Live Review: Audioeclectica’s Birthday Bash

Finding the right words to describe this show has been quite difficult. I could sit with a thesaurus for hours and think of different adjectives and descriptive words but instead I’m just gonna go with the night was FUCKING AWESOME! Everything about it from the venue, the bands, the people in attendance and the overall vibe was something truly memorable. For those that don’t know, in the past year I’ve partnered up with Cobalt Dave from the legendary Cobalt Cafe along with my own partner Jasan Radford from our company RMG to put on live shows again. We started in July 2021 right in the heart of the pandemic and we have been killing it since. This show though, was a true labor of love for me as I handpicked each band to be a part of this night and let me tell you, there was not one ounce of disappointment!

Kicking things off and setting the tone for the night was the mighty Fact Pattern. Their industrial doom style of music created the right attitude for the night and got it all started with one hell of a bang. Performing this night as a two piece the energy radiating off the stage and into the crowd was contagious. Fact Pattern is a band that does the industrial genre justice and beyond. Singer/guitarist Ian Flux and bassist Jack Lowd delivered a sonic pummeling to get the blood pumping for everyone this evening.

Next up was Don’t Panic from Arizona. This alternative rock band just released their stunning new single/video for their song “Time Machine.” Their set was one of those that not only rocked but was visually intriguing with the lights that hit with the beats. Their songs are full of life and vigor. Singer Dylan Rowe has a voice that stands out. Her vocal range is astounding and to have the music that Jeffy, Ryan and Mundo create makes the whole package something tremendous.

Following that was my homies in Centershift. This night was not only my birthday bash but a celebration for them as they just put out their debut EP, A Different Shade. From the moment they stepped on stage, there was no stopping the guys in Centershift from giving their all. It’s been a pleasure to see the progression of this band and on this night, perhaps there was something in the air but, this is exactly how I have heard this band in my head since the inception. Songs like “Dry Well,” “9” and “Kingdoms” were stellar as well as new single “And So.” The new song they brought out for the night kicked some major ass and shows where the band is headed with their writing. Centershift is on their way to making a name for themselves and quick!

Royalty Kult was next up and the delivered their blend of melodic metal. They are one of my favorite up and coming bands in Los Angeles. Since their beginning they have been honing their craft by writing songs that really hit at your heartstrings and delve deep into your feels. Their song “Enjoying The End” with Doc Coyle of Bad Wolves/God Forbid is a banger and the new material they have been working on like the song “Peacemaker” have the hooks that will stick in your head for days. Performance wise, they kept the energy going and delivered just as I knew they would.

Closing out the night was the live debut of Alphamega. I personally couldn’t be more stoked to have them on the show. In the past couple months they have dropped 3 banging singles in “No Longer Broken,” “Annihilator,” and “Pariah” and those 3 songs were definite highlights of their set along with the very first track they ever released “Lords Of The Flies.” Alphamega has a melodic metal sensibility with a bit of a harder edge that is reminiscent of the Swedish Death Metal style of classic In Flames and Soilwork. The stage presence of singer Adam Ryan is commanding but it’s his voice that shines. Guitarist Mike Muenzer adds the perfect tone of distorted and brightness that fits the pocket as drummer Chrissy Warner sends his drums to purgatory with his hard hitting and swing.

All in all, this show was not only memorable for myself but for the scene that we are bringing back. If you were in attendance you could really sense that this was a night that brought many people together and felt like a classic show back in the heyday of live music in Los Angeles. I can’t thank every band enough for being a part of this night. You all killed it! Thank you to everyone that came, bought a ticket, and had a blast! Special thanks to my partners Dave and Jasan. Thank you guys for entrusting me to be a part of this with you and letting me put together a show that rocked! This is only the beginning, stay tuned for more!

PHOTOS COMING SOON!!!

By: Brian Lacy

SHOWS: Audioeclectica’s Birthday Bash

All week I’ve been featuring the bands that are playing TONIGHT, May 6, 2022 at The Federal in North Hollywood, CA! I couldn’t be more stoked on the lineup and how it all came together! We’ve got one hell of a ECLECTIC lineup for you featuring the debut performance of Alphamega, up and comers Royalty Kult, the EP release party for Centershift and their debut release, Don’t Panic from Arizona is coming in to celebrate their new single/video for the song “Time Machine” and Fact Pattern is here to open up a can of whoop ass with their signature industrial doom style! Don’t Miss Out On This Show! Tickets are $20 at the door!!

See you later!

