Nevermind The Posers

See ya in the pit.

NOFX with Anti-Flag and Old Man Markley at Starland Ballroom, NJ October 26, 2011

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 12:32 AM

October 10, 2011

It was definitely a strange start to the evening, pulling into the parking lot of the VFW across the street (I’d rather shell out cash to the cool old vets than the Starland crew) from Starland Ballroom to witness the return of NOFX, who dragged along vets Anti-Flag and newer act Old Man Markley on tour this time out.  Apparently, the crowds of punk lovers have gotten increasingly younger than they were when I first stumbled into the scene in 2000, either that or smaller.  I constantly passed groups of early teens and what appeared to be mini-people pre-gaming the show, and I definitely felt the age gap (which isn’t much in my case), until I stepped inside the venue.  Because when you’re at a punk show, everyone is equal…as long as you’re not a dick.

Old Man Markley was the first band up.  A large punk/bluegrass outfit hailing from California that offered tunes which constantly rang of the Dropkick Murphys, only with a more traditional roots-based slant.  Although they played well and seemed to hold their own with the audience, the much-needed direct connection between band and audience (which goes double for punk shows) was not there.  I have never cared for that type of roots-infused punk, and from what I saw a good portion of the crowd didn’t either.  However, that’s not to say that they didn’t play out well and put on a good show.  Although it wasn’t my musical preference, they certainly did not suck.

Next was the increasingly “political” act Anti-Flag, fresh off a set at the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.  I have never liked their overly political agenda, with constant lyrical cries of “Bah! Government bad, police brutality everywhere, financial disarray, Wall Street is EVIL MANNNNN”.  Their views constantly overshadow what many times can be great musical chaos, and this night was no different.  Truthfully, while I do understand the things they reference in their lyrics, even going so far as to occasionally agree with their complaints (yes, Wall Street bad, police need to chill out sometimes, don’t let the Government abuse its power), it still seems that after all the years of their staunch political existence, they continually fail to understand that the kids they are preaching to genuinely do not understand the subject matter of the songs or why the band believes what they do.  They continue to play out songs dripping in leftist beliefs with anthemic qualities, because as long as the rebellion is catchy, the fan base will love it.  Otherwise they played a crowd thrashing set, making that ever-crucial band to crowd connection that the Markley’s couldn’t quite develop.

The kings of the evening were of course NOFX, who never fail to disappoint when they come to town.  With their usual style of ‘drink, drink, set list selection, crowd request, crowd insult, random song’, they took complete control of the room, almost making the crowd forget that there were any opening acts to begin with.  The band never fails to put on a good show, continually delivering multiple sets littered with old favorites, newer tunes and random covers, carried by their distinctive sense of humor, which is borderline retarded by way of asshole.  And I mean that it a good way.  One could not have asked for a better set list for the evening, which included such venue destroyers as “Fuck the Kids,” “Stickin’ in My Eye” (my personal favorite), and my favorite song of the night “Bob,” which is ten times as silly when you see it played live.  The Awesome Award for the evening goes to guitarist El Hefe, who amazingly managed to juggle guitar shredding, horn playing and drinking heavy amounts of beer, sometimes simultaneously, and never screwing up.  And with the appearance of an extra-extended crowd participating version of “Theme From a NOFX Album,” the chaotic evening came to a sad, but inevitable close.  Shows like this are nearly a thing of the past these days, but when Fat Mike and Co. show up, you feel like the punk scene is alive and well.

Just a word of advice guys: next time, play “You’re Bleeding”.

-Mark B.

 

Bryan Ferry at Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ October 23, 2011

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 11:22 PM

October 4. 2011
Review by Mark B.

Are the 70s back?  Did somehow the 80s sneak in on the action too?  The answer is an enthusiastic yes, as Bryan Ferry took to the stage at the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ for a stop on his ultra-rare tour of the U.S.  What was extra rare was that I was one of the youngest people in the audience, with the exception of two or three poor souls dragged by their parents into a night of reliving their youth that they had no interest taking part of.  But no matter, because whether it was an oldie trying to reclaim their youth, or a youth looking to experience a piece of what now vintage music is all about, everyone was there to have a good time.  And it came off without a hitch.

The evening kicked off with retro-funk style openers the Phenomenal Handclap band, who led what seemed to be a low-key set, which fit well into the general vibe for the evening, but not into what I could tolerate leading into main act Bryan Ferry.  And judging by how many people chose to stand outside of the main stage area until it was time for Ferry, I wasn’t alone in my thoughts.  There wasn’t much worth mentioning, as I am unfamiliar with their material, but after their set I had no real desire to dig deeper.  Their music wasn’t terrible; it really just wasn’t for me.

However, there would be a savior for the evening.  As the notes to set opener “You Can Dance,” from his latest release Olympia rang through the theatre with its powerful, dreamy ethereal qualities, Ferry didn’t so much take that stage as he almost seemed to smoothly glide onto it, fitted in a custom tailored black suit and tie looking like the same dapper gentleman he has been since the days of Roxy Music.  One look around as he opened his seductively crooning voice, one would see a crowd captivated by the singer’s every word and motion, and it didn’t let up for the duration of the evening.  As he effortlessly moved between standing vocals and synth/keyboard duties, Bryan Ferry made the Wellmont Theatre his own den of cool for the evening.

At 66, his voice isn’t quite as powerful as it used to be, but it still sounded polished and soothing, still easily keeping up with the pace of the professional crew of musician’s sharing the stage with him.  And where power lacked, he utilized a 4 back-up singer set-up to help keep the pace, not only keeping the songs in proper form, but also adding a unique sound element to the vocal melodies, expanding the strange beauty of each tune in a way that even the most powerful singer couldn’t do on their own.  It certainly helped, working best on such songs as Roxy Music-era favorite “Avalon,” helping to give it a more intimate, sweeping feel and the ever funky “Kiss and Tell,” giving it a more Wall-of-Sound feel.

