concerthopperblog - Tumblr blog

concerthopperblog · 18 days ago

Text

Real Friends Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever Tour 11.26.2024

I've been listening to Real Friends since I was 15 years old. They have gone on multiple tours since then, but I've only seen them perform live once. In August, they announced they would go on a fall tour with Can't Swim, Carly Cosgrove, and Slow Joy. I've been eager to add these bands to my list of those I’ve photographed. Even though it was a Tuesday night, I hope everyone had the chance to see them perform at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo. As I stepped into the venue, I noticed that the show had a slow start, creating a peaceful atmosphere that hung in the air. The excitement in the room slowly built up over the night as more fans gradually poured into the once-quiet venue.

Slow Joy is the solo project of Esteban Flores from Dallas, TX. He combines grunge, emo, and shoegaze elements to create music characterized by deeply personal and melancholic lyrics, all supported by gritty, powerful guitar sounds. Slow Joy gained popularity on TikTok in 2022 with his debut releases, Crawling and Soft Slam. I enjoyed the vibes that Slow Joy had to offer. To start the show they had a lot of energy to give. Esteban Flores, you could feel and see the passion on his face as he was jumping around the stage singing his heart out. Throughout their opening set, they played six songs that included “Pressure” and “Pulling Teeth.” As the guys were cleaning up the stage I saw Esteban walking into the crowd and I noticed fans stopping him and giving him props for his performance.

Carly Cosgrove is an indie-rock trio from Philadelphia, PA, consisting of members Lucas Naylor, Helen Barsz, and Tyler Kramer. Their music blends cool indie-rock elements with authentic emo influences, exploring themes of personal growth through anxiety, depression, and self-actualization. The trio has released two albums: See You in Chemistry and The Cleanest of Houses Are Empty. When I saw Carly Cosgrove walk onto the stage, I was personally excited. The last time I saw the band perform was back in 2022 at the iMatter Festival reboot. When these guys came onto the stage I was ready to listen to the new music they had dropped since the last time I had watched them perform. They played 8 songs throughout the night, I couldn’t stop watching the drummer, and the energy he had while he performed, with the rest of the trio. I loved the names of their songs too. They are different than what you normally would see, such as “Really Big Shrimp” & “What Are You, A Cop?”. They closed the night out by playing “Not My Job.” I would love to see Carly Cosgrove perform again in the future.

Can't Swim is an American rock band based in Keansburg, New Jersey. Since their debut in 2017, the band has released four studio albums and four EPs. The current lineup consists of Chris LoPorto (lead vocals), Greg McDevitt (bass), Danny Rico (guitar), and Blake Gamel (drums). Can't Swim is also featured on the song "Toneblerone" by Jetski, which has received over 100,000 plays. I enjoyed Can’t Swim’s set, during the ending of their set they separated the room down the middle & had fans do the 2 steps in the middle of the room altogether. Greg McDevitt had so much energy while performing, he was jumping around screaming his heart out as he backed up screaming with Chris LoPorto. As I was leaving the venue for the night, I stopped by the Real Friends merch table. I saw the band hanging out and having a good time talking to some fans as they came up to buy some merch as well.

Real Friends is an American rock band from Tinley Park, Illinois. To date, they have released seven EPs and four studio albums. The band was previously signed to Fearless Records and Pure Noise Records but independently released their most recent full-length album, Blue Hour, on October 11, 2024. Since the band's formation, there have been only two lineup changes. The current members are Kyle Fasel, Dave Knox, Eric Haines, Brian Blake, and Cody Muraro. Their lyrics tackle significant topics such as mental health, physical health, loneliness, and nostalgia. On my way to the venue, I listened to their music during the drive, after having a few of their older songs stuck in my head, including "Anchor Down" and "Late Nights In My Car." I loved seeing Real Friends again, This time the room was electric, a different type of show from seeing them previously. During the third song, “Late Nights in My Car,” singer Cody Muraro engages with the fans by singing from the barricade. He then jumps into the crowd and starts crowd-surfing while still performing. This act was impressive, as it allowed him to connect more intimately with the fans, being right in front of them and on top of them. They performed a total of 16 songs during their set, including new tracks “Waiting Room” and “Cold Blooded.” Additionally, they played some older favorites like “Sixteen” and “I’ve Given Up On You.” Although Dan Lambton is no longer the lead singer of the band, it was great to see Cody Muraro step in as the new lead singer in 2020, when Dan parted ways with the group. Cody's vocals provide a refreshing change for the band as they move forward. Real Friends is a band I will see again the next time they come into town.

As we near the conclusion of 2024, we are thrilled to share some exciting news about the captivating shows we’ll be featuring in the upcoming month. With just a month remaining in this remarkable year, we invite you to engage with us on our social media platforms. By clicking the "Like" and "Follow" buttons, you will unlock a treasure trove of exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes content. Join us as we make the final stretch of the year unforgettable, packed with thrilling developments and surprises designed to elevate your experience!

#2024 #Concerthopper #Concert #concert photography #concert review #Review #Alternative #Rock Music #Rock N' Roll #Buffalo #new york #photos #photography

0 notes

concerthopperblog · 23 days ago

Text

The Plot In You USA Tour Part One 11.24.2024

In August, The Plot In You announced their upcoming USA Tour featuring Currents, Zero 9:36, and Wind Walkers. The first leg of the tour includes 13 dates, kicking off on November 8th. They indicated that these performances would be the last of their 2024 touring season. Recently, they announced that in 2025, they would return for the second leg of the tour, which will include Holding Absence, Boundaries, and Acres. If you weren’t in Buffalo for this show on Saturday night, you missed out. As I made my way to the venue, I noticed fans streaming in excitedly. While I was getting my equipment ready, I could see them gathering around the barricade, eagerly waiting for what the night would bring. If you missed the first leg, be sure to grab your tickets now for the second leg in a city near you! I was fortunate enough to attend the sold-out show in Buffalo at Buffalo RiverWorks.

