File: September 2006
Hot off the heels of last year’s Devil’s Playground, Billy Idol keeps the product chain coming with a concert DVD recorded at the somewhat-rundown-but-oh-so-punk-rock Congress Theatre.
The July 28th show was basically a hits set featuring an even more animated than usual, bleach blond ringleader and his raucous band, anchored by famed guitarist Steve Stevens. The one time Generation X leader was spot-on in covering his core classics, which included “Dancing With Myself,” “Flesh For Fantasy,” “Eyes Without A Face,” and “White Wedding.” During these segments, the crowd couldn’t have been happier, pumping their fists for the cameras that swirled like helicopters overhead and regularly reaching out for Idol’s sweat-drenched torso.
Yet the experience turned trying come his failed acoustic ballad, “Sweet Sixteen,” an unnecessary cover of Van Halen’s “Jump,” and the incredibly grating (despite being monumentally popular) “Mony Mony” — three suggestions for editors to consider come the cutting room. All could’ve been dropped in favor of the shockingly absent “Cradle Of Love,” though fans were forgiving, since after all they not only got to shout “more, more, more” with a “Rebel Yell,” but scored 15 minutes of fame.
— Andy Argyrakis
Trouble In Paradise
Forget Travis and Shanna, or the Chris/Kate/Owen triangle, MTV.com wants to know “Why are so many bands leaving the Warped Tour?” Punk rock, the oxymoronic family for outcasts, doesn’t appear to be as us-against-them as it used to be; now it’s us-against-us. Thursday singer Geoff Rickly blames the kids. “The number of younger bands is much higher, and they seem to think they’re the shit and all the older bands are has-beens or whatever.” Underoath was frequently under attack from NOFX‘s Fat Mike, and Chicagoland’s Spitalfield dropped off — after four years of trying to get on — after announcing the departure of guitarist Dan Lowder. (Spitalfield has a new album due October 3rd.) Fat Mike took exception to From First To Last, whom he says “came on the tour like total rock stars, and everyone alienated them.” But Rickly had this parting advice for hotshots: “Just because you write a few pop songs and maybe get on the radio, you’re not given the world.”
Smooth Move
House music pioneer, multiple Grammy nominee, and Chicagoan Steve “Silk” Hurley was honored by the Chicago Chapter Of The Recording Academy as a Living Legend on August 10th. Hurley was greeted at Cabaret by music from Maurice Joshua, Lady D, and DJ Skip.
— Steve Forstneger
