One of the local rock acts that I've grown to enjoy recently is the tattooed and painted metal group Blue Felix. I hadn't seen them since the Halloween Hellfest at Pov's, so when I heard they were playing a headlining show at the Cabooze in downtown Minneapolis, I knew it was a show I just couldn't pass up!
Another venue I hadn't been to before, it wasn't the easiest for me to get to at first, but once I saw it, it was hard to miss. I found a parking spot and hurried in just in time to see local rockers Tattooed Millionaires start the evening off right.
The next band, the masked metalers Rooin, reminded me a lot of Slipknot and Mushroomhead. I enjoyed their songs as I found some friends who had just arrived.
Next up were glam metal rockers the Hollywood Whores. While I'm not a big fan of that genre, I thought their cover of the Black Sabbath classic "N.I.B." was very well done.
Following them were Wisconsin rockers Agony of Defeat. More of a "nu-metal" band, I thought they did a good job of entertaining the growing crowd that had spread across the venue.
The final openers were fan favorites Nuisance. I'd say they were a better version of Limp Bizkit, another band I'd never seen before but grew to appreciate as they really got the crowd jumping up and down during their entire set.
After a few more chats with friends, I made my way to the front of the stage to catch Blue Felix in all their splendor. They are one of those unique bands and sounds that you just have to experience live to appreciate. I was rockin' out their entire set, and made off with a setlist, poster and a couple of CDs that I had bought earlier.
I got home earlier this morning cranking up their music, reflecting on another great show! That's all the live music for me for January. Until next month, have a great week, everyone!
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Hinder and friends at the Park
Last Tuesday, I attended the Hinder concert at The Park (formerly known as GB Leighton's Pickle Park) in Fridley. I'd seen Hinder play at the casino in Walker, MN a few years ago with Saving Abel. I wasn't a huge fan of their music, but I decided to go to hang out with some friends that I hadn't seen since last year. I ended up having a very memorable evening!
I got there on a snowy evening just as the first band, local rockers Skywynd, began their set. I caught up with a few friends as I waited by the door with the concert ticket I had bought for another friend who drove several hours from out of state just for this show. She arrived a little later than planned due to a taxi driver who got lost, but our gang quickly got together to enjoy the show.
The next band, Ages Apart, was one I'd never heard of before, but was impressed by their catchy tunes. I managed to snag a T-shirt that the drummer had thrown into the audience during their set, and had a great time catching up with them after the show. I also bought a couple of their CDs to enjoy on the drive home.
The third band, Alabama natives Within Reason, was one I'd heard of but hadn't seen live yet. I enjoyed their set, and thought they were an underrated band that could make it big with enough promotion and publicity.
I'd heard a lot of good things about the final opener, McAllen natives Sons of Texas, and I have to say that they were all true! They thoroughly impressed the crowd, which I was surprised had reached towards the end of the bar. Not bad for a midweek show!
Before long, new singer Marshall Dutton and the rest of the band Hinder took the stage with their song "How Long." While their set was definitely geared more towards the females in the audience, I found myself bobbing my head along to their songs with a few other guys I saw in the front row. They ended the night with their first hit "Get Stoned," and my friends and I scrambled to catch guitar picks that were thrown out by band members as the evening's show drew to a close.
Not ready to leave yet, my friends and I wandered over to the merch tables and had some great conversations with the members of Ages Apart and Within Reason. We were surprised when we were invited to join Within Reason on their tour bus to hang out and listen to them play a few acoustic songs for us! A very unexpected but enjoyable close to a fun evening!
I didn't get much sleep that night after the drive home, but that was okay. I could rest later in the week, until the next show, anyway!
I got there on a snowy evening just as the first band, local rockers Skywynd, began their set. I caught up with a few friends as I waited by the door with the concert ticket I had bought for another friend who drove several hours from out of state just for this show. She arrived a little later than planned due to a taxi driver who got lost, but our gang quickly got together to enjoy the show.
The next band, Ages Apart, was one I'd never heard of before, but was impressed by their catchy tunes. I managed to snag a T-shirt that the drummer had thrown into the audience during their set, and had a great time catching up with them after the show. I also bought a couple of their CDs to enjoy on the drive home.
The third band, Alabama natives Within Reason, was one I'd heard of but hadn't seen live yet. I enjoyed their set, and thought they were an underrated band that could make it big with enough promotion and publicity.
I'd heard a lot of good things about the final opener, McAllen natives Sons of Texas, and I have to say that they were all true! They thoroughly impressed the crowd, which I was surprised had reached towards the end of the bar. Not bad for a midweek show!
Before long, new singer Marshall Dutton and the rest of the band Hinder took the stage with their song "How Long." While their set was definitely geared more towards the females in the audience, I found myself bobbing my head along to their songs with a few other guys I saw in the front row. They ended the night with their first hit "Get Stoned," and my friends and I scrambled to catch guitar picks that were thrown out by band members as the evening's show drew to a close.
