The Kills - Granada Theater - April 19th 2011

The concert experience sure has changed over the years. When I say that, I am not just referring to the fact that by the end of the night, unlike even 10 years ago, I want to cut my feet off from the pain and go into emergency back surgery. And although I usually hold my tongue, I feel the great desire to lecture an underage girl on proper behavior in public situations, "If you can't behave like an adult in adult situations, then perhaps you should go home and go to bed early (without dinner)". Gosh, when did I get so old?


The Kills concert! I bought pre-sale tickets to attend the show at the Granada Theater in Dallas earlier this year, so I've been anxiously waiting for this concert for months. I happen to adore Alison Mosshart and looking forward to the opportunity to see her perform again. I've seen her twice with the Dead Weather and I know if someone can steal most of my attention AWAY from Jack White on stage, that she must have some serious stage presence. I would find myself forgetting Jack was there. Forgetting Jack? Me? Yes. She is that good. She is like the girl-next-door rock star. She seems so down to earth and sweet but a total bad-ass at the same time.



When I bought my pre-sale tickets they informed me I would receive a free poster that I could pick up at the merch table at the show. I knew I didn't have a chance in hell in getting another of my posters on the man-cave wall (I'm starting to take over), but I was excited non-the-less.

Doors are at 7. Tornado warning for our county until 10pm. Great. I leave work a few minutes early and rush home in the golf sized ball hail to get ready. Big decisions. Wash hair? Or hat and ponytails? Easy decision if you ever seen a picture of me online. Hat it is. I rush to Dallas during rush hour in the rain to pick up my friend and head over to the venue.

We walk into the Granada theater just as the doors open at 7. I make a bee-line to the merch table to claim my free poster. I give the guy my ID and spot my name on the "list" as he checks it off. Then, he hands me 4 stickers. Wait, did it say post-ER or post-IT? I asked the guy and he shrugged his shoulders. Oh well, It's not the poster I was promised, but I'll be happy with my free stickers that look like a Polaroid.

(my sticker)


We get as close to the stage as possible and plant our feet in cement. About 2 rows of people back on the main floor, we have pretty good positioning. Now we wait. As Tom Petty said, Waiting is the hardest part. The Granada had an entertaining movie screen showing videos of interesting upcoming concerts to help pass the time. The other thing they did that I found entertaining, but caused a permanent cramp in my neck, is they posted the @granadatheater Twitter feed on a big screen stage left. Talk about new concert experiences. Even 5 years ago, you wouldn't see this type of thing. Give an open forum to a bunch of people to post their every thought on a big screen in a little room and you get a combination of funny, disgusting and lame, but almost always entertaining. I don't think I have ever seen the word hipster used so many times, or see SO many people spell Alison's name wrong. "Marry me Allison". I wanted to tweet she is not going to marry someone who can't even spell her first name. I didn't do that, but I couldn't resist the temptation to participate.

(that's me second to the bottom)


We have an hour to kill (no pun intended. Sorry, that was bad. I know) before even the first band comes on and I am approached with "Aren't you Lea"? It must be the hat. I was confused for a moment, because I already know all my local area internet Jack-Fan friends. Celeste then tells me she drove in from Louisiana, because LA didn't have a Kills show on the tour! I love crazy people like me who take long road trips for music!! We catch up on our record store day finds and she fills me in on her recent trip to the holy grail, Third Man Records in Nashville, for the record store day festivities. It is always fun to the meet people who share my passions. I'm having a good time already and the first band hasn't even started.

(me and my new BFF Celeste)


Then at about 8PM, the first band goes on. I will refrain from mentioning their name or sharing my opinion, because mama always said, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". Luckily when the bands were performing, the Twitter feed came down. I think that is a good thing. It would be disheartening as a band to be able to read the thoughts of the people in the audience as you perform.

