The Arena in St. Louis has always been one of the best to play in. I remember when we walked out there over 15 years ago for the first time...we had spent so much time playing the bars and night clubs for so long...I had almost forgotten what a room that wasnt covered in alcohol and piss smelt like. This place was nice. The air was clean, and the room was huge. We would be playing for thousands of people, not just 40 or 50. We walked out there and let the music sweat out of our pores.

Robert had re-written some of the songs to fit in better with the set list but we were all skeptical if this was going to pan out how we had been planning for so long. We wanted the perfect gig and now that we stood behind those big black curtains...we didnt even know if we could remember the way the song went. I'm standing behind those curtains again now as I write this blog as a last second update on whats going on. I want you all to know that I go out there to entertain you, but more so to entertain me. They are calling our names at this minute...see you when the show is over...haha, its never truly over.

Keep on Rocking,
The Rockers

The following is a summary and review of the concert by a local newspaper...

"The Rockers are a legendary group who are known throughout the world. Its hard to remember that they started their rise to fame and glory right here in the Gateway to the West. Like outlaws of the west, they have made their career out of doing what they want and bringing the fans along for the ride. This concert would be my first time seeing the band and admittedly it was not an assignment I particularly wanted but like any good journalist I packed my brief case and was on my way downtown.

The show was sold out, every seat had been full. The lights in the arena were bright up until the show began. It was then that everything went black and a sole purple spotlight shined down to the stage. It pointed out a black curtain in the right corner of the stage, and just as my eyes focused said curtain rose up revealing the band. Front-man Johnny Johnson stood high upon a pedestal with one arm raised to the sky as he looked out among the crowd. Seemingly pleased he looked back at the band and counted down to when the first notes would fill the stadium.

Fittingly, the opening number was "Cut Loose". A song from their "Break Free" album it was perfect for the opening as it propelled the crowd and the band into the right mood. The song is a powerful tune with some un-apologetically cliche lyrics. When the song was released the band said it was the type of song they had been writing for years and its only purpose was to bring the rock back to The Rockers. It did just that and their performance tonight was no less than stunning. Johnson stood high on his pedestal as it floated over the stage. Winking and pointing down to various crowd members he smiled as he burst out the long notes. For a man in his forties and having had a heart attack a few years ago it amazes me he can belt out the way he does still.

Lead guitarist Robert Kain takes center stage as the solo approaches and he lets his fingers fly over the fret-board. Nothing quite prepares you for a Rockers gig when you dont know much about the band beforehand. I had expected a cheesefest of old men wearing makeup and strange clothes but that was the furthest from the truth. Kain was wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans with his semi-long hair hanging over his eyes as seemed to be humming the solo as he played it. Johnson was wearing a black button-up with black jeans and his brother Joey was wearing the same. Drummer George Francis was in a red t-shirt and shorts. These were regular guys doing what they loved and the would only become more obvious through the night.

After the song ended Johnson looked out over the roaring herd of fans and the music came to be silence. "Man..." he said as he turned to the band, "What the hell were we thinking when we retired?" The crowd laughs and cheers as he looks back at them. No wider grin has ever been on a mans face. "I think we owe them another hard one eh guys?"

The second song, "The World I Knew" is sort of an apocalyptic song from their return from retirement album, "Where Did My World Go". The song is like so many in the Rockers catalog in that it expresses a deeper thought and mind while packaging it in the familiar rock n roll style. I found this song to be one of my personal favorites from the entire show and the theatrics were even better. Johnson jumped off his pedestal but instead of falling he rode a cable wire out into the crowd with one hand holding the hook which supported his weight and one hand clenched to the mic. He ended all this madness by stepping down onto a small island out among the crowd and he finished the song there.

He raised his hand as the last beat rang out and looked up to the cable wire. "I was really dreading that the whole night man..." he said as he breathed heavily. "Well I aint dead so lets move on!" He jumped down into the crowd and slowly fought his way back to the main-stage, stopping to shake some hands and accepts some kisses as well. The audience erupted as all this was going on and I noticed a slow drum beat begin...resembling a heart beat. It continued to build up until he climbed his way back up to his band mates and the song erupted into a performance from Robert Kain that may prove his place in the Guitarist Hall of Fame. Words cannot describe the awe in my mind.

Coming from the back ground I had come from, my knowledge of The Rockers before the show was little to none. They were a historic rock band who had some hits years ago. Thats all I knew about them. I am generally not a rock fan either, especially the classic style these guys are known for. However, I listened to the next three songs and began to realize what makes each and every member of the band special. Its not the music, or the theatrics, or even the way they suck the crowd into their world. What makes them special is how they can be up on the stage in front of this many people...and be completely alone. The look in their eyes is not because they want to get the fans blood pumping. Its because they are getting their own hearts going. They are having the time of their lives and are lucky enough that its the time of our lives too.

As Kain fell to his knees and raised his guitar up above his head, I smiled to myself. The Johnson brothers held each others arms up in the air and George through his sticks out into the roaring sea of people. I had been swayed. The lights went out and I walked out of the stadium a believer in the old phrase, "Rock n Roll Will Never Die.""

