The Darkness, Live At The House of Blues, Nola

By: Canonblue Lalley


New Orleans, LA

Live from the legendary House of Blues in New Orleans, The Darkness reminded us just why we believed in a thing called love. Packing out the classic venue, there was barely room to move but concert goer's found a way to dance. Busting out tunes like, "Barbarian" to kick the night off, Justin Hawkins burst onto the stage and wow'd the crowd with his electrifying vocals. Throughout the show, The Darkness had the crowd swaying and dancing, often times singing every word in a call and response serenade. 

Bringing out crowd favorites like "Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman" and "Love Is Only a Feeling" it was easy to see how the "small of a woman's back" served as the greatest inspiration for The Darkness' musical prowess. By the time they had struck up the chords for "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" the crowd was insatiable. Air guitar and flying hair abounded though the crowd as fans sang at the top of their lungs, completely rocking out. 


At the last chords of the set, the crowd was simply not having it as they screamed and chanted for "ONE MORE, ONE MORE." The Darkness kindly obliged, sending us off with "Concrete" and "Love On The Rocks With No Ice." It was an amazing performance, with Frankie Pouolain's use of the stage and Justin Hawkins' crowd presence, both new and old The Darkness fans witnessed their revival and redemption. 

Third Eye Blind @ The Soul Kitchen

Mobile, AL
Canonblue Lalley

Fresh on the DOPAMINE tour, Third Eye Blind came through and brought us all back to better days. The Soul Kitchen in Mobile, Alabama was bursting at the seams with fans of all ages singing and swaying along with the guys. 

Accompanied by an electric and methodical light show,  3EB performed classics like "Never Let You Go," "Graduate" and "Semi-Charmed Kinda Life" mixed with their newest track "Dopamine" off their album of the same name. The stage show was fantastic, with just the right amount of buildup and performance to satiate listeners of every age. 

Perhaps one of the coolest parts was the almost sing-along nature of "How It's Going to Be" and "Graduate." Regardless if you are a fan from the 90's or have just discovered Third Eye Blind recently, the music somehow remains  and the perfect mix of relevant and nostalgic. The show was impressive to say the least and they have definitely proven that they can stand the test of time and keep everybody still rockin.  

311 Day 2016

New Orleans, LA
By: Canonblue Lalley

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome was packed out with 311 fans for Day One of 311 Day Weekend. Balloons stuffed with glow sticks bounced around the dim arena as a compilation video played shout outs from some of the biggest names Ska such as Less Than Jake, The Knucks, tons of celebrities and of course, 311 fans from around the world. 

When the Hive lighting began to glow and P-Nut struck up his bass intro, the crowd exploded. The first set brought us throw backs such as "Come Original", "Summer of Love" and of course, "Who's got the Herb?" Nick Hexum let us in on their upcoming Album with a set list debut of their newest edition, "Hey Yo."

The second set was accompanied by a killer light show that was more of a visual experience than a concert. With tunes like "Don't Tread On Me" and crowd favorite "Amber" fans swayed and sang along with the rest of the band in unison. 

Perhaps the most spectacular part for the evening was the addition of The Voices of St. Peter Claver Choir for a rousing rendition of "When The Saints Go Marching In." This of course, was met by tremendous applause in the Big Easy. Finishing out the evening with "Down" 311 put on an amazing performance and it was truly more of an experience than a concert. Don't forget to catch 311 on August 3rd in Mobile, Alabama for an Evening With 311. 

Dropkick Murphy's and Tiger Army

THE CIVIC THEATRE
NEW ORLEANS
By: Canonblue Lalley

 

What better way to kick off the St. Paddy's Day season than with the patron saints of Irish Punk, The Dropkick Murphy's? Hordes of fans poured into The Civic Theatre eagerly anticipating a night of loud Irish Punk, plenty of brews, and of course, the comradery that comes from any DM show. 


Darkbuster kicked off the night, with Tiger Army following right behind.  

Tiger Army, returning to New Orleans with a fresh single off of their new album came out in full effect. Tattooed, hair slicks and dapper styled, these fellas came right out the gate with their psychobilly rifts and intricate melodies. It was refreshing to hear some of their older favorites, such as Firefall as well as getting a taste of what's to come with their new single, "Prisoner of the Night" available on their upcoming album. As if the music wasn't enough, the stage show they put on was incredible. From slides and tricks, to Geoff Kresge actually standing on top of his upright and playing while supporting it with his feet in the air, Tiger Army was definitely there to bring the noise.  It was great to have Geoff back with them for their tour, as his energy really pushed the band over the top.

