I love going to the Renaissance Faire. It’s a reason to dress up in garb, buy beer or mead, and get drunk with your friends. There is mutual camaraderie with everyone around, and you’re all there to lose all inhibitions and just enjoy yourself. Wait… Sorry. I meant to say, I love going to an Alestorm concert. It’s a reason to dress up in garb, buy beer or mead, get drunk with your friends, and lose all inhibitions with fellow drunk fans in the crowd. At an Alestorm concert it is Pirate Party Time, and your only job is to have fun. Coming to the Observatory in Santa Ana on their Tour of The Dead Marauder and bringing with them Elvinking and Glyph. It felt like I stepped into a Renaissance Faire when I entered the venue seeing everyone dressed up for this show. Beer was flowing and the crew was singing jaunty tunes waiting for the show to start. I knew it was gonna be a good time.
Opening the show was an intergalactic power metal band known as Glyph. These alien rockers from outer space crash landed on Earth only three weeks ago. Luckily, these hitch hiking alien musicians were picked up by Alestorm for a tour. Vocalist R.A. Voltaire embodies the essence of Ronnie James Dio in both vocal power and height. Guitarist Rob Steinway meshed his playing with powerful chugs and driving weedly weedly guitar lines. Keyboardist Jeff Black armed with a keytar added the mythical flavor to Glyph’s overall sound. While bassist Darin Wall looked like he was ready to go to battle with the Vikings armed with his axe. Glyph played songs like “Honor. Power. Glory.,” “A Storm of Crimson Fire,” “March of the Northern Clan,” “When the World was Young,” “Defy the Night,” and “Volarad.” Voltaire kept making it a point that on his planet “You only sing if you know the words. Otherwise, it’s your job to enjoy yourself.” This was the perfect sentiment to start the night, as it helped kick start the party aspect of the entire show. Beer was flowing, and fans were moshing even harder to the music, which helped elevate Glyph’s stage presence.
Up next was a more fantasy driven band with Elvinking. Vocalist Damna presented himself to the crowd donning an antler crown. His silhouette casting a haunting glow like the deer demon from the movie Antlers. It was when he sang that the warmth from his voice helped to cast a glistening glow into the venue. Flanked by guitarist Headmatt and Aydan who mix angelic riffing with heavy rhythms. Bassist Jakob and drummer Symohn are the backbone of the band with a powerful low end that helps to drive the songs and the moshers to keep the pit spinning. Elvinking’s secret weapon lies in violinist Lethien, who is blended into the songs well enough. But it’s the moments the band lets the violin stand front and center that adds so much whimsy to the music. Lethien was the key to being transported to the fantasy world Elvinking creates with their music and stage persona’s. With songs like “Rapture,” “The Hanging Tree,” “Draugen’s Maelstrom,” “Pagan Revolution,” “Silverseal,” “Moonbeam Stone Circle,” “Pagan Purity,” “Bride of the Night,” “The One We Shall Follow,” “The Wanderer,” “The Divided Heart,” and ending with “Elvenlegions,” I know the music I am bringing to my next D&D campaign to help cast us into a different world.
As we eagerly awaited our headliners, the bar was attacked with patrons demanding more beer! As a giant 10 foot duck was inflated at the back of the stage, the crowd cheers’d for the duck, and pounded one back. This alone got me excited for the shenanigans that were going to be an Alestorm concert. Opening their set with “Keelhauled,” vocalist and keytarist Christopher Bowes launched into an accordion sounding intro to the song and the fans drank it up. Launching into the lyrics, Bowes sings with a tropey pirate inflection to his vocals that just helps elevate how much fun the band is having. Guitarist Máté Bodor and bassist Gareth Murdock infuse heavy, folk, and power metal rhythms with a pirate twang that lets you imagine you were sailing with Blackbeard on the seven seas. Drummer Peter Alcorn rips on the double bass creating a galloping rhythm that you can’t help but run into the mosh pit to. While keyboardist Elliot Vernon’s synth just adds more enthusiasm to the music. Even bringing out guest vocalist Barbara Blackthorne for the songs “Voyage of the Dead Marauder” and “Zombies Ate My Pirate Ship.” Her vocals were so powerful that she sounded like a siren captivating the crowd and drawing them into their death.
