Big Wreck - Ghosts - I Digress

Since I've had the opportunity to hear these tracks in the making, it gives me pleasure to be able to share my written impressions with y'all (with Big Wreck's blessings - of course). I can't wait 'til we can ALL share our thoughts on this and all the others. I'll have MUCH more coming.... never been this excited!

Well, this was leaked on TSN's NHL this past weekend so I've been given the go to post up some description.

I Digress

It's not often you hear the phrase "I digress" in rock music. But that's why we dig Ian's writing so much. As he has many times before, maybe this time better than ever, he takes that Zep shadow and light approach to high conclusion. The song kicks off with a modern rock riff pinched like "Rest of the World" only tighter. Dueling with the crunch is a stabby pattern that made me think of Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme. Everything is like chiseled points of sound calling and responding as Ian sings of an internal battle that has been raging for a long time. We've got dueling guitars doing call and response with the bass while the drumming rolls over the top repeatedly.

Is it imagination or jealousy?

My intuition failing me?

I'm gonna throw up from so much pride!

As he elongates his "priiiide" he lays those long deep bent sweeping Pagian notes… lots of tension is building… As if all this thinking is driving him mad!

Now the song transitions into "classic" rock mode for a bar with some Who-ish chords and a standard 4-4 beat (is that cowbell?) but just for a taste to set up the bouncy Brit-Pop chorus..

He's never gonna know what we've been through

He'll never open you

As I digress, I need tenderness

As I digress

And I MEAN bounce! Davey's bass playing propels this section as Ian's Beach Boy best croons over the top! It sooo catchy and warm you just want it to stay… it feels like LOVE!

But don't get comfortable… you're about to DIGRESS! 

Don't let 'em iiinnnnn!

Now we've got the mania firing in all directions… this episode more frantic than the last…. 

Another walk through that dumb classic rock riffage as Ian lays it out…

Another idiot smiles and comments on your eyes

Whoever he is, he don't know yoouuuuu

And we're in love again… all chiming guitars and "oooohh-ooooo"s. It's such a schizophrenic song.

Back into the mayhem which has been turned up to a blistering pace. Davey is VERY Entwistle here Chuck Keeping doing fierce crescendos while POUNDING the beat! Out of this whirlwind stomps that Who inspired power chord that reminds me of  Ram Jam's "Old Black Betty". This section thumps up to the cliff and launches into this beautiful blue ocean sized vocal "YOUUUU!"

In midair it's caught by the pop section and lands softly in love… but wait… does mania win? In Big Wreck's world evidently it does. Love is the digression. 

As the hard beat lays the foundation, the cry of "DON"T LET EM IN!" wails out! Then they start the slow burn. Deliberate riffing plays under a long tortured solo that slithers up out of the mix. It undulates around and in between the riffing. Other guitars come up to support while still more make counterpoint. The layers build as the solo become more furious. The whole thing builds like a speed metal sprint while Ian plays triplets higher and higher, adding voice after voice. It seems like there must be 10 guitars cascading! Definitely born out of the extended Come Again road version with guitars locking in! THIS is a guitar wanking at it's BEST! 

Big Wreck - Ghosts - Hey Mama

Since I've had the opportunity to hear these tracks in the making, it gives me pleasure to be able to share my written impressions with y'all (with Big Wreck's blessings - of course). I can't wait 'til we can ALL share our thoughts on this and all the others. I'll have MUCH more coming.... never been this excited!

Yep, it's the one we all know, but on an incomparably different plane....

Hey Mama
I used to love this track called Hangman's Jury by Aerosmith. It starts out on a backwoods porch just harmonica and an old slide acoustic and progresses through a modern treatment, building instruments, vocals and power as it grows; acknowledging it's Rn'R roots while infusing it with raw power. Well, Hey Mama started out as a straight up Zep tribute back when it was a solo demo by Ian, leaked in '02. While the original demo had tons of heart (a fan favorite) it only hinted at what would become of this track.

THIS is the game changer IMHO. Many times a demo is infused with an immediacy that gives it life and then it gets mushed in rendering it to final. Full production robs it of it's original vibrancy and power. Well not so with this Mama! The rootsy guitar pattern, the droning background chords, the tasty mandolin echo the same Appalachian mountain music that inspired Zep originally. Ian rasps "Hey Mama, hear me holler! Hey Mama, watch me pray! I buried you out in the backyard, I hung you high in a tree, yeah that was ME". This is some creepy backwoods drama about to throw down. Shadowing the vocal lines the guit/mando/drone heaps layer upon layer until a MASSIVE stuttering drum beat kicks it to life.

So full, so powerful…. background vocals or effects laden guitar patterns fill in behind the lines "An empty house on a hillside, An empty boat on the sea" and it's bouncy, familiar and otherworldly all at once. Like when Jimmy Page played that boogie pattern in the beginning of Celebration Day on Zep III. It was just sooo from-another-planet yet firmly based in the delta blues. Mama continues this Celebration tradition in the BEST possible way. You can't help but dance along while the song goes on about betrayal and loss. Chuck's furious drumming and absolutely bouncy baseline (Dave McMillan channeling JPJ) gives this track a life not heard from Big Wreck since The Oaf. As a matter of fact, I think it out does The Oaf in it's pure Zep spirit!

