Creeping Death

05/22/2022
Creeping Death 
Majestic Theater
Madison, WI

Creeping Death returned to Madison, WI as opening support for Carcass on their 2022 US tour.

Setlist:
1. The Edge of Existence
2. Doused in Flames
3. Bloodlust Contamination
4. Relics From The Past
5. Humanity Transcends
6. Specter of War
7. Ripping Through Flesh


Techn9ne

05/09/2022
Tech N9ne
Apollo Theater
Belvidere, IL

The Apollo Theater is a fantastic venue for any genre of music. As you walk into the main room from the street, the stage is straight ahead. The all hardwood floor is spacious. The stage is surrounded by metal barricades up front to cut off the stage from the patrons. By purchasing a different ticket package, you will have gained access to the balcony seats. The balcony rests above the entrance to the venue and at the back of the room. Additionally, the sound is also killer. You will not miss anything up there. You won’t blow your ears out on the main floor either you will hear everything coming from the stage very crisply. The lighting has improved over the years as well. Now it is a great place to watch a show. Regardless of where you watch from, you will have a clear view of the stage. The venue is just a fantastic place to catch a show. I am never disappointed leaving it.


With the uniqueness of Strange Music and Tech N9ne’s creations, I knew I was in for one epic night. Tech has released twenty-three full-length albums, which include eight collaborative albums. The man is the definition of a workhorse with no signs of ever slowing down either. His consistency is something to marvel at. Currently, he is touring on his October 2021 release, “Asin9ne”. The album itself is an absolute banger. The man doesn’t miss. If his status and self-made independent force weren’t enough, he manufactured a way to blend multiple genres of music within each album. Heck, even within some individual tracks. For me, that is a huge attraction to his discography. I am obviously not the only one since he is the top independent selling rapper of all time. 

His stage setup was extremely simple. Nothing but a massive backdrop of a television. The actual screen portion projected every correlating visual to each track being performed. Each track ended with the audibly classic explosion. Tech N9ne spared no time. He came onto the stage through a door on the side of the television and started to amp the crowd up. With his hand flying through the air, swaying from side to side, he jumped into his set. From the onset, it was business. Tech N9ne delivered an onslaught of quick-lipped verses. The room was bounced. The floor shook. The lights flashed overhead. Nothing could touch the artistry and the moment. 

This show had everything. The banter between songs was at its best. Serenading a few ladies in the front row with 7 words and Arriola. The man knew how to charm from the stage. The Killer Clown alter persona even made an appearance. The Killer Clown is actually from Tech’s youth. A story of child abduction and the terrors of being a kid involving urban mythology. The mask fit the mood during “Heightened” and “Demon”. In fact, it was enough for the Killer Clown to stop and point out a fight that broke out. He then proceeded to ask people to help each other and get rid of the offenders ruining the good time. With a finger point, attention was brought to a patron’s hat that read, “Kill All Pedos”. This saying was repeated multiple times by Tech and he also added that it was “words to live by”.

The most impressive part of the performance was the “request” portion. Tech N9ne had the crowd yell songs that they wanted to hear and he performed them without any backing tracks. Standing there with nothing but himself he dished out Acapella versions of “Beasts”, “This Ring”, and a freestyle. Also of note, a bra flew up on stage and he announced it was time to collect bras from the audience. Newly packaged bras flew up on stage. These bras were going to be donated to women’s shelters across Kansas City. The amount of charitable work Strange Music has performed for the KC area is well documented, but also notable that it extends from generosity from across the country.

All in all, this show had it all. Killer music, visuals, and honest banter about life. Charitable contributions and an overall good vibe. It is hard to not enjoy a rap legend who’s track record of hard work and consistency is so well documented. I am extremely grateful I was able to cover it and am hoping to do so again in the near future.





Dorothy

05/01/2022
Dorothy
Majestic Theater
Madison, WI

Dorothy’s “Gifts From The Holy Ghosts” tour

Setlist:
1. Down to The Bottom
2. Gun in My Hand
3. Ain’t Our Time to Die
4. What’s Coming to Me
5. Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics cover)
6. Rest in Peace
7. Beautiful Life
8. Medicine Man
9. Raise Hell
10. Flawless
11. Freedom





Slothrust

04/23/2022 
Slothrust
High Noon Saloon
Madison, WI

Slothrust came into Madison on the tail end of their “The Parallel Timeline Tour”. They have been packing out rooms in support of 2 albums, 2021s “Parallel Timeline” and 2022s “Parallel Timeline(Origins)”. The difference between the two albums is worth a look at if you are a fan. The latter, Origins, is a deluxe version with some re-recordings and original demos. With 6 songs from “Parallel Timeline” on the setlist, you get a heavy dose of the newer more experimental, and mature songwriting. With that said I first found their music at the library. I enjoyed listening to it so much that I went out and bought their catalog of music so I have been waiting patiently since the beginning of the pandemic to see them perform live. It was worth the wait.


