Iron Maiden Concert-- 6/13/2017--in Nashville, TN

Iron Maiden, and opening act Ghost, entertained Nashville on Tuesday night (and I was present).  Ghost opened the show, with a roughly 45 minute set, playing the following songs:

1. Square Hammer  
2. From the Pinnacle to the Pit
3. Ritual
4. Cirice
6. Year Zero
7. Absolution
8. Mummy Dust
9. Monstrance Clock

The whole Satan "Schtick" was a bit much.  I wasn't really offended, because I couldn't understand most of what was being said.  I just thought the costumes and make-up were silly, more than cool.  There was a moment when the lead singer was asking the crowd if they would sing along....Lead Singer: "will you sing the song with us"........Crowd: "YESSS!!!".......Lead Singer:  "Will you sing the song for Satan".........Crowd: "?".........Lead Singer: "That one not so much, huh?"

The Ghost music was good.  It had a pretty good groove, I thought the bass player and the drummer were particularly good.  After a few songs though, It felt sort of repetitive, and I actually felt myself getting bored by the 5th or 6th song.  (This may be down to the fact that I was there to see Iron Maiden and didn't really know much about Ghost.  A co-worker made the comment that she had seen Ghost in person and they scared the $%#@ out of her.  I wasn't scared, just ready for them to wrap it up, so Iron Maiden could have the stage.)

After roughly 45 minutes of breaking down the Ghost set and putting up the Iron Maiden stage...the real show began.  Iron Maiden played a total of 15 songs, they are as follows:

If Eternity Should Fail

Speed of Light

Wrathchild

Children of the Damned

Death or Glory

The Red and the Black

The Trooper

Powerslave

The Great Unknown

The Book of Souls

Fear of the Dark

Iron Maiden

Encore:

The Number of the Beast

Blood Brothers

Wasted Years

Iron Maiden may be getting older, but they can still put on a great show.  Bruce had the crowd eating out of his hand all night and the musicianship and vocals were spot on, and top notch all night.  Nicko's drumming being a stand out for me.  The dancing of Dave and Janick could use a little work though (Janick jumping around in a fit of hyper activity and Dave was doing some weird two-step waltz thing).

Adrian Smith has always been a favorite guitarist of mine and it was great to see him in person and watch him play his solos to perfection.  Steve Harris did the Steve thing, he looked and acted exactly like every video clip I have ever seen of Maiden.  Steve is an amazing bassist.

Overall I thought it was a great show. 

The return of Mike Mesaros! 


After 12 years away, Mike returned to play a gig with his old band The Smithereens.  The Smithereens were one of the GREAT bands of the 1980's and 1990's, they have been active as a band for more than 30 years and still have the power to excite an audience.  Mike left in the mid 2000's to "raise his kids"....adding that "it just didn't make sense for me to be going on the road anymore."


Mike plans to play at least four shows with the band this year and there is talk of doing some new recording...possibly for a new album.  (As a Smithereens fan, I hope that is true.)


If you have never listened to the Smithereens, do yourself a favor and download some of their music.  Any of their albums are worthy, but Especially for You, Green Thoughts and Blow Up (my personal favorite) seem to be the stand-outs.  They recorded an excellent version of Tommy, that I still enjoy listening to. 


WELCOME BACK MIKE!!!

"Take it All" recorded by Badfinger, written by Pete Ham

"Take it All"

By Pete Ham

Recorded by Badfinger for their album Straight Up 1971

In a way, the sun has shone on me
Makes it easy to make it hard
Take an inch, take a yard, take it all
I don't need it at all

Any day, the sun could shine on you
Makes it silly to make it bad
Take it good, take it glad, take it all

CHORUS:
Don't you know there's a stronger thing keeping us together
Don't you know there's a song to sing
Sing on, let the feeling take you high

[organ solo (Pete Ham)]

CHORUS

Any day, the sun will shine on you
Makes it silly to take it bad
Make it good, take it glad, take it all
I don't need it at all
I don't want it at all
No, no, no.

The story behind the song:  At the Concert for Bangladesh, organized by Ex-Beatle George Harrison, Pete was asked to sing "Here Comes the Sun" as a duet with George.  Supposedly, this did not sit well with Joey Molland, Badfinger's other guitarist/singer. There has been some speculation that "Take it All" was written by Pete as a response to Joey's jealous teasing about the event. 


Pete Ham was a kind and gentle soul, and in reading the lyrics he seems to be making a plea to his friend that everything is cool.  Joey has stated in multiple interviews that he and Pete always got along and rarely, if ever, fought.

Joey Molland is a very talented singer/guitarist who wrote and recorded many great songs while a member of Badfinger.  Joey is the last of the classic Badfinger line-up still alive.  Joey continues to make music and tour to this day.


Badfinger's history is a very sad and tragic story.



Top 5 albums---Bottom 5 albums of Paul McCartney

I have been a fan of Paul McCartney for almost 40 years.  I first heard "Let 'em In" when I was about 8 years old, and from then on I was hooked.




In honor of the Flowers in the Dirt re-release Friday, I thought I would list MY favorite McCartney albums and my least favorite McCartney albums........even though the least favorite do have a few shining moments......It's Paul, even when he's off he's still better than most.


