VH? Of Course

I can't believe I haven't mentioned this here yet, but we got kick ass tix to next month's mad square garden VH show. Yes, this actually could be it. The show we've been praying for for years: Van Halen with David Lee Roth. The most important components of the original lineup will be there -- Eddie, David and Alex. Yeah, we'll miss Michael Anthony's awesome background vocals, but so be it.

It was almost exactly a year ago I posted about a potential VH tour, noting I wouldn't believe it till I walked out of the show after experiencing a full set. Well, considering the insane amount we coughed up for this one, they'd better play a full set and a few encores. Our seats are right near the stage, just a few rows in -- prime Eddie territory. Still, he is pretty scary-lookin' these days, so there is a "too close"....

Thankfully, they still sound as good as they did in their heyday.

Live Rock Update

Man, it's been too long since I filed a rock 'n' roll show status report, so I guess I'm overdue. Honestly, the summer was filled with what seemed like more Mets games than rock shows (May their season R.I.P.).

A few recent shows were worth mentioning, though. Earlier in September I finally saw the comeback of The Live Ones, following Mike's hurt hand and tour with The Fuzztones. They're back in their natural state as a three piece, as they belong, writing new tunes, and playin some old ones (like "Right on, Sister"). Evidently they're recording soon, too -- finally -- but I'll believe it when I see it.

A couple weeks ago we caught a great show at the new Bowery Ballroom clone, Williamsburg Music Hall (old Sine, same owners as Merc Lounge and Ballroom). The place is so new you could still sniff the sawdust and fresh paint. First up was Cheeseburger whom we hadn't seen in ages, whoopin' it up with songs from their latest album, which I dig a lot. They swilled beer, showed ass crack and tossed around a couple of pinatas filled with gummie cheeseburgers. Super fun.

They were opening for the also raucous but much more artsy/noisy Les Savy Fav. They sounded amazing, too. Can't beat the lead singer's antics -- fat belly rubbing, crazy outfits, crowd infiltrating. But the music's great, and even if he just stood there you wouldn't care much.

Speaking of fat belly rubbing, we saw a perennial fave, Turbonegro at the annoyingly sterile and Times Square-located Nokia Theatre last week. They played a variety of old and new, two encores, and of course, Hanky luxuriated in his flab. Everybody did what you expected. I had lots of fun, but we agreed it seemed a tad, uh, like they were going through the motions. Not quite as inspired as other times we'd seen them (OK, barring that one time a few years ago when they stopped after about half a song 'cause some dick threw a bottle at Hank's head). Can't blame 'em at all. I can't imagine being on tour and playing every night, trying to stay fresh, even if you're switching up the set list.

Either way, the latest album, Retox, is a good one, even if it is even more a cliche of their masterpiece Apocalypse Dudes than the last couple. Some of the lyrics (like when Hanky proclaims "Semper Fat" in the intro for a tune about his largess), are pretty lame. But the intro lyrics in "What Is Rock?" are just damn great (and totally crack me up):

What Is Rock? Rock is the area between the balls and the anus of a dog or another man.

What Is Rock? Rock is the possibility of choking on your own vomit in the back of a rapist's van.

What Is Rock? Denim-clad Satanists making love in the sewers of Birmingham during Maggie Thatcher's prime.

What Is Rock? Meeting the grim reaper in a sports arena stampede at the tender age of nine..."

Luv it.

Cuevas Rebellion and Motera Rock

Hey, it only took me a month to post a few more photos from Spain. Knowing me, that ain't bad.

The first one of a moi was taken while parked alongside an outlook point somewhere in between the village of Villaricos, where we were staying, and (I think) Mojacar, a nearby beach village. Spectacular views like this were amazingly common throughout Almeria, the region of Andalucia where we were traveling.

Below that is a closeup of the Cuevas del Almanzora. You guessed it: caves. Neato, eh? We were supposed to have a guided tour, but got to the town after the tour ended for the day, so we sneaked in and walked up to the caves away from where the guard may still have been. Yeah, I'm such a rebel.

On the bottom is the Odalisca Viewpoint at the Alcazaba. The Alcazaba is an awesome (and I mean that in the true sense of the word) fortress/palace built in 955 by Muslim conquerors of southern Spain. This was a wall remaining, I believe, from its original construction. Eventually, as the Christians reclaimed their country from the Muslims, they demolished parts of the fortress, and built additions (even a cathedral right within the gigantic hilltop structure). To be honest, I still haven't figured out exactly what those round things are, but we've guessed they were used to drop on would-be intruders, or maybe fling at them or their boats with catapults.


Hey, and how cool is this? Actually on our way back to Villaricos from visiting the Cuevas, we drove along a highway where I spotted this kick ass motorocycle gang graffiti. I found a Web site for the organization, but don't have a good translation of the name of these psycho cyclists. According to one translation, The name of the group translates as "Motera Rock Fine Coal."

I've got a few more pics from Almeria here.