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Chickenfoot’s Rowdy Tour Launch Draws Visit From Fire Department

5/15/09, 7:56 am EST

Photograph by Jackie Butler

The launch of new rock supergroup Chickenfoot’s short spring tour at Seattle’s El Corazon last night (May 14th) pleased the rowdy crowd despite a number of logistical issues. Nine songs into the band’s main set, a visit from the local fire department to the crowded club prompted a halt on movement from the venue’s bar to its stage room.

Chickenfoot were nine songs and 40 minutes into their set and presumably ready to continue when the group’s singer, Sammy Hagar, told the audience, “The fire department’s going to shut us down in 10 minutes … This is the end of the regular set.” He also promised a 45-minute encore to make up for the delay.

For 20 minutes, the music was halted while the crowd began to trickle out (some with help from the club’s security staff); eventually, Hagar and bandmates Michael Anthony (like Hagar, a former Van Halen member), cult shredder Joe Satriani on guitar, and drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) made good on Hagar’s promise, playing through six more tunes, including set-ending jams on “Bad Motor Scooter” (which Hagar first performed with his former group, Montrose) and Deep Purple’s “Highway Star.”

The rest of the set was made up of tunes from the band’s debut album, due in June and also titled Chickenfoot. The tracks are as driving as you’d expect given the group’s lineup, and the fans ate up songs such as the bluesy “Sexy Little Thing” (”She can drive and not get wasted/Stoner’s dream on a Friday night”), the rocking “Oh Yeah” (”When I was a young man I slept around/When I turned 30, I settled down”), and the grungy “Bipolar.”

All four musicians seemed to be having a blast, perhaps because El Corazon — capacity 807 — is smaller than the rooms they’re used to playing. (They brought a good deal of their own arena-ready gear for the show, which sounded huge.) Both sets seemed well rehearsed, something Hagar hopes not to repeat too much, as he put it during the encore: “It feels like we’ve been together a long time,” he said. “We don’t like to rehearse &8212; well, Joe does … But there’ll come a time when Chickenfoot doesn’t have to rehearse. We’ll just come on and play.”

Related Stories:

Chickenfoot Supergroup of Van Halen, Chili Peppers Members, Satriani Ready debut
Chickenfoot Sell Out First Nine Concerts in Record Time


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Comments

seattle | 5/15/2009, 8:39 am EST

It was a horrible situation in that place. Nobody could move and the security staff was way overwhelmed.

No-Name | 5/15/2009, 10:13 am EST

El Corazon is infamous for over selling shows making most of them a miserable experience…. Save your money it’s not worth it

Eric Willingham | 5/15/2009, 11:01 am EST

Awsome show.
Great Sound–Souned like and album
Everyone was smiling and having fun
Chad Smith ismight favorite drummer—thick and loud
Sammy-always the professional

fuzzypugnutz | 5/15/2009, 11:17 am EST

Ah but the show ROCKED ! Oversold or not, nothing like feeling you are a sardine inside a sardine can. Danger exsisted when folks were trying to buy or had bought T-shirts & never moved from the steps since it was one of very few vantage points inside the venue. Plenty of Sweaty, Overwieght 50 year olds unwilling to move a muscle til they were told or pushed. They are still putting out the fire in El Corazon from Joe’s ax handling.

Bp | 5/15/2009, 11:38 am EST

There were dozens of people, myself included, that were NEVER able to even get to the stage area to see the show.

ChickenFan | 5/15/2009, 11:51 am EST

Way, way, way too many people in that place. But the music was awesome! Loved being able to get that close to such great musicians. Only negative on the band is I would have liked to have seen Joe and Michael switch sides of the stage occasionally, since especially with that crowd I wasn’t moving!