As it hits it's stride "She forgot about forever, and I'm stuck in yesterday" what's that?… Beatle-esque Octopuss's Garden "la, la, las" or guitar lines? Whatever it is, it adds soo much body and mood! You cannot help but get up and just ROCK!

As Ian screams "HEAR ME HOLLAR!" the band does one of those Pagian throwaway breakdowns just to loosen your spine. At full bore now this track hums along until a clipped "I'm STUCK in YESTERDAY!" spews and the first hair-stand-on-end moment comes.

Big Wreck have uncovered the most amazing lost Zep riff of all time. It's a down turning, elevating BEAST of a riff! You will head-bang and rock to this reflexively. And it's delivered with all the majesty, mystery and MASS that it deserves. All you want to do is hear it MORE… LOUDER…. and then…. tease…. the band drops into this sweet little slide eddie… just because they can…. light and dark… tight but loose…. nice warm summer vocals and mandolins…. the baseline to walk us out…. but, what happened to that riff? Where's that confounded riff?… Ian's was "stuck with yesterday" but now he launches into a mega "I'M STUCK WITH TODAY!" over the top of… THAT MASSIVE RIFF!

This riff is such a behemoth. It's the culmination of years of distilling Zep's essence, of playing the Immigrant Song in shows, of exorcizing that Pagian possession that Ian sang of in Overemphasizing and Defined by what We Steal. It has the majestic power of Kashmir, but DRIVES like the Immigrant Song.

The power thrown by the whole band into this ending is indeed worthy. The riff stomps, grinds, moans and groans over furious badass bass and Bonham-righteous drum flourishes while Plant-like guitar wails on the high end. The final chord rings on in afterglow with feedback and vocal like the last heaves of Godzilla. THIS is what Big Wreck is all about. THIS is what every Zep tribute from Heart's Barracuda to Rival Sons Pressure and Time ascribes to be. THIS is the 2 million hit youtube song. THIS is what my best bud (1st generation Zep-fan) said "If they had survived, THIS is what Zeppelin would be playin'!" You can't ask for a better endorsement. 'Nuff Said.

I see Ghosts

It's with the bands blessing that I post this to fill in the blanks for the faithful over the next few days... tip of the iceberg peeps, trust me.

Ghosts

Over a stripped down structure, killer baseline, a throwback disco beat, Floyd's picking pattern insert a big Thornley/Sumner chorus and you've got Ghosts. It's nearest rhythmic relative is Floyd's "Young Lust". Most of The Wall was in reaction/answer to the Disco revolution that was happening at the time; the driving beat that gripped pop music in the late 70's. It was completely anathema to rockers, but Floyd made it not only palatable, but kind of stamped the rock over the top of the whole scene. It is with this "ghost" that Big Wreck choses to dance. Ian's, respect for, and recognition of, Sting and the Police's echo of the same Floydian "ghosts", permeates the melody.

The subtlety throughout the track, from the delicate picking pattern that swells behind the verses, to the tight funk slide that kicks it off, shows a willingness to explore other flavors. Live, a little Floyd was sprinkled into the intro to Big Wreck's Ladylike over the years and now it's fair game for it's own tune.

Ian sings of longing for home, being bound by ghosts. As a musician carves out his own ground, among the influences that shape him, what does he call his own? Especially when they're drawn from ones that still reverberate today. It is a familiar Big Wreck theme, like Defined, from TPAG. It's a musical journey, but a personal one too. How do we escape the Ghosts of our DNA, or familial patterns we've inherited? Dust and light. Flesh and Spirit. Always a depth in the lyric that we expect from Ian.

As I said before, this is some different territory for Big Wreck. Not different process-wise, because it mines 70's prog for inspiration, like many BW classics have, but different because Big Wreck has never so boldly taken on disco/funk. Even if it comes though a Pink Floyd filter. And WOW what results! The spare sections of Beat and Bass set up Ian's sexy Roy Buchanan toned solos. The authenticity with which Chuck Keeping and Dave McMillan groove through this track belie their rock roots. You'd think they was funked out forever!

The huge chorus is forever burned in my mind, like it will be in yours. Melody rules on this album! The lines change in the last chorus as Ian is wont to do. And if my scars were tattoos, I could hide them in plain view… well he's doing it. The ride out is pure funk jam. Clean tone, sinewy lines, loose jam like Control and You Caught My Eye from Albatross with some tasty interplay.

Scars or influence; they're in plain view, and I for one, hope his Ghosts never let him go.

The Masters...

I've been given a short leash.....

Get ready!

Mastering is done. And I have had the privilege of hearing them. This is not your father's Big Wreck… although it is! 

