Live Show Reviews

Live Review: Better Lovers at The Roxy

When the news first came out about Better Lovers, the level of excitement in my mind about it was pretty high. Then came the first release “30 Under 13” , then their surprise EP and from there I was in. It’s never easy to start again but, thankfully, the passion and drive found in each member of Better Lovers exists on a level that is on another stratosphere and the end result is one hell of a punch to the face in a total awesome way. This night at The Roxy was just that and then some.

Opening the night was Entry. They were the perfect band to start this night off. Having just seen them about a week or so ago when they opened for Converge, I knew that right as they started that this was going to be “a night.” Their set was blistering and ravenous as they blazed through song after song. In fact, I tend to think they were even better this night than when I saw them a couple weeks back. Entry are fast becoming one of my favorite Los Angeles based bands to see live. Definitely check them out!

Next up was Roman Candle from Las Vegas and they went off. While still keeping with the hardcore element, Roman Candle has more of a metallic/melodic edge to them which offers up different dynamics within their songs. Their set, was an onslaught of heaviness that not only was a great pre-cursor of what was to come but, made me a fan as well. I look forward to the next time Roman Candle is in Los Angeles.

Finally as the clock hit 10pm, the lights dimmed down and over the PA a ton of different snippets of songs played all with the word “love” accented. Then the curtain rose and from there for the next 40 minutes, the Roxy absolutely exploded. Opening with “Become So Small” was one hell of a way to kick things off. Then after that my favorite song released so far, “God Made Me An Animal” took things to a whole other level. With bodies flying off the stage both band and audience members, you knew right away that this was the real deal. “Sacrificial Participant” had a ton of crowd participation singing along. Two new songs were played and those ones went off with one hell of a bang. Just wait till you hear these new ones, this band is only getting started. Being that Better Lovers only have so many songs, they pulled out a cover of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage” and absolutely nailed it. So much so that they made it their own by adding their own signature touches to it. Closing out their short yet oh so sweet set was “30 Under 13” and at this point it was no holds barred. By the time it was all over, you could tell the audience was all into it and didn’t want it to end. In fact, I wouldn’t have even minded if they had taken a mini break and played all those songs again.

Better Lovers have arrived and they are just getting started. Their time on the road this summer definitely made them a very tight band. The intensity that each member brings to this band permeates from the stage to the audience. It’s infectious and it doesn’t want to stop nor should it! I look forward to the next Better Lovers release and tour. If more bands took cues from the bands that played this evening, live music would be thriving again. This show was just what I needed after one hell of a week. I left this show not only inspired to want to get back into playing music but, with the feeling that good heavy music is alive and well. You just have to be looking at the right places to find it!

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy
(note on the pics- I was having too much fun enjoying the show to really want to take pictures)!

ENTRY:

ROMAN CANDLE:

BETTER LOVERS:

Live Review: Converge, Deaf Club, King Yosef & Entry at Echoplex

I have a list of bands that any time they come through Los Angeles I have to go see them. One of those bands is Converge. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen them (I think this was number 9 or 10), I just am compelled to go see them live. Converge aren’t just one of the best live bands around they are downright legends. Their catalog is one of those that you’d be hard pressed to find an album that isn’t good. And like a fine wine or scotch, Converge seems to only get better with time. This West Coast run got started this past Friday night along with Entry, King Yosef and Deaf Club and what a show it was.

Getting the night going was Los Angeles’s own, Entry. I’ve been fond of this band for a bit and they came out swinging. They really got the crowd ready for the evening. Though their set was short, only about 20 mins, they made every second count. Entry was on fire throughout their set as they blazed through song after song. I can see why they are garnering the street cred they have. They are the real deal and I look forward to their evolution as a band.

Next up was King Yosef. What he brought to the evening was a bit of Industrial Hardcore. Thankfully it wasn’t just one guy up there with a laptop. The live band aspect of drums and guitar definitely helped bring the sound to reality. Thee set though short, was direct and to the point, just as hardcore should be. The industrial element to the songs gave them a bit more bite. His latest album, An Underlying Hum is quite good and live those songs really came to life. I would be interested to see King Yosef again.

