Category: Metal/Hard Rock/Punk

Mikeala Davis Closes out ‘Dead of Winter’ Residency at Tubby’s and Abilene on February 1& 2

On the brink of a new album, Rochester native, Mikeala Davis and her band, Southern Star, will complete their residency as one of the hottest live music acts in upstate New York. The Catskil transplant returned home for a set of performances at Abilene in Rochester and Tubby’s in Kingston.

The “Dead of Winter” residency began during a notoriously quiet period live music-wise. A run of sold-out performances have re-affirmed belief that fresh sets, familiar places and homegrown talent would bring people out to enjoy live music.

Mikeala Davis and Southern Star complete their residency at Tubby’s and Abilene.

Mickeala Davis and Southern Star on the Rise

In effect, “Dead of Winter” began with a performance at Tubby’s on Wednesday, January 18, with Davis and Southern Star performing weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays at Tubby’s and Abilene. However, the final two nights of Southern Star’s residency will be on February 1 and 2. To boot, the band will perform two sets nightly, starting with their own tunes and a later Grateful Dead themed set. As a result, the Dead set themes have been varying by week; Mik’s Picks Vol. 1: ‘67-‘72 for week 1, Garcia in its entirety for week 2, and Mik’s Picks Vol. 2: ‘73-‘87 for the upcoming February shows. While, the Abilene show is sold-out but tickets for Mikeala Davis at Tubby’s on Wednesday night can be found here.

Mikeala Davis and Southern Star have seen all of their Kingston shows sold out.

We’re planning two sets every night. First set is original songs and second is a dead set. This is a chance for us to revisit some old songs and experiment with new ones while continuing to explore the music of the Grateful Dead. Hope to see you there!
– Mikaela Davis

A classically trained harpist, Mikeala Davis’ style brings together elements of classic rock, ’60s and ’70s pop, roots Americana, and contemporary modern singer-songwriter croons. Davis and Southern Star have shared bills with such names as Bob Weir, Bon Iver, Lake Street Dive. Moreover, Davis joined Phil Lesh & Friends during the first weekend of their Phil-o-Ween residency at The Capitol Theatre. Her newest release is 2022’s The Relix Sessions, which focuses on live versions of tracks from 2018’s Delivery. At the present time, the group is planning a new studio album that will mark the first official studio recordings by Davis and Southern Star.

January 28, 2023
Welcome to Hell: Death Kings Thrash Garcia’s at UM After-Party

“Welcome to Hell” shouted Ryan Stasik from the stage as fans marched into Garcia’s directly following the Umphrey’s McGee show on Saturday, January 21st in Port Chester. It was a big night for the bass player. Not only was he celebrating UM’s 25th birthday, he was also throwing the official Death Kings after-party under the moniker ‘Bassik Stasik Presents.’

Ripping into original songs as well as classic 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s punk rock staples, the band obliterated the late-night crowd with an old school no-holds barred throwdown. Featuring guest sit-ins from members of the Trey Anastasio Band and Lespecial, the packed-out pub at Garcia’s was given the royal treatment.

Making a rare appearance, the punk/metal anti-hero trio Death Kings formed during the pandemic to pay homage to all things heavy. Comprised of Ryan “Little King” Stasik, Mike “Muerto” Gantzer of Aqueous on guitar/vocals and ex-Turkuaz drummer Mikey “OX” Carubba, the band debuted early last year and have only played a handful of live shows since, making each time out a special “can’t miss” occasion. Notable by his absence, for this show Carubba was replaced on drums by Jonathan Peace. While it remains unclear if the band will have a revolving cast of characters, what we do know is that every Death Kings performance is unique.

Opening the gig with special guest Jennifer Hartswick on vocals, the band launched into one of their signature tracks and the theme of the evening, “Welcome to Hell.” Hartswick, who had also lent her musical talents to Umphrey’s McGee earlier in the evening, was a pure badass in the role, shouting out lyrics like:

I can’t wait for my turn
To ride the rails and send it down below
Welcome to Hell
Oh my God, it’s been a long time running
Ain’t no use when the blood starts coming
Feels so good to burn
Lyrics from “Welcome to Hell” by Death Kings

After reveling in the moment and exchanging hugs, Death Kings would continue with another original song “Fight!” before turning back the clock for our first punk cover of the evening, “Cyco Vision” by the legendary Suicidal Tendencies. Perhaps in a nod to an earlier Stasik/Gantzer collaboration dubbed Dookie, a pair of Green Day songs were chosen next. First was “Longview” which had everyone singing along, then despite the shows “Hell” theme, Death Kings flowed directly into “Welcome to Paradise.”

