Peter Murphy @ The Mayan Theater 3/14/2011

After opening his set with three new tracks, Murphy’s proclamation was just as the title says.

“Fuck the songs,” he said.

Then he started chatting with the people in the front row as if he knew them forever. Joking of course, they jumped into Disappearing and continued rocking the show. They did a good mix of Bauhaus and solo material, including Strange Kind of Love with Bela Lugosi’s Dead lyrics sung at the end. Peter also sang Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt, which he dedicated to Danny Lohner who was in the audience. Also sang as a dedication was the final song of the night All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, which was requested by a newly married couple.

While the guitars sounded amazing with just a perfect crunch tone, the rest of the audio didn’t get the same treatment. It was a little distracting seeing the bass player keep arguing with the sound guy to get turned up, or turned down, or to keep the levels where they were. Peter will always sound amazing though, regardless of the acoustics at the venue. He has the most distinct and powerful voice of the genre, and definitely one of the greatest of all music.

:Q:

Santana @ The Joint 1/7/2011

You know how some people make a “bucket list”; well I kinda have one with bands. Carlos Santana has been on my list and honestly I don’t know why it took me so long to finally see him. He is one of the greatest guitarists ever.

I saw Santana at The Joint in Las Vegas on my birthday! (I have to say it was one of my best birthdays ever.) The Joint has quickly become one of my favorite places to see bands.

The show’s not all about Carlos, his band is amazing!

The show features songs that span the performer’s entire career. The set list includes everything from “Evil Ways,” Santanas’s first Top 10 hit , including “Into the Night,” “Maria Maria,” “Jingo,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va,” (Tito Puente cover) as well as “Black and Black” (AC/DC cover) and “Sunshine of Your Love” (Cream cover). The show runs about two hours full of non-stop music.

The show gives homage to Santana’s Woodstock-era, with the current band playing “Soul Sacrifice” on stage as video showed Santana playing on stage at Yasgur’s farm. Watching the video and listening to the music totally felt like a blast to the past. Not that I was at age to be at the Woodstock festival on Aug. 15, 1969.

He did get a little talkative during “A Love Supreme,” asking, “What’s more important than peace?” and urging President Barack Obama to legalize marijuana.

I strongly suggest that if you haven’t seen Carlos Santana to ask yourself, “What the f**k am I waiting for?”

Zyner

Set List
1. Electric Jungle/Jingo
2. Love of My Life
3. Aye Aye Aye/Para los Rumberos
4. Maria Maria
5. Foo Foo
6. Corazón Espinado
7. Europa (Earth’s Cry, Heaven’s Smile)
8. Singing Wings, Crying Beasts/Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
9. Oye Como Va (Tito Puente cover)
10. Back In Black (AC/DC cover)
11. Evil Ways/A Love Supreme
12. Sunshine of Your Love (Cream cover)
13. Smooth/Dame Tu Amor
Encore
14. Woodstock Chant/Soul Sacrifice
15. Bridegroom/Into the Night
16. Love, Peace & Happiness/Freedom

Photo Gallery

The Prodigy @ Staples Center 2/23/2011

The masters of electronica have returned to Los Angeles, sadly in support of Linkin Park. I won’t be holding that against them as long as they come out with a new album this year and return with a headlining tour of their own. As you could imagine, the audience was mixed between Prodigy fans, Linkin Park fans, and their parents. Even though it was a Linkin Park show, I did meet a lot of cool people that night.

Their set was basically a shorter version of their Palladium set, missing standout tracks such as Voodoo People and Their Law. Still they put on an amazing show with nine tracks (ten if you count Omen Reprise) and no encore. I’m still waiting to hear live versions of some AONO tracks…

Highlight of the night had to have been the Zero Bullshit during Smack My Bitch Up. Yes it is something you usually see at a Slipknot show, as they did come up with the name, but Staples represented well that night. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you must Youtube that shit right now!

:Q:

Setlist

1. Breathe
2. Omen
3. Poison
4. Thunder
5. Firestarter
6. Run With The Wolves
7. Omen Reprise
8. Invaders Must Die
9. Take Me To The Hospital
10. Smack My Bitch Up

Photo Gallery