(These choices are NOT based on critical reviews, or ideas that other people think I should have...these are my opinions.....most of you will have different opinions.....what are your top 5, what are your bottom five?)




Starting with the TOP 5:


1. Flaming Pie

Jeff Lynne produced this truly outstanding album.  Steve Miller helps out on several songs, Ringo Starr adds drums to a number of tracks, and even Jeff Lynne jumps in to play some guitar. 

Favorite Tracks: The World Tonight, If You Wanna, Young Boy, Calico Skies...all of them...GREAT Record.

2. Band on the Run

Paul McCartney produced this album, credited to Wings...although, at this point Wings consisted of only 3 members, Paul, Linda and the steadfast Denny Laine.  Paul and Denny performed most of the music, with Linda adding back-up vocals.  Paul decided to record in Lagos, Nigeria....Henry McCullough, lead guitar, had been thinking about quitting...and chose to leave the group rather than travel to Nigeria.  Drummer Denny Seiwell also chose to leave the group rather than make the trip to Africa. Wings arrived in Africa to a studio that wasn't finished and strict warnings not to be out after dark....Paul and Linda, ignoring the advice about being out after dark, were mugged and faced a very scary situation that could have ended with their murders. Paul soldiered on, with Denny Laine's help, and created Wings' most enduring album.

Favorite Track: Band on the Run, Jet, No Words, Helen wheels and Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five.



3. Flowers in the Dirt

Paul McCartney in the late 1980's decided it was time to tour again.  He wanted to have a good solid album, with songs that he could play on tour.  He called on friends Elvis Costello and David Gilmour for a little assistance making this fine album.  Costello helped out with the writing and Dave lent his guitar skills to the song "We Got Married".  Paul also put a new band together featuring Linda, Hammish Stuart (Average White Band), Robby McIntosh (The Pretenders), Paul "Wix" Wickens and Chris Witten.  The results are a good solid album, with many enjoyable songs.

Favorite Tracks: My Brave Face, Rough Ride, You Want Her Too, Don't be Careless Love, Figure of Eight and How Many People.



4. Off the Ground

Some people refer to this as Flowers in the Dirt part 2.  It was created by the same band around the same time and was toured worldwide.  The only new player, was drummer Blair Cunningham (The Pretenders).  Chris Witten decided to move on to another project.  There are some excellent songs here.  I was able to see Paul in Atlanta during the tour for this album and the show was great.

Favorite Tracks: Off the Ground, Get out of My Way, Mistress and Maid, Peace in the Neighborhood and Looking for Changes.

5. Run Devil Run

The title was taken from a drugstore Paul was passing in Atlanta, Ga.  This is essentially an oldies album, with a few originals thrown in.  This was Paul's first album after the death of his wife Linda.  Instead of doing a sad I can't get out of bed type album , he chose to do something upbeat.  Again getting help from friends, including Dave Gilmour-who played lead guitar on the album and Ian Paice (of Deep Purple fame) adding drums, Paul gives us  a very up tempo and exciting album.  One of the songs  included in the set was a song Linda liked, called Lonesome Town, which was a hit for Ricky Nelson in 1958. Paul and the group played songs from the album live at the Cavern Club.

Favorite Tracks:  No Other Baby, Run Devil Run, Brown Eyed Handsome Man, What it Is, and I Got  Stung.

MY LEAST Favorite Paul McCartney Albums.

In reverse order (My least favorite album will be listed last at #1)

5. Wings Wild Life- The most repeated complaint---the album was rushed.  It was recorded in two weeks and sent out....Bip Bop and Mumbo....drivel..........you were in the Beatles man!

4. Pipes of Peace- Tug of War left overs. 

3. Driving Rain-Working with a new band, mourning his departed wife and celebrating new love....didn't care much for most of the songs

2. Memory Almost Full-Nostalgia filled.....The end of the end is just depressing. 

1. Kisses on the Bottom-BLEH!!! I hated this album. One of the worst albums I've ever listened to.  My Valentine, with Eric Clapton on guitar is the only track I will even listen to from this ill-advised train wreck.  (If you want to hear Cole Porter songs, etc...try Ringo's album Sentimental Journey, it is much more satisfying...the songs are sung the way they were intended to be sung.) 

Paul,

No more jazz.....EVER.

Thanks.













Brit Floyd

If you are a fan of Pink Floyd---you will enjoy the Brit Floyd Show.  They play Pink Floyd music note for note, and the vocalists are pretty darn close to sounding like Dave and Roger.  I have seen them twice.  I was in the audience for the show in Chattanooga, TN yesterday and they were absolutely amazing. 

Not only did Brit Floyd sound fantastic the light show was incredible. 

The ladies who add backing vocals were also very good.  Angela Cervantes (pictured) did the solo for "Great Gig in the Sky" and was given a standing ovation.....which she very much deserved.  I was really blown away by her performance.

Damian Darlington is the Musical director and guitarist/vocalist.  He played some amazing solos.

 

 Angela again.

 

Ian Cattell, plays bass guitar and takes turns with Damian on lead vocals.  Great bass playing awesome vocals.

 

 

This is truly an outstanding show, by a group of very talented individuals.  I highly recommend.