It's not that convenient...
This morning, I ordered Rolling Stones tickets for their Durham show.
On my first try, I was told, "Nothing is available for that price."
This was within the first 10 minutes that tickets went on sale.
So, I switched from ticketmaster.com to cellardoor.com, and again, waited while they "searched" for tickets.
Finally, it said tickets were available in the $60 seats.
Then comes the $14.10 "convenience charge" - what is that?!?
You're already asking $60 for tickets, and after a few clicks, they've gone up to $75?
Sure, this is the Rolling Stones - who I have never seen in concert - but why don't you just say tickets start at $75?
Adding $14 at the last minute isn't too convenient in my mind.
And you wonder why ticket sales are on the decline?
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:23 AM
July 28, 2005Hottest Summer Songs
Billboard magazine has listed the top 10 Summer Songs.
Personally, "Cruel Summer" makes me think "Karate Kid" instead of summer...but maybe that's just me.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:53 AM | Comments (1)
Grohl speaks out on Cobain
The latest edition of Rolling Stone magazine has an interesting interview with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, and former Nirvana drummer.
Grohl talks about Cobain's last days and what it was like to play in the band. Apparently, Cobain wasn't one to compliment people.
A very interesting interview for Nirvana fans - I recommend checking it out.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:14 AM
July 27, 2005The Doors (don't sue me)
John Densmore won his case against the other remaining members of The Doors recently, as a judge ruled they can no longer tour under The Doors name.
Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek have been touring with Ian Astubry as "The Doors of the 21st Century."
Now that the band has made millions, they'll have to turn over the profits to the original partnership.
I think that means that Ray and Robby split the money with Densmore and the Morrison estate, and Astbury is left out in the cold.
I interviewed Astbury a number of years ago, and he was thrilled to be playing with The Doors. He had played a few songs with them for a VH1 special, and said it was surreal just to enter the room.
Who knows how he's feeling now. Although, I'm sure the band will change the name and continue to make millions.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:01 PM
July 26, 2005Eminem not retiring
Not too long ago, it was reported that Eminem will soon be retiring.
Unfortunately (I'm not a fan), that's not true.
He says he has no plans to retire at this point according to a recent article at cnn.com.
Oh well, I can still hope and dream.
Not that I don't dislike him completely, I just think he's completely overrated.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 5:01 PM
July 25, 2005Stones coming to Durham
Are you like me and missed out on getting tickets to the Rolling Stones concert in Charlotte?
Guess what? You've got a second chance.
The Stones will play in Durham on Oct. 8.
Tickets will go on sale this coming Saturday at 10 a.m. for $160, $95 and $60.
Good luck, again!
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 5:02 PM
This week's new releases; animal bands
Not many big names out this week, but here's a brief rundown:
Babyface "Grown & Sexy" - Is that really the best album title he could come up with? And if he's really "grown & sexy," can't he change his name from "Babyface"?
Brad "Brad vs. Satchel" - Featuring guitarist Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, this band...well, they sound nothing like Pearl Jam.
Macy Gray "Live in Las Vegas" - People don't really buy her regular albums - was a live one a wise choice? Probably not.
Yngwie Malmsteen "Unleash the Fury" - Sure, his name is fun to say, and he's an incredible guitar player, but after a while, it grows old. He does still have the 80s hair though, and that's impressive in its own strange way.
Alanis Morissette "Jagged Little Pill Acoustic" - If you didn't hear enough of the album on "Unplugged," maybe this album will satisfy that craving. It was previously only available at Starbucks.
Jason Mraz "Mr. A-Z" - I've only heard three songs by Jason Mraz, but they all sounded the same. So does that mean, I've heard all of them?
Brian Setzer "Rockabilly Riot Vol. One" - I can listen to the Stray Cats any day. This album is a bunch of covers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Casy, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. Apparently, Setzer has left the "swing" thing and gone back to his rockabilly roots. Either way, he's fun to listen to.
This week's collection of animal-related band names: Fruit Bats, Galactic Zoo Dossier #6, Boondogs, Chameleon, Cobra Noir and Thee Minks.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:19 AM
July 23, 2005Concert Review: John Fogerty & John Mellencamp
John Fogerty and John Mellencamp
Alltel Pavilion, Raleigh, NC
July 22, 2005
I will admit that on my way to Raleigh, I was looking forward more to John Mellencamp's performance than to John Fogerty's.
However, that all changed after the first song of Fogerty.
The former singer of Creedence Clearwater Revival did his best to entertain the fans through an hour-and-a-half set of mostly CCR classics.
