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

​As part of Glasgow's Summer Nights of Music, The Jesus and Mary Chain graced the Kelvingrove Bandstand with their presence. There were 14 nights of music at the bandstand and this was the second last night of running events. Here in Glasgow we have had unusually warm weather but no one was complaining, it makes a change from the rain we usually get. It meant that it was set to be a lovely evening with music, drink, food and good weather. 

The band is a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in East Kilbride in 1983 so I can bet that it is nostalgic to be playing so close to their hometown.
There was no shortage of fans in attendance tonight, the seats around the bandstand were packed to the brim, with more people standing in the background, the aisles and even at the front near the stage. They opened with Amputation then Between Planets and followed with I Love Rock and Roll. 

It was an amazing set with music that rang through the park, it could be heard from the greens surrounding the bandstand and plenty of fans who couldn't attend were listening while sitting on picnic blankets or walking by. 
Finishing their set with Darklands which is the title of one of their albums and also a song featured on it. I think almost everyone went home humming, singing or listening to the songs again in the car, just reliving some of the moments of tonight. I know I did.

Photo & Review by: Tyler Sams

Hearing the whole crowd singing so loud it overpowers the band, but also feeling like the only person in the audience. This is what it feels like to be at an arena in the pit of a Lumineers’ concert. Everyone has heard of The Lumineers. Even if you’re not a die hard fan you’ve at least gotten one of their songs stuck in your head from the radio and not been mad about it. If you aren’t an everyday fan already, you definitely will be after you experience their live show. It’s intense and all encompassing. It’s beautiful and energetic and a live music experience no one will forget in their lifetime. When you get a moment where you remember you’re in that huge crowd, you just take a minute to spin around, full circle and see all the people there having the night of their lives just as much as you are. Please go catch one of their tour dates before it’s over and I promise you won’t regret it.

Photo & Review by: ​Tharynn Hook

As part of King Tut's seven weeks of Summer Nights, I caught Echo Machine playing on the 23rd of July. They had some great supporting acts such as The Abstract Dancers and Dillon Squire, both of which gave great performances and the crowd was cheering and ready for the main act to come out. 

They opened with Less Alone, and then followed with Universal Background Music and other great hits by them. They threw in some new songs as well that hadn't been heard before. There were folks jumping and drinking and just having fun and enjoying the music of the night. 

There are loads of acts still lined up in the next few weeks at King Tut's so if you fancy some good music and something to drink then get yourself over here. 

​Photo & Review By: Tyler Sams

Dillon Squire was one of the supporting acts for Echo Machine last night at King Tut's, they have a very rock sound and supportive fans who were jumping along with their music. Their half an hour set didn't feel like it was long enough as they played song after song without pause. They seemed like a band that could be going places and definitely one to watch out for. 

Photo & Review by: Tyler Sams

Sleeping With Sirens made their to Chicago’s famous House of Blues on July 14th, 2022. The CTRL + ALT + DEL Tour featured a full line up with openers: Garzi, Point North, and Don Broco. It was a packed house from front to back and bottom to top.


There was no shortage of energy for all the openers. Garzi got the night started with his alt-rock influence that the crowd vibed with from beginning to end. One of his most energetic performances came from “Sick of Me” that even featured Travis Barker on its release. Point North was up next and kept the crowd going with their pop-punk feel. One of my favorites from their set was “Into The Dark” which even features Sleeping With Siren's Kellin Quinn. Don Broco was up next who had the crowd JUMPING for the majority of their set. Each song packed a powerful punch with heavy drops and amazing vocals from Rob Damiani, who’s drip was unmatched.

Sleeping With Sirens stepped up to the stage and was greeted with a huge uproar from the crowd. Complete with crowd surfers and pits, there was no shortage of energy from the crowd. SWS started the night off with “Break Me Down” of their latest album “How It Feels To Be Lost.” One of the most memorable songs I feel of the night was their cover of Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” which delivered soft yet powerful vocals from Kellin. They also live debut their single "Crosses” which released only a few weeks ago. SWS then closed the night off with one of their most popular songs “If You Can’t Hang.” Even without lead guitarist Jack Fowler, who recently left the band to pursue other ventures, SWS didn’t skip a beat.

