FLASH CONCERTS '06!

THE ATARIS + KILL HANNAH: HIGHLIGHTS!

It was a dark & stormy night as the wind howled down First Ave. in Seattle.......but well over 500 hip kiddos turned out in force to see Kill Hannah and The Ataris at the Showbox.

DJ No Name from 107.7 THE END(!) got everyone in the party mood by throwing out some free t-shirts.  Kill Hannah stormed on while adoring fans shrieked.  Leadsinger Mat Devine was either prowling and stalking around the stage, Robert Smith-ing into the mic with one foot on the monitor, or jumping off the drum kit.

There were teenage-girl screams the likes of whih I haven't heard since....well.....the My Chemical Romance show.  Actually, normal people can't hear these screams because its so high pitched, but I'm part dog - just look at my pictures.

Devine dedicated "I Love You To Death" to "any of you who waited out in the rain" before manhandling the mic and straddling the space between the stage and the crowd barrier. 

Just before the cool mod synth rock of "I Wanna Be A Kennedy," Devine admitted, "You are a very cool and very polite audience....you're not making fun of my hair.  I didn't expect this much humidity.  We're gonna make it work though!"

After their set, fans flocked in droves to the Kill Hannah merch stand where the band members were hanging out to sign stuff.  Let this be a lesson to all bands - stick around to sell & sign merch after the show......your bottom-line will thank you!

Next came The Ataris.  Kris Roe announced "Secret Handshake" by saying, "This one's aobut the hypocracies of cerrtain religions" and the song devolved into fuzz and effects with Roe on his knees tinkering with pedals. 

Roe was also gracious to the crowd for "braving the wind and rain and all those other great elements." 

He changed guitars a couple of times during the set, perhaps from breaking a string, but this is common attrition from rocking up to ELEVEN.  There were also many crisp flurries of 8th note bass lines, sometimes serving as counterpoint to the lead guitar riffs and always undergirding the electric guitar wall of sound. 

At the end of their set, The Ataris left their instruments still rocking and feeding back on the stage - a digital syrup of noise spilling out over the crowd until the band came back for an encore.  They seemed to return with double the energy, as Roe substituted his guitar for a mic and a red plastic cup. 

Afterwards, both Kill Hannah and The Ataris hung out for about half an hour with their doting fans, signing autographs and snapping photos before the Showbox had to shut its doors.

Thanks to everyone who showed up for this last show in the Flash Concerts 06 series!  Thanks to all the fans who came to the other shows!  And a super double thanks for everyone who came together to put all these shows on!  Seattle was really a great ending to an amazing musical adventure - one that I'm sure none of us will soon forget!  I know I won't. 

Peace out & look out for more of these shows comin atcha in 2007!

- HOWIE

THE ATARIS + KILL HANNAH: SHOW PICS!

The Showbox - what a great venue to see these bands!  And if you got yourself out to the show, chances are you can find your mug in my pictures somewhere - since I got so many great crowd shots.  The ones of the bands aren't too shabby either....

SHOW PICS

THE ATARIS: INTERVIEW!

Kris Roe of The Ataris was kind enough to share his drink with me as we talked into microphones.  Listen to the interview to hear him talk about their upcoming album "Welcome To The Night" and all the huge changes that have taken place over the past year!

Download the_ataris.mp3 (13:20)

KILL HANNAH: INTERVIEW

After their soundcheck, I met up with Kill Hannah's Mat Devine to chat about their recent UK tour, their upcoming "New Heart for Christmas" show in Chicago, and Chicago's music scene in general. 

LISTEN UP!

Download kill_hannah.mp3 (13:26)

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE & THE OUTLINE: HIGHLIGHTS & SET LIST!

Words can't really describe what The Outline & My Chemical Romance did to over 2,000 screaming fans on Monday night at the House of Blues in Vegas. 

But since that's my job - here goes....

MCR fans started showing up about 36 hours before the show!  They waited oh-so-patiently (if a little obsessively) in the casino for the big moment.  15 minutes before doors opened, the excitement in the air was palpable as the crowd, packed in like cattle, prepared for the stampede. 

Meanwhile, I won $6.75 playing the slots.

The Outline took the stage first, and totally wowed everyone with their brand of rough, aggressive rock 'n roll.  Their set up is the classic 2 guitars, bass, keys, drums - sometimes they're primal; sometimes they're straight-ahead, but always they rokk. 

Lead singer Graham Fink strutted around the stage, slinging his hair like hash, and the crowd ate it all up.  He's an excellent frontman - good witty banter, he introduced songs & he plugged the band's name often.  At the end of their set, drummer Ryan Rabin threw his sticks into the ocean of people, and they were snapped up like a Barry Bonds' homerun ball.

