It was complete Palladimodium when the triple-bill of Hatebreed, Black Label Society, and Anthrax stormed The Hollywood Palladium on July 29. Forgive the pun, but the sold out Friday night show was everything any metal lover could have wanted. And more.
The festivities started right around 7pm when Hatebreed took the stage. They are not your typical opener. The Connecticut-based band has been pounding out their brand of metal for over 25 years. Jamey Jasta on vocals led the way augmented by the twin attack of Frank Novinec and Wayne Lozinak on guitars and backing vocals. The powerful rhythm section of Chris Beattie on bass and Matt Byrne on drums had hearts thumping inside each audience members’ chest. If you missed them here, they’ll be back in southern California as headliners at the House of Blues in Anaheim this November.
Next up: Black Label Society. While there have been more than a few Society members, this current line up has been together for long enough to be tight, powerful, and loud in the most metal way possible.
BLS is of course led by the one and only Zakk Wylde. The bearded wonder handles lead vocals and lead guitar in Black Label Society and his mic stand also serves as a pulpit. And by stepping up on a riser for each solo, Father Zakk brings the religion of metal to the masses. He’s a sight to behold with bare arms, full kilt (he was wearing shorts underneath), and combat boots. Standing on a platform makes the already imposing guitarist even more impressive as he swings his “Wylde” blond hair to and fro. The Thunder God Thor has his hammer and Zakk Wylde has his axe. And he wields it like no other. Or since Wylde switches out guitars for almost every song, should it be “wields them?”
Although Wylde is without a doubt the “mane” focus of BLS, the contributions of Dario Lorina on guitar, John Deservio on bass, and Jeff Fabb on drums can’t be understated. This is a strong, riff-based band that brings the heaviness. But Zakk is a man of many talents and as we all know, he’s a multi-instrumentalist, so it was great to see him behind the piano for “In This River”, his tribute to Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul from Pantera. But this being BLS, the piano that had just provided such moving music became another platform for Zakk to stand upon during an epic behind the head duel with Dario during “Fire It Up.” BLS ended the evening with “Stillborn” although their great set was anything but.
Somehow, it doesn’t feel like forty years since Anthrax exploded on the scene. Maybe because the thrash metal stalwarts don’t seem at all jaded. Their energy, passion, and humor were all on display. Their set didn’t start until the crowd was fully understood who was about to hit the stage courtesy of a video that featured celebrities paying tribute to the band with a montage of quick cuts at the end with each one saying “Anthrax!”
Then the video screen hit the floor and Anthrax was let loose on the Palladium. The moshing began and if you didn’t know what type of music was being played, lead singer Joey Belladonna was more than happy to tell you that you were in for a night of Thrash Metal. This band has fully embraced the genre title and revels in it.
Frank Bello was an uncaged smiling, head banging, jumping bass player who was everywhere on the stage looking like he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. On drums of course is Charlie Benante, one of the best metal drummers anywhere. Which is why he, along with Zakk Wylde, will be part of what’s being called a Pantera tribute coming soon. On lead guitar is Jon Donais, an excellent player who is slightly less animated than Ian or Bello, which is not a knock at all. Those two aren’t at 11, they’re more like 12.
Although Belladonna is the lead singer, the case could be made that Scott Ian is the face of Anthrax. While his trademark tuff of chin hair is now a whitish-gray, that is truly the only sign of age. From the shorts and F-you socks to the middle finger skull ring on his pick hand, Ian may be an elder statesman of Thrash, but he refuses to grow up. And that’s a good thing.
This being a 40-year anniversary celebration, all of the big numbers were played. That being said, the band still had the ability to add something unexpected to the evening. On the penultimate song, Chuck D came out for vocals on “Bring The Noise.” The crowd went crazy and did exactly what the song called for. When the show finally ended, it was obvious that The Hollywood Palladium audience had been pummeled for almost five hours by some of the best that metal has to offer.
As someone who grew up on underground hip hop, UndergroundHipHopBlog.com has always held a special place in my heart. Throughout my college days, I frequented the website in search of underground hip hop that was too raw for the radio waves. Rejecting the cotton-candy poppy style of auto-tuned hip hop that dominated the early 2010s, I scrolled into online wormholes to dig up thought-provoking, politically-charged, socially-aware counterculture hip hop. Through this site, I was introduced to a wide array of music ranging from La Coka Nostra to Blue Scholars. The website was a one stop shop that showcased the golden age of hip hop with an emphasis on lyricism. I was more than stoked when I heard that UndergroundHipHopBlog.com was celebrating their 10-year anniversary at Catch One in Los Angeles with Immortal Technique as the headliner. There’s no artist out there that embodies the spirit of underground hip hop more than Immortal Technique. I knew this one was one I had to catch. Let’s hop into the event.
First off, I need to tip my hat to the venue Catch One. The seemingly endlessly modular venue is no stranger to hosting UndergroundHipHopBlog.com’s events. I had the opportunity to cover their Night Of The Living Dead event at this venue back in 2019. Click HERE for a link to that review featuring Necro and Madchild. One reason I really like this venue is the stage setting is a bit lower to the ground in contrast to other venues with the same capacity This lowered stage works well for this style of gritty music pulling the action closer to the crowd.
