I drove home early this foggy Minnesota morning after my most recent concert roadtrip last night to Every Buddy's Bar in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The small bar was hosting several Upper Midwest bands highlighted by national recording artists Flaw. However, Flaw had to drop out of the headlining spot due to mechanical issues with their tour bus. Not to worry, I thought, when I read the email a few days ago. I was going there to see my friends in Seasons After who took over the vacated headlining slot. I ended up having more fun than imagined!
I got to the venue shortly before 7 pm last night, in time to catch up with a good friend of mine. Minutes later we were in the Seasons After tour bus hanging out with our friends. Guitarist Chris Dawson showed us a draft of the music video for the song "Fighter," the first single from their recently released album Manifesto. I won't disclose any details about the video, but I was pleasantly surprised, and am looking forward to its public release.
Wisconsin metalers Cathercize started the show just after my buddy and I visited with our friends in Seasons After, and we got back in time to catch the tail end of their set. They did a good job of warming up the sparse crowd for the next opener, old-school rockers Truth Before Treason. I thought they did the best job of all three openers in keeping the bar patrons fully entertained. It was also good to talk with a few members of both bands during the show.
Shortly before the final opener Beyond Threshold's set, Seasons After frontman Tony Housh, who had been napping in the band's tour bus during our visit, entered the venue and made a beeline to my friends and I to catch up. My friend compared the new album to Sevendust's signature album Animosity, and I have to agree that it is a defining album in their young career.
Shortly before 11 pm, our friends in Seasons After took to the stage to perform their extended set. I hadn't seen them play live since last year, so I welcomed the opportunity to cheer them on from the front row. The only disappointment was that the small crowd of about 50-60 people dwindled to about half that size before Seasons After's set. I knew the draw was probably going to be less without Flaw (patrons were also refunded $7 per ticket because of that), but they were missing the best part of the show!
It was great to hear songs from the new album as well as some familiar classics, and see their new bassist and drummer in action for the first time. After my friends wrapped their set with their classic cover of "Cry Little Sister," my friends and I milled around for a bit, bought merch, and even helped the guys in Seasons After load up their bus before calling it a night. If you haven't caught these guys live yet or listened to their music, I strongly suggest that you do so immediately!
Well, that's all for now-a few shows for me in December before end of the year music reviews. Until next time, have a great week, everyone!
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Another Rock & Roll Weekend
Woke up a little while ago with a sore throat from a nagging head cold and a few aches and pains from standing a bit the last few days, but very happy to have had fun with great friends the last several days. I went to three rock shows in the Cities over the last three days. Each one of them was enjoyable and memorable in their own way.
Thursday night, I drove to the Park (formerly known as GB Leighton's Pickle Park) in Fridley to see the return of Twin Cities natives Throw the Fight. I got there in time to chat with some good friends that I had last seen at the Breaking Benjamin show at the Myth in Maplewood weeks earlier and hear the pop/rock sounds of Nashville natives the Nearly Deads.
My friend from Illinois that I'd been hanging out with the week earlier arrived in time for the show, and we caught up on her concert experiences from the last few days before the second opener, Valora, took to the stage. Valora's singer is probably best known for her appearance on the remix of the Breaking Benjamin song "Blow Me Away." Their group was flashy but not very impressive. They played "Blow Me Away," it was the second-to-last song on the setlist I acquired.
This was my first time seeing Throw the Fight live that I can recall, and they ran through about a dozen tracks in a little over half an hour. It wasn't a great crowd and the performances were just okay, but I didn't mind. It was great catching up with friends and helped me get pumped up for the next night's music at the Park.
Friday night I returned to the Park with friends for a food and toy drive benefit that we were organizing. It was the first time for us to host an event like this, and there were some things to be learned, but overall it went very well. We raised enough money in donations for about 2700 meals at Second Harvest and had some generous food and toy donations.
On stage were our friends in Aeous, Piranha and Sin7. It was great to see Piranha for the first time in a long time, and actually meet my social media friend Tracy Rademacher in person before she went on stage for their set.