Then the HOB crew set up the Black Parade banner in front of the stage.  As it rose higher & higher, so too did the ferocity of teenage screams - building into a "We want My Chem" - clap-clap-clapclapclap mantra.  Normally I wear earplugs at shows for the band - this time I had to protect my fragile ears from the rabid fans!

Finally - THE moment arrived and MCR took the stage.  GWay revealed, "I always wanted to be a Vegas showgirl - this will have to do!"

Of course, the packed house of 2k+ was singing along.  And when I say singing along, I mean they sang every word of every verse and every chorus of every song.  I'm completely serious. 

The waltz-time "Mama" reminded me of jangling skeletons as Gerard pranced around like an underworld dandy, pale cheeks sucked in.  Meanwhile, security was lifting smooshed fans to safety, including a mother and her young son. 

Gerard is truly a gifted and astonishing front man.  He's just got so much damn energy - like a band leader on PCP.  This was especially true on "Black Parade" as he orchestrated 2,000 hand thrusts en masse.  In fact, I think that guy has a hand gesture for every lyric.  Before launching into the chorus, he yelled, "Vegas - I wanna hear you sing every @#$%ing word!"  Mosh pockets and crowd surfing ensued, while Ray Toro shredded triumphantly ala Queen.

This was a perfect example of the amazingly seamless give-and-take of energy between MCR and their raving fans.  Its a chicken & egg thing, so its impossible to say whose energy is feeding whom, but the crowd was able to respond immediately to whatever vocal or rhythmic demands Gerard placed on them.  Its a good thing he didn't tell them to drink red koolaid.   

I also noticed that he seems to have studied from the great front-men who came before him.  There was Jagger's Rooster Strut, Hendrix's Finger Worshipping on Bended Knees, Axl Rose's Mic Slither, among others.

BTW - I think there should be a Black Parade Workout Video.  You'd definitely get in shape, if you could keep up.  Plus, since you'd be wearing black - you'd sweat A WHOLE LOT.

Oh yeah - I need to give a shout-out to the really stellar lighting job at this show.  I don't know your name, but you do your job VERY WELL. 

I'd also like to give my commendations to all the parents who came to the show with their younguns.  Many of you seemed just as fanatic about MCR as your kids!  If my parents had been that cool when I was a kid, my teen angst would've been severely mitigated. 

MCR dedicated "I Don't Love You" to "our very special friend," Rob Cavallo.  Hopefully that wasn't a secret message.

Frank, Ray & Mikey were using wireless instruments.  This allowed for unprecedented stage thrashability.

Between the show and the encore, the fans sounded like the primate house at the zoo just before feeding time.  When MCR took the stage again, Gerard was feeling gracious:  "Thank you all so much for coming out and @#$%ing believing in this.  We've been doing this for 5 years and it doesn't get harder - it gets a whole lot more fun!"

The lighters were broken out for "Cancer", the first encore.  Its just so MEANINGFUL, man! 

The show was definitely a black mass presided over by MCR, with the congregation reaching a feverish, ecstatic state.  I almost expected people to start babbling in tongues.

Afterwards, the Meet & Greet was like a well-oiled machine.  Maybe they've done this a few times?

1.  The End
2.  Dead!
3.  Disappear
4.  Not Okay
5.  Cemetery
6.  Mama
7.  The Black Parade
8.  I Don't Love You
9.  Venom
10.  Teenagers
11.  Give Em Hell
12.  House Of Wolves
13.  Famous
14.  Prison
--> ENCORE
1.  Cancer
2.  Helena

OH - And dude that gave me the CD for his band THE SCIENCE......I handed it directly to Gerard Way.  He says he listens to every album he gets.  Good luck!

What'd y'all think of the show?!

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE: INTERVIEW!

Before the show, Gerard Way was kind enough to take a few minutes talking into a mic for me. 

Listen to my interview to find out what the last album he bought was, what his first job was and loads of other juicy tidbits!

Download my_chemical_romance.mp3 (11:15)

THE OUTLINE: INTERVIEW!

The Outline whipped the crowd into a raging frenzy before MCR took the stage. 

Listen to my interview to find out more about these guys from L.A.

Download the_outline.mp3 (5:42)

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE: SHOW PICS!

Okay - I spent a jillion hours uploading all my pics from the show.  130 in all.  So get out the popcorn, get comfortable & (re)live this fantastic show!

CLICK HERE!

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE: ASK 1 QUESTION!

WHILE YOU'RE WAITING IN LINE - YOU SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO COME UP WITH THE MOST PERFECT QUESTION EVER!  THINK IT UP & PUT IT UP HERE - & I JUST MAY ASK IT DURING MY INTERVIEW!  ACT FAST Y'ALL AND DROP IT IN THE COMMENTS....

