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Concerts
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Photo Review: Torche, House of Lightning and Averikou at Czar
Posted by elawgrrl on Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Metal Monday came early this week with Sunday evening's show, August 2, at Czar's Imperial Palace featuring Torche, House of Lightning and Averkiou. Death Metal, one of Tampa's more unqiue claims to fame, has influenced a plethora of subgenres including the hardcore scene I grew up in. It was awesome to see how many old school hardcore kids made it out along with a whole new group of metal afficiandos on a Sunday night.
Torche
Hailing from Miami, Torche has a rabid fan base hooked on their unique sound - it's part thrash with a twist of melodic hardcore, and dare I say a bit of twang, all on a solid metal base. Decibel Magazine called Torche's music a "whole new beast built from the DNA up." Since Torche's Meanderthal (Hydrahead Records) took the #1 spot on Decibel's 2008 Top 40 Extreme Albums list, their fan base is rapidly expanding but thankfully their intensity remains intact.
Live the band exceeds expectations drawing in the audience until everyone is at least nodding along if not full on head banging. You can see that these musicians love what they do and are having a party on stage to which the whole crowd is invited. As a gift to the fans from back in the Floor days, the crowd went nuts when Scimitar was played. When the audience demanded an encore, the band requested a bit of patience while Rick reassembled his drums that had come undone in the intensity of their last song and the audience happily waited late on a Sunday night to squeeze in just a couple more songs.
Their energetic stage presence had me capturing Steve and Jonathan nonchalantly hanging out in mid-air repetitively:
To really experience the mid-air nonchalance, click on the photo to view them in a larger size.
Torche's 2009 EP (with DVD) Healer / Across the Shields (Hydrahead Records) is out now for your home enjoyment.
Torche is Steve Brooks (Guitars/Vocals), Jonathan Nuñez (Bass), and Rick Smith (Drums)
House of Lightning
The elusive and mysterious House of Lightning (ex-Dove) made one of their too rare appearances opening up for Torche. The crowd reveled as the waves of thrash crashed down upon them.
As a music photographer, few things are as entertaining to capture as the myriad faces of metal framed by hair swirling around in awful red lighting. As you can see during House of Lightning's set, the opportunities for capture were endless.
Word on the street is that House of Lightning has been recording so hopefully a record will be coming soon!
Averkiou
In spite of being the only non-metal band of the evening, Gainesville's Averikou did a good job of holding the attention of the mostly metal mania audience. Averkiou is on the one hand a prototypical shoegazer band (frequent comparisons to Swervedriver, Guided By Voices and, of course, My Bloody Valentine) producing a delicious sound that is nearly tactile and on the other hand is a straight up indie pop band. Check out their new album, Throwing Sparks (Clairecords/Barracuda Sound) which has received universal praise with the most common complaint from reviewers being that it is too short!
Averikou is Matt Brink, David Quarles, Chad Darby, James Hernandez and Jason Shusterman
Monday, August 3, 2009
Concert announcements: GWAR and The Honorary Title
Posted by Leilani Polk on Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Here a few concert announcements I received this past weekend.
No Clubs Presents sci-fi horror metal makers GWAR with special like-minded guests Job for a Cowboy and The Red Chord Sunday, October 4, at The Ritz in Ybor City. Tickets are $19 in advance/$22 day of show, and go on sale this Saturday, August 8, beginning at 10 a.m. The 25th anniversary tour marks of the band's "re-awakening on planet Earth" celebrates their most "sonically devouring, instrumentally challenging" album to date, Lust In Space, due out August 18 on Metal Blade Records.
Tastemakers and THX Management have finally revealed part of the lineup for Summer Jam 5 on Saturday, August 29; The Honorary Title, featuring singer-songwriter/frontman Jarrod Gorbel, will headline the show at Crowbar in Ybor City with Cory Branan. Tickets are $10 in advance/$12 dos, and can be purchased by clicking here. Confirmed local acts include The Beauvilles, The Sheaks, Guiltmaker, Shunda K of Yo Majesty, Mogul Street Reserve, How Dare You, Blind Man’s Colour and many others, though there hasn't been any word about which of the bands will perform at New World Brewery, the other venue hosting Summer Jam 5.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
This weekend's best bets in Bay area music, July 30-August 2
Posted by Leilani Polk on Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 2:40 PM
A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page.
Maxwell w/Chrisette Michele Neo-soul singer Maxwell — the Grammy-nominated artist who hits the high notes in his seductive, made-for-making-looove serenades — is currently touring in support of his fourth studio album and first new effort in eight years, BLACKsummers’night. The Brookyn native’s latest features a 10-piece band that brings a lush feel to the album’s supple grooves. Soul support act Chrisette Michele actually won a Grammy for “Best Urban/Alternative Performance” in 2009 for her up-tempo “I Will Survive”-style single, “Be OK.” Thurs., July 30, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; last time I looked this show was SOLD OUT, although I'm sure you can find tickets floating around outside.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Travels with Jack, Part 2: Pitchfork Fest '09 Wrap (with lots of pics)
Posted by Jack Spatafora on Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 8:53 PM
"I'm so blessed to / have spent the time / with my family and the friends I love/ with my short life / I have met so many people I deeply care for"
These final chanted lyrics of Yeasayer's "Red Cave" go a ridiculously long way in summarizing exactly what my recent trip to Chicago for the fifth annual Pitchfork Festival meant to me. While I'd been to the fest several times in the past (the first three, actually), this marked the first time that a huge group of old friends (LBHS stand up!) were able to meet up and enjoy the city and the music and the drunken shenanigans together. (Pictured at right: Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips; all photos by R. Kevin Rose.)
