Citizen Soldier Feat. Icon For Hire & Halocene | Thank You For Hating Me US Tour | 10/6/24 | The Observatory Orange County | Photos + Review

October 14, 2024 Leave a comment

Step into the world of group therapy, where music becomes the vessel to help you connect with your pain and emerge stronger together. Citizen Soldier orchestrates this transformative experience through their concerts, providing a safe haven to unleash emotions, find solace, and revel in the moment. During their Thank You For Hating Me Tour, they united with one of my beloved bands, Icon For Hire, and Halocene, to curate an unforgettable night brimming with raw emotions and breakthrough moments that will leave you feeling truly alive.

Halocene, an extraordinary band hailing from Phoenix, AZ, set the stage on fire as the opening act. They launched their performance with the electrifying “Just Won’t Die”, a mesmerizing fusion of progressive metalcore, pop punk, and synth-infused radio rock. Despite guitarist and co-vocalist Bradley Amick being under the weather and unable to perform, vocalist Addie Amick delivered a breathtaking performance, effortlessly taking charge of both vocal parts. The live lineup, featuring guitarist Ben McSherry and drummer Quinton Kufahl, exuded undeniable energy. With a repertoire of 7 songs, including captivating covers of “Unholy” by Sam Smith and “The Kill” by Thirty Seconds To Mars, the band left the audience spellbound. Their invigorating performance was an unforgettable start to the show, and I am eagerly anticipating the chance to capture their magnetic presence once again on their future tour.

SETLIST

  1. Just Won’t Die
  2. When Demons Come To Life
  3. Repent
  4. Unholy (Sam Smith cover)
  5. This Is Our War
  6. The Kill (Thirty Seconds To Mars cover)
  7. Maleficent

Up next, we were treated to the exceptional talents of Decatur, Illinois’ own Icon For Hire. This marked my seventh time catching the band live in the last decade, with the initial experience dating back to the 2014 Warped Tour. I cannot emphasize enough the profound impact their music has had on me.. The experience kicked off with the electrifying “Gatekeepers” from their latest album, The Reckoning. Vocalist Ariel Bloomer’s commanding presence immediately took center stage. They seamlessly transitioned into “Get Well” from their debut album “Scripted”, with guitarist Shawn Jump anchoring the band with a powerful, infectious groove. Icon For Hire’s music is an eclectic fusion, seamlessly blending alternative metal with elements of electronica, hip-hop, post-hardcore, and EDM. Their music spans across all the genres that hold a special place in my heart, and witnessing their ongoing sonic and visual evolution has been nothing short of breathtaking. They have never been afraid to be outspoken about mental health through their music, which is something I wholeheartedly commend and love. The band delivered an enthralling performance of 11 songs, showcasing the depth and breadth of their discography. I was particularly elated to see them play songs like “Venom” and “Ready For Combat” from their more recent releases. Without a doubt, Icon For Hire has solidified their status as THAT BAND.

SETLIST

  1. Gatekeepers
  2. Get Well
  3. Pulse
  4. Off With Her Head
  5. Last One Standing
  6. Iodine
  7. The Grey
  8. Bleed It Out (Linkin Park Cover)
  9. Venom
  10. Ready For Combat
  11. Make A Move

Citizen Soldier from Salt Lake City, UT delivered a powerful performance, taking the stage with their emotionally charged set opener “Save Your Story.” The band’s roots go back to 2016 when vocalist Jake Segura wrote the poignant lyrics to “Let It Burn” during a stay in a mental hospital. Now, as a practicing clinical therapist, Segura uses his emotionally intense lyrics to create a safe space for exploring feelings in a group therapy setting. Their sound is rich and multifaceted, combining a hard rock edge with heartfelt ballads. The band’s lineup includes vocalist Jake Segura, guitarists Matt Duffney and Kooper Hanosky, bassist and keyboardist Wonitta, and drummer Kyle Persell. Citizen Soldier pulled out all the stops for this tour, featuring an elaborate light show and a powerful sound that fully immersed the audience in emotion. Their 16-song set even included guest appearances from Addie of Halocine on “Wish I Could Cry” and Ariel of Icon For Hire on “Victim or Survivor.” Despite not being familiar with Citizen Soldier before the show, I was completely captivated by their performance. The tour, which also featured Icon For Hire and Halocene, felt like a deeply cathartic group therapy session.