LUPE FIASCO: HIGHLIGHTS + SET LIST!

Lupe Fiasco celebrated getting nominated for 3 GRAMMY'S last night by playing to a sold out, packed house of over 1,100 screaming fans at Philly's Trocadero!

Before the man of the hour arrived, DJ Mike Nice commandeered the turntables and the hype reps from Power 99 threw out free t-shirts to get everyone in a party mood.

But the crowd wanted Lupe, and no amount of free swag distracted them from this simple fact.

Finally Lupe took the stage and warmed up with a few smoking tracks.  The ladies went nuts when he took off his jacket to reveal a little skin and a lot of boxer shorts. 

He took a few moments to look back over some of his acclaims - a rap album that debuted at number 1, selling 86,000 copies the first week, and "my most proudest achievement - the cover of GQ." 

And of course, "3 Grammy nominations - that's the TRIFECTA!  Including one for that little skateboard song that radio stations wouldn't play cuz it didn't fit they format...If you see a little kid ridin his skateboard around, he don't wanna shoot nobody - he's just gettin his Lupe on!"

"I just wanna thank y'all for this year.  I wanna thank each and every one of y'all that went out and bought my album." 

Here's the SET LIST that DJ Simon gave me:

• Intro (album)
• Encore - Instrumental (Jay-Z)
• Twilight Zone (mixtape)
• Conflict Diamonds (mixtape)
• Touch the Sky (Kanye West)
• Failure (mixtape)
• Switch (mixtape)
• Feel Good (mixtape)
• Instrumental (album)
• Tilted (UK release)
• Sunshine (album)
• American Terrorist (album)
• He Say She Say (album)
• Kick Push (album)
• The Cool (album)
• Hurt Me Soul (album)
• Daydreamin (album)
• Real (album)

This show was tight, right?

LUPE FIASCO: SHOW PICS!

Here's a godzillion shots from Lupe's show in chilly Philly on Thursday night!

Check it NOW!

LUPE FIASCO: INTERVIEW!

After the show, I was happy to be the first interviewer to congratulate Lupe on getting 3 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS!  Listen & hear Lupe talk about what lessons he's trying to teach with his rhymes & what his real name - Wasulu - means....

Download lupe_fiasco_ii_interview.mp3 (5:59)

LUPE FIASCO: ALERT!

LISTEN UP!  THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE CONFUSION ABOUT THE LUPE SHOW IN PHILLY.

HERE'S THE DEAL:

The Lupe show is NOT on Wednesday.

THE LUPE SHOW IS ON THURSDAY, DEC. 7TH @ THE TROCADERO.

DOORS ARE AT 8:30 PM.  SHOW STARTS AT 10 PM.  ALL AGES WELCOME.

Sorry for any confusion.

C U THERE!

THE VON BONDIES & JOHNNY HEADBAND: HIGHLIGHTS & SET LIST!

People lined up down the block at The Paradise Rock Club near Boston University to check out Detroit's The Von Bondies on Monday night. 

Bondies' fans got a special treat with openers Johnny Headband, also from Detroit.  The two brothers, Chad (lead vox/keys) and Keith (bass/guitar), hit the stage dressed all in white, with their drummer presiding behind dressed in black.  They played inspired danced rock numbers, and it was obvious they were having an illicit amount of fun. 

Johnny Headband is so animated, they should have their own indie roxercise video.  It was nearly impossible to get pictures of them, and I swear I think I saw them get even skinnier by the end of their set.

There were smoking bass lines, nice use of a Neverending Story keyboard sound, excellent synchronized prancing, and the "point & spray" technique of hosing down the crowd with invisible guitar juice. 

After one particular bout of hysterical histrionics between Chad & Keith (I think Keith was writhing on the ground with his guitar while Chad petted Keith's long hair), Chad announced, "I don't know if we'd get away with this if we weren't brothers.  Hell, I don't know if we're getting away with it now."

It seemed they were indeed getting away with it, as the crowd of 420 happily clapped along.

Their version of "West End Girls" (adopted specifically for this east coast tour) was definitely the best (if admittedly, the only) cover of that song this blogger's ever laid ears on.  With pre-programmed beats, the drummer switched to bass, the bassist took the lead mic and the lead singer took the keys and backup vocal duties.  Oh yeah - and there was a strip tease in there too!  Bassist Keith took off his white shirt & used it to jump-rope across the stage.  It was truly fascinating.

Next came The (much anticipated) Von Bondies.  These kids cram so much rokk into 2.5 minute songs!  But when its dirtier than Pigpen, you don't need to draw it out. 

They were ferocious & brash, but somehow it was a finely honed recklessness.  Jenny took an intense pose when she sang lead vocals on "Not That Social," while Marcie's guitar screamed.  There were several "I love you, Jenny!"s from the crowd - a good sign that this newest member of the band has met with fan approval. 

