Monster Energy Presents Welcome to Rockville 2018

Jacksonville, FL

Words: Scott Keller

Photography: Canonblue Lalley

Welcome to Rockville 2018
The Fan Experience
JACKSONVILLE, FL- For its eighth year running, Welcome to Rockville once again delivered a top notch experience for everything rock and metal, and continues to be a prime destination for festival goers from across southeast and beyond. 
    2018's lineup couldn't get much bigger. Headlining acts included heavy metal frontrunners Avenged Sevenfold, everybody's favorite rockers Foo Fighters, and the iconic Ozzy Osbourne leading a bill of more than fifty bands. Fans flocked to the grounds of Metropolitan Park and Everbank Field by the thousands to be greeted by a festival that was bigger, better and more streamlined than ever before. 
    This year's event rocked some serious changes from previous years: most notably the extension into three days from two, changes to the stage layout, and the addition of campgrounds. My party was thrilled by the camping, and opted to pitch a tent for the weekend. The clean, secure grounds were within walking distance of the festival entrance. Staying basically on-site, surrounded by our fellow concertgoers in a fun environment made for a more complete, immersive weekend and allowed us to skip the inevitable traffic that goes along with these events, and all for a rate that ended up being considerably less than a four day hotel room. If you're the outdoorsy type, I would highly recommend looking into it.
    Whereas previous years featured more stages in two days, this year had only three stages with the acts more evenly spread across the three days. The Monster main stage was situated in the parking lot of Everbank Field, with the second Metropolitan stage just across the overpass in the park, and the smaller River Stage was near the water at the cozy far end of the park near some shade trees. Timeslots were staggered so that bouncing between the stages to catch our favorite acts and grab refreshments along the way was an easier task than ever before. Gone were the days of strategically choosing who to see and who to miss while making multiple long hikes throughout the day.
    The ease of access to the festival allowed us more time to do what we really went there to do: enjoy some music and check out the scenery. We fueled up on some complimentary energy drinks and caught a nice view of the main stage from the elevated Monster Energy drink platform as others took in the aerial view from atop Rockville's ever present ferris wheel. The VIP and lounge areas were cozy and shaded, some offering viewing screens so patrons wouldn't miss the action on stage. Whether you managed to get close to the stage or not, the music was loud and not to be missed.
Festival highlights:

 

    The weekend was full of consistently killer performances, and any rock fan could get the feeling that this was what it was all about: established headliners, rock legends, and up and coming acts all sharing a weekend together with tens of thousands of die hard fans.
     The late addition of Stone Temple Pilots to the lineup was welcome and particularly exciting. Coast Observer last caught up with them for a Biloxi date with late singer Chester Bennington, and this performance marked the first time most everyone in attendance saw the band with their new frontman Jeff Gutt. It was definitely enjoyable, definitely STP, and it seemed to this writer and the fans around me that they have a good thing going on for 2018 and beyond. 
    Avatar delivered a striking, theatrical performance with their twisted, groovy, intricate blend of metal. The band has been growing in popularity with American audiences in recent years, and stated that they made the trip over from Sweden specifically for Rockville. Their set early in the day on the Monster stage was a definite treat and got everyone's blood pumping for the rest of the day's festivities. I predict that their name will be appearing in larger fonts on festival and tour flyers in the coming years, so if you aren't already on that train, get on it now.
    Ozzy Osbourne's headlining set was an absolute treat. Although he states he isn't actually retiring, the Prince of Darkness is embarking on his last tour, making his appearance at Rockville that much more momentous. Even fifty years into his career, there were many first timers to witness the spectacle as he and his band fronted by recently reunited guitar hero Zakk Wylde blasted through decades of rock and metal classics, even mixing in some Black Sabbath as Zakk jammed with the audience on the grounds.
 

