This episode features an engaging conversation with our guest, Steve Pothel. Steve, an accountant with a deep passion for live music, shares a series of captivating stories that highlight his experiences attending various concerts over the years. Initially mentioned in Charles' book, "Ticket Stub Stories, A Memoir of Live Music," Steve's anecdotes cover a wide range of memorable moments from his first concerts in 1992, including shows by The Cure, artists at Lollapalooza, and U2’s Zoo TV tour, to later events like seeing L7 and the Psychedelic Furs. Throughout the episode, Steve, Charles, and Douglas delve into the nuances of live performances, the significance of certain venues, and the personal connections they’ve made through music. Additionally, discussions about Steve’s transition to DJing, his encounters with bands like Monster Magnet and L7, and reflections on the impact of the late Mars Williams of the Psychedelic Furs. The candid dialogue not only encapsulates the vibrant live music scene from the 1990s to the present but also touches on their evolving tastes and the legacy of the artists who’ve shaped their musical landscape.
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, Charles welcomes accountant and live music enthusiast Steve Pothel, a prominent figure from Charles' book, "Ticket Stub Stories: A Memoir of Live Music." Joining them is co-host and producer Doug Florzak. Steve reminisces about his early concert experiences, correcting his memory about his first concert, which turned out to be The Cure's "Wish" tour followed by Lollapalooza ‘92 before U2's Zoo TV show. They discuss iconic venues like The World (now known by various names) and Alpine Valley, sharing stories from their concert adventures. Steve recalls a memorable moment during an Ice Cube performance at Lollapalooza involving a sod fight instigated by the rapper, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
The conversation shifts to their DJing days at a bar called the Tender Trap, where Steve and Charles spun records for an alternative night. They reminisce about attending concerts together, including a memorable encounter with L7 at Lounge Axe, arranged through Louie, who happened to be related to the drummer. Steve also recounts their experiences at House of Blues shows, including a chaotic Danzig concert where the crowd was rowdy, and a Monster Magnet show where Louie's connection secured them access to the Foundation Room.
They delve into their shared love for bands like The Psychedelic Furs and their numerous concert outings together, highlighting the influence of music on their lives and relationships. Reflecting on their concert experiences, they share anecdotes of meeting band members and navigating the vibrant Chicago music scene. Throughout the episode, Steve and Charles' passion for live music shines through, offering listeners a glimpse into their memorable concert journeys.
Steve also reminisces about a memorable encounter at the Foundation Room, where he found himself chatting with members of Stabbing Westward and Monster Magnet. The lively atmosphere of the venue, complete with private rooms for bands and a third-floor balcony offering prime seating, sets the stage for unexpected interactions. Steve recounts how Monster Magnet's Phil reached out to invite Lisa, his girlfriend, to their show, ultimately sending a limo to pick her up from a wedding reception.
Reflecting on past concerts, Steve shares his disappointing experiences at shows by System of a Down and The Killers, citing crowd behavior and sound quality as factors. Charles joins the conversation, recalling their shared love for live music and their experiences attending concerts together, including memorable shows by the Psychedelic Furs.
The discussion turns somber as they remember Mars Williams, the saxophonist for the Psychedelic Furs, who passed away after battling cancer. Despite the loss, they cherish the memories of his electrifying performances.
BANDS:
Adele, Alanis Morissette, Cypress Hill, Harry Styles, House of Pain, Ice Cube, Imagine Dragons, Jesus and Mary Chain, Joan Jett, Journey, Korn, L7, Led Zeppelin II, Liquid Soul, Lush, Metric, Ministry, Monster Magnet, Monster Magnet, Pearl Jam, Porno for Pyros, Psychedelic Furs, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Stabbing Westward, Stabbing Westward, Stone Temple Pilots, System of a Down, Temple of the Dog, The Cult, The Cult, The Cure, The Cure, The Killers, The Psychedelic Furs, Two Ton Boa, U2, Wetleg.
VENUES:
Alpine Valley (East Troy, Wisconsin), Aragon Ballroom (Chicago, Illinois), Chastain Park (Atlanta, Georgia), House of Blues (Chicago, Illinois), Lounge Axe (Chicago, Illinois), The Congress (Chicago, Illinois), The Metro (Chicago, Illinois), The World Music Theatre (Tinley Park, Illinois).
[00:00:00] Charles: Steve Pothel is an accountant and enjoys seeing live music. He's featured prominently in my book, Ticket Stub Stories, A Memoir of Live Music in the chapter called The Tender Trap. Steve, welcome to Seeing Them Live.
[00:00:15] Steve: Chuck, thanks for having me, my friend.
[00:00:17] Charles: We're also joined by my co-host and producer, Doug Florzak.
[00:00:22] Douglas: Steve.
[00:00:23] Steve: Doug, nice to meet you.
[00:00:24] Charles: We appreciate you coming on, Steve. You got, I mean, when I was proofing, every time I, I proofed that book like a million times, um, And every time I came to the chapter and your stories, I mean, I would just laugh out loud because they were, I mean, they're entertaining. But I thought we would start with like your first concert, which I think you had mentioned was your, uh, was U2, the Zoo TV show in, uh, 1992. But I think you were looking into that because you weren't. You weren't quite sure if that was actually the first one.
[00:00:58] Steve: So, Chuck, get my nerdiness on to prepare for this. I was so absolutely wrong on this. Now, don't get me wrong. 92 was my year, first year of the concerts. That was my first year. However, uh, the Zoo TV tour was my last concert of that year. So surprisingly, as I, I went through all my stubs that I still managed to have back in the days when, you know, used to slip stubs in your CD cases.
[00:01:25] So, I kept all those, even though the wife made me get rid of all the CDs. So, it turns out that year, my first thing, my first concert was the Cure, then Lollapalooza,
[00:01:36] then, Zoo TV later that year.
[00:01:40] Charles: Okay.
[00:01:40] Steve: Don't get me wrong. Still got great stories for all of them
[00:01:43] Charles: So, the Cure, what tour was that, Steve?
[00:01:46] Steve: So that was Wish.