Hailing from central Massachusetts, Wind Walkers aims to reshape the world of post-hardcore and alternative metal music. The band comprises Timothy Comeau and Neil Comeau on guitar, Craig Martin on the bass, and Ethan Cheesman on drums. A turning point in their journey was marked by the arrival of vocalist Trevor Borg, who brought a new dynamic to their sound. I couldn’t find much on the band, but I was surprised that they are less than 300,000 followers away from having a million followers on Spotify. Since Wind Walkers debut in 2015, they have 2 EPs & 2 studio albums. More recently they have released 2 new singles called “Hangfire” & “Bodybag.” They were also featured on the album Genesis by Fairlane alongside other artists such as Silverstein & Point North. Wind Walkers were the first band of the night, setting the tone for the remainder of the show as they took the stage. The fans were ready to rock out, and I was among them, excited by the energy this group brought to their performance. During the 2nd song, “Dead Talk” they had one of their friends come out onto the stage and scream the song with the band, It was awesome seeing a female screamer in a male-dominated field. Wind Walkers played six songs: “The Overlook”, “Dead Talk”, “Feeding The Gods”, “Drowning Hymns”, “Bodybag”, and “Hangfire”. My favorite songs from their set were “Bodybag” and “Hangfire”.

Matthew Cullen goes by the stage name Zero 9:36, he is an American rapper and rock musician from Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Zero 9:36 has released 3 studio albums, the latest being None Of Us Are Getting Out released in 2024 & one EP released in 2019 called You Will Not Be Saved. He has had incredible accolades such as having Ice Nine Kills feature on his original song “Adrenaline.” has been featured on “Strangers” by Theory Of A Deadman & most recently featured on “Save Me” by Ekoh. While looking into Zero 9:36, I felt a surge of excitement about what he would bring to this show. There aren’t many artists who blend rock and rap, but I've enjoyed listening to a few others in this space, particularly Ekoh and Phix. I was surprised by Zero’s performance, it kind of gave me Linkin Park vibes but new age & different. He was accompanied by a drummer & a guitarist to bring the show to life. A bunch of fans at the barricade were thrilled to see him perform live, this was when the wave of crowd surfers started to begin. Even though Zero 9:36 was sick, he stated that he still wanted to give his all for one of the last days of this tour, I commend him for pushing through even though he stated “If I sound like shit, no I didn’t.” He played a bunch of songs that I enjoyed especially since this was an artist I had never listened to before the show. My favorite song from the set was “Kill Me” & of course, the crowd went wild when they played “Adrenaline.”

Currents is a metalcore band hailing from Newtown, Connecticut, established in 2011 by ex-drummer Jeff Brown. The band has undergone several changes in its lineup over the years and currently features vocalist Brian Wille, guitarists Ryan Castaldi and Chris Wiseman (who is also the founding guitarist of Shadow of Intent), bassist and backing vocalist Christian Pulgarin, and drummer Matt Young. Despite the absence of any original members in the group, the band has continued to find success. They have released three albums and three EPs, along with a wide range of singles such as "The Death We Seek," "Sleep Paralysis," "Poverty of Self," and "So Alone." Currents was the third band to hit the stage, I hadn't seen them perform since they went on tour with We Came As Romans, & The Plot In You back in 2018, I was excited to see how the band had evolved since then, After the first three songs played and the photographers were out of the pit, the number of crowd surfers that came through was insane, I kept seeing this one particular fan coming back over the barricade, representing a local promoter called Frostbelt Entertainment, wearing a blue jumpsuit, he looked like he was having the time of his life coming across the sea of fans. Throughout their setlist they played 11 songs in total, spanning across multiple albums going back to the album they released in 2018 called I Let The Devil In. Of course, playing new music such as “Living In Tradgedy”, “Monsters” & “Kill The Ache”. These guys know how to entertain a crowd, the bassist Christian Pulgarin was jumping around, kicking his legs out like he was also in the pit, all while he was playing his bass. Currents is a band I will have to catch again in the future.

The last time I had the opportunity to cover The Plot In You was in 2018 when they were on the Cold Like War tour with We Came As Romans, Currents, Tempting Fate & Oceans Ate Alaska. The Plot In You is an American rock band formed in Hancock County, Ohio in 2010. The group is comprised of Landon Tewers, guitarist Josh Childress, bassist Ethan Yoder, and drummer Michael Cooper. Since the start of their career, the band has released 4 EP’s & 5 studio albums. One of my favorite albums is Happiness In Self Destruction, released in 2015. More recently the band has released a few singles such as “Been Here Before”, “Left Behind” & “Don’t Look Away” in conjunction with their latest EPs VOL 1, 2 & 3. As the night slowly comes to an end, it is time for The Plot In You to hit the stage, I was filled with excitement, you could feel the energy in the room surge before they came onto the stage and played “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. The whole venue started singing along with the song. Then the boys in The Plot In You finally waltzed onto the stage. I enjoyed their lighting setup, behind the drummer, they had red swirls throughout the set. Based on the music the lighting perfectly went with the music they performed. They played 16 songs throughout the night which included a bunch from their new albums Vol 1, 2 & 3, such as “Left Behind”, “Closure” and “Pretend.” They ended with 2 encore songs at the end of the night, “Disposable Fix” and “Feel Nothing”.

As always, we encourage you to explore ConcertHopper and dive into our incredible content, Don’t forget to follow us on social media—check us out on Facebook and Instagram! We hope to connect with you again soon, and if you’re thinking about catching a show, don’t hesitate—just grab that ticket and go for it!

#2024 #concert photography #Concerthopper #concert #concert review #Review #metal #metalcore #metal tours #photography #photos #concert photos #new york

0 notes

concerthopperblog · 25 days ago

Text

USA/CANADA 2024: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Live at Fox Theatre

One of the most talked about indie bands since their unforgettable debut in 2010, Australia’s King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (KGLW) has solidified themselves in the indie rock world with many genre-bending albums over their remarkable albeit brief career. KGLW is a band most notable for their ambitious marathon shows while touring, the plethora of official live KGLW bootleg albums released, and their uncanny ability to release multiple albums within the same year. In 2023, KGLW released eleven (11) various albums to their eagerly, awaiting fans across the globe. When the band released their most ambitious album, The Silver Cord, fans were intrigued, and some were even opinionated with the electropop influence of this particular release. This is exactly why I love KGLW. To say that KGLW makes some innovative music is an understatement. KGLW brilliantly creates and shares with their fans some ground-breaking, music without any thought or care about what genre it may be categorized after release. KGLW is simply six good friends who have an amazing time making music together, and it just so happens that quite a few other people around the world also seem to enjoy listening to their music.

