Volumes with special guests Varials, UnityTX, and Kingsmen | Fall US Tour | 11/20/21 | Photos + Review

January 19, 2022 Leave a comment

Volumes Sell Out Their Hometown Show To Close Out Their Fall Tour

Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA on 11/20/21

Volumes have been a band I have enjoyed for quite some time. Their progressive metalcore sound that verges on deathcore brings in a lot of fans that go absolutely nuts to their music. For their return to the stage, they embarked on a month-long headlining US Tour in support of their new album “Happier?” in 2021 via Fearless Records. They brought along a solid lineup of bands that are quite different in sound but who each bring the energy to the stage, those being Varials, UnityTX, and Kingsmen. This night was a lot of fun and brought a lot of high energy and vibes. 

First up to the stage were Kingsmen from Providence, Rhode Island. Unfortunately, some issues getting in as a photographer prevented me from seeing or photographing a majority of their set. However, I was able to get in and photograph the last song and a half of the set, which I utilized each second of. The band is good ole metalcore, with music in the same vein as bands like Killswitch Engage, Miss May I, and many more. I was very much looking forward to seeing Kingsmen and seeing their 5-song set, most of which came from their 2020 record “Revenge. Forgiveness. Recovery.”, which was released via SharpTone Records. The one song I did get to see and photograph was a cover of Metallica’s “Sad But True,” which they did exceptionally well. The vocalist Tanner was on point with his’ vocals, guitarists Nick and Tim did incredibly on those guitar parts, Adam held it down strong on those bass lines, and drummer Mike slammed those drum parts. I’m sad I could only see and photograph one song, but the band killed it on that cover. I cannot wait to see and photograph them for a longer period of time next time they come out to the west coast. 

SETLIST

  1. Tipping The Scales
  2. Nightmares
  3. Until I Departed
  4. Oppressor
  5. Sad But True (Metallica Cover)

Up next were the Dallas, Texas boys in UnityTX. This band is the perfect blend of metalcore, hardcore, and rap. The band played songs from their two EPs, “Madboy” and “Hellway,” released on Pure Noise Records. Their crowds went wild and even got so violent to the point where multiple crowd members were dragged out of the venue for fighting. Their music goes HARD. What’s unique is the diverse stylings the band has. With vocalist Shaolin at the forefront, the band incorporates many hip hop and rap elements. The band weaved some full-on rap songs into their set, showcasing Shaolin’s stage prowess and rap ability. The instrumentals in the band’s set should definitely be praised as well. Those basslines from Alberto are beefy and heavy. They add a deep groove to the songs that are very much needed. Then you have the guitar tones from Ricky that add a deep emphasis on those breakdowns and get the crowd going wild with those guitar chugs. Closing out the band’s lineup is Jonathan on drums, who slammed the hell out of those drums with precision. The band absolutely blew me away and proved why they are getting as far as they are. I cannot wait to see and photograph them again next time they come to Southern California. 

SETLIST

  1. Agony
  2. Ruckus
  3. Cross Me
  4. 60 Seconds (Wait)
  5. Bang Shit
  6. Hail Mary
  7. Walk With Me

Up next was Varials from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I’d best describe their sound as the perfect trifecta of metalcore, hardcore, and deathcore, with some minor nu-metal influences as well. This was my second time seeing and photographing the band, with the first time being back in May of 2019 when they toured in support of Sylar and Cane Hill at this same venue. Since then, the band has gone through some lineup changes, the most notable being the shift of vocalist to Mitchell. Mitchell was previously on guitar and absolutely killed it on his new position in the band. He screams and sings those parts with power and emotion. Mike is still slaying it on bass, adding some serious grit to the rhythm section. James added some grooves to the rhythm section on the guitar, which adds a lot to the band’s sound. The band brought out two touring members to finalize their live set for this tour. Kendrick is in the band BeGotten and played lead guitar on this tour, absolutely slaying those leads while also having incredibly high energy on stage that included two-stepping, windmills, and lots of headbangs. Kevin finalized the band’s lineup on drums, absolutely murdering that kit on stage. They played a 10-song set, playing songs from both of their albums, “In Darkness” and “Pain Again,” along with a couple of songs from their E.P. “Failure//Control.” I always enjoy seeing and photographing these guys and hope to do so again when they come out with All That Remains, Miss May I, and Tallah in Spring of 2022!