An interesting note to the evening was the addition of an intermission of what I had believed to be mid-set, instead of just set #1.  Although it’s unclear whether the break was due to age, the condition of his voice or just for the hell of it, it actually added something to the evening.  By breaking the set into two seemingly separate parts, it gave the set a classier air, as if Ferry was saying “No need for any encores.  As long as we play it cool and pace it right, the crowd will leave feeling satisfied.”  And he was right, as set #2 began, the band reintroduced themselves with the beautifully subtle instrumental “Tara,” which was led by his ever-talented guitarist and saxophonist/keyboardist (whose names escape me, apologies).  Highlights of set #2 included “Slave to Love,” and a quite unorthodox cover of Bob Dylan’s popular composition “All Along the Watchtower,” which had been deconstructed and remolded into a suave, sophisticated sounding experience by Ferry for his 2007 cover album, Dylanesque.

The only complaint with the evening was the seemingly sudden end to the show.  As soon as he completed what turned out to be the final tune of the night “Jealous Guy,” Ferry gazed at the crowd, accepted the cheers of the fans, briefly muttered “Thank you and good night” and slyly ducked off stage.  It was truly a ‘blink and you miss it’ feeling moment.  All in all, although a full set had been played, it was still sad to have the experience ended on such a subtle note.  Regardless, Bryan Ferry is definitely a timelessly cool act worth seeing, and one who will never bore, and simply cannot disappoint.

Set List

1. The Main Thing
2. You Can Dance
3. Tom Thumbs Blues
4. If There Is Something
5. Make You Feel My Love
6. Boys and Girls
7. Kiss and Tell
8. Alphaville
9. Hurricane

-Intermission-

10. Tara
11. Bittersweet
12. Slave to Love
13. Reason Or Rhyme
14. Avalon
15. My Only Love
16. Love is the Drug
17. All Along the Watchtower
18. Let’s Stick Together
19. Jealous Guy

 

The Big 4- A Metalhead’s Dream October 6, 2011

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 7:55 AM
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Sept. 14, 2011 Yankee Stadium

Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica…the Big 4 and a metal head’s dream come true, especially for this metal head that had never gotten to see Slayer live before this show.

Anthrax started the show at 4pm and September 14th was even named “Anthrax” day in the Bronx, NY.  Their energetic set started with “Fight ‘Em Til You Can’t,” a song from their new album Worship Music, which was really good (I had heard it played recently on WSOU, Seton Hall’s Pirate Radio, NJ), then the classics “Got the Time,” “Madhouse,” “Caught in a Mosh” and some crowd moshing began, even though the sun hadn’t set and it was very warm and humid.  You’ve just got to love the way Scott Ian stomps his trademark stomp; he seemed truly happy to be playing at Yankee stadium and even wore a Yankee jersey later in the set.  “Anti-Social” was another crowd favorite with everyone chanting along.  Joey Belladonna’s voice sounded good and it was great seeing him back in action wearing the huge feather chief head-dress for “Indians” running back and forth across the huge stage.  They played a great set, about 40 minutes, and then the stage was set for Megadeth.

Megadeth opened with “Trust,” then played “Hanger 18.”  They didn’t seem to have as much energy as Anthrax, but still sounded incredible.  Dave Mustaine announced that he was having some major back surgery right after the show and had to be careful how he moved, or he could end up paralyzed, which was why he wasn’t running around and probably shouldn’t have been there at all, but this is metal.  He just couldn’t miss this historical event.  His playing was great, going back and forth on guitar with Chris Broderick.  They really got everyone going with “Sweating Bullets,” the crowd singing right along with them.  “Peace Sells” was always one of my favorites and hearing it live, I remembered why I liked Megadeth so much.  It seemed like they finished their set so quickly, I would’ve loved to hear more.

Ah, but then they started setting up for Slayer.  SLAYER!!!

It was still light out when Slayer took the stage, but got dark quickly (pun intended) and the full moon rose over the stage.  They started with “Disciple” and I was crazy excited just as everyone at Yankee Stadium was this magical night.  I don’t remember ever being so happy to be at a concert.  Tom Araya’s lightning fast vocals were perfect, although their sound system sounded much fuzzier than Megadeth’s.  Maybe because it was louder?  I was happy to hear “War Ensemble” and “Dead Skin Mask,” but wish they played “Seasons in the Abyss” also.  The stadium rumbled with “Hate Worldwide” and “Mandatory Suicide.”  I loved the hypnotizing riffs of “South of Heaven” and Kerry King killed on “Angel of Death” and “Raining Blood.”  He plays with such skill and speed that I couldn’t get one good picture of him.  It seemed so surreal finally getting to see Slayer play live.  They definitely lived up to all my expectations and I was as happy as any metal head could be.

Shortly after 9pm, it was Metallica time!  They opened with one of my all-time favorite Metallica songs, “Creeping Death” and their sound system was LOUD and crystal clear.  Next was “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and the stadium was rocking!  Their pyrotechnics were crazy as the flames flew high into the night for “Fuel” and booming fireworks started during “One.”  And they had an amazing smoke and laser light show for “Blackened” that I’ll always remember.  They rocked their classics: “Ride the Lightning,” “Fade to Black,” “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” and “Master of ‘Puppets.”  No one was seated and you could just feel the energy of the night.  Hearing “Enter Sandman” played live at Yankee Stadium is something I’ll never forget, especially since Mariano Rivera had just tied the all-time save record and always comes out to the mound to “Enter Sandman.”  Baseball & metal, who would’ve thought of that combo?  Metallica, that’s who!

