AC/DC and The Pretty Reckless in Washington DC May 12

[JimmyM]

I just got home from two days in DC, and my longtime internet friend Mark Damon of The Pretty Reckless totally hooked the wife and me up with tickets for the show. And best of all, we went out to dinner the night before and had a terrific Italian meal. Mark is a great guy online, and he’s even better in person:

But enough about me already. Black P basses and SVT’s were the order of the day for both bands, though Mark was using a couple Wizard cabs powered with what’s formerly my one of a kind Heritage SVT CL with the factory installed Heyboer output transformer. Sounded super in the house, and he does mic it.

TPR did an hour to start off, and it was all killer no filler. I like how they skirt the line between classic hard rock and more modern styles. And Taylor Momsen’s voice is totally on point. If you ask me she’s one of the greats. Angus seems to think so as well, because they did last year’s Europe tour with AC/DC and they’re going to Eastern Europe with them this summer.

As for AC/DC, any complaints of any kind will be courteously answered with my hand. Angus still plays great and hasn’t slowed down much at all. Brian doesn’t hit every single high note like he used to but he still hits most of them, and he sang for a solid 90 minutes before he got a break during Angus’ big solo, so that’s pretty darn good. Chris Chaney and Matt Laug sound like they’ve been working a lot on the Cliff Williams/Phil Rudd vibe, and Stevie Young has the Malcolm vibe down already. Plus they brought back “Stiff Upper Lip” and “Riff Raff.”

My only complaint is that beer was $20 a can and parking was $60. A night out with AC/DC and TPR isn’t cheap even if you get free tickets, but it’s darn fun. My thanks to Mark!

 

[Moving Pictures]

JimmyM that’s a great story. I have to agree about Taylor, she is a fantastic vocalist. And I’m also a fan of Mark’s. Hopefully I can see both bands next time they swing back around here.

 

[digmeout]

TPR really is a great band! I've never had a chance to see them live but have checked out some live shows on You Tube, great playing and writing. I also have the CDs. AC/DC, what can I say, THAT'S rock and roll!

 

[BaltBass5]

It was a GREAT show.
My first concert was AC/DC in 1983 and they haven't lost much over 42 years.
TPR are a great band. My band opened for them here in Baltimore in 2010 when they were just starting out and the guys from the band are all from my hometown area in New England.
My ONLY complaint about the show Monday night was that the sound for TPR was pretty muddy. I've seen them a handful of times since opening for them and they are GREAT in smaller venues.
Thanks for sharing your story!

 

[el jeffe bass]

My daughter turned me on to TPR a few years ago. Great band

 

[baxter_x]

My only complaint is that beer was $20 a can and parking was $60

 

[BassBrass]

The resurrection of ACDC is a triumph!
I thought The Pretty Reckless was a Taylor Momsen marketing photo shoot for FHM magazine about 15 years ago.

 

[five7]

Black p-Bass instead of a stingray? That deserves a back of the hand. Ha

 

[Dincrest]

Concession prices and parking at concerts are crazy, yeah.

But awesome to hear that The Pretty Reckless and AC/DC put on a killer show. I like The Pretty Reckless. I'm normally not a fan of bands with TV/movie celebs because they seem more like vanity projects, but The Pretty Reckless is an exception. Taylor Momsen definitely feels like a musician first (even though her initial break was Cindy Lou Who in the Jim Carrey Grinch movie so we first knew her as an actress). And the rest of the band are all damn good musicians as well. I like that their sound has both classic and modern appeal. Tradition with a twist, kinda.

And I like this interview with Mark Damon. A highlight is his take on why bass is cool. And his take sounds like what one of my ballroom dance instructors says, "Dance is fun. Don't think, just dance" (and another one says "Think less, dance more"). Mark Damon of the The Pretty Reckless on why bass is so cool!

And I think Mark has a point. The way I see it, yeah, it's important to learn your drills, fundamentals, rudiments, but never forget why you play bass- because it's fun, you enjoy it, and it makes you happy.

 

[mambo4]

Dammit
I knew you didn't actually look like a James Brown bobble head in a devo hat
But I always secretly hoped it was it so.

 

[bassfran]

Jimmy, Jimmy- never pay for a beer when you can nick a few from the green room. Ha!

Glad to hear from you, Brother. Sounds like a great night out.

