REVIEW – Movements USA Tour 2019

May 16, 2019 Leave a comment

         Movements is a band I’ve been a fan of for quite some time. I’ve been following the band since their signing to Fearless Records and the release of their debut EP, “Outgrown Things,” back in 2016. I saw them live for the first time at Vans Warped Tour the following summer, and was really looking forward to seeing them again on this tour, as well as the other incredible bands that supported them.

          Kicking off the night was New York based hardcore punk band Drug Church. The five-piece instantly brought a ton of energy, and kept that energy going throughout their entire half-hour set. Their music has quite a bit of aggression as well, and this was easily the heaviest band of the night. The band primarily performed songs off of their new album “Cheer,” including singles “Weed Pin,” “Avoidarama” and “Strong References,” and they even fit in a couple of old favorites as well: “Drunk Tank,” “Banco Popular” and “But Does It Work?.” Every member of the band was constantly moving around the stage the entire time, and their set got the crowd moving as well.

        Second on the bill were Trash Boat, a pop punk band from the UK. Their music leans towards the heavier side of pop punk, and it shows even more through their live performance. Similarly to Drug Church, Trash Boat also brought a little bit of aggression and plenty of energy throughout their set, filling the setlist with a lot of their faster paced songs, such as “Strangers,” “How Selfish I Seem,” and “Tring Quarry” from their debut LP “Nothing I Write You Can Change What You’ve Been Through” and “Inside Out,” “Nothing New,” and a few others from their sophomore effort “Crown Shyness.” As well as aggression, this band puts a lot of passion into their performance, and it truly showed through the performances from every member during every song.

         Next up was another band from the UK, Boston Manor. This is a band whose sound has evolved over the years, and their set really showed that evolution, as they played songs such as “Laika,” “Burn You Up,” and “Lead Feet” from their more pop punk leaning debut record “Be Nothing,” as well as several songs from their more experimental second album “Welcome To The Neighbourhood,” including “Flowers In Your Dustbin,” “Halo,” and “England’s Dreaming.” This band has an incredible stage presence and did a really good job of engaging the crowd, with plenty of moshing and crowdsurfing going on throughout the set.

      Closing out the night was California based band Movements, a band whose popularity has grown tremendously in the past couple of years. The band’s music combines various influences from pop punk, emo and alternative rock, and their unique sound really makes them stand out. One notable thing about their performance is that they put so much emotion into every single song, from their more upbeat ones such as “Kept,” “Full Circle,” and set opener “The Grey,” all of which had the crowd moving, while slower ones like “Submerge” and fan favorite “Daylily” had every person in the room singing along. Each band on the bill was a little bit different, and from the variety and diversity found on the lineup to all the energy, passion and emotion that each band provided in their individual sets, it was a great show overall.

Photos & Review by Megan Langley | Facebook | Twitter

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Knocked Loose w/ The Acacia Strain, Harm’s Way, Higher Power, and Sanction | Spring U.S. Tour | 4/30/19 |

May 12, 2019 Leave a comment

Knocked Loose 2-Steps Their Way Through The Majestic Ventura Theater

Date: 4/30/19

Venue: The Majestic Ventura Theater

Knocked Loose has accumulated quite the large and dedicated fan base in the Metalcore and Hardcore communities over the last several years. With only 1 EP, 1 Split EP, and 1 Album under their belts, the band set out on their first US Headlining tour, with supporting acts The Acacia Strain, Harm’s Way, Higher Power, and Sanction. This tour was a blast, filled with a variety of genres from metalcore, deathcore, hardcore, beatdown, and nu-metal.

The first band up was Sanction from Long Island, NY. Sanction is a good ole fashioned Metalcore and Hardcore mashup. Vocalist David Blom truly brings the energy to the bands’ performances. The band played 9 songs, 5 of which came from their 2018 EP “The Infringement of God’s Plan” that was released via Pure Noise Records. The band also debuted 2 brand new songs, which are most likely from an upcoming release. The band put on a solid performance. Was a good way to start the show.

SETLIST

  1. Introduction
  2. (New song)
  3. The Prophet Who Saw Fire
  4. Untitled
  5. (New song)
  6. The Infringement of God’s Plan
  7. Fixated Upon A Figure
  8. Iris (Lens of Depression)
  9. Sixhundredthirtyone

The next band up was Higher Power from Leeds, West Yorkshire in England. The band was very energetic from the start. They were a standout in terms of sound, with a mixture of Metalcore, Hardcore, and Nu-Metal. I was truly living for the band from the start of their set to the end. The band played an 8-song set, 7 of which came from their 2017 record “Soul Structure”, via Flatspot Records. I definitely recommend checking out Higher Power. They pack in a whole lot of energy both on record and live!

