music

WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO: APRIL EDITION

Over the past couple weeks I’ve been diving into some new tunes that have peaked my interest. Some of these are new albums and a couple are ones that I’ve revisited because it’s been a minute since I listened to it. Here’s 10 albums that I’ve been listening to. Take a listen and enjoy!

01) Idle Heirs- Life Is Violence: I love this album. It’s the best album I’ve heard all year. This debut album has definitely made it’s way to my list of best debuts of all time. Read more about this album HERE and be sure to check this one out! IT’S A MUST! I should note that I haven’t gone a day without listening to this album since I got it. It’s That Good!



02) Pale Rider- 1 to 0: This album came across my email a couple weeks back and I quite enjoyed this one. I’ve been searching for all sorts of different types of bands of late and Pale Rider was one of the ones that stood out. 1 to 0 is a really fun spring/summer album. It’s a great alternative rock album that explores bits of dream pop, shoegaze and ambience. It’s also a pleasure to hear vocalist Rus Martin again. Always have enjoyed his style and lyric approaches (remember Hotwire? or Eyelid? I know I sure do). Give this record a spin!!




03) Chimaira- Chimaira: It’s been a while since I last listened to this album and I forgot what a beast this album is. I’d really have to say this is the best Chimaira album. It’s one of those albums you can tell they really put their all into it. It’s definitely one of the best heavy albums of the last 25 years. Usually self titled albums are “statement” albums, and this one is no different in that it takes no prisoners and it’s an all out assault of heaviness. This is an unsung masterpiece of an album! Also fun tidbits. This video was shot at the old Cobalt Cafe in the San Fernando Valley. Also, yours truly is in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIScWpfZ2Z4&list=OLAK5uy_kW7__uA0HD7-MlGnOF6n9G1z0G_rZ4Fsk


04) Guiltless- Teeth To Sky: This is another album I’m stuck on. I’ve really been enjoying all the nuances that this album packs into it. Plus the optimism that radiates throughout the album is quite a treat from the usual doom and gloom that is associated with this style of music. Teeth To Sky is one of those albums that will grow on you the more you listen. And once you let it’s teeth sink in, it’s quite the wonderful listening experience



05) The Smashing Pumpkins- Aghorri Mhorri Mei: This is a great album! If you have been craving an old school Smashing Pumpkins album that is more aligned with their 90’s era, then you really should listen to this one! It’s quite the album. This is another album I have yet to take out of rotation. It’s refreshing to hear them go back to that sound a bit while still pushing boundaries of what alternative music can reach. I’m really hoping there is a US tour for this album because these songs need to be heard and played live!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNOFLu40NzY&list=OLAK5uy_nRnbe2-k5CxdkxL140Fs1baQuL8Dmrgf4&index=2

06) Spiritbox- Tsunami Sea: Over the last couple years I’ve really come to like Spiritbox. Their album Eternal Blue was quite good. Their follow up EP, The Fear Of Fear really got me interested in where this band can go and then they released their new album, Tsunami Sea. This new album is pretty damn good. It’s nothing groundbreaking or reinventing the wheel but, it’s solid and packs quite the punch. There’s also a lot of different twists and turns on the album that peaks your listening interest to listen again and again. Looking forward to seeing them live at the Palladium in May.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_l4FsWfBiw&list=OLAK5uy_mfdx_C0pR6XdVKoGGoXHVRdQlvEVtjw0c&index=2


07) Coheed And Cambria- Vaxis III- The Father Of Make Believe: I’ve quite enjoyed this album. It’s one of their most focused albums in a minute. This album reminds me a bit of Good Apollo IV and Second Stage Turbine. There’s some truly epic moments on this album as with any good Coheed album. And the songs themselves shine. This is one of the more fun albums I’ve listened to this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSckI-66MsI&list=OLAK5uy_kYxvSUMUzqSpw6MFitvmIBeXjFosoWKzI


08) Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible: Talk about fun albums. I still can’t get enough of this album. When I need a good pick me up, this is a great one to go for. I just saw Better Lovers live again and it was awesome. They have fast become one of my favorite new bands and bands to see live. Their energy is infectious and makes you want to keep the album on repeat. I look forward to what else is to come from Better Lovers as I feel this is only the beginning of something pretty spectacular!



