For those of us that live for the "live music" experience, there are many ways to satisfy our fix. The small intimate setting of the Fillmore or Majestic allows for an up-close, personal experience, that can be aurally pleasing, yet visually less stimulating as a rule. A larger venue (and this writers personal favorite, Pine Knob) offers a near perfect blend of outdoor atmosphere, large staging and lighting systems, and a roof and partial walls to help refine the sound potential of the acts. Then there is the grandaddy of all concerts, either stadium or festival style shows. What we lose in sitelines, sound, and intimacy, is more than made up in overall atmosphere and staging. This is where all of us came together in this "Year of no Summer" of 2009 to celebrate the Ambassador of Detroit, Kid Rocks triumphant return on Friday.
When my wife Brenda, my daughter Jamie and her husband Scott (home after 4 years in the Marines) arrived around 4:00 PM, downtown was alive like it can be only for huge events. All hotels are sold out, lines everywhere, people milling around with giant smiles, and a feeling of anticipation hanging heavy in the air. After a quick check in at the Marriot Ren-Cen, we are off to Foxtown to party and meet people. At 4:45 the streets around Comerica Park are jammed with fans. Motocross riders are performing aerial jumps and flips in one lot, while local bands are jamming on portable stages in another lot. Cheli's is bursting at the seams with people, both inside and on the roof, as well in a huge tent and parking lot! There is no party like a Detroit party, says the Dogg! Despite a few brief and small passing showers, our tired local economy, and and the requisite bitching about the Lions (we were only 2 blocks from Ford Field, so we felt compelled to bitch), everyone we met were enthusiastic, well behaved, and pretty damn drunk already. By 6:15 it was into the show.....
At approx 6:30, a little known but truly amazing jam band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band took the stage to a crowd of less than 10,000. Playing their own unique sound of rock, funk, blues, and metal, RRFB played an excellent starting set. Despite some passing showers, the crowd grooved along during the 45 minute set. Some of the highlights were a truly rousing and intense version of the Doobies "Jesus is Just Allright" and Hendrix "Voodoo Chile". All during the set, the concourses were overflowing with fans eager to try Kid Rocks signature beer "American Bad Ass Brew" and his line of Jim Beam Bourbon. The beer is awful! To me it tastes like "skunked" Old Milwaukee!!! The Bourbon was great. After sampling many of each, as well as numerous Jaegger Bombs, it was time for Lynrd Skynrd.
Skynrd played to a packed house and opened with their newest song "Skynrd Nation". In typical Skynrd fashion, the song featured the boogie-rock that is the stamp of Lynrd Skynrd. Despite the numerous deaths that has haunted the band for over 2 decades (2 more in the last year), Skynrd, much like our beloved "Red Wings", retool with new band mates that fit cohesively together. The nearly hour and a half set featured all the Skynrd classics + another new song "Still Unbroken" which was another really good new jam. Of no surprise to anyone, Free Bird was the encore. As usual, the screens were filled with tributes to the bands fallen comrades. Grown men in motorcycle attire were seen tearing up as they sang with all their hearts. In my estimation, Free Bird is one of the greatest rock anthems of all time and deserves a place in everyones IPOD.
Back to the Brushfire Grill to meet old and new friends alike, while we imbide on the Dogg's everpresent Jaegger Bombs at $9.00 a pop. The "Amazing Scott", Jammin Jamie, and "Beerho Brenda", along with friends Karen & Debbie partied for over an hour waiting for the main event. Due to the massive front curtain being blown down to a sudden gust of wind, the show was delayed an additional 25 minutes.
When Kid Rock and his Brown Trucker Band hit the stage at 10:00, they sure did not disappoint the overflow crowd of 40,000 +++. This stadium setting we have in Detroit offers a spectacle that is a must see for all fans. Between the beautiful stadium, the backdrop of the Detroit skyline, and the number of fiery fans, this makes for an awesome setting for a huge party. We have the best seats in the house, section 140, 8th row, yet feel that we are further away than the top of the hill at Pine Knob! Who the hell cares, we're here to party!
The opening song "Rock -n- Roll Jesus" has pyrotechnics leaping so high in the night sky, they had to obtain FAA approval prior to show time! The band is tight, the sound is strong, and the rain is gone. Rock -n- Roll Jesus must be on Kid's side tonight! With lasers and, vertical sparklers raising hundreds of feet and blasts of flames Detroit hasn't seen since KISS, the crowd is pumped to a fever pitch. Kid Rock worked many other artist's into his set and man did it work. From the Rolling Stones "Tumbling Dice", to Sly and the Family Stones "Everyday People", to Dobie Gray (and former Kid Rock band mate, Uncle Kracker) "Drift Away", Kid had us singing and rockin big time! Throw in in a few minutes of Guns & Roses "Paradise City" & the Georgia Sattelites "Keep Your Hands to Yourself", the band played homage to great rock. In an unusual twist, the Jackson 5 tune "ABC" was played by the band to very mixed reviews. When Michael Jackson's image was flashed on the scree, the boo's nearly outnumbered the cheers!