I was stunned at how much energy, sex, blues and nitrate they pour into song after song.  It was like drinking Red Bull and truck stop coffee, taking ephedrine and then going drag racing. 

And Marcie's guitar chops were tighter than her faded black jeans but much dirtier than her white high heels.

After the show, the lucky & doting winners of the Meet & Greet lined up to tell the members just how much they enjoyed the show.  Members of the visceral Charms showed up as well to pay their respects.

Here's the Set List:

1. Pale Bride
2. No Regrets
3. Going Down
4. Nite Train
5. C'mon C'mon
6. Lack of Communication
7. Not That Social
8. Blame Game
9. Broken Man
10. Shut Your Mouth
11. Please Please Man
12. Earthquake
13. Tell Me What You See
14. It Came From Japan
15. Rock & Roll Nurse

What'd y'all think of the show?

THE VON BONDIES & JOHNNY HEADBAND: SHOW PICS!

This was an incredible show.  I happily did my duty & documented nearly every moment.

Click here to see my shots!

THE VON BONDIES: INTERVIEW!

Jason Stollsteimer of The Von Bondies was sweating bullets after the show, so we did our interview in the giant freezer backstage at The Paradise.

Check out those buns!

Tune in to find out when their newest material is coming out, the best show he ever saw, the last album he bought, and his favorite food (you'll never guess!). 

Download the_von_bondies.mp3

JOHNNY HEADBAND: INTERVIEW!

The gentlemen in Johnny Headband are buddies from Detroit with The Von Bondies.  Listen to my interview with the indefatiguable Chad! 

If you like VB, you'll love these guys....

Download johnny_headband.mp3 (2:27)

VON BONDIES: ASK 1 QUESTION!

GOT A QUESTION FOR THE VON BONDIES?  DROP IT IN THE COMMENT SECTION & I'LL MAKE SURE TO ASK THEM DURING MY INTERVIEW!

YOUNG BUCK: SHOW PICS!

Ah - The Mansion.  What a crazy club!  And with Young Buck in the place, it was G-Uaranteed to bump.   Check out my shots from the show!

YOUNG BUCK: HIGHLIGHTS!

I can honestly say I have never seen a hip hop show quite like the one Young Buck and Flash Concerts put on at The Mansion in Miami last night. 

First of all, the ladies were decked to the nines in minimal attire that would only be appropriate in the tropical heat of Miami.  Those in shorts were not even wearing Daisy Dukes.  It was more like Daisy Du's.  And let's just say the coconuts on the palm trees were bountiful.

Before the show, the house music was the best since DJ Pauly Paul at the Hiro in New York City, and everyone was plenty warmed up by the time Young Buck, who had arrived in a blue-green Ferarri, took the stage.   

Buck's DJ Don Juan got the party started with some Tupac and Jay Z's "Money Ain't a Thing."  And of course Buck popped out his hits "Shorty Wanna Ride" and "Let Me In" off Straight Outta Cashville.

Apparently rhymes and beats aren't the only contribution Young Buck makes to society.  Indeed - he's a real mensch.  Buck and G-Unit gave $5,000 to The Boys and Girls Club of America.  Sony Ericsson and Cingular Wireless matched it for a grand total of $10,000!  Buck may love to thug, but he's got a 10 karat heart of gold. 

After the show, Buck and his crew headed up to the ultra VIP roost high above the dance floor.  His manager, Six, was nice enough to get me past the hulking, kevlar coated body guards and into the inner circle party where the air was heavy with the scent of good times. 

Buck was working the crowd of mostly ladies, drinking and snapping pictures with them.  No gangsta beats got them dancing more than Human League's "Don't You Want Me Baby." 

Unfortunately, Young Buck is a difficult man to pry away from a party, and it was impossible for me to get an interview with him.  But I was lucky enough to hang until the wee hours of the morning. 

NADA SURF: SHOW PICS!

I was running around like a headless chicken trying to get some decent shots at this show. 

The result wasn't half bad - check out my pictures!

NADA SURF: SET LIST + HIGHLIGHTS

Flash Concerts and Nada Surf teamed up last night to pack the house with 525 devoted fans at the Hiro Ballroom in Manhattan's west side.  For those of you who haven't checked out this venue, do so immediately - its a full blown, plush Japanese extravaganza inside and was by far the sweetest place we've been yet.

For 1.5 hours, Nada Surf ran through about 20 of their tastiest numbers.

Howie's Highlights:

Apparently not just a indie rock demi-god, Matthew Caws took a moment to enlighten the crowd with the druid origin of the expression "knock on wood."  He also told a couple of pretty awful jokes, including "why do penguins walk softly?.....because they can't walk hardly."

