Anti-Flag at Starland Ballroom

Concert look back...

ANTI-FLAG is great live and the kids who came out for their "The Economy Sucks, Let's Party" Tour stop on February 5th at Starland were great too. We know how quick a bad crowd can make a show suck.

Missed CANCER BATS who I saw a couple months ago in Iceland (yea, had to say that) and was bummed. Those guys were live and interesting - harder punk rock.

AIDEN was a weird choice to put on this tour package in my opinion and I feel should not have been the opener right before ANTI-FLAG. But whatever. I didn't know some of the songs and the vocals weren't that friendly on the ears, but it brought me back three years when we saw them frequently on tour.

I joined the photo pit area right as the first song ended and then frontman wiL invited fans to fill up the space between the barrier and stage - where I was. Thanks. haha, so my pictures suck of them.

It wasn't a sold-out show and left a lot of room to move about in the venue, maybe because of the snow we were supposed to get or maybe because the line-up was a tad weak or maybe, it wasn't a great choice to book this venue. Who knows.

I enjoyed ANTI-FLAG's set a lot and my friend liked it, especially when they ended with three Clash covers. They kept playing even as they started taking apart the drum kit, haha.

I hate when Starland isn't relatively full. Not entirely b/c I get silly and start feeling bad for the bands who should be playing to a larger crowd, but just that buzz in the air from a packed house isn't always there.

Well here's my favorite photos I took. Please remember, I'm not a photographer or have like the best camera or photo editing skills, but it's fun to pretend.

Click to view mad crazy big size!



wiL of Aiden
Read the flip side of his guitar...solo project much? Closest I got to him.



Chris #2
This shot is cool to me in the elements in it, but my camera sucks and this was as light as I could get it without loosing a raw, grainy quality.



Justin Sane of Anti-Flag.
The only shot of him that's somewhat decent.



Chris #2 of Anti-Flag
His t-shirt was hole-ly



Zombie of Aiden
Now, this was the theme of the photos I took (my camera is low quality) - RED. Toned it down a bit and I'm so horrible for saying this, but I got this quick flash of those images from Vietnam during the horrors that went on during the war of the way he looks. Yes, I'm completely insane.

AFI at Roseland Ballroom

I don't have 'rockstar' stories to tell - like those epic lucky moments where a fan finds themselves stumbling upon their favorite band and getting to party with them.

However, I do have my 'really? This is so funny! How cool' moments.

And I did last night at the AFI show here in NYC.

So, a few weeks ago, we caught AFI here in Jersey for the first part of their tour, then I miraculously had the chance to interview his high holy, Davey Havok. Next was the NYC show and I got lucky to have a photo pass.

Was late getting there, so we walked in halfway through Gallows' set, so I didn't get to shoot them - kinda bummed about that, but...I was the one who caused us to be late.

So 15mins before AFI was going on stage, I decide to figure out where to go for the photo pit. Apparently the 'pass' I was given wasn't the 'right' one in the eyes of the security people I talked to.

However I was sent one way and told to find the tables. Next thing I know, I'm outside the bands' dressing rooms with some of the members of Gallows right down the short hall from me and a few VIP people chilling.

ummm...to leave or not to leave this area?

I see people cross the curtain to my right that I thought couldn't be crossed. I'm talking to this one security gentleman and he's telling me to go sit, my friends should be over there and who walks by me, but Fuse's own Steven Smith.

By the time I realized it was him...he was gone to friends and my chances of kidnapping him were lost, haha. Since I had no friends in this area and wanted to shoot photos and not be in this special area, I headed back to the floor.

I go to the other side of the place and the two guys didn't believe my 'pass,' but as soon as the one cute one takes me to the stage security guys, they look at my pass and are like 'OK, you're fine, go ahead.' haha, wtf!

First three songs saw from right there with no pushing or crowd surfers, then hung out on the special side platform and then went back to my friends and had fun singing along to the rest of the songs.

Funny too, leaving the magazine with my interview was being handed out - go me!

Best concert experience!