   We caught up briefly with Texas Hippie Coalition after their Friday set and chatted about groovy bass lines, Led Zeppelin, and how the mid day heat on stage doesn't faze a bunch of guys from Texas. Welcome to Rockville marked the band's first main stage appearance at a major festival, and they seemed right at home up there as they delivered their rowdy southern metal jams such as "Turn It Up" and "Pissed Off and Mad About It" to the highly receptive headbangers in attendance, all with a dose of friendly southern charm. It seems they are moving up in the rock world. The band's latest album, Dark Side of Black, dropped in 2016 and their sixth album is to come. While there are no south Mississippi or New Orleans area dates on their current tour schedule, it is only a matter of time before they come back around our home region, so keep an eye out.
    Among the various wonderful shops, art displays and information booths near the middle of the grounds, the nonprofit To Write Love On Her Arms were spreading their positive message and carrying out their mission to help those who are struggling with depression, addiction, self injury and suicide. Event rep Chad Moses filled me in a bit on the organization's ongoing ties to the concert world.
"We are 12 years old now. Since the very beginning, music has been at the heart of what we do. We want to go where people show up... we want to go where people feel most alive. Music is a magical thing. It reminds us that there are things in life worth singing about, things in life worth screaming about and dancing about, and certainly we're sharing with each other... everyone deserves to have an audience." 
I couldn't agree more. Visit twloha.com for more information or to get involved.
    
    The festival ended with a magical two hour set from Foo Fighters. As someone who has seen too many concerts to count, including Foo Fighters previously, they delivered an absolutely killer show full of life and energy that ranks as one of the best I have seen, including a few unexpected medleys and guest appearances from Billy Idol and, seemingly out of nowhere, John Travolta. It was two hours that reinforced not only Foo Fighters' long coming status as rock icons, but also Rockville's ability to consistently stay among the best of the best in American music festivals.
Fan input:
  

 We always encourage our South Mississippi readers to make the well-worth-it drive to Jacksonville for the epic weekend that is Rockville, and a few of them shared their experiences with us on this year's event. 
Coast native Shane Baughmann witnessed what must have been quite a spectacle during Baroness' set as a couple got married, crowd surfed and threw a bouquet as the band played their wedding song. Kimmy Landry, Observer photographer Canonblue Lalley, Nick Smith and Troy Stovall were all returning attendees and were also fond of the festival's new layout and the ease of catching more bands with less travel, and also ranked Ozzy, Andrew W.K., Thrice and Clutch as some of their standout performances of the weekend.
    "My folks and I stayed at the campsite which was phenomenal," added Alexis Votto from Texas. "The food and bar were great, security patrolled and took excellent care of the patrons and we were given ample space to set up a good site. The distance from the park was a huge help too."
    
Keep an eye out for news about next year's Welcome to Rockville and join in for an unforgettable weekend of live music. We hope to see you there.

    Did you attend? Let us know your favorite moments at @coastobserver and @coastobserverlive
Scott Keller

WellRED Tour, Howlin Wolf

Photography: Canonblue Lalley

Words: L.B. Wilson

New Orleans, Louisiana 

On March 30, New Orleans’ Howlin’ Wolf hosted Corey Ryan Forrester, Drew Morgan, and Trae Crowder of the WellRED Comedy Tour. The Howlin’ Wolf is an awesomely New-Orleans-Style venue, with a bluesy, speakeasy, just-grimy-enough-to-be-cool-but-not-enough-to-be-concerned-with aesthetic that showgoers come to expect from New Orleans nightspots. Exposed brick walls and an open floor face a massive stage that works as well for a rock show as it did for standup.

The WellRED guys did two shows, and both sets slayed the crowd. For those unfamiliar with their message, the WellRED comedians have made careers out of exposing the politically liberal views of Southerners and criticizing the stereotype that everyone with a drawl must necessarily be an ignorant hillbilly. A highbrow political-comedy style combined with each comic’s thick Appalachia accent and exquisite timing makes for an great show. Each comic puts a specific twist on the irony of the good-ole-boy-liberal. Corey Forrester’s set stole the show with his insistence that Southern liberals were “new to liberalism” and should be permitted certain conservative vices to ease their transition. Drew Morgan is an attorney-turned-comedian, and while his set is more academic and biting, his critique of capitalism-driven-democracy is placed in an allegory about a state fair carney named “Buckshot.” The headliner, YouTube sensation Trae Crowder, splits the difference between the two and offered jokes that were familiar to fans of his famous porch-rants, with plenty of stage-exclusive material that crushed; go see his show specifically for his bit about his wife’s attitude on “thoughts and prayers.” Leading with Corey, raising the intensity with Drew, and bringing the tone back to the familiar with Trae is too genius to be an accident. It kept the show hilarious from cover-to-cover, and if you ever get a chance to see these guys live, do.

