As far as the Orlando show goes...everyone who already posted really hit the nail on the head...simply perfect. I'd like to say that after being blessed to have seen countless TS shows since the reunion (yes, there is a God), it's really awesome to be able to watch the Boyz perform new material that showcases their talents in ways I hadn't observed before.

AJ breaking a finger for us SMFs. Can you imagine??? He is just an f'n maniac, I swear. You never would have known unless Dee said something. The guy is simply a phenomenon. Thank you AJ. Whatever happens after this Xmas tour with TS, I will be there to support you in any of your endeavors.

Dee running around like, well, like Dee!! Think about it...how many of these Christmas songs were meant to be sung at warp speed whilst said singer is running around at same said speed??? How about none??? Can somebody tell me how he does it??? The best front man ever. Even gave us a taste of some old school singling out an audience member to rip to shreds. In his new, kindler, gentler Dee way of course. I don't care what he says, he still got some "angry guy" in him...just says the shit with a smile on his face is all. She's lucky this wasn't back in the day. She would have been reduced to a pile of f'n tears. And escorted from the building accordingly. Instead, she just left. Just like he told her to. The man commands an audience like a no one I have ever seen before. His voice is stronger than ever, his presence is bigger than ever. And I just can't get enough of Burn in Hell lately. He gives more in a 3 1/2 minute performance than you see in a 2 hour movie or Broadway show. Astounding.

Jay Jay and Eddie back for the dual axe attack on ISMKSC and Silver Bells (I’ll come back to that one later), and White Christmas. Bad ass, riff trading MFers, nearly brought tears to my eyes. Honestly, they have this awesome synergistic relationship that just keeps getting better and better each year. Oh, and Eddie singing. What a treat. Won’t tell ya what and won’t tell ya when…but he’s got such an incredibly…I don’t know how to say this without embarrassing myself….an incredibly, umm...Latin voice…we’ll just leave it that. (Writer sighs; heart skips a beat, and she has to take a seat for being weak in the knees!)

Jay Jay was in perfect form as well. His leads were dead on last night. Impressive as hell. The guy comes up to the front of the stage, stands there and looks out in the audience with the trademark French sneer, and he’s a thousand feet tall. Just an overwhelming presence so ominous that you almost have to avert you eyes. (well, I do, anyway). He’s a classic guitar god in every sense of the word. He’s brilliant as a thousand suns. Amazing. And the “glue” thing during the introductions...I won’t give that away, but it’s so cool and so true and I am so damn proud.

And lastly, I have been to the mountain top. And I had a vision. On top of that mountain made of steel and rock and molten lava…on top of the highest rock overlooking the valley of all rock bass players stood the Grand High Exalted Master of them all. There he stood with his instrument held high above his head, his arms upraised as he claimed the mountain and the valley as his. His roar to be heard beyond the heavens!! Let the entire universe know that I have been to the mountain and there he stood… MARK ‘THE ANIMAL’ MENDOZA!!!! And the minions bow down before him and know they are not worthy. Well, something like that. Anyway, I don’t even know where to begin with this. I’ll start at the end and work my way back. You may not believe this, but it’s true. Ask KLO or MP or the Pope (that’s Joe Rock). At the end of Silver Bells he does this lead bass solo. When he was done, I literally had to SIT DOWN. It’s beyond belief. You think it’s good on the CD?? Wait until you see it live. It does not seem humanly possible. What I love about the Xmas songs is that you get to see MAM actually play his instrument. Don’t get me wrong, I like to see the merciless pounding of his bass as well as the next SMF. But these songs show him for the overwhelmingly incredible and talented musician that he is. I’m talking lead bass here, people. I don’t know much about the technical part of the art of bass playing but I know this. He plays with these heavy gauge bass strings, ok? For purposes of comparison, picture this. You got a railroad tie, and you got a dandelion. Some guys play with strings that are like dandelions and some guys (few, but some) play with strings that are like railroad ties. MAM uses the railroad ties. Ok, you following me here? So now he comes out and plays this bass solo using these railroad tie size strings and f’n rips up and down the fret board producing a barrage of riffs that are just impossible to describe and amazing to behold. You gotta be there. You gotta see it to believe it. Heavy, almost bluesy, lightening speed riffs. It’s almost too difficult to watch, hence the whole down on your knees, your eyes should never meet the gaze of the Master analogy that I like to use so often when describing MAM and his bass playing. If there ever was a case for “most underrated” musician in the history of rock, it’s MAM. I could go on, but this was way more than I intended to write in the first place.

Quick shout out to all the SMFs that it is such a pleasure to hang out with, KLO, Kim, MP, Joe Rock, Shawn and his lovely lady, and all the new SMFs we met along the way. You guys ROCK!

Have yourselves a merry little Christmas. I know I will now!

D

Thanks guys, you are all too kind!!  I just call it like I see it, is all!

MML - Thanks for the info on the PM.  I will see you soon, (as my Mom would say) God willing!

9er - See you at the Starland!!  I need to get the tapes back.  I lent them to someone who really wanted to hear them, and haven't been able to pry them back since.  Once back, I will listen for the bonus info.  Do you need me to re-record them for you?

My dear George! "I never heard a person not curse so much in one post LOL" You are too funny. Please tell me you are attending one of the shows this weekend.  It would be really awesome to talk face to face again!  And you really need to see this show to believe it.  To steal from the AP guy on the home page..."it's THAT good"!

MP - I got nothin' to say to you.

Mitch!  You sure are getting yourself one hell of a b'day present.  See you at the shows!

See ya soon,

The Mayor

Edited by DCT 2006-12-20 12:17 AM