Yesterday afternoon I visited the dentist. I hate the dentist. No, I don’t hate my dentist (she’s very pleasant), but I hate going because I fear it. But I broke a tooth in early January and I needed to get it sorted. Forty minutes later I’m walking out, feeling somewhat brutalised (at one point I kicked out my foot in pain and made the “Nnnggggggggggggg” noise you make when someone gives you a stabbing pain in your skull and she said, “Did that hurt?”.
Quite.
Around five pm, I drove to Lisburn (Really. Would anyone miss Lisburn?), picked up my father and brother and drove to Dublin because we were going to see Henry Rollins for his Spoken Word 2008 Tour. He’s also in Belfast on 30th March and even though I’ve seen him this tour, he was that funny that I’d go see him again. Around the time the doors to the show opened, the anaesthetic wore off and I was reminded of the nasty pointy tools that had been poking in my mouth earlier with a dull ache that turned into a pounding headache by the time I got home after two in the morning.
Henry has excellent pacing. He tells heart-breaking stories intermingled with humour so you’re not immediately depressed by the subjects he talks about. This year he’ll tell you about his trips to Syria, Iran, Pakistan and Sweden. He’ll tell you enthusiastically about The Ruts and he’ll do his best to avoid talking about Dubya. (Indeed that section was the only bit of the gig I was unimpressed with. I know Dubya is an asshole. I’m tired and bored of hearing about it.)
Rollins’ enthusiasm for music is probably the best thing about his tours. Sure – there’s a lot this time round (I also saw him 2 years ago) where he’s constantly name dropping: David Lee Roth, huh, Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible, sure, Nick Cave and Jello Biafra, okay, Ozzy, right, UK Subs, uh-huh….and the list goes on. It’s okay Henry, we know you’re a happening guy and you’re in the thick of it during happening times and god knows you’re definitely one of the “Famous People I Admire”. The only thing I really took home from the name-dropping was that Van Halen have reformed with David Lee Roth and they’re on tour. Holy shit. If only it wasn’t US-only.
Rollins remains the only Rock Star who I’d not mind marrying my sister.
Seen Mr Rollins in The Empire last March and found him to very entertaining, have read one of his books which was possibly the most random book I have ever read. I remember (and he did to) seeing Rollins Band in the Ulster Hall when they where support for a then little known Red Hot Chili Peppers. He was Pretty much under siege from bottles and basically anything people could throw, the projectiles didnt even stop when he threatened that the Chili’s wouldn’t be coming on if it didnt stop.