With the whole room feeling the vibe, it was time for another original banger in “March of the Kings.”
From punk to metal, everyone was getting down to the cover of System of a Down’s smash hit “Aerials,” which more people seemed familiar with than the next cover choice, Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta” which fit into the “hell” theme nicely.

I’m not sick but I’m not well
And I’m so hot ’cause I’m in Hell
I’m not sick but I’m not well
And it’s a sin to live this well
Flagpole Sitta Lyrics

Death Kings would channel some Cobain angst next with a sped up rendition of Nirvana’s “Breed,” before throwing it back to one of the original punk rock anthems “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by Iggy Pop and The Stooges.

With the party now hitting a new level of rowdiness, the Kings called upon another special guest, Luke Bemand, bass player of Lespecial, to help out on vocals for the Camp Kill Yourself skate anthem “96 Quite Bitter Beings.” Popping off his shirt to throw on the now infamous “Hot Joel” tee, Bemand and the boys had quite the chuckle over the false start of the CKY song. On the second attempt, the Kings got it right and were clearly having a ball sharing the stage together.

While the after party at Garcia’s was scheduled to start at 11:45pm, when the Umphrey’s McGee show in the next room over ran well past midnight, things on the setlist had to be condensed. The band would joke, “25 years of Umphrey’s, 25 minutes of Death Kings.” With the curfew rapidly approaching, the band couldn’t call it a night without paying homage to one of punk’s original misfits, Glen Danzing, opting to cover the 1988 song “Twist of Cain.” With time for just once more, Death Kings let it all hang out on the final song of the night, the DK penned original “Disembodied,”which featured a huge guitar solo from Ganzter and Pony playing the bass behind his head. Check out fan shot footage of that song below.

A loud, sweaty, high-octane performance that was so much fun that even the devil himself would have got in the pit. With no upcoming Death Kings shows to speak of, those who were lucky enough to score a ticket to this sold-out night in Hell walked away from it feeling most grateful. It was still Garcia’s after all.

Setlist: Death Kings | Garcia’s | Port Chester, NY | 1/21/23

Setlist: Welcome to Hell [1], Fight, Cyco Vision (Suicidal Tendencies), Longview (Green Day), Welcome to Paradise (Green Day), March of the Kings, Aerials (System of a Down), Flagpole Sitta (Harvey Danger), Breed (Nirvana), I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges), 96 Quite Bitter Beings (CKY) [2], Twist of Cain (Danzig), Disembodied

[1] w/ Jennifer Hartswick
[2] w/ Luke Bemand of Lespecial

January 27, 2023
New York Heavy Metal Band Prong releases single, tours Europe

While you wouldn’t know from their cutting lyrics and grating sound, Prong stands out from most heavy metal bands in that they lead with a down-to-earth attitude and prioritze forming relationships with their fans. The themes in the New York born and bred band’s newest single are angry and loud, but eloquent at the same time. “Breaking Point” marks the band’s return to the scene as they set off on a European tour this month.

Prong was formed in 1986 by singer and guitarist Tommy Victor, who still is lead singer today, the only member from the original line-up still active. He is joined by bassist John Christopher of the Corey Taylor Band and drummer Aaron Rossi of Ministry. The three come together harmoniously, equal parts energy and technicality.

Tommy Victor said his single, “Breaking Point,” came about in the final stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a growing sense of exhaustion and frustration so palpable that Prong was almost overwhelmed during their last tour. The lyrics and Victor’s vocal tone are reminiscent of Fugazi’s “Break,” where Ian Mackaye sings, “Can’t ask for more so why unfulfilled / We take apart everything we build.” These themes have endured, making their way into Prong’s contemporary work; in “Breaking Point” Victor sings: “The denial / it’s the breaking point / It’s going to end / it’s going to stop / so many people have had enough.”

Joining Prong on tour is Life of Agony and Tarah Who?. Though the tour is in Europe, with this new single Victor is bringing New York with him. “I think moving back to New York has helped with these. I’m really happy where I’m at all around. I think it’s coming across in the new songs and showing a rejuvenated attitude,” Victor said on “Breaking Point.” Tour dates are listed below; tickets can be purchased here.

