A Little Respect

In these days of constant contact, social media, texting and blogging, it's easy to get inundated with constant updates and friend requests. I try to catch up on social media a few times a week, but I always make sure it's after work hours and when I have the time to spare.

Scattered among the many emails I receive each week are friend requests on social media. Usually if it's someone I know from work, school or is a relative that I'd still like to stay in contact with, I'll accept their request. If it's someone I don't know or who is a "friend of a friend" I ignore the request. There are some friend requests I've sent to others that I've never heard back from too, but it's a waste of my time and theirs to bug them about it. I know my friends and they know me, and if someone doesn't want to be my friend, I'm OK with that - I'm not going to annoy someone and beg to be their friend, because that's a tactic that really comes off as being desperate and pathetic.

Another occasion where I'd ignore a friend request is from a person that I simply don't care to interact with any more. A few weeks ago I got a social media request from a former coworker. At the time I started that job, I gradually became friends with that person. However, the work relationship soured over time because the person in question was a supervisor who, in my opinion, did next to nothing to manage a coworker who was so blatantly disruptive to the work environment that the overall morale just continued to suffer with each passing day.

When I left that organization, my confidence in that person and their associated management team was shattered. I had no respect left for that person, so when they sent me a social media invitation, I quickly ignored it. Trust and respect are earned, not given out automatically, and like anything worth attaining in life, these qualities are something that should be worked on constantly to improve and not destroy relationships.

Well, that's my two cents for this rainy April morning, so until next time, take care!

CD Review: Van Halen's A Different Kind of Truth

Besides going to see Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 3-D last week, I also picked up Van Halen’s new CD A Different Kind of Truth, planning to familiarize myself with their first new music in almost fifteen years before going to their concert in St. Paul this May.

The new CD starts off with the first single “Tattoo.” While the “tattoo, tattoo” chorus seems a little corny, Eddie Van Halen’s signature guitar licks save this song. I’m starting to enjoy this song the more I listen to it. The next song “She’s The One” I took a liking to much quicker, because it’s a fast-tempo song  that’s similar in pace to most of their classic songs from the late Seventies and early Eighties.

While Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang can’t quite replace original bass guitarist Michael Anthony’s sound, his bass playing meshes well with the thirteen songs on this disc. In fact, when I close my eyes and listen to this CD, a few songs sound just like they could’ve come off one of their classic albums from over three decades ago!

This CD is chock full of a lot of energy and enthusiasm from everyone in the band, and I enjoyed reading the lyrics from each song. A few lyrics by original frontman “Diamond” David Lee Roth even had me laughing out loud. One particular noteworthy track, the speedy number called “Bullethead”  , a song I would assume addresses road rage, has the following lyrics:

My karma just ran over your dogma

I can feel your pain….

How many roads must a man walk down

Before he admits he’s lost -

Do you really drive this way

Just to piss me off?

I’ve only listened to this CD 3 or 4 times so far, but it’s growing on me with each listen. Songs like “Blood and Fire” and “Stay Frosty” remind me of classic Van Halen tracks (I’ve heard that they often use early samples and demos when starting new songs, so I’m not surprised. "Stay Frosty" sounds like it could be the long lost twin or B-side of the classic acoustic-based "Ice Cream Man" from their debut album ), and it sets a good foundation for hopefully even more new music down the road.  I’m also looking forward to hearing many of these songs smattered among their classics live in concert in three short months!

That’s all for now, so until later, have a great day!

Jar-Jar in 3-D?

I've been a big fan of Star Wars since I was about eight years old. I had about 40-50 of the Kenner action figures, a Hoth playset, and a couple of hand-me-down toys, a Rebel laser gun that made the sound of a dentist's drill when you pressed the button on the handle (provided you had batteries in the toy), and an Imperial TIE fighter. I read the Marvel comics stories of Luke, Leia, Han, C-3PO and the rest of the cast of characters religiously too.

Although I'm not a huge fan of the recent prequel movies, there are a few parts that are important in the overall story's evolution. When I heard that Episode I: The Phantom Menace was being re-released in 3-D, I was skeptical, given the announced changes George Lucas had already made to some of his movies for the Blu-ray release (which I've mentioned in an earlier blog post), but being the Star Wars geek that I am, I decided to give it a try last weekend.

