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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Cannibal Corpse w/ Thy Art Is Murder | Fall North American Tour | Photos + Review

December 5, 2019 Leave a comment

Cannibal Corpse Slaughters Ventura

Venue: The Majestic Ventura Theater on 10/25/19

When it comes to death metal bands, Cannibal Corpse is one of the ultimate greats. I got into them a little later than most, when I came across “Hammer Smashed Face” on Rock Band back in 2013. They’ve been on my bucket list of bands I’ve wanted to see since then, and with them performing what would be a sold out show so close to home, this was the perfect opportunity to finally see them. And with another one of my favorite bands, Thy Art Is Murder, performing as well as direct support, this was bound to be a truly stellar show!

First up was Thy Art Is Murder from Sydney, Australia. This was my third time seeing these guys, and this was the longest set I’ve seen them play. They played a lot of songs from the new record “Human Target”, while mixing in songs from each of their other Nuclear Blast releases “Hate”, “Holy War” and “Dear Desolation”, totaling out to an 11-song set. Thy Art Is Murder is described as deathcore, but take in influences from death metal, blackened death metal, and even metalcore. It’s because of this blended sound that the band can fit with a plethora of metal lineups. I previously saw them in March of 2018 co-headlining with Dying Fetus on a North American Tour, then saw them in April of 2019 when they acted as direct support for Architects (UK) on their North American Tour. Once again, Thy Art Is Murder acted as direct support on this tour for none other than Cannibal Corpse, so Thy Art was able to bring out some of the heavier tracks on this run. I personally was extremely stoked to hear them play “New Gods” and “Make America Hate Again” from the new record. When you see the band live, there are a few notable things to look out for. Holding down the fort in the back is Jesse Beahler on drums, who truly creates an interesting dynamic with intense and difficult drum parts played to perfection. On stage left is rhythm guitarist Sean Leander and bassist Kevin Butler, who each groove along in each song with high energy and a plethora of facial expressions. Lead guitarist Andy Marsh stands on stage right and can be usually seen looking intensely into the crowd as he shreds to his’ hearts content. Front and center is vocalist CJ McMahon, who is spotted in the first 2 songs sporting a hooded cloak and looking tall and ominous into the crowd, while screaming and growling with a wide range of tones and pitches. The band is also known for their bright and strobing lighting, not using any of the frontal house lighting and bringing forth an haunting presence, which goes right along with their serious politically driven lyrical content that focuses on anti-religion, anti-extremism, animal rights, greed, war, and much more. I was thrilled to see Thy Art Is Murder once again and I believe they truly put on their best set to date!

SETLIST

  1. Death Squad Anthem
  2. Make America Hate Again
  3. Fur and Claw
  4. Slaves Beyond Death
  5. Holy War
  6. No Absolution
  7. Human Target
  8. The Son of Misery
  9. New Gods
  10. Reign of Darkness
  11. Puppet Master

Next up was the all mighty Cannibal Corpse from Buffalo, New York. After many years of listening to them and playing their songs on Rock Band, it finally became time to see them. The band is good ole fashioned death metal that borders the line of brutal death metal. Their lyrical content draws from horror fiction novels and horror films, with highly graphic and controversial imagery on their album covers to go along with the musical content. As a big horror fan myself, I was almost immediately drawn to that aspect of Cannibal Corpse when I found out about them. The band has been going strong since 1988, despite a couple lineup changes near the beginning of their career. What I was pleasantly surprised when watching them was how humble they were. They didn’t do a walk on intro like a lot of other bands, they didn’t bring additional lighting, they just played good fucking music and got the crowd hyped. Vocalist George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher blew me away with his ability to own the stage by doing a single stance. The band isn’t known for being insanely energetic, but the power each member gives off just from their stage presence and musical technicality is mind blowing. With fourteen albums in their discography, I was pleasantly surprised how well the band was able to cover, playing songs from twelve of those fourteen albums. The crowd went nuts, with one of the most violent mosh pits I’ve seen. This was a perfect setlist, as the band played a whopping 18-songs, with George adding in some comedic moments while the rest of the members would tune their instruments. I was thrilled to hear songs like “I Cum Blood”, “Hammer Smashed Face”, “Red Before Black”, and “Kill or Become”, which were all highlights from the set for me. Bassist and founding member Alex Webster was also very fun to watch for me, as his bass stance was very powerful and was very fun to capture. The band had Erik Rutan, guitarist of Hate Eternal, filling in on this tour. His stage presence and ability to own those dueling guitar solos blew me away. Drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz truly impressed me with his extremely technical drum parts that were played to perfection, along with his stage presence behind the kit. The dude is insanely fun to watch. Closing out the band’s lineup is guitarist Rob Barrett, who truly slayed it with his’ rhythmic patterns and technicality on the rhythm guitar. But the stand out was definitely George Fisher, who’s headbanging and vocal abilities drove the set to a whole other level. Cannibal Corpse’s performance was one for the books and I will definitely be seeing them again in the near future!

