France’s M83 (real name Anthony Gonzalez) has been on the cutting edge of the now fully revived and thriving Carpenter-throwback synthwave movement for some time. Releasing Midnight City well over a decade ago (sorry to put that out there) - which coincided with the sensational soundtrack of 2011’s Drive, spearheaded by Kavinsky’s Nightdrive - put M83 at the top before there was even a top to exist, despite the fact that Gonzalez’ aesthetic was something he had been hard at work at for a full decade prior. Fast forward 12 years and we have M83 dropping Fantasy this year, another album that is unmistakably and uniquely their own, continuing their journey at the top of the retro-revival act they helped to spearhead and seeing a return to the gorgeous, enormous spaces he explored on previous records. M83 hit the Palace Theater in Saint Paul this last week as part of the similarly-named Fantasy tour.
Gonzalez is known for large, bombastic productions, effortlessly bringing together disparate sounds to create a cohesive vision, but it can really go one of two ways when someone like that takes their show on the road - you might get someone orchestrating everything behind a deck (which has its own charm - not a knock) - or you might get the route M83 goes, with a huge backing band to translate his huge sonic visions into a huge live performance. The band comes out on stage for this tour to the gentle strums that make the opening of instrumental opening track "Water Deep", easing the anticipation of the crowd into the eventual, explosive crescendo found in the middle of the follow-up "Oceans Niagara". The lights pulse and glow in seeming parallel to the eventual build to that release of tension, a perfect symbiosis with the flair of M83’s work.
This energy flows into "Amnesia", a more traditional vocal-and-drum driven affair landing the packed crowd fully into the realm of dance. This ease of traversing moods has long been a staple of the band, made all the larger and more potent by the huge ensemble of backing musicians. Soundscapes bounded from gentle and intricate to effervescent and uncontained, guiding the audience across the imaginary landscapes that one thinks of when embracing the vision that M83’s new album presents. The crew brought the Palace crowd through a great deal of the Fantasy album before harkening way back into M83’s past for tracks like "Run Into Flowers" and "Gone", both cuts from their 2003 release Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts. These older tracks played just as powerfully, demonstrating the potency of the artistic vision that has driven the various evolutions of M83s sound.
Swinging back and forth across Fantasy and older tracks, it’s not an M83 show if it doesn’t close with "Midnight City" - which the crowd went absolutely ecstatic for as the telltale shouts began echoing over the speakers, a perfect way to sign off a night of memorable, emotional music.
The Hell & Back Tour featuring Keshi, No Rome, and James Ivy lit up the stage at the South Side Ballroom in Dallas, Texas. The sold-out crowd was buzzing with excitement, eagerly waiting for the start of the show.
The night kicked off with James Ivy, an indie-pop artist known for his unique sound that blends electronic beats with soulful melodies. His opening set was a perfect start to the night, getting the crowd warmed up with his smooth vocals and catchy beats. Ivy’s highlight performance was his latest single, “L-trip”, which brought the crowd to their feet and singing along.
Next up was No Rome, a rising Filipino-British artist who has been making waves in the music scene with his experimental sound that combines elements of R&B, pop, and electronic music. No Rome’s stage presence was undeniable, commanding attention from the moment he walked on stage. He performed a mix of old and new hits, including “Talk Nice” and “Hurry Home”.
Finally, it was time for the main event. Keshi, the headliner of the tour, took the stage to a thunderous roar from the audience. Keshi is known for his soulful voice and genre-bending music that blends pop, R&B, and indie-rock. His set included fan-favorites such as “Drunk” and “Blue” as well as new hits like “LIMBO” and “Beside You”. The crowd sang along to every word, and Keshi's emotional performance had many fans moved to tears.
Keshi's stage presence was captivating, and his music was only amplified by the mesmerizing light show and stage design. The highlight of the night was when he performed his encore with “Drunk”, which showcased his incredible vocal range and brought the audience to a moment of vast excitement to close out an already wonderful night.
Overall, The Hell & Back Tour featuring Keshi, No Rome, and James Ivy was a night to remember. Each artist brought a unique sound and energy to the stage, making for an unforgettable experience for all who attended.