It sooo much more deep and wide than anything that they've done before. There's catchy as hell melodies and choruses that will NEVER leave you. There are pieces of demos that you all know and love, stepping into the spotlight and having their moment to shine. There are warm lush classic tones and hard as steel grinds that give you the shakes. There are songs that distill the essence of the greats and take them to new places. There's even a Foos Springsteen song that opens a whole new door. And there's a cover! A cover sooo sublime and tasty that you would think a guest superstar was called in. There's emotional pleading, frustration explained, deep questions and realizations. There are breakneck turns, furious runs, slide guitars, steel guitars, acoustic guitars and electric guitars twinned, tripled and quadrupled! There are guitar sounds that you've never heard both in your face and floating in the atmosphere. There are pianos, keyboards, bongos, tabla, and sticks and drones, and drums and drums and drums! And "Ohhh that baseline!"… over and over again you'll find yourself saying! There's amazing lyrics to ponder and pine over. There's the familiar path and the totally unexpected turn. New directions and vibes touched on in Albatross are mined extensively from the mother load of creativity that is Big Wreck. There's power upon power upon power and afterglow to still the beating heart. There are echos of progressive greats, and rock royalty. There are never-ending solos that lounge luxuriously forever and tightly spun triplets sprinkled throughout. There's confident muscle and delicate beauty everywhere. There are gorgeously structured pop chops on display alongside waveform level deconstructed power chords. All rendered in an ultimate beauty of an album who's production values are magnificent! Vocal harmonies loosed upon power pop sections that'll make you feel like you are in another era. Layer upon crystal clear layer wrap your mind and take you on an aural journey that's more like a body high. There are multiple levels from which to encounter every revolution taken. There isn't a band around that can deliver an experience with the genre jumping breadth of this CD without sacrificing the heart and soul of the band. NO-ONE will be able to touch this stuff live. This is the Big Wreck full potential FINALLY being realized.

As We Go so goes Oswego

It is the aptly named, yet vastly understated, K-Rock "Dysfunctional" Family BBQ held at the Oswego Speedway for the first time this year. It's 40 minutes north of Syracuse where K-Rock broadcasts from. It's a good 5 hour drive for us from Jersey, but I used to go to school a hundred years ago in Syracuse so I was not unfamiliar with the area. Beautifully scenic ride through upstate NY. Great tunes and almost no traffic.

We brought the laptop, since I do not have a smartphone and this was our only means of communication with The Big Chris, BW's Security/asst TM/overall good vibe generator! It was only messages through email or FB since his phone service would be out in the States. Bet made sure that the B&B we were staying at had wifi. Right before leaving, TBC asked if I could pick them up some stuff, since they were not sure of the lay of the land and had no rider. Of course I said "No problem!" … now I'm shoppin' for the band! Who would say no?!

About an hour into the trip, after fastidiously knocking off each item on my list of things to bring and do, leaving a bit later than expected due to double checking EVERYTHING, Bet asks the inevitable… "Did you bring the tickets?"…… um, no…" "F-it! We're not going back!" I assure her that we'll get in. She's skeptical, but a captive. This better come off or I'm in deep shit.

We arrive in Oswego and of course Bet hit it out of the park with the B&B again. It was a gorgeous historical home near the lake. A sweet, genteel couple Ole and Tammy got us settled and we were off to a local pub for dinner. After dinner, before the BW bus left TO for the gig, we contacted TBC and he was happy to hear that we had scoped the area and a Wallmart was nearby the Speedway. We got a good night sleep, got up early and awaited our mission from TBC…. and waited… and waited… and waited… (I forgot we were on musician time) at 11:30 we got the message to come on over. Remember, we have no tickets and once we leave, we have no way to contact TBC… we go dark.

So it's up to my bag of BS to get us into see the band. The Speedway is up on big hill and the parking area is a large grass field already filled with thousands of very purposeful tailgaters. 

I pull by the the first parking attendant and explain that "I'm with the band, and I need to bring them some stuff, and we need to park near the bus and… and… and…" She stares at me blankly and waves me up the chain to the next attendant. Three attendants later, we are told to pull over and wait for the head of security as he sorts out a problem, which we were evidently pulled over next to.

A group of very drunk, shirtless, skin-head-like thugs were chicken heading with some nerdy looking' college kids. The college kids were WAY in the minority in this crowd. This place was an anthropologist's dream. As the fight began to brew, security rolled up… along with local police… and Troopers… and border patrol! It was SUV's, golf carts and ATV's all over! After 10 minutes of stunted intimidation, a nice wobbly gentleman was escorted out. My only concern was that the head of security would be in a bad mood as I sang my tune.

He buys my story to a point and lets us park in the reserved area, but leaves it up to us to get in and contact the band. So far so good, and it's off to the main gate to talk our way in, no way to contact the band … with no tickets! In these situations, it can go either way depending on the mood of the people in charge. If we don't get in, I face the wrath of BETTY…. oh, you don't wanna know!

As they frisk all the miscreants, I mean… fans, Bet and I approach the gate to tell our tale once more. It pays to be sober, look un-intimidating, and… oh who am I kidding… to look OLD! At least they entertained our story, but wouldn't let us in without contacting the band. From the gate we could see the bus and TBC walking about but they were 100 yards away! 