SETLIST

  1. Romance
  2. Empire of Dirt
  3. I Suffocate
  4. In Darkness
  5. South of One
  6. E.D.A.
  7. Stigmata
  8. Savage
  9. Anything To Numb
  10. The New Damnation

Volumes from Los Angeles, CA, came to the stage next. For the tour’s final date, the Southern California native band came back home to party it up. The band played a great mixture of songs to please old fans and new fans alike. Their progressive metalcore sound that borderlines on deathcore has garnered various fans. Vocalists Myke and Michael do a great job going back and forth on vocals, creating a jab punch in songs like “The Mixture” and “F.X.B.,” and creating incredible dynamics between cleans and screaming on songs like “Bend.” Bassist Raad adds those deep grooves that are ever-present throughout the band’s whole discography. Drummer Nick slams those drums with intricate patterns that create the bassline for the instrumentals to flow effortlessly. Finalizing the band’s live lineup is Mikhael on guitar, who plays those complex guitar parts flawlessly. The band really had a lot to offer in this set. They had the crowd going wild with a dynamic lighting setup to a whopping 17-song set that incorporated songs from their entire discography. Out of all the shows I covered in 2022, this was by far the rowdiest crowd I had the honor of being a part of. Volumes know how to bring the party, and they did not disappoint this time around.

SETLIST

  1. Intro
  2. F.B.X.
  3. The Mixture
  4. Holywater
  5. 91367
  6. Pixelate
  7. Get Enough
  8. Weighted
  9. Bend
  10. Serenity
  11. The Columbian Faction
  12. Edge Of The Earth
  13. Erased
  14. Pieces
  15. Intake
  16. Wormholes

Encore

17. Feels Good

Volumes truly brought it on this final night of their month-long trek on the road. With bands like Varials, UnityTX, and Kingsmen, they truly brought along with them a diverse group of bands that created a dynamic night of music. I’m still sad I couldn’t see and photograph more of Kingsmen’s set, but that will definitely happen next time. 

Volumes | Varials | UnityTX | Kingsmen

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

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8/16/21 | Beartooth | The Below Tour | Photos + Review

August 24, 2021 Leave a comment

Beartooth Dominates Anaheim With A Sold Out Show on The Below Tour

Venue: House of Blues Anaheim in Anaheim, CA on 8/16/21

As music fans, we all have bands that we want to see. But then something seems to always come up. Whether it be scheduling issues or another show overlapping, that’s always been my issue when it’s come to seeing or photographing Beartooth. I’ve been listening to their music since their debut in 2013, but this show was my first time actually seeing or photographing them. To say it was amazing would be an understatement, and I was so glad to finally see and photograph Wage War and Dragged Under as well. California hasn’t been getting as many big tours since we reopened live venues post-pandemic. So to have a show of this caliber come through was absolutely amazing.

First up on tour was Dragged Under from Seattle, Washington. I’d best describe Dragged Under’s sound as being that perfect blend of metalcore and hardcore punk. Their sound is right up the same vein as bands like Stick To Your Guns, Beartooth, and Stray From The Path, which are all among some of my favorite bands of all time. The band started off their set with the songs “Instability” and “The Real You”, which really showcased vocalist Anthony Cappocchi’s vocal prowess and control over the stage and crowd. Bassist Hans Hessburg was an animal on stage, headbanging and jumping around the stage like crazy. The band then went on to play their newest single, “Brainwash Broadcast”, which has received critical acclaim and has garnered a lot of views, streams, and radio play on SiriusXM Octane. Ryan “Fluff” Bruce shines on this song with his’ leads and hooks, which translate well live as well. Sean Rosario on rhythm guitar adds that dynamic sound that pushes the band over the edge. Kalan Anderson is the final piece to the puzzle, slamming the hell out of those drums and keeps the beat on time. The band played 7 songs, 6 of which came from their debut album “The World Is In Your Way”. I was thoroughly impressed with their set overall, and I’m glad they could play a good number of songs as the opener. I cannot wait to see these guys shine on a stage again soon!