Metalcore has been a huge driving force in my heavy metal education. From the screaming vocals to the blistering riffs, the resonant blast beats, and hellacious moshing to go along with the music, metalcore will always be a part of me. When it comes to this subgenre, one band from Ocala, Florida is looking to become the best of the best. I am talking about my boys of Wage War. What sets Wage War apart is their ability to throw in djent, hip hop, and nu metal into their signature sound and create magic with it. They proved that in 2021 with their latest release, Manic, and now they are back on the road to spread manic chaos to the masses. Joining them were metal/deathcore thrashers Spite and trap artist nothing,nowhere. One of their stops was at our favorite spot in Anaheim, the House of Blues on April 20th, so Rabit and I hopped in our car, and headed off to another heavy metal adventure.
Starting off the night were Bay Area bashers, Spite. This must be the 3rd or 4th time seeing them, and they always put on a spectacular performance. Darius Tehrani brings rage and viciousness to his vocals, throat punching us every time a verse comes out of him. His brother, Alex, slays the guitar riffs like Freddy Krueger slicing through your dreams. Bassist Stephen Mallory and drummer Cody Fuentes rounded out the group and they both brought destruction to the beat (and that’s a compliment). Spite recently put out their first record with Rise Records, Dedication to Flesh, and it has brought them up a peg in the metal community because the metalheads of that night were digging the new tunes they had created. From “Lord of the Upside Down” to “Caved In,” “Dedication to Flesh,” and “Crumble,” deathcore and metalcore mated together and gave us carnage. The rest of their set included the fan favorites like “IED,” “The Root of All Evil,” “Kingdom of Guts,” and “Kill or Be Killed.” The House of Blues is the biggest stage that I have seen them on, and after that night, I have a good feeling that the stages for Spite are only going to get bigger and meaner.
Up next was an artist known as nothing,nowhere. I’ve heard of this person in passing, but not had a chance to really look listen to him before this night. I have heard him feature on some pop punk and emo bands songs, which I thought might not fit with the more metalcore/hardcore energy of the night. But when he hit the stage, the genre of music that was played caught me off guard. Nothing,nowhere’s own music is more of a trap metal/emo rap style which find sonically into the night perfectly. Backed by a band of musicians, who’s names I unfortunately could not find, they brought the heaviness to nothing,nowhere’s sound that still let the raging fans go crazy in the mosh. Nothing,nowhere played a solid 40 minute set that kept the crowd jumping and going crazy with songs like “THIRST4VIOLENCE,” “PSYCHO_PSYCHIATRY,” “SUICIDE_PACT,” “dread,” “ANX13TY,” “Skully,” “TRAG3DY,” “buck,” “hammer,” “VEN0M,” and ending his set with “death.” Nothing.nowhere was the curve ball to the nights list of bands, but still managed to bring the house down.
Following nothing,nowhere’s performance, the crowd took a brief breather for merch and beer. About 30 minutes later, room goes dark, and war commences as Wage War starts off their set with “Relapse.” Frontman Briton Bond blew the audience away with his killer screams and at times, harmonious tones. Brute strength is what he displays every time he speaks. Along with rhythm guitarist Cody Quistad who sings the chorus’, both continue to make an effective duo on the mic. Lead axe man Seth Blake layered the tunes with vicious hooks that were also melodic. He did not always play solos, but his riffs along with Quistad’s brought the house down. Drummer Stephen Kluesener continues to put in elements jazz and blues to his post-hardcore & metalcore suave, while bassist Chris Gaylord kept the beat steady with his deafening blast licks. The whole night Wage War had the crowd in the palm of their hands with their great set list. Majority of their songs that night came from Manic, and they sounded fantastic. From “Teeth” to “Low,” “Southbound,” “Indestructible,” “Godspeed,” “High Horse,” “Slow Burn,” “Youngblood,” “Stitch,” “Me Against Myself,” “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” and “Circle the Drain,” it was metalcore excellence. For the encore, Wage War hit it home with a stripped-down version of “Johnny Cash” and the new favorite, “Manic.”
Like I said before, metalcore will always be a part of my life, and I cannot get enough it. Wage War put on their best show yet. Their willingness to experiment with their sound with the fans to see how they will react. Result, the metalheads of Anaheim caused chaos in Wage War’s honor. Same can be said about nothing,nowhere’s and Spite. Finally with a major metal label, they have reached the promise land. Metalcore was on fire at the House of Blues in Anaheim, and I cannot wait to go back for more. To Wage War, nothing,nowhere, and Spite, I salute you. Horns up!!!
