Concert Review: Scott Weiland, the Architects, January 14, at VooDoo Lounge

I’m at the VooDoo Lounge last night and I’ve got my first whiskey and Coke and I’m off to the side of the stage watching the Architects perform. I’d never seen them before. I’ve heard their name thrown around a lot, but never heard any of their songs. And I think to myself – there’s nothing about this band I don’t like. As the songs go on, I see this figure out of the corner of my eye and I turn and there’s Scott Weiland, out of view from the crowd, watching the show.

Just to cover myself from any libel charges, I’ll allow that it might not necessarily have been Scott Weiland, but it sure looked like him. He’s standing just under the Exit sign in the hallway that leads to the front of the stage. He’s got that tight stocking cap I think he’s wearing in every photo I’ve ever seen of him getting arrested. There’s no expression, just this blank look on sunken eyes and thin lips. Of course, I thought he knew he was completely fucked now. People in the crowd even more ignorant about the Architects than me are asking each other where the band is from, lots of people saying ‘No!’ when they learn they’re local, and people are having way too much fun for an opening act they’ve never heard of.

So after the Architects finished their set, it began to seem like an unusually long wait for Weiland to start. I pictured him backstage, begging the band to call the show off. Guys feel my forehead I think I’m sick… doesn’t that feel really hot? Man, we probably shouldn’t go on… No guys seriously… please…. I wanted to hate Scott Weiland. I really, really did.