In medicine, ample evidence exists in the literature which says that head banging can be hazardous to your health. For instance, a study published in the British Medical Journal set out to “investigate the risks of mild traumatic brain injury and neck injury associated with head banging, a popular dance form accompanying heavy metal music.” In the journal article, “participants” were specified to be “head bangers.”
The study found that head banging to songs with tempos in excess of 120 beats per minute (this is the range in which most metal material exists) and with a range of neck motion greater than 75 degrees, there is a risk of head and neck injury. It is also noted that the risk of injury may be reduced if “head bangers…decrease their range of head and neck motion, head bang to slower tempo songs by replacing heavy metal with adult oriented rock, only head bang to every second beat, or use personal protective equipment.” So, slow it down, switch to a different genre of music, only bang on the 2 and the 4, and wear one of those foam collars. Got it.
It appears that Sebastian Bach, the former lead singer of Skid Row has failed to heed this advice, suffering from considerable neck pain as a result. Commenting during a recent appearance on the “Come on Over” podcast, Bach, 56, said, “That headbanging bullshit, I cannot do that anymore.” He went on to explain, “I have this thing where I get on stage and my brain says, ‘Don’t be a pussy. Fucking kick their ass, you motherfucker. You fucking go.’ When I’m onstage, I don’t know why, but I don’t feel any pain up there.” After the show, however, it seems to be a different story. Kind of disillusioning, really. It seems that our heroes indeed have necks of clay.
Ticket Alert
Whoo boy, what a week for concert announcements! Summer schedules at Houston venues are beginning to fill up, starting with the Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Saturday, May 10. That’s pretty swell in its own right, but guess who’s opening? Buddy Freaking Guy! If you love the blues and you love some serious jamming, don’t miss this one. Presales are up, and the general sale begins on Friday.
Perky popster Katy Perry’s “Lifetimes” tour will hit Toyota Center on Wednesday, May 7, in support of her new album 143. VIP packages for hardcore “Katycats” are on sale now, and these include access to “Klub 143,” a reserved area with a dance floor directly adjacent to the stage. (Hmm, do you think Katy plans on hitting the Breakfast Klub for some wings and waffles while she’s in town?) Other presales roll out today and tomorrow, and the general sale is on Friday.
A couple of package tours will hit the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this summer. First, Simple Minds (“Don’t You Forget About Me”) will headline a bill including Soft Cell (“Tainted Love” *clap* *clap*) and Modern English (“I Melt with You”) on Saturday, May 31. Then on Saturday, July 19, Kansas will headline a bill including 38 Special and Dave Mason. In both cases, presales now and the general sale on Friday.
Country star Morgan Wallen has experienced some public embarrassments over the past couple of years. Among his ignominious actions were drunken incidents including the use of a racial slur captured on video during a party at his house and the hurling of a chair from the roof of Nashville bar, barely missing a policeman standing on the sidewalk. It is fair, then, that Wallen’s current tour is billed as “I’m the Problem.” Presales for two dates, Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, at NRG Stadium are in progress, with the general ticket sale set for Friday.
Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails will perform at Toyota Center on Friday, September 12. While there is no new album in the offing, the band is said to be at work on a score for the upcoming Disney film Tron: Ares. Kind of an unusual pairing, which makes me hope that Reznor won’t get “Closer” to Mickey Mouse and do anything weird, even though he is an animal. Tickets go on sale today at noon.
Concerts This Week
Though Freddie Steady Krc is more associated with Austin, he did spend his salad days in La Porte, so we will claim him. Krc has achieved success as a drummer, in The Explosives, backing Roky Erickson, and as a session musician performing with Augie Meyers (Sir Douglas Quintet), Carole King, Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) and Ronnie Lane (The Faces). However, Krc will be singing and playing guitar when his Wild Country Revue stops at the Continental Club on Friday. It’s an early show, so don’t be fashionably late.
Also at the Continental Club this weekend, Houston’s own Mighty Orq will play a hometown gig on Saturday. Orq’s oeuvre includes delta blues, bluegrass, folk, and psychedelic rock, or, as he likes to call it, “Gulf Coast roots music.” Advance tickets are available and recommended.
Canadian punk rockers Death from Above 1979 will perform on Sunday at the Heights Theater, with Spiritual Cramp opening. A glance at the band’s website yields little information about current activities, though a note explains, “We’re working on it. Under construction. Coming soon. It’s a lot of work, OK? We have normal lives, you know. It’s not just all ‘building websites’ and ‘rock and roll.’ We’re in our 40s. We have homes and mortgages and renovations and gardens and a farm! One of us has a farm! Cows. Ever heard of them? We’ve got those.” Fair enough. Just keep us posted when you have a chance.
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