Opening up the sold out show at Star Lake in Burgettstown was Grammy award winner Allison Russell. Allison recently released her album “The Returner” which followed her debut solo LP “Outside Child”. Allison’s music has been described as a “soulful declaration of liberation” and I couldn’t agree more. The way she performed on stage felt freeing, not being afraid to be herself. Her sound complements Hozier’s as they both speak from the heart through their music. They show that further through their song “Wildflower and Barley” which was released this year.
Of course it was then time to see who we’ve all been dying to see, making an enchanting entrance Hozier took the stage with “De Selby” before heading into “Jackie and Wilson”. The way Hozier performs is something else, he doesn’t need to have a lot going on stage to keep the crowd engaged. The way he sings takes you to another place, it makes you feel something. That night the crowd was feeling that together. Whether it was singing your heart out to crowd favorites like “Take Me to Church” and “Eat Your Young” or feeling all the emotions when he came into the crowd to sing “Cherry Wine” on an elevated platform before returning to the stage to finish out the night singing “Work Song” with Allison. We’re a little more than halfway through the Unreal Unearth Tour (2024) and I might be biased when I say this but I can’t recommend enough that you go and check out the show for yourself. I highly doubt you’ll regret it. Upcoming Tour Dates: 08/06 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center 08/07 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center 08/09 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Azura Amphitheater 08/10 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center 08/13 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre - St. Louis, MO 08/14 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena 08/16 – Madison, WI @ Breese Stevens Field 08/17 – Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center 08/20 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre 08/21 – Saskatoon, SK @ SaskTel Centre 08/23 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome 08/24 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place 08/27 – Billings, MT @ First Interstate Arena 08/28 – Casper, WY @ Ford Wyoming Center 08/31 – West Valley City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre 09/03 – Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Arena 09/04 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheatre 09/06 – George, WA @ Gorge Amphitheatre 09/07 – Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater 09/09 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center 09/10 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre 09/13 – Tucson, AZ @ Tucson Arena 09/14 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre 09/17 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum 09/18 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum 09/20 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum 09/22 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater 09/24 – San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center 09/26 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center Review/Photo By: Cheyenne Simmons
0 Comments
The 90’s punk icons of Lit garnered a huge crowd during the final night of the annual four day Ribfest event that takes place in the big parking lot of the Fargodome venue in Fargo, ND. The fest features four days of award winning ribs and sides and nights filled with huge bands that bring out large crowds. Ribfest began Wednesday with music from country act Parmalee followed by Diamond Rio on Thursday and the rock band Fuel on Friday before closing out the festival with Lit on Saturday night.
The show was opened by local band FM All Stars who brought up the energy with their upbeat covers of hit songs across many genres. FM All Stars played from 7:15-8:15 as the night crowd rolled into the venue before Lit took the stage around 8:45pm and opened their set with “Kicked Off the Plane” from their seventh and latest studio album, Tastes Like Gold. The setlist featured a handful of newer tracks from their recent release as well as all the hits and throwbacks like “Zip-Lock” and “Miserable” the crowd was eager to hear live! The setlist also featured a cover of “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and “Let’s Go” by The Cars, which they also recorded for their new album. The show ended with their huge 2x platinum hit “My Own Worst Enemy” and the crowd roared with excitement as soon as they heard those first few seconds of the song’s intro. The band allowed me to photograph this last song of the show from the stage so I could really see how much energy the band was putting into their performance as well as the amount of energy the crowd was giving back to the band as they jumped and sang along to the 1999 track. As the song ended, the crowd went wild, I gave the drummer a high-five as I walked off the stage and then the audience slowly started to disperse to get their last rib meal or fair food from one of the stands before Ribfest closed until next June. The show was an energy packed event with great music and fans of all ages enjoying an outdoor concert to kick off their summer. The show absolutely showed that Lit is still rocking out and bringing out big crowds to hear new and old music two decades later. Lit is Kevin Baldes on bass, A. Jay Popoff on lead vocals, Jeremy Popoff on guitar and Taylor Carroll on drums. Watch Lit’s most recent music video featuring Adrian Young of No Doubt here: https://youtu.be/qk2TqHoMvCs Follow along with upcoming releases and tour dates on the band’s social media pages! https://www.litband.com/ https://www.facebook.com/LitLounge/ https://twitter.com/LitBandOfficial https://www.instagram.com/litbandofficial/ https://www.youtube.com/user/LitTV https://www.tiktok.com/@litbandofficial You can check out the band’s recent album here! https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mgr0FFpvy267wKVAYg8qp https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lit/213555 Review/Photo By: Aly Goelzer It was a nice cool evening in Pittsburgh when All Time Low, Mayday Parade and Games We Play rocked Stage AE on Pittsburgh's North Shore. Starting the night was Games We Play, who last year gained a lot of popularity on TikTok after their song “Get A Job” blew up on the platform. They even played here in Pittsburgh at last year's Four Chord Music Festival 8. They opened their set with “Get A Job” and “Deadbeat” before doing a cover of “Mr. Brightside” where their lead singer threw the mic into the crowd and had fans sing along to the cover before successfully catching the mic being thrown back on stage. The set closed out with “Kristina” and “Hey Ben” before playing another one of their TikTok hits “I Hope You’re Happy”.