As the lights began to dim, the curtain lowered and the crowd began to chant for Dropkick. A screen reel displayed the last 20 amazing years they had given us and assured us that the best was yet to come. Blasting out on stage with the ever powerful "Johnny, I Barely Knew Ya"  the crowd serenaded them as Al Barr stood fearlessly on the barrier gate helping the swells of the Civic to finish out the song. Bagpipes, classic flutes, and an impromptu mini acoustic set mid show made everything feel together and fluid through songs such as "The Gang's All Here," "Sunshine Highway" and my personal favorite "Rose Tattoo." When the lights dropped, screaming and stomping for more shook the floor of the Civic. 

After a small break, the Murphy's returned to the stage to their famous, "Shipping Up to Boston" and towards the end of the song, fans were sent over the barricade to join Ken, Al and the rest for a rowdy rendition of "Kiss Me, I'm Shitfaced" and Sam Cooke's "Havin a Party."
It was chaos and beer and good Irish Punk music. If there's one thing that can be said about Dropkick Murphy's, it's that the first 20 years have shown them how to have a hell of a time. 

Judas Priest

(Hard Rock Casino, Biloxi MS)
By: Scott Keller
Photography: Canonblue Lalley

They are heavy metal icons, widely considered one of the defining bands of the genre and idolized by both hardcore metalheads and casual listeners across the world. Boasting 45 million album sales and a career spanning more than four decades, they rose to prominence with hits such as "Breaking the Law," "Living After Midnight" and the crushing "Painkiller." In 2015, Judas Priest are back on the road touring on their newest album, 2014's Redeemer of Souls, and they are bringing the fire and leather to the Hard Rock in Biloxi.

    We had the opportunity to speak with frontman Rob Halford about what is happening with Judas Priest these days, and what we can expect on July 11th.

    The last time Priest came through the Hard Rock a few years ago, it was on what many fans believed was their farewell tour. "I believe the farewell tour was a bit of a misstep on our part," Halford said with a chuckle, going on to explain that the band soon realized that they weren't finished yet. They remained inspired to create music and tour, even if not as often as in previous years. "We had such a great time," he said of the previous tour. "We connected to the fans... we had such an inspiration... and what you see now is a regeneration of Judas Priest." Listening to Redeemer of Souls should be proof enough of this inspiration. The album is fresh and heavy as ever, chock full of sinister guitar riffs and Halford's unmistakable operatic vocal style. The intro track "Dragonaut" opens with an ominous thunderclap, building just enough tension before the guitars kick in and the song blasts straight into an adrenaline-charged hellride that encompasses both the spirit of classic metal and the mastery that comes with decades of experience, all with the power of modern production. The rest of the album follows suit and is a fantastic listen, having even been well received by the notoriously hard-to-please crowd of internet-posting metalheads. Every fan should hear and/or get their hands on this album.

    The band is known for putting on amazing live performances. Though they frequently incorporate theatrical elements such as pyro, projection screens and stage props to bring stunning visuals to their metal assault, Halford again chalks it up to the fans as the most important element of a killer show. "It's about the reconnection." Priest comes at their fans full force, commanding the stage and holding nothing back.  Whether you are seeing them for the first time or tenth, when you are dealing with one of the players who helped invent the game, It's a connection that can't be missed.

    As a true music lover, Halford has also done a bit of work outside of Judas Priest over the years including solo projects and guest appearances. In 2013 he notably lent his vocals to the Five Finger Death Punch single "Lift Me Up," and performed live with the band. It turns out that he is a fan of newer rock and metal music and doesn't buy into the notion that the genre has run its course. "It just doesn't make sense to me," he says. "Yeah it's changed..." but not "the heart of it... the enthusiasm."

    As far as heart and enthusiasm go, Judas Priest has plenty of it to spread around. They are doing what they love and loving what they do, and they'll be doing it big for us on the 11th. This is one you really don't want to miss. As far as what's next? Well, Halford says we may just be seeing yet another Judas Priest album, so keep an eye out!

Better Than Ezra

(Biloxi, MS)

By: Scott Keller
Photography: Canonblue Lalley
 

They've been on your radio, in your car, and all across the country for over twenty years now, and on May 2nd they'll be coming to Biloxi to rock out by the pool with you. Though their roots go back to 1988, Better than Ezra exploded onto the larger scene in 1995 with the major label release of their hit song, "Good," which quickly rose to the number one position on Billboard's Alternative chart and has become a rock radio mainstay. Years of continued success with hits such as "In the Blood," "King of New Orleans" and "Extraordinary" have kept Ezralites across the country jamming along to this day, and the band will be bringing us even more in 2015.

