Burt Block Party 2023 | Review & Photos

August 18, 2023 Leave a comment

I haven’t heard of Meisha and the Spanks before, but they were a pleasure to discover. They were very punk rock and even just as a 2 piece band, absolutely rocked the huge stage!

Flatliners was great! They really knew how to hype up the crowd. The whole lineup for this show really featured a different range of rock music and Flatliners really rode that line closer to ska! I don’t see many ska bands these days, but after seeing Flatliners, I would love to see more ska around.

Comeback Kid needs no introduction, an absolutely incredible hardcore band that I’ve seen a handful of times and I always look forward to them every single time they play in Winnipeg. Big energy on stage, lots of hyping up the crowd, definitely some killer pits, getting to shoot them was a dream for me and this whole show I was able to produce some of the best photos I took to date. 

And last, but definitely not least, Billy Talent was undeniably great. Despite being in the scene for a long time, they STILL bring a ton of energy and hype to their performance. I loved getting to see them and reminiscing about being thirteen and hearing them for the first time. It was the first time I got to see them live and the Burt Block Party was a great way to see them. Big bands playing outdoors really make you think about how awesome summer really can be, even as an adult. 

Photos + review by Quinn Hall

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Blessthefall Unleashes Their “Hollow Bodies” 10th Anniversary Tour In Santa Ana Featuring Caskets, Kingdom of Giants, and Dragged Under | 8/3/23 | Photos + Review |

August 12, 2023 Leave a comment

Date: 8-3-23 at The Observatory Orange County in Santa Ana, CA

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to 2013 when Blessthefall performed on the mainstage at Vans Warped Tour in Ventura, CA. The band had just released their latest album, “Hollow Bodies,” via Fearless Records. Fast-forward to the present day and Blessthefall have announced their 10th-anniversary tour for this iconic album. The tour includes their first shows in almost four years and features Caskets, Kingdom of Giants, and Dragged Under, all of which I’ve seen and photographed before. The concert was a remarkable experience from start to finish.

Dragged Under from Seattle, Washington, was up first to the stage. I first saw and photographed the band in 2021 when they opened for Beartooth and Wage War, then again on their headliner in 2022 with support from Rivals. These guys are perfectly described as the middle ground between post-hardcore and metalcore. The band played a 6-song set of songs from both albums, “Upright Animals” and “The World Is In Your Way” equally. Anthony Cappocchi is an absolute beast of a frontman and got the crowd going. Guitarists Sean Rosario and Chris Namoc brought the energy with some heavy riffage and lots of jumping. Drummer Dylan Roy held down the fort with his incredible drumming prowess. I’m so glad I could see and photograph these guys again. Get to the show early to see these guys!

SETLIST

  1. Instability
  2. Suffer
  3. Brainwash Broadcast
  4. Upright Animals
  5. Chelsea
  6. Hypochondria

Kingdom of Giants was next to the stage, hailing from Sacramento, California. This was my fourth time seeing the sextet (although they play live as a quintet), and they did not disappoint. Playing a 7-song set, the band mainly played songs from their 2020 album “Passengers,” released via SharpTone Records, and their new single “Wasted Space.” I was stoked to finally hear songs like “Burner” and “Two Suns” in a live setting. Vocalist Dana Willax has never sounded better live, showcasing a mixture of cleans and screaming. The band’s new bassist Justin Roebuck-Joseph absolutely SLAYS with the band. He did not have an easy job jumping in for the previous bassist and clean vocalist, Jonny Reeves, but he did not disappoint. Guitarists Julian Perez and Red Martin destroyed it on stage with many headbangs and riffage galore. Closing out the band’s lineup is drummer Truman Berlin, a powerhouse on that stage, calling out to the crowd between songs and getting people excited. This was my first time not seeing guitarist Max Bremer with the band, but I know he’d be so proud of these guys for how well they performed. Kingdom of Giants is truly a band you do not want to miss!