Mayday Parade, one of my favorites, was up next. Playing a nicely stacked ten song set they opened up with hits “Three Cheers For Five Years” and “Oh Well, Oh Well” before playing their recently released single “Like A Car Crash”. Half way through their set they played a cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” then went straight into “Miserable At Best”. The crowd at a Mayday show is always great, being able to go from calm to crazy in a matter of seconds once the song changes. As soon as they started closing out the set with “Jersey” and “Jamie All Over” the crowd erupted and it was nonstop movement and crowd surfers. I’ve seen Mayday Parade so many times and have never been disappointed by a set they’ve put on and I don’t think I ever will. Then it was time for the band everyone came here to see, All Time Low! Kicking off their set with title track from their most recent album “Tell Me I’m Alive” and an oldy “Break Your Little Heart” before heading into “Modern Love” with a snippet of “Stella” in there. The guys always have so much energy when they’re on stage together and their antics are what make the show great every time, it really feels like a group of friends just hanging out, playing music and being goofballs together and we’re all here for every second of it. The night's setlist really gave a good mix of hits off of a lot of their albums over the years and their newest release. We got crowd favorites like “Somewhere In Neverland”, “PMA”, “Dirty Laundry”, “Therapy”, “Lost In Stereo”, “Time-Bomb”, and “Sleepwalking”. One song that I was sad we didn’t get to hear that I’ve heard at every ATL show I’ve been to was “Backseat Serenade”, which is one of my favorites so I might have been a little bummed. But if they were to play everyone’s favorites all of the time we’d be here for hours watching their set. For the encore the guys came out and played “Weightless” and “Monsters” before closing out the night with their most popular song “Dear Maria, Count Me In”. Overall the show was nothing short of a great time for everyone in attendance and I can’t wait for their next tour! The tour has a few more dates left on this run and I highly recommend going if they’re passing through a city near you or you can catch them on their “The Sound Of Letting Go Tour” with Gym Class Heroes and Grayscale this fall! Upcoming Tour Dates: June 9th - Columbus, OH June 10th - Stroudsburg, PA June 11th - Portland, ME June 14th - Richmond, VA June 16th - Raleigh, NC June 17th - North Myrtle Beach, SC Photo/Review By: Cheyenne Simmons English rock band You Me At Six’s newest album, “Truth Decay,” was released on February 10, 2023. This new record follows 2021’s SUCKAPUNCH. The 13 song record has a run time of 45 minutes and 37 seconds and is full of new music I’m sure you will enjoy!
The band’s eighth album goes through a wide range of emotions that can be fully felt in every aspect of its tracks. It talks about battling with anxiety and mental health and not knowing how to escape your own mind or if it’s okay to talk about it with someone on “Mixed Emotions (I Didn’t Know How To Tell You What I Was Going Through).” The lyrics of “Breakdown,” the album’s eighth track shows this release of emotions when it says, “I’m about to have a fuckin’ breakdown, throw a peace sign on my way out.” The band’s lyricism takes you right into the moments of pain or angst or letting go. The album has special guest features from Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds on “No Future? Yeah Right,” and from previous The Voice contestant Cody Frost on “A Love Letter To Those Who Feel Lost.” View Truth Decay's full track list: DEEP CUTS - Watch the song’s music video here! Mixed Emotions (I Didn’t Know How To Tell You What I Was Going Through) - Watch the song’s music video here! God Bless The 90’s Kids After Love In The After Hours No Future? Yeah Right” (feat. Rou Reynolds) heartLESS Who Needs Revenge When I’ve Got Ellen Rae Breakdown Traumatic Iconic :my dopamine: A Smile To Make You Weak(er) At The Knees Ultraviolence A Love Letter To Those Who Feel Lost (feat. Cody Frost) I beg you to go give this album a full listen through and fully appreciate all it has to offer! I believe that You Me At Six makes some of the best modern rock music in the game and they are definitely being slept on by many people who would enjoy what they put out! (And if you like what you hear, check out some of their old stuff to see how they’ve rocked and evolved over their 19 years as a band! You Me At Six is Josh Franceschi, Max Helyer, Chris Miller, Matt Barnes and Dan Flint. Recommended for fans of: PVRIS, Tonight Alive, Bring Me The Horizon, Boston Manor, The Maine, We Are The Ocean, Mayday Parade, Stand Atlantic. Follow You Me At Six on their social media platforms for updates on their current Truth Decay Tour and information about new music! https://truthdecay.co/ https://www.instagram.com/youmeatsixofficial/ https://www.facebook.com/youmeatsix/ https://twitter.com/youmeatsix https://www.tiktok.com/@youmeatsix You can enjoy music visualizer videos for every song on the album, as well as music videos for certain songs, on their YouTube page! Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify Review By: Aly Goelzer On March 24, 2023, Fall Out Boy delivered what patient fans have long awaited with their first full length album of all new tracks since 2018’s MANIA. “So Much (For) Stardust,” the bands eighth record, brings 13 new tracks to life with an album run time of just over 44 minutes of new songs to scream out and dance to for new and old fans alike. The album was produced by Grammy award winning Neal Avron, who the band has worked with on past albums.
