Welcome to Dave's On Tour!!

There’s a new sheriff in town and his posse is closing in on me. So this rock and roll outlaw had to get out of town. I had to satisfy my "traveling Jones" and go out on tour, to the Lonestar State, Texas. I made arrangements to attend Austin’s Own Rock Festival, featuring The Scorpions, Tesla, U.F.O., and the Keith Emerson Band. I also made plans to watch 70’s classic rockers ANGEL at Dallas’ Hard Rock Café the next night. I boarded a "big ol’ jet airliner" and got the hell out of Dodge.

The flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Dallas-Fort Worth was uneventful. I was picked up at the airport by my buddy, Tommystix, the drummer from Fort Worth rock band Hailstone. I spent the night in the beautiful home of Tommy and his wife, Barbara Lovelace.

The following morning Tommystix and I drove 180 miles south to Austin, the capitol city of Texas. I was expecting tumbleweeds and armadillos throughout the ride, but I couldn’t be more wrong. Interstate 35 is a non-descript highway; we could have been in Anywhere, U.S.A.

Our stomachs were growling the whole ride as we looked forward to a solid meal when we arrived. It was going to be a Tex-Mex lunch, and we were meeting up with one of my favorite people on planet Earth, ex-Robert Palmer drummer and Austin resident Dony Wynn. I can still remember Dony’s words the day after Robert’s untimely death: "It’s been a tough time, but I do look back with great fondness at all I learned and all the laughs shared over the years. I know in my heart I was truly blessed to have been a partner in crime with that boy."

After checking into our hotel, I made the final arrangements for the evening’s performance. It was finally lunchtime, and we wanted fajitas, which were pretty good. But Dony’s war stories from his drumming stints with Robert Palmer, Brooks and Dunn, and Wang Chung were even tastier (and spicier).

Drummers Terry Bozzio and Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) also call the city of Austin home. Dony told us that Austin today has a quality of life that attracts musicians, risk takers, and independent thinkers. Austin is a liberal town. It’s energetic, cool, exciting, and it offers a lot of culture.

After lunch, Tommystix and I headed to the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas. This wonderful venue was the host of Austin’s Own Rock Festival. The Frank Erwin Center staff, the Scorpions’ management company and their publicist, Chipster Entertainment, were all very supportive and accommodating after I approached them regarding this story. (my sincerest thanks!!)

I had the time to hang out in the back of the venue, where I met up with Barry Sparks, who is filling in for bassist Pete Way on U.F.O.’s U.S. tour. Barry told me that he’s rejoining his bandmates in DOKKEN for tour dates in 2005. He also hopes to do a tour supporting his new solo CD "Can’t Look Down" when his schedule allows it, but nothing is currently planned.

Keith Emerson, keyboard player extraordinaire, arrived in a taxi cab. He posed with us for a few photos, and hand-signed an old Emerson, Lake and Palmer concert program for Tommystix. I told Keith how much I enjoyed the Keith Emerson Band performances in New Jersey and New York City earlier in 2004. Keith told us about his upcoming soundtrack to the new film, "Godzilla Final Wars."

The Keith Emerson Band opened the show with an incredible 40-minute set of Emerson, Lake and Palmer material. They performed "Hoedown," "Living Sin," "Bitches Crystal," a 25-minute "Tarkus" in its entirety and "Fanfare For The Common Man/Rondo." Keith’s new band includes singer/lead guitarist Dave Kilminster, bassist Phil Williams, and drummer Pete Riley. Hearing classic ELP songs, with a brilliant lead guitarist and a heavy, driving rhythm section, was different yet very refreshing. Keith even plays some harmonica! I’m looking forward to new studio material from this band.

Using some of my crafty techniques from 30 years of concert-going, I snuck into the first row for most of U.F.O.’s 40-minute set. They opened with an incredible version of "Mother Mary," and followed with all their classics, including "Doctor Doctor" and "Too Hot To Handle." Singer Phil Moog sounds great, and newcomers Jason Bonham on drums and lead guitarist Vinnie Moore bring a new energy and freshness to U.F.O.

U.F.O. had two songs more to play when I got kicked out of the front row. I stopped at the rear of the orchestra near the soundboards to watch. Keith Emerson Band bassist Phil Williams and drummer Pete Riley were standing nearby so I re-intoduced myself. I had met them earlier in 2004 at my favorite concert venue, Sayreville, New Jersey’s Starland Ballroom. I dragged Tommystix away from his seat and introduced him to the guys. They told us what a great time they were having touring the United States. As U.F.O.’s set was ending, it was time to line up for a "meet and greet" with The Scorpions!