SETLIST

  1. Burner
  2. Night Shift
  3. Wasted Space
  4. Two Suns
  5. Sync
  6. Bleach
  7. Wayfinder

Caskets from Leeds, England, came up next as direct support. This was my second time seeing the British quintet, the first being in May of 2022. Seeing them get a more extended set on this tour was fantastic, playing a 9-song set showcasing songs from each of their three releases. Vocalist Matt Flood shines on that stage, really getting the crowd going. One thing that always stands out to me whenever I see Caskets live is how happy bassist Chris McIntosh is to be on stage with a big bright smile shining from ear to ear. Guitarists Benji Wilson and Craig Robinson provided the heavy riffage that contrasts the synth-heavy melodies that genuinely give the band their signature sound. Drummer James Lazenby helps create the foundations of the band’s songs with intricate drum patterns. It’s been so cool to see the trajectory of this band, and I cannot wait to see where their upcoming album “Reflections” takes them. They were an excellent choice to be direct support for this tour!

  1. Guiding Light
  2. Hold Me Now
  3. Drowned In Emotion
  4. More Than Misery
  5. Too Late
  6. The Only Ones
  7. Lost In Echoes
  8. Falling Apart
  9. Glass Heart

 The all-mighty Blessthefall from Phoenix, AZ, came up next. To say this set meant a lot to me would be an understatement. The band played “Hollow Bodies” in its entirety for their first show in almost four years, with additional songs as well. Songs like “Exodus,” “You Wear A Crown But You Are No King,” “Hollow Bodies,” and “Youngbloods” truly showcase the dueling vocals of Beau Boken and bassist Jared Warth. A very cool moment was when Beau Boken’s wife, Lights, came out to perform the final song from Hollow Bodies, “Open Water,” which was quickly a highlight of the night. Guitarists Eric Lambert and Elliott Gruenberg shredded. The songs on this album have a rather djenty feel, which, as many know, is one of my favorite metal styles. The band brought along with them touring drummer Jared Fron who destroyed those intricate drum parts with precision. As a bonus, the band played their newest single, “Wake The Dead,” along with songs from their 2008 release, “Witness,” and a song from their 2018 release, “Hard Feelings.” The lighting the band brought with them this time was easily some of the best I’ve seen them with and genuinely added to the experience. Blessthefall has always been one of my favorite bands, so seeing and photographing them again after so long meant the world to me!

SETLIST

  1. Exodus
  2. You Wear A Crown But You Are No King
  3. Hollow Bodies
  4. Déjà Vu
  5. Buried In These Walls
  6. See You On The Outside
  7. Youngbloods
  8. Standing On The Ashes
  9. Carry On
  10. The Sound Of Starting Over
  11. Open Water

ENCORE

  1. Wake The Dead
  2. Cutthroat
  3. 2.0
  4. What’s Left Of Me
  5. Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted

Blessthefall’s 10th Anniversary Tour kick-off show was an absolute fever dream. Every band brought the energy tenfold and made it a stellar time. I cannot believe this album is now ten years old! It’s honestly crazy how fast time flies. This tour is still going on, so make sure to attend if there is a date close to you!

Blessthefall | Caskets | Kingdom of Giants | Dragged Under

Photos + Review Courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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K-pop Group KARD hits the stage at Louisville’s historic Palace Theater | Photos + Review

August 9, 2023 Leave a comment

Date: July 25 2023 Venue: The Louisville Palace Theater Louisville, KY Review

Playground 2023 KARD World Tour | Fandom Name: Hidden Kard

KARD Members: J.SEPH(Kim Tae Hyung or 제이셉/김태형), BM(Matthew Kim/Kim Jin Seok or 비엠/김진석), Somin(Jeon So Min or 소민/전소민), Jiwoo(Jeon Ji Woo or 지우/전지우)

Kard opened with their newest EP single “Icky” from the 6th mini
album, followed by “Without You” from the 6th mini album “Icky”. They
took a break from their performances of those two songs to say their
hellos and talk a little bit with Hidden Kards’.