[00:01:47] Charles: Wish. Okay.
[00:01:48] Steve: So, what was I? I was 19. Start of the wayward years. I was... Just, I just finished a year at Iowa State. Wish was hot because that was the first album they had done in a while. I think of the first album after a Disintegration. So again, it was hot big, you know, like they do it was big news big selling tour, selling out.
[00:02:10] I remember I couldn't even get tickets in Chicago for them, but being an Iowa kid. I called the Iowa Ticket Master at the time and they're like, yeah, we have plenty we can get you into Chicago. So, on so forth. Bought tickets, went to see them at The World. Is it even still called the world now, my friend? I don't even know.
[00:02:30] Charles: No, it's called like the, oh my God. What's it called? Like the, I don't know, Midwest Bank Amphitheater. I don't know. Some, it's some bank. We'll figure it out Doug. We'll, we'll put it in the show notes.
[00:02:41] Douglas: Yeah, well actually there's, there's an article, you're talking about, Tinley Park, right?
[00:02:45] Steve: Correct.
[00:02:46] Douglas: If you go to our website and you go to the episode artifacts for our very first episode, which was with Tom Fitzer, there's an entire article called All the Names the Tinley Park amphitheater has been called and it's a whole article on it. It's been called the World Music Theater, New World Music Theater, Tweeter Center, First Midwest Bank Amphitheater, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. They kind of go through the whole history of it and there's a link there to the entire article about it.
[00:03:19] Steve: Definitely will check that out, but for my purposes, it's always going to be The World.
[00:03:24] Charles: Same here. Yeah, exactly. Um, so, so then Steve, the, so the U2 concert is kind of towards the end of that summer. But then you, so after this Cure show, which I'm sure had a, an impact on you, I would imagine as a, as a Huge Cure fan.
[00:03:42] Steve: Oh, absolutely. It was my first time seeing them. Um, know, just such a stellar show, and The World is, was, I mean, I don't know what they've done to it. Great place to see a show. It really was at the time.
[00:03:57] And again, I assume it still is, I'm just saying back then. Uh, great time, and the Cure plays for hours, and, you know, I had never been to a show, so, you know, the first set, great, awesome, my god, what's, I guess it's time to go, you know, get, I get horse collared back, my buddy's like, hold on, no, no, no, no, second, second set, second set?
[00:04:20] Okay. Second set goes, oh my god, I think another hour, they're going and going. Wow, that was great. Okay, let's definitely go. He's like, yeah, they can't be doing a third. Get to the parking lot. They open up with The Figurehead, which is really, literally one of my favorite songs from them. That opening drumbeat.
[00:04:39] I'm just like, we just missed a Figurehead. Yep. It is 1130 at night. I, I, I get it. I didn't think they were going either, but just, yeah.
[00:04:48] Charles: Wow. Yeah, they put on an incredible show. I, I just saw them recently last summer at the United Center and it was, it, it was fantastic still. I mean, they were great. That same year then, I guess maybe after this Cure concert, you go to Lollapalooza which was being held, it was still like a touring festival. It was up at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin.
[00:05:16] Steve: Correct.
[00:05:16] Charles: And, you know, I was looking at the lineup and sometimes when you're reading these things on the internet, it's like, we're, we're all these bands really there, but you could maybe confirm or, or deny. They had listed, uh, the Stone Temple Pilots, House of Pain, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, Pearl Jam, Porno for Pyros, Lush, Rage Against the Machine, Jesus and Mary Chain, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Ministry, and Temple of the Dog, which I thought would be incredible to see that show, because it just happened to be Pearl Jam and Soundgarden at the same show.
[00:05:59] Steve: For the most part, that lineup is 100 percent correct. Again, might be my old failing memory. I don't know Kornos was there or not. I mean, just at East Troy. Again, because it was still the rotating thing and people would jump in and out.
[00:06:19] But Soundgarden was there. Pearl Jam was there. Ministry was there. Cube was there. I want to say, and I don't remember it, but I want to say Jesus and Mary Chain was there. And I'll lean into that in a second.
[00:06:32] I'd say 90 percent of that lineup you just listed was there and it was a phenomenal time.
[00:06:38] Charles: And you, you had a, an interesting Ice Cube story about, there was a, there was a sod fight, it sounded like.
[00:06:46] Steve: So yes. So, this is perfect. So again, anyone who doesn't know Alpine is like another gigantic outdoor venue in Wisconsin. I do believe it's bigger than The World. I really do. And again, that grass is all, it's a huge, huge lawn section. The reason I want to say I think it was a Jesus and Mary Chain, might have been Ministry, but somebody had a mosh pit going on right after, right in the area between the seats and the lawn.
[00:07:18] A huge one, uh, in the center of the lawn. And, you know, they were tearing up sod, throwing it up, nothing crazy. So yeah, so whoever was finished, and Ice Cube came out and he had everybody going and he's like, and he literally came out and paraphrasing, he's like, "Guys, this is the craziest tour I've ever been on. This is some fun stuff. You people in the mosh pit, I've never seen this in my life. Y'all are going nuts with this. However, I like to get things more hype. All that sod you were throwing, I know y'all could do better than that."
[00:07:51] Oh my god. Everyone and everyone in the lawn went nuts I forget what song he went into, but it was one of his, uh, bigger hits at the time. And just got it going. And Chuck, it was a sea of flying dirt. I mean, I, I can't even describe just how much grass and dirt are constantly flying through the air. You get filmed by a patch, you pick it up, you throw it. I mean, it was just, and we're not just talking that section. The entire lawn was decimated.
[00:08:23] I mean, and he just kept hyping it up and it was just. So much fun, but I mean in hindsight you had to look at it be like, oh my god, they literally destroyed... Thank God it didn't rain because it would be nothing but mudslides and grossness.
[00:08:36] Charles: Yeah, I can't imagine like 10,000 people throwing sod at each other, but that must have been quite a spectacle.
[00:08:44] Steve: It set the mood for the day and it was such a great, great show 'cuz again, I think after him was Ministry then the Chili Peppers then Soundgarden, Pearl Jam to finish up.
