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Hail To The King Baby…

Evil Dead: The Musical returns to Toronto!

Click here for details.

I am already heading down to Toronto for a Matchbox Twenty concert on Friday, February 22, so we can go on the 23rd. Either let myself or Carrie know if you’re interested!

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Review: Show – A Night In the Life of Matchbox Twenty

Another concert DVD I sat down lately was the excellent capture of Matchbox Twenty’s tour to support their album “More Than You Think You Are”. This was their tour before taking a hiatus while members shifted and Rob Thomas released a mediocre solo album.

I had also seen bits and pieces of this DVD but never caught it all in one shot. It captured everything I love about MB20. Kyle Cook (thanks for the edit Eric!) is amazing on guitar. Rob Thomas is killer on vocals. The production of the show is alright. You can see them take bits and pieces from various other icons like U2 or the Rolling Stones but really…who can be original anymore?

I actually enjoyed the documentary even more which followed the band on the entire tour and highlighted behind-the-scenes happenings which showed what the crew did. I had never seen a documentary focussed so much on the crew and the production of the show. The closest thing I’ve experienced in this vein is the U2: Show book which is a must-have for anyone who wants to get into producing any sort of stage show. So it was interesting to see them discussing lighting and whether or not they should throw the house lights on during the last song. It’s also interesting to see that pretty well all of the rock shows you see are scripted to a certain point and that if you go see one show, chances are you may see them comment in the same fashion night after night, or have the same funny moments happening.

Palmer Interruption: I have spent a long time going to rock shows and I’ve realized what makes one band stand out over another in terms of repeated viewings on the same tour. It’s all about changing the show. The first time I realized that I was seeing the same show was when I saw Evanescence in Montreal in the winter, and then the following spring they ended up coming to Ottawa and I saw them there also. I realized it was the EXACT SAME SHOW. Even down to the comments about the tour or the city they were in. Sure, every showman has their classic comments like “You’re the best show of the tour!” which is always a questionable comment but it irks me when you see the same exact motions being followed…it’s like they’ve become their own cliché.

So when you see Led Zeppelin, or Pearl Jam, or the Smashing Pumpkins (to some extent), you see they have re-playability value on their tours because they are always somewhat different. Jimmy Page has stated that he has never played the solo to Stairway to Heaven the same on any date. Eddie Vedder has a commentary on today’s issues, today’s feeling at the concert…it isn’t scripted. Heck, he even does research into the city they are coming into and makes comments about them (like sports teams and such). The Smashing Pumpkins pretty well have the same show going on musically, but their commentary is always different or they switch up their setlist from time to time. I think it would get pretty boring to follow a band who has such a scripted show. Although U2 is probably the exception to this rule as they have such an energy that you get a high off of being there. But they themselves switched up their ZooTV show every night in small ways so every night could be a little different.

When someone asks me why I have so many Pearl Jam or Pumpkins bootlegs, this is the reason. They have re-playability power. If they had the same show each night of the tour, I would just get the best sounding bootleg from the tour and listen to that one and I essentially have heard the entire tour. But that’s not the case (which is definitely apparent with Pearl Jam officially releasing every bootleg of their tour and they sell like pancakes. Why does the term ‘hotcakes’ sound so much better when a hotcake is just a pancake?). End Palmer Interruption.

So the DVD was excellent and it got me excited to see the band in the spring in Toronto. I would recommend picking this DVD up for any fan. Heck, I think I got it for $8 at Music World a few years ago so it was well worth it.

iplaying: Razor – Foo Fighters (In Your Honour)

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Review: Foo Fighters – Skin and Bones

I believe I got this concert DVD last year for Christmas. I did have it on a few times but had never had the chance to watch it fully even though Eric had recommended it many times.

The Skin and Bones DVD follows the Foo Fighters on their afoostic tour where they toned down the rock and upped the acoustic quotient. I was familiar of Foo Fighters only through their radio singles and took a chance on picking up their In Your Honour double disc, solely for the fact that one disc was all acoustic and I thought that was neat. Quickly, Foo Fighters has been introduced into my main musical repertoire, with picking up their new album (which is killer…it may win the 2007 best in my opinion) as well as their remastered album The Colour and the Shape.

The DVD is great. It has a great selection of tunes, whether they are originally acoustic tunes, or acoustified rock songs. You also get some good stories behind some of the songs, especially Friend of a Friend which is a tip of the hat to the other members of Nirvana for all you Nirvana fans out there. The story about this song was probably my favourite on the DVD. I also enjoyed when Dave Grohl introduces all the members and asks the percussionist to show him every instrument in his arsenal.

The DVD made me feel like I was there enjoying a relaxing evening with the Foo Fighters. If you are a fan of their high octane performances, you still won’t be disappointed with the toned down acoustic set.

iplaying: On The Mend – Foo Fighters (In Your Honour)

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12 Days of Christmas: Day 5

Vero is the latest person to send a survey in WITH A PICTURE…I’m not putting up any surveys if they don’t have a picture. I’m talking to you Nanny!

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
The long road trip back home on highway 11 playing «highway hypotheticals» while listening to Trish’s Fromage de Noël (all that to finally see friends and family I haven’t seen in a while).

What’s your least favourite thing about Christmas?
The fact that Christmas is more and more becoming this crazy money making industry. A lot of people tend to forget what Christmas is really about. (editor’s note: Is she quoting from Charlie Brown?)

What’s better? The Christmas Story or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
That’s not an easy one…but I have to say that I always laugh my heart out when the kid shoots his eye out with the gun…hilarious!

What’s your favourite drink during the holiday season?
Medium-Hot Apple Cider!! Mmmmmmm!!!!

What should Vero get Palmer for Christmas?
Isn’t her love enough? 🙂

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*sniffle*

I’m barely back in action here. I’ve been sick and I’m studying for my exam this coming Saturday. The good news is that Dad is out of the hospital and can continue his reading of this website (because we all know that’s what bothered him the most about being in the hospital.) Fast fact: He said the food there was pretty darn good. That’s a surprise. The urban legends are false people!

Update on Christmas Cards: If you’re going to get one, they MAY be out this week sometime.
Update on Christmas Shopping: 99% done baby! Although the 1% always drags into 10% because you a)realize you forgot someone b)someone gets you a gift that you didn’t anticipate so you have to get them one
Update on Trish’s Christmas Compilation: Hot off the presses last night!
Update on Vero: She is now finished her contract so she gets to sleep in until noon every day and then go Christmas shopping. While she will deny this is what is going on, we all know better. Good news though, she managed to snag a contract being an assistant-producer on a short film during the month of January! I can’t believe her luck…not only does she get to start when she gets back from Christmas, but it will be done in time for the trip to the Domincan Republic for her sister’s wedding!
Update on Mike: He is 99% moving to a new job at Foreign Affairs Canada. He’s just waiting for the beloved ‘letter of offer’. Congrats mate!