They got ready for some more jammed packed performances in the jaw-dropping
historical Louisville Palace Theater. It was built in the 1920s and
is one of the most mesmerizing venues I’ve been to, from the grand
lobby to the intricately adorned balconies and stairwells to the
vaulted ceilings with the “Spanish Baroque” architecture.

BM had asked what the best-fried chicken was and there were many answers being said
but I remember it being “Lees” was the winner of best KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). BM asked how everyone was doing with the heat since it was almost 100° in Louisville, KY while Hidden Kard
was waiting in line for who knows how long before doors opened at 6:00
pm EST. BM said that he would rather be naked, buck naked because of
the heat. Somin and Jiwoo said that they liked the AC/Fan. J.SEPH said
he would run the AirCon and the fan.

The lighting for the show was vibrant with all of their songs. They played “Ring The Alarm” from
their 5th mini album ‘Re:’, “Hola Hola” from their 1st mini album
“Hola Hola” and “Oh NaNa” from their single K.A.R.D. Project Vol.1 “Oh
NaNa”. About midway through the show, they showed some photos from the
group’s early days. BM commented that he looked young and wanted that
photo to go away and tried to swat at it to get to pretend that it
wasn’t there and said he was wearing a bib because he kept getting
food on himself. While Somin pointed at it and everyone else laughed
WITH BM.

Somin and Jiwoo’s stage was next with “Fxxk You” from the 6th
mini album. BM was up next with “LIE” from his solo single “Lost in
Euphoria”. The visual effects and the lighting made it feel like you
are under the stars with the atmosphere in the venue followed by his
single “Broken Me” which had more of a dark storm feel with the
lightning in the BG. BM had invited J.SEPH back on stage for their
song “Been That Boy” off of the 6th mini album the visual effects in
the background were a forset that kind of reminded me of a mix of
Harry Potter and Twilight but on a different level since there was
BM’s abs on mostly full display. The BG effects also had a Matrix feel
to it with the glitch and had the words like a lyric music video feel. The
single “Rumor” from K.A.R.D. Project Vol.3 “Rumor” and Kard took a
breather for the last half of the show and they read some of the fan’s
signs and took some of the fan’s gifts they had for them.

Someone had made 4 crowns for the members out of playing cards. Some of the signs
were “HOT GIRLS LOVE J.SEPH”, and “BAD BITCHES LOVE KARD” BM asked if
everyone felt like a bad bitch and was met with loud screams, and
“J.SEPH KFC DATE?” J.SEPH’s response was “HELL YEAH!”

The last half of the show started with “Break Down” from the album
“Re:” which is a song that BM had said that Hidden probably remembers
from a breakup and said for everyone to treat their significant others’ with care. The
song is heartfelt and full of hurt while writing and it felt emotional
for me live. There was an amazing ASL Translator rocking out to the
music with them. They followed with “Gunshot” from the 1st single “Way
With Words”  which is one of my personal favorite songs from them when
it came out a few years ago. “Bomb Bomb” from their 1st Digital Single.
“Bomb Bomb” is a super upbeat and fun song that just makes you want to
get up and dance with the little Latin flavor and a little flash of
BM’s abs again (not that I was complaining).

They took a few minutes to each give their thank yous before the end of the show. Let me just
talk about “CAKE” for a second….babes it’s a song about cake 100% for
sure….moving on. The BG had police tape with CAKE on the tape and
some glitching word CAKE in red and blue which I thought added back
into from before with “Been That Boy” and the glitching style text
almost like a TikTok style and some flames because it was FUEGO. The
single “Dumb Litty”  is by far my favorite, the dance, music, and
the almost grunge style for the BG affects gave it a 90s hip-hop vibe turned to
graffiti. By the end of the song they got more into the atmosphere of
the crowd and they were W.I.L.D.