The last 3-D movie I saw in a theater was James Cameron's epic Avatar, which was filmed for 3-D. I thought it would be interesting to see how this Star Wars film was retrofitted for 3-D a decade after its original release. To my surprise, it was better than I expected it to be. Not every aspect was set in 3-D, so it's not too rough on those who have a hard time watching 3-D films. There are certain characters or items onscreen that are set in 3-D, and others that are not. A few times some of the 3-D items in the foreground or items in the background seemed a little blurry, but thankfully that didn't last long. All of the subtitles and the traditional opening crawl are in 3-D, which I expected.

The movie itself is probably my least favorite of the six Star Wars films, given the propensity of the silly Gungans, especially Jar-Jar Binks, who is reviled by a lot of Star Wars "purists." The Jedi fight scenes with Darth Maul are rather sharp in this release, and the digital Yoda, which was corrected for the Blu-ray movie versions that I have yet to watch, is an improvement over the out of place puppet that Frank Oz used in the original release of this film.

When I got to the theater, I noticed a lot of families and kids in attendance, so I'd say it's a good family film for a weekend if you don't mind spending the extra cash on the 3-D glasses and the usual theater fare. I don't know if I'll see the rest of the prequel films in 3-D (I might at least wait until I've seen the Blu-ray versions first), but I might come back to see how Boba Fett, Lando Calrissian, the creatures in Jabba's Palace, and some of the Rebel/Empire battles are fitted for 3-D decades after they first wowed fans.

Until next time, have a great day & hoping all is well!

A Celebration of Life

I spent the better part of Tuesday this week with family remembering one of my favorite relatives, my Uncle Felix, who passed away from renal failure a month before his 73^rd birthday. The event program declared the occasion was a Celebration of Life, and I heartily agree with that sentiment.

On the first Thursday of the New Year I went to visit my Uncle in the hospice care facility he was at. I’d been warned by my mom who had seen him the week before that he wasn’t physically the man I’d remembered, and that his once-hefty frame was now pretty much skin and bones. I still went to visit him anyway, knowing that it was the right thing to do after all the times he was such a generous host and chauffeur all the times I went to visit them and wanted to have fun in the summer time with their son Nathan at places like Valleyfair, the State Fair, racing go-karts and the old Science Museum, to name a few.

Even though the pain meds kept him very sedated and lymphoma had taken his eyesight, I still took comfort in getting to see Uncle Felix one last time, thanking him for all the great memories over the years. He was an avid fisherman, and would spend many a nice spring or summer day at the lake with us in Cold Spring. He kept almost every fish he caught, and I vaguely remember that he even had some kind of silly sing-song kind of lyric that he’d say to our cats who would curiously peer into his fish bucket, hoping anxiously for a treat. Fishing just won’t be the same without him!

The Monday morning after my visit, I was on my way out the door for the day when I answered the phone to find my Aunt Maryann, Felix’s wife, calling. She called to inform us that Felix had passed away quietly the night before. I knew that this ordeal was very rough on her, but I was happy that the tone of her voice suggested that she’d accepted the fact and made peace with it. She told me that the services would be the following week, because some of the relatives from out of state wanted to attend and would be making the long drive to Minnesota.

Last Sunday, Aunt Maryann called again, and asked me to be one of the pallbearers at the ceremony. I was honored to do so, and instantly accepted. I thought it would be a great way to pay my respects to a favorite uncle.

After arriving at the church and some last minute-tinkering with my dress suit, I started meeting other relatives on Mom’s side of the family. Felix and Maryann’s daughter Libby was coordinating the music program, and informed me that I’d also be doing one of the readings during the ceremony, along with my cousin Marge. I was surprised, but still accepted this new responsibility without problem. That’s what I got for not checking my emails the night before, I guess!

As people filed into the church hall, I got to catch up with a few family members, some that I’d just talked to earlier in the week, and others that I hadn’t seen in years. Eventually, I took my place in the front row, sandwiched between my Uncle Rudy (of all of Grandma Haider’s ten children, she always used to say that she prayed for Rudy the most) and my cousin Libby. Some of the musicians Libby has performed with from time to time were playing the opening song, and would accompany her later in the morning. Another friend of hers, contemporary and gospel singer Robert Robinson, also lent his remarkable voice to a few selections.

I made it through my Bible reading without flubbing my lines or tripping once I left the podium, and was then able to relax and enjoy the songs and remembrances of Uncle Felix. One of his relatives relayed a fishing story that my Mom later realized might have been during one of Felix’s many trips to Cold Spring, a somewhat embarrassing tale of a fish that might just have been caught out of season!