James Hetfield’s deep growling voice sounded great throughout the night as did Lars Ulrich on drums, but the many solos by Kirk Hammett were impressive and they surprised the crowd by playing the instrumental “Orion,” which for as many times as I’ve seen Metallica, have never heard played live before tonight.  They played only a few from Death Magnetic but those sounded wonderful.  After the Big 4 bands all got together to play, and finished, Metallica came back to do “Battery” which blew everyone away (although I was secretly hoping to hear “Damage Inc.”) and closed with a favorite “Seek & Destroy.”  No one wanted to leave this historical metal show.  I know I was awestruck!

Before Metallica had finished their set, they called up the members of all Big 4 bands to come out and play a song together (Dave Mustaine and a few others were notably absent).  James announced that they would honor Lemmy, the godfather of metal, by playing “Overkill” by Motörhead.  All 4 drummers took turns playing and it was an absolutely amazing collaboration!  Everyone on stage seemed genuinely happy to be playing together, like good friends reuniting just for fun, hugging each other, laughing.  I was truly happy to the core to have been a part of this amazing evening.  Nothing will ever compare to or come close to this show’s magnitude of talent.  I will remember this evening and concert as long as I live.
Metallica.com posted a tour video with live footage of “Blackened” and “Overkill.”  Check it out below.

Review by Marianne Teresi

 

Union County Musicfest 2011 October 1, 2011

Filed under: Concert Reviews,Music Festivals — NVMP @ 3:16 PM
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by Mark B.

For the 5th consecutive year, the 3rd at its current location, the Union County Musicfest has tried its damnedest to bring the best musical acts that the industry has to offer to Union County, NJ.  And despite the fact that it is not a free concert (our tax dollars at work), I nonetheless appreciated the county’s attempt to do something enjoyable and worthwhile with our hard-earned money.  With past headliners such as LIVE, Cheap Trick, The Alarm, Chuck Berry and Third Eye Blind, among many great artist bookings, the promoters had a lot to live up to if they were going to get another massive turnout.  And for 2011, again they did not disappoint, bringing in such notable acts as Collective Soul, Ed Kowalczyk of LIVE, Blondie, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Smithereens and Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes for the citizens of Union County and neighboring areas to check out.


Leading off the Friday night portion of the rock show was recent former lead singer of Live, Ed Kowalczyk.  Thankfully, just as LIVE had sounded when the band had headlined the Musicfest a few years back, Kowalyczyk brought the same skill and energy back, playing a tight and rocking show, albeit with a different crew.  The set bounced between the obvious inclusions of LIVE songs (with “Selling the Drama,” “I Alone” and “Lakini’s Juice” being the real standouts), peppered with cuts from last year’s debut solo release Alive, which strangely rocked harder than the actual studio album sounded.  Regardless, the set was great.

Bringing the evening to a close was a standout set by 90s alternative heroes Collective Soul, who played an absolutely amazing set.  In fact, they were so good, the fest could have ended right on that Friday night and I don’t think anyone would have cared.   They kept the night moving at just the right pace, playing all the songs that any fan would want to hear (with the night’s versions of “Run” and  “Shine” being the best of the set), perfectly mixed in with a few obscurities, a random crowd request (the always great ‘Gel”) and a strange impromptu fifteen minute cover/freeform/writing session type jam mid-set, which turned out to be a strange highlight to the evening.  On a personal note, what made the evening even better was the positivity exuded by the ever so charismatic front man, Ed Roland.  While he was the consummate rock star on the stage, working the mic stand and dancing across the stage without managing to look Steven Tyler silly, he took the time, he exuded personal warmth that quickly engulfed the audience.  It was clear that he loves what he does night after night, and he not only made sure everyone knew it, but that everyone got to share in that moment.

Saturday evening brought the group that was touted as the main headliner for the entire weekend, Blondie.  And honestly, I am not sure what to make of what I heard.  On one hand, for a band that has been around in some way for over 40 years, they definitely did a great job, rocking the most loyal of fans and the newbies (like me) for almost 90 minutes or at least until the town curfew kicked in.  They played very well, ripping through all their hits, peppered with some of their newest tracks for good measure, (which sound very cool, by the way) and brought a lot of enthusiasm and nostalgic charm to the stage, which held the rowdy crowd captivated.  On the other hand, although I hate to say it, they really showed their age during the set.  Debbie Harry can still sing quite well, but she can’t really hit the high notes anymore; she can still sing decently, but now every song is played at least an octave down from how it was originally performed.  I am getting tired of giving bands the benefit of the doubt due to age, among other factors, and this group is where it ends.  Realistically, if you can’t perform it the way it was done x-amount of years ago, then maybe you should stop playing it, even if it is a mainstay.  Then again, I don’t want it to sound like I am really trashing Blondie, because they were really good, even better when you stack them against a few of the still existing bands with their longevity.  It’s really a tough call, but it’s more accurate to say that I truly enjoyed their set, just not as much as I had hoped I would.

Sunday featured sets from bands that could be considered more geared to the older crowds, as the lawn chairs were definitely in attendance.  You can always tell how old the crowd is by how much the acts on stage rock out and how little their supposed fans move during the songs.  It was like watching people watch paint dry, with the exception of a small group who huddled up to the barricades; at least they were dancing around and having a great time no matter how ridiculous they looked.  First up was one of New Jersey’s biggest and longest lasting rock acts, the Smithereens.  Having seen the act before and expecting a great show, they did not let anyone down.  Although it became obvious that they didn’t expect to play as long as the set times allotted (there was a lot of extended songs, stalling banter and the odd inclusion of the Star Spangled-Banner), it was still a great way to kick-off the last day of the fest.  Now that’s how an older band does it.

