Drydocked

Stone Temple Pilots – May 31,2008 @ The PNC Bank Arts Center

I can’t remember the first time I heard Stone Temple Pilots. I would be lying if I said I did. I was 9 years old when “Core” was released, 11 when my personal favorite album “Purple” dropped. I know for sure it certainly on the radio. I do however remember seeing the video for the song “Plush” when I was in 6^th or 7^th grade and how I was drawn in by a weird guy with purple hair and awkward facial hair swaying towards and away from the fisheye lens singing about some girl and dogs finding her. As the years rolled by I grew to love this band that sounded Seattle but were a little less doom and gloom and a little more rock and roll. I have a few records that remind me of summertime and time spent in the sunshine over the years. All of STP’s records (with the exception of “Shangri La-Dee Da”*) have meant so much to me and have gotten me through a lot of tough times. Even songs that would have bored me 10 years ago, are gorgeous and moving now that my tastes have matured and I appreciate what the band was doing. (See: “Atlanta” or “Adhesive” or even “Seven Caged Tigers”) To me they are more than just a 90’s flash in the pan alternative band; their music has moved me and made me feel great on countless occasions. It is one of those things that are difficult to explain, I simply love STP.

I never had the chance to see the band while they were together and I was angry and disappointed that I had missed out. Knowing Scott Weiland’s habits and the bad blood that had split the band up, I was convinced that I would never see the band live.

So, naturally when it was rumored that STP would be reuniting for a summer tour, I figured it was an out and out lie. Much to my surprise the announcement was made that in fact STP would indeed be getting together for a string of shows. I nearly fell out of my chair at work and called everyone I knew who shares an equal appreciation for the band. I got my tickets when they went on sale and looked forward to the show for months.

So on the afternoon of the 31^st , Heidi and I headed down the Garden State Parkway and eventually got to the PNC Bank Arts Center. This was my first time visiting this venue so I had no idea what to expect. Our friends were in a particular lot and had been tailgating but we were not able to meet up with them so we parked and headed to the amphitheater. When I got onto the lawn the first act Ashes Divide was finishing up and they sounded pretty good. I was unaware that Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle was the front man, but I was happy to see him playing music because he is an incredible musician and songwriter.

We met our friends just as Filter was taking the stage. They had great stage presence and were a really good opening band for any show. A good mix of melody and heavy crunch really set the tone for a good rock show. Just as they began to play “Picture”, the skies opened up and the lawn people, who were praised multiple times during their set, were treated to some rain. They finished up with the classic “Hey Man, Nice Shot” which I can honestly say I was really happy to hear. When they walked off the stage the time was 9:00 PM…and no one in the crowd knew what we were in for.

As we waited I talked with a few friends mentioning how excited I was to finally see STP and how lucky we were that it wasn’t pouring. More chatting with friends…and more waiting…and waiting…and…

Around 10 PM people started to chant S-T-P, the chants and cheers began shifting over to “Boos” and it was clear that the crowd was not pleased to be waiting over an hour for the main band to begin their set. “WE WANT REFUNDS!” some people chanted towards the stage. Heidi and I took a walk to the bathroom and refreshment area since we figured it would be another 15-20 minutes before anything happened. I sent a text message to a friend of mine who was not attending telling him that I really feared that a riot might break out if they didn’t perform. I saw frustrated people leaving as we walked back up to our spot on the lawn, and couldn’t help but think if I should be doing the same.

Finally, Robert, Dean, Eric and …Scott made their way onto the enormous stage. Lots of people around me booed and others cheered while I stood and just looked on, feeling not excitement or anticipation but disappointment and anger. Not the way you want to feel when you are about to see one of your favorite all-time bands play. I figured however that STP would come on and play an awesome set and blow everyone away and make us forget about the ridiculously long intermission. Scott apologized for keeping us waiting, and the band limped into the first strained notes of “Big Empty”. I love the song but as an opener it’s like having a gun pointed at your head and upon pulling the trigger a “Bang!” flag pops out. The song doesn’t really kick you in the pants like I think a good opener should. Some of the guitar slide notes were off and Scott sounded pretty bad. Mumbling words and missing cues here and there.