After Libby’s heart-felt thanks to everyone in attendance, my fellow pallbearers and I soon filed out of the church hall to guide my uncle Felix’s coffin down to the elevator and then into the awaiting hearse before the burial.  With a chill in the air, we departed for the funeral service a few blocks down. After carefully hoisting Felix’s casket onto the risers at the cemetery, the pastor said a few brief words as we stood there remembering our treasured relative and friend.

Returning to the church for conversation and good food afterwards, Libby brought out Uncle Felix’s “RIBS TODAY” sign into the lobby. Felix was a great cook, and get-togethers where he made his famous barbeque ribs were always memorable! He used to go around to various locations in the Twin Cities selling his ribs during his retirement, hence the sign. In his honor, I sampled a few ribs from the buffet table, filling my plate before sitting down to reminisce with family members.

Before long, it was time to go. I’d wished I had more time to catch up with some more family members and some of Felix’s friends, especially Felix and Maryann’s son Nathan, who I hadn’t seen in probably fifteen years, but I figured I would get in touch with them again once their lives were back to normal.

On the drive home that afternoon with the family, I started thinking about some of the great memories I’d had with Uncle Felix and his family. From visiting them in St. Paul to family events to those many days spent casting a line or two out on the lake, I was filled with great remembrances. I’ll always remember his smile and booming voice. Rest in peace, Uncle Felix, you lived life to the fullest. You taught me the importance of just being a good person, and for that I’ll always be grateful!

Bucky's Rock Review 2011

Well, the end of the year is almost here, and I’ve been taking some time to revisit some of the more memorable rock albums of the year. While this is by no means a complete list of every album that’s been released in 2011, these are just a few of the ones I’ve bought this year.

Country Line by Aaron Lewis
The Staind frontman’s first solo EP is the first country CD I’ve ever put in my collection. This is a short disc of seven quick songs (three of which are the different versions of the disc’s single “Country Boy”), but it’s well done and really brings out Lewis’s strong voice and acoustic guitar really well. The track “Tangled Up In You” is a reworking of a ballad off of Staind’s last album, and it clicks as a solo acoustic song.
Recommended Tracks: “Country Boy” (radio version), “Tangled Up In You,” “Massachusetts”

Home School Valedictorian by Adelitas Way
If you’re a rock radio listener, you’ve probably heard the first two singles “Sick” and “The Collapse” off this band’s sophomore album. The rest of the album is mixed between uptempo rock songs like these singles and slower ballads like “Good Enough.”
Recommended Tracks: “The Collapse,” “Sick,” “I Wanna Be” (with cameo vocals from Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman)

Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Black Stone Cherry
Hard to believe that this is the Southern rockers’ third album already! This CD follows the same formula as most of their other songs, with great guitars and catchy lyrics that are more fun than thought-provoking.
Recommended Tracks: “White Trash Millionaire,” “Blame It On The Boom Boom,” “Can’t You See”

Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin by Breaking Benjamin
There’s been a bit of controversy over the single “Blow Me Away” from this best-of collection. Apparently guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski approved the version for this retrospective featuring vocals by Sydnee Duran of the band Volara to their record label without frontman Ben Burnley’s consent, which led to Burnley firing both Fink and Klepaski from the band during their current hiatus. I have no problem with either the version that’s on this album or the original version without Duran’s vocals from the Halo 2 soundtrack. I also like some of the B-sides, cover songs and live acoustic tracks on the second disc of this greatest hits collection, and am hoping that Burnley can eventually get over his “Axl Rose lead singer syndrome” to get back into recording music again with this band.
Recommended Tracks: “Blow Me Away,” “Enjoy the Silence” (Depeche Mode cover), “Breath” (acoustic live)

Songbook by Chris Cornell
This new disc by the Soundgarden and Audioslave is a compilation of fifteen live tracks culled from his solo acoustic tour and one new studio acoustic song. This is a great live CD for anyone who’s a fan of Cornell’s work and either went to one of these shows, or just for someone like me who is a fan and is kicking himself for missing this tour. These songs showcase Cornell’s powerful vocals and remind you that he’s a better guitar player than he’s usually given credit for.
Recommended Tracks: “Black Hole Sun,” “Doesn’t Remind Me” (live from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul), “Imagine” (John Lennon cover)