The day was capped off with a rocking set from New Jersey bar-room blues mainstays, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.  At the risk of trampling on Jerseyans pride, I have never really been a fan of what many consider to be “the sound of the Jersey Shore”.  For the longest time I found it to be very outdated and a boring, muddled style of music that wreaked too strongly of its past musical influences.  But barely 10 seconds after the Jukes took the stage and ripped into their first song, I had an instant change of heart.  The combination of Johnny’s voice (which sounded like someone broke a whiskey bottle in his throat while he was drinking it) and the striking horn section yanked my attention away from photo shooting and right to the center of the stage.  Basically, the tunes weren’t strong enough to urge me to run out and buy all of their albums, but it was definitely good enough for me to have enjoyed the show, and to have made a casual fan out of me.  Even with all the aging fans planted front and center rocking out like it was 1975, Johnny was the one who seemed to be having the most fun, giving a performance expertly leading with his highly skilled band of musical veterans, not bad for a 63-year-old Rock ‘n’ Roller.

The only blight on the weekend was my one major complaint: the Freeholders.  Right before every band took the stage, the mind-numbingly irritating “announcer” had to strut onstage and, along with the same barrage of unnecessary sponsor announcements and suck-up thank you’s, the good ol’ Freeholders had to be brought up postage and introduced to the crowds time and time again!  Otherwise, everything else was swell.  The UC Musicfest 2011 managed to deliver yet another year of fantastic rock acts, minus the egos.

 

Men Without Hats and The Human League, NYC September 29, 2011

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 8:08 AM
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Concert review by Mark B.

Friday, September 23 @ Best Buy Theater, Times Square, NYC

The 80s.  A decade I hold near and dear to my heart, especially since I was born during that glorious time frame.  So many fun, weird and just plain interesting bands came and went quicker in that decade than  any other, and among them The Human League, who defied the odds and managed to survive long enough to be rediscovered and rejuvenated.  It may be 2011, but 80s style New Wave and Synth-Pop were alive and well in New York City on Friday, September 23 as the League brought their legendary style of Synth-Pop to the Best Buy Theater, accompanied by newly minted cult New Wave act Men Without Hats.

Men Without Hats

Never in all my wildest new wave dreams did I believe I would ever have the opportunity to see Men Without Hats, one of the most notoriously catchy one hit wonders of the 80s, play a live show.  And yet, most likely thanks to the interesting choice of Human League’s management (wow, managers did something good), at exactly 8:30pm I had the privilege of seeing MWH take the stage to shockingly  thunderous applauses, as part of their first national tour in over 20 years.  And what a fantastic show they put on.   Coming fresh from a successful U.S. tour kick-off at the SXSW festival in Austin, the Men managed to pull themselves out of obscurity and into the new millennium.  Although the majority of their catalogue is unknown, save for “The Safety Dance” and possibly the minor hit “Pop Goes the World,” at this show you would have never known it, as the crowd enthusiastically sang along with every song during the hour-long set, which was peppered with catalogue faves like “Antarctica” and “I Like”.  Sure, each of the songs ring of early 80s cheesy synth lines, but amazingly they somehow avoided sounding like a crusty nostalgia act.  Truthfully, all thanks should go to the somewhat overly animated front man and founder Ivan Doroschuk, who grabbed hold of the crowd with his ridiculous leather cowboy hat and his incredible enthusiasm and positive energy.  It was almost as if he was letting the crowd know “yes, this music is ridiculous…ridiculously fun and catchy that is,” and we all eagerly bought into it and never looked back.  It is probably the most fun that I have had with an artist at a show in quite sometime.  And thanks to Ivan and his band, it’s a great experience that I will never forget.

But that’s not to say that they were able to claim the night solely for themselves.  When the lights dimmed signaling the introduction of the Human League, a burst of emotional electricity rapidly surged throughout the audience, either that, or the older-folk’s Centrum Silver doses kicked in just in time.

Human League

The 30+ years and going strong League, still led by the fashionably attired, magnetic front man Philip Oakey, along with partners Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall, commanded the stage for nearly 2 hours, running an evenly paced and outright fun journey through the list of usual hits (“Don’t You Want Me,” “Sound of the Crowd“ and “Human” among many) with some of their newer catalogue, being sure to make a few stops in the territory of their newest album in 10 years, Credo.  Even two tunes from the first incarnation of the Human League made an appearance (“Being Boiled” and “Empire State Human”).  Each song was rescued from staleness thanks to updated sounds and the competent jamming of their backing band, who were obviously having the time of their lives.  And who could blame them?  Let me just say this, while their music has always been a great listen, inducing plenty of random New Wave dance parties over the years, they sound better than absolutely incredible live, even more impressive considering how long they’ve been around.  Most bands in their age range, especially those with the same amount of mileage on the road, tend to fade away, become embarrassing nostalgia acts, or worse, continue acting as if they were still in their 20’s while having to modify the song arrangements because they can’t keep up.  But not the League, who never failed to hit their vocal ranges, looking quite effortless when they did (maybe Debbie Harry should talk to them about the upkeep of singing voices) and allowed their sound to be updated without ruining the fond memories or integrity.  There is truly something to be said for a band that has been around for over three decades, and still sounds just as good, if not better today than they did 30 years ago.  Long live the Human League.

Human League

Rating for Men Without Hats: We can dance if we want to…and did.
Rating for Human League: Amazing.

