Picking 10 shows was a fucking challenge and a half. 2011 was an awesome year for live music and I saw so many great shows this year. I saw more shows this year than I have in the two years prior. The reason it was nearly impossible is because nearly every show was fucking showstopping meltfest! This year I saw bands like Five Finger Death Punch and In This Moment for the first time and I also got to see classic metal bands Megadeth, Testament and Exodus share a bill that was a facemelt fest. It was hard to whittle it down to “6” but I managed to do it so here it goes. The Brainfart’s Top 6 Shows of 2011!
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Paul Di’Anno/Icarus Witch
February 4, 2010
Raleigh, NC – Volume 11 Tavern
This was a good example of a show exceeding all expectations. I went in not knowing what to expect but just willing to see a legend and what I got was a show that floored, moved, melted and fucking owned everyone’s asses for nearly an hour and a half. Backed by Pittsburgh’s Icarus Witch, DiAnno limped to the stage with a cane and the minute he took the mic it was on. He sounded strong, really into it and was a very humble and gracious person. There is nothing cooler than being in a pit to the song “Phantom of the Opera” by the guy who originally sang it! Song after song DiAnno was killing it and you couldn’t kick the fucking smile off of my face as I was pressed right against the stage with my buddy Jaymz screaming all the words right back at Paul as he smiled on. The energy was so intense in that room and everyone who was there will stand by me when I say this was one of the best shows I’ve seen not just this year but ever. It was an amazing show by a guy who obviously still has it in him to deliver the goods.
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Megadeth/Testament/Exodus
March 21, 2010
Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle
When the 1st leg of the American Carnage tour of Slayer/Megadeth/Testament was canceled end of ’09 I was so bummed as I was really psyched about seeing these bands. Instead of taking things lying down, Megadeth took to the road as headliners with Testament and Exodus and performed their classic “Rust In Peace” album in it’s entirety. This show was absolutely epic and each band was playing better than I had ever heard them and the crowd was the must insane metal audience I had seen in a long time. Exodus proved that they could still own a fucking stage as if it was their own, Testament performed “The Legacy” in it’s entirety which while not my favorite proved that they were still capable of ripping everyone a new one and Megadeth? Well they just solidified their place as one of my all time favorite bands. Their performance was stellar and hearing them pull off songs like “Polaris”, “Take No Prisoners” and “Tornado of Souls” proved once and for all that Dave Mustaine is a goddamn genius. This tour was very ambitious and they pulled it off with what looked and sounded like ease. An amazing place to be in metal history without a doubt.
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Mayhem Festival
August 1, 2010
Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheater
This summer’s Mayhem Festival was one of those times where I felt like the old guy crashing the young kids party but what the fuck right? Mayhem was headlined this year by Rob Zombie and Korn but it was two side stage bands and the main stage opener who stole the show and reigned supreme. In This Moment opened the side stage with a blistering set that completely melted everyone down. Their performance was main stage worthy and they totally blew me away. The heat was so intense on this day I have no idea how these bands were putting on the caliber of show they were. 3 Inches of Blood totally won me over this day looking like a bunch of beer drinking vikings and sounding like the bastard child of Judas Priest and Merciful Fate. Their set was again full of energy and these guys completely killed it. Opening the main stage was Five Finger Death Punch with a stage production that was visually impressive and set that was so fucking out of this world that I couldn’t even stay and watch the headliners. Mayhem was an amazing time for me and a great way for me to see these great up and coming bands really deliver kick ass sets.
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Exodus/Holy Grail
September 03, 2010
Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
After seeing Exodus on the Megadeth “Rust In Peace” Tour earlier this year, I was so pumped to see them as headliners. I was completely shocked though to find that the place was only about 1/3 full with about 3o0 people or so. How could people be passing on seeing these guys slay it? The show was opened by Holy Grail who melted everyone’s faces with a kick ass 40 minute set. The crowd looked hard to please but by the 2nd song of the set everyone was totally digging them. Exodus took the stage with attitude and was more than capable of walking the walk. The set was heavy on the era fronted by current singer Rob Dukes which is fine because this shit kicks so much ass it’s not funny. “Downfall” from the new album proved to be a HUGE hit with the crowed and Rob Dukes has to be one the best metal frontmen out there today. That fucker can rule a stage and control an audience like you wouldn’t believe. This was a great show and a good example of strength in the numbers that were there. There may have been 300 folks there but each person there was ecstatic and pumped to be there. Exodus seemed more than happy playing to 300 faithful fans than probably playing to 1,000 people where only 300 are really into it. Exodus played like a band 1/2 their age and really proved that they still have a huge place in music and will continue to do so for years to come.
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Tony Joe White
October 2, 2010
Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar
I never thought I’d ever get to see Tony Joe White live in my lifetime. The ol’ Swamp Fox is well into his 60’s and he doesn’t tour much if any. Imagine my face when I saw he was playing the tiny Smiths Olde Bar here in Atlanta the day after the American Carnage tour. If you don’t know who Tony Joe White is you need to get you some learnin’. He’s the guy that wrote the classics “Polk Salad Annie” (covered by Elvis) and “Rainy Night In Georgia” which has been covered by huge names like Ray Charles and Aaron Neville. Anyways, I turned my buddy Jaymz onto him a while ago so since he was in town for Carnage, we both went to the show w/ my buddy Joel to get completely blown away. There were maybe 20 something people in the room as TJW took the stage and completely ripped it right out of the gate. Just him and a drummer was all he needed to literally have our jaws on the floor as he ripped out classics like “Roosevelt & Ira Lee”, “Undercover Agent For The Blues” and a “Polk Salad Annie” that has us all hooting and hollering hands in the air! He was such a bad ass as his voice and guitar playing was nothing less than amazing. TJW was even sporting a snake skin strap that had the head of a fucking rattlesnake on the strap. Can you get any more badass than that? Hell, he probably killed the snake himself and turned it into a strap. TJW’s “Rainy Night In Georgia” this night was so fucking beautiful that it made me tear up. It was a really magical night and it was by far the best show that nobody was there to see. I feel like I saw the best of the best in this guy and it was inspiring to say the least. What an amazing night of music.
