The Rise Records Freshmen Class of ’12 Tour with The Air I Breathe, My Ticket Home, Hands Like House, Palisades, Our Reflections, You Only Live Once, and From The Sky Down, The Whisky, May 13, 2012

The Rise Records Freshman Class of ’12 Tour made its way to the world famous Whisky a Go Go on the infamous Sunset Strip. The commencement included four newer bands from the Rise Records roster as well as three local acts in support. One the fastest growing labels on the music scene today, Rise Records has launched the careers such noted alumni as The Devil Wears Prada, Attack Attack!, and Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Any one of the bands in this year’s Freshman Class could be voted most likely to succeed on their own roads to success, just like the Rise Records trailblazers of the past and present.

Due to problems at the door, we were unable to catch From the Sky Down’s opening set. From the looks of it, they appear to have a good deal of fans and actually sounded pretty terrific as we waited outside to clear up guest list credentials. We will definitely check out From The Sky Down’s live show in future days, so stay tuned! Be sure to catch From The Sky Down at the Chain Reaction on June 24th!

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE

The first thing one notices about You Only Live Once from Los Angeles is the super brutal vocals of Stephanie IsIs. Screaming out in the grand tradition of Angela Gossow of the mighty Arch Enemy, you just don’t expect that voice to be emitting out from what appears to be nice young lady. What an absolutely stunning, charismatic presence!

Ariel Sanson supplies a wonderful juxtaposition on clean lead vocals, the two front women making for a lethal combination. Ms. Sanson has been seen on TV shows such as America’s Got Talent and The X Factor.

The rest of the band was in top form, with Valentine and Jaffy shredding it into oblivion on dueling guitars, and bassist Luis and drummer Jared Salazar driving it all home with super tight beats. Top song in the set was the closing number Take My Hand, leaving an indelible impression on all of the early arrivals.  We’ll definitely be checking this band out again!

OUR REFLECTIONS

Our Reflections drove up for Mexicali to perform a stunning set of deathcore that nearly leveled the venerable Whisky.  On the heavier side of the metal spectrum, this band would definitely be at home opening for the likes of Suicide Silence and Chelsea Grin.

Songs such as Distance And Horizons and Through Your Lies were memorable, clearly showing a band ready to break out in a big and glorious way.

Clearly the most brutal collective of the night, the talented Our Reflections lineup consists of Chris on vocals, Heri and Roger sharing lead guitar duties, Juan Angel shredding it up like a demon on bass, Ali on drums, and Jr. on keyboards.  This tremendously talented band is tighter than hell, and surely gained a whole new assortment of fans with their wildly spirited presentation. Here’s hoping we see more of Our Reflections here in the Los Angeles area and beyond.

PALISADES

It was now time for the Rise Records bands to take over the stage, and Palisades from New Jersey kicked off the ceremony with a vengeance. Playing a set comprised of tunes from their dynamic Rise Records debut EP entitled I’m Not Dying Today, the performance definitely brought the room to ultra vivid life. Louis Miceli is a powerful front man, presenting the lyrical content with a stunning mix of passion and intensity.

Highlights of the set included the introspective Seamless Endings and the massive assault of the killer Wolves. The set was nothing short of thrilling, easily introducing to the City Of Angels a band that could very well be headlining their own shows when they pass through next time.

A perfect combination of melody and all-out intensity, with impassioned lyrics and equally crucial instrumental implementations rendering this band quite a standout. In addition to the aforementioned Miceli on lead vocals, the Palisades connection consists of Matt Marshall on guitar, Xavier Adames on guitar and vocals, Earl Halasan in guitars and programming, Brandon Reese on bass, and Aaron Rosa on drums.

HANDS LIKE HOUSES

From Down Under to glittering Tinseltown arrived Hands Like House, ready to rock the Whisky with their stunning brand of pop punk and rock anthems. The Canberra collective opened their set with Antarctica and proceeded to play selections from their well received Rise Records debut Ground Dweller.

Showing that diversity within the Freshman Class on Rise Records, Hands Like Houses possesses a dynamic strength in both clean vocals and wildly infectious melodies. A decisive stand out song was The Definition Of Not Leaving, a slower track that possessed a passion and honesty that swept rapturous throughout the Whisky venue.

They are certainly a long way from home, but Hands Like Houses will be spending a good amount of time here in the States. Their next big tour will be Scream It Like You Mean It 2012 with We Came As Romans, Attack Attack! and many others, so there will be plenty of chances to catch up with this band once again. With songs this impressive and timely, expect Hands Like House to have a long and prosperous career far beyond the Freshman Class of  ’12!

MY TICKET HOME

First of all, I need to be painfully honest here and say that after their outstanding clean vocalist Sean Mackowski parted ways for seemingly greener pastures as touring member of Attack Attack!, it looked like curtains for My Ticket Home. Mackowski’s clean vocals on their Rise Records debut full length To Create A Cure contributed greatly to the band’s wonderfully impassioned and unique sound. That being said, do not even dare to write My Ticket Home off, as this Columbus, Ohio collective presented the most thrilling, mesmerizing set of the night at the legendary Whisky a Go Go.

Nick Giumenti is a supremely charismatic front man, screaming with a force of passion and enthusiasm that really had the crowd responding. Newest member Derek Blevins had some big shoes to fill on guitar and clean vocals, and he does so with a stunning sense of professionalism and conviction. Matt Gallucci performed some impressive guitar work while Luke Fletcher on bass and Marshal Giumenti on drums unleashed a powerhouse rhythm section.

Songs such as A New Breed and Who Is 67? are destined to become lasting genre favorites, and really ignited the mosh pit! Rise Records has another soon to be monstrously successful band on their hands with My Ticket Home. It will be exciting what journeys the future has in store for this thoroughly compelling band. To Create A Cure remains one of the best metalcore records of 2012 and My Ticket Home is rides into the future as an entity that is not to be missed!

THE AIR I BREATHE

Headlining The Rise Records Freshmen Class of ’12 Tour was The Air I Breathe – hanging in there in spite of personnel departures that would suffocate any less dedicated collective. With most of the members being from other bands on the tour, vocalist Tony Dougard was there in full force, using the apparent bands changes to a gloriously cathartic effect. Delivering a heartfelt performance, Dougard and whoever else was left in the band closed out the night with a sonic blast.

Opening with Take This To Heart, The Air I Breathe slammed through a short yet impressive set of tunes from their recently released Great Faith In Fools collection. The lead guitar work is the band is especially noteworthy and heroic, in the grand stylings of the great Yngwie Malmsteen.