[00:08:54] Charles: Yeah, that's an incredible lineup. Then from ‘92, Steve, I don't know. I was, I was going to jump to like ‘96, ‘97. I didn't know if you wanted to, uh, add anything before that time, but that I'm jumping ahead to that time when I think that's around when you and I started DJing a, at a bar called the Tender Trap. Um, so yeah, we, uh, our friend, mutual friend, Andy, who is the, in one of the season one episode called the Ticket Stub Master. He was the manager of this place. And they had an alternative night on, I don't know, Fridays or Saturdays. And there was this DJ called Icebreaker and he came and Andy came up to me and said, what do you think of Icebreaker?
[00:09:47] And I said, well, he's good. You know, it's great, but like, you know, you should just put on Q101, which was the alternative music station in Chicago and just save yourself some money. And he, he asked me, why do you think you could do a better job? And I said, well, I, I, yeah, absolutely. I know I can. And asked me to DJ and I said, well, I'll do it, but only on one condition.
[00:10:11] And he said, what's that? And I said, well, Steve would have to DJ with me because I knew your music collection. We'd always talk music up at the bar and go to shows and stuff. And so, you agreed and, uh. That's what we did. We would, uh, bring all of our music. We'd probably listen to anyway and hang out at the bar where we would probably end up anyway, and, uh, had free beer and got paid. I think we each got paid $35 each. So, it wasn't like, uh, you know, we didn't do it for the money.
[00:10:48] Steve: It's a labor of love. That's what it was.
[00:10:50] Charles: Exactly. So it was during that time, you and I, and Andy and our friend Louie, uh, you know, we'd go to these, we'd go to these concerts. And, and one of the first ones that I remember, or there's a funny story attached to it is, um, you and I and Louie, we go see The Cult at the House of Blues in 1999, and we're, you know, we're Cult fans, we're checking it out. And at some point, that's when Louie mentions, or no, I'm sorry, you mentioned that you're thinking of going to get tickets to see L7, the band L7, at Lounge Axe, which is a small club in Chicago, that used to be owned by Jeff Tweedy's now wife, and has since been torn down and closed.
[00:11:45] When you mention L7, Louis says, oh, my, my cousin is the drummer for L7. And I've known Louie at this point for like over 20 years or something. He's never mentioned this. And I think you and I were like, no, it's, you know, L7, they're, I think they're out of Los Angeles, Steve, I believe.
[00:12:03] Steve: It is either LA or I don't, uh, they're not Seattle, but they are, no, they are LA. Sorry. They are.
[00:12:10] Charles: So, we're, we're trying to explain to him like, no, this there's like, this is a legit band. Or no, he's like, no, no, this. Yeah. My, my cousin Demetra Plakas is the drummer for L7. And we're like. Okay. Well, I guess you're coming with us. And so, he set up, we, we see them at this club. It was, it was like totally sold out.
[00:12:33] The place was like a sardine can. And I remember one point I had to go to the bathroom during that show and we were up kind of close to the stage and I did, and I was having trouble getting back and people weren't letting me come back. And I like reached my arm out as far as I could stretch. And I touched you on the shoulder and you turned around. You're kind of an imposing figure, Steve.
[00:12:59] I know, you know, you're a sweet guy, but, um, the crowd kind of cleared once they saw that I knew you and they let me back up to where you were standing, but it was, it was an insane show.
[00:13:12] Steve: Yeah, no, that was a fun, fun show. A couple of stories off that, but we probably should not air those, but no, it was a great, great time there.
[00:13:24] Charles: But then Louie had talked to his cousin on the phone, Demetra, and arranged for, us to meet them after the concert. So, we run around back of Lounge Axe and we're waiting there for a while. And we kept asking, are you sure? Like, she's going to come out and he'd say, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And, um, sure enough, she comes out with the band. And, if you want to just give your impression.
[00:13:58] Steve: I will definitely jump in. Yeah. So they came out and. You know, it's, those two, Louie and Dee, literally just, oh, hey, good to see you, didn't think you were gonna make it, I thought you were just calling to bustin chops, and he's like, ah, pfft, he's like, I didn't even know your schedule, my buddy's over there. And, you know, they're like, they're your fans, and he's like, you know, I know all of you, but he's, you know, he's bustin chops right back, and you and I are literally just standing there, jaws dropped, about how this is going, and meanwhile, you know, Jen's there.
[00:14:27] Susie's there. It's like they're all just hanging out there. We're like this is L7. This is L7. These gals just rocked out for an hour and a half and they are just... First, they're short. They're tiny, tiny girls, but they are just the coolest, coolest girls who literally just played their hearts out for an hour and a half to two hours.
[00:14:46] And, you know, again, these girls are all over the place if you've never seen them. It is a high energy show. And they are just sitting there, chatting with us, hanging out and everything. Louis and Dee are just busting chops. And we're just standing there, you know, I've got my handful of merch and they're just like, and we're just like, oh my God, this is happening. This is awesome.
[00:15:07] Charles: I remember they're asking, or she was asking Louie how his parents are doing, and if he's going to some wedding out in California that she was going to be at, one of their relatives, and then I, I believe, didn't she give you a set of her drumsticks, Steve?
[00:15:20] Steve: She did. And it's funny. So, there was an opening band. I can't remember their name and you know, it's kind of butts and chops kind of heckling them. And they gave me some sticks too. And then I was yelling for her to try, uh, give me some as well. But she looked at me at the stage and she's like, you have some, greedy!
[00:15:39] And walked off. And then when they came out, she's like, she’s like, do you want some sticks? I go, Yeah, I asked you on stage! She's like, oh, yeah, that was you! She's like, oh, well, here, definitely have a set now.
[00:15:52] Charles: That's so cool. Do you still have them, I would imagine?
[00:15:55] Steve: Oh, yeah, yeah. And they signed a couple things. Yeah, I've got that in a plastic bin in storage right here. Literally in the storage area in this room I'm in right now.