January 13 – Bochum, DE – Matrix

January 15 – Aarhus, DK – Voxhall

January 17 – Hamburg, DE – Grünspan

January 18 – Berlin, DE – Astra

January 19 – Warsaw, PL – Proxima

January 21 – Prague, CZ – Palac Akropolis

January 22 – Vienna, AT – Arena

January 23 – Munich, DE – Backstage

January 25 – Zurich, CH – Dynamo

January 26 – Bulle, CH – Ebullition

January 28 – Antwerp, BE – Trix

January 29 – Vaureal, FR – Le Forum

January 31 – Wasquehal, FR – The Black Lab

February 1 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg

January 26, 2023
Umphrey’s McGee Celebrates 25 Years with Port Chester Birthday Bash

Where does the time go? A lot can happen over the course of 25 years, but for a rock band, sticking together that long isn’t typically one of them. From the beginning, however, Umphrey’s McGee has never been a typical band.

Often considered “too heavy for the hippies,” or “too jammy for the metal heads,” UM has emphatically made a career out of bridging those two musical scenes together; a theme that would unveil itself throughout the final night of their silver anniversary run through New York. Playing their 2,644^th show on January 21, 2023 at the Capitol Theatre, exactly 25 years after their first known performance, appreciative fans from all over the country made their way to “the original rock palace” to commemorate this milestone birthday bash.

Consisting of Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinniger on guitars, Ryan Stasik on bass, percussionist Andy Farag and drummer Kris Myers, improv-heavy prog rockers Umphrey’s McGee have come a long way since forming as students at the University of Notre Dame and the road to this historic night at the Cap hasn’t always been an easy one. Sticking together through untold sacrifice, overcoming tragedy and navigating through an ever-changing musical landscape, Umphrey’s McGee has remained one of the most colorful, innovative, and hardest working live acts in the business for a quarter century now.

After kicking off their birthday weekend with an intimate sold-out show in Williamsburg and then wow’ing The Cap crowd on night one in Port Chester with a plethora of heavy fan favorites like “Front Porch”, “JaJunk” “Higgins,” and an acoustic debut cover of “Helplessly Hoping” in memory of the late David Crosby, when the band members took the stage on Saturday night, you could just feel that something special was about to go down.

Starting the party with a bang, “Bridgeless” had the hyped crowd with their ‘horns up’ and dancing shoes on from the get-go. The band would leave the song unfinished and throw fans their first surprise of the night, shifting gears into “13 Days,” a song which had not been played since before the Covid-19 pandemic. From something old to something new, up next was a song dedicated to UM crew member Rachel who is moving on after sixteen years with band. “Escape Goat,” from the band’s most recent album Asking for a Friend would stretch out for nearly 19 minutes. Revisiting their roots some more, “White Man’s Moccasins” followed suit before Umphrey’s McGee jammed even longer on another new song, the tongue-in-cheek titled “Unevolved.” Played for only the second time since debuting last November, this version clocked in at well over 20 minutes and sent fans to intermission with plenty to smile about and discuss.

Prior to the start of Set Two, Capitol Theatre owner Peter Shapiro would lead the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” while presenting the band with a cake. In return Umphrey’s McGee then launched into an equally ‘sweet’ rendition of “Wappy Sprayberry” to get things going strong. ”Pure Saturation” came next and provided lighting director Ben Factor a prime opportunity to dazzle the audience with his impressive skills and tasteful color palettes. Following it up with another surprise was “Dear Lord.” An emotional nod to the bands earliest days, the rarely played song was first performed back in January of 1998. Another deep cut was next in the form of “The Other Side of Things,” which has only been play five times this century!

Jake Cinniger would join in on percussion with Andy Farag in a duel with drummer Kris Myers before bassist (and best T-Shirt of the night winner) Ryan Stasik would take over with his distinct riffage of the heavy hitting “Puppet String.” Another tip of the cap to the band’s early history was up next with the UM classic “Divisions” which was also played at their very first show.

Umphrey’s would then unplug for some candid banter as Brendan Bayliss took an opportunity to give proper shout-outs to his bandmates, the crew and the fans for making the last 25 years possible. Claiming he didn’t prepare a speech, so if he was speaking from the heart, it would have probably come out sounding offensive. “And if I did offend you,” Bayliss hypothetically joked, “go fuck yourself.” He then invited out special guest and frequent collaborator Jenifer Hartswick for an acoustic anything-but ‘Hartliss’ rendition of the rarely played “Bullhead City.”