For being a band that describes themselves as pirate metal, they honestly look like a bunch of frat guys who lucked out and got a record deal. Wearing dolphin shorts, snakeskin pants, kilts, tank tops, backwards hats, and sweatbands. I feel I walked into a 90s teen comedy version of a college party. Regardless, this only added to the party nature of the show. With fans tossing around a child’s duck pool floaty that would constantly make its way onto the stage and be worn by the band members before being thrown back to the crowd. Even the crowd surfer’s felt more like they were swimming through the sea of the crowd before toppling over the barricade. The crowd stayed rambunctious throughout the set and security didn’t even both to stop the fun, with songs like “No Grave but the Sea,” “The Sunk’n Norwegian,” “Alestorm,” “Under Blackened Banners,” “Hangover,” “Uzbekistan,” “Mexico,” “Big Ship Little Ship,” “Nancy the Tavern Wench,” “Rumplekombo,” “P.A.R.T.Y.,” “1741 (The Battle of Cartagena),” “Shit Boat (No Fans),” “Drink,” and ending it with “Fucked with an Anchor.” With the final song, Bowes even jumped into the crowd, surfing into the sunset of the show.
As the lights came on, and people tried to compose themselves, you could see the drunken glaze over many people’s eyes. Alestorm sings many songs about getting drunk, and the fans love to let themselves live those lyrics during the shows. Normally security is quick to push everyone out of the venue, but even they could tell people needed a few extra minutes to recompose. Nonetheless, there was not a single drunken face of disappointment to be found. We got to meet intergalactic beings known as Glyph. Travel through the forests of the world where Elvinking lives. Sailed the seven seas with the most fun pirate metal band in all the lands and survived to tell the tales. This night was not a night to be a normal human with limits. This was a night to be the fantasy being you always dreamed of. The one who can take on any challenge, travel across any world, out drink anyone under the table. This night we raged! And the next day we dealt with the hangover.
Industrial music has always been a personal favorite of mine. Though I do tend to have my specific tastes in bands that I like, and don’t branch too far outside of them usually. This tends to be more on the industrial metal side of things, as heavy guitars just sound like angels to my ears. I know I need to invest more time into the history of industrial music and give more chances to the people that pioneered the genre. So, when I heard that Gary Numan was coming to the Observatory in Santa Ana, I knew this would be a great opportunity to take in the music of a legend in the genre. He just got off a tour with Ministry as a support act, and this night was for him to headline and give us everything he has to offer.
The only opener for this show was an artist known as I Speak Machine. Vocalist and music programmer Tara Busch has brought an avant garde show to the unsuspecting people of Orange County. While Busch was dressed in a Russian-esque military attire, she was projecting propaganda onto a backdrop behind her. Though this may not have been the type of music that people may have been expecting, Busch was there to command the stage. Performing with confidence, vigor, and a passion for the art she was creating. Whether this was your cup of tea of not, Busch was putting herself on the line for the crowd and she wasn’t holding anything back. There were times that Busch was singing with such power, that you could hear her raw vocals overpowering the speakers, and she had a beautiful operatic sound to it. But it was channeled through a synthesizer and effects to modulate the voice and create a more electronic experience. I Speak Machine is definitely not commercial or for everyone, but if you are looking for an artist that takes chances and prioritizes emotion and feelings over traditional music structure, I would recommend checking them out.
Finally, it was time to experience an artist that I have heard people talk so highly about. He’s been mentioned to me as someone who steals every show he’s on, no matter if he’s headlining or a support artist. That’s a lot to live up to, but within the first moments of “Everything Comes Down to This,” I could already see why people praise this man. Gary Numan is an enigma on stage filled with charisma. The way he moves and undulates on stage captivates any onlooker. He rarely removes the microphone from its stand, instead choosing to use the entire microphone stand as an extension of his body and part of the performance. The mic stand becomes his dance partner for the night as they waltz across the stage. Though Numan would step out from behind the mic from time to time, and that’s when the crowd would bath him in cheers and admiration. As Gary Numan has been creating music for multiple decades, you could hear the evolution and difference between the songs as they were influenced by the decade they were written in. With songs like “Halo,” “The Chosen,” “Metal,” “Films,” “Pure,” “Love Hurt Bleed,” “Is The World Not Enough,” “Down in the Park,” “The Gift,” “Cars,” “Haunted,” “Pray for the Pain You Serve,” My Name is Ruin,” “A Prayer for the Unborn,” and coming back for an encore with “Here in the Black” and “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” It was a career spanning night of industrial heritage.