[00:16:05] Charles: Because we used to play, some L7 songs when we would, would DJ. That's how you turned me on to them and, lots of other bands, which I didn't know if you wanted to talk about that Danzig show. Uh, we went to meet you and Louie again at the House of Blues. It seemed like we were, we were, going to the House of Blues a lot back then.
[00:16:24] Steve: Yeah, because it just seemed like that was a place everybody we loved was going.
[00:16:29] Charles: Right.
[00:16:30] Steve: As I went through all my ticket stubs, every concert I went with you guys, most of them were at the House of Blues. I mean, don't get me wrong, we did Lounge Axe. I know we've done a Metro or something, but it just seemed, 85 to 90 percent of them just happened to be at the House of Blues, which, again, such an excellent venue. What? I'm okay with it.
[00:16:49] Charles: Yeah. I remember that crowd, man, was that a rough crowd. I remember standing next to this guy who I mentioned in the book, he had loser tattooed on his, on his neck, like in is really huge. And that was way before anybody had tattoos on their neck or their face. It was a crazy crowd, rough crowd, crazy mosh pit.
[00:17:13] Steve: Absolutely.
[00:17:14] Charles: Or whatever you want to call that with what was going on.
[00:17:17]Steve: I've seen Danzig a bunch of times. And, you know, you wrote about something in the book, it's funny because that's happened to me almost every time I've seen Danzig. So, it always just seems, and again, you know, I'm a tall, black man at Danzig, and just, I don't know why. People always come up and ask me, "Hey, you wanna go fight some skinheads?"
[00:17:40] Wait, are you asking me are me and you fighting because you look like a skinhead? Or are you asking me to help you fight skinheads? Most of the time it was the latter and I'm just like, oh, well, that's cool, but no, no, no, no. Happened with you with Louie that happened and then you know, he got beat up, not literally beat up, but he got murdered in the mosh pit. Went to go see them another time took a gal with us and it happened again. It's like I think I may need to stop coming to these shows unfortunately cuz one day I'm just gonna end up getting in a fight with skinheads outside of Danzig when I just wanted to rock.
[00:18:16] Charles: Yeah, those guys at the House of Blues, those guys were legit skinheads.
[00:18:21] I knew a guy who was a skinhead who I didn't believe he was. I had worked with him, and one time I met him and his friends, and so I, they have a particular garb, they wear a coat and the American flag on the sleeve and stuff. And they, fortunately, they, they went away and, and we were all, I think, glad that they did that night.
[00:18:47] But, yeah, so that's our, our Danzig story. And then just, you know, again, Steve, we, you turned me on to the Psychedelic Furs, big time, like playing deep cuts and, and stuff. And again, I think the House of Blues was one of the, uh, you know, shows we, we, went to the first time I'd seen, the Psychedelic Furs, which just happens to be my wife's favorite band.
[00:19:17] So, I kind of hold you responsible for having an influence on, at least our first few dates going well, cause we could, I could talk knowledgeably about the Psychedelic Furs, thanks to you introducing me to their music and seeing them live a few times with you.
[00:19:35] Steve: I will gladly take credit for that. But my God, I mean just, every time I've seen them there, I think they may have taken my top band. I mean, just number of times I've seen them because it's just, you know, they're, they're always on the road and it's just easier to... You know, Colt doesn't come around that much, but I've seen them almost a lot every tour since I started. The Cure as well, but the Furs just seem to be out and about more. So, I think they may easily, easily be my top in every show. It's just great. It's just, mean, Richard Butler on stage is just a performer.
[00:20:12] If you look around, I mean, just wherever you are, with small venue, mid size venue, outdoor venue, I mean, everyone's doing nearly his same motions. it's Richard Butler, and it's just a great, great time.
[00:20:27] Charles: Yeah. And we'll get back. I want to get back to the Psychedelic Furs in a bit. But, um, I'd like to move on, also now at the House of Blues, this is 2001, we go, it might've been at the Psychedelic Furs show where Louie, our friend again, once again mentions, that his godfather, I believe, is part owner of the House of Blues, or was at that time.
[00:20:54] And we were gonna go see Monster Magnet. This band that I had been listening to a lot. Their previous album, was called power trip. And then we were going to go see them on this, uh, the tour "God Says No" at the House of Blues. And Louie said, well, let me talk to my godfather. I think he can get us up in the Foundation Room, which is like a private area at the, at the top of the House of Blues. And it's like a little balcony area. And there's also these like chilled out rooms and there's rugs everywhere and candles. And it's very, very cool spot. And you had brought with you your date that night that you were going to, uh, I think a wedding the next day, right?
[00:21:39] Steve: Next day. Yes. Yes, we were going to a wedding. Now what was going on was, so the show we went to, hold on, I'm thinking, memory's failing. Yes. All right. So, we went to the House of Blues show. The next night that same show was moving over to the Congress or something like that.
[00:21:58] Charles: Yes, you're right.
[00:21:59] Steve: Yes, so we went to the House of Blues show, and I think it was supposed to be two nights at the Congress when something happened, and they had to bounce one to the House of Blues, and that's how this all came down.
[00:22:08] No, no, no, other way around. The second night got bounced to the Congress. That's, that's what it was. Anyway, I digress. So yeah, so it's Monster Magnet, Stabbing Westward, and The Cult on this show. Again, just stellar show. But again, Louie! Hey, yeah, my godfather could get us up. Okay, alright.
[00:22:32] Well, what do we gotta do? Just get tickets. Alright, we'll get the tickets. Louie comes through, and again, not that we were doubting Louie, but again, it's just one of those, oh yeah, by the way, I, uh, you know, that's like saying, you know, I could get us to drive in the limo with the band. How did this happen? Okay.
[00:22:46] So again, we get our tickets, and Louie's like, follow me. Well, follow you where, dude? There's nothing over there. All of a sudden, behind the curtains are the elevators to the Foundation Rooms. Someone's like, "Got tickets?" Yes? Here? "Go on up. Enjoy yourself." What is going on here? And it's literally these doors open. It's just like, you think you hear music.
