Monday, August 24, 2015

Midwest Music with Friends

Got home early this morning from a spur of the moment road trip to Hipps Pub in Eau Claire, WI to meet friends for another great rock show! This time it was Omaha, NE natives Screaming for Silence and friends in the Kansas-based band Seasons After. I've met several members of these bands this year and have gotten to be good friends with the guys in Seasons After, so it was a fun night of music and laughter with good friends.

I got to the pub in time to catch up with a buddy of mine from Wisconsin who I hadn't seen in a few months. We caught up on shows and chatted with Zeb from Screaming for Silence and Chris from Seasons After before the music began while we waited for a couple of other concert friends to arrive. All of my concert friends and I who were at last night's show have been active in promoting these bands on social media when we can, so it's kinda cool to be on a first-name basis with some great musicians.

A small crowd for a Sunday night gathered to see Screaming for Silence's set. I was fortunate enough to catch their live show twice during my birthday week last month, and their live set is just as tight and energetic as ever. I almost wished they would have played more songs, but it was a fun set that left the audience wanting more.

Before long, guitarists Chris Dawson and Jim Beattie, bassist Kyle Ebert and frontman Tony Housh (with Dan from the band Red filling in for Tim Rails behind the drum kit) took the stage for their headlining set. It was great to see these guys give it their all on a small stage again, and I could even see the smiles on their faces through the haze of the smoke machines as they fed off the energy from their friends in the audience. They ran through hits like "Lights Out," "One More Step," "So Long Goodbye" and the latest single "Weathered and Worn" before closing with "Cry Little Sister." I was enjoying the music and the crowd interactions so much that I could hardly believe when the show was over!

Afterwards, my friends and I chatted a bit with the band members and posed for some silly selfies before making our ways home before a busy workday today. If you missed Seasons After, they'll be headlining again tomorrow night at GB Leighton's Pickle Park in Fridley, MN. For only a $5 cover at the door, you can't afford to miss this show! See you there!

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Foo Fighters live at Xcel Energy Center

Three years ago, a classmate of mine attended the Foo Fighters' concert at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, their first stop on a lengthy album tour. I've regretted missing that show, so when the opportunity came around for me to finally see these guys in concert this year, I just couldn't miss this show! I've been a fan of the band ever since their first album came out, and I'm happy to say that their shows are well worth the money!

I got to downtown St. Paul last night shortly before 6 p.m., turning off of the freeway onto Rice Street, a drive I'm all to familiar with, having family in the area. By the time I parked in a ramp across the street and got in line outside the Xcel Energy Center, the doors soon opened. I had time to walk around, buy a souvenir T-shirt (I just had to buy one to commemorate the "Broken Leg Tour," in reference to frontman Dave Grohl's broken leg onstage in Sweden during a show in June), get a bite to eat and find my seat.

Shortly after 7 pm, the opening act, British duo Royal Blood, began the show. I knew a couple of their songs from one of my music channels. I wasn't a big fan, but I have to say that they really got the crowd interested and involved more and more as the show went on. I made a mental note to study up on this band a little later.

After a 40 minute set from Royal Blood and a surprisingly quick set change, the Foo Fighters took the stage with a strong rendition of my favorite Foos song "Everlong." The band had the sold-out show's crowd on their feet from the first note through the very last.

One of the first things people noticed was the fancy "throne" that motored its way slowly down the elongated stage for frontman Grohl to sing and play guitar from. The throne sat in the front of the crowd as the band played classics "Everlong," "Monkey Wrench" and "Learn to Fly" before it glided back to the rest of the band for the song "Something From Nothing," the first song from the band's latest album Sonic Highways.


The band played a few more songs from the new album and many of the band's classics from their 20-year catalog. At one point during the middle of the show, Grohl and keyboardist Rami Jaffee took to the front of the stage to perform acoustic renditions of "Skin and Bones" and "My Hero," with Grohl being helped on crutches to walk towards the front of the stage with a couple of touring crew members' assistance.

There were plenty of strong performances by bassist Nate Mendel, guitarists Chris Shifflett and Pat Smear, drummer Taylor Hawkins (who also sang lead vocals on "Cold Day in the Sun," a couple of classic rock covers and even a shout-out to the Minnesota Vikings), Jaffee and Grohl. Dave even acknowledged Cannon Falls, Minnesota, referencing a cold February when Nirvana recorded an album (at Pachyderm Studios).

