Listen to your "Hang Over Cure" with Ben Houston Sundays from 12n-6pm
Free Music Weekend
“Hangover Cure” – Get advise every Sunday on how to cure that pesky hangover from Saturday night. Ben Houston is not a doctor, but he knows some voodoo and use to hang out in hospitals for free brownies.
If you have your own Hang Over Cure Remedy email it to Ben Houston at hangovercure@live.com and spread the good word!
“Damn the Man” – Guess what is illegal every Sunday. Weird laws across the USA, you get informed and a chance to win tickets, cds, and other Surf S.W.A.G..
The Same Ten Questions We Ask Everyone
1. What one item in the kitchen best describes you and your personality?
A bottle of Texas Pete, I go with most things
2. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?
Wrigley Field, in the scoreboard
3. What super-power would you most like to have and why?
Super speed like The Flash, damn these gas prices and I hate to be late.
4. If they made a movie of your life, who would you want to play you?
Early Years = young Ron Howard, later years = Danny Bonaduce
5. Are you a morning or night person?
I love the nightlife, I like to boogie
6. What's the weirdest thing you eat at home?
Mac N Cheese w/ crumbled up Pringles, bacon bits, green pepper, and of course some Texas Pete, on toast
7. What cartoon character would you be?
Shaggy, Zoinks!!!
8. What's the worst job you've ever had?
Stock boy at a supermarket, 5am Sunday mornings
9. If you could have a camel, a gorilla, or a terradactyl, which would you want?
Gorilla, he is the only one I could high-five
10. What dead Rockstar would you like to sit down and have a drink with?
Of course Jim Morrison (Mr Mojo Risin).
Latest Musical Events Attended:
January 10
The Venue = Front Street Brewery
The Band = Back Seat Confidential
Cover = Donation to Breast Cancer Foundation
Taylor had told me that Back Seat Confidential was more than enough reason to go to this year's Mugs for Jugs. Taylor was right. Five rockin chicks covering AC/DC perfectly with their own sugar & spice on it. Gave me goosebumps. Can't wait to see those girls again. My only knock is that no one was raging in front of the stage. However, I blame myself for that.
Songs that stood out = Big Balls, Let there be Rock
The Venue = Front Street Brewery
The Bands = The Clams, Bibis
Cover = $3
I originally went to Front Street strictly for the Clams. Upstairs in FSB's new Beam Room, a new version of the Clams was playing, let's just call them the Blams. The Blams had a unique sound. Their lead singer was female with a Mazzy Starrish voice. Oh, and she played the Cello. The Clams came out in full force later and rocked it Clam style. The best thing about the Clams, hardly any pause between songs.
Downstairs at FSB was a little bonus. A big bonus I should say. The huge voice of Bibis was set up next to the brew vats belting out awesome songs from Janis, Stevie Nix, Natlie Cole, and many other awesome renditions. It is safe to say Miss Bibis has the best voice in town, maybe in the state, and maybe in the US.
Songs that stuck out = Blams - Harvest Moon, Bibis - Piece of My Heart
October 09
The Venue = Soapbox
The Band = ASG
Price = $12
The Soapbox took in the ones with no reason to celebrate Riverfest downtown. No elephant ears sold here. Just cheap beer and all you can eat Metal. Body odor and thick beards filled the room. ASG started at their usual after midnight slot. They opened with a new tune the crowd loved. Then they ripped old classics that created a sea of dangerous moshing. I needed a dose of ASG. It had been too long.
Song that stuck out: Right Death Before !!!
July 09
The Venue = Black Horn
The Band = Adam Pitts
Price = No Cover
I have found the best local act, pound for pound, in Wilmington. Adam Pitts is a one man show that blows you away. He uses a track recorder to loop bass-lines and drum beats to cover any song you can think of. Not only is he a whiz at guitar, but he also rocks like Amadeus on the keys. I was warned about him before he played and did not believe the hype. He lived up to the hype more than an 18 year old Lebron James. I am looking forward to seeing him jam again.
Songs that stood out = Buckcherry's Crazy Bitch, Dr. Dre's This & That, Outkast's Caroline, Weezer's Surf Wax USA, MJ's Billy Jean, and a plethora of Red Hot Chili Peppers
May 09
The Venue = Port City Pub
The Band = Red Capricorn, Zero Down
Price = $10
A plethera of local bands and fans packed the PCP. Taylor was in the house representing SURF with Lamb of God tickets everyone wanted. We both showed up at the ass-end of Red Cap's set. They sounded deece, and boy are they young-ins. Check their ID's. Kudos to kids getting together and starting a band. We need more young guns like them in this world who are not afraid to put their balls out there for the sake of rocking. Zero Down was a fan favorite. They have an Alice & Chains quality that everyone digs. All-in-all, the show established that there is still plenty of local talent in South East North Carolina. And there is no short of crazy old guys who get tanked by paying for cheap Schlitz with nickels and pennies.