Photos by Matt “Rabit” Martinez
On April 18, Destroy Boys made a stop at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles, California while pursuing their world tour. The band’s support for the night was Dublin-based pop punk band, The Murder Capital, and punk group, Soul Glo.
The Murder Capital promptly took the stage at 8pm and included songs from their two albums, Gigi’s Recovery and When I Have Fears. This exciting set was the perfect opener for this perfectly punk night as the band encouraged a mosh pit to form and even jumped into the audience and crowd-surfed.
Soul Glo followed The Murder Capital’s performance and continued that undeniable energy that comes with a punk concert. Beginning their animated set with “ROLLING LOUD, HEAR MY CRY,” they gave the audience a taste of what was to come for the remaining 30 minutes of their set. The crowd was energized for the performance by throwing undergarments on stage as well as empowered with the band’s words of activism.
The Murder Capital and Soul Glo, combined, set the perfect precedent for Destroy Boys’ unstoppable stage presence.
Entering the stage, the Destroy Boys were met with shrieks of excited fans waiting for hours and moshing for an hour in preparation for the headliner. They started their set with their latest single, “Beg For The Torture,” which was released earlier this month. Their setlist consisted of songs primarily from their latest album, Open Mouth, Open Heart, and their 2018 album, Make Room.
Switching vocals on songs between lead singer and guitarist Alexia Roditis and guitarist Violet Mayugba kept the audience enthralled and their eyes glued to the stage in front of them as the mic moved with their bodies. Taking after The Murder Capital, Roditis jumped into the crowd before leaving in preparation for the encore.
After a brief intermission leaving the stage before returning for the encore, the band came back to perform their final two songs: “Drain You,” a Nirvana cover, and “Piedmont,” performed by Roditis as the rest of the band sat behind them.
Overall, the Destroy Boys show with support from Soul Glo and The Murder Capital was the ultimate punk experience: roaring voices, incredible instrumentalists, angsty, activist, and an incredible array of passionate and dedicated fans.
Over the past year I have been able to see some old school hip-hop artists I grew up listening to. Checked off a lot from my bucket list. This past Saturday I was able to check off some old school R&B groups I also grew up with and loved. The show started with Tank, and while I never really listened to him very much, he did sound great. GUY was up next, from 1988 to 1990 they were one of my favorite groups, knew every word to every song. They sounded good, put on an amazing performance and had the crowd dancing the entire time. Next up was Keith Sweat, and at 61 he can still belt it out! I have been a huge Keith Sweat fan since 1987 when I first heard “I Want Her,” and still listen to all his music on the regular. And then it was time for New Edition, I can still remember hearing “Candy Girl” when I was 13 for the first time. And then just being a part of my life for years and years after, whether it was N.E. or Bobby or BBD or Johnny or Ralph, together or solo. There was always a hit song for years. This entire concert was amazing, something I will never forget, and I would love to see them all in concert again it was so good.
So my review is going to be a little different than others I’ve done, so many things to talk about I thought I would share my random observations and thoughts:
1. We arrived a little late and only got to hear Tanks last song, but he sounded real good. What a great voice.
2. We saw Tank in our hotel bar before the show, would have gotten a photo with him but he was getting food and didn’t want to disturb him.
3. Went to the show with my wife, Mala, and two friends, James & Tina. We all had an amazing time!
4. Pretty cool how GUY came walking up stairs below the stage….nice entrance.
5. Teddy sounded very good on “I Want To Get With You.”
6. Damn Teddy and Damian were going all out dancing when they went into “Groove Me.”
7. Amazing listening to the crowd sing along to “Goodbye Love” and “Piece Of My Love”….every single word with Aaron. Chills!
8. Back in the late 80’s to early 90’s I used to think Aaron Hall had one of the greatest voices in all of R&B. He cannot belt it out like he used to, range isn’t what it once was and voice is kind of raspy, but he still sounded good!
9. Crowd was so into GUY but when they hit us with “Teddy’s Jam” WOW!
10. During “Let’s Chill” Aaron was in the crowd….way back in the crowd singing! Very cool, I can only imagine what it was like being right there.
11. Damian Hall, who they never really gave many songs to sing, sounded so so good. Range was there and also was dancing all over stage.
