Apr
02
2005

Rock 'n Roll - The Jet Lag Cure

Saturday, April 2, 2005 - 11:49:15 pm
(Posted Under: Travel, Arizona Trip, Music Music, Tempe Music Scene Tempe Music Scene)
Nothing fends off jet lag like rock n' roll. It's only been one day, and I can already say - I ain't coming home. [wink]

To briefly recap the boring parts. I couldn't wait for the flights to be over. Especially the MEL -> LAX one. Being at LAX was so cool last time around, this time, I couldn't wait to get out of there! It was a complete freak show. Luckily I only had like 20 minutes to wait by the time I got to the gate for my Phoenix flight. Called Katie to say I was on my way, and before long I was. On that flight I was excited to 'see' when I was over AZ, which I think I picked, though who knows. All in all, the flight was 55 minutes. Decending into Phoneix was concerning, as it took a while to see Phoenix, and it had me thinking "I thought Phoinex was bigger". It of course is (5th biggest city according to Katie), which became apparent. Once walking through the airport, I finally got to where Katie was waiting. Obviously it was awesome seeing her again, it's beem so long. Picking up my luggage sucked - I was certain it'd been screwed up at LAX. I had this feeling about it, and when it didn't show up on the carosell, it seemed like my predicted had come true. I wasn't the happiest camper, I so just wanted to get the hell out of dodge! We finally gave up (after way too long) and headed to the 'we fucked up your baggage counter' (I can't think of what it was actually called). While waiting in the queue, I did another circle of the carrassels, and amazingly, there was my suitcase. So, we hauled ass, only hitting another snag - locating Katie's car! [wink] Finally we solved that problem, we headed out of Phoinex, destination Tempe. Driving down the interstate wasn't what I'd expected, but once hitting surbubia Tempe, everything started to look exactly like I'd expected.

Briefly I must say Tempe (actually, everywhere I've been so far), is a very clean, and neat town. It's quite impressive.

So, fast forwarding to the rock. We'd taken a nap until about 7, because we both needed it. I woke up, feeling half dead (only getting up because there was rock to be had), which has been pretty par for the course for me of late. As has been true of late also, once up for half an hour, I had my second wind. Around 7:30pm last night we headed down to Tempe Beach Park, for the Tempe Music Festival. Once inside, we set off in search for the stage that Roger & P.H were schedueled for, finding it no problem. Our timing was perfect, finding a great spot while this radio DJ thing wound up. Katie pointed out Jamie Lee (Peacemakers guitar tech) early on, so we knew we were in the right place.

Within minutes, Clyne & Naffah were on stage, both dressed in suits. Roger with his acoustic guitar, and P.H with the most minimal drum kit - 1 snare, 1 crash and...a bongo like drum. It almost looked like it was going to be a laid back acoustic set, ala Roger & P.H in 1998 after the demise of the Refreshment. Though, as soon as P.H started pounding on the drums, it was obvious it was going to be full out rock, even given it was just two of them with acoustic gear. Immediately the stage came alive, with Roger in full Roger form, rocking out, and banter with the crowd. And watching P.H was just amazing. Watching P.H, kicking ass on a totally minimalistic kit was awesome - just confirmed why Mr. Naffah is my favorite drummer out of the Tempe area.

The spot in the audience that Katie and I found was perfect, could see both Roger and P.H perfectly. To that end, there was some piping with protection right where we were standing, which was perfect, giving a short ass like me a little extra height. It was definately unbelievable, finally after all these years, to be seeing Rog & PH in the flesh. It's interesting, how it's such a big deal, but you just cruise to downtown Tempe, and there they are.

Wanted
Americano
Blue Collar Suicide
Leaky Little Boat
Love Come Lighten My Load
Banditos
Mexico
Honk Tonk Union
Girly

Such a cool thing was that they broke out the horn section - the kazoos. Especially cool that Roger referred to it as the horn section. So cool, given I'd been thinking of the old '98 Roger & P.H shows, which always featured the kazoos. Was funny on one of the songs where after he's kazoo solo, Roger struggled to find a place to put it, and strummed the next chord with it. They came out for Mexico (of course) and .... Katie almost wounded up with P.H's. At the end of the show, it went flying through the air, in our direction, but ultimately it wasn't meant to be.

With the whole thinking about the old shows, it was cool Roger actually referring to them, and then talking about being in his hometown, where he's been doing this for ten years then walking to Jamie to grab an electric guitar, and break into "So just how far down do you wanna go...." (Banditos). He also talked about the infamous regular Mexico show (coming up in May), and how they "never leave a fan behind". Obviously I was like "buuut...". Let me tell you, it made me want to blow off work, stay through May and make the Mexico trip with Katie! Oh, it was nice to daydream about anyway.

In summary, Roger was completely as expected - the intense rock n' roller, out there for the music, and as he always says 'celebrating life'. P.H was, and is a machine. [smile] Watching him was just amazing, especially as previously mentioned, getting such an awesome full sound out of basically a snare and a crash cymbol. Amazing to watch!

