Tours | The Camera Affect

Ministry US Tour 2024 | Photos + Review

April 8, 2024 Leave a comment

On March 20th, 2024, the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania became
energized from the second the doors opened. The anticipation of the crowd grew as they
eagerly awaited for the arrival of the night’s performers: Ministry, Gary Numan, and Front Line
Assembly. It was very clear that the night would be more than just a show; it would be an
immersive hypnotic experience with raw emotion, mesmerizing visuals, and electrifying futuristic
sounds.

Starting off the night at 7:00pm was the Canadian electro-industrial band Front Line Assembly,
who immediately locked in the audience’s attention with their electronic beats and captivating
stage presence. Referring to themselves as FLA, the band is fronted by Bill Leeb and supported
by guitarist Matthew Setzer, drummer Jon Siren, and synthesizer/keyboardist Rhys Fulber.
Kicking off their set with their song “I.E.D.”, they transformed the venue into a sonic realm with
other hits including “Deadened” and “Millennium.” Each song radiated such intensity that it
seemed to put the audience under a synth spell. The pulsating beats and futuristic sounds were
so powerful that you could feel it throughout your body, which is an experience in itself. FLA’s
set served as a perfect introduction to a night that would continue to escalate with excitement.

The next set of the night was brought on by the talented Gary Numan. Gary Numan, the English
synth-pop artist, is considered to be the pioneer of electronic music. Numan’s iconic presence
reverberated throughout the venue, accompanied by guitarist Steve Harris, bassist Tim Slade,
keyboardist David Brooks, and drummer Jimmy Lucido. Together, they created an electrifying
journey for the syrienne. From the moment Numan stepped into the spotlight, his magnetic
stage presence was like no other, and completely commanded the audience’s attention. His
captivating movements radiated an aura that left the audience in another hypnotic synth spell.
He seamlessly matched the energy of both the music and stage visuals creating one of the most
immersive and mesmerizing performances I have ever seen. Nothing else seemed to exist
around me other than Numan on stage, seeing how passionate he was about performing. As he
unleashed classic hits such as “Cars” and “Metal” from his 1979 album The Pleasure Principle,
Numan accompanied those with songs from his more recent albums, Intruder, Savage (Songs
from a Broken World), and Splinter (Songs from a Broken Mind). Opening the set with the
haunting “Everything Comes Down to This”, he also incorporated songs into the set such as
“The Chosen”, “Love Hurt Bleed”, “My Name is Ruin”, and closed out the set with the compelling
“A Prayer for the Unborn”. Gary Numan’s performance not only showcased his musical
expertise, but solidified his status as a legend in the realm of the synth-pop and industrial
genres.

Closing out the night was the industrial metal band from Chicago, Illinois who paved the way for
the genre, Ministry. The headlining band had the audience eagerly waiting for what was to
come. They absolutely did not disappoint as the iconic frontman, Al Jourgenson, took center
stage next to his skeleton cross mic stand. Jourgenson was accompanied on stage by guitarists, Monte Pittman and Cesar Soto, bassist Paul D’Amour, keyboardist John Bechdel, and drummer Roy Mayorga. Since the second they walked onto the stage, each member radiated such passion.

Starting off their set with a song from their newest album HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES,
“B.D.E” brought an empowering energy to the stage right from the start. This song covered the
topic of toxic masculinity and violence against women, which had me head banging the whole
time. Ministry has always been a very political band, and each song resonated deeply,
highlighting the band’s commitment to addressing societal issues through their music. The
powerful visuals behind them put an emphasis on the topics being discussed in each song. After
playing a few other songs from their most recent album, the crowd’s energy heightened even
more as the gritty classic hits including “N.W.O.”, “Thieves”, “Just One Fix”, and “Stigmata”
echoed through the venue. Throughout their performance, I couldn’t help but notice the huge
mosh pit that opened up in the center, as many fans enjoyed this moment together. Closing out
their set with their most popular song, “Jesus Built My Hotrod” the crowd became even more
energetic, not wanting the night to end. Just like the rest of the night, the band did not only put
on a performance, but created a psychedelic and vibrant yet edgy experience that the whole
audience will forever remember. Ministry is such an iconic industrial metal band, and their
legacy will live on and continue to leave a lasting impact.