Highlights including XIII, Deliverance, and the wonderfully triumphant Here’s To Letting Go. A dramatic, emotional ending to a memorable night of rock and metalcore on the Sunset Strip!

(Review by Kenneth Morton – Photos by Adam Gendler)

LINKAGE

From The Sky Down on Facebook
You Only Live Once on Facebook
Our Reflections on Facebook
Palisades on Facebook
Hands Like Houses on Facebook
My Ticket Home on Facebook
The Air I Breathe on Facebook

The English Beat, Remedy For Kill, Stupid Flanders, MADhaus Gallery, Long Beach, CA – May 12, 2012

Ska, Soul and Reggae was the style for tonight. This was an all – ages show at an art house garage at a house style facility between 6th St & 7th Street on Pacific Avenue in downtown Long Beach. I didn’t know that Long Beach had this arts district, but sure enough there were mural paintings and visual art all over this venue happening this night. This show included three bands performing as well.

First was Stupid Flanders. They are a seven piece band from Orange County. They are a new band that plays fast ska with slight rock  guitar riffs thrown in to get a little hard at times. They have a great two piece horn section that blast out riff lines and harmonizing sounds that were a treat to hear. The drummer who had not played in six months with the band, due to school, was in full strength who punched it up at times to please the audience. In the lively set included was a strip down version of Come As You Are by Nirvana mixed in with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song which the audiences appreciated greatly. The black uniform, pants and shirt, mixed with the bright orange ties made the band look professional. They were a great fun warm up band.

Remedy For Kill was next with a distinctive reggae style music featuring ska talking style with rap lyrics at times. This was an interesting mix the vocalist used together well. To match that was his three piece back – up band that were so tight that they were able to play off each others leads and riffs without missing a beat. Remedy For Kill was the local band performing tonight and they rocked the place to a smooth reggae swagger with ease.

Dave Wakeling and his band The English Beat were next. They played over two hours of a show. It included most of the band’s hits and included a couple of General Public tunes as well. The set included songs as: Tears Of A Clone, Never You Done That, Tenderness, Rough Rider, I’ll Take You There, I Confess, Twist & Crawl, Can’t Get Use To Losing You, Whine & Grine/Stand Down Margaret and many others.  The English Beat ended the show with Mirror In The Bathroom. The show was sold out and packed all night long. Our dancing feet though might have been hurting on the way home but still felt good anyways. Thanks for the great time Dave Wakeling and company.  Lets do that again sometime! Awesome!

(Review and Photo by Jonathan D. Wright)

THE MIDWEST ROCK N ROLL EXPRESS with STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON and TED NUGENT — The Greek Theater, May 6, 2012

There was ample reason to shell out some hard-earned cash this May night.  It might not look like a fun prospect if you don’t know the bands: three groups that have made a handful of albums between them in the past 20+ years, touring on songs made no later than 1984.  But the audience at the Greek Theater knew that these multi-platinum (that’s millions of albums) artists and staples of rock’n'roll the world over still have what it takes to put butts in seats and then get them up and dancing.

TED NUGENT

First up on the Midwest Rock’N'Roll Express was one Motor City Madman, aka The Nuge, Uncle Ted, one Ted Nugent.  Playing on a stage lined with guitars, Nugent broke out some of his choicest songs like Cat Scratch Fever, Wang Dang Sweet Poontang and Wango Tango.  His groove-oriented songs were often short on sentiment, the lyrical subject matter mostly about sex, women and good times and a  lovely lady was invited out to shimmy and shake to bring the point home.  He called out to some originators of rock’n'roll like Little Richard, James Brown, Chuck Berry and many many more, saying if it wasn’t for them, there wouldn’t be any rock music in the world.  After hearing this I now can spot those influences in his music.  Closing out the set, Stranglehold sounds like no other song out there: a slow-burning number with “Wild” Mick Brown (formerly of Dokken) laying out a suspenseful tempo, Greg Smith slinking around on bass and Derek St. Holmes and Nugent squeezing out guitar peals and playing like a rising storm.  The song grooves along on triumphant highs and sexy lows before finally breaking loose in the last minute, causing the audience to jump around and go nuts.

REO SPEEDWAGON

Our ears still ringing from Ted Nugent’s high decibel set, REO Speedwagon showered us with their sunny songs of love and positivity.  The band began their set with Take It On the Run, a song about a rocky relationship, the impossibly fit and youthful Kevin Cronin singing with gusto, Dave Amato’s angry guitar solo reflecting the nature of the lyrics even as the whole band had huge smiles on their faces.  REO is a band that’s been around long enough to understand showmanship, dressing nice and acknowledging the audience.  Their set was so full of energy and they all looked like they love what they’re doing.  Keep Pushin’ sounds like a new song for all the vitality the band put into it.  Bassist Bruce Hall, with his white hair flowing took the microphone for Back on the Road Again, a bluesy rocker that reminded the audience that before they wrote ballads, REO was a bar band for years.

Of course there were the ballads.  Hands and lighters waved in the air for I Can’t Fight This Feeling, couples hugged and kissed and fans sang along without irony to this classic love song.  Keep On Loving You came later, Cronin on piano, a singalong about unconditional love, with another excellent solo from Amato.  Cronin stayed at the piano to begin Roll With The Changes, singing about “deserts burnin’ and “sweet sun showers” inciting the audience to sing along.  After that lovefest, REO Speedwagon encored with their hardest rocking song of the night: Ridin’ the Storm Out.  The fans in my section finally took to their feet and sang along as Amato soloed and Neal Doughty played some tasty organ runs.  If you get a chance to see REO Speedwagon the next time they come to your town, do yourself a favor and get your tickets early because these guys know how to put on a great show!

STYX

Headlining the night was Styx, the band that knocked REO’s Hi Infidelity out of the number one spot with their Paradise Theater album.  Last year fans got to hear Pieces of Eight and Grand Illusion performed live in their entirety, this time around fans got to hear hits from the band’s long career.  And what songs they were!  Tommy Shaw, another eternal youth, began the set with Blue Collar Man, celebrating the working class, the packed Greek Theater singing at the tops of their lungs.  Singer and keyboardist Lawrence Gowan took over for Grand Illusion, his theatricality a great fit for the band.  Gowan’s throaty vocals and attention to the audience led us into continuing to singing lyrics about not being drawn in by celebrity and besting your neighbors saying that “deep inside we’re all the same”.  His keyboards and James “JY” Young’s guitars captured the magnificence of the song and sentiment wonderfully.  Riding on that high, the 80′s keyboard sequences of Too Much Time On My Hands began, Tommy Shaw making faces and having fun, bringing the microphone around to the audience to trade lines about wasting time and daydreaming while (likely) being unemployed. While Lady is the better known song, Lorelei is even better, a hard rocking celebration of love sang by JY and joined by the rest of the band, with the chorus “Lorelei let’s live together/ Brighter than the stars forever,” a song that put smiles on our faces and was quiet heartwarming.