SETLIST

  1. World Gone Mad
  2. Can’t Relate
  3. Reflect (Intro Only)
  4. Looking Inward
  5. Balance
  6. Hole
  7. You Ain’t Much
  8. Burning

The third band up was Harm’s Way from Chicago, Illinois. This was a band I was VERY excited to see. I’ve been listening to them for almost 2 years now, but I had never seen this five-piece band live until this show. The band is good ole Hardcore and Beatdown. They have such an intense stage presence, which was truly amazing to witness. The band played an 8-song set, 5 of which came from their 2018 album “Posthuman”, which was released via Metal Blade Records, which happens to be one of my favorite record labels of all time. I had high expectations when seeing Harm’s Way live and they somehow blew those out of the water. I definitely recommend seeing them live.

SETLIST

  1. Temptation
  2. Human Carrying Capacity
  3. Last Man
  4. (Unknown)
  5. Infestation
  6. Call My Name
  7. Breeding Grounds
  8. Become A Machine

The biggest supporting act, The Acacia Strain, was up next. The band, hailing from Chicopee, Massachustts. The Acacia Strain was the most diverse and polished band on the lineup, with a musical style that mashes up Metalcore, Death Core, and Melodic Death Metal. Throughout the band’s career, they have released 8 Albums, 2 EPs, 1 Split EP, and a live DVD. The band played a 10-song set, which showcased 3 songs from 2004’s “3750”, 2 songs from 2006’s “The Dead Walk”, 2 songs from 2008’s “Continent”, 2010’s “Wormwood”, and 2012’s “Death Is The Only Mortal”. With such a widespread setlist, the band showcased all they have to offer, and slayed that stage from start to finish. If you want a diverse set, and to get soaked from vocalist Vincent Bennett splashing water on the crowd, then you need to check out The Acacia Strain live in a city near you.

SETLIST

  1. Whoa! Shut It Down
  2. 4×4
  3. Seaward
  4. Doom
  5. Carbomb
  6. Brown Noise
  7. 3750
  8. Beast
  9. Dust and the Helix
  10. The Hills Have Eyes

The final band up was the all mighty Knocked Loose from Oldham County, Kentucky. The band put on a wild set, which consisted of 14 songs, 9 of which coming from their debut album “Laughing Tracks”, which was released in 2016 via Pure Noise Records. The instrumentals were clean and slamming, with vocalist Bryan Garris driving their whole performance through with a lot of energy. Garris has one of the highest vocal tones in the scene, which is contrasted by guitarist and backup vocalist Isaac Hale’s lows and mids. The band had the crowd going wild, and while the crowd did do some hardcore dancing and crowdkilling, the band called for circle pits, walls of death, and other moshing types that are typical of the metalcore and metal genre as a whole. Stand out songs in their set for me were “No Thanks”, “Billy No Mates”, and “Mistakes Like Fractures”. I thoroughly enjoyed Knocked Loose’s set and will definitely be checking them out next time they come out to Southern California.

SETLIST

  1. By The Grave
  2. All My Friends
  3. Oblivion’s Peak
  4. Damned Earth
  5. Deadringer
  6. Blood Will Have Blood
  7. The Gospel
  8. Mistakes Like Fractures
  9. No Thanks
  10. A Fetish
  11. The Rain
  12. Last Words
  13. Billy No Mates
  14. Counting Worms

All in all, the Spring US Tour was a blast to attend and each of the bands offered something to this spectacle of a night. I cannot wait to see each of them again! Check them all out and give them some love!

Knocked Loose | The Acacia Strain | Harm’s Way | Higher Power | Sanction

Photos and Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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Ice Nine Kills – The Silver Scream | album review

October 11, 2018 Leave a comment

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Ice Nine Kills is a band that has flown under many people’s radar for over a decade now. A band known by name, but never receiving recognition they really deserves. They’ve always been doing things their own way, putting  themselves on the map with their last release, Every Trick In The Book, which was a huge hit in the scene of heavy music.

October 5th, 2018, marked a new era for the band. The latest album from the band, The Silver Scream, is something unlike many people have heard. Every song is based off a popular horror film, everything from Halloween to The Crow. Ice Nine Kills didn’t hold anything back on this album.