Ministry, Gary Numan, and Front Line Assembly, were some of the most mesmerizing and
talented performers I have ever seen. Each act brought their own unique and electrifying energy
and passion to the stage, creating hours of an immersive experience. The legacy of all three
performers will forever be respected and recognized in the industrial world, serving as
inspirations for the future.

Review & Photography courtesy of Kyra Britzke

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Exodus & Fit For An Autopsy w/ Darkest Hour & Undeath | Fall North American Tour | 11/24/23 | Photos + Review

December 9, 2023 1 Comment

Exodus & Fit For An Autopsy Obliterate The Stage in Anaheim

Venue: House of Blues in Anaheim, CA

Date: 11/24/23

Over the past several years, I have been lucky to check off many bands from my bucket list in terms of both seeing and photographing. I first saw Fit For An Autopsy back in 2017 and finally got them in front of my lens in January of 2022. This US tour is their biggest to date, and they co-headlined with the thrash metal legends in Exodus, who I finally got to check off my bucket list. The icons in Darkest Hour and the death metal boys in Undeath provided support for this tour. Coming through my favorite venue, the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA, this was a show I simply could not pass up.

Undeath from Rochester, NY opened the show up with a bang. This was my third time seeing and photographing these boys and they seem to get better and better each time. Vocalist Alexander Jones is a force to be reckoned with as he commands the stage. Guitarists Kyle Beam and Jared Welch brought the riffage and the headbangs galore. Bassist Tommy Wall is an absolute beast, strumming and creating those deep tones. Finishing out the band’s lineup is drummer Matt Browning, who’s clean and precise drumming holds the foundation down. The band played a mixed setlist of 7 songs, 3 of which came from their 2020 album “Lesions of a Different Kind” and 2 of which came from their 2022 album “Rise From The Grave”, both released via Prosthetic Records. The band even played two new songs, titled “Brandish The Blade” and “Cramped Caskets”, both of which continue the band’s sound of brutal death metal meets hardcore, which is truly a unique sound. I’ve loved seeing this band three times now, and I cannot wait to see and photograph them again!

SETLIST

Rise From The Grave
Necrobionics
Brandish The Blade
Cramped Caskets
Acidic Twilight Visions
Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body
Lesions of a Different Kind

Darkest Hour from Washington D.C. was up next as direct support for the co-headlining tour. This is a band that has been on my bucket list for quite some time with their melodic death metal verging on metalcore sound that also has some inspiration from thrash metal. From the moment I saw guitarist Mike Schleibaum and vocalist John Henry walk out, I knew this was about to be iconic. Drummer Travis Orbin immediately blew me away with his intricate drum patterns that are truly showcased throughout the band’s nine song set. Bassist Aaron Deal was truly energetic, giving me the windmills and headbangs. Finishing out the band’s lineup is guitarist Nico Santora, who I previously photographed with one of his’ other bands Fallujah. He fits perfectly into Darkest Hour’s sound and is always so fun to capture. The band played a well-mixed set of songs spanning many of their albums, but primarily from their 2017 record “Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora”, and a couple from their upcoming 2024 release “Perpetual | Terminal”. This was truly an incredible set with high energy that really set the stage for the co-headliners. I’m so glad I finally got to see and photograph these guys! I own all of their records on CD, so it was cool to finally check them off my list!