Before Converge was the mighty, Deaf Club. They really came out guns blazing and got the crowd up in a bit of a frenzy. Deaf Club has a great mix of punk and hardcore in their sound with a bit of a grungy undertone to it a la Nirvana. Never one to be still, frontman/vocalist Justin Pearson immediately commanded the stage and with each song got the audience more and more involved. It was quite a fun thing to witness. One of the things tht I really like about Deaf Club is the added dynamics to their songs. While they are don’t lose their hold on their roots, their ability to add off time parts and some cool shoegazey moments makes them not only stand out amongst the other bands during the night but, it gives the audience more to listen to.

Now the main event of the night, Converge. I really don’t know what else there is to say about this band that I haven’t already said throughout the years. They still pack one hell of a punch and a ferociousness that is untouchable. Their set this night was one that I quickly found myself absolutely enthralled by. Converge played a good chunk of songs off my favorite album of theirs, Axe To Fall, along with other gems from Jane Doe, You Fail Me, All We Love We Leave Behind and The Dusk In Us, including a close personal favorite of mine “I Can Tell You About Pain.” When you watch Converge live, it’s like poetry in motion. Each member from Nate Newton, Ben Koller, Kurt Ballou and Jacob Bannon give their all each night and it shows. The precision that they play with combined with the explosive nature of the songs makes for one hell of a show. There are many things I love about going to see Converge live and one of them is watching the audience get so into the songs. At times throughout the set, I’m pretty sure the crowd was louder than the band. Converge are without a doubt pioneers and legends in heavy music. They prove time and time again that they are band that you just can’t mess with. I look forward to hearing what they have coming up in the near future as the world does need more Converge in it!

Converge Set List:

01) Eagles Become Vultures
02) Dark Horse
03) Under Duress
04) Axe To Fall
05) Heartless
06) You Fail Me
07) All We Love We Leave Behind
08) Predatory Glow
09) Hell To Pay
10) Bitter And Then Some
11) Eye Of The Quarrel
12) Reap What You Sow
13) Cutter
14) Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast

Encore:

15) I Can Tell You About Pain
16) Concubine

Axe To Fall= 5
Jane Doe= 3
The Dusk In Us= 3
You Fail Me= 3
All We Love We Leave Behind= 2

Live Review: Will Haven at Knitting Factory NoHo

There are some bands that have a certain aura about them that when they play live. It’s almost as though there is a cosmic shift that delivers an amount of energy that permeates through each person on stage and then into the audience. One such band that has this is the mighty Will Haven. Their most recent tour stop in Los Angeles (well technically North Hollywood) was a prime example of this aura taking over and infecting the crowd.

Opening the night was Arc Angles. If you haven’t heard Arc Angles, you should fix that. This three piece is a band that is explosive, creative and methodical in what they do. Not only did they set the tone for the evening, they sure made it a hard act to follow with their high energy set that showcased songs from their debut album Apocalisp and their most recent EP, Daisy. Having seen Arc Angles a few times and written about them a bunch, it’s been a pleasure to see how they keep pushing themselves to evolve and write songs that are both catchy yet slap you in the face.

Next up was Stronger Than Machines. These guys are one hell of a force to be reckoned with. If Arc Angles set the tone, Stronger Than Machines then raised the bar even more. Their metal-core style fit perfectly for the evening. Another band with a ton of energy that flowed right into the audience. One of the things I really like most about this band is their want to play hard and deliver a show that not only is true to them but also really gets the audience involved. Having a bit of a melodic tinge to their songs shows the dynamic range that they are capable of and they are only just getting started.

Right in the middle was Curse. These guys brought the rock to the night and in a way gave a bit of breathing room of all the heaviness happening. Their set was fun and energetic. Armed with catchy hooks and melodic touches, Curse was definitely not cursed this evening.

Before Will Haven was the Venice legends, Cycotic Youth. They brought a punk rock energy to the night that opened up the pit a bit and started to get the frenzy going. Rocking songs from their first album in many years, Cycotic Youth tore through song after song, and even had a little time for some stories about the early days of the band. They brought the audience to a level that was hungry for Will Haven, which was quite perfect.

Now, Will Haven took things to a whole other level of heavy. Celebrating their now 20 year old classic album, Carpe Diem, Will Haven ripped and tore North Hollywood a new one with their no holds barred performance. That aura I was speaking about at the beginning of this review was all over the stage and then filtered to the audience. With each song, the crowd got more and more into the show. Will Haven kept delivering killer riffs, rhythms and vocals that could be felt throughout the whole building. I’ll never forget hearing Carpe Diem for the first time. It’s one of those albums that when you hear it, it immediately inspires you to want to go make heavy music. Will Haven are one of the best to do this style of heavy music. So much so that when you hear a band imitate it, it makes you want to just go listen to Will Haven. After they ran through Carpe with brilliance, it was time for a couple new songs from their exquisite new album, VII. These new songs and album are one of the best of 2023. Here’s a crazy thought too, Carpe Diem was released 20 years ago and it left a mark on heavy music, and now 20 years after that, Will Haven has delivered another classic album with VII that will and should influence another generation of bands. What a great set Will Haven put on. One of those that I will definitely remember for many years to come.

