Chris Cornell - Red Robinson Theatre Coquitlam, BC
Nov 6, 2008
I was so excited when I got 2 Row 3 center tickets to see Chris. It was going to be awesome. I love his solo stuff, Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. I went with my Bro John, we hooked up around 6:30 in the parking lot. We downed some beers and listened to tunes in the van before heading in.
I was at the Burnaby casino the night before and lost a few bucks so wasn't that interested in gambling again at this one. The place was very quiet - John wanted to check out the horse racing and I liked this monte carlo machine I've won at before. I walked up to it and in 4 spins I turned my $20 into $115. I cashed out and went to the bar. The winnings covered my ticket to the show and beers. I was set.

The band Mobile opened up for Chris. They were really good - we really enjoyed them. They've got some good tunes and their sound was perfect. Catch their videos at http://www.last.fm/music/Mobile/_/Out+Of+My+Head?autostart and

http://www.last.fm/music/Mobile/_/See+Right+Through+Me?autostart

John and I met up with the band after their show - great young guys from Montreal. Security was all over everyone that had a camera so I didn't take a shots of Mobile live in the fear that I would lose my camera before Chris came out. When someone pulled a camera out, they would shine their flashights on the person and security would give them a talking to.

We then went to our seats for Chris but instead went right ot the front on the floor. We were a couple of people deep but after a few songs, made it to the railing front and center. The crowd was much more civilized than most show so I had no problem squeezing myself in there. Chris is a cool guy. He came out very casually and started singing a few tunes. It took me a couple of songs to get right into it but once I did, I was hooked. He was brilliant and the songs he played were fantastic.

He brought his kids out (2 and 4) and they had their little earphones on to dampen the noise danced around the stage a bit and sang you know my name.

I high fived him a few times, he came over to me sang with one foot on the railing in front of me and it was awesome. I got some great shots and video. Security didn't like it when I videod but shots were OK.
Chris did an amazing solo acoustic set of a few songs. I got some great shots.

I got a few guitar picks from the band and one of the guys came over directly to me and gave me the setlist. That was cool. After the show, we went back intot he casino and we met the guitarist for a kodak moment for John. We threw $25 away at the roulette table and headed home.

Some videos of the show
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=KueYoXdOHUU

Chris played for 2 and half hours I think and the brilliant setlist was as follows: 27 songs !!!

Searching with my Good Eye Closed
Rusty Cage
Gasoline
What You Are
Gun
No Attention
Moth
No Such Thing
You Know My Name
Arms around your love
Cant Change Me
When I'm down
Watch Out
Set it off
Exploder
Acoustic
Black Hole Sun
Call me a dog
Fell on Black Days
I Am the Highway
Like a Stone

Part of me
Blow Up the Outside World
Superunknown
Be Yourself
Scream

Encore
Ground Zero
Like Suicide
Show Me How to Live
Another great show - fantastic artist.

Judas Priest July 24 GM Place

It hasn’t been good times lately so I wanted to treat myself to a concert. What better band to see than Judas Priest once again. They were playing GM Place and they had open general admission seating on the floor. My first task was to score a ticket. I put an ad in Craigslist for a single ticket below cost. They sold for $85 retail from ticketmaster, I scored one for $50 so I was pleased with my approach.

I went out with a few people from work first to have a few drinks beforehand. Me and a couple of the guys snapped back a can of MGD on the street before heading into Chill Winstons in Gastown. I didn’t like the place. No MGD, Stella, Canadian, Coors, Corona or anything else remotely like that. Needless to say, I didn’t pound them back. Their calamari is pan seared and not fried, not a fan. From there I parked near tinseltown across from a park. Scary area, as I was getting out of my car, a homeless dude on a bike full of cans and bags did a complete wipe out next to the sidewalk. This guy was out cold and wasn’t moving. I’m afraid to say that I didn’t inquire about his health, I took off. He landed on grass so it couldn’t have been too bad. I just didn’t know if it was a setup or not.

Got in 45 minutes before the show. This is a change for me as I usually get there late but I thought I would check out the opening band Testament. Nah, didn’t need to after all. Not my band of choice. After Testament I started to trek to the front railing. Lots of jockeying for position but by the time Priest came out, I was right behind a guy at the railing front and center. He was a solid guy and not going anywhere so I was happy where I was.

I saw priest 3 years ago and loved them. They were at the coliseum and I had row 2 seating – no pushing a shoving like this. They opened up with Prophecy from the latest Nostradamus CD which was good but not old school like the next song, Metal Gods from British Steel. The crowd was pumped and the mosh pit was brewing. They did a few more new songs but had some killer oldies which I loved. Hell Bent for Leather, Painkiller, Green manalishi, electric eye, sinner, eat me alive and a couple of my favs, Breaking the Law and they closed out with You Got Another Thing Coming.

The band is still playing great and Rob still sounds awesome hitting those high notes. They are aging though and seeing them in their leathers is cool and retro but not necessary. Rob’s back must be bothering him a lot as he’s less limber now than 3 years ago. He used a cane a few times and even sat in a large throne chair for a break. The other guys moved around a bit but I guess in your late 50’s and early 60’s, what can one expect. I am still happy they tour and play their classics. I’m always going to see them when they come to town, just like Ozzy and Maiden. It’s what I do.

REST IN PEACE DAD

We Will Always Love You

We Will Always Remember You

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little--but not too long

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared,

Miss me--but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone.

It's all a part of the Master's plan,

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss Me--But Let me Go!

Billy Idol July 4

I bought Linda tickets to see Billy at the Red Robinson Theatre just down the street from us for our 14th wedding anniversary date. She bought me Cirque de Soleil Corteo tickets, I bought Billy. Our seats were row 4 on the aisle so they were going to be great. He was Sold Out. I bought them as soon as they went one sale through ticketmaster. There was no opening band and Billy came out right on time.

I’m a front row center guy so I grab Linda and we rush the stage right away as did others. We were right there in the front holding onto the railing. The best place to be. Billy came out and he looked old. He seemed completely out of it. He opened with Cradle of Love and then afterwards said to his band members and audience “I shouldn’t have smoked that before coming out”. This made sense why he was white and seemed out of it. He was stoned. After a couple of songs though he was right back into and rocking and sounding great.

He played all the hits we know him for and a couple of new ones off his greatest hits CD. Rebel yell, Flesh For Fantasy, Mony Mony, Dancing With Myself, Hot In The City, White Wedding and one of my favorites, his rendition of the doors LA Woman.

The audience was mostly women. They love this 53 yr old who still looks good, is in shape and has this bad boy image. The girl next to me (not Linda) was swooning for him and almost in tears. Billy would come close to us and shake all the ladies hands but would skip over me. I guess guys aren’t welcome at the front. That’s OK, Linda and him touched. Linda also got a drumstick and guitar pick.

It was also the Steve Stevens show. Lots of solos and Steve was front and center as well. I like Steve, he an awesome player and entertainer. Just a bit odd though, a bit too much makeup. He smokes a heck of a lot too. Good venue, good sound, wished the show was 3-4 more songs but it was worth it. We had a babysitter so it was time to go home anyways.