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It was Monday, July 26th, 2010 when Nashville finally recieved the promise that Paul McCartney made about 38 years ago of putting Nashville, TN on his tour schedule. Mike Arnold, Tom Thompson, and James Downing were part of 20,000 extremely excited fans that believe it was well worth the wait. Continue Reading…
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Elizabethtown, KY Concert Crowd Waiting for the Show to Start - Approx 5,000 in Attendance
On Saturday, June 26, 2010, Concert Blast hosts Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and James Downing traveled to Elizabethtown KY as they were invited by two of the best classic rock acts still on the road today, The Guess Who and Grand Funk Railroad, to review their concert at Freeman Lake Park (Tom Thompson was out of town for this show). Continue Reading…
Sheryl Crow - Chattanooga, TN
Written by James Downing
I have always loved a pretty girl with a guitar… And when they could sing I loved them even more. Joan Jett, Susanna Hoffs, Nancy Wilson, Lita Ford and all of the rest of the female rockers always caught my eye. Now, the first time I saw Sheryl Crow on TV with that big red bass, I knew I was hooked before she ever opened her mouth. Over the years she has become my very favorite female singer. I was over-joyed when I heard that she was putting out a new CD this summer and was going on a tour to support it. Continue Reading…
Written By Mike Arnold
On Saturday July 10th, 2010, Concert Blast accepted the invitation to cover the Scorpions farewell concert from their current “Get Your Sting and Blackout Tour,” as the tour stopped in Nashville, TN.
With Tom Thompson on vacation and James Downing attending another show in Memphis, Concert Blast photographer Brian Hasbrook and I attended the show. Here’s the Concert Review.
Scorpions - Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN
It’s been decades since I had the opportunity to witness a Scorpions concert. In fact I had never seen them as a headliner! I always thought that the Scorpions was a good (not great) opening act, but on this night my mind was definitely changed as the Scorpions made believers out of the estimated 6,000 hard rock fans in attendance!
The house lights flickered as a warning for people to get to their seats, an AC/DC song blasted over the house PA system to get the fans ready for a night of excitement. As soon as the song ended, the house lights went down, the stage lights came up and the rockers in the crowd screamed as they anticipated the Scorpions to take the stage for the last time in Nashville, TN (if this is actually a Farewell Tour). Continue Reading…
Written By Mike Arnold
On Saturday July 10th, 2010, Concert Blast was invited to cover The Scorpions farewell concert from their current “Get Your Sting and Blackout Tour,” as the tour stopped in Nashville, TN.
With Tom Thompson on vacation and James Downing attending another show in Memphis, Concert Blast photographer Brian Hasbrook and I attended the show. Here’s the Concert Review for opening act, RATT.
Ratt - Stephen Pearcy
80s hard rock favorites RATT opened the show to an estimated crowd of 6,000 in attendance. When RATT took the stage to flashing lights and noises blasting through the PA system, the crowd became immediately on their feet and remained there for most of the night. Continue Reading…
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Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and James Downing close out the series from the CMA Fest 2010 coverage with interviews with Bo Bice, Burns and Poe, Chelsea Field, Susan Hickman, and a preview from the CMT Secret Concert.
This show begins with the Saturday CMA coverage as Mike, Brian, and James start the day at the Nashville club, Limelight, where Bo Bice held his fan club party. Bo provided a breakfast, a short concert from some of his new material from his new CD 3, and a meet and greet with his fans. Continue Reading…
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Concert Blast brings you Part 2 of the CMA Music Festival 2010 coverage with Julianne Hough, Josh Turner, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, and Reba McIntyre.
CMA FEST 2010
Mike Arnold talked with several fans in attendance on their thoughts of the CMA Music Festival and visiting Nashville, while Brian Hasbrook took the live concert photos. Tom Thompson and James Downing were covering other events on this particular night. Continue Reading…
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Once again it was time for another CMA Music Festival. As Mike Arnold mentioned in his book, the CMA Fest is the best music festival Concert Blast has ever covered.
The Sign Says It All
From the staff that run the festival, to the locations where the events take place, to the artists, their management, their publicists, and especially the fans! Continue Reading…
Alice Cooper
May 17, 2010
Knoxville Memorial Coliseum
Knoxville TN
Written by James Downing
When I was 14 years old I was listening to the music of The Partridge Family, Bobby Sherman, The Osmonds and all of the other “Bubblegum Music” of that era. I thought this music was so cool. Little did I know I had no idea what cool was.
I remember sitting in study hall reading a teen magazine and a friend came up and thumbed through it.
He asked me a question that would change the way I looked at music for the rest of my life. He said, “Have you ever listened to Alice Cooper?”
Alice Cooper In Concert
Of course my response was “Who is she?” He laughed and said it was a guy. Continue Reading…
The Bangles
May 2, 2010
The Pageant
St Louis, MO
Written by James Downing
While Mike, Brian, and Tom were paddling their way around Memphis during the Memphis In May festivities, I was high and dry in St Louis for The Bangles concert at The Pageant. The Bangles have always been one of my all time favorite bands but I had never had the chance to see them live. When I saw that they were playing a date in St Louis, I put in for my vacation days at work and got a ticket the first day they went on sale. I was very excited during the weeks leading up to the show. I was finally going to get to see The Bangles live!
James Downing with Susanna Hoffs
The Bangles were the off spring of another band called The Bangs. An LA band with it roots firmly in the Paisley Pop sound that is so popular in that city. Michael Steele, who was also a brief member of The Runaways, teamed up with sisters Vicki (guitar) and Debbie Peterson (drums) and Susanna Hoffs (guitar) to form one of the most memorable bands from the 80′s. Continue Reading…
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