Alesana & Motionless in White and some other band...Plus Interview Link

February 5, 2011
Starland Ballroom

So Escape the Fate did a headlining tour. Who cares - Alesana and Motionless in White opened!

I made it there JUST in time to see Motionless, however, I had problems getting in, but just as well - what else is new? Haha, so I made it inside to see two songs of theirs. Yay!

They've become a band I use to joke about because their look was so strong, so Hot Topic-core/goth, to a band that's something more. So kudos! I mean, I like the music, the stage show is very interesting and intense, so I'm happy they've been touring so much - though I've been missing the majority of the area shows.

I haven't missed Alesana though. Saw them a bit ago on the Two Frail Weeks of Vanity and Wax, where they were retiring their album of relatively the same name. So I was little upset this time around when none of those songs made it in the setlist - but I was warned!

Decent show overall. I was all the way in the back, so the sound was a little funky because the back bar has a little overhang and the sound echoes weird. But they did songs off The Emptiness basically and it was all dramatic and I love love love "The Thespian."

At least they come dressed to impressed - nice shirts, ties, slacks or jeans and well the drummer had shorts, so casual dressy basically. Love it.

Check out the interview I did with singer Shawn Milke from Alesana HERE

In This Moment @ Santos Party House

Do I even have to explain how I adore In This Moment?

OK, so I'm behind on listening to their new album, but great sound, meaningful lyrics and a front woman who is girly as anything, but still can kick your ass.

We rushed over to Santos Party House down town somewhere, haha, and according the online set times, were only going to catch like ten minutes of ITM.

Nope! Something went wrong with scheduling and stages, so...my friend (who I dragged to this and probably hated me after) and I walked in an opener, but ITM was next. Interesting old school metal - don't know the opener's name.

It was just this perfect scene: you walk in from the cold hallway and are hit with the smell of weed and alcohol lingering above the packed floor of fans head to toe in black attire. The lights create a haze above the drunk floor and ITM sets up shop with a microphone stand covered in skulls that stands on a raised platform for singer Maria Brink to stand upon.

The sound overall was a bit scratchy to hear, but it was full speed ahead once started with new material at the ready. They pulled out "Forever" and "Beautiful Tragedy" and I was happy. Am really stoked to get the new album - sounds a lot harder than their previous - sucked I couldn't get to the merch stands to pick it up.

I promised my friend to leave early, but next thing, there were two songs left and I said, let's hear what the last will be. Well, it was 'THE' song I wanted to hear and we stayed. "Daddy's Falling Angel"

Senses Fail

BTW - Senses Fail's new album The Fire really has grown on me and no doubt - they're best album musically. Really great, go give it a listen.

Electric Factory
Philadelphia
November 27, 2010


OMG! I couldn't go to their show the night before Thanksgiving at Starland, so I figured I would try to get in to the Philly show.

The damn show sold out and I took the chance that my request went through for tickets being I didn't get confirmation (but I was pretty confident it was all good). But we make the trip and firgured if we couldn't get into that show, we would go across town and see Foxxy Shazam!

So it was a win-win situation if you ask me.

But...I walk up, give my ID and low and behold - two tickets are mine!

I made the mistake of not asking for set times, b/c my friend and I got stuck watching ALL the bands on the bill. Late show.

Balance and Composure was good, but I really wish I could have done without Title Fight and then Bayside. I was never into Bayside - even with a Weezer cover, meh.

Senses Fail was amazing. It's been awhile and I was loving all the older songs i.e. those off Let It Enfold You. I haven't listened to that album in forever. And they mainly stuck with older tunes, only a couple off the new album. They did do "Lifeboats" - my favorite.

The music sounded perfect and their singer was insane - drunk? who cares - Stellar performance, running around, doing acrobats and improvising when microphone dropped and seeing if he could sing in a handstand.

Left before the last song - don't know what that was or if there was an encore. But I was happy.

AP Tour 2010 Fall

AP Tour at Starland Ballroom!
November 26, 2010

Good show, good music, just goodness.

Polar Bear Club - Just another band I've heard so many good things about, but never checked out. They do live up to the hype and was completely into their set.

Emarosa - We all know my Emarosa/Jonny Craig's voice obsession, so they do no wrong. Except playing only like 5 songs! What the hell? They did play the last song off the new album and of course "Set It Off Like Napalm," but I'm still mad at whoever gave them a short amount of time to play.

August Burns Red - I saw these guys ages ago and remembered they were good. But dude. This confirmed their live performances are great. Band members working the stage, a frontman who connected so well with the crowd and then stellar guitarwork. But the strobe lights gave my sister and I headaches.

So we left before Bring Me the Horizon, though we weren't going to stay anyways, but I heard the crowd went bananas for these guys.

Good job AP Tour organizers - I thought the line-up was pretty damn nice.


If you're bored, check out my interview with JB of August Burns Red HERE

Alesana

I missed them at Warped Tour this year! But...got to stalk them when they played at School of Rock. woo!

They played mainly the older stuff. So being lazy, I'm not going to go and look to see if they were touring only on older material. But I know I'm right and they did just release a new album like earlier this year.

Ok, anyways.

I was happy because I knew most of the songs and it was the same ol'show I expected and find entertaining. Frontman Dennis rolling around, screaming his head off and the crowd loving it. Then singer Shawn singing like a diva. And we can't forget typical faux-core/screamo stage moves with pre-crabcore unison dancing. I guess that's a good way of saying it.

But I will give it to them that the music sounded just as it does on their records (or they were pulling an Ashley Simpson) and the response from the crowd was just love.

However! "Seduction" was not played - unacceptable.

Fun times and I didn't steal their drummer, so I am free to attend future shows.

What's this? They're touring in the early Spring with Motionless in White? Count me in!

Flogging Molly = Love

This past Monday we went to see Flogging Molly at my favorite venue, Starland Ballroom

River City Extension was playing as we got in and I'm considering them like The Decemberists only more punk rock. Lots of instruments, fun, folky and easy to get into.

Turns out my friend knows the one band member and asked me to go to their CD release party in Asbury Park earlier in the day. Who knew I was going to see them that day?

Big D and the Kids Table were also up before Flogging Molly. Of course I knew who they were, but had never really bothered to get into them. They showed me I suck at life. Awewsome as hell.

90s ska still proving to be relevant and just as killer as when it first was huge. You could tell the new stuff from the old (he said what was what), a little harder/darker maybe describes the newer material.

Fun times, expecially watching the street punks dance around. Skinny boys in studded vests and jackets are love (and most were of age - they would find liquid refreshments in the bar area! that's how i know)

FLOGGING MOLLY!

Yea, I saw them at Warped Tour, but this trumps Warped Tour like whoa.

They played on and on and everything was a song near and dear to my heart. I'm not too into their new album, Float, but can't win them all.

The crowd was just bananas the whole time and while you could see a bit of boredom/anticipation during slower songs, they needed them to rest and reflect.

What was really something was how the band interacted with each other and the crowd - being so genuine is rare these days. Singer Dave King, when he wasn't making mention of his wife and bandmate Bridget, pointed out the young fire fighter in the crowd who apparently stalks the band when they play, haha.

We left before the encore, but a Monday night is hard when work has to come the next day. Such a great show though - the crowd was on point, the openers were stupid awesome and Flogging Molly is always professional and just plain good.

Plus we kept noticing the trend of red socks. Can you see them on guitarist/banjo-ist/multi-instrumentalist Bob Smith? Was there a reason I didn't know?

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.