Superfiction by Cold
This is the first disc by the Florida band in six years, and musically it follows the same path as their previous album A Different Kind of Pain. The heaviest track is the first song “Wicked World.” That’s my favorite track on the album, because it harkens back to the band’s harder rocking sound on previous efforts like Year of the Spider and 13 Ways to Bleed Onstage. Frontman Scooter Ward’s vocals are very produced, although he turns down the Autotune much more than he did on his solo effort The Killer and the Star. This is more of a concept album where the songs are connected almost as if it was telling one big story, and it’s kinda interesting to count how many of the Cold spiders there are in the illustrations in the CD booklet.
Recommended Tracks: “Wicked World,” “American Dream,” Welcome2MyWorld”

The Lost Children by Disturbed
This is the first B-sides and rarities collection for the Chicago metal band, and their first album not to reach number one on the Billboard album chart in its first week. If you’re a fan of the band, you’ll enjoy these rarities and cover songs while the band takes a healthy break.
Recommended Tracks: “Hell,” “3,” “Midlife Crisis” (Faith No More cover)

American Capitalist by Five Finger Death Punch
The third album by this speedy metal band picks up where their last two discs left off – it’s a quick album full of fast-paced rock anthems paired with a few slower, Steelheart-type ballads. It’s a formula that works, so why fix something if it isn’t broken, right?
Recommended Tracks: “Under and Over It,” “The Pride,” “Remember Everything”

Wasting Light by the Foo Fighters
One of Dave Grohl’s band’s most solid works to date, and probably their best album since The Colour and the Shape. This disc had me reeled in from the first song “Bridge Burning” to the finale “Walk.” Welcoming guitarist Pat Smear back to the band gives the trio of Grohl, Smear and Chris Shifflett a more complex, layered guitar sound on this album. They also have some good guest stars on this disc, like Bob Mould of Husker Du on vocals and guitar on the song “Dear Rosemary” and Grohl’s former Nirvana bandmate Kris Novoselic playing bass and accordion on the song “I Should Have Known.” Be careful when you open the CD booklet though, because each one includes a small piece of the analog tape that this album was recorded on!
Recommended Tracks: “Bridge Burning,” “I Should Have Known,” “Walk”

If Not Now, When? by Incubus
This is the first album in quite some time by the mellow pop/rock band, and it doesn’t disappoint their fans. While it’s not their best effort, the soothing sounds on this album are perfect background music for a busy workday.
Recommended Tracks: “Friends and Lovers,” “Isadore,” “Adolescents”

Th1rTeen by Megadeth
Yes, the title of this album is spelled correctly above! It’s the thirteenth studio album by frontman (and former Metallica guitarist) Dave Mustaine’s band, and it continues their heavy metal legacy, picking right up where their last album, the underrated Endgame left off. The return of bassist (and native Minnesotan) Dave Ellefson to the band brings their signature sound back to one of the better metal albums of the year.
Recommended tracks: “Public Enemy No. 1,” “Whose Life (Is It Anyways?),” “Black Swan”

Twenty (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Pearl Jam
If you enjoyed Cameron Crowe’s documentary film on Pearl Jam, this double-disc set is a great companion piece to the movie that celebrates Pearl Jam's two decades in the alternative rock scene. The first disc is full of live tracks from the film, and the second disc is a cornucopia of demos, acoustic and live bonus tracks that are perfect for the Pearl Jam fan of any age.
Recommended Tracks: “Say Hello 2 Heaven” (Temple of the Dog demo featuring Chris Cornell on vocals), “Given To Fly” (Mike Mcready acoustic instrumental demo), “Bu$hleaguer” (live)

Dedicated to Chaos by Queensryche
Queensryche is known for their concept albums (and concerts). I really wanted to like this album after enjoying their previous concept disc American Soldier, but this is simply a disorganized, pop-influenced mess. Song titles like “Got It Bad,” “Wot We Do” and “Big Noize” don’t exactly inspire their loyal fans either. I think this will eventually be an album like Metallica’s St. Anger or Motley Crue’s Generation Swine, one that the band will hopefully deny it ever existed!
Recommended Tracks: I can’t recommend any song on this album, it’s my 2011 “clunker” of the year!