SETLIST

Perpetual Terminal
The Sadist Nation
Stand and Receive Your Judgement
Knife In A Safe Room
Those Who Survived
The Flesh & The Flowers of Death
Rapture in Exile
With a Thousand Words to Say but One
Amor Fati

Fit For An Autopsy from Jersey City, NJ came up next as the first of the co-headlining bands to perform. I was beyond excited to see and them again as their 2019 album “The Sea Of Tragic Beasts” tied for first in my top albums of 2019 with Jinjer’s “Macro”. Their 2022 album “Oh What The Future Holds” had just dropped when I photographed them last year, and it’s been truly incredible to see their growth as a band in the span of the past year. The band opened with the title track “Oh What The Future Holds”, which set the stage for the set to come. With an incredible light show, the band came prepared with the theatrics. Vocalist Joe Badolato is front and center, and performed the best I’ve seen him, and that says a lot because he’s always pretty powerful on the mic. The band then went into the next track on the album “Pandora”, which is a very riff heavy song that showcases the talents of guitarists Pat Sheridan and Tim Howley, as well as the rhythmic bass coming from Peter “Blue” Spinazola. The breakdown in this song especially goes hard live, and the light show was on POINT here. The band then went into one of their new songs titled “Hellions”, which can be heard on the new split EP released in 2023 via Nuclear Blast titled “The Aggression Sessions” with Thy Art Is Murder and Malevolence, which is a heavy aggressive deathcore sounding song. The drums are especially booming in from Josean Orta. The band played some of my favorite songs, like “The Sea Of Tragic Beasts”, “Warfare”, and “Two Towers”, which were all absolutely incredible to see them play live. They had the crowd truly going nuts with crowd surfers and moshing galore. The band played a total of eleven songs with songs from every album from 2017 on. This is truly Fit For An Autopsy at their best I’ve seen them thus far. I cannot wait to see and photograph them again and to continue seeing their growth.

SETLIST

Oh What The Future Holds
Pandora
Hellions
Warfare
Hydra
Iron Moon
A Higher Level Of Hate
The Sea Of Tragic Beasts
Your Pain Is Mine
Far From Heaven
Two Towers

The all mighty Exodus from San Francisco, CA came to the stage next. I was very excited to finally see these guys after listening to their music for quite some time, and they surely did not disappoint. From the moment they walked out on the stage, they were insanely high energy. Opening with the song “Impact Is Imminent”, vocalist Steve Souza truly had control over the stage and the crowd. Guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Atlus were in total sync, riffing those thrash riffs that get the crowd going wild. Going into R.E.M.F. from their newest album “Persona Non Grata”, I was hooked in on that drum beat from Tom Hunting the moment the song started. The dude is an absolute machine and as the sole founding member of the band, he is truly the foundation. Alongside Hunting in the rhythm section is bassist Jack Gibson, who’s headbangs and rhythmic strumming truly adds that edge to the band. The band in total played ten songs that spanned over five of their twelve albums. With an expansive discography and history dating back to 1979, Exodus remains strong and prominent in the metal scene. I am so glad I finally got to see and photograph these guys. They were truly so much fun to capture with their high energy. I highly recommend seeing them when they hit a city near you!

SETLIST

Impact Is Imminent
R.E.M.F.
Blacklist
Fabulous Disaster
Prescribing Horror
The Beating Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)
A Lesson In Violence
Bonded By Blood
The Toxic Waltz
Strike of the Beast

This tour was truly one for the books to capture. With so many different styles of metal, it was a night that felt like a mixture of nostalgia and eclecticism. You have the thrash from Exodus, the deathcore and post-metal from Fit For An Autopsy, the melodic death metal and metalcore from Darkest Hour, and the brutal death metal and hardcore from Undeath. This was truly an incredible show that I cannot say enough was a night to remember. I am so thankful any time I get to do a show like this.

