|
|
Road Reporter
Posts: 1729
   
Location: Baltimore, MD | Well howdy my fine SMF Friends--
Settle in by the fire and get ready for a nice long post....the full story on the Baltimore show last night in graphic detail to give the full flavor for those who couldn't join us.
I moved back home to Baltimore after 2 years out west so this was a homecoming for me as well--it's the first TS show in 20 years where I got to sleep in my own bed after the show. Of course, I didn't get to sleep but that's another story...
The Ramshead Tavern is a nice place--they even had Twisted Sister menu specials--"Day of the Rocker" stir fry and "We're Not Gonna Make It" meatloaf. (not sure who makes the meatloaf, but I certainly didn't stay hungry.... (OOOOoooo, sorry. no more TS puns. I promise.) the acoustics were surprisingly good (Some lead mic issues for all 3 bands but they did resolve it finally) for a small to medium size club and the staff was friendly. Special props to the security folks who seated the several disabled fans 30 min early to give them the choice spots. Firstly, let me just say that I was one of those who was nervous about the TS Christmas Album--I had faith it would rock, but I was scared it would be the Twisted Sister "Jump The Shark". How delightfully wrong I was! Not only does the Christmas Album rock, but it has generated MORE interest and buzz about TS than ever before. (thanks Jay Leno and VH1 too!) I was truly shocked that a majority of the fans in the audience were younger than the TS tour shirt on my back--warms the heart, it does. And for I'd say more than half of that audience, this was their first TS show ever.
So you knew that this show was special....how many times will you see a TS Christmas show, after all? The stage was complete with amps and drums decked out with Christmas lights, fake snow on the drum riser, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus dolls flanking it. The road crew were decked in full elf attire (it was somehow quite disturbing) and our own Joe Rock played "Santa's Little Helper" and distributed LED pins and rings to the fans. Two very sexy scantilly clad Santa's helpers tossed TS promo photos and other goodies out to the crowd (and flashed some thong & butt floss on their way out. Merry Christmas, gents!)
There were two opening acts: one local group called "Scarlet Angel/Kim's Krypt" we're not sure which....they had both banners on-stage--maybe they need to take a vote. Overall, a very, very good bad--much better than anyone expected. They too jumped into the Christmas spirit with a rendition of "O Holy Night" Not very often we see a heavy metal band with 3 out of 4 band members women--go girls go! The second opening act was fronted by none other than Mr. Jesse Blaze Snider and his band "Baptized By Fire." Let me tell you folks--WATCH AND SUPPORT THIS BAND! Jesse is off to an incredible start--he doesn't sing like Dee--his is much more of a throaty vocal--closer to Sebastian Bach than Dee--but good range and lots of talent. I think he'll grow into one helluva band--he has excellent stage presence and knows how to work a crowd. (he learned from the best, eh?) When he speaks....we closed our eyes and were shocked that he sounds EXACTLY like dear ol' dad. UNCANNY. And judging from the reaction from the girls around me when he removed his shirt, he'll be popular with the ladies. (Quite a handsome fellow if I do say so myself) How can you not like a song called "Fuck You!"??? Jesse was also in the Christmas spirit...he sang a song called "Merry Christmas Anyway" whose refrain went something like "Punch you in the face....Kick your ass all over the place....Just one thing left to say...Merry Christmas anyway" Like father, like son. It was a blast!
Now...on to Twisted! There were Christmas canes, snowflake bells and bows on the amps, and even Eddie donned a new guitar: a white/red candy cane striped target guitar. The show began like every other: Long Way to the Top, but it suddenly "changed" radio stations on the dial, and suddenly we had "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" (I can't recall...I think it was Anne Murray or some other) After the crowd had suffered enough, the vinyl was scratched and TS bounded onstage blasting: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" Dee took the staged fully dressed as Santa, and hurled condoms out to the naughty and nice. (This was not a PG event!) The boys played a rousing rendition of "I Saw Mommy Blowing Santa Claus" that not even Dee could keep a straight face while singing it.