The album opens with the rock power hit “Love From The Other Side” which was the first single released in promotion for the new album two months prior to the album’s release. This track fully announced that Fall Out Boy was back and had never really left. They weren’t straying from their roots and I think even OG Fall Out Boy fans can appreciate this song and the influences throughout the album. Following the opening track is the band’s second single leading up to the album’s release, released a week after the previous single, “Heartbreak Feels So Good,” which leads well into the rock power song filling track three, “Hold Me Like a Grudge.” This track is the latest Fall Out Boy song to get its own music video (Track one and two also have music videos!) which I have linked at the bottom of this review! “Fake Out” brings a little more melody and pop into the classic Fall Out Boy sound with a beautiful chorus sure to get stuck in your head long after your first listen. The track, along with many others on the album, really showcases Patrick Stump’s vocals. The lyrics “Scar-crossed lovers forever. I’m checking myself out forever.” really make track 5, “Heaven, Iowa,” stand out as a powerful song both musically and lyrically. “The Pink Seashell” is the only track on the album that has a featured artist on it. That featured artist being popular actor Ethan Hawke in a snippet from the 1994 film, “Reality Bites.” The track acts as an interlude about half way through the record and is just a few seconds over a minute in length. “I Am My Own Muse” is an absolute head banger and the angsty lyrics and beat make this track one to add to your most powerful playlists. “Baby Annihilation” is another spoken word interlude on the album lasting 1:07 kicking off the last portion of the record. Tracks 11 and 12, The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years) and What A Time To Be Alive are some of my personal favorites from the new record. They have perfect upbeat melodies to bop your head to and lyrics that call you to sing along, even if the lyrics don’t always match the upbeat tune of the track! “Everything is lit except my serotonin.” The record’s title track ends the album with a bang. “So Much (For) Stardust” is the longest song on the album standing at just under five minutes and shows what the record has been all about. “So much for stardust. We thought we had it all.” I recommend you give the new album a front to back listen to fully take in all the record’s themes and to find your new favorite track! The Album’s Full track list is as follows: Love From The Other Side Heartbreak Feels So Good Hold Me Like a Grudge Fake Out Heaven, Iowa So Good Right Now The Pink Seashell (feat. Ethan Hawke) I Am My Own Muse Flu Game Baby Annihilation The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years) What a Time To Be Alive So Much (For) Stardust Watch the music video for Love From The Other Side! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBrkbWSB3Ls Watch the music video for Heartbreak Feels So Good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGvLD7D2Xsg Watch the band’s most recent music video for Hold Me Like A Grudge! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rAQGxRFvN0 In January Fall Out Boy’s co-founder and guitarist Joe Trohman announced he was stepping away from the band for a while to focus on his mental health. Fall Out Boy heads out on a US tour on June 21, 2023 with special guests Bring Me The Horizon, Alkaline Trio, The Academy Is…, Four Year Strong, Royal & The Serpent, Daisy Grenade, CARR, and Games We Play which is followed by a UK/Europe tour with guests PVRIS and nothing,nowhere. Keep up with Fall Out Boy on their social media platforms to see tour dates, updates and news! https://falloutboy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/falloutboy/ https://www.facebook.com/falloutboy https://www.youtube.com/user/falloutboy Review By: Aly Goelzer Colony House is one of those timeless rock bands that everyone loves. At their NYC show at Irving Plaza, the night could not have been better. This tour is kicking off their newest album, “The Cannonballers”, which is an emotional yet uplifting album from start to finish. Their openers on this tour are a band called Little Image. This band has an amazing sound and are definitely going to be making big in the music scene. Most of the audience was singing along to their songs which shows the loyalty of the Colony House fanbase. At one point the lead singer brought out his dad, and then the rest of the band and members of Little Image came on to sing acapella. They finished off after a strong encore with “Cannonaballers” and “You Know It”, two crowd favorites. I couldn’t have asked for a better night as a fan and concert goer.
Review/Photo By: By Tharynn Olson “It’s not always about them loving you back. Sometimes it’s just about them knowing you do.” This quote by Stephen during the concert encapsulates everything he does for his fans. Although he was talking about these lyrics and undoubtedly people in his life, this can also be felt during his concerts. When you are a fan at his show, the entire world feels like it is in that one room. The love, the intensity, the emotion that can be felt through his voice and love for his fans, as well as the fans’ love for him, is so pure.