This writer had the pleasure of attending Better than Ezra's show at H20 last summer, so let me tell you firsthand that you can expect a whole lot of awesome. Of course, if you were there then you already know. H20 is a stylish tropical oasis situated on the grounds of the Golden Nugget, featuring day beds, private cabanas and a massive pool situated directly in view of the main stage. Picture yourself wading through the clean water to top off your cold drink at the in-pool bar as a full blown rock concert happens just a short swim away. Ezra is the perfect band for such an occassion, as their widely known brand of upbeat pop rock complements the festive summer environment of H20 in such a way that it's pretty much impossible to not have a great time... and they are quite the entertainers on stage, keeping the crowd singing and dancing along with them throughout the night.

That's not to say that you can expect a simple repeat of their last visit, though. Better than Ezra's new album, All Together Now, was released in September of last year, so you can expect to hear lots of brand new tunes along with the songs you already know and love. The lead single "Crazy Lucky" was released just before the previous show, and has since hit the big time, garnering over two million streams and climbing into the Top 40 with its lighthearted tone, singalong chorus and slightly humorous lyrics. All Together Now maintains that fresh, cool vibe that got the band famous to begin with without feeling like the same old song you have already heard. It's upbeat and fun throughout, and the fact that the band recorded all of the songs as live in­studio performances rather than piecing the songs together bit by bit gives it a pleasant natural energy.

Our friends from New Orleans will be keeping busy throughout the summer maintaining their charity organization, the Better than Ezra Foundation, touring with Uncle Kracker, Eve 6 and Sugar Ray, and according to bassist Tom Drummond, they are always working on new musical ideas.

Behemoth

(New Orleans, LA)
By: Canonblue Lalley

The first stop in Behemoth's North American tour brought our Princes of Darkness to New Orleans. Opening for Behemoth was Cannibal Corpse, a much anticipated union since the tour was announced. Hundreds clad in black, spikes and sweat packed into the House of Blues to witness the heavy. 

Cannibal Corpse dominated the crowd, spewing blood and bellowing the wicked heavy Scourge of Iron. Pits erupted throughout the HOB, the crowds worked into a fervor. By the time they struck up Hammered Smash Face, the entire room was fully charged and ready to mosh. 

 

When headliners Behemoth took the stage, the surge toward the band was undeniable. Fans yelled, threw up horns, and the swell of singing coming from the crowd as bassist Tomasz Wrobleski began to spew a blood-like mixture from his mouth, sending the crowd into a frenzy. 

Rarely do metal shows push the envelope the way Behemoth did, so it was quite refreshing to be a  part of. With heavy riffs, demonic breakdowns and dark lyrics, the dark metal band from Poland showed New Orleans that they will still throw down with the best. 

 

Damien Rice at the Civic

(New Orleans, LA)

Damien Rice, a powerhouse among the folk/inderpendant music movement gave the city of New Orleans a taste of his unique style at an intimate show at the historic Civic Theater. It was a simple set up, with only a single spotlight to highlight his one man act. Opening for Rice was Icelandic duo, My Bubba. With soft melodies and angelic voices, they serenaded the crowd with tall tales from their homeland.

Damien opened with The Professor, building swells of rifts until the crowd was singing almost over the top of him. Even from the balcony, the atmosphere was full of quiet energy that seemed to flow from Rice and wrap around the collective of the crowd. Following up with classics such as Delicate, Older Chests, and Elephant, the technical genius he displayed was only matched by the conviction in his voice as he sang each word. Everything was performed with such intensity, such honesty that you could tell each word was drawn from personal experience.  The acoustics of the historic Civic allowed concert goers to capitalize on the quiet transitions and intricate buildups songs like The Blower's Daughter  and Volcano. 

The end of the set brought thunderous applause and shouts for more as the stage fell black. After a short break, he opted to get as close to his fans as he could without actually joining them on the floor. Sitting on the edge of the stage, single spot light and guitar in hand, the melody of Cannonball found it's way out of the cavern of his guitar and entranced the ever- so-close crowd. Moving, breathing and singing as one, the final notes left a feeling of satisfaction among his fans. 

I can say that it was truly one of the most intense concerts that I had ever attended. His rare dalliances into the North American tour circuit never disappoint, and if you ever get the chance to catch it, do yourself a favor and attend. 

Slipknot, Lamb of God and Bullet For My Valentine

(Woodlands, TX)
By: Canonblue Lalley

Bullet For My Valentine opened up the Texas leg of the Summer's Last Stand Tour at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion. Hitting the stage heavy, they serenaded the crowd with Raising Hell, You Want a Battle (Well Here's A War) and even gave us some throwback BFMV with Tears Don't Fall. 

With rumors of a new EP in the works, opening for Slipknot and LoG has definitely helped to re-bolster and revamp Bullet's fan base and expose them to new audiences. 