On November 7, 2023, KGLW made a huge touring announcement for 2024 with 58 new shows across Argentina, Chile, USA, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, Netherlands, France, and the Czech Republic. The North American portion of tour dates, or the USA/Canada 2024 Tour, had a November 19th date where KGLW would make a tour stop at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta. Like many Gizz fans, I purchased tickets ahead of time because I was not missing this opportunity to see KGLW play live again stateside. This evening would be my third time (Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival - 2022 & The Caverns @ Pelham, TN. – Amphitheater/Night three - 2023) watching KGLW perform and I knew that the aesthetics of the Fox Theatre would add to their already dynamic, live and rowdy performance. Opening for KGLW for this date in Atlanta is fellow Aussie indie rockers King Stingray hailing from Northeast Amhem Land.

KGLW is a psychedelic rock/garage rock/psychedelic rock/progressive rock/heavy metal/electro-pop/neo-psychedelia band based out of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. KGLW consists of Joey Walker (guitars/vocals/bass/keyboards/piano/setar/percussion), Stu Mackenzie (vocals/guitars/keyboards/flute/bass/percussion/sitar/piano/organ/violin/clarinet/saxophone/zum/drums), Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals/harmonicas/keyboards/percussion/piano/saxophone/guitar/organ), Lucas Harwood (bass/guitar/piano/keyboards/percussion/vocals), Michael “Cavs” Cavanagh (drums, percussion/vocals), and Cook Craig (guitar/bass/piano/keyboards/percussion/vocals). At the time of publication, KGLW has released a staggering twenty-six (26) LPs, three (3) EPs, thirty-nine (39) live albums, four (4) compilation albums, sixty-five (65) singles, sixty (60) videos, and one (1) remix album. This is quite an impressive feat for a band that released their first album, 12 Bar Bruise, on Flightless Records in 2012.

Their latest album, Flight b741, is the first album released on their new label p(doom) Records. KGLW announced on October 29th, 2024 that they would be releasing a new album (shocking I know) very soon. The album would have ten (10) songs that were leftovers from Flight b741 and would feature a full orchestra. Yes, you read correctly, with an orchestra. The new album (and new single) is titled Phantom Island, so Gizz heads all over the globe are enthusiastically waiting for a release date for this new album in 2025. In the meantime, KGLW has announced a USA tour featuring an orchestra to promote this new album. KGLW also hinted some rock shows will be added in the coming months to the Phantom Island 2025 Tour:

Australia’s own King Stingray is an indie/pop/surf rock band that has been active since 2020. King Stingray consists of Yirrna Yunupinu (vocals/clapsticks), Roy Kellaway (guitar/backing vocals), Dimathaya Burarrwanga (guitar/backing vocals/didgeridoo), Lewis Stiles (drums/backing vocals), Campbell Messer (bass/banjo/backing vocals), and Yimila Gurruwiwi (didgeridoo/backing vocals). King Stingray has released two (2) LPs, their latest release For the Dreams (11/8/2024) has garnered some rave reviews since its initial release.

Starting right on time at 8 pm, King Stingray took the stage, and the sold-out crowd was pumped screaming at the top of their lungs as the band got set up with their array of instruments. I am not going to lie, hearing the didgeridoo beautifully incorporated into an already chill vibe was a perfect accompaniment to start the evening. I was happy to hear “Through the Trees” and “Milkumana” performed live but closing out their set with “Malk Mirri Wayin” was icing on the cake. Those songs are some of my favorite tracks from King Stingray as I prepared for this evening to arrive. I hope King Stingray can come back stateside and tour soon because they are unquestionably a band I would enjoy seeing perform live again.

You can see King Stingray’s opening setlist from their Fox Theatre performance below:

· (Unknown)

(“Lorrpu” on the setlist)

· “Hey Wanhaka”

· “Light Up”

· “Through the Trees”

· “Milkumana”

· “Best Bits”

· “Malk Mirri Wayin”

Head over to Bandcamp and support King Stingray today!

The time had come for KGLW to take the stage at the Fox Theatre in front of an all-ages, sold-out crowd of Gizz fans ready to have their faces melted. While Stu and Joey spoke introductions to the crowd in attendance, I wondered who else in the Fox Theatre was pondering, ‘What song are they opening with tonight?’ The age-old question I will tell you. Well, KGLW kicked off their Fox Theatre debut with one of my favorite songs off their 2019 release Infest the Rats’ Nest, “Superbug”. KGLW followed up with another favorite song of mine, “Converge”, off their more recent 2023 release PetroDragonic Apocalypse. Seeing this sold-out crowd excitedly jumping up and down or dancing to the music was quite a refreshing sight to behold. So many happy and smiling faces were enjoying the fact that they were witnessing one of their favorite bands performing some of their favorite songs flawlessly.

Check out this wicked setlist from KGLW’s performance at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA:

· “Superbug”

· “Converge”

(>)

· “Witchcraft”

· “Planet B”

· “Hot Wax”

· “Her and I (Slow Jam 2)”

(with “Iron Lung” teases and quotes and “Crumbling Castle”, “Magma”, “Slow Jam 1”, and “Ice V” teases.)

