Kottonmouth King Concert Review: Phoenix Theater: June 27th 2003
Petaluma, California
Written by Vanessa Ayukawa

Going to the show, was very much so; a last minute thing. The tickets were bought the day before and we were lucky to get a hotel room and lucky enough to get the time off work. The drive to Petaluma was only around 3 hours; despite making longer trips, this drive was long and stressful since we arrived at the hotel around 8:10 and doors had already open at 7pm and we didn't make it to the venue till 8:30.

Petaluma is a nice place. A small town with numerous night clubs and dance halls. It reminded me alot of where I live and I thought for a brief moment, "wouldn't it be wild if the Kings performed in my town?" Anyway, we made it to the venue, after the round around and saw a large crowd outside the theater.

The crowd was a younger group and mainly of trendy kids. I get tell. I can see them a mile away. Plus I felt old. X_x. The front people took our tickets, no search at all. Very cool. In LA, it's full-blown-out-search and my cameras are taken away. But I got in with three beautiful cameras. I bet I look foolish, since I didn't even attempt to hide them and instead had my pant pockets sticking out.

Still felt out and was very out of place in the venue. It was a mix from an old church hall look filled with theater seats, skating ramps and graffti-tagged walls. There was a band already on stage. It was a local group and the crowd was very response. This crowd was at the end of their set and left the stage as soon as we settled in. After their set, a big deal of the crowd left to wonder and I got right in front of the stage. Was deeply shocked, since I have to be in line for at least 5 hours early to get in front of the stage, and here I'm almost 40 mins late.

The stage was being set for Mower, so it took a while and I just stood and stared. Various memebers of Mower came out and set things up, I saw them set up their infamous lights (the ones that get really hot. X_x...) and set up the amps. Much boring. Just stood and then caught a glismp of that familar afro.

LOU!! Behind the stage, just staring at the crowd. Me and my sister and her friend wave and he quckily hid and we never saw him until the Kings were up. After starting at an empty stage, we stared at othere fans, saw the typical ho's, the guys who were only there for the mosh pits, these random girls dressed in hooded sweatshirts and a guy with Hidden Stash in his hand.

One guy in the crowd was just GUSHING about Mower and told the whole crowd, how great Mower is and how they're going to rip this place up. Believe me, I just rolled my eyes and wasn't expecting much. But Mower came out and they were just brutal. Maybe they got over the akwardness of eariler performances, but their set was fantastic.

Was owned. Was floored. Damn them.

Anyway, their set, don't know the song titles, but they were good and the crowd was thrilled. I remember how much Mix Mob owned me and the crowd couldn't give a damn and were just standing there, but the crowd was already tight and bashing around. Mower had the lights and their fog and just rocked. I guess I can now see why they have such a devoted fan following.

The lead singer of Mower, soon caught the eye of my sister's friend who was beside me in the front and just STARED. At first I thought this was just a brief random moment, but throught the set, he constantly came back to that spot and even got on his knees to sing beside her and after the set had ended he came beside and chatted her up and gave her a drum stick and gave her the set list and then took it back and wrote back : Mower 6/27/03: THANKS FOR BEING IN ROW #1!. I'll scan all that stuff in and include it in the fan section, if you want to see.

Anyway. After that, they cleared the stage, brought out a body bag and the Judge came out and owned me, even more. The Judge is such a thrill my stomach did flip-flops and then the Taxman burst out the Body Bag and the crowd just got OWNED. I could feel it, the crowd got tight and rushed to the front of the stage. Munchyz still got it!

The Judge was very responsive to my camera and allowed me to take his picture, and even stopped and posed. *weeps* And I took so great pictures of the Taxman, rockin' the stage and then my heart did flip-flops when I saw Daddy X on the side of the stage, just watching over the set and enjoying the music. X then announced for Johnny Richter to come out and could I get any more flip flops? All this excitment for just an opening act?!?!

Richter came out. And let me tell you, his hair is growing out and he had it down. Every time I've seen him, his hair is hidden under a hat and just. GAH! Loved it!!! The only bad thing about the set was that Richter's mic was clearly not working; because nothing could be heard.

Judge's set ended far to soon and I can not wait for his CD release. With the stage cleared, alot of folks came out to set up and then the fans started to chant for the Kottonmouth Kings to come out.

The wait wasn't long and the Kings came out, not with the typical lights-set-low and Pakelika comes out and dance, but no time was wasted and Suburban Life was played. The pity was all the boys were similar outfits to what they wore the last time I saw them , I mean Taxman is Taxman and Bobby wore khanki's and his Logo shirt and X wore that grey outfit of his. But still, that shouldn't matter to most, but it matter to me.

The crowd was thrilled for the first 6 songs but they were bored and tired after that, it wasn't until Kings Blend was played, when for some random reason the crowd was wild during Kings Blend. X_x. Alot of the typical songs were played, but sadly alot of songs that shouldn't have been played, were played. Like Zero Tolerance, Rest Of My Life and Light It Up. X_X.