Tommy Shaw sang the lovely and forlorn Man In The Wilderness, the first of four more songs from The Grand Illusion.  Original bassist Chuck Panazzo joined the band for Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),  a call to the youth to “Get up, (get up!) get back on your feet/ You’re the one they can’t beat and you know it”.  Gowan spun his keyboard around, played it with his hands behind his back, and we all sang along as usual, raising our voices in exaltation.  Miss America came along to blast any progressive nostalgia out of our heads with JY taking over on the vocals as the band tore into the hardest rocking song of the night and likely of Styx’ catalog.  A pumping disco rhythm and angry guitars backed JY’s growling vocals about the “Apple of the public’s eye” and how she’s put on display and has her life taken away.  The whole band just tore this song apart and left us happily exhausted.

For their encore Styx played Rockin’ The Paradise, showering us with confetti, the colorful backstage screen showing a theater marquee with scenes of the band performing from the past, followed by Renegade, with silhouetted horses and western themes, the audience out of their seats for the upbeat song about running from the “long arm of the law”. Lights flashed in our eyes, guitars squealed,  keyboards rang and sang, confetti fell and minds were blown.

(Review and Live Photos by Bret Miller)

LINKAGE

STYX Official Home Page
REO SPEEDWAGON Official Home Page
TED NUGENT Official Home Page
See all my pictures from the show HERE

THIS WORLD IS OURS TOUR with ESCAPE THE FATE, ATTACK ATTACK!, THE WORD ALIVE, MEST, and SECRETS, House Of Blues – Sunset Strip, April 21, 2012

This World Is Ours Tour made its way to the Southland, with a stop at the House Of Blues on the world famous Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.  Escape The Fate and Attack Attack! were co-headlining the sold out event, two incredible brigades joining forces for a much anticipated cross country trek.   Impressive support would be supplied by The Word Alive, Mest, and Secrets.  Five bands in all, and you could certainly tell the crowd was ready for the sonic adventures ahead.

It was good to see so many people already in the audience at the beginning of the show, ready to see their favorite bands as well as more than willing to support to the openings acts.

At this point, the tour was pretty much at the halfway mark, and yet with the energy and enthusiasm exuded throughout, it almost felt like an opening night.  One thing for sure – this was going to be a long yet memorable evening in Tinseltown, and at the early hour of 6:30, it was time for the takeover to commence…

SECRETS

“I am the enemy” was the rallying cry as Secrets took to the stage, opening their set with the explosive strains of The Oath.  Based out of the thriving San Diego music scene where the tour actually stopped at the previous night, Secrets recently released their debut CD entitled The Ascent on Rise Records.  Judging by the perfect mix of infectious pop choruses and supreme heaviness (along with the wonderful crowd reaction), just don’t expect this band to remain enigmatic for long.  Melodies was a set highlight, showcasing how absolutely talented the band is in the songwriting department.  “You must be scared of your reflection in the mirror” was the standout sing along chorus in Blindside, followed by the driving intensity of The Hardest Part.   Other songs performed that left a lasting impression included 40 Below and Somewhere In Hiding. Xander Bourgeois is an outstanding front man, screaming out the lyrics with a fiery sense of conviction.  Also noteworthy is guitarist and vocalist Richard Rogers, whose distinct and memorable voice really shines through.   A terrific way to kick off the evening, from a band destined to be headlining their very own tour in future days!

MEST

Mest is nothing short of pop punk legends, complete with the up and downs of a brilliant career that started back in 1995.  The odd band out on This World Is Ours Tour to be sure, Mest was personally invited by Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate for the entire run.  “I didn’t even know these guys were still around,” muttered some guy behind me, but Mest instantly won over the crowd with their wildly rambunctious set of in-your-face punk rocking goodness.  A few of the audience members were invited onstage to make raging stage dives into the crowd, including a guy the band affectionately dubbed “Waldo.”  Songs causing rabid mayhem and massive circle pits included their brand spanking new single Almost, as well as older favorites Until I Met You, and Rooftops.  A triumphant return to form for Mest that not only thrilled the old diehards in the HOB, but surely gained the band a whole new collection of fans as well.

THE WORD ALIVE

Although The Word Alive could easily headline their own events, their participation within This World Is Ours Tour definitely made attendance to the show all the more mandatory.  New drummer Luke Holland made his debut, learning all of the songs and exuding a good deal of charisma and all-out talent from behind the kit.  Front man Telle Smith remains a tremendous presence – the rare performer who can both scream and sing with a good deal of effectiveness.  He even jumped fearlessly into the crowd towards the end of the set, nearly losing his pants before returning to the stage.  Throughout the set, lead guitarist Zack Hansen unleashed some super intensive guitar solos.  Rounding out the dynamic lineup were Tony Pizzuti on rhythm guitar and Daniel Shapiro on bass.  In addition to crowd favorites The Wretched, Lights And Stones, and 2012, The Word Alive presented a new song entitled Wishmaster from the upcoming Life Cycles magnum opus.   Massive touring has definitely rendered The Word Alive a relentless force to be reckoned with!  Incidental Trivia:  Back in the bands origins prior to their signing with Fearless Records, Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate was the original lead vocalist for The Word Alive.

ATTACK ATTACK!

Attack Attack! was up next, presenting one of the most impassioned, devastating live performances from a metalcore act this reviewer has ever seen.  While most bands seem to be going through the motions at this point in their careers, there is a tremendous amount of sincerity and brutality to be found within Attack Attack!’s set.  Playing selections from their just unleashed This Means War epic on Rise Records, songs were their artillery and the sonic battle was exhilarating!  Tunes such as The Family, The Motivation, and the electronic crowd pleaser Sexual Man Chocolate were fired, resulting in massive pit action.  Towards the end of the set, vocalist Caleb Shomo went over to the foot of the stage, and delivered a powerful testimony about feelings of depression and hopelessness of his past – and ultimately achieving perseverance and strength in the process.  Shomo let the audience know when all else fails, they could always turn to the band for support.  Attack Attack! then exploded into a fiery rendition of The Wretched (not to be confused with a song of the same name by The Word Alive).  The absolutely stunning moment was then followed by an older song called Stick Stickly and then The Revolution concluded their segment of the show.   If you ever have a chance to catch Attack Attack! live, do whatever you must to make your way to one of their performance.  As unforgettable as they are inspiring, expect greater glories for Attack Attack! in the months and years ahead.

