Lincoln City, OR, Chinook Winds Casino 1/20/06

[penny74]

Posted by: hammerfanatic

I'm just now getting around to posting my review for the Lincoln city concerts. We were there for both Friday and Saturday's shows. With all of the wonderful reviews I've read so far, need I even bother to say how awesome the Lovehammers were on-stage and off. They did add "Clinic" to their Saturday's set. That was a wonderful surprise! We did get to meet Marty on Friday night. After the Lovehammer's set, my sister and I walked towards the back where their tour bus was and who should be walking towards us in the darkness but Marty, Dino, Billy and one other person, although I can't recall now who it was. I can't recall the exact context of what was said, in my excitement, but this is close. My sister said "Hey, that looks like Marty!". And I think he replied as he approached us "It is Marty!" When he came up to us, I lost all control and and composure and just hugged him and said something like "Oh, I just love you so much!" He hugged me back and hugged my sister, then I asked him if they were doing a signing or anything. He said "Let's go inside out of the cold". They headed for the lobby. I know I did talk to Dino and Billy, and so did my sister, buy I don't even now recall much of what was said. Once inside the lobby, Marty signed my MOMM CD cover, and so did Billy and Dino. Bobby wasn't around at the time, so I got his signature on Saturday. I got my picture taken with Marty, but since we were the first of the many fans who would swamp him later, I didn't know the picture taking policy and was afraid to turn the flash on in case I got my camera taken away or something. So my Marty and me picture didn't turn out so great, nice for a memory though. After I saw all of the other people gathering and using camera flashes, it was to late to re-take it because I couldn't even get near him. Same went for Saturday night. Then my batteries were dead, and my picture taking came to an end! After Saturday's show, the boys were supposed to leave on their bus, but couldn't for a long time because of the endless fans. Marty and the boys were so patient and gracious, but I could tell they were trying to head for the door. They finally made it out and headed around the back by their bus. They were going back to their rooms to pack. This is the first time I even had a clue as to the location of where their rooms were at the motel. Billy and Bobby went directly three floors above us, and Marty and Dino went down on the end of the building to the third floor. I don't know why I'm saying this really, except this is the last I saw of Marty disappearing into the darkness......Later I went outside for a walk and the tour bus was gone. They were headed for California! Have a safe trip boys! And wonderful shows! The whole time we were there, the weather was cold and rainy and nasty. But Sunday morning the sun came out. My sister said it was because the sun just couldn't have competed with Marty!! That was so aaahhh....sigh........And that's a wrap! Listening to the new CD that came today makes the memories all the more wonderful!!
(edited to add) Oh yeah, I wanted to add that there was conflicting information about cameras being allowed inside the concert, depending on who you talked to. I only got scolded when I tried using flash! But everyone was taking pictures.

Oh yeah, one more little tidbit of information. Satuday night we were having dinner up in the Rogue River Room around 5:30. We were sitting by the window overlooking the Lovehammers tour bus. I had just taken an arial photo of it and put my camera away when down below we saw Bobby go into the bus. Later it was Marty and Dino? or was it Marty and Billy. Now Im forgetting. Later we saw an empty food cart being wheeled away by the restaurant staff. So I guess they had their dinner in the bus. How sweet!

[penny74]

Posted by: oceancat46

I attended last night's concert in Lincoln City - and Marty & Lovehammers were totally awesome!!

Boy, that man can MOVE!! - whether it's his scary conductor moves or slithering around the stage or jumping off the stage - strutting down the aisle - and jumping up on a railing - all while belting out the song in that way only he has. I was in the second section, way off to the right side - but still he made me feel like he was singing right to me!! And when he did direct those intense eyes of his my way - wow!!

Can't wait to get the new album (so glad I pre-ordered so it's on the way) - all the songs were amazing - all the fellas are so talented - Bobby looked like he was having the time of his life on those drums and the banter between Marty, Billy and Dino was great fun - and Marty made a point of saying that they are LOVEHAMMERS and he's "just another member of the band." He also said we were "the craziest crowd so far - and the best looking too." (I bet he says that at every show ;D )

There were quite a few Hammerheads standing, cheering and singing along through the whole thing - and Marty got the whole crowd going with Ring of Fire and Trees.

Ahhhhh - it ended much too soon!!

Then there was a lengthy wait while they did the set-up for INXS (as great a "warm-up" that Lovehammers gave - the long break had the crowd getting restless - until a 5 minute countdown was flashed on the screen) and flashing lights got things started.