The opener, Kings Elliot, is such an amazing pairing to add to the beauty of the show. She has such a gorgeous voice and the fans were all sad to see her go by the end of her set. When it came time for Stephen’s set, he played energizing, amazing classics of his, like “Evangeline”, but we also got some gorgeous unreleased songs, one of those being "Stay”. He also got a bit emotional during the not, not only from the love of his fans, but about his own friend’s love. He played a touching cover of “Unchained Melody” and told an enchanting story of his friend who fell in love while listening to this song on a date with her, and Stephen shed some tears at the end. It was all very heartwarming and there were definitely more than a few people tearing up besides Stephen. Overall it was just a lovely, magical evening that I hope all fans of Stephen’s will get to experience during this tour. Review/Photo By: Tharynn Olson “Strawberry Pie” is a pop hit by young artist Arden Alexa that tells the story of a turbulent relationship and breakup and the journey to being okay following it.
The new track is Alexa’s first release of the new year following her 2022 EP “Day Dreams.” Here's what she had to say about the songwriting process: "It wasn’t until four years after meeting my first love that I was actually able to write a song about him. When I sat down to write Strawberry Pie, I knew I wanted the song to recreate all the playful, fun, youth of that relationship while simultaneously conveying the sarcastic hurt following our breakup. Just as this song was a cathartic experience for me to write, I hope listeners can use it as both an ironic “getting over you” song and a freeing, joyful anthem". The artist from San Francisco, CA takes a lot of her inspiration from pop icons like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry and you can definitely hear that inspiration throughout her recent releases. “Strawberry Pie” shows off a more modern side of Alexa while keeping her same fun, sunny personality that you can hear in her older releases. Stream “Strawberry Pie” here! https://hypeddit.com/ardenalexa/strawberrypie Catch up with Arden Alexa online: https://www.ardenalexa.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ardenalexa04/?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk%3D https://www.facebook.com/ardenalexa04/ https://www.tiktok.com/@arden_alexa?lang=en Listen to the song and look out for the music video later on Arden Alexa’s YouTube! The video was made in her backyard with her best friend and gives viewers a vision into Arden’s fantasy world with tea parties, stuffed animals. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOI5RY8qQ6mCnvEgAAqxvIg Review by Alyssa Goelzer Losing Yourself is explored in Fox Revett and Laila Kharouba’s new duet, “I Think I’m Missing.”1/31/2023 The two minute and twenty second collaboration was released on December 16, 2022, after long time friends and pop singer-songwriters Fox Revett and Laila Kharouba worked together to release their first duet, “I Think I’m Missing.”
The pop track explores how we sacrifice our hopes and dreams in the pursuit of what may come easier and how we can feel a loss of self in that journey. The song’s percussive elements take listeners from a dreamy state to a state of confusion in its transition from legato to staccato which represents our inner fights with finding what self is in a world that pulls and distracts us from who we are. The collab is Kharouba’s first release as a solo artist and the song is currently available on all streaming platforms! “Fox played the song for me in the car before the release and it left me speechless. After my break up earlier this year (relationship and band), I totally connect with feeling like I’ve lost myself and my identity. I still feel that way,” says Kharouba. “I jokingly asked Fox if I could write a verse and he was all for it. Fox and I have been making music together since we were 16 year old theatre kids. I'm so excited for this song to be my entrance into music as a solo artist.” Revett is inspired by nature and wildlife and in recording the song, sampled lots of outdoor sounds including the rainstorm that was happening outside and used those sounds to build the instruments for the song. “I Think I’m Missing” was written by Fox Revett, Adrian Morningstar (Birds of Bellwoods), Laila Kharouba (Your Paris), and produced by Fox Revett, with additional production by Adrian Morningstar, mixing by Vic Florencia (Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter), and mastering by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kacey Musgraves). You can check out the song’s music video here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4KDMIGJCas The video was released in November before the collaboration with Laila Kharouba. Check out Fox Revett online: https://www.instagram.com/foxrevettmusic/ https://www.tiktok.com/@foxrevett https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClxL1suqeYBspEFaMXBTlKQ https://soundcloud.com/cameronwalker-3 Check out Laila Kharouba online: https://www.instagram.com/helloitslaila/ https://www.tiktok.com/@helloitslaila https://www.facebook.com/helloitslaila https://twitter.com/helloitslaila https://www.helloitslaila.com/ Review by Alyssa Goelzer Adam Popowitz On January 13th, BANNERS is releasing a new, deeply personal and relatable EP titled “I Wish I Was Flawless, I’m Not.”