ESCAPE THE FATE

“Chose your fate,” was the chant heard over the PA system as Escape The Fate from Las Vegas blasted onto the stage.  The notorious band has been through quite a few changes over the years, both with band personnel and musical direction.  The fans at the HOB on Sunset exuded a good deal of excitement – and even though it was getting late – the enthusiasm level was at maximum volume.  Opening the set with the anthem-like 10 Miles Wide, Escape The Fate delivered a wildly infectious performance that really had the HOB crowd dancing it up and singing along.  Highlights in the set included Bad Blood, Day Of Reckoning, You Are So Beautiful, Ashley, and many other fan favorites. The Escape The Fate 2012 lineup definitely packs a wallop, consisting of Craig Mabbitt on lead vocals, Bryan “Monte” Money on lead guitar, Michael Money on rhythm guitar, Thomas “TJ” Bell on bass, and Robert Ortiz on drums.   An exciting finale to This World Is Ours Tour here in the City Of Angels.  Expect a new Escape The Fate album to arrive in September!

(Review by Kenneth Morton – Photography by Adam Gendler)

LINKAGE

Secrets on Facebook
Mest on Facebook
The Word Alive on Facebook
Attack Attack! on Facebook
Escape The Fate on Facebook

Adaliah, Cobalt Café, April 20, 2012

It was the infamous evening of 420 at the Cobalt Café within the wilds of Canoga Park, CA, and tonight the Mediaskare roster of bands would take over the venue with an all-out vengeance. Included on The Young Bloods Tour were Bermuda, Float Face Down, a revamped edition of Creations – and opening up the touring package was Adaliah from Bradenton, Florida. Due to time constraints, Highwire Daze was only able to catch up with Adaliah, who is reviewed here.  We will definitely review the other bands the next time they show up in town.

One of the most exciting new bands on the Mediaskare / Rite Of Passage collective, label founder Baron Bodnar has once again signed a terrific new entity destined for greatness. Adaliah’s forthcoming debut for the label is entitled Broken Families, and they previewed many selections in front of a wildly enthusiastic audience. Many in the crowd seemed to know the words to all the songs, and were singing along just as passionately as the two front men were.

One of the vocalists apparently was not feeling well, but that certainly did not quell the intensity in the least. Exuding a classic “the show must go on” attitude, Adaliah raged into supersonic high gear. Both Jorge Sotomayor and Tyler Andre sang with fevered passion, and were more than happy to share the microphone with anyone in the audience. Kicking off the set with the mighty strains of Allure, Adaliah sent the room spinning with standout cuts such as Hollows, No More Heroes, and Rituals. The mosh pit definitely swung into action, showing a vast appreciation for the phenomenal sounds emerging from the Cobalt stage.

In addition to the powerful performances from the dual vocal assault team, the talented Adaliah lineup consists of Austin Coupe on guitar, Paul Knott on guitar, Ryan Nagle on bass, and Mark Abbacch on drums. For those who witnessed Adaliah’s triumphant show at the Cobalt, feel very fortunate you were able to see them in such a small venue – because a year from now they’ll be headlining even bigger spaces across the nation.

Be sure to support Adaliah, Bermuda, Creations, Float Face Down and the many other talented bands from Mediaskare / Rite Of Passage Records!  Presented by the folks at Two Hearts Concerts!

(Review and Photos by Kenneth Morton)

Adaliah on Facebook

SWERVEDRIVER LIVE at The Key Club, West Hollywood, CA, April 7, 2012

Along with many fans from across the United States, I had been talking up the Swervedriver tour on Facebook and Myspace.  Just three days prior to the last date on their tour, it was announced that the Key Club show set times would be earlier for some unknown reason.  But enough people were there early to see their favorite band in the world.

Locals Bixby Knolls were ecstatic to  be sharing the stage with their heroes, performing a set of power pop for the early arrivers.  Next up was Heaven, a trio who performed under saturated red lights, standing stock still behind their keyboards and guitar, the drummer the only one with any life to him.  The dual monotone vocals and droney sound did nothing for me.  While others were more polite, I took to the Sunset Blvd. night for some people watching.

The mighty Swervedriver entered the stage to yells and applause and tore into Never Lose That Feeling, Scrawl and Scream and new song Deep Wound, which you can find them performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  It took me a while to calm down and really pay critical attention to the show, such was the excitement in the room. 

Pile Up had the hot-aired atmosphere created by the long drawn-out chords of Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, These Times, from fourth album 99th Dream featured Franklin’s lilting voice, held down by Steve George’s meaty bass, the melodic number a welcome change from the previous song’s string-bending heaviness.  Deep Seat‘s dueling guitars drew the fans in as Franklin and Hartridge traded licks, between each spare line of lyrics building volume and energy, Franklin taking the lead each time.

Something became quite apparent throught Swervedriver’s set, and that is Mikey Jones’ confidence behind the drums.  Jones also does a great job in Franklin’s Bolts of Melody, but he was nailing each and every Swervedriver song.  The band broke out into a song so very much not their usual style: Guided by Voices’ Motor Away, a short, bright breath of fresh air. 

Son of Jaguar E slowed things down, showcasing Franklin and Hartridge’s mastery of textures and guitar effects, pulling out hearty distortion and soulful jangles.  Rave Down got the floor shaking as the audience jumped around to one of Swervedriver’s signature songs.  Starting with slowly sang vocals and expectant guitars, the band soon broke into a powerful groove, Franklin crooning evocative lines like ”Deep hot sun burns through the city/ Yeah, they’re havin’ to peel/ The pedestrians off the walls“. 

Sandblasted was all about the ups and downs of the rhythm, psychedelic guitars and Franklin’s expressionistic lyrics, followed by Last Train to Satansville which was something much more direct and catchy.  Franklin’s lyrics were a story about a no good woman set to the rhythm of a train on tracks and George’s pumping bass.  The guitars shimmered and shook, tearing away after each verse until the exhulant instrumental second half, then fade out.  To finish the main set Swervedriver destroyed us with a fiery rendition of Son of Mustang Ford, causing eardrums to ring and smiles to be seen and bodies to move.

