Lioncourt9

Sixx:A.M. at the Fillmore in Maryland April 29

I’ve gotten a little picky about the shows that I will attend…it’s just too annoying to go through the bother of fighting traffic, handing over your paycheck for a parking place, standing squashed up in everyone’s personal space, only to find that the band blows.
This one was worth all the hassle, though. It was worth traveling the DC beltway on a midweek afternoon…it was worth having someone’s armpit almost in my face…it was even worth the guy standing behind me who smelled like he hadn’t bathed in a week.

You don’t have to be a Motley Crue fan to enjoy Nikki Sixx’s latest musical efforts. I love the Crue (another show totally worth seeing!), but that band has a different vibe. I always thought of the Crue as hardcore bad boys, whereas Sixx:A.M. is more creative. A group of serious studio musicians working together. Sixx, along with DJ Ashba and James Micheal, have written a great collection of songs that are positive and inspiring as well as entertaining.

The band started as a side project, writing a soundtrack to Nikki Sixx’s best selling book “The Heroin Diaries”. I thought that book and the album were absolutely great, and I guess I wasn’t the only one, based on their sales. The Heroin Diaries is a collection of Sixx’s journal notes, from his days of heroin addiction. That book and album are what’s addicting…I’ve worn out that CD.
Then came a second book and album, “This is Gonna Hurt”…they just keep getting better. The third album “Modern Vintage”, I just got, and am loving it. I just hope there will be a third book soon. Hey Nikki, please write us another book soon! Please??

As a classical pianist, I admit that when it comes to how well people play their instruments or sing, I’m a complete snob. If you can’t put the time in to really learn your instrument, then please don’t label yourself professional and get on stage. I cannot understand “musicians” who don’t know how to read music. ?!?!? I mean, wth… how does that work?
At the same time, I have total appreciation and admiration for those who do excel at their instruments. You can hear the hours and hours of practice time they’ve put in, as they play. I was not disappointed with hearing this band live, away from studio tricks and secrets.

It was a joy to see such experienced and professional musicians deliver outstanding performances, especially in such a small venue. If anything went remotely wrong, we never saw it. The guys (and gals) in the band were so at home up there and obviously enjoying themselves. It was also one of the rare concerts I’ve seen where the band sounded as good live as on recordings. There were no dull moments. There was an energy coming off of them that was all but magical and it was contagious and I’m still a little high from it.