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Dragging Myself Toward a Rock Show

September 22, 2010 By Jeff 69 Comments

Tonight I will be attending my first, and probably only, rock show of 2010.  Steve and I are going to Philadelphia to see the Eels, and it should be a lot of fun.  This will be my fifth time seeing the “band” (always consisting of Mark Everett, aka E, and whoever he feels like playing with): four times in Philly, and once at the Roxy in Los Angeles.

My brain is feeling a little battered today, but I can only think of one other artist or band I’ve seen perform live more than five times.  And that’s Paul Westerberg/The Replacements.  I’ve seen lots of bands two or three times, but five or more is apparently an elite group for me.  I think I’ve seen the Beautiful South four times, but not five.

Do you have any bands/artists in the five or more club?  Tell us about it in the comments, won’t you?

Here’s the latest video from the Eels.  It’s a slow song, and I didn’t really like it the first time I heard it.  But it’ll slither into your brain if you give it a chance.  The video is pretty interesting too.

And here’s a more representative song, closer to what we’ll be getting tonight (I hope).  The audience always likes to participate when he yells, “rock!” during this tune.  It’s almost like “Leonard Bernstein!” at an REM show.  Hey, and now that I think about it, I might’ve seen REM five times.  But anyway…

To close out the category, check out this bizarreness.  In England the Eels were forced to purchase additional insurance, because the band members have beards?  Because it’s a…. fire hazard??  What in the finger-snapping hell?

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I’ve never seen a man’s beard just spontaneously go up in flames.  Have you?  I’ve never, for instance, been waiting in line at a grocery store, heard a sound like a gas grill firing up, and turned to find a man frantically slapping his facial hair out.

And what’s the deal with the part near the end of the article, about E being stopped and questioned by antiterrorist officials, because he’s bearded?  The whole thing is like something out of the Onion.  Crazy, man.

I couldn’t get off the platform this morning.  The alarm must’ve gone off five times, and I kept swinging my arm in a high arc, and expertly hitting the snooze button, over and over.  I was involved in physical labor at work last night — once again — and it kicks my ass.  I feel like I’ve gone five rounds with Evander Holyfield, or Rosie O’Donnell, or someone.

So, I’m gonna cut this one a little short, and start getting my shit together here.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you about our evening, and promise not to focus too much on the music side of things.  It’ll be more of a road trip report…  So, I’ll see you then.

Have a great day, boys and girls.

Now playing in the bunker

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Comments

  1. Swami Bologna says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    Foist.

    Reply
  2. zoe whistle dick says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    Dang.

    Reply
  3. Lee Harvey Ramone says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    I’m glad I shaved today. It’s fire season here out west, after all.

    Reply
  4. madz1966 says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Top 5!

    I;ve seen the Stones and Bruce Springsteen more than 5 times.

    And George Carlin. Seen him around 7 times (RIP, George!)

    What about women with beards? Do they have to pay extra insurance?

    Reply
  5. Strangeart says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    The Indigo Girls. How they have changed since the old days.

    Reply
  6. Brittney says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    Fifth?

    Reply
  7. icecycle66 says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Hair doesn’t even keep a flame well.

    Reply
  8. Brittney says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    I’ve been to 8 Phish shows and 6 Dave Matthews

    Reply
    • icecycle66 says

      September 22, 2010 at 2:21 pm

      That’s a lot of mushrooms.

      Reply
      • madz1966 says

        September 22, 2010 at 3:03 pm

        LOL!

        Reply
        • Brittney says

          September 22, 2010 at 3:39 pm

          LOL! More like, mushroom chocolates, but that’s another story.

          Reply
  9. Swami Bologna says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    In the ’80s and ’90s I used to keep a list of all the rock shows I attended, including my rating of each. At some point I entered it all into a database, so I can tell you exactly what bands I’ve seen five or more times:

    Husker Du: 6 times
    Jason & the Scorchers: 5 times
    R.E.M.: 8 times
    Replacements: 17 times (yes, seventeen)

    And lots of others I’ve seen 3 or 4 times. But that’s it for the 5+ club.

    Reply
  10. WB in OH says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    I don’t think I’ve been to five concerts. Old fuddy duddy.