[00:23:08] It's just like, ah, it's like, I've never been up here before. And I didn't know this existed. Where did they even fit this? Am I in the TARDIS? That's one nerd reference. Am I in the TARDIS? Where did this room even come from? And why have I never been here? And why is it so awesome in here?
[00:23:24] Charles: And, uh, when we first arrived, Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins was hanging out there having a beer and, eventually kind of disappeared in one of those private rooms. Which, yeah, we, we didn't have access to one of those, but that was fine with us.
[00:23:44] Were like, we're probably never going to come up here again, kind of enjoyed the moment. But, um, after the bands played in particular Monster Magnet, they all came up to the foundation room before The Cult were going to come on. The Cult was like headlining, I believe. And your date, don't know, I'd just say kind of hit it off with one of the, uh...
[00:24:06] Steve: Phil.
[00:24:07] Charles: The members of the band.
[00:24:08] Steve: Phil. I say scowling, but Phil, I forget Phil's last name, but yeah, it was just something. Oh, by the way, Lisa does say hello. And she loves to write up in the book. She said, send her a copy.
[00:24:19] Charles: Okay, absolutely.
[00:24:21] Steve: We can do that. Talk about that offline, but, um, yeah, yeah. So again, yeah, so we're all just hanging out, you know, we're doing our thing, this foundation room is literally... You know, booze is flowing. They, like you said, they've got those private rooms for the bands to do whatever they're doing, but again, they've got that third-floor balcony, which just is directly center stage and you just look right over it and it's just awesome seating. It's, it's top notch. But yeah, so all, you know, when a band would get done performing, that's the green room, I guess, to call it, that they'd come up there, they'd hang out.
[00:24:51] So Stabbing Westward was already in there, but they were doing something. Monster Magnet had just finished, and you know, this is in between as they break down the set, so they had just come up and they had started boozing, and, again, we were just hanging out. I don't even know how this happened, but all of a sudden, you know, we're talking, you turn around, and Lisa and Phil are just, Rrap, Rrap, Rrap, Rrap, Rrap, Rrap, I mean, look, I know this won't, no video, but I'm doing a whole, Rrap, Rrap, Rrap thing, So they are just, chatting it up, like, old friends.
[00:25:20] I'm like, whoa, who's that guy? And people are like, that's Phil from Monster Magnet. Oh, damn, okay, well, let her have a good time. Cool. And they did.
[00:25:29] Charles: Yeah, they did. And, we couldn't find her right after a certain point, right? We had lost track of her.
[00:25:38] Steve: Yeah.
[00:25:39] Charles: And they kind of disappeared and then, uh, we left. And then you went to the wedding the next day with her, right? We were DJing that night, so you were gonna go to this wedding, go to the reception, cut out early, and be at the bar, the Tender Trap, at like 10 o'clock was when we kinda went on.
[00:25:59] Steve: Correct.
[00:26:00] Charles: And, um, so I'd asked you what, what had happened. I guess while you guys were at the reception, after you'd eaten dinner, just before dessert, Monster Magnet had sent a limo pick her up from the wedding. Is that, was that correct?
[00:26:16] Steve: It's funny. He'd had called her up. I mean, so again, just from where we were, I had to go pick, I mean, not I had to, but I went and picked her up and we went and did this thing, but just, you know, it was kind of just, I had to get out there early just to come back and no, just to keep the timetable going.
[00:26:33] And he had been blowing her off since like four in the afternoon. "Like, Hey, you're coming to the show. You come to the show." She's like, and you know, she's of course, she's like, well, you know, I'd love to, but he's like, I've got, and she, you know, she laid out the itinerary, you know? Steve's coming to get me here.
[00:26:49] We got this. We got that, you know, she was truly accurate. She's just like and you know, I'm not driving You know, he's, he's carting me around him. He's like, where's this wedding? And you know, she's like, um... She told him the whole thing. I mean not in a bad way. What the hell does Phil from Monster Magnet care what wedding hall this is at and God, where was it Linwood or something?
[00:27:10] I don't even know, but yeah, so no she gave him all the info and lo and behold, you know, and then a ring, she gets Phil again. It's like, dude, I don't think we're going to get up to the Congress. I just honestly don't think so. And then she picked up the phone. Yeah. Yeah. Huh? What? Really? Lo and behold.
[00:27:32] Charles: Hmm.
[00:27:33] Steve: Phil, he says scowlingly, sent a limo.
[00:27:37] Charles: So, you were, you were going to go to the show, but was it because you had a DJ? You couldn't make it?
[00:27:43] Steve: Yeah. I was like, I can't, I go, listen, I got a thing to go. I go, listen, this is, you know, we, her and I, we were super cool. You know, it wasn't like that. It was, we were super cool. I wasn't mad. It's just like, I couldn't, I couldn't argue with Phil. It's like, you know, he's a guy in a pretty popular band at the time.
[00:28:01] I can't, I got, the Tender Trap DJ can't bring anything to the table against Phil. I go, go have a blast. Listen, text me, call me. Just be safe. Enjoy.
[00:28:15] Charles: Yeah. And you, you came and you told me then, and, uh, I just, I just thought that was the craziest, the craziest story. And then we, uh, started our set and, uh, ended at about four o'clock in the morning. Well, about 3:30 and then they turn the lights up and that was that. That was an interesting, little adventure there.
[00:28:34] Steve: It was something, you know, in hindsight now I can look and laugh at it, but I remember just coming back. You're like, wait, dude, weren't you at a what's his faces wedding? I go, yeah and, what happened? Well, you know, Phil sent a limo. Who sent the limo? Phil. I was super salty, but now as I said, I talked about it. We totally, totally, totally laugh about it. It's just hysterical.
[00:28:57] Charles: That's a great story. I love that story.
[00:28:59] When we have guests fill out the guest form, you know, we ask a number of questions and one of them is your most disappointing concerts. And you had a couple, I think they were kind of tied. Um, one, was System of a Down at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
[00:29:17] Steve: Mm hmm.
[00:29:18] Charles: And the other one was, uh, The Killers on their Sam's Town tour at the Congress Theater in Chicago. So, just go ahead and kind of, why those were disappointing? What ways they were disappointing to you?