About 9PM, the second band, Cold Cave, takes the stage. To be kind, in their defense, I am admittedly pretty closed minded about music. I like MY music. I like rock music. So, when they took the stage and I was transported back to 1985 and the new wave phenomenon, I couldn't see past the genre to actually see if they were talented or not. Sorry. I laughed when they finished and someone posted on the Twitter feed on the big screen, "I just saw Flock of Seagulls at @granadatheater". So true.

Then things started to get packed. This is when I decided I better get a drink now. Now or never. I'm glad I did decide to fight the good fight against the crowds, because it was then that I ran into my Jack-friends Leslie and Bethany. It was the only time I got to see them all night, but at least we got to talk for a minute.

Cathy held our spot while I made a run, but I still got the stink-eye from my fellow concert-goers as I try to reclaim my spot front stage center.

Things get sort of ugly before the show starts as a loud, probably drunk, high-pitched-screeching girl decides to throw a fit that her friend is not standing quite close enough to her. After about 10 minutes of screeching and a lot of biting tongues, my friend finally turns to her with simply a "REALLY?, REALLY?". My friend must be a bad-ass herself because that shuts them up enough for us to enjoy the start of the show.

I think the screeching girls friend felt bad about his friends bad behavior, because he tried to make peace by offering my friend a hit of his joint. Seriously? LOL! She, of course, rejects his peace offering. This again reminds me I am old.

The air is thick with excitement. Even the girl with the HOWL tattoo on her back looks excited.

(Me and Cathy having a howling good time)



The movie screen in pulled down so far covering the stage that you could only see the feet of the people walking around on the stage. I am scoping for Alison-type feet and legs but I don't see any just yet.

(Then the screen lifts and the magic begins...)


Hotel and VV take the stage and it is pure genius. Alison is wearing a leopard print shirt that blends into the leopard print stage background. She is like a leopard camouflaged in her surroundings waiting to pounce and let me tell you, she pounces.

Standing there with cramped feet and an aching back is the price I pay to capture the energy of a live show. This can only be experienced by standing in a crowded concert hall with soaking wet clothes and beer stained pant hems, living in the moment. No You-Tube video, no live stream or hi-def video share can recreate the live experience. As much as I love the albums, they can't compare being there. The passion, the connection between the two people on stage and their connection with the audience was nothing short of magical.

I took my share of pictures, but people filming continuously marked another change I have seen recently in my concert-going experiences. People are continuously updating FB, Twitter statuses, texting and sharing their pictures and videos. At one point in the night, I was standing in such close proximity to the "Howl" girl that I could see the texts from her mom asking her what time she would be home. "More black gadgets than faces", as Jack would say. But, I am not complaining. Those people filming at shows that I can't attend give me a glimpse into concerts that I won't be able to see otherwise.

When I told my sister I was tired this morning because I attended a concert last night she said, "I didn't know 30 somethings attended concerts anymore", but the truth is I will never outgrow the concert experience because one should NEVER grow out of loving music. The opportunity to see my favorite musicians as they pass through my town will always be a draw that I can't resist.

The Kills, well, killed it. I love their new album, Blood Pressures, and they performed most of it. They also played most (not all, but how could they?) of my favorites from past albums. I am so thankful for the opportunity to see them perform live. It has given me a whole new appreciation for the band. I always loved Alison, but now I can appreciate more of where she came from, the Kills, both Alison and Jamie, VV and Hotel, as a band.

The concert experience is changing, yes. But, it is becoming more interactive, more social and if possible, more fun.

Record Store Day Redeemed (sort of)

If you read my blog yesterday, you read through all my cry-babying about not getting my hands on any of the Third Man Records Record Store Day releases. The anticipation of getting up at the crack of dawn, then waiting in line for nearly an hour and a half, then not getting what I wanted felt devastating. I realize that it was NOT devastating, but it sure felt that way at the time. I eventually got over it for the most part, accepting reality and moving on. My heart still stung with jealously as I watched pictures of my friends success' roll through my Facebook feed all night. Happy for them. Sad for me.

Yesterday, since I was upset at my loss and the record store was insanely busy, I really didn't even spend the time looking for anything else. I quickly thumbed through the Record Store Day releases and didn't see anything I wanted more than I wanted to go home and sulk.