I have been listening to Gary Numan quite a bit on Spotify leading up to this show so I could be more familiar with the music. Bottom line, he is an artist that must be experienced live. If you’re a new listener like me, just taking in the music through some headphones, you won’t be disappointed. The man knows how to create musical pleasure. But if you want to truly experience the artistry and emotions in the music, it must be experienced live. The songs take on a whole new life for themselves this way. This was the last stop of his latest tour, but he is no where near being done. I know I will be at this next show, and I recommend you do yourself a favor and be there too.
“Who is Uli Jon Roth”? This is what I hear from my friends whom have sadly not been privy to the German masterful guitar virtuoso I have known and loved since my teenage years. First discovering his intricate & mesmerizing solos with a lesser known German band at that time,, the Scorpions. Uli had replaced guitarist Michael Schenker, who left Scorpions to join British rockers UFO in 1974. The Scorpions put out 4 studio albums with Roth including one live album, Tokyo Tapes, and they were all masterpieces thanks to the captivating presence and technical prowess of one of the most prolific guitarists of the 1970’s.
On April 10th, fans from all over Northern California welcomed Uli John Roth and his band to the Sacramento area for an evening of that I call ‘metaphysical metal,’ on their Interstellar Sky Guitar World Tour. Every time Uli performs, he immediately connects with the audience in such a way that it feels like we had all experienced a spiritual retreat. The evening started off with a very special first set of Uli’s solo work beginning with “Amadeus” and “Rondo Alla Turca” (a Mozart cover). ”The Triumph Of Spring” (a Antonio Vivaldi cover) was also a truly magical and transonic experience. During his first set of two that evening, fans were treated to amazing visuals on a LED screen depicting metaphysical images with nods to greats like Jimi Hendrix, Martin Luther King, Jr., and of course Mozart. There also were many images of Mother Nature's Earth and all it’s beauty, space and human rights, and all the visuals were spectacular and mind blowing.
After a brief intermission, fans were relaxed (yet pumped) for the second set as we about to hear a marathon of Scorpions classics. Progressing back in time with “ Electric Sun”, this Scorpions classic pushed the metal boundaries as one of the first “metal” bands to arise in the early 1970’s. The Scorpions were special then, but not the arena rock Scorpions that they evolved into in the 1980’s. ”Sun In My Hand” was the first of two tracks off of In Trance followed by “Longing For Fire”, both stunningly masterful. ”We’ll Burn The Sky” from Taken By Force is a favorite of mine that I actually played at my wedding - truly unforgettable. Roth’s band are a superior bunch of musicians with Nikias Turmann on Bass guitar and vocals was dreamy and spot on. His stellar performance shined in songs like “In Trance” and “Pictured Life” where the keys were perfectly blended by virtuoso Corvin Bahn. Jamie Little was the second half of the rhythm section behind the drums, and the second guitar duties and vocals were handled perfectly by David Kiosinski who tackled songs like ‘Catch Your Train” and “The Sails Of Charon”. Uli Jon Roth dazzled us with his artillery during “Sky Guitars” where all his custom guitars were front and center. Most of these were custom made with several unique frets and bejeweled with precious gems they are simply stunning to the naked eye.
Throughout set two, we were once again were treated to a spiritual and visual experience. Uli John Roth Is a poignant contributor and integral part of rock and roll history. Often left off the list of world’s Greatest Guitar players, Uli John Roth is a grossly under rated guitarist with over 50 years of musical genius and is certainly on my list of top 5 Guitar players of all time. My friends who said “Who is Uli Roth” now have been schooled in the best rock and roll there is. Don’t miss the Interstellar Sky Guitar Tour when it rolls through your town. It’s truly life changing.
Between You and Me closed out their Sh!t Yeah Tour at Chain Reaction alongside Young Culture, Homesafe, & Not My Weekend and their finale was simply dramatic on all levels. It's safe to say Between You and Me knows how to pick a lineup and make every show they play count and the concert (as one might expect) had a lot of iconic moments for all who attended. It was definitely a special show and one I'll never forget. Let's dig in!