12. Teddy Riley….yep yep…..was on point. Had his keyboard on stage and did his autotune thing he always did.
13. Damian and Aaron Hall are in amazing shape, like totally cut.
14. Aaron is 58, Teddy is 55 and Damian is 54. And they danced like they were in their 30’s.
15. When they went onto the song that got me hooked on GUY…”I Like,” I don’t think there was one person in their seats.
16. Just when we thought they were done, Teddy brings in “Rump Shaker”….the place was rocking. Check baby check baby 1, 2, 3, 4 check baby check baby 1, 2, 3……
17. Keith Sweat…..I have been a huge fan since 1987. I find you either love him or hate him….no in between.
18. I have been waiting to catch him live for years…..well worth the wait.
19. My boy James LOVES him! LOL
20. As much as I love Keith Sweat as a singer…..he just can’t dance.
21. I have favorite songs from all his albums, but Make It Last Forever is still my favorite album, every single song is great. He played a lot of those songs!!!
22. He sounded so good.
23. I think I was the only one of the four of us that truly appreciated Keith Sweat….I was on my feet the whole time.
24. When he went into “I Want Her” every single person sang along, it was so loud it was as if the crowd had a mic. Seen you last night, Saw you standing there, Couldn't picture the color of your hair, And all I wanted to know, Were you really there?
25. His female background singer is amazing.
26. Listening to “There You Go Tellin’ Me No Again” made me think about him singing at the wedding in New Jack City.
27. Keith can sing!
28. One song I have never liked is “Merry Go Round” and I don’t think the crowd was into it either.
29. He paid tribute to Gerald Levert and played the LSG song “My Body.” Crowd loved it….I only wish Johnny would have come out to join him.
30. His rendition of “In The Rain” was fantastic, his improvising was so good.
31. He went into Silk’s “Freak Me” because he wrote it and knew the crowd would love it, and let the crowd take the song….14,000 people all singing together…pretty cool to hear! 'Cause tonight, baby, I wanna get freaky with you
32. Very cool bringing Teddy on stage for the last few songs since Teddy wrote and produced the first album with Keith. NEW JACK SWING!
33. Keith Sweat can belt it out!!!
34. The way he finished off was amazing-“Make It Last Forever,” “Right And A Wrong Way,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “I’ll Give All My Love To You,” and finishing with “Nobody.” Simply amazing!
35. Did I mention Keith can really sing?
36. Did I mention his background singer can sing?
37. Major bucket list checked off the list.
38. We got a big surprise, we knew Bobby left the tour a few weeks ago and didn’t expect to see him….well (more on that in a second)
39. The intro was very cool, old clips and videos from over the years……..and then we hear Johnny’s voice….Johnny, Ronnie, Ricky, Mike, Ralph…….Bobby too well, well, well, well, oh welllll, word to the m-m-m-mutha. As they come up rising from below the stage. CROWD WENT NUTS!!!! Goosebumps!
40. My wife and I wore matching shirts that read, Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph & Johnny. We got sooooo many compliments!
41. Wow can they still dance.
42. Ralph sounds the same.
43. Started off with “Crucial” and they killed it.
44. They were the first boyband, they invented the boyband; and they are still the BEST to ever do it, hands down, no one even close.
45. The showmanship…wow.
46. Ralph can sing!
47. Johnny Gill
48. Johnny Gill to me had the best R&B male voice back in the day, so amazing…..and he still is amazing. Still my favorite male voice.
49. “Rub You The Right Way” wow…….
50. When I say Bobby, you say Brown…Bobby (Brown) Bobby (Brown)…..Bobby came on stage for “My Prerogative.” The. Crowd. Went. CRAZY!
51. My biggest surprise of the entire show was Bobby and his singing……he sounded really really good. Better than I think he has sounded in years. He didn’t dance at all, but I’ll take it.
52. The band and DJ for New Edition sounded so good, and I doubt any of them were even alive when New Edition first came out. Heck probably weren’t alive when Heart Break came out or even Home Again.
53. “If It Isn’t Love” was next and all I could think about was their video….practicing their dance steps. A lot of the same moves on stage.
54. Bobby came back on stage and they took us back to late 1984 with “Mr. Telephone Man.” Took us all back to our childhood.
55. Ralph and Bobby can really sing!
56. They kept us back in ‘84 with “Cool It Now,” and while their voices are more mature and different now, they sure can pull off these songs they sang as teens.