09) Stone Temple Pilots- Purple: Sometimes you just need a classic to listen to. Every time I put this album on, I get this warm sensation that comes over me like a warm blanket. This album is a masterpiece. There isn’t one thing wrong with this record. If you haven’t listened to Purple in a while, you should change that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd-6Dokk3Jg&list=OLAK5uy_kw5inENBPxMWfRS4zjTGI7VFIySuwp7U4&index=2

10) Nine Inch Nails- The Fragile: This is my all time favorite album. It’s the album I constantly put on if I can’t think of anything to listen to. The Fragile is another absolute masterpiece. Not to take away from any of the other albums in the NIN catalog, this one though, it’s just otherworldly. For the past 26 years of listening to this album it’s never gotten old. It still sounds fresh to my ears and it still gets me in the feels every time. If you haven’t listened to The Fragile in a long time, that should be on your list too!

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: IDLE HERIS- LIFE IS VIOLENCE

It’s only April and I believe I have found the album of the year. A couple weeks back I introduced you to the band Idle Heirs. I’ve been enthralled by this album from the moment I heard it in full. The singles definitely got me right off the bat as well. The 8 tracks on the album are some of the most gut wrenching, soul bearing and intense performances I’ve heard on record. Written by Coalesce’s Sean Ingram and Multi Instrumentalist/Producer Josh Barber, Life Is Violence, just set a new standard of what the “post-metal” genre should be.

I’ve mentioned in other reviews of mine that I don’t want to dissect each song as I feel that it truly takes away from the listeners experience of the album. The rawness, intensity and emotional charge that this album brings out of oneself is quite an accomplishment. It’s one of those albums that is like a mirror that responds back to you. The personal elements found throughout this album are eye opening and cut pretty deep. The way those emotions that are poured into these songs are enough to make you uncomfortable but, in a good way that is quite introspective. The vulnerability that Sean Ingram delivers on these songs is uncanny. The deeper you listen, the more you hear all the pain, anguish, remorse, sorrow and more in his vocal performance. I can only imagine how much more his live performance of this would be. I’ve seen Coalesce and this has got to be even more intense than that. There’s that word again “intense.” That’s truly what this album is. Musically Sean and Josh Barber crafted songs that not only are heavy in the traditional senses but, allowed for all the lyrical concepts to come to life through different instruments be it a simple shuffle on the drums, atmospheric soundscapes, sludgy tones, bright tones and a plethora of more. Life Is Violence is a great title for this album as that is a great summation of what this all sounds like.

When I first heard this band/album it immediately struck a chord with me. I don’t know what I was looking for at the time but, this was the one. For the past few weeks I’ve truly soaked this album up. It’s become one of those I can’t go a day without listening to it at least once. The eruption of brilliance that is poured out over 51 minutes is pretty astounding. I’d love to know more about the recording of this album because there are so many great nuances to it, that I’m just beyond curious to know. This is seriously one of those special albums that feels magical and for lack of a better phrase “Lightning In A Bottle.” What an incredible album and foundation to start with because, I sure hope this project keeps going. This is the power of music at its finest. The connection to a record and all that it brings. Thank you Sean and Josh for what you put into this to make what I truly consider to the the album of 2025!

OVERALL RATING= A

IDLE HEIRS- LIFE IS VIOLENCE:

THE VIDEOS:

Rare Bird:

Dead Ringer:

Pillow Talk:

LIVE REVIEW: MESHUGGAH AT THE FORUM-04.09.25

For well over 30 years now, Meshuggah have long been one of the heaviest and most visceral auditory bands to see live and hear on a record. The gents in Meshuggah have long cemented themselves in the lore of heavy music and then some. Their influence on countless bands alone is astronomical. I can remember back to about 1998/1999 when I first heard Meshuggah. At first I was completely perplexed by them and how the hell they were pulling this off. Then fast forward to about 2001/2002 and Tool put out Lateralus and took Meshuggah out as their opener. That show was what really made me a believer. Also, I still to this day, don’t know how Tool was able to go on night after night as Meshuggah would rip those audiences apart!