Backstage personnel from the venue led Tommystix and me through a maze of hallways into a small back room filled with long-haired rock and rollers holding Sharpies. The Scorpions were all ready to meet and greet. I welcomed the new bass player, Pawel Maciwoda, to the band. I surprised my good friend, Scorps drummer James Kottak, who had no idea I was in Texas. While James and I chatted about our families and drums, Tommystix bonded with the German contingent in the band. His southern drawl/mock German accent yelling "The Scorpions rock" had Scorps guitarist Rudolf Schenker grinning and singer Klaus Meine laughing. Tommystix told the band a story how they rocked him too hard at a Scorps performance in Dallas a few years back. Klaus replied "You can never be rocked too hard." I asked Klaus about a possible second leg of the tour on the East Coast. Klaus mentioned that a European tour in March, sharing some dates with Judas Priest, was going to happen before any other U.S. tour dates. Rudolf and Klaus invited us to be their guests the following night at their concert in San Antonio. They were so kind, offering tickets and backstage passes, but we had other commitments in Dallas the following day.

Tesla’s performance was well-received by the audience. One TESLA fan I spoke with said they played many of their classics and mixed in cuts from their new album "Into The Now." Unfortunately, we missed most of their set while attending The Scorps’ "meet and greet."

The Scorpions played a well-balanced 90-minute set as headliners. They opened with "New Generation" and "Love ‘Em Or Leave ‘Em" from their outstanding new CD "Unbreakable." They mixed in all their classics and power ballads, and Klaus’ vocal range was incredible.

Mattias Jabs’ and Rudolf Schenker’s dueling guitars, Pawel’s thundering bass, and the energy level of James Kottak and Klaus reinforced the power, polish, and professionalism of The Scorpions. Klaus even strapped on a guitar when he wasn’t running from one side of the stage to the other, banging a tamborine or cowbell and throwing drumsticks into the crowd.

James Kottak’s drum solo concluded with him smashing a beer bottle on his head. Don’t try that at home! Snow fell indoors in Texas from the lighting rig as they played "Still Loving You." Incredible versions of "Blackout," "The Zoo," and "No One Like You" rounded out their awesome set. Their encore included "Rock You Like A Hurricane," a song they’ve played a couple thousand times in their illustrious career. On this night, singer Klaus Meine flubbed one of the lines. He grinned, laughed off his mistake, and nailed the rest of the song. I love a band that does not take itself so seriously. That ability to make fun of your mistake, and not have it affect the rest of the performance, is really appreciated. The Scorpions ROCK, and we left the arena knowing we were rocked hard!

After the show, we grabbed a bite to eat and drove around Austin’s club district. Tour buses lined the streets. Coheed and Cambria, Simple Plan, and countless other bands were all in town. "Keep Austin Weird" is a local slogan that Dony Wynn had mentioned. Just breezing through the area, I didn’t see much weirdness. I saw clubs that looked eclectic, unique, and entertaining. And live music everywhere!

I made Tommystix stop by Coheed and Cambria’s tour bus and I dragged their drummer, Josh Eppard, off the bus. Asked to sum up the Austin scene, Josh replied "I’m a big fan of this place. A good music town, a hip town, and a great music scene. I love Austin, man. Tonight we sold out Stubb’s! Twenty-five hundred kids are gonna be rockin’ with us in an hour." Josh also mentioned Austin’s annual music festival, South By Southwest, calling it "one of the country’s premier musical events." Josh offered us tickets but we had to decline. I promised him that I’d check out Coheed and Cambria the next time they roll through my neck of the woods.

We grabbed a few hours sleep and almost missed the breakfast buffet at our hotel. Dallas was calling our names, and we were 180 miles away. Our final stop in Austin was Zilker Park, on the banks of the Colorado River. It’s a spot Austin residents affectionately call Town Lake. It’s there that Austin honors one of its most famous citizens. There is a statue of a man clad in a cloak and hat, holding a guitar. The simple plaque at the base of the statue says it all: Stevie Ray Vaughn – Musician.

Tommystix drove the 180 miles north to Dallas while I worked the CD player and the cell phone. The final contacts and arrangements had been made. ANGEL/Lillian Axe guitarist Steve Blaze was expecting us at ANGEL’s gig in Dallas’ Hard Rock Café. The V.I.P. access to ANGEL’s private party was waiting for us at the door and the night was young!

I chatted with Steve, our host and benefactor, and told him I had some "on the record" questions to ask him later. The V.I.P. laminates looked real cool hanging from our necks as Tommystix and I sat down for dinner.