    Beards a fire risk? WTF, I’m pretty sure we would of read about a tragic ZZ Top accident by now.

    Reply
  11. Eugene B. Sims says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    KISS, Dwight Yoakam, Kix, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Poison (I despise them, but have seen them as openers and with supporting acts I love), Def Leppard, Cinderella, Queensryche, Wrathchild (America), and I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot of others… And lots of locals.

    I’m a live music whore.

    Reply
  12. Chuck in Belpre says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    I can’t remember the last concert I went to. Maybe Keith Jarrett up in Pittsburgh. But, I’ve never seen any act more than once.

    Reply
  13. Good2go says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    The Brits have gone nuts with their “Health and Safety” initiatives. They call it “The Nanny State” for a reason.

    Reply
  14. Dave in Sammamish says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    The more than five times concert list:
    Grateful Dead (25 or so)
    Jimmy Buffet (25)
    Allman Bros. (5)
    Bruce Springsteen (7)
    and my favorite on the list: John Prine (11)

    Reply
    • Brittney says

      September 22, 2010 at 2:07 pm

      I envy you. I would LOVE to see Grateful Dead. Grateful Dead and the Beatles are two bands I’m sad I was born too late in life to enjoy at their prime. I also saw the Monkees in ’96, but at age 11, I half expected them to walk out on state looking like they did in the 60’s.

      Reply
      • Brittney says

        September 22, 2010 at 2:07 pm

        stage*

        Reply
  15. MikeF says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    Frank Zappa and Jack Bruce more than 5 times

    Reply
    • MikeF says

      September 23, 2010 at 12:22 am

      Oh and Ray Davies more than 5 – If you count the times I saw him with the Kinks

      Reply
  16. Juancho says

    September 22, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    Have fun man. The Eels are at the top of my concert wish list. I hope they rock your everloving face off.

    Reply
  17. icecycle66 says

    September 22, 2010 at 2:20 pm

    I have never been to any big name more than twice. I accidentaly saw Megadeth twice, they are the only big name I have been to more than once actually.

    However, I am a huge fan of locals. I have seen some local groups a dozen or more times. So much so that one band brings me up to play a song with them every time I go see ’em.

    Reply
  18. Rick says

    September 22, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Three words: Michael Jackson’s hair.

    Of course, The Eels probably don’t use nearly as much product in their beards. 🙂

    Reply
  19. Rick says

    September 22, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    5+ times? Probably Rush, Styx, and Def Leppard.

    Reply
  20. Lee Harvey Ramone says

    September 22, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    Zamfir, the master of the pan flute

    Reply
  21. restless says

    September 22, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    I have seen REM twice, and both times, it was spectacular. I would love to seem them many more times, but they don’t tour very often anymore.

    Last time I saw them was in Philly, at the Mann Center. Modest Mouse opened. Pearl Jam was in town to perform a concert the next night, I think. They were backstage at the Mann. I am also a PJ fan, but couldn’t swing two concerns in one week.

    As one of the encores, I Eddie came on stage with Michael to sing Begin the Begin. It was a great moment.

    I have seen Tori Amos in concert in Philly many, many times. Much more than five….maybe 10? She tours A LOT.

    I love to go to concerts. I try to catch the bands I like whenever they come to town and the tickets are affordable.

    Reply
  22. Rat Bastard says

    September 22, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    AC/DC and the Ramones are the ones that come to mind.

    Reply
  23. Michelle says

    September 22, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    I’ve seen The Church at least once for every album they’ve put out since Gold Afternoon Fix. Maybe 10 times. Lots of bands a few times, but never five.

    I’m sickeningly jealous of anyone who’s seen The Replacements, but 17 times is just greedy!

    Reply
  24. bikerchick says

    September 22, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    I’ve never seen anyone 5 times. The most for me would be Alan Jackson, 3 times. The last concert I went to was Toby Keith/Trace Atkins at Star Lake or First Niagra Pavillion or whatever the fuck they’re calling it now. We had “lawn” seats…which pretty much means… shove as many drunk and sweaty redneck hicks and hicklets assholes to elbows into one space to make as much money as we possibly can….charge $14 a beer and $8 for a boiled weiner…..and let ’em have a free-for-all to get the hell out of the parking lot…. Every time I go I say “never again” unless we have actual seats. The concert is 2 hours. It takes 3 to get out of the parking lot. Phuck dat.

