Live Music Reviews

Red Hot Chili Peppers – photo set from Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia

I’m fairly certain that it isn’t often one gets the chance to photograph a band as legendary as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. At least it isn’t often that I do!

As I was in the pit setting up to photograph I couldn’t help but be reflective. My first thought was, how can I get the shots I want in just a short three songs (the amount many bands allow photographers to shoot). And then, I wondered what songs I would get.

The band opened with Monarchy of Roses, and my photographing concluded with Scar Tissue. I mentioned to a friend of mine that at one point I was taken from my lens and almost forgot what I was there to do. I was so absorbed into the stage performance that I had put my camera down and stood in awe, just watching. This was the first time I had seen Josh Klinghoffer play as a Chili Pepper and I was impressed—his energy just as frenetic as the next one which I believe is the hallmark of a live Chili Pepper show. I can only imagine you can’t be taught this, and it must be an inherent trait that one possesses in order to sustain a show just like the one I was fortunate enough to see.

So, I was standing there and just watching while they played through Can’t Stop and didn’t realize I wasn’t taking pictures until the photographers were walking on each side of me! OH NO! I need to get back to it; and so I did. It was one of the most fun, and colorful stages I’ve photographed yet. I can only imagine the hard work, effort and planning a show like this requires to put on.

And did I mention the overall vibe of the venue? Everyone was beyond happy? How often do you go to a show where people move out of the way for each other, smile, talk, and share stories about how long they have liked the band, or how they are FAN-atics? It was a great night, and I only wish I could say more, but I will leave it to this photo set to say the rest.

Click here to be taken to the full Sisters Dissonance photo gallery of the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Wells Fargo Center.

Lee Scratch Perry to perform at Nelsonville Music Festival 2012

Thanks to a friend (you know who you are!) I opened my mailbox the other day to this very nice surprise. Contained in the package was a copy of David Katz’s People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee “Scratch” Perry, which I am now reading in anticipation of his performance at the Nelsonville Music Festival. Perry will headline the Saturday evening show.

I had already had plans to attend the festival but my excitement grew ten fold when Lee “Scratch” Perry, who I have long been a fan of, was announced as a performer. Curated by the individuals behind Stuart’s Opera House, the festival boasts quite an exciting and eclectic lineup with—to name just a few—Andrew Bird, M Ward, Iron and Wine, Shovels and Rope, the Ohio University Symphony Orchestra, the Lee Ranaldo Band, Jorma Kaukonen as well as the legendary Roky Ericson on the bill (Bad Brains had also originally been slated to appear, though disappointingly had to cancel. They have since been replaced by Guided By Voices as headliner for Friday night). The festival will take place Friday, May 18 – Sunday, May 20 in the Hocking Hills region of Ohio.

As for the book, as I delve into it, I feel like I already have one foot in the door to what is stacked up to be quite an exciting festival.

Felice Brothers live at Chameleon Club (photos)

Six hours driving in a car is a good amount of time to spend letting your mind drift. That was the duration of the commute from my home base in the Cleveland area to meet up with Ady in Lancaster for the Felice Brothers show at the Chameleon Club.

On the way there I probably spent too much time pondering, among other things, why no one goes to smell concerts (after all we travel to hear music, people flock to see movies, and frequently obsess over the best foods, what about scent events?) Oddly, once I approached Lancaster on Rt 283 I was bombarded with smells. Lilacs or maybe honeysuckle? For at least a mile or two. Then the smell of cows, which lasted a little too long, then industry. Finally on my approach into Lancaster the air was filled with the smell of hot dogs. So there you have it, I got my olfactory joy.

On the return home it wandered again and I thought about what I wanted to say about my travels and the show . . . I wrote about 7 different versions of this post in my mind’s eye, but the prevailing thought was how it was most definitely worth the maniacal 12 hours on the road. Not a bad price to pay to spend an incredibly fun and relaxing 24 hours with my sister in Lancaster, going to see one of the few bands in existence right now that I would travel far and wide for. Our accommodations were awesome and alone worth it. And I saw a few other strange (fascinating?) sights to break up the solo drive—the two old guys chatting away and peeing on a fence along the side of the road on I-76 is a visual that will stick with me for some time.

The Felice Brothers show at the Chameleon Club was of course the reason for making the trip (always an excuse for Ady and I to get together) and was the highlight (except perhaps our hotel bathroom, which we tried to figure out how to pack into an overnight bag and smuggle home. It really was a the best bathroom! But I digress). I’d been reading about the shows leading up to this one and everything I read was in agreement—the band is tight, in great spirits and a force to be reckoned with right now. And it was true, the guys were in tip top supercharged form. For us, it all culminated into the most wild and crazy “Helen Fry” you could ask for.

Ian Felice and “Helen Fry” at the Chameleon Club

Other highlights of the evening for me personally were several songs I got to see live for the first time (“Marie,” “Her Eyes Dart Round,” “Where’d you Get the Liquor?”); two sweet covers (Woody Guthrie’s “Cumberland Gap” and Townes Van Zandt’s “Two Hands”); and a goofy, playful version of “Loser Takes All.”

I took a couple videos (linked above) and Ady took some photos during “Loser,” “Ponzi,” “Helen Fry” (check the series of photos at the end of the set when Ian bashed away on his guitar laying on the floor!) and other points along the way. Good show, yes! They always make me happy as hell to be a Felice Brothers fan—and between that and all the fun I had hanging out with my sister, it made driving all that way feel like it was nothing.

