Tag Archives: anaheim

From the archives of Brian Hoy, Courtney Love

These photos orignally appeared here and there is a review on this show in our music section.

Courtney Love The Grove of Anaheim 7/27/2013

The Queen of no Fucks played at the Grove of Anaheim on the 7/27 to a fairly large crowd. It was rather surprising that there were so little people but for everyone that didn’t attend, it will be their loss because it was a fantastic show. Most of the songs that were played were of course Hole songs, which I was happy to hear. Even Ms. Love agrees that some of her solo work is not up to par with the rest of her music. Although she did not have the rest of the band with her, that didn’t deter from the sound that was coming off on stage. The only thing that was not wonderful was the fact that the songstress vocals were in and out and she was not able to give her signature scream. This was not a sound problem as Love pointed out but rather the fact that her voice had been going out. One could speculate that she didn’t care but telling the audience after pretty much every song how sorry she was that she did not have her normal vocals only meant that she really was truly sorry. Despite that the show went on and it sounded great. Every member on stage was on point and it was nice to see that she had, aside from herself, four people playing that achieved the sound that so many of us are accustomed too.

There was a fairly wide range of songs that she played from the four albums but a lot of them came from Live Through This and Celebrity Skin. These are two fantastic albums that are still widely considered to be the best of the band so that was no surprise. The songs that were picked ranged from popular to not so popular. Either way I was thrilled to have heard “Violet” and “Celebrity Skin”. Of course the songs would have been fan-fucking-tastic if the screams where there but the female Tom Waits satisfied her crowd and everything that they wanted.

Standing in the back I could see all the people dancing, hold there hands up, but mostly dancing so this was not a show I could in the least bit consider to be a flop. The sound and the energy were there and to be perfectly honest after Love smoked a cig on stage, her voice sounded well. She should have been smoking the whole time. I don’t know what it was that did it, maybe the toxic tar caught on some flem in her throat creating a much thicker coating either way “Doll Parts” sounded quiet good, a little fast but at least there was a baby scream in there to satisfy the crowd.

Whether Hole gets back together or it’s a band backing up Love, I would go again. Someone once told me that she was a bad show and I refused to believe that person because she didn’t like Love, and I was right she was wrong. The show was an over all hit.

Decapitated and Lamb of God 5/29/2013 The Grove of Anaheim

Voog interview above!

I was lucky enough to interview guitarist Voog early that day and he was a very nice relaxed guy so I was very interested to see how he would be able to transform into a death metal guitarist. It was a great surprised because when they came out onto stage, they came out with everything. It was nice to see how much energy the band was putting out right away. When they started to play Pest, the crowd was ready for it. To be quite honest this was probably one of the few times I had seen the Grove so full for an opening band and it was for a good reason. Rafał Piotrowski on vocals was amazing and to be honest I had no idea how he didn’t give himself a black eye while swinging his long dreads around. Nothing compared to watching how Voog played his cords on each song and for I believe it was Homo Sum, he had brought out a Fender for that song which is a much different sound then what he was using. A Fender is very much a rock n roll kind of sound and having talked to him early, I had found out that he listened to different kinds of music and one can hear all of that fused in if they listen closely enough. It was a great way to start off the shows and I was definably bummed that they only played 6 songs.

Let’s be honest every single person in the audience was happy to see Randy Bylthe on stage. It has been a long year for him and many fans and to see him on stage was something that will not be forgotten. In fact he seemed like he was happy to be doing what he loves doing. Everyone single person on stage had put there all into this show and the happiness the excluded from them was so apparent but their stage performance. Some of the images that were on stage on the two screens that were set up were interesting. I’m not sure if it was for shock value or only to go with the lyrics of the song. Personally after seeing Primus in 3D I thought that to have both of the screens on stage along with a hyper active band was a little distracting. If it had been one big screen it would have been easier to see what the band was doing and to see what was going on.

It was nice to see how they had a song that was dedicated to the men and women of our country serving. During Now You’ve Got Something to Die for they had pictures of fans that were serving or who had died and even the lights that were out onto the crowd were the yellow of support. I enjoyed this because sometimes I do not feel that people support our troops enough and since they are very much an American band, they had something that most people do not, a section of appreciation.

Over all it was a good show from both of these bands. It is defiantly something that will be talked about for years to come from fans.

Hepcat HOB 5/18/2013

I was thoroughly excited when I saw the line up for this show. The Aggrolites opening for Hepcat is every ska revival fans wet dream. Hepcat sold out the House of Blues in Hollywood, so they added a show in Anaheim which to no one surprise sold out as well. Before this year it had been about 4 years since I saw them last so it was safe to say that I was stoked that this was happening.

The show was located at Downtown Disney on a Saturday night during prom season. Parking was a nightmare, and it was extremely crowded. Once I got to the House of Blues I try to put a ticket at will call for a friend who was coming late. Well apparently they don't accept outside parties at will call; which I find strange, but I didn't argue and continue to the line to get inside. The venue was full but not at capacity, and we find a spot on the dance floor. I love going to ska revival shows because the crowd always gets dressed up in their best dresses and Fred Perry polos. It's nice to see the scene come together for the music and fashion.

The big patchy curtains pull open and The Aggrolites start roaring up. The LA based band have a unique sound they call "Dirty Reggae", mixing ska, reggae, and soul with just a more gritty sound. The sound was great and Jesse Wagner, their lead singer, was full of energy getting everyone moving in some sort of way. The seven member band played a sweet selection of songs from "Country Fiddle" to their song "Banana" that was featured on the children's show "Yo! Gabba Gabba!" encouraging kids to eat bananas. Closing their set with an amazing cover of "Don't Let Me Down" by The Beatles. Where they take the classic and give it that "dirty reggae" sound.

Next is what we've all been waiting for, Hepcat! This band is also from LA, and in my opinion the best thing to happen to the Southern California's ska scene. The lead singers of this band are seriously the best to watch, with choreographed dance moves straight from the sixties. At this point the dance floor is shoulder to shoulder with no chance of moving. So, I head towards the back by the bar. The view was still perfect and I had enough room to dance my heart out. Even though the place was packed to the brim some how people still found a way to dance because you just can't help it. They played all my favorites, especially "Dance wid Me". The entire band as a whole played flawlessly with phenomenal stage presence. With the help of music event marketing, Saying this show was great is an understatement, the sound was perfect, the bands were wonderful and so where the fans. Hepcat could clearly see that as well and thanked the fans for all the years of support. It was truly an event for the books.