I was six years old, and a recent kindergarten graduate, headed into the big leagues of elementary school. I just broke up with the New Kids on the Block and was in search of something new to fill my musical void.
For me first grade started off with a bang of new music passion called \heavy metal,"" and 15 years later I relived my adolescence and experienced what I craved when I was a mere six-years-old.
On Saturday night I rekindled old flames by finally seeing M??tley Cr??e live for the first time, which was long awaited. My sister and I rocked out to their old songs and played air guitar as we prepped for the show. The night started off with loads of bottled-up excitement.
The anticipation when we got to our seats was extremely high. I felt a bit out of place since many people surrounding me were in their forties.
The stage was set-up in a circus tent style with a sign saying, ""M??tley Cr??e: The Loudest Show on Earth."" The carnival theme carried through the evening including dancers contorting their bodies and pyro, lots and lots of pyro.
The first sound of Mick's guitar jolted through me and the curtain started to rise as the crowd cheered. There they were together, flesh and blood: Vince, Nikki, Mick and Tommy.
They did their hits including ""Live Wire,"" ""Looks That Kill,"" ""Wild Side,"" ""Girls Girls Girls,"" ""Don't Go Away Mad,"" ""Kickstart My Heart,"" ""Same Ol' Situation,"" ""Dr. Feelgood,"" and ""Too Fast For Love."" They sounded young and energized again, not at all the aged stars they have become.
Tommy Lee's drum solo was amazing and added an experimental element into the mix. He dabbled into techno and drummed the beat as he flew from one drum platform to another. There is no question of Tommy's music ability. His character remains questionable, however.
The disappointment came when he took a video camera, pointed it to the audience and asked girls to flash the camera. Some gave in, but others would not.
Tommy acted like an immature boy. Maybe I should have expected this going into a M??tley Cr??e concert, but I thought they, like me, have grown up. Not surprisingly, I was wrong.
The biggest highlight of the night was none other than the classic, ""Home Sweet Home,"" which sounded breathtaking live. Tommy played the ever-so-recognizable piano chords as fans held up their lighters. This song was the only part where the crowd connected with each other and the band.
While the Cr??e played their timeless treasured hits and did so wonderfully, something was indeed lacking. They sounded great, but a certain spark was lost. It seemed as though the audience lacked energy and spunk.
Maybe the the crowd was just too diverse in age, and no one could relate to each other. The group in front of me was my age and throughout the entire show they air guitared and were energized and entertaining.
Cr??e's fans have possibly just grown up and still latch on to the youthful nostalgia.
The arena-sized venue was another drawback, since it failed to produce a certain intimacy and bond. Similarly, an inherent chemistry did not exist between the band and the audience. This disengagement overshadowed the music.
One thing is for certain about the Cr??e: Through this experience, I may have grown from my adolescence, but I still appreciate the memories I equate with the M??tley Cr??e and their efforts to connect to their fans, reminisce about the past and move forward with their music.