When the band decided to play their own music, things turned up 5 notches in intensity. Kid Rock whipped the crowd into a frenzy with "Cowboy", "Son of Detroit", "American Bad Ass", "Cocky", and "Summertime". Then the Twisted Brown Truckers would slow it down just a tad, with a song like "Picture", "Roll On", Amen, & "Lowlife". Then only to ramp it up 5 more clicks with "Twice my Age & Half as Hot". Wrap up the set with a bigger than life version of "Bawitaba" and the crowd is blown away and dam near drained. All the while, 4- 80' LCD screens brought the action up-close and personal to all in the stadium. When the band rolled back for the first encore, Kid introduced a new song that echoes the despair we all our feeling in our devastated home. The song "In Times like These" had haunting images from throughout our area that touched all in the crowd. With the chorus being "I heard them say they're shutting Detroit down, but I won't leave because it's my hometown" stirring our passions like only the one & only Ambassador of Detroit can do. Then in a surprise move, Kid Rock closed the show with a stirring rendition of Bruce Springsteins "Born in the USA". The pride of being American was palatable in the air and left us all nearly speechless!
In the Detroit Rock Doggs opinion, Kid Rock puts on the best shows, year in and year out. Between the diversity of his music, his love of all things Detroit, and the talent he surrounds himself with, in this writers opinion, Kid Rock & the Brown Trucker Band belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the first ballot. We love ya Kid and appreciate all you do for us. The overall spectacle we witnessed on Friday was an EPIC event. What it was not was a fine concert experience. As fun as the show was, the truth is the sound was poor on the field and just fair in the lower level. All seats (except the $250-$800.00 VIP seats upclose) are at a minimum 300' feet away. Come on guys, lets keep it to The Joe, Palace, and Pine Knob. A few more shows here and you equal the paid gate. We the fans are the ones that make you what you are. Please keep us in mind and stop the stadium shows. The Silverdome sucked, Ford Field is better, but still too large, and Comerica, while beautiful, has too many echoes off the surrounding buildings and no close proximity seating.
This is a tough show for the Dogg to grade, but here I go:
Weather D+
Atmosphere A+
Line up of bands A
Sound Quality C
Sightlines D
Staging A
Video A
Overall Performance B+
For Comparison- standard bearer performance
Joe Louis Super Bowl Pre- Party A++++
When my wife Brenda, my daughter Jamie and her husband Scott (home after 4 years in the Marines) arrived around 4:00 PM, downtown was alive like it can be only for huge events. All hotels are sold out, lines everywhere, people milling around with giant smiles, and a feeling of anticipation hanging heavy in the air. After a quick check in at the Marriot Ren-Cen, we are off to Foxtown to party and meet people. At 4:45 the streets around Comerica Park are jammed with fans. Motocross riders are performing aerial jumps and flips in one lot, while local bands are jamming on portable stages in another lot. Cheli's is bursting at the seams with people, both inside and on the roof, as well in a huge tent and parking lot! There is no party like a Detroit party, says the Dogg! Despite a few brief and small passing showers, our tired local economy, and and the requisite bitching about the Lions (we were only 2 blocks from Ford Field, so we felt compelled to bitch), everyone we met were enthusiastic, well behaved, and pretty damn drunk already. By 6:15 it was into the show.....
At approx 6:30, a little known but truly amazing jam band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band took the stage to a crowd of less than 10,000. Playing their own unique sound of rock, funk, blues, and metal, RRFB played an excellent starting set. Despite some passing showers, the crowd grooved along during the 45 minute set. Some of the highlights were a truly rousing and intense version of the Doobies "Jesus is Just Allright" and Hendrix "Voodoo Chile". All during the set, the concourses were overflowing with fans eager to try Kid Rocks signature beer "American Bad Ass Brew" and his line of Jim Beam Bourbon. The beer is awful! To me it tastes like "skunked" Old Milwaukee!!! The Bourbon was great. After sampling many of each, as well as numerous Jaegger Bombs, it was time for Lynrd Skynrd.
Skynrd played to a packed house and opened with their newest song "Skynrd Nation". In typical Skynrd fashion, the song featured the boogie-rock that is the stamp of Lynrd Skynrd. Despite the numerous deaths that has haunted the band for over 2 decades (2 more in the last year), Skynrd, much like our beloved "Red Wings", retool with new band mates that fit cohesively together. The nearly hour and a half set featured all the Skynrd classics + another new song "Still Unbroken" which was another really good new jam. Of no surprise to anyone, Free Bird was the encore. As usual, the screens were filled with tributes to the bands fallen comrades. Grown men in motorcycle attire were seen tearing up as they sang with all their hearts. In my estimation, Free Bird is one of the greatest rock anthems of all time and deserves a place in everyones IPOD.