One last note about the night, this was a pleasure to help put on and curate. Working with The Cobalt Presents (aka The Cobalt Cafe) and The Radford Media Group on putting shows together has been a blast. I highly urge you to come check out what we have coming up. We have been putting shows on for the past 2 years and it’s only getting better!

ARC ANGLES LIVE:

STRONGER THAN MACHINES LIVE:
WILL HAVEN LIVE:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwmVH7eo3NA/?hl=en

Live Review: Iress at The Resident

It’s taken me a few days to truly process what I witnessed last Thursday night at The Resident in Los Angeles and I’m still a bit at a loss of words to properly describe it. The other night, I ventured out to finally go see Iress live and it was everything I’d hoped for and more. As the lights dimmed, the sold out crowd roared as Iress took the stage. From the first note till the last of their set, I was completely hypnotized. Musically, the band moves from shoegaze, doom, slowcore and rock in such a seamless way that it all feels cinematic in how it plays out. Bassist Michael Maldonado has a menacing tone that as the songs play, you become connected to them even more as each note hits your heartbeat. Drummer Glenn Chu propels the beat even more with his precision drumming and guitarist Graham Walker adds a delicate/brightness to the songs. Then you add in the vocals of Michelle Malley, which are quite powerful and absolutely beautiful. When you put all of these elements together you truly get one hell of a tour de force. Iress’s set covered songs from their debut Prey, to their latest EP, Solace. Songs like “Blush,” “Ricochet,” “Shamed” and “Wolves” were beyond stunning live. I’m not kidding when I say that I was hypnotized watching and listening. The raw and gut wrenching power being delivered song after song was seductive and astounding. The chills I got from listening and watching, I haven’t felt that at a show in quite some time. When you listen to and or see Iress, not only do you get a band that is truly passionate about what they do but, you can truly believe it all through the journey of love, loss, pain, anguish and more. Being able to weave intricate webs of heaviness with ambience is no easy feat but, when you see Iress live it all comes to life in a hypnotic way that will leave you breathless. I can’t wait for the next time I can see Iress live. They are without a doubt one of the top 5 bands in all of the greater Los Angeles area. Do yourself a favor, go listen to Iress and see them live!

Review and Photos* By: Brian Lacy

*Photo’s aren’t the best, I was too into the show to really focus on taking pictures.

IRESS LIVE AT THE RESIDENT- 08.11.23:

IRESS ONLINE:

https://www.weareiress.com

https://weareiress.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/weareiress

https://www.facebook.com/weareiress

Live Review: Greg Puciato at The El Rey Theater

Last November I had the pleasure of seeing the debut solo show for Greg Puciato. After that show was over, I knew that the next time he came through I had to go, it was one of “those shows.” Both his solo albums, Child Soldier: Creator Of God and Mirrorcell have yet to leave my musical rotation since they came out. Live these songs take on a whole new life and the end result is precisely why I had to go see Greg live again.

Before Greg though, there were three openers to get the night going. I arrived as the last 2 songs of Trace Amount’s set was ending. The mix of industrial and noise made for a very tension filled and intense performance. It’s really interesting to listen to Trace Amount and pick out certain little nuances in the programming.

Next up was Deaf Club who I was really stoked to see having been into their albums. Their set was on fire from the get go. One of the things that I really like most about Deaf Club is that while they are a punk band through and through, they add a more technical element to it with odd time signatures and interesting arrangements. Then when you add in a frontman like Justin Pearson, it’s the right recipe for chaos in the best way possible. During their set they did a cover of Nirvana’s “Tourette’s” with their drummer, the drummer from Escuela Grind and Ben Koller of Converge. It was pretty damn cool to see and hear and the topper was all three drummers were in total sync so that sound bellowing through the El Rey was thunderous!