Hartswick would stick around and play trumpet on yet another bust-out, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die,” an instrumental which has only been played 11 times ever. As if that wasn’t special enough, the roof would nearly come off the place next when Hartswick lead the entire theatre in a cathartic sing-along of the Queen and David Bowie’s classic “Under Pressure,” fading out of the set with everyone snapping their fingers in unison. A very neat moment to be a part of.

Now past the witching hour, Umphrey’s McGee returned to the stage one last time, soaking in the cheers with huge smiles before keyboardist Joel Cummins would lead fans into the “Den.” Finally the show would come to it’s high-octane conclusion the same way it began, returning to “Bridgeless” to complete one hell of a celebratory jam-sandwich. Genuinely thanking everyone for “letting them do what they do” for the last 25 years, Bayliss would confirm they’ll “keep doing it as long as you keep coming out.” The band then convened in the middle of stage for a group hug and bow, which received a well-deserved standing and sustained ovation.

Tying the bow on an epic birthday run through New York, Umphrey’s McGee honored their past with a carefully mapped out, career spanning setlist while simultaneously showcasing a glimpse of the greatness yet to come. Combined with an unmatched dedication to their fans and their craft, an astonishing improvisational and technical ability, and a mesmerizing light show, the future for this timeless band is looking bigger and brighter than ever. With the UMXXV Tour officially off and rolling and a number of major festival dates already announced for later this summer, the Umphrey’s McGee train shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee | 1/20/2023 | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY

Set One: Small Strides, Conduit > Day Nurse[1], FF-> Mail Package[2], It’s Not Your Fault > JaJunk[3]
Set Two: Front Porch > Resolution > Front Porch, The Linear > 2nd Self, Higgins
Encore: Helplessly Hoping[4], The Weight Around[5] > The Floor:
[1] with Workin’ Day and Night (Michael Jackson) teases
[2] with Miss Tinkle’s Overture tease
[3] with Top Gun Anthem (Harold Faltermeyer) tease
[4] debut, Crosby, Stills, & Nash; just Brendan and Jake on acoustics and vocals, along with Joel on vocals
[5] with Brendan on acoustic

Helplessly Hoping played in remembrance of David Crosby, with “Closing Time” (Semisonic) quote from Brendan just before

Friday photos by Filip Zalewski

Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee | 1/21/2023 | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY

Set 1: Bridgeless > 13 Days, Escape Goat-> White Man’s Moccasins > Unevolved

Set 2: Wappy Sprayberry > Pure Saturation > Dear Lord > The Other Side of Things > Drums[1], Puppet String, Jam[2] > Divisions, Bullhead City[3], 1000 Places to See Before You Die[4], Under Pressure[5]

Encore: Den > Bridgeless

Footnotes:
[1] with Jake on percussion
[2] just Jake
[3] with Jennifer Hartswick on vocals, and Brendan and Jake on acoustics
[4] with Jennifer Hartswick on trumpet
[5] with Jennifer Hartswick on vocals Show Notes: Before set two, venue owner Pete Shapiro and radio personality Gary Dell’Abate presented the band with a cake and led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” for the band

Photos by Zak Radick

January 26, 2023
Tragedy Announce New Album “I Am Woman,” Tour with Steel Panther and Crobot

Tragedy, one of New York’s most elite tribute bands and creators of disco metal, have announced the release of their newest album, I Am Woman, available on March 3. The album serves as a testimonial to celebrate womanhood in all forms, capturing the spirit of metal classics while providing a fresh take on some of the world’s most timeless classics of empowerment, independence and self-love.

Tragedy will be teaming up with Steel Panther and Crobot on their upcoming US tour. The tour will start in Las Vegas, beginning February 24. Then, starting April 18th, the band will continue on to their co-headline European tour alongside fellow comedy metal icons Nanowar of Steel.

If you’ve heard The Pointer Sisters’, “I’m So Excited”, you are in for a special treat. Tragedy will be showcasing their metal take on this classic anthem. Follow the band’s journey starting from their Cara Maria O’Shea-directed music video to their Halftime Show performance at the Big Bank SuperDuper Dome. You’ll find it impossible to contain yourself as you rock out to the metallized version of this iconic track with half-timed grooves, squealing solos and energetic vocals.

