Dec. 12th. 2002
San Fransico, California. Slims.

Sadly I didn't review the first concert back in September at Slim's. So I'll make it up with this one. My Sister, Mom and myself had arrived at the venue at past 5pm and the turn out wasn't so great. Infact, I was worried. Last time, back in September we arrived at around 2pm and the line was already around the building and the guestlist line was just as long. When we arrived there were a handful in the guestlist line and about 30 or so in the actual line. For about an hour we were pretty much last line. (I.e no one was showing up..)

A set of girls came and enter the tour bus numerous time. They shot me death glares everytime, this is how I notice. I could care less about a h0 and so can the Kings, since they were asked to get off the Bus because they wanted to smoke. With also notice a nice man in black sweatshirt, lighting it up with the set of girls, this man turned out to be the Judge, we didn't realize it till later that night.

After the set of girls and the Jugde went back on the bus. My sister was cold, and only wearing a small shirt, I gave her my jacket to wear. I had came to the venue dressed as the Taxman, with proper jacket, shoes, pants and trademark socks that he wears. Moments later, Taxman came out with no makeup! He was wearing a fuzzy grey sweatshirt and stared at my sister before getting on the bus.

The plan was to stop him no matter what when he gets off that bus again. After much waitage the group in front of us block the front of the bus and Taxman leaves with another man and back into the club. After another hour of wait, more people show up, infact the line has now doubled. The crowd was very mixed from very young, Iam taking 8 year olds to an older and more professional crowd. They start to let people in my sister hands me my jacket because she doesn't want to get hassled by the guards about the chains and such and I put it on, and the Taxman comes out.

Giving credit where it must be due, my sister spotted him. I hadn't even notice. She screams his name and he doesn't stop and she screams again and he stops and she waves him down and asked if I can take a picture with him. Through out all this, Iam not even aware that she's even seen the Taxman, and he comes up to him, in that fuzzy grey sweater and says "Whooooooooa. I like your jacket." He proceeds to touch the Crass button and chains and I hand my sister my camera.

Weeks before we arrived at the venue, we had a plan. If Bobby or Dloc are around, my sister gets to be with them and I get stuck with the camera. If I see X or Taxman, she gets the camera and I get to be with them. I had everything planned out what I had wanted to say to X. I had not a clue what I was going to say to the Taxman.

So all in all, what do I do? Say my speech that was suppost to be for X to the Taxman. It all went rather quickly. His arm is now around my waist and my sister can't get the camera to work. I proceed to now die a painful death, with him getting akward, so I tell him of the very infamous time at the Galaxy Theater in April, I always tell him this story and everytime he remebers it and laughs. Ask him about that one, if you see him. Sister take pictures and Iam confirmed I look very lame. Then he does the unexpectable. Proceeds to trace his hand down my arm, hold my hand and tells him in that shocking soft voice of his that he'll see me inside.

Line gets thrown in, we get inside and a nice little spot in the front is waiting for me. Last Laugh comes out. They're pretty much forgettable. During set up for Mower, Mix Mob is played and the crowd sings along, one of the best moments before the show. Mower comes out, complete with Strobe lights, and smoke machines. A group of boys start a mosh pit, Mower is giddy and insist they bring the pit to the front. Mower turns the stage lights on to get a good look at the Moshers. Midway in their set, their side singer bashes his head in my face. Much painage and I serious wasn't expecting that. More setting up for Ill Kidd. People have said great things about Ill Kidd. Boy was I in for a shock.

Ill Kidd consisted of a very, very large man shirtless, a man in a bathrobe, another with a beer keg, a pianoman with a flashlight, a typical drummer and a looklike Mix Mober. ^_^;; The crowd loved them. I wasn't feeling it. I just wanted the Kings. Bad.

Much more setting up. Pretty boring. Another man comes out to test the mics. Typical "one. Two. This is Dloc. Three. Four. Uh. Uh. Richter." and then he said, "hey. hey. this is the judge's." The only crowd just gasped. I looked at my sister with wide eyes. The Judge. It was confirmed. We had saw him outside the bus the whole time and didn't say a word....

Lights go down, Daddy X starts to scream and Lou and Bobby run to their postions and Pakelika starts to dance. Pakelika's spot was much longer than usual and the intro to Sub. Life is played and Dloc, Richter and X rush out on stage.

Dloc was wearing black shoes, a white shirt and black shorts. Richter wore a black hat, black shirt and brown shorts, I beileve... X wore his workshirt and pants and his mohawk has improved a great deal. Not a small little stub upon his head, but an actual mowhawk. The majority of the first three songs are spent inbetween Daddy X's legs. Good time had by all. By Day Dreaming Faze, the crowd is so tight, it was like a wave of bodies, everyone going one direction. I was deeply impressed.