There were more wonderful surprises: we were treated to a blinding snowstorm inside the club during "White Christmas". We're still not sure what it was made of (I believe it was some suspension of soap suds) and we ingested enough from laughing to clean our colons out. This was one fun show....the band seemed to have a good time, the fans had a good time...it was just one treat after the next. AJ played a great set despite being sick as a dog (and dislocating his thumb the previous show) What a professional through and through. Jay Jay and Eddie were just fucking fantastic....even though Dee seemed to forget that there is a really nice guitar solo during Stay Hungry and launched into the next verse. The "Heavy Metal Christmas Song" was an audience sing-a-long complete with cue cards. (though that didn't help Jay Jay much who was having so much fun he forgot which verse he was on.....don't worry, Jay Jay, after "5 Skull Earrings" I fucked up the rest too!) Mark played a bass solo during Silver Bells that knocked my socks off. Really...it was EXTRAORDINARY. I'm not sure words can describe it....it shakes you to the core.
Here's the setlist for you TS junkies:
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Shoot 'em Down
Stay Hungry
I Saw Mommy [Blowing] Santa Claus
The Fire Still Burns
Can't Stop Rock N' Roll
White Christmas (complete with snowstorm!)
The Price
Oh Come O' Ye Faithful (ended with "heavy metal Hava Negilah" for our Jewish SMFs.)
Under the Blade
I'll be Home for Christmas (Dedicated to our military men and women overseas--and we were treated to an Eddie Ojeda vocal solo....more! more!)
Burn in Hell
AJ's killer drum solo
Silver Bells (with Mark's amazing Bass solo)
I Wanna Rock
Encores:
Heavy Metal Christmas
We're Not Gonna Take It
SMF
There was one poignant moment when Dee confronted a front row attendee (this was not a fan, folks) who stood with his fist up his ass most of the show, and did not even applaud when Dee introduced the band. And I've never seen this before....Mark came over too and said "Clap!" (there may have been voiced a few choice descriptive words too in there) and he finally did clap. I also suspect he soiled his trousers too. I don't care who you are, but if Mark the Animal Mendoza tells you to stand on your head and whistle dixie...you better frickin' do it!) Preaching to the choir here, but if you aren't willing to give this band 200% of your energy, then don't stand up front....hell, stay home if you're so cool that you can't applaud this band that just played their hearts out and are giving this gift to the fans.
By the way, as you know, part of the proceeds go to "Cure Autism"--Baltimore is home to the Kennedy Kreiger Institute--world renown for helping Autistic children and kids with severe brain trauma and other cognitive disorders. Thanks boys--this is a very important cause and the money you raised will really help a lot of families with this difficult and often misunderstood disease.
Last but not least, kudos to Jay Jay for stopping and chatting with the Slamboard folks--I always enjoy hearing Jay Jay's views on things and he is so patient and generous signing autographs for fans. Jay Jay--you are the best! Always a joy to see Marty, Donna da Mayor and all of the slamboard bunch. SMFCyndi: I ate a post-show sundae in your honor.
Many thanks to Twisted Sister and Danny Stanton (for bringing them to Baltimore! Please oh please come back again!) you gave me the best Christmas present ever! It was EXACTLY what I wished for and much, much more!!!! Please SMFs--go see them live if you haven't yet--Southwest flights are priced low and you won't ever regret it!!!!
Merry Christmas babies--have a healthy and blessed year to everyone!
Terry a.k.a. The Armadillo...trotting off....
|
|
| |
|
Geek-in-Chief
Posts: 606
Location: Noo Yawk | Good to see you on the board. It's been a while. Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you got to see them in Balmer without having to head off halfway across the country.
I spoke to Jay Jay briefly this morning. We didn't talk about last night's show, but he sounded pretty happy about, well, everything - so I assumed the show was a good one.
Tonight's my turn. Me, my wife, and a couple of members of my band are heading out to Starland to see the show. I'll be lurking around the stage taking photos, so if any of you SMFs see a tall skinny guy with a camera, it's prolly me. Toss me a 'Yo, Webbie!' if you're there - I'll be taking pics of band AND crowd.
- D |
|
| |
|
Road Reporter
Posts: 1729
Location: Baltimore, MD | you betcha Webbie~
Best quote of last night: "Twisted Sister: making both Jesus AND Satan happy!"
|
|
| |
|
Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 834
Location: Auchenblae, Scotland | cool review and it sounds like a fantastic show. We're getting very jealous over here in the UK
|
|
| |
|
SMF 1st Class
Posts: 16
| What an Amazing show it was. It was a treat to see TS and be able to be home in 1/2 hr!! (I remember driving over an hour each way in the Club Daze for gigs.) Great report Terry. If you don't mind, I'd like to add a couple of items to the review...