SETLIST

  1. Code of the Slashers
  2. Only One Will Die
  3. Red Before Black
  4. Scourge of Iron
  5. Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead
  6. The Wretched Spawn
  7. Devoured by Vermin
  8. Unleashing the Bloodthirsty
  9. Gutted
  10. Kill or Become
  11. A Skull Full of Maggots
  12. Evisceration Plague
  13. Firestorm Vengeance
  14. Death Walking Terror
  15. I Cum Blood
  16. Make Them Suffer
  17. Stripped, Raped, and Strangled
  18. Hammer Smashed Face

Cannibal Corpse’s Fall North American Tour was an amazing night with two bands who absolutely crushed it, performing incredible music that blew me away. Both Thy Art Is Murder and Cannibal Corpse are at the top of their game and I cannot wait to see both bands in the new year when they come out to California again!

Cannibal Corpse | Thy Art Is Murder

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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Papa Roach w/ Asking Alexandria and Bad Wolves | Who Do You Trust? USA Tour | Photos + Review

September 28, 2019 Leave a comment

Papa Roach Trusts Hollywood To Close Out Their Who Do You Trust USA Tour

Venue: Hollywood Palladium on 8/31/19

Papa Roach has been a consistent band I have listened to throughout the years. Their song “Last Resort” is a staple in the Nu Metal genre and is iconic. When I saw the lineup for their “Who Do You Trust?” USA tour, I was thrilled. Asking Alexandria was the very first band I ever saw live back in 2011, and Bad Wolves’ debut 2018 album “Disobey” absolutely slays, so I knew this would be an amazing night.

First up was Bad Wolves from Los Angeles, CA. Before they even got on stage, the crowd was roaring as Josh Brolin, an actor best known by his’ recent role as Thanos in the Avengers franchise, came out to announce the band. When the band hit the stage, they were immediately on fire. The band opened with their song Learn To Live, which shows off their progressive metalcore roots, with djent style guitar riffs courtesy of guitarists Chris Cain and Doc Coyle, as well as a mixture of clean vocals and screams courtesy of vocalist Tommy Vext. But at the root of djent is the deep bass tones courtesy of Kyle Konkiel and odd time signatures courtesy of drummer John Boecklin. The band played a set that mixed their heavier riffy songs, with more radio rock friendly songs. The band played a total of 8 songs, finishing with their chart topping cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie”, which they raised $250,000 towards the family of the late Dolores O’Riordan, who died on her way to record her vocal part on their cover. Their performance was filled with such vibrant energy. I was completely blown away by their performance, and they blew my expectations out of the water.

SETLIST

  1. Learn To Live
  2. No Masters
  3. Remember When
  4. Better The Devil
  5. I’ll Be There
  6. Hear Me Now
  7. Officer Down
  8. Zombie

Up next was Asking Alexandria from North Yorkshire, England. Coming on right after Bad Wolves with how tight and energetic they are would be tough for any band to do. For old fans of the band, hoping to hear the heavy metalcore stylings Asking Alexandria was once known for, unfortunately you will not be getting that here. I too have been a fan since their origins with a more metalcore and post-hardcore base, but the band has certainly transitioned to a more radio rock sound and style. They came out of the gate with their new single “The Violence”, which is pretty solid. While all of the other members were wearing normal attire, vocalist Danny Worsnop came out in a beige plaid suit and sun glasses, which definitely felt off. Besides that, the band played a variety of songs, most of which came from their 2017 self titled album “Asking Alexandria”, which was released via Sumerian Records. The only earlier song from the first two albums that the band played was “Someone Somewhere”, which they for some reason decided to play acoustically. The band relied on a lot of pyrotechnics to get through the performance, and while they were entertaining, they distracted from the actual set. The rest of the band consists of guitarists Ben Bruce and Cameron Liddell, bassist Sam Bettley, and drummer James Cassells. Overall, they put on a solid set, however, compared to when I saw them back in 2011, they lacked the heart and emotion I once saw them provide on stage.