Anita Pointer sadly passed away very recently, and this is our tribute to her and her sisters’ impact on music, as well as, of course, their everlasting and unbridled enthusiasm for ‘pleasures in the night’ on this track. The song is about the building, burning anticipation of impending carnal satisfaction. The heart races, hormones surge – gratification is imminent! In the video, the “excited” band members pack themselves into the family minivan, then play the Halftime Show at the Big Bank SuperDuper Dome – an event viewed live by over 700 Billion people worldwide!
Mo’Royce Peterson on “I’m So Excited”

Tragedy has had a glitter-encrusted grip on the entertainment world since they emerged in the early 2010’s. Performing several albums of metalized disco, soft rock and pop covers in the USA, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, etc, has shown the world that Tragedy is no ordinary tribute band. The group of six fully embodies the soul of original pieces and infuses tracks with an undeniably infectious energy that can be felt by all listeners. Although the band’s unique style causes the implication of misbehavior, witnessing a live performance will open your eyes to the band’s true overarching message. It is one of carefree joy, humanity, acceptance and the simple pursuit of a damn good time. Their latest album, “I Am Woman”, can be preordered here.

TRAGEDY: US Tour with Steel Panther and Crobot (as special guest)

02.24.23 – US: Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues
02.25.23 – US: Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues
02.26.23 – US: Tempe, AZ – The Marquee Theatre
02.28.23 – US: San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater
03.01.23 – US: Houston, TX – House Of Blues
03.03.23 – US: Dallas, TX – House Of Blues
03.04.23 – US: Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
03.06.23 – US: Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
03.08.23 – US: Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
03.10.23 – US: Orlando FL – The Plaza Live
03.11.23 – US: St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
03.12.23 – US: Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
03.14.23 – US: Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
03.16.23 – US: New York, NY – Irving Plaza
03.17.23 – US: Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theatre
03.18.23 – US: Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
03.19.23 – US: Worcester, MA – The Palladium
03.21.23 – US: Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
03.22.23 – US: Columbus, OH – The Bluestone
03.24.23 – US: Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
03.25.23 – US: Chicago, IL – House Of Blues
03.26.23 – US: Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
03.28.23 – US: Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Club Stage
03.29.23 – US: Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore
03.31.23 – US: Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
04.01.23 – US: Denver, CO – The Fillmore
04.02.23 – US: Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
04.04.23 – US: Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
04.06.23 – US: West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
04.07.23 – US: West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
04.08.23 – US: San Diego, CA – House Of Blues

TRAGEDY: European Decimation co-headline tour w/ Nanowar of Steel
*TRAGEDY only (w/o Nanowar of Steel)
04.18.23 – UK: Southampton, 1865 *
04.19.23 – UK: Oxford, O2 Academy 2 *
04.20.23 – UK: Hull, The Welly Club
04.21.23 – UK: Carlisle, The Venue
04.22.23 – UK: Glasgow, Cathouse
04.23.23 – UK: Sheffield, O2 Academy 2
04.24.23 – UK: Newcastle, Think Tank
04.25.23 – UK: Liverpool, O2 Academy 2
04.26.23 – UK: Birmingham, IS2
04.27.23 – UK: London, O2 Academy Islington
04.28.23 – UK: Dorset, Teddy Rock Festival
04.29.23 – UK: Bristol, Thekla
04.30.23 – UK: Brighton, Patterns
05.02.23 – FR: Nantes, Ferrailleur
05.03.23 – FR: Paris, Petit Bain
05.04.23 – FR: Toulouse, Connexion Live
05.05.23 – ES: Barcelona, Sala Boveda
05.06.23 – ES: Madrid, Sala Revi Live
05.07.23 – PT: Lisbon, RCA Club
05.08.23 – ES: Murcia, Sala Garage Beat Club
05.09.23 – ES: Valencia, Sala Peter Rock
05.10.23 – ES: Portugalete (Bilbao), Sala Groove
05.11.23 – FR: Lyon, Rock’n Eat

January 25, 2023
Pantera and Lamb of God to play Syracuse and Darien Center back-to-back

Pantera, one of the most successful and influential bands in heavy metal history, have announced their long awaited return to the stage. They will be touring North America this summer with Lamb of God as special guests, with back to back shows this August in Darien Center and Syracuse.

Pantera got its start in Arlington, TX with its best-known lineup, consisting of founding members drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell, along with bassist Rex Brown and vocalist Philip Anselmo. Pantera is credited with the development and popularization of the groove metal subgenre.  To date, the group has sold 20 million records worldwide and has received four GRAMMY nominations.