Today we decided to hit some other record stores and see what kinds of things they might have left over. I knew full well the White Stripes were long out of my grasp, but I wanted to see what else I could find. There were other releases that were not Jack White related that I was initially interested in, but the blow of disappointment clouded my decision making skills that day. I mean, I PUT DOWN the Karen Elson I had in my hand. I regretted doing that right away.

First stop on our mission, Forever Young Records in Grand Prairie. I have now decided this is truly my favorite record store in town. Their vinyl selection is INSANE and they have a lot of imports, bootlegs and out of prints that you just can't find anywhere else locally. I browse the box of leftover 7" records from Record Store Day and pull out the MCR picture disc. OK, my first official Record Store Day Release purchase. They also happen to have Midnight Boom and Keep on Your Mean Side from the Kills, so I pick those up for good measure. I feeling pretty good and slightly redeemed, so I suggest we try to hit some other record stores and peruse the left-overs.



I really didn't know any other stores on our side of town (I didn't want to drive into Dallas again this week-end), so a quick Google search on my phone brought me to Doc's Records and Vintage in Fort Worth. The place was so small and out of the way, we drove right past it the first time. Inside was mostly used records, but a big selection overall. They didn't have much left over from Record Store Day and this guy tells us they only had about 15 people lined up yesterday. Ah, a lesson learned for next year, hit the smaller lesser known Record Stores first. Russ buys a couple of used Big Band records and we head out. Then, the guy working at the store tells us the strangest thing. He said that The Movie Trading Company got the Record Store Day Releases. Now, the Movie Trading Company isn't exactly an independent record store. In fact, they have 12 locations just in Texas and more locations under a different name along the East Coast. It is one of those places and that buys and sells used DVD's and maybe CD's. I didn't even know they sold vinyl. I haven't been inside one of these stores in years. I almost didn't believe him. I almost didn't go.

This place is right around the corner from my house. Russ drives me down, but decided it is going to be a quick trip for me and waits in the truck. When I didn't come out after 10 minutes, he parks and comes in. Inside, I was pleasantly surprised to see a vinyl rack full of Record Store Day Releases. I don't see what I am looking for so I ask a store employee if they have any other vinyl and he says they only have what is on the rack where I am standing. They had a Killers picture disk from record store day 2009 and a Black Keys picture disk. As I am paying for my new purchases, I ask the girl behind the counter if they have any other vinyl. She also tells me no. This is when Russ walks in the store, captain of the obvious, and spots the small rack of 7" records by the registers. We can't believe our eyes. We start pulling out all the releases we missed out on at Good Records. They have it all. Well, not all (if you know what I mean), but way more than I expected.

Russ finds both the Rome featuring Jack White and the Karen Elson for me.



Then we keep pulling them out:
-- The Havana Affair performed by the Ramones (1976) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (2002)
-- Don't Want to Know if You Are Lonely performed by Husker Du (1986) and Green Day (2000)
-- Love Hurts performed by Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels (1973) Jenny & Johnny (2010)
--Matt & Kim Block after Block

The funny thing is that the kids behind the counter had no idea what any of this was all about. To them, they received some vinyl and put it on the shelf. They had NO IDEA about Record Store Day or the limited edition vinyl. I told the guy I waited in line for 1.5 hours at Good and wasn't able to get any of this stuff. He told me they only received 2 of the Rome Record. You mean to tell me, I got up at the crack of dawn and drove into Dallas, when all I needed to do was go to Movie Trading Company at 10am, a mile from my house? No lines, no hype. I asked him to check for the White Stripes and he looked it up on the computer. He said they had one of each yesterday, but they were gone. He searched all the local stores and same story.



Record Store Day 2011 turned itself around and came out OK. I'm a bit poorer, but happy I added some new vinyl to our collection. I didn't get the releases of my beloved White Stripes, but I know there will always be something new and exciting with them. If I know anything about how Jack White runs his business, I know there will be other opportunities for White Stripes colored vinyl.