The High Noon Saloon is a fantastic location for this Boston, Massachusetts trio. The room has rustic visuals with an all-wood interior and horseshoes hanging all over. There are no frills to the space beside that. It is a large room with a large bar off to the left and a two-foot-high stage straight ahead. The room is fairly sizable though and is packed with patrons. It was so full it was very hard to move around. Slothrust’s stage setup is very neat. Across the stage are little cloud puffs including two toms on the kits. On top of a monitor is a large stuffed moth. Also on the right side of the stage, two tall flowers stand. The lone mic stand is wrapped with bunches of grapevines that are lit up. Behind the drum kit, a huge rainbow with “Slothrust” in the middle was being projected onto the back wall. These details fit the mood of the setlist.

A few songs from the setlist stood out. A clear fan favorite “Double Down” really encapsulated Leah Wellbaum’s magnificent guitar playing. Her style reminds me of the 90s alternative with a 70s eclectic mix. The song’s rapid upbeat nature was full of smooth transitions from clean to distorted. The lyrical cadence became stuck in your head. It was extremely creative. From where I stood the song’s repetitive nature along with that cadence made it easy to sing. It left no doubt about the participation of the audience by singing or whistling the chorus which at times rang out louder than the band. Wellbaum’s stage presence was at the forefront of this tune. Her brief solo left her contorting her body by leaning back and bending all over. Practically a yoga session. This was an often reoccurring action for her whether behind the mic stand or out in the middle of the stage. To match her enthusiasm, bassist Brooks Allison was a head-banging machine. His bleach blonde hair swung wildly not only for this song but the entire night. 

A bit surprising to me “A Giant Swallow” delivered the same vivid imagery and the lyrical content that was depicted on the album. Wellbaum once again composed an impassioned performance. The heartfelt delivery of the lyric “I circle the moment” draws you in and tugs at your heartstrings. The sentimental responsiveness of her vocal exertions was masterful. It felt like an emotional assault and a far cry from some of the bland content of the typical rock scene. No need to fear though this song was amplified and a bit more rocking than the album version. One definitely could not miss that fact. 

Finally, “Once More For The Ocean” was a fantastic transition piece into the end of their set. Speaking to the crowd Wellbaum announced she “writes a lot about oceans”. This we know is true just by song titles alone. Nonetheless, the performance of the song itself was killer and arguably one of their most progressive of the evening. Drummer Will Gorin laid out the loudest cymbal crashes of the night and led the band into the clean musical breaks during the first half of the song. At this point, most of the crowd was dancing and swaying around more than before. Honestly, it ripped and was a lot of fun to feel that free within a crowd of strangers just enjoying themselves. 

Overall, Slothrust brings their alternative sound and skilled musicianship to a higher level with their live performance. Not to take anything away from their recordings, but to experience the nuances of their music live has opened up a new way to look and feel about their musical catalog. From start to finish, it was a fun and straightforward rock show with brief moments of fragility and honesty. It was a welcome kick to the senses. If Slothrust comes to your town I highly suggest you go. In this day and age, you get a full-on rock show with danceability all at an amazingly affordable price. 

Setlist:
1. Surf Goth
2. 7:30 am (You’re The Worst Theme)
3. Cranium 
4. Peach
5. The Next Curse
6. A Giant Swallow
7. Magnets Pt2
8. Planetarium
9. Double Down
10. Birthday Cake
11. Courtesy
12. Once More For The Ocean
13. Over The Moon (Harold Arlen Cover)
14. Waiting
15. Crockpot
16. Some Kind of Cowgirl
17. Horseshoe Crab



Lamb of God

04/22/2022
Lamb of God
Resch Center
Green Bay, WI

Lamb of God performed as direct support to Megadeth on the “Metal Tour of the Year”. Randy Blythe tested positive for covid19 and was unavailable for this performance. Joe Badolato of Fit For An Autopsy filled in on vocals. Bassist John Campbell also had to leave the tour for personal reasons and Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel filled in, in his absence. It maybe have been extremely makeshift, but it was also an incredibly remarkable performance.