BANNERS is award-winning singer-songwriter Michael Nelson and he has a 1.5 billion streams to his name at this point in his career. You may have heard his huge single “Someone To You” which went platinum and gold in multiple countries. His first single went straight to number one on the alternative radio charts in Canada which racked up 10 million Spotify streams nearly overnight! His music has been featured in numerous tv shows and movies such as “America’s Got Talent,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Love Is Blind,” “Beautiful Boy,” and “Love, Simon.” The album is about love and also about celebrating the imperfections that make us interesting in a world obsessed with perfection and trying to appeal to certain standards. The six song EP brings all your emotions to the surface as you relate to the specific lyrics and beautiful inspiring melodies and instrumentals. “I Wish I Was Flawless, I’m Not” is the Liverpool pop artist’s first collection since 2021’s “It’s Gonna Be OK,” which has garnered more than twenty million streams since its September release date last year. Four of the six EP tracks are already available to stream everywhere you listen to music! You can check out “Easy,” “Perfectly Broken,” “Keeps Me Going,” and “Happier” on your preferred music streaming platform now! Watch the music video for “Perfectly Broken” here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=megeCFl4z8c This EP is perfect for fans of artists such as Lewis Capaldi, Dean Lewis, James Arthur, and Kodaline. It’s also perfect for anyone who loves a good pop ballad or who needs a good emotional track to let out some tears. (I recommend “Perfectly Broken” for that!) Fans can hear these tracks live soon! BANNERS is starting the “Perfectly Broken Tour” in the UK during February and March 2023. Connect with BANNERS online! Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bannersmusic Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BANNERSmusic Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BANNERSMUSIC TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@bannersmusic Official Website: http://www.itsbanners.com/ Review By: Alyssa Goelzer “We Only Live Here on This Planet For So Long” The New LP from Too Close For Comfort Streaming Now!12/12/2022 The ten track LP by Too Close For Comfort features eight original tracks and includes a reimagined version of one track and a Lo-Fi Remix of another.
The album kicks off with a pop-punk power track titled “Out of Luck” that sets the tone for the rest of the LP. “Turn Back Time” takes a more acoustic pop punk edge and levels out the albums track list. “Burn Bright (feat. Joey Fleming)” is another stand out track on the album that is worth adding to your latest playlist! You can watch the music video and see the lyrics for “Burn Bright” here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8vX1RaeGmE A personal favorite track of mine is the last song on the LP, “You’re Home Now.” It ties the lyrics and melodies of the album together in a beautiful way. When talking about their new album Too Close For Comfort said, “We Only Live Here on This Planet for So Long” is a album about making the most of the time that you have on this planet. We truly believe that everyone has felt like quitting their job at some point, or losing friends, or even getting older and feeling like you’re running out of time. That’s why this record is so good, it’s relatable from the first song to the last song no matter who you are. We are so incredibly proud of this record and of the hard work that we’ve put into it. We hope that everyone will give us a chance and will enjoy the album.” Too Close For Comfort’s music is great for fans of bands like Ego Trip, Misplaced, Eat Your Heart Out, Carousel Kings, Unturned, Goalkeeper, Chief State, Young Culture, and any fans of pop punk hits! The band from Nevada includes members Tyler Pfeifer on lead vocals, Ryan Gilpin on lead guitar and back up vocals, Jimmy Cooper on bass, and Evan Dini on drums! The album features catchy pop choruses and punk vocals and instrumentals and is available to stream everywhere now! Stream “We Only Live Here on This Planet For So Long” here! https://toocloseforcomfort.streamlink.to/hW7i?fbclid=PAAaYUVzcwOB7klGAQGSpb1_EBz5QmZ1ZIudpjuMyOdrycF91qR1u2UU_Q0Yw Watch the music video for “Burn Bright” (feat. Joey Fleming) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8vX1RaeGmE Connect with Too Close For Comfort here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocloseforcomfortnv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TCFC_band Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toocloseforcomfortnv Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toocloseforcomfort Review By: Alyssa Goelzer "The Aces (previously The Blue Aces) are an indie pop band from the US and consists of four members. Katie Henderson on guitar, McKenna Petty on bass and sisters Alisa Ramiez on drums and Cristal Ramirez on vocals and guitar. Tonight they traveled all the way to Scotland to support The Vamps on tour but didn't show any signs of fatigue or jet lag as they took to the stage at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
Their opening song was electric and it didn't stop there as they played their full set. My favourite song from the night was definitely "My Phone Is Trying To Kill Me", the performance put on by the girls during this song was top form and created an unforgettable night. No sign of stage fright in sight as they played to thousands of fans who seemed to enjoy every moment that they were on stage (the OVO Hydro is the largest indoor venue in Scotland, holding 14 thousand people roughly). They continue around the UK so if you can, I would recommend checking them out before they jet back across the pond home. Review/Photo By: Tyler Sams You might have heard of these guys before, Parliamo are an underground pop group from Perth in Scotland and have risen to heights and are gaining increasing popularity. They even ventured across the pond to play in Texas at SXSW. Those who were lucky enough to grab a ticket from the sold out gig on Friday were able to see them playing at the Oran Mor in Glasgow. Despite it being a smaller venue than the stage at TRNSMT last Summer, they still played an amazing set.