Following Deaf Club was up and comers Escuela Grind. I wasn’t too familiar with them but, a friend of mine who I was there with was and he got super into it. The band combines grindcore, death metal and a bit of hardcore. Their energetic set was heavy and brutal and at the same time quite fun. Their “singer” had so much energy on stage at one point I was half expecting her to breakout into a full gymnastics routine with how much she was running and jumping. Solid set from this band and just the right amount of fire to get the crowd ready for what was to come next.

When Greg Puciato and band took the stage it was ON! From the moment they ripped into “Reality Spiral” you knew this was not going to be just any show. The way the set was constructed was absolutely pummeling in both the way that it was intense and pulled at your heart strings. When you have songs like “Do You Need Me To Remind You,” “Absence As A Presence,” and “Fire For Water,” all within minutes of each other, it still has me without the right words. As the set continued, the crowd got even more into it and the next thing I knew I was right up front for my favorite song “Never Wanted That.” I stayed up front for the rest of the night feeding off the energy that was permeating off stage and next to me. One of my other favorite moments was during the end of “Evacuation” Greg broke out part of INXS’s “Need You Tonight” which was totally rad. Ending the “set” for the evening was the always great “September City.” I believe the crowd was singing as loud if not louder than Greg by this point. This night was special in more ways that one. For the encore it was in the words on Larry David “pretty, pretty, pretty good.” Starting it off was Haex joining Greg for a remix version of The Black Queen’s “Secret Scream,” followed by A Perfect Circle’s Billy Howerdel joining Greg for The Black Queen’s “The End Where We Start” which was absolutely great. Then you had Tyler Bates and Gil Sharone join the fun for “Now You’ve Really Done It” from a compilation for DC Comics. Then it was Ben Koller jumping on the stage for “Roach Hiss” which definitely got the crowd screaming along. And to end it all was an absolutely cool and different version of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s “One Of Us Is The Killer.” It was part acapella in the verses and straight up fire during the chorus parts. I also have to mention the band Greg had on this run. What a killer and tight band. Joining Greg was James Hammontree on guitar of Black Magnet (another band you should really check out), Nick Sadler of Daughters on guitar. It was really great to see Nick up there and hearing that monsterous tone he’s had for years. Jeff Geisser on bass manhandled the low end with such tenacity and finally Noah Taylor on drums right in the pocket!

This show was definitely one of those that I’ll remember for a long long time. Greg Puciato’s solo albums are some of the best releases in the past few years. If you haven’t listened to them, I highly suggest you get on top of that! It’s artists like Greg that give me hope for the musical future. The whole package was interesting and gave bands from different genres a different audience making for an eclectic show. I’m glad I went and had a great time and to go with a couple friends that I knew would enjoy it too made it all that much better. Plus getting to see some other friends out in the crowd was quite awesome. I’m kind of at a loss for words at the moment when it comes to how to properly describe this show. I will leave it at this (unless I have a total epiphany of what else to say), shows like this don’t happen all the time. When the chance comes to go see one of your favorite bands, go do it! Thank you to Greg, Deaf Club, Escuela Grind and Trace Amount for one hell of a great evening!

Greg Puciato Set List:

01) In This Hell You Find Yourself
02) Reality Spiral
03) Do You Need Me To Remind You
04) Absence As A Presence
05) Fire For Water
06) Don’t Wanna Deal
07) No More Lives To Go
08) Deep Set
09) Never Wanted That
10) Lowered
11) A Pair Of Questions
12) Creator Of God
13) Evacuation (w/ INXS’s “Need You Tonight”)
14) September City

Encore:
15) Silent Scream (Haex Remix)
16) The End Where We Start (with Billy Howerdel)
17) Now You’ve Really Done It (with Tyler Bates & Gil Sharone)
18) Roach Hiss (with Ben Koller)
19) One Of Us Is The Killer

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

Deaf Club:

Escuela Grind:

Greg Puciato:

Live Review: Bush @ Hollywood Palladium

To say it’s been a while since I’ve seen Bush live would be an understatement. It’s been about 20 years since I have seen them live. I’ve still followed them and listened and purchased almost every album they’ve released (sorry I just couldn’t do Black and White Rainbows). Their last two albums, The Kingdom and The Art Of Survival have breathed new life into the band and revitalized them. The Art Of Survival is truly a superb album. One that I’d put in their top 3 albums. So, when it was announced that Bush would be back out on tour headlining, and how much I’ve enjoyed the last two albums, I knew I had to go see them again. And that I did, while wearing my Razorblade Suitcase tour shirt that I got in 1997 when I was 13 (the shirt is 26 years old, it’s ok to wear it to the show)! And what a show it was.