Trivium

04/22/2022
Trivium
Resch Center
Green Bay, WI

Trivium performed as support to Megadeth on the Metal Tour of The Year



In Flames

04/22/2022
In Flames
Resch Center
Green Bay, WI

In Flames opening for Megadeth on The Metal Tour of The Year.




Slipknot

04/06/2022
Slipknot
Resch Center
Green Bay, WI
Knotfest Road Show Tour

The Resch Center is nestled across the street from Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers. The area is decked out in Green and Gold, but when Slipknot comes to town the metalheads filled the bars and restaurants in black and red.

The Resch Center itself is a large circular arena that is mainly used for hockey and other indoor sports. This didn’t matter though. The stage was about 9 to 10 feet off the ground and situated in the open end of the arena.  On top of the stage were 2 levels. On the first level from left to right, keyboardist Chris Jones has his Yamaha rig are set out. Then in the middle of the stage, drummer Jay Weinberg has his kit perched. Finally, at the far right on that level Sid Wilson’s turntables are set out on a covered table. Above that walkway is another level. That level is used as a walkway. It was primarily used by bassist Alessandro Venturella. Especially when he carrying his flamethrower bass. From up above, he would fire huge fireballs out over the middle of the stage. Back down on the main stage level were percussionists Shawn Crahan and Michael Pfaff’s elevated drum kits. These kits have three huge toms and an empty keg mounted to each. The percussionists crawl all over the top of them all show. To get to these kits though, they have to climb up ladders and across a short plank. These kits are positioned on each side of the stage. Finally, on the main level were 3 separate metal stands for James Root, Corey Taylor, and Mick Thomson to stand and lean on. Around and above the entire stage are massive video boards. Each is finely tuned to sync with the songs and pyro by the second. The accompanying images below will show this.

The performance itself was one of the craziest experiences of my life. For me, Slipknot is the pinnacle of modern metal. They are what metal and hard rock bands strive to be. Their growth was an exponential explosion done on the backs of fans and heavy touring early on. We know they are masters of their craft at this point. Their stage costumes are uniform, yet display their individual personalities. To some, that’s a major draw. Regardless, they each play their part. Sid is not only a DJ but as his alien character almost an MC without the talking. He roams the stage and interacts with whoever is in front of him. Photographers included. When not smashing kegs with bats or additional drums Crahan and Pfaff, roam the stage freely. Dishing out all sorts of madness upon each other. Not only that they are jumping off ledges and risers on stage. Daredevil-type stuff at times. Those guys alone are worth the watch if you aren’t too busy headbanging. 

Slipknot has delivered monster hit after monster hit over their careers. The set list reflected that, but a few songs that really stuck out to me were “Spit It Out”, “Disasterpiece”, and “The Chapeltown Rag”. To understand the excellence of Corey Taylor as a frontman you have to acknowledge the fact that he demands your attention and will literally tell you when you are being a garbage crowd. The man commands participation throughout the night. When that massive Slipknot curtain drops and sucks back up to the ceiling after the guitar lead intro of “Disasterpiece”, Corey is already center stage perched on his metal stand and leaning into his microphone. His signature snarl and vocal growling scream were prominent and oh so very clean. Having this song as the opener was perfect. You felt the energy of the band flow from the stage through you. It was so intense you could feel your body shake. 

“Spit It Out” is normally every Slipknot fan favorite, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone I picked this. Since the first album’s release, the band performs the song halfway through and then tells everyone to kneel down. Corey over and over tells everyone to get down. Meanwhile, drummer Jay Weinberg along with the two guitarists held the main beat until the explosion of people went off. That eruption happens when he screams “Jump the fuck up” and you do just that. It is one of the coolest experiences. Bodies fly everywhere. The pit opens wider than before. It really brings home the fact that concerts are about having fun and experiencing that special euphoria. 


Finally, this song stood out among the rest simply because it was the newest release. Hearing a brand new release performed live is how you see its true form. Videos are nice and flashy, but the live experience is the true test. “The Chapeltown Rag” is a speedy and naturally aggressive song that passed every test with flying colors. James Root and Mick Thomson really really go to town ripping through riff after riff. Corey Taylor’s clean vocals during the chorus accentuate his vocal capabilities. Naturally, he spent the entire song screaming out pure brutality, but it is a compliment to the structure of the song to create those chorus’ without it. Additionally, Crahan and Pfaff play drums set up mid-stage in front of Weinberg’s kit. They were perfectly in sync and provided an unexpected layer to it all. Weinberg really stole my attention. He was so fast and efficient while destroying his kit. “The Chapeltown Rag” is such a fantastic tune as is, but live it plays very well. They surely have another piece of art that will be tough to remove from their already packed setlist. 