They opened with "Red Letter", "Life on the TV" and "Catholic Guilt" which were all well received by the crowd who were being held back by the barriers at the front. I think if they weren't there, the crowd would have been up on that stage too judging by their enthusiasm. It all really kicked off when they played "All Dolled Up" (which is a personal favourite of mine), and it felt like the energy doubled. The room was packed and everyone was having the best of nights, can't beat a Friday night listening to one of your favourite bands. Their banter was on top form on the night as they were able to fill silences between songs with witty commentary that didn't dampen the night (even if the rain was trying to do so outside). If you missed them, they are on stage again in December at the 02 Academy, supporting The View! Review/Photo By: Tyler Sams Billy Idol will certainly be missed by his Vegas fans now that his short residency at The Chelsea has ended. When someone like Idol comes to town it isn’t really a moment you want to miss. He is one of the great’s. One that everyone aged 18 to 80 knows, and to be able to experience that live now, after we thought his most iconic performances had ended, is a pleasure. This particular set started with everyone’s favorite “Dancing With Myself” and while amazing it created a nostalgic feel in the room. We were all getting prepared for the night ahead. He played some new music too, like “Cage”, which we were lucky to hear and amazed me with how personal he got with the audience. It was such a surreal experience getting to be so close to such an icon. This is a night I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I could tell it will be the same for a lot of people who were at shows tonight. There were some people who had seen him live when they were all young, and young people like me who had wished we were alive to experience it then and feel so lucky we get to experience it now.
Review/Photo By: Tharynn Olsonf In the last show of their tour, Bad Suns went out with a bang. First let me mention the band’s two amazing openers, Quarters Of Change and Last Dinosaurs. I love finding new music through openers and they definitely gained a new fan with me. Now back to Bad Suns, in the cozy venue of 24 Oxford, there’s no better way to feel like a family with your fans than in this venue. It was completely packed in the standing room from door to door. The crowd was singing along just as loud as the band and everyone was letting loose, dancing, and being free. At one point, lead singer, Christo Bowman, had enough trust in his fans to have them hold him up while he stood on their hands and they supported his legs. It was honestly a special moment that showed the connection this band has with their listeners. Make sure to look out for their next tour. You really won’t want to miss it.
Photo & Review by: Tharynn Olson “I have never been to a show like this.” A phrase I heard many times throughout the night, and definitely said myself by the end. At this sold out show in Las Vegas, the dedicated fans were definitely ready for the insane night ahead. The crowd was intense from the start, in the best way possible of course. Photographing the first three songs was like being in a mosh because so many people were crowd surfing to the front and security was pulling them into the pit. Turnstile is one of those bands that was made to perform. It’s clear to see in the way they move. While the crowd was insane during favorites like “Blackout”, there were also some really beautiful moments where we all just watched in awe, specifically with “Underwater Boi”. I had an amazing time. It was the most high adrenaline show I’ve ever attended. It made me so excited and I can’t wait until I get to see them again.
Photo & Review By: Tharynn Olson With a #1 hit in the country, the “Bad Habit” singer/producer, Steve Lacy, came and completely bodied The Filmore stage. The Detroit venue was sold out and had a long line of people wrapped around the building, waiting to hear the popular artist. Center stage stood a large reflective Gemini symbol as the crowd waited in anticipation. The show started with singer, Foushee, who was also featured on Steve’s new sophomore album, Gemini Rights. She displayed so much range vocally and within her music genres as well. From singing upbeat pop-rock songs to singing soulful melodies, Foushee put on a great opening performance, nearly shattering the glass in the building with her voice.
After some time from Foushee’s set, it was time for Steve to perform. His set was amazing from start to finish. Starting with a few songs from Gemini Rights, Steve came out singing “Buttons” wearing a replica of his outfit from the “Mercury” music video. His voice and guitar playing was so raw as he ripped through the crowd with every note he sang and played. After playing a few songs from his newest album, he began playing songs from his debut album, Apollo XXI. The crowd sang every last word. Even when he played songs from his sophomore album, It seemed as if the crowd knew every lyric to all the songs he played, and their voices radiated throughout the venue along with his. Overall, this was one of the best performances I’ve seen in awhile. The energy and vibes was at an all time high and both acts put on one hell of a show for fans to never forget. Photo & Review by: William Smith We Three are a three siblings who recently starred on America's got talent (season 13) and reached the semi-finals, you might recognize them more from TikTok where several of their songs gained popularity. Joshua, Beth and Manny Humlie make up the band and must have such a close relationship to be able to do what they do, I couldn't do that with my siblings, we would fight too much.