Last night, I drove with my Illinois friend to Mill City Nights in downtown Minneapolis for the CD release show for my friends in Gabriel and the Apocalypse. We got there just in time to see our friends in Sin City Escape. This was my first time seeing them since their show at the Coliseum in Hastings this summer. They put on a great set, and it was fun catching up with them afterwards.
Next up were local favorites Smiling Politely. I've seen them a handful of times over the last few years. My friend and I were lucky enough to catch guitar picks from their frontman during their set. Smiling Politely was followed by local rockers Antistar, who put on a short but energetic set.
The last opening act was the return of local legends, metallers Black Flood Diesel. I didn't know much about this band except that they had a good reputation back in the day. Their heavy sounds really got the growing crowd into the show.
Finally, it was time for Gabriel and the Apocalypse, fresh off a multi-state tour, to rock their hometown fans! They always put on a great stage show! The only concern I had was for a friend who fell after a stage dive during their set, but the band was observant, interrupting their set for medical professionals to tend to him. Once everything was ok, the show resumed and the crowd was eagerly wanting more music well after the one-song encore.
My friend and I left the show talking a lot about music and all the bands we had seen recently. It was a lot of music in the last two weeks! I wished her well as she left today for more musical adventures on her way home.
Don't know what my next show will be, but I'm sure it'll be another great night of music with great friends. Until then, have a great weekend everyone-Skol Vikings!
Thursday night, I drove to the Park (formerly known as GB Leighton's Pickle Park) in Fridley to see the return of Twin Cities natives Throw the Fight. I got there in time to chat with some good friends that I had last seen at the Breaking Benjamin show at the Myth in Maplewood weeks earlier and hear the pop/rock sounds of Nashville natives the Nearly Deads.
My friend from Illinois that I'd been hanging out with the week earlier arrived in time for the show, and we caught up on her concert experiences from the last few days before the second opener, Valora, took to the stage. Valora's singer is probably best known for her appearance on the remix of the Breaking Benjamin song "Blow Me Away." Their group was flashy but not very impressive. They played "Blow Me Away," it was the second-to-last song on the setlist I acquired.
This was my first time seeing Throw the Fight live that I can recall, and they ran through about a dozen tracks in a little over half an hour. It wasn't a great crowd and the performances were just okay, but I didn't mind. It was great catching up with friends and helped me get pumped up for the next night's music at the Park.
Friday night I returned to the Park with friends for a food and toy drive benefit that we were organizing. It was the first time for us to host an event like this, and there were some things to be learned, but overall it went very well. We raised enough money in donations for about 2700 meals at Second Harvest and had some generous food and toy donations.
On stage were our friends in Aeous, Piranha and Sin7. It was great to see Piranha for the first time in a long time, and actually meet my social media friend Tracy Rademacher in person before she went on stage for their set.
Sin7 closed out the music on stage with a killer set. Our group leader is their frontman, and he led his band like he led our group to another successful show. I'm very proud of everyone who participated and came out to show their support, even though the crowd could have been bigger.
I was busy with my station at the raffle table most of the night, but still enjoyed the music and getting to see everyone. I even walked away with a signed cymbal from Sin7 at the end of the night, one of the items from the silent auction that was given to me by one of my best friends and fellow group member.
Next up were local favorites Smiling Politely. I've seen them a handful of times over the last few years. My friend and I were lucky enough to catch guitar picks from their frontman during their set. Smiling Politely was followed by local rockers Antistar, who put on a short but energetic set.
The last opening act was the return of local legends, metallers Black Flood Diesel. I didn't know much about this band except that they had a good reputation back in the day. Their heavy sounds really got the growing crowd into the show.
Finally, it was time for Gabriel and the Apocalypse, fresh off a multi-state tour, to rock their hometown fans! They always put on a great stage show! The only concern I had was for a friend who fell after a stage dive during their set, but the band was observant, interrupting their set for medical professionals to tend to him. Once everything was ok, the show resumed and the crowd was eagerly wanting more music well after the one-song encore.
My friend and I left the show talking a lot about music and all the bands we had seen recently. It was a lot of music in the last two weeks! I wished her well as she left today for more musical adventures on her way home.
Don't know what my next show will be, but I'm sure it'll be another great night of music with great friends. Until then, have a great weekend everyone-Skol Vikings!
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