Brian

New Release: Alphamega- Pariah

This is exciting!! Alphamega has released a new single and it’s a banger! “Pariah” is a melodic metal jam for sure. The soaring vocal melodies, deep personal lyrics, hard charging riffs, and banging drums make this one hell of a track. Their first two songs released “No Longer Broken” and “Annhilator” are more heavy, this one is a bit more mid tempo but it shows their ability as songwriters to be dynamic and explore different sounds and ideas, while still holding down their roots! Alphamega is about to leave their mark on the rock world! Take notice!

On Friday May 6, Alphamega will be playing at The Federal in North Hollywood as part of Audioeclectica’s Birthday Bash. So make sure you come out and see what all the fuss is about! Tickets HERE!!!!!!!


Alphamega-Pariah:


Alphamega- No Longer Broken:

Alphamega- Annihilator:

Alternate Versions: Fact Pattern- Appendage REMIX

A lot of bands claim to be industrial but at the end of the day, they just aren’t it. Thankfully there is a band that I’ve been fond of for quite some time that knows how to truly embrace and do industrial music justice and that is Fact Pattern. Ever since I heard this band, I was hooked. They have the influences and inspiration running through them that I’ve been into for years like Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Godflesh and even bits of The Cure and other 80’s New Romantic/Goth. When you hear Fact Pattern and see them live, everything comes together to create a sonic assault that will leave you not only wanting more but your blood gets pumping. One of their songs that I’ve always really enjoyed, “Appendage” has found new life with this killer remix. This song is on a whole other level now!

On Friday May 6, Fact Pattern will be playing at The Federal in North Hollywood as part of Audioeclectica’s Birthday Bash. So make sure you come out and see what all the fuss is about! Tickets HERE!!!!!!!


Fact Pattern- Appendage (Dread Risks Remix):

Collaborations: Royalty Kult & Doc Coyle- Enjoying The End

I love a good collaboration whether it’s a guest vocal, guitar part/solo, etc. More often than not, these collaborations take the song to a whole other level. One song that I heard a while back that I’ve been quite fond of is “Enjoying The End” by Royalty Kult. The combination of Royalty Kult and what guitarist Doc Coyle (God Forbid/Bad Wolves) brings to the table makes this song stand out. The delicate melodies that Doc brings in the beginning sets the tone for the introspective and dark lyrics of vocalist Josh Bauserman. As the song continues, the heavy of the music matches up with intensity of the rest of the song. Royalty Kult is one of the best up and coming bands I’ve heard in a long time.

On Friday May 6, Royalty Kult will be playing at The Federal in North Hollywood as part of Audioeclectica’s Birthday Bash. So make sure you come out and see what all the fuss is about! Tickets HERE!!!!!!!

Royalty Kult (Featuring Doc Coyle)- Enjoying The End:

AUDIOECLECTICA’S BIRTHDAY BASH!!

Album Review- Centershift- A Different Shade…

Throughout the years, the voice of a band can really be the difference between a good band and a great band. I distinctly remember the first time I heard a particular band. I was walking along Sunset Blvd on my way to another show and I heard a band just starting and I was completely taken aback. I went to the entrance of the club this band was playing at (The Viper Room), got in cause I knew the door guy (perks of being under 21 at the time and knowing the right people), and from that point in time (pun totally intended) I was hooked not just on the music but the voice. That band was Onesidezero and the voice I heard that has stuck with me ever since was that of Jasan Radford. Fast forward to today and Jasan’s new band Centershift, have just put out their debut EP, A Different Shade… and let me tell you, it’s pretty damn good.

For almost 30 minutes and 7 songs, the moment you put the EP on, it connects with you. The raw emotion and honesty is extremely prevalent on this album. The lyrics to the first song “9” alone pinpoint to that. Speaking on the EP singer/guitarist Jasan Radford said “A Different Shade… is the first piece of what we as a band went through, either personally or together during the last few years. In a way, we wrote and recorded the trials and accomplishments life threw our way.” With that in mind, you the listener can surely find more to connect with. As the EP continues with the stellar “My Own World” (and if you haven’t seen the video for this song, CHECK IT OUT!!), the story begins to unfold and be told. There is a real flow to the way this was all put together. The music that accompanies the passionate words and melodies are on a level on its own. There is a style and tone when you hear these songs that are delicate and full of texture but also hard charging and quite fiery. Then you combine that with the velvety voice and touching lyrics and you’ve got a recipe for one hell of an album. There is one song in particular that I’ve been completely enthralled with and that is the song “Kingdoms.” This one closes out the EP and it’s EPIC! You really need to hear that song (along with the rest of it!).

