13 Bands in 13 Days!

I just got home earlier this afternoon from my third Nonpoint show in the last year and a half. After having no shows the first couple months of the year, I realized on my way home that I'd seen thirteen bands play live in the last thirteen days!

I drove down to Rochester, MN yesterday afternoon, on a brisk spring day. I was a little surprised to see snow in the fields as I drove to my hotel, forgetting that the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota had gotten a lot more snow than the paltry half-inch of snow we'd gotten in a couple of storms earlier in the week.

I made it to my hotel and was able to unpack and relax a bit before grabbing a quick bite to eat on my way to the Wicked Moose Bar and Grill for the show. I hadn't been to the venue since seeing Sevendust headline there a couple of summers ago, so I was looking forward to another great show and to meeting a few friends there.

Shortly after 7 p.m. the band room doors opened. An hour later, the first act, Minneapolis rockers Emergent, began their set. They put on a good show, and I found myself tracking singer Aaron Dahl as he moved from atop a high set of speakers during one song to running around singing in the crowd the next song. The band room was just starting to fill up as they finished their six song performance.

The next act, Scare Don't Fear, reminded me of Linkin Park with their singer/rapper dual vocalists. They ran through a half-dozen originals and an Eminem cover, leaving the anxious audience wanting more music. I was glad that I was able to talk to one of the singers a bit after the show and congratulate him on a great show.

I'd heard nothing but good things about the final opener, and I have to say I was impressed by Alaska natives 36 Crazyfists. Their high-energy songs and stage presence really kept the audience enthralled from the first note to the very last. I didn't know much about their music, but I made a mental note to check them out online afterwards.

During the opening acts, I met a few fellow Nonpoint fans as I kept my eyes open for my friends that were going to the show. I got a message afterwards from a friend who had to leave early, but I spotted another friend during the intermission before Nonpoint's set. We quickly made our way to the front of the pit, just in time for the band to kick off their 15 songs with the hit single "Mindtrip."

My friend and I and the rest of my fellow pit occupants were thrilled to hear the opening licks to the hit single "Breaking Skin" next, the first single off the band's 2014 album The Return. Frontman Elias Soriano, bassist Adam Woloszyn, guitarists BC Kochmit and Rasheed Thomas and drummer Robb Rivera kept the crowds happily jumping up and down throughout the evening to the new songs and Nonpoint classics.

At the end of the set, my friend grabbed a Nonpoint setlist that she later had the band autograph. While she was looking for a couple of other friends she arrived to the show with, I made my way to the merch table to have the band autograph my CD booklet from The Return. I was in line when Kochmit appeared to my left, and I joked with him a bit as he made his way to the merch table. Of course, I had to take a selfie with him afterwards too!

I rejoined my friend and her companions, and after her setlist got signed by Nonpoint, we all headed out to the North Star Bar in downtown Rochester to enjoy more live music by local cover band Gel. It was a great way to end an already great evening, by just listening to local musicians, talk, smile, laugh, dance and generally just have a great time.

I drove back to my hotel room late last night with a constant smile, reflecting on the terrific time I'd just had. Hard to believe I've been able to enjoy so much great music in just a few short weeks. Nonpoint always puts on a great show, and I've really been enjoying the newer local and national artists I've heard live in concert lately too. My friends and I already talking about going to more concerts in the next few months.

Well that's all for now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!

Bucky's Concert Review: Luminoth, Glorious Sons, Otherwise & 10 Years at Pov's

After not having a concert in three months, I find myself with tickets to three rock shows this month! The first one featured Romantic Rebel, 3 Years Hollow, Islander and Red at Pov's in Spring Lake Park, MN. The second one was last night's show by Luminoth, Glorious Sons, Otherwise and 10 Years, also at Pov's.

I got to the venue early enough last night to walk in and end up talking to three members of opening act Luminoth. I enjoyed getting to hear their road stories during the current tour, and thought they did a good job of entertaining a crowd that was largely unfamiliar with their music later in the evening.

The second opener, Kingston, Ontario natives Glorious Sons brought an angry classic rock swagger to the small stage at Pov's. They even brought 10 Years guitarist Ryan "Tater" Johnson onstage to sing the song "White Music" with them. They rattled through a half-dozen heavy songs, leaving the audience eager for more energy from Otherwise. 

I first saw Otherwise perform a couple of summers ago opening for Sevendust at the Wicked Moose Bar & Grill in Rochester, MN, and they started their set with the song "Die for You" from their debut album True Love Never Dies. I enjoyed hearing the hit singles from this album and last year's release Peace At All Costs. They finished their seven-song set with the fan favorite "Soldiers," but not before inviting the audience to their show in their native Las Vegas in April and also asked the fans to meet them after the show at the merch booth in the back of the venue.

Shortly before 11 p.m., 10 Years started their set with the song "Backlash" from their most recent album, 2012's Minus the Machine. A couple of songs later, the band recruited Otherwise frontman Adrian Patrick onstage to help them sing "Fix Me," one of my favorite 10 Years tracks. The band then launched into their new single "Miscellanea" from their upcoming album From Birth to Burial. I loved the heavy song, wanting to hear it live, especially since seeing the music video for the song's debut on Tuesday.