As for the INXS show - and I'm speaking as someone who likes the music and even JD's voice - but his moves and attitude just don't do a thing for me - well, I actually found myself sitting with my eyes closed just listening for most of it - worked for me!!

I did enjoy Pretty Vegas and the encore numbers (although I agree with others that it's hard to hear "Don't Change" done by anyone but Marty!!) And the national anthem as the last song was a nice touch. Also, during the last several numbers they were tossing stuff off the stage out to the audience - JD even took off his watch and threw it into the crowd!!

Bottom line - Lovehammer A++, INXS A-
Definitely got my money's worth!! (Wish I could afford to go see Marty/Lovehammers again tonight!!)

I'm afraid someone else will have to report in with pics and news on any "meet & greet" - I'm fighting a cold and didn't want to share my germs - these guys still have Lots of Performing to do!!

CJ
Depoe Bay, Oregon
(about 12 miles south of Lincoln City on the coast)

[penny74]

Posted by: dimitri

Hi all,

I went to the concert last night and it was a great time!! Mind you I haven't been to a rock concert in years ( the LHs made me do it). LHs opened with these incredibly heart thumping drums followed by a long Marty scary conductor and it really set the tone the guys were there to ROCK. I think the set was pretty much the same as what I've seen listed for the last two concerts. Marty did say this was the wildest crowd yet- it was packed before they even started. Really liked the LH version of Ring of Fire too- all the songs were rockin. However, I must say that I have listened to all the LHs songs on-line and during the INDIE band radio LHs fests so I knew the words. We were with two people who only knew Marty from the RSINXS show and had never heard any LH songs except Trees. They could not understand the lyrics at times- they said the band was overwhelming Marty at points. Of course I did not notice that at all because I knew all the lyrics.

We stayed and watched INXS for about 40 minutes then left to go out to the lobby to see if the LHs were there- they ALL were and it was not too crowded- guess it pays to read these boards since I knew they had done this the last concert- THANKS for that all.

We talked with Dino and Bobby who were, incredibly, standing all alone. Great, easy to talk to guys who also seem like they aren't quite believing all this yet I told Dino about all the cyber world attention they are getting- I put in a plug for this site and told him pics were up of their arrival in Canada, told him I knew about the dogfood/customs story- he was floored and started laughing. He said he is going to have to start checking the internet to see what he did that day. It seemed like we could have stood there for 30 minutes talking with them- super easy to talk to and interesting- I did not know Bobby was a chemist ( so am I) so I shook his hand again for being a rockin chemist, first I've met.

Marty turned around and saw us and we got to talk with him a few minutes- again he was easy to talk to and seemed like a happy guy. I told him the only thing wrong with his show was it wasn't long enough- and that is true- I was not ready for it to end and could have listened to LHs for a lot longer- they leave you wanting more that's for sure.

We went back in to see the last song of INXS and then when we came out there were the LHs again- they did 2 meet and greets and were swamped this time- get out there in the middle of INXS if you want to really have a chance to chat with them.

Well this is getting long (but hopefully not boring) so I'll sign off now. But for all of you who are yet to see a LH concert you are in for a GREAT and MEMORABLE TIME.

[penny74]

Posted by: sheowl

The following is the impressions of HelloSun - we were there together and between us both we will be submitting our personal observations and experiences of the show.

Intro

It is difficult to put into words just how incredible this experience was. I am not only amazed at the passion and talent of these guys on stage, but at the immense warmth and genuineness they possess as human beings. This is a band that truly appreciates every fan and realizes that each one of us is a unique individual. Unlike other rock stars that are encompassed by ego and driven to achieve a god-like status, the Lovehammers are totally dedicated to lifting the spirits of their fans. This band seems to have a keen realization of how deeply treasured an event becomes when a fan feels the intimacy and personal touches they impart.

Although the name of this band may have arisen somewhat in jest, in a lot of ways it is a perfect moniker. While the music of the Lovehammers certainly hits hard (like a hammer) it is the warmth of their human spirits that is truly touching. Whether you are seeing them on stage or in-person, you can just feel the joy these guys derive from their music and their fans. The band just seems to want to share that with everyone they touch, and they succeed in doing so. This is why these guys are destined for success and why they whole-heartedly deserve it.

Although many of us have come to know the charm and magnetism of Marty through RSINXS, I feel it must be said that each member of the band possesses an unparalleled presence unto themselves.

