Waterstock 2006

Bigger, better, and still room for improvement! That would sum up my take on Waterstock 2006. The main bands Quiet Riot, Dokken, Cinderella, and Poison were the best lineup Waterstock has seen in its three forms. There is talk of next year being a two day festival. An attendance record was set this year and it was no surprise since Poison and Cinderella were bringing their 20th Anniversary show to Des Moines. The young bands Endeverafter and Lorenzo were also fantastic and hung around much of the day to get their names out by visiting with music lovers. Cover bands Cold Filtered and Night Train had a sizeable chunk of the crowd getting into familiar favorites with Cold Filtered doing some original tunes, as well.

The schedule was completely thrown off, but it may have been for the better. Where Endeverafter was supposed to play the side stage at 11:30AM, things were actually kicked off by Lorenzo on the side stage. Lorenzo came out to play a 30 minutes set and then were going to meet at the merch table. As soon as they got to the merch table, they were told to hit the stage for another 30 minute set. The second 30 minute set got cut short as Cold Filtered was hitting the main stage. They got out about a third of Little Thing For Your Little Sister so it was great that they got to get back up for a short time after Cold Filtered was finished. Lorenzo looked and sounded great. The first set contained a couple of clever cover tunes that helped this new band relate to people who had never heard of them before. The second set stepped up on the rock side of the band. Lorenzo is a 5 piece from Cincinnati, OH, with some great songs. A strong stage presence helped pull people up to the stage to see what they were all about. Lorenzo returned to the stage after Cold Filtered's main stage set for a repeat of what I would consider their 4 strongest tunes, which also happened to be in the second set. Keep an eye out for these guys as their CD Love Shape Bruise is available on Tuesday. Also, check their site out at www.lorenzolounge.com. The guys were very cool and hung around til the end of the day. I ran into the singer, Mark Lorenzo, after Poison was done playing. They were great about taking pictures, autographs, their merch was reasonably priced, and it was the songs that really drew people to them.

Lorenzo Set List
Drowned
Fallen
Always Something There To Remind Me
Hateful
Breakdown
Squeeze Box
2 A.M.

Walk
I Think About Sex
The Breaking
Scars
Naked And Wasted
Nothin' Left To Talk About
Little Thing For Your Little Sister

Walk
I Think About Sex
Nothin' Left To Talk About
Little Thing For Your Little Sister

I was very surprised that Cold Filtered played their first set on the main stage, but they seemed to have the audience to pull it off. As turned off by this band as I was after seeing them at Keyster's and opening for Ted Nugent, I must say that they have greatly improved. The addition of the second guitarist seems to be what put them over the top in my book. Their new drummer also made a sizeable difference with the much needed intensity that he plays with. Cold Filtered started out with a Tesla cover, but worked in some original stuff during their set. The singer seems to have more confidence and worked with the audience better. He also didn't sing like he was doubled over for the first few rows, either. His voice sounded good on the first set and the band seemed cohesive. The second guitar player, while filling out the sound, could use some stage time with the band as he was the only one not interacting much on stage. I'm sure that will come with more shows. As Cold Filtered played other sets throughout the day, there was only one issue that I and others began to notice. The singer, while having a good voice during their main stage set, could use some sort of vocal effect to fatten up his voice. Many of the covers they do are just out of his comfortable range where he tries to use a screaming voice with some falsetto. Have you heard Chris Cornell do Black Hole Sun? He sounds great during the entire song until he starts yelping the title in the end of the song. That just ruined my whole Black Hole Sun experience. Well, the Cold Filtered singer sounded like that on tunes that were in his upper register at times. It caused a lot of moments where he went a tad sharp. Overall, Cold Filtered entertained their fans and is certainly a band who has come a long way in a year and still has some room to grow. Check out their site for some original music, as well.

Night Train is just simply something I can't get into. A couple of guys from Cold Filtered put on wigs and leather pants to join others in a tribute to GNR. While there were many entertained, it's just not my thing. I know there is a huge debate on what makes a tribute band and how far bands can go in replacing members to keep using that name, but it's a different argument to make. Putting on wigs and trying to cop someone else's moves and play their music when you are in no way related to the band is acting. It might be good for VH1 movies, but certainly isn't my particular taste. I'm stating my own opinion here and like mouths, everyone has one. I didn't watch for long and I found this a good opportunity to hang out with other bands and their members.