Big Steve | 5/15/2009, 11:53 am EST

Would you like some Tequila with that whine? Quit your crying, do you not realize what your senses were experiencing? It was an amazing show. Despite the 50 year old buttheads who wouldn’t move. Security was all over the place trying to keep things in order. The band was amazing. They played the hell out of that place. I feel lucky to have seen Chickenfoot on their first show and you should too.

whatever | 5/15/2009, 12:52 pm EST

Totally agree – a horrible situation. We left before the show even started – nothing but a bunch of drunk jerks pushing their way through the crowd. Proud to say that we went to the police and that is what brough the fire department to the show. HA!

local JRe | 5/15/2009, 1:07 pm EST

it was a bumer because it wasnt drunks pushing through the crowd it was idiots that have never been to the venue. people where pushing so they could get to the empty great view bar on the other side of the venue. some people just didnt want to move because they thought they had such a great view. remember people just let the ones past and you can keep you crowd shitty view. and thanks to the morons that left made a great night even better.

Fan | 5/15/2009, 1:37 pm EST

It’s not that I want my money back… I want Chickenfoot back to play another show… SO at least this time I can see and hear them. Last night was ridiculous! What I did hear sounded awesome. I was looking forward to seeing them in a small venue… If you want to sell that many tickets either play two shows or a bigger venue.

dan | 5/15/2009, 1:39 pm EST

so did they play that Coldplay song or what?

VAN | 5/15/2009, 2:04 pm EST

Chickenfoot’s show illustrated what true rock-n-roll music & performance is all about!!! Those were some heavy, bad@*! tunes packaged & performed by a “powerful” group of musicians! Chickenfoot is the real deal, and they made a the show work well & give the fans a memorable experience though the venue was weak. Thank you, Chickenfoot!

Anonymous | 5/15/2009, 2:08 pm EST

Hey Big Steve-
Funny how it’s always the people that get their money’s worth that don’t complain about getting fucked over. They oversold the venue, some people got cheated and have a right to complain. I guarantee you’d piss and moan if you paid your money and didn;t get what you paid for.

Vancouver | 5/15/2009, 2:18 pm EST

Can’t wait for tonight in Vancouver…OH YEAH!!!

Spanaway | 5/15/2009, 2:28 pm EST

I drove over an hour to get there. Well worth it, the two encore songs gave me chills. It wasn’t crowded where I was. Of course I stayed in the back and had a great view!

jb | 5/15/2009, 2:55 pm EST

What do you expect with heavy rockers jamin in a fucking club the size of a 3 car garage and low ceilings. With all of the Testosterone in the venue,the tequila and Jack where a night cap. I hit the b-bashes almost each year and thought I saw some crazy shit in Cabo, but this gig last night beats all. Enjoy the rest of the tour and looking forward to the next. Sammy, Mikey, Joe and Chad, See you guy latter.

next up commodore | 5/15/2009, 3:04 pm EST

anyone at the show last night – what time did the boys come on stage (and did anyone open?)

BIG SEAN | 5/15/2009, 3:49 pm EST

YOUR MISSING THE POINT ITS NOT THE VENUES FAULT OR THE OVER CROWDING, SECURITY DID THIER JOB AND SOULD BE PROUD, THE FAULT IS THE BOOKING AGENT CHEAP BASTARD.
yES THE MUSIC WAS FANTASTIC, WHAT WOULD U EXPECT? JUST REMEMBER THEY STARTED IT OFF IN SEATTLE I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN THERE. NEXT TIME BIGGER LIKE SHOWBOX HUH! CHEAP ASS TRASHER

russ | 5/15/2009, 4:00 pm EST

The Commodore tonight should be fine…..get a little alcohol in those folks and stand back…..glad I have a table.

Anonymous | 5/15/2009, 4:04 pm EST

Chickenfoot went on around 9:15pm, with one local opener (AmyJo Savanna.) The club was at legal capacity, I felt the problem was a combination of a lot of extra gear the tour brought into the venue, and passive/aggressive Seattle showgoers refusing to budge an inch, making it impossible to move through the club.

Chickenfoot wants to play small clubs on this first run of shows to make it special for their hard core fans. And for fun. Sammy loved the venue.