KARD gave the fans what they wanted which was the encore. Starting with EP “Ride on the Wind” from their 3rd mini album which is an upbeat, soft song that you want to Ride on the Wind
to but still has a beat you can dance to from the beats in BG of the
song. They brought out a Will of Song and whatever song it landed on
they would play. There was Enemy, Go Baby!, Hola Hola, and Red Moon.
Somin spun the Will of Song with a very determined look on her face
and Red Moon ‘won’ the spin. EP 4th mini album “Red Moon” went in a
slightly different sound for this album and it’s on the sexy side and they do it with such grace and charm. The song still has that Latin flavor. Now the song live sounds maybe 1 or 2
octaves lower than the Studio Version. The last song was “Icky”
again for the fans to learn/already know the dance to the song just for
the one part for them to record and post on SNS wrapping up the night
of a sweet WILD bliss until next time.

Kard isn’t considered the “normal” standard for groups because they are a CO-ED (boy/girl)
group. They really do have a well-rounded group put together. So
please give them a chance, listen to their songs, and catch them at a tour date near you
on their World Tour.

Photos + Review by Chyenne Conner | Photography

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L.S. Dunes ft. Pinkshift @ The Rave.

August 7, 2023 Leave a comment

On July 24, post-hardcore supergroup L.S. Dunes and brought the heat(wave) to
Milwaukee, with a sold-out show at the Rave. The crowd was packed tight into the Rave bar as
it became closer to showtime. The crowd was an eclectic group, consisting of a broad age
range, from teens to “elder emos” like myself.
Pinkshift took the stage first, energizing the crowd immediately with their 90s grunge,
2000’s pop-punk sound. I had not heard of them before this show but had listened to a few of
their songs on the way to the show and was elated to see that they were incredibly active with
the crowd and so full of energy for their entire set, even with the heat of the room. They were
also incredibly reactive when someone in the crowd passed out, stopping immediately and
calling for staff to get the person help. They certainly gained more than a few new fans in
Milwaukee, including myself! Pinkshift continues the tour with L.S. Dunes through August 11
and then they make their way across the pond on their Britshift (+Belgium) tour from 8/19-
8/27, returning to the US for some short runs with Thursday and then Hawthorne Heights in
September.

You could feel the anticipation grow as the time for L.S. Dunes to take the stage grew
closer. The heat in the room was immense and the only saving grace was an enormous fan,
blowing into the room from one entrance and the water that was passed out between sets.
When they took to the stage, the crowd exploded with energy as everyone surged forward with
excitement. I don’t think the crowed slowed down at all throughout their 12-song set. The
crowd tried to convince them to do a second encore, but like they said to the crowd, they “only
have 12 songs.” The band continues their tour through August 11th . Followed by joining Pierce The Veil on the Jaws of Life Tour next, from November 4th until December 8th.

Photos and review courtesy of Acacia Marie

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50 Cent’s The Final Lap Tour Brings the Heat to St. Louis.

July 29, 2023 Leave a comment

If you thought St Louis couldn’t get any hotter, you weren’t at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Tuesday night, July 25th. G-Unit headliner 50 Cent lit up the stage with support from Busta Rhymes and Jeremih. The Final Lap Global Tour is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of his debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin”, and is plugged as his last tour ever.

Opening the show was Jeremih, whose short set kicked off with his hit, Planez, brought to life by his backup dancer taking the role of flight attendant.

The set was followed by Busta Rhymes, with longtime hype man Spliff Starr, covering classics like Ante Up and Break Ya Neck, as well as covers, including a cover of Don’t Cha by The Pussycat Dolls.

50 seemed to be having a great time as he played some of his biggest hits from his earlier years for the packed partying audience, including Candy Shop, Magic Stick, In Da Club, and P.I.M.P.

The Final Lap Tour continues through North America through September, then takes to Europe, beginning in Amsterdam September 28th. Below are upcoming tour dates:

Coverage courtesy of Elizabeth Rajchart

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Thy Art Is Murder Brings the Decade of Hate to Ventura w/ Kublai Khan TX & more | 2/25/23 | Photos + Review

March 11, 2023 Leave a comment

Let me take you back 10 years. Thy Art Is Murder released their album “Hate” to the masses and captivated audiences worldwide. I’ve seen them many times throughout the years, so to hear them finally play this album in its entirety was an experience to say the least. To celebrate the album turning 10 years old, the band set out on a world tour. The North American lineup brought a mixture of hardcore punk, death metal, and of course, deathcore. Kublai Khan TX, Undeath, I Am, and Justice For The Damned came out to SLAY! This show was a banger from start to finish!