Although not my favorite song, the Foos wrapped up their three hours of music with "Best of You," a song that Dave always gets a great crowd reaction from. The band was very appreciative of everyone who came out to the show, and walked toward the middle of the stage to bow and show their respect.

I made my way to my car and sat through a traffic delay waiting to get out of the parking ramp smiling as I looked at the photos I had taken, memories of a fantastic show! These guys really give it their all on stage! Hopefully this is the first of many more Foo encounters for me!

Next show's coming up soon - until then, have a great week, everyone!

Foo Fighters set list:
1. Everlong
2. Monkey Wrench
3. Learn to Fly
4. Something from Nothing
5. The Pretender
6. Big Me (Dave solo performance)
7. Congregation
8. Walk
9. Times Like These
10. I'm The One (Van Halen instrumental snippet)
11. Cold Day in the Sun
12. Skin and Bones (acoustic)
13. My Hero (acoustic)
14. Outside
15. Breakout
16. All My Life
17. Under Pressure (Queen & David Bowie cover)
18. White Limo
19. Arlandria
20. These Days
21. This is a Call
22. Ain't Talkin 'Bout Love (Van Halen cover)
23. Panama (Van Halen cover)
24. Miss You (Rolling Stones cover)
25. Best of You

Friday, August 14, 2015

10 Years & Nonppint Live at the Wicked Moose

Got home early this morning from the Wicked Moose Bar and Grill in Rochester, MN after another great rock show! Hadn't been there since March, when I went to see Nonpoint headline - had a great time and met a couple of true friends that I spent a lot of time enjoying the evening with. Last night Nonpoint was back, supporting 10 Years, another band that's really grown on me the last few years.

After having a bite to eat in the bar area, I made it to the stage in time to see the first opener, Awaken the Empire, perform. A friend had raved about their set from a few nights earlier, and I have to say that it was definitely different...in an entertaining way. They got the growing crowd curious enough to move closer to the front of the stage to check them out, anyway.

The next band were Brit rockers The Family Ruin. I enjoyed both their original songs and their brutal honesty, especially when the lead singer admitted that they had  run out of merchandise, and had come up with hand-made T-shirts for sale at their merch booth! Definitely a band worth checking out for that reason alone!

Soon it was time for more Nonpoint: this was my fifth time seeing them live in concert, and the fourth time in the last year. They opened with their trademark heavy energy, let up a little in the middle to play hits "Breaking Skin," "Misery and "Needles" from their latest album The Return, and closed with the fan favorites "What A Day," "In the Air Tonight" (a far better version than the Phil Collins original, in my opinion) and their traditional closing song "Bullet With a Name." I was lucky enough to get the attention of a few stagehands after their set and scored a setlist and one of guitarist Rasheed Thomas' guitar picks!

I made it up to the very front of the stage in time for 10 Years' set. They kicked off their performance with the title cut from their new album From Birth to Burial. This was my fourth 10 Years concert, and they've all been well worth the price of admission. I liked the mix of newer songs with classics like "Fix Me," "Beautiful," "Wasteland," "Actions and Motives" (with guest vocals onstage from the lead singer of Awaken the Empire) and "Shoot It Out." Anytime you can get close enough to one of your favorite bands to wipe the sweat from some of the band members off of yourself is always a fun show to me!

After the show, I caught up with a concert buddy of mine, got to catch up with 10 Years frontman Jesse Hasek again and pose for a photo op, and catch up with Nonpoint bassist Adam Woloszyn and had him sign my Nonpoint setlist. Another great night of live rock with great people!



Not sure what the next show will be just yet, but rest assured there's a lot more rock in store for me! Until next time, have a great week, everyone!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Pickle Park Playlist

I went to G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park music venue last Sunday to support my friends in local bands Ashes from Stone, and ended up hearing great sets by them, locals Life Tragic and Whither the Tide and New Zealand natives Like A Storm. Got to hear some great music, a little didgeridoo and electronic drums, and hang out with some good friends. Oh, and I got to see the Vikings win the first preseason football game of the year, too!

