Freakers Ball at LaZona Rosa F

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Austin, Texas baby! In my last concert review I went out of town but I'm back home now. With the exception for twenty months, I have been living in Austin for the past seven years. I'm not the kind of Texan to slam New Yorkers or Californians just because most others around the state do. As a matter of fact, I have friends from both places, I just would not want to live anywhere else. Sure, we do apologize for the President, but we don't claim him -- want proof? Go pick up a roll of George W. Bush toilet paper at Waterloo Records on Sixth and Lamar.

Two huge events collided in Austin on October 31st: the combination of the Live Music Capitol of the World and Halloween. Dale Dudley and Bob of radio station 93.7 LBJ Austin's Rock hosted the Freakers Ball at Lazing Rosa which featured the Cardboard Vampyres.

As you may know, Cardboard Vampires is the a group that features former Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, The Cult's Billy Duffy, and former Motley Crue vocalist John Corabi. My excitement level for this show was very high as it gave me the opportunity to see two of my favorite and two of the sexiest performers live for the first time ever. Alice In Chains is one of my all time favorite groups, I even have their sun logo tattooed on my lower back but I never got to see them live. The Motley Crue album that John Corabi sang on has to be one the most under-rated album of the ‘90s.

While the Freakers Ball started at seven that featured a costume contest, I however was running late, thankfully the Vampires weren't scheduled to go on until 9:30. October 31st just isn't Halloween, it also happened to have been my 25th birthday. The night before, I went partying in Houston to see a band called Liquid Sand (www.liquidsand.com) and ladies, you'll love the singer Rhett. If you remember, that was also the night we sat the clocks back one hour which means all the bars stays open one extra hour, I'm sure you can see why I was running late.

I arrived in plenty of time for the show so not all was lost. The Vampyres got introduced and they band came out wearing Halloween masks of course and started doing some heavy jamming, I didn't recognize the first song. It might have been called "California Man" or something along those lines. Since I didn't know the song, I went for some beer and wound up missing the next two songs.

I got back and the masks were off, the guys in the band had their faces painted. Jerry Cantrell starts the riff to the classic Metallica song "Seek and Destroy."

The night was nothing but five musicians playing and having a good time while performing some of their favorite tunes growing up. Classics by such artists as AC/DC, Motorhead, Aerosmith, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Mountain, and The Beatles as well as songs by The Cult and the great Alice In Chains.

This is a band that I will happily see again if and when they come back around, two legendary guitarists, Cantrell and Duffy, two other very good musicians in Chris Wyse and Josh Howser, and one extremely well vocalist who just plays for the love of music at a affordable price. Although the rain came down not too long after midnight and washed out the annual Halloween party on Sixth Street (www.6street.com) this was the perfect night for a party and a kick ass concert.

A special thanks to the two sexy goth girls who gave me the names of The Cult songs. Also this set list is in the order that I best remember.

Set List:

Seek and Destroy
Helter Skelter
Ace of Spades (Chris Wyse doing lead vocals)
Night Prowler
Them Bones (Jerry Cantrell lead vocals)
Wildflower
Mississippi Queen
Beating Around the Bush
Love Removal Machine
It Ain't Like That (Jerry Cantrell lead vocals)
I Wanna Be Your Dog
Draw The Line

Encore:
Sun King
Man in the Box