Nick | 5/15/2009, 4:05 pm EST

Wish I could have caught this show. How’d Sammy sound? I caught him with Van Halen at the ‘95 Gorge show and he was off the chain. Thirteen years later I hope he’s still got it. Oh – El Corazon does suck as a venue. Oversold, smelly, & unsafe overall. Seems like more bands are booking Neumo’s now which is a far superior venue and does not smell like a butthole.

D | 5/15/2009, 4:06 pm EST

When a small venue is THAT oversold, it’s a distraction to the show no matter what, IMHO. With the majority demographic being excessively drunk 40 year old fat ass men, things were bound to go bag when the band came on. These douchbags acted like they were in a mosh pit at a Slayer show.
I rolled with it, but it clearly is distracting and takes from the overall experience of the show.

Was I the only one disappointed that we didn’t hear ONE Van Hagar song???? I thought that was pretty damn lame. I was hoping they would sprinkle in a VH song or two and maybe a Chili Pepper cut. That would have been cool.

Very disappointed with this show.

ashley | 5/15/2009, 4:20 pm EST

aaaaaaaamazing.

Jungleland2 | 5/15/2009, 4:26 pm EST

This club tour is just to get some press and some stage time before the real tour. They will be at the appropriate sized venues next time

deano | 5/15/2009, 5:32 pm EST

I hope they’re better than HSAS (Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve)

there | 5/15/2009, 5:57 pm EST

yes, for all the complainers, next time through they can buy their nosebleed tickets for twice as much at an arena and not have to touch anyone else.

don’t go to a sold out rock club not expecting it to be a sold out rock club grandpa

russ | 5/15/2009, 6:11 pm EST

Vancouver …..hope it is as good as this one sounds(other than the stoppage/conditions)

D | 5/15/2009, 6:15 pm EST

Hey, “there”.

Sold out isn’t the same as OVER sold, yo. I love a sold out show and a sweaty-ass, rockin’ crowd along with the rest of ‘em. This crowd was different. It was borderline hostile (of course, it died down after the fire dept. scare and people left)

You can make all the comments you want about whining and being too old. There was a reason the fire department was there.

….and don’t get me wrong, the sound was good and everyone sounded tight.

I’m just disappointed with the overbooking, excessive hostility undoubtedly deriving from the overbooking and the lack of a few Van Hagar tunes sprinkled into the set list.

Dean | 5/15/2009, 6:28 pm EST

We joined the fanclub, bought our tickets early, showed up at 7pm, and never even got to see the show. I asked the guy at the door how many people the club held and he replied, “how many does it hold, or how many tickets did we sell?” They lied, and oversold the place by at least 50%. Anybody who tells you differently is full of it. I’ve been to sold out shows at that venue before and it was fine. But the fire marshals wouldn’t even let us get to the bathroom, let alone the showroom.

That venue is a sh*thole. The booking agent should have checked the place out first. If they had, they would have booked a decent venue like the Showbox instead. El Corazon should get fined so stiffly that there is no incentive to ever overbook a show again. And forget the fact that it was a miserable experience, it was also a complete safety hazard. The Great White show comes to mind…

whatever | 5/15/2009, 6:34 pm EST

What a crock – the security staff should be proud? So you’re saying stupidity is something to be proud of and that beating someone with a flashlight and grown men pulling women’s hair is something to be proud of? Boy, your mama must be proud of you.

For sammy fans this was a total waste. Lets all pray that none of these aholes come to cabo and ruin the vibe there. At least Sammy’s security staff know what they are doing.

