STP NYE '08 lived up to all expectations.
It had been rumored that there would be a NYE show since way back in June, and I knew it would be the "must see" show of the year if it actually came to be.
LA would be our 13th STP show of they year, and the fellas would DEFINATELY need to be in top shape to beat their previous performances earlier this summer ie LV/RotR.
There were a couple things I had reservations about...the 1st being that Scott has been performing so much lately, that it had really taken a toll on his voice - which was evident during the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas performace.
The 2nd issue was the lack of setlist change. Most nights, STP will play 17-20 songs, which only accounts for roughly 30% of their total catelogue. That's not even touching on the covers/side projects they have all done in years past. I just felt it was getting a bit predictable.
Anyways, Michelle and I got to Club Nokia around 4pm the day of the show. Doors were supposed to be at 7 or 8...so I thought we should get there a couple hours early for really good GA spots! When we got there, it was a small group of about 6-8 people.
One of the guys out front was (I believe) Dean's guitar tech, taking a smoke break. I went up to him and said hello, and asked if he remembered me from opening D&B @ Red Rocks (he gave me the megaphone when I was done). He said yeah, and asked if I saw the guy who jumped on stage from the crowd just after I got off that security had to beat back offstage. He said he saw it on youtube for a while, then it got dropped!!!
From there it was pretty much just waiting and talking current music with people as they starting lining up. Its always interesting to see how STP can attract fans from any and every background...guess it just shows how their music is indeed universal.
Security let us in @ 7:30, and Michelle quickly secured us a prime spot on the rail.
The Color Turning - off Scott's Softdrive label, came on around 9pm and played about 5 songs...I don't know if they were feeling a little out of place or what, but they just seemed a little nervous or something. They sounded good musically, and the lead singers vocals probably needed to be turned up just a tad. Although I do give them extra credit for using a xylophone in their set.
Next was Billy Boy on Poison - a punk/glam/noise band from LA whose average age is about 16. Their lead singer is quite entertaining, but the noise all starts to sound the same by their 3rd song. They played 6-7 songs and exited stage left to make way for STP.
Around 10:40pm the house speakers starting playing "Good Times Bad Times", followed by the cartoonish "jazz" number that signals STP's arrival.
I had my fingers crossed that they wouldn't open with Big Empty, and they didn't. Instead, they offered up Silvergun Superman as their 1st song of the night. Scott kinda fumbled his way thru the first verse...but it was his only miscue all night.
Also - THERE WAS NO ELECTRONIC BACKDROP...gotta say I missed it
The next two songs - Wicked Garden and BBB got the crowd charged up and bouncing around...I think I still have some bruises
Next came the Purple Trilogy - Vasoline, Big Empty, and Lounge Fly. They just flat out killed it. Excellent in every way.
Scott intro'd the next three songs by saying something like they don't always have to play hard rock, but can slow things down a bit. LPS, Sour Girl, Creep and Redemption Song (cover) fit into that category.
Crackerman brought everyone back to mixing it up with their neighbors...Plush was easily one of the crowd's faves, and Interstate reminded us that only the DeLeo Bros should try to play this timeless classic.
SLDD got a nod with Too Cool Queenie which hadn't been in the rotation in a while I'm guessing (but still sounded great).
Down was the final song before the midnight countdown, which Scott counted off and the crowd was covered in red and white balloons from the venue ceiling.
Sex Type Thing kicked off STP '09, with Sin wrapping the main set.
After a few moments, STP came back out and fired up the crowd with Dead & Bloated and Trippin.
Two solid hours of rocking out with STP.
After they took their bows...everyone was screaming and just going on about how great the show was. Definately one of my top 3 of the year.
Also, I bumped into Adam from Softdrive Records and said thanks for all he's done for us this year.
I added a few pics to the hyperlink I submitted on page 2 or 3 of this thread - I probably won't post the rest until I get back home Sunday.
See ya in Vegas!!!
