UFO @ B.B. King’s Blues Club – New York, NY
Lessons > Concert
UFO @ B.B. King’s Blues Club – New York, NYBy Luke Dennis
May 13th, 2011
One wonders if B.B. King could predict the kind of talent that would hold court in his subterranean blues club in the heart of New York’s midtown. Classic Howling Wolf honks back at the traffic beneath the marquee, and the lobby is lined with posters advertising roots rock revival shows. Even the faces mingling in the neon sunrise of Times Square at twilight seem par for the club: middle-aged and neatly groomed for a night of sit-down music. But they tell a different story from the neck down: black tee shirts emblazoned with the red, white, and blue skewed letters… (Continue)
Soulive @ The Paradise – Boston, MABy Luke Dennis
December 31st, 2010
New Year’s Eve: The clock ticks down to midnight like the master plan of a James Bond nemesis. The secluded lair is the Paradise, the madvillains are none other than the jazzy mutherfunkers of Soulive, and the minions are a sold out legion of loyal Bostonians. The ranks are well rounded: hippies, hipsters, preppies, hepcats, bros, hos, brokers, tokers, mothers dressed like daughters, and daughters dressed like mothers were it not for the telltale under-21 ‘X’ tattooed on the back of their hands. Few bands could summon such a heterogeneous congregation for a New Year’s bash, which is fitting –… (Continue)
Blind Guardian @ The Palladium – Worcester, MABy Evan Berry
November 21st, 2010
Blind Guardian’s ‘The Bard’s Song – In The Forest’ tells us that no matter what lives and dies in this world, the tales woven by songs will forever stand the test of time. Blind Guardian’s role in the metal scene is similar to that of the Bard: both weave memorable songs with incontrovertible narrative quality. Though vocalist Hansi Kürsch’s lyrical style focuses strongly on this aforementioned quality rather than prose, the melodies are so catchy that most every fan in Blind Guardian’s audience can chant along. Their show at The Palladium was a testament to this. Before Blind Guardian hit the… (Continue)
Dimmu Borgir with Enslaved @ The Palladium – Worcester, MABy Rae Amitay
November 5th, 2010
It was a night of legendary Norwegian metal at the Palladium, with both Enslaved and Dimmu Borgir taking the stage in support of their acclaimed new albums (Axioma Ethica Odini and Abrahadabra, respectively). Enslaved delivered a powerful set, clearly demonstrating their solidity as a band, as well as their passion for delivering the triumphantly stunning riffs that have captivated listeners for twenty years. Opening with ‘Axioma’ and ‘Ethica Odini,’ they showcased their new album beautifully and the crowd was incredibly receptive.
Despite the massive Abrahadabra banner behind them, Enslaved owned the stage during the entirety of their set. It was clear that the audience was not simply waiting for Dimmu Borgir to perform; the crowd was fully engrossed as Enslaved played seven songs. Their performance set them apart as a band truly worthy of headlining a tour, and hopefully fans will be able to see them do this in the future. Once they left the stage, the energy in the Palladium seemed to swell as the crowd prepared to see Dimmu Borgir take the stage for the debut show of their North American tour.
Devin Townsend Project with TesseracT @ The Palladium – Worcester, MABy Rae Amitay
October 29th, 2010
Anyone who has experienced a performance by Devin Townsend can attest to his incredible charisma and stage presence. Few musicians have carved out careers comparable to that of Townsend’s, in regards to the sheer versatility he has established over two decades of performing. After recording and touring as the lead vocalist for guitar legend Steve Vai (Sex & Religion), Townsend released several solo albums under the name Strapping Young Lad. These releases, along with the subsequent formation and touring of The Devin Townsend Band, established his now trademark wall-of-sound heaviness, phenomenal vocal range, and overall diversity of composition in the… (Continue)
Black Label Society @ House Of Blues – Boston, MABy Chris Dingman
October 19th, 2010
In the darkness of the House Of Blues, the anxious calm was broken by the screeching cry of an air raid siren as Black Label Society stormed the gates with ‘The Beginning… At Last.’ Standing before a microphone stand adorned with skulls, the towering Zakk Wylde ignited the room with a searing tone and an arsenal of photo shoot-worthy stage moves. Wylde’s renowned pinch harmonics and powerful vibrato were in full effect, much to his fans’ delight, while behind the scenes, his rhythm playing laid a foundation of punishing riffs and unshakable groove. Those virtues were especially clear in ‘Crazy Horse,’… (Continue)
Richie Kotzen @ The Viper Room – West Hollywood, CABy Mike Kindel
October 8th, 2010
Vocalist and guitar hero Richie Kotzen has toured the world many times, both in bands such as Poison and Mr. Big, and as a solo artist. On October 8th at the Viper Room, one of the Sunset’s Strip’s most intimate and aurally pleasing venues to retain the grit of rock & roll, Richie Kotzen walked onstage in front of a crowd bursting at the seams with anticipation and excitement. The guitar virtuoso launched into a scorching new 90-minute set with ‘Losing My Mind,’ the first track off of his album Get Up. The music blared and the lights flashed as… (Continue)
Slash @ House Of Blues – Boston, MABy Chris Dingman
September 15th, 2010
Slash has been busy since his departure from rock powerhouse Guns ‘N Roses – first with Slash’s Snakepit, then Velvet Revolver and now with the release of his first solo album, Slash, which features an all-star cast of vocalists ranging from Adam Levine to Lemmy. It was in support of this hard-rocking disc that he stood before the packed house at the House Of Blues in Boston one Wednesday night. Amidst the blaring, high-octane onslaught of rock, Slash’s groove was smooth and laid-back. His lead tone was as biting and juicy as ever, and his crisp rhythm work was complemented… (Continue)
Dark Tranquillity @ Harper’s Ferry – Allston, MABy Chris Dingman
May 16th, 2010