After the song, Tater gave frontman Jesse Hasek some good-natured grief for playing the song earlier than it was listed on their set list. Hasek made the best of the error, saying he'd decided to audible. It also became a running joke during the evening, as Jesse would later introduce each new song being played as Miscellanea. Just more of the band's trademark tongue-in-cheek humor.

The band finished their memorable performance with another guest, Adam from Luminoth, joining them for the hit "Shoot It Out" before closing out with the title track from the new album being released this April. After the show, I got to chat with all of the members of Otherwise, bought their new CD for them to sign and posed for a  group photo with the band. I also bought a copy of 10 Years' 2008 album Division for frontman Jesse Hasek to sign. I also got a photo op with him and had a nice chat with him, just like I did at their last show at Pov's in August. I learned that Jesse is left-handed like me, which comes in handy for signing autographs and hand-painting the drum heads that are for sale at each show. The band has been on tour for six weeks, and have just a couple dates left in this current tour run. 

I only got a couple of hours of sleep last night, but I definitely had a lot of fun at last night's show! Already looking forward to show #3 of March, featuring Nonpoint at the Wicked Moose in Rochester, MN next Friday. That's all for now, so until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!

Bucky's 1st Concert of 2015: Romantic Rebel, 3 Years Hollow, Islander and Red at Pov's

Good morning bloggers!

Just getting up and at 'em after my first concert of 2015. Last night I went to Pov's in Spring Lake Park, MN (Twin Cities suburbs, near Blaine) for the show featuring Romantic Rebel, 3 Years Hollow, Islander and Red. I went into the show not knowing much about any of the bands or their music. I had zero expectations and ended up having a great time!

I got to the venue on a spring-like March afternoon about 6 p.m. I ended up talking to a few Red fans before the show. Not knowing much about the headliner, I was surprised by the growing line of fans outside the venue. The doors opened at 7 p.m. and I took my place in the middle of the front row with the fans I'd been talking to earlier.

The first band, Romantic Rebel, took the stage right at 8 p.m. I had taken the time to listen to some of their songs on Spotify a couple of weeks ago, and I was impressed by their stage presence and positive energy. Lead singer KT Paige jumped to the crowd barrier, and I took her hand for a few minutes. Impressed by their show, I made a mental note to pick up their album at the merch table after the show.

The next band, 3 Years Hollow, was the one act on the bill that I knew something about. I'd bought a copy of their full-length CD The Cracks on Amazon last year, and was glad to hear some of my favorite songs on the disc played live. Lead singer Jose Urquiza mentioned that the album was produced by Sevendust guitarist/singer Clint Lowery in the middle of their set, and when he asked if there were any Sevendust fans in the audience, drummer Ryan Bennett Oxendine pointed to me and my Sevendust shirt immediately. Eye Empire drummer Oxendine was recruited for their tour when their regular drummer and bass guitarist left the band (bass tracks were supplied by a tablet computer for the show), and I was glad I got to talk Minnesota Vikings football with him after the show. One of their guitarists gave me one of their set lists after their performance, another souvenir that's now proudly displayed on my rock wall of fame at home.

Third act Islander soon took the stage, and I was surprised their guitarist was wearing a fake dinosaur tail onstage! That's something I've never seen at a show before. The nu-metal band had a kind of Rage Against the Machine vibe, which the crowd fed off of. I had to be careful as some of the band members crowd surfed next to and behind me. At the end of their set, I felt something that I at first thought was a camera strap behind me, only to realize that it was the guitarist's guitar strap, not seeing him having jumped into the audience to my left.

Shortly before 10:30 p.m., headliners Red took the stage. Their rotating lights and fog machines made it hard to photograph and even see the band at times, but the crowd was into their music from the very first note. I thought they did a great job onstage, playing several tracks from their new album Of Beauty and Rage. I did some research later and found out they were associated with Christian rock, which was probably why I didn't know much about them before the show. There were a few references to God during the set, but it wasn't so much a sermon as a musical journey, one that reminded me of 30 Seconds to Mars with their stage presence and pre-recorded symphonic and keyboard elements.

Being in the front row, I was jostled around like a sack of potatoes at times during the last couple of sets, but as always I came out unharmed. I made my way to the back of the venue where I bought a T-shirt from 3 Years Hollow that came with a copy of their new CD. I got to chat with all of the guys and had them sign the CD and setlist that I'd gotten earlier. I also got to talk to the members of Romantic Rebel, bought their new CD that came with a free sticker, and posed for a photo op with the band. I got to interact with members of all the bands onstage last night, so that alone made for a very memorable evening.

Hard to believe my first concert of the year has come and gone already. I can't wait for my second concert, this Thursday back at Pov's featuring The Glorious Sons, Luminoth, Otherwise and 10 Years! Until then, have a great weekend, everyone!