57. Did I mention they can dance and put on a show?
58. Ronnie pretty much looks the same.
59. They finished off the old school stuff with the song that got us all hooked on N.E., “Candy Girl” and then “Count Me Out.” It is amazing how some songs can transform you back to a different time for a moment!
60. It was time for Bobby to come back on stage and slow it down a little with “Roni.” Crowd swaying back and forth all song.
61. Bobby got himself a nice voice.
62. My, My, My……it holds a special place in my heart.
63. Johnny simply KILLED it on My, My, My
64. Did I say Johnny can sing?
65. He must have sung My 200 times….in so many different ways!
66. And the crowd could have sat through another 500 Mys.
67. Ricky is 55, Michael is 54, Bobby is 54, Ronnie is 55, Johnny is 56 and Ralph is 54, and they are still so good!
68. While we got to hear Ralph on most N.E. songs as the lead singer, we needed to hear a solo song. He hit us with a nice chill rendition of “Sensitivity.” Very nice!
69. It was finally time to hear some BBD. They have been dancing all night and singing background.
70. “When Will I See You Smile Again?” was first up….little surprised to hear them start slow.
71. Ricky sounded great!
72. Crowd singing along the whole time….especially the OHHHHH!
73. I didn’t love BBD back in the day (liked but not loved), but when “Do Me” or “Poison” came on at the club, everyone had to jump out on the dance floor. And this was no different.
74. We all rapped along…….
75. Backstage, underage, adolescent, How ya doin', fine, she replied, I sighed, I like to do the wild thing, Action took place, Kinda wet, don't forget, The J, the I, the M, the M, the Y, why'all, I need a body bag
76. One more time for Bobby, “Don’t Be Cruel” ……the crowd truly LOVES Bobby. He’s got to be the most loved of N.E., I am not sure I get it, must be the bad boy thing.
77. But don’t get me wrong, was so cool seeing him live and wow did he sound great.
78. More Johnny…..”Can You Stand The Rain.” WOW
79. Did I mention how good the dancing was?
80. We knew we couldn’t get out of there without “Poison!” Everyone on their feet!
81. I was at the bar shake shakin' takin' 'em off, And that night I played the wall, Checkin' out the fellas the highs the lows, Keepin' one eye open still clockin' 'em, Still one particular girl that stood out from the rest, Poison as can be how how is she, Michael me and see and I'm runnin' the show, Bell Biv DeVoe ha-ha ha-ha, Now you know you're Slick blow
82. And the crowd sings along…..
83. It's driving me out of my mind- (Ricky), That's why it's hard for me to find- (Crowd), Can't get it outta my head- (Ricky), Miss her, kiss her, love her, wrong move you're dead- (Crowd)
84. Finished it off with “N.E. Heartbreak” with Johnny going off once again.
85. What an amazing performance by all six members!
86. What an amazing show!
87. GUY killed it!
88. Keith killed it!
89. N.E. killed it!
90. Go see them all if you get a chance!
-One Love
Todd
On the evening of the third stop of their tour, Ron Pope, Lydia Luce, and Caleb Hearn took the stage at The Kessler Theater in Dallas, Texas, delivering a stunning and memorable performance that left the audience buzzing with excitement.
The night began with Caleb Hearn, who captivated the crowd with his soulful acoustic guitar and powerful voice. He played a mix of original songs and covers, showcasing his impressive range and leaving the audience eager for more. Hearn's warm and engaging stage presence set the tone for the rest of the night, making him the perfect opening act for the talented musicians to follow.
Next up was Lydia Luce, whose hauntingly beautiful voice filled the theater with a mesmerizing sound. Luce's performance was a true showcase of her musical talents. She played a mix of songs from her latest album, Dark River, as well as some older favorites, including the hauntingly beautiful "Sausalito." Luce's set was nothing short of stunning, and the audience was left in awe of her vocal range and emotional depth.
Finally, it was time for the headliner of the night, Ron Pope, to take the stage. Pope kicked off the set with "You're the Reason I Come Home," an energetic and uplifting song that had the audience clapping and dancing along. Throughout the night, Pope played a mix of fan favorites and newer material, including "Wherever You Go” and "My Wildest Dreams." His powerful voice and stage presence filled the theater, and the crowd was completely enraptured by his performance.