First up was first to the stage from Sydney, Australia. This was their debut tour hitting North America and they absolutely set things off strongly. They are that perfect blend between hardcore and deathcore, which is the perfect blend. This quintet consists of vocalist Bobak Raffiee, guitarists Kieran Molloy and Nic Adams, bassist Ben Mirfin, and drummer Chas Levi. The band played a 7-song set, most of which came from their 2020 album “Pain Is Power” which was released via Greyscale Records. The band absolutely set this show off CORRECTLY with high energy and headbangs.

SETLIST

  1. Final Cataclysm
  2. Dragged Through The Dirt
  3. The House You Built Is Burning
  4. Blister of the Plague
  5. Deep Rotting Fear
  6. Pain Is Power
  7. Guidance From The Pain

Up next was I Am from Dallas, TX. This was my third time seeing these guys and they absolutely get better and better each time I see them. With a blend of deathcore, hardcore, and death metal, I Am truly brings it. The lineup consists of vocalist Andrew Hileman, guitarists Chris Burgess and Tom Reyes, drummer Brandon Busa, and touring bassist Jayden Baker. The band played an 8-song set, 3 of which came from their newest album “Eternal Steel” which was released in 2022 via MNRK Records. It has been amazing to see the trajectory of this band since I first saw them back in 2017 and I seriously cannot wait to see and photograph them again the next time they hit the West Coast.

SETLIST

  1. Texas Death
  2. Surrender to the Blade
  3. Peel Back The Skin
  4. Sacred Cries
  5. Eternal Steel
  6. Vicious Instinct
  7. Paid In Sin
  8. Burn Slow

Next to the stage was Undeath from Rochester, NY. This was my second time seeing and photographing Undeath with the last being in September of 2021 and boy did they once again exceed my expectations. These guys are straight up brutal death metal meets hardcore, which is such a unique combo but works out so well. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist Alexander Jones, guitarists Jared Welch and Kyle Beam, drummer Matt Browning, and bassist Tommy Wall. The band played a 7-song set with songs spanning most of their discography up until this point. I am always thoroughly impressed with these guys and highly recommend checking them out!

SETLIST

  1. Lord of the Grave
  2. Necrobionics
  3. Rise From The Grave
  4. Grave Osmosis
  5. Brandish The Blade
  6. Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body
  7. Lesions of a Different Kind

Kublai Khan TX from Sherman, TX hit the stage next. This was my first time seeing the band in almost 4 years and boy did they come to DESTROY the stage. Opening with the song “The Hammer”, the band truly came out swinging. The band played a whopping 13-song set, spanning a majority of their discography including the entirety of their newest EP “Lowest Form Of Animal” which the band released in 2022 via Rise Records. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist Matt Honeycutt, bassist Eric English, drummer Isaac Lamb, and touring guitarist Nic Adams who was filling in for guitarist Nolan Ashley. I have seen this band many times, but after going so long without seeing them, it felt like that spark the band has is brighter than ever. They truly bring that metalcore and hardcore punk style to the nth degree. I highly recommend going to check them out live because the energy exuding from this band is indescribable.

SETLIST

  1. The Hammer
  2. Eyes Up
  3. True Fear
  4. Us & Them
  5. Dynasty
  6. Swan Song
  7. Taipan
  8. Resentment
  9. The Truest Love
  10. Loyal To None
  11. Boomslang
  12. Self-Destruct
  13. Antpile

Thy Art Is Murder from Blacktown, Sydney, Australia finally hit the stage next. Opening with “Reign of Darkness”, Thy Art Is Murder showed just how hard they went on this tour. With syncopated lighting and props, the band truly set themselves up for success. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist CJ McMahon, guitarists Sean Delander and Andy Marsh, bassist Kevin Butler, and drummer Jesse Beahler. Along with playing 10-songs from “Hate”, the band also played a song from each of their other albums released on Nuclear Blast, totaling out to a 13-song set. I am truly always blown away from the sheer presence from this band live and I truly cannot wait to see and photograph them again soon! This show was so much fun and I am truly glad it was my first for the year for The Camera Affect!