SETLIST

  1. Instability
  2. The Real You
  3. Brainwash Broadcast
  4. Chelsea
  5. The Hardest Drug
  6. Just Like Me
  7. Hypocondria

Up next was Wage War from Ocala, Florida. Wage War has been a band that has always been on my bucket list and has always been on my radar, but I never got the chance to see. For my first time seeing them, I was blown away. The first thing you will notice about Wage War is how much of a presence lead vocalist Briton Bond has on stage. He absolutely commands that stage and screams the hell out of those words. The band played a great mix of songs, 3 of which came from their 2019 album “Pressure”, 3 from their 2017 album “Deadweight”, 2 from their 2015 album “Blueprints”, their newest single “High Horse”, and an unreleased track “Teeth”, presumably coming from their upcoming fourth album. One of my favorite things about Wage War’s sound is the clean vocals provided by Cody Quistad, who also plays rhythm guitar in the band. Those melodic choruses on songs like “Who I Am”, “Low”, and “Alive” are what really hooked me on Wage War, and I was so happy to hear these songs live. Lead guitarist Seth Blake really adds some unique hooks to the band’s sound. I consistently find myself humming some of those down-tuned guitar hooks from their songs in my head, and they sounded even better live! Adding to those lower tones, Chris Gaylord hits deep with those groovy bass tones that keep those heads banging. Finalizing their lineup is Stephen Kluesener, who adds some dynamic beats and rhythm that really grounds the band. I’m so stoked I was finally able to see Wage War, and I cannot wait to see and photograph them again soon!

SETLIST

  1. Stitch
  2. Who I Am
  3. Prison
  4. High Horse
  5. Alive
  6. The River
  7. Don’t Let Me Fade Away
  8. Teeth
  9. Gravity
  10. Low

Finally, Beartooth came to the stage from Columbus, Ohio. Beartooth has a sound that has always been unique. They’re riff-heavy metalcore with more of a hardcore punk style edge mixed in. But what sets them apart from many bands are their melodic choruses and hooks that really drive home with audiences. For their fourth record entitled “Below”, the band set out to really go back to their roots, with an aggressive yet diverse showing of music. Beartooth opened the show with the first track off the album, titled “Below”. This aggressive start to the album and set truly set the stage for the show they were about to put on. As vocalist Caleb Shomo ran out stage and screamed out those opening lines of the song, it was chaos from then on. The band brought an extensive lighting setup and LED light panel behind them, which lit up lyrics to songs and showed dynamic visuals for each song. Caleb really honed in on his’ musicianship on this record, taking elements from each of the three previous records while also trying out some new styles as well. Bassist Oshie Bichar was on fire, constantly moving about on stage and helping with the sing-along sections. Guitarists Zach Huston and Will Deely shredded on their parts and added a lot to the band’s sound. Connor Dennis is a superb drummer and was incredibly energetic throughout the entire set. The band played a whopping 17-song set: 8 from 2021’s “Below”, 4 from 2014’s “Aggressive”, 3 from 2018’s “Disease”, and 2 from 2016’s “Aggressive”. With a wide array of songs from both the new album and the rest of the discography, Beartooth made sure to make this headlining set something new fans and old would love. I am so glad I could finally see and photograph them, and I cannot wait to do so again soon.

SETLIST:

  1. Below
  2. Devastation
  3. Hated
  4. Sick of Me
  5. Fed Up
  6. Dominate
  7. The Lines
  8. Beaten In Lips
  9. Body Bag
  10. Hell of It
  11. Skin
  12. You Never Know
  13. Bad Listener
  14. Disease
  15. In Between

ENCORE

16. The Past Is Dead

17. The Last Riff

All in all, The Below tour was an absolute dream come true. Beartooth has been a huge bucket list band for me to see for quite some time, so seeing and photographing them was a dream come true. A massive shoutout to the fantastic crew and the other bands Wage War and Dragged Under, who absolutely DESTROYED that stage! Thank you for bringing this tour to California and for presenting us with live music once again!

Beartooth | Wage War | Dragged Under

Photos + Review By: Jamie Kaufman | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Diseased & Disguised Tour 2020 | Photos + Review

February 17, 2020 Leave a comment

Metalcore is a genre that never seems to go away, and that’s a good thing. When two giants of the scene, Beartooth and Motionless in White, announced their co-headlining tour, everyone knew we were in for a treat. With Limbs and Stick To Your Guns as support, this tour set the tone for the rest of 2020. 

Limbs was a band I had never heard of, but I was pleasantly surprised. They brought an energy no one in the crowd expected so early in the night. I’m used to watching openers have a few courtesy head bangs and nothing outside of it. The pit soon opened and the night began. With only one album, a few EPs and singles in their discography, you’d never expect a band to pack such a punch. 