Listen, we all know Slipknot are the title holders of metals live performance and I guarantee these nine men on that stage blew away each attendee’s minds. I know because I was one of them. This was not my first Slipknot show and I can promise that it will not be the last. Every album cycle is a new experience. They just keep picking up steam, flames, and creative opportunities to showcase each individual performer. Slipknot is a fine wine so to say. They are only getting better with age and experience.  

Setlist:
1. Disasterpiece
2. Wait and Bleed
3. Sulfur
4. Before I Forget
5. The Chapeltown Rag
6. Dead Memories
7. Unsainted
8. The Heretic Anthem
9. Psychosocial
10. The Devil in I
11. Solway Firth
12. All Out Life
13. Snuff
14. Vermillion
15. Duality
16. Custer
17. Spit It Out
18. People = Shit
19. (Sic)
20. Surfacing


Wage War

04/06/2022
Wage War
Resch Center
Green Bay, WI

Wage War filled in an opening on the first leg of the 2022 Knotfest Roadshow.



Ice Nine Kills

04/03/2022
Ice Nine Kills
Trinity of Terror Tour
Oshkosh Arena
Oshkosh, WI


The Oshkosh Arena seemed like the perfect location for a good old-fashioned brew haha. The room is large with seating that wraps around the venue in a horseshoe pattern. The stage is erected where the open end of that horseshoe is. When not hosting concerts it is primarily used as a basketball arena for the Milwaukee Bucks D-League team. Regardless, 3,400 plus people filled the arena and sold the venue out for the night.


How does one describe attending an Ice Nine Kills show? It can best be described as a theatrical cabaret of metal and horror. Pique your interest yet?  It should. The setlist covers songs from both of the Silver Screens albums. Mostly, the “Welcome to Horrorwood” album though. In case you have no idea about these guys’ most recent albums, each song is based on a separate horror film. A pretty unique view of songwriting. Frontman Spencer Charnas and primary owner of the band really found his niche when he moved on from creating songs about classic novels and general hardcore workings. Despite those being excellent, he created an infinite amount of metal show tune numbers that could take the band’s amazing live show to even greater feats. Well, I am proud to report they have accomplished just that. 

Let us start with the setlist. It provided so many amazing shock and awe moments with the theatrics. A few of the standouts were, “Hip to Be Scared”, “Funeral Derangements”, “IT is The End” and “Ex-Mortis”. These songs were enhanced by so many different characters that joined in. For instance, a helpless business-type person was knocked out and eventually hacked to death while in a chair center stage by a plastic coat wearing Charnas and a full-sized ax like in “American Psycho.” “Funeral Derangements” provided arguably the heaviest performance on the night. The song provides breakdown after breakdown. The laser screen in the background provided a clip of “Pet Semetary” with the band members standing out front wearing different animal masks. During that, the stage filled with smoke, and gravestones appeared on the backing boards. Charnas wields a shovel and repeatedly acts like he is digging. He acts the parts out routinely. “IT is The End” might be the most dramatic and cabaret-like of them all. It opens with a small person in a yellow coat center stage. They were reading a note just like depicted in the movie “IT” by the master of horror Stephen King. Walking out from the right side of the stage Charnas is wearing a clown mask and hands over a red balloon to the presumed child in yellow. During this, he is serenading the child without any backing vocals or instrumentals assisting him. It might have been the most impressive vocal performance I saw on the evening. With ease, Charnas transitions from a nice smooth wholesome vocalization into their traditional rough and brutal screaming that grabs at the ears. Finally, “Ex Mortis” gave every “Evil Dead” fan something to scream about. Charnas walks the stage carrying the Necronomicon and raises the dead. A woman wearing a nightgown runs the stage. On several points just like on the album you hear Ash say, “Groovy” and then the word pops up on the video board. Further proving how in time and finely tuned INK was. How could one ask for more?

Individually, bassist Joe Occhiuti and drummer Patrick Galante are the thundering force on the low end of the spectrum. Their performance was so clean and concise that you knew they were the reason you felt it. Occhiuti also has such a ferocious growl that it is often used when leading to a breakdown. Guitarist Ricky Armellino had what felt like the most vocal contributions amongst the backing vocals. Partnered with the other guitarist Chris Kelly they performed as a tight-knit shred factory. Kelly would often step forward in front of his microphone or center stage up and the metal walkway and lay down a tasty shred session. He ate up the limelight. The previously mentioned Charnas is more like an MC at times, others a skilled actor, but don’t be fooled he is a natural frontman with heart smashing screams and delicate serenades.