SETLIST

  1. The Violence
  2. Into The Fire
  3. Where Did It Go?
  4. Run Free
  5. The Death Of Me
  6. Vultures
  7. Someone, Somewhere
  8. Moving On
  9. Eve
  10. When The Lights Come On
  11. Alone In A Room

Finally, Papa Roach from Vacaville, CA. Playing a sold out show in their hometown state on the second to last day of tour, this legendary band came to slay. For this tour, they prepared a whopping 19-song set that showcased songs from their whole discography. Vocalist Jacoby Shaddix is the ultimate showman, truly utilizing every inch of that stage. Behind the band was a huge LED screen that had many images and lyrics popping up, making the performance so tight and feeling like a full-on spectacle. The rest of the fourpiece consists of lead guitarist Jerry Horton, bassist Tobin Esperance, and drummer Tony Palermo. The band has so much heart and you could feel such positive energy radiating from the stage. In between the songs, Shaddix expressed how important it is to keep music alive, and really thanked people for supporting. It was truly awesome to see a band who’s been doing this for quite some time still be so humble and kind. And of course, the band’s encore “Last Resort”, got the crowd going nuts, with crowd surfers, circle pits, and crowd participation galore. Papa Roach was incredibly high energy, and chose a setlist that flowed beautifully. They proved that they indeed trusted Hollywood to be one of the last shows to close out the tour, and the crowds reactions definitely proved why. Papa Roach put on an incredible set, and I cannot wait to see them again!

SETLIST

  1. Who Do You Trust?
  2. Getting Away With Murder
  3. Broken Home
  4. Help
  5. Elevate
  6. Gravity
  7. Song 2 (Blur Cover)
  8. Drum Solo
  9. …To Be Loved
  10. Blood Brothers
  11. She Loves Me Not
  12. Come Around
  13. Forever
  14. Scars
  15. Between Angels and Insects
  16. Renegade Music
  17. Born For Greatness

ENCORE

  1. Last Resort

The “Who Do You Trust” tour was an amazing experience filled with a mixture of Metalcore, Radio Rock, and Nu-Metal. Papa Roach put together such a dynamic show and truly proved why they are still on top of the game after 26 years of being a band! They deliver and slay on stage!

Papa Roach | Asking Alexandria | Bad Wolves

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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Rockstar Disrupt Festival | Main Stage w/ Thrice, The Used, Sum 41, Circa Survive, and Atreyu | Photos + Review

August 9, 2019 Leave a comment

Rockstar Disrupt Festival – Main Stage Review

Venue: Five Point Amphitheatre on 7/20/19

As the festival stage bands finished, they transformed the stage for the main bands. All five of the main stage bands had 45-minute sets, where they were truly able to showcase their talents with full on lighting and theatrics. Although all of the acts performed on one stage, they truly made it look and feel special for the main stage bands.

The first of the main stage bands up was Atreyu from Yorba Linda, California. Atreyu has been a staple in the metalcore scene for quite some time. Although they had a 3-year hiatus from 2011-2014, they have still released 7 truly incredible albums over their career. I personally got into Atreyu in 2010 when their song “Ravenous” was on the video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. Although they didn’t play Ravenous, the band prepared a 10-song set filled to the brim with fan favorite songs, including “Bleeding Mascara”, “Becoming The Bull”, and their infamous Bon Jovi cover of “You Give Love A Bad Name”. This five piece consists of vocalist Alex Varkatzas, drummer and co-lead vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, and bassist Marc “Porter” McKnight. I had never seen Atreyu live before this date, but I had been listening to them for years. Although I had somewhat high expectations, Atreyu still blew my expectations out of the park. Their stage presence was amazing, with band members jumping off risers and truly using every inch of that stage. The band somehow sounded even better live than on album, which is difficult to do with a band that sounds as good as Atreyu does on album. I was blown away from the moment they hit the stage to the moment they left the stage!