· “Crumbling Castle”

(>)

· “The Fourth Color”

· “Flight b741”

· “Iron Lung” (Lava-style intro)

· “Sad Pilot”

(>)

· “Rats in the Sky”

· “Work This Time” (w/ guitar solo)

· “The Garden Goblin”

· “Intrasport”

(>)

· “Gilgamesh”

After this tour stop at the Fox Theatre, KGLW had two dates left on their USA/Canada 2024 Tour in St. Augustine, FL. (11/20) & Miami, FL. (11/21). No worries if you missed KGLW on the USA/Canada 2024 Tour. Check out the EURO/USA tour dates already announced for 2025 (including the highly anticipated full orchestra set shows) below:

Europe Residency Tour 2025 dates:

5/18-5/20 Lisbon, Portugal Coliseu Dos Records

5/23-5/24 Barcelona, Spain Poble Espanyol

5/29-31 Vilnius, Lithuania Lukiskes Prison 2.0

6/4-6/6 Athens, Greece Lycabettus Theatre

6/8-6/10 Plovdiv, Bulgaria Ancient Theatre

Phantom Island Tour 2025 Orchestral shows:

7/28 Philadelphia, PA TD Pavilion at the Mann (+ The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia) 7/30 New Haven, CT Westville Music Bowl (+ Orchestra of St. Luke's) 8/1 Forest Hills, NY Forest Hills Stadium (+ Orchestra of St. Luke’') 8/4 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion (+ National Symphony Orchestra) 8/6 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival (+ Chicago Philharmonic) 8/8 Colorado Springs, CO Ford Amphitheater (+ Colorado Symphony) 8/11 San Diego, CA The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (+ San Diego Symphony Orchestra)

Phantom Island Tour 2025 Rock shows:

8/2 Forest Hills, NY Forest Hills Stadium 8/15-8/17 Buena Vista, CO Field Of Vision

For newcomers to KGLW, it may seem daunting trying to figure out what album to start with. Don’t fret. There is a handy website geared at helping to introduce new fans of KGLW named Gizzverse Guide. It helps direct the first-time listener who might feel overwhelmed with the amount of material KGLW has in their massive discography. Check it out today!

#2024 #king gizzard and the lizard wizard #rock n' roll #rock music #rock #psychedelic #concert #concert review #concerthopper #atlanta #georgia #fox theatre #concert photos #concert photography #review #indie rock #indie #atl

0 notes

concerthopperblog · 1 month ago

Text

Infinite Health Tour: Tycho Live at The Eastern

Grammy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and composer Tycho announced their first headlining tour since 2020 on June 20, on their social media accounts to the delight of their devoted fanbase. Fresh off the release of their new album, Infinite Health, Tycho announced the Infinite Health Tour would cross over to Canada as well. I was excited to see the Infinite Health Tour have a tour stop at one of my favorite music venues in Atlanta, The Eastern. For this leg of the Infinite Health Tour, the electro-pop duo Brijean would be holding down the duties as opening support. I remember first seeing Tycho perform live at the 2015 installment of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. Then a few years later in 2017, I watched him perform while I was doing photography at the now-defunct Sloss Music & Arts Festival in Birmingham, Alabama. Growing up with electronic artists like Massive Attack, Morcheeba, Portishead, and Zero 7, it is nice to find artists still carrying that proverbial house/trip-hop/ambient music torch.

Brijean is a disco/house/electro-pop duo from Los Angeles, CA. Brijean consists of songwriter and percussionist Brijean Murphy (of Toro Y Moi and Poolside) and Doug Stuart (producer/multi-instrumentalist) and has been making people dance since 2018. Brijean has released four (4) LPs and nine (9) singles/remixes, their latest release, Macro, was released July 12, 2024, off Ghostly International. This would be my first time catching Brijean live, and I was excited to see what they were all about. I thoroughly enjoyed some songs off their latest album, Macro, so I hoped to hear either “Euphoric Avenue” or “Breathe”. Brijean kicked off the evening right with their smooth, electro-pop sounds and held the crowd’s captivation for the duration of their set. And I was thrilled to see the large crowd that had come early to catch Brijean open this evening. Brijean did not disappoint with their perfect opening set, and one could see smiles on everyone as you walked through The Eastern during their performance.

You can follow Brijean on Bandcamp, where you can buy some of their merchandise, and stream some incredible music. You can also watch a full performance on YouTube from their Live on KEXP from August 7, 2024.

Tycho, whose real name is Scott Hansen, is a musician/record producer/composer/songwriter based in San Franciso, CA. Tycho has been active since 2022 and has released seven (7) LPs, two (2) EPs, thirteen (13) singles, and one (1) remix album. I highly recommend listening to Dive, Awake, Epoch, and Infinite Health if you are just starting to listen to Tycho’s remarkable catalog. Hansen also dabbles in photographic and design work and is known as ISO50. Hansen is a perfect example of a renaissance man as one looks over all their accomplishments in the music and art industry. While on the Infinite Health Tour, Tycho consists of Hansen (synthesizers/guitar/bass/visuals/programming), Zac Brown (bass/guitar), Billy Kim (bass/keyboards/synthesizers/visuals), and Rory O’Connor (drums/percussion).

Tycho started their set with a track off their latest album, “Phantom”, and followed it up with two of my favorite songs from his discography: “Spectre” off Awake and “Hours” off Dive. It has been a few years since I saw Tycho last, and I can tell you they have not missed a step with their live performances. Their setlist spanned across six of his seven studio albums, so there was a little something for everyone in attendance. Getting to hear “Time to Run” was one of the highlights for me this evening, and I could see so many people dancing and enjoying their evening as well. It was good to see people leave their troubles and worries at the entrance and just have some fun for at least a few hours that evening.

You can see Tycho’s setlist from their performance at The Eastern below:

· “Phantom”

· “Spectre/Hours”

· “Weather (Vamp)”

· “Consciousness Felt”

· “A Walk”

· “Green”

· “PBS”

· “L”

· “Horizon”

· “Devices”

· “Time to Run”

· “Totem”

Encore:

· “Awake”

· “Division”

As stated previously, Infinite Health is the latest album released on August 30, 2024, off Ninja Tune Records. Hansen stated in a press release that the new record is “about hope for the future and a requiem for the past. I kept thinking back to the high-water mark scene in Fear and Loathing, the author sitting at a typewriter looking out a window onto his past, trying to find meaning in the chaos.” You can follow this link to Tycho’s merchandise store and grab your copy (LP – Opaque White variant vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and cassette) today. Show Tycho some support and follow this link to their Bandcamp page today.

