Rock Euphoria

LAS VEGAS, NV - ”See all those people in the audience? They have to pay $8 for a beer. Yours is over there in the fridge.”

That message from Deep Rock Drive, who telecasted the live show through their site, pretty much summed up how convenient it was for fans - who were not present - to experience this show at the comfort of their own home. The band streamed a live show from their performance at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on August 1, 2008.

Look at me, sitting on the couch as I watch this show, typing away while I have a nice glass of wine as I rock out just as hard as the rest.

Fans from 58 countries, including Japan, Switzerland, and Brazil, gathered in front of their computer to see Motley Crue perform. I am sure some might say there are better things to do on a weekend night, but this is just as exciting to me. Besides, it gets me pumped up for the live show I will be attending tomorrow. I have read and published several reviews from fans who have attended Cruefest, but this is a whole new experience on its own.

The anticipation escalates as I read the hundreds of shout outs that scroll down the site, of fans saying “We want freaking Motley!” to “Let’s All Just Sing Along!” I know I am not alone in my living room, as fans share as much excitement as I do right about now. The shout outs by the way, will show up on huge screens on stage once the band begins their performance.

I look at the clock….10:21pm…c’mon I’ve been staring at this screen for over 20 minutes now. I want my boys to come onstage right about now. And by the way, where is my husband with my Pinkberry?

Users, who could claim a free ticket online a week ago (the show sold out online as well), have the choice to pick from two different camera views: Front Row Seat or Tommy Cam.

30 minutes later, just as fans start to get desperate for some music, the lights dim and the band steps onstage as fans launch a “HELL YEAH” in unicon, though it comes in the form of a text, thousands appearing on the screen about a mile per minute.

Surprisingly - or not depending on the perspective of many - start to criticize Vince Neil’s singing abilities, saying how their “mother” sang better than him, or if he needed someone to sing the missing lyrics. Weather it’s in an online concert format or not, this is not the first time I hear these type of comments from people.

“It’s the Crue - not quality but attitude,” says a fan from CO.

Damn, is that really what it has come down to? To judge a rock band because of their musical history instead of their performance abilities? Guess so. However, for a band that has been performing live for over two decades, they are not doing half bad. These boys definitely still got it. No doubt about it.

Everything was going great until the camera starts cutting out during “Shout at the Devil,” splitting into two screens and at times turning into a green static. Now this is getting annoying. I hope that this isn’t an ongoing thing throughout the whole set or I can tell I will be turning this computer off very soon.

“Welcome to Cruefest motherf*ckers,” said Neil, excited to be in the state where he resides. He asked the crowd if they had enjoyed the other bands who performed earlier (Papa Roach, Buckcherry), to which the fans expressed little - if any - interest. It really didn’t matter what fans thought, as the lead singers from both bands joined the Crue onstage to sing the second half of “Saints of Los Angeles.”

At this point, I decide to switch over to the Tommy Cam since the camera view I was viewing (front row seat) was driving me crazy with it cutting it in and out distracting the hell outta me. This one works much better; I might just make it through the whole show.

Funny - as soon as I type this, the Deep Rock Drive posts a message to try the other camera. Well, at least they know what they are doing.

And just like that, my husband walks into the door holding a giant Pinkberry. Now I can certainly say that I am in heaven.

“We’re streaming live tonight all over the f*cking world so c’mon Las Vegas,” said Neil.

“You know me man, I never show up empty handed to a party,” said Lee as he stepped down and sat on the stage as he passed his bottle of Jagermeister to the fans in the front row. He urges them to pass it on to the others nearby.

He then proceeds to do his ritualistic titty cam and shows much less enthusiasm than I’ve seem him do in the dozen times I’ve seen the Crue live. I wonder if this is now getting old? I know that many fans have rolled their eyes when they heard they were doing this tidbit again on this tour.

It would have been cool if the camera angle showed more of the band members, or seen the show with the whole stage being featured. It was hard to see how the stage was decorated or set up since they only showed it in parts.

“If you missed our asses, I only think about 10% are even from here, am I right?” said Nikki Sixx “We are streaming this show live over the internet, so maybe you guys should give a big shout out to fans all over the world.”

Sixx asked fans how much they’d like to see the band perform again for “Cruefest 2″ by this time next year. They started screaming in delight as Sixx and Lee rocked into the introduction of “Primal Scream.”

“If you can hear my voice, put my right hand up and make a f*cking fist” Neil told the fans as he asked them to pretend to be pumping up a motorcycle as the band launched to an amazing rendition of the classic “Girls Girls Girls.”

The band comes back from a short break, with Lee on piano and the band around the stage singing “Home Sweet Home,” which would close the show for the night.

“We want to thank you for coming to the show tonight. Thank you and always God Bless…good night,” said Neil as he wrapped up the show.

All in all, the hour and a half that I spent watching this show was well worth it. It was very cool to experience this show up close and personal.

Hopefully more bands will start streaming live shows online, specially for those of us who often travel cross-country to see a band perform the same tour on different cities. This way, fans can appreciate the music, feel like they were a part of the show, and enjoy it just as much as the ones who paid a hefty admission ticket.

And with that, I will now go enjoy the rest of my wine and spend some time with my other rocker musician, my husband, who just happens to be sitting right next to me.

Now that’s what I call comfort.

Set List

Kickstart my Heart

Wild Side

Shout at the Devil

Saints of Los Angeles

Mick Mars solo

Live Wire

Sick Love Song

Titty cam

MF of the Year

Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

S.O.S.

Primal Scream

Drum solo

Looks That Kill

Girls, Girls, Girls

Home Sweet Home