After pointless cell phone calls to TBC… Bet and I decided to pitch using her as a hostage for security to let me go scout for the band. We threw in the camera, and they bought it. Bet watched from up on the hill as I made my way through, 1, 2, 3 security checkpoints. The head guy in a cart finally escorts me the last few yards behind the gate, up to the bus, suspiciously. Out pops Dave and he gives me a big hug. The Big Chris is next and security finally gives me the thumbs up. Into the bus, and I lay out my need for passes and the forgotten ticket drama. TBC tells me he's got no pull, so no passes! ARGH! But he does say that he will escort Betty in. Thank God, because the weight of the guilt I would feel, hanging with the band and watching the show with Betty just outside the gate would be too much for my fragile psyche to handle….. hehe!

Me and TBC and 2 security guys take the ride to get The Betty. Success! So hyped, I blurt out an offer to go to dinner after the show… TBC says, "Look, ya got this far… don't press your luck!" Bet shoots me a look. It's all good.

So the hugs and bus hang begin. Ian pops up with his pink pants and plaid shirt and I give him the "Oooh, rock star outfit!" Betty punches me to shut up. We give him the heads up on the scary, desperate crowd and the band setlist discussions begin. Everyone is so funny and genial. The band vibe is very positive and unserious, but professionally concerned nonetheless. It's a short set, with a rough crowd so I say go hard and go fast! 

I had time to pump Ian and Bri about the Crue experience. Many tales that I cannot tell… lets just say that it was a well run, professionally managed circus.. and the food was exquisite! In the end Nikki and Ian hit it off and Nikki invited him to do his radio show so we'll have to keep an eye open for that coming up. 

We talked about the shifting sands of the music biz, and the struggle to make a living today. Bri shared some small tour realities that were staggering; so opposite of what they experienced watching the Crue operation. It ain't pretty, but they're grateful for the chance to play. The convo shifted to Myles Kennedy, the hardest working man in showbiz, since James Brown passed. I asked Ian if he had the chance to ask Myles about the Zep tryout. He lights up like a little kid! "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? As soon as I got him alone at dinner, I was 'Oh my God, So what was it like!'" Two little kids talkin' about their musical idols. Myles says they jammed for hours. Says it was wonderful! Still has no idea why it didn't happen. I forgot to ask Ian if there was a recording. So cool!

We had about an hour to hang, catch up and then it was time for the band to warm up. Vocal cords and fingers flailing about so Bet and I were ejected into the crowd.

Usually, even though I'm a grandpa and sober I like to "mix it up" with some of the fans. I try to see echoes of my former self in the crowd, look for other music fans, talk history or future music; just about anything to engage an exceedingly insular generation. Sad to say, after watching the goings on at this shindig, I did not even want to make eye contact with anyone. Any conversation could turn ugly on a dime… and I'm not the shy wallflower… I've been known to make a wise remark that might be taken the wrong way. Better to dummy up.  

We saw at least 4 all out brawls between very determined, angry girls. These were no girly cat fights either. Plastered, hair grabbing punchers rolling about on the hot macadam with equally drunk friends trying to intervene. The guys represented as well. Wiry little thugs throwing down at a sideways glance… all the violence kept security on their toes. 

I think that only a small portion of the crowd cared about the music at all. The bands ran the gamut but leaned on the hard. They for the most part fed the beast. All BW's fretting over the sound and the setlist would be lost on this mob for certain. But that's just how professionally dedicated to the show the guys and crew are.

We worked our way to the band area, next to the soundboard. Betty wanted to be down front, but up close to the crowd she thought better of it. Ian told us that good old "Charlie Fukin' Fergusen" was at the board (I only know him from Ian's stage banter on one of the many bootleg BW shows I have). He was furiously working the board against all odds - He's a MASTER!

Despite a woefully bad setup by the local promoter, Bobby (Tour Manager), Bruce (Guitars and ALL), Karen (Stage Monitors) and Charlie (Floor/House Sound) muscled their way through and delivered a near flawless show! Amazing to see what goes on behind the scenes. The crowd surged. Bet and I held our breath and BW hit the stage. The energy was high as the "Head Together" chant washed us. Inhale blazed out; the crowd was jacked and so began the crowd surfing, shoving and beer spilling!

Sure enough, a pit evolved. By That Song some of the people began paying attention and singing along. However, that did little to slow the growing chaos of the pit. Next up was Albatross. Surely that would tranquilize. NAH! Even after Ian, who dealt with the crowd like the pro he is, urged them to be careful… That beautiful intro…. MOSH…. heartfelt verse… MOSH… tasty slide solo…. MOSH… soaring final vocal run… MOSH HARDER!

After a bit it was like F-it! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. They launch into, you guessed it, Fallin' to Pieces". It was massive! But like  gasoline on a fire! It grew bigger and more violent! Security swept through 2-3 times to carry out the wounded and unruly (not sure how you can sort out either). And the band played on.

They nailed the landing with the Oaf and just like that it was over. We escaped unscathed over to the bus area to say our goodbyes. A couple of the more coherent fans stood by the bus and had Chuck and Ian chat them up and took some pix. I should have told them about the FB group… missed opportunity. 

