Shows, shows and more shows. That’s what happens when the weather gets nice. Shows come out of the woodwork, and I feel like I’ve been out more in the past four days then I did through all of winter. It’s a good thing. As much as I hate the heat, bring on the summer concerts.

The first thing that was on my schedule was Shockwave Magazine’s Second Annual Rocker Chick Contest. There is a separate review of it, so if you missed it, smack your knuckles with a ruler, shame on you, and I’ll leave it at that. Totally by accident, when I went to look up the website to see where the Rocker Chick contest was, I found that playing the night before at the same venue was a Pearl Jam cover band called Yield. They were listed as Maryland’s premiere Pearl Jam cover band. So I said what the hell, I liked Pearl Jam a lot back when, for five bucks why not go check them out. I got to Sinix

My Sunday night was all about a little band named Bullet For My Valentine (interview in last months issue. Again if you missed it take a drink, spank yourself, I’ll spank you - whatever it takes for you to be able to lay your head down at night) at Ram’s Head Live. I had really been looking forward to this. I hadn’t gotten all crazy in a crowd for a while. I’m greeted by a huge line when I get there (can no one figure out a better, quicker, easier way to get people into the venue? Really? I bet NASA could. I’m voting that NASA takes over Ram’s Head Live). I get there just in time to see my favorite AC/DC cover band, Airbourne to take stage. Who do these guys think they are fooling anyway? (it’s rumored that when asked why they sound like AC/DC so much they responded “who’s AC/DC?” ok, that’s not really rumored, I just made that up.)

After that came Chiodos. Unfortunately, I was stuck off to the side of the stage, and the sound was horrible. From what I could tell they seemed to sound half-ass alright. I wasn’t up for fighting my way through the crowd to try to get a better perspective, but hopefully I will get another chance to check them out.

Finally, it was time for Bullet. Or at least the stage set-up for Bullet. During which the crowd proceeded to get a little rowdy. Little pushing, little shoving, a Slipknot on the radio sing-a-long, many started and faded out chants of “Bullet, Bullet,” and plenty of drunk people half falling over in front of me. Me and the fellas I was with (and one lady) moved our way into position. Can I remind you how much it sucks that you can’t smoke anywhere anymore? In order to get in any kind of good position for a band, I have to be getting there during what would have been my smoking time. Not to mention if I already was in a good spot for the previous band, I have to give it up to go outside and smoke then fight my way back in. . . what a pain in the ass. Anyway, Bullet did finally take the stage to massive cheers.

They started their set with their newest single “Your Betrayal.” Kind of a win/lose situation. I mean, with it’s awesome intro (side note: if you haven’t heard the CD version of this song with the awesome guitar intro you are really missing something) it’s the perfect song to lead off with. Yet, being that it’s new and ass-kicking, I kinda wanted to warm up a bit before I heard it. Oh well, it rocked. They then took their cue from the crowd that we wanted it loud and heavy and they did just that, even at the cost of skipping their radio hit “Hearts Burst Into Fire.” They kept it amped up through the whole set. I was about five people from the stage during the show, right by the mosh pit (it seems everyone I know was at this show and ran into me right while I was in this spot, then put a gun to my head and forced me to get in the pit with them. Seriously. Everyone.). The crowd itself was fairly rough, though I will say the pit wasn’t that bad. At one point Bullet left the stage. But they didn’t say “goodnight” or “thanks for coming out” or anything else that would indicate the show was over. Then they reappeared and did another four songs or so. And then they said thank you and goodnight and all that jazz. Then there was no encore. I don’t know if their little “break” was supposed to be that or what. All I know is that it didn’t feel like it. Now, years ago, encores were an option. But in this day and age, it’s a must. Everyone does it. It’s just the way it is. It didn’t ruin the evening or anything, but I was left wanting cause I was expecting another couple of songs. Not a total disaster, but slightly disappointing. I guess I will just have to see them next time they come around.

Ok I gotta break away from music for a second to get to everyone’s favorite subject - politics. I try to stay out of politics, I really do, but this is pissing me off and I gotta get it out. We’ve all heard the hoopla about Arizona’s laws that everyone seems to say are discriminating. I’m not here to argue whether they are or aren’t. What I am here to point out is that a few of the laws that people have a problem with were put on the ballots during the Arizona elections and passed by 70% of the voters. And now the United States government wants to step in and change them. Umm, excuse me, hello, but I thought the government was supposed to do what the people wanted. If 7 out of 10 people want this, then that seems to be a majority to me, right, wrong, or indifferent. That’s when it’s the governments turn to enforce what the people want. Am I the only one confused by this?

Ok back to the music. I happened by Noise In The Basement Monday night to see a little band called Leftstronger. I won’t go too deep into it, cause I’m doing a CD review, but I’ll just say if you get the chance to see them, check them out for yourself. I dig it.

Ok, song of the month. While I’m definitely rockin out to “Your Betrayal” by Bullet For My Valentine, and “Forever” by Sevendust; I have to say that there is a comedy song out there right now by Brian Posehn, called “More Metal Than You” that is hilarious. I laughed my ass off when I heard it. So if you like metal, and laughing, check it out. And if you don’t find it funny, you’re probably the guy the song is talking about. See ya next month.

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