You still have time to see Tycho perform on the Infinite Health Tour on the following dates:

NOV 14

HISTORY

Toronto, Canada

Tickets

NOV 15

The Salt Shed

Chicago, IL

Tickets

NOV 16

First Avenue

Minneapolis, MN

Tickets

#Concerthopper #concert photography #Concert #Tycho #Brijean #Atlanta #georgia #downtempo #dance #music #Review #concert review #photos #photography #ambient #chillwave #house #2024

0 notes

concerthopperblog · 2 months ago

Text

Fall 2024 North America Tour: SLIFT Live at Terminal West

Fellow concert hoppers, let me tell you about a French rock band named SLIFT. SLIFT is the best band you have probably never heard of until now. If you are a fan of pure, gritty psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll that is not watered down with radio-friendly hooks then look no further because SLIFT is the band for you. SLIFT announced via their social media channels on April 5th that they would come back to tour the States and visit Canada for the first time. I was beyond excited to see that the October 27th date would be their tour stop at Terminal West in Atlanta, GA. SLIFT’s first United States tour was in 2022, and sadly I could not attend their October 22nd stop at The Earl in Little 5 Points in Atlanta, GA. Joining SLIFT on their Fall 2024 North America Tour as opening support is the band California band Meatbodies.

SLIFT is an acid rock/space rock/psychedelic rock/stoner rock band from Toulouse, France that has been active since 2016. SLIFT consists of brothers Jean Fossat (guitar/vocals/synthesizers), Remi Fossat (bass), and Canek Flores (drums). SLIFT has released three (3) LPs, one (1) EP, one (1) live album, seven (7) music videos, and eight (8) singles. Their latest release is entitled Ilion (January 19, 2024) from Sub Pop Records, and it stands as one of their most ambitious projects to date. I randomly found SLIFT’s live album Levitation Sessions on Amazon Music and I was completely blown away by the first song on that record, Ummon. I dove deep into SLIFT’s discography after listening to this remarkable live album. I had to know their entire story. Another stellar live performance I highly recommend to help introduce you to their music is SLIFT’s 2019 Live on KEXP performance recorded live at the La Chapelle by le Studio in Rennes, France.

Meatbodies is a garage rock/garage punk/lo-fi/psychedelic rock/noise rock band from Los Angeles, CA. that has been active since 2011. Meatbodies consists of Chad Ubovich (guitar), Dylan Fujioka (drums), Noah Guevara (bass), and Casey Hanson (guitar/vocals). Meatbodies has released four (4) LPs and five (5) singles, and their latest release entitled Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom (March 8, 2024) is off In The Red Records. This would be my first time seeing Meatbodies perform live, and I was excited to see them in such a small, intimate venue. Imagine if King Buffalo and Ty Segall conceived a fuzz rock baby, then you would have the awesomeness that is Meatbodies.

Starting the evening, the Meatbodies cranked out “Reach for the Sun” to begin their energetic and fuzzy set playing “Reach for the Sunn” off their EP entitled 333 (released in 2021). Meatbodies followed up with a deep cut of their 2014 self-titled album Meatbodies. This would be my first time seeing Meatbodies perform live, and I hope they can swing back through Atlanta sooner rather than later. I dug their vibe and enjoyed watching Ubovich ripping and shredding throughout their set. And you could tell the crowd was feeling it too with so many people in the crowd shouting and applauding between each riffed-filled song.

Check out the setlist from this evening’s set from the Meatbodies:

· “Reach For the Sun”

· “They Came Down”

· “Tremmors”

· “Void”

· “Cancer”

· “Move”

· “Fools Fold Their Hands (Grievous Evils Under the Sun)”

· “Hole”

· “Silly Cybin”

· “Mountain”

Show Meatbodies some love and follow them on Bandcamp today.

The time had come for the mighty trio SLIFT to take the stage to an exuberant crowd gathered on a cool Sunday evening at Terminal West in Atlanta. Sometimes I pinch myself because of how good the feeling is when you finally see a band you respect and admire for their inimitable creativity and their impact on the rock ‘n’ roll genre with their art. During both sets of the evening, the projector set up in the back of Terminal West played a never-ending loop of trippy, psychedelic designs, favoring a Rorschach test, that saturated the stage and all the performers all evening. SLIFT started their set with the first two songs from their latest release, Ilion, the self-titled track “Ilion” and the preceding track “Nimh” which both run over 20 minutes. This sonic introduction illustrated the mastery of each member of SLIFT as they took each audience member on a journey through their innovative and beautiful minds. This was a wild ride from start to finish as SLIFT melted minds with some of my favorite songs like “Ummon”, “Altitude Lake”, “Lions, Tigers, and Bears”, and “The Story That Has Never Been Told”. It is not often that SLIFT comes to the U.S., so the next time they tour the States do yourself a favor and catch them live.

Here is SLIFT’s setlist from their epic performance at Terminal West in Atlanta:

· “Ilion”

· “Nimh”

· “Ummon”

· “Altitude Lake”

· “The Words That Have Never Been Heard”

· “Secret Mirror”

· “Weavers’ Weft”

· “Lions, Tigers, and Bears”

· “The Story That Has Never Been Told”

Check out SLIFT’s online merchandise store and follow them on Bandcamp. Even though their latest record Ilion (Loser edition – red with black smoke limited edition vinyl) is sold out on their website, surprisingly, copies are still available via their Bandcamp page.

You can also hit that subscribe button on SLIFT’s YouTube channel. Unfortunately, after the Atlanta date, SLIFT played one last show on this North American tour at White Oak Music Hall in Houston, TX on 10/29 before flying back home to France. SLIFT has announced four (4) selected European dates in 2024 and already ten (10) European dates in 2025:

Here is SLIFT’s setlist from their epic performance at Terminal West in Atlanta:

· “Ilion”

· “Nimh”

· “Ummon”

· “Altitude Lake”

· “The Words That Have Never Been Heard”

· “Secret Mirror”

· “Weavers’ Weft”

· “Lions, Tigers, and Bears”

· “The Story That Has Never Been Told”

Check out SLIFT’s online merchandise store and follow them on Bandcamp. Even though their latest record Ilion (Loser edition – red with black smoke limited edition vinyl) is sold out on their website, surprisingly copies are still available via their Bandcamp page.

TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 8:30 PM

Aix-en-Provence, France

6MIC

Tickets

THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER 9:00 PM

Rome, Italy

Monk

Tickets

FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 9:00 PM

Bologna, Italy

Locomotiv Club

Tickets

SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER 9:00 PM

Milan, Italy

Circolo Magnolia

Tickets

TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2025 8:00 PM

Biarritz, France

Atabal Biarritz

Tickets

WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2025 8:30 PM

Bordeaux, France

Rock School Barbey

Tickets

THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2025 7:00 PM

Angers, France

Chabada

Tickets

FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2025 8:00 PM

Rennes, France

Antipode

Tickets

SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2025 9:00 PM

Brest, France

La Carène

Tickets

TUESDAY 21 JANUARY 2025 7:00 PM

Antwerp, Belgium

TRIX

Tickets

WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY 2025 7:00 PM

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Melkweg

Tickets

THURSDAY 23 JANUARY 2025 7:00 PM

Liège, Belgium

Reflektor

Tickets

FRIDAY 24 JANUARY 2025 7:00 PM

Dijon, France

LA VAPEUR

Tickets

SATURDAY 25 JANUARY 2025 8:30 PM

Orléans, France

L'Astrolabe

Tickets

#2024 #concert photography #Concerthopper #Concert #concert review #Review #Atlanta #georgia #terminal west #photography #photos #SLIFT #Rock N' Roll #Alternative #space rock #psychedelic

0 notes

concerthopperblog · 2 months ago

Text

North American Tour 2024: Opeth w/ Tribulation Live at Tabernacle (Atlanta)

Swedish metal titans Opeth hinted to their fans about a North American Tour 2024 via their social media channels on April 23rd, then on June 7th the anticipation was over when the dates were finally announced to the eager fans in North America. In addition, fellow Swedish metal gods Tribulation was added as a special guest on Opeth’s North American Tour 2024 on August 28th. Opeth last toured the United States and Canada in May 2022, so they were long overdue for a tour stateside, and their fans were hungry for more. I saw a date for October 22nd at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA. so I knew I had to save that date. Truthfully, this would be my first time seeing Opeth perform live, and I was ready to get my first show under my belt. I have also never seen Tribulation live before, so this was a pleasant surprise to get two legendary bands off my bucket list in one eventful night.

Opeth is a progressive rock/progressive metal/death metal band from Stockholm, Sweden that has been together since 1990. Opeth consists of Mikael Akerfeldt (guitars/lead vocals), Martin Mendez (bass), Fredrik Akesson (guitars/backing vocals), Joakim Svalberg (keyboards/backing vocals), and Waltteri Vayrynen (drums). Opeth has released thirteen (13) LPs, four (4) live albums, thirty (30) singles and EPs, six (6) music videos, and six (6) compilations. It is worth noting that Opeth’s latest release, The Last Will and Testament (November 22nd,2024) is available for pre-order through the band’s website. Plus, you can pre-order a special reissue of their fourth album, Still Life, celebrating the 25th anniversary of its release.

Although Opeth has been active for 34 years, I first heard their music after the release of their third album My Arms, Your Hearse (1998). Frankly, I was speechless upon first listening to that album with its rich layers and complex riffs which added to their already very distinctive sound. Opeth would go on to release many incredible albums which are perfect from start to finish. I recommend diving into Orchid, Still Life, Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries, Pale Communion, and Sorceress. I would be remiss if I did not tell you to check one of my favorite live records of all time, Gardens of the Titans: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater released on Nuclear Blast Records (November 2, 2018). Since purchasing this record off their web store, it is in my constant rotation of records to spin.

Tribulation is a death/gothic metal band from Stockholm, Sweden that has been active since 2004. During 2001-2004 they were previously known as Hazard. Tribulation is Joseph Tholl (guitars), Johannes Andersson (bass/vocals), Oscar Leander (drums), and Adam Zaars (guitars). Tribulation has released six (6) LPs, six (6) EPs, two (2) splits, eight (8) singles, and one (1) live album, their latest release entitled Sub Rosa In Aeternum (2024). I was also late to the party listening to Tribulation, it was not until the release of their third album The Children of the Night (April 20, 2015) off Century Media Records before I heard this band. I remember the cover of the CD catching my eye in a friend’s collection and my curiosity was quickly satisfied after listening to just a few songs.

Something to note about this performance, besides being a sold-out show, the floor for the Tabernacle was seated for this event. I have seen this happen once before for the Jim James (lead singer of My Morning Jacket) solo tour in 2018. But never for a metal tour, so I knew that tonight would be an enchanting and very memorable evening with these two metal legends. Tribulation kicked off the evening with a crushing introduction to their set with their song “Tainted Skies” followed by one of my favorite tracks “Nightbound” from their fourth album Down Below (2018). Halfway through the set, Andersson announced the premiere of a new song, “Hungry Waters”, to the delight of the fans in attendance. This set was everything I hoped for my first time seeing Tribulation perform live. I hear the influence of their music in so many bands, such as Unto Others and the Atlanta-based Cloak.

Check out Tribulation’s setlist from their opening support at the Tabernacle:

· “Tainted Skies”

· “Nightbound”

· “Suspiria de profundis”

· “Hungry Waters”

· “Saturn Coming Down”

· “Strange Gateways Beckon”

· “Melancholia”

You can head over to Tribulation’s website and watch some videos that they have available for viewing.