In the middle of one song, they launched into a rendition of one of my favorite songs, INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart."  They also got the entire club to do the old middle-school side-to-side two-step on "Inside of Love." 

These guys love to hang with their fans, as evidenced by the hour they spent signing autographs and chatting it up with the meet & greet winners.

My interview with lead singer Matthew Caws was positively delightful, and he even dropped the name of their upcoming album for the FIRST TIME EVER. Listen to the interview to get the scoop!

After the show, I left with bassist Daniel Lorca and various members of their entourage in a cab for a bar in Williamsburg, where we met up with Ira and Matthew and a bunch more friends.  I had an amazing time partying with these guys until the wee hours. 

At one point, I joined Ira and his buddy Bob across the street in Ira's apartment to listen to the new Beatles remix "Love" and the new Tom Waits album "Orphans."  My memory's a little fuzzy, but I do remember there was a copy of The Great Gatsby on the desk, Quotations from Mao Tse Tung in the bathrrom, and lots of beautiful artwork on the walls. 

There was also a very deep conversation about the unimpeachable influence of Ringo's technique on The Beatles, and another discussion about Leonard Bernstein's Norton Lectures regarding Noam Chomsky's linguistic theories as applied to music.  Needless to say, these guys can get heavy and my mind was sufficiently blown that my head didn't hit the pillow until 4:45 am.

Good times.

OH - The set list:

1. Blizzard of '77
2. Hi-Speed Soul
3. Happy Kid
4. Concrete Bed
5. What Is Your Secret?
6. Killian's Red
7. Popular
8. Fruit Fly
9. Inside of Love
10. Hyperspace
11. 80 Windows
12. Paper Boatys
13. Stalemate
14. BBF
15. Yer Head
16. Blonde on Blonde
17. Imaginary Friends
18. Always Love
19. Blankest Year

NADA SURF: INTERVIEW

After the show, I was finally able to pull the affable Matthew Caws away from his fans at the Meet & Greet to sit down with me by the vending machines.  Check out the interview to hear Matthew's take on the modern album, his favorite food and the last album he bought.  Also, in a Flash Concerts exclusive - Matthew reveals FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER the title of Nada Surf's upcoming album!  LISTEN UP!

Download nada_surf_interview.mp3 (11:04)

NADA SURF: ASK 1 QUESTION!

THE NADA SURF SHOW IS THIS MONDAY NIGHT IN NYC.  GOT YOUR QUESTION READY?  DROP IT IN THE COMMENTS SECTION, AND IF YER LUCKY - YOU'LL HEAR ME ASK THEM IN MY INTERVIEW AFTER THE SHOW!

LUPE FIASCO: SET LIST + HIGHLIGHTS

Lupe Fiasco played to a packed house of 920 at Chicago's swank Park West last night.  The line to get in went to the end of the block, wrapped around the corner and even into the alley behind the venue!  DJ Murray the Magnificent dropped the beats to get the crowd in the right mood. 

Without further ado, here's Howie's Highlights:

I loved it when DJ Simon would cut the beats out at the end of the track and Lupe would still be rhyming all alone.  Especially the a cappella rhymes that went faster than the speed of sound, ala Bone Thugz. 

Of course Lupe had to check in with the crowd to make sure all sides of Chi-town were representin' - North, West and South.  But no East Side because "there's no such thing unless y'all livin' in the Lake!"

The lovely Ms. Sara Green covered for Jill Scott on "Daydreamin'" with a 24 karat solid gold voice.

Mr. Fiasco was not afraid to take a moment to acknowledge his recent accolades, particularly his award for one of GQ's Men of the Year. 

But possibly my favorite moment was when Lupe, in mid-stride across the stage, grabbed a phone out of the hands of one of the front-row fans.  The kid had his phone opened up so his friend at home could hear the show.  Lupe took the phone and sang a couple of verses into it before handing it back. 

Here's the set list, as diligently written out for me by Simon:

1. Intro
2. Encore Instrumental (Jay-Z)
3. Touch the Sky (Kanye)
4. Conflict Diamonds (mixtape)
5. Failure (mixtape)
6. Switch (mixtape)
7. Feel Good (mixtape)
8. I Gotcha (album)
9. Instrumental (album)
10. Tilted (mixtape)
11. He Say She Say (album)
12. Sunshine (album)
13. Daydreamin' (album)
14. Kick Push (album)
15. Emperor's Soundtrack (album)
16. Hurt Me Soul (album)
17. American Terrorist (album)

Who else was there?  What'd y'all think, Chicago?

LUPE FIASCO: INTERVIEW

It was hot as hell backstage & Lupe had just done about 85 meet and greets. 