[00:29:31] Steve: We'll start with System of a Down. So again, System of a Down was good. However, my experience was horrendous.
[00:29:41] Charles: Mm.
[00:29:42] Steve: System of a Down is a very, very, very loud, exciting band. And it is from note one to note 500,000, however as many they play. It is nonstop. It was also my first time going to the Aragon, AKA the brawl room.
[00:30:00] Again, remember back that time I was a lot bigger than I even am now. And God, I think it was six; I am six four. It's not like I shrank, but I think I was maybe 280 or 290. Just, you know, I still, my big bouncer build back then. And I went with a bunch of other buddies.
[00:30:17] Yeah, I knew of System of a Doubt. I dug their stuff. I just, I didn't know anything about them. I was like, but it's like, yeah, let's go. That sounds like a blast. Never been to the brawl room. Checking off things.
[00:30:26] Charles: Hmm.
[00:30:27] Steve: I don't think they had an opener. I really don't recall because we walked up and again, uh, if you've never been and everyone here has been, it's just wide-open space.
[00:30:39] You have room to walk as far as you humanly can till you can, you know, you hit humans and you have to stop. We'd gotten there early. So, we were up kind of close. You know, it filled in promptly behind us and they came on.
[00:30:53] Crowd starts cheering and literally, I think it's a four-piece band System of a Down, they stop, look at the crowd and it's almost like just in unison. They hit that first note and it's on. I mean, just keep it short and sweet. I'm getting rag dolled the entire concert. And again, I am six, four, 280, 290.
[00:31:14] I am a big man and I am literally, I, you know, I feel like 110-pound girl. I am just getting tossed and jostled. And again, it's not violent, you know, no one's punching your thing, but it just, it is very, very unpleasant. It's just quite possibly just, oh, oh, yeah, not fun. It's not fun. And the entire concert, no, I couldn't get out of it from where we were.
[00:31:41] And finally it was like, okay, this is it. I've had enough. I'm going to that bar. And you weren't even safe by the bar. It was just a little bit more chill because people were, you know, spending money on beers, but they were still doing it. But it's just like, I have, I, I can't take this anymore. I'll be over there.
[00:31:57] Charles: Yeah.
[00:31:58] Steve: I mean, sound wise, show wise. Good time. But just my God. And again, I didn't do that for like the first hour. I was like, I got murdered for an hour and I was like, oh God, no.
[00:32:10] Charles: That's, definitely not, not fun when that's happening.
[00:32:12] Steve: Yeah. And you know, I hate to sound like I'm exaggerating, but it literally was just nonstop. So that's how it was. How it went. It happened to me.
[00:32:22] Charles: So, with The Killers, it was, uh, that was a different issue.
[00:32:26] Steve: You know, Killers were still hot. I mean, they still are. I'm not saying they never lost anything, but you know, Sam's Town had just come out. It was. You know, that's the, is that the album after whatever bright side was on? Hot Fuss. Thank you. I think Sam Town is the next album or maybe it's the second one after, but again, they never lost their momentum was still building at that time.
[00:32:48] So again, it was huge and you know, you're excited. Tickets went super-fast at the time. And, you know, it's like, all right, let's go. And you go and don't recall who opened, but I didn't have any issue there. But once The Killers came on, I don't know, it just, everything just sounded off to me. There's a lot of reverb.
[00:33:09] There's a lot of stuff just going on where I couldn't even hear any of the vocals or anything. It was just constant. It was like Charlie Brown's teacher had a concert and that's how it felt to me the entire time. My girlfriend slash wife, now wife, she didn't have that issue, but it was just me and I was just like, Owwl.
[00:33:31] Doug: I have to say from the viewpoint of a musician and playing in a band, we always feel when you are playing a venue, the sound engineering is sort of like another member of the band. In other words, if you're a four-person band, they're the fifth member, and, a good sound engineer can make a show, and, and if they're off their game, it can, it can ruin a show. So, it sounds like they were a little bit off their game in this particular case.
[00:33:58] Steve: I could see that. I mean, you know, again, that's, I'm not blaming anybody. You know, it just, it might've just been me. You know everyone's different it happens, but again like my wife she's like, oh my god one of the best concerts I've ever been to. Okay. Not for the kid, but I'm glad you had a good time, honey. But again, I had seen them a few times after that never had that issue.
[00:34:20] Charles: I've been to a couple of shows. I remember a Dave Matthews show at the World Music Theater. We were in the lawn. We're a little far back, but when they came on, it literally sounds like the band was playing out of like a AM transistor radio and I was like, I'm looking at my people I'm with and they're like, yeah, this is, this is awful. I, there was something going on and it never did get corrected. And it was just, it was weird.
[00:34:48] But yeah, Doug, to your point, they needed somebody up in the lawn and at that show, at least, to kind of evaluate what the heck was going on, but, yeah, it wasn't, good, but, it happens, I guess, right?
[00:35:00] So, Steve, I thought, you moved down to, the Atlanta area in '05, right?
[00:35:07] Steve: Yep. Yep. Job got bought. They're like, hey, you want to come down? I was like, you know, I'm 30 sure Let's see what's going on in Atlanta. I won't be here long. He says 20 years later still living in Atlanta.
[00:35:19] Charles: I guess we kind of lost touch with one another. But I would say every time, similar to your experience, whenever the Psychedelic Furs would come to town, you know, my wife and I would go pretty much every time. And I would always have You know, thoughts of our experience and where I got schooled on the psychedelic first music with you.
[00:35:41] And, so yeah, I, I know recently we just exchanged some, photos that we had, both been to different venues, obviously, but the same tour.
[00:35:51] Steve: Mm hmm. Them and Squeeze.
