opening act blues

[nydebs]

I want to say first that I LOVED seeing the guys perform at the Borgata in Atlantic City Saturday night. The energy they have is just so incredible- After listening (and practically wearing out) the CD these last few weeks it was so good to hear those songs and see them live. And please- I hope you won't think I'm being negative or critical in any way- I am just wondering if any of you experienced some of the feelings I had that night and after. I know that opening acts have only a certain time allotted(in this case it was 45 minutes) but it just seemed to fly- felt like 10 minutes to me! The sold out show had lots of empty seats up close so I was able to sneak up from my 15th row seat to a 9th row center seat. The stage had a curtain behind it (hiding some of INXS' pre-set stuff I guess). I was so into their set that I didn't really think about it too much til after when I saw the stage opened up and being set up for INXS. I know this has been a huge opportunity for the Lovehammers to get the exposure they clearly deserve, I just think I wasn't prepared for the fact that everyone that goes to this show doesn't love and appreciate their music the way we do. When I first saw all the empty seats I thought- well the snow storm was just starting and maybe a lot of people cancelled, but as i saw later when I peeked in at INXS' set(I just couldn't watch much )there wasn't an empty seat and there wasn't a person sitting down - I really tried tried to see and understand what they saw in this band and JD but I guess different musical tastes for different people...One thing though was obvious- their stage set and lighting and sound was more spectacular and left me with an "it isn't fair attitude !" But that brings me back to the subject of this message- that is what happens to opening acts...I just wasn't prepared for getting a little angry about it! I know Marty has done nothing but praise INXS for the opportunity and how graciously they have been treated during the tour...And all I can say is leaving that night left me with a glimpse of how they are just going to completely blow a place away when they are the opening act- I guess you in Chicago have been lucky enough to experience this. The night after the show(Sunday) I was playing cards at a table at the Borgata and the dealer asked me when I came into town and I was explaining that I came to see the Lovehammers and the woman who was playing next to me said she was at the show and she said you came to see Marty?? I said yeah and she said she was an INXS fan and didn't really get into Martys set that much- she thought it was too loud! (I had been wishing it was a little louder-lol) and we started talking about the 2 bands. It was just a shock to me because EVERYONE I know who I have given a Lovehammers CD to can't get enough of the music. Interesting weekend- I ended up talking alot about it to people in the casino for the next 2 days- some fans and some not..well I'm done ranting- hehe- and I have nothing but thanks for Marty and the guys for the great show they put on. I wasn't able to stay for the meet and greet to thank them in person but I hope I will be able to at the Mohegan Sun on Thursday.

A few highlights in my night- loved the starting song of Straight As An Arrow and how it was live- awesome!!Good beginning to an exellent but too short set... I also loved when my 15 year old sons friend turned to him after the show show and said wow I never knew your mom liked "hard music so much!" - I had to laugh ....On our 5 hour ride home my sons friend(who had never heard of the Lovehammers when we invited him) asked to hear the CD played at least 4 times- I told him " you're hammered.."....
The other thing I have to sadly mention is that when we were driving up to the entrance fo the hotel we took a wrong turn into the employee parking area and there was the green bus. I stopped the car even though it was the middle of a freezing rain that hadn't turned to snow yet and I got out my camera to find the battery was dead so no pics... Security was really tough durning the concert though- anyone who even opened a cell phone in the front section where I was was talked to in seconds...Well - thats it for now- can't wait to see them again on Thursday!

[lyrics]

Sounds like you saw a great show. I really went to see both performers in Chicago, but was skeptical of INXS. I loved the Lovehammers, it was the first time I'd seen them. The set did seem sort of small and amateurish...like, hmmm...what's behind that big black curtain? The guys were a bit cramped, but the music was great and watching Marty was fun. When INXS came out, they got the WOW factor I'm sure they wanted...the bright lights, shiny set, big expansive stage...very different from the opening act. You can't deny all those factors affect the performance and I thought the INXS show was great, too.

I haven't seen just the Lovehammers as an opening act. They are a smaller band than INXS, but still put on a great show. Just wanted to say I appreciate your comments, and you have to keep in perspective where they are at in their evolution compared to INXS. Lovehammers will have their main stage act with fancy lights and a huge stage...in time!

[chk]

Hey NYdebs, jsut think some day you can say, I saw them when they opened for INXS, just like I can say I saw INXS when they opened for Adam Ant! It all comes around, baby!

[nydebs]

lyrics- so true- you really can't help but notice the black curtain- I was a little relieved when they finally put some swirly purple lights on it..and youre right - they will have their time,,

chk- thats so true and so funny-made me think of some opening acts i have seen ...patti smith for bob dylan when she was just a poet and had no music out yet...(i know- im dating myself- haha)...linda rondstadt and the stone ponies in boston in 1968(yes i was a baby ) or so opening for someone i cant even remember because linda ronstadt was so good- but no one had ever heard of her...and i remember a funny guy who opened at a nyc music festival when i was in junior high school-i laughed so hard and looked for his album in music stores for 3 years after that- thats how long it took before arlo guthrie recorded alices restaurant....and the best small concert? jimi hendrix at a summer theater outside of boston when i was 16- it was such a small theater i still cant believe he was there, one of those little theater in the round things where amateur plays come. (and he was amazing of course)......
this is fun- we should start a thread- who have you seen when they were unknown?

[hammeredinmn]

It is hard to realize that all concert goers are not familiar with the Lovehammers.

It is true that the Lovehammers do not sound like INXS-- this is a foregone conclusion. Yes, LH rocks hard core but that's who they are and why we love them. Just try to keep in mind that the INXS tour is only one stop on the boys rise to fame! Keep up the love and keep sharing your passion for the guys with every one you know!