One of the standout moments of the night was when Pope brought Lydia Luce back on stage to perform a duet of "A Drop In The Ocean," a hauntingly beautiful ballad that showcased both artists' talents. The chemistry between the two musicians was palpable, and the audience was completely mesmerized by their performance.
Overall, the concert was a truly unforgettable experience, showcasing the incredible talents of three amazing musicians. The Kessler Theater was the perfect venue for the intimate and emotional performance, and the audience left feeling completely satisfied and fulfilled. Anyone who has the chance to catch these musicians on tour should not hesitate to do so – it is an experience that they will never forget.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Hunnypot Live show #485! We have a stacked lineup that is sure to get your ears ringing and your heart pumping. Our co-host for the night is none other than the multi-talented Field Cate, known for his impressive acting career and his skills on the guitar. But first, we have some incredible musical acts that are ready to rock the stage. Hailing from Tacoma, WA, Alex Vile is bringing an electrifying mix of 90's grunge and new age indie. Savannah Pope promises to deliver her classic Rock ethos and soaring vocals. And finally, our headliners for the night need no introduction. Fencer, led by Field Cate's sick vocals and lead guitar, will take the stage and give you a night that you won't soon forget. Listen to the full show at the links above. 4/24/23
Field Cate comes from a family of Hollywood entertainers and has carved out his own successful career in the entertainment industry. From an early age, he was drawn to the stage, performing in musical theater and dance productions. He turned professional at the age of five and began booking print work, independent films, and commercials for big-name brands like McDonald's and Fox.
Field gained recognition for his dramatic roles on hit TV shows such as Without a Trace and Cold Case, but it was his series-regular role on ABC’s Pushing Daisies that earned him a Young Artist Award nomination in 2008. He later lent his voice to the popular Disney DVDs Space Buddies, Santa Buddies, and Treasure Buddies.
Field has used his platform to become involved in charitable pursuits. He has spoken out on behalf of PETA, served as a StarPower Ambassador for the Starlight Children's Foundation, and lent his support to organizations like Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
As an adult, Field is pursuing his passion for music as the lead singer and guitarist of the three-piece, Los Angeles-based rock band Fencer. Despite his impressive lineage, Field has proven to be a talented and versatile performer, continuously pushing the boundaries of his craft.
Tacoma, WA’s Alex Vile began as a solo project in 2021 with singer/guitarist Alexandra Vileniusand has turned into a 4 piece Modern, Indie Grunge band with the addition of Kaelyn Stevens on bass, Leo Quile on lead guitar & Evan Hartungon drums.
With DIY roots and also putting her own twist on the genre she is crafting her own space to thrive in. Alex Vile has played numerous shows in the Northwest and has recorded an album worth of songs with Producer Jim Kaufman(Everclear, Night Riots, Instant Crush).
Currently, Savannah is wrapping Pandemonium - a concept album about mental illness -with Nine Inch Nails / No Doubt / III Teeth producer Sean Beavan, set for release this year. She raised all the funds for the album as well as a tour to follow on Kickstarter.
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Fencer, the self-defined garage opera band, is leading a new era of rock music with their own undeniably, dynamic sound. The Los Angeles-based trio consists of vocalist and guitarist Field Cate, bassist Scott Sauve, and drummer Cameron Sauve. Only two years after their inception, they became fan-favorite openers for notable acts such as Badflower, The Wrecks, and Dead Poet Society.
Tackling the stigma surrounding mental health and its struggles, Field’s emotive and frenetic vulnerability resonates with listeners to further solidify the band’s electric presence. The trio have racked up an impressive 2 million listens across all streaming platforms, despite having not even released their debut album. Field’s synesthesia (seeing music in color), Scott’s vigorous bass-lines, and Cameron’s expertise in self-producing flow together to create an eccentric style that is certain to become rock’s newest novelty.
Carcass’ reputation precedes them - the masters of both grind and melodic death metal, their revolutionizing of death metal back in the early 90s cemented them as a household name, and they’ve never left the limelight since. The Liverpoolian’s support on the Torn Arteries tour came in the form of a death and thrash metal sandwich, with support from Creeping Death, Sacred Reich and Municipal Waste, keeping the tempos high and the music very brutal.
Texans Creeping Death started out the night - a bit early in fact - and set the scene for the carnage that would follow! By a considerable margin the band with the shortest tenure, this old-school influenced death metal squad came out the gates flying with extremely tight musicianship that formed a pit in the crowd with ease. Both guitarists’ skulls pretty much never stop rotating, Trey Pemberton in particular, whose dreads were windmilling at least 99% of the entire time they played.