Taking Back Sunday, Anberlin & Envy on the Coast - show review

OK! I saw this show back June 20th. I had hoped these images would go on Shut Up Magazine, but technology hates me and I couldn't upload them.

So I'm putting them here! yay!

Taking Back Sunday & Anberlin live shots from Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA, June 20th.

Show was AMAZING!!!
Read the full recap on ShutUpMagazine.com

Missed most of Envy On The Coast, but the singers came out and sang on the last two TBS songs. EOTC = Really good stuff

Anberlin surprised me. They are really great. First time seeing them, definately not the last.

TBS is my favorite, never have a bad time with them. Plus I got mad close to Matt Rubano. I heart him! I've only met Adam & Fred (well, when he was in it) before, so yay Matt!

I'm not a photographer. But not too bad in my opinion.

Show Review : Greeley Estates

Crocodile Rock Cafe
April 9, 2009



Bands: Greeley Estates, Iwresteledabearonce, Memphis May Fire, Fact

Horrid, intolerable traffic made an hour and fifteen minute drive take close to three and a half hours. Being that we left early to get dinner beforehand, we still got there with time to see another band and the headlliners or so the website said.

We get there and the dude at the door is like - No, FACT's up next.

So all that paranoia that I wouldn't make it to see the band I'm to review was for nothing. But we walk over the 'underground cafe stage' and laugh b/c it's like a hole in the wall, maybe 200 people? Probably less.

There's some hardcore and annoying local band (i'm guessing) playing. Eh. Their friends at the bar were having fun. This was an hour after the show was suppossed to start. I think the promoters added two local bands, which screwed over the rest of the show...

FACT was on at 8pm. They played 4 or 5 songs. They're from Japan! Interesting...it's like they take what the American post-hardcore bands are doing and add hip hop, electro and something of a Japanese sensibility to the music.

It was like Hellogoodbye and a typical hardcore/screamo band. Plus their drummer was so excited and mainly only knew curse words, but was happy nonetheless.

We still didn't understand the line up and figure GREELEY ESTATES is next. I'm like - All the roadies are really cute.

Turns out it's the band MEMPHIS MAY FIRE and they're good, but we left for the set to eat.

Come back and think now it's GREELEY. Nope. Southern looking boys start on stage and we hear screams. Whoa! They have a girl singer/screamer. The band - IWRESTLEDABEARONCE.

Really really impressed and the crowd went insane for them. However, the novelty wore off that it was a girl singer - she's like a combo of the metalcore dudes and Bjork - and then I started thinking whether they're good or not. Pretty good.

Now is it time for GREELEY? It's almost 10:30pm. Yes, that's right...10:30pm is when they took the stage. And apparently Allentown has a curfew - curfew? what the hell is that? I say: kick the minors out and they can play for me and a few of the remaining barflys.

They did like 6 or 7 songs. Throw back to "Y'all with the Vampire Squad"! Very nice. They stuck to the new album, the first being one I didn't recognize at all. It was a good set, but I was pissed as hell they got screwed over and barely had 30mins to play. They were so on point with the music too.

Things that were weird -
-The flyer has IwrestledaBearonce above Greeley...so who was the headliners?
-Did their drummer bulk up and gain a bit of weight and grow his hair? It sorta of looked like him, but now wikipedia says there's another drummer, but I can't confirm anywhere else
-Why does this venue suck?

Come back Greeley boys!

Show Review - Sweet Brag Tour

The Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
March 31, 2009

Bands: Emarosa, Sky Eats Airplane, A Day to Remember, Devil Wears Prada

They started RIGHT on time, so we walked in halfway through the third to last song for EMAROSA. The venue was already packed packed (it was a sold out show), so we headed upstairs. But by the time we sat down, it was time for the last song, "Set It Off like Napalm."

Lead singer, Jonny Craig is incredible. Mind you the music is solid, but it continues on this steady path that especially when you listen to the album, Relativity, it all meshes together and it's his vocals that bring it up and down.

Really need to see them again...

SKY EATS AIRPLANE had a million lights on tour with SENSES FAIL, but did not have them here. HOWEVER...the lead singer (who reminds me on stage of Craig from CHIODOS), did Jane Fonda "run in place" aerobics most of the set.