DISGUSTED!!! | 5/15/2009, 6:37 pm EST

It isnt any news that el corazon continues to rip the public off on top of their in ability to even be polite when their clearly in the wrong.
On top of the fact that their to damn spineless to even give the BOOKER/prompter/theif’s name out whenever, which in the last 3 years these eyes have witness the mofo, consistently over booking & not returning funds. & Or simply shutting a gig down, & allowing security to miss treat the crowd.
El cora-JOKE is all it amounts to at this point.
YOUR A LAW SUIT WAITING TO BE FRANCHISED ON! & WELL DESERVED!!!!
& until its understood their bread & butter is in the very people they so rudely & terribly, consistently disrespect?
The true blues of the scene will continue to vito!
THE JOKE OF THE PLACE!
Paramount should of had chickenfoot hands down!
El corazon is nothing to anyone whom has witnessed & been involved with the local scene.
Like a bad scab you dont even want to look at let alone attend.
El cora-JOKE,.. is doomed!
Just as long as the greed continues to be the forefront over the music.
You deserve to be lit up! & Never allowed to be in business again! ALL MUSICIANS & ARTIST SHOULD BAND TOGETHER AGAINST EL CORA-JOKE! FORCE THEM TO BE WHAT THIS SCENE STARTED OUT BEING!
GRRED KILLS! & YOUR NEXT!
KARMA IS A MOTHER FUCKER LIKE THAT!
& TO ALL YOU LIL PUNK ASS’S! CALLING PEOPLE GRANDPA? WHO THE FCK DO YOU THINK YOU WERE LOOKING AT ON STAGE LAST NIGHT ASSHAT???
A SIGN OF MATURITY IS KNOWING JUST WHEN TO KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT! & TO THE POSTER THAT HAD THE BALLS TO SAY THAT EL CORA-JOKE DIDNT OVER BOOK,… YOUR AN OUT RIGHT LIAR! LOTS OF PICS & WITNESS’S TO PROVE OTHERWISE! NOT TO MENTION THE FACT! THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVER SINCE YOU GOT THE THEIF/BOOKER/PROMOTER YOU CURRENTLY HAVE,.. SO WHILE YOU LAY IN WHAT YOU THINK IS SUCCESS FOR WHATS NOTHING LESS THEN GREED! THE REAL PEOPLE THAT ARE THE GLUE TO THIS SCENE,.. DONT FORGET! & WILL BE CERTAIN TO MAKE THAT CLEAR! YOU CANT KEEP GOING ON LIKE THIS! PAY ATTENTION TO THE OBITS! HOW CLOSE TO THINGS IS YOUR NAME TO BEING LISTED? ALL IN THE NAME OF GREED!
THAT IS ALL!

EL CORA-JOKE | 5/15/2009, 6:44 pm EST

THATS ALL IT IS! & SHALL EVER BE!
TILL THEIR PROMOTER/BOOKER/THIEF!
IS REMOVED!

axeshredder | 5/15/2009, 7:28 pm EST

Places like El Corazon should be shut down….and the local goverment and police is whos fault this is by not fining the hell out of them over booking the legal capacity before this…and now this..here in NY you cant get away with breaking the law!

The Dude | 5/15/2009, 11:41 pm EST

Why the fuck didn’t they play The Roseland Theater in Portland instead. The place hold about 700 more people with a way better layout. There promoter/manager is to blame!

Alan | 5/16/2009, 4:40 am EST

All I can say is what a terrific line up of talent. It truly was exceptional. It was most welcome to see Sammy and Michael again up close and after so very long! Too many years have passed since I saw them in Cabo. As for Joe and Chad… they both are very, very good at what they do. I have not seen drumming like that since the days of Keith Moon! And Joe? He ripped it up and down the fret board making his guitars wale… my ears are still ringing and it’s almost midnight on Friday.
It was my first time at El Corazone. Yes there were a lot of people, but in no way dangerous. What was dangerous were the passive aggressive asshole Seattle locals. I saw one guy elbow a dude in the face, just because he wanted to get by and go to the bathroom. Too many people there that did not deserve to be there.
I just had a great time and could not stop smiling and rocking. What a great night! As for the fire department? They having nothing else better to do with their time. There was no danger and no reason for them to be there in the first place. But then that is Seattle all over. Welcome to Moscow on the Sound…

Go and see these guys no matter what city they are in playing. It’s a great night.