 

New Found Glory at Montclairfest 2011 April 25, 2011

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 10:37 PM
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Review by Ryan Bright
     On Wednesday April 20th, 2011 Montclair University had their annual Montclairfest with Florida based band New Found Glory as their headliner.  I’ve seen New Found Glory over ten times and this was by far one of their best shows I’ve seen. To begin with, they were playing an auditorium with seats, which is unheard of for a band of their persuasion.  Kids were going nuts, stage diving into seats with complete disregard for themselves and their fellow students.  NFG played their usual singles (“Head On Collision,” “Forget My Name,” “Hit Or Miss,” etc) and the crowd was singing along in unison.  One thing that baffled me though was the lukewarm response to them playing “Dressed To Kill,” a song from their self titled album.  They got a better crowd response when they played covers of “Kiss Me” and “Iris.”  I can’t stand both of those songs and was rather disappointed because I knew that I would be missing out on some of their fine three-minute gems.  I can understand the response though, since this was a college show, most in attendance were probably not true fans and had only heard a few songs.  So when they play songs that were Billboard number ones, they could actually sing along and not feel like noobs.  One thing that made me happy were the kids who were fans; they went bonkers when they played a Gorilla Biscuits cover, showing their roots.  It made me feel like I was at a show where audience participation was encouraged and you were made to feel like part of the band.  Chad Gilbert, lead guitarist, was having technical difficulties throughout the night, but mainly because kids kept unplugging his cables while running across stage.  They came back with an encore of The Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” and finally “My Friends Over You.”  Steven Klein, the rhythm guitarist, gave his guitar to a girl mid-song.  She danced around and pretended to play with the best look I’ve ever seen on anyone’s face.  When “My Friends Over You” played, kids rushed the stage and crowded the band, making it almost impossible for them to finish.  I heard one kid outside after the show say, “Bro, I shook New Found Glory’s lead singer’s hand, how many people you know can say that?”  I love the accessibility about college shows.  You can hang out with band at Chili’s, like one girl I talked to, or jump onstage and rage with them.  It’s a show for the kids to let loose and have fun during the stressing weeks near finals, and that’s exactly what it accomplished.
 

The Bloody Muffs at Local 269 in NYC March 18, 2011 April 3, 2011

Filed under: Concert Reviews,Music You've Been Missing — NVMP @ 5:12 PM
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By Angela Blasi

Off East Houston St. in NYC lies a club that deems itself, “The Last Bastion of Great Live Music in NYC.”  A small club with just enough room for a bar and a few tables and chairs (mainly standing room only), one could tell frills were not something of a major concern to the owner.  No, instead a simple back line and a whole bunch of punk rock bands held my attention for the evening.  Primarily, it was the Bloody Muffs.  A trio made up of drummer Kat Kaos, lead vocalist/guitarist Jonesy and bassist Jessica, the group doesn’t waste much time with fancy bio’s or elaborate songs.  Rather, it seems they put all efforts into the DIY mentality; straight and to the point, giving it all they’ve got on every song.

Although their set was short that night at Local 269, I have to say it was a good one that I enjoyed.  Maybe they aren’t taking on politics and challenging the government with each verse and chorus, but I can not deny how much fun singing an entire chorus of “Fuck Your Mom” can be.  With songs about various whores, people sucking, drunken sex and feeling alright no matter what happens, I found myself laughing and simply enjoying the music all night.

Despite technical difficulties in the first number, the band carried on effortlessly, letting the mistakes roll off their backs like seasoned professionals.  I liked their inclusion of all three members on vocals, adding texture and a conversational nature to many of the songs that gave for a sense of inclusion and light heartedness.  I also must add, that as a group they were musically solid.  I particularly enjoyed the song, “Love Me Like A Drug” where each pause and blast beat were seamlessly integrated into the music, all members executing the rhythms perfectly.  Sure, a seasoned eye can catch mistakes from any player but the errors are not important so much as it is the performer’s ability to overcome them and keep going.

I’d recommend this band for anyone who isn’t into taking themselves too seriously and enjoys punk rock that does the same.  A great band to go see, have a beer and hang out with, the Bloody Muffs are a good time live.  For your listening pleasure, check out their two albums Heavy Flow and Sloppy Seconds, both available on Amazon.com and iTunes.

 

Recoil @ Highline Ballroom, November 1, 2010 November 11, 2010

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 9:22 AM
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Review by Mark B.

Conjure One

With a gloomy excitement in the air and a plethora of strange and dark, but fitting electro tunes blaring over the PA system, the night that Depeche Mode and Recoil fans alike had been waiting months to re-experience had finally arrived.  And this arrival came with an added surprise to all the DM fans, being attended by none other than Alan’s former band-mate, Dave Gahan.  Why was he there?  Would he be joining Alan on stage?  Why were so many people obsessed with taking pictures of him drinking a beer?  Needless to say, it added further electricity to a night that was already itching to begin.  The only question was whether or not the show and set would be a repeat of May’s gig.

The evening started off on a distinctly different vibe, with a set from Conjure One, better known as one of the many musical monikers of Rhys Fulber (ex-Front Line Assembly/Delerium, and long-time programmer for Fear Factory, to name a few).  Led by a live bassist/singer (whose name sadly escapes me), Fulber helped start the night off right with a perfectly paced set full of air synths, breathy vocals, globe spanning rhythms and a solid dance beat that never failed to move the crowd (or get a head nod at the very least).  You don’t get many openers as polished and on point as CO.

Rating for Conjure One: Amazing, Imaginative, Danceable.

Architect

Next was a manic set from Architect.  Words could not accurately describe the chaotic but danceable beats that this technological warlock cracked out over the audience, via his trusty laptop and numerous pieces of electronic wizardry gear.  So all that I will say is that for such psychotically complex and erratic arrangements, his mix was incredibly easy to move to.  And he gets points for throwing in a subtle yet noticeable Depeche Mode sample, with extra credit going to his completely original handling of it, avoiding any stagnating musical clichés and making the tune his own, while winning ever-crucial DM cred with the audience.