Not ready to leave yet, my friends and I wandered over to the merch tables and had some great conversations with the members of Ages Apart and Within Reason. We were surprised when we were invited to join Within Reason on their tour bus to hang out and listen to them play a few acoustic songs for us! A very unexpected but enjoyable close to a fun evening!
I didn't get much sleep that night after the drive home, but that was okay. I could rest later in the week, until the next show, anyway!
Triple Rock Social Club Triple Play
The following Saturday, I braved the bitterly cold Minnesota temps to join friends for an evening of local rock featuring Via, Emergent and Vaudeville at the Triple Rock Social Club. This was one of the few concert venues that I hadn't been to yet, but I was looking forward to making the trip to rock out with some great friends.
I got to the small concert arena just in time to see Via play for the first time since last summer. They did a good job of warming up the still-freezing crowd that slowly started to filter in.
I was really there to see my friends in Emergent, and I was glad I was able to enjoy another powerful performance from them with some trusted friends.
Sadly, I wasn't able to stick around long enough to catch Vaudeville, but the lure of local music would be calling me back to the Twin Cities in a few short weeks...
I got to the small concert arena just in time to see Via play for the first time since last summer. They did a good job of warming up the still-freezing crowd that slowly started to filter in.
I was really there to see my friends in Emergent, and I was glad I was able to enjoy another powerful performance from them with some trusted friends.
Sadly, I wasn't able to stick around long enough to catch Vaudeville, but the lure of local music would be calling me back to the Twin Cities in a few short weeks...
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Winter Metal Meltdown Fest 2016
Just woke up a few hours ago after getting home in the wee hours of the morning from the Winter Metal Meltdown Festival at the Skyway Theater in downtown Minneapolis. It was a great night of local metal music with great friends, and turned out to be an even better evening than I could have ever imagined!
I got to the venue shortly after 8 p.m., just in time to find my friends that I hung out with at the show. I missed most of the opening acts, but I enjoyed hearing new local rock with my pals and did my best to steer clear of the pit circle.
Even though I didn't know most of the bands on the bill, and had missed all of the openers that began playing in the afternoon, it was good to enjoy my first rock show of the year with some very good friends. We also kept our ears open for a few prizes that were announced as part of a raffle during the show.
The last opening act, Portraits of War, kept everyone's attention with their speed metal sounds. I was very impressed by this group- all six of the band members were headbanging on stage in tune to the music!
I was invited to the show by one of the guitarists from the headlining band Immoralis, and was eager to hear them play live for the first time. They did not disappoint, and I made a mental note to check out more of their music after the show. Halfway during their set, they announced the raffle for the grand prize: a brand new Peavey electric guitar. After a few numbers were called for people who were not present, to my surprise, my number was called-I had just won the guitar grand prize!!
I was stunned, but made my way to the stage to collect my prize, and then quickly left the stage to celebrate with my friends and take a few pictures. Still grinning widely, I later returned to the show with my companions to watch the end of the set. I got plenty of congratulations, and was able to buy one of their CDs and have the guys in the band autograph my new guitar. They also gave me the box it came in so I could bring it home safely.
Still extremely happy, I made my way safely down the street with my guitar to a local watering hole to continue the laughs and good conversations with my friends before heading home for the night. I couldn't have asked for a better first concert of the year. Now I wonder what concert #2 next week will bring?
Have a great week everyone-skol Vikings!!
I got to the venue shortly after 8 p.m., just in time to find my friends that I hung out with at the show. I missed most of the opening acts, but I enjoyed hearing new local rock with my pals and did my best to steer clear of the pit circle.
Even though I didn't know most of the bands on the bill, and had missed all of the openers that began playing in the afternoon, it was good to enjoy my first rock show of the year with some very good friends. We also kept our ears open for a few prizes that were announced as part of a raffle during the show.
The last opening act, Portraits of War, kept everyone's attention with their speed metal sounds. I was very impressed by this group- all six of the band members were headbanging on stage in tune to the music!
I was invited to the show by one of the guitarists from the headlining band Immoralis, and was eager to hear them play live for the first time. They did not disappoint, and I made a mental note to check out more of their music after the show. Halfway during their set, they announced the raffle for the grand prize: a brand new Peavey electric guitar. After a few numbers were called for people who were not present, to my surprise, my number was called-I had just won the guitar grand prize!!
I was stunned, but made my way to the stage to collect my prize, and then quickly left the stage to celebrate with my friends and take a few pictures. Still grinning widely, I later returned to the show with my companions to watch the end of the set. I got plenty of congratulations, and was able to buy one of their CDs and have the guys in the band autograph my new guitar. They also gave me the box it came in so I could bring it home safely.
Still extremely happy, I made my way safely down the street with my guitar to a local watering hole to continue the laughs and good conversations with my friends before heading home for the night. I couldn't have asked for a better first concert of the year. Now I wonder what concert #2 next week will bring?
Have a great week everyone-skol Vikings!!
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