Only three months after playing a short set in Boston with Killswitch Engage, Dark Tranquillity returned to treat their loyal fans to a headlining show at the cozy Harper’s Ferry. Hometown heavies Acaro were the first to take the stage that night, and they controlled the room with ease. Frontman Chris Harrell engaged the early arrivals with a charming and energetic sense of humor, which his band backed up with terrific, raw energy and enthusiasm in their brief performance. Mutiny Within continued the same standard of crowd interaction, making frequent eye contact and shaking hands with fans while unleashing an… (Continue)
Dark Tranquillity @ House Of Blues – Boston, MABy Chris Dingman
February 4th, 2010
Fans of melodic death metal were treated to some of Sweden’s finest when Dark Tranquillity took the stage at the House Of Blues in Boston for the first date of their new tour. For the next month and a half, the metal legends will be trekking through North America in support of their forthcoming album We Are The Void (to be released on February 24th in Sweden and March 9th in North America), along with The Devil Wears Prada and metalcore icons Killswitch Engage. Dark Tranquillity began the evening by pumping up the crowd with the hook-laden ‘Terminus (Where Death… (Continue)
Jeff Beck @ House Of Blues – Boston, MABy Chris Dingman
April 13th, 2009
Visits from Jeff Beck are cause for celebration – not only because these visits are so infrequent, or even because Beck was one of three noted guitarists to emerge from Britain’s legendary Yardbirds in the 60’s. Ever since he came into the public eye, Beck has been pushing the boundaries of rock guitar playing in general, and the limitations of the Strat in particular. Beck takes harmonic and whammy bar techniques that many players use as effects, and creates full, expressive melodic lines with them. He also controls his volume knob with authority, by using smooth swells on melodies along… (Continue)
Liquid Tension Experiment @ B.B. King’s Blues Club – New York, NYBy Chris Dingman
June 23rd, 2008
After 10 years, Liquid Tension Experiment fans finally get what they want: another tour. Ever since Dream Theater’s drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci recorded two largely improvised albums in 1998 and 1999 with bassist Tony Levin and keyboardist Jordan Rudess, fans have been clamoring for more LTE. The quartet made four concert appearances in 1999, including a brief performance at the Winter NAMM that was filmed by an enthusiastic audience member, and has since been shared broadly enough to whet the appetites of the Internet community. When Petrucci and Portnoy decided that they wanted Rudess in Dream Theater,… (Continue)
Progressive Nation 2008 @ Fillmore – Miami Beach, FLBy Chris Dingman
May 30th, 2008
Progressive rock luminaries Dream Theater founded the Progressive Nation tour this year in an effort to bring together some of the genre’s most exciting acts. Swedish progressive metal band Opeth was given second billing on the tour, with the newer bands 3 and Between The Buried And Me opening the shows. Progressive rock bands are famous for defying trends and focusing on musicianship, but at the Fillmore in Miami Beach on May 30th, the headlining acts of Progressive Nation proved that they could defy technical difficulties as well, with their professionalism and performances. 3 formed in the 90’s, but have… (Continue)
Vanna @ Harper’s Ferry – Boston, MABy Mike Kindel
May 1st, 2008
A gentle breeze softly caresses the dawning of a new spring day. The birds chirp merrily in the tranquil meadow, without a hint or warning of the onslaught to come. Suddenly, the skies darken and a hurricane rips the beautiful scene apart; the perfect parallel to the live performance of the Massachusetts born, hardcore explosion of talent that is Vanna. Vanna came crashing into Harper’s Ferry, destroying every eardrum within reach, and inciting bloodthirsty fans to mangle their bodies in the inevitable pit. As they had already completed most of their tour, this band had become seasoned live performers, very… (Continue)
Eddie Jelley and Cold Shot (SRV Tribute) @ Palace Theater – Waterbury, CTBy Mike Kindel
April 12th, 2008
Every inch of the Waterbury Palace Theater is elegant enough to hold a crowd wearing tuxedoes and cocktail dresses – a far cry from the skeptical demographic of predominantly middle-aged men that attended the Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute show performed by guitarist Eddie Jelley and his band Cold Shot on April 12th. Although not completely satisfied with his performance, Jelley definitely rocked the stage and brought the blues music of Stevie Ray Vaughan back into attendee’s hearts. Jelley and his band took the stage with confidence, but also with instruments that were out of tune with each other, creating an… (Continue)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra @ Civic Center – Hartford, CTBy Mike Kindel
November 16th, 2007
They came upon the Midnight Clear, and lit up the Hartford Civic Center on November 16th with lights, lasers, pyrotechnics, smoke, and even snow, and backed their theatrical performance with musicianship and epic arrangements of everyone’s favorite Christmas songs that put even the biggest Scrooges in the holiday spirit. The diverse demographic proved that all ages could rock out under one roof. The Civic Center in Hartford, CT is a multi-purpose coliseum that was perfect for a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. The show opened with the band, in conjunction with a local radio station, informing fans that a donation of $16,720… (Continue)
Blind Guardian @ The Palladium – Worcester, MABy Mike Kindel
December 1st, 2006
After four long years, German power metal kings Blind Guardian made their triumphant return to the United States to tour their new album A Twist in the Myth. However, the tour is not just to publicize the new album, but also to show the American metal fans that after more than 20 years of countless hits and a brand new drummer, they can still teach audiences what the word ‘epic’ really means. The show took place at the Worcester Palladium – a venue with majestic artwork, a bar, and a known reputation as being one of the most ‘metal’ venues… (Continue)