SETLIST

  1. Reign of Darkness
  2. Purest Strain Of Hate
  3. Vile Creations
  4. Shadow of Eternal Sin
  5. Immolation
  6. Infinite Forms
  7. Dead Sun
  8. Gates of Misery
  9. Defective Breed
  10. Doomed From Earth

ENCORE

  1. Death Squad Anthem
  2. Holy War
  3. Puppet Master

Thy Art Is Murder | Kublai Khan | Undeath | I Am | Justice For The Damned

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Jake Scott’s Lavender Tour hits Denver, CO

November 29, 2022 Leave a comment

Jake Scott @ Gothic Theater – Denver, CO- 11/17/2022

On a cold snowy night, Jake Scott brought his Lavender Tour to one of my favorite venues in Denver – Gothic Theater on November 17th. 

Kicking it off with “Last Night’s Mascara,” Brynn sang and captivated the crowd with her voice and just her guitar, piano, infectious energy and emotional relatability. Many knew the words and sang along. Her voice was strong and clear and you could hear every word throughout the venue. Before playing “Gemini,” she made jokes and apologized to the Gemini men in the crowd and I couldn’t help but laugh as well. 

I’ve never heard of ROSIE before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. You could tell that she was happy and honored to be there. Her songs dug deep into emotions and encouraged the fans to experience every one of them. The lighting was still intimate yet contrasted by bright blue and pink lights that set the mood for both of their sets. It was a beautiful and emotional set and people sang along with her and the biggest smile was on her face throughout the entire set. 

The lights went up and down before Jake Scott finished off the night. The crowd was excited and screaming for him to come out and kicked it off with “CWJBHN.” He was so full of energy that didn’t stop during the entire set. He was constantly running back and forth across the stage. He would go to different areas of the stage and sing to the crowd in front of him. Fans went wild when he started singing the song that he wrote with Russel Dickerson called, “She Likes It.”

He played a few “sad songs” in a row but he mentioned how these songs are usually inspired with the thought of his wife breaking up with him because most of his other songs are inspired by her. He finished off the night with songs like “Working For You,” “Good Day,” and even a cover of Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well.”

The Lavender Tour brought a night full of joy, talent and wonderful music to Gothic. Everyone was having a great time and there was never a dull moment, not even freezing temperatures and snow falling.

Photos courtesy of Jess Kelly | Instagram | Twitter

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All 4 Nothing Tour 2022 | Photo Gallery + Review

September 17, 2022 Leave a comment

9/6/2022

Lauv’s popularity has been on an upward trajectory over the past few years. He had a few hit singles in the late 2010s before releasing his debut LP in spring of 2020. Two years on from that release, he has dropped his sophomore LP, “All 4 Nothing.” The summer and fall of this year brought a tour in support of those two releases. It was his first tour in over two years, as well as the first concert I’d photographed in that time, and what a phenomenal comeback it was in both aspects.

Up first was Chicago-based musician David Kushner. The musician rose in popularity over the last several months after snippets from two of his songs went viral on TikTok. The set started with “Burn,” followed by one of the two aforementioned viral songs, “Miserable Man.” For his third song, he switched things up a bit by playing a more recent track, “Look Back & Laugh.” At the time, the track was unreleased, giving the concertgoers a taste of his debut EP, “Footprints I Found.” He closed the set out strongly with what is arguably his most popular song, “Mr. Forgettable.” Kushner is a very talented vocalist and musician who writes very poignant music, and his performance moved the crowd.

On this particular night, he also happened to be celebrating his 22nd birthday. In the middle of the set, people came out on stage with a sign alerting the crowd that they should sing “Happy Birthday” to him, although the crowd had already gotten a jump start on that just a moment prior.