They kicked off their UK/European tour named "Happy", in Glasgow. More specifically, at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, where (in my opinion) all the best music can be found. If you weren't there on time, you would have to fight your way through the crowds to find a good spot because the venue was packed to the roof, they even opened the back seating area which is normally closed off. It was obvious that the band had many fans in Glasgow that night as it was a sold out show. They started the show to cheers from fans and played "Bad Guy" followed by "FTJ" and "Night Light". Listening to the pop sound that was created by the band made it easy to see how they were so popular and able to do so well in AGT. The vocals by Manny (lead singer/guitar) and Beth (bass) worked so well together and Joshua (drums) pitching in now and then too just made the whole thing come together. It was impossible to not to have a smile on your face that night, with the energy that was going through the venue. Not all of their songs were joyous though, this did have some tear jerking and heartfelt songs such as "Heaven's Not Too Far" and "Sara". The band continues to tour Europe and is then hitting Australia so if you're around then why not pop down to listen to some incredible music. Review/Photo By: Tyler Sams Luxrem’s new captivating single “Aura” is available now. Sitting at 4 minutes and 27 seconds “Aura” welds heavy emotions through pained lyrics like, “The cruel sun is mocking me Hide your head Darkness is sanctuary You can no longer bear the light” and “Such alluring suffering”
With a sweet mixture of clean and hard vocals this song is a must listen for all fans of new rock and metal. When describing their new single on their website the band says that "an 'Aura' is a pre-migraine condition involving blurred vision with a crescent shaped, kaleidoscope edge. Once the 'Aura’ ends, an onslaught of migrant symptoms begin.” You can really see this visual played out through the track’s official music video. Luxrem identifies their sound as “a blend of progressive rock and experimental metal” The bands current lineup includes Jonathan Sookdew Sing on vocals, Marcus Noga on guitar, Gabriel Cuevas on guitar, Ed Escalante on drums and Peter Alvarez on the bass. “Aura” is a great listen for fans of bands like Vola, Periphery, TesseracT, Caligula’s Horse, and Erra. If you like this track and want more Luxrem you can listen to the band’s 7-track debut album “Dreamwalker” that was released in 2020 or their other recent release “Mobius” featuring Javier Amador. Listen to “Aura” on your preferred streaming service here! https://link.luxremofficial.com/Aura Check out the official music video for “Aura” here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsTbOWlNCcg&t=1s Visit their official website to learn more about Luxrem: https://luxremofficial.com/?playlist=1766af7&video=eccd66d Check out Luxrem’s socials for upcoming music and tour news: Bandcamp- https://luxrem.bandcamp.com/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LuxremOfficial Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/luxremofficial/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/LuxremOfficial And you can pre-save an upcoming track of theirs called “Delta” here! https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/luxrem/delta Review by: Aly Goelzer Dorothy made her way to the Bloomington Illinois' legendary Castle Theater on September 25th. Fans bared the brisk weather and lined up outside The Castle a good 2 hours in advanced to get a good view of Dorothy. Opening for Dorothy was Cole Hollow. Cole Hollow is a rock trio based near Bloomington out of Peoria Il. Founded in 2017, the trio pack a mighty punch with heavy riffs and a classic rock sound. Vocals and lead Guitar are front by Austin Smith, with Zach Crall on drums and Jason Williams on bass. The trio did a great job getting the crowd warmed up for Dorothy with a 8 song set list. They finished off their set with a head banger of a song "Who Killed John Henry" which features tasty riffs from Austin and heavy bass lines from Jason. Finally, Dorothy made her way to the stage. Dorothy did not hesitate to starting the night off strong and started her set "Down to the Bottom." I would classify Dorothy a pure rock band with a sprinkle of grunge and punk. I would put Dorothy Martin right at the top with other female fronted rock bands like The Pretty Reckless and Halestorm, with her wide array vocal range. One of my favorite songs from her performance at The Castle Theater was "Rest in Piece" off her latest album "Gifts From The Holy Ghost." Dorothy has said, “‘RIP’ is about breaking free from oppression, burying demons, and reclaiming sovereignty and power,” and you can hear it in her powerful, soul-full voice wear she bares all her emotion and wide vocal range. Catch Dorothy on Dirty Honey's upcoming California Dreamin tour! https://www.ticketmaster.com/dorothy-tickets/artist/710903 Photos and Review By: Connor Hannan The artist known as Devon toured the UK with many intimate gigs on his " What's the FOD?" tour. He came to a small local venue in Glasgow for a night and performed his heart out for a small crowd of fans that showed up. Packed into the venue underneath a bridge (made it feel quite unique and hidden), awaiting the arrival of the artist on stage.
Devon made it out onto the stage and I think everyone stepped a little closer in anticipation of hearing him play. He was accompanied by a bass player and a set of drums but also played his own guitar and sang - a very talented guy. The energy in the room was electric and the indie rock sound echoed throughout the venue. It was obvious that he enjoys what he is doing because it felt like he put his all into performing tonight. He still has dates across the UK left so if you have a chance to see Devon perform, grab a ticket. Review/Photos By: Tyler Sams Click below to view some of the images captured from Alice In Chains, Breaking Benjamin and Bush's American 2022 Tour!