Apr 09
The Venue = House of Blues
The Band = 311
Price = $28
Making the journey to the HOB from Wilmington is no problem, especially for 311. This marks my 6th 311 concert of my life. They did all the right things, as usual. Opened with Beautiful Disaster, did the drum ensemble, and Peanut "beat that thang." I had the best seat in the house. I was on the rail of the rightside bar with my girl in front of me and some strange chick getting naked to my 4 o'clock. Perfect.
Songs that stood out = (New single) Hey You (which sounds tons better live), Beyond the Grey Sky, (who am I kidding, every song was dope)
The Venue = Hell's Kitchen
The Band = Organix
Price = $5
Does anyone NOT like Organix? The personnel looked a little different but they still push out the some old "Roots-sounding" vibe that everyone dances to. I doubt he was part of the act, but a guy in a Canadian tuxedo was in the audience playing a harmonica (that no one could hear). He had a case of Funk Fever that could not be cured w/o more cowbell. So Organix gave him some cowbell. Organix added a caucasion brother who plays the keys and sings like Stevie Wonder to the mix. It works! They sounded great and the crowd was hype.
Songs that stood out = Relax Settle Down, Gnarls Barkley cover Crazy
Mar 09
The Venue = Battleship Park
The Band = 3rd Eye Blind
Price = $25, but so worth it
On the Monday before the show, I heard they were changing venues from Marrz to the Battleship. I then started to think about what a horrible decision that was. Sell out Marrz and cram that joint. I showed up to the Battleship with ill thoughts in mind. I got there right as "Graduate" was being played. The crowd was completely into it. The sound was crisp. They may have sounded better live than any band I have ever heard. Every lyric, riff, beat was audible. The backdrop of Downtown Wilmington and the river were emaculate. It was truly a beazutiful scene. The only beef I had about the place was that there needed to be way more port-a-potties. I was a "once-in-a-blue-moon" listener of 3rd eye blind before the show. Now, I have nothing bad to say about that band. They are true Rock veterans who know how to write and perform a song. If you were thinking of swimming in the Cape Fear River, DON'T. Men and Women made it their toilet Friday night.
Songs that stood out = The Classic Hits & the new one about his ex-girl
The Venue = Bottega
The Band = The Clams
Price = No Cover
Experience = The place was packed and some people had to watch from outside. There was probably 25 people there. The Clams were sounding great. The clarinet was on fire and the drummer did a bang up job. (that is the cheesiest joke I have made so far this month) The drummer's attire looked like he just got done digging ditches. He has a blue-collar style everyone wants to relate to. The Clams have muffled vocals that sound great. You can't understand all of the lyrics but who cares. Halfway through the show a Sammy Davis Jr looking fellow walked in and had a funk fever. He was dancing all over the place. Sometimes he would come up to you and sing a spiritual "whooooaaaoooaahhh." He made my night. The Clams thought he was great.
Songs that stood out = Coke Woman, Runaway
Feb 09
The Venue = The Palm Room
The Band = ASG
Price = $5
Experienece = I showed up with Peter Tosh. I told him if he loved reggae that he would love ASG. I was lying but I needed someone to go with. The place was jammed with youth. Luckliy I know a bartender there to keep feeding Tosh Red Stripe, that way he wouldn't mind the heavy metal wasn't reggae. ASG rocked, for some reason they sound the best at the Palm Room. Later in the evening, they were about to play "Gallop Song" until the mosh pit spilled on stage and messed up a wire or two causing this ear ruining ring. They had to start that song over and get a "crowd control" lackey to manage the front row. People get nuts when ASG is on their home turf of the Palm Room. I predicted they would, that is why Tosh and I chilled in the back with a chocolate labrador. I don't know whose dog it was but that dog loved ASG, most dogs do. Oh and just one more thing; If ASG is at the Palm Room, do not try to play pool. You are embarrassing yourself if you do.
Songs that stood out = Horsewhipper, Right Death Before, Motorhead cover 'Ace of Spades'
The Venue = Slick & Red's
The Band = G-Rated
Price = No Cover
Experience = A mix of college youngsters in a beer pong delirium. Red's son was doing a one-man-show behind the bar. G-Rated handled the crowd with grace, even when some girl in love with Sir-Mix-a-Lot insisted on singing "Big Butts" on stage. The place wasn't packed or dead. Perfect sized crowd for that place, enough people to see someone you knew and not too many where you can still shoot pool w/o asking someone to get the hell out of your way.
Songs that Stick Out = B.I.G. cover "Juicy", The old school Rap medley, and Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher."