Not wanting to overstay our welcome, Bet waves bye and Ian waves us back in. So it was back to the bus to talk post show wrap-up and the plans for ROTR. They are all so professionally focussed and always concerned with perfecting their performance even though the mass majority of the mob would never notice. I know I sound like a snob, but really this Oswego crowd saddened me. It's a weird world; 'nuff said.

We stayed aboard for an hour or so, as TBC tended to some of the more needy (dehydrated/injured/inebriated) who crashed near the bus. The man's a prince. We took some pix, gave thanks, and the boys were off to see Volbeat (who's crew they all knew).

So the old folks were off. Back to our genteel hosts at the B&B, who wanted to know all about the concert. We were kinda speechless. Then we were off to Syracuse for a nice courtyard dinner downtown. What a day of contrasts.

Let me just say in closing; I'm perpetually amazed at the BW camp's hospitality and grace. I cannot wait for the Sarnia show and some REAL BW fans! Hopefully as a headliner, they'll go back to their extended setlist. Bet and I REALLY love our little rock & roll adventures. We don't have much money but we do seem to have good friends and lots of laughs. FU Pete! I'm glad I didn't die before I got old.

Wrecked Genes

Hey Big Wreck fans! Time to talk about our latest trip. Bet and I drove out to The Note in West Chester PA. A stylish little place that has a capacity of about 400 in a college town of sorts. We stayed with old buddies of ours Drs. Jerry and Pam; The Grundoons (it's along story). They live about a half hour from The Note. It's a couple of hours from where we live, so it was a real blessing that we could stay over night at their house. Even better, they have become fans of the music. I've known Jerry since 3rd grade and through high school and college we used to crank some tunes. Within the last two years we have had the opportunity to rekindle some musical stuff, through me turning him on to Sonny Landreth.

Along with some other Sonny stuff, I got him Albatross (because EVERYONE gets Albatross) and lo and behold he could "hear" it. As all you Big Wreck fans know, many listen to BW but few people "hear" it. Jerry gets it. And I REALLY enjoy that! I've tried to get people to "get it" for as long as I've known BW. Most people can only scratch the surface; "Sounds like Zep" "He sings like Chris Cornell" "It has that Can-Rock Nu-Rock Nickleback sound", "Every song sounds different". etc. I'm sure you all know what I mean. The Canadians love their BW, but I even hear bitching and moaning that "they're ALWAYS on the radio!" in some circles on the internet. Well not so in the US and I guess all over the rest of the world!

That's why I wanted to write a bit of a tribute to Big Wreck's foreign legion. Us foreigners live in a world isolated from BW dominance. We've got quite a few of us scattered throughout the world on the BW Facebook Group page. We've got genetic mutants in Poland, Brazil, Germany, South Africa, India, the US and other nations. I call us genetic mutants, because I think that it's a Big Wreck gene that we fans all have. We love the crunch, but swoon to the sweet melodies. We bounce to the muscular riff and chill to the sexy-tasty solos. We get goose bumps to the harmonies, but throw our necks out to the dissonant throw down of Falling to Pieces. The lyrics, one part clever wordplay and two parts sincere story telling are so deep they resonate daily. To us Ian's voice doesn't sound like Myles OR Cornell. He is IT! We hum the melodies as we shop, sing the words when we're alone, and dance 'til we fall down dizzy in the basement (maybe that's just me). We get our kids to listen until they tell us they like other music instead, but you catch them singing along when it's on in the car "NO TALKING until this song's over"… and it's never over.

I've always enjoyed turning people on the new music. I love to see when their eyes light up with that "WOW this kicks ass!" look. That's what the show at The Note was all about for me. Bet loves going down front, watching all the nuance of the band interactions up close. At least that's what she says…. (in front of Ian all the time!) Me, I like to talk it all up with anyone who's near. I had plenty of enthusiastic fanage to engage with.

We got there for the first band's set and parked in the way-back. Dave came by and said hello and had to go set up. Bet and I popped outside to the bus to say hey (Grundoon and pam were too shy…), met Chuck for the first time, and hung with Brian, Paulo and Chuck for a few minutes getting the skinny on Baltimore; the show AND the sight seeing. All good and upbeat. They were in show prep mode and concerned with the curfew, two new crew members and a VERY tight setup. Compared to the extravaganza of the TOAD tour this is a back-to-basics gig.

As we trundled off the bus, into the too-cold-for-spring-in-PA-night (no laughing you Canadians) we saw a couple of young dudes with BW shirts on catching a smoke. I said "I guess you guys are here to see the Wreck" (clever, huh)That turned into a 20 minute, arm waving, hand gesturing, Big Wreck Fan club meeting in the freezing cold. Vin A, the singer in an oldies band that tours all over, drove down from North Jersey with his boys and girls to see this band that has torn up his life since he heard Wolves on the radio while HE was touring Canada. "Music today SUCKS! My people (kids his age) don't know what GOOD is! This band is REAL!" He's 25 and he GETS IT! Justin O'Brien from an hour away PA and his Jersey girlfriend hear the commotion and chime in. Justin's 27 and has been waiting 14 years, since the Oaf was on MTV when he was 11 to see this band that hooked him. These guys' PARENTS are younger than me, but we share the same mutant Big Wreck gene! It was GREAT!