When it was all said and done, I was tired from just watching him sign all those autographs, so I know he had to be exhausted. 

But I guess that's just what happens when you're GQ's Man of the Year.  I cut my interview short  to get him out of there faster - we'll do the longer deal in Philly. 

But check out this one for my "lightning round" questions - the best show Lupe ever saw, his favorite food, his first job and his happy place.

My apologies to Janel and Get Down - they dropped great questions for me to ask in the interview.  Since the interview got cut short, I'll make sure to include them in Part II with Lupe in Philly.

Download lupe_fiasco_interview.mp3 (1:29)

LUPE FIASCO: SHOW PICS

It was crazy hard to take pictures at this show cuz Lupe & Bishop were jumping around the stage like jackrabbits on crack.

But my camera-finger's quick too, and I toughed it out to bring you great shots of Chi-town's favorite sons.

Click here for my show pics.

LUPE FIASCO: ASK HIM 1 QUESTION

GIMME SOME QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK LUPE FIASCO!  I'LL PICK THE BEST ONE OR TWO & POSE THEM TO HIM AFTER THE SHOW.

SO THINK HARD & TYPE FAST - BECAUSE THE SHOW IS TOMORROW NIGHT!

JUST PUT 'EM IN THE "COMMENTS" AREA.

C U THURR.

THE GAME: SET LIST + HIGHLIGHTS

The Game's show at L.A.'s Avalon was one of the best shows yet!

Fans started lining up at 5 pm, and by 10:30, the lines stretched all the way down the block in both directions. 

Here's "Howie's Highlights":

Power 106's amazing hypeman Mondo was working the crowd with his cordless mic while the dj mixed the beats that radiated down Vine Street.  Danny Salas was Power's lucky "Meet & Greet" winner, and his face lit up like a neon sign when his raffle number was called.

The Game took the stage around 11 pm to a packed house with their hands waving in the air.  The house looked like a thugged out United Nations, with whites, blacks, hispanics and asians all ready to party.  When it was all said & done, there were 1,480 people there!  That's not even counting The Game's people, who looked like they were about 50 deep. 

I should also note here that there were about 200 people who got there late & couldn't get in.  The lesson:  GET TO THE SHOWS EARLY IF YOU WANT IN!

I was astounded at how hard he worked the crowd.  He did the whole thing without a glitzy entourage to back him up, but he did have the help of his trusty dj to cut the beats in at exactly the right time.

Of course there was plenty of Fiddy bashing, and he got the crowd chanting "G-Unot!" a couple of times.  And at one point I noticed that the bass lines were so thick that fluffs of insulation were actually falling from the ceiling down onto the stage.

He did take a couple of questionable "smoke breaks" on stage, but The Game's no bogart & was quick to share the love with the crowd.  And then there was the "Animal House" party on stage, when Game pulled a couple of fans up and challenged them to a Belushi-style chug-a-thon with Cristal and "brown-brown" (aka Hennessy).  A hefty brute by the name of Baker proved to be a powerful contender. 

Shortly afterwards, with his undershirt soaked in cognac and champagne and with the air thick with a curious scent, he brought out his 4 year old son Harlem - cradled in his enormous, sweaty arms.  Harlem looked like there were about a zillion places he'd rather be - I was tipped off by his intense cries for his mommy.  Perhaps it was the thudding bass line in his still-developing eardrums.  But Game assured his adorable son that really there was no reason to cry, since Harlem had been featured in the album artwork for "Doctor's Advocate."  Everyone agreed, and Harlem was sent off stage.

I guess you're probably interested in the set list too, so here ya go:

1. New Album Intro
2. Westside Story
3. Compton
4. Remedy
5. Higher
6. Put You On The Game
7. Scream On 'Em
8. Let's Ride
9. How We Do (or as I like to call it, "Howie Do")
10. Too Much
11. Where I'm From
12. Start From Scratch
13. Dreams
14. Hate It Or Love It
15. Doctor's Advocate
16. One Blood

So what'd y'all think of the show?  Drop some comments.......

THE GAME: INTERVIEW

After the show, I had the "unique experience" of sitting down with Mr. The Game himself.  Check it out to find out what his first job was, what the best show he ever saw was, and what it means for him to be a father to his son.

Download the_game_interview.mp3

THE GAME: SHOW PICS

The show at the Avalon in L.A. was off tha hook!  I got tons of great shots of The Game & The Crowd.  Click here to check 'em out!

FLASH CONCERT ALERT: PODCAST!

Listen to this podcast to get all the latest news about Flash Concerts! Download flash_concerts_alert.mp3

THE GAME: ASK HIM 1 QUESTION!

Here's a "what if" for ya:  If you could ask The Game 1 question, what would it be?!

