Dio/Anthrax/Fireball Ministry
Saturday, October 9, 2004
House of Blues, Chicago
Well, I have to start this review with a complaint. Somebody really
had to do something about Ticketmaster. Renew the fight, cite monopoly
laws, or let's find some alternate venues. Two $32 tickets wound up
costing $90 total. That's $18 in venue fees, conveneince fees, service
fees...and if I bought them online and I wanted to print my own ticket
there would've been another convenience fee. So this, the cheap route
cost me $13 in fees per ticket.
Alright, on with the show. We got to the venue around 20 minutes
before showtime and I was surprised to see a line still around the
building...the doors were opened, so I can only imagine what it would've been
like earlier...we get in with plenty of time and the place is absolutely
packed. There was some free space towards the back of the floor (bad
for short people like me), but all the bar and ramp areas were full.
I've never seen the House of Blues this crowded this early.
Note to other bands, venues, and booking agents--get great openers and
this will happen more often. Three solid acts, no filler, no shitty
band who's drummer's brother works for someone so they got a show...no,
just great rock.
Fireball Ministry opened the show with a great set. A Sabbath
comparison is a must which usually means they fall into the broad "stoner rock"
category. Very straightforward, bluesy hard rock/metal. I enjoyed
them as an opener but really wasn't impressed enough to run out and buy a
CD.
Anthrax played the middle of the bill. I don't even remember how many
times I've seen Anthrax and I have never left feeling let down. The
band played a full hour and the crowd reacted to them almost as strongly
as they do when the band headlines. Anthrax is probably the best live
metal band out there at this point...yes Maiden is good, sure Slayer
still has it, but Anthrax has the intensity, the power, and the energy
that makes all other pale in comparison.
The new bass player, Joey Vera, has the stage prescence and intensity
of Frank Bello...Frank had the goofy antics, the strange moves, the
dances, but Joey moves around the stage like a madman. I don't want to say
Frank isn't missed, but the new guy is doing a tremendous job and I
hope they stick with each other.
It was refreshing to hear some old songs that I've never heard them do
live (Deathrider, Keep it in the Family, among others). If I can say
one constructively negative thing about previous Anthrax shows it's that
they seem to rely on too many staples...you know they'll do "Caught in
a Mosh," you know they'll do "Indians," you know they're gonna playing
"Antisocial." You also know that with the possible exception of
"Fueled" that they will ignore Stomp 442. State of Euphoria (except
"Antisocial") will be ignored too. Dare I say, all of these staple songs can be
replaced? Hell, they can take out "Only" and put in "This Is Not An Exit" and I'll be thrilled.
Bring "Be All, End All" back into the set consistently...bring
"Drop the Ball" into the set...shit, if the band did a show where
they'd only play "Stomp 442" and its b-sides I'd fly across the country
to see it.
Of course, I'm saying this as a fan who has seen the band plenty of
times, the guy who is checking them out for the first time would probably
be livid if he didn't get to hear the classics. This show shook up the
setlist so it was a real pleasure. Hopefully the band keeps going
strong for years to come...and puts out a damn b-side boxset already, I'm
missing so much.
After a fairly short changeover, the legend himself, Dio took the
stage.
I was never a big Dio fan before seeing him live a couple years ago. SInce then, there's been no turning back. The man is amazing live. The voice is rich and powerful...some say "for his age, he sounds great." That's not accurate, if he was 20, 30, or 40 he'd sound amazing. The age thing does make it all the more impressive, but he sounds great in general
I almost always have a complaint...the drum solo was dull and the whole thing is...I'm not a drummer and I am easily impressed, I see drummers and think "Damn!" more often than not, but this guy's solo was just boring.
Other than that brief segment of the show, my other complaint is going to be blasphemy to many Dio fans....not enough new songs! I believe they only did two songs off the new album which is not nearly enough. The band rocked...they of course played the classics that we've come to know and love like "The Last in Line," "Heaven and Hell," and "Man on the Silver Mountain." The musicians do a fine job, the sound was great throughout, and it was a great time all around.
Here's something I don't get...tickets wound up being $45. Why the hell is it during each band people were constantly walking around, having conversations, and not paying attention? This was the first time I stood towards the back of the House of Blues during a show so I guess it was my position, but I swear every 30 seconds someone was walking past me to get to the back...the person in front of me left his spot no less than eight times to get more beer...christ, man! You don't need that much to drink and if you really do, then buy three beers at once. This isn't some $5 cover local band showcase...it's nearly fifty bucks, pay attention to the goddamn show!
And that's it....a hell of a lot of money but a great goddamn show that was well worth the money. If the show hits your town, go see it...if not, next time Dio comes to town, check him out. Should Anthrax be within 200 miles of your home--GO! You'll love it.