Lamb Of God took the stage shortly after, pushing the already hyped crowd into a frenzy. With massive riffs, heavy solo's and more double bass than you could ever image, Randy Blyth and the boys put to rest any rumors of retirement. Melting faces with Walk With Me In Hell, Vigil, Laid to Rest, Still Echoes and Ghost Walking, they kept the energy building. You could visibly see it spilling over into the crowd, as most pits erupted all the way up into the bleachers, and circle pits pulled in any excess near the stage. It was pandemonium, and it was wonderful. Truly a throwback to classic metal shows. For their encore, Redneck absolutely brought down the house, leaving the crowd practically begging for more. 

After what seemed like ages, we finally heard Corey Taylor's familiar Before I Forget opening monologue,  which was quickly echoed by each fan in the crowd. Concert goers already pumped full of adrenaline were ready. After an intense build up, the curtains dropped and we finally got the show we had been waiting for. Running With The Devil, Psychosocial, Purity, and Killpop were just a few on their set list that just kept on giving. With their signature setups, including keyboards, light shows, pyrotechnics and duel revolving  drum sets Slipknot kept the crowd pumped and begging for more. 

Killer bands, killer crowd and killer stage shows. What more could you ask for on a Saturday night inThe Woodlands?

Deftones and Incubus

Incubus/Deftones

(New Orleans, LA)

It was a sweltering August day in New Orleans as thousands of fans packed into Bold Sphere Champions Square. The excitement and anticipation permeated through the air as crowds eagerly awaited the sold out performances from Incubus and the  Deftones.  

When the Deftones took the stage,  thunderous applause shook the arena. The familiar melodies of My Own Summer captivated crowds, swelling up to the familiar rifts of Diamond Eyes. Electric energy filled the air as the crowd helped serenade Chino Moreno with Change (In The House of Flies) as well as the Deftones/Maynard collaboration Passenger. Just barely catching their set, the sky cracked open and showered the crowd, but the Deftones continued uninhibited and finished up with Engine No. 9. 

 

Flowing with the vibe of the mellowly trickling rain, Incubus opened with Wish You Were Here, a decision that judging by the roars from the crowd, worked beautifully. With technical styling, laser shows, and Brandon Boyd's chaotic control of his stage energy, Incubus wowed the audience from start to finish. Drifting through hits such as Pardon Me, Southern Girl, and Drive, it was almost as if in one fluid motion. Closing out with A Crow Left of the Murder was a pleasant surprise for die hard Incubus fans and it was with great reluctance that the crowd accepted the last encore was the very end. 

All in all, it was a fantastic show, filled with great music, visuals and vibes. Absolutely everything a long time listener could have hoped for. We are looking forward to catching Incubus on their new EP release, especially after their preview of Trustfall during their set. 

If you ever get the chance to catch either band, we highly recommend you take the time. It is definitely an experience you won't want to miss!

Welcome To Rockville 2015

Welcome To Rockville

(Jacksonville, FL)

If there’s one thing that can be said, it’s that the  Welcome to Rockville Festival sure knows how to throw down.  The fifth anniversary of the festival brought in a killer line-up, a sold out arena (despite the accommodations which expanded the field to fit almost 10,000 more concert-goers), and not to mention severe weather which included an EF-1 Tornado, which touched down just outside of the grounds. Through the sweat, rain and mud, the hordes of concert-goers pushed on to keep the metal alive.
 

One could hardly blame them, with a line-up including Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Korn, Halestorm, Non-Point, All That Remains, In This Moment, and Slash feat. Myles Kennedy amongst over 30 of some of the most metal bands in the South East.

As a compliment to the stages rocking out on either side of them, Rockville packed the grounds with delicious food, unique band merch and my personal favorite, the addition of Tequila World. Danny Wimmer Presents really outdid themselves, building a city within a city including a mountain of exotic tequilas, tacos and other complementary foods to keep your taste buds electrified.  Of course, you can’t have a music festival without the world’s wildest metal mariachi band, Metalachi, who lit up the stage in between sets.

 

The line-up was impressive to say the least, but it held nothing to the actual stage shows of each band. From the multiple set and costume themes of In This Moment, The acrobatic head banging of Non Point, and of course,  the dark presence of Manson captivated the crowd, and Korn playing their entire self-titled debut album completely electrified the festival.  Perhaps one of the scariest/adrenaline filled portions of the festival included two evacuations, both surrounding the whirlwind Halestorm, who, true to their name, put on an amazing whirlwind performance.

Even with the inclimate weather, the 2015 Welcome to Rockville did not disappoint, and we were so proud to be able to be a part of it. We can’t wait to see what next year has in store, and what kind of musical genius they’re going to round up for Welcome to Rockville 2016!