    Reply
    • bikerchick says

      September 22, 2010 at 3:28 pm

      I said “weiner”

      Reply
      • Brittney says

        September 22, 2010 at 3:42 pm

        We had lawn at Alpine Valley theatre over the summer, which is literally in a valley…walking up and down treacherously steep hills with a million drunk assholes is not something I would care to do ever again. I feared falling and breaking my face a few several times and I was sober!

        Reply
      • Brittney says

        September 22, 2010 at 3:44 pm

        Beers were $14 bucks for a tall boy here…A vendor tried to sell one to my already drunk boyfriend who then asked him, ‘I don’t know, do you sell lube with that too cos you’re RAPING US!”

        Reply
        • madz1966 says

          September 22, 2010 at 3:54 pm

          LOL – that’s somthing Beloved would come out and say. Another of his favorites “You gonna buy me dinner first before you fuck me?”

          Reply
  25. icecycle66 says

    September 22, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    This is crap, my left earphone just shorted out. now my hearing feels lopsided.

    Reply
  26. retrollama says

    September 22, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    Attending rock concerts is one of my favorite pastimes, and the artist/band I’ve seen the most is Paul McCartney. This summer alone, I went to seven of his concerts. Since 1989, I have seen him live exactly 40 times.

    Like Swami B, I keep a database of the shows I attend. However, it’s on my home computer, and I’m at work right now. I’ll play along anyway…

    Off the top of my head:

    Five or more times:

    Beastie Boys
    Madonna
    Prince
    Duran Duran
    Ringo Starr
    Iggy Pop
    Pixies
    Cibo Matto
    Sean Lennon
    Echo & the Bunnymen
    The Psychedelic Furs
    The Who

    10 or more:

    Grateful Dead
    David Bowie
    Dead Milkmen
    The Friggs
    The Cure
    Thompson Twins
    Ben Vaughn Combo

    I know I’m forgetting a band or two somewhere…

    Reply
    • retrollama says

      September 22, 2010 at 4:37 pm

      Just remember another one:

      Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players.

      I’ve seen them about 10-12 times. The first time was about a month after this aired on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI9sHO0R5iY

      Reply
      • The Evil Twin says

        September 23, 2010 at 7:55 pm

        I think the song “You’re The One Who’s Made For Me and I Was Made for You” by The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players is one of the most beautiful, heartfelt and sincere songs ever written, and it never fails to put a smile on my face. It’s always a regular stop in my YouTube forays. I bet they’re fun to see live!

        Reply
  27. Hungover Near Nay Aug says

    September 22, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    Grateful Dead – 22
    Elvis Costello – 14
    Wilco – 7
    Springsteen – 11
    Reigning Sound – 6
    Phish – 8
    Tom Waits – 5

    Live music, I just love it!

    Reply
    • Rat Bastard says

      September 23, 2010 at 7:43 am

      Reigning Sound – kick ass!

      Reply
  28. Chuck in Belpre says

    September 22, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    i’ve heard the Eels referred to as ‘drearily hip’. Is that good?

    Reply
  29. squawvalleyskip says

    September 22, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Haven’t been to a concert since my mispent youth, with the notable exception of J.J. Cale in a small theater in Fresno. During the concert going days I did see some classic bands, The Who in ’74 or ’75 being a notable one. In the over five club are Steven Stills at least a half dozen times (including with CSN&Y in ’74) and Eric Clapton a dozen times in a half dozen states. And on the flaming beard note, if faces self combusted I’d have gone up, I’d think. Since I’ve been sporting the full beard or right around 35 years now. Complete with the past the shoulder length hair. And I’ll be 55 at the end of the month. I did, however, once set my head on fire lighting a bong, in the pre-beard days of my distinguished military career.

    Reply
  30. t-storm says

    September 22, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Before I forget.
    More than five times, some more than ten.