What'd I learn? well, for starters... we are all official members of the POSI-ADULT CREW. Not straight edge -- not even close -- but definitely upbeat and affable. Positive, if you will. A group of kids raised on (amongst many, many other things) Bad Brains' "P.M.A.", Seven Seconds, Dag Nasty, Gorilla Biscuits, etc., who grew into a geographically dispersed crew of adults ... all of us still kinda "Screaming For Change" in our own unique ways. (LOTS MORE PICS AND SHENANIGANS AFTER THE JUMP)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Must-see show: Atmosphere at State Theatre this Saturday
Posted by Leilani Polk on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Minneapolis indie hip-hop duo Atmosphere — made up of rap artist Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/producer Ant (Anthony Davis), pictured (photo credit Dan Monick) — bring a smart and refreshing change to the bloated bravado found in much of modern hip-hop music. Slug raps in a personal style that often draws from his own experiences, like the uplifting “Sunshine,” about appreciating the sunny days of life and wanting to bottle them in a plastic jar, “Bust it out whenever someone’s actin hard,” or the funky fun, sample-heavy “C’mon” from the duo’s new (and free) EP, Leak at Will, about being aware of where you’re from but not falling prey to its lawless temptations. But he’ll just as soon offer up a story — “The Waitress” from 2008’s When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, looks at the antagonistic relationship between a waitress and a homeless man as told from his point-of-view, “I wonder when she’ll realize / That she’s the only reason I visit / The only woman in my world that acknowledges my existence.” Eyedea & Abilities and Attracted to Gods provide support for the duo's Bay area show. Sat., Aug. 1, 8 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $21. (Videos after the jump)
Monday, July 27, 2009
More upcoming concerts: the Decemberists, Chuck Ragan, Tracy Byrd, Ghostland Observatory and many others.
Posted by Leilani Polk on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Lots of new concert announcements arrived in my email box over the past three days. I've paired the new with a few that slipped through the cracks for your concert planning convenience. For a complete breakdown of area shows, visit our Upcoming Concerts page.
Friday, Aug. 14 Tracy Byrd, Dallas Bull, Tampa, $9.95 in advance, $15 at the door; ON SALE NOW.
Sunday, Aug. 23: White Rabbits w/The Fiery Furnaces, The Social, Orlando, $13 in advance, $15 dos; ON SALE NOW.
Friday, Sept. 04: Soja w/The Movement, State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $15; ON SALE NOW.
Friday, Sept. 04 Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Social, Orlando, $20 in advance, $25 dos; ON SALE NOW.
Wednesday, Sept. 16: Living Colour (pictured above), Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, $15 in advance, $18 dos; ON SALE NOW.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Concert review: Nightmare of You at Crowbar
Posted by Kate Cillian on Sat, Jul 25, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Looking over my notes from Thursday night's show, I'm inclined to call Nightmare of You unique. Words like "nuts," "dub" and "sultry" jump off the page, infiltrating my consciousness and recreating the music of this NYC band.
The four-piece put on an incredible show. After a little bit of gambling with members of other bands (Plushgun, Brian Bonz, and Aushua), these guys jumped on stage and rocked it. There was no need for onstage shenanigans -- the music said it all.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Concert announcement: Jamie Foxx at TBPAC
Posted by Leilani Polk on Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Jamie Foxx has come a long way since his In Living Colour sketch comedy days. That job led to some serious acting gigs, then to an Academy Award-winning performance of Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic, Ray, then to a lucrative music career. Foxx had always played music (he began taking piano lessons at age 5 and actually released an album, Peep This, in 1994), but that role opened new doors for him as the artist proved he could not only act, but that he had a damn fine voice and knew how to use it.
With music cred came guest spots that began when Foxx was featured with Kanye West on Twista's song chart-topping "Slow Jamz." His "I Got a Woman" Ray Charles-inspired hook in West's "Gold Digger" followed and the song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for 10 weeks. It was all downhill from there. Foxx proved himself a multi-talented force to be reckoned with and while virtually no one heard Peep This, Foxx's second album, Unpredictable, sold nearly 2 million copies in the U.S. alone and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
Foxx's current 50-city North American "Blame It" tour in support of his third album, 2008's Intuition, makes its way down to Florida and stops at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Carol Morsani Hall on Monday, August 31, at 8 p.m. Tickets on sale at noon this Monday, July 27; regularly priced tickets start at $56.50.
Photo review: Reel Big Fish and the English Beat at The Ritz Ybor
Posted by Tracy May on Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 12:40 PM
A series of shots from the Wednesday, July 22 show featuring Reel Big Fish, the English Beat and The Supervillains at The Ritz Theater in Ybor City.
Reel Big Fish
(More pics after the jump)
Tales From the Pit: My First Warped Tour Experience
Posted by Lily Reisman on Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 6:16 PM
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It was ridiculously hot. It took me 15 minutes to realize that my white wife beater would become my face towel for the day. It was loud. It was colorful. It was my first time at Vinoy Park. And finally, at the age of 24, it was my first time experiencing Warped Tour.
It's been three years since I attended a music festival and as I walked through the ticket line into a field filled with tents, stages, beer stands and even a slip n' slide, I instantly recalled why I love outdoor fests; passing through the gates meant entering a world of the unpredictable and the unexpected. I didn't know what kind of crazies I'd come across (there were bound to be some amidst the 10,000 attendees), what kind of new music I'd hear, or how pleased I'd be with the bands I was there to support.
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Tags: News, Reviews, Bouncing Souls, punk, concert, music, rock, hardcore, Commentary, Concerts, Vinoy Park, warped tour, music festival, Bad Religion, Less Than Jake, Ska, streetlight manifesto, cash cash, set it off, i set my friends on fire
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