Up first, DJ Survive handled the ones and twos all night. Opening the night, he played records that took me way back. Dropping gems from the likes of Non Phixion and Jedi Mind Tricks, UGHHBlog’s resident DJ warmed up the room as fans piled in. Shout out to Pawz One and CThree who hosted the main stage all night in between sets and even gave us a few songs of their own. The small stage in “The Lounge” was active for a good part of the night featuring acts like NVY JONEZ LKR, Indigenous Cat, Organized Krime, AG Cora, Tony Da Kidd, and Gruesome Twosome. The main stage in “The Disco Room” was graced by DJ Survive, Zero Of El Vuh, XP The Marxman, Vel Nine, and finally Immortal Technique. Of all the openers, Vel Nine was the standout performer of the night. The California native shined as she delivered deft bars over sinister boom bap beats. Headlining the night was the one and only Immortal Technique. Assisted by Swave Sevah and others from back home, the Harlem rapper played songs off his Revolutionary Vol. 1 and Revolutionary Vol. 2 like “Harlem Streets” and “Point Of No Return”. He also hit us with a few a cappella verses displaying his verbal prowess. I’ve seen Immortal Technique three times over the years and it’s a fair assessment to say he’s only getting better with time.
Shout out UndergroundHipHopBlog.com for pulling this one off. It’s been 10 years in the game and this team is still on the forefront of showcasing that true raw hip hop. I’ll admit, over the years, my personal taste of music has strayed away from the purities of conscious underground hip hop but UndergroundHipHopBlog.com has always held it down. Shout out to them on 10 years and I wish them another awesome 10 years. Peep them at www.undergroundhiphopblog.com
Growing up, riding in my dad’s truck in Bay Area of California, his favorite radio station to listen to was the Boneyard! There they would play all the greats from the 70s and 80s hard rock and metal genre. It’s really what cultivated my love for what we call Classis Rock now. My mom loved playing the lighter side of rock music from the 70s & 80s, and it gave me a very well-rounded appreciation for this type of music. My mom’s favorite band from her childhood was Styx. She would play them often growing up, and because of this, I developed my own love for this band. So much so, that my mom and I have seen them live together over 10 times now. And when Styx was coming to the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA, it was time to add another tally mark to how many times we see them together. This time they were doing a co-headlining tour with REO Speedwagon, and having Loverboy be the opening band. We walked into the venue that night to see everyone pulling out their tight leather pants, and best cheetah print tops. This night, we walked back into the 80s.
Opening the night was the Calgary natives, Loverboy. Growing up I never really heard of this band by name. I sadly believe you could talk to a lot of millennials, and they wouldn’t know the band Loverboy by name. Which is a real shame. But I can guarantee that everyone has heard the song “Working for the Weekend.” It is an 80s staple that has been in the cultural zeitgeist since it was released. So, if Loverboy could put on a show that lived up to the legacy of this song, I knew we were in for a fantastic show. Lead singer Mike Reno still has the pipes to sing in a big Amphitheatre and hit the back of the venue. The power he pulls out in his vocals is something most other singers past 60 can’t always do. Guitarist Paul Dean and keyboardist Doug Johnson brought the melodies that got all the dancers out of their seats. Bassist Ken Sinnaeve was still moving and grooving around the stage like he’s never left his 20’s. Striking poses for every lady in the crowd. Drummer Matt Frenette was having the time of his life behind the kit, and he effortlessly blasted away through the songs like “Notorious,” “Queen of the Broken Hearts,” “Lovin’ Every Minute of it,” “Turn me Loose,” and of course “Working for the Weekend.” Loverboy proved to me that they are a name that deserves to be more recognizable when it comes to 80s classic bands.
Up next was the first of the two co-headliners, and the band my mom made me fall in love with, Styx! I have seen a lot of shows, I have seen a lot of bands, and I have heard a lot of singers on album verse live. I honestly believe that Styx is one of the best bands that continually sounds just as good live as they do albums. And they have been putting out music Since 1972. Not very many bands can claim they still sound like they did 50 years ago. Guitarist, and one of the vocalists, Tommy Shaw (to quote my mom) 'is still just as dreamy now as he was when Styx first started'. And he hasn’t lost an edge on his guitar playing, singing, or wearing some skintight white pants to drive all the moms crazy. Keyboardist, and second vocalist, Lawrence Gowan is the most spirited on stage. Dancing around the guys throughout the show and standing on his rotating keyboard while belting out the songs. Guitarist, and third vocalist, James “JY” Young blends his guitar playing with Tommy so perfectly, to create some of the catchiest melodies to ever come out of the 70s & 80s. Bassist Ricky Phillips syncs up with drummer Todd Sucherman to create the backline that allows the audience to groove. Though he does not perform with them full time, I am always so happy when original bassist Chuck Panozzo comes out for a couple songs. Styx just put out a new album last year, and they blended their setlist perfectly with new songs and the classic’s that everyone knows. Playing songs like “The Fight of our Lives,” “Grand Illusion,” “Crash of the Crown,” “Light Up,” “Rockin’ the Paradise,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “Khedive,” “Come Sail Away,” “Mr. Roboto,” and finishing their set with “Renegade.” Styx always puts on a performance that I feel could match their shows from their younger years.
