Rage Against the Machine, Kings of Leon, MIA, Lez Zeppelin – City Park – New Orleans, LA - 10.26.07
Posted by Jesse Coy on 11.25.2007
New Orleans plays host to a bit of Rage, to say nothing for some Lez and some Kings.
Okay, listen… things turned out crappy on this one. I need to set it behind me. You want to see a statement I would’ve used? I’ll include it. I have the firm belief that that ass face of a security dick head will get his testosterone-shriveled dick further shriveled to pigeon dick size.
On Saturday, I could’ve seen Spoon, Sinead O’Connor, Coheed and Cambria (none of whom I have in my CD collection, but I would’ve seen them because they were there), and Smashing Pumpkins (eh… I already saw them this year). Sunday? Yes, I wanted to see Dr. John. In the end, I’d hear him from the outside quite well. Actually, that perspective was quite pleasant.
So anyway, I walked to the City Park. I did that for three days in a row. Got my press bracelet Friday, which was snipped on Saturday when I tried to get information out of those fuckers. May the managing who admitted to the police officer “we had some problems with direction before Rage’s set” get AIDS. I feel much better writing that.
And that big, fat black head of security? “Would it surprise you that there was no white guys there?” he asked, before the police officer showed up. But then he changed his story when the police officer was on hand. Sure, fat ass… I’m certain you got another couple years before that massive coronary gets you.
I got the good press view for Lez Zeppelin on Friday. At first, I had a side view. I saw the one kid peeking through the tent opening. Went over there. He was eventually admonished by staff. I identified myself as press, after which I was brought to the area with the good view for the whole show. These gals rocked, although at first, the lead singer’s vocals weren’t loud enough. It was a fun performance, though, and I thought she gave me the eye (ha) (Lez Zeppelin) (funny).
I saw Kings of Leon next. I don’t know them well enough to list all of what they played, plus this fest really doesn’t inspire me that much. They didn’t do “Knocked Up,” but they did do that one hiccup-sounding song (“Charmer”). They played a lot off their newest, Because of the Times, which is good. That’s the one I recognize, having reviewed it earlier this year.
Since MIA was there, I saw her. Why not? I saw her back in July at the Siren Festival, on Coney Island. I liked that performance a bit better. This one was a little too glitzy for my taste.
Okay, I’m going to give you a quick rundown on a show at which I couldn’t completely concentrate. I haven’t found a printed set list, but I have Rage Against the Machine down for sixteen songs. Maybe that’s right. It’s pretty close. I wasn’t seated in the medical area for as long as I thought I was. It was only for three and a half songs. I know they played “Bullet in My Head,” “Bulls on Parade,” “People of the Sun,” and “Testify” (all of which I clearly heard). Around that fourth song was when I left the medical tent to watch the show.
Off the second album, going one after another, there was “Vietnow,” “Tire Me,” and “Sleep in the Fire.” They did “Guerilla Radio,” too. Which song has the line “that reads post no bill?” Ah, that was “Calm like a Bomb.” Speaking of which, they also did “Bombtrack” and “Wake Up,” and I’m not sure on “No Shelter.” I think they did “Township Rebellion,” and they ended with “Freedom” and “Killing in the Name.”
Overall, they were intense. Yet I was a bit… not disappointed, though I don’t know what to call it. Maybe there was too much hype to a reunited Rage Against the Machine, just like the Police, who also played live this year, and whom I felt were even more disappointing. I would’ve liked more between song banter, because here’s a band who I feel has something intelligent (agree with them or not) to say. There was only a brief reference mid-song to being at war with both Iraq and New Orleans, due to lack of aid. Otherwise, little to nothing was said outside of the song structures.
The show ended, and I left, walking back along what I thought was Esplanade Avenue, but nope… I went the wrong way.
The 411: I'm not the only 411Mania reviewer to find Rage Against the Machine's recent performances solid but missing something. Maybe it was the experience at this awful venue, but I don't think so. They've almost become a strictly nostalgic act.