One of the most anticipated tours of 2023, this celebration tour includes original members Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown joined by Zakk Wylde (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drums).  In December 2022, they kicked off the highly anticipated return in Mexico City to incredible reviews.

The 20-city tour kicks off on Tuesday, July 28 in Burgettstown, PA, at The Pavilion at Star Lake and includes a stop at Darien Lake Amphitheater in Darien Center on Wednesday, August 9. A day later the tour rolls east to Syracuse at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview.

Fans can also see Pantera at their recently announced support dates during Metallica’s North America Stadium tour dates in 2023 & 2024 and headlining major rock festivals in 2023 including Rockfest, Inkcarceration, and more.

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, January 27th starting at 10 AM Local Time on LiveNation.com.

Pantera with Lamb of God 2023 Tour Dates

Fri May 20 – Daytona, FL – Welcome to Rockville*

Thu Jul 13 – Cadott, WI – Rockfest*

Sat Jul 15 – Mansfield, OH – Inkcarceration*

Fri Jul 28 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake

Sat Jul 29 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Mon Jul 31 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater#

Wed Aug 02 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

Fri Aug 04 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium^

Sat Aug 05 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

Sun Aug 06 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain

Tue Aug 08 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

Wed Aug 09 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater

Fri Aug 11 – Montreal, QC – Olympique Stadium^

Sat Aug 12 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

Tue Aug 15 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

Thu Aug 17 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Fri Aug 18 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium^

Sun Aug 20 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Wed Aug 23 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Fri Aug 25 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium^

Sat Aug 26 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Tue Aug 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre

Thu Aug 31 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

Fri Sep 01 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium^

Sun Sep 03 – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma*

Thu Sep 07 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater

Fri Sep 08 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

Sat Sep 10 – Alton, VA – Blue Ridge Rock Festival*

Tue Sep 12 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Thu Sep 14 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

Fri Sep 15 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

Sat Sep 23 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life*

Sat Oct 07 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock*

Fri Nov 03 – St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center^

Fri Nov 10 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field^

2024 Dates

Fri Aug 02 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium^

Fri Aug 09 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field^

Fri Aug 16 – Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium^

Fri Aug 23 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium^

Fri Aug 30 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field^

*Festival Date | #Support Act TBD | ^Pantera Support for Metallica Dates|

January 23, 2023
The Sound Of Animals Fighting Go Apeshit At Webster Hall

Post-hardcore collective The Sound of Animals Fighting rolled through Webster Hall this past Saturday, January 21st, for the penultimate show on their 2023 winter tour. The tour comes fresh off the release of their new EP, and first new music in 15 years, Apeshit. These shows mark the band’s only fourth ever tour, but the hardcore supergroup were in fine form Saturday night as the eight-piece collective constantly shifted roles and personnel throughout the night.

The Sound of Animals Fighting at Webster Hall, 1/21/23. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

The Sound of Animals Fighting have always existed behind shroud and mystery, famously doing their original press photos wearing animal masks and only identifying the band members via their animal monikers. While the core lineup has not been a mystery in a long time, the band has a new permutation of their rotating personnel for this era. Vocalist Anthony Green (Circa Survive, Saosin, L.S. Dunes) anchors the band with his soaring, melodic vocal style backed by RX Bandits members Rich Balling, Matt Embree, Steve Choi, and Chris Tsagakis. Rounding out the Apeshit lineup is Keith Goodwin (Days Away, Good Old War), Matthew Kelly (The Autumns), and Jonathan Hischke.

Anthony Green, The Sound of Animals Fighting at Webster Hall, 1/21/23. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

On Apeshit, The Sound of Animals Fighting dial back the atmosphere and cinematic elements of their style in favor of more straight forward and in-your-face post hardcore. Standout track “Sharon Tate, Despite Everything” comes in waves; Rich Balling drones over a dark and melodic instrumental with sporadic drumming then Anthony Green barges in screaming out a long “Sharon Tate…” as the song takes on a more formal post-hardcore progression. The two sections blend together as the song progresses, creating one of the most interesting songs in the genre in some time. The title track kicks off the EP with a relentless hardcore presentation and technical, near math rock guitar and rhythm sections. Things slow down a bit on “Wolf”, with swirling and distorted synths backed by electronic drum kicks before the EP closes with “Duche Das”, most reminiscent of the interludes on 2007’s Tiger and The Duke.

