LIVE CONCERTS

IRON MAIDEN - HALFORD - QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - CABEZONES - MAD - JANUARY 13^th 2001 - VELEZ SARSFIELD STADIUM - BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

Well, this was the first concert I went this year and it was a really good one. I have to admit that I arrived late and didn´t witnessed de performance of the two Argentinean bands MAD and CABEZONES. Knowing how good CABEZONES and having seen part of their set on cable tv later I think that they made a good show despite the bad reception that some of the people in the front gave to them (if the support band is not an exact copy of the main act there are ten or twenty assholes throwing things to the stage trying to hit the musicians!)

After this show QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE appeared on stage to present songs from their new album "Rated R". Their music is more raw played live than on CD and they kicked ass with Josh Homme commanding the band into their chaotic set. Great live band!

Then it was the turn of HALFORD...and I think this was the band of the night! Rob Halford has come back to his metal form and his set was based in Judas Priest classics (played more heavily by this band that is amazing) and songs from his recent "Resurrection" CD including also "Into the Pit" from the first Fight album. If I have to choose one song that really sent chills down my spine that was "Beyond the Realms of Death". Best show of the night.

The turn of Iron Maiden. They opened with "The Wicker Man" from the recent "Brave New World" and played most of that album through the show. The main point in this concert was the return of Bruce Dickinson on vocals that give the classics and new songs what Blaze Bayley couldn´t...feeling and quality. The sets highlights were obviously the classics such as "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "The Trooper" (there was a stupid incident with the public, a flag and some nationalistic bullshit from people that are to stupid to understand anything but I won´t comment anymore on this...) and "Iron Maiden". A real welcome back to Dickinson!

RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS - DEFTONES - JANUARY 24^th 2001 - VELEZ SARSFIELD STADIUM - BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

This was a really stormy day in Buenos Aires with rain pouring down all the afternoon. So the two Argentinean bands SANTOS INOCENTES and CATUPECU MACHU couldn´t play because the stage was really wet. After 8 p.m. rain started to stop and at 9.30 p.m. DEFTONES hit the stage. A great show mainly composed with their heaviest numbers and material from the "White Pony" album. Their music is extremely climatic and was well appreciated by the people. Clearly this was DEFTONES night

At 11 p.m. the RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS appeared on stage and played their music, including most of their hits. What surprises me of this band is that on stage they sound...WEAK!! And the problem is the guitar sound...is not enough dirty and not enough clean...it is in a middle point that makes it hard for pop but weak for hard rock. I liked the show but it was a bit disappointing to realice that the band sounds better on CD than in a live situation. Well, obviously they played their hits: "Californication", "Scar Tissue", "Give It Away", etc, etc. But that was clearly not enough.

DEWEY REDMAN - LAS BLACANBLUS - EL GONZO - GIUSTI FUNK CORP. - TELECOM JAZZ FESTIVAL - FEBRUARY 17^th 2001 - COSTANERA SUR - BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

Well, this date of the festival consisted in one fusion/funk band, one comercial funk band, a blues band a nd a free jazz master. The first band to play was GIUSTI FUNK CORP. That started their show at 7 p.m. This band has a lot of musicianship specially their bassist and drummer (the drummer in fact is the grandson of renowned Argentinian musician ASTOR PIAZZOLLA). They displayed a great amount of virtuosism and sounded really dynamic. Check this band ! They have two records out there (one is called "Barrio Funk")

The next band was EL GONZO and I think their breed of funky music is a crap. Everything is made to have a hook and be easy listening. Is like the music you listen in supermarkets. The musicianship is really mediocre, specially both saxophonists (one is a girl that they put in there for decorative purposes because she could not do a right solo all night...only two or three notes and a part of "Tequila" that a five year old kid can play). After an awful version of "The Chicken" (I think the worst version I have listened of this tune) they went away.

It was the turn of LAS BLACANBLUS. They seemed a little bit out of place because what they do is blues, nothing more and nothing left. I think that most of the people had come to see this band consisting in three great female singers. The show was good and funny.

Finally, DEWEY REDMAN appeared. He is 70 years old and he plays wind instruments specially saxophone. He is one of the fathers of the free jazz movement. He played his own compositions and a couple of standards like "Take the A Train". This man kicks ass and has a fantastic concept of moods. A really climatic show.

CUARTETO JOBIN MORELEMBAUM - QUINTETO URBANO- JAVIER MALOSETTI QUINTETO- TELECOM JAZZ FESTIVAL - FEBRUARY 18^th 2001 - COSTANERA SUR - BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

The newspaper said that more or less ten thousand persons went to see this show (a big number even considering that this festival was free). The evening started with the JAVIER MALOSETTI QUINTETO and this band was great ! The main instrument in the compositions is Javier Malosetti´s bass ( in fact I have seen this guy play in many bands and different lineups from his bands and he always shines). He has a rocker attitude in his jazz-fusion playing.

After Mr. Malosetti, the QUINTETO URBANO took the stage...this guys are from Uruguay and they play traditional jazz with acoustic instruments. They played some standards and it sounded really great. Full of moods.

The band that closed the night and the festival was the CUARTETO JOBIN MORELEMBAUM. This band eventhough its name says that is a quartet it was in fact a quintet. And it includes inits lineup the son of Tom Jobim on guitar and vocals and also renowned cello player Jacques Morelembaum and his daughter Paula on vocals. And what they played was fantastic Bossa Nova.

Songs like "Chega de saudade", "Insensatez", "Falando de amor" or the all time classic "Garota de Ipanema" bring tears to the eyes of anyone, specially in the hands of this band that have a special feeling for this music. A great way to conclude the festival, and a night to remember.