Image courtesy of snow.com and Vail Resorts, Inc.

In a twist of fate that could not have been planned any better, guess what previously-blogged-about semi-superstar rocker is coming to Vail on April 14? Those of you guessing Kid Rock (or that saw the image above) are correct.

Previous Kid Rock related post

Late last week we got a staff email at work announcing that the "American Bad Ass" (yes, Bad Ass is two words according to the track listing) himself will be a mere 30 miles from my place of residence on April 14. He is performing a concert at Vail Resort (sister resort of Keystone).

All I can say is "Bawitdaba" and "I'm a Cowboy, baby."

"Picture" this. Kid Rock. Vail. April 14, 2007. "Only God Knows Why."

-Your "Devil Without a Cause" impersonator

For the record, every phrase in quotes is actually a song title from Kid Rock's catalog which I cheesily tried to weave into the post. Sadly, I was unable to work in a "I Am the Bullgod" reference.

Image from HellsBelles.info

Is there a better place to be on a Friday night?

Friday, March 30, 2007
Boulder, Colorado - My friend Ryan Chesnut and I saw the rockin' all-female AC/DC cover band, Hell's Belles. Yet again, they put on an energetic, intense show filled with AC/DC classics. It is the third time I've seen this quintet with Ryan. Twice last winter and this was the first time this ski season.

First off, Ryan is a family friend from the Denver area. His mom and my mom went to grade school together and our families have kept in touch ever since. Last winter Ryan was living up in the mountains and working at Keystone. He has since taken a job with the corporate office of Vail Resorts (owner of Keystone) and lives down in Broomfield, a short drive from Boulder, the location of the concert. During my time in Colorado, Ryan has been very generous, letting me crash at his place while I got a job and until I got into employee housing. Also, he's given me more than a couple of rides.

Anyway, back to the show. My first Hell's Belles show was last December, right before my parents and Ryan's parents came to the mountains to visit us. The venue was Sherpa and Yeti's in Breckenridge. It was a good show but the thing I remember most was that my hearing did not fully recover for at least 2 days, possibly more. I'm not sure I heard anything of what my parents said during those two days. The second show I saw was at the same Fox Theater in Boulder. Great show, great crowd, great set list, great venue.

Friday's show was good fun too. We got a greasy burger at a dive in Boulder before the show and then headed to the Fox. We missed the first opening band, but caught the second band called Storytyme. They were decent, a 70s rock fusion, sometimes they sounded like Deep Purple and sometimes like Phish.

Then it was time for the headliner. Hell's Belles is from the Seattle area and seems to tour in the western US. They are comprised of a lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drummer and vocalist. They rocked through many AC/DC classics including Hells Bells, Thunderstruck, Back in Black, Shoot to Thrill, She's Got the Jack. The encore was You Shook Me All Night Long and they ended with For Those About to Rock.

I was driving so I stayed entirely sober for the concert. Let me tell you, things look totally different when completely sober. There were a few crazy things/people that happened. A dude ran backstage and then stagedove onto a petite female. Another idiot threw a glass bottle on stage prompting the bassist to say "I will shove this bass up the ass of the next person that throws a bottle on stage." I saw numerous people trip over nothing. The average concert-goer was in their 30's, not surprising given the age of the band AC/DC. There were people of all sorts there. One guy watched the entire show with the intensity and creepiness of a serial killer. Another guy showed zero emotion despite being in the second row the entire night and I don't recall him even blinking. There were some normal people there too, like me and Ryan but you already knew that.

At any rate. Fun show. Fun band. Fun night. If you like AC/DC, this group is definitely worth checking out. Now if only the real AC/DC would tour too.

Hell's Belles A link to the website of America's greatest all female AC/DC cover band.

"ENJOY EVERY SANDWICH!"

I'm not sure why but recently I've been digging the music of Warren Zevon. I grew up knowing his classic "Werewolves of London" but the rest of his catalog was kind of a mystery to me. Until this January that is. I was reading an article on the greatest cover songs of all times and I stumbled upon Zevon's remake of the 80s Steve Winwood classic "Back in the High Life Again." Warren alters the song to a more somber, reflective tone as few could, similar to Johnny Cash's recent American classics CDs. Upon further listening, I find Zevon to be a masterful lyricist with catchy, sometimes dark tunes. Despite his sardonic nature, he has some great songs such as Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, Lawyers Guns and Money, Excitable Boy, Johnny Strikes up the Band, Frank and Jesse James, and Poor Poor Pitiful Me, to name a few.

As you might know, Zevon passed away in 2003 as the result of lung cancer. Throughout his career, he often sat in with the band on David Letterman's shows and was a substitute band leader numerous times. In late 2002, Letterman devoted an entire show to his good friend Warren Zevon. At one point Letterman asked Zevon if he had any advice about life. Zevon, knowing his days were numbered, replied, "Enjoy Every Sandwich." Simple, yet effective words from a sly genius.

So yeah, go ahead and enjoy every sandwich and maybe a little Warren Zevon too!

Warren Zevon Wikipedia

Warren Zevon videos and songs