This nice spring night in April at the Forum was a night for a grand celebration of not just heavy music but to show that Meshuggah is at the top of the musical food chain for good reason. I must say having soft jams play before the onslaught began was a nice touch especially walking out to “Careless Whisper.” From that point as the stage was dark and shadowy figures appeared and then… “Broken Cog” from Immutable kicks things off with one hell of a bang. Then a barrage of absolute beatdown songs “Violent Sleep Of Reason,” “Rational Gaze (one of my all time favorites),” and “Combustion.” Throughout the set the lights really brought the songs to life in a whole other way kind of like how a kaleidoscope looks on the inside. Other choice cuts for the evening included “Lethargica,” “Swarm,” and of course the classic “Future Breed Machine.” For the encore, “Bleed” was right out of the gate after a moment of pause. From the get go, the audience was completely sucked into the world of Meshuggah. The sheer volume that was permeating through The Forum was another thing all on it’s own. I kept looking up and around and saw the roof shaking a bit and then even outside, the rumble was making the security guards shake their head in disbelief. Put it this way, this was a LOUD show and it should be! The way that Jens Kidman, Tomas Haake, Fredrik Thordendal, Marten Hagstrom, and Dirk Lovgren are so precise is another show to watch all on their own .

Also playing this evening were Carcass (who we missed- thanks LA traffic on a Wednesday) and Cannibal Corpse. Cannibal I did get to see. It’s been since 2001/2002 since I last saw Cannibal and they are still badass and awesome. I was having quite the fun time watching them deliver a brutal set. I forgot how technical they are as a band and the tone those guys have is quite unique to them. You can hear others try to cop that one but, it’s not quite right. The head banging too, that was a sight to see. My neck was sore just from watching them head bang onstage especially Corpsegrinder. That guy really is the champ. Their set although short was another one that was chock full of classics and some other choice cuts. My buddy and podcast co-host Justin, is a big Cannibal fan so the enjoyment he was having was quite fun!

This was a great show. Meshuggah absolutely brought it and delivered a set and show that I hope is released as a live album. What a great show. It’s quite the heavy tour. I will say, it does feel like it’s missing that one direct support band to really put it over. Don’t get me wrong this lineup is great, it just felt like there should have been 1 more band to really up the energy and blow the roof literally off The Forum.

Overall Rating: A

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

Meshuggah Set List:
01) Broken Cog
02) Violent Sleep Of Reason
03) Rational Gaze
04) Combustion
05) Kaleidoscope
06) God He Sees In Mirrors
07) Lethargica
08) Born In Dissonance
09) Dancers To A Discordant System
10) Swarm
11) Future Breed Machine
ENCORE
12) Bleed
13) Demiurge

Cannibal Corpse Set List:
01) Scourge Of Iron
02) Blood Bind
03) Inhumane Harvest
04) Evisceration Plague
05) Death Walking Terror
06) Unleashing The Bloodthirsty
07) Summoned For Sacrifice
08) I Cum Blood
09) Stripped, Raped and Strangled
10) Hammer Smashed Face


Meshuggah Photos:

Cannibal Corpse Photos:

LIVE REVIEW: POISON THE WELL/ GLASSJAW/ BETTER LOVERS at Hollywood Palladium- 04.04.25

Every so often, a band will release an album that changes everything for the band and genre. 25 years ago, Poison The Well released their debut full length, The Opposite Of December and it set forth a path that would go on to help pioneer a genre and inspire a new bunch of bands. Their distinctive “metalcore” sound has become often imitated but, there’s nothing like hearing the real thing! Joining Poison The Well on this celebratory tour are 2 of my favorites new and old in Better Lovers and Glassjaw as well as Teenage Wrist. When this show pulled into the Hollywood Palladium on a beautiful Friday night, the wake of destruction that was upon all those in attendance would not be for the faint of heart. This show was designed to go off the instant it starts and oh boy did it! NOTE- Continued on next page (look below).

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LIVE SHOW REVIEW: DANZIG & DOWN At The Forum- 3.28.25

I love when it’s been a long while since you’ve seen a certain band live, then you go to the show and it’s just what you wanted it to be and even a little bit more too, since it’s been that long in between shows. This past weekend I went to see Danzig (who I haven’t seen live since 2013) and one of my all time favorite bands, Down (who I haven’t seen live in almost 10 years) at The Forum. What a show it was too. Also playing this evening were Abbath (first time seeing them live) and Cro-Mags (didn’t catch them). The Forum over the last decade plus has really stepped up their game in terms of sound, and the shows they hold. Getting to see Down here was quite special (think the last time they played the Forum was when they were on tour with Heaven And Hell (Dio era Black Sabbath).

First band I saw of the evening was Abbath. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a black metal band play and they sure were good. I forgot that the main guy was also previously in Immortal. Abbath was a good choice for this show (just thought of this, why wasn’t this tour billed as the new Blackest Of The Black tour- I’ll have to inquire). It was nice to see Norwegian Black Metal still thriving and destroying. Though I didn’t see Cro-Mags, the 1, 2 punch of Hardcore Punk then Black Metal is quite the way to open a show.