This quintet has found what makes them great. The production work and additional song-related ideas are bringing forth their creativity. Their freshly founded direction has truly created a new rock opera for the masses. I for one am all about it. I say bravo and let’s do it all over again very, very soon. 


Setlist:
1. Welcome to Horrorwood
2. Wurst Vacation
3. Hip to Be Scared
4. Stabbing in The Dark
5. Rainy Day
6. IT is The End
7. Take Your Pick
8. Ex-Mortis
9. The Shower Scene
10. Funeral Derangements
11. The American Nightmare



Lilith Czar

04/03/2022
Lillith Czar 
Trinity of Terror Tour
Oshkosh Arena
Oshkosh, WI

 This fresh musical venture by the former Voice contestant, Juliet Simms, was a welcomed experience. Having moved on from her successful past she created Lilith Czar. A powerful and fresh ride into the more than welcomed women’s rock movement. Along with her on this adventure is a gifted backing band. This combined force left the audience and myself wanting more.

As the band takes the stage, they are positioned near the band of the stage line. Only Lilith Czar’s mic stand sits front a center. In front of it is a small metal walkway that is lined with black and white rose bouquets. Lilith Czar walks onto the stage while a prerecorded poem plays through the PA. The stage was doused in red light. Czar, approaches the front of the stage in a slender red dress fitting the mood portrayed. Once she reaches her mic stand she yells into the mic and the band kick into the opening song “Feed My Chaos.” There was no better way for them to open the show. Just a grab your attention song that was backed up by Czar’s movements across the stage. She utilized the space between roses on the metal walkway to kneel down and create a visual moment. Throughout the set, this was a reoccurring theme. It also resonated with her choice of songs for this performance. The setlist was littered with emotionally charged songs about love, growth, and independence. She covered Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen.” Having seen Stevie Nicks perform before I can see the massive influence she has upon Czar. “Unholy” was a perfect encapsulation of a fierce and precise display of vocal acuity and control. Attention wasn’t asked for but commanded. 


Through the years I have seen Juliet Simms perform. Whether it was in Automatic Love Letter or on her solo run, I knew she was a tremendously gifted performer and songwriter. This performance under her Lilith Czar moniker was something far more special. I look forward to catching her again in May.

Setlist:
1. Intro Poem
2. Feed My Chaos
3. 100 Little Deaths
4. Unholy
5. Edge of Seventeen (Stevie Nicks Cover)
6. Diamonds to Dust
7. King
8. Anarchy


Motionless in White

04/03/2022
Motionless in White
Trinity of Terror Tour
Oshkosh Arena
Oshkosh, WI

The Oshkosh Arena seemed like the perfect location for a good old-fashioned brew haha. The room is large with seating that wraps around the venue in a horseshoe pattern. The stage is erected where the open end of that horseshoe is. When not hosting concerts it is primarily used as a basketball arena for the Milwaukee Bucks D-League team. Regardless, 3,400 plus people filled the arena and sold the venue out for the night.

Having seen Motionless In White over 50 times, one could say I have a soft spot for them. What I know better than some is about their live show. They meticulously pick the setlist, lighting, and every other little detail. It was a little different this time though. They walked out onto the stage as a 4 piece. Missing was bassist Justin Murrow. No real reason is known at the time of this posting, but somehow Motionless in White still crushed it without him.


On the night a few songs really stood out. Opening with “Thoughts & Prayers” is a perfect selection. A pitch-black stage with strobes of white lighting and a misty red blast across the stage. Guitarists Ryan Sitkowski and Ricky Olsen walk to the front of the stage and shred. Often smiling and leaning over the edge of the stage and unleashing random fist pumps and yelling. The song is heavy and moves fast. The mosh pit opened up extremely quickly. Bodies were crowd surfing over the top in record time.

“Voices” might have been the loudest the arena had been all night. Every song was a sing-along, but this one just seemed different. Drummer Vinne Mauro made this song. He managed to project his kit’s sound over the raucous screams and singing of the crowd. I even managed to catch the normally controlled beat maker smiling over to the stagehand on an occasion or two. I was glad to see he was having fun with it. Then at the end of the song, “Voices” was displayed in LGBT flag colors and ran across the large laser light board that stretched the length of the stage.

Heading into the encore they performed “Cyber Hex” which was by far the most entertaining song of the evening. “Cyber Hex” is a brand new release that was accompanied online with a video. It was extremely popular amongst the crowd. Motionless in White brought up 5 children to watch from on the stage. Two kids were obviously terrified even after their parents were brought up to enjoy the experience as well. The band did everything they could to comfort and lighten the mood for the kids. They were showered with drumsticks, guitar picks, and attention. You could tell the happiness in the families’ faces. That is what it is all about. Fun and memories made. 