The show started with MN natives Life Tragic. They had a heavier Alice in Chains and Soundgarden kind of vibe to their music, which was about a half-dozen originals. I dug this band, and appreciated the fact that they interpreted the Prince pop song "When Doves Cry" into a metal composition uniquely their own.

Next up were my buddies in Ashes From Stone. They played a shorter set than I was used to, but they still carried on with their usual style and flair. Frontman Andrew Allen Owens broke a guitar string during their very first song, but still soldiered on with a strong performance. If you haven't heard these guys, I'd strongly recommend that you catch a show and pick up a copy of their debut album Riots and Riddles. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

The final opener were Minnesotans Whither The Tide. This was my third time seeing this band play live, the last time being at the Totally Fukn Awesome Fest at the Skyway Theater in downtown Minneapolis in June. I was impressed by their original songs, kind of a mix between nu-metal groups like Saliva, Live and Tonic with some strong electronic elements and a good video show behind them. I was glad that I got to talk to the lead singer after the show about some of his antics, like walking into the crowd during the middle of a song.

I didn't know anything about the headliners, but some of my friends assured me Like A Storm would put on a good show, and sure enough, they were right. I was chatting with some of my friends in the back of Pickle Park near the merch booths when we heard the sounds of a didgeridoo. That made me curious, so I walked towards the concert stage to see what was going on. It was the start of a great rock song, and they really got the crowd into their show. While I couldn't stay the for the whole performance, I definitely liked what I heard, and made a mental note to myself on the drive home to check them out later.

Well, that's all for now, folks - next show will be Nonpoint and 10 Years at the Wicked Moose Bar & Grill in Rochester, MN on Thursday night. Until then, have a great week, everyone!

Monday, August 3, 2015

Oops! Almost forgot about the GoodBars!

Halfway into a deep sleep last night, I realized I forgot to add a review of one of the better local shows I've seen in a while, namely the show at Pickle Park in Fridley, MN on Wednesday, July 22nd, headlined by national recording artists Royal Bliss. Supporting them on the bill were local artists Pandemic LLC, the Phoenix Philosophy and the GoodBars. A friend of mine raved about the GoodBars, so since I had the evening free, I had to check them out and found out for myself that the hype was well worth it!

The first band, Pandemic LLC, were more of an old-school metal group reminiscent of early Metallica. Their heavy riffs were great, but unfortunately there weren't a lot of music fans there yet to appreciate them. In fact, there were more people wrapping up their games of bar bingo, their attention drawn to the game rather than to the live music just mere feet to their right.

The next act, the Phoenix Philosophy, were more of a progressive rock band, similar to 30 Seconds to Mars, Linkin Park and Radiohead, among others. I'm not a huge fan of keyboard-based rock, but I liked how they fluctuated between the programmed sounds and straight-up rock riffs at times. The quartet (two guys and  two gals) did a good job of warming up the crowd trickling in for the next performers.

I got to chat with some of the members of the GoodBars before their set, and learned more about their "punk 'n roll" sounds just in time for their set to begin. Of all the bands I saw that night, I have to say that I enjoyed  them the most! A little reminiscent of early Judas Priest with a bit of the Cure tossed in, I was really impressed by their heavy original songs and mesmerizing stage presence. It was hard not to headbang along to all of their songs!

I didn't stay for the entire set by the headliners, Salt Lake City, Utah natives Royal Bliss, but I enjoyed as many of their modern rock songs as I could stick around for. I made a point to buy a couple of their CDs and took them with my GoodBars CD and setlist home with me on another beautiful Minnesota summer evening.

Not sure what the next show will be, but there are plenty more shows to go to that you'll get the recap about from me soon! Have a great week, everyone!

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Crobot at Pov's

I started the month of August with another rock show at Pov's, this time the rock/funk group Crobot was headlining. This was my third Crobot concert, having last seen them on the side stage at Northern Invasion in Somerset, WI back in May. However, this was my first time seeing them perform a headlining set, so it turned out to be a special occasion.

I got to Pov's in Spring Lake Park, MN just in time to catch up with a couple of buddies that I usually hang out at shows with. I also got to chat with a few friends in the first opening act Fifth Hour shortly before they took the stage. You've probably read enough about these guys to know how much I dig their music, having last seen them on Sunday July 19th at Rockfest in Cadott, WI. The local fans were out in support, and they breezed through a half-dozen favorites.

