No respect at all.
Nope, this is not a tribute to Rodney Dangerfield. I loved Rodney, therefore I’m borrowing his tag-line to apply to another performer that gets little respect:
Kid Rock.
Okay, okay, now that you’re done laughing, hear me out.
Back in the old millennium, oh say around ‘99, every time Bawitdaba came on the radio it was a race to see how quickly the radio could be silenced. (It rivaled Livin’ La Vida Loca for most overplayed, irritating song.) Then Cowboy was released, and I saw Kid Rock interviewed on the Craig Kilborn Show. Kilborn was an asshole, but Kid Rock played Cowboy and it had a Zappa-esque surreality to it.
Fast forward a few years, and I win tickets to see Kid Rock from a KUFO radio contest. My date and I decided to go to point and laugh, and leave when we could take no more or until he played Cowboy, whichever came first. Since Cowboy was the encore, we stayed.
First, the crowd. It was 60-70% women! I expected a sausage-fest full of drunken Coors Light fans; this was more like Tom Jones, The Next Generation. He didn’t get pelted with panties, because his type of girl typically isn’t wearing any. I didn’t see any fights, but I did see Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell (RIP) from Damageplan sitting at the soundboard. Jerry Cantrell of AIC was the opening act; his cover of Pink Floyd’s Brain Damage set the tone for the night.
And then came the KID. After invitations to gobble on a certain piece of anatomy, he introduced himself a couple of times then kicked into a two-hour set of solid rock and roll with a classic/southern tinge. I was quite impressed, and if I hadn’t won the album with the tickets, I’d have gone out and bought it.
I bring this up for two reasons. First, I’ve been listening to Rock and Roll Jesus, the new Kid Rock album, and liking it quite a bit. I was a bit bummed to see that the library had 7 copies with no waiting list. I got it within two days. The new Robert Plant/Allison Krauss album? I’m number 188 on the list.
The second reason? I just got an e-mail from my radio pal Marconi, who will be announcing the lineup for Rockfest 13 at 5 PM today. Who is headlining?
Kid Rock!
I will point you to KUFO’s website for further details, which will be updated after 5 PM, I’m guessing. I’d be remiss in my duties as correspondent to Felony Flats if I didn’t scoop Marconi on this. Kid Rock playing St. Helens? Seems appropriate.
The dance clubs along Highway 30 are greasing their stripper poles as we speak…
{ 2 comments }
I couldn’t remember Cowboy. (I have Devil Without a Cause floating around here somewhere but haven’t listened for many years.) Happily there’s youtube. It’s is my new old-MTV. If that makes sense. http://youtube.com/watch?v=9rcgm5kEdGk
what a disapointment! Kid Rock headlining Rock Fest 13, i wonder what the other line up’s are? Based on what i have heard thus far, this will definately be a Rock Fest that i will not regret attending. Kid Rock surely doesn’t do Rock Fest justice and i would imagine the turn out for this event will be low.
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