The band left us breathless, took a minute to relax as the guitar techs turned the knobs of the amplifiers.  Swervedriver returned for the dreamy Girl on a Motorbike, the refrain “Don’t want to be down at heel” breaking up the hazy mood, accompanied by searing distortion.  Cars Converge on Paris was a mostly instrumental B-Side, a strange but pleasing choice, letting our minds wander with the melodic guitars on such a wonderful night.

Swervedriver finished their set and tour with Duel, Franklin and Hartridge created overtones and melodies that pleased the fans who sang along and seemed satisfied at seeing their heroes on stage once again.  The band raised their hands in thanks in their humble manner, knowing their adoring fans are why Swervedriver keep coming back to the States.

(Review and Photos by Bret Miller)

Keep up with all things Swervedriver HERE.
At FACEBOOK
And MYSPACE
See more of my pictures of the night HERE.

JAMES, El Rey Theater, April 12, 2012

James is back on a jaunt through The West Coast from Canada though Mexico and onto Brazil. They are currently touring for their current album The Morning After The Night Before. The show started with the crowd favorite Lost Control done acoustic with a guitar, a horn and Tim. Tim and the two others came through the audience from the back of the venue finally making their way up to the stage.  Later on during the set in the song Say Something, Tim jumped down in the audience and at times stood up on railings to be over the crowd to sing. This time though he went completely all the way around the hall to sing to the entire sold out show crowd.

One time during the hour and fifteen minute, set the crowd gave the band an ovation that lasted a couple minutes. The band looked taken back and was very pleased to how the audience gave them such a loving kind ovation in the middle of the show.

Two songs really stood out during the performance were Waterfalls and the new song Expression. Waterfalls, “Under The Waterfalls”, was sung so heartfelt it was like being taken to tranquil place to where this amazing Waterfall was. The newer song Expression sounds like something Joy Division would do but with the soothing pop vocals of Tim Booth.  Manchester might now have the most amazing band with over 3000 votes given to James making them he number one band currently, but this might have seemed to be a taking back their roots in music to the era on 1980 sound. I don’t think that Expression was a good way to end the set but that’s what they did – and it is an interesting song. Tim played keyboards on it at one point too with Larry adding in on a solo drum pounding away on it too.

The band came back for an encore and played an additional 3 more songs. So the entire night James played over 1 hour and 40 minutes of music. This covered 18 songs out of their huge bundle of tunes from the past over 30 years being in the music business.

(Review and Photos by Jonathan D. Wright)

FACEDOWN FEST 2012, Night 2, The Glasshouse, Pomona, CA, April 7, 2012

At The Glasshouse in Pomona, CA, Night 2 of Facedown Fest 2012 was about to commence. This would be the Main Event, featuring a staggering 11 bands delivering various styles of spirit filled music to the near capacity auditorium. Hardcore, metal, indie, and even some acoustic songs were to enrapture the audience, as well as ministry and thoughtful contemplation. Some of the band members took the stage to acknowledge their own fights with drugs, alcohol and pornography, showing that they were struggling just like many of the other concert attendees. The set up times in between were amazingly fast, making for an extremely well paced, highly organized event that will surely be remember for some time to come. Presenting the very best of what Facedown Records has to offer, the event was headlined by the mighty War Of Ages – a band who has toured with the likes of Soilwork, Underoath, As I Lay Dying, Between The Buried And Me, and Throwdown. And now onward towards the sonic happenings at this year’s triumphant edition of Night 2 at Facedown Fest…

THE BURIAL

Launching the event like a swift kick to the noggin was The Burial from South Bend, Indiana – whose high octane heavy metal compositions surely impressed all of the early arrivals who made it out to the Fest at the 3:00PM start time. Performing songs from their recently unleashed Facedown effort Lights And Perfections, highlights from the set included Salt And Wrath, Pearls; The Frailty Of Matter, and Wisdom; The Gateway Of Liberty. With influences ranging from The Black Dahlia Murder to Mastodon, The Burial’s whiplash inducing metal songs had a decidedly technical edge that was thrilling to the ears. The Burial’s skillful artillery of musicians include Elisha Mullins on vocals and guitar, Todd Hatfield on guitar, Jake Neece on bass, and Kaleb Luebchow on drums. And for those seeking compact disc treasures, the band was selling their hard-to-find debut EP Age Of Deceit, which was released in 2009 on Sancrosanct Records!

A HOPE FOR HOME

Just why A Hope For Home was playing so early on in the Fest was anyone’s guess, but this compelling, highly imaginative Portland, Oregon based collective definitely delivered a highly memorable performance. Who else would kick off their shows with such graceful, intricate songs at an event filled to the brim with hardcore and metal fanatics? Performing tracks from their various albums, included 2011’s absolutely mesmerizing In Abstraction release, A Hope For Home went from blissful serenity to all-out musical rage with a fiery sense of conviction. Delivering proof that you do not need to play at a breakneck pace to pummel the senses, A Hope For Home’s live artistry was dazzling, tranquil, thoughtful, and divinely intensive. Here’s hoping this band plays out on the road more within the months ahead, because their live sets are not to be missed! If you are into such magnetic acts as Thrice, Sigur Ros, and Isis and have no idea who A Hope For Home is, your mission at hand is to check out In Abstraction and the other amazing releases the band has on Facedown Records!

HOPE FOR THE DYING

The most adventurous entity of the night was definitely Hope For The Dying from Jonesboro, IL. Delivering an exhilarating brand of progressive metal that would do bands such as Opeth and Porcupine Tree proud, Hope For The Dying is the type of band that impresses as many musicians and they do audience members. The set was highlighted by The Awakening, a three-part masterwork from their recent Facedown Records magnum opus entitled Dissimulation. And much to the surprise and delight of the audience, Hope For The Dying unleashed a wondrously heavy rendition of the Journey classic Don’t Stop Believing, which had everyone rapturously singing along. Demonstrating technical brilliance in an almost casual manner, the resourceful membership found within Hope For The Dying includes Josh Ditto on lead vocals and keys, James Houseman on guitar, Jack Daniels on guitar, and Brendan Hengle on drums.  If Hope For The Dying invade anywhere near your hometown, do whatever you must to check out their standout live shows!