I was impressed by the next band, three-piece rockers Mothership. They reminded me of Southern rockers Black Stone Cherry and classic rockers Monster Truck, and they really kept the crowd entertained with their bluesy ballads.

I missed the next act Wilson, because I was hanging back with some new and old friends talking about music. I heard a few songs in passing, but didn't hear enough to have an educated opinion about them - next time, I guess.

I got back to the main stage in time to catch Crobot's headlining set. They played all songs from their debut album, and threw in several new songs that have yet to be recorded. They're a fun band, and I was glad that my friends and I were able to chat with them and pose for a few goofy pictures after the show too. I came home last night with a Crobot setlist and a few stickers, and of course lots of memories of great music and conversations with some outstanding people.

Well, I think I'm finally all caught up on my concert reviews now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!

Rockfest Observations

I attended a couple days of this year's Rockfest in Cadott, WI for the first time. I won't go into a full review here, but here's a few observations about this festival.

1. Parking is easier and the grounds are a lot smaller than Northern Invasion in Somerset, WI.
2. If it rains, be prepared to find cover and/or have rain gear handy. Lesson learned on the first day.
3. If you don't like an act on the main stage, there's plenty of bands performing on the side stages. I got to hear great music by Midwest acts KingShifter, Emergent, Cold Kingdom, Screaming for Silence and others on some of these stages.
4. The pit area in the main stage is different, it's actually sunken in between the stage and the general seating area in front. Be careful in there, it's a full concrete pit!
5. The most unexpected thing I saw was a wedding on Sunday - a couple journeyed from New Orleans to get married on one of the side stages after Screaming for Silence's set. Glad I was there to experience this, I still have the monogrammed handkerchief from the ceremony at home.


Otherwise at Pov's

On Friday, July 17th, I got to experience Las Vegas natives Otherwise headline a great show at Pov's on 65 in Spring Lake Park, MN. Another memorable concert full of great music with great people!

I had gotten back from Rockfest in Cadott, WI (more on that in my next blog post) in time to join my friends for the show. First up were my friends in Antistar. They took the crowd on a spacey sonic journey that had everyone revved up. Second time seeing this band in concert, and I really admire how much their music has grown on me.

The second act, locals Dividing Eden, was one I'd first heard live at the Tantric concert at Pov's a few months before. More of a pop group than a rock group, I enjoyed their catchy rhythms and looked forward to hearing more music.

While I was at Rockfest earlier in the day, I spied an Otherwise poster hanging on an ATM machine for their headlining set on one of the side stages the night before. I seized the opportunity and claimed the poster for my own, thinking it would be a nice souvenir to have the band sign at the show. A friend reminded me that some of the guys in the band were outside the venue getting ready for the show. I went out and chatted them up, getting a few signatures before their headlining set.

Soon, the guys in Otherwise took the stage, launching into hits from their two studio albums. This was my  third time overall seeing this band, and I always love their energy and positive message in their songs. Before I knew it, their set breezed by and I had a guitar pick in my hand from guitarist Ryan Patrick! I caught up with my friends and got my remaining signatures on the poster after the show. Braving some strong thunderstorms, I made my way home that evening reflecting on another successful night of great live music!



Screaming for Silence - Free Birthday Show!

Just catching up on my blog after a busy few weeks! Also turned a year older since my last post, and celebrated the day with more great live music with friends, this time at a free concert headlined by Omaha, Nebraska natives Screaming for Silence at G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park in Fridley, MN on July 15th.

After a busy day of replying to birthday greetings and a filling birthday lunch with family, I made my way to the venue in time to greet some of my friends and accept more happy birthday wishes. The concert began with a few heavy metal numbers from locals Digital Homicide. Interesting band name, but I thought they did a good job of warming up the crowd for the next acts.

The second band were local favorites Matrekis. I hadn't seen this band live in over a year, but it sounded like they hadn't lost a beat since my last encounter. In fact, they seemed to be a little heavier with some roster changes. I enjoyed hearing them again, and my friends and I were entertained as we waited for the headliners to take the stage.

This would turn out to be my first of two Screaming for Silence experiences in a week's time, and I have to say that I'm glad friends recommended this band to me. They put on a great, heavy rock show full of driving anthems and a few softer songs tossed in for good measure. I was glad I could share this on my birthday with some of my favorite concert friends!