ERRA’s Pull From The Ghost Tour 2022 ft Alpha Wolf, Invent Animate, and Thornhill.
July 30, 2022 Leave a comment
7-23-22 | Anaheim California | Chain Reaction
Thornhill
“Manic” by Wage War | Review
January 19, 2022 Leave a comment
album released October 1, 2021.
A little over two years ago, Wage War dropped their third album, “Pressure,” which was one of my favorite albums that dropped that year. Earlier in 2021, the band has been preparing to follow it up with their newly-released fourth full-length – “Manic.”
“Relapse” kicks things off with riffs reminiscent of Wage War’s metalcore roots, and it brings a standout lyric early on in the record (“I take one step forward, then two steps back, till I run out of time in the hourglass”). The mix of melodic vocals in the verses and choruses with the heavier pre-choruses and the breakdown towards the end showcases a little bit of what listeners can expect from the tracks that follow. Second up is the single “Teeth,” which also displays the juxtaposition between the more melodic aspects of their sound (such as the irresistibly catchy chorus) and the heavier ones (shown through the sections surrounding those choruses). The song is an ode to a friend who stabbed you in the back, explaining that this person is “accepting apologies” but would “never give it” and asking them with brutal honesty, “You only took from me but did you ever care?”
The title track, “Manic,” is where the album gets a little bit experimental. The band incorporates elements of hip-hop and nu-metal, which immediately reminded me of music from bands like My Enemies & I and Afterlife, and these genres are blended with the aggression that the band is known for. Speaking of which, “High Horse” is up next, and it really hones in on the metalcore influences and the most aggressive parts of their sound, with monstrous riffs and furious vocals all throughout. “Circle The Drain” contains an anthemic and powerful chorus, and the lyrics deliver a crucial message. The song is all about taking accountability and wanting to do the best you can to make this world a better place. The lyric “the hurt begins with me” sums up this theme very well, showing the moment when someone “decides to be a part of the solution,” as the band said on Twitter when explaining the song’s meaning. “Godspeed” brings plenty of solid hooks from start to finish, and similar to some of the other tracks on here, it experiments a bit and mixes some glitchy effects with the harsher instrumentals. The song’s lyrics continue the conversation about cutting out toxic people in your life, as one line declares “and now you’re dead to me.”
If you’re a fan of the aforementioned heavier aspects of Wage War’s sound, then you’re in for a treat when you hear “Death Roll.” It’s easily the heaviest on the record (aside from “High Horse”), and it seemingly incorporates elements of hardcore as well. In contrast, “Slow Burn” is way more melodic, and it feels reminiscent of “Circle The Drain” and even some of the tracks from “Pressure.” The chorus on here offers some of the strongest books on the entire record, and it’s another really memorable track.
“Never Said Goodbye” is up next, initially driven by acoustic guitar, simpler percussion, and clean vocals before the much bigger choruses crank up the volume of the instrumentals. The lyrics are very clearly all about grief, and lines like “Won’t ever heal cause I’m trying to make sense of a world where you’re not in existence” and “I know you’re home now in a better place, but I’m still searching for the words to say” will easily resonate with those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Second to last is “True Colors,” beginning with a combination of both screams and gritty shouted vocals that lead up to another catchy chorus with some more great hooks, and the riff-driven breakdown will have fans joining the mosh pit if the band plays the song live. “If Tomorrow Never Comes” concludes the record, and it does so very nicely by combining both the more aggressive and more melodic elements heard throughout the album, from the brutally heavy performances in the verses to the soaring vocals in the massive chorus.
“Manic” shows Wage War staying true to their roots at times, but also shows some additional experimentation, and much like “Pressure,” this record as a whole shows how the band is continuously evolving as songwriters and musicians.
Review courtesy of Megan Langley | Instagram
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Launch Music Conference ft Ice Nine Kills & more!
October 7, 2021 Leave a comment
I feel I’ve earned the title of the “ Ice Nine Kills girl ” in my local concert scene. With their logo tattooed on my arm, my Google Drive full of photos from the last 5 years, and my car full of CDs spanning their entire career, my love for this band has become no secret. So at 10 pm, September 10th, seeing in my inbox, I was approved to shoot another Ice Nine show, I just about cried. 2 years without a concert is just about the worst possible thing for a concert photographer, especially two years without my favorite band playing shows. So I loaded my car, and drove the 3 odd hours to Lancaster, PA for the Launch Music Conference.
A venue of this size is intimidating after not shooting a show for a long time, so making my way to the photo pit was the scariest thing I had done in months. The night kicked off New Jersey natives, Enox.
It was hard not to bang your head to the punchy guitars, crashing drums, and the vocals full of emotion and frustration. They started the night off with an insane amount of energy, getting the crowd warmed up for what else was to come.