Next was “Wicked Garden” which should have been the opener. As they busted into the song’s strong heavy verses, I felt sad because after all these years of anticipation the show was something I was now in some ways simply putting up with and not necessarily enjoying. Scott had hardly any stage presence and in a half-assed attempt to “connect with the fans”, he walked along the side of the stage past the PA causing high-pitched feedback through a multi-million dollar sound system. I must say the band themselves sounded pretty on throughout the night and had their standard issue STP stage presence, with a few minor exceptions.

The next few songs were more of the same with Scott forgetting lyrics and basically speaking the words that his voice couldn’t handle. This really got to me. I guess it is old age, heroin and a few thousand cigarettes but his voice is really not what it used to be. Even when he was strung out or wired on tons of different drugs, the vocal chords pretty much stood up even if he couldn’t. I have seen dozens of bootlegs and even when he was in bad shape he could hit the notes from songs on “Purple” and “Core”. Before “Lady Picture Show” Scott began telling some story about a girl in very slow, mumbled fashion and the band began the song, cutting him off mid-sentence with obvious intent to shut him up.

After coming to terms with the fact that I was not going to be seeing a knock-down drag out rock show, I tried to watch, listen and enjoy myself as much as I could given the mood that had been set. “Coma” “Sin” and “Sex Type Thing” were the highlights of the second part of their set, and Scott seemed to wake up a bit and really work and get the notes out pretty well.

The encore was another favorite “Dead and Bloated” with the classic megaphone vocal intro. It was a good way to end the set and was one of the best sounding songs of the night. At least they ended strong.

Overall the show was underwhelming. I think it was the level of my own expectations and the simple fact I didn’t realize a few things I should have thought about before going to the show. For one, the band has always been unpredictable. They’ve cancelled shows, even tours before due to internal conflict the majority of which was brought on by Scott’s drug use and legal troubles. They didn’t make it to the European legs of their last two tours because before they made it overseas things, fell apart at the seams.

One thing became abundantly clear to me as I thought about the show during the following days. Hits. Nearly every song they played was huge on the radio and MTV and still to this day gets played on rock stations as regularly as Zeppelin AC/DC and other huge acts from over twenty years ago. That shows you the impact their music has had on mainstream rock and the industry in general. You could put their music in a time capsule for the 90’s and it would fit perfectly.Their music will not be forgotten any time soon, but neither will the reputation of their front man. The name Stone Temple Pilots while being associated with some incredible music is also associated with drug use, arrests, inconsistency, arrogance and wasted talent. Google “Scott Weiland” and you are sure to find a fair share of mug shots.

Most of the big junkies in music either died or threw in the towel long ago. Those who died may have aged gracefully or unfortunately ended up being a sad replica of the artists we once loved and related to. The artists that brought us joy in spite of pain, happiness instead of despair. The question is, when do we as fans of such a great group, say that we’ve had enough. I would say I am concerned for Scott’s health but in all honesty I really don’t care. He has done this to himself and as difficult as addiction is, he is becoming a parody of himself at this point. He has a supportive wife and two children and that should be the most important thing. He has the resources and time to get clean, it just never seems to stick. If they put out another album I would buy it, but listen to it thinking about the concert I saw and how the singer seemed to be forcing himself through the performance and not enjoying himself at all. How is that supposed to feel?

Millions of people have bought STP records, DVDs, shirts and supported the band through good and bad times. If Scott is thankful for all he has been given, and he should be, it sure doesn’t show. It’s a shame that for a reunion tour celebrating such a huge catalog of memorable music simply reminds us of what made the band split apart in the first place.

The music will always hold a very special place in my heart, but it sure won’t feel the same as it used to.