Anonymous | 5/16/2009, 5:15 am EST

The Showbox would not do it because the “band” wanted it all ages. Even though I think I could count how many under 21 inviduals were there on my two hands.

Sixx | 5/16/2009, 5:59 am EST

Yup, I have been punched in the face and thrown out for not making it across the yellow line on the floor that cant be seen when people are standing on it. John Pettibone of Himsa is one of the security guards there and they are all a bunch of straightedge thug idiots. I have seen them throw bands off stage and shut down the soundboard because its 12am on a weekday. This venue has been a joke since it was taken over, I am sorry a wonderful group of musicians had to play this shithole.

Olympia | 5/16/2009, 9:59 am EST

Show was about what could be expected with an album of songs nobody had heard before. A few of the songs sounded promising, but most were like the “filler” songs on a VH album. I was hoping that their “sound” would be more “over the map” infusing the influences from Chad and Joe. Didn’t seem to happen. We stayed to the end HOPING for a sprinkling of VH, RHCP or Satriani solo, but were disappointed with the two song finale instead.

Probably wouldn’t have mattered at that point as my knees were in agony from standing in the exact same spot for 4-1/2 hours. I’m getting really tired of going to small club shows where they stall the headline act in an effort to sell additional booze. I probably would have drank IF I thought there was a chance I could get back from the bar/bathroom. Congratulations on overselling your tiny venue.

waaaaaaaaaaa | 5/16/2009, 12:34 pm EST

what did you expect? check Chickenfoot’s itinerary, most of the clubs are smaller than the one in Seattle. Whiny bitches should probably stay home. 760 tickets were sold on a 807 capacity room. Call the Seattle fire marshall and get the real numbers instead of repeating hearsay rumors.

Better yet, stay home and write your whiny-ass comments in advance next time. You want stadium seating? Go to a stadium. What the F*ck did you expect? A f*cking concierge and valet parking at a rock club? Ask any member of the band and they will tell you they had a blast.

Big D | 5/16/2009, 2:08 pm EST

Yikes!
Had to spend 40 bucks to get the right to buy a couple of tickets; got to stand in line outside and chat with the local homeless(nice evening, though); got patted down by guys whose last gig was probably supervising detention in a junior high; found a decent place to watch the show toward the back of the floor, next to a pole so that people wouldn’t complain about me blocking the view (I’m 6-8); waited another hour, then got to be scolded for not enjoying the amateur singer trotted on to “entertain” me. Got pushed and shoved by guys who wouldn’t know how to behave at their own briss; won’t have to take a sauna for the rest of my life cuz the place got so stinkin’ hot; no way to go get a beer; show gets stopped halfway in because the promoter obviously oversold the shithouse, and I have to wait submissively for 20 minutes to hear the rest of the act.

Oh, I almost forgot–and I saw one of the most unbelievable bands ever, rocking their hearts out. Best 90 bucks I ever spent.

never again | 5/16/2009, 2:31 pm EST

I get small venues and all of that. What I don’t get were the security pushing and shoving around women (I witnessed this)after they were shoved to the ground by over agresvive people. I hope that venue is shut down.

russ | 5/16/2009, 3:01 pm EST

Like to report the Commodore show was F****n great….not to crowded and we were lucky to have a table up front a little above the crowd of what seemed like all guys(guitar players?)in black t-shirts.The sound was pretty nice,Sammy was real up after Seattle and the music was better than I expected.My only Hagar experience was really early 70’s,never a huge Van Halen fan…..and this was like seeing Van Halen in a small venue.Played almost 90 min. ending with Bad Motor Scooter(with Sammy on lap slide) and Highway Star.The Chickenfoot material was solid…lots of Harmonies and throughout great Guitar solos by Satch……Hey….the border crossing was even a piece of cake.
Thanks to the Commodore for NOT overselling it too.