At the beginning of the concert, the place was already packed. So you know everyone was ready for when the opener Not My Weekend hit the stage. This is one of those bands that easily has the energy, charisma, and talent to headline their own tour. Having them play first almost feels like a crime (but someone has to do it). The lead singer Patrick Gilchrist has a really cool aesthetic as well, he came out wearing the kind of goggles you see on various anime characters such as Haruko from Fooly Cooly and Syaoran from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles etc. Meanwhile, band member Kyle Roy was showing support for Homesafe by wearing a Homesafe T-shirt. You could tell from how the band interacted with the audience such as Patrick thanking everyone for getting there early that the band really appreciates their fans. The set had a lot of energy to it with the lead singer jumping around and a fair share of crowd surfers. The set featured songs such as "Overload", "Shut.up", "When You're Around", "Hurricane Weather", "Otherside", "Lightning" and "Knock Me Out". Most of these songs can be found on their latest album Shimmer Season.
There was one point during the set where Patrick made an anime reference that had everyone raising their hands in the air. The energy during "Otherside" was something else and was a refreshing experience. At a certain point during their set, one of the band members from Between You and Me came up on stage with a shoe with alcohol in it and gave it to Kyle to drink. While Kyle was drinking it the guy from Between You and Me and Not my Weekend's drummer Deven were smiling and cheering, so as weird as the moment sounds, it was surprisingly wholesome. Basically when touring with an Australian band expect the unexpected. Overall with the whole band smiling and having fun on stage, it was one of those experiences where it's impossible not to have a good time. Joy is contagious.
The next band to hit the stage was Homesafe and you could tell that they leveled up since their show on tour in Los Angeles. They looked like they were having a lot of fun on stage. There were so many iconic hair flips and jumping around on stage, that the energy even had the audience dancing. Between You and Me even jumped on stage and sang during one of Homesafe's songs. Their songs performed that night were "Permanent Resolution", "Relapse", "Hourglass", "Sry2Say", "Vanilla-Scented Laser Beams", "Save Me", "With You", "Hold On", and "Guts". Their song "Save Me" is a very relatable one to anyone who's ever been stuck in the same routine and felt alone. Meanwhile "Sry2Say", "Permanent Resolution" and "Hold On" can all be found on their latest EP, What Did You Find Out? which came out last month. A lot of their music has a relatable getting through life despite it all feeling to it. And honestly a lot of sick guitar parts.
The final band to hit the stage before Between You and Me was Young Culture. Young Culture is one of those bands that always puts on an insane enough set that if you didn't know there was a band after them, you'd think they're the headliner. Their lead singer Alex knows how to perform on a stage like he owns it. They had the whole audience clapping and singing along. Alex even jumped into the pit during a song. There were even moments where Kyle from Not My Weekend was crowd surfing during Young Culture's set and another moment where the legendary shoe was brought out. You could really tell that all the bands love each other. Songs performed include "Party Girl", "Drift", "Tattoo", "Not in Love", "Jesus", "Better Off as Friends", "Hailey Beverly 2016", "Shiver", "Kinda Over it", and "Holiday in Vegas". "Holiday in Vegas" and "Not in Love" were especially fun to see live and had everyone jumping around. You could feel all the excitement from the crowd surfers too. At times even there were multiple crowd surfers on stage and Alex crowd surfing was an iconic moment.
Finally, it was time for the headliner to hit the stage and everyone was hyped for Between You and Me. If you wanted to capture sick audience reactions, this was the best set to do it. There were constant crowd surfers and multiple on the stage multiple times. A lot of jumps from the band members on stage and in a sense, all chaos broke loose but in a good way. At one point during the set, the lead singer of the band Jake Wilson is seen wearing a pair of sunglasses shaped like hearts on stage. We even had a bunch of balloons come out of nowhere and them floating through the crowd. The songs played during this legendary set were "Dakota", "Supervillain", "Nevermind", "In The Middle", "Yeah", "Pleased to Meet You", "Move On", "Goldfish", "All-Star" (cover from Shrek), "Overthinking", "Kill My Vibe", "Better Days", "Go To Hell", "Butterflies" and for their legendary encore "Deadbeat".