As we pressed on inside, up front we met all kinds of people of the same thread. Fans for years or brand new "hearers" all traveling multiple miles and many years to see the Big Wreck magic live. You all know that the show was killer. That the solos were chicken skin inducing. Really, though I LOVE every song AND the whole band together, but when Ian just leans into a solo there is a vibration in the air that resonates with your spine that melts away all. Few guitar players possess that quality. It certainly makes you notice. I don't know why more people don't. Oh that's right…. it's a GENETIC MUTATION.

Vin A, a bit enthusiastic (understatement alert) blurts out in his hoarse rocker voice "SOME Albatross". Ian starts cracking up, cause from up on stage it sounded like one of these metal band voices. He points out a poster he saw for some death metal band called "Suffocation" and launches into his death metal voice "Here's the new one from SUFFOCATION - Albatross!" We all crack up, Vin included, cause we GET IT!

Musically, the mix was a bit tough down front, but perfect in the back. The stage amps are immense and powerful. Chuck has a HUGE bass drum and sat low with no riser. Davey was particularly tasty in the upfront mix. Paulo was off by the brick wall and was kind of constrained, but he ripped it like a pro. I was closest to Brian and really got a taste of all the nuance he brings to the music. All the overtones and fill notes that make Ian sound so full are Brian in complete sync with Ian. While Paulo provides counterpoint, Brian expands Ian's sound to muscle it up. Damned good band! Even their old standards BWO, The Oaf, That Song sound tight and fresh! And to hear this room of 150 genetic mutants from the good old USA sing all the words was just WONDERFUL!

Most wonderful of all, though, was this little girl. Maybe 25 or so, 5 ft tall, iPhone in hand, stage front and videoing every move of Dr. Thornley. She was in her own little world. Singing EVERY WORD of EVERY song she convinced me that we shared a gene somewhere. More about her later. We met a couple from Richmond who had seen them the night before in Baltimore. Needless to say; blown away

The show had no big surprises until the end. Tears for Fears Shout REALLY had some muscle. It is/was a perfect cover for Ian's new appreciation for the 80's. After a particularly tasty nuanced Shout solo they abruptly put the hammer down on Falling to Pieces! The ending crescendos into that long pattern of four guitars & banging out that dissonant rubber "bong, bong, bong…" with Chuck changing up the beat and fills. It was like a dub-step chant that began galloping into a boogie beat. You could see that they were all diggin' how Chuck was changing it up. The crowd was stunned. We all cheer and just like that it was over.

I engaged all that I could in the crowd to gauge how their first Wreckage went. Smiles and enthusiastic one-of-a-kind experience kudos were found all around. My gene pool rocks!

I'd say 80% of the peeps there were musicians. They tend to have a radar for the layers of the Wreck. They're hard to impress openly, but once you engage them they gush all over.

I poked a couple who looked to not be rocker types and they opened up about just discovering the band months ago. The guy turned her on to the album, knowing she was a Chris Cornell fan. She COMPLETELY got it. They've been listening for months and drove up from DC to see the band. Fans for life with so much to discover! I t' s i n t h e g e n e s.

Later on, Bet and I went to the bus to say our goodbyes. Dave and Paulo were outside entertaining the 50 or so mega-fans. The crowd gave us some heat for getting on the bus. Jealous….

Through the curtain and into the kitchen/living area on the bus and there she is! That little girl. Her name is Lucretia and she is rapid-fire interviewing Ian. She's all deep into the music, lyric content, how it relates to his personal experiences… wow, she's like "Chatty Bat" (look it up on youtube) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJYriwQJBis (watch about 2:40 in) and Ian's all smiles and wit. It was like looking at myself pumping Ian for info to get that deep connect that was ingrained from listening for the last 14 years. AND she drove to see BW from TEXAS!!!! I'm telling you IT'S IN THE GENES!

Bet and I said our thank yous and byes, Ian gave Betty her a big hug we made some loose plans with Brian, to see them up in Sarnia. And we left the bus.

The crowd booed us, 'cause they wanted Brian and Ian to come out. Well from what I hear they did and hung out for quite a while with the 50 or so genetically modified by Big Wreck fans in waiting!!

PS Still looking for Lucretia from Texas. Get her in the Big Wreck Facebook group!

Bet & Buk Board the Big Wreck Bus

Well, here we go. Sorry for the delay, but much like Big Wreck, the perennial champion, a good story has no sell by date.

Bet and I headed out friday morn and decided to go up the NY State Throughway. It was a beautiful drive through the mountains and we sooo enjoy the alone time with a road trip. Gorgeous country.

As we kept getting closer the temp kept going up! It was 54 degrees (I don't do centigrade) when we rolled in. Dinner downtown and a good night's sleep at the B&B Shirley Samantha. We awoke to a blizzard and 21 degrees! NOW we were in Canada!