Endeverafter blew away most everyone who caught them. I had people thanking me for encouraging them to come out early to support them. These guys look, act, and play the part of 80's rockers, but seem to have more going for them in the musical composition of their songs. Rhythmic breakdowns, extended guitar parts, and more intricate arrangements keep them from sounding too much like anyone in particular, but make for better music. They mostly played new songs from their CD which will be released August 8th, but played two from their website, Next Best Thing and Baby Baby Baby. Baby x3 is my favorite from the site and they encouraged the crowd to sing along as they closed with it. The guys even got some choreographed windmill guitar action going at the end of the song. I'm hoping they stick around for quite some time and that they are a part of bringing great rock tunes back in style as other bands have been on the verge of doing the last couple of years. These guys hung around most of the day with no rock star attitude and just made themselves available to everyone. They flirted with the girls, of course, but seemed to really be about seeing what people thought of their songs and doing the requisite PR for a young band. These guys seem level headed enough to really go a long way with their music. Just so you can imagine, I did read about one guy hearing someone near him say "you suck" when the band first took the stage, but quickly shut up as they rocked their collective ass off.

Endeverafter Setlist

Wanna Be Your Man
Bright Lights, Big City
All Night
Next Best Thing
Poison
Baby Baby Baby

In a surprise to me, Quiet Riot hit the stage before Dokken. In my humble opinion, that should have been reversed, but I'm not in charge of these things. Quiet Riot really knows how to work a crowd. CC DeVille and Rikki Rocket were seen enjoying the show from the side of the stage, too. They were getting a kick out of how good it sounded and some of the funny lines Kevin used in his lyrics. "So you say I got a funny face, well, F#CK YOU!" I've heard Kevin use it several times before, but it's just funny every time. That man still has the voice and energy that he has always had. Frankie was wearing a green outfit and playing drums as strong as ever. The nice thing about Frankie and Kevin is that they both use their instruments the same way and with the same intensity. Frankie is all over the kit and Kevin easily adds some vocal gymnastics to the melody lines. I love watching these guys perform and this year they have Alex Grossi back in the band as well as Sean McNabb, who played with Quiet Riot before and with Great White and House Of Lords. These two guys interact very well with Kevin and Frankie and really put on quite the show as well. I was fortunate enough to visit with Quiet Riot after the show and asked Kevin about the new CD. He said that it is completely finished and that they are targeting the end of August to try to get it out. I can't wait to hear it. Kevin said that the 70's influences are very strong on the CD with one song sounding like the Small Faces and bits of Humble Pie and Led Zeppelin really influencing their music. I overheard him talking to someone about how it was great to do 80's music in the 80's, but that's not really where they are at musically now. I'm very encouraged by this as I've always loved their music, but hearing Kevin's solo CD last year just really opened my eyes as to how much more they could be capable of. When I visited with Sean, just to see if I had things right, I asked if he had played in QR before and he mentioned doing so in the late 80's. This was the time period that Paul Shortino was singing for the band. I also mentioned to Sean that the last time I had seen him was when Great White was on the Poison tour a few years back and that I thought I had recognized him. I think he was glad someone actually knew part of his musical background. He and Alex were also kind enough to take pictures as were Kevin and Frankie. One of the guys I have met at concerts in Iowa and originally in Omaha, NE, brought a vest originally worn by Chris Holmes from WASP. Since Frankie played in that band for a while, this friend brought it to get signed by Frankie. Banali is great with fans of this caliber and asked to get back in touch via e-mail.

Quiet Riot Setlist

Put Up Or Shut Up
Slick Black Cadillac
Love's A Bitch
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Red Hot Mama Red Hot (From Kevin's solo CD.)
Thunderbird
The Wild And The Young
Let's Get Crazy
Cum On Feel The Noize
Metal Health

Dokken had started playing while I was still chatting with the guys from Quiet Riot. I hadn't realized it until I started walking away from the merch tent, so I went back over to the VIP section to get a look. Dokken looked and sounded good, but I had been standing much of the day so I took a little time to grab a bite to eat. I listened and got most of their set list, but also spent some time visiting so I missed a few things. The set list, as much as I got while missing a few titles is as follows:

Dokken Setlist

Unchain The Night
Into The Fire
Dream Warriors
Kiss Of Death
(Another song here...)
Alone Again
Paris Is Burning
It's Not Love (included a bass solo)
(Another song here?)
Tooth And Nail
In My Dreams

(Somewhere in here was Breaking The Chains.)