Bullet For My Valentine, Breaking Benjamin and AX7 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum

Biloxi, MS

Kicking off the first coastal rock extravaganza of 2018, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum packed the house for BFMV, Breaking Benjamin and the magnanimous Avenged Sevenfold. Avid fans lined the doors almost two hours before the show in efforts to make their way to the barricades to rock out with some of their favorite bands. 

Opening up was Bullet For My Valentine, with Matt Tuck immediately commanding a presence behind the microphone. BFMV is gearing up for several tours in support of their sixth studio album, which is still in the demo phase. Thousands of fans went wild during their greatest single "Tears Don't Fall" and by the time they stepped off the stage, the energy in the room was ramped up to maximum.

When the lights fell and the opening chords to "So Cold" struck, the crowd in the Coliseum lost their collective minds. Ben brought so much energy and interacted with the fans, nodding back to his love of all things nerd and Star Wars, including a stage set featuring a likeness of Kylo Ren's lightsaber front and center. Perhaps the most hype part of the show was a mixed medley of the Imperial March which immediately led into Tool's "Schism" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" which had everyone clamoring for more. A swell of voices rose to meet Ben's as he crooned out "Diary of Jane" with not a dry eye in the building. 

When Syn strolled out onto the stage during AX7's the front barricade buckled under the surge of fans clamoring to get closer. M Shadows bolted down the fourty foot catwalk and got up close and personal with the entire community, serenading Biloxi with hits like "Afterlife" and "A Little Piece of Heaven" and absolutely blowing the house down with their theatrics and musicality. 

Noted heavily was the absence of the Rev, who was still with them during their last tour stop of Biloxi. The entire night was packed with amazing music, killer light shows and familiarity as only these awesome bands can deliver. 

ERRA @ Zeppelins

Live tonight: ERRA at Zeppelin's

BILOXI- Progressive metalcore act ERRA, based in Birmingham will head up a hard hitting regional lineup including The Arbitrary (New Orleans), Vagrants (Pensacola) and Crypt (Lafayette). The online response is high, and it looks like the venue may fill up, so make plans to come early.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1955142154500867/?ti=as

ERRA - Skyline: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KEa2JU3sySQ

A Witch Trial  production

Scott Keller
Coast Observer Live

Seether @ Hard Rock Biloxi

Words By: Scott Keller Photography By: Canonblue Lalley

Biloxi, MS- Hard Rock Live was living up to its name for Seether's Biloxi tour stop. The venue, which accommodates up to 2,000, was packed from the front of the stage to back bar and up into the balconies with a shoulder to shoulder crowd of Saturday night rockers: people who came en masse and in flannel to see Seether and Seether alone.
    Many people will remember Seether's appearance in Gulfport for the 2014 Uproar Tour/ CPR Fest at Jones Park or at the Coast Coliseum before that, and our Coast Observer Live team last caught up with them over summer at Welcome to Rockville just as they released their latest album, Poison the Parish. After seeing them play at large outdoor festivals and arenas, catching them alone in the somewhat more intimate setting of the Hard Rock offered a nice new perspective, and the band delivered an in-your-face performance from start to finish. 
    Seether's music, and especially the band's live set, has always been characterized by its raw, gritty nature. Pounding drums and bass, dirty guitars and a singing style that is aggressive, soulful and melodic all at once are the trademarks of their sound and style of hard rock. This night was no different, as they blasted through hit after hit from their career with very little banter or pause, save for the occasional ambient, distorted jams in between songs. The crowd stayed pumped, appearing to be equally excited by the first notes of Seether's newest singles, "Let You Down" and "Betray and Degrade" as they were by more established jams such as "Fine Again." Why wouldn't they be? When we caught up with drummer John Humphrey over the summer, he indicated that was most excited about the heavy rock direction of the new songs, and it would seem that the fans agree. One particularly great moment of the evening was singer/guitarist Shaun Morgan's stripped down rendition of the band's hit "Broken," in which he traded off lines with the audience, allowing the entire room to join in for a "duet."
    Clint Lowery of Sevendust has joined up as Seether's touring guitarist for the run, and the addition of his guitar work, backing vocals and stage antics only add to the power of the band's live sound and show. 
    By the time Seether kicked into the crunchy hook of "Remedy," which they stretched out into an extended jam and grand finale, it was a little surprising that more than an hour had already passed since the band took the stage. They performed without any touring or local support that night, so the evening was a bit shorter than standard multi-band shows. The trade off was that every one in attendance was treated to an up close and personal, hard hitting show by one of the biggest bands in active rock. We hope to see them again on the coast soon.
    Poison the Parish is available now. 
    www.Seether.com
    www.HardRockBiloxi.com
    www.CoastObserver.com
Were you in attendance? Let us know your favorite moments from the show on Facebook @coastobserverlive @coastobserver
Scott Keller

