Cheevyjames’ Musical Roundhouse

• Concert Reviews:
• 8/29/93 w/ Anthrax & Quicksand, Dallas, TX
• 12/3/93 w/ Nudeswirl, Dallas, TX

I’ve seen White Zombie twice, both as an opener and a headliner.  By saying that I’ve seen *White* Zombie that obviously dates me a bit.  I don’t remember too much theatrics being involved, but I’m sure there were some.  Rob’s old band was definitely full of capable players and they absolutely rocked. As for Rob Zombie himself, he has a huge stage presence.  I’d say that how he represents himself in his videos is pretty much how he is.  So, then, the White Zombie/Rob Zombie videos are good advertisements for his live show…minus driving all the weird cars around and stuff.

• White Zombie album reviews

• Concert Review: 4/17/94 “Edgefest ’94″, Dallas, TX

When I saw them, the crowd absolutely loved them.  I was familiar with their first album and “American Music” and I think most of the crowd was the same way.  Not that the other songs didn’t get a good reaction or anything, but it was nothing like Blister in the Sun or Add it Up.  They have a pretty good bassist and since the music’s pretty fun anyway, it wasn’t hard for the audience (and me) to have a good time.  I’m not a huge fan, so I’d probably never see them again, but if you’re interested and haven’t ever seen them then go check it out.

• Concert Review: 9/16/94 w/ Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms, Cracker & Soulhat, Austin, TX

I saw Vinx once opening for the Spin Doctors of all bands.  I seem to remember he just played solo, with only a drum and his voice.  He was extremely entertaining and had a pretty good voice.  I remember laughing a lot at his sense of humor.

• Concert Reviews:
• 12/4/91 Dallas, TX
• 8/5/93 w/ Vince Neil, Dallas, TX

I’m kinda torn on Van Halen.  OK, I should say, “Van Hagar”, as I never saw them with David Lee Roth.  I’ve seen VH twice, once at a free concert in downtown Dallas and then at a proper “amphitheatre” show with lights and all that crap.  A BIG SHOW, if you know what I mean.  VH without all that stuff – just basic lights and no solos, no pompous stuff – was one of the best bands I’ve ever seen.  I had such a blast at that free show and more or less hated the “real” concert.  When it’s a big stage their egos and pomposity inflate accordingly.  All four of them did solos.  Only Sammy Hagar’s was somewhat interesting since he played a song or two acoustically.  For Eddie Van Halen’s solo, I actually went and used the bathroom…something I’ll never do at a show.  That’s how boring his guitar solo was.

I firmly realize that most Van Halen fans want to see the big show, want all the frivolous solos, and want to see a spectacle.  I don’t.  As a band just ripping it up, they’re great.  When you get all the other crap involved, count me out.  I seriously doubt they’ll ever tour again and even if they did, I’d only be interested if they played in a small place…which won’t happen since it’s Van Halen.

• Van Halen album reviews

I’ve only seen Steve Vai once, at a small club.  He’s a hell of a guitar player.  You really don’t get the sense of what all he can do just by listening to the CDs.  Well, yeah, if you know what you’re listening for you can.  But seeing him do that stuff live, is really impressive.  I don’t remember him singing too much at this show…or maybe he had a singer in the band?  I can’t remember.  I was much more impressed with him in a live setting than by just listening to the albums.  I’m not too much a fan of his songwriting, but as a live performer he’s great.

• Concert Reviews:
• 3/31/05 Dallas, TX
• 8/18/06 w/ Béla Fleck and the Flecktones & Marc Broussard Cary, NC

UM is definitely one of the best live bands I’ve seen in a long time. I went to their show with barely any idea of what they were about and was completely blown away. They’re a “jam band”, but more on the prog side than the ‘simple, jam-over-the-same-chord-progression-for-20-minutes’ kind of thing that most jam bands do. Stylistically they’re really eclectic and they cover the ground that most jam bands cover (rock, jazz, funk, reggae), but they bring things that I definitely didn’t expect. The progressive/complex stuff was a great surprise, but the thing that really wowed me was their incorporation of heavy metal and sort of “shred” guitar playing. It’s true that they might look like dorky guys, but they can get pretty heavy and play better than most metal bands. In addition to that, they improvise like very few rock bands I’ve ever seen. Like all jam bands, the set lists are never the same, so you’ll never know what to expect. These guys are definitely the best “new band” out there.

• Umphrey’s McGee album reviews

• Concert Reviews:
• 6/25/94 w/ Mötley Crüe & King’s X, Dallas, TX
• 6/13/95 w/ Queensrÿche, Dallas, TX

I’ve seen them twice and that’s plenty for me.  I could care less about ‘goth’ music and these guys were just plain silly.  Abnormally low singing and guys with black hair and black mesh shirts playing “chunk-chunk” goth-metal is about the silliest thing I’ve ever seen live.  The music was extremely boring, the band extremely pretentious (with having no stage presence to back it up) and the overall vibe was laughable.  They were pretty bad.

• Concert Review: 12/12/09 w/ Slim Richey, Austin, TX

I first saw them at their reunion shows at the Cactus Café in Austin in 1995.  FYI, the band consists of Davíd Garza on guitar and vocals, Chris Searles on percussion and Jeff Haley on bass.  I wish I could have seen them when they first existed (1989-1990), playing free shows on UT’s West Mall, but I was significantly young to be making the trek down to Austin to catch a band.  Besides Davíd’s excellent songs, the reason Twang became so popular was their infectious live shows.  I had a blast at the reunion show I saw.  The music’s folky, and jazzy, and groovy, and poppy…and it’s definitely going to put a smile on your face and a shake in your hips.  Twang shows have happened a couple of times since 1995 so they’re pretty rare happenings.  Highly recommended if it ever happens again, if not at least go see Davíd’s shows because they’re actually better and way more frequent.

• Twang Twang Shock-a-Boom! album reviews

• Concert Reviews:
• 9/12/93 w/ Hagfish, Dallas, TX
• 2/12/94 w/ Course of Empire, Dallas, TX
• 4/17/94 “Edgefest ’94″, Dallas, TX

I actually saw them a lot back in high school/early college.  At least 5 times that I can remember off the top of my head.  They were a fantastic live band; very high energy.  I’ve seen them in small clubs and also at large amphitheaters and they always make the room vibrate with intense energy.  I have so many good memories of seeing their shows and I’d definitely go see them again if they ever got back together (which I doubt will happen since the guitarist has since passed on).  Lead vocalist Tim DeLaughter & bassist Mark Pirro are currently playing in The Polyphonic Spree.

• Tripping Daisy album reviews

• Concert Reviews: 7/8/92 w/ Iron Maiden & Corrosion of Conformity, Dallas, TX

I saw Testament open up for Iron Maiden back in 1992.  I always liked the band’s music – some good thrash metal.  Lead guitarist Alex Skolnick is an excellent player and seemed to bring out musical ideas that most thrash guitarists simply weren’t capable of.  They put on a good show and I wish I could have seen them again.  The original lineup reunited in 2005, but I’m not sure if they’re still going or not.  Still, a good band.

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