Taking a Ride on the Wildside (Motley Crue Concert Review, June 2011)

I never got many great shots during the concert, but here is one
of the band and crew taking a bow at the end of the show.

We had just finished listening to a great set from The New York Dolls and high energy performance from Poison and the headliners, Motley Crue, were yet to take the stage.  We were able to watch the crew get ready for Poison’s set, but not this time.  As soon as Poison’s stage was being disassembled a large white curtain was dropped and whatever was happening behind was a mystery. 

The show got off to a strange start.  Normally there is some warning or indication that the moment of the band’s entrance is near.  Not this time.  My wife and I were still seated and chatting when what sounded like a large gun shot was fired, the white curtain dropped and we were treated to the opening chords of Wildside from the Girls Girls Girls album.  An elaborate stage set appeared.  Drummer Tommy Lee was elevated behind the band.  Behind him was a large circular screen which was used for various images and tricks throughout the night.  The stage set extended up above all of this too.  There were stairs which vocalist Vince Neil was working his way down over as the rest of the boys were playing the opening riffs of the opening number.  There were platforms above which currently had two dancing girls who were also occasional background singers.  Far on the top there were smaller screens displaying various messages throughout the night. 

The visual appeal of this show continued.  There were flaming pentagrams, plenty of fireworks and the two girls appeared off and on throughout the night to take part, and it was even a little theatrical at times.  We were treated to all the songs and staples you would expect to hear at a Motley Crue concert, which was great for me being it was my first time seeing them.  I was also pleased to hear a couple extra songs off the Shout at the Devil album in addition to the standard title track and Looks That Kill.  They also threw in Too Young to Fall in Love and 10 Seconds to Love.  Overall, I wouldn’t have changed a thing in the setlist.

Vince addressed the crowd a few times throughout the evening thanking everyone for 30 years.  But he wasn’t the only one.  Tommy Lee and bassist Nikki Sixx also had a turn.  Tommy Lee actually had two.  First wasn’t too long into the show when he came down from his drumset and addressed us before playing the piano and giving us the song Home Sweet Home from the Theatre of Pain record.  He again had a few words later during the most unique drum solo I have ever seen. 

Tommy’s drumset was in the center of a round circular rollercoaster formation.  He began to play and began to circle round and round and upside down.  He then stopped, selected a willing audience participant and strapped her in next to them and played some more with both of them now upside down.

Bassist Nikki Sixx also had a turn addressing us, or as he called it, taking us to the church of Motley Crue.  He appeared alone on stage and asked everyone to sit down, or "sit the f*** down" because church is in session.  He also appeared humble and thankful to be sharing the stage with his bandmates whom he acknowledged one at a time.  He then apologized for all the "sick shit" they were going to do over the next 15 or 20 minutes.  He ordered us to our feet again, we obeyed, and the show continued. 

There wasn’t really anymore ‘sick shit’ compared to what we have seen already.  More fireworks, explosions and dancing girls.  At one point the two girls appeared on stage with flame throwers.  They continued to rock hard until the final number of the night, Kickstart My Heart from the Dr. Feelgood album was played.   Before the band and crew took their final bow of the night four buckets of blood were tossed into the first few rows of the crowd.  The band, the girls, and crew lined up and took a bow.  The crew left the stage and the four bandmates took one more bow and walked off.  No encore.  Motley Crew doesn’t do them.  But I have to say I was completely satisfied!

As I said in an earlier post it was a rock and roll circus to the max.  I loved it!  I actually walked away thinking how will that ever be topped.  I know I will see more great concerts, but for an in your face rock and roll spectacle that one will be very hard to beat.  

Motley Crue Setlist

Wildside, Saints of Los Angeles, Live Wire, Shout at the Devil, Same Ol'Situation (S.O.S.), Primal Scream, Home Sweet Home, Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away), (Tommy Lee Drum solo), (Mick Mars Guitar solo), Looks That Kill, Dr. Feelgood, Too Young to Fall in Love, 10 Seconds to Love, Girls Girls Girls, Smokin in the Boys Room, Kickstart My Heart.

Happy Canada Day!!

Sipping an early morning coffee on July 1st, Canada Day.  I flew home yesterday evening after spending most of the week in Toronto, Ontario.  I have much to write about including the rock and roll circus that was the New York Dolls, Poison and Motley Crue.  If you like the rock and roll spectacle type of show (which I do!), then this was that to the max.  I am going to write about each band’s performance separately and hope to do so in the next few days.

