|
|
 |
|||
|
IN THIS ISSUE:
2004 Christmas The Bootlog Some Ezra Sights From New Orleans Listening Party Update / Book Review
News & Links TTOY Hall of Fame Cowbell Hall of Fame BTE Impressions
Volume 2
|
BTE AT THE STAR(LAND) A couple of weeks before this show I had stopped by the venue to pick up some tickets from the box office. It pretty much sits in the middle of a giant parking lot on an industrial park road. It seemed vaguely familiar to me. Then I read somewhere it used to be called the “Hunka Bunka Ballroom” back in the day. I think I might actually have been there twenty years ago or so... As I was driving to the show from a friend already on
line for the show who said: “you’re right, it is INDUSTRIAL!” Well,
industrial or not, all the concertgoers I spoke to agreed this was an
awesome venue. A cool place with cool staff and an interesting
story.
Funky Thing #1 was when the PMB guys spliced Wham’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” into Queen’s “Fat Bottomed girls” which the guys used as they came onto the stage. It was a classic prank – even more so Kevin, Travis and Jim (but not Tom) did their best imitations of the dance moves of Messrs. Michael and Ridgely. “King of New Orleans” again kicked off the BTE set. Kevin’s breakdown
included a shoutout to the Central New Jersey M*ther-F*ckers” and a
comment that the show was going to be “off the hook as we’re going to
scavenge for spare parts in the junkyard later on” “Misunderstood” followed nicely and then “Good.” Travis was smacking the drums damn hard this evening and the crowd, which included many PMB fans, really responded. “Allison Foley” was next up and Travis mesmerized the audience with his drum solo accompanying KG’s first “pelvic thrust” moment of the night.
Then “Pull” kicked things up a notch (again). The guys really are enjoying playing this tune again. Welcome back! “Rolling” followed with a greeting from Kevin – “Happy Holidays to all the beautiful people of New Jersey (and surrounding metropolitan areas).” “Daylight” was up next. As usual, this wonderful yet unfamiliar song struck a positive note with the crowd. The more familiar "Extra Ordinary" followed. "Rosealia" followed and this is where Funky Thing #2 happened. Mid-song, the PMB guys came out, set up a table, whipped out some cards and cigars and began an onstage card game. Must have been some kind of inside joke with the BTE guys who found this very humorous.
|
And at this point "Sexy Santa" emerged from offstage carrying a bottle of vodka with "I *heart* Kevin" written on his chest and "BTE Roxxx!" on his back. As you can see from the photos, he was dressed in underwear (clean, yet heading in a decidedly wrong direction!) and tinsel, in addition to his hat and Santa mask. Santa rode into the stage on the drummer's back. As Santa dismounted, Tom Drummond got into the act and rode the drummer's back around his side of the stage. Getting weird, people! As the PMB guys left the stage, BTE toned things down with "Get You In" (for the ladies).
"At the Stars" was the next offering. At this point Kevin requested some "mirror ball action" from the light man and that's exactly what he got. Rotating mirror balls flew around the room and provided a perfect backdrop for Jim Payne's Bonnaroo moment. As did some fog from the fog machine that seemed to puff a giant cloud out towards Jim who managed to deftly sidestep the nimbus upon Kevin's warning. Kicking things back into high gear yet again, the guys seemed to fly through "A Lifetime" and "Sincerely Me." As they began the last song of their set, "Desperately Wanting" you could feel the momentum rise in the room. Of course, the song was not without it's "break down" moments as KG urged the crowd the get into the holiday spirit as the let loose with a snippet of Nelly's "Ride Wit Me." He also mentioned they were playing in the hometown of Jon Bon Jovi, but opted to deliver his trusted "Bruce Throwdown" maneuver to fulfill his "Jersey Props" for the night. As the song concluded and the guys left the stage, KG gave the peace sing and said quietly "Dimebag R.I.P." in reference to the senseless murder of former Pantera guitarist, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. Encore Before Jessie could leave the stage, the PMG guys re-emerged to kick right into "Ain't Talking 'Bout Love" by Van Halen and the two bands rocked the song happily until it ended in a classic rock climax with Kevin and Pat trading vocals. This was a very fun night. I shall also remember it as the night my brother-in-law got turned on to my favorite band, Better than Ezra. Good job guys!
Click here for a recap of the setlist. |
||