Gladiators took the stage next, offering a vibey, heavy performance. The melodic vocals mixed with the deep and bassy guitars, I was in awe of the somehow soft, but powerful performance. The PA band offered a different vibe to the night, setting them apart from the heavy, angry acts we’d see with them. Speaking to them after their sets, they were overwhelmingly kind, and super supportive of all the artists attending the show. It was heartwarming to see a band connecting with fans after two years of isolation, and I could tell how much it meant to the guys in Gladiators.
Lancaster hometown act Hawk was a band I had never seen, despite following singer/guitarist Ricky Armellino’s music since This Or The Apocalypse. It was exciting to see a band I knew, and being able to scream the words back at them had me smiling their entire set. They offer a simple, yet insanely unique approach to metalcore. Ricky’s vocals pack a punch, complimenting the heavy, beautiful guitar work. I could see the emotion in their performance, the entire band clearly overwhelmed to be performing in front of their hometown. There were familiar faces I had seen at shows, all of them looking at the stage with happiness, excitement, and a proudness you rarely see at shows anymore.
Currents was a band I had seen open for bands before, and I heavily regret not giving them my full attention in years past. The energy was turned up to eleven, crowd surfers hammering the barricade. Currents may seem like a traditional metal band at heart, but their music seems to fill your body, forcing you to start moving. It was a chaotic set to shoot, all of us photographers moving to try and capture the incredible stage presence of the band in front of us. After the shoot, I was beyond excited to hand my camera off to a friend, and jump in the pit myself.
I had seen Ice Nine Kills 10 times before this show. I knew all the songs. I knew all the words. I was expecting a typical, incredible set from them. But this set seemed to move me more than usual. INK isn’t exactly a band with sentimental songs, as horror movies and theatrics have taken a hold on their music. But I felt myself getting choked up watching their set. It had been so long since I saw them, that the tears filled my eyes before I even knew. It’s a bit awkward to have tears pouring down your face while your favorite band sings about slashers and demons, but it wasn’t about the music. It was about all the people I had missed over the pandemic. The friends I made and haven’t seen in years. The ability to use my camera and make more art. Their set was, as usual, outstanding. Spencer works the crowd in a way that no frontman could, the other members of the band adding to the chaos happening in the crowd behind me. The horror behind their music comes to life with chaotic vocals, costumes, and of course their amazing makeup artist, Shevy, dressing up as the final girls from the movies inspiring their songs. They make the movies you love come to life before your eyes. It was so rare to see a band who sounds just as good live as they do on record, their entire performance rivaling any movie you could see. My 15 minutes were up before I knew it, and I made my way into the crowd, and finally let loose. Two years without a moshpit, without friends to headbang with. It was an emotional night. The exhaustion didn’t hit my bones until I finally sat down in my bed.
This tour is a gift for everyone involved. Fans, bands, crew and security. Everyone missed this. I know I did. I eagerly look forward to seeing Ice Nine Kills on the second leg of this tour. And I can’t wait to see what every single band on this bill has coming for the future.
Review & photography courtesy of Emily Sulkowski
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Free Throw Virtual Show | Review
November 16, 2020 Leave a comment
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in-person concerts haven’t been going on for the large majority of this year. However, virtual shows are becoming more and more popular, and in recent months, more and more bands and artists have started to put on shows in this particular format. A few weeks ago, a handful of local venues in Nashville, Tennessee – known as “Music City” – began hosting a series of free virtual shows with local bands and musicians, and one of the bands performing was emo quartet Free Throw.
I saw this band perform in Denver, Colorado last September, and over the past year, I’ve become a bigger fan of them, so I decided to watch this virtual performance.
They opened up their set with one of my favorite songs of theirs, “The Corner’s Dilemma.” This is arguably one of the most popular songs off of their latest full-length, last year’s “What’s Past Is Prologue,” and they played a couple of other songs off of this record as well: “You Don’t Say That,” “Tail Whip, Struggle,” and “Cerulean City.” To follow up that release, the band also dropped two new singles earlier this year, and they played one of those two songs – “Motorcycle, Motor?.”
While the band incorporated some of their most recent hits into their setlist, they also played a lot of older material. In addition to playing some of their more popular songs from their first couple of albums (“Tongue Tied,” “Pallet Town,” “Two Beers In,” “Randy, I Am The Liquor,” and “Better Have Burn Heal”), they also played some underrated tracks that haven’t been in their setlists as much (“An Hour Pissed,” “Weight On My Chest,” “Andy And I, Uh,” and “Hope Spot”). Similarly to the last tour I saw them on, their setlist spanned across all three of their LPs, and I liked the fact that they put so much variety into this sixteen-song, hour-long setlist.