Centershift is one of the new bands I’m most excited about. The band is made up of Jasan Radford (Onesidezero/Abloom) on vocals/guitar, Ryan Shane Stuber (Shuvel) on guitar, Ted Wenri (Bemus) on bass and on drums Stefan Storace. The four of them have created something that stands up to their other work but also shows the musicianship they have worked on for years and their progression as songwriters. This band is one of those that are the perfect bridge between rock and heavy music. A Different Shade… is only the beginning of where this band has the potential to go.

On Friday May 6, Centershift will be playing at The Federal in North Hollywood as part of Audioeclectica’s Birthday Bash. This show will also serve as Centershift’s EP Release Party! So make sure you come out and see what all the fuss is about! Tickets HERE!!!!!!!

Overall Rating: A

Centershift- A Different Shade…

Audioeclectica Birthday Bash:

New Music Friday: April 29, 2022

This is an exciting week for new singles, albums and EP’s! It seems that each week we get more and more solidly good tunes. Check out new tunes from Nothing More, Downset, Oni, Breaking In A Sequence, Lions At The Gate, Terror, Cave In and Centershift!

SINGLES/VIDEOS:

Nothing More- Tired Of Winning:

Downset- The Place To Be:

Oni- Secrets (featuring Iggy Pop & Randy Blythe):

Lions At The Gate- Find My Way (featuring Tatiana of Jinjer):

Cave In- Blood Spiller:

Terror- Pain Into Power:

Breaking In A Sequence- Leave Me Be:

EP’S/ALBUMS:

Centershift- A Different Shade…

F You Songs: Filter- So I Quit

The art of the F You song is actually quite simple. Take a person or event in your life/world that is bothering you, work up some aggressive music and then unleash the venom that is brewing inside and you’ve got one hell of a good way to express those feelings. One of the songs that I tend to go to when I need a to let out a good F You is “So I Quit” by Filter from their album, The Amalgamut. This track is a perfect F You song. It’s simple and to the point and the BIG F YOU at the end is superb!

Filter- So I Quit:

New Release: Don’t Panic- Time Machine

Last year I cam across a band that really peaked my interest. What I heard was a mix of alternative rock from the 90’s, electronic rock, prog rock and a bit of an industrial tinge. Put that together and you have one hell of a band called Don’t Panic. Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, Don’t Panic strives to make sure their style of music and live show stands out among the pack. Singer Dylan Rowe’s emotional, hard charging vocals and stage presence set the tone. Musically, Jeffrey Robens (guitar), Ryan Obermeit (bass) and Mundo Rascon (drums) provide the right flair and charm to the songs, giving them a different life all on their own. The video for their song “Time Machine” is dramatic and quite thought provoking as you listen to the words. Speaking about the track singer Dylan Rowe said “The song is about letting go, while also remaining vulnerable to the people and moments that have and will continue to shape our lives. Every moment in life can affect us in some way, and it often consumes our thoughts and the important decisions we make. This leads us off into new emotional territory that can often result in some interesting choices.” And that summation truly helps catapult Don’t Panic into a different realm in terms of songwriting and meaning.

Don’t Panic is part of the Audioeclectica Birthday Bash on Friday May 6 at The Federal in North Hollywood. Don’t miss your chance to see them live! Tickets available at audiocobalt.bpt.me!

Don’t Panic- Time Machine:

Deep Cuts: The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding the Orchid

The deep cut is something that I feel has become a lost element of music today. Everything is so focused on singles and the “hit” that so much of the time, there are songs that get left out and bypassed. As you’ve noticed the past couple years that my level of postings about The Smashing Pumpkins has gone up over that time and that’s because I’ve really delved deep in their catalog. One of the albums that I’ve truly come to love is 2007’s, Zeitgeist. Not only does this album foreshadow a lot of what our society has become but, it’s also one hell of a great album start to finish. There is a particular song on Zeitgeist that I keep going back to and that is track 3, “Bleeding The Orchid.” This song is quite interesting and profound. The song is indirectly inspired by the death of Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley and it also features a bit of an homage to the band with the harmonies you hear in the song. Also the guitar solo on this track by Billy Corgan further proves my point that he is truly an underrated guitarist. This song is one that I really wish would make it’s way into upcoming set lists as it’s an absolutely great and touching song.


The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding The Orchid (Live at The Viper Room, 2010):