by cindy steinle
club kingsnake staff
Suicidal Tendencies
Hometown: Venice Beach, CA
http://www.suicidaltendencies.com
December 10th, 2008
House Of Blues
Chicago, Il.
Also:
Madball,
Whole Wheat Bread
Last night I went to church. After a 4 hour drive to
House of Blues Chicago, I had a sermon. A sermon in life if you will, with the greatest preacher to ever walk the planet. The preacher was none other than the great Cyco Miko Muir. And I didn't have to miss my wedding to do it.
Its been around 16 years since I last saw Suicidal. I believe I was 17 at the time, but time passes and years fade. It was the old Suicidal, Miko was laid up with a broken leg and both ST and Danzig were opening for Metallica. I was insane for those first 30 minutes. Of course then I slept through the majority of Metallica. Go figure. I have spent the last two weeks counting down days. I have checked both the ST website and HOB website to make sure there was no cancellation daily.
I had been planning my trip to Chicago carefully, watching the weather, hoping I wasn't going to have to plan 7 hours for the trip. Massive snow and freezing rain started the week, but just cold came today. Yes I was damned near possessed with this show. This was as close as a religious experience as I am going to have. Suicidal for me is one of those bands that speak to me. Their lyrics have evolved my life, helped me during the rough patches, brought me up when I am down, calmed me when I am angry. There is nothing ST can not do for me. Well other than make me a millionaire so I can do nothing but reviews for Club Kingsnake, but hey, Miko has lots of years to figure that out.
Unfortunately due to an emergency, Brian couldn't make it out to see the show and do photos. We did try to get the pass transferred, but I am guessing we didn't get ahold of the PR people in time. My biggest regret is all I will have is the memories. I got there later than planned so I missed openers
Madball and
Whole Wheat Bread (for those catching later dates, these openers are only on the bill until tomorrow and then you get
Death By Stereo and Whole Wheat Bread for the last few dates). I actually arrived just as Whole Wheat Bread was finishing and by the time I got through the security and into the bathroom (4 hours in a truck is more than my bladder can handle) I had time to go Christmas shopping for myself. I got a couple of longsleeves and then I noticed the sign for the NEW CD.
WHAT WHAT WHAT?!?!?! OHHHH Must have, haven't seen it in stores or online. Apparently this is a special CD for those who come to the shows! ROCK ON! I snaked up the CD and managed to actually find a seat towards the back. The CD is called "Year of the Cyco" and is a compilation of sorts with new music from ST, Infectious Grooves, Cyco Mike and a bonus No Mercy song. I did listen to some of it on the way home and was very happy with it. ST sounds like they are going back a bit more to their initial roots.
Short of the mix needing a lot of work (vocals were next to impossible to hear at times) the show was amazing. I can't complain about the set list a whole lot other than to say is was simply too short. Honestly, I was mildly bummed not to hear "Join the Army".
New drummer Eric Moore had an exciting evening, breaking his stool during one of the songs (I forgot to write it down, but I am pretty sure it was "Send Me Your Money") but put on an fun drum solo. Initially I was concerned with the bass. I really have to say, it didn't sound right. By the second song I realized what was different was Bassist Steve Brunner was putting his feel into each and every song. While initially this threw me for a loop, I realized how very cool it is that an established band (these guy have been around almost 30 years in some form or another) allowed someone to put their own personal touch. The bass part of "Send Me Your Money" was amazing and I realized, while I do miss Robert, Steve does a helluva job filling the shoes of the worlds most amazing bassist. There was a more funky feel to the classics rather than the straight punk or thrash that they originally started with.
Mike Clark is still there and rounding out the band is Dean Pleasants on lead guitar. Muir is truly a frontman. I missed his rants between and during songs, I only wish the vocals were better where I was (and so did the folks around me from the screams I was hearing). Mike has always added almost motivational talks mixed in with the music. Either prowling the stage or ranting, all eyes are on Muir. He is amazing and he captures each and every person. It was really great to see him moving as well as he was, I had concerns that this would be a subdued performance, with his multiple back surgeries, but nothing holds him back.
Much like always, ST marches to its own drummer, touring before releasing the full CD. I can only hope that the tour comes back again after the release. It was well worth the 16 year wait I have had. I joined the Army over 20 years ago and I remain Suicidal For Life.
Set List
You Cant Bring Me Down
We Are Family
War Inside My Head
Subliminal
Send Me Your Money
Drum Solo
Living or Along for the Ride - New Song
Cyco Vision
Lovely
Possessed
I Saw Your Mommy
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
Encore
I Shot Regan
Fascist Pig
Pledge Your Allegiance