For now it’s off for some cool beverages and bbqing to celebrate this country’s birthday.  In honour of Canada here is a list of some of my own personal favourite Canadian acts:

Rush (prog rockers have been together over 30 years, currently on tour and I still haven’t seen them)

The Guess Who (one of the first Canadian bands to strike it big outside of the country)

Blue Rodeo (bit of rock, country and folk blended together, this band is a household name in Canada)

Great Big Sea (folk/rock band makes infectious music, great vocal harmonies and one put off one of the most energetic live performances I have ever seen)

Neil Young (Canadian legend needs know introduction)

Our Lady Peace (formed in the early nineties this band has been putting out strong releases ever since)

The Tragically Hip (One of my all time favourites, read more thoughts about them clicking here on the (Original) Rock Brigade Blog)

Happy Canada Day!!

It's almost show time!

Well folks I am off for a brief vacation touching down in Canada’s largest city, Toronto. During my brief stay I will be taking in a major league baseball game watching my favourite Toronto Blue Jays take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.  And although I always welcome any opportunity to attend and enjoy a major league sporting event, more importantly I will also be taking in the New York Dolls, Poison and Motley Crue.

On an earlier post back on the (Original) Rock Brigade Blog I talked about the element of surprise being gone from concert events.  I find it hard not to snoop around Youtube or online concert reviews and as a result you can really get a feel for the whole show before you even get there.  It’s no trouble to find a setlist, what songs are turned into acoustic numbers, opening and close out tunes and any other surprises the event may have in store.

This time around I have purposely resisted all temptation to snoop.  And it’s been tough.  The boys from Motley Crue and Brett Michaels from Poison hit their Twitter accounts heavily with reviews, photos and other tidbits of information.  I want to experience this concert like I did in days before the Internet.  I want to be as surprised as I can be when I attend this show.

Assuming my plans go as planned I’ll be back after my trip to share the experiences with you all.  Until then – enjoy yourselves, summer is here!!

Some things to look forward to...

Over the past two years life has been crazy for me.  So crazy that I got away from doing this (blogging) and other simple pleasures that I normally enjoy.  My whole life I considered myself someone who was “in the know” on all things rock.  I followed religiously and passionately.  Then I got away from it all, not because I wanted to, just because circumstances forced me to.  Point being, things have now levelled off for me and I am again reading, listening, taking note of the rock world and enjoying resurrecting this blog once again.  So….if you (former reader) are reading again or are a new reader and have anything to recommend that I may have missed the last couple of years please let me know.  Having said that…here are couple things I am looking forward to and will be discussing in more detail right here soon.

If you read my first incarnation of this blog, which I now refer to as The (Original) Rock Brigade Blog, you will know of my affection for Def Leppard.  During my formable years ‘the Leps’reigned supreme and they have certainly worked their way back into the mainstream. They have performed with Tim Mcgraw and Taylor Swift.  They have also appeared on Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen, Dancing With the Stars and even made an appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice.  There are now about to release Mirrorball, a live album including three new tracks.  They have been asked many times about a live album and now finally it comes to light for the first time in their 30 plus years as a band.  It contains most of their hits and I am looking forwarding to hearing how it will all sound.  I am hoping with summer fast approaching that it will be a fun one to pop on when spending those warm evenings on the deck.  Included with this is a DVD containing concert and backstage footage.

I had the opportunity to see Def Leppard perform live twice, and was disappointed neither time.  I planned on touching down in Toronto some time this summer and noticed that Def Leppard were stopping there on their summer tour with supporting act Heart.  However, I opted out and decided to travel there when Motley Crue, Poison and The New York Dolls roll in on their summer tour.  

Back in the day (during my formable years) I also listened to Motley Crue and Poison religiously and continue to follow the careers of both.  I hesitate to mention that I even have tickets.  Plans, sometimes, someway, find a way to fall apart.  However, I have vowed not to become a pessimist and have my tickets for the big show.  This should be rock spectacle times 10.  It is being billed as Motley Crue’s 30th anniversary tour and Poison’s 25th.  Nikki Sixx keeps hyping the tour on his Twitter feed and he is making it sound like it is going to be a dandy.  Motley Crue actually had an online poll open for a while allowing fans to vote on their setlist.  I am hoping for a lot of the hits and standards with a few obscure ones thrown in since this is my first ever Crue show.  I do think it is a very cool idea to allow fans to have some direct input on the songs they will play.  Assuming everything works out and I am in Toronto for the show on June 28th  (optimistic optimistic) I will post detailed concert thoughts right here!

Stayed tuned!!