Rock never stops?

[skcin]

If you do not care about 80's hair bands, or my stupid reviews, or how bad some bands are compared to 20 years ago, then skip this & go read another thread.


Went with husband & friends to the Rock Never Stops concert last night. When we first heard about it, it sounded like a fun way to relive old memories - the lineup was Firehouse, RATT, Quiet Riot & Cinderella. The only band I still listen to is Cinderella occasionally. Now I know why. Rock never stops? Um, yeah, maybe it should.

Now I am the first one to admit that much of what I used to listen to (80's hair bands) has NOT stood the test of time. At all. It's bad. There are a few exceptions (Metallica, Tesla, Motley Crue) but in general, I don't listen to any of it anymore. Still, I had no clue just how bad this was going to be.

First of all, we walk in & we're obviously in a time warp. Lots of bleached hair, stone-washed jeans, old concert T's, girls-that-used-to-be-thin-&-cute-but-are-no-longer-yet-insist-on-continuing-to-wear-tight-jeans-producing-horrible-camel-toe-&-gut-spillage, men-who-still-have-ass-length-hair-despite-receding-hairline-on-top, etc.

Merchandise - OK, how does Cinderella have 10 different shirts? Didn't Mac only have, like, 6 at the start of the last tour? Anyhoo, I passed on everything - including the $20 Firehouse CD and the Quiet Riot thong undies (barf.)

This show was at Shea's Buffalo, which is our theatre downtown. It is gorgeous, it was built in the early 1900's & was just recently restored. It only holds about 2000 people (totally guessing here) and the place was MAYBE 1/2 full. Firehouse goes on, but we couldn't bring our drinks in so we finished them first (classy, huh?) The first 3 bands played for about 30 minutes each, Cindereall played for just oever an hour. Here's the rundown:

Firehouse: Probably best known for their vomit-inducing ballad "Love of a Lifetime" PRO - they sounded just like they did in 1990. CON - they sounded just like they did in 1990.

OK, actually, they weren't that bad, I just never really liked them back in the day. The singer yelled out "how ya'll doin' here in Buffalo this fine Friday night?!?!" It was Thursday. He said this 3 friggin times.

Quiet Riot:For the love of God, someone MUST make them stop. The only original members left are the drummer (Frankie Banali) & the singer (Kevin DuBrow.) If you'll recall, their hits were "Cum On Feel The Noise" and "Bang Your Head" and they were pretty hard rocking ugly guys in T-shirts & black pants back in the day. Well, last night the singer came out in a velvet leopard-print suit & a wig. I swear to God I almost pissed my pants laughing. The guy used to have black curly hair - the wig he's wearing looks like Keith Urban's hair Somehow it just doesn't work as well for Kevin as it does for Keith.

So, they sounded OK, not great, but not terrible. The singer (who must be well over 50) kept making comments about how girls used to flash their tits at shows. Yeah, well, not tonight buddy. He kept turning his back to the audience to adjust his crotch and his wig. He also offered any girl who couldn't find their seat a place to sit - then pointed to his face. I thought I would barf.

RATT: I will never go to see RATT again unless Stephen Pearcy returns as the singer. Hits are "Way Cool Junior" and "Round & Round." They were terrible, the only original member was the guitarist Warren DeMartini. Poor, poor Warren. He looked so sad. Then his guitar cut out for about 3 minutes. Poor Warren. The singer was running around the stage & kept bumping into the other band members. He appeared to be on something.

Cinderella: Saved the night. If they had not kicked ass, I would have been screaming for a refund. When they first came out in 1986, they were very 80's hair band, but got pretty bluesy in later years. They were great last night - looked good, sounded good. All original members, too. "Nobody's Fool" "Don't Know What You Got Til It's Gone" "Gypsy Road" "Coming Home" - all there. In the space of an hour, singer Tom Keifer played lead guitar, rhythm guitar, accoustic guitar, steel slide guitar (I think that's what it was) piano, harmonica, and a SAX - that's right, a sax. Their roadies are kept very busy. Oh, AND they had pyrotechnics.

Rock on...well, some of you.

[DrummerDeanna]

Your review gave me a good chuckle...as you said - sometimes rock should stop

[Neal]

Originally Posted by skcin

He also offered any girl who couldn't find their seat a place to sit - then pointed to his face. I thought I would barf.

That is soooo Merv The Perv! (SNL)

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by skcin

So, they sounded OK, not great, but not terrible. The singer (who must be well over 50) kept making comments about how girls used to flash their tits at shows. Yeah, well, not tonight buddy. He kept turning his back to the audience to adjust his crotch and his wig. He also offered any girl who couldn't find their seat a place to sit - then pointed to his face. I thought I would barf.

That probably worked back in 1982

I remember all those bands! I didn't even know most were still together.

Great review Paula hehe

[wondergirl9847]

This review rules and I don't even listen to those bands!! Wow, that Kevin, classy guy, eh?

[skcin]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

This review rules and I don't even listen to those bands!! Wow, that Kevin, classy guy, eh?

The epitome of class.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Neal

That is soooo Merv The Perv! (SNL)

I like merv the perv.
Anyway, Paula, I was never into those bands, but it was very enjoyable reading your review. And a bit sad....

[GypsySorcerer]

Your review gave me a good laugh. I used to like that Firehouse song. Course, I was about 10 at the time.

[eclipse]

Yeah Paula
I'm with you-
Does it mean we are too old or did that era and bands just really suck??
I'm going with the ------- They sucked then, now they are balder, fatter, wearing the same clothes, and suck more ------------

Whatever happened to good bands- that were good before they got real big
like,
Supertramp
Littlefeat
Police
Pearl Jam
to name a few

Oh well- I am stuck listening to CD's because everythime I try and go to another concert and drag my husband along...It's AWFUL

Glad I am not alone there-girlfriend
~~eclipse aka anna~~

[golden braid]

Paula, I enjoyed your review and basically agree with everything you said. I always thought Quiet Riot and Ratt sucked (except for "Round and Round") but I loved Cinderella. Despite their goofy hairdos in the 80's their music actually had some substance to it. I saw Cinderella in concert probably back in 1988 and I thought they kicked ass. Their concert rocked and I'm glad they're still rocking. I thought about going to see them this year but I just can't stand the other bands playing with them although it sounds like it was very entertaining.