Closing out this co-headlining night was REO Speedwagon, hitting the stage with “Music Man,” and ready to get the audience moving. Vocalist Kevin Cronin still has the pipes to belt out the REO classics, and a smile on his face the whole show like he never lost his childhood wonder. It was really refreshing to see, as his smile lit up every person in the audience who he made eye contact with. Guitarist Dave Amato and bassist Bruce Hall were just as playful on stage, working both sides of the crowd, and standing back-to-back to each other for a classic rock pose. Drummer Bryan Hitt was not someone who wanted to get forgotten in the back. Having his drum set setup with a huge opening so the fans can see him and how well he plays. All the while, founding member and keyboardist Neal Doughty danced his fingers across the keys. REO Speedwagon may not be known for the most powerful arena rock anthem songs, but they do have some of the biggest power ballads to come across the classic rock music scene. Playing songs like “Take it on the Run,” “Keep Pushin’,” “Tough Guys,” “Can’t Fight this Feeling,” “Don’t Let Him Go,” “Back on the Road Again,” “Ridin’ the Storm Out,” and “Keep on Loving You,” “Roll with the Changes.” There were many times that the fans shined their phone lights out in the crowd to many of these songs.
For any fans of classic rock, this was the show to be at. Throughout the night, each band had classic hits that got the entire crowd singing along. The lead singers could have just sat on stage their entire set, and the audience would have taken care of the vocal duties for each song. It would have been a weird show to experience. But that’s just how beloved these bands and these fans are. That after 50 years, people are still packing an Amphitheatre and singing their hearts out to these songs that Loverboy, Styx, and REO Speedwagon wrote.
Where to start… The moment I heard it was a sold-out show at Trees in Dallas, Texas, I knew it was about to be a wild night. Erra joined by Alpha Wolf and Invent Animate, was surely going to be a hell of a night. Unfortunately, Thornhill was unable to perform as they were dealing with trying to get their gear to the US from Australia. They were extremely missed that night. I know I was looking forward to seeing them again. Outside of that, I knew the night was going to be a quite the experience.
Starting out the show were the dudes in Invent Animate. Having seen them just 3 months prior at the same venue, I had an idea of what I was getting myself into again, but boy did they top that last performance. I loved the fact that they were not only more polished, but they brought the energy that night. I love it when an opener can really set the tone for what is about to happen. They started out their set with “monarch”, an Invent Animate classic, and then transitioned into “Cloud Cascade”. The crowd surfing did not take long to commence as those two songs go extremely hard. The crowd did not let up through the five-song set. They went on to play another hit, “The Sun Sleeps”, and ultimately ended with “As It Never Was” to close out the performance. 10/10 will see again.
Next up were the heavy hitting Aussies in Alpha Wolf. A band that I did not here of until three months prior when they came through Dallas with Invent Animate and Polaris. Another band that I just had no idea were so talented. Getting their start in 2013, 2022 has been one hell of a year for the guys in Alpha Wolf. They are what you call metal core at its finest. Not one point in their set, did they let you stop moving. They got their set started with “Ultra-Violet Violence”. At this point, the crowd had really begun to settle in and it as getting harder and harder to move around. Again, it was a sold-out show, so it was really getting packed and hot as hell in there. Alpha Wolf continued to play banger after banger until the end of their set came and they played “Akudama”. Really never a bad time when Alpha Wolf Comes to town.
Lastly, the kings themselves in Erra took the stage. This was my first time seeing them live and all I had heard were fantastic things about their stage presence. At this point Trees was packed in like sardines. There were only a few places that allowed you to stand and thankfully, I had found a great spot. The band walked out on stage and JT, the lead vocalist, took the stage. From there, the crowd went wild. Immediately jumping into their hit song “Gungrave”, Erra was off to the races. It had been since May at So What! Fest that I got this type of heavy energy on stage, and I was there for it. JT has a way with his vocals that really captivate and draw you in. The lighting a production was also really fun to watch as they played. That’s another really fun part about headliners, you never know what cool things they will have set up on stage. The 13-song set was heavy as can be but we all knew it had to come to an end. They encored with their most popular song, “Snowblood”, and called it a night.
It was a sweaty packed night in Dallas, Texas but well worth it. Catch them on this tour, you won’t regret it.
Rock is far from dead and we're here to prove it with this thunderous Hunnypot Live! Don Robertson co-hosted the night with us and brought some hard, grungy, rock n roll bands to be interviewed and perform.
7/25/22, Podcast Audio (AVAILABLE NOW)
Don Robertson began his career in Seattle as a show promoter turned artist manager. Over the years he has managed several artists on major and independent labels and spent time as President of Century Media/Another Century Records and SVP A&R at RED Music with a focus on Alternative, Rock and Metal.