The audience waved their hands in the air and sang along to "In The Middle". The energy was electric during "All-Star". "While Better Days" was one of those songs that emotionally gets you. They had a touching speech before getting into their song "Butterflies" and in a sense all the balloons floating in the air in a way felt like they resembled butterflies. Although one of the most epic moments during that was when they had the audience all come up on stage and dance along. Another sick moment during the end was all the other bands coming up and performing with Between You and Me on stage. However, the most interesting moment that I've never seen happen at a show before was when two of the band members got into a big blow-up pool and proceeded through the power of the audience to crowd surf in the pool back to the stage. They also crowd-surfed outside of the pool as well. Needless to say, the bands brought a big sense of community that night and it was an unforgettable experience.
In an era where music videos can transcend the very fabric of reality, Billy Squier's "Rock Me Tonite" stands as a beacon of hope for future generations looking to harness the unparalleled power of dad dance moves and the flamboyance of aerobics chic. With every pirouette and masterfully awkward sway, Squier reminds us that in the '80s, the closer your dance resembled a distress signal to nearby ships, the more prodigious your rock status. The pièce de résistance? A wardrobe seemingly stolen from a blindfolded costume designer during an electrical outage at a spandex factory. One simply cannot look away from the dizzying array of pastel explosions and wardrobe malfunctions waiting to happen – a sartorial spectacle that raises the bar for cheesy clothing enthusiasts across timelines. Indubitably, "Rock Me Tonite" is not just a video; it's a dance, a dream, a dizzying skirmish against the mundane – a heroic declaration that yes, you too can rock ‘n’ roll all night, provided you have the audacity to wear clothes that scream louder than your guitar. That said, Billy Squire is truly one of my all time favorite guitarists and I will give him a mulligan on this 1984 video monstrosity.
- Matthew Belter
On March 24, 2024, the iconic walls of the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles vibrated with the pulsating rhythms and electrifying energy of KMFDM, one of the pioneering forces in the industrial music scene (or what I refer to as the 'Ultra Heavy Beat'. This exclusive photo gallery captures the raw intensity and dynamic performance of the band, as they enchanted their audience with a mix of classic hits and fresh tracks. Each image is a testament to the band's enduring influence and unique ability to fuse art with sound, offering fans both old and new a visual feast that complements the sonic explosion of the night. Step inside the heart of the action and relive the unforgettable moments of KMFDM's latest triumph in the City of Angels.
- Chris Loomis
In January 2024, Lynch Mob kicked off their The Final Ride farewell tour, celebrating the band's 35-year legacy. They made a stop at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Easter Sunday March 31 to say thank you and farewell to the South Orange County fanbase. In October 2023, George Lynch stated "After 35 years since the inception of Lynch Mob, I feel the time is right to let this chapter of my musical life fade off into the sunset.”
The band hit the stage early on this night at 8:00pm and played a blistering 90-minute set that highlighted all the Lynch Mob hits as well as select Dokken classics. The current band consists of vocalist Gabriel Colón, Jaron Gulino on bass, long time drummer Jimmy D’Anda and of course Mr. Scary himself George Lynch. The band opened with "Lightnin' Strikes Again" from the Dokken album Under Lock and Key then into the Lynch Mob classic “River of Love”.
Lynch wore an Eddie Van Halen baseball cap for several songs as a tribute to the late axeman (who was without a doubt one of the greatest to ever strap on a guitar). Lynch changed between 3 different guitars throughout the show and proved without a doubt that at 69 years old he can still rip out solos like nobody’s business. Vocalist Gabriel Colón showcased his wide range of vocal talent throughout the night just nailing every song. While he does not sound exactly like Don Dokken or any previous Lynch Mob vocalists, he just has a range that works perfect for this band and all the songs. Definitely the youngster in the band, Colón also brought some great energy to the live show. Jaron Gulin (former Tantric bass player) also brings a bit of youth and attitude to the stage with his thumping bass lines while his rhythm partner Jimmy D’Anda remains one of the most animated hard-hitting drummers in the business. This guy is just pure fun to watch – from his comical facial expressions to his technique and movements, he is just absolute fire . . . and a true gentleman as well.
Without a doubt one of the highlights of the night was the instrumental “Mr. Scary” from Dokken’s 1987 release Back for the Attack as were the last two songs of the set “It’s Not Love” and of course Lynch Mob’s biggest hit “Wicked Sensation”.
The The Final Ride farewell tour is set to wrap up in March 2025, who knows what that means as far as seeing George Lynch play live, so get out there while you still can and catch Lynch Mob rip up the stage. Thanks George for all the memories, killer riffs and magical solos!