One thing that I love about this band’s music is the amount of emotion that they put into it, and I think that in a live setting like this, that raw emotion gets to shine through even more. Musically, I really like the dynamics and intricate instrumentation found within their songs, and those aspects of these tracks really stood out during the performance as well.
I thought that Free Throw put on a really good live show when I saw them for the first time last fall, and I can definitely say the same for this virtual show as well. This performance incorporated everything I love about the band’s music and live shows, and overall, it was an entertaining one to watch.
The show was streamed at The End in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Music City Bandwidth. For more information on their virtual live shows and how you can support The End and other local Nashville venues, go to www.musiccitybandwidth.com.
Review courtesy of Megan Langley | Instagram
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The Camera Affect team + guests transition to live streamed interviews.
July 23, 2020 Leave a comment
With the upsetting yet realistic news from top touring executive Marc Geiger saying not to expect to see concerts again until 2022 we must adapt. The entertainment industry is taking such a huge hit and will continue to as venues close due to lack of finances, all while bands and fans alike become lost and upset due to missing and craving that togetherness we get being in a room full of strangers all there for a shared love of music. With that in mind, we made the transition to continue to support musicians and artists the best way we know how to right now, which is virtually. Going forward The Camera Affect + team will interview artists via video call and live stream it on our Facebook page. We will be releasing the live interviews on our YouTube channel in parts as well for those who may have missed the live stream or who are not are Facebook.
Thank you to each and every one of our supporters, especially in this time of uncertainty – we’re here if you need us- just reach out!
Courtesy of Cristine Trimarco
Below are a few photos of interviews you can look forward to seeing on our Facebook page right now or on our YouTube channel very soon!
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- Interview w/ Words Like Wildfire
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- Interview w/ Giovanna Altube
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- Interview w/ Camper Clark
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- Interview w/ Kay Enagonio
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Wake Up Sunshine by All Time Low Review
July 18, 2020 Leave a comment
All Time Low have been around for quite some time, having released two EPs, two live DVDs, a handful of standalone singles and seven studio albums within the first fourteen years of their career, and their sound has evolved a lot over the years. Fast forward to 2020, and the Baltimore-based quartet are back with their eighth LP, titled “Wake Up, Sunshine.”
While “Last Young Renegade” noticeably leaned in a bit of a different direction, as the band experimented with a lot of pop and alternative elements, there are plenty of moments on “Wake Up, Sunshine” that show them returning to their pop rock and pop punk roots, some of which are found in a few of the singles that the band put out leading up to the album’s release. “Getaway Green” is easily the best example of this, with plenty of energy and extremely catchy guitar riffs reminiscent of those on past releases like “So Wrong, It’s Right” or “Nothing Personal.”
A handful of the songs on here combine that nostalgic pop punk sound with some of their more pop rock influences, and the remaining singles are really good examples of this. The fantastic lead single and opening track “Some Kind Of Disaster: brings a softer intro before upbeat verses and a massive chorus come in, “Sleeping In” brings a very energetic chorus, and “Melancholy Kaleidoscope” brings a ton of energy throughout, adding in some acoustic guitar to help drive its chorus. “Trouble Is” leans way more to the pop rock side, and sounds a little similar to newer work from Blink-182 and Simple Creatures, the project that All Time Low front man Alex Gaskarth has with Blink’s very own front-man, Mark Hoppus. Rian Dawson’s drumming really shines on this track, and the chorus offers up some pretty good melodies. There are also two tracks on here that were seemingly meant to be a bigger track together called “Seasons.” “January Gloom” is the first of these two tracks, bringing some slightly darker composition through some memorable guitar riffs and melodies throughout. “Summer Daze” is the second of those two, and the title is very fitting, given the happier and brighter tone that the song has musically, and it’s yet another perfect example of how well All Time Low have blended their pop rock and pop punk influences on this album.
The band also did quite a bit of experimentation on this record, with songs that show them trying something a little bit different. “Wake Up, Sunshine” (which I personally believe would have been a great choice for the opening track) delivers some slightly darker melodies and instrumentals during the verses and pre-choruses, leading up to a happy, carefree chorus. “Clumsy” is one of quite a few on here that allows Alex’s vocals to shine with some more slightly darker melodies in the beginning, leading up to one of the biggest and best choruses on the whole album. “Monsters” is also on the darker side, which I think fits the song very well. Blackbear is featured on the track, and while that collaboration was a bit unexpected, his vocal style and the guest feature overall compliments the song perfectly. The other feature found on this album is on the upbeat “Favorite Place,” which features The Band CAMINO. The guitars are a bit more reminiscent of CAMINO’s signature indie/alternative sound and gives the song that sort of vibe (for the most part), but the song does a great job at mixing that sound with the blend of pop rock and pop punk that All Time Low have created throughout this record.
