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IN THIS ISSUE:
2005 Mardi Gras Review & More! Meet Robert Vaughn, "Surprise" Engineer What Lurks Below - News from Oz The 4th Annual The Bootlog Fan Profile - An Ezralite Couple BTE is the Winning Bet at the Seminole Hard Rock Another Ezralite Halloween Meet Stattica / GCB Lights Up With Cigarette
News & Links TTOY Hall of Fame Cowbell Hall of Fame BTE Impressions
Volume 2
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ATLANTA'S 99X "SINNERS BALL":
The evening of debauchery started off with Metal-Some Monday, a karaoke band, leading the events. A wide variety of talented people from Atlanta graced the stage, singing their hearts out to the tunes of No Doubt, Butch Walker, and even some Metallica. I was surprised by the number of people in Kenny’s Alley at Underground Atlanta who were willing to grace the stage. Taking over the stage after Metal-Some Monday and opening for Better Than Ezra was Atlanta Smart-Rock group Y.O.U. Atlanta’s Creative Loafing has been touting the praises of this trio of handsome rockers for a few years now. The band also opened for Better than Ezra at the East Andrews Festival back in October. It was more than a treat to get to see them again. They opened their set with a cover of U2’s "Where the Streets Have No Name." Having the full attention of all sinners present, the band segued into their songs "American Dream" and "Good Intentions" – a song from their self-titled debut album. The set list followed with several more crowd-pleasing tunes. Unfortunately for the masses, these talented lads were only given a thirty-minute slot to play. Most unfortunate for me was that the set list did not include my personal favorite of theirs – "Moviekiss." However, fortunately for Y.O.U, thirty minutes is plenty of time to fall in love with them and their music. To learn more about them, please check out this website.
Between the sets of Metal-Some Monday and Y.O.U and before Better than Ezra came on stage, the crowd was dazzled (or terrified depending on your stance) with the antics of the Doll Squad. Ok, I was on the slightly horrified side of things. Along with the voluptuous dancing girls with a slight overhang – was a guy in a Blue Gorilla costume who played the kazoo while singing "Mexican Radio." Also terrorizing the crowd before the Ezra set was Crash Clark’s (traffic guru for 99X) naked rear end and the painted Beck’s and Bacardi girls who were throwing beads out to the crowd.
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When Ezra took the stage, the guys did throw out several packs of the much coveted BTE Mardi Gras beads. Just as a massive panic attack was about to set in that I wouldn’t get any beads, Tom Drummond grabbed another pack and walked them over to me so that no one else could snag them. And while a little dangerous with his aim, Travis threw me several pairs of his non-BTE beads. The show officially started when Kevin Griffin started playing "King of New Orleans." Kevin thanked the crowd for coming out and talked some about the Tips show the night before as the guys played "Misunderstood" and "Allison Foley" – complete with the entire crowd following Tom’s lead in waving bye-bye.
Things continued with "Rolling" and "Daylight." Before playing "Daylight" Kevin and Tom discussed the upcoming Greatest Hits release and the release of the new album Before the Robots. Kevin also said how appreciative they have been of 99X and their support over the years – including playing the new version of "Lifetime" which came later in the set. Kevin pumped the crowd back up with "Extra Ordinary." Once holding the crowd in the palm of his hand – he brought everyone under his complete control with one of the best times that I’ve seen them perform "Rosealia." Ok, so I’m slightly partial to the Jim Payne ending of "Roselia" and Jim Payne was looking mighty fine that night as Weezer Jim Payne – but it was really, really good. Plus, I always think it’s extra snazzy when Jim jumps from the drum riser. The guys followed with that well-known song of theirs, that always seems to be introduced as a new one – "Good." Following "Good" came that famed song for the ladies, "Get You In." And, as always enjoyable at an outdoor venue came "At the Stars" – complete with the long introduction about the guitar chord that I could now recite in my sleep. "Lifetime" was played with more props to 99X for being the first radio station to play the song. "This Time of Year" was played with no guest guitarist – but still with a football. While very much in the Mardi Gras spirit of things, Kevin decided to educate the Atlanta crowd a little more on the real Mardi Gras way of doing things and played "They All Asked For You" a Mardi Gras theme song. After that, the guys started to close things down with "Sincerely, Me" and "Desperately Wanting."
All Sinners present were eager for an Ezra encore and were graced with "Recognize" and ‘In the Blood." Kevin, Tom, Travis, and Jim decided that the Big ATL was ready for yet another Cowbell Rocker and selected Derrick from the crowd to do the honors during the Blue Oyster Cult "Reaper" breakdown. Derrick was up for the challenge and thrilled the audience with his mad cowbell skills from the top of the speakers. The show was a great way to give the people of Atlanta a small taste of the New Orleans Mardi Gras spirit. While this small taste did enough to satisfy this sinner for the time being – it won’t be long before I’m looking to sin again.
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