The irony is not lost on me, that I found this stuff at a chain store.

Record Store Day broke my heart

I am a grown woman. I know it sounds absurd to have a broken heart over records, but it happened. I realize people have REAL problems and REAL heartbreak, but that doesn't change the way I feel.

Record Store Day. April 16 2011. I anxiously wait for its arrival for several weeks. If you read my blog (and you should), you already know all about it. Third Man Records has limited edition releases including colored White Stripes reissues (also The Rome project featuring Jack White and a Karen Elson release. You know, Jack's wife). It is a pretty rare occasion that you can get these types of limited edition releases outside of Third Man Record shop in Nashville. I am excited for the opportunity. I call my favorite Dallas record store, Good Records, and they tell me they will have them.

I plan ahead. We plan to get up at 6am on Saturday morning, leave the house by 6:30 and arrive at Good at 7, one hour before opening. It didn't happen that way. The alarm goes off a six. My first mistake of the day was when I offer to my hubby (who isn't exactly thrilled to wake up early on Saturday morning to stand in line for something Jack White related), "How about we get up at 6:30, leave at 7?" He, of course, agrees and we happily snooze away for 30 more minutes. I'll file this one under, "Things I know now, that I wish I would have known yesterday".

Decked out in my Rolling Record Store shirt, we roll into Good Records at a few minutes before 7:30am and there are about 50 people in front of us. The line doesn't look too bad, as long as all those people in front of me aren't pining for the same thing that I am. I mean, there are A LOT of limited edition releases today, from all kinds of bands. It is VERY possible, most of those people don't even care about the White Stripes. I see some of my Jack-Vault friends in line in front of us. They have much better positioning, but they arrived at 7am (You know, like I planned to). The line builds QUICKLY behind us and before I know it, it is wrapped all the way around the block, probably a good 100 people, before the store even opens.

It is 8am and they open the doors. They decide to avoid a mad house and to let people enter the store 15 at a time. One limited edition release per person. This seems fair and I (not-so) patiently wait. After about 15 or 20 minutes, I see my Jack friends get in the door and I can see them pass by the window from outside with the red and white goodies in their hands. I am happy for them, and hoping still, I will be as lucky.

As my friends exit with their smiles and bags of vinyl, I look through their bags touching what I hope will be mine in a few short minutes. They reassure me that I should be fine, that there seemed to be plenty of White Stripes left.

At 8:45 or so, we finally get our turn in the store. I rush over to the 7" table, only to go from the happiest high of finally getting in, to the lowest low of lows realizing the empty slots behind the cardboard White Stripes placeholders. They are all gone. My heart sinks. I try to find reassurance in the other releases. Rome is also sold out. I pick up a Karen Elson, which honestly at this time feels like a consolation prize. I look at the mile long line for the register and the $15.99 price tag on the back of a 7" record and I am crushed. I honestly felt like I could cry, but I had to remind myself "You are 36 years old! You can't cry over records!" But honestly, I felt that physical sensation of a broken heart that I haven't felt since my dog died in 2006. Ridiculous? Right? Trust me, I know! I have no idea how I have formed such an emotional attachment.

I walk out of the store empty handed. My friends are waiting for me outside. I feel bad now, because at the time I was disappointed and sad and I just wanted to leave. Now that I am calmed down, I wish I could have stayed and caught up with them for a few minutes. (Sorry Leslie!)

The ride home is when I realize the fact that, if we would have got up at 6am like we planned, I would have walked away with everything I wanted. My sweet husband tries to cheer me up with a hug and with some humor. He was nice for letting me work through my disappointment and not calling me out for acting like a 12 year old who doesn't get their way.

Russ pulls into a gas station and says, "Since you are so lucky today, let's buy a couple scratch off lottery tickets". He probably figured the only thing that would cheer me up right then would be to win a million dollars and he would take his chances. I scratched three tickets and won $3. Russ scratched two and won $0. Sure, NOW, I am lucky. Just think of all the money that is still sitting in my bank account right now that would have been long gone had I bought all those records. I tried to reassure myself with these thoughts.