I was kinda miffed that nothing from Hidden Stash II was played, expect for the typical Bi-Polar and Dying Daze. I know alot of fans don't enjoy the album, but it's my favorite and I will kill someone to hear them play Killa Kali live, again.

Throught out the show, I had no shame and touched freely, X, Taxman and Dloc. Richter never one came near my side of the stage, since it was owned by X and Dloc. I grabbed Daddy X's hands numerous times and was constantly losing my grip, since his hands were drenched with sweat. X_x. Touched Dloc's tights and legs and even felt Taxman's plush stomach. Despite the look, the man isn't as slender as you think. Taxman was such a thrill, not only does he let me hold his hands, numerous times, but he squeezes back. My love for the Taxman is so great.

They did the stage drive contest, I believe they played Bi Polar or maybe Dying Daze.. I'm not really sure, since when your up front and having everyone jumping on you, you forget a few things. X_x. Many of the same guys came up and stage dived numerous times. Later on towards the set Taxman came out without his jacket, and let me tell you. Never once did I thought Munchyz was a hottie, but with that jacket off, I have four words for you:

I would hit it.

^_^;;;; (!!!!!!!) I took pictures like a shameless h0 and this was the highlight of the set. And more songs and more X being hot, Pakelika throwing beer and having THOSE signs and Dloc taking off his shirt and revealing a large plush stomach. And then they asked the ladies to go up.

Let me tell you. There was like no ladies to begin with in the crowd, despite myself, sister and sister friend. Majority of the females at the show were already backstage. You know.. Them' h0's. So alot of males went on stage, and they didn't get off until the very end when the Kings ended the show, with some song I can't even remember.

The plan before the show was to take pictures of my sister with the Kings when she's on stage, and X, maybe thrilled to see a female face on stage, despite the call for females and after poking the man, he and sister and friend faced me while I took the picture. They even CAME OUT. (see them soon in the live picture section)

The set was over; But after much ranting for them to come back, the group came back and sang about 4 additional songs. And that was it. I felt dizzy and feeling a bit torn. I was sadden by the lack of GOOD songs that should have been played but weren't; Richter's mic was soooooooo NOT working since he couldn't be heard at all and it was over.

But. My heart was about to burst when I saw X still standing on stage, I had no shame and climed on stage and dragged my sister up as well and asked him if I could take a picture. The man has got me for life, since he didn't even waste and section and pulled me close and I'm a horrid looking fangirl, folks. And then the picture was taken. I gushed my thanks and he said his goodbye, since people were now getting on stage to get close to him.

And then I saw Taxman cleaning up on the sidelines, and thus with no more shame, I went right up to him, despite the owner screaming at people to get off the stage and asked him to come me and he came over, looking very tiny and very white. I said hello and he said hello and I said he looked really great without the jacket on and he looked flushed and mumbled thanks and I asked if I could take his picture and he smiled (smiled. OWNED!!!!!) And found no one on stage. MUCH SHAME!!

But saw a passing h0 and grabbed her and said "TAKE THE PICTURE LIKE THIS!" with no please at all and she looked taken back but she took it and Munchyz is very nice and pretty and with his plush stomach. Gives me a thrill and then I have to get off the stage because the owner has no shame and says I have to leave, so I leave and meet up with Sister and friend who is with lead singer of Mower.

NO SHAME!

God damn. This is a record to have the words shame, OWNED and Taxman in this review.

Anyway, singer of Mower and sister friend is chatting and he wants to sign her CD.. But the big thing is the Judge was wondering around and my sister wants Autograph but he has no pen, sister has no pen and the Judge askes the guy at the KMK booth for the perment marker and he gives it to him and he's signing and then lead singer of Mower calls out for a pen as well and he is told who has it and then lead singer of Mower, shouts out "WELL MOTHER FUCKER, YOU BETTER HURRY WITH THAT PEN, BITCH!"

It got really quite, cause the Judge stopped what he was doing and said : "WHO SAID THAT?!" and I pointed to the Mower guy and they just stared long and hard for a few seconds and then the Judge smiled and Mower guy laughed and the Judge said "Oh it's YOU. I thought someone was about to go to the hospital" and Mower guy said "I could kick YOUR ass." and the Judge said "You don't know me, to well.."

Anyway, real intense. Was glad to be there.

After much time starting at the Taxman on stage cleaning up, I didn't want to bother, so I left. Great show, but alot of songs shouldn't have been played, Richter's mic wasn't even on... But then again, I took a picture with X and held Taxman's hand and witness a bit between MowerGuy and Judge. (Yes I know his name is Brian.. It's just fun calling him MowerGuy.)

Anyway. This is the end. I just want to tell you all now, I'm the worlds, worst writer. BAD. EVIL. NO skills. So forgive the lack it being neat and tidy.

Vanessa Ayukawa
Aim SN: vanessaayukawa or Y!M: vanessa_ayukawa
The Shrine!