SETLIST

  1. Our Time Is Now
  2. Right Side of the Bed
  3. Becoming The Bull
  4. Ex’s and Oh’s
  5. When Two Are One
  6. You Give Love A Bad Name (Bon Jovi Cover)
  7. Bleeding Mascara
  8. Falling Down
  9. House of Gold
  10. Blow

Up next was Circa Survive from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Circa Survive’s sound is best described as a mixture of post-hardcore and progressive rock. I first got into Circa Survive when their song “The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is the Dose” released on Rock Band in 2007. A big highlight moment of their set was when vocalist Anthony Green jumped on the barricade and embraced fans during the first song “Act Appalled” from their 2005 album Juturna. The band played a 9-song set, which showcased songs from their whole discography minus Violent Waves. The band really got into their set, grooving with every note and truly showcasing a set filled with emotion and raw energy. The rest of the band consists of guitarists Colin Frangicetto and Brendan Ekstrom, bassist Nick Beard, and drummer Steve Clifford. I will say that Anthony Green’s vocals sound raspier in person, which honestly added to the band’s sound. I was thoroughly impressed with their set and I’m stoked to have finally seen them after listening to them for so long.

SETLIST

  1. Act Appalled
  2. Rites of Investiture
  3. Child of the Desert
  4. The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is the Dose
  5. Holding Someone’s Hair Back
  6. In the Morning and Amazing…
  7. Lustration
  8. Stop the Fuckin’ Car
  9. Get Out

Sum 41 from Ontario, Canada was up next. Sum 41 is the perfect mixture of pop punk, punk rock, and post-hardcore. The sun went down just as their set was starting, which made the lighting truly stand out. For their set, Sum 41 prepared an 11-song set that showcased songs from a majority of their discography. They were extremely tight and very high energy. I thought the colored smoke cannons added to the experience and created some truly amazing moments to capture. This five piece consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Deryck Whibley, lead guitarist Dave Baksh, bassist Jason McCaslin, rhythm guitarist Tom Thacker, and drummer Frank Zummo. It was so cool to finally see Sum 41. Their songs “In Too Deep” and “Still Waiting” were staples in my childhood and were played in several movies and TV shows I watched so it was surreal to finally see them. Their stage presence was energetic and engaging. They truly slayed!

SETLIST

  1. The Hell Song
  2. Motivation
  3. Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
  4. We’re All To Blame
  5. Out For Blood
  6. Fake My Own Death
  7. Walking Disaster
  8. We Will Rock You (Queen Cover)
  9. In Too Deep
  10. Fat Lip
  11. Still Waiting

The Used from Orem, Utah was the second to last band to hit the stage. The Used was actually the second band in the post-hardcore genre, next to Escape the Fate, that truly helped me get into the scene as a whole. Their song “Blood On My Hands” was a staple in my middle school life and hearing them play it live was something I’ve waited to hear again for years. The Used started their set with an animation projected on a curtain with a dramatic curtain drop going into their first song “Take It Away”. Once the curtain dropped, it was a spectacle of a set, with LED screens behind the drummer, smoke machines, and the infamous heart hanging from the ceiling. They not only set the scene with special effects but with a setlist that matched the whole look and feel. This four piece consists of vocalist Bert McCracken, bassist Jeph Howard, drummer Dan Whitesides, and guitarist Joey Bradford. Bert McCracken was like a little kid on stage. He was living his’ extra life on that stage and his’ positive energy truly radiated throughout the entire Amphitheatre. The Used is one of the top bands in the genre and it is apparent as to why, they demolish any stage they step foot on. I cannot wait to see them again next time they’re out here!

SETLIST

  1. Take It Away
  2. The Bird and the Worm
  3. Listening
  4. All That I’ve Got
  5. I Caught Fire
  6. Wonderwall (Oasis Cover)
  7. Buried Myself Alive
  8. The Taste of Ink
  9. Blood On My Hands
  10. Pretty Handsome Awkward
  11. A Box Full of Sharp Objects

Closing out the night was Thrice who were playing their hometown in Irvine, CA. This band has accumulated a large arsenal of music over their 20-year career, releasing 10 albums over that time. They showcased songs from several of those releases in their 11-song set. Thrice’s sound can best be described as a mixture of post-hardcore, progressive metal, experimental rock, and alternative rock. Their set was very atmospheric, with very colorful lighting and smoke to match. This four piece consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dustin Kensrue, lead guitarist Teppei Teranishi, bassist Eddie Breckenridge, and drummer Riley Breckenridge. I was not only impressed by their musical talents, but their whole aesthetics and stage presentation made their performance into a full on spectacle. There is no doubt why Thrice is still one of the biggest bands in the scene. They leave everything out on the stage and blew me away. I actually wound up ordering 4 of their CDs after watching their set. I was thoroughly impressed by Thrice and they were a perfect way to close out the Rockstar Disrupt Festival.