I believe it had occured during Full Throttle, where I got kneed in the eye by Richter. I was shocked, there was much fluid coming out of my eye? Was it blood? By being pushed up against the barricade, I couldn't really tell, can you image how much I now imaged the Taxman with blood on my face.

The crowd was rowdy and tight. So tight, I missed some grand moments on stage, with Bobby B on his knees under his turn table selection, to Pakelika chatting with Lou by his drum set, there was also a hug between Richter and Dloc which I had missed, but lucky my sister got a shot of. The crowds were tight that I couldn't get my camera out of my pocket. When I did, I took a million photos and kept it in my hand, to which it was kicked out by the Judge, who came on stage for Peace not Greed. He sang all of John Grisham's part. The Judge was looking good and some ladies got on stage to dance with him.

Later in the night Daddy X says that they're fliming for the DVD at this moment and he askes the crowd to spilt inbetween the middle and he wanted everyone to get on the opposite of the sides their on now. I have been to many shows and I have never seen the crowd actually do his request, but this time, it was done. A large gap of about literally 3 feet was made and the place went more hectic. I can't even rememeber the song that was played during this time, because the chaos. All I know is that I was getting thristy.

I took more pictures of X, Dloc and the Taxman. The Taxman wasn't coming out that much. For the songs he usually comes out on, like Peace not Greed, he wasn't even out. He sat on the side of the stage drinking, which was a pity. During one song, Dloc actually stands beside him and drinks. The Judge is out more than usually and everyone leaves the stage for Pakelika's dance which was unsually long but still very much a treat, he had some new moves and a new theme song.

The Kings come back on stage with X carring a tree of Bud and the crowds proceeds to tear it up. A drink is rolled at me, but the kind girl next to me was dying of thirst, so I give it to her. Later, after X coming up to much section again, and after much molesting with his hands, legs and a rear another drink is rolled at me and I look up and there is Taxman waving and winking and smiling. Good god. Now fully red in the face, I wouldn't look at him for the rest of the night. I didn't know what to make of that, I hope he didn't think I snubbed him, because during slower songs and the ladies were asked to come up he'd come out and into my direction as if, maybe I had wanted to go up, but I was to busy paying attention to X. Who was indeed checking out the ladies that night. Shame on X, but he didn't touch. But he sure was giving them the eye.

More songs are played, their older songs and Richter, Loc and X take turns singing by Lou Dog's drumset. Dloc is now shirtless and Richter flashes his jewerly, funny for a guy who said all he needed was plugs in his ear to get a girl, he had alot of rings on. ^_^;; Guys are asked to stage dive, which is totally cool but the same set of 6'6 300 pound guys stage dive and then back on and do it again for at least 6 times.

Kings Blend is played and Iam floored by the efforts on the fan's part. Everyone knew the words. It was one very large voice singing. Never has that song sounded so good. I really, really hope they include that song to respresent the Bay Area on their Live Disc. Girls get on stage now and start to bang on a each other. Sadly a large girl removes her pants and is now asked to get off the stage, a few ladies take off their shirts and well. Much skin and suggestive dancing.

Things go slow. Postive Vibes is played, the stage is cleared for the Kings. X calls out all the Roadies, a rather large list, and even Taxman was asked to come out, but he doesn't. Richter and Dloc are arm in arm, and later Dloc hugs the Judge. Everything is good and then people start getting up on stage and stage diving. Talk about ruining the vibe.

But despite the sour note, it ended good. Sister gets pulled up on stage, proceeds to kick me to get my attention that she is up there. She is given one of Pak's sign for the roadie and it the "Whoa!" sign from you know which song.. The crowd starts to exit, Lou Dog is out and signing stuff, we get him to sign the Pak sign. Bobby is out taking pictures, he was overwhealmed and quickly cuts that short and goes back stage. Taxman is also signing and seeing me, he suggests we take one last photo. I thank the gods, I saved one last picture on my camera, we take picture and he askes when he can see me again. I don't even know what to say to that, so I ask him for a hug and whisper to him that he did good. Love that guy. Far to considerate for a geek like me. After we exit and drive the horrid 3 hour drive home.

In conclusion, is there a conclusion to this very long review, the fans efforts, the opening acts, the venue set up were all very well done. I hope the Kings realize this has been on of their better turn outs. Maybe the crowd wasn't that large, as the last time they were in San Fransico, but that turn out was a group of die hards who knew all the words and moved and moshed at all the right moments. Females and Males alike had consideration towards each other that has been lacking at other shows and considering it being a Thrusday night, it was honestly this location, having been to 4 other locations to see the Kings, a very special one. Iam just glad it was the last on the Rollin Stone tour