seats were about half capacity for the duration of Anthraxs performance.
4 out of a possible five Circle 'A's
Having written one Maiden review already, there isnt much to add, except that the crowd had some pretty fucking lame elements to it. It might have been better if it hadnt been for the Hollywood types who went there to be seen, taking up space or trying to add to their street cred space that might have otherwise been appreciated by some kid or adult, for that matter whose opportunities to see the Metal Masters are limited by their finances or geography or both. Of the three Southwestern concerts Ive attended (The Forum, Inglewood, CA, Cricket Wireless Pavillion, Phoenix, AZ and this one) the concert at Irvine, CA was the best performance they have given on this tour. Yet the Orange County Register trashed the same band (comparing them to KISS and calling their performance a rerun) that the Los Angeles Times heralded as having cause for a triumphal revelry.
I think its safe to say that the Orange County Register doesnt get Maiden and they never fucking will. Watching the guy in front of me with a VIP pass tilt his hand in a so-so gesture to his friend after each song, it was obvious that many in the audience last night didnt fucking get it either. This wasnt some kids school play, some college recital. This was a full-metal assault from a band that defined metal for a generation a generation that passed the metal of bands like Maiden, Mötorhead, Slayer, and Testament on to our children, keeping it very much alive.
I have something to say to that pussy rag that passes for news. Not all of us could be there in Long Beach Arena in 1985. Not all of us had rich parents that would hand us the keys to the Mercedes and fork over a few hundred dollars to make sure we had a good time. Not all of us had the means to travel to Southern California, though we would have gladly come in place of some eye-rolling snob who had no membership in Heavy Metal in the first place.
The show fucking rocked. The boys had fun onstage, with Bruce playing with the beach balls as they came up on stage and joked about playing a jazz song leading into Can I Play with Madness. As Steve Harris belted out the opening words, Dickinson stopped the song when Dave Murray sneezed. Though a bout of the giggles followed briefly, the lads quickly regained their composure and returned to the set. The show was relaxed, but passionate and intense. Iron Maiden showed once again why it is that they are a phenomenon.
The problem with a phenomenon like Iron Maiden is that its only a matter time before the pop culture mavens catch on and either try to quash it or exploit it as a fad until it implodes. Heavy Metal was a rare and beautiful thing until the music industry decided it might be profitable. As metal is once again ushered in by the same people who heralded its arrival in the first place, the pop culture mavens are both suspicious and poised to jump on board what they hope is the next trend; pop music hasnt had anything original happen to it for over 15 years.
But Maiden and their ilk dont follow the trends, the trends follow them. And because Iron Maiden doesnt need radioplay, MTV or the Orange County Register to make album and ticket sales, the pop mavens of the Register would like everyone to believe that Iron Maiden is in reruns. But reruns are the shit fads that the Orange County Register lives and dies on, an image of Oscar Wilde proclaiming his fashion prowess though he contributed comparatively little to the body of literature. Iron Maiden brings fourteen studio albums over 27 years and countless tours and adoring fans.
What the fuck does the Orange County Register bring?
What the fuck did it ever bring?
FUCKING CHAOTIC! 5 out of 5 Circle 'A's
Peace, out.
I was reunited with that fraternity in Phoenix on Memorial Day on my way to the Cricket Wireless Pavillion. As I walked through a convenience store before the show, two strangers sporting elongated sole patches spotted me and flashed me the horns-up salute. You goin, dude?
Fuck yeah. My son came out from the restroom and I addressed him by name.
Eddie?
Fuck yeah. What the fuck else is a Maiden fan gonna name his only son?
Irvine is not Phoenix. Walking through the mall before the show started, I saw a number of people wearing Maiden T-shirts. I made the mistake of flashing the horns-up salute to about two of them before their snotty looks showed me the differences in cultural geography.
I begin this review by confessing that I only have a casual acquaintance with Anthrax, having only owned one album that was not a greatest hits compilation; nor have I ever attended a concert by the esteemed member of The Big Four of Thrash Metal. Not knowing what to expect from a band is perhaps, not the best way to go into a concert, but seeing Anthrax for the first time, I base my judgment it on the experience itself, rather than comparisons to how they played when Dan Spitz, Joey Belladonna, and John Bush loaned their talents.