Review & Photo by: Connor Hannan

The Australian pop rock group known as, Lime Cordiale, embarked on a nine date USA tour, with their stop in Chicago, being their first time ever in the Windy City. 
Wednesday, July 13th, at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, a group of about 50 people arrived early and anxiously waited at the venue's bar before doors even opened to rush in and get the best spot in the venue since the concert was sold out. Tommy Newport opened up the night, with his dreamy pop/alternative music. Movie Screen and American Scam were songs that stood out. Despite his songs on record being produced to sound a bit more electronic, his music translated extremely well in a live setting.

Finally, it was time for Lime Cordiale, that consists of brothers Louis and Oli Leimbach as well as touring members; Felix Bornholdt, James Jennings, and Nicholas Polovineo, to join in on the fun. They walked out, greeted the crowd, greeted each other, and got down to it. Being an Australian act in a big city, brought out the fans from their home country living in the US. The Liembach brothers told the crowd that despite having a German last name, and living in Australia, they also happened to have an American passport due to having an American father, which led them to their song Ticks Me Off. They played an extensive 14 song set which included Hanging Upside Down, Money, and Robbery.
Playing to 500 people on their first time in Chicago, shows just how great and charismatic this band truly is, definitely worth your time and money for when they announce another North American tour and let's hope they just continue getting bigger and bigger. A Lime Cordiale concert is truly an experience like no other.

Review/Photo By: Heriberto Gallegos

​Walker Hayes hit the stage at the Red River Valley Fair in West Fargo, North Dakota on Sunday, July 10, 2022, and was immediately greeted by a hyped up crowd who waited out in the heat to enjoy the show. Hayes opened up the show with his songs “Drinking Songs”, “Country Stuff” and “Beautiful.”

He told personal stories in-between many of the songs he performed which really connected the fans to the tracks and their meanings before they got to hear them live and sing along. The fan interactions and intimate song stories really made this show and artist one to watch. The setlist featured songs from all across Hayes’ last couple albums and had deep cuts for the die hard fans as well as the recognizable hits for new fans.

Hayes really drove home his amazing relationships with his wife and kids not only through sharing stories on stage, but also through the way he ran to the side of the stage to give his wife a kiss mid-set and by calling a portion of the show the “Laney section” because he was about to play his wives’ favorite songs of his. Hayes and his wife have six kids together who all watched the show from the side of the stage and who were seen tossing around a rainbow football backstage before the start of the show - A football that would later be thrown into the crowd after the lyrics, “Her favorite season is football,” were sang.

The show ended with the big hits “AA” and the ever-so-catchy “Fancy Like.” The crowd sang out all the lyrics to these songs and many fans popped up their phones to capture a video to remember the moment. To end the final chorus of the song and the show, all six of Walker Hayes’ kids ran out onto the stage to do the viral TikTok dance moves to “Fancy Like.” This show wasn’t a part of a particular tour but you can catch Walker Hayes on his social medias for show updates and check out his new song “Y’all Life” out this Friday, July 15, 2022!

Review/Photo By: Aly Goelzer

Chase Rice played to a full crowd on June 23, in Fargo, North Dakota. He made sure to thank the crowd for coming out multiple times and told the story about the last time that he played a show in Fargo it was to a room of about 15 people so he let the fans know how grateful he is for them listening and getting out to the show!

The show started with opener Brianna Helbling who belted out some of her new original songs as well as many covers of popular country and pop hits. Half way through her set the intense heat and sun of the day got the better of Helbling and she needed to have her friend and fellow country music artist Zach Thomas sub in for a couple songs before bringing her energy back to the crowd.