After the show next Tuesday, I'm gonna sit down with the man himself for a little Q & A. 

Drop your ideas in the comments section, and leave your name.  I may just ask him your question.  Don't worry - I'll give ya credit.  Only the best, most thoughtful & creative question(s) will be picked, so think hard!  You don't want him to think your just another boneheaded turkey. 

As usual, I'll be podcasting the interview - so check back here after the show to hear if your question got picked!

FLASH CONCERTS ALERT!

Can you feel the earth beginning to shake beneath your feet?  I hope so and I hope you’re ready, because starting one week from tomorrow there’s gonna be an avalanche of FREE SHOWS flowing across the nation. 

Where will you be when it hits?  My advice:  get indoors – preferably the clubs where the shows are goin down.  That's the only guaranteed way to protect yourself from from being left in the cold.

Here’s the schedule, in case you missed it:

Tues, Nov. 21 – The Game in L.A.
Venue:  The Avalon
Doors:  8:30 pm
18+

Fri, Nov. 24 – Lupe Fiasco in Chicago
Venue:  Park West
Doors:  8 pm
18+

Mon, Nov. 27 – Nada Surf in NYC
Venue:  Hiro Ballroom
Doors:  8 pm
21+

Fri, Dec. 1 – Young Buck in Miami
Venue:  The Mansion
Doors:  11 pm
21+

Mon, Dec. 4 – The Von Bondies in Boston
Venue:  Paradise
Doors:  8 pm
All Ages

Thurs, Dec. 7 – Lupe Fiasco in Philly
Venue:  The Trocadero
Doors:  8:30 pm
All Ages

Mon, Dec. 11 – My Chemical Romance in Vegas, Baby
Venue:  House of Blues
Doors:  8 pm
All Ages

Thurs, Dec. 14 – The Ataris & Kill Hannah in Seattle
Venue:  The Showbox
Doors:  8 pm
All Ages

CHINGY: SET LIST + HIGHLIGHTS

Much thanks to all the 600 cats and kittens in San Francisco who turned out for the free Chingy show at the swank Mezzanine! 

Early on everybody got hyped up by Chuy Gomez of KMEL and the bouncin rhymes of Dem Hoodstarz.

A little after 10 pm, Chingy took control of the stage with his crew - cousin Spiffy, OG Tha Ref, and DJ Sno.  King Ching was clad mostly in bright green - connecting the dots between fashion, fame and finance since he takes his stage name from slang describing people with money. 

From the show he put on, he was very appreciative of all the people "comin out to see tha Ching-a-Ling tonight".  The rhymes were polished, the beats were loud and the breaks were tight. 

And my god - I think "Chingy" should be listed next to oysters, chocolate and Spanish fly as an aphrodesiac.  The ladies weren't just swooning.  They were downright ornery in their single-minded lust to be "right thurr" with him.

Here's "Howie's Highlights"........

• Chingy schluggin champagne on stage
• Chingy on women:  "I like women with a nice personality and who know when to put that ass in tha aur."
• realizing during the interview that he keeps his Newports in a leather Louis Vitton case

Here's the Set List that DJ Sno gave me.....

1. Bounce That
2. Represent
3. Nike Aurs
4. Jackin 4 Beats
5. Flossy
6. Slot-a-Lot Thang
7. Dem Jeans
8. She's a Freak
9. Baller Baby
10. Let's Ride
11. Holidae In
12. One Call Away
13. Brand New Kicks
14. Right Thurr
15. Hands In Tha Air
16. Pullin Me Back

Afterwards Ching was anxious to start partyin.  The Meet & Greet winners swarmed him backstage, and things got pretty crazy.  I barely made it out alive to tell you the tale.

Check out my show pics HURR.

Check out my interview with Ching HURR. 

CHINGY: INTERVIEW

After the show I had the pleasure of sharing a few words with the man in green......

Download chingy_interview.mp3

CHINGY: PICS

Check out my shots from the Chingy show in San Francisco last night.  Maybe you can find yourself in the crowd!

Click HERE for the pics.

CHINGY: ALERT!

Get ready San Francisco, because Chingy's gonna be "right thurr". 

Here's the info you need:

This WEDNESDAY NITE, OCT. 11 @ the MEZZANINE! 

Doors are at 8:30.  Show is at 9:30.

Like all these shows - its 100% FREE.

You can either just show up, and pray you get in before the place gets filled up....

OR use your cell phone to text the letters "SF" to "FLASH", respond to the alert you get and be guaranteed entry to the show.  If you're really fast at responding, you may even get a VIP pass!

If you're tryin to do the Meet & Greet with Chingy - call in to your radio station if you hear them talkin about it.  You'll also get a chance during the show to text in on your cell phone to win a chance to meet Chingy.

