My friend Joel and I got to see the Naked Raygun show on Saturday, December 22nd at Reggie's Rock Club in Chicago.
The show was a DVD release party, and we were one of the first 100 through the door, so we got free signed copies of the DVD. How cool is that?!?!?
The evening started out kinda slow, the doors opened more than an hour before the DVD was played, and the DVD was pretty long when you're waiting for a concert. Don't get me wrong, the DVD was cool, but I was there to see the band play. I had not seen the band play in about 13 or 14 years, so I was really looking forward to it.
After the initial wait was over and the DVD was played, it was time for the show to begin. The 33 year old in me wanted to stand in the back of the club back and watch the show from a safe distance, so that was where I started. Halfway through the first song, the 17 year old in me took over and I made my way into the crowd. I pushed and shoved my way up to the stage and stayed there for the entire show. It was a blast. I was in the front row, just a little to the right of center, directly in front of the Michael Stephens, playing the guitar. The band played all of my favorite songs, and the sound was tight and pretty polished. They played stuff off of all of their albums, and even played a cover of "Suspect Device", originally written by Stiff Little Fingers. It was a really good show, if you ask me.
Highlights for the night:
1. The show was insane, it was just way too much fun.
2. The club was nice enough and the sound was excellent.
3. We got free DVDs and I got to talk to the band, as well as shake hands after the show was over.
4. They played "Suspect Device" which I have never heard them play live.
Not so good:
1. Joel's glasses got accidentally knocked off and smashed right at the end of the show. That sucked. He also lost his ticket for his free DVD, but I begged the bouncer for another ticket and explained the whole situation. She took me over to the club manager, and he gave me another ticket, so Joel at least got his DVD. Thank you, Val Capone and thank you to the manager of Reggie's Rock Club.
2. I got mashed against the stage pretty hard for several hours. The pit was pretty intense, approaching "meat grinder" during some of the songs. My ribs are banged up and sore today. I have had bruised ribs many times, but they seem to heal slower as I get older, and it hurts to breathe a little today. I am sore, but it was completely worth it.
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4 comments:
Sounds like it was a good show and a good time. Good thing I didn't bother buying you the DVD since they gave you a handsigned one at the show.
And to think that you got to shake hands and meet the band while I stood in the rain with Karen for two hours with 6 other people trying to get Alice in Chains to sign a poster and then watch them just drive right past us.
I cannot believe you were thinking of letting James see that show and not let him see Alice which was an acoustic show. I would have had a greater chance of meeting the band with your crazy tall son with me.
The speaker story sounds like a lot like Swanson's Laker mobile in high school. When the engine started smoking, he would turn up the radio so you wouldn't smell the smoke. It worked most of the time except for the times when the passenger door opened up and the occupant almost falls out while the car is still moving.
It is so scary to think that our high school days were 15 years ago. It sounds like you guys had a great time. Tell Joel hi for me.
Stiff LIttle Fingers is closer to my high school era! I think Suspect Device came out in '79.
That is wild, I thought that Stiff Little Fingers was around much later. I had no idea there were from the late 70's. Their music does not sound dated at all.
Songs played by the aforementioned bands are available on YouTube, for anyone interested.
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