Next up was Hayley Kiyoko, who brought tons of energy to the stage right from the get-go. She was constantly moving and jumping around, especially in the first few songs of her set, and the many fans in the crowd sang along to previous hits and tracks from her newly-released album “Panorama.” The setlist was primarily comprised of more recent tracks, with six out of the eight songs being from that album. The other two were some earlier hits of hers – “Curious,” from her first full-length album, and “Girls Like Girls,” which she concluded the set with, and at which point she waved pride flags handed to her by fans in the audience.

Finally, at 9:30 P.M., the lights once again dimmed and Lauv’s set began. As fog filled the stage, Lauv began playing “26,” the opening track to his new album. About halfway through the song, the spotlight turned towards him. He continued with another single from that album, “Kids Are Born Stars,” before deciding to turn back in time and play a couple of much older tracks of his, “Paris In The Rain” and “Chasing Fire.”

Lauv has always been open about his experiences with mental health, and he took a moment to tell his story to the crowd and promote his new guided meditation before playing “Modern Loneliness,” one of my favorite songs of his. Another highlight of the set was when he played the reflective “Hey Ari,” a song that shows him checking in with himself and looking back on the progress he’s made. Part of what made this part of the set particularly special is that, during the chorus, the crowd asked the question that becomes the main hook of the song: “Hey Ari, are you happy?”

Since this tour was in support of two albums, the majority of his set consisted of those songs and contained a pretty even split of tracks from “All 4 Nothing” (such as “Molly In Mexico,” “Bad Trip,” “Stranger,” and “Stay Together”) and tracks from “how i’m feeling” (including “Tattoos Together,” “Who,” “Lonely Eyes,” “i’m so tired,” and “Drugs & The Internet”). The 23-song set concluded with one of the songs that jumpstarted his career in the first place, “I Like Me Better.”

Each artist on the lineup put on an engaging live show, and it was a great night all around.

Photo gallery + review by Megan Langley

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ERRA’s Pull From The Ghost Tour 2022 ft Alpha Wolf, Invent Animate, and Thornhill.

July 30, 2022 Leave a comment

7-23-22 | Anaheim California | Chain Reaction

Alpha Wolf

Invent Animate

Thornhill

ERRA

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Knotfest Roadshow 2022

May 30, 2022 Leave a comment

Providence, RI

Saturday 21 May 2022

Slipknot announced taking their notorious show out on the road again in 2022 to bring complete chaos to the US with the legendary Cypress Hill and a punk, rap, metal three piece who has taken the nu-metal scene by storm, Ho99o9. This show was ran a little differently than what photographers are usually used to. We always are being rushed to the correct place of the venue to go over the rules of covering the show and such but on that night we had to rush take an on site covid test, meet up with the rest of the photographers once cleared, go over the rules and appropriate bands to photograph, which was only Slipknot at the DCU Center in Providence, RI. It was interesting to say the least but none of us had an issue with this given a heads up in the email on how this show was being ran. It was just a little different than the usual heart beating anxiety entering the venue. Once that was cleared, it was time to enjoy the rest of Ho99o9 set! The DCU Center holds up to 15,000 people and this arena was starting to fill in, from the floor to the top seats! The guys in the band were going off on the stage as I walked down the steps onto the sticky concrete floor. Ho99o9 was originally a duo, theOGM and Eaddy, who started in New Jersey and moved to L.A, gaining drummer Brandon Pertzborn. Ho99o9 is leetspeak for horror if you were wondering by the way. Their live show consists of lots of head banging, jumping around energy, and you could see the crowd was warming up for what was next to come. theOGM, Eaddy, and Brandon definitely bring a mix of punk, rap, and metal! Ho99o9 fits the Slipknot Roadshow bill for sure!

Setlist: Master of Pain. The World, The Flesh, The Devil. Mega City Nine. Protect My Bitch PT 2. Firefly Family. Bite My Face.