Wavy Trees is: Zack “Moondog” Smith (Lead Vocals/Guitar/ Piano), Jason Espirito (Guitar), Brian Duke: (Bass/Guitar) and Jack Gallner (Drums)
If Wayne’s World and Bill & Ted’s Excellent adventure collided in an alternate reality House party, Los Angeles based Wavy Trees would be the band playing in the back yard. The cosmic bartender at this gathering would be mixing swaggering hard rock riffs with the attitude and energy of garage-punk, dumping it into a shaker and pouring out a potent cocktail of we-could-give-a-fuck fun. With the release of debut track “I Wanna Go Out” they are declaring themselves to the world with the perfect anthem for the pent-up frustration that so many are feeling after being in pandemic lockdown for more than a year.
According to the band’s Zack “Moondog” Smith (Lead Vocals/Guitar/ Piano): “We all met by complete fate! I met Brian (Duke – Bass) at a house party in North Hollywood & immediately asked myself “Why am I not in a band with this guy?” But it turned out Brian was already in a band with Jason (Espirito – Guitar) so the timing was off. Fast forward a year or so later I met Jack (Gallner – Drums) at El Tejano restaurant in NOHO & we hit it off talking about all the music we were jamming to at the time & ended up writing songs in his bedroom within the first couple weeks of meeting. From the moment I met Jack I knew we were meant to be in a band together as well, it was fate!”
He continues” as we started our initial recording sessions in June of 2019 at NRG Studios, we had a bass player flake on us & I immediately thought of Brian. He was in a life insurance meeting at a Starbucks but bailed to come join us for the session & killed it! After that 1st session he told me that Jason would be perfect for the project on guitar… I was secretly hoping that would come up because Brian & Jay are a dynamic duo that were born to play together. A week later we went to a rehearsal space on my birthday & that was the day the Wavy Trees was officially “born” as a band.
The band is produced by the legendary Jay Baumgardner (Seether, Bush, Papa Roach, Lacuna Coil, Otherwise)
Wavy Trees are recording new material now with Baumgardner, with more singles and an EP to be released later this year.
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Sun Puddle is a rock trio from Seattle, Washington that have a penchant for writing angry, compelling songs about society’s outsiders and a flair for catchy pop akin to the Beatles.
Leaning heavily on early Nirvana, Melvins, and Sonic Youth, the band plays urgent, intense music sparked by introspective, sometime caustic, lyrics. Sun Puddle’s uniqueness lies in their hook-laden songs that transcend the aggressiveness of their apathetic yet powerful presence.
Sun Puddle are Trever Rose (singer/guitarist), Leo Quale (bass player), Evan Hartung (drummer)
Return To Dust is barebones rock that is youthfully charged. The band tackles the struggles of growing up; feeling out of place, ostracized, struggling with societal pressures and anxieties. The band members' individual traumatic history has become the main themes of their lyrical content.
Amidst all the sadness, and the bad which always shines brightest, the silver lining is growth. Friendship, knowledge, and your individual experiences have all led you to this place in life, and no one can define this, or tell you that it is right or wrong.
Lyrically, the band only knows as much as you do, merely putting our shared experiences into impactful, attitude riddled diddies. We hope to inspire people who are just like us, struggling in their journey through life. Your path is clear and totally defined by you each and every day.
Joining Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett on their 2022 Stadium Tour, the rock group Classless Act held a more intimate show for their fans at the Marquis Theater in Denver on July 22nd. The incredible thing about this show was that the band offered free admission to those who had proof of tickets from the Stadium Tour 2022 and allowed new and old fans to come see their headlining performance in the mile-high city. Opening for Classless Act was Television Generation, a local indie-rock group with an intense presence, as well as Dirty Kings, a classic-rock group with killer fast-paced melodies and hypnotic guitar solos. Collectively, each band brought a one-of-a-kind sound to the Marquis showcasing their individual sound and flair in authentic rock n’ roll fashion.
Television Generation went on first and demonstrated their unique style with grunge-y lyrics and indie instrumentals; the band gave the audience the energetic push in preparation for the next opener, Dirty Kings. With a uniquely different sound, these cats made the theater come to life with their authentic 'in your face' attitude that riled up the crowd in anticipation of the nights headliner, Classless Act. While both bands were pretty raw, each played their guts out with sets that put smiles on the faces of an ever growing crowd. I dug their sounds and would absolutely see them again - I'd suggest you do the same! Following their set, members of both bands joined the crowd as the stage was prepped for liftoff!
Classless Act finally hit the stage and lit up the now packed house with two originals, “This Is For You” and “Give It To Me”, both having that familiar rock spirit along with stunning vocals by lead singer and frontman extraordinaire Derek Day. The band then performed some covers including one of my personal favorites, Queen's "Under Pressure". Wow. Classless Act then then returned to their own songs off of their album Welcome To The Show, including bangers “Storm Before the Calm”, “Made in Hell”, and “Circle”, which showcased the astounding shredding of guitarists Dane Pieper and Griffin Tucker along with the funky baselines courtesy of Franco Gravante. The band wrapped up their set with "Classless Act", which fully encompassed the bands signature sound. Once again, the killer tune had the masses jamming along, headbanging, and sloshing beers thanks in part to Chuck McKissock's stellar booming cadence. This dude rips!