YOUR MEMORIAL

“Wake up” was the rallying cry from Your Memorial to all of the hardcore dancers just aching to burst out into the massive Glasshouse pit. Igniting the entire venue into its first all-out mosh frenzy, Your Memorial played a wicked set of inspiring tunes from their Atonement CD as well as premiered some new songs from their forthcoming musical venture. Redirect was a standout expected to appear on the forthcoming album, and Endeavor For Purpose really had the crowd taking notice with it’s powerhouse “What are we here for?” chorus. This was a classic Facedown Fest performance that will go down within the memory banks of this year’s attendees. It will be exciting to see what the future has in store for this dynamic up and coming band on the rise. An explosive performance from a highly impassioned band on the road to sonic greatness.

HANDS

At the beginning of the set, Hands announced that this would be the last Facedown Fest they would be playing. Planning to tremendously scale back on their live activities and recording output, Hands gave a farewell performance that was as mesmerizing as it was poignant. Songs such as Give Me Rest and Water were wondrous to behold, showing a band clearly embracing both their love for indie and hardcore music. It was obvious that the audience did not want to show to end, and were shouting for an encore the moment Hands left the stage for what is presumably their final time. The band has touched both the hearts and minds of music fans everywhere, and will definitely be missed for their intelligent, spiritual based tapestries that often times defies genres and musical conventions. But as we all know in this world gone wild, truly great rock and roll bands never really die – so we shall see what the future has in store for this talented band and their loyal fan base…

ONWARD TO OLYMPAS

A band that has grown tremendously since their inception is Onward To Olympas from the musical mecca of Charlotte, North Carolina, who performed selections from their pair of Facedown releases The War Within and The World Is Not My Home.  Highlights from the set included Hidden Eyes, Sink Or Swim, and especially their anthem like refrains of Unstoppable. Relentless touring has rendered Onward To Olympas a force of nature to be reckoned with, and the hardcore dancers were out in full force for the entire duration of their show. The Onward To Olympas assault team consists of Kramer Lowe on vocals, Kyle Phillips on guitar and vocals, Andrew Higginbotham on guitar, Justin Allman on bass, and Mark Hudson on drums and vocals. Expect these guys to be headlining future editions of Facedown Fest.

MY EPIC

“If you didn’t know you were going to a Christian concert tonight – surprise!” mused Aaron Stone, lead vocalist and guitarist for My Epic during his persuasive testimony. Always a highly anticipated presence at Facedown Fest each year, this time Stone was accompanied by half of the A Hope For Home membership, presenting a shimmering set of inspired indie rock compositions. Acknowledging the ironies of having an acoustic album released on a hardcore metal label (entitled Broken Voice – check it out now!), Stone and his band presented an exquisite set of tunes that transfixed the audience. Songs such as Lashes, Untitled, and Deathbed demonstrated just how profoundly moving the My Epic experience can be. Towards the end of the set, a second drummer joined in the proceedings, making for a full sound that penetrated the senses. My Epic continues to prove why they have become a much-revered band within the Christian rock scene and beyond. Kudos to My Epic for such reflective work as well as for Facedown Records who introducing the world to these thoughtful artists.

GIDEON

After their surprise three song set at The Stronghold the night before, Gideon return to the Glasshouse stage with an all-out vengeance ready to devastate the event.  Gaining a substantial fan following since the unveiling of their Facedown Records debut Costs, Gideon slammed through a heavier than hell barrage of songs. The pit erupted into a ball of sheer chaos and mayhem as Gideon raged through such fans favorites as False Profits and Kingdom Minded. A new song entitled Gutter proved to be an empowering moment, signifying an even heavier direction for the band’s future. The relentlessly persuasive Gideon lineup consists of Daniel McWhorter on vocals, Daniel McCartney on guitar, Blake Hardman on guitar, Timmy Naugher on bass, and Jake Smelley on drums. Another band who could easily claim a headlining slot at the future Facedown Fest celebrations.

XLOOKING FORWARDX

From Bel Air, Maryland, XLooking ForwardX is spirited filled hardcore band in the grand tradition of the much revered genre, making a raging comeback at Facedown Fest 2012. Already playing a way too short surprise set at The Stronghold in Chino the night before, XLooking ForwardX certainly has lost none of their power and drive over the years. Performing their classics as well as some brand new tunes, the collective was in top form (even if vocalist Justin claimed to be a bit out of shape due to lack of touring). We haven’t see the band at the Fest since 2008, and XLooking ForwardX’s lively show for 2012 was nothing short of extraordinary. Here’s hoping they blast back into the scene they originally exploded upon at the dawning of the new millennium. New recordings are on the horizon, so watch for them!

IN THE MIDST OF LIONS

The show must go on, even if three of your main members appear to be missing in action. In The Midst Of Lions still roared its lethal assault of metallic hardcore, with Lazarus Rios of Leaders and Kramer Lowe of Onward To Olympas standing in on the lead vocal positions. The crowd sang along to each and every song the Lions unleashed, featuring such classics as The Machine and Fearless. We were ten bands in at this point, and no one in the crowd appeared to be tired in the least, showing their grand appreciation for a lively, wildly unpredictable set. In The Midst Of Lions is based out of St Louis, Missouri and have been gaining a good amount of fans worldwide with their impressive albums and consistent touring. No explanation was given regarding the absent members, but the set was definitely a lot of fun to witness.

WAR OF AGES

For Today, Comeback Kid, Impending Doom, Sleeping Giant, No Innocent Victim, Overcome – these are the names of past label legends who have been on the stage at the annual Facedown Fest, presenting shows that are still fondly remembered today. Add War Of Ages to the fabled legacy of festival headliners, presenting an unforgettable performance that will linger within the minds of many of the attendees for the years to come. In spite of all the fame and acclaim this band has received over time, War Of Ages remains humble, honest, and absolutely relentless in their approach to music. Fans of famed European bands such as In Flames and Soilwork have discovered than the States can indeed launch a heavy metal force that is nothing short of mesmerizing when encountering the sonic battalion known as War Of Ages. Opening with the mighty strains of Strength Within, the rallying cry of “We will fight” sent the pit spinning into supersonic high gear. New songs from War Of Ages’ upcoming masterwork Return To Life were also premiered, with Arise and Silent Night clearly demonstrating that the band has another big and glorious hit album on their hands. Vocalist Leroy Hamp is the classic heavy metal front man, delivering the fiery lyrics with a sense of urgency and conviction. The rest of the lineup was on fire, consisting of standout performances from TJ Alford on bass and vocals, Steve Brown and Branon Bernatowiz on shredding guitars, and Alex Hamp on drums. What a dynamic way to close out Facedown Fest 2012!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND LINKAGE

Congrats goes out to Jason and Virginia Dunn, and Dave and Shannon Quiggle for another wildly successful year of Facedown Fest! See you all in 2013 and in the meantime, be sure to support all of the Facedown and Strike First bands on tour!  What a glorious way to spend Easter weekend!