Opening the set with “Identity” from The Art Of Survival was a treat. That song has a very impactful opening riff and was quite perfect to open the night with. Though there could’ve been a couple others to pick from but, going with a new song showed that the band wasn’t relying on the past to kick things off. Next up was the classic “Machinehead” which sent the crowd into a roar that felt like it was the mid/late 90’s again when Bush was on top of the world. That song no matter how many times I’ve heard it, will always be stellar. Following that was “Blood River” from The Kingdom. This is probably my favorite song off of that record. It’s rifftastic and Gavin’s vocals/lyrics are quite profound on this one without all the metaphorical layers. Another track from The Kingdom that I love and the crowd was fully into was “Bullet Holes” which you also might have heard in John Wick 3. That song is so damn good. The set was quite well balanced with new and old songs mixed. Songs like “The Chemicals Between Us” struck a nostalgic chord amongst the crowd and the singing along during the chorus was quite loud and fun. Then they’d throw in some more new songs like “Flowers On A Grave” and Quicksand” that got the crowds energy going even more due to the heavier nature of the songs. Of course when “Everything Zen” was played it felt like 1994 all over again. I think the crowd sang it louder than Gavin at points. There were a couple definite highlights of this set for me. One was when they played “Heavy Is The Ocean” the first track off of The Art Of Survival. I love this song. It’s such a great song. I almost wish they started the night off with it. Live this song went a bit harder and heavier than the album version which I love when that happens. I couldn’t help but sing along, loudly during this one (as I did with pretty much every song this evening). This song has a classic Bush sensibility to it with a modern touch. Give that track a listen when you can! Another stand out for me was “1000 Years” which is the closing song on The Art Of Survival. Gavin performed it by himself and it was one of those subdued performances that had you listening close and going with the whole vibe of it. Closing out their main set was their number 1 hit song “More Than Machines” which is a really rocking song and it comes off live so damn good. And then to have “Little Things” round that out just made it all that much better. “Little Things” still sounds great and the way they extended it out a bit made it even more fun. For their “encore” they roared back with “The Kingdom” and damn did that one deliver. I still to this day don’t understand why that song was not the first track on the album “The Kingdom” but, that’s for another day and another topic. The final two songs of the night were classics “Glycerine” and “Comedown.” Gavin performed “Glycerine” alone and at times acapella which was so good. The sing along with the crowd during that point could give you chills. Then to end it all with “Comedown” just brought it all together. The extended version they played too was so much fun, I didn’t want it to end.

For a band that’s been around as long as Bush and to deliver a set this damn good makes me not only want to go see them again when they come through again but, also made me fall back in love with this band. Though there was nothing from Razorblade Suitcase played (I’ll let it slide this time hahaha), this set was great. As I mentioned, mixing the new with the old and a few other songs scattered through made this not a nostalgic set but rather one that felt fresh and captivating. For those of us in the crowd that were familiar with the new, those songs came off great and the classics felt alive and revitalized. I really do have to give it up to Gavin for his stage presence. He’s always been able to connect with the crowd and now when he goes off without his guitar it’s like he’s a new frontman with even more energy than before. Chris Traynor, you are seriously gifted and underrated. The style and vigor he plays with on stage is inspiring. Everything he’s been a part of from Orange 9mm, Helmet, Institute and now Bush, he fits perfectly. Corey Britz has a swagger to his style of bass playing and his backing vocals are the perfect compliment to Gavin’s vocals. Nik Hughes is one hell of a drummer. His precision and little bits he adds to the songs are subtle but, perfect.

Bush is back and I am stoked for how far they’ve come. If you haven’t yet heard The Art Of Survival or The Kingdom, I highly recommend you taking a listen to those albums. They really are good. It’ll have you back to being a fan of the band again. One of the other things I loved about this show was the audience. It was stacked with old and new fans. Some more rabid than others as Gavin still draws the ladies in for damn sure. This show though was on fire from the first chord till the guitars rang out during “Comedown.” And as the song says, as the show was over “I don’t want to come back down from this cloud.” I can’t wait till the next one!