Opeth took the stage at the historic Tabernacle to the excitement of a sold-out crowd gathered on a Tuesday evening in downtown Atlanta. Starting the set, Opeth debuted the new single, “§1”, from their upcoming release The Last Will and Testament. It was epic to see Opeth perform this song live for the first time in Atlanta. One of the many highlights of the evening was when Akerfeldt requested the audience to sing the refrain for “In My Time of Need” and let me tell you everyone in attendance was ready for the assignment. Later in the set, Opeth debuted another single from their new album, “§3”, and we all knew how lucky we were to watch history in the making. Akerfeldt was adamant that Atlanta was the most enthusiastic and excited crowd so far on the tour. This endearing sentiment by Akerfeldt was happily backed up by Vayrynen sitting behind the drum kit.

While walking around the venue, I noticed Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher (from the band Mastodon) enjoying some free time watching their buds perform in their hometown. I love seeing homies support the homies! During one of my favorite tracks, “Ghost of Perdition”, I had goosebumps when the audience joined in and sang along with Akerfeldt with the refrain and beautiful harmonies throughout the song. After “Ghost of Perdition”, Opeth waved goodbye and left the stage, but the crowd made sure they came back onstage for an encore. And oh my what an encore did they have in store for us this evening. Opeth came out to perform two more songs, “Sorceress” and “Deliverance”, which Akerfeldt admitted that the band considers “Deliverance” to be the band’s quintessential song, and during their performance, you could tell the band enjoyed jamming out to this song.

You can check out Opeth’s setlist from their 10/22/2024 show at the Tabernacle:

· “§1”

· “The Leper Affinity”

· “The Grand Conjuration”

· “Demon of the Fall”

· “Eternal Rains Will Come”

· “In My Time of Need”

· “Face of Melinda”

· “Heir Apparent”

· “§3”

· “Ghost of Perdition”

Encore:

· “Sorceress”

· “Deliverance”

Subscribe to Opeth’s YouTube Channel and stay current on all things related to Opeth. You still have a chance to check out Opeth on their North American Tour 2024 with Tribulation on the following dates:

October 27 Denver, Mission Ballroom

October 29 Phoenix, The Van Buren

October 30 Los Angeles, YouTube Theater LOW TICKETS

October 31 San Francisco, The Warfield LOW TICKETS

Get your tickets here: https://www.opeth.com/tour-dates

#2024 #Concerthopper #Concert #Concert Preview #concert photography #Review #metal tours #metal #Opeth #Tribulation #Atlanta #georgia #tabernacle #gothic metal

0 notes

concerthopperblog · 2 months ago

Text

Review: Grayson Capps- 'Heartbreak, Misery, & Death'

Sometimes you can look at the title of an album and know just what you're getting. Heartbreak, Misery, & Death, the seventh release from Alabama troubadour Grayson Capps is one of those albums. While Capps is no stranger to any of those three subjects in his original music, for this album he pulled sixteen favorite covers, from traditional to more contemporary songs, running the gamut from Doc Watson and Roy Acuff to Leonard Cohen and Jerry Jeff Walker.

The highlight of the album is also its oldest song. “Barbara Allen” is a ballad that dates back to the 17th Century and briefly saw a renewed popularity during the folk revival of the '60s when artists like Pete Seeger recorded covers. Capps' version of the song strips much of the flair from even those folksy renditions. The entire album features only Capps and his longtime collaborator Corky Hughes and it's on these ancient songs that the format works best. Capps' gruff and bluesy vocals sell the tale of a dying man whose love is spurned by “hard-hearted Barbara Allen”, and I've seen it sold.

Another song that is enhanced by the stripped down format is another traditional that dates to the 17th Century, “Old Maid's Lament.” Over Hughes' ambling strum, Capps gives an almost cheery take on the heartbreak of a young lady who can't seem to find a husband despite standards that are increasingly lowered as the song goes on.

But you can't get much more stripped down than the album's opener, Doc Watson's lament “Wake Up Little Maggie.” Here Capps takes a cue from the original and goes a cappela. There just isn't any better way to convey the mournful tone of the song's narrator. Instruments get in the way.

For the “death” part of the album, Capps highlights a pair of early-to-mid 20th-century compositions. One is “Wreck on the Highway”, made famous by bluegrass icons like Roy Acuff and The Louvin Brothers. Here is where Hughes' input is most valuable to the album. “Wreck on the Highway,” with its religious overtones, only truly works as a bluegrass tune and, while Capps doesn't have the range to do the “high and lonesome” vocals, Hughes can and his harmonies help immensely. Another death song is “Moody River,” first made famous by Pat Boone in 1961. Telling the story of a woman who cheats on her lover and kills herself in a fit of regret by drowning herself in a river, it's a song that fits Capps' more timeworn vocals than it ever did Pat Boone's dulcet tones.

But it isn't all old songs that find a place in Heartbreak, Misery, & Death. Capps also finds inspiration from more modern songs. “Stoney” is a song by Jerry Jeff Walker that dates back to 1970. Walker's witty lyrics and delivery are a pretty good comp for Capps' career output so it's no surprise to find he's a fan, nor that “Stoney” feels the most like a Grayson Capps original. Elsewhere he takes on Randy Newman's “Guilty,” “Early Morning Rain” by Gordon Lightfoot, and what feels like the world's most covered song, Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah.”

Just to make sure it isn't all “Heartbreak, Misery, & Death,” Capps ends the album with what he calls “the greatest campfire song of all time,” “Copper Kettle.” Another early 20th Century folkie best known for a cover by Joan Baez, it's the tale of a moonshiner family who takes up the business because “never shall you toil.” With its refrain of “Watch that whiskey flowing in the pale moonlight,” it's easy to see why it would be a great song for a campfire guitar pull and that's exactly what it sounds like here.

Capps doesn't reinvent the wheel here. There are no radical reinterpretations of any of the covers represented here. That isn't what Heartbreak, Misery, and Death is about. Instead, it's a celebration of some of Capps' favorite traditionial, meant to be enjoyed just as they are. In that respect, the album works. It's as fun as an album full of songs about dying can be.

