Bands
In 1994 Headbangerwoman didn’t pay to gain entry to The Phoenix Festival in Long Marston, Stratford Upon Avon, England, where a much younger and way edgier NOFX took the main stage, early on Sunday July 17. Again on November 7 2016, Headbangerwoman didn’t pay to be granted access to the first of two SOLD OUT NOFX shows at Union Hall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The most recent show came with pit access; Not that being at eye level with Fat Mikes pasty knees is really an admirable spot, but at least it provided a barrier between Headbangerwoman and 600 sweaty, rowdy fans who were already shoving, clamouring, and hurling, um…”stuff.” Not to mention the odd prick hurling themselves.
Fat Mike has nice knees
Even before the band appeared on stage there was an urgency for some to start pushing and shoving the crowd towards the barrier. Security, while trying their hardest to diffuse any situations that were brewing were advised by the bands management to leave it alone. They did just that and the intensity appeared to level out…there are no reports of major injuries.
Aside from one compete prick jumping on stage and kicking Fat Mike in the ankle that he’d recently injured at a Vancouver show, there was relatively little in the way of knob headedness. Maybe he was hoping he’d get kicked in the head and have a story to tell….
El Hefe
NOFX fans are in the crowd to drink in the atmosphere. This show had atmosphere in gallon buckets. There was (as always) banter, and there was drinking, but most importantly there was music.
Eric Melvin
MOST in the crowd sang along to every last motherfucking song at this show. They were probably four years old when Headbangerwoman attended her first NOFX show. Bridging the age gap is apparently something that these four middle aged, less than conforming blokes do well. They certainly managed to attract every misfit and freak in the Greater Edmonton for this show. A formidable achievement. Bo Derek had long since done a runner, and most of those in attendance would be in fact leaving to go home with Bo Diddley….
While many would be reviled at a middle aged portly bloke with a mohawk, wearing a black dress, and preaching his particular brand of art on a stage, in this moment it was exactly perfect. Michael Buble, while he is surely pleasant and all that, just doesn’t have what it takes, like Fat Mike does.
NOFX have managed near cult status, while keeping it so ground roots that it almost beggers belief, and it seems entirely possibly that they could pull off a full week of SOLD OUT shows in this very conservative town, no issue.
Tonight will be the same, but different…
Huge thanks to Chad
KG Headbangerwoman November 8 2015
Photography by Karen Graham All Rights Reserved
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The story is that Stahmer, founder of the Farm Rock series, has been screwing people over.
His FB profile….and him, are nowhere to be found.
Read Eddie Trunks story here.
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Friday 13 May 2016…
An impromptu ticket purchase led to a great evening for Headbangerwoman.com
Billy Idol is in residence at House of Blues Las Vegas through most of 2016 and while many would label 80’s pop/rock stars “has beens” or “sell outs”, we prefer to believe that “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” and after consuming a piece of cake the size of a house and realizing that Friday 13th is indeed lucky for taste testing, we decided to double or bust and headed on down to the House of Blues, in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, to watch the artist formerly known as William Broad.
Entry was swift, even considering the security checks. Drinks were ridiculously, yet expectedly expensive, but equally delicious and a capacity of 2,000 give or take, was easily reached.
An obnoxious number of very well dressed, beyond middle-aged blokes, accompanied by ridiculously good-looking and obviously far younger women, adorned the reserved seating areas. The women giggled and obsessively ruffled their hair. The men were essentially ignored, as they tried to suck in the portly midriffs hidden beneath their cologne soaked Prada shirts. It was quite vile. Rock shows are for the fans, or at least they should be. Not for men with far too much money and zero personality, who need to parade women they are quite obviously not in relationships with to make themselves look good. It doesn’t work and the cake we ate earlier is starting to give us a nasty taste in our mouths. Fuck off back to the golf green, wankers.
That aside…. As the curtain rose and the band hit the stage, the fan based crowd showed their considerable appreciation. Idol was last to appear and didn’t look unlike the 80’s punk he was there to portray. A touch portly and in need of better fitting, less tailored “punk” pants perhaps… but definitely Idol. 
It was immediately obvious that slower songs seem to retard Idols live voice. Only when he is belting out songs does his ability to really sing actually shine through. Ballads are; let’s just say, less becoming of this punk icon.