Sitting around, trying to plan the day, Betty lobbying for some sight seeing, me all nervous and jerky about contacting the band and Missy and Eric. It was an hour of waiting to hear from the peeps so I finally email Ian. "Come down to soundcheck at 2:00!" The plate was set.

I look cautiously at Bet, considering her sight seeing plans, Bet immediately says "To heck with sightseeing! Lets go!" A quick lunch to go and we hit the CE Center. It is a gigantic convention center, in the middle of nowhere. The wind was like 50mph and it was is the 20's. I know we're babies, that's short sleeve weather for you Canadians (as we witnessed that evening).

Big Chris welcomes us like old buds (well we are old). Ian and Brad are doing an interview in the lobby. Chris ushers us into the hall where the crew are setting up. The hall is gibungus. Cement floor, tall exposed girders on the ceiling; airplane hanger comes to mind. Bruce and the techs are buzzing about, lighting, sound, british Mike etc. We stood out by the sound board so as to not be in the way. We see Paulo, wave hello, and he walks out to talk to us. He looks great and is super pumped for the show. There's talk of the US release and some live bonus tracks that are KILLER. Brian and Ian are plugging in and Paulo was off to the stage.

As they warm up, numerous Zep snippets float out and they each engage each other in play. It's very organic and kinda wanders in and out; Ten Years Gone among others. It was so appropriate and natural to hear Brian and Ian jam some Zep. You KNOW Bet and I were diggin' THAT!

Next up Ian concentrated on finding the"sweet spot". That's where Ian can stand on the stage to maximize the feedback to facilitate those long sustained notes. They then did a full version of Control. Just magnificent. Not stiff at all. To an empty house.

Full bore blues groove, Caught My Eye, warmed the place up as Ian went back and forth with the lighting and sound crew. Ian breaks into his best Nigel Tufnel when barking direction to the techs. It's very loose and upbeat. During this time I am calling Missy and Eric, while Betty is phoning her son Dane. We're freaking out at how cool this is. Then I hear something that sounds so familiar… is that "Defined?" No wait, it's…. OVEREMPHASIZING!!!! Holy shit, they're doing O! My camera is in the car 100 yards away! I'll never make it, and they probably don't want me recording anyway…. It was jaw dropping. As good or better than the RTH version, which is a CLASSIC!

Bet and I are grinning ear to ear. There's more individual back and forth with Brain, Paulo, Brad and Dave. All the fine tuning dealing with delays and tone, attack and hall reverb are amazing. There is an overwhelming amount of detail that goes into creating all the nuances in the BW sound. 

Then came the best part for me. Ian starts staccato strumming this complex riffage. He engages Brad and they start and stop as Ian teaches Brad the essence of the song. It's difficult, but sooo cool to hear it in it's inception. I'm not allowed to describe it. More on this later.

Not that I haven't thought about it before, but seeing it in front of me, I am struck by what an undertaking a tour of this magnitude entails. There is soo much logistic work that is done, and such attention to detail and nuance to get the sound to be perfect. It's amazing that it appears to be off the cuff and spontaneous at showtime. Lots of hard working dedicated people.

They wind the soundcheck down and Ian spots us. He climbs down from the stage and walks out to meet us. Hugs and hellos and we walk to the busses. parked inside the hall, behind the stage where they have a table and chairs setup outside. They really appreciate the indoor camping.

I run to the car to get the portraits of Brad and Dave to complete the set. I'm a bundle of nervous energy and Big Chris wants to shoot me with a tranquilizer dart. "Relax, Buk!". I'm worried so much about being a pest and in the way, I become a pest and in the way. After the guys sign my copy of the big prints, wrap them back up in the big flattened packing box and I run them out to the car. That is to say I run AFTER them out to the car. As soon as I opened the doors a frosty gust of wind rips them out of my hand and I end up chasing them across the parking lot. Lost glasses and 20 yards later I wrestle the package to the ground and get a good grip. I'm a frigid' mess. I load it into the car and grab my camera. I have one more task to accomplish and then I can enjoy myself.

Betty is cool, calm and collected, hanging with Ian congratulating him on his wife's new TV chef gig. Betty's son Dane is a chef so she and Ian talk food. Betty is all cool hanging with the guys back at the bus. I take a deep breath and sit down to talk some rock and roll with the crew and the band. So many funny stories from tours past and legendary rock stars the crew has worked with. Rock star mania, accompanied with full accents and visuals that left us rolling. They are a funny bunch.

I ask Ian about the riff that he was working on with Brad. He looks at me with a knowing grin and says, "Yea man, it's KILLER!" He's got the whole thing in his head and he starts mouthing the rhythm showing me how he was trying to explain it to Brad. Brian cuts in "Guitarist and Drummers speak two different languages" Ian, "Guitarists are like,'it goes chugga, chugga, chugga, hiccup, womp, womp, womp." And Brian interrupts "and then that thing where I go Wannnggg comes in" and then Ian says, "Brad is all numbers, so he's like 'Wait, wait… so that's a 4 count, into a 2 count…???" Their interaction is classic.