In contrast, a couple of the songs on here show a softer side of the band’s sound, similar to the overall sound of their previous album, “Last Young Renegade.” Interlude “Pretty Venom” is probably the most simplistic track on the album, but it works really well as an interlude and its placement on the track-list seems fitting, and closing track “Basement Noise” (one of my favorites) brings a solid vocal performance in the chorus and lyrics that reflect on the band’s humble beginnings. “Safe” is driven by subtle instrumentation in the softer verses before a huge anthemic chorus comes in, and the same can be said about “Glitter & Crimson,” which is primarily led by softer percussion and acoustic guitar as it leads up to a much harder hitting bridge with one of the strongest vocal performances this record has to offer.
“Wake Up, Sunshine” shows bits and pieces of All Time Low’s history as a band, combining the various elements of pop, rock, alternative and everything in between that they’ve incorporated into their sound over the years. Overall, this is a refreshing pop rock record, yet another fantastic one from All Time Low, and easily one of my favorite albums from this year so far.
Listen to the song here
Review courtesy of Megan Langley | Instagram
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Ryan Cassata, Skylar Kergil, Mae Krell + April Rose | Instagram Live virtual concert review +Premiere of Ryan Cassata’s new single artwork!
May 17, 2020 Leave a comment
Last night via Instagram Live on Ryan’s account all who joined the live stream got a taste of what we’ve all been missing most during this quarantine; live music and togetherness.
First, Ryan and Loren performed – with background barks from Geoffrey. They opened the stream with singing one of my favorites off of Ryan’s newest album The Witches Made Me Do It called Bamboo Plants. Following that he played a new song called Gender Binary (Fuck You) , which will be released in honor of Pride Month on June 5th + I’m so excited for you all to hear it. Below is the premiere of the cover art for the song, it’s beautiful.
Between all performances, Ryan set up a cute light up Stay Safe sign!
Next, Mae Krell joined the live stream. They opened with a new song called garden followed by Monster, between songs they spoke a bit about garden and how it was written when they were in a dark place but surrounded by so much beauty.
Following Mae’s performance, April Rose Gabrielli of The Rose Monarch and Jacob Kulick of Kulick joined the live stream to play two songs for us as well. April is currently writing songs and making music for her solo record – and I am so beyond stoked to hear it in full. She sang her song called Do You, beautifully. As well as a song that was inspired by busy and crowded New York City streets on days where EVERYONE bumps into you – I believe the lyrics went somethin’ like ” Hit me with your f – – – – – g car, cause nothing really moves me anymore.” and I can’t wait til she releases it.
Seeing as tour and concerts are on hold for the foreseeable future April has started doing art commissions and created an Instagram just for that @lifeisjustlines – go check it out!
To close out the hour long show, Skylar Kergil joined the live. He sang Lost & Found, which is a love song, then Tell Me a Story, which was a fan requested and is an all time favorite for most of his followers. Keep your eyes peeled for a new single coming from Skylar soon.
For everyone who was planning on going to their show in Brooklyn, NY pre-quarantine they announced it WILL BE rescheduled when everything is up and running again. Until then support these artists in any way that you can. Listen to & share a song with your friends, buy some merch, give them a follow/like on social media, anything !!!
Ryan Cassata| Mae Krell | April Rose Gabrielli | Skylar Kergil
Review courtesy of Cristine Trimarco
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Made Up Lost Time by Kevin Garrett | EP Review
April 29, 2020 Leave a comment
The past few years have been a wild ride for musician Kevin Garrett, from releasing his debut EP “Mellow Drama” in 2015 to GRAMMY nominations, festival performances and shows with acts such as Mumford & Sons and Alessia Cara, and dropping his debut LP “Hoax” last year. Kevin has returned with his newly released sophomore EP, “Made Up Lost Time.”
The opening track “Tell You How I’m Feeling” really shows Kevin’s talent as a vocalist through a soulful performance that provides good melodies in the verses, and the harmonies in the chorus add more to the performance. The vocals really shine on the following track “Keep You Waiting” as well, as they bring a memorable pre-chorus that helps build up the song really well to its chorus.
“Can’t Come Back” is on the much softer side, and the piano fits perfectly on the track. The melodies on here are really good as well and the song makes a great ballad overall. Lead single “Gone Again” is on the more upbeat side, bringing a rhythm as catchy as the melodies, and closing track “Factor In” is also a bit slower and is one of the most memorable and well-written songs the EP has to offer.
“Made Up Lost Time” is a soulful and memorable sophomore EP from Kevin Garrett.
Review courtesy of Megan Langley | Instagram
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Fitz & The Tantrums ft Twin XL | All The Feels Tour 2020
April 11, 2020 Leave a comment
February 12, 2020
Fitz & The Tantrums
Photos courtesy of Angel Haines
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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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