Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Chevelle (band)

May 25, 2017, my daughter's birthday an easy day to remember and a memorable evening. As soon as the tickets came on sale, I bought two. Optimistic on having date to join me at the show. With one particular lady on mind. I've been patiently waiting to see the boys live for a couple of years now. Only recently in 2014 that I have heard of them. They have been around sense 1995. With 4 million albums under their belt from a total of 8 albums. Is alum the correct word to use today, idk. Albums have seen a recent return as of 2018 as band now start to release vinyl as part of their promotion package and receive a very serious cult following with their release. Albums are cool in their own way. You get the songs, some pictures of the band and usually some writing whether it's reviews or the band members chatting to an interviewer. Or should I be using the word CD. Today CDs are out, and music is downloaded so I guess CD word usage would be incorrect and album partially correct, and downloads totally correct. Rolling Stone uses album. what do you think?
The band started out with all brothers in the band. and later a brother in-law joining to fill a vacancy left by Joe Loeffler in 2005. It is rumored that he was sh#t canned yet the band members polity state he left on his own accord. Joe joins the band in its beginning in 1995 at the ripe age of 14. Drummer Sam Loeffler does most of the interviews for the band and enjoys talking about the band. The singer, Pete Loeffler keeps quiet. being together for 23 years to date and living together for years before that they amazingly retain enthusiasm for being out on the road. This was quite evident during the live performance as Pete poked fun at the more popular Sam. and Sam drew a loader applause from the crowd while being introduced.
At this time, I would like to plug the backup band. I don't know their name they never told us. Apparently, they assumed that we knew who they are, we didn't and the lack of tee shirt sales for the backup band should reflect this. The singer kept tell the audience that they were from LA. LA being the city of Los Angeles in California, USA. "We're from LA." It was stated at least 6 times during their set and not once did he mention the band's name. Where we to be impressed by where there from? This is a through back to the hair band days that all seemed to be from LA or at least claimed they were from LA. Today, nobody cares if you're from LA, NYC or Boise Idaho for that matter. So, stop telling us. I not necessarily bad mouthing them just stating some key facts, now I will bad mouth them. You put so much effort in a band to take flight in the form of going on tour and when the opportunity happens you put on one of the worst soundings sets, I have ever encountered. I have heard better sounding sets at clubs with 120-person capacity. The backup band was saving money of quality sound gear and personal and it reflected in their show. It was the worst muddy and washed out set ever. If I was in Chevelle I would have been pissed because people in the audience payed money to hear it. Chevelle absolutely floored them with quality of sound. By using quality equipment and not going cheap on a sound person. I will leave that at that. I'm not too big on negative writing but just couldn't hold back on this one.
Back to Chevelle. The crowd was diverse in age. From 18 straight through to all silver hair. This is prevalent at many shows today. The age barrier is disappearing as generation X'ers gets older and hold a different view on life than the generation before them who mentally retired at the age of 40. If you're a band and able to attract such a diverse crowd you're not a fade, you're in it for the long term. The light show that was put on during Chevelle's set was beyond impressive. I did not even remotely expect it. It was a performance on its own and worth the price of admission. I was particularly fond of the strobe lights being partial to the fact my great grandfather invented it.
I was accompanied by a friend name Bohemian (nick name). Weighting in at 270 plus as a direct result of his bad eating habits. Calories are not the concern taste is. "I've got tickets to tonight's show." he belched out. "What show" I replied. Chevelle at the Casino. We're off. I jumped into my yellow Chevy station wagon on loan from my father.
"We need daiquiri mix and strawberries". I demanded as he jumped in the passenger seat. We headed to Hampton Beach stopping at the store to pick up need fuel. Daiquiri mix and 2 dozen Coors Lights stored in a 48-quart cooler with 3 packs of ice, we were set. Checking in to the rooms and immediately mixing drinks with Bohemian dicing up the strawberries. "We have 2 hours to kill while we wait for the show" he blasted out that could be heard down the block. "That's plenty of time for a primmer session of drinks and beer. Bohemian wanted to get one room with 2 beds to save a few bucks, but I said no. He, at times, has trouble with soap and water and skips this part of the day. Lack of proper dental hygiene is another. I have explained to him on several occasions about bacteria growth and the trouble maintaining a conversation without looking away.
After "where from LA" exited the stage there was a short break in which me and Bohemian headed for the bar to douse an internal fire in our intestines. I yelled out "i'll take 3 Coors Lights" Bohemian yelled out "2 shots of whiskey and 2 Coors minus the light." "Please." The bar tender returned with my order first sense I ordered first. 2 Coors Lights. "That's it dude no 3...2."
Chevelle came on stage with a massive roar from the crowd and me and Bohemian pushed for the stage. At 270 plus he makes a good plow and plow he did to about 5th row to the right in front of Dean Bernardini the bass player. We would later refer to him as quiver lips. He was back up singer and at times no voice would come from his mouth. At first, we thought it was bad work at the sound board and somehow was left out of the mix. Not true. Bohemian yelled out "clear your throat Dean," "you have a frog in your throat!" Bohemian voice carried to Dean's ears with ease as he turned from the mic and coughed and returned to the mic to sing back up. I high five'd Bohemian, his foghorn vocals cut through the mix.
The crowd swayed from left to right and Bohemian was yelling "watch the drinks! watch the drinks!" Sweat started to pour from my pours and it was 50 f outside. Some influx of outside air would have helped. By the end of the set, I was personally satisfied, and glad Bohemian called me with the tickets.
"We're from LA..."

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