Wanna Go To A Bon Jovi Concert? Why Not?

I've just read something at Real Rock News that strikes me as quite peculiar.  Apparantly Bon Jovi is still touring!  And if that isn't enough, they're selling tickets! AND... people seem to care!  I must have accidentally gotten into my Delorean the other day while setting out for work and while passing a car, traveled back to 1987.  If I wasn't blogging right now, I'd swear that's what happened.  I mean, JBJ still looks the same and everything, shy of a new 'do.

In my opinion, I would consider "Keep the Faith" to be the last tolerable album by Bon Jovi.  I grew up listening to Slippery When Wet (GREAT album, if it needs to be said), and while I don't own any others except their "Cross Road: Greatest Hits" album, I have heard enough to know that the majority of stuff after 1992 is pure pop shit (It seems grunge is to hair metal as antibiotics are to bacteria - it can end up killing good stuff and allowing bad stuff to take the good stuff's place).  Sure, their '80s metal was very pop-driven, but for some reason it seemed more real - more about the music and lifestyle and less about the money.  Now I'm not a Bon Jovi expert, or a biographer, but I think most people with any sort of musical appreciation would agree.

I cannot believe that Bon Jovi has sold out five shows at London's O2 arena, which can hold up to 23,000 people, and is slated to add nine more shows!  I cannot believe that they are still able to sell out any concerts, let alone five at a large arena.

And if that's not enough, now people are complaining about ticket prices.  I guess I would, too, if somebody were trying to charge me more than $5 to see them, but that's just me.  No, aparantly they're charging $73 for general admission and $325 for the most expensive seats.  Sure, there's no doubt that this is highway robbery to see Bon Jovi, but it sounds like people are willing to pay anyways (which is just insane).

So I suppose, I would have to agree that what's being charged is ludacris!  But correct me if I'm wrong - aren't actual successful bands charging a LOT more for their tickets?  Hell, I think Britney Spears has a higher ticket ceiling.  I would verify this for you, but I have no ambition to Google ticket prices for a Britney Spears show.  It's bad enough I've typed her name twice already.

So... Bon Jovi's touring.  Bon Jovi's selling out concerts.  Bon Jovi's selling out potentially fourteen consecutive shows at the same arena.  Bon Jovi's actually able to sell tickets for a minimum of $73.  If this isn't Bizzaro World, I'm not sure what's going on.  Although, there was that one thing... "Hello? Hello? Anybody home? Huh? Think, McFly. Think!"

It's Time To Feel The Steel!

No, not mine.  I'm here to give you a small commentary on the new album by the band Steel Panther, called "Feel the Steel."  The album was realeased on October 6, 2009, shortly after which I provided an audio review for the Big Dave and Company podcast during my Six Pack segment.  That podcast can be found here, or on iTunes:

http://media.libsyn.com/media/bigdaveandcompanypodcast/BDC_6-2009_Podcast.mp3

First, let me say that this album FUCKING ROCKS!  The first impression that one might get from listening to some of the songs on this album is that these guys are a joke.  Literally.  Like in the vein of Spinal Tap or something like that.  But really, this is just a glam metal band with a great sense of humor.

Along with the lyrics that are just as much fun to sing along with as laugh with, the music is anything but ordinary.  This is not just plain, heartless, lyric-backing rock.  The music grabs you by the throat and demands your attention.  Try firing up the album and not instantly be in a better place while listening to "Death To All But Metal."

There are very few weak points to the album, though "Eyes of a Panther" is not my favorite.  In general, the energy is at a pretty consistently high level.  If you listen closely, you'll hear influences, if not almost-samples from the likes of Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Extreme and Whitesnake.  Did I mention that they're essentially a glam metal band?  DAMN is it great to hear new stuff like this again.  This album was as exciting of a find as the Airbourne album "Runnin' Wild" was.

So... pick up this album if you're looking to rock and have a great time.  You won't regret the $8 MP3 download from iTunes or Amazon.  For further information, check out their website, loaded with information, extras and media at http://www.steelpantherrocks.com/.

And as Michael Starr would say: "Whoooooaaa, Hey Hey Hey, F*ck all night and Party all Day!"