Alexandra Kay took the stage next with beautiful ballads like “How Do We Go” and “I Kinda Don’t” and even a cover of Tim McGraw’s “Don’t Take the Girl,” which is the song that got her career going due to a cover she posted on TikTok that Tim duetted on the app. Her genuine talent and kindness shined through in her performance and she got the fans in the perfect mood for the headliner.

Chase Rice was greeted by cheers as he started his set with his song “American Nights.” He sang all of his radio hits and fan favorite tracks and even talked about his career as a songwriter before having his own voice on the radio - leading into him singing the 11x platinum single he wrote, “Cruise,” which we know best sung by country duo Florida Georgia Line. Rice also sang his version of “Ride,” a song originally sung by R&B singer SoMo, which Rice recorded as a bonus track on his album back in 2014. 

Rice ended his set with the party song “Drinkin’ Beer. Talking’ God. Amen.” The crowd was super fired up as Chase Rice and his bandmates took out a full cooler and threw out free beers to lucky fans in the crowd. 

Fans can check out an upcoming Chase Rice show throughout the summer and fall all across the country!

Photo & Review By: Aly Goelzer

​Turnover created a perfect show at the intimate venue of 24 Oxford in Las Vegas. Contrary to what you might imagine when picturing a Vegas concert, big and intense, Turnover pleased everyone by having a personal show that almost made us in the audience feel like we were at a garage band, projector sheet and all, show discovering the next big thing. They were there with us watching the opening band, Healing Potpourri, and they were still with us when they came on stage and included us in a breathtaking performance. The audience were all big fans of Turnover, it was clear to tell as they were leaning over the barricade and singing their lungs out with the band. I’ve never been to a show in this city that felt like I was the only one in the audience, but also feeling part of a community where only we know of the experience we’re all having that night. This was the last show of Turnover’s tour, sadly, and I’m looking forward to the next one.

Photo By: Tharynn Hook

Stand Atlantic kicked off their packed F.E.A.R. tour back on May 6, in Ventura, California and hit 31 different cities before they landed in St. Paul, Minnesota at Amsterdam Bar and Hall on June 21, 2022 for their second to last date of the tour. 

They brought along fellow Australian band With Confidence to open the tour for them. With Confidence and Stand Atlantic started out in the same Sydney, Australia music scene so them getting to tour together really brings things full circle!

The rockers in Census opened the show with tons of energy and hits like “Ruin My Life” and “Hydrangea”. They were followed by No Love For The Middle Child who switched up the vibe as an individual who is classically trained cellist, plays seven instruments and has an undeniable stage presence. He played multiple instruments in his opening set and even made cameos during both With Confidence and Stand Atlantic’s sets! If you haven’t listened to these bands yet I would highly recommend you look them up!

With Confidence took to the stage next and brought the emotions out of their fans who sang along and even cried during many of their songs. They played a 12 track setlist starting with “Keeper” and “Moving Boxes” and ending with their big hit “Voldemort.” They also played their track “London Lights” for the first and last time on the tour specifically because the members of Stand Atlantic had been requesting them to play it all tour long.

Stand Atlantic brought out all their fan favorites as well as many new tracks from their recent “f.e.a.r” album that came out on May 6, the same day the tour started. They played a full set with 19 tracks including, “Lavender Bones”, “deathwish,” and “Hate Me (Sometimes).” They also pulled out both of their ballads for an acoustic moment with “Toothpick” and “Drink to Drown.” For the encore, lead singer Bonnie Fraser was surprised when opening band Census returned to the stage to play the final tracks on stage with her during their last night along on the tour and was even more surprised when nearly every band member from the whole lineup hit the already crowded stage to goof around during the final song, “molotov [OK].”

You could really tell that they were all good friends and gearing up for the end of the tour when the band members and crew from all the bands started pulling pranks on each other, like removing parts of the drum kit while the drummer was mid-song, and coming out to pretend tune their tour mate’s guitars while they were playing and even subbing in different members to finish out songs. The energy and deep relationships we could see on stage made for such a great night of live music in Minnesota.