For those who follow the Iron Maiden FC Forums, you may recall Scott Ians review of Iron Maidens performance at the Forum in Inglewood on February 19 of this year. In addition to a killer review, Ian threatened to beg Maiden to let Anthrax open for them. However they managed to finagle it, Im just glad that they played with them at Irvine Meadows.
My review is this: I thought they fucking smoked. The 45 minute performance was orchestrated to appeal to all Anthrax fans, from both Joey and John eras and to those of us that liked what they did during both. I wanted to photograph some of Scott Ians footwork, but I kept fucking up and getting into the songs. My wife and son kept looking up at me, surprised that I seemed to know all of the words. I enjoyed watching Ian and Bello, who moved freely about the stage. Charlie Banante didnt miss a beat. Dan Nelsons voice reminded me of John Bushs with inflections that harkened to Philip Anselmo (formerly of Pantera), though he seemed to handle the old Joey Belladonna tunes quite well. It looked like Rob Caggiano missed his cue for Only, so the intro didnt seem to have the fortitude that I remember, but I thought he played great.
I admit that I was disappointed with the turnout for their show; getting a two-fer deal, like having Anthrax as an opening act for Iron Maiden, would have drawn metalheads from far and wide, but the pit was only loosely packed, no one moshed, and the seats were about half capacity for the duration of Anthraxs performance.
4 out of a possible five Circle 'A's
Having written one Maiden review already, there isnt much to add, except that the crowd had some pretty fucking lame elements to it. It might have been better if it hadnt been for the Hollywood types who went there to be seen, taking up space or trying to add to their street cred space that might have otherwise been appreciated by some kid or adult, for that matter whose opportunities to see the Metal Masters are limited by their finances or geography or both. Of the three Southwestern concerts Ive attended (The Forum, Inglewood, CA, Cricket Wireless Pavillion, Phoenix, AZ and this one) the concert at Irvine, CA was the best performance they have given on this tour. Yet the Orange County Register trashed the same band (comparing them to KISS and calling their performance a rerun) that the Los Angeles Times heralded as having cause for a triumphal revelry.
I think its safe to say that the Orange County Register doesnt get Maiden and they never fucking will. Watching the guy in front of me with a VIP pass tilt his hand in a so-so gesture to his friend after each song, it was obvious that many in the audience last night didnt fucking get it either. This wasnt some kids school play, some college recital. This was a full-metal assault from a band that defined metal for a generation a generation that passed the metal of bands like Maiden, Mötorhead, Slayer, and Testament on to our children, keeping it very much alive.
I have something to say to that pussy rag that passes for news. Not all of us could be there in Long Beach Arena in 1985. Not all of us had rich parents that would hand us the keys to the Mercedes and fork over a few hundred dollars to make sure we had a good time. Not all of us had the means to travel to Southern California, though we would have gladly come in place of some eye-rolling snob who had no membership in Heavy Metal in the first place.
The show fucking rocked. The boys had fun onstage, with Bruce playing with the beach balls as they came up on stage and joked about playing a jazz song leading into Can I Play with Madness. As Steve Harris belted out the opening words, Dickinson stopped the song when Dave Murray sneezed. Though a bout of the giggles followed briefly, the lads quickly regained their composure and returned to the set. The show was relaxed, but passionate and intense. Iron Maiden showed once again why it is that they are a phenomenon.
The problem with a phenomenon like Iron Maiden is that its only a matter time before the pop culture mavens catch on and either try to quash it or exploit it as a fad until it implodes. Heavy Metal was a rare and beautiful thing until the music industry decided it might be profitable. As metal is once again ushered in by the same people who heralded its arrival in the first place, the pop culture mavens are both suspicious and poised to jump on board what they hope is the next trend; pop music hasnt had anything original happen to it for over 15 years.
But Maiden and their ilk dont follow the trends, the trends follow them. And because Iron Maiden doesnt need radioplay, MTV or the Orange County Register to make album and ticket sales, the pop mavens of the Register would like everyone to believe that Iron Maiden is in reruns. But reruns are the shit fads that the Orange County Register lives and dies on, an image of Oscar Wilde proclaiming his fashion prowess though he contributed comparatively little to the body of literature. Iron Maiden brings fourteen studio albums over 27 years and countless tours and adoring fans.
What the fuck does the Orange County Register bring?
What the fuck did it ever bring?
FUCKING CHAOTIC! 5 out of 5 Circle 'A's
Peace, out.