(Reviews and Photos by Kenneth Morton)

The Burial on Facebook
A Hope For Home on Facebook
Hope For The Dying on Facebook
Your Memorial on Facebook
Hands on Facebook
Onward To Olympas on Facebook
My Epic on Facebook
Gideon on Facebook
XLooking ForwardX on Facebook
In The Midst Of Lions on Facebook
War Of Ages on Facebook
Facedown Records Official Home Page

FACEDOWN FEST 2012, Night 1, The Stronghold, Chino, CA, April 6, 2012

While driving through the seemingly tranquil town of Chino, CA, one comes across a unexpected concert hall within the beautiful grounds of Valley Christian Church called The Stronghold. Reminiscent of many of the obscure yet thriving clubs touring bands play at all across the country, The Stronghold is a Christian Venue that has been host to a wide variety of spiritually themed bands.

And now Facedown Fest Night 1 was converging upon The Stronghold, and it would be a night to remember! First off, The Stronghold staff is really friendly, the sound is terrific, and you could acquire soft drinks and hot dogs for one dollar each! Admission was only seven smackeroos, a small price to pay for seven absolutely terrific bands and a few unexpected surprise appearances as well. Doors open at 5PM, and Strike First Night at The Stronghold was about to commence. Strike First is the “training ground” imprint of sorts for Facedown Records, where many of the novice bands go on to graduate to the bigger label. And all of participants involved with the first big night of Facedown Fest exuded the potential to do just that!

ALTARS

The early arrivals were treated to a stunning set from the Colorado based Altars. Having the distinction of being the first collective to open Facedown Fest 2012, Altars performed with an all out vengeance. Delivering songs from their Strike First debut entitled Opposition, the excitement and enthusiasm the band conveyed was certainly contagious. The new songs Lower and Montreal showed a striking progression for the band, and should definitely make the upcoming Altars full length a standout. The Struggler was absolutely exhilarating, performed with a supreme sense of passion and honesty. A tremendous opening set from a band we are sure to hear a lot more from as time goes on. If you missed Altars early show at the Fest, be sure to catch them on the road as they as well worth seeking out!

ARK OF THE COVENANT

Connecticut deathcore squad Ark Of The Covenant took over the stage next, unleashing an explosive set of grinding tunes that reverberated throughout the walls of The Stronghold. Containing super intensive breakdowns and impassioned vocals from their charismatic front man Alexander Vincelette, Ark Of The Covenant performed a mesmerizing set of tunes. The Book Of Life from their Strike First debut Separation was a stimulating highlight. The newer compositions were outstanding as well, with Parasite and Fake showing a band on the verge of breaking out in a tremendous way. The sonic barrage certainly left ears ringing and pulses races.  There is little doubt the band gained a whole new set of fans in Chino that night. In addition to Vincelette powerful performance, the Ark Of The Covenant superb lineup consists of Jacob Johnson on guitar, Daniel Graves on bass and vocals, and Michael Hnath on drums.

WE THE GATHERED

From Johnston, PA, We The Gathered made their way out west to perform at this year’s edition of Facedown Fest. Performing songs from their compelling Strike First debut entitled Believer, We The Gathered enraptured the room with their own brand of melodic hardcore. Songs such as mighty Surrounded and the anthem like Antihero were well received and started up some heavy pit action. A new tune called Daydream was introduced, previewing the musical riches to come on their upcoming full-length effort. Toward the end of the set, the title cut Believer was unleashed – this one is destined to be a genre classic and really had the crowd singing along. We The Gathered possesses a good deal of dynamics in their music, from extreme brutality to unexpected moments of serenity. It will be exciting to hear what the new material sounds like. The We The Gathered lineup consists of Lance Augustine on vocals, Randy Lisbon on guitar, Stephan Caputa on bass, Kyle Humphreys on drums, and Josh Ginter on guitar.

NOTHING TIL BLOOD

Mixing hardcore with a chaotic sense of groove, Nothing Til Blood really delivers the goods within a live setting. Their Strike First debut When Lambs Becomes Lions is definitely definitely commanding, but this Birmingham, Alabama based band wildly succeeds with the performance department. Amadeus Pryor is a powerful front man, conveying the spirit-based lyrics with a strong sense of conviction. This is true heavy worship, and Nothing Til Blood is well on their way to delivering their crucial messages to even bigger audiences. In addition to Pryor’s exciting performance, the tighter than hell Nothing Til Blood lineup consists of Matthew White on bass, Travis Higginbotham on guitar, Cameron White on guitar, and William-Allen Johnson on drums. With Nothing Til Blood, the South has risen again – and how!!!

LETTERS TO THE EXILES

Letter To The Exiles started off being the new project of Alove For Enemies wx-members Erich Barto and Andy Amato. And while Barto went into exile, the band has preserved – gaining the services of Chris King, who has turned out to be an equally impassioned front man. In a live setting, Letter To The Exiles sent The Stronghold into musical orbit with their spirited hardcore anthems. A big surprise during the set was when War Of Ages lead vocalist Leroy Hamp joined Letter To The Exiles onstage for a rousing rendition of Conversations With Fallen Saints. An explosive new song entitled They Made Me The War Machine was debuted along with a thrilling rendition of fan favorite It’s Never Safe To Dream. Send this one special delivery to hardcore fans the world over, because Letter To The Exiles is well on their way to the top of genre. The audience definitely rendered their seal of approval to the Long Island based collective.

LEADERS

Although Leaders is signed to Facedown Records, the Hollister, CA based band made their festival appearance on the Strike First night. It did not matter, because the crowd went wild went Leaders commanded the stage. Performing songs from their just released Now We Are Free effort, one could instantly see why the buzz is so hot and heavy on this band. The songs are absolutely inspired and they have the live presence to absolutely back it up. Songs such as Send-Up and Real sent the crowd spiraling into the depths of a fevered mosh pit. The groove and breakdowns were tremendous, and the vocals really displayed a fiery sense of intensity and magnetism. The Leaders lineup was on fire, consisting of Lazarus Rios on vocals, Alfie Tovar on guitar, Sam Campagna on guitar, J.C Villarreal on bass, and Elijah Martinez on drums. An unforgettable performance that many will remember for a very long time.  They’ll be headlining the Fest as well as their own tours next year if they keep this up!