The first two singles, The American Nightmare (A Nightmare On Elm Street) and Thank God It’s Friday (Friday The 13th) let fans know that they weren’t going soft anytime soon. A catchy chorus mixed with heavier verses, and a breakdown everyone could love, people knew to catch Ice Nine Kills on Warped Tour 2018, and to keep an eye on the band until October.

I’ve listened to the entire album, and now I can’t stop myself from listening. Lighter tracks, like Love Bites (An American Werewolf In London) and A Grave Mistake (The Crow) offer incredible songwriting and gorgeous singing. On the opposite end of that spectrum, songs like Stabbing In The Dark (Halloween), Merry Axe-Mas (Silent Night, Deadly Night) and Rocking The Boat (Jaws) hit hard with fun guitar riffs, energetic drumming, and some unclean vocals we’ve rarely seen from Charnas. The references to classic lines from the movies give every song its own little flare of nostalgia.  Many songs come completely out of left field, It Is The End (It) sticking out to me the most. Creepy voice acting, leading into chaotic and heavy verses, the song features ska punk band, Less Than Jake, offering some backing tracks to elevate the heavy guitars to a new level. The song makes you wanna move in any way you can.

The album shows tons of growth from the small metal band. Their ability to create and not take themselves 100% serious is obvious. The use voice acting, other genres, wordplay, and fun movie references, The Silver Scream gives you the creeps in the best way. Nostalgia and love for horror films makes my love for this album so much more personal. Ice Nine Kills has come a very long way, I have a feeling they can only go up from here.

Review & Photography courtesy of Emily Sulkowski

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COUNTERFEIT. – together we are stronger | Review

March 23, 2018 Leave a comment

counterfeit.

Counterfeit is a U.K punk band that burst into the scene in 2015. Their most recent release, Together We Are Stronger, definitely gave them some well deserved attention. With dark lyrics, heavy guitar, and dirty, yet melodic vocals. This album is something many can enjoy. Their single, As Yet Untitled is a fast paced, energized and heavy track. Yet more mellow tracks like Letters to The Lost don’t disappoint with meaningful lyrics and beautiful singing, giving off some Nirvana vibes. This album gives you anything you want and more. Songs about rebellion, love, lust and loss, Together We Are Stronger is an album for anyone looking to find a new band that they can relate too. Punk in fact isn’t dead, Counterfeit is breathing a fresh breath of life into a scene that always needs something new.
Review courtesy of Emily Sulkowski.
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Cherry Pools, Flint Eastwood, & PVRIS | 2/28/18

March 10, 2018 Leave a comment

The second I walked into the venue for the PVRIS show, I knew it would be a wild one. Half of the stage was covered with a tarp, and instruments were pushed to the very front of the stage with a large, neon pink Cherry Pools sign. You can tell these boys are a bit new to the scene just by how happy they were to be playing. Along with playing their two released songs, they took plenty of time for some little secret, unreleased bops. Even with their lead singer Martin having crazy bright blue hair, I found myself watching their guitarist Matty most of the show. The kid literally did not stop smiling once. His happiness spread and most people I talked to all mentioned their love for just the pure joy coming from this band.

Not long after, Flint Eastwood came out and just completely destroyed the stage. Along with some killer dance moves throughout the entire show, she would call out specific people who weren’t joining in. There was a lot of audience reaction throughout her show as she held full conversations with some fans and even pointed out some adorable couples. She introduced her last song, Queen, in the most amazing way. Que one of the most motivational speeches I have ever heard, then one of the most intense dance parties I have ever seen. She left the stage completely inspiring everyone.

There was a long pause before PVRIS, and part of it was because they fully removed the tarp and showed the most beautiful back ground at a concert venue. I don’t want to spoil it, but just be very prepared if you get the chance to see it. Lynn amazed me as always by constantly picking up a different instrument to play while she was singing. They hit all the new music and some old jams, the crowd went crazy the second My House started. After slowing it down for some piano and acoustic songs, they picked it right back up to finish with a bang. This show was definitely one for the books.

 Review courtesy of Lexi Rodriguez, who owns Hope Through Headphones

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Vans Warped Tour – Summer 2018

March 10, 2018 Leave a comment

The last cross-country Vans Warped Tour takes place this summer from 6/21-8/5. The tour will start in California and end in Florida. Being that this is the last cross-country tour, fans expected the lineup to be nothing short of amazing. Kevin Lyman really delivered with this lineup. It is a fantastic way to end the tour with a bang.