As the openers set comes to a close, people started to move to the refreshment stands and merch tables, while parents started rushing children to the front of the stage to be enlightened on who Cypress Hill was. I have always noticed the youth on the Slipknot Road Show shows and have always enjoyed knowing that amazing music will live on forever because of this!

DJ Muggs hit the stage first stating “There goes the neighborhood” and starts playing some mega mash up bangers such as Wu Tang, Ozzy, Run DMC, and Metallica. He would skip in and out of the mixes so the crowd could carry the rest of the lyrics and they did just that! Drummer, Eric Bobo, starts hitting his weed decorated kit and MC B-Real joins the stage. Unfortunately, Sen Dogg was absent for this one but will reconnect with the tour for future dates. The now, even more packed venue, started filling up with the sweet smell of Mary Jane as well as the stage and the area for what usually is the ‘pit’ is now a giant grooving dance party until they played “Superstar” that is. Then the area did break out into a small pit. B-Real was hyping up the crowd all set, asking if they are awake and “feeling insane” as they go into another top hit, “Insane in the membrane”. Cypress Hill has been around since 1988, becoming legends to the music scene. With multiple top hits, awards, and all around respect, it was an honor to see them live and on the roadshow!

Setlist: When the Shit Goes Down. Real Estate. Hand on the Pump. Sound of the Police. Roll It Up, Light It Up, Smoke It Up. Throw Your Set in the Air. Illusions. I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That. How I Could Just Kill a Man. (Rock) Superstar. Insane in the Brain. Jump Around.

The almost sold out DCU Center was packed and the fans in their positions were getting antsy starring at the Slipknot banner in front of the massive stage as the crew men built up the set for Slipknot. The playlist for everyone to get amped up was a solid mix of rock music but we all knew once ‘ACDC’s “For Those About To Rock” played it was time for them to take the stage. Slipknot has not played in Rhode Island for over 20 years and Corey Taylor was stoked to be back. The stage was about 11 feet high, so trying to snap all nine members was indeed a challenge for us photographers but we were ready. The ‘ACDC’ song finally plays after waiting a little bit and then, BANG, it is on!

Playing over an hour and a half set, Corey Taylor, lead singer, mentions that his voice isn’t 100 percent but no one could tell at all. His notes were flawless and his screams were gritty as always. Jay Weinberg, one of the greatest drummers of all time, was wacking his massive kit, while Clown and Tortilla Man were smashing kettle drums, and more precision drums, that were placed about 15 feet high on two separate towers. The stage presence of Slipknot is unmatched. It seriously is a must see live show, even if you have check it out on YouTube. Alex, the bass player at one point even had a flame thrower attached to his bass! While shooting the set, the pyros did go off on the second song and I was surprised to be leaving with eyebrows, however, even moving to the back of the massive crowd, I could still feel the heat from the fire! Corey Taylor is always showing his gratitude to the loyal and even new fans. He mentioned that he could see kids mixed in with older adults and that makes them continue what they have been doing for over 23 years now. Playing hits such as, “Before I Forget”, “The Devil In I”, which always gives me chills live, and “The Heretic Anthem”, to name a few, the Slipknot Roadshow once again blew minds.

There was actually two wild mosh pits that broke out until it turned into one huge one. Fans were helping each other up in the dark chaos if they got knocked down though and even Corey was looking out for his fans as a girl got pushed down, he stopped the show to make sure she was okay and to remind us to take care of one another. “This family lives and dies together”, he said, “as long as you’re on our side, we will give you 23 more years!”

Setlist: Disasterpiece. Wait and Bleed. Sulfur. Before I Forget. The Chapeltown Rag. Dead Memories. Unsainted. The Heretic Anthem. Psychosocial. The Devil in I. Solway Firth. All Out Life. Snuff. Vermilion. Duality. Custer. Spit It Out. Encore: People=Shit. (sic). Surfacing.

The Slipknot Road Show came and went but definitely did not disappoint in the least. I’ve attended the show twice now and I can’t wait to see what they bring us in 2023!

Review and Photos courtesy of Ashley Grace of aGrace Photography

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