[00:35:54] Charles: Then they were playing with Squeeze. So recently, or, or kind of out of COVID, um, that was one of the first concerts my wife and I went to and it was at the Aragon Ballroom and we were like right up on the rail, I mean, we had great seats and that was in July of 2022. And shortly after that, maybe a couple months, it was, it was, mentioned, I heard it on the radio that Mars Williams, who was, who's their saxophone player, had cancer, and they, he had a GoFundMe page to help out with his medical bills and such. And then, uh, we saw them again, at this place called the Salt Shed, which you would absolutely love in Chicago. And I think you saw them; this was in September. You saw them around that time, same, same tour. And, yeah, you could tell Mars was, was kind of sick. Uh, he had lost a lot of weight and such. And so they, they had this benefit concert. They were going to have for him again to raise money.
[00:36:55] It was shortly, if not shortly after that, that show was on the 24th of September, and they had mentioned, through the Metro in Chicago, that small venue, that we'd been to before, um, on the 27th of September that they're going to have this benefit, which was going to include Mars's band, Liquid Soul, Richard Butler, Zach Alford, Rich Good from the Psychedelic Furs and, uh, Richard Fortis of Guns N Roses and a few other people.
[00:37:25] Just before this concert was going to happen, on November 25th, on November 17th, all of those guests backed out. They said for unforeseeable reasons or whatever. But what, you know, I went anyway and, uh, Mars had, passed away on the 20th. So, if just a few days later, they had this benefit concert, which was, you know, kind of sad, obviously, but, Liquid Soul, which I don't know, have you ever listened to those guys?
[00:37:57] Steve: I had heard of them. You know, just being a Chicago kid. Uh, never really got into them. Just wasn't my style at the time. In hindsight, I wish I had. Again, I could start investigating them now, but just, no. I never listened to them at the time. I knew of them.
[00:38:14] Charles: Yeah, they're, uh, described as acid jazz, which I I'm kind of with you. I mean, they're obviously very talented musicians and such, but, I hadn't really ever gotten into them previous. So yeah, we went, we went to the concert and, it was a nice tribute to him and, and such.
[00:38:31] I don't know what's, become of the band or, um, he played saxophone for the band for, for many, many years. And, I just, I didn't know if you'd heard anything recently about that.
[00:38:43] Steve: Now, you know, unfortunately, what's sad is, you know, so I saw them, uh, you know, as God, when was that show? I told August or It was August. Late August. Late August, maybe early September, but I want to say late August, uh, '23 here. Outdoor venue, uh, called Chastain Park. Wonderful thing. Uh, kind of reminds Closest thing I could think of is Ravinia.
[00:39:07] Charles: Okay.
[00:39:07] Steve: Just super cool, it's one of those places you can bring a picnic basket, they've got a setup like that, and you know, stone amphitheater, very cool. Um, so we saw that show, and then they only, they didn't have much more of the tour left. And then, you know, just kind of went about, you know, adulting in life, and I was like, and then, you know, being on the mailing list, they're like, oh, hey, new tour dates.
[00:39:32] And I was like, oh, cool. Let's, you know, let's see what's brewing. Uh, so I looked. And it was for a bunch of West Coast shows, but then right there was, you know, Mars Williams, uh, you know, in memoriam. And I was like, no, uh, I thought he beat it. And, you know, I read it and I was like, oh no, cause yeah, I mean, you know, he was doing his thing at that show.
[00:39:52] Don't get me wrong. We had such excellent seats. It's just like, but you can see how tight, I mean, he was. You know, having seen them for so many years, I mean, obviously we get smaller in age, but just you get to see how tiny he was, but he was still going, man. He, I mean, he didn't miss a beat, but just, you know, from remembering, you know, a show 10, 15 years ago to now, it's like, yeah, that's a, that man is a tinier, tinier man than he is now than he was back then.
[00:40:18] Charles: And he was, every bit of energetic and, he was awesome live. And it just, it's just amazing that small amount of time between seeing them at the Salt Shed and then being at his benefit memorial concert, literally, geez, I don't even think 60 days later, it was just kind of crazy, you know, and, and incredibly sad.
[00:40:40] Steve: You saw a little bit later because they swung up north after that, and boom. You think about it. You can't fake playing the saxophone.
[00:40:48] Charles: No, especially at that level.
[00:40:50] Steve: I mean, not that you can fake it in general, but just if I were a guitar player, you know, hey, if I'm having a rough day, I can pull out a chair on stage and play my guitar or something of that nature. Saxophone, you gotta be standing cause you need your lungs. You gotta do this. And I mean, and it's not like these, they have sax-heavy songs.
[00:41:09] They really do on some of them. You know, Heartbreak, Sister Europe is a huge one and he would play that constantly. It's like, dude, that is basically, you know, I think that's the song that ends in like a minute or two of sax.
[00:41:22] It's just good God. So, I mean, but yeah, it was impressive until the end of it was. I'm sad, you know, that I didn't hear about it when it happened, I'm sad that I had to just find out on, you know, just looking up on the website, but, you know, he'll be missed. You know, I only knew him from the Furs, and I was like, I don't know how they continue without a sax. They'll find somebody, I'm sure they will, but it won't be Mars.
[00:41:45] Charles: He was incredible in the back and forth between him and Richard Butler. I remember seeing them. That Aragon ballroom show in 2022 and they were ending with India and they were just going off.
[00:42:01] Steve: Mm hmm.
[00:42:02] Charles: Him and Richard Butler just goofing around on stage going back and forth. I've got video of that and it's incredible. It really is. So that's a good memory. Steve, I, I didn't know if you wanted to add anything like you got anything on the horizon for shows.
[00:42:18] Steve: Kind of. Yeah, so let's see. So, because we speak of them quite often and fondly, L7's coming to town. And so, I was like, um, you know, I just hit the 50 club. Again, I'm 29 still in my head to this day, but I just hit the 50 club. And I'm like, man, those girls are still doing it.
[00:42:38] You know, I'm thinking everybody's my age still, and I'm still thinking I'm 29. I'm like, honestly, how old are these girls? And I looked it up and like they are 60 across the board, except I think Jen Finch is 57. The other three are, are 60 plus. I think they either Susie or Dra is the oldest at 63.