Rating for Architect: Glorious Chaos.

Finally, the moment that the ever-growing crowd had been waiting for arrived, as Alan Wilder and co-conspirator Paul Kendall took the stage amidst growing screams and ruckus from the crowd.  With a Miami-Vice type cool they were off, leading the audience down the rabbit-hole and back into the audio spectrum of Recoil.  But did they give the audience more of the same?  Thankfully, no.  Armed with a striking set of updated visuals, Wilder and Kendall built a much dancier set, with pulse pounding beats permeating through the crowd and vibrating whatever rafters Dave Gahan’s presence didn’t occupy.  All kidding aside, the evening was further highlighted by the reappearance of the always amazing, but slightly moody Nicole Blackman, seductively vocalizing her way though another of her Recoil collaborations.

With the felt presence of Dave Gahan, I have to admit (along with the other audience members) to constant feelings of false hope every time Wilder introduced a Depeche Mode song or sample into the mix.  We all held out some hope that Dave Gahan would magically appear on the stage and start singing along, being that this was Recoil’s last date of the tour, but alas, this was not to be, as Gahan magically vanished from the venue before the last beat was hit.  Luckily for the audience, the instant dissolving of our Depeche reunion pipe dream failed to derail the evening.  In fact, I’m willing to bet that it helped stir up a stronger interest in further Recoil releases, just in case the old DM crew decided to sit in on a session.  All in all, a fantastic way to end a long-awaited and successful tour.

Rating for Recoil: Fucking Brilliant.  Wilder and Kendall rock it again.

 

CMJ 2010 November 9, 2010

Filed under: Concert Reviews,Music Festivals — NVMP @ 10:19 AM
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Review by TNT

As new music filled the streets of the Lower East Side and Williamsburg during CMJ 2010, I was eager to discover something new for my ears to devour.  I did my research and planned a schedule; I was able to see majority of the bands and artists that struck my musical fancy and I will share some of those gems in just a moment.  In a future post, I will give a list of bands deemed worthy of checking out, either live or recorded, that’s your prerogative.

Its business time!

On Tuesday night, 10/19, I headed to NYU Judson Church to pick up my badge.  Walking through Washington Square Park felt like a moment of clarity and a breath of relief.  We all have our day jobs, and this year I was hitting up CMJ Tuesday through Friday immediately after mine, braving the rushing hour traffic from Jersey to NYC (averaging around an hour and a half of traffic each day).  This felt like my happy hour (minus the bar).  Working through a day job you don’t love and following it up with something you just can’t get enough of (new music, NYC, networking, meeting up with friends you don’t get to see as much as you’d like to), even knowing that you’re not going to be sleeping all week, made every second worthwhile.  Next stop was right next door, NYU Kimmel Center, for the festival guide and other various goodies.  Props to Reverend Moose and company for selecting such unbelievably fashionable travel bags.

Last but not least, I hunted down the Pure Volume House, which was conveniently located at the back alley of Extra Pl., a street I never knew existed in NYC until now.  I grabbed my pass, but am sad to say that I never made it inside.  Guess the discovery of Extra Pl. was good enough.   I saw Aunt Martha at Pianos once again.  Three members out of four played, but were still able to fill the air with their ambiance.  At least the last time I saw them there were four members, but their MySpace says three is the magic number.  But that is neither here nor there.  I always fall in love with the picture their lyrics and beats paint; it washes over me like a tidal wave.  My favorite songs were “Neighbor Song” and “Detroit City”.  They’ll be at The Living Room on 11/12 if you want to check them out live.

My favorite band at CMJ was Black Taxi.  I saw them at Bowery Electric Tuesday night and at the CMJ Gallery on Wednesday.  They always blow my mind.  Their live show is seriously not to be missed; so much energy and raw power!  Lead singer Ezra brings out a smorgasbord of instruments to keep your eyes and ears at attention.  My favorite?  The megaphone.  This man knows how to use it, especially in “Up Here for Thinking, Down There for Dancing”.  He crawled along the bar at the CMJ Gallery and jumped into the crowd.  I love Things of That Nature; every single song is a hit for me.  I dare you to not love them live, I double dog dare ya!

After surviving more rush hour traffic, I was ready hit the clubs and bars supporting CMJ on Wednesday.  One of the first bands I saw was the New Collisions @ CMJ Gallery.  This was a great band to check out live.  The lyrics were a mix between fun, carefree anthems and some darker lines.  The sound had a powerful pop rock/punk vibe with a new wave touch.  Besides their onstage energy, I thought the synth really made this band come alive.  Their catchy rhythms and beats kept the crowd moving.

I hate when you walk into a show and you know the band is on their second to last or last song.  It was a real shame with Click Clack Boom because they sounded like a band I would have wanted to catch their entire set.  I wish I could have heard more.  No use being upset, they often play in NYC.  I’m excited to hear more from this band and look forward to seeing them live again, hopefully a full set this time around.
One of the buzz bands at CMJ this year was Blood Red Shoes, whom I checked out at Le Poisson Rouge.  Minimal effects, just raw guitar riffs and drums made this rock duo from Brighton, UK a must see.  I loved what I heard on their MySpace page, but was not overly impressed with them live; I was expecting more from all the hype.  I liked that they both had a ‘I don’t care’ attitude while on stage, as if they were both in their own worlds and communicating only by looks.  Their music was pure and I would enjoy them at house party, but otherwise wouldn’t see them live again.