vcr | 5/16/2009, 4:02 pm EST

my ears are still ringing from the Commodore show last night – stationed about 3 rows from the stage in front of Satch and watched him work his magic…and go figure i was able to get a refill and make it right back to the stage

only a couple people tried slamming their way in and were promptly removed

sound was great, some of the new tunes were solid but i’m sure the place would have completely erupted if the boys launched into a Van Hagar tune in the encore

Mel | 5/16/2009, 8:13 pm EST

I don’t care what El Corazon’s “legal” capacity is. When people can’t even go over to the stage area from the bar to view the freakin show because the fire department shows up and says there’s too many people, you’ve over sold. Security wouldn’t even let my friend use the restroom because it was on the stage side of the venue and that area was overcrowded. I don’t care if things are on the crowded side, but when it’s so crowded that they won’t let me go into the stage area to SEE the show I paid for, that’s crap.

Arch Stanton | 5/16/2009, 10:40 pm EST

eddie makes joe look like buckethead.

Sardines In A Box | 5/16/2009, 11:14 pm EST

Forget about 50, I’m under 40. The venue was completely OVERSOLD. The main room where the stage was, was wall to wall people. You couldn’t walk or move.

We hung out for a while in the shitty little lounge area in the back with a couple crappy televisions hanging on the wall and a shitty sound system which you couldn’t hear the music hardly from at all. We moved out into the hallway by the funky, stenchy bathrooms and while we could HEAR the show we sure as fuck couldn’t SEE the show. We weren’t allowed back into the main room for very clear reasons. As we shouldn’t have been because it was way past capacity. The back lounge even had too many people in it.

All in all the band was great or atleast the little I was able to hear of them, the fire marshall and fire dept were great and doing their job. I think even the club’s security was great from what I viewed of them trying to handle drunk and disorderly not too mention rude and hostile(or all of the above) people. Like someone said before they DID have their hands full.

A shitty night overall. Should have been smart and skipped this show and headed straight to the Commodore in Vancouver.

Margo Rita | 5/16/2009, 11:22 pm EST

My husband and I spent $101.00, plus hotel and drove hours to see Chickenfoot. Knowing it was at a club, we expected it to be crowded, stinky, hot and completely rowdy. Other than momentarily being lucky enough to be pinned to the back wall by the smelliest man I’ve ever experienced as we were pushed into the hallway where the bathrooms were, we didn’t get to experience any of those things. Oh, yeah. I guess their was a live band there too?????? We weren’t sure since we weren’t allowed into the main room to see. Why did we go there again?

Hope to catch Chickenfoot someday soon!

nawaf | 5/17/2009, 12:31 am EST

from what i heard (read actually) on the MB seems that as i expected this is gonna be a super cd from a super band ;) iv always was a fan of all these guys .. VH days are far far gone – this is the future

newyorker | 5/17/2009, 9:10 am EST

chickenfoot, chickenshack, chikenshit…who cares! i have 2nd row to see air supply at the indian casino! nanana na-na-na…a perfect night if bingo, buffets & ballads, BABY! 1

JULIE | 5/17/2009, 8:30 pm EST

HEY-ANYBODY REMEMBER WHAT A ROCK CONCEERT IS? ANYBODY LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE THERE-COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK WITH SAMMY HAGAR IN SPOKANE FOR OU812 TOUR-I’M GREATFUL HE’S STILL PRODUCING AWSOME MUSIC-ROCK ON SAMMY!

James | 5/18/2009, 11:11 am EST

I wouldnt pay $1 to see any of these clowns cure cancer let alone sing. Sammy Hagar?? seriously??? chicken crap is more like it

Bobby Hollywood | 5/18/2009, 1:04 pm EST

This is what Van Halen wished it could be. Joe is an amazing guitarist (probably the best on the planet), Sam is a true showman, Mikey is so underated and Chad just pounds the skins. Rock-N-Roll the way it should be.

CathyLou | 5/18/2009, 1:17 pm EST

Saw the show and it was awesome! I do agree it would have been much better at the Showbox. We’ve been there and there were several under 21’s at that venue so it would have worked. I suspect the problem wasn’t that the show was oversold, but that several people got in without tickets. It was totally disorganized at the door. We went in and had to go back to the entranceway because we didn’t realize the podium at the door was where they checked your ID. Several people could have slipped right through because no one challanged us when we went through without getting checked in.

