ROCKTOBER: Thrice @ The Metro--MAJOR/MINOR Tour

Dustin Kensrue on the left; yours truly on the right (Personal Collection)

Felipe M

The following is a review of our musical concert/show series. We are a bit behind, but we will eventually catch-up--or die trying.

OCTOBER 27, 2011: THRICE PLAYS LIVE @ THE METRO, CHICAGO, IL

Thrice is clearly one of our favorite bands of all time. My friend Donny and I decided to go see them yet again and they put on another great show.  The setlist is as follows:

1. Yellow Belly
2. The Weight
3. Promises
4. All the World is Mad
5. In Exile
6. Call it in the Air
7. Hold Fast Hope
8. Silhouette
9. Cold Cash and Colder Hearts
10. Circles
11. Treading Paper
12. Words in the Water
13. Of Dust and Nations
14. Firebreather
15. The Earth Will Shake
16. Anthology

Encore:

17. Phoenix Ignition

18. To Awake and Avenge the Dead

Last time, I mentioned that I can die a happy man because I finally saw them perform "To Awake and Avenge the Dead." The only way the last show could've been topped was if they had played "Phoenix Ignition"--which they did on this show.

As you will see from the setlist, the majority is filled with songs from their Major/Minor album, released in 2011. I believe Donny went as far as calling it the album of the year for 2011. Not very sure about that statement as I can name a few more albums that might give Thrice a run for their money that year (Frank Turner, Chuck Ragan, Bomb the Music Industry, Thursday, August Burns Red, and Animals as Leaders might have a case for #1, but I digress). It's definitely a solid Thrice album and it's definitely a great album to finish out their career. 

That night we were distracted by the Texas Rangers vs. St. Louis Cardinals World Series, Game 6 match-up. Could easily be the craziest, most spectacular game I have ever seen and it definitely made David Freese a household name (and an adequate fantasy 3B for Draft Day 2012). So while the band played, we would periodically check the score of the game. 

By the time the show was over, we agreed that we would go watch the game at one of the local bars (in case you don't know, Wrigleyville (really called Lakeview) is like the whorehouse of Chicago neighborhoods: any kind of bar is there at your disposal).  One problem though: lead singer, Dustin Kensrue announced that he would be doing a short, acoustic set at an undisclosed location. We later found out that it was at one of the Wrigley Field parking lots. 

As we waited on Dustin to set up,we grew very impatient of waiting and decided to make a quick dash to a nearby bar to catch some of the baseball game. We both drank a beer and ran back out to the parking lot where Dustin was supposed to play.  And there he was, Dustin, equipped with an acoustic guitar and a money jar as he was playing for charity. 

That was a very intimate set as a small crowd of Thrice fans gathered on a chilly October night. Dustin played 4 songs as the jar was being passed around. To my surprise, fans were very generous in donating money. The four songs played were:

1. Come All You Weary
2. Stare at the Sun
3. Blood and Wine (from his solo album)
4. Hospital Beds (Cold War Kids cover)

Dustin finished the set and did a quick meet and greet with fans, signing autographs, and taking pictures. We waited for awhile, but then decided to run back to the bar to catch the last couple of innings of the Rangers-Cardinals game. It would prove to be one of the greatest comebacks, most exciting ball games I have ever witnessed. Every time the Cardinals looked like they were done for, BAM! CRACK! another clutch hit. Of course, they would go on to win the World Series in 7 games (repeating a similar comeback in that game as well). Nights like these, I wish I was a Cardinals' fan.  Oh well...

...we ran back to the Wrigley Field parking lot and there was Dustin, still shaking hands with a few remaining fans. While we waited for Dustin to take a few seconds with us, Donny and I were talking throughout the night about how ultra-religious Dustin is and how it's funny how a guy like me, with no current Christian or religious background can really enjoy their music without being offended.  I also mentioned to Donny that I can tell that the whole "being in a band and touring-thing" really was not that important in Dustin's life.  I also read an article on Alternative Press (December of 2011 issue to be on newstands display until December 5, 2011) where, in an interview, Dustin mentioned his role in charitable work and at his church in Orange County, CA. I shared with Donny my thoughts that I knew that something was going to happen with this band. 

Usually, when Christian bands, or bands where the members happen to be devout Christians, talk very passionately about their religious beliefs and bring attention to their work in their respective churches, you can pretty much bet that the band will either break up or go on indefinite hiatus (Slick Shoes and Subseven are examples I can think off the top of my head). On November 22, 2011, Thrice announced that they were taking a "break," but I knew a break-up when I read about one.

I'm beginning to think he signed my
ticket stub up-side-down (Personal Collection)

So I was explaining to Donny my "Jesus is more important than my band"-theory while we waited patiently for Dustin.  Donny was explaining to me about some book that he likes to use to dispel the thought processes of his atheist friends. I was wearing my Bad Religion t-shirt.  

Finally, my turn came up, and I was speechless. I believe I stammered something along the lines of, "I'm...uh...ummm... I mean.... such....good... thanks.... work....fan....music....like..." So I was star-struck, big deal!  Plus, the whole idea of Dustin being a devout Christian and me repping Bad Religion probably played in my head, but in the end, Dustin was a cool dude, very subdued. He took the time to take a picture with me and Donny and even signed my ticket stub. 

Seeing a great show with one of my favorite bands, watching an amazing baseball game, seeing Dustin play an unsanctioned show at a parking lot adjacent to Wrigley Field, and getting another autograph: nights don't get better than this folks....

