Breaking News: Rocklahoma Side Stages Collapse

PRYOR, Oklahoma - Two side stages collapse at Rocklahoma 2008 when a severe summer storm blasted the area. The Tulsa World reports one person sustained a broken arm.

The severe storm sent thousands of people to tents for cover, most seeking refuge in the "VIP" tent. Despite the storm, only concert attendees with wristbands were allowed into the VIP tent, perhaps the most sturdy structure at Rocklahoma. Strong wind gusts whipped through the area, peeling apart tent flaps, allowing rushing water into the area.

The Tri-Label and Retrospect Records stages both completely collapsed. Damage estimates are unknown.

Thousands of attendees trampled through standing water, uncertain of the evening's outcome. 

Update: concert has resumed as of 8:44 C.S.T.

 

 

Rocklahoma 2008 - Friday

Rocklahoma continues and - thanks to the heat - the mud is finally drying. This isn't to say the grounds are not a mess, - because they still are - and the smell of drying mud in an open field next to some port-a-potties is pretty darn disgusting. I'm not sure the festival has enough port-a-potties to handle the load...many look like they haven't been serviced. Considering the heat...well, you get the idea.

The Friday Rocklahoma line-up looks like this:

XYZ, Armored Saint, Kingdom Come, Living Colour, Night Ranger, Extreme and Triumph. Of these bands, I was most interested in Extreme - but Armored Saint blew everyone out of the water. I didn't watch XYZ, but my husband did take pictures. Some of my friends who were down front for XYZ say they were great! Many seemed shocked that such an early band could pull out a tight performance. Of course, if those same people had seen Armored Saint I'm sure they would agree with me that they owned the Rocklahoma main stage.

Armored Saint performed "March of the Saints," Delirious Nomad," "Reign of Fire," "Creepy Feelings," "Tribal Dance," "Last Train Home," "Symbol of Salvation," "Mad House," and "Can U Deliver." Hearing these songs live is the true essence of Metal. There wasn't any filler, any worthless stage banter...no crap.  The sound was great, the band seemed tight and John Bush was running around like a mad man! When I looked around, I did notice the venue was pretty empty but I suppose that is because of the early time slot.

After Armored Saint the heat was pretty oppressive, so I took refuge inside a tent for awhile. Back out into the heat I went for Kingdom Come. I was not impressed. Ok, so I'm not a huge Kingdom Come fan but I will give any band a chance to impress. So, the Germans flew all the way to America to stand in a hot mud pit and I figure "This is going to be good." Nope. To my knowledge, the band's most famous song is "Get It On," but they played this mid-way through the set, and I swear everyone was sitting down, talking, using their cell phones...Singer Lenny Wolf kept tuning his guitar "because of the humidity." My husband asked me if that meant every other band was just playing out of tune. I snorted. My traveling partner and regular Bring Back Glam! commenter Christian snorted. The people behind me may have also snorted!

Living Colour performed after Kingdom Come. I'm not sure if the sound was mixed exactly right, but I have to say that this is a very talented band of musicians. Finally some dancing music! By the time Living Colour performed it was peak dinner hour, but the venue still looked decently full. When Living Colour played "Cult of Personality" it was like Rocklahoma had once again come alive. Of course, the songs went over better than the stage banter. At one point singer Corey Glover said "...and Barack Obama will be the next president!" This was met with a few boos and then silence. I swear, it was eerily quiet for a rock festival. I, however, yelled my support.

I recently interviewed Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger so I was most looking forward to their performance. Here's what they played:

This Boy Needs to Rock
Sing Me Away
You're Gonna Hear From Me
Rock in America
Coming of Age (Damn Yankees)
Sentimental Street
Touch of Madness
Eddie's Comin' Out Tonight
When You Close Your Eyes
Sister Christian
Don't Tell Me You Love Me

Now, if any band came close to Armored Saint, it's Night Ranger. It doesn't hurt that the band has two badass singers, or that everyone in the audience knew every word to every song. The highlight for me was the Damn Yankees cover - totally unexpected. Makes me wish I was seeing a Damn Yankees reunion this weekend. Good stuff.

So, Extreme have the honor challenge of following Night Ranger and they fell flat. Man, they were bad. I didn't see it happen, but my husband was in the photo pit and he swears he saw Gary Cherone walk into a camera man - get pissed - then slam his mic on stage and walk off. This must have been a quick exchange, because Extreme did play a full set...although it was quite delayed.  Anyway, they played a bunch of new crap songs and everyone sat down. They didn't play "Get the Funk Out" or "Pronograffiti."  They did play "Kid Ego," "It's a Monster," "More than Words," "Am I Ever Gonna Change," "Hole Hearted..." and "Communication Breakdown." Yep, they ended with a cover song. Now, Nuno Bettencourt is one hell of a guitarist. In fact, he's one of the best of the genre...but that doesn't mean he should play six or seven minute solos at a festival show. When he sat down with his guitar and just started playing, the people around me went nuts -- and not in a good way. They were screaming "Nobody cares!" "Playing the fucking song, already!" and "I'm bored!" Guess what? I was bored too. Little did I know my boredom was going to get a lot worse.