He opened the set with "Travelin' Band" followed by "Born on the Bayou" and "Who'll Stop the Rain."
A few of his solo songs were mixed in, but the crowd really enjoyed the CCR tunes.
"Out My Back Door," "Have you Ever Seen the Rain" and "Down on the Corner" all led up to a thunderstorm that rolled into town.
While the rain didn't let up for the rest of the night, it didn't dampen the spirits of all in attendance, or Fogerty, who was clearly having a blast on stage.
"Centerfield" brought out a baseball-bat shaped guitar. "Up Around the Bend" and "Fortunate Son" closed out the set.
Fogerty's two-song encore consisted of "Bad Moon Rising" and "Rollin' on the River." The biggest applause of the night came for the line "Looks like we're in for nasty weather."
After a short delay, Mellencamp came out, kicking off his set with "Small Town."
While Mellencamp was having fun too, he seemed to get more of a crowd reaction when Fogerty came out on stage to sing two songs with him early in the set.
Fogerty and Mellencamp shared singing duties on "Green River" and "Rain on the Scarecrow" - the latter being all-acoustic.
Mellencamp followed the duet with one of his new songs, "Walk Tall" then "Paper in Fire."
A short "intermission" showed clips of Mellencamp over the years. From clips of performances on VH1 to interviews as far back as the 1970s, the montage showed some of his career highlights.
Mellencamp returned to play a barrage of hits - "I Need a Lover," "Authority Song," "Jack and Diane" (which the crowd sang most of), "Crumblin' Down," "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.," "Hurts So Good" and "Pink Houses."
His final two songs started with a song he "hasn't played since 1979" "Ain't Even Done with the Night."
The final song of the night was "Cherry Bomb."
While fans screamed for an encore, none was found.
Overall, it was one of the best shows I've seen in a while, but it seemed anti-climactic as Fogerty seemed to have the better show of the two.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:44 AM
July 22, 2005Celine; Tonight's concert
Seeing Celine Dion perform as Micheal Jackson is simply scary.
It looks real enough to me.
I've never been a Celine Dion fan, and this video ensures that I never will be.
Tonight's Concert
I'm off to Raleigh tonight to see John Fogerty and John Mellencamp in concert.
You can expect a review here tomorrow.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:26 PM
July 21, 2005A hilarious site
There a hilarious site out there called, "Rock and Roll Confidential," and if you haven't checked it out before, I suggest you might take a moment to do so.
Of course, the language there might be a little harsh at times, but the points are great.
I need to get the shirt that says, "Support the Scene. Quit Your Band."
There are also some comical photos in the "Hall of Fame."
You can also submit entries for the "Worst Local Bands."
It's worth a quick run-through when you have the time and need a laugh.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:24 PM
July 19, 2005RockStar tonight; Rob Zombie
Another episode of RockStar: INXS tonight.
They had a half-hour episode last night that talked a little about style and showed the competitors choosing their songs.
I still think there are only a handful of favorites at this point, but it's early in the competition, so we'll see how it turns out.
Zombie on Ozzfest
The former White Zombie singer, and current solo artist and director has a new movie coming out, but the real news is that he's on the road with Ozzfest this summer.
He's on the second stage, and early word is that he's stealing the show.
He's performing songs that haven't been seen live in more than a decade - early White Zombie stuff - including "Electric Head."
I also heard he's doing an extended version of "Thunder Kiss '65."
Should be a heck of a show.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:53 AM
July 18, 2005Eminem retiring?
Reportedly, Eminem is leaving his solo career behind.
Apparently, this is his last album as a solo artist, and he plans to stop touring.
Why not? He's got millions. Of course, I didn't think he was that talented to begin with. Not to the point where he is now.
"My name is..." has to be one of the most poorly written songs I've ever heard - right above R. Kelly's "Trapped in a Closet."
Oh well... I'm sure he'll be around in one way or another.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:21 AM | Comments (1)
July 15, 2005Sponge; Blind Melon; Ricky Martin
If I weren't going out of town tonight, I'd be headed over to Greene Street to check out the Sponge concert.
The 90s rockers hit the stage in an attempt to bring more live music downtown.
I give a lot of credit to the club owners of Greene Street and Ace's Basement who are working together to make things happen.
I hope a lot of people show up so the trend will continue.
Blind Melon's new albums
There's a new set of Blind Melon stuff that's planned to hit stores in the fall.
Personally, I think the band is one of the most underrated in recent history, but that's just my opinion.