Bush Set List:

01) Identity
02) Machinehead
03) Blood River
04) The Chemicals Between Us
05) Bullet Holes
06) The Sound Of Winter
07) Flowers On A Grave
08) Everything Zen
09) 1000 Years
10) Quicksand
11) Heavy Is The Ocean
12) More Than Machines
13) Little Things

Encore:

14) The Kingdom
15) Glycerine
16) Comedown

REVIEW/PHOTOS BY: BRIAN LACY

Live Review: Cobalt Night at Corbin Bowl 1/20/23

Growing up in Southern California, especially in the surrounding Los Angeles area, there has always been venues with storied histories. For example the famous Sunset Strip and The Whisky A Go-Go, Roxy, Viper Room and Rainbow. There was also a venue in the San Fernando Valley that had a very storied history as well. So many bands that you love today got their start, honed their craft and rocked the stage at the famous Cobalt Cafe. For years The Cobalt Cafe would become a sort of right of passage when being in a band no matter how big or small. It was an all ages venue that put on shows every night and provided a place for everyone to enjoy live music no matter the genre. However in, 2014 the Cobalt closed due but, in July of 2021 the Cobalt returned in a new fashion and a reignited fire to give up and coming bands a place to play. The Cobalt Presents now does shows on a constant basis around the LA area (Corbin Bowl, Hotel Ziggy, The Last Call, The Whisky A Go Go, Transplants Brewing and more) bringing in great bands and putting on superb shows.

The other night was no exception as The Cobalt kicked off 2023 with one hell of a bang at Corbin Bowl. The night was eclectic and featured varied bands from ska/punk, punk, skate punk, doom metal, thrash metal, and pop punk. The whole night and band after band was exceptional. The flow of the styles of the bands made it even more fun as the energy level kept rising with each band that took the stage. The place was packed and the familiar faces from back in the days of the old Cobalt were there as well, making it all come full circle.

Pages: 1 2

Live Review: Cave In at Teragram Ballroom

Cave In have long been a band that I’ve been quite fond of. I still remember first hearing them around the year 2000 when Jupiter came out and thinking that this is on a whole other level. There was something about Cave In that stood out and from that point on, I was hooked. Now over 20 years later, I’m still hooked and this most recent time seeing them live was one of those shows that left you not wanting the show to end but, leaving you with the sense of wanting to create!

Riding high off the release of their fantastic new album, Heavy Pendulum (one of my Top 5 favorite albums of the year), Cave In took the stage to a roaring crowd and immediately hit the crowd with a dose of “New Reality.” From there it went into “Blood Spiller” and at that point you were engrossed with what was happening on stage. Not long after we were hit with the epic “The End Of Our Rope Is A Noose” which when you looked around the venue you could tell who goes a long way back with the band. After that was my favorite track off of Heavy Pendulum, “Reckoning.” This song is truly one of “those songs” that stay with you for years and years. Written by the extremely underrated Adam McGrath, the live version of “Reckoning” took it to another world. It was seriously a highlight of the set. And then they followed that up with “Joy Opposites” one of my favorite songs off of their (underrated album) Antenna. Those 2 songs alone made my night and to have them back to back was special. The band from there went back into the new album for a couple more “Careless Offering” and “Blinded By A Blaze” both of which were stunning. Then just when you thought things were calm, Cave In hits the crowd with “Halo Of Flies” and from there you knew that there was no turning back. Closing out the main set was “Wavering Angel” another favorite of mine off their new album. This song live too, was one of those that just hits you and stays with you. For their encore the eruption of “Big Riff” had the crowd in a frenzy and as about as loud as the band singing along. Ending the whole night was the always great and sentimental “Sing My Loves.”

Cave In delivered a show and a set that was definitely one that I will remember for a long time. Having one of my really good friends with me and it being his first Cave In show made it even better. As I mentioned above, when the show was all said and done, you could tell that there was still so much energy in the room that Cave In probably could have played longer and nobody would have left. It was that kind of show. The intimate nature of the venue too made it feel as though everyone was all together as the band rocked the night. It’s truly remarkable that Cave In, who have weathered just about every storm you can think of for a band, can collectively come together make another phenomenal album and continue onward and upward in a way that shows what the power of music and the right people together can do. If you haven’t seen Cave In, I highly recommend you change that and make it out to a show the next time they come through your town. One more thing I would like to add, Caleb Scofield was one of those guys that are pretty irreplaceable and so unique that it takes someone with the right understanding to come in and carry on their legacy and the one and only Nate Newton was the absolute best choice. Thank you to Stephen Brodsky, Adam McGrath, JR Conners, Nate Newton and Caleb Scofield for all the years of great music and shows! See you all when you come back!