As the dust settled, Classless Act thanked Denver for their loving environment and quickly walked off stage. Was that all? The now fully charged audience demanded more, an encore - not one, not two, but, and I quote, 'THREE MORE SONGS!' in relentless enthusiastic chants. Derek Day and company finally returned to stage, but were completely out of prepared material. Yet, fans didn’t walk away empty handed, as the band gave fans a glimpse into new material - soon to be released. Classless Act once again fired up the crowd, giving fans a unique 'band practice'; presenting in raw form new and unreleased work in 'improv' fashion. As lights flickered back on, fans left the show with a one-of-a-kind experience and the oh so familiar ringing ears to prove it. Bottom line, Classless Act put one hell of a rock n’ roll experience for their fans in Denver and one I doubt they won't soon forget. Catching this band in their relative infancy was incredible, and I foresee big things for the band in the not so distant future. In my opinion, they're the real deal!
When growing up in High School and starting to discover my on style of music that I like. There was one band that I can across that I fell in love with pretty much instantly. That band is punk rock giants Rise Against. Back then, Rise Against had just put out their fourth studio album, The Sufferer & the Witness, and I had this CD on repeat. This was back in 2006, and yet it would take me until 2017 to finally see them live. Having listened to this band for over a decade, they had a lot to live up to, and they absolutely surpassed that. Now finally, it was time to see them for a second time. Packing the Kia Forum for their Nowhere Generation Tour and bringing along one of my other favorites The Used, and a band I have been curious to see live Senses Fail. As I waited for the first band to take the stage, I was bouncing with anticipation for how amazing this show has the potential to be.
Opening the show was a band I always heard of in passing, but never took the time to listen to. And that is completely on me. But Senses Fail hit the stage and was ready to wake up the crowd. Lead singer James “Buddy” Nielson started winning over the audience looking like a grease with impeccable fashion style. Slicked back hair, and a stylish button down, Nielson was oozing charism to win over people who may not know Senses Fail that well. Guitarist Jason Milbank brought the more post-hardcore style to the group, as he could be seen running around the stage and posing from side to side for the crowd. All the while trading off licks with fellow guitarist Gavin Caswell. Drummer Steve Carey helped start the mosh pits for the night, and the crowd could not resist moving to his double bass hits. Playing songs like “Bite to Break Skin,” “End of the World/A Game of Chess,” “Buried a Lie,” “Death by Water,” “Calling all Cars,” and “Can’t Be Saved.” I regret not having listened to Senses Fail prior to this show, and plan on rectifying that immediately.
The next band to hit the stage has a special place in my heart. They are the band that introduced me into the emo scene and made me fall in love with this kind of music. The Used had finally come back to LA to bring their lyrics of hurt and emotion to the masses. When going into the song “Take it Away,” vocalist Bert McCracken likes to spit a mist of water up and over the crowd. I happened to be standing in the splash zone as I got bathed in the falling mist. None the less, it just amped me up to be screaming and singing a long with the band. Bassist Jeph Howard must have one of the most powerful, and wide, power stances in rock as he plucks away on his bass. I always enjoy watching drummer Dan Whitesides play. The way he fits such subtle nuances and technique into his drummer, without making it showy has always helped add style to the band. All the while guitarist Joey Bradford plays each riff with such care and precision. One of the highlights of The Used sets was when Bert asked the crowd if they wanted to see a sneak peak of the next albums cover. As The Used had a 30ft banner showing their hanging heart logo behind them, the audience counted down: 3. 2. 1!, and the banner fell to reveal, the same banner that was already hanging up. The band had pulled a joke on the entire crowd. Along with joking with the crowd, The Used played through some of their best songs like “Maybe Memories,” “The Bird and the Worm,” ‘Listening,” “Blow Me,” “Taste of Ink,” “All I’ve Got,” “Pretty Handsome Awkward,” and closing their set with “A Box Full of Sharp Objects.” I always have the best time when I get to see this band live.
I have been waiting five years to see Rise Against live again. It was almost five years to the day actually. And the wait has been worth it. The boys in Rise Against opened their set with “Prayer for the Refugee,” and as the opening chords to the got strummed out, every person a part of the nowhere generation was ready to come together and rock. Vocalist and rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath has a commanding voice that is almost preacher like. McIlrath uses this voice to preach some of the most heartfelt and moving lyrics in the punk rock scene. Lead Guitarist Zach Blair knows how to shred while layering his guitar with McIlrath’s rhythms perfectly. Joe Principe not only holds down the low end on bass but provides the backing vocals that make Rise Against chorus’s so powerful. Drummer Brandon Barnes stays in the pocket with some of the best grooves of the night behind the kit. Though Rise Against is a punk band, when I listen to them I don’t always hear the heaviest of music through my headphones. That changes when you see them live. They crank those amps to 11 and make sure the crowd is moving the whole time. This night they even opened up three separate mosh pits on the floor of the Forum. Those moshers were having the time of their life running around to songs like “Satellite,” “Help is on The Way,” “Collapse (Post Amerika),” “Re-Education (Through Labor),” “Dancing for Rain,” “Make it Stop (September’s Children),” “Hero of War,” “Nowhere Generation,” “Give it All,” “Survive,” and ending the night with “Savior.”