Chapter I

After getting a late start we rolled into Lincoln City shortly after 7PM, checked in to our hotel and rushed over to pick-up our tickets filled with excitement and anticipation. While walking from our room to the main concert hall we noticed Dino and Bobby standing out by the busses chatting with some fans. We had been working with Dino on some artwork concepts for the Lovehammers and brought a printed proof for Dino to see. My wife, a bit nervous at first and not wanting to be obtrusive, hesitated to approach them. As we neared, we held up our print and to our joy Dino seemed pleased to see us. Shortly, the time drew near for the band to hit the stage, and Dino informed us that they were going to try to do an informal meet and greet after the show and that he hoped to see us.

We picked up our tickets and found our seats, which gave us a great up-close view of the stage. At around 8 PM the lights were lowered and the smoke began to rise. Bobby began pounding out the beat to Ultrasound as the 'Mad Conductor' took his place center stage. The crowd screamed with appreciation as the music began to swell with Dino's bassline. As the crunch of Billy's guitar entered the mix, the sound became big and full. The crisp bassline, gritty guitar and driving beat wove a perfect tapestry as Marty's voice punched through the fabric with intricate ferocity. Heads bobbed and fists pumped to Bobby's steadfast beat. There they were, practically at arm's length delivering an experience that far surpassed our greatest expectations. With each note the crowd became more and more electrified by the full throttle performance.

*Pics removed*

We were exuberant when during "Straight as an Arrow" Marty hopped off the stage, ran up the aisle an stood by the barrier next to the table we were sitting at, facing our direction. He was literally just beyond our fingertips belting out "see a pretty face, kisses like a handshake". Shortly thereafter he jumped up on the barrier on the other side of the aisle, which was still very close to us. The crowd went crazy.

The concert continued at a feverish pace as the band's presence and sound enveloped the audience. We went nuts as they tore into one of our personal favorites "Eyes Can't See". Dino and Billy crisscrossed the stage as they pounded their guitars like jackhammers and provided solid backing vocals.

Next, Marty encouraged the crowd to stand and join him in a round of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". During one of the instrumental interludes of the song Marty reached into the audience and pulled a starry eyed girl up onto the stage and danced with her. The rest of us danced along too. Between songs Marty took a moment to give proper credit and respect to his bandmates and long time friends. He explained that the label kind of made them feature Marty's name so that people who might have heard of him through RSINXS could be exposed to their music. Marty went on to say that it really was all about the Lovehammers together as a band. During another song break Marty let people know how cool INXS has been, and how helpful they have been in offering career advice and support. The Loverhammers had the crowd in the palm of their hands as they ripped through a version of Trees and finished with a solid version of "The Riddle". They exited the stage to the thunderous applause of a standing ovation. Although the crowd was definitely left hungry for more, I believe I speak for us all when I say that we were very appreciative of the all-out performance that they provided.

[penny74]

Posted by: sheowl

The following are simply our impressions (HelloSun and SheOwl's) upon meeting the Lovehammers. We realize that by portraying an individual's personality, based on such a brief encounter, that we may be way off the mark, but we just wanted to illustrate how these incredible men struck us at the time of our meeting. We really hope that the guys don't mind us divulging the content of some of our conversations. Our intent is to simply show how cool they are.

Note from SheOwl - I am a notoriously terrible picture taker. And as such, I have blacked out certain pictures of myself to protect the eyes of the innocent here. (And of course to protect my vanity from further humiliation. Please forgive the messy editing of photos included in this diatribe.)

After the Lovehammers finished their set we decided to return to our hotel room to freshen up rather than sticking around for INXS. We are happy that INXS has found a way to continue after their tragic loss and are thrilled at the opportunities they have provided to our beloved Lovehammers. We are also thankful that they have been so good to the guys and we do have a great deal of respect for their body of work. SheOwl was such a great fan of Michael Hutchence that it is a bit hard to accept a new front man with such a different style and therefore we chose not to attend. We realize what a challenge it must be for JD to step into his new role, and can appreciate the fact that he seems to appeal to a different demographic.

After freshening up, my wife and I returned to the Casino where we found all four of the Lovehammers mingling with fans outside the entrance to the concert hall. It just so happened that we had filled SheOwl's purse with various Lovehammers items - just in case. We also brought a CDR and some printed proofs of some LH artwork for Dino along with some homemade LH t-shirts featuring the artwork.

The following are highlights of our meetings with each of the members of the Lovehammers:

DINO

Upon first entering, we noted that Marty was surrounded by a nucleus of ladies with an outer shell of impatient husbands/boyfriends rolling their eyes and shaking their heads as their significant others looked doe eyed, and fawned at the magnetic front man. As we approached the throng, we noticed that Marty and Dino were posing with a group of fluttered fans, and Dino was attempting to get in position but had yet to strike his trademark easy smile. Worried that he wasn't smiling, SheOwl yelled out "Dino!"as she caught his eye from across the room, in order to coax one. Dino responded by petulantly sticking out his tongue as if teasing his little sister, then promptly assumed the proper photo position.

