The Scoop On The Rancid/Rise Against Show

Well, the confusion is over. Here's what the official email from Pops says. Looks like there was mass hysteria and they had to quell the pitchfork-carrying townsfolk via magical electronic communication. See you there. Stop by and say "Hi." I'll be wearing a Jesus Lizard shirt.

DOORS AT 5PM
The Riverboat Gamblers 7pm
Rancid 8pm
Rise Against 9:20pm
THIS EVENT IS ALL AGES.

Tickets are $35

This show is outdoors. See map below for set up. This is a rain or
shine event. As I am writing this, the weather report on on
weather.com has a forecast of low 80's and partly cloudy but no rain.
This is of course subject to change.

PARKING - Unfortunately, we have had to hire an outside service for
parking. There will be a $5 per car parking fee. Parking location is
located on the map below.

GATES - will open at 5pm and the event is scheduled to be over at
10:35pm.

The OZ will be open during this event. Plenty of air conditioning and
a place for you to relax during the show. ATMs will be located inside
this building.

CAMERAS - Small digital and disposable are fine. NO pro cameras or
video recorders. No audio recorders.

FOOD & BEVERAGE - NO outside food or beverage is allowed. We will
have one beverage tent located by the back of The OZ. We will also
have a food vendor set up.

For any other questions, please email runryanrun@mac.com and I will
do my best to get them answered.

Riverboat Gamblers: A Choppy, Yet Sincere Apology

I'm excited, if not a little confused about the show this Saturday at Pop's. Doors open at 5 PM (!) and the Riverboat Gamblers are to go on around 6. The tickets say "Rise Against and Guests", but according to the venue, Rise Against are scheduled to go on next, with Rancid headlining. Who starts a show at 6 PM, unless you have 8 hardcore bands all playing 30 minute sets?!? And why is Rise Against, for all intents and purposes the headliner, but they aren't? It looks like it in the graphic above, with them on top and just slightly bigger. Hmmm. My source at Pop's better be right. Here's the Riverboat Gamblers. They're from Austin, like many good bands. But watch out, STL is breathing down your neck, bitches. Don't get me wrong, much love for Austin. Just sayin'.

Tidbit-topia

• Rancid will be performing on Conan on Wednesday night. They will be performing for me on Saturday at Pop's.

• White Rabbits and Jon Hardy will be at the Bluebird this Wed.

• Alejandro Escovedo will be at the Pageant along with Amy Lavere and Hot Club of Cowtown, to kick off Twangfest, also this Wednesday.

• Aerosmith will also be performing this Wednesday at the UMB Verizon Bank Riverport. And before you snicker about that one, they'll be performing "Toys In The Attic" in it's entirety, which would be cool to see.

• Did you like Blind Pilot when they opened for the Decemberists? Well, they're coming back, this time to Off Broadway on August 11. I think the venue will be perfect for them. The Pageant was almost too big for their delicate sound. Good booking choice.

• The RFT Music Fest was fun. Gentleman Auction House put on a good show as always, the 75's were pop-punk fun, even playing the Buzzcock's "Orgasm Addict", but the drummer looked like the girls' dad so there was a weird visual disconnect.
The show at the Pageant, from the times I ducked in there, sucked ass.
Not to be confused with the show at the Halo Bar, where the Humanoids put on an energetic set, and the Tripdaddies never fail to satisfy.
Anybody know the story on the Alex Keaton dude that was rocking out in front during the Trips? Seen him at a couple of shows, and he gets into it.
Rats and People were uniquely beautiful, I am better for seeing them.

Rancid: Last One to Die

So I bought the new Green Day. I like Green Day. And I bought the new Rancid. I like Rancid. All good, correct?

The Green Day has everything a rock/punk/pop lover like myself should like: sonic diversity, shout-along choruses, a big over-arching theme. In short, more of the same from the boys. The Rancid release, "Let The Dominoes Fall", has much of the same, with even an over-arching theme: longevity.

I am seeing both bands in concert in the coming months. I've never seen Green Day, so that will be cool. Seen Rancid before, and that was one of the best concert experiences I have had in a long time. It's been a while since this old skooler was in the thick of things, but there seemed to be no better place to be for that show. My friend Jeff, who had recommended the show, remembered looking around to see if I was enjoying myself and seeing me disappear into the sea of bodies. Enjoy, indeed I did. That was one of the few shows that I drove home from and was still soaking wet from sweat when I got out of the car in my driveway. MOST excellent.

So why do I love the new Rancid, and hate the new Green Day? Hard to put my finger on it. Maybe it's the fact that GD have a different producer that has managed to make them sound like Dionne Warwick with banal lyrics. The music has a squishy center to it, and the anger seems to be manufactured.

Rancid, on the other hand, may be nothing more than gutter poets, but what they are saying feels heartfelt. Sure, there are a few duff songs on the new one, but overall I'll pick their new one hands-down. Maybe you should hear it, and let me know what you think. Or tell me I'm crazy, that the new Green Day is the best thing they've ever done. I can take it. But you're wrong.