What could be a better end to a night of live music then with a dance party?  Nothing, which is why my last stop Wednesday night was at Bowery Ballroom to see The Knocks.  So much fun!  I can add them to my list of bands I’d hire to play a private party.  This duo knows how to kick it into high gear and get a crowd going wild.  The Knocks have been on my ‘must see’ list for some time, and I was not let down.  I recommend checking out some music, live if you can.

Free Poutine anyone?

Turbogeist at Bruar Falls

Thursday I had my heart set on seeing only a couple of bands.  I started at Arlene’s Grocery for Braids at the M for (pour) Montreal showcase.  As I waited for the music to start, I tried some free poutine, which is the Canadian version of disco fries (cheese and gravy on french fries).  I wasn’t crazy about the poutine, as the cheese was chunky and cold, the gravy was hot, and the fries were stale.  Maybe next time Canada, but I’m gonna pass on your version of an American classic.  I was not in love with Braids, they were all about the effects and it sounded like one big experiment to me.  I respected the effort and the sound was interesting to hear.  I stayed for most of their set when I was honestly done with them after the first few songs.  It started to get a bit repetitive.  Experiments are usually fun to watch, but I just wasn’t getting down with Braids.  I decided to hit up Bruar Falls in Williamsburg to catch Turbogeist from London/SE UK.  Tonight was the last show on their tour and knew it could not be missed.  This thrash rock band had so much energy and was just the music I needed to hear after the cab ride from hell (note to self and others- do not get a hot cup of coffee for a cab ride in NYC.  It’s just not going to happen).  “Extreme Closeup” was a great song to hear live and is about Wayne’s World.  I also loved “Ice Cold Beer” and “Devil’s Barter”.  This band is must see/must hear, check them out immediately!

Friday, the last day of CMJ for TNT.  I started the night at Pianos to check out Lord Huron for my curiosity.  Their MySpace page had me intrigued with elephants swimming in the ocean.   While listening, I felt like water was flowing all around me and that I was on vacation, either in Hawaii (because of the hula dancers on-screen behind them) or Africa (music has a tribal/tropical feel to it, like I was going on a safari).  I don’t think I came to any conclusions while listening to Lord Huron, but I did like the relaxed and chilled state their music put me in.  Any kind of music that is new to my ears and can do that gets a thumbs up in my book.  I wanted to see Bonfire at The Delancey, but due to a last-minute cancellation, I stuck around to check out Midnight Spin.  I liked what I heard, but it was short-lived when a bass string broke on stage.  It happens, but I didn’t have the time to stick around because K.Flay was playing next at Fat Baby.  Man alive, this girl is talented!  She can rap like no one I’ve ever heard.  Such speed and accuracy made me pay attention long ago, but any chance to hear her live is not to be taken for granted.  She just finished up a tour w/ Passion Pit and is on tour with 3OH!3.  Phenomenal!

The band to surprise me the most was Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.  You know when you know of a bands’ existence and have heard a song or maybe two, but just never really gave them the light of day or a fair chance?  This is what DEJJ was for me, until this epic night.  I LOVED every single song they played, reminding me of a mix between OkGo and Weezer and a touch of The Beatles.  The harmonies blew me away, the sound was so in tune that it felt natural for them; the pitch was perfect.  I was shocked to see them in the racing jumpsuits; those things have to be heavy and hot.  After the show, I did confirm with Daniel Zott that it’s 100% true.  Until next year CMJ!

 

Rockstar Energy Drink presents the UPROAR FESTIVAL! September 8, 2010

Filed under: Concert Reviews,Music Festivals — NVMP @ 2:28 AM
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Review by Angela BlasiAugust 29, 2010- PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ.

Nothing says Sunday summer afternoon quite like a beautiful day complete with clear skies, scorching sun, and of course, face melting guitar riffs and guttural screams.  This particular Sunday played host to the UPROAR Festival sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink; a day dedicated to the enjoyment of pure, American metal in all its glory.  Now, I’m not a metal head by any means, but I have an eclectic taste in music and there is definitely plenty of mental in there.  A nice change of pace from my latest musical undertakings, I hit the road to the show excited to see main stage performers Disturbed, Halestorm, Stone Sour, and Avenged Sevenfold.

Having been to Ozzfest a few times in the past at this particular venue, I came into the show expecting the same type of huge outdoor set up, rife with all things metal.  However, being a bit smaller of a bill than Ozzy’s, the outdoor set up was modest, housing only a few stands for accessories, clothing, and food as well as each bands specific merch table.  Thus, for the rest of the day my mind had dubbed this concert, “Ozzfest Lite.”  I made my way over to the second stage, or Jagermeister stage, in time to catch super group HellYeah. Comprised of members from successful bands Mudvayne, Nothingface, and Damageplan, this group held promise to make each show about having an amazing time with one another and their audience; absolutely no distinction between band or audience member.  Having been a long time fan of Mudvayne myself, hearing Chad Gray’s familiar vocals once again was refreshing.  I always loved his ability to go from melodic tones into screams that had this way of purging my youthful anger.  However, in this group I found the vocals swayed more towards the screaming and rougher side of his range.  A well-rounded mix of southern rock, country and pure metal, HellYeah brought their blend of music loving, beer drinking and red-blooded American passion for their craft to the festival.  At one point Gray even announced that he was going to do what he did at every show the last few dates, and that’s drink and have a good time with his friends as every member of the audience was one with the band, just in a different geographic location.  I didn’t stay for the entirety of their set.  Having heard a good half way though their set, I decided I’d seen enough and went to go stake out my spot on the lawn.  I felt as though it was just pure metal, heavy and in your face as I would expect any outfit in such a genre to be.  Nothing crazy or insanely catching as far as my musical taste was concerned.