Exodus | Fit For An Autopsy | Darkest Hour | Undeath

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

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Xikers | Tricky House First Encounter In The USA | 11/1/23 | Photos

November 17, 2023 Leave a comment

Xikers

Photos courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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The Gaslight Athem ft Catbite & Donovan Woods

October 8, 2023 Leave a comment

I was first introduced to The Gaslight Anthem in 2013 by my boyfriend, my go-to source for my personal music education. I fell in love with lead singer Brian Fallon’s poetic lyricism; I’ve always been a sucker for a song lyric that can stick in your head while stabbing you in the heart. The Gaslight Anthem is a New Jersey rock band that in many ways seems like a sound from another era, an ensemble that somehow (thankfully) missed a change in mainstream music, staying with a 70s sound similar to Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, or The Steve Miller Band.

Their fall tour promoting History Books, their first single in nine years, stopped by The Factory in Chesterfield, MO on Saturday, September 23, along with Catbite and Donovan Woods.

The night opened with Catbite, a Philadelphia based ska band, fronted by lead singer Brittany Luna. Their energetic sound reminded me of the rawness I remember from the late 90s/early 2000s garage bands (in the best of ways) and had a definite No Doubt “Tragic Kingdom” vibe, bouncy but raw. When Britt slowed down for “Bad Influence”, she was able to show off the soulfulness in her voice, a fantastic contrast to the upbeat ska punk of the rest of the set.

Following Catbite was Donovan Woods, a folk singer-songwriter from Canada, whose baseball cap, beard, and build completely juxtaposed his soft voice and heartfelt lyrics. Donovan’s music gave the feel off people-watching outside a coffee shop; just small snippets of other people’s lives. Enough to pique my interest and make me wonder where their story goes when the music ends. Interspersed between his songs Donovan bantered with the audience, laughing with them as he told stories like deciding on a “short walk” to a Whole Foods he saw was “just across the park” (the park being St. Louis’s Forest Park, a 1,326 acre park that’s roughly one and half times the size of New York’s Central Park), or commenting that his ballad “Clean Slate”, a popular pick for weddings, is “better for a second wedding, since you don’t usually have much money for music for your second one.”

The Gaslight Anthem kicked off their set with “45”, bringing the energy back up, a house party vibe that carried through the night. Brian Fallon told stories about the band’s career between his songs, giving a peek into their 15 years together.

Gaslight’s new song, History Books, was fourth in the set, an emotional song about ending relationships. The new track, one of ten on their new album, features fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen. The album, History Books, will be available October 27, 2023.

Coverage courtesy of Elizabeth Rajchart

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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

Instability
Suffer
Brainwash Broadcast
Upright Animals
Chelsea
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

Burner
Night Shift
Wasted Space
Two Suns
Sync
Bleach
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!

Guiding Light
Hold Me Now
Drowned In Emotion
More Than Misery
Too Late
The Only Ones
Lost In Echoes
Falling Apart
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

Exodus
You Wear A Crown But You Are No King
Hollow Bodies
Déjà Vu
Buried In These Walls
See You On The Outside
Youngbloods
Standing On The Ashes
Carry On
The Sound Of Starting Over
Open Water

ENCORE

Wake The Dead
Cutthroat
2.0
What’s Left Of Me
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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Filed under Photography, Reviews, Tours Tagged with Band photography, BlessTheFall, Caskets, Concert review, Dragged Under, jamie kaufman photo, jamie kaufman photography, Kingdom of Giants, live music photography, Metalcore, Photography, Post Hardcore, Review, show review, The Camera Affect

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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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

Final Cataclysm
Dragged Through The Dirt
The House You Built Is Burning
Blister of the Plague
Deep Rotting Fear
Pain Is Power
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

Texas Death
Surrender to the Blade
Peel Back The Skin
Sacred Cries
Eternal Steel
Vicious Instinct
Paid In Sin
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

Lord of the Grave
Necrobionics
Rise From The Grave
Grave Osmosis
Brandish The Blade
Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body
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

The Hammer
Eyes Up
True Fear
Us & Them
Dynasty
Swan Song
Taipan
Resentment
The Truest Love
Loyal To None
Boomslang
Self-Destruct
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