They got pigeonholed by "No Rain" but there music is heavily layered and complex and simply incredible.
Ricky Martin's next album
The Latin singer is planning his first album since 2000.
William Hung can't wait.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:52 AM
July 14, 2005And he's out...
I had asked the rhetorical question about Wil Seabrook being a signed artist and participating in RockStar: INXS, but that question no longer needs to be answered as the N.C.-native was booted off the show last night.
First round:
"Hey, Wil. We need you to stop singing to the front row of women."
Next round:
"Hey, Wil. We need you to sing to more than the front three rows."
Last night:
"Hey, Wil. Try singing to the whole room."
Wil continued to sing to the women in the front two rows, so he's gone. Way to go, player.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:32 AM
July 13, 2005RockStar: INXS
This is a pretty good show. 15 talented singers trying to become the next lead singer for the band INXS.
There are a few strange things about it though:
1. Is INXS really a rock band? All of the contestants are pretty hardcore rockers, but I always thought of INXS as pop. Oh well - we'll see how that part turns out, I guess.
2. Why is Wil Seabrook on the show? The Charlotte-based singer had a record deal with Maverick records. Now, his Web site says the "site is unavailable for the next few months." At least the bio on the cbs page doesn't hide that fact. Apparently, Ty had a record deal in the past too. I wouldn't call these people amateurs.
My thoughts on last night's show:
Heather - Had solid vocals singing Jefferson Starship's "Somebody to Love." She didn't impress me though.
Marty - Strange behavior and actions when he sings, with overemphasized movements. Just doesn't look natural. He was singing "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand.
Daphna - Singing "People Are Strange" by the Doors. She did her own version of the song with a good amount of originality. She has one of the better voices and personalities on the show, but seems a little too goth for INXS.
Suzie - Weak vocally singing Blondie's "Call Me." She did better on the chorus, but not great.
Brandon - Singing "Hard to Handle," he had good vocals but a bad stage presence. Maybe it's the bad haircut?
Jordis - She's definitely a front runner after singing Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box" last night. She wasn't trying to be Kurt, and did a great job with the song. The look makes me wonder if she'd fit in.
Mig - He sang The Kinks "All of the Night" and so far seems the best fit for INXS because of his pop vocals.
Deanna - Sang "Should I Stay or Should I Go." She's got a lot of bass in her voice. She's good, but didn't stand out from the pack in my mind.
Wil - Sang "Right Here, Right Now" by Jesus Jones. He needs to stop singing to the women in the front row. He also lacks power in his vocals.
Jessica - Sang Cheap Trick with a cracking voice that didn't show enough range.
Tara - Sounded like she was singing in the wrong key for "Take It Easy" by The Eagles. A little too country, and nothing special.
Neal - CCR's "Fortunate Son." He did a great job on the vocals, but his act is a little too Mick Jagger.
Ty - The other frontrunner in my mind sang Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker" and had the energy, stage presence and vocal power to make it work.
J.D. - Sang his own version of "California Dreaming" by the Mamas and the Papas. Not great vocally, and has distracting stage movements. He's also got too much vibrato in his voice.
Stay tuned to see what happens...
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:26 AM
July 12, 2005This week's new releases
Here's a quick look at some of this week's new releases:
Swift "The Absolute Uncontrollable" - The Winston-Salem-based metal outfit has a new album they say is different than previous efforts. Their high-energy live show is worth checking out, too. They often play at Ziggy's.
All-American Rejects "Move Along" - I haven't heard the album, but something tells me it's probably "The poor man's Green Day." (I think this can (and will) be said about a lot of today's bands.)
Bronson Arroyo "Covering the Bases" - Hey, Bronson, have you ever heard of Dion, Shaq or the Chicago Bears? There's a reason that sports people shouldn't make albums. (Arroyo is a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox). I'm sure we can put this on the shelf next to Shaq-Fu and "Super Bowl Shuffle."
Pat Boone "Ready to Rock" - Something tells me Boone is "ready to rock" but I don't think this CD will. The novelty has worn off.
Bow Wow "Wanted" - I guess he's not so "Lil" anymore... But teens like rap too, so the album will probably sell a whole bunch. Seeing Bow Wow become a millionaire makes me wonder why I didn't become a rapper at age 8.
Circle of Dead Children "Zero Comfort Margin" - The album title says it all. Moving on....
Cirque du Soleil "Dralion" - A CD? What is Cirque du Soleil if you can't watch all the bendy people flipping and bouncing around?
William Hung "Miracle: Happy Summer From" - 14:58...14:59....15:00. Whew It's over.