[00:42:54] And you know, I just saw, you know, they just came back from Brazil and I saw some, footage and they're still insane. So, it's like, alright, I kind of, I guess I have to go, I have to go do this. So, I was gonna go pick up some tickets from them. Just want to talk my wife about it just to see if she wants to go. So, they're on the horizon.
[00:43:12] In June, June is going to be so crazy because we are going out to Vegas to see Adele. And then you know, she's got that residency and um, went out to London to see Adele. It's just like a thing me and the wife do now, so that's cool. And then right after that is Alanis and Joan Jett too, I probably should have seen eons ago, but again, we'll take Joan Jett off the bucket list So we're gonna see Joan Jett, Alanis and somebody else and that's at uh outdoor theater up not too far from here. Right now, that's the only plans.
[00:43:44] There are not a lot of bands here I'm really willing to deal with humans with anymore. I don't want to say I don't like music today. I just definitely like my music a lot more. It takes a lot for a new band to hook me in. I find myself in a, you know, God, they're not bad, but I almost feel bad for liking them because, you know, kids, kids nowadays, it's just, it's different.
[00:44:10] Doug: That's why tribute bands are so successful and so much in demand. Charles and I just recently went to see a Zeppelin tribute band, Led Zeppelin II, and the place was packed.
[00:44:24] Charles: Yeah. They, they played two nights at the House of Blues; sold out. But yeah, that's a good point, Doug.
[00:44:29] Steve: And you know what? It's funny. Cause I am friendly with a Journey tribute band down here. It's not like Journey's coming out with anything new, but these guys pack out everything they do all the time. They're great guys, sound just like them, they do their thing. But, you know, now that you think about it, it makes sense. Do I sound like I'm throwing shade? I'm really not.
[00:44:50] A band I'm having issues with and not issues. That's just the word I'm using. And when I say issues, it's just like, I want to say I like them, but I just, I can't pull that trigger. Imagine Dragons. I like their music. I like the way they sound, but for some odd reason, I just can't buy in, you know, I can't be that guy.
[00:45:08] You know, someone says The Cure, The Cult, anybody, the Metric like I mean just anything I've invested in I'm like, oh, yeah best here. Here's a catalog. Let me tell you how to listen to this in case you're coming in late. Just boom, you know these guys I'll hear a radio tune. There's like oh, that's them.
[00:45:24] That's cool. That's nice, you know, I own like one album. My kid likes them. I'll buy that song on the radio, but I can't invest in them and they're a good band, but I can't invest in them like I have bands of the past, when I was music was my gig and it still is, but you know what I'm saying? It's just weird. It's weird.
[00:45:46] Charles: Yeah. I'm trying to, uh, I would say force myself, but, some of the new bands that are coming out, just to go see them live and, you know, yeah, try to try to find a band that, you know, a new band that moves me as much as, you know, REM did back when I used to see them in the 80s.
[00:46:05] Steve: You said it. I don't mean to cut you off, but you said it. None of these people move me. None of them. That's what it is. I like Imagine Dragons. It's catchy. There's good hooks. A couple of songs would be like, yeah, that one I'm good with that one. None of them move me. That's what it is. Perfect. Thank you.
[00:46:24] Charles: So, um, we keep going to these shows and, uh, I'm sure some band will emerge that, captured my, attention like somebody like REM or The Cure, did back in the day.
[00:46:38] Steve: Just to wrap that up, you know what it's probably going to be? It's probably going to be somebody's opener, honestly. Who was it? Ah, I was seeing L7, imagine that. A band called Two Ton Boa out of Seattle opened for them. I don't even think they're still together, but, heard them and I was like, oh my God, these people are phenomenal.
[00:46:55] Charles: Yeah. I have, I have one of their CDs, Steve.
[00:46:57] Steve: I think you were with me at that show.
[00:46:59] Charles: Maybe I was there.
[00:47:00] Steve: It was an EP, like a four- or five-disc EP. And they had that like eight-minute song, which I think it was at the Metro or something that was just stellar. And it was like, these guys are good. I went on and get a bunch of their other stuff. And then I think they broke up or something happened and it got weird. And that was the end of them. But I think that is how it's going to have to happen for me. It'll probably be more opening bands than somebody I discover off the radio.
[00:47:22] Charles: your To your point, Steve, and I know they were getting more and more famous on the top of a lot of music critics list, but, Wetleg who opened for Harry Styles, I'd seen Harry Styles and then because they were the opening band, I started listening more to their music, I think they're fantastic. It's Harry Styles and he has very good opening bands, but it was my first exposure to them and their music. And I had kind of heard them on the radio here and there, but they've captured my attention, so to speak,
[00:47:57] Well, uh, do you, uh, have anything else, Steve, that you'd like to end on, or plug, or talk about?
[00:48:05] Steve: No, man, we're, this has been a blast. No, I mean, just you and I, we've seen a lot of great, great concerts. Like I said, in prep for this, you know, I got my OCD on, I got all my stubs out, I listed them in dates just to see what I was doing, and it's just like, how many times have, you,
[00:48:23] Andy, Louie; who was with me at these times? You just remember how many times we went to shows. And just out of the blue too, just like, hey, you know, My Life at the Thrill Kill Cult's coming in a bit. Oh, let's go. Okay. God, we did so many of those. Just a lot of fun. I think I miss that the most.
[00:48:45] We've got some very good venues down here as well, but you know I go, it just stinks because I don't have the, and that's about the only thing I miss being down here, you know, I don't have the, crew down here to do these things with anymore. A lot of solo shows for me or, you know, it's just the wife and which is just fine.
[00:49:05] Charles: I could see that. Going by yourself and such. Yeah, it's different than going with a bunch of friends, and just the variety, you know, like you're like, hey, you want to go see Danzig? And I was like, yeah, sure. Why not? Let's check it out, you know? And we would go.
[00:49:18] Steve: Yeah.
[00:49:18] Charles: It's changed a lot. Yeah, we appreciate you, taking time to be on the show and, sharing some of your stories and reconnecting too, Steve.
[00:49:28] Steve: Absolutely. My friend, both of you. Thanks for having me on. This has been a blast. I've never done one of these and this is fun.