now that’s a front man …

June 12, 2013 0

I went to the Ink n Iron music festival last weekend on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. I have a strong distaste for music festivals, though I seem to go to a few per year. I’m such a jaded old so and so, that I will only go to a festival if I have a pass (thank you RFTC). I have to be able to escape from the masses and have a little down time or I don’t have any fun. Ink n Iron, even without an all access pass, was surprisingly roomy and spacious. I was always able to find a spot to stand that was out of the way and not in a crowd … Nice.

The only reason I went to Ink n Iron this year was to see Rocket From The Crypt. Though they played an unannounced show on easter Sunday in San Diego, this was their first, official, proper Southern California show since they reunited. In fact, this was their first American show since reuniting.

Rocket was awesome, they played great, the crowd loved them and even though they got cut off during their last song, it was a great show. I also caught The Dirtbombs (I’ve been a Mick Collins fan for a while now), The Fleshtones (never been a fan, but I went with our friends to see them) and Iggy and the Stooges. I specifically remember saying, right before they came on, that I’ve always been a bigger fan of Iggy’s solo stuff than of the Stooges. HOLY SHIT I WISH I COULD TAKE THAT BACK! The Stooges came on right after Rocket, and those who’ve seen Rocket (I assume that’s most of the 3 people that read this) know that they put on a great rock show. High energy, non-stop movement, uniforms … I’ve always had pity for the band that had to come on stage after Rocket … Well Iggy and the Stooges were up for the task. I don’t know how he did it, but Iggy raised the intensity and energy to a whole new level when he hit the stage. And the energy is all Iggy. The band, as amazing as they are, simply hang back and shred while Iggy puts on the show. IGGY RULES!

Here are a few pictures from the day … One last thing, I was worried about getting a photopass, getting my camera in, etc … Turns out that the festival was EXTREMELY lax about photopasses. This is super rare for a festival. I was in front of the barricade, behind the barricade, almost anywhere I wanted to be with my cameras and I had no issues at all. None.

I love this flying headless shot of The FLESHTONES guitarist.