Lynch Mob Setlist:
Lightnin' Strikes Again (Dokken cover) | River of Love | For a Million Years | No Good | Testify | When Heaven Comes Down (Dokken cover) | Paris Is Burning (Dokken cover) | Time After Time | The Hunter (Dokken cover) | Rain | Mr. Scary (Dokken cover) | Dance of the Dogs | It's Not Love (Dokken cover) | Wicked Sensation
On Thursday evening, metal fans of all ages were treated to a blizzard of ear piercing, nostalgic metal madness! The Origins Tour with Queensrÿche and Armored Saint rolled through Sacramento’s Ace Of Spades nightclub with brutal force, making this a night to remember. This 34 date North American Tour began for Queensryche in Houston Texas at the Hell’s Heroes Festival, making Sacramento the 5th stop on the tour with a stellar plan to play the bands self titled E.P. and their first full length album in its entirety. I Personally was excited to hear an entire set list of 'Deep Cuts' instead of the usual set list comprised of radio hits with a few a few ‘B sides” sprinkled in. This was going to be a night of 100% 'deep cuts' and one I just couldn't miss. Let's dig in!
The evening began with Los Angeles’s power metal giants, Armored Saint. Right out of the gate, we were treated to Guitar Hero shreds and classic 1980’s Metal Mayhem. Armored Saint has some heavy hitters in their line up with the magical John Bush on vocals, Joey Vera on Bass, Jeff Duncan on Guitar and of course the Sandoval Brothers - Phil on Guitar and Gonzo on the drums. Playing songs from their 40 year discography was a treat, beginning their set with “1812 Overture” and then steamrolling right into “End Of The Attention Span”. It was a proper way to set off the tone for the entire night's festivities. They followed with many more bangers to round out the 9 song set list.
John Bush is always a delight to watch as he makes his way back and forth on the stage with confident fervor, hitting all the right notes at all the right times. Joey Vera never disappoints with his insane bass technicality .The Sandoval Brothers are a Tour De Force of musical genius. Jeff Duncan on guitar is a perfect fit for Armored Saint contributing to a well oiled machine of metal. At one point in the life span of Armored Saint, they had lost Bush to Anthrax in 1992 only to return in 1999 for the bands reunion. Although the band has had some line up changes over the years they are back touring behind their 2020 release, Punching the Sky, we were thankful that Armored Said has taken time out of their busy recording schedule(for a the rumored new album dropping sometime in 2024) to wow us with their metal mastery - incredible!
After a brief stage change over, the crowd was ready for Queensrÿche to hit the stage. They successfully amped up the crowd with Pantera’s “Walk” as an intro. Then without warning, they jumped straight away into the 1981 self titled 4 song E.P, beginning with the explosive “Queen Of The Ryche”. That was immediately followed by “Nightrider” “Blinded” and “The Lady Wore Black” - what an explosive way to begin the set.
Following was Queensrÿche's first full length album The Warning, and it was played in it’s entirety. Released in 1984, The Warning was not one of the band’s most prolific releases (according to album sales), but was one the most brutally intense and cerebral albums I can think of from this band. For those who don't know, it was inspired in part by the world events of the 1940's and George Orwell's classic novel, 1984. Michael Wilton was captivating to watch on lead guitar. Joined on stage with the unbelievable talent of Mike Stone, they ripped through the track listings starting with “Warning", “En Force” and “Deliverance” and all all songs were simply astounding. The crowd was in a trance throughout the set from the thought provoking lyrical content and mind piercing power metal. Todd La Torre was insanely impressive as the bands lead singer and front man, hitting his pitch and high octave notes with perfection. "Take Hold of The Flame” was my favorite song of the night really showcasing Eddie Jackson’s reverberating bass licks. “Child Of Fire” really highlighted drummer Casey Grillo’s timing and plangent beats behind the skins. Ending the evening with “Roads To Madness” as we knew it was the last track of the album, we all wanted more from Queensrÿche on this sensational evening. The show ended with a 2-song encore including "Prophecy" and "Empire" and highlighted in spades why this bad is so beloved to so many all around the world.
Queensrÿche and Armored Saint continue their 34 date tour which will conclude May 12th in Ft. Meyers ,Fl. Then, Armored Saint will begin their Saints Will Conquer World Tour Summer 2024. If you can see either of these incredible bands live, make it happen. These are bands that you just don't want to miss!!