John here, sitting back stage with the guys. We finished about 10 minutes ago. I think we did alright, and we certainly gave it our all. There were a few things I think we can fix over the course of the tour but I dont think there is one single problem with anyone member of the band. We all knew what we were supposed to do and went out there and did it. Some songs were not as well received as others, so we may look at changing the set list a little as well.

I dont think I have ever drank more water than I have since I went through those black curtains the opposite way though. I dont remember looking for a couch when I got back behind it all those years ago either. Well, I guess times have changed a little. Still, I had more fun than ever and at least now I know why I'm having fun. Its not the sex, beer, or the roar of the crowd. Its the music and the people. Each person I shook hands with as I walked through the crowd had a face and a story just like me. I'm no better than they are. In those moments I connected with them more than I connected with most of my friends through out my life, and that my friends is special.

Keep on Rocking,
John

-Set List-

Cut Loose
The World I Knew
Too Tough
Break Free
Black
Camel and the Needle
The Paupers
The Red Book
Down the Way
A New Road
My Heart Be Open
Last March of the Forgotten One's

Edited by user 14 April 2011 03:03:25(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

OOC: Er.. The Rockers. lol

Joey has not been feeling good the last day or so. I told him he didn't have to play if he thought it was best for him not to. You cannot tell him anything without him thinking your just trying to force him into it. He says he will do it for me, when really I just want him to do what he feels is right for him. The show is in just a few hours now and I am at the arena. This place is a lot like the St. Louis arena only with different colors. We used to joke about that a lot back in the day making comments like, "Red today or Blue tomorrow." Looking back its not that funny, but we used to get a kick out of it. This place has red curtains actually rather than black. I think they were black last time I was here. Maybe I'm just crazy. Well, the boys are here now and I think we will be getting ready now so talk to you after the show.

Keep on Rocking,
John

The following is a description of the show from a fan in the crowd.

JR-ock here, thanks for checking out my blog.

Tonight I went to a show I have been wanting to go to for a long time. As a rock n roll music fan you have to kind of base that around a band like The Rockers. I mean...its in their name man. So I have been a fan since a few years after they hit it big. I was young at the time, maybe 13 or 14 but I knew that would be the kind of music I liked for the rest of my life. They were cutting edge yet simple. No other way to describe it. They strayed off my path a few years ago with their more stylized and acoustic music. I was more than a little disappointed as my favorite band quit playing my favorite music, but then I heard that they were bringing the old band member back and returning to their old style. I knew then that I would have to buy a ticket soon.

I am not from Chicago or even Illinois for that matter, but by God I made sure I was there for the show. They don't usually come to the small towns like I'm from so I guess traveling to the show should be something I'm used too. Besides all that, its always worth the drive.

Tonight's show would be there second one on this tour. A review for the last one described it as pretty awesome but the band said they had a few things they wanted to change. I came into it tonight hoping not much would be different as I quite like the ideas and stage moments that were mentioned in the review. The spot lights came on and the arena lights went out as red fireworks burst from the base of the stage. Then it happened, there I was sitting in 3rd row with The freaking Rockers right in front of me. They were older in person that I expected. Haha, but they opened brilliantly with a song everyone was familiar with. It was "Too Tough", one of their legendary songs from an early album. It was the hard rocker song that they were known most for and starting off with everyone knowing the song was a pretty good choice on their part. No flashy stage act was used during this song other than lead singer Johnny Johnson walking around the stage and pointing to certain people. He got down on his knees as the solo erupted and pointed to the skies. I'll admit the kid in me started crying at the image of him there on his knees, pointing up there, and blue fireworks going off behind him.

He stood up as the song ended and looked calmly out to the stage as if he had barely been winded at all. "I think we got a quite crowd tonight guys." he said as he turned to face the band. Robert Kain jumped back, "You don't think!" he said worried. "I do" Johnson replied..."St. Louis is going to have been a louder crowd than Chicago!" This got people going, the band smiled knowingly at each other and jumped into the next song. "Cut Loose" was one of the few rocking songs they have put out in the recent years and it was the first song at their last gig. I think this song fits better in second as it gives a sort of full circle-ness from "Too Tough" up until "Cut Loose" and gets the crowd ready for some of the songs from the new album.

I noticed at this time that there was a cat walk like structure built around the entire arena. It was something that was obviously always there and the stage show obviously was going to take advantage of it. I was right too, because right about that time Johnny walked up the side stairs and continued singing the song as he made his way all around the place. I think this was a good idea too because it gave people in the back to see a member of the band up close rather than just the front row guys. The song ended and they went on pretty quickly into the next one.

Camel and the Needle. It was their latest single and was also a song that I knew well. I liked it a lot as the studio version, but the live version had a different vibe too it. Better, not worse. The song was sort of a political statement but I don't even know if the crowd realized that or not. Either way they were cheering pretty loudly so I guess it went over well. Robert Kain and Johnny Johnson had some interaction in this song as Johnson would spit a line out and Kain would repeat it on his guitar. It was pretty exciting to see but I noticed that there was something else going on up on the stage. Johnny's older brother Joey did not look very good tonight. He was sort of slumped over his bass guitar and looked very sickly. He made it through the show but I hope he's doing okay.