Stick To Your Guns made their mark in the scene years ago, but something about them is always refreshing. Hardcore is a genre on a steady resurgence, and it’s easy to understand why. The set contained mostly classics such as “ Amber “ to spark memories in the crowd. The anger was obvious, but the band always has a way of bringing everyone in a room together. 

I can never stop suggesting Beartooth to anyone. Caleb Shomo has a voice that fills you with every emotion you could feel. The production of orange lights and fog created a vibe that made you want to move. Crowdsurfers made my job as a photographer difficult, but even my fellow photographers in the photo pit couldn’t help but bang their heads. Classic metal riffs with the anger and punch of a new hardcore band, Beartooth is a treat every single time. 

Few bands can pack a punch for over a decade. Motionless in White have the honor of being within those select few. The ambiance before they even walked on stage was enough to send shocks through the crowd. The spooky purple and blue lighting, strobes, and the skeletons on the stage, the band was sure to come out with a bang. Motionless mixes old songs with new, but the crowd knew the words to everything. Frontman Chris Motionless works the crowd into an angry and violent pit every single time, yet expresses his love and appreciation the entire time. With heavy hitters like Devils Night and Abigail, the crowd had plenty of energy to burn before the softer side of things came out towards the end with Another Life and Eternally Yours. The entire show was a mix of beauty, chaos, and spooky vibes. 

The Diseased and Disguised tour was an incredible start to the 2020 metal-core tour season. No mixed genres were needed to carry this tour around different fan bases. Solid, to the point heavy music was all it took to sell out shows, and created what I can say is one of the best shows I’ve been too.

Photos + review courtesy of Emily Sulkowski

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Ghostemane w/ Lil Tracy, Jesus Piece, and Section H8 | Hiadica North American Tour | Photos

January 20, 2020 Leave a comment

Hiadica North American Tour Photos

Venue: The Novo on 11/23/19

Section H8

Jesus Piece

Lil Tracy

Ghostemane

Ghostemane | Lil Tracy | Jesus Piece | Section H8

Photos courtesy of Jamie Kaufman

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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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Knocked Loose w/ The Acacia Strain, Harms Way, Sanction, and Higher Power | Spring North American Tour |Photos + Review | 4/12/19 | Lancaster, PA

April 29, 2019 Leave a comment

In Old Ham County, Kentucky, something truly special was born. With a genre full of bands, what sets Knocked Loose apart? Their shows. Tonight I finally experienced what all the fuss was about.

Higher Power, Sanction and Harms Way kicked the night off with a punch, giving us a little taste of what was to come. All 3 bands were heavy and gave the crowd that energy we needed. Despite not being known by everyone, those 3 openers left the building, but didn’t leave everyone’s mind. The Acacia Strain was the evenings heaviest treat. The crowd seemed to transform into a pit of chaos. Crowdsurfers, stage divers, and moshers, the Massachusetts band brought the temperature in the room up about 15 degrees. 

The main act we all waited for. Knocked Loose came out swinging, quite literally. Before the first note was played, the crowd was moving. Frontman Bryan Garris encouraged the crowd to keep moving, to take the mic, and have a good time. Playing older tracks like The Gospel and All My Friends, their new single Mistakes Like Fractures, and most of their most recent album Laugh Tracks, the 5-piece was a security guards worst nightmare. Crowdsurfers didn’t stop coming. The pit never closed. Garris knew the mic was ours, not his.

This tour was extraordinary. It’s hard to have bands continue to compliment each other’s energy and vibe. This spring tour was nearly perfect in every way, from the set lists to the stage presence, this is not the last we’ll be hearing from any of the 5 bands that played. 

Higher Power

Sanction

Harms Way

The Acacia Strain

Knocked Loose

 

Knocked Loose | The Acacia Strain | Harms Way | Sanction | Higher Power

Photos and review courtesy of Emily Sulkowski

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While She Sleeps Vans Warped Tour 2013 Interview

December 28, 2013 Leave a comment

Founder Christine & team member Victoria take on Vans Warped Tour 2013, while there they met up with Lawrence Taylor ( Loz ) Vocals of While She Sleeps. Loz tells us his best advice for someone just starting in the music industry as well as three must haves while on our and more.

**This was filmed July 13,2013**

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Official Website : http://www.wssofficial.com/

PS : Be sure to wish Loz a speedy recovery after his throat surgery. (December 2013)

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False Freedoms – While She Sleeps

December 28, 2013 Leave a comment

The new album ‘THIS IS THE SIX’ available NOW | order on http://wssofficial.com/

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