While the U.S. tour has ended, Australian fans can check them out on their Australian leg of the tour until July 10th. And for U.S. fans who missed them this time around, they will be coming back soon on tour with I Prevail, Pierce The Veil and Fit for a King from October 24 to November 22.

​Photo & Review By: Aly Goelzer

​The colossal tour package that is Undeath, Frozen Soul, Bodysnatcher, Chelsea Grin, and Dying Fetus all in one night, made a pit stop at Concord Music Hall in Chicago. Undeath, from Rochester, New York opened up the night with a crushing energy, despite it only being 6:30pm, a large crowd had already gathered and was more than eager to start a mosh pit or two for the opening act. The band took a moment to pay tribute to the late Trevor Strnad, vocalist of The Black Dahlia Murder, stating that their first tour was with them and Trevor and the rest of the band really took them under their wing and were grateful to have crossed paths with them. 

Dallas, TX locals, Frozen Soul, took to the stage next. Starting off by giving the crowd a great sound check, then showering them with soap bubbles. The blue lighted concert room suddenly turned into a gym room, when vocalist, Chad Green, asked the crowd to drop and give him 20 push ups, giving them the nickname Frozen Swole. Florida based band, Bodysnatcher, was up next. Despite being labeled as deathcore, their sound seems to stray closer to that of modern hardcore. Bodysnatcher had the most aggressive pits of the night, not necessarily violent, but the crowd that comes from the hardcore scene was definitely enjoying themselves. 

Chelsea Grin, direct support for Dying Fetus came out with a heavy hitting set. They played a career spanning set showcasing how many of their songs are instant classics. By the end of their set, they had the whole crowd jumping and moshing around, really intense stuff from a really intense band. Death metal legends, Dying Fetus, sound bigger and fuller than any ordinary 3 piece band. Seeing that Frozen Soul had gotten the crowd to do push ups, they themselves wanted to see if they could pull off the first human centipede mosh pit, but due to the crowd being shy of putting their faces right on the behinds of strangers, they settled for what seemed to be a death metal conga line. Despite 4 bands playing before them, the crowd still found energy to run around and scream along to the lyrics. 

Five incredible bands in one bill is a real treat for those of you that get the chance to catch this tour. Each band there has enough of a following and talent to headline their own tour. Getting them all in one package, is a real metalhead's dream.

Review/Photo By: Heriberto Gallegos

So, this was the first concert I photographed in Las Vegas. It was different from being a concert photographer in New York from the very start. The venue was huge and the lighting was excellent, which made the artists look even better. The security and staff were really kind and the crowd was terrific from the start. The people seemed to be there for 99 Neighbors just as much as they were there for Rainbow Kitten Surprise. As a recent fan of 99, I was so excited to finally see them live, and I got to be in the pit for a lot of the performance. Being so close, really feeling the music, being able to capture that, made me feel alive. After leaving the pit, I was off to the side of the stage where I was able to see the beautiful crowd and really see how great this was for everyone. There were so many loud, crazy moments, so it was intense to see the crowd go completely silent as Aidan sang solo. To close out this performance they performed one of their more known songs, “Fuck No”, and that really got the energy up. I was soaking it all in and trying to experience every last moment, and the experience was made even better by everyone singing along with me. When it was time for Rainbow Kitten Surprise, I was blown away. I honestly hadn’t heard of them before tonight, and what a performance I walked into. The passion was clear as they played and the crowd was so loud behind me that I could barely hear security telling us our time in the pit was up, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was an amazing night that I can only hope everyone will get to experience some time. 

Photo and review by: ​Tharynn Hook

​Friday 3rd June will play host to some of the nation’s much loved and established live acts alongside some of the hottest bands to emerge over the last year. The additions include indie stalwarts THE KOOKS, Liverpool’s THE MYSTERINES whose debut album ‘Reeling’ went top 10 in the UK album charts this week, Yorkshire breakout band THE REYTONS and festival favourites BLACK HONEY.
 