#Grayson Capps #Folk #americana #2024 #Concerthopper #review #album review

0 notes

concerthopperblog · 2 months ago

Text

Klash of the Titans Tour: Testament & Kreator w/ Possessed Live at Tabernacle

Testament announced that they would be embarking on a revival of their epic Klash of the Titans North American Tour on their social media accounts on April 30, 2024. This time around the Klash of the Titans Tour would feature another thrash metal icon Kreator with additional opening support from a death metal forefather, Possessed. Both Testament and Kreator can say that their roots lay deep in the early days of the thrash metal revolution in the 1980s. Possessed can also carry the same designation in the 1980s, but it would land deep in the roots of the death metal genre.

And what makes this tour even more special than it already is featuring two giants of the thrash metal genre and an integral part of the death metal genre, Testament will be performing an “old-school” set for their most die-hard fans featuring songs from their massive discography that pays tribute to the re-releases of their influential first two albums: The Legacy (1987) and The New Order (1988). With songs like “Into the Pit”, “Trial by Fire”, “Over the Wall”, and “Burnt Offerings”, I was excited to hear what songs Testament would pick for this blockbuster tour with their buds Kreator and Possessed.

Possessed is a death metal band from San Francisco, CA. who has been performing 1983-1987, 1990-1993, and 2007-present day. Possessed are Jeff Becerra (vocals), Daniel Gonzalez (guitars), Robert Cardenas (bass), Claudeous Creamer (guitars), and Chris Aguirre (drums). Possessed has released (or been included) three (3) LPs, three (3) EPs, one (1) Live album, three (3) Compilation albums, two (2) Music videos, and one (1) Documentary. Possessed is currently signed to Nuclear Blast Records which is the label that released their third (3) LP, Revelations of Oblivion, was released on May 10, 2019.

Kicking off the evening, Possessed took the stage at the Tabernacle and you could feel the anticipation with the crowd as they prepared to headbang to one of the one of the forefathers in the death metal genre. Many consider Possessed the band that started death metal with their debut album, Seven Churches, in 1985. And Possessed has not lost a step over the decades since their debut album made music history. I hope people understand that this tour was not only for us as fans but this tour is also for these three bands to celebrate their rich history as metal pioneers.

You can see the epic setlist performed by Possessed as opening support during The Klash of the Titans Tour at the Tabernacle:

· “Pentagram”

· “Ritual”

· “Tribulation”

· “Graven”

· “The Exorcist”

· “Demon”

· “Death Metal”

· “Fallen Angel”

You can support Possessed by checking out their official merchandise page. Follow this link to Possessed’s official YouTube channel or their official TikTok account.

Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany that formed in 1982. They are also signed to Nuclear Blast records and have released fifteen (15) LPs since 1985 with Hate Uber Alles (2022) being their latest release on Nuclear Blast Records. Kreator currently consists of Miland “Mille” Petrozza (vocals/rhythm guitar), Sami Yli-Sirnio (lead guitar), Jurgen “Ventor” Reil (drums), and Frederic Leclercq (bass).

This would be my first time catching the thrash metal legends from Germany live, so I was eager to check another band off my bucket list. The stage setup was probably one of the most elaborate since I saw Amon Amarth perform at the Tabernacle a few years back. Some fans that were riding the rail were discussing their past times seeing Kreator when they toured the States. Since this was my first time seeing Kreator live, I was excited to hear some songs like “Coma of Souls”, “Terror Zone”, “Satan is Real”, “Pleasure to Kill”, “Endless Pain”, and “Enemy of God”. Ending their set with one of my favorite tracks from their 1986 release of the same name, “Pleasure to Kill”, made me a happy camper.

Check out this headbanging set from one of the forefathers of the thrash metal genre:

· “Hate Uber Alles”

· “Phobia”

· “Coma of Souls” (Intro only)

· “Enemy of God”

· “666 – World Divided”

· “Hordes of Chaos (A Necrologue for the Elite)”

· “Hail to the Hordes”

· “Betrayer”

· “Satan is Real”

· “Phantom Antichrist”

· “Strongest of the Strong”

· “Terrible Certainty”

· “Violent Revolution”

· “Pleasure to Kill”

You can show Kreator some support or check their music out on their official Bandcamp page or their official online merchandise store today!

Testament is a thrash metal band that originated in Berkeley, CA. in 1983 under the previous name Legacy. In 1986, Legacy transformed into the juggernaut of thrash metal that we know today as Testament. Testament is comprised of Chuck Billy (vocals), Eric Peterson (rhythm & lead guitar/backing vocals), Alex Skolnick (lead guitars/backing vocals), Steve Di Giorgio (bass/backing vocals), and Chris Dovas (drums). Testament has released thirteen (13) LPs since 1987 with Titans of Creation (2020) being the last release on Nuclear Blast records. Peterson, a founding member, and Billy are the only members to have appeared in all of Testament’s releases to date.

It was finally time for the thrash metal gods to take the stage at the Tabernacle in downtown Atlanta, Ga. Starting the night with “Eerie Inhabitants” and “The New Order” made me very happy and I knew that this was going to be a memorable, classic set from the thrash legends Testament. It’s not often that Testament revisits songs from their first two albums, but we were all lucky to get a chance to hear songs like “Eerie Inhabitants”, “The New Order”, “Trial by Fire”, “Into the Pit”, “Over the Wall”, “The Haunting”, and “Raging Waters”. That was just the tip of the iceberg, feast your eyes on this classic setlist from one of the pioneers of thrash metal below:

· “Eerie Inhabitants”

· “The New Order”

· “Apocalyptic City”

· “Raging Waters”

· “The Preacher”

· “The Haunting”

· “Trial by Fire”

· Drum Solo (Chris Dovas)

· “First Strike is Deadly”

· “A Day of Reckoning”

· “Alone in the Dark”

· “Do or Die”

· “Disciples of the Watch”

· “Over the Wall”

· “Into the Pit”

You can check out my first time covering Testament when they came to Atlanta as part of the farewell tour for the legendary Slayer: The Final Tour: Slayer/Lamb of God/Anthrax/Testament/Napalm Death (Atlanta 08/10/2018). You still have time to see the Klash of the Titans Tour featuring Testament & Kreator with Possessed on the following dates:

Sat, OCT 19