Veterans Sacred Reich followed - their old school thrash metal approach to being loud a crushing contrast to the death-oriented approach of the music preceding them. This Phoenix quartet come across as fresh as ever, a reminder that the sound that brought it down and started it all remains lethally powerful, especially presented live. As Phil Rind screams like a madman over classic grooves and newer addition Joey Radziwill sends his endless hair careening around the stage, it becomes impossible to not want to smash something nearby and headbang as hard as you can.
Municipal Waste rounded out the support for the night, and what a way to set up the crowd for the main act. The Virginians have been around the block and then a bit more too, and seeing them live you really understand why they’ve seen such success. Theatrical and unhinged would best describe the interplay amongst all the band members onstage, a mad party that’s been unleashed on the world. The circle pit forming in the crowd was almost instant and pretty much never let up as groove after groove shook First Avenue’s ancient walls.
The lights settled, the screen rose, and Carcass took the stage. An old friend of mine described their set as “the best show he saw in 2022”, and it’s not even one song in before it becomes apparent why that is. It seems almost unfair that the band - having released classics in two separate genres and single-handedly changing how people viewed whether loud, intense music could also be melodic and catchy - would also be some of the finest live performers around, but they have that in their bag too. Carcass’ sound translates live beautifully, and this is made all the better by their phenomenal musicianship and stage presence. Bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker in particular is an absolute madman, spending more time raising his bass into the sky than keeping it level. It’s a band where I had to chuckle to myself at simply how absurdly good they were several songs into their set, coming off a rendition of "Buried Dreams" from their landmark album Heartwork. Carcass carried their massacre through all of their albums, playing songs off the aforementioned Heartwork, Surgical Steel, Torn Arteries, and a couple tracks of Necroticism…, and even an oncore track off of Symphonies of Sickness.
Minnesota metalheads have been feasting the past week - with Enslaved’s tour hitting the varsity last week and now with the legendary Carcass rolling through First Avenue with a stacked lineup, who could really ask for anything better from the shows available?
Check out the latest video from X-Raided and King Iso, Legendary. These are two of the best and brightest in the industry, and this video highlights why they are so beloved and respected all over the world!
Stay Strange - Matthew Belter
Excerpts from todays press release below:
(April 21, 2023) Today, underground rap phenomenon and Sacramento native X-Raided joins forces with fellow independent luminary King Iso on a knockout new single and music video entitled “Legendary.” Listen to “Legendary” HERE and watch the music video HERE. It adorns his forthcoming Strange Music debut album, A Prayer In Hell, out June 2, 2023.
Gritty production sets the tone right out of the gate, infusing the track with foreboding energy. Meanwhile, X-Raided makes a declaration with a catchy chant as he proclaims, “On a mission to be legendary, James Taylor, Carole King.” For real, when was the last time you heard folk deities referenced in a militantly magnetic hip-hop banger?! Of course, King Iso pulls up with his own brand of bold post-apocalyptic lyrical fire.
About the song, X-Raided commented, “‘Legendary’ is a mission statement of my energy for this chapter of my career. It’s go time. No excuses. It’s my opportunity as a lyricist to remind people what I’m capable of. Hip-hop is a sport to me. I want to win championships. Now I have the best coach and savage teammates. There are no excuses.”
In the accompanying visual, our heroes face a horde of mutant zombies in pursuit of peace. You need to watch it to find out what happens though…
He added, “The video is me and my dawg King Iso trying to save humanity from a zombie virus. We want to leave a better world for our children, both figuratively and literally. Dopeness is the cure and I Am Legend.”
X-Raided continues a prolific year on the path to A Prayer In Hell. He recently unleashed “Stratus Fear” [feat. Tech N9ne]. So far, it has already posted up over 288K YouTube views on the music video in addition to receiving plugs from the likes of The Hype Magazine and more.
“Stratus Fear” was added to 2 popular music playlists, Rap Heavy Hitters on Apple Music and Alternative Hip-Hopon TIDAL.