I call another record store in town, Forever Young Records in Grand Prairie, and I found out that they didn't open until 10. However, they tell me by now they have a line wrapped around the store and the guy on the phone doesn't think the White Stripes releases will last long enough for me to get there. Again, if I knew yesterday what I know today, I just would have went there in the first place. It is a less popular record store that opened later. But, I guess you can't live in the past.

So, we decide to celebrate Record Store Day for what it was intended. It is not just about getting our grubby hands on collectible vinyl, it is about supporting and celebrating the local record store. Sheesh, Have we all forgot about the true meaning of the holiday already? Seriously though, Its not all about the getting, its about giving back. We decide to visit a newly established record store called Mad World Records in Denton, TX. We called and the owner let us know that they were not able to get any of the Record Store Day releases. He said the releases are all distributed through the Record Store Day people and they told him flat out the records are distributed first to the record stores that they like best. So, BIG independent record stores like Amobea and Good Records get the releases, but the small new guy couldn't get anything this time. zip.

We decide this is the record store that needs supporting today. So, we make the trek to good 'ole Denton, Texas. This was a nice store with a friendly owner and decent vinyl section. I was still pouting from my loss and couldn't find the joy in anything else, but Russ picked up a record and we met a friend for lunch. I still couldn't quite make eye contact with with the White Stripes poster on the record store wall.

We hit an antique mall in town and this record made me smile for the first time since my disappointment. I know I'll be fine. Life goes on, even without colored vinyl.


To read the some-what happy ending to my story, read my blog titled "Record Store Day Redeemed (sort of)".

Are you following my blog? Simply click the blue 'Join this site' button to the left (you may have to scroll down from the top). Thanks, as always, for your support. Lea-Bean

Thank You Jack White

I genuinely feel sorry for people who love musicians other than the one that I love. Let's pretend for a moment that you are a sad misguided soul who loves Creed. You love Scott Stapp. You live and breathe for the next Creed album, their next tour. You log countless internet hours doing Google, you-tube,and Twitter searches for the latest news, interviews, videos and gossip. I know this is probably difficult to comprehend, but bear with me, I have a point. I purposely used the worst rock band I could think of, to demonstrate the contrast. If you are a Creed fan, what do you get? At best, an new album every two years, followed by a world tour. If you are lucky, one show, one night in your town. Sure, you get non-stop radio airplay on every alternative radio station in the nation, but is that enough for a superfan?


Creed is the worst band in the world.


Maybe I'm not the average superfan. Perhaps, I am spoiled by my favorite artist. Third Man Records owner Jack White is an active band member of the Dead Weather, the Raconteurs and until very recently (sadly), the White Stripes. With three bands and 10 albums under his belt with just these bands, Jack White is arguably the hardest working guy in the music business. There is never a dull moment for a Jack White fan.

First of all, there is the Third Man Records subscription service, the Vault. If you are a Vault member, for $60 a quarter, you can occasionally participate in video and text chats with none other than Jack himself. You automatically receive a limited edition vinyl package in the mail, usually including three components: a previously unreleased double LP of a Third Man Artist that can't be bought anywhere else, a 7" rarity and maybe a t-shirt or DVD or postcards. Every three months, I anxiously wait to hear the announcement of the next package. Then, I routinely stalk my mailman until it arrives. Does a Creed or Lady Gaga fan have this kind of regular, quarterly, release of new tangible, possibly collectible material? I think not.

But, you don't have to shell out the $20 bucks a month as a Vault member to enjoy what Third Man Records has to offer. Although it helps. Have you SEEN this quarters package? Previously unreleased, limited White Stripes? Yes. It's to die for. http://www.thirdmanrecords.com/news.html

Although the excitement is continuous, it is easiest to just tell you about the things so far in 2011. Mostly recently, TMR announced their plans for Record Store Day 2011. They are re-issuing 2 White Stripes seven inches on swirly vinyl. Plus, if you happen to be in Nashville that day (and managed to get tickets) you can catch Jerry Lee Lewis with Jim Keltner on drums right there at the Third Man Venue! You can almost guarantee that Jack will join on stage for at least one song.