Is this a new thing? B/c then A DAY TO REMEMBER and a bit of DEVIL WEARS PRADA were doing it, which I hope was to make fun of him and not is a new trendy move.

Their music makes me nervous and annoyed. I didn't like them the first time, but was a little more impressed this time around. Still, nothing different or fabulous, but whatever.

A DAY TO REMEMBER is realy good, different in my book and the hottest thing out at the moment. Honestly, they should have been the headliners.

Most of the balcony flocked to the floor and opened it up like nobody's business. As soon as the the chant for "Downfall of Us All" hit, the kids lost their shit. It was awesome.

The chanted and filled in lyrics and you could see the lead singer was blown away. It's cliche to say, but they sound better live. Really great song choices. They mix like hardcore, punk, pop, rock all in one pot and it's good. Try it, you'll like it.

Plus, they ended their set with confetti showering the crowd below - hot shit!

DEVIL WEARS PRADA had these boxes placed on stage of different heights. The tops were outlined in pink, green and maybe an orange electrical tape and they glowed. That was the most interesting part of their set for me - sorry.

We stayed for three songs and hit the road. If you like them - rock on. I just can't get into them.

Sweet Brag Tour - very sweet.

Saints and Sinners Tour

Show Review
Theater of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA

If you had looked foward to another Saints and Sinners down in Asbury Park around this past Halloween, then you unpleasantly surprised with a "See You in '09" line on the website. Promoters took the line-up package, condensed it to four bands and traveled the county.

It was a little upsetting, but they did provide a pretty ecletic mix of bands and one act is a favorite of mine, so I definately had to be in attendance.

First up - Brokencyde. My sister was stoked and said they are hilarious live. I took a listen on the myspace and was amused, but knew I would only be able to listen to 2 or 3 songs before getting a headache.

We were late, so that's about how many we saw. The guys primarily stayed hidden in the light show they had set-up on stage, but the kids on the floor didn't care as all they wanted to do was dance.

It really felt as though they stole beats from Lil' Jon and were just kicking and screaming with vocals over it. Fun for the first song, annoying for any other ones.

Haste the Day was excellent. They're your typical metal/metalcore band, but who know how to get it done right.

At first, I wasn't too into them and just wanted to see Senses Fail, but the more you listened, the more their talent shone through. Especially when they played tracks off their new album, Dreamer.

I was surprised when the lead singer took a moment to thank God and talked about Jesus for a second and said fans should come over and chat with the band later. Cool.

Finally! It was Senses Fail time. I had been listening to the new album a lot lately and was very excited to see them again since their Fall Headlining tour. But things didn't feel right...

The floor was barely moving. The lead singer was either tipsy or took note of the bland crowd and wasn't as intense as last time I saw them. And again, drunk Jersey trash girls make me sick.

The music was on point. Between Heath, Garrett and Jason Black (Hot Water Music, now joins them live), everything has been sounding just amazing live. But as I said, their singer wasn't as electric as back on the headlining tour and I felt bad when his new love of telling jokes/funny stories really hit a sour note with the crowd.

They played the majority of the new album and a few from the previous albums, but had to overlook the EP as for some reason, THEY were not the headliners of the tour. Whoever did that, was wrong.

So the headliners of the night were Hollywood Undead. I haven't seen them before and have mixed feelings about them. It is a guilty pleasure and the music is catchy, heavy and contain those hip hop elements. However, I get very ultra-feminist when I have to hear guy refer to women as bitches for only so long.

There are six members and there was also an additional drummer on the stage. I will give it to them that the music sounds just as it does on the album, even better maybe, and the energy and crowd response is great for them. The one guy even took a tween boy on his shoulders for the first (or was it second?) song and carried him around on stage.

"Undead" and "California" are favorites of mine so that was cool they played them in the beginning, but it sucked you had to wait till the end for "No. 5," well that's not really a shocker.

Saints and Sinners turned out to be a great tour package. Great bands, with one interesting and unique first act, but the suckiest audience ever.