After the this we looked for a place to just chill for a bit, and found ourselves right across from the main stage, where Collective Soul had started playing. It was impressive how we were literally right at the back (which was a fair way back, being the main stage), but could see
perfectly. We stayed briefly before deciding it'd be a good idea to go home, and find directions to see Scotty. Which we did, brought smokes on the way ($35 for a carton of Malboro Lights [smile] Woo!), and headed out to Scottsdale. We got to Pranksters Too, found the stage area, walked into that bar area, and there is Scotty (Gin Blossoms for anyone who doesn't know) and Troy already pumping out Memphis Time! Apparently Scotty noticed Katie as soon as we walked in. We took position midway through the bar, but it wasn't long before Denise spotted Katie, and we were sitting with them. That is folks, and the table at the front of the bar. It was so seureal, sitting 5 feet away from fucking Scott Johnson! Literally, I was right in front of him. That's Arizona for you. On any given night, you can walk into a bar and see an MTV star 5 feet away from you. (Like I said, I'm not going home! [wink] )

One of the things that immediate stood out, aside from the fact I was seeing Scotty in the flesh, was that Scotty can sing! Not suprising, given I know he's play out for years, but based on the fact he's never really done backing with the Blossoms, it definately stood out. And it's not a case of a guitarist trying to sing. He's really good. Actually, when we talked in, he had the trademark Gibson (with tape over the label) around his shoulder, and harmonica around his neck. Not that it's that suprising, but seeing Scotty play harmonica, and sing, in addition to what he's known for (guitar) is was definately an experience.

Throughout the show he pulled out bongos, and was looking for "someone who could play, or someone drunk enough to think they can play". Katie got heckled into playing them, at least initially, which was cool. Actually, it was quite funny, Troy insisting that she couldn't do it from her seat, she had to come up on stage (which wasn't going to happen). Which leads into the fact that Troy was great! Troy's a musician I'm not entirely familiar with (believe it or not there are some), and I was really impressed with his bass playing. Actually, it says something that my eyes would go from Johnson's guitar work, to watching Troy on the bass. I really enjoyed his playing, and watching it, and there was such a full sound, especially given that it was only Scott and Troy. The between songs banter between the two was really good too. It was actually funny when I lit up a smoke and Katie said "oh yes, we're in Scottsdale, you can smoke" and then a few songs later Scotty mentioning that playing in Scottsdale was so good, because you can smoke. Which got a huge cheer from the crowd, and Troy. [smile]

In terms of Blossom's songs, they did Memphis Time and Perfectly still (possibly Follow You Down before we got there), and everything else were songs Scott has written. Actually, it was cool that I was asking Katie which other Blossoms song's did, and she said "just Perfectly Still", and literally 5 seconds later, Scott breaks into the riff. Scott's own stuff was really good. There wasn't a bad song, and about a half were really impressive. Particularly my favorite, what we assume is called Pain In Vein. Suicidal Avocacy (I think) was really good too. It was also extremely cool to watch Scott play. He's fingers just glide over the fretboard seemlessly. It was escpecially cool when local Corey Glodin took the stage for 2 songs after Scott's set, and Scotty stayed up there and jammed with him. It was totally improv, and getting to see Johnson cut loose more with solos was just great to watch. Which reminds me, that on one of the last songs with Troy (Make It Last Forever, possibly), Scott played a kick ass solo, with killer harmonics - really cool to see Scotty, a more jazz / country influence player, rip it up with artifical harmonics. But back to Corey and Scotty - Corey, who I'd never heard of was really good IMO, and it was so cool seeing Scotty improv with him. Even with jet lag, and a sore head, core's much louder, crunchier acoustic guitar and vocals was awesome.

While A Few Random Drunks set up, I met quite a few people I've known online. Alan came over, and then I met Aaron Roder, who was really cool to meet in person. We talked about the long flight, and he made comment of my sites like the Blossoms Guitar Archive. As Katie keeps saying, my reputation proceeds me in Tempe. It'd be really cool to see Aaron again at the Scotty & PH show this week, if he can ditch work. Then finally, I met Scotty Johnson. Again, my reputation proceeds me, he came over and said that it was nice to finally meet me. No introduction needed, being with Katie, he knew exactly who I was. It was a brief encounter, I said how it was great to meet him also, and that the set was awesome, before he got pulled away from someone. But again, a surreal experience. Interesting, both surreal and not. Surreal finally meeting a Blossom, but at the same time, Scott was so down to earth, and just like a local muso, playing at a bar. Katie also introduced me to Troy, who, even though we only spoke briefly, seemed like a really cool guy. Aaron invited us to go to Yucca (the Yucca Tap Room) to see Charmers Green, but as both Katie and myself were both really tired, we decided against it. Though I'm sure we'll see Charmers while I'm here. So we said bye to Scott, and headed home - only to return to Pranksters Too to collect Katie's camera which we'd left behind.

A completely awesome first night in Tempe.

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