I love heading down to the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. It’s conveniently close to me, and I see a lot of the same familiar faces every time I go. This venue used to exist on Disney property at downtown Disney. This did limit the bands that could play the venue, as they had to be “Disney Approved” or they wouldn’t be allowed to perform. Since moving to the Garden Walk a few years ago, this rule has been lifted, and it feels like the House of Blues will book any band out there. This has opened the venue to having some of the wildest shows come through. The hardcore beasts known as Kublai Khan TX brought their United States Headliner 2024 to the House of Blues to rip the venue a new one. Bringing with them Sunami, Judiciary, and Momentum, this show may not have been allowed to happen at the original location. But its current location was ready to take on the chaos the fans were bringing.
Opening the night was California locals Momentum who got the show started with their song “Overkill.” As soon as those first beat down melodies rang out across the sound system, the crowd turned the House of Blues into a true hardcore show. Treating the place like we were in a basement show, with crowd killer moshers, crowd surfers, and the front row pushing and shoving on the barricade so hard that the security team had to hold it in place. With hardcore shows, the bands tend to not be too flashy, as Momentum's instrumentalists mostly just stood and played their instruments with conviction. It was the lead singer that helped elevate the energy in the crowd. As the tenacity in his voice could be felt in songs like “Forget 2 Die,” ‘7 Lives,” “Indulgence in a Lesser Self,” “Occam’s Razor,” “3AM,” and “Relapse.” Momentum was the perfect gut punch needed to start this chaotic night.
Up next was Judiciary, who mixed their hardcore sound with thrash metal. Starting their night off with “Blood,” guitarist Isreal Garza and Kyle Calfin riff on a Slayer inspired opening to the song. As bassist Jerel Ramirez and drummer Austin Scott-Looney come with in with the low end, they flavor the music with more beat down rhythms. Judiciary mix these two styles to perfection. So much so that the crowd is stomping about in the mosh pit with simultaneously head banging. But its not until vocalist Jake Collinson hits us with his screams that sends the crowd over the edge and surfers over the barricade. This energy was being fueled with songs like “Engulfed,” “Pure Fury,” “Karma’s Knife,” “Paradigm Piercer,” “Social Crusade,” “Temple,” and “The Axis of Equality.” The metal head in me loved the thrash infused beat that Judiciary was able to create, as my neck was sore the next day from headbanging mostly due to these songs.
Coming to the stage was the hardcore punk band known as Sunami. Originally created as a joke band to parody the Bay Area scene in 2019, their music ended up connecting with fans so much that it turned into a more tenured venture. Lead singer Josef Alfonso looks like a well mannered straight laced kid from the ‘burbs. But the power in his death growl and pig noises will send shockwaves through your ears. Guitarist Mike “Dirt” Durrett and bassist Theo Dominguez brought slam back to the House of Blues. While drummer Benny Eissmann, armed with his double kick drum, crafted the rhythm’s that let the crowd to go manic in the pit. Sunami unleashed an onslaught of songs like “Gate Crasher,” “Six,” “Dirty Work,” “No Heart,” “Contempt of Cop,” “Feds Watchin’,” “I Don’t Care,” “Die Slow,” ‘Y.A.B.,” “Y.S.A.B.,” “Step up,” and ending with “Weak Die First.” For what started as a joke band truly turned into one that is helping bring back hardcore and slam to the masses.
You’d think after 3 heavy beat down bands the crowd might be starting to wane on their energy. But they were still screaming and cheering during set change as they were ready to tear the place apart for their headliners. Opening their set with “Theory of Mind,” Kublai Khan TX was more than ready to give us what they have. Guitarist Nolan Ashley was armed with slow chuggy riffs that echo through our ear canals. Bassist Eric English tends to follow the guitar line adding a heavier layer to Ashley’s riffs. Drummer Issac Lamb helps to slow down the beat playing in half time and riding his crash cymbal. The sludgy-ness of the beat just emphasizes when the band speeds the beat back up and truly unleashes the rage in the crowd. Vocalist Matt Honeycutt mentioned early in the set that “We’re not here to reinvent the wheel. We’re hear to spin the pit.” Those words could not ring truer, as with each Kublai Khan TX song it felt like the crowd’s velocity continued to pick up. Though they were the headliner, they only played about a 45 minute set, but in that time they flowed through 17 songs back to back like “Loyal to None,” “Resentment,” “Boomslang,” “Swan Song,” “Low Tech,” “Us & Them,” “The Truest Love,” “No Kin,” “Taipan,” “Self-Destruct,” “True Fear,” “Eyes Up,” “Dynasty,” “The Hammer,” and ending with “Antpile.”
