the Futureheads, the Delays, Franz Ferdinand (09.15.04)

the Band: the Futureheads, the Delays, Franz Ferdinand
the Date: Wednesday September 15, 2004
the Venue: Verizon Wireless Theater (Houston)

(Photo credit to Andrew Kendall and his Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/andrewkendall/)

If it’s not Scottish it’s CRAP!

The Futureheads opened. They’re an English indie-band, consisting of Ross Millard (vocals/guitar), Barry Hyde (vocals/guitar), David Craig (bass), and Dave Hyde (drums). They were great - very tight, fun songs. I really liked their tune Decent Days & Nights.

Then, the Delays played. They’re another English band, consisting of brothers Greg (vocals/ guitar) and Aaron Gilbert (keyboard/vocals), Colin Fox (bass/vocals) and Rowly (drums). Greg’s falsetto vocals, were kind of cool, but unfortunately their show did not have the same energy as the other two bands. Still … I picked up a couple CDs when I grabbed another beer during their set.

Franz Ferdinand was the main attraction. This Scottish band, made up of Alex Kapranos (vocals/guitar), Bob Hardy (bass), Nick McCarthy (guitar/vocals), and Paul Thomson (drums/vocals), put on an amazing show! Franz Ferdinand knew exactly how to wake up the crowd again. Dressed in super-tight shirts and pants, the slender quartet kicked it off with the fiery Cheating On You, which they followed with essentially the entirety of their self-titled album.

(Photo credit to Sarah Roberts and her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/sarahrobertsphoto/)

Franz Ferdinand were so fantastic live. I danced the entire concert - about an hour. My favorite tunes of the evening were Cheating on You, 40’, Take Me Out, Jacqueline, Come on Home, and This Fire.  All in all, it was a great night of music from across the pond.

Full setlist: Cheating on You / 40’ / Tell Her Tonight / Auf Achse / Take Me Out / Jacqueline / This Boy / Come on Home / Van Tango / The Dark of the Matinée / Your Diary / Michael / Darts of Pleasure / ENCORE / Shopping for Blood / Love and Destroy / This Fire


So if you’re lonely, you know I’m here waiting for you …

Garbage (05.16.02)

the Band: Garbage
the Date: Thu May 16, 2002
the Venue: Verizon Wireless Theater (Houston)

(Photo credit to ROCKZONE.com http://www.rockzone.com/pictures/garbage-051602.shtml)

Randomness, drew me to this show. Absolutely deciding at the last minute to go, I’m certainly glad I did.

I can’t say I know too much about Garbage. I had heard their songs played on the radio and I enjoyed Shirley Manson’s voice well enough. This show made me a fan … er, rather, this show made me realize how I was already a fan, a huge fan … of Garbage.

The show was truly a lot of fun. My favorites were Push It, Special, I Think I’m Paranoid, Stupid Girl, #1 Crush, Only Happy When It Rains, and I Just Want to Have Something To Do (Ramones cover). Who would have guessed … Garbage could be so beautiful?

Full setlist (not from this show, but from a show around this time … sorry, best I can do): Push It / Temptation Waits / I Think I’m Paranoid / Special / Cup of Coffee / Til the Day I Die / Not My Idea / When I Grow Up / Hammering My Head / So Like a Rose / Shut Your Mouth / Parade / Stupid Girl / You Look So Fine / Thirteen (Big Star cover) / Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) / Vow / ENCORE / I Just Wanna Have Something To Do (Ramones cover) / Milk / Only Happy When It Rains

I feel good when things are going wrong. I only listen to the sad, sad songs . . .

Tenacious D (04.17.02)

the Band: Tenacious D
the Date: Wed April 17, 2002
the Venue: Verizon Theater (Houston)

(Photo credit to ROCKZONE.com http://www.rockzone.com/pictures/tenaciousd-041702.shtml)

Tenacious D, the self-proclaimed greatest band in the world, rocked Houston … and, rocked it hard. Jack Black (J.B.) and Kyle Gass (K.G.) make up the acoustic, metal, rock duo. They began the night with the theme song from Flash Gordon (NICE!) and then continued to play for over two hours! They covered pretty much everything from their self-titled, debut album and the show included a couple of short films. Ridiculous! Fun! Amazing show!

Full setlist (not from this show, but from one around this time … sorry, best I can do): Flash (Queen cover) / Wonderboy / Kielbasa / Explosivo / The Wind / Karate / Kyle Quit the Band / Friendship / Dio / Lee / The Road / Tribute / Cosmic / Rocket Sauce / Fuck Her Gently / Rock Your Socks / Double Team / ENCORE / Star Trek (Alexander Courage cover) / City Hall / Beatles

It doesn’t matter if it is good, it only matters if it rocks . . .

the Strokes (01.24.02)

the Band: the Strokes

the Date: Fri January 24, 2002
the Venue: Verizon Wireless Theater (Houston)

(Photo credit to ROCKZONE.com http://www.rockzone.com/pictures/strokes-012402.shtml)

I was in Houston for work (I was always in Houston for work) and looking for something to do. Even though I was pretty sick with a cold, I didn’t want to miss this band that I had heard so much about. So after a little pharmaceutical strength (thank you, Sudafed), I made my way downtown to the Verizon Theater. It was all worth it.

The Strokes are from New York. They were relatively new but there was a near-hysterical buzz about them and their debut album, Is This It?. The band is made up of Julian Casablancas (vocals), Nick Valensi (guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass) and Fab Moretti (drums).

The show was great even though it was short and quick. I think they played every song in their catalog, even the “controversial” tune, New York City Cops. That was part of the excitement. These guys were so young, just starting out, and they were playing everything they had. It was perfect. I didn’t leave the show wanting more because I knew there was nothing more give. What was given was full-on Rock and Roll.

(Photo credit to ROCKZONE.com http://www.rockzone.com/pictures/strokes-012402.shtml)

This show deserves a special note: around this time, I was growing disappointed with the music scene. Though I loved the music from my college days (1990-94, fueled by DC’s 99.1 WHFS), I felt the late 90’s had little to offer … too much Offspring, Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit and other screeching rap-rockers. Where did rock and roll go? Needless to say, my interest in music was fizzling out … I even started listening to a little country music. Gasp! Then, my buddy Roy made a mixed-CD for me. It contained a track from the Strokes. It was awesome! I must have played that track dozens of times. This band absolutely woke me up from my music listening slumber. Thanks, Roy … oh and thanks, Strokes, you scruffy-looking saviors of rock, you. I’m awake now.

Full setlist: Modern Age / Someday / Ze Newie / New York City Cops / Soma / Is This It? / Hard to Explain / Last Nite / Alone Together / Barely Legal / When it Started / Trying Your Luck / Meet Me in the Bathroom / Take it or Leave it

And girls lie too much
And boys act too tough
Enough is enough ...