SETLIST

  1. Save Your Story
  2. Face To Face
  3. Everybody Hates You
  4. Strong For Somebody Else
  5. Where Were You
  6. My Own Miracle
  7. You Are Enough
  8. Tattoos
  9. Wish I Could Cry (Feat. Addie Amick)
  10. Dead-End Life
  11. Wired For Worthless
  12. Victim or Survivor (Feat. Ariel Bloomer)
  13. Burden
  14. Afterlife
  15. Would Anyone Care (ENCORE)
  16. Thank You For Hating Me (ENCORE)

Citizen Solider | Icon For Hire | Halocene

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

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Leprous Featuring Earthside & Fight The Fight | Melodies of Atonement North American Tour | 9/27/24 | House of Blues, Anaheim, CA | Photos + Review

October 3, 2024 Leave a comment

I recently stumbled upon the mesmerizing sounds of Leprous and was captivated by their extensive discography, especially their latest album “Melodies of Atonement.” When I found out about their North American tour, I knew I couldn’t miss the chance to witness their brilliance live. Due to a medical emergency, Monuments was unable to perform on the tour as initially planned. However, Earthside and the electrifying Fight The Fight performed as opening acts, promising an unforgettable evening.

Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Fight The Fight set the stage on fire with their performance of “Serpent of the Sand.” Bathed in striking red and blue lights, they delivered an intense 30-minute set, showcasing nine songs, including tracks from their new album “Shah Of Time.” Their fusion of groove-heavy influences and a perfect blend of melody and heaviness left a lasting impression. With a stellar lineup of vocalist Fredrik Teig Bergstrom, drummer Sander Lambrechts, guitarists Tord Larsen and Tobias Rekke, and bassist Hans-Magnus E. Hermansen, Fight The Fight’s performance was an exhilarating mix of diverse sounds that left me craving for more!

SETLIST

  1. Serpent of the Sand
  2. Ascent
  3. Monarch
  4. Shining
  5. Heart of Stone
  6. A.I.
  7. Alien
  8. 12800
  9. In Memory

Earthside from New Haven, Connecticut was the next band to hit the stage. The band can be best described as cinematic progressive metal. This four-piece is quite unique as it is an instrumental quartet consisting of guitarist Jamie van Dyck, keyboardist Frank Sacramone, bassist Ryan Griffin, and drummer Ben Shanbrom. The band opened with their song “We Who Lament,” for which they recently released a video. Throughout the set, vocals from the featured vocalists on the album echoed through the backing tracks, adding a full-rounded sound to songs such as “We Who Lament” and “Let The Truth Speak.” The lighting during their set was dynamic, with lots of moody backlighting to enhance the atmosphere. The band played a total of five songs, most of which came from their newest album “Let The Truth Speak,” released in 2023 via Mascot Label Group and Music Theories Recordings. It was really cool to finally see Earthside live, especially since I’ve been online friends with Jamie for quite some time. They were truly incredible and really moved me.

SETLIST

  1. We Who Lament
  2. Pattern of Rebirth
  3. Watching the Earth Sink
  4. Let The Truth Speak
  5. The Closest I’ve Become

The all-mighty Leprous from Notodden, Norway hit the stage next. The band put on an amazing hour and 40-minute show with a fantastic light display. They started with the opening track “Silently Walking Alone” from their new album “Melodies of Atonement”, showcasing Einar Solberg’s incredible vocal range. Throughout the set, they performed a total of 15 songs. The band’s lineup includes guitarists Tor Oddmund Suhrke and Robin Ognedal, bassist Simen Børven, drummer Baard Kolstad, and keyboardist Harrison White. During the song “Faceless”, they invited local fans onto the stage to sing with them as their choir, which was a really cool moment. They closed with my personal favorite song “Atonement” and then came back for an encore, letting the fans choose between three songs. The crowd chose “Illuminate”, which was an amazing way to end the show. It was an incredible performance that left me speechless. They prepared an amazing tour, and with Earthside and Fight The Fight alongside them, they brought a progressive metal show that was to die for.