Now the part that really got me, DOWN!!! I love Down. I actually get into arguments with people because I like Down more than I like Pantera. To me Down just has more substance and depth. There’s nothing like seeing Down live and firing on all cylinders. It’s truly a magical thing to see and hear. Playing songs mainly from their classic debut, NOLA, as well as a couple from their second album, Down had the crowd in the palm of their hand for the hour they were on stage. The moment they all took the stage and the first notes of “Lysergic Funeral Procession” began, you knew that you were in for one hell of a set. From there it was just classic after classic. It’s always a pleasure to hear favorites of mine like “Losing All,” “Ghosts Along The Mississippi,” one of the best Track One’s of all time “Temptation’s Wings,” and one of the best closers too in “Bury Me In Smoke.” I also love that during the “Bury Me In Smoke” Phil sang the a bit of “Nothing In Return (Walk Away)” and that absolutely was a special moment. I love that song. It’s so epic that it too should be played live! Down was on fire and everyone sounded killer. Watching Philip, Pepper, Kirk, Jimmy and Pat on stage truly having fun and ripping through a great set like that is why I love going to concerts and seeing my favorite bands, Down especially!


Danzig headlined this evening and by the time he went on and the lights went down, it was sure time for things to get a bit darker. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Danzig live. The last time was probably the best Danzig show I have ever seen. This show is right up there though. There’s such a fun theatricalness to a Danzig show that it keeps you into it. Knowing his audience well, the set consisted of songs mostly from the first 3 albums with a few scattered ones from Danzig IV, Circle Of Snakes, and Deth Red Sabaoth. Personally I love Danzig III so getting to hear any of the songs from that album is a joy for me. The performance this evening of “How The Gods Kill” was great (you can watch it on the Audioeclectica Instagram page). Glenn is still one hell of a frontman and when he’s on like he was this evening, it’s pretty spectacular. Joining Glenn on stage was longtime Danzig collaborator and Prong’s Tommy Victor on guitar, Samhain’s Steve Zing on bass and Karl Rosquist on drums. Watching the crowd get into the show song by song was interesting. You could tell who knew more than just a handful of songs. Either way, it was a great bill all around.

DOWN Set List:
01) Lysergik Funeral Procession
02) Lifer
03) Hail The Leaf
04) Ghosts Along The Mississippi
05) Pillars Of Eternity
06) Temptation’s Wings
07) Stone The Crow
08) Eyes Of The South
09) Bury Me In Smoke

DANZIG Set List:
01) Skin Carver
02) Brand New God
03) Twist Of Cain
04) Evil Thing
05) Hammer Of The Gods
06) How The Gods Kill
07) Her Black Wings
08) Killer Wolf
09) Black Hell
10) Tired Of Being Alive
11) The Hunter (Albert King Cover)
12) Am I Demon
13) Not Of This World
14) Mother
ENCORE:
15) She Rides
16) Dirty Black Summer
17) Do You Wear The Mark

DOWN PHOTOS:








DANZIG PHOTOS:

SHOPPING WITH AUDIOECLECTICA: The Record Collector- Hollywood, CA


One of my favorite things to do is go shopping for music, movies, books, memorabillia, and then some. Depending on the store and what I’m searching for, I can spend hours at a time in these stores. I thought it would be fun to bring attention to these stores. Tell you about the store, the stock they have, condition things are in, prices, how the place is in general, even get into how the people that work there are. As of late, my friend and podcast co-host Justin and I have been taking excursions to a variety of different stores. Some that we have been to a ton, some that we haven’t been to in years, and new ones that we’ve been meaning to check out. So with that in mind, go shopping with Audioeclectica.

For the first one it’s only fitting that I write about the oldest record store in Los Angeles, The Record Collector. Located in Hollywood off of Melrose Ave, The Record Collector has been there for over 50 years. This store is an amazing place for its rich history, detailed and archived collection, and very knowledgeable guys that work there. Upon walking in you are surrounded by giant shelves full of vinyl records and classic film posters. One of the other things I noticed was how clean it was. For a store that’s been around this long, it’s quite a sight to see on its own. This is one of those kinds of stores that you should absolutely bring a list at. It’s much easier to have what you are looking for and they can search it out for you. I have a list that I always have with me (a google doc/google sheet is a good idea!!!) and after looking over what I had on it, they only had one artist I had on my list (it was The Allman Brothers). Most of the stock The Record Collector has is from 1980 and before specializing in jazz, classical and scores/soundtracks. The quality of the LP’s that they showed me were in great shape and condition and the price was quite right. The owner, his name is Sandy couldn’t have been nicer. He was quite the story teller too. Another thing that I really liked about this store was all the vintage stereos and speakers found throughout. The jazz album they had playing sounded great through the stereo that was 80 years old.

