08/14 SF - Grand Ballroom

[honkster]

Weedeater fucked shit up, Melvins killed it, and Down and their fans sent me home early. (Well, out of the venue anyway). First time @ the Grand Ballroom, not a bad place. Kinda cavernous, but sounded good upfront during the Melvins when it was packed in.

I think Zodiac was the only song they repeated from San Jose last week. Not bad considering there were 2 sets there...Maybe Blood Witch was there both shows too. Point is, different kind of setlist (as you'd expect with a solo show vs. opener) in a short amount of time. This makes me hate Tool and their decision to not really switch up their list in over 3 years, even more. There is a certain greatness in being flexible, spontaneous, and sporadic when pulling from your catalog. Gives songs new meanings and twist 15 years later...Melvins seem to really get that and pull from all over the fuckin' place whenever they damn well please. None of this "these are the songs we have practiced and sound good and we'll just stick with this handful as to not risk living in the moment" kinda shit.

Got a fucking killer Weedeater shirt. Little pricey, but it came with a copy of their first album, Sixteen Tons (which I already had, but still)

All night I couldn't help but wonder after all these years of playing their own shows, and not opening for anyone since Tool in '99, why Down? Why now??

[black stallion]

I think Zodiac was the only song they repeated from San Jose last week.

did they really change the whole set list except for Zodiac?

[IrvingtonFoster]

got to hang out with Weedeater, and got to meet Kirk Windstein on the way in, really nice dude.

i enjoyed Danava, it was my first time hearing them, fuckin killer psychedelic heavy grooves, it was cool seeing the guitarist jam out on Bury Me In Smoke with Kate! Talked to the guitarist for a bit too, cool guy.

Weedeater was awesome, it's been like 3 years since i've seen them and they were loud and heavy as fuck. Dixie still has one of my favorite voices in metal. I remember hearing Weed Monkey, God Luck and Good Speed, Gimme Back My Bullets,and Wizard Fight.

Melvins were fuckin killer as always, I remember hearing Pigs Of The Roman Empire, The Talking Horse, Kicking Machine, Zodiac, Anaconda, The Smiling Cobra, Mr. DNA(Devo cover), Blood Witch, Billy Fish, Dog Island, and Hooch. Amazing duel drumming as always, still blows my mind, Buzz's riffs are always deadly, Jared's a great bassist and singer too of course.

Down sounded great in my opinion, i guess i'm a meathead queer. I was up front the whole time, good energy. I almost wanted to get into a fight, which i never do, cause of 5 or 6 wannabe macho drunk non-shirt wearing Phil fanboy homophobes are trying to shove everybody, yet it still didn't ruin the concert for me, the blunt probably helped.  Plus i made one of them fall on their asses so that was funny.  It was cool hearing There's Something On My Side and Nothing In Return.(mega smoking session during that one). I also remember hearing Lifer, Stone The Crow, New Orleans Is A Dying Whore, Losing All, N.O.D., and The Path. The band seemed like they were having a great time.

wish i could do it over again.

[honkster]

I think Zodiac was the only song they repeated from San Jose last week.

did they really change the whole set list except for Zodiac?

Nah, I kinda fucked up on that. Zodiac, Anaconda, The Smiling Cobra, Mr. DNA(Devo cover), Blood Witch were at both shows I'm pretty sure. Just felt very very different than SJ, and overall I wanted to commend them on their ability and willingness to switch it up so well and frequently. It was a far cry from simple a variation on a same set list, but there was more than just Zodiac repeated. Which, by the way, they are playing very fast lately. When I saw them open w/ it @ Great American in SF last December it felt heavier and slower. Maybe because it was the first song of the night, but I personally prefer that slow beef and feeling that tension-laced bend right before the punches. alright, i'm shuttin up now.

[FartLips]

they're playing faster in hopes of getting off the stage quicker.

[the ether bunny]

i skipped out on the show w/ down. am i not a melvins super fan? 

[glen]

i skipped out on the show w/ down. am i not a melvins super fan? 

you make me sick.

[Goat Balls]

What a great show!

All of the bands rocked with The Melvins reigning supreme of course.

When Anaconda started rocking my buddy's soul basically exploded in a series of vocal fits.

At one point in Down's set Phil asked who would come out to see The Melvins and Down again in SF.

Fuck yeah

Goat Balls

[>>>JZS<<<]

I'm so glad they've added The Smiling Cobra to their set for this tour....one of my current favorites.