During "I Wanna Rock"'s audience participation section where everyone yells "I wanna Rock" back to Dee with fists in the air, Dee got everyone to jump at the same time. Because it looked so cool, he got everyone to do it again, but with the SMF's down front turned around looking at the audience so we could see the full effect too. That was nice. Then he said he wanted to see what it would look like from the floor to see all the feet in the air, so he hopped down off the stage and laid down on the floor and said "I want to see all the way to the bar in the back! I'm now laying down on this dirty bar floor so all of you better fuckin' do it!" He really was. I was laughing my ass off. Even Jay Jay and Eddie walked to the edge of the stage to see this and they were shaking their heads laughing at what Dee was doing. You could tell the whole band enjoyed themselves as much as us SMF's enjoyed the show.
Dee's voice was very clean & clear (and mean & snarly when he wanted), no adverse effects from the throat surgery this year. There was a nice rip into Tipper Gore by Dee as a lead in for 'Under the Blade' questioning her perverted mind.
Animal completely bent his microphone stand in half - like Superman bending 'steel with his bare hands' - at the end of "SMF".
The venue was really nice. All the staff were polite and friendly. It was refreshing to not deal with bouncers that are on an authority trip. Lots of great locations to get a good view. Overall, this show & experience was phenomenal, and going back to 1978, I've seen plenty! Thanks to Dee, Eddie, Jay Jay, AJ, and Mark, plus the whole crew, for an unforgetable evening!!!! Can't wait for the DVD.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
p.s. Limes...Eddie was wearing the TS necklace you gave him.
|
|
| |
|
| Being a native Long Islander living in Delaware now, fuckin exile!, it was really great to be back with my fellow SMF's and to see TS once again. And like Dee said, ALL the ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS were present. Dee's son's band, Baptized By Fire, was incredible also. You're right Dee, he is trying to take yer place, but has a long way to go to catch up to you! A Twisted Christmas is the only Christmas album I have been playing this season. Sure got this New Yorker back in the holiday spirit!
Just wanted to say thanks guys for 30 twisted years for some of the best heavy metal I have ever heard. And Mark, I'd say you definitely are the ultimate Animal on the Bass man! Actually, let's say a Bear on the Bass! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year guys! |
|
| |
|
| Great recap of the show! Though I prefered the audience jump where Dee laid down on the ground to see to the back of the venue! As always TS rocked the house! When I heard they were coming to Baltimore, I would never have forgiven myself had I missed them! It was the best christmas present I could have given to myself. Even my friend who only came to keep me company had a blast! Much love and keep on rockin!
--Spudfish (DSR's very own) |
|
| |
|
Elite SMF
Posts: 251
Location: USA | hey spud, is that you ? its joe rock. stay sick |
|
| |
|
Serious SMF
Posts: 33
| AWESOME DESCRIPTION...I STILL COULD HAVE SWORN THEY PLAYED - LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW...AS FOR THE JERK WHO WOULDN'T CLAP - HE WAS STANDING ALMOST DEAD CENTER - SOMEWHERE TO MY LEFT. WHAT AN IGNORANT BASTARD. EVERYONE KNEW THEY WERE FILMING. WTF ?!? I WISH HE WAS CLOSER TO ME, I WOULD'VE HAD MY SON PUNCH HIM IN HIS BALLS. HAHAHA....THAT WOULD'VE GOT HIM MOVING....IF HE HAD ANY.... |
|
| |
|
Location: Graveyard BLVD. | RE:>>>SMFCyndi: I ate a post-show sundae in your honor.
WOW what a review! Thanks for the indepth re-cap! Dang....makes me feel like I was there! BUT you ate my sundae! I want it back! HAHA...
Thanks Terry for your kind offer earlier! Would have loved to have been there with all you guys. All is not lost.....more to come!
THANKS FOR THE SET LIST!!!
Edited by SMF Cyndi 2007-01-03 8:45 AM
|
|
| |
Full Report on the Baltimore Show & a few more things you didn't want to know
Slamboard Home-> SMF Slamboard