Sometimes, when you have been listening to a band for so long, they can fall to the wayside in your mind. It’s not that you lose interest in them, you just don’t listen to them as frequently as before. That sadly did happen to me a bit with Rise Against. But the easiest way to fix that is to experience their music live. Rise Against not only sent waves of rock music through my soul, it reinvigorated my love for this band and why they are such a staple in the music industry. It took five years for me to remember this from the last time I saw them, and I don’t intend to let them fall to the wayside again. Along with The Used and Senses Fail, I hope none of these bands take too long to come back to town. As I will not be patiently waiting to get a kick of adrenaline from seeing them live again.
Concerts are such a unique experience. You’re normally in an enclosure room with a bunch of like-minded fans. The sound system bounces off the walls and gives you the ultimate surround sound experience. The light show that some bands bring have become legendary and really transform the experience. You don’t necessarily get this same kind of experience in an outdoor venue or a festival. One band that I have seen twice now outdoors during a festival has been Memphis May Fire. I’ve never truly seen what their show could truly be like in a venue on a headlining tour. Well I was finally going to fix that when Memphis May Fire announced that their The Remade in Misery Tour coming to The Glasshouse in Pomona, CA. Bringing with them some amazing support bands like From Ashes to New, Rain City Drive, and Wolves at the Gate. It was time to light up Pomona.
Opening this night was the Christian metal and post-hardcore band from Cedarville, OH called Wolves at the Gate. This was the only band on the line up that I had not heard of yet, so I did not know what to expected. When front man Nick Detty came out with the unclean vocals on their opening song “Shadows” they were ready to make their presence known. The member that surprised me the most was rhythm guitarist and clean vocalist Steve Cobucci. His clean vocals were so crisp and angelic, it took their post-hardcore sound to another level of existence. Lead guitarist Joey Alarcon brought in the crunchy guitar riffs, while drummer Abishai Collingsworth had the most relaxed and chill vibe of the night while blasting away on the kit. Most people tend to not think much of an opening band, but Wolves at the Gate was there to prove you don’t skip the opener. Playing songs like “Peace That Starts the War,” “Counterfeit,” “A Voice in the Violence,” “Dead Man,” “Weight of Glory,” and even giving a nearly 3-minute-long sermon that surprisingly to me, connected with majority of the crowd. You don’t see many opening bands that can connect with a crowd like Wolves at the Gate did, and I am so glad I was there to experience their presence.
The second band to go on this night was the newest band to be added to my music library, the newly named Rain City Drive. I saw this band when they were formerly known as Slaves about four years ago at the Las Rageous Festival. Back then I had no idea who they were, but by this performance I have become a fan. Opening their night with “Waiting on You,” the bands new singer Matt McAndrew hit the stage with the highest fashion style of the night. And when he started singing, the beautiful of his voice was felt in your heart. Though Matt has only been fronting the band for a couple years, he fits into the band like he’s been there since the beginning of their formation. Lead guitarist Weston Richmond and rhythm guitarist Felipe Sanchez blended their licks together to create some of the best grooves that made the crowd want to dance. Bassist Colin Vieira had the most energy in the band, running around the stage and playing right in fans faces while syncing perfectly with drummer Zachary Baker. Rain City Drive had everyone in the crowd dancing to songs like “Talk to A Friend,” “Heavier,” “Dreams,” “Prayers,” “Blood Runs Cold,” and ending their night with one of their newest singles “Cutting it Close.” Since getting Matt as their newest singer, the band has gone through huge transformation and continue to build steam as a highlight of any tour package. I look forward to seeing them headline their own tour, as I can see that coming soon.
The next band up is the one I have seen the most out of this line. This makes the fourth time I have now seen From Ashes to New, and every time I see them, they just keep getting better. Co-front men Matt Brandyberry (rap vocals) & Danny Case (clean vocals) are a dynamic duo on stage. The way they layer their vocals on top of each other has so much energy behind it. It allows you to go crazy in the crowd moving and bouncing to Matt’s rap, and then seamlessly come in and sing the huge chorus’s that Danny is belting out. Not to let the co-front men steal all the spotlight, the other members are just as exciting to watch. Guitarist Lance Dowdle somehow manages to be the manic person on stage, jumping, bouncing, flailing, making faces at every person in the crowd, and throwing his guitar in all kinds of directions. Yet he never misses a note that he needs to play. Drummer Mat Madiro is not one to be forgotten behind the kit. Not only does he have a powerful strike and sound coming from his kit, but he is almost nonstop throwing in stick tricks through their 45-minute set. Twirls, spins, flairs, the man can not be stopped from showing off to the crowd. Playing songs like “Panic,” ‘My Fight,” “Broken,” ‘Heartache,” “My name,” “Scars,” “Crazy,” and ending with “Through it All.” Most bands call their bandmates family, but you can really see a brotherly bond between the guys in From Ashes to New, as they joke and goof around with each throughout the set. It really makes the performance even more enjoyable to watch.