YUNG JOC: SET LIST + HIGHLIGHTS

Yung Joc  brought down the house Sunday night in his home town, Atlanta!  Big thanks to all the rabid fans who turned out for the free show, plus Joc's enormous and supportive family!

DJ Blak got the show started right with his wiki-wiki on the turntable and his hype on the mic.  He kicked all the right jams, and people flocked down to the floor from the balcony and the VIP rooms.

Next came Joc and his crew - Carlito, Zoe and Ms. B, with Blak still on the plastic.  They swaggered on stage and got the crowd movin to some thumpin bass beats.  Especially the swooning females when Joc demanded to know, "where tha ladies at?!" and when he played the fun pointing game, "where my hand land, that my new girlfran"

Here's "Howie's Highlights".........

The first was the a cappella stand-off between Joc and Ms. B.  Ms. B's rhyme's were so sexy and provocative, it made Joc spew out the water he was sippin on!

The second was when Joc said he needed a lady on stage and got Security Guy in the pit to go find him one.  Security Guy returned with Joc's actual woman, Alex!  Joc sat her down in a chair on stage and proceeded to give her a romantic yet nasty lap dance. 

Here's the Set List, as given to me by Blak......

1. Intro
2. Patron
3. Dope Boy Magic
4. Do U Bad
5. A Couple Grand
6. Bottle Action
7. Knock It Out
8. 1st Time
9. I Know You See It
10. Its Goin Down

After the show, the lucky Meet & Greet winners kicked it back stage with Joc and his crew.  Joc signed so much swag, I thought his hand would fall off.  But he was so gracious and the fans were so adoring, it was all good.

Check out my show pics here.

Check out my interview with Joc here.

And drop some comment-love up here!  What'd you think of the show Atlanta?

YUNG JOC: PICS

And here's my pics from the show......

YUNG JOC: INTERVIEW

The Yung Joc show was off tha hook!  Check out my interview with him......

Download yung_joc_interview.mp3

Flash Concerts - Intro Podcast!

Hey!  Check out this first podcast for crucial info about the shows!

Download flash_concerts_intro_podcast.mp3

FLASH CONCERTS '06!

Congratulations!  You have landed at THE spot on the internets to check out all the haps with Flash Concerts '06.

Allow myself to introduce.....myself.   I'm Howie, your tour guide for this crazy experience.

I'll be traveling all across this great nation to bring you the pictures, the show reviews and the artist interviews that will bring these concerts alive online.

So what exactly is Flash Concerts '06, you ask?   Not much - just the absolute best concert series of the year.

The concept is easy to digest, so try not to choke.  Hand-picked artists. Free concerts. Special giveaways.  The party runs from October to December, from Atlanta to Las Vegas and 8 hipper-than-hip spots in between.

Notice.....ITS ALL FREE.

But wait, there's more! Cingular and Sony have joined forces to launch an interactive promotion campaign the likes of which have never been seen.

Check it out:

• Text City Codes.  Text in city codes to "FLASH" and respond to the alerts. Depending on how fast you are, you get a General Admission or VIP pass to the show.

• Call Local Radio.  When you hear your local radio dj talking about Flash Concerts 06, call in & win (1) tickets to the show (General Admisison or VIP, depending on how fast you are), (2) a free Walkman phone, or (3) and artist Meet & Greet.

• MySpace Top 8 Friends.  Of course you can check me out on "the Space" - click here or go to www.MySpace.com/FlashConcerts06. Add me to your Top 8 Friends and you might get lucky. The first 5 people to show up at each show with a print-out of their MySpace profile showing "Flash Concerts '06" in your Top 8 will win a MEET & GREET with THAT NIGHT'S ARTIST. The first 30 people with print-outs also get 2 FREE FLASH CONCERT T-SHIRTS.

• Text During Show.  Text During Show. During the show you'll have a chance to text in a secret code to win a MEET & GREET with that night's artist. Start your finger exercises now!

• Sweepstakes.  Enter to win on the Main Website! The Vegas Prize is a trip for 2 to Las Vegas to see My Chemical Romance (airfare, 2 nights hotel, tickets to show). First Prize is a free Walkman phone + a 1 gig memory stick.

Like I said - these shows are FREE. But like everything, there's a catch. We've booked the hottest clubs in each city so you'll feel like the exclusive kings & queens you are. But that means space will be limited.

I'm not trying to get in brawl with the Fire Marshal.  So get there early to make sure you get in.

I'll let you in on a secret though. For each city, there's a "city code" you can text to "FLASH" (35274). By doing that & responding to the invite, you guarantee your spot.

So Atlanta, get ready because you're the first show.  YUNG JOC will take the stage on OCT. 8 at the TABERNACLE.

C U THR!