I did get the opportunity to meet Jon Levin briefly before the show and was able to have him sign Hell To Pay and take a picture. After the set, I met Don Dokken and he did the same. I also had to tell Don thank you for continuing to put out music. I've heard all the Don rumors about his attitude, hair, and whatever anyone else wants to say about him, but he was genuinely nice and grateful to those of us that asked for time. Many bands are content to rest on their laurels with past accomplishments, but I appreciate those that keep moving forward. I love new music. My friends tell me that I'm stuck in the 80's, but I don't really listen to a lot of old tunes. While I love the classics, I like to see what the bands are still up to and I am always trying to get ahold of the new stuff they put out. Dokken and many others have still been recording over the years so I keep supporting them.

Cinderella is one of the best live bands ever. Great songs. Superb showmanship. Excellent musicality. They play the hits, but it seems fresh every time just because they are timeless songs. The show started out with some sound difficulties on stage, but out front, they still sounded great. The sound problems were an irritant to Tom and Jeff was doing his best to help. Cinderella used a few lights and a little pyro during their show. They did some of their famous moves such as the swinging guitars. Tom played the sax for Shelter. Fred came out front to help on the harmonies for Last Train. They employed a keyboard player to the far left of the stage who has toured with them before. These guys really need to record a new CD. I know they have had their legal tangles, but Cinderella is too good a band to keep playing a greatest hits set and I hope they start moving forward soon. There is obviously so much creativity among these four that they really need to have the outlet as Cinderella.

Cinderella Setlist

Fallin' Apart At The Seams
Last Mile
Somebody Save Me
Night Songs
Hot And Bothered
Last Train (Fred stepped out for the harmonies.)
Coming Home
Gypsy Road
Nobody's Fool
Shelter

Encore:
Don't Know What You Got Til It's Gone
Shake Me

Poison just blows me away every time. They get away with playing familiar hits and cover tunes, but they do it with such energy that they will always have my support. Their classic opener Look What The Cat Dragged In immediately had everyone singing along and they rolled right into I Want Action and their cover of We're An American Band. Poison had to stop American Band after a fight broke out in the cheap seats. They started it from the beginning, though, once security had the troublemakers cleared out. Poison had the crowd singing along at every turn. They were energetic. The pyro was in place several times throughout. CC's solo was actually better played than at any time I've ever heard him. He truly seemed more humble with how well he was received and he looked like he was having a blast all night, including singing I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine. It was the newest original song of the night. Rikki's drum solo was once again what every fan wants to see. They want rhythms they can get into, some cool effects, and above all a rising drum kit. Rikki is one of the best showman in the business. (I know. Nobody has touched Tommy Lee's showmanship, yet, but Rikki is still near the top in showmanship.) Bobby was smiling all night and had some great interaction with CC. CC was showing Bobby how he was almost out of picks on his mic stand, while Bobby seemingly wasn't going through enough. Bret and Bobby had some cool interaction, too, as they raced across the stage at one point. Bret and CC were totally in a groove together all night and seemed to really enjoy being on the same stage. Bret was the ultimate frontman (I'll say this until David Lee Roth reunites with Van Halen.) and was genuinely happy to be back at Waterstock and it must have felt great to bring the whole Poison show with him this year. Bret's voice was spot on all night and he had fun playing a little harmonica and some guitar. The guys just tore up the stage with familiar tunes. I'm hopeful that since CC has some problems worked out that he and Bret can get back to writing some great songs and getting them on CD in the near future.