Back to the Brushfire Grill to meet old and new friends alike, while we imbide on the Dogg's everpresent Jaegger Bombs at $9.00 a pop. The "Amazing Scott", Jammin Jamie, and "Beerho Brenda", along with friends Karen & Debbie partied for over an hour waiting for the main event. Due to the massive front curtain being blown down to a sudden gust of wind, the show was delayed an additional 25 minutes.
When Kid Rock and his Brown Trucker Band hit the stage at 10:00, they sure did not disappoint the overflow crowd of 40,000 +++. This stadium setting we have in Detroit offers a spectacle that is a must see for all fans. Between the beautiful stadium, the backdrop of the Detroit skyline, and the number of fiery fans, this makes for an awesome setting for a huge party. We have the best seats in the house, section 140, 8th row, yet feel that we are further away than the top of the hill at Pine Knob! Who the hell cares, we're here to party!
The opening song "Rock -n- Roll Jesus" has pyrotechnics leaping so high in the night sky, they had to obtain FAA approval prior to show time! The band is tight, the sound is strong, and the rain is gone. Rock -n- Roll Jesus must be on Kid's side tonight! With lasers and, vertical sparklers raising hundreds of feet and blasts of flames Detroit hasn't seen since KISS, the crowd is pumped to a fever pitch. Kid Rock worked many other artist's into his set and man did it work. From the Rolling Stones "Tumbling Dice", to Sly and the Family Stones "Everyday People", to Dobie Gray (and former Kid Rock band mate, Uncle Kracker) "Drift Away", Kid had us singing and rockin big time! Throw in in a few minutes of Guns & Roses "Paradise City" & the Georgia Sattelites "Keep Your Hands to Yourself", the band played homage to great rock. In an unusual twist, the Jackson 5 tune "ABC" was played by the band to very mixed reviews. When Michael Jackson's image was flashed on the scree, the boo's nearly outnumbered the cheers!
When the band decided to play their own music, things turned up 5 notches in intensity. Kid Rock whipped the crowd into a frenzy with "Cowboy", "Son of Detroit", "American Bad Ass", "Cocky", and "Summertime". Then the Twisted Brown Truckers would slow it down just a tad, with a song like "Picture", "Roll On", Amen, & "Lowlife". Then only to ramp it up 5 more clicks with "Twice my Age & Half as Hot". Wrap up the set with a bigger than life version of "Bawitaba" and the crowd is blown away and dam near drained. All the while, 4- 80' LCD screens brought the action up-close and personal to all in the stadium. When the band rolled back for the first encore, Kid introduced a new song that echoes the despair we all our feeling in our devastated home. The song "In Times like These" had haunting images from throughout our area that touched all in the crowd. With the chorus being "I heard them say they're shutting Detroit down, but I won't leave because it's my hometown" stirring our passions like only the one & only Ambassador of Detroit can do. Then in a surprise move, Kid Rock closed the show with a stirring rendition of Bruce Springsteins "Born in the USA". The pride of being American was palatable in the air and left us all nearly speechless!
In the Detroit Rock Doggs opinion, Kid Rock puts on the best shows, year in and year out. Between the diversity of his music, his love of all things Detroit, and the talent he surrounds himself with, in this writers opinion, Kid Rock & the Brown Trucker Band belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the first ballot. We love ya Kid and appreciate all you do for us. The overall spectacle we witnessed on Friday was an EPIC event. What it was not was a fine concert experience. As fun as the show was, the truth is the sound was poor on the field and just fair in the lower level. All seats (except the $250-$800.00 VIP seats upclose) are at a minimum 300' feet away. Come on guys, lets keep it to The Joe, Palace, and Pine Knob. A few more shows here and you equal the paid gate. We the fans are the ones that make you what you are. Please keep us in mind and stop the stadium shows. The Silverdome sucked, Ford Field is better, but still too large, and Comerica, while beautiful, has too many echoes off the surrounding buildings and no close proximity seating.
This is a tough show for the Dogg to grade, but here I go:
Weather D+
Atmosphere A+
Line up of bands A
Sound Quality C
Sightlines D
Staging A
Video A
Overall Performance B+
For Comparison- standard bearer performance
Joe Louis Super Bowl Pre- Party A++++
Great review!
ReplyDeleteYou should post some pictures to break up the text.
-Lindsay
Good point. This will start tonight at Incubus!
ReplyDelete