In March, Third Man Records unveiled the Third Man Rolling Record store at SXSW with promises to hit the road all over the country. Does it look like a rolling banana? Maybe. Is it getting vinyl into the hands of kids (and adults alike) who can't get to Nashville to visit the original Third Man Records shop? Definitely. Jack made a surprise appearance at South By this year and played 2 songs for a couple hundred VERY lucky fans who were at the right place at the right time.

Jack produced the new album from icon Wanda Jackson's "The party Ain't Over". Earlier this year her tour featured Jack on guitar at the New York and LA shows. I can tell you from experience, it was amazing to witness.

Then, as if that wasn't enough, The Rome project with Danger Mouse featuring Jack White vocals will be released in May. Keep in mind this is only the beginning, a mere four months into the year. I can only imagine what comes next.

It seems every couple months there is something new and thrilling coming out of Third Man. Every time I turn around, there is an announcement of a new album, a new limited edition release, a new collaboration with an icon, or a new up and coming band produced by Jack White. I have to admit, Jack White is a marketing genius. I don't know exactly how he turned me into a vinyl collector. But, he did. He knows just how to keep his fans engaged, excited and willing to buy. I am guilty as any.

Thank you Jack White.

The Foo Fighters - "Back and Forth" Documentary

The first time I heard about the Foo Fighters Documentary "Back and Forth" is when we were planning our trip to Austin for South By to see the Third Man Rolling Record Store. Unfortunately, like most of the things I was interested in attending that day, it was not playing on the one particular day we were in town. I was disappointed because I love rock documentaries. I find the stories behind the bands very intriguing. Netflix has a slew of them and I even enjoy the ones from crappy bands that I never heard of before (Anvil). I even enjoy Rock Docs that don't star Jack White. Shocking, I know. Oops, I promised my hubby I would "try" to get through a blog about the Foo Fighters without mentioning the completely unrelated Jack White. Damn, That was twice.

Last night I was scrolling my Facebook feed and there was a link to the documentary trailer that mentioned the movie was playing in select cities for one day only (April 5th), followed by a live concert. I click the link to the theaters and to my surprise it would only be playing in five theaters across the entire state of Texas and one of them happens to be five minutes from my house.

(watch the trailer here...but finish reading the blog first)


My hubby is not a big fan of movie theaters. Let me rephrase that, my hubby is not a big fan of the people that populate movie theaters. We haven't been to a theater together in probably 5 years. We are Netflix people. However, he is a drummer and a big Dave Grohl fan (and Taylor Hawkins), so despite his disdain of the movie theater crowd, he was on board for this one.

He calls the theater first thing Tuesday morning to inquire about purchasing tickets. We were not sure if this limited, one day, one time only release would sell out or if anyone even knew about it. We decided to play it safe and get tickets early. The lady on the phone tells him they are having trouble with the projector and they are not even sure if they would be able to broadcast the show that night, so she wouldn't sell him the tickets. She advised him to call back at 2PM when they would have a better idea. My hubby is obedient and calls at 2PM, only to be informed that they have already sold out.

Luckily of the 5 showings in Texas, two of them are in Fort Worth. He calls the 2nd place about 30 minutes away and they let him purchase the tickets for $20 bucks a pop over the phone. Phew.

After rushing home from work, we head down to Fort Worth to catch dinner and cheat on our diets before the show.

(outrageous!)



It was scheduled to start at 8:01 PM.

It didn't. We wait. About 8:10 the theater employees show up to tell us that nothing is wrong, everything is working, that they are just waiting for the broadcast to begin. I assume this means that they didn't actually have a tape reel, but were streaming the movie and concert.