SETLIST

  1. Silently Walking Alone
  2. The Price
  3. Mirage
  4. I Hear The Sirens
  5. Like A Sunken Ship
  6. Slave
  7. Distant Bells
  8. Unfree My Soul
  9. Below
  10. Faceless
  11. Castaway Angels
  12. From The Flame
  13. Atonement
  14. The Sky Is Red (Outro)
  15. Illuminate (ENCORE)

Leprous | Earthside | Fight The Fight

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

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Signs of the Swarm Featuring Cane Hill, Ov Sulfur, 156/Silence, A Wake In Providence | Decade of the Swarm | 9/14/24 | Chain Reaction, Anaheim, CA | Photos

September 25, 2024 Leave a comment

A Wake In Providence

156/Silence

Ov Sulfur

Cane Hill

Signs of the Swarm

Signs of the Swarm | Cane Hill | Ov Sulfur | 156/Silence | A Wake In Providence

Photos courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | X

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Incubus w/ special guest Coheed and Cambria | PHOTOS & REVIEW

September 18, 2024 Leave a comment

September 6, 2024 | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

What a way to start a show with the Hardrock Legends, Coheed and Cambria. They begin the night with their album title song, “ In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3,” to get the crowd in the mood for what is to come and I can say personally, it was the best way to kick it off, Claudio never disappoints with his energy. 

It was a beautiful, cool Friday night at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, in Irving Texas. Coheed and Cambria played all their hits ranging from. “ Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood and Burial)”, “A Favor House Atlantic,” too, “A Disappearing Act,” “Shoulders,” and “The Liars Club,” from their 2022 album, Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind. 

It wouldn’t be a Coheed and Cambria show if they didn’t end it with their most popular track, “Welcome Home,” from their 2005 album Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Vol. 1 – From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. Wow, what a mouthful! It was a great way to end their set cause it get the crowd pumped for the headliners… Incubus.

The stage has been set, lights have been cut and the sounds from the first song “Nice to know you,” kicks on and you can just feel that it was going to be some Morning Views indeed.

The energy the band put on the entire night of the set was just calming, relaxing, putting you in a state of pure bliss. Playing the album in its entirety was phenomenal, the crowd was grooving along with the band playing the songs, “Wish you were here,” “Just a phase,” “11 am,” and then the acoustic version of, “Blood on the Ground.’ Just beautiful.

As the night progressed it just got better and better, Brandon singing his heart and soul out with such passion shows how much he loves this music so much, Nicole Row playing an incredible bass line with such accuracy you just had to see it to believe it. Just wow! Mike with the iconic guitar riffs and a surprise at the end that I will fill you in on in just a bit. Gavin with such technical sounds from his turntable brought so much to the band. Last but not least, we cannot forget about Jose Pasillas and his cool smooth drum technique, one more time WOW!!

Incubus was nearing the end of the album Morning Views, with their songs, “Have you Ever,” “Are you in,” but then they mixed in Phil Colins popular song, “In The Air Tonight,” which brought the crowd alive once again, but it didn’t stop there, just for a little bit of a kick they played a Rhianna cover!!! It was awesome to see them play, “Umbrella”

Aqueous Transmisson, which got you locked in on Mike playing the Chinese instrument the Pipa and it was everything just everything. Such a beautiful song you can listen to it so many times that you will never tire of it, ever. As the album came to a close they stayed on stage and gave the crowd what they wanted, the hits from all the albums, from “Anna Molly,” “Karma,” Pardon Me,” too, “The Warmth,” “Vitamin,” “Dig,” and the classic, “Drive.” What a way to end the night Incubus giving it all and playing their hearts, it was a great evening, with some Morning Views.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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Boyz II Men at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