Already a legendary live performer, Gerry Cinnamon’s gigs have become folklore – joyous mass fan singalongs inspiring devotion and a dedicated following that has swelled, via word-of-mouth, to epic proportions. The show in Nottingham will be one of only a handful of shows his fans will be able to see him outdoors in the UK in Summer of 2022
 
THE KOOKS
After a worldwide arena tour, the release of their 2018 UK Top Ten album ‘Let’s Go Sunshine’ saw the British indie-pop band topping the bill at festivals across Europe and at home. The streaming boom had opened up The Kooks to a new audience of young fans who loved their distinctive brand of indie pop and were itching to see them play live. Recently wrapping up their 15th anniversary tour in the UK, The Kooks announced their long awaited sixth studio album, ‘10 TRACKS TO ECHO IN THE DARK’, set to be released on July 22nd.
 
THE REYTONS
The Reytons need little introduction – you’ll hear them coming a mile off. After collecting over half a million Spotify streams across their three EPs, their debut album “The Kids Off The Estate” debuted No 11 on the UK Official Charts. With the same cheeky everyman charm as fellow Sheffielders the Arctic Monkeys, it’s not surprising the band are on a rapid ascent to the top of their game.
 
THE MYSTERINES
The Mysterines are a true force to be reckoned within UK rock. Barely out of their teens, they completely sold out both their 2020 and 2021 headline tours and were selected as one of Amazon Music UK’s Ones To Watch 2022. Their debut album “Reeling” has debuted at no.9 in the UK album chart. Grief, self-destruction and heartache run heavy through the record, but all are brought together by the blackest of humour. 
 
BLACK HONEY
A truly original band they have always been, their latest album ‘Written & Directed’ saw Black Honey graduate from the intriguingly anomalous newcomers to becoming one of UK indie’s most singular outfits.  They've travelled the world, graced the cover of the NME and become the faces and soundtrack of Roberto Cavalli's Milan Fashion Week show; and can smash a festival stage, all without compromising a shred of the wild, wicked vision they first set out with.


DYLAN JOHN THOMAS
Named Scotland’s breakout star of 2022, indie pop Dylan John Thomas has had a non-stop ascent so far since the release of his self titled debut EP last October. Mentored by Gerry Cinnamon, he has supported the likes of Sam Fender and Liam Gallagher who personally invited him to open one of his Arena shows. Believed to be Scotland’s next biggest singer-songwriter, Dylan John Thomas is one to watch.
 
ZUZU
Zuzu is the definition of a millennial artist; a visibly confident front person, songwriter, producer, director, actor and comic book illustrator
 
DAISY BRAIN
Daisy Brain is the alias of Will Tse, a songwriter & producer from London. He writes and produces from his Hackney bedroom, combining a love of Britpop and Grunge with an emo melodic streak and lyrics rooted in his Gen-Z experiences. Combining the guitar-led arrangements of alt heroes like Blur and Sonic Youth with the earnest songwriting touch of Elliot Smith, Phoebe Bridgers and Matty Healy. 
 
MICHAEL ALDAG
Breakthrough singer, songwriter and TikTok star Michael Aldag is an artist, who as quoted by The Line of Best Fit, “is channelling the trials and tribulations of youth into his experimental, anthemic pop.” His deeply relatable and honest lyrics, which are often described as ‘soundtracks to life,’ has seen his singles ‘Ghosted’ and ‘LOML’ both land feature plays on BBC Radio 1’s Molly King’s ‘Best New Pop’ show respectively and Sunday Brunch name him as ‘One to Watch for 2022.’
 
EWAN MAINWOOD
London born singer songwriter Ewan has been honing his craft around the country and is currently supporting Tom Walker on tour.
 