Somewhere In The Stratosphere by Shinedown
I’d recommend this double CD, double DVD collection to anyone who’s a Shinedown fan or who want to relive seeing them live in concert. This album devoted both a CD and DVD to a pair of concerts, one being an acoustic, VH1 Storytellers kind of intimate affair in Kansas City, and a more traditional electric live concert in Washington state that you may have seen on the Paladia channel on cable.
Recommended Tracks: “Times Like These,” (Foo Fighters cover – acoustic), “45” (electric live), “Second Chance” (both acoustic and electric live versions)

Live-Made In Stoke 24/7/11 by Slash
This is a great live double album by Slash and his solo band featuring Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge on lead vocals. Recorded in Stoke-on-Trent England, where Slash lived for a while as a youth, this concert is a joyful homecoming, full of songs from his first solo album, plenty of Guns N’ Roses tunes, a few Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver tunes and a few instrumental numbers thrown in for good measure. I counted about a dozen songs from this collection that I got to hear this band play live at the casino in Walker, MN last year, along with several more on this disc that sound excellent live in concert.
Recommended Tracks: “Nothing To Say,” “Godfather Solo” (a ten minute instrumental jam featuring the love theme from the Godfather movies), “Beggars and Hangers On”

Staind by Staind
After Aaron Lewis’s acoustic country EP and the band’s break, Staind returned to rock radio this fall with a self-titled album that rocks harder and features more of Lewis’ screaming vocals then their previous two efforts. I was surprised to hear Snoop Dogg (yes, THAT Snoop Dogg) on the track “Wannabe,” but otherwise the band turned in a solid effort, their last album with original drummer Jon Wysocki who left the band in May after recording his parts for the album.
Recommended Tracks: “Not Again,” “Eyes Wide Open,” “Something To Remind You”

The Truth Is… by Theory of a Deadman
These four guys from Canada struck gold with their last album Scars and Souvenirs, and their new album continues in those same footsteps. Loaded with infectious and somewhat male chauvinistic R-rated rock songs like “Lowlife,” “Bitch Came Back,” “Gentlemen” and the title track that guys can enjoy, as well as a mix of slower ballads like “Out of My Head,” “Hurricane” and “Easy To Love You” for the ladies, this is another solid outing from the rockers who realize they’re rock stars but still don’t take themselves too seriously.
Recommended Tracks: “Lowlife,” “Bitch Came Back,” “Out of My Head”

Well, that’s all for now, so have a very safe and happy New Year, and I’ll be back blogging in 2012!

Bucky's Helpful Hints for Having an Excellent Concert Experience

This blog topic's been simmering in my mind for a while, so I thought I'd unleash it just in time for the holidays. I've been to a lot of great concerts over the years, so I thought I'd share a few tips that I use to make these experiences much more memorable.

1. If you must eat or drink, do so before or after the show.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen people at rock shows have a few too many and end up making complete fools out of themselves and become a distraction for others who are trying to enjoy the music with their friends. I don't drink anymore, but when I do feel hungry or thirsty I either enjoy a nice meal before the show or satisfy my craving after the show when I've had time to absorb the great time I've just had at a concert. That's why I enjoy going to shows at casinos, because there are usually quite a few good options available.

2. Hit the merchandise table early.
I've scored a few meet and greet passes and some other collectibles that were only available in limited numbers at merchandise tables at some concerts right when I've entered the venue. You can wait until after the show, but some vendors close shop early, so the T-shirt or CD you had your eye on might be packed up by then.

3. If you value your hearing, bring earplugs.
At the last Sevendust show I was at, I was complimented and given a hearty slap on the back by a fellow concert-goer next to me who remarked that I was smart and remembered to wear earplugs. I replied that I'd learned my lesson from previous shows. After one show featuring Everclear and Nickelback at SCSU's Halenbeck Hall about ten years ago, my ears were ringing for three days straight, so I definitely learned my lesson then!

4. Respect the people around you.
This point is worth bringing up, because while I've had the good fortune to meet a lot of really great rock and roll fans over the last decade at different shows, there's inevitably a rotten apple or two who parties a little too hearty either before or during the show and just ends up being a jerk. Have some consideration for your friends and other fellow concertgoers and enjoy in moderation, OK?

Well, that's all for now. Next week, I'll post my final blog of the year, which will be a review of the best rock albums of 2011 that I've added to my collection. Until then, have a great day and Happy Holidays, everyone!

Another Damn Great Sevendust Show!

