Stone Temple Pilots
Universal Amphitheater
Thursday,
November 9, 2000
Thoughts and Images
by Caren Spitler
Opening band Disturbed was having a good week, their debut album just made platinum status. Disturbed came out to get the crowd warmed up. It's hard to say how much of the STP crowd new who they were, but they really seemed to get in to them by the end of the set, although the crowd was at less than half mass. They started off with the title song to their debut album, "the Sickness." The singer came out in an electric chair was put to death in effigy… full on body twitching and fake blood. They were selling some drama. Theatrics aside they showed their chops. Vocalist David Draiman has a nice voice and uses it well if perhaps a bit sparingly, alternating between true vocals and the new metal standard guttural screams. They played their cover of the tears for fears song "shout" this song isn't reminiscent of 80's new wave in the hands if this band. They finished it up with the radio hit "Stupify." Nice set all in all. Best moment was hearing "the game" a song that is clearly in need to be the next single.
Godsmack second on the bill also made a decent performance. Sully Urna in pot patched army fatigues performed at his smoldering slowburn that carries a charge all it's own. They played "Alive," "Keep Away " In the middle of the set Sully and the bands drummer pulled off a double drum solo, real sweet. They also played "Voodoo," and "Bad Religion." They let lose a couple tunes from the new album. Before the last song Sully took a moment to wish Jack Osbourne (Ozzy's son) a happy 15th birthday. They went out on a high note ending with their first hit "Whatever."
By the time STP was due to hit the stage the Universal amphitheater was a full capacity. The house lights dimmed and music started to play before the band came out the song "Wet My Bed" set the atmosphere for them with it's surreal melody, warped vocals and tinny sounding music box quality.
There are bands that work hard to create an image, complete a polished look that will exude the vibe of "rock star." When you break them down to bare bones and look for substance in the music you can find they fall short. Then there are bands that personify what the term means, this is such a band. They have a presence about them that you can't deny -- white-heat, electricity, enigmatic power, and innate sense of sexuality. These are not qualities STP simply tries to convey they just are all those things. Enter the quintessential rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Heaven dropped these boys to earth to be stars and to rock!
The guys came out looking good. The DeLeo brothers looking long and lean, guitarist Dean in a translucent black shirt and bassist Robert dressed in his sexy cow boy best. The drummer Eric Kertz in his free lowing wild style shirtless and beautiful. …. "and on the seventh day God created Scott!" Scott came out all 70's style mix of disco glam and "pimp daddy"... wearing a big old black afro wig. Once on stage they went in to "Vasoline." Among the first few songs was also "Crackerman" Scott sang into his megaphone. They took a little break near the beginning of the set so the roadies could bring out chairs for Robert, Dean and Scott, and a smaller drum kit for Eric. They did acoustic versions of "Big Empty" (which was introduced as a song about making love in a back of a car) and "Sour Girl."
They are one super tight unit, and all of them are true showmen as well. Dean made a real effort to make contact with the audience when ever possible, as did Scott. Against the wishes of worried and watchful security and stage hands Scott ventured out into the arms of the hungry crowd a few times. It was a complete trip to watch Scott work the stage... he can move. He would go from a slow gyrating sexy grind, to a move that made him look like a white James Brown.... YEAH... baby... work that stuff! Scott looked good and sounded better. Musically this band captures every dynamic they put out in a recording and then adds a new dimension to it. There are few bands capable of performing at with the level of perfection that STP does. Some where in the middle of the set Scott announced they would be headed into the studio in January, said they were going to play a new song, which turned out to be "Plush" The band also performed "Creep," "Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart," and "Drown." Surprisingly they didn't do more songs from No. 4.
For the encore, Weiland entered the androgen. If the man weren't still alive I'd think Bowie himself possessed Scott at times (though still alive). He came out wrapped in the American flag. Under the flag he was wearing, a black vinyl corset, black ruffle panties, fishnet stalking, fingerless long black gloves and he toped off the look a platinum blond wig. Like I said, boy loves to dress! For the encore STP was joined by punk rock legend Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols. They did the Sex Pistols song "Bodies," and Steve stayed for the final song "Sex Type Thing." At the end of the song Scott decided he needed to lose the black panties and wear the flag, he made the transition, and managed not to expose himself. LOL the ladies were beside themselves. There was a cat-fight in the pit for the tossed lingerie. As the band ended the encore and headed of stage the flag was pulled away form Scott exposing him to the audience before he could covered him self and scuffle off stage.