Triumph was booked a very long time ago as a headliner. I went to their delayed press conference...only to learn they were excited to play America again. The best part of the press conference was hearing why they were late: apparently their limo driver was pulled over for expired tags, speeding...and more.  They arrived in a limo so I have no idea if they switched drivers, switched cars, or hitched a ride with a rich Tulsa resident...but they did make it to the fest safely.

So, I was expecting a massive laser show as everyone was hyping the fact that Triumph brought their own lights. Well, hell - I have an itty bitty book light - does that make me special too? Anyway, they played a lot of really long songs including "Lay It On the Line," "Allied Forces," "Rocky Mountain Way," "Blinding Light Show," "Hold On" and "Magic Power." They played more but I left. I was seriously having trouble staying awake and there were more interesting things to do over in a friend's camp area. The addition of a cover tune baffled me, but I have to admit it was a high point of the set. At least everyone could sing the words and people actually stood for a few minutes. The mass exodus during Triumph was pretty brutal. Looking into the crowd, you could see massive spaces of empty seats. I will say hearing "Magic Power" live was cool enough, but I just don't think Triumph was the right band for the crowd at Rocklahoma.

 

 

Rocklahoma 2008 - Thursday

After a *very* early flight, I finally landed in Tulsa, Oklahoma for Rocklahoma 2008. It's odd how you can look forward to something for so long, and then when the moment/event/experience finally happens, you don't quite know what to think.

This year, Rocklahoma organizers added a couple bands before the Thursday pre-party because the Rock n' Roll Fantasy Camp stopped in Pryor. I wasn't at the pre-pre party because of work, but literally everyone I've talked to has said both RATT and Faster Pussycat were very good, especially when compared to their respective performances of last year.

On Thursday, these artists performed:

Jet Boy, House of Lords, Vain, Enuff Z' Nuff, LA Guns, Dokken, Sebastian Bach and Bret Michaels. In all irony, this pre-day bill actually shaped up to be about my favorite of the entire festival line-up, save maybe for the bands slated to perform on Saturday.

Just about the second I landed in Tulsa, Oklahoma it started raining. It started raining really hard. I mean, it was bad. It had rained on Wednesday too, so I knew the grounds were already flooded - but I was not prepared for what I saw when I finally made it inside the festival gate.

Rocklahoma 2008 is a true swamp. It's July in Oklahoma, so it was already hot but standing water and rain complicated issues. Festivals are typically drawn out across large parts of open fields - Rocklahoma is no different. To get to the restrooms port a potties, you have to literally wade across acres of land. Trust me when I say this is no easy task. By the end of the night, I had mud in places I can't tell you about, my demin mini- was covered...and it took a 25 minute shower just to hose down.

The show must go on, and it did. Since I had to check-in to the media area, I missed some of the earliest performances in their entirety. Of what I heard of Vain, I was semi-impressed. Davy Vain sounded fairly decent, but was having a hard time getting the crowd whipped up because of the rain and mud. In fact, I'd say there were not more than 500 people watching Vain, which is sort of sad. I'm also told there were even less for Jet Boy. I missed them myself because of a hotel crisis, but that's neither here nor there.

Enuff Z' Nuff with Donnie Vie sounded really good! I'll be the first to admit I'm not a major Enuff Z' Nuff fan, but I was impressed with what I heard. Of course, they played "Fly High Michelle" and were also joined by Steven Adler for a cover of "Come Together" and then Joe Leste of Bang Tango for "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Both covers got the crowd pretty pumped and I have to admit Steven Adler looked both happy and together behind the drum kit. Later in the night I saw Chip Z' Nuff riding around the festival grounds in a golf cart. Perhaps I should have jumped on and avoided the mud...

I was most interested in LA Guns. Marty Casey just joined the band and I couldn't wait to hear his voice. The LA Guns press conference was pretty darn anticlimactic, with Tracii saying something along the lines of "This is the real LA Guns." The band also said their new CD would be out sometime in 2009. I have to admit that when LA Guns took the main stage, they tore it up. Here's the set list:

No Mercy
Sex Action
Fire It Up
One More Reason
Wish You Were Here (cover dedicated to the troops)
Ballad of Jayne
Shut the Fuck Up (performed by Jeremy Guns)
Electric Gypsy
Trees
Never Enough
Rip and Tear

I can't express just how much Marty Casey impressed me during his performance. Tracii's version of LA Guns always put forth a really energetic show, and yesterday was no different. New guitarist Alec Bauer really meshes well with Tracii and this extra instrument really pushed the sound envelope for the band. After Jeremy Guns performed "Shut the Fuck Up" he blew his bass rig and then it was never really back to par after that but it didn't seem to matter. I know some people have problems with the LA Guns feud, but it is what it is, and if you like the band or the music, you might as well embrace the situation. I will say right here, right now that LA Guns gave the best performance of the day. Argue with me if you want, but I stand by that declaration.