Corrosion of Conformity, Black Label Society, Eyehategod @HOB

Words and Photos by Canonblue Lalley

The night before Black Label Society, Eyehategod and Corrosion of Conformity were set to take the stage at the House of Blues in New Orleans, a massive winter storm debilitated the entire south east. 

The entire city of New Orleans shut itself down, and fans awaited anxiously to hear news on the show, refunds, or a possible postponement. In true metal fashion, BLS and CoC would have none of it, and the show went on as scheduled. And what a show it was!

After some car trouble causing Eyehategod to take the stage a little late, the HoB quickly filled with metal heads of all ages and walks of life. There were your classic stoner metal heads, hard battened patch wearing metal heads and lines of millennial metal heads congregating near the stage to witness the greatness.

Corrosion of Conformity took the stage with classic favorites as well as a few off of their newly released album, "No Cross No Crown" and the entire energy in the room was electric. The slow, heavy opening strums to "Albatross" rang out and the entire House of Blues lost it's collective mind.  It's easy to see why after almost three decades, CoC is relevant and still bringing the heavy. They interacted with fans, going as far as to sit inside the barricade to play into the crowd, tossing out picks at every opportunity, and just connecting with their audience. 

Black Label Society kicked off the night with heavy riffs and screaming solos. Zakk Wylde's iconic blonde main of glory head banged in unison with the crowd, who were close to coming over  the barricade. Zakk decided that he didn't much care for the barricade either, and jumped it in the same manner of CoC. He played an acoustic set up close and personal, with BLS fans screaming and clamoring to be near him. 

The entire set was amazing, and it was definitely worth the near death experience of driving through shut down roads. BLS, and CoC brought warmth and metal to the city of New Orleans on the coldest day of the year.

Alter Bridge @ Hard Rock Biloxi

Words and Photos By: Canonblue Lalley

Biloxi, MS

         When Alter Bridge took the stage at the Hard Rock in Biloxi, the air was wrought with anticipation. It had been a long while since they had been on the Coast, but the crowd packed the Live theatre and greeted them as old friends. 

The Last Hero tour, named for their recently dropped album brought a mixture of classic AB tunes as well as a few soon to be favorites. Tremonti started off strong with "Come to Life" Alter Bridge captivated the packed room with "Isolation" and "Metalingus." 

Almost halfway through the set, Myles brought the tone to a more personal level with a stripped down set in their rendition of "Blackbird" which had the crowd singing along with feeling. The energy in the room was high throughout, with intricate solos and Myles' signature voice ringing clear. 

One thing is certainly for sure, and it's Alter Bridge is able to stand the test of time. 

Voodoo Music And Arts Experience, 2017

Words By: Scott Keller
Photos By: Canonblue Lalley

New Orleans, LA

Voodoo Music and Arts Experience

                Like Halloween itself, Voodoo always offers a reason to get excited for the fall. With the 2017 festival firmly behind us but fresh in our minds, it's time we shared some of the reasons why this event is consistently one of the coolest things a music and arts fan can get get into.