The lineup features bands from across a wide range of genres within the scene. Some of my personal favorites will be making an appearance on the final run of the tour. There are a few bands on the lineup set to only play a few dates including my favorite band, All Time Low (A little bitter I won’t be able to see them).

Some are not a fan of the lineup saying most of the bands they want to see aren’t playing their date. Others such as, TCAP member Emily Sulkowski, said “I’m ready to have the sweatiest, rowdiest, best day ever.” She also went on to say, “I love the lineup so much and I think it’s gonna attract younger and older fans alike.” I totally agree with Emily but also agree that more bands should be playing the full tour.

You can see bands and artists all the way from pop punk band, State Champs all the way to the death metal band, Nekrogoblikon (trust me I never heard of them either, but I’m intrigued). Some warped tour staples such as Taking Back Sunday, Sum 41, Reel Big Fish, and Less than Jake will be making appearances on the tour which really takes the tour back to its roots. Less than Jake has been on the tour since 1997 and this summer will be their 10th time appearing on the tour! It’s exciting to see a mix of new bands and older bands all coming together to make this last tour one for the books.

Thank you, Kevin Lyman, for all that you have done to bring this scene together every summer. I am sad to see the tour go but I am happy that it happened. It was the first place I ever photographed a concert and it will forever hold a special place in my heart for that. Looking back on where I started to where I am now, without warped tour I never would’ve gotten here.

Rebecca McKay

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*REVIEW * New Politics | Lost in Translation Tour 2018

February 27, 2018 Leave a comment

I have only one word for the New Politics Lost in Translation Tour, wow. Just wow. This concert was quite possibly the most fun I have ever had at a concert.

Just getting there, it was one of the nicest crowds of a concert I’ve ever seen. Everybody was so happy and welcoming, it was about enjoying the music over getting to the barricade. Everywhere you went there were little pockets of people breaking out into dance throughout the whole concert and new friendships forming.

The first band to play was The Wrecks. I had listened to a few of their songs just so I was ready when they came on, but they absolutely blew me away. If there is any band that is even better live than over recording, it is The Wrecks. The vocals are simply amazing, Nick was singing such high notes nonstop. A girl next to me said that last time she saw him he was sick, yet he still came out and gave it his all on those hard songs. Towards the end they played a new song and the guitarists took turns absolutely tearing it up. Every instrument had a solo in this song, and every instrumentalist deserved that solo. The Wrecks very quickly became my favorite band, I even bought a hat for them to sign. I am just blown away with this band.

After The Wrecks, DREAMERS stepped up to the plate. After bringing the energy and hyping up the crowd, they decided to slow it down for a song. One fan jokingly protested it and these boys handled it like pros, saying they are just planning on depressing us for one song. The lead singer, Nick, told us a quick story behind it. (I feel like almost every guy on this tour is named Nick at this point.) Stating the fact that those who survive a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge regret jumping the second they do, he tells how this song is about being right on that edge of committing suicide. Right after, they brought the energy right back up when Nick made a toast to the audience. With the last few songs, Nick went from jumping up and down, to dancing around the stage, to jumping out over the crowd. It was a very large ending and really set the tone for the final act of the night, New Politics.

The crowd was ready, and they showed it the second the lights went down. New Politics brought more energy to the first few songs of their set than I’ve ever seen. I was down in the pit shooting and felt like I had to run everywhere just to keep up with them. I feared for my life at one point when David looked down at me, then stepped over me onto the barricade. The lights on this set were just gorgeous. I love the color choices for them and they worked it. David then made the announcement that he is a dad and his genuine excitement was the most adorable thing ever, that poor mother is never going to be the “fun parent.” After a few more songs and random handstands, the lights went down for a bit. They came up on Soren playing a beautiful melody on the piano that eventually turned into a very energetic Madeleine. More songs, then the whole crow helped sing Happy Birthday to one of New Politics oldest friends and coworkers. In between all the songs from their newest album they threw in a few classics like Dignity and West End Kids, and it made those of us that knew them ecstatic. I have to say my personal favorite was when they played Lifted, but I’ve just always dreamed of hearing that song live. It did not disappoint. The crazy energetic concert ended with a bang when the whole crowd went crazy for Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. With this friendly of a crowd, there was no way you couldn’t feel like One of Us (see what I did there?). This concert was without a doubt, one of the most fun concerts I’ve ever been to, I would gladly relive this night over and over again.