When it came time for the National Anthem, a 12 year old kid named "Jack the Ripper" handled the duties. Obviously the kid can play if he was tasked with such an honor. The fans were very receptive to him as well, and that's one thing I'll give to everyone in attendance at Rocklahoma: the vibe is so happy and laid back, everyone feels welcome. I feel confident that Jack the Ripper has a long career in music ahead of him. His long hair is only an added bonus.

Dokken was up next. Don Dokken seemed cheerful enough and kept referencing last year's Rocklahoma, so maybe the fest made an impact on his life. By this time, the crowd was really starting to fill up and it was pretty hilarious watching a man one aisle from me air guitar his way through the entire set. I mean, the man never rested! Back on stage, Dokken performed:

Kiss of Death
Into the Fire
The Hunter
Dream Warriors
Unchain the Night
Just Got Lucky
Alone Again
Breakin' The Chains
It's Not Love
Tooth and Nail
In My Dreams

At about the mid-point of the show, Don Dokken stopped and said "Rock n' roll is a spiritual thing - sing along and we become one." Well, of course everyone in the place sang alone to "Alone Again." It's a phenomenon really: watching thousands of strangers, sing and sway to the same song. Don's quote is a little cheesy but 100% accurate.

Dokken and Sebastian Bach are on tour with Poison this summer. By the time the set changed and Bach was on stage, the VIP area of seating at Rocklahoma was darn full. I don't have Bach's entire set because I had to use the facilities muddy port-a-potty, but here's some of the songs: "Back in the Saddle," "Slave to the Grind," "18 and Life," "American Metalhead," "Love is a Bitchslap," "By Your Side," "Monkey Business," "You Don't Understand," "I Remember You," "Youth Gone Wild," and more. Now, something that has always fascinated me about Bach is the way he performs.All the way back to the beginning of Skid Row, Bach would clench the mic, turn sideways and scream. All these years later, this is still his signature stance. I have to give Bach credit, even with some sound issues, he sounded good. He can clearly still hit those high notes and sustain his famous scream. He was whipping his head all over the place and sweating up a storm. In fact, my husband received a sweat bath while he watching from the photo pit.

By this time the crowd is good and excited. During Bach's set I had to check on Bret's press conference...which was cancelled. I wonder if that is because of the pay meet and greet? Anyway, Bret's set change was the longest. Pretty soon Pete Evick and the rest of the Bret Michaels Band came out - on their own - and performed "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." I think people were generally confused, but this was a decent enough stall tactic. After this, Bret's roadies popped in Appetite for Destruction and the crowd was treated to "Welcome to the Jungle." Too bad the CD kept skipping... 

Finally, Bret took the stage and performed:

Talk Dirty To Me
Look What the Cat Dragged In
Sweet Home Alabama
Driven
Something to Believe In
Unskinny Bop
Bittersweet
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
What I Like About You
Your Mama Don't Dance
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Fallen Angel
Nothin' But A Good Time (with Crooked X)

Bret sounded really hoarse last night, but he got the job done. As an added bonus, Bret had on a literal ton of eye liner. I guess he figured he needed an extra coat because of the heat.  I'm not really sure the need for four cover tunes, though. I would think people would genuinely rather hear Bret's solo songs as opposed to cover tunes - especially the ones he hasn't recorded with Poison! Naturally, just about everyone at the show was singing along as the set was rounding into  home. The Bret Michaels Band seemed to match Bret's enthusiasm which is good at a festival show. After people have stood in the heat for eight hours, it takes a lot to keep people entertained.

I left after Bret because I'd been awake for 24 straight hours at that point. Today, I hope to catch more of the side stage bands...as long as the standing water is gone. My hope is that Catch the Fever trucked in some straw or sawdust overnight to absorb the muck. More later. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bret Michaels Excitement

I'm really excited to see Bret Michaels tonight at Rocklahoma. I just received a copy of his greatest hits disc Rock My World and I have to admit I  think it's pretty good. I've always loved the song "Raine" so maybe he'll break from the Poison mold a little and add that song to his set.

I see Poison every time they come around my area. This year, that means the tour is rolling into southern Ohio in mid-August. Thing is, I've never actually been to a Bret Michaels solo gig. I mean, I've been to club shows where C.C. DeVille jumps on stage and plays guitar with a house band or something, but that's about as close as it gets.