Right now the guys are the opening act but just you wait-- WORLD DOMINANCE is coming!

[sjjo1973]

I just had to vent about the Atlantic City tour. I was highly disappointed that I drove thru a major blizzard there and home and paid that kind of money for a whole whopping 2hrs. I'd rather have seen 2hrs of lovehammers rather than INXS but my best friend loves INXS and I love Lovehammers! So we got best of both worlds. I was disappointed that no one seemed to be into the Lovehammers, i was in the upper section in the stands and wish i was on the floor in the front just so i could see Bobby better (He's SOOOOOO HOOOOOOOTTTTTT!) I loved there performance and wish it could have lasted longer! I hated that pictures were not allowed and they were so rush rush thru the meet & greet, i had them sign both my new cd cover & my murder on mind cover. Marty was so nice (just wish he had his glasses off so we could see those beautiful eyes) saying to me "Watch out boys here comes trouble" (i had on a shirt that said that), so it was nice that he took time to notice and not just sign and rush me off. I told Dino " great job saving his dog". next was Bobby (I couldn't speak, he's soooo hot), he said vintage (about my Murder on mind CD cover), all i could say was "yeah" (stupid, stupid--all i wanted to do was jump his bones LOL) next was Billy, he is sooo sweet, he said "trouble hmmm" and when i tried to take pictures from behind the ropes Billy was so nice to pose for me! I really wanted pictures with the band and am so jealous of the pictures i have seen from past shows that fans had gotten there pictures with them, they seem to be really cracking down on picture taking and the band roaming the halls. But as my friends and i were leaving we took a walk thru the casino to gamble and what do i see the whole band/security/girls/manager walk right passed us. my jaw just dropped to the floor as they walked by went to a side elevator(I guess to party in there room). i wish i was one of those girls. better yet i wish i was more bold and said something as they walked by! Well I wish them much success and can't wait for the next album & tour (which they headline!) And as far as INXS, not my kind of music , dont's get me wrong i do like some of the old & new stuff but it's hard listening to JD sing old songs, wish they sang more stuff off the new album. Plus they only played for 1hr 1/2, guess JD was drunk or still sick? all in all I'm just glad they introduced me to a great new band LOVEHAMMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jEzZa]

chk said:

Hey NYdebs, jsut think some day you can say, I saw them when they opened for INXS, just like I can say I saw INXS when they opened for Adam Ant! It all comes around, baby!

OH MY GOSH ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met them even on that tour....autographs and all. (actually It was by accident) WAS looking for Adam Ant!!! lol too funny.....man that dates me huh?

[forestanswers]

chk said:

Hey NYdebs, jsut think some day you can say, I saw them when they opened for INXS, just like I can say I saw INXS when they opened for Adam Ant! It all comes around, baby!

OMG, I saw Adam Ant when I was 13 or 14, which would have been 1983 or 1984, in Tulsa. Do you remember what year it was you saw INXS open for him?

[melj]

I was disappointed that at Pala, the crowd was very subdued and sat in their seats for Lovehammers' set. I got yelled at by a girl because I was the only person standing in my section (in the back corner-aisle with 4 rows behind me) during their performance.

Every single person in the room stood and danced the whole time for INXS and I was like "Why didn't they do this for Lovehammers?". Although there was a huge turn out for the meet and greet. And when I saw Marty walking alone through the casino I was dumbfounded.

Just have to put it in perspective I guess. It was INXS' show. Plus, I can say I met them when they get big. Although I'll skip the Marty snub part and capitalize on how sweet and smoking HOT Bobby is (and I mean HOT) and how nice Billy and Dino are.

I have a friend that saw U2 in the late seventies at a small club in Los Angeles and another who was at the Red Rocks concert in Colorado (which was the "Under a Blood Red Sky" video and album). Sure wish I could say that.

[desinsantarosaca]

When I met Marty and the band in Oakland on Jan. 23rd I told him I was disappointed in the fact that we were trying to get the crowd standing, hyped but wasn't having much luck. He very politely said "They don't know our songs yet". He seems like such a wise soul, he is right. My feeling is that the LH's not continuing with INXS is a good thing. The INXS fan base is full of older fans just set on nostalgia. My feeling is that the crowds are possibly somewhat adverse to LH's from the get go. I think for those who watched RS:INXS they are either Marty fans or JD fans but not both. I fall into that category. JD reeeeeaaaaaaaaalllly turns me off. I didn't watch one bit of the INXS set. And NYdebs is correct - LH's were not loud enough.

And it is funny about how there are stories of opening bands and how they got started. I have always been a big Prince fan (now overtaken by LH's though) and he got booed and tomatoed off the stage when he opened for the Rolling Stones when he was first starting out.

[southside]

I was at the Chicago show but had crappy balcony seats. There was only about 2 or 3 gals standing in the balcony section. Every time my friend and I would stand up screaming we would have to sit down because of some of the old geezers waiting for INXS to come on got cranky. I was so ticked! I thought being in Chicago, the place would be up and crazy. I couldn't possibly understand why ........until INXS came on and everyone stood up and was going nuts. Were they really there for INXS? I couldn't get over it! I thought everyone was there for the LH! I couldn't comprehend it! I really think that most INXS fans would not and do not particularly appreciate LH music. They are kind of 2 different genres I guess. This is why the LH need to do their own tour so we can rock out without having to worry about anyone else! I did get to go to Joe's Bar and see them and that was something to see! Everyone knew every word, standing room only. AWESOME!!