Meadowlands, the new event series from live promoters FKP Scorpio, will feature a variety of music acts across multiple stages with its sights set on becoming one of the biggest music events to ever take place in the city.

Written by: Tyler Sams 

Stepping into the most beautiful music venue I’ve ever been to was a great start to the night. At Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, with a capacity of 3,000, I was awed to see it completely filled. As I stood in GA waiting to get into the pit I was surrounded by fans who clearly adore this band. They were talking about the member's stage placement so they could get the best place to stand, saying which songs they were most excited to hear live, and how this would be the best night of their lives. While in the pit, waiting for the show, I couldn't stop watching the fans and the venue. Both were so beautiful and just added to the energy of the room. When Big Thief did come on, the set was slow to start and everyone was holding their breaths just watching and supporting and wanting to catch every moment. Through my lens, it was even more beautiful. Taking photos of this band truly felt like art and at some points, I had to just stop and watch and listen, and I knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime performance I got to witness. After the first three songs, I got to go to my seat, where of course we didn't actually sit. The band had such a range of get-out-of-your-seat-and-dance and try-not-to-cry-because-this-is-so-beautiful songs that worked so well together. The energy was never lost and the fans were always captivated. When the band ‘left’ at the end, the cheer for them before they came back for the real finale was loud and never wavering. It was a beautiful night in a beautiful venue with a beautiful band, and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect night.

By: Tharynn Hook

Tonight saw the long awaited return to U.K. soil for New York rockers State Champs. Straight off the back of their brand new album ‘Kings of the New Age’ dropping they took to the stage a little after 9pm. The audience was in full attendance with high adrenaline present from the get go keeping the energy on a consistent high. 

Appearing on stage to the title track of the new album ‘Here to Stay’ the band can be seen matching the crowd's energy toe for toe. Frontman DiScanio can be seen bouncing about the stage from the get go, his energy levels can only be described as infectious. As the setlist progressed into ‘Eventually’ and setlist staple ‘Frozen’ the energy seemed to kick up a notch: if that was even possible!

As crowd surfers flew over the front row the show spurred on! The show offered Champs the perfect opportunity to play their new material how it was written: and it went down a treat. 

The setlist was the perfect mix of old and new with something for everybody present within the 19 song setlist. Setlist staples such as Frozen, Criminal and Secrets saw that the whole room was singing in unison and the energy never ceased. 

Having seen State Champs previously I was intrigued to see how their performance would level up; they did not disappoint! The new album is a certified banger and is definitely one for the replay in your Spotify/Apple music queue! 

Catch them at a show near you soon, you won’t regret it! 

​

Popular West Coast rapper, Amine, shut the House of Blues down in Cleveland with a wildly explosive performance the other night. The show began with the rapper on a tall LED wall performing "Mad Funny Freestyle". Right off the bat, the crowd went crazy jumping up and down. The photo pit had felt like a wavy riptide as the people jumped and shouted the lyrics to the song. 

As the rapper began performing his song "Shimmy"  from his album, Limbo, the crowd shouted every lyric the rapper said in unison and the vibes he put out into the crowd were explosive. However, when he played his song "Ratchet Saturn Girl", the crowd went even crazier and jumped wildly as he performed the energetic rap portion of the song. In the second half of the song, everyone calmed down and vibed out to the "Saturn" like the sound of the genre-bending song. 

Throughout the entire show, Aminé promoted self-love to the crowd, which made everyone feel even more connected and captivated with him. Toward the end, he performed more of his classic songs ("Reel It In", "RED MERCEDES", "Caroline") even mixed his song "Spice Girl" with a classic Spice Girl song, "Wannabe", and everybody went wild and sang along as he danced on the stage. 

Overall, Aminé put on a really exciting show. Along with the vast genre-bending setlist, his set had amazing visuals, high energy, and a lot of good vibes that resonated well with the crowd and kept everyone captivated.

Review/Photo By: William Smith