Was it like that for the majority of the stops? The Hollywood Undead kids took over the population, which is cool, but makes it less entertaining during the metal & post-hardcore acts.

Flogging Molly's 5th Green 17 Tour

February 15th, 2009
Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY

Two hours AFTER doors there was a line halfway down a long avenue outside Hammerstein Ballroom here in NYC. Bottles of every kind of beer also lined the pavement further than the line of people.

For what? To get in to see Flogging Molly on their first stop of the Green 17 Tour. But even two hours after doors was a bit weird to see all these people not yet inside, drinking the venue's beer.

Why the backup? They weren't letting people on the floor anymore - Floor's Filled!

My theory - they weren't looking at tickets and let everyone just go on the floor. Bad ticket people!

So my friend and I, a bit confused, headed to the 2nd balcony and took a seat. MY GOD the floor really was PACKED! While nothing beats the floor, on some level we were happy we were high above.

It was a cool experience because watching exactly what happens down below is fun, eye opening and thrilling.

Dub Trio and The Aggrolites opened the show. We missed Dub Trio, but caught the other act. They're dub, right - ska, punk reggae. Good music, but not what we were in the mood for.

On to the main act...

Flogging Molly was AMAZING. This was the right way to start a tour. They played a bunch of new songs, but I was most excited for those I've already heard live.

With a bird's eye view of the place, it was fun to see the kids running around on the floor and happy, drunken fans doing a jig off in the stairwells.

A typical set list, HOWEVER..."Black Friday Rule"...not to be found.

Maybe they'll include it on warped tour.

Homeless for the Holidays with The Bouncing Souls

Holy cow, you don't need to know a damn song by The Bouncing Souls to enjoy a show of theirs. Not that you shouldn't know their catalog, but I'm just saying.

My friend and I went to the first date of their holidays shows b/c of the openers. The Casualties were going to be there. But....as we got closer to the door, there was a sign saying they would not be playing. Turns out one of them is in the hospital - how horrible! Such a bummer, but everyone's thoughts are with them.

So, we arrived just as LES Stitches were starting their set. Really good. They just have that traditional punk rock n' roll sound and are definately worth checking out for a good time if they're playing your area.

Spansih Bombs filled The Casualties' spot and I guess it was a good choice if you wanted a harder sound. They set felt so short compared to LES Stitches and I think it was a good 15 mins shorter. Most of the crowd was lost on them and I couldn't get into them either.

But it wasn't long before The Souls took the stage, all adorned in their red snowflake sweaters that they're wearing in their myspace default picture. They started with "Here We Go," one of the five songs that I know.

Already we were in business. Everyone around me were having a blast, singing along and dancing whether in the pit or with each other.

They played "Lean on Sheena" towards the end and I couldn't be happier. Call me a dork, but I have my stereotypical favorites.

It was a fun night and I'm sure many of those there were coming back for the remaining two days - the last having Gaslight Anthem open for them.

It was also kind of weird. Asbury Park is undergoing renovation and it's retarded. There's shops opening and things are getting cleaned up and while many would say - isn't that a good thing? - it takes away from everything down there.

Inside the Convention Hall, where they played, they opened these small stupid gift shops and a concession stand and pub. Just last year it was gritty and falling apart and awesome. But it added to the Christmas cheesiness of it all, with the huge tree off to the side.

Next year - 20 years of being together for The Bouncing Souls and they're releasing a new track every month to celebrate. They played new of them at the show and trust me, it'll be like Christmas every month.

Hanson Show Review

Hanson

Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ

11.01.2008

We went all out for the Hanson show! This was my first time seeing them live and I will confess, I got to interview the eldest early in October and my concert buddies had listened in and so it made the evening extra giggle-ly.

We started by joining them on this show's walk at Montclair State. They hold mile walks before their shows to ultimately walk the same distance as it would around the world. They donate a dollar for each walker towards AIDS help in Africa. Gotta love these guys.

It was a fun walk, with each of the brothers walking with the fans and they took a stop halfway to explain again what they are doing and how we can help those who are faced with this disease that can be alleviated by small donations from us.