 

[JimmyM]

Jimmy, Jimmy- never pay for a beer when you can nick a few from the green room. Ha!

Glad to hear from you, Brother. Sounds like a great night out.

Hey Fran, been a while! Couldn’t do any green rooming. Taylor had family there and I guess he couldn’t get any for us. That’s Ok, I was just happy to see the show.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Chris Chaney’s career trajectory is an amazing one. He went from playing jazz at The Baked Potato, to playing with Alanis Morrisette when her album blew up to working with Robben Ford to joining Jane’s Addiction to an impressive resumé as a session player to playing freaking STADIUMS with AC️DC!! Incredible. One of my favorite musicians.

 

[Altitude]

Dammit
I knew you didn't actually look like a James Brown bobble head in a devo hat
But I always secretly hoped it was it so.

Right - the Easter egg in this thread is that we all got to see a real life current picture of Jimmy.

 

[A.K.]

I just got home from two days in DC, and my longtime internet friend Mark Damon of The Pretty Reckless totally hooked the wife and me up with tickets for the show. And best of all, we went out to dinner the night before and had a terrific Italian meal. Mark is a great guy online, and he’s even better in person:

View attachment 7226113

But enough about me already. Black P basses and SVT’s were the order of the day for both bands, though Mark was using a couple Wizard cabs powered with what’s formerly my one of a kind Heritage SVT CL with the factory installed Heyboer output transformer. Sounded super in the house, and he does mic it.

TPR did an hour to start off, and it was all killer no filler. I like how they skirt the line between classic hard rock and more modern styles. And Taylor Momsen’s voice is totally on point. If you ask me she’s one of the greats. Angus seems to think so as well, because they did last year’s Europe tour with AC/DC and they’re going to Eastern Europe with them this summer.

As for AC/DC, any complaints of any kind will be courteously answered with my hand. Angus still plays great and hasn’t slowed down much at all. Brian doesn’t hit every single high note like he used to but he still hits most of them, and he sang for a solid 90 minutes before he got a break during Angus’ big solo, so that’s pretty darn good. Chris Chaney and Matt Laug sound like they’ve been working a lot on the Cliff Williams/Phil Rudd vibe, and Stevie Young has the Malcolm vibe down already. Plus they brought back “Stiff Upper Lip” and “Riff Raff.”

My only complaint is that beer was $20 a can and parking was $60. A night out with AC/DC and TPR isn’t cheap even if you get free tickets, but it’s darn fun. My thanks to Mark!

Jimmy, how well would you say they nailed Phil and Cliff's parts? I hope the guy was doing all downstrokes with palm muting!

 

[ultra60]

I have never seen AC/DC with Brian. I was lucky enough to see them with Bon Scott circa '79. They opened for UFO.

 

[JimmyM]

Jimmy, how well would you say they nailed Phil and Cliff's parts? I hope the guy was doing all downstrokes with palm muting!

Mostly, yeah, despite my protests of it as injurious to your right hand . I won’t say that it was dead on perfect like Cliff and Phil, but I thought it was more like Cliff and Phil than Cliff and Chris Slade or Cliff and Simon Wright.

 

[JimmyM]

I have never seen AC/DC with Brian. I was lucky enough to see them with Bon Scott circa '79. They opened for UFO.

I never got to see them with Bon.

 

[A.K.]

Mostly, yeah, despite my protests of it as injurious to your right hand . I won’t say that it was dead on perfect like Cliff and Phil, but I thought it was more like Cliff and Phil than Cliff and Chris Slade or Cliff and Simon Wright.

It takes a toll on the right wrist to do it like Cliff, but that's the only way to play it if you want to nail his style. (Just like you need to stay on the hi-hat at all times if you want to play the drums like Phil.) I can't imagine doing it for 2+ hours every night on tour for months. I can't imagine that Cliff didn't have some long-term effects from playing like that all the time.

 

[JimmyM]

It takes a toll on the right wrist to do it like Cliff, but that's the only way to play it if you want to nail his style. (Just like you need to stay on the hi-hat at all times if you want to play the drums like Phil.) I can't imagine doing it for 2+ hours every night on tour for months. I can't imagine that Cliff didn't have some long-term effects from playing like that all the time.

He once said he plays all downstrokes till it feels like his hand’s about to fall off. I literally couldn’t do it. 10 seconds and I’m done. I’d have to use foam inside a bridge cover.