DYNASTY

Dynasty is going to be huge – there is no doubt about it! With their fantastic hardcore anthems and wonderful sense of family with their audience, don’t be surprised to see them on the level of acts such as For Today and Comeback Kid by the end of the year. The set began with a powerful testimonial from Dynasty member Marcel Muniz that literally transfixed the room. Speaking of the past problems the band has endured and the redemption of his father in prison, it is moments like these that make Facedown Fest such an overpowering experience. Kicking off their set with a thrilling new song called Rise To Victory, the mosh pit ignited into a staggering frenzy, creating yet another classic festival moment. Crowd favorite Way Of The Wolf was unleashed to overwhelming admiration from the very packed venue. And much to the delight of the crowd, Dynasty performed their outstanding cover of the Beastie Boys tune No Sleep Till Brooklyn. The Dynasty HC lineup consists of Joel M, Ruben Nunez, Ivan Hernandez, Nick Sturz, and Marcel Muniz. The trials and tribulations the band has experienced over the past year now appear to be over so expect nothing but greatness from this LA based collective in the weeks ahead! And if you ever have the chance and are into the very best of the new generation of hardcore, you absolutely must do whatever is required to catch Dynasty live!

THE SPECIAL GUESTS

And yes, there were indeed special guest who made their way to The Stronghold to perform short yet very persuasive sets to the still packed venue. Gideon took the stage, delivering a massive performance that sent the room shaking. Then the legendary No Innocent Victim (pictured at left) performed a way too short set of three songs, making a rare yet very well received appearance.  NIV drumme / Facedown founder Jason Dunn said they had very little rehearsal time, but was excited about the impromptu reunion. Everything came off without a hitch, with the youngsters in the crowd witnessing one of the finest bands the hardcore genre has ever seen. And then closing out the night was XLooking ForwardX, also supplying an exhilarating sneak peak into what to expect at The Glasshouse for Night 2 of Facedown Fest 2012.

Review of Facedown Fest 2012 – Night 2 coming soon!!!

LINKAGE

Altars on Facebook
Ark Of The Covenant on Facebook
We The Gathered on Facebook
Nothing Til Blood on Facebook
Letter To The Exiles on Facebook
Leaders on Facebook
Dynasty on Facebook
Strike First Records Official Home Page
Facedown Records Official Home Page

Machine Head at the Avalon, February 17, 2012

Fans got the most metal for their money at the Avalon this February Friday.  The show started at the very un-metal time of 6pm with opening bands Darkest Hour and Suicide Silence and Machine Head on at 8:20.  I made it in time for the headliners and the small club was packed back to the doorway to the foyer.  The stage had a drum riser and many light stands signifying the size of venues and stages the band has been on in the past several years since The Blackening.  They’ve been all over the world many times with bands that influenced them as well as their peers and brought that energy and epic feel to this little place in Hollywood that turns into a dance club at 11pm.

The excitement built as the lights went down and the Latin chants of I Am Hell (Sonata in C#) floated through the air. In a wash of blood- red lights Robb Flynn and band entered the stage and began chugging away, drummer Dave McClain  pounding an ominous beat. Flynn looked like he was possessed, hair and beard making him even more barbaric looking.  When the song kicked into high gear, McClain switching to hardcore tempo, the floor opened up and and kids began to mosh.  Bassist Adam Duce was already sweating profusedly, such was his intensity.  As bodies flew over the barrier, myself and the other photographers were told to exit and it was out to my car to drop off my camera.

Stuck out by the relative safety of the back left bar, I could see the floor was packed, the venue oversold by several hundred metalheads.  This show could easily have taken place at the Palladium but at least the sound and sight lines were excellent at the Avalon and the intimacy was welcome for such a huge band.  The pit got going strong as Flynn yelled “Fuck You All!” to begin Beautiful Mourning, the brutality of the song tempered by the melodically sang refrain “How do I close thine eyes of murder staring into me?“.  Machine Head are one of the most dynamic metal bands out there and their high chart debut proves that they have wide ranging appeal.  The Blood, the Sweat, the Tears  followed, from 1999′s  Burn in Red.  Robb’s breathlessly chanted lyrics were accompanied by gritty guitars and a sometimes groovy drum beat.  Flynn’s Robert-Smith-like guitar opened Locust, the rest of the band joining in like a well-oiled machine, moderating buzzing guitars and militant beat with the intensity of a downhill charge in a muscle car.  Phil Demmel and Flynn’s dual guitars were amazing, as were their various solos, ramping up the energy and dazzling our ears.

Letting the rest of the band towel off Flynn returned to the stage to testify about Dimebag Darrell and how the religious right used his death for their own ends before he was even buried.  Flynn recounted good times spent in Dimebag’s company inciting chants of “Dimebag” and generous applause for a beloved musician taken in a tragic shooting while playing on stage.  Aesthetics of Hate is all about this time and Flynn’s rage about the hypocrites in the “right”.  McClain’s hardcore drum beat introduced one of Machine Head’s most driving songs, Flynn rasping such lines as ” You branded us pathetic for our respect/ But he made us driven, deep reverence far beyond the rest,” and “May the hands of God strike you down.”  Demmel and Flynn’s fleet-fingered leads honored Dimebag’s passing beautifully.  The band then tore into Old, from their first album Burn My Eyes, all buzzing guitars and thrumming bass.  After Darkness Within, the next couple songs were from their Nu-Metal days, the reek of Korn still there, but Machine Head owned these songs and the fans responded with enthusiasm.

Black and white pictures of people with song lyrics written on their arms were projected on the screen to the opening children’s chorus on Who We Are,  the band joining in double time, Flynn’s lyrics supporting the underdogs of the world, the fans singing along with enthusiasm.  As the good vibes of those many incredible guitar solos rose over the audience, the main set ended with more pictures, this time of fans holding up signs and showing tattoos testifying their love for Machine Head and how the band got them through times good and bad.

But we weren’t done with the band yet, and Machine Head encored with the uplifting Halo, another song about questioning religion and fighting intolerance set to a progressive, dynamic arrangement of styles and speeds and flashy melodic guitar leads and a brutal breakdown to close the song.  After Davidian completely wiped the floor with us the band applauded us as we gathered our wits, the members tossing out guitar picks and McClain throwing out drum sticks and flying drum heads far out into the crowd.  Machine Head showed their talent and love of metal by performing almost two hours at an intimate venue.  Here’s to hoping they headline more shows like this in the future and their next album doesn’t take over three years to come out.  Machine Head should be headlining larger places real soon.

(Review and Photos by Bret Miller)