At 8:15 when the show has still not started yet, this lady gets up to leave and loudly announces that she is leaving because she already knows all about the Foo Fighters and she was alive when Nirvana was together. My thoughts were two fold. A. Who cares? B. Why did you come here in the first place? (OK, three fold) C. Wasn't everyone alive long enough to remember when Nirvana was together? This made me realize that I am officially old. You are old when you were around to experience something iconic that young(er) people can only hear about. Nirvana is a perfect example of that. I can tell the story of where I was standing when I first heard about Kurt Cobain.(i.e. grocery store, State College, PA). My great grand kids will be on the edge of their seat for that story someday. Guy in line at grocery store: "Did you hear that Kurt Cobain died?" Me: "No, Wow!". The end. Epic story, I know.


8:20 the movie finally starts with a message to save your 3D glasses for the live concert following the movie. The beginning of the movie gives the history of Dave Grohl and his experience drumming with Nirvana and his dealing with Kurt's death. He said he started Foo Fighters because he didn't want to be remembered as this guy who played drums in Nirvana.

Did you know he recorded the entire first self titled Foo Fighters album all by himself? He recorded all the instruments himself, wrote and sang all the songs. Impressive. Obviously he had guys to go on tour with him to play the live shows, but the recording is all him. In my humble opinion, it is one of the best.

The documentary mainly focused on the revolving door of band members. I didn't remember that the band members changed as much as they did. I didn't remember there was another drummer before Taylor Hawkins. I've always been a fan of him as the drummer (mainly because of my hubby's influence) and I didn't remember he was drumming for Alanis Morissette before joined the Foo Fighters.

Dave Grohl has a good sense of humor and is a good story teller, so he kept us chuckling throughout. At times, during some of the interview parts, he seemed less like a rock star and more like a nice, sensitive, Dad-type. I guess he probably IS a nice, sensitive, Dad-type these days, as illustrated in the movie with the family scenes with his wife and little girls.

This was definitely not a "Behind the Music" type documentary of sex, drugs and rock n roll. Besides a short mention of Taylor Hawkins' struggles with drugs and some talk about getting drunk before playing those huge live stadium shows, the rock 'n roll lifestyle was hardly mentioned.

Dave Grohl also talks about how they recorded their latest album using reel to reel tape recording. You know, analog. The old fashion way. In Dave's basement. Sound familiar? Sounds like another big name artist I know, who I wont mention (again). Maybe this is a new trend. Less Pro Tools, More real (no pun intended). Interesting.

All in all it was an engaging interesting story for any Foo Fighters Fan, even one like me who hasn't purchased an album since "One by One" (2002). Its not that I lost love for the Foo Fighters. I will always be a fan of that straight forward Rock 'n Roll style. You know, not quite hard enough to be classified as hard rock, usually classified in that mysterious "alternative" genre that begs the question..."Alternative to what"? I admit that they seemed to have lost their edge these past few years, but I love the melodic verses that bleed into the screaming chorus' with heavy guitars and drums, which is the Foo Fighters classic formula. For me, it is a winner every time.

(everyone looks super cool in 3D glasses)



The documentary is over and a message comes on the screen that the live concert will begin in 5 minutes. When it starts, I put on my 3D glasses, but this is not the concert I was expecting. It appears it is being filmed in a small studio. I found the 3D to be distracting and gimmicky. They had background images that came forward with the 3D glasses and this one shot of Taylor Hawkins side view where his crash cymbal was seemingly extending into the audience. It kind of gave me a headache and I eventually took off the glasses and watched a slightly blurry screen with more satisfaction. They played the entire "Wasting Light" album live. I have my doubts if it was actually live (as advertised) or a recording of live performance, but none the less it was mostly enjoyable.

I'll leave you with this quote from Dave Grohl. "Honestly, had I taken this whole career thing seriously, I would have named it something else. Worst (expletive) band name ever".

Are you following my blog? Simply click the blue 'Join this site' button to the left (you may have to scroll down from the top). Thanks, as always, for your support. Lea-Bean