 Review courtesy of Lexi Rodriguez, who owns Hope Through Headphones

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The Peace and the Panic Tour | Photos & Review

February 24, 2018 Leave a comment

         I had the honor of shooting Neck Deep’s ‘The Peace and the Panic’ tour, with Speak Low if You Speak Love, Creeper, and Seaway in Norfolk, VA on January 30th. In one word I’d describe the show as, “SPECTACULAR” I’ve seen Neck Deep in the past, but for some odd reason this show meant so much more to me than any of their prior shows.

      The night started with a 4 hour drive from NC, which had some bumps along the way, causing us to be a bit late. We finally got there during the end of Speak Low if You Speak Love’s show. Ryan is such a lovely human and performs wonderfully any time I’ve seen him with his other band, State Champs. So it was no surprise that he did an amazing job at this show. Next band was Seaway. I have never personally seen them before, but I had definitely heard of them. The band put on an awesome show and brought an intense energy to the crowd that I haven’t seen in a hot minute. I’d love to shoot for them again in the future when I’ve learned a couple more of their songs. Finally, last, but definitely by no means least, Neck Deep was up to preform. There was an overwhelming feeling in the air of excitement, happiness, and wonderment. You could tell just by looking at the crowd, that many of the people attending have been waiting a long time for this moment. I spoke with a few attendees as well and they were all beyond excited. Truly nothing feels as good as the mutual happiness among everyone in a venue, about to see their favorite band. Neck Deep finally came out and played a beautiful set with mixed song from their older and newer stuff, such as their new album, “The Peace and the Panic” which you can listen to here. https://open.spotify.com/album/6MiQ7JVsKlOBJFJzWQZ2Kz The show was executed perfectly with just the right amount of upbeat songs, and heartfelt, sadder songs. I saw so many friends, partners, and strangers screaming the words to their favorite songs, holding each other close, and dancing the night away. It was one of the best shows I’ve been to in a really long time. I’d definitely suggest catching Neck Deep in your nearest city the next time they come around. I know I will.

 

 Photos  & review courtesy of Izzy Corcoran

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An HONEST review of “Mania” by Fall Out Boy

February 16, 2018 Leave a comment

Mania-1-702x336

One would expect Fall Out Boy to make another pop album along the lines of American Beauty/American Psycho. Their new album Mania, however, is all over the place and never really finds its focus. The first single, “Young And Menace”, is a shrill dub-step mess that does not lend itself well to Patrick’s voice and well overstays its run time. “Champion” is at best a bland overly repetitive track that feels like it was tailor-made for radio. The track, “Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)”, is the one glimmer of hope for this album and it seems to have been added for their old fans to show that they didn’t forget about them. With that being said, Mania is still bogged down in mediocre pop ideas that never really connect and leaves the listener with an album that’s more confusing than catchy; a damning sentence for a band that supposedly sold their souls to save rock and roll. 2/10

Review courtesy of Amanda Spring

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Made In America Tour | Review

December 29, 2017 Leave a comment

Just about a month ago, I got the chance to see Waterparks perform with As it Is, Chapel and Sleep on It in New York City. The first band to play was Sleep on it followed by Chapel, As it Is, then Waterparks. The show was overall incredible and exposed me to some new artists.

The first band to play was Sleep on It, they have an amazing energy on stage that I really enjoyed. I was not very familiar with them before but I enjoyed their performance and the kind of things they stand for as a band. The spoke out against all the sexual violence this music scene is facing and that definitely put them even higher on my list of bands to support. Overall a band that I would love to see perform again.

The second band to perform was a band I knew very little about prior to watching their set. The only thing I knew of them was that their album was called “Sunday Brunch” and that they took their fans out to IHOP. Chapel is a two-piece band that has the same amount of energy between the two of them that a band of larger size brings to the stage. Their drummer had an incredible amount of talent as did their vocalist. After watching their performance, I went and downloaded their newest release.

As it Is followed them and I was already familiar with their discography. They came all the way from the UK to be on this tour. Lead singer Patty Walters is up there on my list of top performers I have seen live. His energy is incredible and he has great vocals to match. It was one amazing opener on top of another.

Waterparks headlined the entire show and there was a lot of real emotion in the performance. Lead singer Awsten Knight has been going through a lot lately which has been evident through his tweets. His performance was a great representation of all that emotion. This was my second time seeing them perform and this show definitely topped the first one I saw them play.

On top of watching all these incredible bands perform I had the pleasure of photographing them. It was an awesome opportunity to capture all the energy and emotion each band put into their performances.

As someone who has been to many concerts this one makes it up there as one of the best ones I have been to in a while. Each band gave the performances their all and made for an incredible show.

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Photos & review courtesy of Rebecca McKay

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