Once we returned to the start, they brought out the guitar, tamborine and shaker and did an aucoustic performance of "Great Divide." They sounded so great and I was even more excited for later that evening.


There was an opener - Dave Barnes. His drummer was cute. His music was good, but something I rather hear at a bar hanging with friends or out to diner at a nice bbq joint or whatever.

They were running a bit behind schedule, but we were distracted by all the stagehands, techs and all the people that make it happen, running around stage. We were also trying to see if any one of them resmebled the Hanson family b/c suppossedly they go on the road with them.

I can't go blow by blow with this show, b/c as someone who doesn't know any songs besides the new "Great Divide" and the classic "Mmm...Bop," everything meshed together. They bounced back and forth between older tunes and the new stuff - I was however, able to pick out the new tunes from the EP that accompanies their new book.

All in all, a great show! Sorry can't say more, I've waited too long to post this, so let's just get it out there!

Backstreet Boys Show Review

Backstreet Boys!

Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ

10.31.2008 (Halloween!)

This was a last minute concert venture and it turned out the be the best idea ever.

We headed out to the newly restored Wellmont Theatre in Montclair and bought tickets at the door. No extra fees and unfortunately, but fortunately, the place was not sold out. Poor Backstreet Boys.

The venue is small, i would say a tad bigger than the blender theater in Grammercy, and we sat in the balcolny maybe 5 rows up. We had such a great view and I enjoy being able to see a little off to the sides of the stage, the marks on the floor and I thought it was funny how, unlike the stadium venues, the stagehands had to revamp the set-up while the boys were still on the stage.

So, earlier that day, I caught the Angie Martinez Show on Hot97 and that Donnie Klang, solo act of the Making the Band shows, and totally fell in love with this kid. Reason why he was on the show? Well one, he has a new album (um, I'll just listen on myspace), but he was in town and opened for BSB!

We were a little late and walked in on him doing his new single, "Dr. Love." My friends made fun of the title, as they should. He finished up with a slow song and threw roses out to the audience. He's got heart and the girls love him (especially when he removes his shirt, as he did after the set real quick off to the side), but I think it's hard for any R&B solo act to really make it and stand out.

It wasn't an eternity for BSB to take the stage and it was pure awesomeness from the get go. They opened with "Larger Than Life" and for some reason, were in a boxing ring. They even had like boxer's stats on the screen as they came out. So corny, but that was the endearing factor of the show - the guys are not too into themselves to be serious and seemed to just let go and not worry if they were being total goofballs.

They kept the hits coming and I had a smile on my face the whole time. When new tracks from the last album came on that I didn't know, I just looked to my friend and we both shrugged and continued dancing.

BSB's slow songs all have this same melody, but they're substantial in the words (no, seriously, listen a little closer to some) and just pretty. Everyone's vocals were showcased to their full potential.

To cut up the set, each boy did their own solo, basically because they all have or are working on their own records. It just goes to show how the music clearly reflects the personalities of these guys that the media has built for them.

Howie went first - I think he feels people don't know he's Spanish, so he did a mellow track with a salsa backbone and (I think) Carmen Miranda dancing on the screen. It wasn't the greatest.

A.J. was next - He did this "Drive By" song and it was a catchy, fast and over-sexed rock n'roll tune. It was fun and kept my attention more than the others.

Nick was third - Oh, Nick...he did a slower song and was OK. I just feel bad for him b/c I always think he probably felt he was to have the same success that Justin Timberlake did, but it never happened. Poor guy.

Brian was last - I liked his song. He's a Christian rock musician and his song was really sweet and I teared up a little. He's the nicest sounding one of them.

The show as a whole had lots of energy and they mixed things up just a tad and it felt as though I was back in high school. I jumped up and down when "The Call" came on and I got the chills when they played the old videos on the screen during songs like "Quit Playing Games" and "I'll Never Break Your Heart."

Being that it was Halloween, they did "Backstreet's Back" in costumes - it was cheesey, but who cares...it was Backstreet!