Finally, it was time. A band I have only seen during a 30-minute set in an outdoor festival. I was ready to see what Memphis May Fire could do on a headlining tour. Fronted by Matty Mullins, the fiery red head of the crew. Sadly, Matty had just recently gotten injured which broke two ribs and he hit his head pretty badly. Luckily, there was no serious damage to his head, but it did limit how much stage presence he could have. Matty informed the crowd after the first song, that he wouldn’t be able to move around as much as he is known for, but that’s not gonna stop him from playing to the fans who have been supporting Memphis for over a decade now. Even with the broken ribs, and minimal movement, Matty still had the vocal power to bring a lyrical punch to the Glasshouse. Flanked by Guitarist Kellen McGregor, who is so chiseled he should have his own statue next to Arnold Schwarzenegger. And bassist Cory Elder, who picked up the slack for Matty by grooving, spinning, and dancing all around the stage. Up high on the riser was drummer Jake Garland, with his double bass drum setup was blasting beats into the faces of everyone in the house that night. Playing songs like “Blood & Water,” “Left for Dead,” “Legacy,” “Somebody,” “Make Believe,” “Miles Away,” and “Vices” where Danny Case came out for guest vocals. But Memphis May Fire was not ready to leave just yet, they knew the crowd needed some more heat and came out for a two-song encore featuring “The Fight Withing” & “The Sinner.”
Driving into Pomona this night, I knew I was gonna have a fun time. But honestly, I think each band has stepped it up even more than they have previously. Memphis May Fire & From Ashes to New have given a performance of higher quality than I have seen them prior. Rain City Drive really brought their music to life and had the entire crowd moving. And with Wolves at the Gate, I came in with no expectation and was blown away. I will be anxiously waiting for the next time any of these bands come back to town.
Orange County, CA has been celebrating its existence with a county fair for 132 years. When I heard this fact, it literally blew my mind, as I could not even fathom that this county, I have lived in for the last 15+ years, has been around this long. With a county fair that has been around for this long, they have had many different things to offer on display each year. One thing that I have always enjoyed at the fair is the Alaskan Pig Racing. But second to that, is that our fairgrounds have a massive Amphitheatre that brings in some amazing artists to perform every year. One of these artists, who has made multiple appearances at our fair, is the hip hop violinist Lindsey Stirling. This was my second time seeing her at the fair specifically, and this had to be the most magical performance of hers that I’ve been fortunate enough to see. Opening for her was vocalist and DJ Mako, who they recently put out a song together. It was time to head down to the county fair to experience some magic.
Lindsey Stirling shows are always very interesting, because you never really know what type of opening Act she could have. There are no other artists who call themselves “Hip Hop Violinist.” So this opens the door for a lot of different options of opening acts that could be brought out. This night, we got vocalist and DJ Mako. Mako was there to get the party started, playing a slew of remixes covers and some original tracks that kept the mood of the arena very light and playful. As people were funneling into the venue, Mako would call people out to start dancing and join in with the fun. They even had a camera shooting out into the audience so people could see themselves on screen and motivate them to get up and dance. Mako even came out from behind his DJ tables a couple times to sing live vocals on the track, and he does have a fantastic singing voice that I would enjoy hearing more of. It was amazing to see how many people were standing up in their seats dancing to the tunes and showing love to- the DJ.
Finally, it was time to be brought into the magical world that Lindsey Stirling likes to create. Lindsey truly is a performer more than anything else. Throughout the hour and fifteen-minute set she is hitting choreography in time with four backing dancers, dancing and flowing across the stage from side to side, going through multiple costume changes, smiling at individual people in the crowd, bending and posing in acrobatic positions, giving inspiring and uplifting talks to the audience, and all the while playing chart topping complex melodies and tunes on her violin. It is just awe inspiring to see how much effort this woman puts into a show, just to give her fans a memorable experience. And it’s a memorable experience that gets people coming back time after time, as this was my fourth time seeing her myself.
Even with just a bare stage, only backed by Drew Steen on drums and Ryan Rivero on keys & guitar, Lindsey finds a way to use every inch of the stage. Lindsey is backed by four of superbly talented dancers who help elevate the music being played, as well as tell stories throughout each song they are a part of. One song is “Master of Tides” in which the dancers help Lindsey tell the story of a sea captain sailing through the ocean, and then dealing with a mutiny. Lindsey also got to talk about how special is was to perform her new song “Lose You Now” with Mako himself who is the featured vocalist on the track. Lindsey loves working with artists who have inspired her, having performed “Shatter Me” featuring Lzzy Hale projected on the screen behind her, and “Love Goes On and On” featuring Amy Lee on the screen behind her. Other songs played that night included “Artemis,” “Darkside,” “Masquerade,” “Crystalize,” “Underground,” “Roundtable Rival,” “First Light,” and ending the night with her mashup song “Beyond the Veil/Phantom of the Opera Melody.”
