I used to write about nearly every concert I went to, but I stopped several years ago. (So that I won’t forget what I’ve seen, I do keep a list of shows on my computer — 78 thus far since I’ve been in Berkeley. I kind of regret doing only this, because it’s hard to remember details about specific shows, especially if I’ve seen the same band multiple times.) For various reasons, I decided to write one about the Stone Temple Pilots concert I went to last night. <\/p>\n
One reason is that STP was one of the most critically underrated bands of the 90s, and it was satisfying to see them at a totally sold-out show. Critics invariably lumped them in with the grunge movement as a poor man’s Pearl Jam, which never made any sense to me. STP arguably are better pop tunesmiths and have a more consistent catalog. Besides, the music sounds totally different. <\/p>\n
Another reason is that now my list of “bands I grew up with but never got to see live” has decreased in size by one. Nice!<\/p>\n
The final reason is that immediately evoked in me some memories from waaay back when, and I was surprised by their clarity.<\/p>\n
So how was the show? I’d give it a 7\/10. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club opened… eh. STP absolutely slayed on their heavier numbers, like “Wicked Garden” and “Sex Type Thing”. Weiland raved about Berkeley, and even went on a 2-3 minute long pro-Obama rant, which was cool. But the crowd lost some energy in the middle and it took a while took get it back. Luckily, STP has no shortage of monster riffs, which helped. The first encore was, awesomely, “Dead and Bloated”<\/a>, which features one of the greatest-ever album-opening moments: “I am \/ smelling like a rose that somebody gave me on my birthday deathbed…” shouted through a megaphone, followed by an immense riff. The second (at which point I was thinking, “what could they possibly play now?”) was the satisfying “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart”. Yeah for 90s rock!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I used to write about nearly every concert I went to, but I stopped several years ago. (So that I won’t forget what I’ve seen, I do keep a list of shows on my computer — 78 thus far since … Continue reading