We met a lot of cool people from local Dallas-Fort Worth bands that were attending the ANGEL show. Shirley Lutz, who was with Scarlet Entertainment, introduced me to Sean F. Hall from A Jury of Robots. These heavy rockers from Dallas play Southern stoner rock, with huge riffs and huge hooks. Sean told me that Dallas is a great city with a great music scene. A Jury of Robots is in a very good position, in Sean’s opinion, of being outside the "nu-metal" circle. I chatted a bit with Steele Lane, bass player from the extreme shred metal band Edge of Chaos, who told me that they’re coming to a city near you soon.

The up and coming Dallas band, Strangleweed, was playing later in the evening right before ANGEL’s set. Lead guitarist Travis Arnold sat down with me to talk about his band, whose mantra is "Universal Groove With An Edge." He stated "we play because we love it. Image is such a focal point for so many new bands that they’ve lost their originality. Strangleweed forgets all the drama and egos because we’re interested in seeing what we can do with the music." As we talked about the music scene in Dallas, Travis said "We’ve got everything here, and some damn good representatives from our city are out on the road." This musician talked the talk, but he walked the walk and backed it up during his band’s performance, with a Flying Vee in hand. He rocks!

I met a girl named Wendy after Strangleweed’s set. She’s a big fan of theirs and she stated that "they are a welcome departure from today’s angst-ridden musical mainstream, and they relate to their fans."

Strangleweed’s ass-kickin’ drummer, Kenn Youngar, chatted with me a bit about Dallas after their set. "I stopped here for one night on my way to an audition in Phoenix and I was hooked. Lots of bars, lots of musicians, a positive atmosphere, and less shit talking than most cities. Dallas hosts it’s own music festival, which we’re playing in February 2005. Plus, it’s the home of Pantera."

From here I segue into an unforgettable moment I shared with Pantera founder and guitarist, the late Dimebag Darrell. A few weeks after my trip to Texas and days before his senseless murder, Dimebag Darrell and I chatted at New Jersey’s Starland Ballroom about the Dallas music scene in the 80’s when he was forming Pantera. Dime stated "Man, back then there was a lot more of a music scene period in Dallas. There were more clubs and just the whole spirit of music I think. Everybody used to dress the fucking clothing, wear the spirit with them, you know. They lived it, they lived the whole style. It kinda seems like a lot of people have lost that through the Internet giving free music out. All the things with major labels that have gone sideways. Kids don’t respect music like they used to back in the day, you know. It’s a little harder to pack places and stuff. There’s not so many clubs still left around. But back in the day, it was on fire, you know, Dallas was on fire. There’s still a bunch of great shows coming through, you know."

Rest in peace, Dimebag, and God bless.

Now back to Dallas. An excellent set by Taylor-Delatte opened the show at the Hard Rock Café. Ex-Lillian Axe vocalist Ron Taylor was joined on stage by current Lillian Axe bassist Darrin Delatte. They played mostly new original songs, complimented by a few cover versions. Peter Gabriel’s "In Your Eyes" and Marvin Gaye’s "Let’s Get It On" were great choices. Ron’s wonderful voice and Darrin’s acoustic guitar filled the one-time church, now the Dallas Hard Rock Café, with sound.

As much as I enjoyed their set and the rockin’ set by Strangleweed, it was Steve Blaze’s Paul Reed Smith Custom guitar plugged into Johnson heads through a stack of Marshall and Mesa Boogie cabinets that I was waiting for.

In the late 70’s , I became a big fan of the band ANGEL. I was honored to be their V.I.P. guest 25 years later, and I’m glad they’re still rocking! Original singer Frank Dimino and drummer Barry Brandt are joined in the current lineup by Steve Blaze, bassist Randy Gregg (ex-Thin Lizzy) and keyboard player Michael T. Ross (Hardline).

Barry and I chatted about my drumstick collection and the tree trunks that he uses to pound his drums. We shared a laugh as I told him that he has the "biggest stick" in rock and roll.

Frank Dimino recently relocated from New England to Las Vegas. He talked with me about his challenge trying to re-establish his name with producers based in Las Vegas. I offered to contact ex-The Cult drummer Lez Warner, who is a producer in Vegas. Frank thanked me for my offer of assistance, but he had already made that contact. "One hand washing the other" goes a long way in the music business and Frank’s gratitude reinforced that notion. We shook hands and I wished Frank good luck during ANGEL’s performance as I walked over to Steve Blaze who had a few minutes to chat.

Steve updated me on ANGEL’s mini-tour of Louisiana and Texas, which started in Baton Rouge, where ANGEL had never performed. According to Steve, the fans reception in that town was fine, but it was better the following night in Houston. I asked about East Coast tourdates that were booked and then cancelled. He felt flying the band to New York would be "break even" financially. Since all their schedules were in place, Frank and Steve felt that cancelling the East Coast shows would give them the perfect opportuinity to hit the studio in New Orleans and write new ANGEL material.