August 8, 2024 Leave a comment

St. Louis | August 3, 2024

Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Rajchart

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Summer Slaughter Tour 2024, Featuring Veil of Maya, Brand of Sacrifice, Gideon, Left To Suffer, Ten56, Tallah, Cabal, Brat, & Filth | 7/31/24 | The Regent Theater, Los Angeles, CA

August 7, 2024 Leave a comment

Filth

BRAT

Cabal

Tallah

Ten56

Left To Suffer

Gideon

Brand of Sacrifice

Veil Of Maya

Veil Of Maya | Brand Of Sacrifice | Gideon | Left To Suffer | Ten56 | Tallah | Cabal | BRAT | Filth

Photos courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | X

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Northlane with Invent Animate, Thornhill, and Windwaker | Mirror’s Edge North American Tour | 7/26/24 | House of Blues in Anaheim, CA

August 2, 2024 Leave a comment

Windwaker

Thornhill

Invent, Animate

Northlane

Northlane | Invent Animate | Thornhill | Windwaker

Photos courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | X

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Imminence From Sweden With Love Tour @ The Studio At The Factory | Photos+Review

April 30, 2024 Leave a comment

Dallas, TX | April 23rd, 2024

As the first stop of The Black Tour for Imminence, from across the pond in the beautiful country of Sweden, they played The Studio at the Factory in Dallas Texas. I’m still in awe of how amazing, beautiful, ear soothing, and incredible this band is. It was just one hit after another, this band will grab you from start to finish.

It’s a challenge to put the show into words, they played these songs with so much passion that it was so hard to just look away, even for a second. Eddie Berg came in hot with the harsh vocal screams and soft soothing vocals with the second song, Paralyzed from their album Turn the light on. Harald Barrett and Alex Arnoldsson played their hearts out along side Peter Hanström, and Christian Höijer.

They worked this crowd so well that each person was locked in. Eddie can sing his soul out, but when he picked up that violin it was a whole different world we were immersed in. The bands songs that are well known are: Erase, Death by a thousand cuts, infectious and the debut of their new song Continuum. Holy hell the violin played a big role, it brought such beauty. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better they give you more and more.

As they were nearing the end of the set, Imminence played the title track from the album Heaven in Hiding, and the new title track from their new album The Black. I’ve started showing people this band cause I want to share everything that makes up Imminence with people and don’t feel my description does it justice. Closing out the night with, Le Nior from Sweden with love.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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Legend, Eric Johnson plays Dallas, TX @ House of Blues

April 18, 2024 Leave a comment

April 4th, 2024

Wow! Simply wow! I have seen some amazing guitarist but never something like this in my life. Hearing Eric’s music on streaming doesn’t do it justice, just wait until you see it live.

As soon as Eric hit the stage the entire venue was locked on from the first second to the last, those first notes he played was nothing short of phenomenal. When he started the song Righteous it was magic all the way through. Other songs he played included Trail of Tears, Rafael, as well as a cover of Caravan by Duke Ellington. You had to see it to believe it. I was so into it that I took a moment to shut my eyes and went on that journey with the whole venue that night. 

When he played Desert Rose… man let me tell you I found myself again eyes closed, swaying to the sounds of the drums and the guitar riffs that I didn’t want it to end. It’s a incredible song. I was listening to it like on repeat on my way home that night. When Eric took a break, his pianist Sean took the reins for a bit and it was beautiful just beautiful.

As the night was coming to a close, Eric gave the crowd an Eric Johnson guitar solo in an amazing fashion that I wish I could see and hear it again. During his solo he transitioned to one of his most popular songs, the song that got me into his music as a young kid playing Guitar Hero 3 on Xbox: Cliffs of Dover.

He makes it look so simple, but in reality it’s not, for some of us who have tried to master it on Guitar Hero. Hysterical attempts to say the least. Hearing it live was just a whole groove session, a beautiful ride all the way to the last strum of that guitar.