A Prayer In Hell follows his journey from over two decades behind bars to re-entry in the world and a new lease on life where no moment will be wasted—as evidenced by his relentless output thus far…
Additionally, he has consistently utilized his platform to uplift. He spoke to TMZabout the important implications of California bill AB-2799, which bars the admission of rap lyrics as evidence against defendants (and could’ve saved him from jail time). The outlet added, “X-Raided wants his experiences steer past, current and future inmates in a better direction.” He chatted with hometown paper The Sacramento Bee too.
Last year, he canvased the country supporting Tech on the Asin9ne Tour in addition to appearing on “Still Right Here” [feat. X-Raided, Garrett Raff, & Simeon], reeling in 1.3 million Spotify streams and 338K YouTube views on the music video.
There are very few Finnish bands that have broken into the mainstream media. There are even fewer that have become household names. But one of those very few is a band called HIM. Even in high school in the mid 2000s, when the internet and music sharing wasn’t as easily available as it is now, I knew of the band HIM. None of my friends listened to them, but we all knew about them. That was notoriety back then. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I finally got into HIM, and unfortunately to me, they had retired. Even though HIM had retired, lead singer Ville Valo could not be kept from making new music or returning to the stage. Announcing his solo project under the name VV, a tour was announced over a year in advance before any song had been released. I marked my calendar and waited patiently as that year passed to finally see Ville Valo on his Neon Noir Tour with support from Kælan Mikla. By the time I got to the Belasco Theatre, the line was already around multiple blocks as fans have just as eagerly been awaiting this show as I have.
Opening the night was an Icelandic three piece called Kælan Mikla. I had no idea what to expect from this band, but to say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. Classifying themselves as a post-punk dark wave band, and dressing like gothic lolita’s. I was immediately captivated. Lead singer Laufey Soffía was casting a witches spell on the audience as she moved her vocals from melodic melodies to stepping back from the mic and full on screaming at the crowd. Bassist Margrét Rósa Dóru-Harrýsdóttir was getting lost in her own melody as she danced throughout the set, but never lost the groove of each song. Pulling double duty on synthesizer and the flute was Sólveig Matthildur Kristjánsdóttir, who created tantalizing melodies that moved the packed crowd. Kælan Mikla played an enchanting set that included songs like “Stormurinn,” “Kalt,” “Sirenur,” “Næturblom,” “Andvaka,” “Solstodur,” and ending with “Hvitir Sandar.” Kælan Mikla may have come to Los Angeles as unknowns, but they left with a slew of new fans.
Finally, after a year of sitting and waiting, we were just moments away from Ville Valo playing Los Angeles again. Opening the night with “Echolocate Your Love,” Ville stepped onto the stage embodying the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. I then heard the biggest scream I have ever heard in the Belasco Theatre as people lost their minds. I have always heard that Ville Valo had a beautiful baritone voice, and you can hear how deep and sultry it is on record but hearing it in person was candy to the ears. Ville doesn’t move to much on stage, he would rather plant himself at the foot of the stage and lock eyes with every fan in the crowd. When the moment comes that you get to catch his gaze, his piercing green eyes fill your soul with pleasure as if Dracula was trapping you under his spell. But as soon as the moment happens, Ville finds his next passionate fan and you are just left wanting more of this man. The night was a fantastic mix of Ville’s solo album, intertwined with HIM’s biggest hits, including “The Funeral of Hearts,” “Neon Noir,” “Loveletting,” “Buried Alive by Love,” “Baby Lacrimarium,” “Wings of a Butterfly,” “Heartful of Ghosts,” “Join Me in Death,” and “When Love and Death Embrace.” As Ville walked off stage, the crowd was left panting in a puddle of their own sweat. But they were not done. They were not done being engulfed by their desire for Ville Valo. Coming back on stage for a four song encore including “Soul on Fire,” “Salute the Sanguine,” “Poison Girl,” and finishing off the night with “Saturnine Saturnalia.” As the lights came up, crowd cried for more pleasure. The crowd cried as they could have kept going. I’ve never seen a single man leave a crowd so wanting of more.
This was just a normal Tuesday to most people, but for the screaming fans at the Belasco Theatre, they were just given ultimate musical pleasure by a man who knows how to seduce with music. I finally understood why so many people were in love with HIM’s music and Ville Valo especially. The man can just gaze into your eyes, and he knows you are his. The wait until he comes back, could be the longest musical celibacy for many people. But this was not a normal concert, this was a night of romance and pleasure that most people may never truly know.