                Gulf coast folks are no strangers to New Orleans, and Voodoo weekend is about as good a time as any to make the short trip over to visit our neighbors. This year's event was once again graced by beautiful weather. The cool late October air made for a pleasant trip from the city into the park, where festival goers were treated to the intuitively laid out festival grounds that, while mostly similar to previous setups, still offered new places to explore for returning guests. One of the festival's defining attributes is their consistent offering of a variety of music: there's a little something for most everyone, and the music could be heard from the various stages beginning early in the afternoon. After dark is when another of the festival's defining attributes really shines through, and that is the atmosphere.

                Thousands of people clad in all sorts of Halloween attire can be found making their way between the various stages, shops and vendors, but there are always areas where the crowd thins out into cozy hideouts beneath the hanging moss of the park's trees, or near the warm glow of the giant torches. Near the center of all this is the eerie Mortuary haunted house and grounds, where one might find refuge alongside a tombstone, or be stalked by a ghoul. This year's setup was particularly impressive. The house itself was a nice touch last year, but they really stepped it up this year by making the tour longer, with more corridors and frightening actors, and the addition of a particularly disorienting funhouse style tunnel room, all of which made for quite the fun trip.

                When not catching a band, exploring the graveyard, wine garden, sponsor hangouts, shops or any of the other dozens of things to find on the grounds, people can be found at the other most popular gathering places: the food areas. Voodoo always delivers a huge variety of tasty treats, with a healthy dose of regional Louisiana and southern style cuisine. Guests having the ability to preload their payment info onto their festival wristbands allows them to pay for their goods with a flick of the wrist, which helps keep things moving along. Less time in line leaves more time for the good stuff, right?

                This year's event was topped by headlining acts Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, The Killers, DJ Snake and LCD Soundsystem, who gave great performances topped off by Voodoo's always first rate production. In one of my favorite moments of the weekend, Prophets of Rage paid tribute to their former Audioslave bandmate Chris Cornell by playing an instrumental version of "Like A Stone" behind an unoccupied, illuminated mic stand as the crowd sang the lyrics in his place. Foo Fighters- who are currently sitting among the top acts of the rock world- gave an unsurprisingly awesome performance that only added to the magic of Saturday's festivities. The peripheral stages were showcasing regional and up and coming acts as is common with the festival, and there was certainly some New Orleans style jazz and funk to be found.

                Voodoo always seeks to be, and succeeds at becoming something more than just a concert. It's a fully immersive, cultural event with its own style and energy. Of the people I spoke to, some who had travelled quite a distance, the environment and hospitality of the event ranked among their top reasons for choosing to attend. Cool drinking water is provided free of charge to ensure everyone stays hydrated. The various lounge areas offer plenty of opportunities to mingle, bond and make new friends. It is worth noting as well that one of my friends in attendance had a recent ankle injury, which gave me a bit more insight into the festival's accessibility setup. The staff were quick and gracious, assisting my friend and her party through a separate entry way, providing guidance and help at the dedicated aid station, and ensuring she had prompt access to the shuttle on the way out.

                The 2018 Voodoo Music and Arts Experience is set for October 26-28. Lineup information is still to come, but our South Mississippi readers can expect an event you won't want to miss!

                Stay up to date at www.voodoofestival.com

                Do you have stories or pictures to share? Tag us @coastobserver, @coastobserverlive

I <3 the 90's

Words by: Kimmy Landry
Photos by: Canonblue Lalley

Biloxi, Mississippi



 

 Alright, stop! Collaborate and listen- the I love the 90's Concert Tour was the block party of the summer that you didn't want to miss.