Photos By: Connor Hannan The Cincinnati crowd was treated to a real ethereal and cathartic experience last week at the Andrew J Brady Music Center. Wild rapper Rico Nasty brought some real raw
energy to the crowd, while songstress Kehlani brought some smooth and rhythmic vibes to the stage. The show started with singer, DESTIN CONRAD, who brought out some soothing nostalgic vibes, doing a cover of one of Aaliyah’s hit songs “One In A Million”. After his set wrapped, it was time for Rico’s set. As soon as she came out, the crowd went crazy. Red and pink lights illuminated the stage as she performed songs “Blow Me” and “Money” but when she performed the hit Doja Cat song “Tia and Tamera” featuring herself, the crowd went even crazier as excited screams filled the venue. After the electrifying opening set from Rico, it was time for the headlining act, Kehlani. Blue lights beamed and showered over the Cincinnati stage as the singer slowly walked out into the spotlight. The fans went wild and were just in complete awe of her as the songstress looked like a goddess looking out into the crowd and began to sing “little story”. Her voice just radiated through the fans, sounding exactly the actual track. Even when she danced and sang at the same time, her voice didn’t crack once. All in all, everyone brought out such a pure vibe for the Cincinnati crowd and put on a sick show. Review & Photo By: William Smith A powerful rock and metal lineup takes the stages of Fargo Brewing Co. on a hot Sunday afternoon in Fargo, North Dakota.
Rock the Rails is a new rock music festival that has taken place at Fargo Brewing Company the last two years. The 2021 festival featured bands like Beartooth, Wage War, Stitched Up Heart, and Throw the Fight performing on the outdoor stage in the venue’s parking lot, and local bands playing sets in between the outdoor stage’s shows inside the Hall at Fargo Brewing! This year the festival featured the bands Void of Vision, Hollow Front, We Came As Romans, and the headliner, August Burns Red, performing on the outdoor stage. Rotating sets with the outdoor performances, the bands Ashfall, Vessels, Trance Monolith, and These Hearts (who were playing a special reunion show to a crowd of ecstatic fans who had been missing the band’s live shows!) played on the packed Hall stage inside the venue! Fans were able to make it to every set indoor and outdoor due to the revolving set times and venue’s easily accessible entrance. The all-ages show went from 4pm until 10pm with the Ashfall, Void of Vision, Vessels, Hollow Front, and Trance Monolith playing half hour sets and These Hearts and We Came As Roman playing 45 minute long sets. August Burns Red took the stage right before the sun began to set and played an hour and a half set to close out the night. The Sunday show also featured local beers on tap from the brewery and local food options available for purchase like wood fired pizza and hot dogs that fans took advantage of during the busy evening of metal music. This show was a part of August Burns Red’s Through the Thorns Tour that started on July 15th in Harrisburg, PA and will be coming to an end on August 27th in Long Island, NY. Make sure to catch them along with Void of Vision, Hollow Front, and We Came As Romans on the remaining tour dates! You can check out the music of all the featured bands on all streaming platforms and follow along with what’s new and upcoming on their social media pages! Void of Vision: @voidofvision Hollow Front: @hollowfront We Came As Romans:@wecameasromans August Burns Red: @augustburnsred Vessels: @vessels.fargo Trance Monolith: @trancemonolithband Photo & Review By: Alyssa Goelzer Summer Nights at King Tuts brings us music fans seven weeks of nonstop music to give us our fill. Post pandemic sees things just getting back to normal and I think that 27 nights of music helps to make up for missing a lot of it. Since being founded in 2011, the programme has been giving new and upcoming Scottish artists a place to debut, to play in a venue that has hosted many famous artists and feel the atmosphere. I love this event because there are so many different sounds being played in the heart of Glasgow, where music is part of the city.
BOOTlace was headlining tonight's event and from the packed venue I think that a lot of fans were looking forward to seeing them. This Edinburgh based Scottish indie rock band will definitely be one to watch because the set that they just performed was one that I will remember for days and weeks to come. Their sound was fresh and the vocals definitely incorporated the Scottish accent, something that you don't hear very often but when you do, you remember it. Not to mention that they seemed like really down to earth people, stopping after a song to sing happy birthday to a fan and giving a special shoutout to another fan who had flown in to see them! This aspect just makes some shows that bit more special. I am glad that I went to see them tonight in one of my favourite venues in Glasgow. If you haven't headed down for the Summer Night gigs yet, I would recommend you do before it ends. You will hear some talented fresh artists, before they go and make themselves big names, and reserve the bragging rights of knowing them before they were famous. Photo & Review: Tyler Sams |