On to the main stage!

Halestorm was the first act to appear on the main stage at PNC and admittedly, I was interested in seeing them.  I had only become familiar with their music fairly recently, but I enjoyed it so I looked forward to seeing if they had the chops to entertain me live.  When their show time finally arrived the arena was filled with the solo vocals of one Lzzy Hale, crooning into the mic signaling to the audience that the show had begun.  I had to give it to her, the woman could sing.  Her ability to sing a cappella for the first few minutes of the show while also staying in tune and exercising fantastic breath control (she was holding some nice melodic lines), began to sell me on this bands live performance and musical prowess.  Minutes later the rest of the band joined her on stage breaking into the song “It’s Not You.”  They had a more mainstream feel with thick guitar riffs tuned down to create an edgy sound that could appeal to a more widespread audience.  Furthermore, drummer Arejay Hale was a small beast behind the kit, leaving me glued to his movements as he created a solid foundation for the group.  Overall, I loved their set.  Though, it was brief they diversified their time on stage with more than just playing to an audience.  I particularly enjoyed Arejay’s use of giant prop drumsticks (by the way, he still tore it up with those) and their brief intermission of a Stomp like rhythmic breakdown.  Yes, at one point they brought metal trash cans front and center, each grabbing a pair of drum sticks and playing their hearts out while still creating cohesive music.  It was definitely unexpected, but different isn’t always bad.  One could see that this band was all about having a good time and playing the music they love.

Next up was Stone Sour, led by notable Slipknot front man Corey Taylor.  Honestly, I never really followed this band outside of their mainstream hits, “Bother” and “Through the Glass”.  But like always, I approached their set with open ears and mind.  They were definitely a tight musical unit, delivering hard rock with Corey’s signature vocals.  Other than that, their set left something to be desired for me.  I’m not saying they suck or anything, but there was very little interaction between band members.  In fact, Corey really was the main focus of the set.  Granted, he is the front man, but in all honesty I never found myself wanting to take a look at the other musicians as they held little interest for me.  Maybe it’s just me and my personal taste, but it felt lacking, like they could have brought more energy to the stage.  Understand, they didn’t make me want to up and flee like many bands I’ve seen live have done, their music just doesn’t do it for me.

And then Avenged Sevenfold took the stage.  By this point the sun had gone down and all of PNC Bank Arts Center was shrouded in darkness.  The house lights cut out and the black curtain drew itself back treating my eyes to a visually stunning display of cemetery gates and devilish backdrop only to make my jaw literally drop when a man, appearing to have hanged himself, came falling from the ceiling.  The first innocent notes of “Nightmare” rang out and the audience surged to life.  Creating this epic feel with both setup and energy, Avenged Sevenfold blew me the fuck away.  Lead and rhythm guitarists Sinister Gates and Zacky Vengeance, often took center stage, playing side by side with their right and left-handed guitars, impressing the hell out of me with their nimble fingers and perfect squeals while giving me this stunning picture of brothers in metal.  This was more than music, this was a show.  Not one other band I had seen so far created this intense energy that heightened the state of the entire crowd.  Circle pits broke out all over the lawn and bodies flew into one another in a pulsing dance, physically channeling each pound of the kick drum, every shredded riff, and moving faithfully to each word M. Shadows belted out.  From pyrotechnics to fireworks, this band rocked the house so hard it felt like this was their headlining show; which I feel they absolutely stole by the way.  Not going to lie, I asked myself how in the world Disturbed could follow that.  Their music is this dark, unyielding force, shredding its way through every single crowd it encounters, leaving them changed.  Notably, I admit, I saw many an Avenged Sevenfold t-shirt that day, more than any other band, which should have told me something.  And in true die-hard metal fan fashion, I noticed the lawn cleared out considerably after their set ended, meaning the fans had seen what they came for.  Prior to this, I was only vaguely familiar with their music, and even more clueless to their stage show.  After that, I can honestly say I’m a convert and would jump at the chance to see them again.

Finally the time had come for Disturbed, the main attraction to grace the stage.  I had seen this band several years before and I distinctly remember them delivering a high quality performance.  As a result, I had expectations for this evenings show.  Opening with a short film clip that went back and forth between flashes of adulthood and childhood in a horror movie like fashion, it depicted singer David Draiman’s torment and escape from confinement.  Subsequently, the movie synced up with his appearance on stage, where he joined band mates and broke into “Remnants.”  A simple stage setup of digital background lent itself to their set for the night, flashing with different colors and images as each song played on.  For the first few numbers I felt as though the band’s energy was lacking and David’s signature growls weren’t as clean and on point as I remembered them to be in their last performance.  It was difficult to tell at first if the band was really into the set at all.  However, as the set got underway, the vibe felt more natural and David was more interactive with the crowd, leading the audience in unison to raise their fists in the air.  Admittedly, the entire arena was in sync with the band, all chanting and pumping fists at his every command.  It was a mellower feel in opposition to the crazy energy just unleashed by the previous act, but still encapsulated the entire audience.  Playing tracks off their new release Asylum, as well as a great mixture of fan favorites like closer, “Down with the Sickness” and hit single “Stupefy,” I liked their set and found the music to be well-played and cleanly delivered.  The band members seemed to keep to themselves for most of the set, each separately defining his presence while creating a unit.  I’m glad I stayed until the very last note had rang out instead of fleeing in hopes of beating the traffic rush, as it was definitely a great set overall.

So there you have it.  My take on the musical acts adorning this years Rockstar Uproar Festival.  The metal scene in all its patriotism and no-nonsense attitude came out to show their love and support for the music that has defined countless fans for years.  On the whole, the show was definitely a success and worthy of revisiting in the future inceptions.