Finally, frontman Chris Motionless lived on the edge of the stage. Having no fear of standing on monitors or being surrounded by loose cables he walked all over them to interact with the crowd. Chris was virtually serenading every single woman in the crowd. Even after finishing “Eternally Yours”, Chris handed out black roses to the women in the audience. The ladies ate it up. Each trying to outreach the other for the souvenir. It was one of the best signs of gratitude towards a component of your fanbase that always seems to be overlooked within the metal scene.

Motionless in White is the band that lets their freak flag fly and doesn’t really care your opinion about it. There are plenty of stage antics that are backed up by a fantastic light show as well. Their ability to mend nu-metal, goth rock, metal, and so on only becomes that more impressive after seeing them blend all of those songs live. With this specific craft, they may be one of the best at it. Goth rock is alive and well. They will continue to produce excellence and I will continue to attend.

Setlist:
1. Thoughts & Prayers
2. Reincarnate
3. Necessary Evil
4. Voices
5. Soft
6. Rats
7. Brand New Numb
8. Cyber Hex
9. Another Life
10. Somebody Told Me (The Killers Cover)
11. Eternally Yours


Islander

03/31/2022
Islander
The Annex
Madison, WI

Islander was touring support for Attila. I attended this as a fan.

Setlist:
1. Skateboard Flowers
2. Evil…
3. My Friends
4. Mayday
5. Hearts Grow Cold
6. Skin Crawl
7. Tear It Down
8. Lucky Rabbit
9. Counteract
10. Coconut Dracula



He Is Legend

03/31/2022
He is Legend
The Annex
Madison, WI

He is Legend is on the bill as direct support for Attila. I went as a fan. Enjoy!



The Darkness

03/28/2022
The Darkness
The Rave
Milwaukee, WI

The Darkness bought their one-way ticket to hell and showed up at The Rave Hall in Milwaukee, WI. During the covid lockdowns, there were a few changes made. The venue changed the stage lighting, fixed the hardwood flooring(the flooring in the middle was formerly bowling lanes), and downsized the platforms for patrons to watch on. These small changes made it a perfect location for an all-time classic performance. The band is on the road touring in support of their fantastic new album “Motorheart” which was released in November of 2021. They represented that by opening the event with the track “Welcome Tae Glasgae” and sprinkling in “Motorheart” and “It’s Love, Jim.” The setlist covered every single album they have released except “Hot Cakes.” In fact, there were two songs they put into the setlist that I never thought they would perform, “Barbarian” and “Japanese Prisoner of Love.” It was a fantastic surprise.


Justin Hawkins is a treasure. As an avid fan of The Darkness and the “Justin Hawkins Rides Again” Youtube page, you would instantly recognize that he is a true and straightforward performer. Having no fear, he nailed falsetto after falsetto with his trademarked vocals. The man is a true definition of a showman. Every 70’s rock legend persona balled up into one incredible package. Adding multiple outfit changes to match the setlist, the attention most of the show was directed towards the superstar frontman. His incredible vocal talents were equaled by his dynamic guitar playing. While ripping solos he stood between the monitors on the edge of the stage or walked around smiling. He dispensed those sweet riffs casually through his collection of Gibsons. Hawkins was electric.

Next to Justin Hawkins, his brother, Dan Hawkins, is a fellow guitar ace. Donning a black leather jacket with a Thin Lizzy shirt exposed, he strummed and picked away at his Gibsons as also. Often he would take a few giant steps backward while playing and shoot a smile across the stage to bassist Frank Poullain. Hawkins often places one foot up on the monitor while delivering solid and full backing vocals. In his own right, Dan is one hell of a guitar player. He often laid out intricate riffs that intertwined smoothly with his brothers. The man is a true rocker in every sense of the word. He pours out pure energy with every swipe of the strings.

The aforementioned Poullain puts down the rumbling low end while moving around the right side of the stage. The slender bassist exudes classic rock vibes with his black leather garb, black-framed glasses, and small afro. His performance was entertaining as well. If you stood in front of him, he engaged with you in some form. He often smiles, points, and leans over the monitor.  Perched on the drum riser, Rufus Taylor put his energetic drumming style on display. He often peered out through a gap between a crash cymbal and a small tom sharing glances with Poullain. The man has his own flare but obviously picked up his family’s genes.