SETLIST

  1. Yellow Belly
  2. The Artist In The Ambulance
  3. Only Us
  4. Under a Killing Moon
  5. Just Breathe
  6. Of Dust and Nations
  7. In Exile
  8. Deeper Wells
  9. Beggars
  10. Black Honey
  11. The Earth Will Shake

The Rockstar Disrupt Festival was an amazing festival that gave the best of both worlds, a festival vibe and an amphitheater vibe all in one. I was so happy to check so many bands off my bucketlist to photograph all in one day. The bands truly went above and beyond and so did Rockstar for putting this whole festival together. I cannot wait to attend again next year! Thank you for creating a new tradition!

Thrice | The Used | Sum 41 | Circa Survive | Atreyu

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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Rockstar Disrupt Festival | Festival Stage w/ Sleeping With Sirens, Andy Black, Four Year Strong, Memphis May Fire, and Juliet Simms | Photos + Review

August 8, 2019 Leave a comment

Rockstar Disrupt Festival – Festival Stage

Venue: Five Point Amphitheatre on 7/20/19

Entering into the amphitheater and seeing a familiar layout, it felt like a return to form for me. I went to the Vans Warped Tour yearly with my Dad from 2011 – 2018 so seeing the Five Point Amphitheater with merch tents and a Rockstar booth, I felt like a new tradition starting that still held close ties to the previous one. The Rockstar Disrupt Festival had two tiers of bands: the festival stage bands and the main stage bands. On my date, however, all of the bands played on the same stage. So, the festival stage bands were treated like Kings and Queens for a day.

I unfortunately missed Hyro the Hero, due to a family emergency, but arrived just in time to catch Juliet Simms. Juliet Simms was in a few bands but really hit it big once she competed on the reality competition show “The Voice” where she placed second. Since then, she has garnered a large following, especially in the Warped Tour and alternative scenes, which lead to her signing to Sumerian Records in 2019. She has released 3 albums over her career, which she showcased in her 6-song set. Juliet pleasantly surprised me with her stage presence and vocal style. I would describe her musical style as a mixture of alternative rock, indie rock, and pop rock. Her vocals are very raspy, and I was thoroughly impressed. I was slightly getting some Janis Joplin vibes. Her backing band consisted of drummer Lindsay Martin, guitarist Evan Potter, and bassist Justus Dixon. Juliet put her heart on that stage, and I was pleasantly surprised to say the least.

SETLIST

  1. 100 Little Deaths
  2. Say Hello
  3. Trouble Finds You
  4. Take Me
  5. Wild Child
  6. Bad Love

Next up was Memphis May Fire from Denton, Texas. Memphis May Fire is one of the first bands I got into when I was getting more into metalcore. When I found out that I would finally be photographing them, I was ecstatic to say the least. Memphis May Fire brought out songs from five of their six albums for their set, showcasing how diverse of a band they are. I personally got to photograph them during one of my favorite songs in their entire discography “Prove Me Right” from their 2012 release “Challenger”, which is still the bands bestselling record to date, reaching 16 on the top 200 Billboard Charts. Memphis May Fire would best be described as on the border between metalcore and post-hardcore, with some songs more on the hard rock side. The current lineup consists of vocalist Matty Mullens, lead guitarist Kellen McGregor, bassist Cory Elder, drummer Jake Garland, and touring rhythm guitarist Samuel Penner. Not only does Memphis May Fire truly slay in terms of sound, their stage presence was insane. I always love seeing Memphis May Fire and am so glad I finally got the chance to photograph them!