I realized last night that I've become a Sevendust "veteran." The show was my sixth Sevendust concert in the last nine years. Although that's not as many shows as some people in the audience, I'd still been to more Sevendust shows than most people around me at the Myth in Maplewood who had either seen the band play live once or twice before or were Sevendust "virgins." I've been rocking to these guys for almost a decade, and if they keep playing hard, aggressive shows like they did last night, I'll keep coming back for more!

When I heard that Sevendust was playing at the Myth on Monday with four other bands and that tickets were only $20, I knew I had to go to this show! I hadn't seen them since their show at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis in November last year, and I knew from experiencing their 2008 show at the Myth Nightclub that it was a great venue to enjoy such a concert experience.

I braved the Twin Cities traffic, arriving in enough time to do a little Christmas window shopping and to grab some supper before the show. The first band, Sucker Punch, hails from nearby Minneapolis and they showed promise with their original songs and an interesting metal cover of "Summer Nights" from the John Travolta movie Grease.

The next band, Pennsylvania-based Candlelight Red got the growing crowd into the show with some fun original songs from their January 2012 debut album The Wreckage, including the title cut and a cover of Roxette's song "The Look," among others. I enjoyed their set, and made a mental note to check out their album when it comes out.

The third opening band, Seven Day Sonnet, hails from Chicago. They played about a half-dozen songs including their current single "Hapless." I wasn't as impressed with them as I was by Candlelight Red, but they kept the crowd thoroughly entertained until the next act hit the stage.

The final opening act, Eye Empire, took the stage shortly after 9 p.m. The band was formed by former Dark New Day members guitarist B.C. Kochmit and bass guitarist Corey Lowery, who happens to be Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery's brother. Clint even popped up on stage to join his brother's band to play guitar during the song "Victim" which he and Sevendust frontman Lajon Witherspoon recorded parts for on Eye Empire's album Moment of Impact. Before I knew it, their ten-song set was over. I thought Eye Empire did a great job, and was thoroughly ready for Sevendust.

After getting to see Sevendust's always unique backdrops (the curtain behind the drum riser had the band name in white on a red background with a cartoon character of a skull wearing dreadlocks and a cowboy hat with the number "7" on it) and the usual equipment checks during a set change, the house lights went dark and guitarists John Connolly, Clint Lowery and bassist Vince Hornsby led a thundering, thomping version of the song "Splinter" from 2010's Cold Day Memory. This heavy song set the tempo throughout the set, as the band played more bruising numbers like "Denial," "Praise," "Enemy," and "Strong Arm Broken."

Because this was such a driving metal show full of heavy lyrics and guitar, I didn't get to hear some of their lighter fare like "Angel's Son," "Xmas Day" or "Follow" this time around, but I really didn't mind because it was such a great aggressive set with songs I don't normally hear during their concerts like "Alpha", "Forever," and "The End is Coming." Sevendust closed the night with their usual encore song "Face to Face," and left their fans chanting "Sev-en-DUST! Sev-en-DUST!" yearning for more.

I splurged for the meet and greet pass, and got the opportunity to talk with Corey Lowery of Eye Empire near the merchandise table while waiting to meet Sevendust up on the third floor for the after-party. I first saw Corey play live with his old band Stereomud at the old Del-Win Entertainment Center in St. Joe, and got to remind him about old times. The after-party was great. We all got autographed set lists and band photos to get autographs for. I got to talk with all of the Sevendust band members again, but didn't get everyone's autograph this time, as some of them snuck out a little early to rest up for the next night's show. I didn't mind, however, because I enjoyed reminding Lajon of meeting him outside First Avenue before last year's show, talking to Vince and his friends about ice-fishing, chatting with John about shows and concert venues, talking more baseball and hearing some funny stories about Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows from drummer Morgan Rose, and talking music and life in general with Clint. Those memories will last a long time. Besides, I got all their autographs on the very same kind of photo sheet last year after their First Avenue show!

If you're into heavy rock or metal, and haven't been to a Sevendust show or picked up one of their CD's, I would strongly encourage you to do so immediately! They are one of the hardest working and hardest rocking bands today. Every show of theirs I've been to has been very memorable, and last night was just one more damn great Sevendust show!

P.S. I'm also including in this review a scanned copy of the autographed set list we received during the after-party. The band didn't play the song "Black," but otherwise every other song listed on the set list was played during last night's show.