Once the show had finished and the lights came on, you could finally take in the true chaos that was released upon Anaheim. Fans were soaked in sweat, both their own and others from everyone pressing into each one another. A funk graced the air as the people were finally able to catch their breath. And not a single person walked out of that venue without a smile on their face. We went to war with Momentum, Judiciary, Sunami, and Kublai Khan TX. We trudged through the trenches of the mosh pit and came out the other side. We share a glancing smile and head nod in appreciation of every person who went just through hell with us.
Growing up in the mid-2000s, there was one late night infomercial that would always catch my attention. It was called Monster Ballads and it was a culmination of some of the best power ballads from some of the biggest metal bands of the 80s. One moment during this infomercial that always stood out was them playing about 10 seconds of the music video for “Silent Lucidity” by Queensrÿche, as this was my first introduction to the band. They have been going strong for over forty years now, and with this latest tour they wanted to show their appreciation to the fans by playing their first Self-Titled EP and their debut album The Warning in its entirety. Bringing with them fellow 80s metal band Armored Saint, fans sold out the House of Blues in Anaheim for a chance to relive the beginning of a bands career.
Though I have seen vocalist John Bush with Metal Allegiance the last two times they played the House of Blues, this was my first true experience seeing Armored Saint. As guitarist Jeff Duncan riffed the opening lick to “End of the Attention Span,” it built the anticipation and excitement in the crowd. As the rest of the band came in, the sound of Armored Saint brought me back to wishing I grew up in the 80s seeing these during the metal heyday. Solid guitar worked passed back and forth between Duncan and Phil Sandoval, with driving basslines from Joey Vera, and a galloping drum beat from Gonzo Sandoval. This foundation would get anyone in the crowd banging their head and rocking out, but it is Bush’s powerful vocals that takes Armored Saint’s sound to a whole new level. The man can balance melodic singing with powerful sustains that sound like the heavens opening and shooting a beam of light onto the singer. His talents could be heard with each song they played like “Raising Fear,” “Tribal Dance,” “Over the Edge,” “March of the Saint,” “Do Wrong to None,” “Isolation,” “Win Hands Down,” “Can U Deliver,” and ending with “Reign of Fire.” After Armored Saints set, all I could wonder was how they never came across my path before. I feel I have done a disservice to myself by not listening to them earlier, and this will be rectified moving forward.
A voice over spoke to the crowd, greeting fans and welcoming them into the world of Queensrÿche. Opening with the first song off their self-titled EP “Queen of the Reich,” we were transported out of the House of Blues and into a fantastical world that the band created. Its astounding to see and hear how vocalist Todd La Torre can push his voice to hit some of the high notes in these songs every night without fail. Guitarist Michael Wilton and Mike Stone build the ambiance of Queensrÿche with dueling guitars. When Wilton takes center stage to play his solos, he beautifully lets himself shine on his axe while heightening the overall song and never making it feel out of place to the whole experience. Bassist Eddie Jackson adds more than just texture to the songs, as his basslines holds weight and adds emotion that can be felt in the music. Drummer Casey Grillo rounds out the band and adds the final touch to a live performance by Queensrÿche with a drum set that almost envelopes him. We truly did get every single song off the band’s first EP and LP like “Nightrider,” “Blinded,” “The Lady Wore Black,” “Warning,” “En Force,” “Deliverance,” “No Sanctuary,” “NM 156,” “Take Hold of the Flame,” “Before the Storm,” “Child of Fire,” “Roads to Madness,” and we were graciously bestowed a two song encore of “Prophecy” and “Eyes of a Stranger.”
It is a very special time when a band decides to go back and perform their first albums in their entirety. The band has evolved past who they were at that time in their life, but the music still lives on and holds such a beloved place in fans hearts. Seeing the fans who showed up for this kind of experience, you could feel the passion and love they have for the band and for these original songs that introduced most people to who Queensrÿche would become. It was a night to relive the beginning of a true giant in the progressive metal genre.