Overall the show was exactly what I hoped it would be. They went out there as veterans of Rock and left leaving all they had on the table. It's pretty amazing what these guys do at their age. I would never want to do that much physical activity at 40 something. I would recommend any fans of The Rockers, former fans, and just fans of rock music to go see this show, its something that you owe yourself.

Hey, John here again. Joey made it through the show and so did the rest of us. He is sleeping now, trying to rest as much as possible. I'm playing the show over in my mind trying to think of what went right and what went wrong. I think this show was definitely better than the last one. Hopefully thats a sign and we can continue to get better every gig. I might change a few stage moments to make it a bit more thrilling for the fans but the set list has been found. No changes will be made there at all. I think we found a pretty great one that keeps people interested even if they have never heard a certain song before. I'm going to bed myself now, see you at the next show guys.

Keep on Rocking,
John

-Set List-


Too Tough
Cut Loose
Camel and the Needle
Black
Break Free
The World I Knew
My Way Home
The Red Book
Battle of Good and Evil
A New Road
Demons
Down the Way
Last March of the Forgotten One's

Well I just left the after party at Total Annihilation. God that was a good time. So many great artists and even more great music. Glad I was a part of it. I put in a performance that I am proud of and thats all that matters. Hopefully the crowd enjoyed it too. Now though its back to the land of The Rockers since there is a show in Detroit in just a few days. The band had a good time at home while I was out at TA3 but now we are all packed and ready to head out once again. See you out there guys.

Keep on Rocking,
John

OOC: Hey Awesome RP here

Detroit tonight guys and I'm feeling good about it too. The set list wont be changed much from the Chicago show but we will be doing it a bit out of order compared to that show. See you there guys.

Robert Kain


OOC: The following is simply an RP, not a review like the last two.

The stage was dark and the night air was seeping into the arena. It was warm and breezy. The crowd was hyped and few seats were now left empty. Suddenly the lights went out and a thumping rhythm began. It was the entrance into the first song. Within moment the band would walk through the curtains and the show would begin. Ever person was screaming and their arms were in the air as a single golden light shined down to the middle of the black stage.

Lead singer Johnny Johnson rose from within the depths of the stage and stood with his arm raised to the sky. Upon his face sat a smile as always and he burst into the driving lyrics. He walked left and right and finally got down onto his knees in the center of the platform. Robert Kain, lead guitarist of the band, stepped out to the front instead now to finish the song with his self penned solo. He had spend the night before writing it specifically for this night as he did with most solos. He wanted each night to be a little different so a change of notes and tempo allowed him to edit as he wished.

Over the course of the 2nd and 3rd songs Johnny could be seen looking back at his brother Joey who did not look well from the outset. The Johnson's had been playing with each other all their lives and a look of worry like this had never been given. As the night grew older Joey grew noticeably weaker until the 7th song of the set list.

It was a horrible experience for the band and audience members alike. Joey Johnson stumbled up the stage to his younger brother Johnny and whispered something mid-song. John dropped the mic immediately. The people in attendance let out a noticeable gasp at the actions of the singer and wondered what kind of stage show this could possibly be. Joey continued to stumble around as the rest of the band stopped the song as well. John tried holding him up but he crashed to the floor taking out lights and chords as he went. Shaking violently the entire band yelled for medics as the arena lights went up.

The elder Johnson had been ill before the gig and had been seen so at the Chicago show a while ago. Some wondered it this was the real reason for Johnny Johnson's solo performance at Total Annihilation 3. `

As doctors and ambulances arrived all that could be seen was John holding his head and weeping in the back of the stage as the rest of the band tried to evacuate Joey from the building and to a hospital.

Johnny Johnson will be releasing a statement shortly.

-Set List-

Cut Loose
Too Tough
Camel and the Needle
Break Free
My Way Home
The World I Knew
Black

Nothing like some good words from some good guys. Thanks to everyone from The Bards. I will be giving an update on Joeys condition tomorrow.

John

So as you may or may not know, the Detroit show was a bit of a bummer. About seven songs into the show Joey sort of...collapsed. I could go into about how hard it hit me and how I feel guilty for asking him to play but that is between me and him now. What I want to let you guys know is that so far he is alright. We are at the hospital now and he is alive.

The doctors say it was some sort of appendix related something-or-another. I dont know those fancy words they use but it looked bad. That much I am sure of.

We have a show on our tour in 8 days. Joey should make that one easily enough. But we also have a show at the IMAs in a few days. He won't be making it for that. So now what we must do is try and find a temp bass player before the show. We'll see what happens guys.

Keep on Living,
John



OOC: Anyone want to lend me a bass player for the RP I will be writing for IMAs?

Well it looks like Matt Roberts has officially joined us for the IMA performance guys. Sorry to anyone else who wanted to get in on the fun.

- Robert

OOC: Realms, sorry man. Lol, infinite got in a little before you.