One of the other reasons why Justin and I went here besides him not ever going was, all the negative reviews on Yelp. We didn’t experience a single thing that these reviews mentioned. It was one of the most personable record store experience I’ve had in a a while. Being in the age that we are in now, of course there would be people that go out of their way to put negativity out there, and especially the elitist record collectors. This store is a gem and should be treated as such. I’d give this experience and store a 10 out of 10. I look forward to going back with a list of jazz albums to get.

By: Brian Lacy

Address:
7809 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Instagram: @recordcollector.melrose

LIVE REVIEW: DEFTONES AT THE FORUM

It’s been 10 years since I’ve seen Deftones live. I’ve seen them at least 12 times in my life before last night. I had taken a bit of a break from seeing them for a myriad of reasons but, I’m really glad that a couple friends said “Brian, I got an extra ticket and you are going to Deftones with us.” And what a show it was. Before I get into all the fun of the night, I will say this was one of the best Deftones shows I’ve been to. There is something special about this new run for them and I’m quite excited to hear what’s to come.

Just before 9pm the hype music started and all sorts of 80’s dance songs started pumping through the Forum. The looks on peoples faces was quite a sight to see as you could tell people were most definitely getting hyped up and ready for the onslaught. Then the lights went down, and Stephen Carpenter appeared on stage and then you heard the start of it all and BAM… “Be Quiet And Drive” kicks it all off and with a trademark Chino scream to really kick it off. The groove of that song had the entire crowd on their feet and immediately drawn into the show. From there it was just classics and fan favorites throughout the night. Songs from every album were played making it a well rounded set. Some of my favorite highlights were “Diamond Eyes,” “You’ve Seen The Butcher,” “Rocket Skates” the tour debuts of both “Around The Fur” and “Headup” (both of which are on the Audioeclectica Instagram page for you to view) as well as “Rosemary,” ” Hole In The Earth” and “Bored.” The production behind the band was quite awesome too. I think this is the biggest production they’ve had in a long time. The visuals playing behind the band and the different camera angles of each member made for a pretty visually stunning background. Abe Cunningham is still a beast on the drums. I find myself watching him a lot at Deftones shows cause he’s so damn good. Frank Delgado’s textures and keys really do add to these songs and live it’s even more fun to hear those nuances. Stephen Carpenter looked like he was genuinely having fun on stage more so than I’ve seen in years. Chino sounded great and his energy is absolutely infectious as it’s always been. The cardio workout he does must be something else! Then you have new comers Fred Sablan on bass who did a great job of holding that low end down. It is still a little weird not to have Chi or Sergio up there but Fred is doing a great job. And I want to give big props to Lance Jackman who has been joining the band on the road for a bit now on guitar and backing vocals. He really adds another layer to these songs that was sort of missing for a bit. All these pieces together really made for a great Deftones show and experience.

Now, this is the part of the review where I’m going to get serious. Having The Mars Volta as direct support on paper was a great idea. Whoever in their camp that came up with the idea to play only their upcoming album really needs to be slapped upside the head. That was one of the most insufferable sets I’ve sat/stood through. I’ve walked out on The Mars Volta in years past for just basically jamming on stage for however long they were on. This was a total self indulgent set. And while I get they wanted to try something new and different, it didn’t work. In fact it damn near sucked the energy out of the entire arena. It’s a shame too cause as musicians they are fantastic but, good lord are they boring. I’d rather be watching paint drip off a wall than see The Mars Volta ever again. Seriously guys, get over yourselves and play at least a good chunk of songs people would know. Selfishness as direct support is ridiculous.

The opening band Fleshwater was cool and had a fun sound that is reminiscent of more mellow Deftones and Siamese Dream era Smashing Pumpkins. They had a good energy on stage and tried their damnedest to get the crowd going but, when you have too much of a shoegaze sound it does tend to all bleed into one and it gets lost. Again, that’s not to say they aren’t a good band, they are a good one, they just need a bit more of an edge to push those songs into your chest. Also, considering that a few of the members are from the band Vein.fm, I did expect a little more but, I did enjoy what I heard.