Rich Balling of The Sound of Animals Fighting, Webster Hall, 1/21/23. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

With the tour over, and the EP released, the future is uncertain for The Sound of Animals Fighting. The band has only toured four times since their debut in 2005 and all of their members are active in many other projects. Anthony Green himself has seen a resurgence in recent years, forming new band L.S. Dunes (who are fresh off a debut LP and tour) and remaining active in Saosin. While Circa Survive is currently on hiatus, you never know what Green will embark on next.

The passion and cohesiveness of The Sound of Animals Fighting was top tier at Webster Hall this past weekend. The band performs as if they have been on regular tour for 15 years and the energy and engagement with the crowd was palpable. While we wait and see what the future holds, we can rest assured that we just witnessed one of the best post-hardcore tours in recent memory. Check out the full photo gallery from Webster Hall below.

The Sound of Animals Fighting, Webster Hall 1/21/2023

Setlist: Wolf, Apeshit, I, The Swan, Act I: Chasing Suns, Act II: All Is Ash or the Light Shining Through It, This Heat, My Horse Must Lose, Another Leather Lung, Blessings Be Yours Mister V, On The Occasion of Wet Snow, The Heretic, Act III: Modulate Back To The Tonic, Act IV: You Don’t Need A Witness

Encore: The Heraldic Beak Of The Manufacturer’s Medallion, Skullflower, Stockhausen, es ist Ihr Gehrin das ich suche, Sharon Tate, Despite Everything

January 23, 2023
“Catastrophicon” Rock’n’Roll Horror Convention Comes to Westchester

Gorilla River has announced its newest live event with the Catastrophicon Rock’n’Roll Horror Convention debuting July 15, 2023 at Reid Castle in Purchase, NY.

Ari Lehman of “First Jason”

Sponsors Slasher.tv and Horror-tv.com describe Catastrophicon as a collectors show with an edge, and a convention fit for fans of horror, rock & roll, and pop culture in general. The convention will be a great event for people looking to build their collections through the joy of discovery, meet kindred spirits and enjoy a great atmosphere.

“We’re bringing something new to Westchester,” said Event Producer Dave Hoffman, a Mount Kisco resident. “This is a convention that is heavy on atmosphere and jam packed with the kinds of things that pop-culture superfans love.”

Fans will enjoy celebrity autographs from stars of horror movie classic’s at Catastrophicon Ari Lehman (Friday the 13th), Beatrice Beopple (Nightmare on Elm Street), Thomas G Waites (The Warriors), Alvin Alexis (Night of the Demons) , Brett Azar (Terminator) and Erika Anderson (Twin Peaks) with more to be announced soon. A full room of vendors will provide eager fans with the ability to discover new comic books, artwork, and collectibles.

An array of collectibles will be available

Cosplay group Amazing Spiderlings will be in attendance – paving the way for anyone who wants to dress up themselves. Vincent Disanti of Womp Stomp Films (Never Hike Alone) will present on a crowdfunding panel. Fans of tabletop role playing games will also get to try their hand at the independently produced Dungeon Born RPG throughout the day.

Catastrophicon will be topped off live music performance by First Jason and The Thomas G Waites Projects.

Reid Castle Will Host Catastrophicon

Catastrophicon will be held at the historic Reid Castle, located on the campus of Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. Located just 90 minutes from NYC, the french medieval style castle will be sure to add another layer of fantasy to the day.

Tickets are available now at Catastrophicon.com

January 20, 2023
Gojira and Mastodon Co-Headline Tour Stops in Syracuse and Coney Island in August

Teaming up for what promises to be an unforgettable jaunt of epic proportions, French heavy metal luminaries Gojira will join forces with iconic heavy rock band Mastodon for a massive co-headline tour across North America in 2023. “The Mega-Monsters Tour” finds these two juggernauts taking over arenas and amphitheaters throughout the Spring and Summer, alternating closing sets each night. They’ll be in at Coney Island Amphitheater on August 12 and Syracuse at the OnCenter the next day, August 13.

The tour kicks off at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR on April 18^th and includes stops at legendary venues such as the Forum in Los Angeles, CA on April 21^st. The first leg concludes at Santander Arena in Reading, PA on May 11^th and resumes with a second leg that runs August 9^th through September 2^nd.

Special guest Lorna Shore serves as direct support on all dates. General on-sale will launch January 20th at 10:00am local time with VIP ticket packages available at gojira-music.com and mastodonrocks.com.