Cave In Set List:

01) New Reality
02) Blood Spiller
03) Searchers Of Hell
04) The End Of Our Rope Is A Noose
05) Reckoning
06) Joy Opposites
07) Careless Offering
08) Blinded By A Blaze
09) Halo Of Flies
10) Wavering Angel

Encore:

11) Big Riff
12) Sing My Loves


Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

Album/Live Review: Centershift- A Different Shade Of Color

The art of the album has been lost in recent years. Everyone seems so focused on the “single” that the lost art of making an actual album has sort of gone by the wayside. That’s not the case for the band and album I’m about to talk about. You’ve heard me talk a lot about Centershift in the past year and rightfully so. This band is making strides to not only become one of your favorites but, also took the time to really make an album that from start to finish you feel it all. Every ounce of emotion poured into one fantastical ride through the trials and tribulations of life and this is only their first full length album. Centershift’s debut album, A Different Shade Of Color marks a triumphant return of making great albums.

The release of A Different Shade Of Color was put out in parts/EP’s in order to get parts of the story a little at a time and make you wonder where the next part will take you. The first seven songs present a very raw and emotional context to where the story takes you. Starting with “9” the story begins with a revelation of one’s self and the search for a new discovery but, before that can fully happen, the whole story must be told. As “My Own World” starts to take shape, you the listener start to get immersed into what is happening. As the album continues and flows, more of the story comes out as songs like “Dry Well, “Tell Me,” “Couldn’t Tell,” and “Kingdoms” all fit a balance that have a fury to them that while still melodic, brings out a heaviness both lyrically and musically that grabs you and sinks it’s claws in. With those claws sharply dug in, the journey continues with a bit of an epiphany with the song “And So.” This track leads you down another interesting road as the story unwinds a bit and goes through all the phases one might go through when dealing with a volitile situation or grief. The stages you go through during those times come out quite present on songs like “From Where We Are,” “Falling Into,” “Arise,” and the very deep and dark “Everything And Nothing,” The latter being quite the mini epic that will give you chills in a way that you can only feel by listening. Rounding out this chapter is “What If” a song that leaves you with a question while at the same time sets up the final chapter. “After All” kicks off the third act and signals the change and the light starts to shine a bit brighter. While “1014” delivers a bit of a kick to the head of positivity that reminds you to let the past go and enjoy the life and light that has begun. “Here Like Always” is one of those songs that gives you hope but also has a sensitivity to it that shines like the sun finally coming out after a cloudy day. The ending song of the album “Fade Away” brings it all together, recapping the whole journey but instead of falling backwards and back into the dark, the fading away into the light brings that new joy and life that “9” brought about to start the whole album off.

A Different Shade Of Color is an album not just for 2022 it’s one of those albums that is much needed in today’s musical world. The way this album flows and hits you is spine tingling and eye opening. The album provides hope and choices without the sense of giving up. Singer/Guitarist Jasan Radford’s voice is still top notch and the way he delivers the lyrics are astounding. The clarity and enunciation of the words make them stand out when it matters most. Guitarist Ryan Shane Stuber adds so much texture and balance to the songs with his style of playing. And the rhythm section of bassist Ted Wenri and drummer(s) Stefan Storace (and Michael Tarabotto who plays on certain songs) is thunderous and shattering without being too overtaking of the delicate melodies that ring throughout the songs. Also, having Jim Wirt (Incubus, Onesidezero, Fiona Apple) behind the boards and producing this album definitely helped to keep it as real and raw as possible.

I highly recommend this album to anyone and everyone. There are so many different moments and songs on the album that you will love instantly and others that will sneak up on you and hit you like a ton of bricks. One thing is for certain, Centershift made one of the most honest and pure albums of 2022. Over the past weekend as well, Centershift celebrated the release of the album with a Live Stream event. The concert was full of energy and excitement. The way the 4 of them connect on stage and throughout the songs shows that the chemistry between them is in full effect. I personally love the way that you can listen to the songs on the album and feel one way about them, then when you hear these songs live, they take on a new life. If you haven’t seen Centershift yet, that’s something else I strongly suggest you do! Cheers to Centershift on one hell of an album. One that not only they can stand tall and be proud of but, for those of us that long for an actual album that start to finish connects!