    Soul Coughing
    Ass Ponys
    Wussy
    500 Miles to Memphis
    The Saps
    Two Cow Garage
    Slobberbone
    Drive By Truckers
    Phish
    Fairmount Girls
    Hamell on Trial
    Adam Brodsky
    Dock Ellis Band

    Granted, some of those bands are local or semi-local but most of them I have seen in out of town venues also.

    Reply
    • WB in OH says

      September 22, 2010 at 11:26 pm

      Are you familiar with the Franz Klaber Orchestra? I’ve seen them over 5 times.

      Reply
  31. t-storm says

    September 22, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    Retro,
    I missed TFSP at SXSW in 2003 and regret that.

    Reply
    • retrollama says

      September 22, 2010 at 8:44 pm

      Bummer — they were/are incredible. Everyone needs to see them at least once.

      Reply
  32. chill says

    September 22, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    My over-five club is empty at this time. There are only a couple that I’ve seen more than once: Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) at three, maybe four; Uz Jsme Doma, about the same. Pharoah Sanders twice. That’s about it.
    .

    Reply
  33. Uncle_Wedgie says

    September 22, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    The five and over club for me would be:

    Ween
    Gov’t Mule
    Grateful Dead
    David Lindley
    Robbin Ford
    Allman Bros.
    Alan Holdsworth
    The Tubes
    Mike Keneally and BFD
    Jeff Beck

    Picking up on the trend here?

    Reply
    • Brittney says

      September 23, 2010 at 10:40 am

      Jeff Beck is awesome

      Reply
  34. Gretchen says

    September 22, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    This has nothing to do with anything:

    http://www.pricasso.com/index.html

    Though I might have agreed to watch him “perform” more than five times if I could just get past the fact that he’s a dead ringer for Harry from “Dumb & Dumber”.

    Reply
    • Ed says

      September 22, 2010 at 9:31 pm

      Ouch, that makes me feel raw just watching it. He does look like Harry.

      Reply
      • WB in OH says

        September 22, 2010 at 11:53 pm

        You watched a video?

        Reply
  35. dr buford says

    September 22, 2010 at 9:43 pm

    hmm, off the top of my head

    phish – 23
    rush – presto, roll the bones, counterparts, test for echo, vapor trail, r30 – 6
    the rugburns – 5
    poi dog pondering – 5
    bela fleck – 7
    cheap trick – 5 or 6
    morphine – 4 or 5 – scott would know
    railroad earth – 5
    phil and friends – 6
    carol’s country inn house band – about 100

    i’m sure there are more, but those come to mind.

    Reply
  36. hot fuzz says

    September 22, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    um, Gretchen? um…. what did you put in to the Google to get THAT website? just asking….

    Jeff – I’m sitting here naked except for my new WVSR T-shirt. I’ll send you a picture so you can post it on the site. Thanks buddy.

    My entire concert going experience in random order
    Barry Manilow (it got a little crazy when one dude tried to bogart the spliff)
    Dolly Parton and her breasts
    Kenny Rogers
    Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s breasts
    John Denver
    Chicago 2x
    Maynard Ferguson 2 or 3 times…
    Buddy Rich
    Jay Leno
    Toby Keith
    Prairie Oyster (yeah I never heard of them either)
    Great Big Sea (most fun you can have with your pants on)
    Does Cirque du Solei count? thrice
    Canadian Brass 3x
    I saw the KW Orchestra with a 200 voice choir, a 60 voice youth choir and soloists perform music from Lord of the Rings. It was one of the most powerful experiences of my life – the sheer power and emotion of the music had tears streaming down my face – I love the fact that music can move me so…
    The Three Tenors – back before the maestro had his last curtain call or else it would have been two tenors spend a weekend at Bernie’s

    don’t judge me….

    🙂

    Reply
    • Gretchen says

      September 22, 2010 at 10:49 pm

      “Pulsating Painted Penises”, why?

      No, actually, I just followed a link from regretsy.com. 😉

      Reply
  37. Shane says

    September 23, 2010 at 1:31 am

    I’ve seen Mark Kozelek about 8 times in various incarnations. With the Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon. I was in a really heavy ‘Shoegaze’ period.