Steve and I also chatted about his other band, Lillian Axe. Ron Taylor’s split from the band was amiable and not a surprise as Steve saw it coming. Their new lead singer is Derrick Lafevre who is a talented vocalist that Steve had seen perform locally with other bands. Steve complimented Derrick not just on his voice, but his attitude and persistence. The situation was right and there for the taking. Derrick grabbed the bull by the horns, and he went after the job.

Lillian Axe in 2005 has a game plan of completing their new album, "Water’s Rising," finding the right record label, and touring to push the album. Its musical direction is a cross between "Love and War" and "Psychoschizophrenia" according to Steve. Their touring plans included a New Year’s Eve show in Baton Rouge which would be Derrick’s debut as frontman. European dates in the Spring of 2005 were more likely to happen than the East Coast performances I was selfishly hoping for.

Moments later, ANGEL hit the stage, clad in their signature white outfits. Barry starting pounding his drums over the pre-taped intro, and the band blasted into "Tower." Frank had a look of concern on his face as his microphone gave him problems. He dropped to his knees during an instrumental section of the song, re-wiring and reconfiguring his mike and Steve’s. Bass player Randy Gregg sang Steve’s backing vocal parts and Frank sang lead into Steve’s mike, who wailed away on lead guitar. Despite technical difficulties, ANGEL flat out nailed that song. If anybody needs an electrician who is spontaneous and able to work under intense pressure, Frank Dimino is highly recommended! The rest of their set include all the classic ANGEL songs. "Cast The First Stone" and "White Lightning" were intense. Steve Blaze and Randy Gregg have changed a "keyboard band" into a hard rockin’, guitar-driven band. I can’t speak for other ANGEL fans, but I love the transformation.

Randy threw me his guitar pick, which fluttered in the air from his side of the stage to where I was standing. Of course, I missed it, as I usually do. (Thanks anyway Randy.) Steve Blaze tossed the next guitar pick my way, which I made sure to catch and hold onto. (You rock Blaze.)

After ANGEL’s performance, I sat down in the V.I.P. room with Randy, who teased me about missing the guitar pick. I mentioned that his guitar tech/younger brother had hooked me up with one of his Thin Lizzy guitar picks last year in New Jersey.

Randy loves playing in this band and he promised me a future ANGEL interview. This night though, I had to ask Randy a few questions about his stint in Thin Lizzy, as he had two U.S. tours with the band. The Thin Lizzy lineup was rounded out by original guitarist Scott Gorham, John Sykes (ex-Whitesnake) on guitar/lead vocals and the increible Michael Lee on drums. Michael drummed on the last two Jimmy Page/Robert Plant CDs and Randy had nothing but compliments for his rhythm section partner.

In 2003, Thin Lizzy headlined a club tour across the United States. 2004 saw the band as the opening act on the Deep Purple/Joe Satriani tour. I asked Randy about the difficulty of opening a show to very small crowds as the third-billed band. His response was that the exposure to newer audiences had built-in rewards that negated being third billed.

It was soon curfew time at The Hard Rock Café, and this incredible evening had whizzed by. ANGEL’s limo was heading straight to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. Randy and I compared our flight schedules back to New York, and he offered me a ride with the band!

I found Tommystix snapping photos and talking shop with drummer Barry Brandt. I thought he’d appreciate ANGEL’s offer, saving him the task of getting me to the airport. He begged off stating "we started this thing together and I’d like to finish it together."

Tommystix’ pickup truck replaced ANGEL’s stretch limo as we drove through downtown Dallas at 4 a.m. He asked if I had any familiarity with the streets he was driving and I did not. As he was driving, all I could think about was the incredible musical performances I had seen on my trip. The Scorpions, Keith Emerson Band, and ANGEL had blown me away I also met up-and-coming bands like my new friends in Strangleweed. I had discovered the local rock music scenes in Austin and Dallas.

I soon realized that Tommystix was driving the exact route of President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade on the day of his assassination. He pointed out the Texas Book Depository, "the window," and the grassy knoll. He stopped his pickup in the exact spot where JFK was shot. Unknown to me, my buddy had a tape recorder in the truck. When his pre-recorded gunshot rang out, I jumped out of my skin and smacked my head on the roof of his truck. "Gotcha partner, southern humor" were his exact words. I can’t wait for my chance to get even when this good ol’ boy sees New York City for his first time with me as his tour guide. "Watch your back partner, payback is a bitch."