Overall Rating: A

Review By: Brian Lacy

Centershift- A Different Shade Of Color:

On Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-different-shade-of-color/1651606893

On Spotify:

Live Show Review: Greg Puciato at Don Quixote

There are certain bands/artists that over the years I’ve become rather enthralled by. One of which is Greg Puciato. I still remember the first time I heard Greg in The Dillinger Escape Plan and thinking that this voice and presence is something to really pay attention to. And that I did. Through the years, Greg has become one of my favorite lyricists, vocalists and performers. When it was announced that Greg was going to be putting out a solo release, needless to say I was excited. What we got in the course of two years are three releases has taken the best of what Greg does and melded it into one project. Child Soldier: Creator Of God, Fuck Content and Mirrorcell have been some of the best releases in the past years and I can only imagine what the next release will be. The live show debut that I attended was something else. It was everything I wanted and then some.

Taking the stage a few minutes after 11pm, the crowd roar was getting louder and then the oddest intro song started it all, Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” and then things got started as “In this Hell You Find Yourself” went right into “Reality Spiral” with a go straight for the throat approach. From there it only kept cutting deep with “No More Lives To Go.” The first song Greg released as a solo artist “Fire For Water” was next and the crowd response from that song was overtaking you basically didn’t even get caught in the mini technical mishap. The recovery from that was impeccable and made the song go ever harder than it was. After that it was just an onslaught of songs that not only are stand outs on the albums but truly some of my favorite songs that are a part of these releases. Songs like “Deep Set,” “Do You Need Me To Remind You,” “Absence As A Presence,” and “Down When I’m Not” were just banger after banger, and Greg and the band were on fire at this point. Then the moment that brought it all together was when the next two songs were played. “Lowered” the first single off of Mirrorcell was performed with the additional vocals of Reba Meyers. What a performace. The way Greg’s and Reba’s voices match and play off each other is sublime. It was one of those moments that had everyone in the audience completely drawn into. My favorite song of the set was next and it hit me more than I thought it would. That song would be “Never Wanted That.” This song just hits me in a way that I can’t (and won’t get into at the moment) put into words at the moment. After that going into “All Waves To Nothing” really hit me in another way that gave me chills in a such a great way. Followed by a short “encore break,” the fun continued as “Creator Of God” was the perfect way to come back out. From there a surprise cover of the Carpenter Brut song “Imaginary Fire” was performed (Greg provides the vocals on this track). Then it went into another couple favorites of mine “A Pair Of Questions” and the ever awesome and explosive “Evacuation.” Ending the set and the night was the great “September City.” It was quite the perfect way to end this debut show.

Opening the night was Trace Amount. His mix of industrial and noise gave the night a bit of a nervous yet frenzied energy as to what was to come later on. It was interesting to see this live and see how physical the performance was. After Trace Amount was a band that I’ve been curious about live too, Gost. Gost brought in a more Industrial sound mixed with a bit of EDM that really got the crowd pumped up. Looking around the room and seeing people dance was quite fun to see. Both bands gave energetic performances and prepared the crowd with just enough of an excitement that when Greg and his band hit the stage, it all exploded into something spectacular.

For a debut show, despite the few technical issues, it was absolutely superb. Even the odd choice of venue added to the charm of the night. It’s really quite awesome to see someone that has inspired and influenced you putting it all out there under their own name and delivering material that is this damn good and then being able to put on a show that not only will stand out but left a lasting impression on those of us that have been so drawn into the work of the artist. The band that Greg put together for this show was outstanding. I will say that having Chris Hornbrook on drums is kind of a cheat code as he is just so damn good. And the way he plays fits Greg’s style so well, that it’s a perfect combination. Guitarists Nick Rowe and James Hammontree were great together and then holding down that low end was Jeff Geisser. I can’t wait for the next show! I left this show on such a high it took forever to come down from it. Even the long ass drive home I was still pumped from this night. Thank you Greg and company for a night that I won’t forget and for the songs that I have yet to stop listening to since they came out! I’m sure there is more that I could ramble on about but, I’d much rather leave it at this and say, when the time comes and Greg’s solo show rolls through your city, don’t hesitate to go see it. What a show!

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

SET LIST:

01) In This Hell You Find Yourself
02) Reality Spiral
03) No More Lives To Go
04) Fire For Water
05) Deep Set
06) Do You Need Me To Remind You
07) Absence As A Presence
08) Down When I’m Not
09) Lowered (with Reba Meyers)
10) Never Wanted That
11) All Waves To Nothing

ENCORE:

12) Creator Of God
13) Imaginary Fire (Carpenter Brut Cover)
14) A Pair Of Questions
15) Evacuation
16) September City (with “One Of Us Is The Killer tease”)