Billy Morrison, photo thanks (very much!) to Film Magic
So. First off. I apologize to all three of you who’ve been reading my blog, it has been way too long since I last banged out some words. I can’t believe the last one was in June…where have I BEEN? Oh, yeah, busy. Well, I’ve made a commitment to write more often, and I will see it through, people, imma do it. Starting now. Riiiiiight now.
Today’s topic: the Scott Ford All Star Jam at the Roxy last Saturday, a benefit show for musician Scott Ford (The Twilight Singers, Gutter Twins). All proceeds will help Scott cover the cost of his upcoming surgeries, which will be outrageous because, as a musician, he has no good options for health insurance. As far as the show went: RIDICULOUS!! Look, I might sound crotchety at my old age of 3*@^ but a lot of bands I see these days don't exhibit the energy or showmanship of the established rock community. Not to mention the sheer talent. On stage at the Jam: Billy Morrison (The Cult), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction), Scott Shriner (Weezer), Donovan Leitch (Camp Freddy), Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction), Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Scott Ford and others, including a singer named Franky Perez who I am now worshipping from afar. Very afar, because I have no idea where he came from or where he is.
The jam was amazing – extraordinary musicians playing some of the sickest covers I’ve ever heard of rock songs that I rarely listen to anymore…and forgot, or never really knew, how amazing they could be. If that sentence made any sense, you know what I’m trying to say is that it was quite the show.
Dave Navarro and Duff McKagan, photo thanks to Film Magic
The jam was amazing – extraordinary musicians playing some of the sickest covers I’ve ever heard of rock songs that I rarely listen to anymore…and forgot, or never really knew, how amazing they could be. If that sentence made any sense, you know what I’m trying to say is that it was quite the show.
Dave Navarro and Duff McKagan, photo thanks to Film MagicBut it wasn’t just the musical talent of these high-caliber artists that blew me away. It was everything they gave the crowd – the heart, the power, the crazy intensity that comes from musicians who truly enjoy what they’re doing on stage and want the fans to live it like they do. Glenn Hughes (unbelievable voice!) made me forget we were in the tiny Roxy. While he spun around the stage and held the mic to the crowd, we could have been in a stadium of thousands at some giant show he was getting paid a ton of money to do. But we were at a benefit in a small space with maybe a few hundred people. THAT is how rock should be done. All or nothing.
Oh, also, Scott Shriner running back to the mic to say “thank you” was one of the sweetest things I’ve seen onstage in a long time.
And, finally, before I sign off, did I mention that some of the aforementioned artists are riders? Oh yes. And if all goes well you’ll be seeing them on RockMoto before long. We are psyched. Talk to you soon. JP
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