Notes from SheOwl- After reading Dino's posts on the boards and exchanging emails with him myself, I had created an image in my head of Dino as being the "Gorgeous Gargoyle" whom seemingly mans the gates of the internet bulletin boards. Upon meeting him, I was struck by how much less fierce he is in person, but still he remains the adorable imp one can imagine from his writings. Dino was soft spoken, charming, thoughtful, humble, full of hilarious anecdotes and stories, and struck me as far more loveable in person (if that is even possible) than he is online.

Shortly after we laid our artwork on a large stone prop in the Casino lobby, Dino came over and started talking with us about the designs. SheOwl razzed him about a few of the e-mails that had been exchanged between them. One message in particular made absolutely no sense and she asked him what he had meant. He laughed and then whipped out his cell phone explaining that it meant he was trying to make sense while responding using the keypad on his cell phone. (Which he motioned over, and it became suddenly obvious to us that typing with thumbs can be terribly restrictive, and we no longer held his cryptic messages against him.) Dino has a very warm, fun personality and is easy to share a laugh with. At one point in the conversation SheOwl asked him if it was difficult to go on the road, being away from family and friends and such. Dino remarked that he enjoyed it and still gets the chance to see loved ones. Dino went on to say that he
"just has a dog and a girlfriend", shrugged, and then added jokingly,
"I'll miss the dog."

Dino is a very personable and a funny guy, it was a pleasure to chat with him.

*Pics removed*

BILLY

The next Lovehammer member we spoke to was Billy. Billy has just the nicest friendly energy to him and there seems to be a twinkle of happiness in his eyes. He seemed very happy-go-lucky and there was a very kind aura about him. He had very enthusiastic comments about the artwork.. I remarked that I was envious of his beard, and he returned the compliment to my scraggly face. And chided each other upon how long it took each of us to finally conquer puberty and grow in a full face of hair. Although Billy's presence is large, it amazed me how quickly he was able to appear and disappear in the crowd of fans. SheOwl and I spoke with him for quite awhile and asked him to pose with us for a photo. He quickly motioned for Bobby to join us, and we took the following:

Notes from SheOwl- Billy is like a walking ray of bright red sunshine! I just wanted to give him a huge hug the minute I met him. Billy literally lit up the room and was so generous with his time and attention, that he took my breath away. You just can't help but smile and feel happy in his presence. I did not feel an ounce of guardedness about him, he was so open and personable, that I felt like I had known him for years upon meeting.


BOBBY

Next we spoke to Bobby. We told him that we wanted him to keep one of the prints of the artwork, but Dino had already signed them all. Bobby said, "oh man I don't want anything Dino has signed."
I responded that he could just cross out Dino's signature or just write "sucks" below his name, and he laughed.
We joked with him a bit about sibling rivalry and other stuff that might arise between he and Dino - I.E. headlocks. We asked Bobby if there would be a video coming out soon and he informed us that some stuff had been filmed for "Trees" but that he really doesn't know what the status of it is. We talked briefly about some of the flame wars that can occur online. Bobby brought up the radio show controversy. I mentioned to him that when you go on that type of show and you don't play along with the host a bit, they will have you for lunch. Bobby said, "not only that but we're a rock band, not choir boys". I could tell when he said it that he does care about how the fans see them but that they are just going to be themselves and do their best to enjoy the situations they are in. At one point Bobby complained at the fact that the Lincoln City venue was a dry casino. I mentioned that most casinos want you to drink and he replied, "I know I bet like crazy at Blackjack when I'm drinkin".
Bobby asked us if we were going to catch any of the INXS show. SheOwl was unable to hide her facial expression at the question. Bobby told us how great and supportive of the Lovehammers that INXS and J.D. have been. It was at that point that I felt a little guilty for not being more supportive of INXS on behalf of the Lovehammers. The guys seem really happy to be touring with them. The fans, after all, are a reflection of the band they support, and SheOwl and I both are delighted to hear that the Lovehammers are enjoying themselves.

Bobby also joked about how he was at RSINXS Finale show, with his arms crossed exclaiming, "dammit don't win".
I think Bobby would be happy for Marty no matter what, but the band that these friends have built together is obviously very important and meaningful to all of them. After Bobby signed our items, only one autograph/picture remained. SheOwl remarked that she "just needed the blond one for a second"and she'd have all of them. Bobby seemed to think referring to Marty as "the blond one" was terribly funny, and seemed to enjoy the casual reference to Marty.