Seattle Show | 5/18/2009, 3:25 pm EST

This show would have been way better at the Showbox. The communication between folks standing in line and the El Corazon staff was bordering on completing fucked. The person manning the WILL CALL entry didn’t even have a WILL CALL list that was alphabetized – How retarded can it get? Well….even worse. The venue was way too small, the guy at the soundboard seemed to have been deaf as the number of times the mic squealed was enough to damage my hearing.

Outside of the shit venue manned by poser, rock star wannabes, Chickenfoot put on a great show. People can say what they want…how they were expecting something different, etc, but to be able to see rock legends Joe, Chad, Hagar and Michael was beyond expectations.

Now….if a band which consisted of Buckethead, Billy Sheehan, Brains and David Lee Roth, that would certainly give Chickenfoot a run for their money….

still rockin | 5/18/2009, 10:32 pm EST

To Whatever……..you’re proud that you called the cops!!!!!!!!!
times have changed huh. This show was killer. Back and Knees sore from standing forever..yeah, So what. 5 feet in front of Satriani
too cool.

Anonymous | 5/18/2009, 10:32 pm EST

Terrbile venue and I knew that before I even showed up when I bought my ticket beforehand. Showbox would have been suffice. It’s only a warm up show in the first place.
I would have liked to have heard a couple Montrose songs, Higher Ground possibly, and Satch’s Surfing or Summer Song.
Overall, they sounded amazing. Very tight for a new band. Totally professional. It must be kind of nice and change of pace to be multi-million dollar musicians, to get back right in front of sweaty fans and feel the heat. But the El shithole needs to be razed. Terrible venue with that stupid pole on the stage. NEVER book a show with a band that could eaily sell out The Paramount. Wrong venue.
But…rheir sound oozed bluesy good time groove. Great guitar ( sans shred ) and the rhythm section were locked in tight and are a very well oiled machine already. Chad Smith and Michael Anthony make a good team. It’s also a nice welcome back at hearing Michael sing those killer backing harmonies again.
Just need a more well rounded set list. They have a ton of material to choose from.

Brian Tayour | 5/18/2009, 10:54 pm EST

Terrible venue. Band has a great sound. Joe is playing great ( sans normal shredding ) and the rhythm section of Chad and Mike are killer. Like a well oiled machine already. And it’s great to hear Michael’s backing harmony vocals again. Truly a gem in any song. He’s the real thing ( instead of hearing Mike’s vocal’s dubbed in for Wolfie on that so called VH reunion )
This was a warm up show. They have so mauch material among the 4 guys, that a longer and more well rounded set list down the road will probably be played.
Shitty, old venue that needs to be razed. The Paramount would have been suffice or the Showbox if they wanted a club show.

xyz | 5/19/2009, 11:53 am EST

It was a good thing that the fire department was called (don’t think the cops were called). If they hadn’t of showed up things would have gotten way worse and somebody could have been seriously injured or worse. Would you rather that happened.

Old people suck | 5/19/2009, 1:12 pm EST

This blog is killing me on every level. If you are too old to see a show at a sh*tty rock club stay home. El Corazon is a rock club through and through and always will be so if you want the arena feel then I would not suggest going their. Also, I know for a FACT that the venue was not over sold but that everyone went straight from the bar to the show room when the band went on which made it very over crowded.

It is not El Corazon’s fault that they put Chickenfoot there it is the band’s booking agent/managers fault. If they thought it would sell well they could have gotten it in a larger club and actually made more money but they CHOSE to have the show their. If anyone is to blame it is your beloved band not the club.