SETLIST

  1. The Old Me
  2. Prove Me Right
  3. Carry On
  4. No Ordinary Love
  5. Heavy Is The Weight
  6. Vices
  7. The Sinner

The next band up was Four Year Strong from Worcester, Massachusetts. Their sound is commonly referred to as “Easycore”, as they mix pop punk with post-hardcore and melodic hardcore. Coming on after Memphis May Fire would be hard for many bands to top. But, despite not moving to much, no one could deny Four Year Strong’s sound was truly amazing that day. They played four songs from their 2010 album “Enemy of the World”, which is still their bestselling album to date. Along with those four songs, they played two songs from their 2015 self-titled album “Four Year Strong”, two songs from their 2007 album “Rise or Die Trying”, and one from their 2014 EP “Go Down In History”. This band has had a long history in the scene, and the reason for their popularity is shown through their catchy music with riff-heavy melodic verses and choruses mixed with breakdowns. I have lived for Four Year Strong for years and am so glad to see them still going strong.

SETLIST

  1. Maniac (R.O.D.)
  2. Go Down In History
  3. Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die
  4. What the Hell is a Gigawatt?
  5. Who Cares?
  6. Find My Way Back
  7. It Must Really Suck To Be Four Year Strong Right Now
  8. We All Float Down Here
  9. Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)

Andy Black came up to the stage next. Andy Black is also known as Andy Biersack or as his previous stage name “Andy Six”. I used to listen to his band Black Veil Brides almost religiously, but even though I don’t listen to them anymore, I was looking forward to seeing what he had to offer in a solo performance. While Black Veil Brides’ sound centers around hard rock and heavy metal, Andy’s solo music is a good mixture of alternative rock, pop rock, and synth pop. Andy played a 7-song setlist, showcasing songs from his’ two albums “The Ghost of Ohio”, which was released in 2019 via Republic Records, and “The Shadow Side” which was released in 2016 via Republic Records. He also played a Billy Idol cover, which was pretty cool to hear. During the first song of his’ set, Andy went into the crowd and hi fived a bunch of the crowd members. It was cool to see him interacting with fans and truly engaging with the crowd. The support band behind him consists of drummer Sage Webber, bassist Niles Gibbs, and guitarist Lonny Eagleton. Although I am not the biggest Andy Black fan in the world, I was still thoroughly impressed by his’ showmanship and his musical style!

SETLIST

  1. Ribcage
  2. They Don’t Need To Understand
  3. Stay Alive
  4. Westwood Road
  5. Dancing With Myself (Billy Idol Cover)
  6. Ghost of Ohio
  7. We Don’t Have To Dance

Closing out the Festival Stage was Sleeping With Sirens from Orlando, Florida. Sleeping With Sirens, like Memphis May Fire, was one of the first bands I got into in the scene. I fell in love with their post-hardcore style and unique vocals courtesy of Kellin Quinn. The rest of this very talented band consists of drummer Gabe Barham, guitarists Jack Fowler and Nick Martin, and bassist Justin Hills. The band played a 7-song set, filled with fan favorites and 2 songs off their upcoming album “How It Feels To Be Lost”, which will be released via Sumerian Records on September 6th, 2019. One thing Sleeping With Sirens delivers consistently is a stellar performance. They are extremely tight as a band and are extremely high energy. They utilize every inch of the stage and truly slay. Sleeping With Sirens also delivers on sounding even better live. They are already stellar on record, but that unbeatable energy drives each song further and engraves that live experience into the brains of their viewers. It truly brought me back to how I felt when I first discovered their music years and years back. I loved their set and believe they were the perfect band to close out the festival stage.

SETLIST

  1. Kick Me
  2. Do It Now, Remember It Later
  3. Leave It All Behind
  4. Better Off Dead
  5. Break Me Down
  6. If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn
  7. If You Can’t Hang

The festival stage bands on the Rockstar Disrupt Festival showcased a variety of bands of many different styles that meshed beautifully. It truly set the stage for the main stage bands to come. I was truly excited to see bands like Sleeping With Sirens and Memphis May Fire again, and to finally photograph them, so it was a dream come true.

Sleeping With Sirens | Andy Black | Four Year Strong | Memphis May Fire | Juliet Simms

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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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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As It Is | The Great Depression Tour 2019

February 21, 2019 Leave a comment

As It Is @ Rock City Studios, Camarillo CA

Photography courtesy of  : Jamie Kaufman 

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Hold Close & Sharptooth | The Great Depression Tour 2019

February 21, 2019 Leave a comment

Hold Close & Sharptooth @ Rock City Studios, Camarillo CA

Photography courtesy of  : Jamie Kaufman 

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