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Taddy Porter
October 3, 2010
Alpheretta, GA – Verizon Amphitheater
Taddy Porter really cut their teeth on the road this year and show after show they continued to amaze me as they grew up on the stage. Seeing them on a huge amphitheater stage was fun and let me tell you, this was NOT the same little band I saw at Smiths Olde Bar earlier this year that were still trying to figure things out. The band I was seeing on this huge ass stage was a band that walked out and managed to own that stage for 30 minutes. There was no hesitation to their performance and the band pulled off a confident and strong set. There wasn’t anything arrogant or pretentious about the. Just four guys up there letting you know that for the next 30 minutes, you were seeing some of the best rock and roll to come out in a long long time. Opening with “Whatever Haunts You” never gets old and the thunderous drums a bass on that huge PA is exactly how I always wanted to hear these guys. They were playing with a bunch of alternative metal bands so even being out of their element they managed to win over the crowd and by the time they closed with “Mean Bitch” everyone (parents included) were dancing and grooving out to the Taddy Porter facerock set. My boys did good this year and this particular set proved to me that there is nowhere to go but up for these dudes. Keep it up boys, you did good. Matter of fact, you did awesome!
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The Black Crowes
November 20, 2010
Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle
The Black Crowes announced this year that this would be their last tour for a while. They didn’t say they were calling it quits but that they were taking an indefinite amount of time off. I have only missed ONE Black Crowes tour in my 20 years as a fan so I knew that this was going to be a show not to be missed. The Tabernacle is the perfect place to see this band. A Southern band playing southern music in a venue that was once a baptist church. Talk about playing in the element. Opening with an acoustic set that had some awesome reworked versions of classics like “Jealous Again” and “Hotel Illness,” the band really brought the house down with a “Wiser Time” that had everyone on their feet and cheering so loud that they nearly drowned the band out. The 2nd set was highlighted by some amazing covers like “Fearless” by Pink Floyd, “Feelin’ Alright” by Joe Cocker and an encore of the Velvet Underground’s “Oh Sweet Nuthin’.” The Black Crowes have left the building and they went out on top. When they left the stage, they left it all on the stage. They brought it, wrapped it up in song and gave it to each and every one of us as a gift that I know I will always cherish. The Black Crowes may never get the critical respect that they deserve but as a fan, I know that they are one of the best bands of my generation. Bittersweet indeed.
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Crowbar
November 29, 2010
Atlanta, GA – The Drunken Unicorn
After a 5 year break, Kirk Windstien assembled the almighty kings of sludge Crowbar to take to the road and let us all know that they were coming back at us with some new music and new found energy. When Crowbar took the stage at the tiny Drunken Unicorn, the place was packed to the rafters (literally) and the band was playing amazingly well. I hadn’t seen Crowbar since 1995 and it was just like coming back to see an old friend only to find that no time has passed. The newly sober Kirk was playful with the audience posing for pictures and joking with everyone and the rest of the band played with so much intensity that they lived up to their motto of “None Fucking Heavier.” “High Rate Extinction” whipped everyone into shape as we all sang along at the top of our lungs through a set that featured new songs from the upcoming album and classics like “I Have Failed,” “All I Had I Gave,” and “Self Inflicted” but it was “I Am Forever” that proved to be the show stopper causing a mosh pit so intense that my fat ass was getting tossed around like a rag doll. What I loved the most about this show was that for the first time in a long time a I got to see a small club show with a rabid, die hard fan base showing their allegiance to a band who was giving it right back two fold. This was a really amazing concert experience for me and it was just amazing to see such a great crowd. It was a great example of audience and band working together and giving it back to each other to create an unforgettable evening of music.
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Epica
December 17, 2010
Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle
Another addition to my list of huge ass surprises in 2010 has to be Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. For nearly two hours, Epica proved that they can totally lives up to their name. Epica delivered a blistering set that was visually stunning and equally audibly stunning. Epica not only connected with each other but they connected with their audience in a way that I rarely see. This was a band that was putting out everything they had to assure that their audience would be the best possible show. Epica is a band that definitely had me asking the question, “Why aren’t they fucking huge here?” Epica’s performance left my face in a pile of molten goo on the floor and even after nearly 2 hours had me wanting more. A stellar performance by a stellar band.
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Drivin’ N Cryin’
December 26, 2010
Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle
What a way to close out the year? 2010 was an epic year of concerts for The Brainfart and to close it out with a Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ show was a great way to go out. While this definitely wasn’t the tightest Drivin’ N Cryin’ show I’ve seen it was without a doubt the most fun. For a band that spends 99.9% of their time giving to the fans, it was really nice to see them having so much fun and doing something for themselves. The set was light on hits and heavy on deep tracks like “Underground Umbrella” and “Around The Block Again” and featured an amazing guest appearance by the legendary Col. Bruce Hampton on the blues classic “Spoonful.” The band was having so much fun on stage and it was easily some of the best guitar playing I have seen from Kevn Kinney. It was a fun and magical night that will hold many great memories for me as do many other Drivin’ N Cryin’ shows. Thanks for taking me out of 2010 with a big ass smile on my face fellas! I owe ya one!
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