Another observation made through the set was that Idol, although he has spent his entire life working with and around music and other musicians, has absolutely ZERO rhythm. Momentarily as he played the tambourine for a song he seemed to be keeping time, but the rest of the one hour and forty minute set he would jiggle and sidestep in a manner that was more out of time in 2016 than 1800’s Victorian pantaloons… Very fucking weird. Watch !!
Long time Idol cohort and guitarist Steve Stevens was the stage theatrics and visual performance saviour, playing his guitar behind his head, pulling funky strutting moves and hitting his knees to wow the audience. All without missing a beat and with his 80’s hair still perfectly teased. His solo, which consisted of Led Zeppelin classics was pretty fucking stunning and well worth the 95$ general admission on its own merit.
Toward the end of the set Idol’s mic and monitor appeared to fail and three times he attempted to restart the song Rebel Yell, with little success…. A friday 13th hit of bad luck perhaps? Whatever the issue the very loyal crowd sensed Idols increasing frustrations and got the man back on track, singing their lungs out so that he could hear what he needed to. The help was seriously appreciated and Idol showed sincere gratitude.
White Wedding was opened acoustically by Idol and Stevens and was mind staggeringly fabulous. Maybe a re-release for this take should be suggested? It blew the minds of those in attendance.
Boyish charm, cheeky sense of humor and signature snarl all remain intact for this 60-year-old. Washboard stomach not quite 1982 standard, but that didn’t stop the former heart-throb removing all garments from his upper body to a hearty roar from all the females (and likely a few fellas) in the audience.
Idol is definitely not a “has been” or a “sell out” and he retains his inner (just perhaps not his outer) punk.
If you were a fan in the 80’s you will undoubtedly love this show if you are lucky enough to be able to get tickets to an upcoming venue.
Just show some respect and keep your knickers on.
Hurling your grundies at musicians really does belong in 1988!
Catch a concert…. dance badly, have 80’s flashbacks and get your tits out. Idol is!
By KG Headbangerwoman May 19 2016
All photography by Karen Graham.
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Toronto. May 7 2016.
Eagles of Death Metal.
The Beaches and Dearly Beloved.
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Ladies of Rock; River Cree Resort & Casino, Enoch, Alberta, Canada
February 20th 2016
If you had looked around the room, you’d have been forgiven for thinking that is was 1988. Some folk in attendance had not yet realized. But the hair was mostly smaller, pants were way less tight, and tits were (mostly) firmly inside their bras. Some bellies were undoubtedly a little rounder. But this was still unmistakably a rock and roll crowd.
At River Cree it seems that sometimes people get it wrong. This might have been one of those times. Or perhaps the opening band is supposed to be the main attraction.
Lita Ford was the headlining act here on February 20th 2016.
While Ford has a rich history as a musician, her vocals for the first three songs seemed not to back that fact up. Whether it was monitor issues, or just that Ford needed to warm up her voice, she got her reprieve during the fourth song and she became stronger vocally as her set progressed.
As a guitarist, live or otherwise, Ford is not to be questioned and in her partnership with guitarist Patrick Kennison (Heaven Below) the audience were able to witness a stunning rock show.
Add a dash of drummer Bobby Rock, an industry favorite for years, and 1988 had returned. Rocks impeccable and individual drumming style added one hell of a buzz. His solo was perfect.
Ford seemed to think she was required to mention collaberations with former boyfriend Nikk Sixx, (Motley Crue and Sixx AM) and recently deceased Motorhead icon Lemmy Kilmister to push a few songs and make them more attractive to the audience. But it wasn’t really necessary. Those in attendance were there solely for the former Runaway.
With a book release imminent, Ford had the perfect captive crowd to sell to. She mentioned that the press has already nit picked the publication for sex talk, but that it should be enjoyed cover to cover, not just for the sex. Buy it. It will be a great read, sex or not. Living Like a Runaway is published by Barnes & Noble, and can be ordered here.
While the headline performance started as a bumpy ride, it became a kick ass performance, so including the Runaways classic Cherry Bomb and finishing up with Close My Eyes Forever, a duet originally performed with Ozzy Osbourne, but reproduced beautifully here with Kennison, and MTV favorite Kiss Me Deadly, gave those both stage front, and back of the hall, the revival high that they had been craving.
Ford now commences her book tour.