Notes from SheOwl - After seeing numerous pictures of the muscle bound God that Bobby has been shown to be in his photos on the web, I was surprised at how elegant and graceful he is in person. Although he is still a presence to be reckoned with physically, he is not as intimidating in person as I had imagined. I found him to be not only self-deprecating and sweet, but also extremely gracious and courteous. Although he seemed to enjoy poking fun at the other band members, you could tell that he held them all in the highest regard. It also struck me how important it seemed to him that people maintain their senses of humor and how much he respected and admired his tour mates as well as the fans.

MARTY

SheOwl waited patiently for the bushel of women hovering around Marty to subside. Watching him interact with the fans was truly remarkable. In spite of being pulled, touched, and talked at from about 20 different directions at once, Marty maintained a calm cool demeanor while he took pictures and signed autographs one by one. Marty seemed so giving and gracious, providing each fan with a personal moment, and trying to give them a real piece of himself. He had a very soft friendly aura about him. Unassuming yet somehow larger than life. At one point Sheowl caught him bending over signing a CD cover on a table at which time she snapped this priceless and irresistible (to her) photo.

Not long after SheOwl finally got her opportunity to approach Marty.

Notes from SheOwl- Having had the opportunity to simply stand and watch Marty interact with fans for 10 minutes or so, I noticed some interesting things about him. First off, Marty really tries hard to be “in the moment” with his fans. When he spends time with someone, he focuses his attention on them, and absolutely nothing and no one else. After each encounter, he seems to gather himself with a breath, and then focuses his gaze on the next smiling face that approaches him. I must admit that I was rather impressed by his ability to handle the throngs of people that seem to want a piece of his time, I myself would be overwhelmed with all the attention in merely moments.

Once there was a break in the crowd, I approached Marty and asked him politely if I could have a moment of his time, and he focused those eyes of his on me, and I knew that he had calmly centered that moment for me. I smiled at him and introduced myself by name, and mentioned that my husband and I had been working with Dino for some artwork, and at that moment, his perfectly calm façade broke a moment and a look of recognition crossed his face “OH, that’s you!!”
“Yep, that’s me” as I quickly looked away from his face, suddenly overwhelmed myself by what I was experiencing, and led him over to the area that my husband and I had put all of our items for signing.

Then came SheOwl’s photo op with Marty. The first Photo was posed but then I snapped a candid one as he was playing with her a bit. The candid one came out really cool I think.

Notes from SheOwl – The first photo with Marty I could tell seemed too stiff for both of us, so my husband and I requested a chance for another, and Marty patiently waited for my Husband to retake the picture. As Marty and I waited for the camera to renew itself, I took the opportunity to stare at his profile. Well, Marty turned and looked at me, and I must have been staring up at him with a rather profoundly gah-gah star struck look, because his head jerked back slightly and with a huge grin on his face said “woah…heyyy” as if I was some sexy little chic he had just noticed, followed up by the most damned sexy come hither look I have ever seen. Well, Marty’s come hither look and eyes darting to my lips got this old girl so thankful for the kind of attention I haven’t gotten since I was young and gorgeous in the late 80’s, early 90’s, that I just started laughing at the shear ridiculousness of it all and just gave him the biggest damned hug I could muster in gratitude. Marty seemed a bit confused by my reaction, but just rolled with the enormous bear hug. Ladies, I now truly understand the power that the Lovehammer’s possess. It is the power to make everyone they meet feel truly special.

Then Marty came over to the rock to sign some of our stuff. He shook my hand and thanked us for working on the artwork. I told him how great the show was while he was signing and told him that he was one hell of a great real estate appraiser. He looked up from signing and laughed with a big huge toothy grin. I told him that it was really cool that the band sought creative ideas from their fans. He remarked something to the effect that who else would understand what there about better than the fans. SheOwl told Marty who was then being tugged at that he didn’t have to sign everything but Marty shook his head insisting that his name go on everything we had.

I realize just how lucky we were to see these guys in a small venue and to be able to meet them personally. What is truly special is not just what these guys do on stage. It’s who they are as people. That’s what makes a Lovehammers concert not simply a great experience, but an experience of a lifetime.

Notes from SheOwl – I just want to second my husband last statement. And to add one thing, I simply dare anyone to spend 5 minutes with each one of these absolutely wonderful men, and not fall in love with all of them, and wish them the best in what promises to be an extraordinarily successful career.