Bionic Buzz® got to cover Cal Jam 2018 music festival at the Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardiono, CA. The festival featured an amazing line up of Foo Fighters, Iggy Pop, Tenacisous D, Garbage, Manchester Orchestra, Giants in Trees & The Front Bottoms & more. There were carnival rides, photo ops (including Dave Grohl’s rock throne), Foo Fighters Museum and three stages worth of music. Actually four if you count the Uber Visa pop up tent that featured up close acoustic performances. Of course the talk of the festival that if there will be might be a Nirvana reunion that evening. It had been teased that week on social media on Foo Fighters twitter page and even talk between them and Joan Jett & John McCauley lead singer of Deer Tick. Both performed and sang with Nirvana reunion during the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame celebration. Foo Fighters started their set with performing songs off their latest album Concrete and Gold including Run, The Sky Is A Neighborhood & La Dee Da. Then start performing songs backwards including their hits from Sonic Highways back to their first self titled album.
Dave keep teasing that they were going way back through out their set. Then it happened! Something I have been praying and wanting to experience since I was 13 back in 1994. John McCauley from Deer Tick came out and joined surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Pat Smear & Krist Novoselić. John performed three songs including Serve the Servants, Scentless Apprentice,& In Bloom. I was 11 years old back in 1991 when I saw Smells Like Teen Spirit music video on MTV for the first time. It was the song that started my passion for music. Its a big reason why I interview musicians I ask them where their passion for music came from, was it a certain album or live performance? For me it was Nevermind and I remember that moment seeing that music video as much as I remember my first kiss, my wedding, birth of my kids, etc. My life forever changed, I didn’t care that much about music but all of the sudden a passion was light inside me.
I started growing my hair long right after that and bought everything I could from Nirvana. As a teenager in the 90’s I spent all my allowance that I saved up delivering newspaper and mowing laws to buy Nirvana live bootlegs. I have to say that John nailed it. He had even Kurt’s live voice down pretty good. Then the legendary Joan Jett joined the band to perform Breed, Smells Like Teen Spirit and All Apologies. I have to admit that I teared up after Smells Like Teen Spirit when Krist Novoselić asked the crowd to give a cheer for Kurt Cobain. If you missed it I have some crappy iPhone videos below. Also up close unplugged performances by Manchester Orchestra, Giants in Trees & The Front Bottoms. Photos from the Foo Fighters museum where Dave Grohl’s Mom did a book signing at for her book: From Cradle to Stage: Stories from the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars. All live concert photos were kindly provided by Grandstand Media by photographer Chris Molina. By @SteveSievers
Photos below of the Foo Fighters Rock N’ Roll Museum. In a giant tent featued everything from the bands 25 year history. Including the first tape of demos from the first album, tee shirts from tour, set lists, notes, props from their music videos, Grammy’s they have won (which is a lot), instruments & more. In the gift shop Dave’s Mom was on hand signing copies of her book. Outside featured photo op on Dave’s rock throne. Also had the white limo from their music video and a van from their first tour. Enjoy!