Yet another contender for Headliner arrived, when Vixen hit the stage..
In October 2013, Jan Kuehnemund died after an aggressive battle with cancer. This was a huge blow to the remaining members of rock band Vixen, who were touring as JRSG, but were planning to reunite with their original guitarist.
Not to be stopped, Vixen have now been playing shows steadily since early 2014, and with great success. The only thing bigger than the Vixen sound is singer/guitarist Janet Gardners hair, and it is at least a foot shorter than it was in the late 80’s.
While they are know as an all girl band, Vixen are a fucking talented rock band. Their gender is completely irrelevant.
Share Ross can kick the ass of any other bassist living or dead. That is the reason she is on the stage with the best known and most successful line up of this band. The bass in all of Vixens music is stand alone. That’s why it works. Standing even 50 feet away from the stage you can feel the confidence in the air as the bass sound pulses through you. Ross oozes credence and conviction. And maybe a little essential oil…
Of course Roxy Petruccis drumming is not to be sniffed at. Bobby might Rock, but Roxy can roll it out to the tune of his drums and hold her own. No problem. And that was proven in Madam X a long time before this show. But at this show, it was reiterated. No arguing; Petrucci is baller than ever behind the kit.
Gina Stile is not in a position that many would be able to fill. Since the death of Kuehnemund, Stile has stood tall next to the better known members of Vixen. But let’s just stop the comparisons right now. Stile is talented, she is sassy and she IS a guitarist with Vixen. It’s that simple. With a guitar style that works well with the Vixen songs, she rips it up with the best of ’em, and she’s living the American Dream.
OK, so we mentioned hair earlier, but what about that voice? Have you ever tried to sing along to a Vixen song? Don’t, you are either an idiot or an Opera singer if you do. Janet Gardner has one of the most fucking incredible voices you ever heard, and she reproduced fucking incredible, on the stage of the River Cree Resort and Casino, at this show.
Let’s face it most of us can’t walk in heels wearing a short skirt. Could we shred guitar, and pull off flawless vocal at the same time? Shut the fuck up. Gardner is original, she is incredible, and she’s back on stage kicking your ass.
You can’t pick a favorite Vixen song. It just won’t happen ever. But with all bases and the MTV favorites covered at this show, these very talented musicians gave you what you payed for, and more besides.
So, we return to the opening paragraph…. and band.
Who knows where the fuck Lorraine Lewis gets here energy from? It could be Starbucks, it might be Margheritas, but she’s sharing it. You are infected… and contagious.
From the minute the Femme Fatale front fucker hits the stage, there is an air of electricity. Lewis uses the entire stage (and sometimes her butt) to grab your attention. Of course, while she’s doing that, she is just belting out pitch perfect vocals and putting on a performance worthy of Broadway. Lewis is a perfectionist and that shows. She earned your adoration. She owns your ass.
Of course having a band that can keep up with a woman who has energy levels only comparable to the Tasmanian Devil, is a bonus.
Keyboard player Katt Scarlett seems to balance out that energy by appearing demure, moody and melodic. Off stage her energy and vigor grab you by the tit.
Taller than anyone when she stands on a chair and band bassist Janis Tanaka, is holding her own private mosh pit and limbo dancing, while guitarist Nikki Stringfield is shredding so fiercely that it looks like her head will roll off and bowl a strike on the drum bass.
Behind the rest of the band, keeping time on this manic menagerie is none other that Athena Bass. There are so many words or scenarios to describe Bass, that doing so would result in an entirely different article being written. So let’s just say that “Athena was there doing her thing.”
The energy from this band, even though not in its original 80’s form, with only Lewis remaining from those heady MTV led days, is undeniable. They may not have had the success of Ford or Vixen, but they have a chemistry so undeniable, that it would, without question, warrant the headlining spot. Those in attendance would agree. Those that weren’t, will spend the rest of their lives wondering what the fuck they were doing when they didn’t buy tickets.
Femme Fatale at River Cree Feb 20 2016
The high from this show should last well into the middle of next week. Unless you are Lorraine Lewis, who is waiting for the next show and next high, having had this one abruptly ended when she realized that she had to pick up her dogs latest big one.
That’s Rock n Roll folks….
KG Headbangerwoman Feb 21st 2016
Photo copyright K Graham
Turn It Up To Twelve 