pacificlectic : concert reviews & eclectic music news

FYI… PHOTOS of the SHOW are at the BOTTOM

My wife thinks I’m crazy. I think I agree. I used SkyMiles to fly from Eugene, OR, to Cincinnati, OH, to see two rock bands. I don’t do this often (fly somewhere for a show). Anyway, this time it was for two bands I’ve liked for 15-20 years: King’s X and Extreme. While I love King’s X, I’ve seen them a bunch and they tour a bunch; so the main reason to fly was to see Extreme* – – who broke up 12 years ago.

*– Extreme is much more than that “More Than Words” band (or that “Beethoven jamming in the mall on Bill & Ted’s” band). They wrote great rock songs, great guitars & insightful lyrics, and bordered on art rock in many cases, i.e.- the IIIrd Side (unofficially) starting with “God Isn’t Dead?” and moving into the 23-minute, three-part with orchestration, epic “Everything Under The Sun” on III Sides to Every Story. “Everything Under the Sun” is most likely my 2nd favorite song ever written (Kevin Moore’s “Space-Dye Vest” being #1).

The closest this double-bill tour was coming to me (in Eugene, OR) was Las Vegas… which would mean expensive ticket, expensive hotel, expensive meals, and a city that I find kinda boring (unless you add an expensive Cirque du Soleil show). With that being said, a FREE show with a brother within 2 miles of the festival with a FREE bed to sleep in made this one too good to pass up. [Thanks, David & Alicia!]

The day started with a yummy vegan biscuits & gravy brunch at MELT in lovely Northside and ended with Nuno Bettencourt wailing on guitar in West Chester (home of the Union Center Boulevard Bash). Well, on to the show…

This was my 15th time seeing King’s X. Did I mention I like them? The only thing that’s kept me away from one of their shows within a 200 mile radius would be a wedding. My own wedding. :) Anyway, they put on a great show tonight. Doug Pinnick, Ty Tabor, and Jerry Gaskill are the epitome of a power trio. They put out a wall of sound, heavy, chunky, yet melodic. They were scheduled to play 45 minutes (the ills of a free festival opening slot), but they got a good hour and change to play. Great crowd response, and kudos from Nuno & Co later in the evening. They put on a great set, as usual. And a friend from Nashville texted me unexpectedly while at the show. [It was great to see you, WalruSteve!]

(Doug, Ty, Jerry – not my pic, obviously)

King’s X Setlist:

• Groove Machine
• Alright
• Rocket Ship
• Black Flag
• Move
• Dogman (one of my favs of the set)
• Pray (with Doug on 12-string bass)
• We Were Born to Be Loved
• Go Tell Somebody
• Looking for Love (one of my favs of the set)
• Over My Head
• Encore: King

The spiritually searching lyrics to “Looking for Love” has been a mantra of some sort for me since way back in ’96; so it’s always good when that’s in the set. Doug seemed to be in pretty good spirits. Ty’s hair kept blowing in his face, but that didn’t stop him shreddin’ up the frets. Jerry was killin’ the skins, as usual. The sun was beatin’ down on the band, but they muscled through. Here’s hopin’ this Extreme tour helps them bring some new fans on board.

As for Extreme… This was my 2nd time seeing them. I saw them on their Waiting for the Punchline Tour in 1995 (@ Bogart’s in Cincinnati). They broke up shortly afterwards, as Nuno Bettencourt went on to do some solo stuff and Gary Cherone went on to join Van Halen (which turned out to be a poor choice… as, you know, Van Halen sucks ass). Anyway, when Extreme broke up, it was truly amicable. The band had run its course, the landscape of music wasn’t all that into hardrock with solos (but rather flannel and apathy rockin’ the suburbs), and the guys in Extreme all had different opportunities. A reunion was always a possibility, it was just a function of time…

They had their new CD (Saudades de Rock) at the show… even though it doesn’t come out until Tuesday. Only $10, too. Rock on!!

(Pat, Gary, Nuno, KFigg – not my pic, obviously)

Extreme ripped up the stage for almost two hours, playing a good mix of old songs, new songs, hits, fan favs… KFigg did a great job filling in Paul Geary’s drum “shoes.” Pat Badger’s bass playing was superb. Gary’s voice was on. Nuno was Nuno (i.e.- God) — meedley-meedley-meeeeeeeeeeee (Strongbad Email link)…

Extreme X Setlist:

• IIIrd Side Intro Music (strings)
• Decadence Dance
• Comfortably Dumb (new one)
• Rest In Peace (one of my favs of the set)
• Star (new one, with Star-Spangled Banner outro)
• Tell Me Something I Don’t Know
• 1989 medley: Kid Ego /
  Little Girls /
  Teacher’s Pet /
  Play With Me (Nuno’s solo ripped — one of my favs of the set)
• Midnight Express (instrumental — one of my favs of the set)
• More Than Words
• Ghost (new one, Nuno on piano)
• Cupid’s Dead
• Take Us Alive
• Am I Ever Gonna Change? (one of my favs of the set)
• Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee (Nuno’s guitar-only take on Tchaikovsky — one of my favs of the set)
• Get the Funk Out (one of my favs of the set)
• Encore: Hole Hearted (one of my favs of the set)
• Communication Breakdown [Led Zeppelin]

Overall… fuppin’ awesome! I am crazy for music, but I love being crazy. :) Being crazy is what keeps me sane.

The Appropriate Linkage:

• http://www.kingsxrocks.com/
• http://www.myspace.com/kingsx
• http://www.myspace.com/dugpinnickpoundhound (bass/vocals)
• http://www.myspace.com/tytabor (guitar/vocals)
• http://www.myspace.com/jerrygaskill (drums/backing vocals)
• http://www.extreme-band.com/
• http://www.myspace.com/extreme
• http://www.myspace.com/garycherone (vocals)
• http://www.myspace.com/nunobettencourt (guitar/backing vocals)
• http://www.myspace.com/pbadger (bass/backing vocals)
• http://www.myspace.com/kfigg (drums)
• http://www.unioncentreblvdbash.com/

Yeah, that’s a lotta links… I took a bunch of pictures of both bands. I hope to have them up soon, once I get back home to Oregon and have a chance to edit and upload ’em…

~Dan – np: Extreme – Saudades de Rock

KING’S X (24 pics) & EXTREME (70 pics) CONCERT PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2008 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution
(click to enlarge)

King’s X Band (6):

More band shots: #3, #4, #5, #6

Doug Pinnick (8):

More Doug shots: #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8

Ty Tabor (8):

More Ty shots: #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8

Jerry Gaskill (2):

Sorry, no more Jerry shots.

Extreme Band (19) + Gear (2):

More band shots: Mourning Widows racks, Drums, Band #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, Bow #18, Bow #19

Gary Cherone (7):

More Gary shots: #3, #4, #5, #6, #7

Nuno Bettencourt (21):

More Nuno shots: #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21
Yeah, I’m a bit obsessed with Nuno. :)

Pat Badger (2):

Sorry, no more Pat shots.

Kevin Figueiredo (4):

More KFigg shots: #3, #4

Gary & Nuno (10):

More Gary & Nuno shots: #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10

Nuno & Pat (5):

More Nuno & Pat shots: #3, #4, #5