Follow the link below to be taken to the full photo set of the Felice Brothers live at the Chameleon Club 2012 via the Sisters Dissonance Flickr account.

Video can be found in the posts immediately preceding this one, and on our youtube page where you can also find the third video taken, “Her Eyes Dart Round.”

Felice Brothers live at Chameleon Club, a set on Flickr.

PS – Cheers to Meghan and Amy, who we met after the show!

Red Hot Chili Peppers at the House of Blues Cleveland

The scene downtown last Sunday was vibrant and buzzing in anticipation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing their free show in support of the Obama campaign. T’was a family affair as I attended with family and loved ones, including Ella and Ava (pictured, at their very first big concert experience). We all were treated to box seats thanks to a very generous friend, so the vantage point of the stage and show was free and clear and resulted in a few photos and a great video —admittedly slightly imperfect audio due to proximity to amps—of second song “Dani California” from the short and sweet 6 song (plus encore) set.

The energy level at the early hour of 1 o’clock in the afternoon (a disorienting time to be in full live show mode but I liked it) was as high, if not higher than any other Chili Peppers shows I’ve been to. And I walked away once again wishing that bottled essence of Flea-energy Juice was on the market. (Speaking of, Rocket Juice, anyone?)

Thanks to the mind behind Offmyeffingmeds who was in our entourage and took over review duties for the day (check his hilarious no holds barred social commentary blog and twitter account, I command you!).

Red Hot Chili Peppers live at House of Blues
{MORE PHOTOS via Flickr here}
Review from Offmyeffingmeds (via twitter:@offmyeffingmeds)

Catching the Red Hot Chili Peppers yesterday at the House of Blues was just too fucking cool! You’d have difficulty imagining a better way to spend Julian Easter. (I’m thinking Jesus would actually have to show up for the party.)

Anyway, warm temperatures and the early-afternoon performance only fed the surrealistic atmosphere. We got an invitation at 10:30 am, while we were still abed. The ensuing explosion of activity probably damaged the last (very small) shred of sanity our cat possessed.

We were presentable and out of the house soon thereafter, cursing drivers who had apparently received instructions to use any means necessary to delay us. Nobody drove no more than 15 mph below the speed limit. Their efforts failed, though. We reached downtown Cleveland in plenty of time to join the party on Euclid Avenue.

1,200 Obama workers had worked for free tickets to the show. All of them turned up.

After running a couple videos that highlighted the President’s achievements, his national campaign manager introduced the band, and urged the audience to consider why a world-class outfit like RHCP would sacrifice time and sleep to help inject political volunteers with a bit of energy. (You should do the same.)

The House of Blues is not a concert venue…it’s a large saloon. Being locked down in a room of that size with the Chilis is like Talking Heads’ “Heaven,” without the irony. It’s perfect. The band jumped into ”Can’t Stop” and didn’t waste a second of the next 45 minutes. Energy was not a problem.

Chad Smith is simply an amazing drummer, both visually and aurally, and tossed at minimum a dozen sticks to the fans and no one worried about losing an eye. Josh Klinghoffer seems to have been bred to play guitar for the band. He’s got the swag and the chops cold…and merits at least a 9.2 for floor exercises! Flea and Anthony, the over-amped heart of the Chilis, did what they always do: brought the funk and never let up.

“Dani Cali,” “Look Around,” and “Rain Dance Maggie,” followed and then everybody caught their breath during “Under the Bridge.” Two more songs and it was over.

We felt the longing of Mother Teresa: God spoke to her once at an early age and then abandoned her for the rest of her life. Leaving her with one powerful hunger.

Thanks once again to everyone who got us there!

Drake Bell live at The Grog Shop Cleveland Heights, Ohio (photo set)

The ever expanding saga of Two Sisters and a Show, this time with a twist. It’s . . . two sisters and two daughters/nieces, and two sons/nephews in tow! The six of us had a great evening starting at the essential Tommy’s restaurant on Coventry (Brownie Monster!), followed by the much looked forward to 30 minute getting-lost-amongst-delightfully-bizarre-treasures session in Big Fun.

It was then time to make our way to The Grog Shop to top off the evening with a truly enjoyable acoustic set by Drake Bell. The kids were at full attention as that oh so familiar face—which over the years they have come to know via his comedic side as well as his music—arrived on stage, accompanied by another guitarist, Andy Alt, and Will Herrington on keys.

The audience demographic was wildly and nicely varied and Bell showed his musical chops via his own songwriting as well as giving us an accomplished tribute to the Beatles as he covered of a portion of the Abbey Road medley (Mean Mr. Mustard/Polyethene Pam/She Came in Through the Bathroom Window/Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight), and a very beautiful solo version of “Blackbird.” It was great to see our kids get excited by the covers (they are well versed already!), and for those in the audience not yet familiar, Bell did a great job presenting such a unique yet classic representation of the Beatles that will hopefully broaden the musical horizons of the younger set in the audience.

Ady and I are both excited to have been able to introduce the kids to the world of live music via an artist that is genuine, talented and incredibly gracious, and to watch them be as inspired by music as much as we are. Music heads in the making.

View the full Drake Bell live at The Grog Shop Cleveland Heights, Ohio photo set on Flickr