Basically, I was there to see Deftones and they delivered a great set and one that was chock full of some of my all time favorite songs of theirs. Selling out two nights at the Forum at this stage in their career is a great accomplishment and one they should be quite proud of. This was seriously one of the best Deftones shows I’ve seen since I started to see them live back in 1998 (yeah I know I’m getting old hahaha). I look forward to the new Deftones album when it comes out and seeing them again. Hopefully next time with openers that bring it!

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

DEFTONES PHOTOS (not many as I was too busy watching the show):

DEFTONES SET LIST:
01) Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)
02) My Own Summer (Shove It)
03) Diamond Eyes
04) Tempest
05) Swerve City
06) Feiticeria
07) Digital Bath
08) Prayers/Triangles
09) You’ve Seen The Butcher
10) Rocket Skates
11) Sextape
12) Around The Fur (Tour Debut)
13) Headup (Tour Debut)
14) Rosemary
15) Hole In The Earth
16) Change (In The House Of Flies
17) Genesis

ENCORE:
18) Minerva
19) Bored
20) 7 Words

LIVE REVIEW: JERRY CANTRELL AT VENTURA THEATER

Going solo is never an easy thing but, when you are such a prolific songwriter and player, sometimes you need to go at it on your own to explore ideas that might not have fallen into the realm of the main band. For Jerry Cantrell the transition between being in Alice In Chains and his solo work carries over in such a way that you can still get a bit of the Alice touch but, the work on his own delves a bit deeper into the inspirations that have guided Jerry. When you listen to his latest album, I Want Blood, you can definitely hear the way Jerry lets those inspirations guide where the songs go and it’s quite the album and listening pleasure. So when the time came for this tour, it was an absolute necessity to go.

As the time hit 9:15 and the lights went down, the energy inside the musty and sweaty Ventura Theater got really going as Jerry Cantrell hit the stage and started things off with “Psychotic Break” from his wonderful second solo album, Degredation Trip. Then just as things were getting going… BAM, we get hit with “Them Bones.” Talk about a 1, 2 punch! From that point the audience was in the palm of Jerry and his band’s hands. The songs from I Want Blood seem to have taken quite the sip of blood as each song played had a ferociousness that kept growing as each song was played. Songs like “Villified,” “Afterglow,” “Off The Rails” really hit hard and vent straight for the veins. The songs from Brighten even hit in a different way than I remember giving them a bit more of an edgy turn. Even the older solo material played from Boggy Depot and Degredation Trip sounded fresh and full of gusto. Then there’s the handful of Alice In Chains songs that were played that still give me chills no matter how many times I’ve heard those songs or seen them played live. Getting to hear “Hate To Feel” live was beyond a treat. I’ve personally been waiting years to hear that song live and wow, what a performance it was.

I really must say that the live band that is accompanying Jerry on this tour is beyond fantastic. On drums you have one of my all time favorite drummers in Roy Mayorga. The way Roy plays is amazing. He hits so hard that you feel each drum beat pulsating through your body. And his style mixed with Jerry is a real treat. On bass Eliot Lorango held that low end down with precision and you could tell this guy was truly having fun up there. On second guitar with Jerry is Zach Throne. Zach is one hell of a player too and the way he approached these songs and plays off of Jerry is quite fun to watch and hear. Then you have Greg Puciato on vocals and I could seriously write a whole article on Greg (and one day I probably will). The way Greg sings and takes these songs on is exceptional. Being a giant Layne fan and a William DuVall fan, Greg really knows how to inhabit these songs and bring his style to them. Not to mention the sheer emotion he pours into them. Jerry and Greg’s voices together is something quite special just like how Jerry and Layne were magical and same with William. The sum of all these pieces make for one hell of a performance and band. It’s not Alice and it’s not supposed to be. This is Jerry solo and it’s got it’s own special charm.

Also playing this evening was Filter. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen Filter live and they delivered a really solid opening set. Their most recent album, The Algorithim is quite a good record and the couple songs from it that were performed this evening sounded great. Now when they got to playing “Jurrasitol” that’s when I could see the crowd start to get into the show. That song is one hell of a track and I’m glad it’s been a Filter staple for a long time. Though their set was short it was a very fun set that definitely set up the tone for the rest of the night. One other song that Filter played that I’ve always loved is “Welcome To The Fold.” That song and the riff is so damn good. And of course no Filter show is ever complete without “Hey Man Nice Shot.” No matter how many times I hear that song, I still love it.

