WORDS BY DAVID TAYLOR AND PHOTOS BY DEAN BIRKHEIMER | Go Venue Magazine
It is always exciting to enter into a new venue in your hometown. And that is what happened on Saturday, February 24, for my first time at The Astro in La Vista, Nebraska. Such a unique place in the La Vista City Centre. And to book Porno for Pyros, which they were initially supposed to come late last year at another venue, is a big win for them. It was a great night for live music!
Tigercub, a power trio from Brighton, UK, opened up the show. They were heavy as hell and pack a punch. They reminded me of Royal Blood, another UK act, very garage rock and hard rock. Lead singer and guitarist Jamie Stephen Hall is a tall figure and an incredible player. He also had a great sense of humor onstage, even fielding audience questions. He also gave shout-outs to the people who bought merch before their set. The audience seemed to dig them very much. Check out their latest album, The Perfume Of Decay.
Porno for Pyros were ready to play to the Omaha crowd as they bid farewell as a band. For those who don’t know, this is the band Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins (my birthday buddy) formed after Jane’s Addiction broke up in the 90s. Add guitarist Peter DiStefano and legendary bass player Mike Watt and you have yourself Porno for Pyros. There was so much love on stage, everyone was smiling, and having the time of their lives while playing their respective instruments. Perry Farrell is quite eccentric, but you just have to love him for being himself. I love it when a guitarist emulates Jimmy Page and plays with a bow, so shout out to Mr. DiStefano for that. When I saw Stephen Perkins behind the skins, I knew I was watching one of the best live drummers of all time. And then there is Mike Watt, even though he was sitting down for the entire performance, still gave it his all with precision and technicality. They also brought such a great show production with lighting from these tubes they had on stage. I can’t imagine coming to this show and not being disappointed in seeing them one final time. They have put out three singles recently, “Agua”, “Pete’s Dad”, and “Little Me”. I’m so excited to get back to The Astro for both indoor and outdoor concerts.
Porno for Pyros
Tigercub
All images © Dean Birkheimer
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