Aaron Lewis - Napa, CA, March 3, 2013

acutejam

Sigh... Knew he'd gone country, No worries, any reason to go to Napa and eat some good food, drink some fine vino.... Hear some tunes...

No... Worries! It was painful, hate to be cliche, but damn, every single song sounded just like the last one. Just phonin' it in, every freakin country music cliche, pandering to every single country stereotype and just sappy sappy sappy. He even gave a shout out to Duck Dynasty. And admittedly, the crowd loved it. Cuz life dun be hard on dat dere road... And my gawd, that dangburn drawl he done affected fer the nite!

I like a few Staind songs, loved him in his solo acoustic rock mode - dig that he can break out epic eclectic covers. Opening dude Lunding, now he was damn funny, and played the setup role just fine. His cliches were there to be funny, yeah, his dog jumped outta his pickup and done got run over... And I like some country, heck, good guitars, good pipes can win me over any time...

After a 45 min intermission, and 40 minutes in I thought he'd redeem, band left, he stepped up with the acoustic in hand, said he'd made a promise to sing this one, he'd play a bit ... and yeah, he belted out Tesla's "What You Give" YES! Nope, 30 second intro and done.

More drinking and mindless banter, skipped one whole song and told us so, "I'm talking too much..." And not Ed funny, just stupid drunk banter with the crowd. More acoustic country covers, Yawn. And that's that, we can't stand it anymore, we get up to leave, he's dedicating one to the troops, and I cringe a bit, sure don't want to diss that sentiment, but it's Sunday night...

Hit the head before we jet, and I hear the first strains of... AIC's The Rooster. Stood in the back and listened, clap, and gone...

Check the setlists on the drive home, ok he was gonna cover one Staind tune, "It's Been Awhile," and Seger's "Turn the Page." Shoulda checked the setlist before I went in, but I hate doing that, love to just let shows surprise. Many shows he's opening with "So Far Away..." No luck, 45 minutes 'tween opener and him deciding to come out, guess that cost us that one...

I don't blame him, he's got the range for country, he can phone in lyrics like that the rest of his life and play NASCAR and Country Music Festivals and make a fine living for himself and his family.... But driving home I'm just thinking, dang, he wrote some damn fine songs just 10 years ago, really put you in a scene, really made you feel ... something.

I don't think it was any great loss when Hootie went country, but Aaron, sigh. A bit of me is sad, for a few songs that got him into the limelight, he did what only great artists can do -- he put you in someone else's shoes, made you feel those shoes. The boots? They just didn't fit tonight.

STAYSEA

given2fly23

I'm a big fan. Staind is far from great, but when he plays the same songs solo/acoustic or plays covers, amazing. But I agree, his country stuff is total garbage...painful to listen to. He has some solo non-country songs that he never released but played live (Something Like Me) that are amazing, but everything since Country Boy is just awful. I've given up until he's done with the country phase.

peacefrompaul

I dig it

STAYSEA

He left a Big stain on my "black".

"And now my bitter hands
Cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures had
All been washed in black
Tattooed everything
All the love gone bad
Turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see "

This guy stained everything... I talk a walk outside and I'm surrounded by..
Surprisingly bad Pearl Jam Covers.

I hope you didn't have to pay. :shock:

don't watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC6_WgraOBA :fp:



Wait ... he butchered Alice's "Rooster" also? unbelievable.


If he actually writes his own country songs, I could appreciate that. But acoustic covers are so toasted, they became over toasted and now they are blackened

acutejam

Oh no no no, he nailed Rooster, the second reedeming moment of the show -- I didn't hang for country boy or nuthin' past Rooster.

The first redeeming moment? Ooooh yeah. He's singing about all the women on the road eyeing him, but no, he's got a laaaaady at home. And he's winding out a verse with, "And I can't wait to get in bed and wrap my arms around yooooouuuu...."

When I swear, the dude from PJ's Conan appearance, or a 400 lb truck driver let's looose with a Viking's War Cry!

"YEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWHHHHH!"

Aaron just stopped, slumped on the stage, "I'm gonna have nightmares tonight..." and then continued on. F'n hilarious...

But besides the awesome food and vino, THIS GUY made it worthwhile, 30 minutes of him and then I shoulda just climbed in the car! AWESOME opening set, real entertainer, was silly and serious, deep and shallow, funny and cutting, man, one of the best 30 minutes I've heard in awhile. Really well done!

http://www.davidluning.com/

given2fly23

His version of River of Deceit is incredible, but I like most of the covers he's done.