There were a multitude of sing-alongs, especially if the song came off of the “Permission to Land” album. “Get Your Hand Off My Woman” had the entire crowd screaming and singing vocally as high as they could. Before they finished the song the tempo slowed down and Justin Hawkins told a story and spoke candidly with the crowd. He eventually sang the finale backed by a massive musical breakdown. They followed with the encore of “I Believe In A Thing Called Love.” The eruption created by the audience shook the room. Where I stood you could barely hear the band. The singing was deafening.

Perhaps the best moments were the constant crowd interactions in between songs. Justin engaged with individual fans often and cracked multiple jokes. At times it seemed like a stand-up act. He quipped and laughed about the dirt on top of a huge speaker that he grabbed only to get a small dap of hand sanitizer from his road crew. The room erupted in laughter. You couldn’t have asked for more fun. There were also wholesome moments that occurred. Hawkins engaged with an 8-year-old front and center with their parents. Throughout the show, the entire band interacted with the child rocking out. Throwing what seemed to be a few dozen guitar picks their way. Those moments were very neat to witness. They also threw out what seemed to be a bucket of guitar picks. If you were in the front few rows of people, you most definitely went home with a very cool souvenir.

All in all, this performance was an immeasurable masterpiece of rock music. The Darkness showcased why they’ve attained their legendary status as live performers. Easily, in the top concerts, I have ever attended. Since we have all returned from the covid lockouts, the performances have been fantastic, but it was hard to match the level of astonishment this night left me with. Thank You, The Darkness.


Setlist:
1. Welcome To Glasgae
2. One Way Ticket To Hell
3. Growing on Me
4. Motorheart
5. Open Fire
6. Solid Gold
7. Givin’ Up
8. It’s Love, Jim
9. Black Shuck 
10. Heart Explodes
11. Friday Night
12. Love Is Only A Feeling
13. Japanese Prisoner of Love
14. Barbarian
15. Get Your Hands Off My Woman
16. I Believe In A Thing Called Love


The Dead Deads

03/28/2022
The Dead Deads
The Rave Hall
Milwaukee, WI

The Dead Deads were the direct support for The Darkness US tour 2022.




Powerman5000

03/27/2022
Powerman5000
The Annex
Madison, WI

To say I was overly excited to see Powerman5000 would’ve been a massive understatement. This was my first time seeing them. I have been a fan for a long time roughly 23 years. Their tour dates just never seemed to work out for me. Midwest Mix-up announced this show over a year ago. I marked my calendar and circled it twice as covid shut it down the first time. When the day arrived, I was ready and one of the first people in line to enter.

To enter The Annex you must walk through the Red Zone bar. There were a ton of people waiting around, but no one lined up. Being the guy I am, I walked and stood right at the front of the line. As you enter The Annex you pass through the security check and the ticketing table. Then you turn left into the main room. On your right are the merch tables. There an abundant amount of rad shirts were available, but nothing in my size. Sometimes it sucks being a bigger guy. Next to the merch tables is a massive bar area. As you pass through, you move into the actual music room. From there I posted up just right of dead center.

Powerman5000’s setup had the two guitarists on each end of the stage, the bassist stage left of center, with the drum kit straight back center in front of a massive PM5K aliens head logo. They pumped an obscene amount of smoke along the floor the lighting flipped to a vibrant blue. The members of Powerman5000 entered the stage wearing laser cuffs that they pointed to and waved across the room. They wasted no additional time and lept right into “Footsteps and Voices.” The frontman and band founder, Spider One, walked onto the stage. For the moment, the crowd went bonkers. Spider was his notable high-energy self. He dished out an abundance of fist pumps and flashed his Billy Idol-style lip curl throughout the show. The spirit of rock was alive and well. The setlist covered their entire career. They threw in a few songs I didn’t expect. Mainly, “Invade, Destroy, and Repeat” and “Play God or Play Dead”. Not only that, right in the middle of “Horror Show” they switched up to play “7 Nation Army” by The White Stripes. It was a seamless transition into the song and out of it.

The audience was a mixture of young and old, mostly in the 30+ range. At the end of the night, Spider brought up an insightful observation, a portion of the crowd were not even born when their first few albums were released. He also went on to say it is a pretty awesome thing for the band’s longevity. I wholeheartedly agree. This show lived up to my expectations. After witnessing the event, it wasn’t a surprise they continue to fill venues night after night. The bombshell was definitely dropped.


