Michael McDonald & Boz Scaggs @ The Greek Theater 7/11/09

That’s right kids, back to back shows! Unfortunately Kristian and I were under the impression that Boz would be opening, so we got there a little late. Surprise, McDonald (who now shall be known as MMFM) was just starting Heard It Through the Grapevine when we got there. The good news was that while Kris was standing in the drink line, I was getting a front row view from the side. MMFM sounded so good it was like we were still in the 70s. His piano playing was jammin’ as well along with the band. Up next was the Doobie Brothers’ classic Minute by Minute and they jammed it straight into Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, one of the best covers to come out recently. In fact, if you haven’t picked up MMFM’s Motown and Motown 2 you better do that immediately. Another great track from that collection came up next, Ain’t Nothin Like the Real Thing. The set was closed with What a Fool Believes which had the whole crowd singing along and clapping along. I’m singing it right now as I’m typing. The encore started with an amazing piano solo which led right into Keeps You Runnin and he finished the night with Takin It to the Streets. Could it get anymore metal than that? Yes it could…

Boz Scaggs started his set with Jojo and his band just came out on fire. I couldn’t believe I was there to witness two of the most unmistakable voices in music. And speaking of great voices, with Boz was Ms. Monet who is just an amazing talent. For one song Boz left the floor and let her take the spotlight. Ms. Monet had the crowd on their feet after singing the song Until You Come Back to Me. Then Boz came back out and rocked The Greek with Lowdown. For the second encore Boz introduced one of his favorite singers, who just happened to be MMFM. They closed the night with a song together.

New Orleans + Motown = heavy f’n metal.

:Q:

Stone Temple Pilots
The Joint (Hard Rock Casino), Las Vegas, July 2, 2009

I was so excited when my friend and I got to Vegas and found out that STP was going to be playing that night at The Joint. We immediately called Ticketmaster and were able to get floor tickets.

I hadn’t been to The Joint in several years and since then it has been remodeled. The original Joint was a bit more intimate. The new place is larger but not huge where you can not see the band.

Hurt opened up for STP and just in case you were wondering, yes, they were good. They opened their show with “Wars”. They had the whole place singing along, some more passionately than others.

STP went on stage and opened with “Silvergun Superman”. Most of the songs were from the first two albums making that a crowd pleaser. So you better believe that Scott Weiland used his famous bullhorn for several songs!

Weiland sounded great. My friend thought he looked like The Pet Shop Boys. He was wearing a white long sleeve shirt, black vest and tie with tuxedo pants (short above his ankles), white socks and loafers. I personally thought it might be a tribute to Michael Jackson. I thought he looked a little sluggish and stiff, I guess I got used to seeing him do his crazy shimmies and dance moves.

Weiland never said much to the crowd besides the occasional song title. It would have been great to hear if a new album was in the works. It’s been a few years since “Shangi-La Dee Da.”

Zyner

*Well, I don’t remember the set list in order but these are just some of the songs they played.

Silvergun Superman
Vasoline
Wicked Garden
Sex Type Thing
Sour Girl
Creep
Down
Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart
Unglued
Interstate Love Song
Plush
Big Empty
Dead and Bloated
Crackerman