What a night for rock music and on a rainy Wednesday night, this showed that rock is for sure not dead. The place was packed and full of people having a great night. I couldn’t help myself from singing along through most of the night. As a die hard Alice In Chains fan, getting to see Jerry do his thing solo is an absolute treat. He’s a legend for a reason and there’s no shortage of great songs that he has. I look forward to more Jerry and more from Alice In Chains. This show was one of those that I will look back on quite fondly and it’s also one of those shows that has left me inspired. So I thank Jerry, Greg, Roy, Zach and Eliot for that along with Filter. Do yourself a favor and go listen to Jerry’s solo albums if you haven’t. and go listen to Filter too!


Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

Jerry Cantrell Photos:

FILTER PICTURES:


JERRY CANTRELL SET LIST:

01) Psychotic Break
02) Them Bones
03) Vilified
04) Afterglow
05) Atone
06) Off The Rails
07) Held Your Tongue
08) Down In A Hole
09) Cut You In
10) My Song
11) I Want Blood
12) Man In The Box
13) Had To Know
14) Angel Eyes
15) Hate To Feel
16) Would

Encore
17) Let It Lie
18) Brighten
19) Rooster

FILTER SET LIST:
01) You Walk Away
02) The Drowning
03) For The Beaten
04) (Can’t You) Trip Like I Do
05) Jurrasitol
06) Take A Picture
07) Drug Boy
08) Welcome To The Fold
09) Hey Man Nice Shot

LIVE REVIEW: HELMET AT THE REGENT THEATER


There are quite a few bands from the 90’s that are a huge influence and inspiration for bands today. The resurgence of that sound is coming back around and while it’s been fun to hear some of these bands, there is nothing like the ones that pioneered that sound and style. Helmet is one of those band from the 90’s that can be heard in so many bands of the last 20 plus years be it Linkin Park, Chevelle, Deftones and more. Which is why when the chance to go see Helmet play their classic album, Betty in full came up, it was an absolute no brainer to go.

From the moment Helmet took the stage and the feedback started and then launching straight into “Wilma’s Rainbow” you knew this night was going to be special. Playing Betty in order meant that I got to hear one of, if not my favorite Helmet song quite early which is “I Know.” That song is so damn good. It’s one of those too that you can tell many bands have ripped off. Throughout the play through of Betty the band kept the train rolling without breaks making the show quite an immersive experience. Betty has a plethora of great songs including “Biscuits For Smut,” “Milktoast/Milquetoast,” “Tic,” “Street Crab,” “Speechless” and the always fun “Overrated.” The whole play through of Betty was superb and the crowd was super into it. Watching people singing along, moshing, headbanging, swaying, it was all just great. Then came a whole other set featuring songs from Meantime, Aftertaste, Strap It On and their most recent albums, Dead To The World and Left. As a giant fan of Meantime and Aftertaste it was quite awesome to hear those songs especially “Driving Nowhere” from Aftertaste (which I truly believe to be one of the more underrated albums of the 90’s). They also threw in their song “Just Another Victim” from the Judgement Night soundtrack and the crowd went nuts for that one. Didn’t hurt that it was played right after “Unsung” either!

The Regent Theater was packed from the front to the back and upstairs as well. Helmet absolutely decimated the venue with the volume and aggressive performance that left me wanting to go home and riff out. I haven’t been to a show in a while where I have left feeling like that. Page Hamilton is still a force of nature on guitar and one of the most innovative guitarists. Plus those little jazz licks that he throws in just adds to the fun. This lineup of Helmet has been with Page since 2010 and you can most definitely tell how tight the band is not to mention the amount of fun they have up there. Guitarist Dan Beeman is one hell of a player and he brings it each and every night to the songs new and old. He’s got this tone that matches Page’s so well that when you hear it in unison it’s this gigantic wall of sound that will blow your hair back. Then you add in bassist Dave Case and his rumbling low end and drummer Kyle Stevenson and his thunderous groove. Add those all up and you’ve got one hell of a band. Helmet live in 2025 is one hell of a show and I will most definitely be going back again next time they are in LA.

Also playing this evening was a band I was not familiar with called Slomosa. I’ve been trying not to check out the opening bands like I used to so I could go in with fresh ears and I’m glad I did. These Norwegians kicked ass. They have this really cool style that sounds like Songs For The Deaf era Queens Of The Stone Age mixed with Master Of Reality era Black Sabbath along with a bit of Helmet in there. Slomosa is anything but slow. They are one hell of a rock band and I really hope more people get to hear them as they are now on my radar for sure!