During set change waiting for Lindsey, I ended up talking to a few people around me and learned that I sat next to fans who have seen her 10+ times over the last decade. Getting to talk to them and hear how much her music and story has inspired them truly makes you realize just how touching of an artist Lindsey Stirling is. Though Lindsey has been performing and hip hop dancing for over a decade, her on stage presence does not seem to be slowing down one bit. She still performs with the same wonder and magic in her eyes as when she first hit the America’s Got Talent stage over 10 years ago. It truly is a magical time when you go to a Lindsey Stirling concert, and it is something I highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of performance art. Even if you are not a fan of electronic or dance pop music, Lindsey Stirling puts on a theatrical show filled with beautiful visuals, costumes, and music that can not be ignored.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a rock show, let alone a pop punk show. While it’s not entirely up my frequented narrow alley, I was interested to see how rapper-turned-pop rocker Machine Gun Kelly was adjusting into the new lane he’s carved for himself in the sub-genre. When Machine Gun Kelly was making hip hop music in its purest form, I really thought he had the potential to grow to be one of the best to even do it. I even thought that his shot at Eminem on “Rap Devil” was one the best single punches Eminem has ever taken from another artist. When MGK started to push the genre defining bounds on his music, I wasn’t opposed to it; I was just confused. But to my luck, MGK addressed a lot of these questions I had throughout his set on his Mainstream Sellout 2022 Tour. Assisting him on the tour down the card was also Avril Lavigne and Willow. In addition to figuring out what’s going on with MGK these days, I was excited to see Avril Lavigne steer me down memory lane with “Complicated” and see what Gen-Z sensation Willow had to offer. Let’s hop into some of the highlights of the night.
Up first was Willow. At 8 PM sharp, the lights dropped, and the audio skyrocketed to max volume as Willow kicked the concert into high gear. The 21-year-old hit us with a dark and grungy performance while stomping around the stage performing her classics like “Transparentsoul” and “Wait A Minute!”. Willow has been bobbing in and out of the mainstream over the past 10 years amassing a cult following. At this show, it was abundantly clear who these people were. I saw thousands of fans scream her lyrics at the top of their lungs as they sang along with her. Proudly rocking their Willow merch, I was impressed by how many people were drawn to the show specifically for her. I’ve heard critics say Willow’s just an entitled product of an A-list marriage, but she proved she deserves the limelight based on the merit of her own work. As she jammed through her set, the fans latched onto every word. Fist clenched and arms in the air, the crowd really bought into the rebellious tone Willow had on display. An especially memorable moment was when she played “Meet Me At Our Spot”. Armed with her guitar and backed by epilepsy-inducing lighting, Willow captivated the audience with her powerful vocals. She absolutely nailed her jam-packed 20-minute set, setting the bar extremely high for Avril Lavigne and Machine Gun Kelly.
Batting second was the beloved Avril Lavigne. Before her set, the fog machines pumped fog into the venue. Avril Lavigne burst onto the stage opening the set to her classic song, “Bite Me”. During this song, massive balloons dropped from the rafters above. They were like massive beach balls that bounced around the venue – just 4x larger! Backed by her band, Avril played a very nostalgic set, with highlights being the famous chart-topping hit “Complicated” and the very emotional “Happy Ending”. The first big guest appearance of the night was during this set when she brought out Blackbear. She rounded out her time with “Sk8ter Boi” but hit the crowd with an encore “I’m With You” after the crowd begged for more.
Finally, the time had come for Machine Gun Kelly’s set. To start, a video played showing MGK stuck in a “box” that was created for him by the internet. As MGK struggled to claw his way out the box, a helicopter encircled the venue looking to save MGK. The rapper turned rocker made it out of the “box” and hooked onto a ladder up the helicopter. He was airlifted out of the box and floated around the venue as he opened his set with “God Save Me”. The skits were a reoccurring theme throughout his set. Behind the stage was a massive robot with a computer monitor for a head. This robot often chimed in between songs to remind MGK that he is a rapper, only a rapper, is not allowed to play the guitar, and is a poser for trying. MGK let a lot off his chest as he pushed back on the critics who kept him inside that metaphorical box from the beginning of the show. From the skits, the theatrics, the rap, and now the pop-punk, MGK showcased that he’s an artist first, and a musician second, and is honestly quite dismissive of labels such as “rapper” and “rocker”. To further push back against his critics, MGK brought out one the biggest hip-hop cosigns anyone can ask for. Performing both “Ay!” and “Drug Dealer”, Lil Wayne hit the stage with a double cup in support for MGK. Wayne was just the first. After his feature, MGK was joined by a slew of other guests throughout his set. He brought back both Avril Lavigne and Willow to assist on their respective collaborations. In addition to the girls on tour, this Los Angeles show was also blessed with appearances by Travis Barker, Halsey, and Blackbear. Again, I really need to tip my hat to Willow as her bout with MGK on “Emo Girl” was the standout feature of the night. A couple of my other favorite points during his set were “El Diablo” and “Roll The Window Up” where MGK leaned back into his more authentic rap style of vocals. It was here when MGK made it clear that he isn’t trying to be someone else. He’s just trying to lean into himself: a very talented person with very broad musical horizons.
All in all, this Mainstream Sellout 2022 Tour taps into the rebellious spirit of pushing back on what is expected of you. Whether its MGK making music outside this metaphorical “box” the internet has him in, or Willow shaving her head shedding her identity of the “whip my hair” girl, these are artists first, and musicians second. I went into show expecting an average rock show, but I got a lot more than I bargained for. This is a 56-date tour across North America and Europe. If they haven’t ravaged through your local stadium yet, it isn’t too late to catch them. It’s one you won’t want to miss!
Willow LIVE @ Kia Forum Video Below