Poison Setlist

Look What The Cat Dragged In
I Want Action
We're An American Band
I Won't Forget You
Ride The Wind
CC's Solo
I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine
Something To Believe In
Your Mama Don't Dance
Let It Play
Fallen Angel
Rikki's Solo
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Unskinny Bop
Nothin' But A Good Time

Encore:
Talk Dirty To Me

There is a subject that does need some addressing about Waterstock. I paid $125 for a VIP ticket. This was to include the possibility (they make it sound very likely) of meeting all the bands, free food, and four beer tickets. It also was to include better seating/standing and outhouses that were only to be used by VIP's. Well, I met and got pictures with two members of Cinderella and two members of Dokken. If I'd really kept my eyes peeled, I would have done the same with Fred Coury, but I missed that opportunity. CC and Rikki could be seen easily from where we were, but they didn't come to the fence to meet us. Lorenzo and Endeverafter spent a great deal of time with people in this area, but they and Quiet Riot were out for everyone to meet and greet, not just VIP's. After spending $125, I wasn't any better off than I was the last two years in this area. When KGGO ran Waterstock the first year, they had a tent that each band went to in order to meet the fans. This was something we all expected last year, but were let down when Lazer took over. Last year I was able to meet most of the bands on the left side of the stage as they came to the fence to sign for us. It wasn't an organized thing, but the bands took this opportunity on themselves to be available. I'd heard that last year the VIP's were able to roam around the entire backstage area even while the bands were eating and hanging out and this made for quite the VIP experience. This year a buffer (read fence) was put in place so that the bands could eat and have air conditioned tents in privacy and they could opt to engage the fans. While a few took this opportunity, no member of Poison came out to the VIP area and other band members did so at their own risk, but there was no encouragement from the promoters for the bands to interact since VIP's paid so much money. While we did get some free food, it was about two small meals worth. A burger, brat, or hot dog, a bag of chips, and a drink for $7 in meal tickets. That's two McDonald's meals worth where as VIP's got the shaft like everyone else at Waterstock. As for the beer tickets, I don't drink so my roommate got those. With as much food and drink as was left over, it would have been nice to have just opened this up to an all you can eat type of thing. Most people aren't going to gorge themselves at an outdoor event like this, but could use a little extra since the body uses up a lot of energy.

Here are my suggestions for the VIP's for Waterstock next year and even a some for general admission at Waterstock. Starting with the VIP area, keep the area the same size, but open it back up with the bands for interaction. Let the bands know this is happening and that you are only selling 50 or 60 VIP tickets. That's all. Do not have any more VIP's than 50-60. Let the bands know they are encouraged to take time for each VIP. Yes, you'll get the occasional crazy person with a VIP ticket, but for the most part people that pay that much are well behaved. We had no trouble on our side of the stage as opposed to the fighting that broke out in the General Admission side. Keep the food portion to an all you can eat type of thing without really saying that. Just let VIP's know that water and food are free to them and that they can't take it out of the VIP area. This will keep them from sharing it with friends outside of the VIP area. As for the beer, the thing they have in place is fine as 4 free beers are probably enough. The VIP experience needs to be worth the money shelled out and something hard to come by so that it will be highly valued. One last thing for VIP's, throw in a Lazer 103.3 or Waterstock T-shirt to commemorate the experience. Shirts are cheap and free advertising. When you have people paying $125 to purchase your concert package, throw in a freebie like this. (Yes, I know it's about that much to see Bon Jovi, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and others, but this is an audience that you are poised to advertise to in a much bigger way, so add value at all opportunities.) As for the rest of Waterstock, lower the food and drink prices. Water that runs $2 a bottle for an 80 cent bottle is outrageous. Sure, charge a dollar, but water is something everyone must have readily and cheaply available at an outdoor show that lasts all day. Lower food prices. A burger you can get at BeBop's for $1.50 shouldn't cost $4 and not taste as good. Sure, charge $2 for it and still make a nice profit. The same goes with the hotdogs and pizza. It's a matter of economics and also treating your audience well. If you lower prices, more people can buy what you are selling. This will keep profits up and people happy. It also allows them to buy more of what you are selling. There were T-shirts, banners, tattoos, radio and Waterstock merch, as well as band merchandise that people would love to have purchased if it weren't for paying out more in food and water. I know I would have been able to do more than the Poison bandana and Cinderella key chain I purchased. My total cost was $190 for this event which included buying my roommate's ticket. That's about $90 more than last year for about the same experience. Make this more of a bang for my buck next year.

Overall, Waterstock truly rocks and I'm anxious to see what is in store for next year!