I’ve been to a few shows already this year and I have to say this one is going to probably stay in my top ten of the year. Thank you Page, Dan, Dave and Kyle for one hell of a show and the chat! Can’t wait to see Helmet again. And if Helmet is in your neck of the woods, get out to the show! You won’t regret it!


Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

HELMET:

SLOMOSA:

HELMET SET LIST:

Betty (Set I):
01) Wilma’s Rainbow
02) I Know
03) Biscuits For Smut
04) Milquetoast
05) Tic
06) Rollo
07) Street Crab
08) Clean
09) Vaccination
10) Beautiful Love
11) Speechless
12) The Silver Hawaiian
13) Overrated
14) Sam Hell

Set II:

15) Ironhead
16) Drunk In The Afternoon
17) Birth Defect
18) Broadcast Emotion
19) Bad Mood
20) Dislocated
21) Driving Nowhere

Set III (Encore):

22) Gun Fluff
23) Unsung
24) Just Another Victim
25) In The Meantime

LIVE REVIEW: KERRY KING AT THE FONDA

It’s not everyday that you get to have a second career this far into your career. 5 years ago when Slayer hung it up (or so they said- I even remember telling my friend Justin at the last Slayer show, “Give them 5 years and I would bet they will be back playing festivals at least.”). Well that premonition came true right at the same time Kerry King announced his debut solo album, From Hell I Rise. Technically I could say it’s his second since Slayer’s last album, Repentless, was basically a Kerry solo album but, From Hell I Rise, gave us all another chance to keep riding the Slayer wave.

A few months before this show at the Fonda, I went with a few friends to see Lamb Of God and Mastodon on the Ashes Of Leviathan tour. On that tour they had Kerry opening up for them. While the set was short, it definitely led me to want to see the show when they came through as a headliner as they left a lasting impression on me.

Kerry King’s live band is one hell of a group of guys. First on vocals you have Mark Osegueda from Death Angel. Mark’s one hell of a vocalist and does a superb job here. Even with the moments that sound like Tom Araya, Mark really has come into his own with these songs. On drums you have the ferocious Paul Bostaph. We all know what he’s capable of. Then on bass you have Kyle Sanders. Who if you don’t know if the older brother of Mastodon’s Troy Sanders and was a part of bands like Bloodsimple, Hellyeah, Medication and more. Kyle has one hell of a thunderous low end delivery and the way he plays is outstanding. And on the other lead guitar is one of my favorite guitar players, Phil Demmel. Phil is an absolute beast on the guitar. The leads he added to Kerry’s songs take those ones to all new heights.

The live show for Kerry and company is quite intense as you’d expect. There is no shortage of aggression and heaviness permeating from the stage to audience. The Fonda in Hollywood is one of my favorite spots to see a show as it’s big but not too big and just intimate enough to feel like you are really close. Kerry’s set included all songs from the debut album like my favorites such as “Toxic,” “Shrapnel,” “Tension,” and “Residue” as well as 2 stellar Iron Maiden covers (“Purgatory and “Killers”), and a handful of Slayer songs including of course “Raining Blood.” Though it was cool to hear “At Dawn They Sleep” from Hell Awaits as well as “Disciple” from God Hates Us All. The band throughout the set was on absolute fire from the get go. The way Kerry and Phil play off each other is quite the the sight to see and hear. If you are missing Slayer, get yourself to a Kerry show and it will help with the withdrawls. One other thing before I close this out, I get that this is the Kerry King solo band now but, with a lineup of gents like this, I really hope that when it comes time to write the next album, these guys especially Phil Demmel, are brought in to write cause, if they do, I can definitely see the next album being one that just DESTROYS!

Review By: Brian Lacy (sorry no photos- was too into watching the show)

Set List:

01) Where I Reign
02) Rage
03) Trophies Of The Tyrant
04) Residue
05) Two Fists
06) Idle Hands
07) Repentless (Slayer Cover)
08) Toxic
09) Tension
10) Everything I Hate About You
11) Disciple (Slayer Cover)
12) Purgatory (Iron Maiden Cover)
13) Killers (Iron Maiden Cover)
14) Crucifixation
15) At Dawn They Sleep (Slayer Cover)
16) Shrapnel
17) Raining Blood (Slayer Cover)
18) Black Magic (Slayer Cover)
19) From Hell I Rise