    Also saw Pearl Jam around 7 or 8 times, but only because I signed up for their fan club when I was a kid and was able to score premium seats on the cheap.

    Saw Dave Matthews 5 times exactly. Something I wouldn’t usually admit publically. But I had a beautiful girlfriend for those years who was a huge fan and I would have attended Laser Dome features the music of Pink Floyd if she insisted.

    And I’ve seen Yo La Tengo at least 9 times.

    I’m just under 5 times with Warren Zevon.

    Reply
  38. Tammie says

    September 23, 2010 at 7:58 am

    Spectacular Girl is one of my favorite songs by the EELS!

    Have a great time Jeff!

    Reply
  39. hot fuzz says

    September 23, 2010 at 8:07 am

    oh yeah gummy? you won’t talk? yeah? oh, I think you’ll talk…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txkRCIPSsjM&feature=player_embedded

    Reply
    • Jenny Piccalo says

      September 23, 2010 at 10:33 am

      Poor little fella …that ruined my morning . Thanx hot. I would have been alright with a gummy worm or even a Swedish fish.

      Reply
  40. johnthebasket says

    September 23, 2010 at 9:18 am

    hot…

    NASA has long been trying to develop a fuel that will power a manned space vehicle to Mars and back. Also, there are issues with how to pack along enough food to keep three or four astronauts satiated for the full ten month journey.

    Two birds, one stone.

    jtb

    jtb

    Reply
  41. johnthebasket says

    September 23, 2010 at 9:24 am

    I am greatly relieved to discover that Pricasso’s site came up before mine as a result of Gretchen’s search. That was a close one.

    jtb

    Reply
  42. johnthebasket says

    September 23, 2010 at 9:35 am

    I have sported a beard since early 1974. Because of sputtering roaches, seeds carelessly packed into pipes, and the surprising flammability of nitrous oxide, I have experienced several regional brush fires. On the positive side, a beard, like an old grown forest, returns thicker and bushier after such an incident.

    jtb

    Reply
  43. hot fuzz says

    September 23, 2010 at 10:03 am

    Jtb – I found the same regrowth phenomena after some rather aggressive clear cut manscaping.

    The comments I put with the link were all the newspaper writer’s own but I felt compelled to share.

    The Snowbirds air display team had a talk with the boy’s grade school class a while back. In their survival kit they have a high calorie (3500+) package of a similar product. Who knew they were survival food?

    Reply
  44. hot fuzz says

    September 23, 2010 at 10:42 am

    Can you hear the Bears Clarice, I mean Jenny?

    sffiffiffiff sffiffiffiff sffiffiffiff

    (anybody know how to make the creepy Hannibal sucking noise in type?)

    Reply
  45. Kevindust says

    September 23, 2010 at 12:41 pm

    Five and Over Club:
    Tool – 8
    Metallica – 6
    Korn – 6
    Pearl Jam – 5
    I Mother Earth – 5
    Our Lady Peace – 5

    Reply
  46. Dave's not here, man says

    September 23, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    Not a big concert goer, but back in high school I had a friend whose dad worked at the Charleston Civic Arena. We saw Van Halen at least 5 times – probably 3 times with David Lee Roth and 3 times with Sammy Hagar. His dad got us front row center seats each time. Well, a few times we had to settle for 2nd or 3rd row seats, that sucked 🙂

    Reply
  47. Lee Harvey Ramone says

    September 23, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    The first big-time rock concert I ever attended was Journey, Van Halen, and Montrose in April, 1978 in Ruby Diamond Auditorium in Tallahassee, FL. I suppose I was 13 at the time.

    That’s probably more information than anyone really needs. At this time.

    Reply
  48. tomincola says

    September 23, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    Todays Further Evidence is some of the best and funniest mockable letters I have ever read .He needs to be a surf reporter too !

    Reply
  49. The Evil Twin says

    September 23, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    I’m completely embarrassed to admit that my record number of times to see any band was REO Speedwagon – 7 times. I never really was an REO fan, but it just happened to work out that way. Next in line would be AC/DC, Kiss, Foghat and Aerosmith at 5 times each.

    Reply

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