Eric Johnson y’all, a great show, an amazing guitarist, truly a master of his craft and still rocking it to this day.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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Oneus 2024 2nd World Tour La Dolce Vita in USA

April 17, 2024 Leave a comment

Date: March 28, 2024 | Venue: The Louisville Palace Theater Louisville, KY

ONEUS 2024 2nd World Tour La Dolce Vita in USA | Fandom Name: TOMOON

ONEUS Members:  Seoho 서호 or Lee Seoho (이서호), Leedo 이도 or Kim Gunhak (김건학), Keonhee 건희 or Lee Keonhee (이건희), Hwanwoong 환웅 or Yeo Hwanwoong (여환웅), and Xion 시온 or Son Dongju (손동주).

   안녕하세요 TOMOON!

                                                                                                                  annyonghaseyo

                                                  Hello TOMOON!

ONEUS (원어스)  debuted under RBW Entertainment on January 9, 2019, with a mini album “LIGHT US” and their title track, “Valkyrie.” ONEUS is a five-member group consisting of Seoho, Leedo, Keonhee, Hwanwoong, and Xion. Former member, Ravn, who originally debuted with the members as a six-member group, departed from ONEUS in October 2022. The group’s name, “ONEUS,” has two meanings – the first meaning is the members came together by gathering strength from every one of their fans. The second meaning symbolizes ONEUS’ mission to bring together regular people, who will work side-by-side to create a united world. The group’s fandom name, “TO MOON,” represents ONEUS’ fans as the “Moon,” who always orbit ONEUS, as the group represents the “Earth.” In addition, the group’s name, “ONEUS,” can be spelled as “One Earth” in Korean.

Milestones that ONEUS achieved in the past includes winning their first-ever music show win on MBC M’s Show Champion in 2021, for their lead single, “Luna,” which is off of the group’s 6th Mini Album, Blood Moon. In 2022, ONEUS joined the K-Pop competition series and reality survival show called, Road to Kingdom  – where already debuted male K-Pop groups competed to see who could be placed at the top, as well as gain eyes from a massive global audience in the process. This television program aired on Mnet to let lesser-known groups be seen by a global audience, as well as showcase each group’s charms, skills, talents, and overall potential of making it on the global stage. Out of the seven groups that competed, ONEUS finished in 4th place overall and has gained a bigger fan base because of the show’s program. The members also got a chance to release their digital single, “Come Back Home,” during the show’s airing.

The talented and underrated K-Pop group, ONEUS, took the stage at the historical Louisville Palace Theater in Louisville, Kentucky for their 2nd World Tour La Dolce Vita in USA. ONEUS opened with “Baila Conmigo” from the EP La Dolce Vita in 2023.

They played a few songs before they took a small break and talked with TOMOON introducing themselves, talking about food and what animals they are, and talking about how long it had been since the last time they came to Louisville. TOMOON was high energy and excited to see them again and packed the theater. TOMOON showed up for this show. They slowed things down so they could take a small breather from all the dancing for a few songs to make it more of an intimate show while singing to the hearts of their TOMOONS. There was a moment near the end of the show when one of the members saw a TOMOON in front eating their popcorn and was in shock that they were just unbothered while watching the show or when they took a small break on stage and Keonhee was showing everyone what he saw and he took the box of popcorn on stage to see if it was a real box of popcorn and it was funny and a cute moment. While they were saying their goodbyes one of the members said “Louisville is the best” in Korean and the translator had to question it like did he say that? He had to explain that it also had a different meaning and was a good moment where everyone laughed.

As for the lighting for the show, it was vibrant with all of their songs and each song for the LED BG effects was the MV’s for a visual. One of the songs LED BG had Traditional Korean Hanok or Palace to show us Korea. I can agree that Korea has a special place in my heart in history, architecture, food, shopping, and most importantly music.

Keep up with ONEUS on socials: Instagram | Youtube | Fanclub | Facebook

Thank you to Livenation, ONEUS, The Louisville Palace Theater, and RBW Entertainment for having us at The Camera Affect and In The Moment Productions for a great show. Please enjoy the moments we caught. We appreciate your continued support.

다음 공연 때 만나요, 안녕! 

daeum gongyon ttae mannayo annyong!

See you at the next show, bye!

Photos + Review by Chyenne Conner | Photography

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