And on the topic of women getting beat up by security, that is a joke. I am a woman who frequents that club and on hundreds of occasions I have seen women spit, kick and hit both male and female security at El Corazon. It is their job to physically remove them in a timely manner as to NOT make the situation worse. Sometimes the security needs to restrain, push and/or pickup these beyond wasted patrons in order to do so. Seattle police is called by the security staff almost every time a patron has a problem with they way security handled the ejection from the club and 99.9% of the time SPD sides with the club.

And another thing... | 5/19/2009, 1:29 pm EST

How can John Pettibone be looked at as a straight edge thug? That statement is an oxymoron. If anything he should be looked at as a clear thinking individual who can easily step back from clouded situations and see the bigger picture.

I was actually there the night of the show and at one point while standing outside smoking I witnessed John Pettibone dealing with a very intoxicated woman and her husband. The female patron had claimed the JP took her out of the club by her b*tthole…no joke she said b*tthole. 1. Is that even physically possible and 2. It wasn’t even JP that ejected her it was another security guard. He sat there for 20 minutes explaining over and over again that it wasn’t him who walked her out and that he witnessed the entire thing and she was NOT taken out by her b*tthole.

John called the cops and was waiting with them until they arrived but the woman and her husband chose to leave but not before calling JP a f@ggot (John is married by the way).

He took his time and watchful eye away from protecting the band and the crowd to try and remedy the situation with this patron to just be called a nasty name.

All in all if you cannot handle shows stay home…and if you still choose to attend shows don’t complain when you do not understand how the industry works or the facts.

The city of Seattle would have shut down ElCo by now if they did not think the staff and venue were fit to serve its’ patrons.

Lastly, someone commented on the door guy not having an alphabetized will call list. If you knew ANYTHING about promoting or running a club you would know that tickets west and or Ticketmaster send over the will call list…the club has nothing to do with how names are listed. Get a life and stop commenting on things you know nothing about.

Love you mean it!

Awesome | 5/19/2009, 1:42 pm EST

Ahahah I totally agree with the last two comments. I have attended shows at that venue a million times and I have seen drunk people do way worse things to the security there then they could ever do back.

I went to the show to experience the band. In saying that I was confuesed why a power house band was at such a small, all ages, DIY club but their agent chose to have it there so I went with it.

Rando | 5/19/2009, 2:12 pm EST

What can all the rocker fans who got ripped off, do in order to be made whole? I am embarassed for the city of Seattle for not taking action on the accountable parties.
Thanks 50 yr Seattle resident

Rando | 5/19/2009, 2:20 pm EST

What can the fans who got ripped off do to be made whole? I’m embarassed for the city of Seattle for not taking action on the accountable parties involved.
Thanks 50 yr Seattle resident

40 year old SWF | 5/19/2009, 3:47 pm EST

I am a 40-something women who attended Chickenfoot at El Corazon in Seattle, WA. Don’t get me wrong I was not happy with how crowded the show was and that I at one point could not even see the band but I did not see El Corazon or its’ staff as being in the wrong. So I decided to take one of the managers aside and talk with him about what had happened that night with the overcrowding and mix-ups at the door.

By the end of the conversation I had a clearer idea of who does what during the negotiation and day of processes for concerts. I then understood that there are numerous factors that come into play and that the bands management and bookers have the largest say in where the band plays, their hospitality budgets ect.

The security and club owners were just doing their jobs and I would be happy to go back there just as long as it isn’t a sold out show!

if you're too old... | 5/23/2009, 12:13 am EST

The el Corazon show was the best rock show i’ve seen in years. Although it was way too crowded (and smelly), the staff handled the the drunken rednecks who were there to hear sammy play 55 well – and overall it was a FANTASTIC show. Sure we got pushed along with the crowd when the occasional fight broke out and didn’t always have the best view – it all added to the experience. Thats rock n roll.
To see this band at this venue was an experience that I can’t imagine complaining about.
And – anyone who has a preconceived notion about this band being lame has to see them live – they were nothing short of amazing. They really are that good. I’d love to see VH do something so raw and passionate – but I won’t hold my breath.
The people complaining about this show should just wait for Journey to play their local state fair next time.

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