Willie Nelson "Countryman" - The fact this album was recorded 10 years ago and shelved says something. Nelson shouldn't be attempting reggae music. I can hear it now, "Hey mon, y'all" Country and reggae don't mix. Nelson needs to stick with what he's good at.
Rick Springfield "The Day after Yesterday" - An album of covers by the man who's still looking for "Jessie's Girl."
Pras "Win, Lose or Draw" - Why haven't The Fugees reunited yet?
Transplants "Haunted Cities" - I'll review this one later this week. A great new album featuring Tim Armstrong and Travis Barker.
There are also albums this week (not kidding) from Piglet, Pelican, The Giraffes, Wolf Parade, Doleful Lions, Heron and Lion Fever.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:02 AM | Comments (1)
July 10, 2005CD Review: The Redwalls "de nova"
Release date: June 21, 2005
On first listen to the Capitol Records debut by The Redwalls, it's easy to hear their Beatles influence.
The band, which was recently featured on MTV's "You Hear it First," was formerly a Beatles cover band.
While their music is original, there's a definitely "old school" signature to their sound - even more than The Strokes or Kings of Leon.
Heck, they even sound like the Beatles vocally at some times.
"Falling Down" is about the FCC, but a faux British accent can sometimes get in the way of the Chicago-based quartet's message.
They've got good harmonies, and enjoyable songs, but the group of early 20-somethings have some growing to do.
"Thank You" has more of a 70s vibe to it, but there's still a Beatles-esque vocal. It's hard to excape a tag that fits so well.
However, I wouldn't rush out to call The Redwalls the next big thing to hit the music world. The Beatles were unique for their time and place in music history.
The Redwalls' album is a refreshing pop/rock album that is unique for it's decade, but generic in its place among the genre.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:31 PM
July 8, 2005Live 8 on TV again
In case you missed it the first time, Live 8 will be rebroadcast on Saturday on MTV and VH1.
It's worth checking out, as there were some decent performances.
Unfortunately, they only showed one song from the performers the first time around. This time, they plan on showing more from artists such as Pink Floyd, Dave Matthews, Maroon 5 and others.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:42 AM
July 7, 2005My thoughts are with London
It's difficult to joke about Lil Kim going to jail when there's a large tragedy overseas in London.
My thoughts are with them today. I'll be back tomorrow.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 3:31 PM
July 6, 2005Breaking News: Lil Kim going to jail
Rapper Lil Kim is headed to jail for one year and one day. I'll comment more tomorrow.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 4:07 PM
More info on Live 8
Of course, it's my opinion, that if all these rock stars donated 10% of their earnings - we're talking millions and millions of dollars - they'd probably have a healthy hand in ending the famine problem.
Instead, they give us some free Live 8 concerts - that most people can't attend - and tell us to donate our hard-earned cash.
Hey, I'm all for donating to charity, and helping out where we can, but to me it gets to be ridiculous.
When 9/11 happened, only a handful of stars came out and donated a large sum of money - in the millions.
The average Joe who is making $30,000 a year is expected to donate, but how much are these Hollywood stars donating?
Don't tell me that the box office is in a slump, or that concert tickets aren't going well.
How about because they're too expensive?!
Some sports stars are making $50 million a year - how much are they donating? And how much are they spending on a gold toilet for the bathroom in the mansion that no one uses?
The whole thing makes me sick sometimes....
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:34 PM
July 5, 2005Pink Floyd turns down tour
A review of the Live 8 Pink Floyd performance suggests that guitarist David Gilmour recently turned down $200 million to tour the U.S.
My only hope is that the guys had so much fun performing together, that they'll tour in some form or another in the near future.
We can only hope...
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 2:02 PM | Comments (2)
July 4, 2005This week's new releases
Here's a quick rundown of some of this week's new releases:
Missy Elliott "The Cookbook": Better known as a producer and collaborator, Elliott's CD's are always big sellers. She knows how to write hooks and unique songs that draw listeners in.
R. Kelly "TP3: Reloaded": Have you heard part 1 of "Trapped in the Closet" or seen the video. This gets my vote for worst song EVER. If you want to tell a story, tell it. Don't sing the last word of every sentence, call it a song, and then give us every detail about trying to get your phone on vibrate, and hiding in the closet.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:39 AM
July 2, 2005RIP Luther Vandross
You can read more about the death of the R&B singer here.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 8:44 AM
July 1, 2005Live 8
Find all the information you need to watch or listen to Live 8 here:
Billboard.com's Live 8 info
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:38 PM