Mastodon hit the road in support of their critically acclaimed ninth studio album, HUSHED AND GRIM. Meanwhile, Gojira are out supporting their seventh full-length album, Fortitude, which garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Metal Performance” for “Amazonia.” These two titans previously canvased North America together in 2014, and this reunion represents yet another major milestone in their respective careers.

GOJIRA & MASTODON “THE MEGA-MONSTERS TOUR” WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LORNA SHORE

LEG 1

4/18 Portland, OR Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4/20 Concord, CA Concord Pavilion
4/21 Los Angeles, CA The Forum
4/22 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre
4/23 Las Vegas, NV Virgin
4/26 Dallas, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
4/28 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall
4/29 Austin, TX Moody Center
4/30 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre
5/2 Nashville, TN Municipal Auditorium
5/4 Boca Raton, FL Sunset Cove Amphitheater
5/5 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre
5/6 Atlanta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
5/7 Asheville, NC Harrah’s Cherokee Center
5/9 Richmond, VA Virginia Credit Union Live
5/10 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Pavilion
5/11 Reading, PA Santander Arena

LEG 2

8/9 Cincinnati, OH MegaCorp Pavilion
8/10 Cleveland, OH Jacob’s Pavilion
8/11 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE Outdoors
8/12 New York, NY Coney Island Amphitheater
8/13 Syracuse, NY OnCenter
8/15 Detroit, MI Masonic Temple
8/17 Toronto, ON RBC Echo Beach
8/18 Laval, QC Place Bell
8/19 Portland, ME Cross Insurance Arena
8/20 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall
8/23 Milwaukee, WI BMO Pavilion
8/25 Hammond, IN Horseshoe
8/26 Omaha, NE Westfair Amphitheater
8/27 Minneapolis, MN Waite Park Amphitheater
8/29 St. Louis, MO The Factory
8/30 Kansas City, MO Azura Amphitheater
9/1 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheater
9/2 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

January 19, 2023
Bayside Tours NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge In March

Esteemed punk band Bayside has announced they are hitting the road next month for their “Just Like Home Tour.” Joining them will be I Am The Avalanche and Koyo, making a stop at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge on March 8th and 9th.

In addition to the new EP, Bayside have announced that they will be hitting the road this winter for the Just Like Home Tour. The lineup pays homage to the band’s local scene, with fellow New Yorkers I Am The Avalanche and Koyo providing support on the month long run. The Just Like Home Tour kicks off on February 10th in Houston, with stops to follow in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, New York City, and more.

Last year Bayside shocked their fans with The Red EP, as well as their cover of Kacey Musgraves’”Rainbow.” They then closed out 2022 with their latest single “Go To Hell”. With The Red EP, fans see Bayside refining their unique brand of punk rock even further. The EP’s three songs offer powerful, hard-hitting melodies that draw upon the band’s heavier influences. You can be sure that they are just getting started, with more music to come soon.

“We wanted to go out and do some places that are a little smaller than what we’ve been doing the last few years. We really cut our teeth in a lot of these venues and we can’t wait to get back to some of them for the first time in ages,” shares the band.

Bayside has deep roots in New York (they are named after the Queens neighborhood where they formed), so it is not out of place that they wrote a song dedicated to one of the state’s most famous vacation getaways. When most people think of Montauk they often have wonderful memories of their time on the beach, eating lobster with their families, or visiting the Montauk lighthouse. However, when Bayside wrote “Montauk,” they made a conscious decision to avoid all of the pleasant memories they might have had and took a more negative, yet humbling, approach to writing about the seaside town. They wanted to remind people that unfortunate circumstances can occur in amazing places, and sometimes saying goodbye is the hardest part of life.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

2/10 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall

2/11 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater

2/12 – Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room & Garage

2/14 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater

2/15 – Garden Grove, CA @ Garden AMP

2/16 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues

2/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco

2/18 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

2/20 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall

2/21 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox

2/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex

2/24 – Denver, CO @ The Gothic Theatre

2/25 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre

2/26 – Chicago, IL @ Metro

2/28 – Milwaukee, WI @ Th Rave

3/1 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s

3/3 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall

3/4 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House

3/5 – Montreal, QC @ Corona Theatre

3/7 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

3/8 + 3/9 – New York, NY @ LPR

3/10 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage

3/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

3/12 – Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle Hall

To check out more by Bayside and to purchase tickets for their upcoming shows, click the link here.

January 12, 2023