Setlist:
1. Footsteps and Voices
2. Nobody’s Real
3. Invade, Destroy, Repeat
4. Hey, That’s Right
5. Super Villain
6. Play God or Play Dead
7. Black Lipstick
8. How To Be Human.
9. Horror Show
10. 7 Nation Army(cover)
11. V is For Vampire
12. Bombshell
13. Supernova Goes Pop
14. When Worlds Collide.



Omnium Gatherum

03/22/2022
Omnium Gatherum
Crucible
Madison, WI

Finnish death metal is its own category in the vast expanse of the Metalverse. What happens when within that specific genre of awesomeness you add a ton of melody and harmonizing to it? You get Omnium Gatherum. Their sound is so unique. Nine albums later they remain, so creative. Last year they released, “Origin”. A massively guitar-driven album. Despite that, they haven’t mutated from what makes them great. The consistency in their songwriting should be applauded.

Being armed with all of their talent and knowledge, they stormed into Crucible and gave the eager attendees an in-your-face performance. Crucible is basically a huge, black room with a stage and a bar off to the side behind a wall. The stage has all of its light over the center of the stage. The corners and back of the stage are dark yet dimly light if the angle is just right. Luckily, that isn’t much of an issue for Omnium Gatherum, they are extremely active and move around the stage often. Not only that they stand right on the very front lip of the stage or have one foot up on the monitors.

Frontman Jukka Pelkonen had his vocals on point. His ability to switch cadences on a drop of a dime while screaming or singing was mighty impressive. At times his vocal projection didn’t need a microphone to amplify it. He was full force. Frequently he held out the metal horns that also doubled as part of their insignia. He often touched horns with fans during songs to create a live rendition of their insignia as well.

All in all, they left me with no doubt that their live show cements their legacy within Finnish metal. The straightforward, fast-paced riffs continually break way for smoother melodies. The classical training and historically sound Finnish music scenes influences are noticeable all over their set. The confidence in their artistry is well noticed. Overall, their triumphant performance with a hungry crowd couldn’t have made the evening any more perfect. I am kicking myself for never seeing these guys before, but the building hype in my head was absolutely answered, if not exceeded in multiple ways. 

Setlist:
1. Emergence
2. Paragon
3. The Pit
4. Rest In Your Heart
5. Reckoning
6. Frontiers
7. The Unknowing
8. Be The Sky
9. Nail
10. Friction
11. New World Shadows
12. Gods Go First
13. Shadows
14. Luoto
15. New Dynamic
16. Solemn
 


Allegaeon

03/22/2022
Allegaeon
Crucible
Madison, WI

Allegaeon cruise into Crucible having just released another fantastic album on Metal Blade Records. Their last album, “Aptosis” was released back in 2019, so it had been 3 years and a pandemic closing down life in that wait for new tunes. Not a bad wait, relatively speaking. I couldn’t have been more excited though. Since the new album is beyond excellent and nearly perfect in my opinion. I couldn’t wait to see the precision of these absurdly talented and creative masterminds of metal.

Anyways, Heading into this performance I was too thrilled to hear the new stuff played. Crucible is perfect for a show like this. It is dark with limited amounts of stage lighting. Being a photographer I can tell you that it is one of the most challenging places I have shot.  One thing I noticed was they performed at least one song from every album, but their first two releases. “Of Beasts and Worms” has such a flux in vocalist Riley McShane’s ability to sing and scream. He killed it. For a lead single, it is an almost 7-minute masterpiece of modern death metal. McShane puts on a clinic for his brutally wicked vocals.

The guitarists really steal the show though. Greg Burgess and Michael Stancel are so technically fine and in rhythm with each other from the start. Their classical music influences are extremely noticeable within every note strummed. They slash and rip through every chaotic chord. A powerful intensity radiates from the strings. Rare glimpses of smiling crack through the headbanging and hair swirls. These dudes were on point. The 8 song setlist felt like one big symphony of face-melting savagery and beauty. Their combined artistry really blew me away. On the low end, Brandon Michael pounds the bass. He was fully engaged with the crowd that was pushing forward onto the stage. Whether yelling, high-fiving, or leaning over the monitors he was on it. Combine that with the relatively new drummer Jeff Saltzman. Saltzman delivers explosively quick snaps and heavy smashes across his kit.

The band was a finely-tuned machine. Every song was a work of art. Purely a metal mastery. Next time they come around there is no doubt I will have my ticket in hand and ready to go again.  

Setlist:
1. Threshold of Perception
2. Into Embers
3. Of Beasts and Worms
4. Gray Matter Mechanics - Apassionata Ex Machinea
5. Vermin
6. Metaphobia
7. Stellar Tidal Disruption
8. 1,618


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