Showdate: September 4th, 2010
Fuck off, it was either this or John Mayer. We made the right choice.
SATURDAY NIGHT! Trying to do Dallas. Definitely don’t call me Deborah. Debbie is fine. 2nd annual meet up of some of the hottest anonymous rock stars you’ll ever want to meet. Freaks flock together.
House of Blues – Dallas. Type of venue that makes me jealous. GA floor. Reserved up. Even the technically most shitty seats in the house have a good sight line. As my buddy said, Zero reason to NOT go to this venue for a show. Good sound, massive stage, nice sightlines, and ready access to what seemed to be fairly priced booze. I like. I covet a venue like this in Portland.
I’ve never been to a tribute show. I really don’t know what the hell to expect and don’t care. This is all about fun. Not technical assessments on musicianship for God’s sake. $18 face. I’m shocked at the crowd support for this show. Dallas represents for tribute bands on a Saturday night in August. Kool. Side note to foreigners, Texans dress up to go out.
Do it. Fake Brian is in the middle with bare arms and Brian Johnson’s traditional hat. Guy is ripped. Fake-Cliff is your left. He also looks like he could kick my ass without much difficulty. Fake Angus is all over. Some guy who looks like Dana Carvey is on stage. I don’t know why. I am sure he is contributing though. AC/DC’s Spinal Tap-esque rotating drummer ensures that position is just fake.
If you are expecting a set list from this you are expecting waaaaaay too much. I told you this was a party. I meant it, people. This isn’t the type of show to go to if you are not willing to put in the work. Work=the complete destruction of your sobriety. It helps the suspension of disbelief. And helps with the odd moments where you are supposed to yell the name of the band. I didn’t know what the hell to shout. What reality am I in?
Back In Black does a good job of covering Bonn Scott era songs and songs that Johnson fronted. Fake Angus does a strip tease. I think I remember a guitar solo. Bagpipes! And, well. Whatever. The star of the night was the awesomely EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEratic behavior of the lead singer. He loved us very, very much. We’ve made Back In Black the most famous band in the world! And bought him his house! My favorite moment was near the end of the set when he fell off the stage. After worming his way back up and declaring it his favorite show ever, he rolled around with his legs splayed in the air to punctuate the favoriticiousness of it all. I would love to know what was going on inside that lovable head of Fake Brian’s. Shine on crazy diamond.
Rage. We rocked this show as hard as we could. A bra was thrown, we created our own Tribute to Back In Black’s music: BOOZE, POT, PILLS! BOOZE, POT, PILLS! I don’t know if the high or low point of the night was chanting that after a 14 year old School of Rock student played a song. My gut says go with high. I know I saw a lighter lit, drinks consumed, and someone talked to Fake Angus after the show. Awesome.
After Fake Brian seemed to drag the band back on for a self created encore of “Let There Be Rock”, the show ended. As sad as it is to say, possibly one of the more deliciously insane performances I’ve seen in awhile. Too bad the old school heavy metal genre is in such sad disrepair. I have to go to tribute shows to see this kind of fun. Or maybe the Greyhound Station. Either way? Cool. I’m just so proud that I’ve seen a performer so out of control and fucked up that they legitimately fell off the stage. A check mark on the concert going bucket list…complete.
The night ended with Spearmint Rhinoceroses, drive thru taquitos, more liquor, and more exuberant chanting. Haze. A fitting tribute to the world’s most famous/delirious band. Pay tribute or else! Crazy fun night.