And I know I'm not saying this right, but suffice it to say, that the language of the guitar player is sooo much less quantifiable than that of the drummer. Maybe that's why Brad in his personality is such an unstructured free spirit. All the confines of holding the band together rhythmically, necessitates his offstage license to roam. Waiting for spontaneous combustion. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

One more thing to accomplish. Betty and I had this idea to record a message from Ian to Jaiden my grandson. Jaiden is six years old, and was indoctrinated with Albatross since last year. He knows all the words and I catch him singing along and bobbing his head all the time. Well recently he has discovered, let us say, a more mainstream act as his favorite. He loves to "give me the business". "Grandpa, (Unnamed Popular Act) is better than Big Wreck!" To which I reply, "No way! Big Wreck is way better!" Well. Betty and I got this idea and we asked Ian if he would do it. I know it's nervy, but… he said he would. So we recorded he and Brian and then Brad, telling Jaiden that, "Big Wreck, was WAY better than Unnamed Popular Act. That it's just the way it is." Then they elaborated. They are all such funny, comfortable guys. It was a riot! Needless to say, my grandson was floored when we showed him the vid. Wants to grow old so he can get the unnamed act to slag big Wreck. He'll grow out of it…. or be scarred for life.

So we were off to rest up and eat some dinner. Got back just in time to see all the Theory peeps coming out for a beer and a smoke. Those crazy Canadian kids in their shirtsleeves and hoodies. The wind was whipping and it was 21 FREAKIN' DEGREES!!! We coat check and amble into the hall. It's nearly filled with fans, but the place was so big you could walk around comfortably in back. As we perused the crowd Missy spots me and runs up for a big hug! We've known each other through message boards and email since '98 or so when I discovered her Big Wreck site. It was the first/best fansite with links to all the articles and band info. We'd corresponded but never met face to face, having missed each other at the RTH show in 2001. She's a doll, such a nice girl. I forgot the camera, so I ran to the car as she and Betty chatted. When I got back in, I went to get some setup shots and realized that I had forgotten to put the battery back in the camera. It was back at the B&B CHARGING! NO FRIGGIN CAMERA! I was so bummed. 

Missy introduced me to her gal pals, who had been at their first Big Wreck show in '97 in Rochester! Leslie and Amy were excited to have the team reunite! Molly Canuck sauntered over and greeted us. FB is great 'cause people recognize you. Missy was saying that she was getting glances from people all night like they may know her and attributed that to FB. I told her I get them all the time 'cause I look too OLD to be at a rock show! Ha!

We all hung out together braving the drunks and overenthusiastic to position ourselves stage left! The crowd was a real mix of older/younger, hyped/zombified, drunk/sober, yet all diggin' the Wreck in their own way. It's a really broad spectrum of fans. As the show progressed we moved closer to the front. The sound was great and the guys killed it of course! During one of his solos in Caught My Eye, Ian stepped down off the stage onto another riser in front of the rail. He starts wailing away, eyes closed. 4-5 young guys, start the "I'm not worthy" bow down. It was funny, yet appropriate. Mid solo Ian opens his eyes, smiles and hops back up on the stage. He's so uncomfortable with the praise. I think that's commendable.

The show ended and we talked about hooking up at the Royal Oak about a mile up the road. I finally caught up with Eric Landry and his buddy Zach. Either everyone is much taller than I expect or I'm much shorter than I think. Anyway, the meet up was arranged and it was off to the bus with our all access passes to say our thank yous and goodbyes to the guys.

Well it turned into a half hour. They were all pumped up, talking about the song timing and flow. All the guys (mostly Brian) busting Ian's chops about the length and loudness of the solos. (We want more AND louder!) There was talk of the US tour and what big name would be a good fit for BW. Ian and I agreed that BW is a bit of an odd bird. It's in parts pop, bluesy, proggy, very musical yet muscular. We're gonna have to poll the fans to get some feedback. Bet and I said our goodbyes and profuse thank yous for them letting us share so much of their time. Ian was like "No problem". How insanely great is my life!

Off to the Royal Oak, where Grandma and Grandpa, the ladies who are Ian's age, and the young turks Eric and Zach all sat and traded BW stories. We had a great time with BW as our common ground. When Missy and the girls saw BW for the first time, Eric was only 7 years old! I asked E, what drew him to BW since he plays in a band that's considerably harder than BW called the Ompalunatics. Both he and Zach had discovered BW off of a Big Shiny Tunes disc. Zach plays guitar and geeks out on Ian's mastery. I guess it's a tribute to the breadth of a band's appeal that there are so many facets on which to grasp their music. We love being up where BW is appreciated and hanging with enthusiastic fans. Nothing better than talking music!

Our stay at the B&B was cordial, comfy and cozy. Can't wait to do it again. The ride home was cool, and Sunday ended with my NY Giants (it's a genetic thing) kicked the stuffing out of the Green Bay Packers. It took days for us to come down from this trip. I love my real life but our time in Canadian Fantasy Band Fan camp is pretty darn fine!