The Bret solo machine is rolling these days. He's got a lot going for him, thanks to the trash show Rock of Love on Vh1 Classic. 

Bret seems to come off as a genuine guy, but he sure does a lot of those pay-to-meet-me sort of gigs. Actually, he's doing one tonight after his Rocklahoma performance - for 100 bucks a head. The event is sold-out, and no I am not going nor did I try to get tickets. I will, however, try to meet Bret in the media tent. For free.

I've heard rumor the rest of Poison will come out for a song or three tonight. I'm not sure I believe that - after all, can we be sure money changed hands or the stage was designed for such an occasion? At any rate, I hope the rumors are true. I think that's the best of both worlds: Bret gets to show off his abilities as a solo artist, and then the members of the band who made him famous get some credit, too.

At any rate, here are a couple of my favorite Bret solo songs. Hopefully I'll land at Rocklahoma in one piece.

Here's "Raine."

Here's "Go That Far." The rap part of this song freaks me out a little...I wonder if he does that live?

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Click the link above - you have to actually sign up and follow me, or you won't get alerts. The alerts come two ways: online and on your cell phone. These cell messages should be free, but please check your contract if you are not sure. No point in running up a bill!

I look forward to providing the most comprehensive Rocklahoma coverage on the Internet.

Motley Crue Swag Up for Grabs

It has turned into giveaway week here at Bring Back Glam! Today, I have some nice Motley Crue items to celebrate the release of Saints of Los Angeles and Crue Fest. Up for grabs: a copy of Motley's biography The Dirt, some copies of Saints of Los Angeles and a big poster. 

How do you win? Send me cupcakes! Ok, seriously - answer this trivia question:

Nikki Sixx messed up his shoulder pretty bad around 1983. Matthew John Trippe maintains that he was approached by Motley management to fill in as Sixx since Nikki was apparently "incapacitated." Trippe also claims to have written some of Motley's most famous songs - and even sued the band for back royalties at one point. What are the six songs Trippe claims to have written? (Hint: one of the tunes is my favorite Motley Crue song).

If you think you know the answer, send an email to allyson@bringbackglam.com by Friday,  July 11 at 11:59 p.m. E.S.T. Please put "Motley contest" in the subject line of your entry. Good luck.

Update on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 01:46PM by Allyson B. Crawford

Winners are always contacted by email - I don't post lists here. I'll draw the names tonight. I was at Rocklahoma and didn't have time to draw names while traveling, so please be patient.

The correct answer to the question:

What are the six songs Matthew Trippe claims to have written? 

The answer:

1. Wild Side
2. Dancin' on Glass
3. Danger
4. Girls, Girls, Girls
5. Knock Em' Dead Kid
6. Youre All I need

If you're a winner, you'll receive an email from me by midnight July 15, 2008.  

Big Break?

Why do some bands hit it big and others just sort of get passed over by the label machine? Right now, you're probably thinking "Allyson, why are you still so naive? Why do you believe bands are signed based on merit and not luck and connections?"

Well, I'm a romantic.

So there.

I still believe true talent rises to the top of just about every industry and eventually it's that skill that separates the wheat from the chaff.

In all seriousness, I always wonder why certain Glam bands got major deals and why others were sort of passed over despite having a good sound, cool look and great songs.

Since Glam is back in style these days, a few labels are popping up to promote classic 80s bands that never really got a fair shake at the big time. We already know a lot of these bands are slated for side stages at both Rocklahoma and the South Texas Rock Fest...and most likely Rock the Bayou. The fact that a promoter wishes to book such bands tells me there is a definite market for Glam talent. So, why can a band like Blue Tiger play a side stage at a major festival now...but couldn't break big back in the day when the genre was huge?

So, was it truly a case of right place, right time for bands like Winger and Warrant or was it just a sign of the times? Sure, bands like Quiet Riot, Motley Crue and W.A.S.P. most definitely came first, but they presented a unique sound that the second wave of Glam manipulated and turned into almost a new subgenre. Most would agree you can cut classic Glam into three waves, starting with the early 80s and going through '85 and then to '88 and finally ending with the early '90s bands to about 1992. In each case, the bands were Glam but had a distinct sound...presumably label sharks were looking to replicate that sound to cash in big.

Ok, fine. Replicate the sound, therefore we've got a genre we all know and love. The guitar tone of Glam bands is so recognizable, it takes just a few bars of music to determine the genre. The same is true of grunge, thrash and alternative Metal just as it is for rap and country. So, why are certain bands signed and others unfairly passed over for no seemingly good reason?

Alleycat Scratch and Big Bang Babies are good examples of talented bands being ignored. Perhaps it was just the time they hit the scene, but I still think there's some mystical factor between bands and the machine. Hell, maybe it is luck. I just wonder if a band like Nickelback would have landed a deal in 1988? Would they have been as successful as they are today?