All Ages Highlights II: Mike Herrera of MxPx (May/2011)

We went to a wedding and a "Punk Rawk Show" broke out!
Ladies and gentlemen, Mike Herrera of MxPx.
(Personal Collection)

Felipe M

The following is part of a series of music shows and events that I attended in the last year and half or so.  

May 27-30, 2011: Mike Herrera of MxPx Private Show--Lake Geneva, WI.

Spending three out of four weekends in May in the state of Wisconsin leaves me with a sickening feeling.  Nevertheless, it's worth going up there when I can't see some of these bands live in Chicago. In this instance, on Memorial Day Weekend of 2011, my buddy Jesse was getting married and I was part of his wedding.  The following is a quick chronicle of the Private Punk Rawk Show that broke out at his wedding. 

Jesse (left) on guitar;
Mike (right) on bass.
(Personal Collection)

Mike Herrera, lead vocalist/bassist of the band MxPx flew down from Bremerton, WA to perform during the "Happy Hour" portion of my friend's Jesse's wedding--except that Jesse didn't know anything about Herrera's arrival.  It was his wedding surprise, all planned out by his wife-to-be.

He thought he was getting an acoustic guitar from Herrera's folk music project, Tumbledown. As much as Jesse was content with the guitar, the look on his face when Herrera came out to greet his is simply, for lack of a better term, priceless.

From what I remember, Mike had flown into Chicago and was being driven to the small town resort of Lake Geneva, WI. He looked fatigued and hungry. None of us knew what to expect of the encounter.  Somebody handed Jesse his electric guitar, Mike took out his bass and what followed was an impromptu set, guitar lesson, and jam session all rolled into one as Jesse and Mike played what had to be 3 hours of MxPx's music catalog.  They literally could have played all night if it wasn't for the fact that, you know--there was a wedding to prepare for and poor Mike was still exhausted and hadn't eaten a thing since arriving in Wisconsin, but he was such a good and humbled sport about the whole ordeal as he toughened it out for our entertainment--one of the most lax people I have ever met.  And really, as an entertainer, Mike knew that the show had to go on, even it was in a small room of just about 20 people watching.  As I would later learn, Mike takes his musical obligations very seriously.

Some of the highlights:

• Announcing that he and MxPx were working on a new album (eventually being Plans Within Plans). 
• Giving us an inside scoop of the current music scene.
• Updating us on the band and its other members, Tom Wisniewski and Yuri Ruley, and how they're now providing and caring for their respective families.
• How he continues to tour without the band with Tumbledown and the MxPx All-Stars. 
• Basically, he explained how blessed he was for having the opportunity to perform for a living and will continue to tour and use his musical and songwriting talents.
• Performing two song requests from me: "Begin to Start" and "Teenage Politics"
• Mike tried setting me up to start doing the vocals for "Politics," but I forgot the words and choked.  The song was abruptly ended, understandably so.  

(Here's a video of my boy Jesse playing guitar and Mike playing bass.  The name of the song is "Heard that Sound" by MxPx.)

Yours Truly on the left.
Mike was definitely dressed for the occasion as well
(Personal Collection)

As mentioned before, Mike was there to do a one hour solo acoustic set before the wedding.  The one song that stuck out that he did play was "Final Slowdance," which I always thought was appropriate for events such as these.  A lot of people at the wedding who never heard of Mike or MxPx came out very impressed and quickly became fans.

Eventually, I did have, what proved to be a very long conversation with Mike.  After praising his work as a musician and thanking him for creating music that people like me can relate to--despite the fact that I am not a Christian and MxPx has always had the label of a Christian Band--we began having a conversation about stuff.  Lots and lots of stuff.  With respect to Mike, I was not conducting an interview and if I was somebody of importance, we would have been speaking "off the record," but I will try to tip-toe the major issues that were discussed over whiskey and tequila drinks.

• Found out we have something in common: we both enjoy listening to Bad Religion. 
• His close relationship with the bands Thursday and Strike Anywhere. 
• What it means to be part of a band that has been labeled as a "Christian band." 
• I shared with him, that despite not being a Christian myself, that I enjoy listening to bands like Emery and August Burns Red. Again, he reminded me that he likes Bad Religion.
• How he and Chuck Ragan's acoustic music differ despite both coming from punk rock backgrounds. 
• We discussed the pros and cons of technology on the music industry. He explained that there was more exposure, but getting paid as a musician was a lot harder to achieve despite Internet services claiming that they pay a percentage to musicians for letting them use their music for their streaming and downloading services (which is really not news as many bands can attest to this fact). 
• In the August 2012 issue of Alternative Press, he had a more optimistic and detailed view about technology being used as a beneficial tool to succeed as a musician. 
• The real highlight--Mike telling me that I have a place to crash the next time I visit Seattle, Washington. Don't know if he was serious or if I should take his invite with a grain of salt, but I considered it a small victory as annoying as I must have been with all my questions.  Plus it gives me another reason to go back to Seattle.  
• Of course, was able to get his autograph. 

Mike proved to be a very cool, humbled, patient, guy who thankfully, takes his craft seriously.  He's gone through his ups and downs in 2012 (gear stolen in Vancouver), but continues to tour, all over the world--most recently, he went to Australia to play bass for Goldfinger. We at Pathological Hate continue to wish him lots of luck and I personally wish to thank him again for a very memorable wedding in late May. 

Great to meet you too, Mike!--Felipe M (Personal Collection)