Hosted by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Biloxi Coliseum, this show was the ultimate live 90's throwback event. People of all groups came out and they came to party. There were circles of friends sporting 'Wild Thing" tank tops and "If there was a problem, Yo I'll Solve It " tees all waiting in line eager for the night to kick off. All of the artists performing couldn't have possibly been more interactive with the audience than what they were. Tone Loc set the light hearted and welcoming mood of the night by inviting all of the women, "to come on stage and do a little dance" during his performance of the infamous,"Wild Thing" and of course played other fan favorites such as, "Funky Cold Medina". In between performances, classic 90's songs such as Snoop Dog's,"Gin and Juice", Naughty by Nature's, "O.P.P" ,Blackstreet's,"No Diggity"and even alternative hits such as Nirvana's, "Smells like Teen Spirit" and Green Day's, "Good Riddance" played throughout the venue. Coolio's performance was full of intense energy and moving moments, closing with "Gangsta's Paradise" his parting words to the audience were, "Look out for your neighbor." He then proceeded to hug everyone he could possibly reach in the audience. There's no doubt that the artists of this show share a deep affection and appreciation for their fans. In fact, Salt & Pepa's performance felt more like a tribute to their fans more than anything. Of course, Salt and Pepa wouldn't be complete without Spinderella and their dancers put on a phenomenal show as well. One thing is for sure -all performances by all artists had heart and that made all of the difference. Before leaving the stage Salt & Pepa requested any one in the audience who was attending the show with their best friend stop and take a moment to celebrate their friendship with them, creatingunique and lasting memories for the friends in audience. Vanilla Ice made his entrance and make no mistake; Rob Van Winkle came to throw down. He gave a spirited performance coming on stage with his cover of "Play That Funky Music" and he even busted out fan favorite, "Go Ninja!" as clips from the Ninja Turtles played behind him. 

Then he broke out the big guns, and the crowd without missing a beat rapped along with him to "Ice Ice Baby" and afterwards he spun out some mad dj skills. He even made the statement to the audience, "I just wanted to capture that feeling of everyone being at one huge block party." Which, he shortly accomplished when he invited anyone and everyone on stage that wanted to be there in addition to all of the other artists and performers of the evening and it was truly one big party on stage. All around it was a huge turn out that hopefully, encourages the coast to bring in more diverse artists for future shows. If the artists didn't move you the fans in the audience would have. It was genuinely an experience thatbrought together people of all ages, races, and gender. At one point during Salt & Pepa's performance of "Push It" I spotted several groups of people of all color and creeds, who minutes before were complete and total strangers, dancing and laughing together. It was uplifting to see and reassuring that music is truly universal and brings us all together in the best possible way.
Word to your mother! 

Atomship, Gravity Tractor, Flea Market Mascots, Dark Horizon @ the Juke Joint

Ocean Springs, MS
Words: Scott Keller & Canonblue Lalley
Photography: Canonblue Lalley

The cozy patio setting of the Juke Joint became a back yard rock arena for Atomship's long awaited return to the Gulf Coast. Local music fans- a few sporting well worn Atomship shirts from the previous decade- began packing in early as Gravity Tractor kicked off the night ahead of Flea Market Mascots. Being local supergroups of sorts, both bands impressed and delivered some fresh sounding, lively original rock that got the party off to a great start. 
    Things got a little heavy after that.
    Typically, watching Dark Horizon play is like living through an apocalypse, except there is less fire and you tend to actually enjoy it. This night was no exception. The crowd was well established by this point, and they captured the attention of everyone on the grounds with an especially killer set. 
    The overhead tree lights were extinguished after the openers all finished their sets, plunging the standing room only crowd into darkness and only adding to the anticipation that so many were already experiencing. Many people hadn't seen Atomship play live in 11 years, and many more had never seen them at all, but knew them well. When the first notes to "Mothra" rang out eerily over the crowd, it was obvious that the band still had its magic. 
  
 

 They blasted through the songs from their Crash of '47 album with power and precision, saving a little space for a wicked drum solo and a cover tune for added flavor. It would be remiss to not mention how incredibly emotional it was to see guitarist Jared Slade step on stage to carry his brother Nathan's, mantle. He handled the intricate solos in "Alien" and "Pencil Fight" with precision and grace, and we were grateful to experience those moments with him.  

In an appropriate move for what ended up being one of the strongest all local, original rock shows I have seen in quite a while, frontman Joey Culver gave shoutouts to the gulf coast's music scene and fans, and the band paid their respects to original guitarist Nathan Slade.


The crowd was also pleased when bassist Roy Williams delivered the news that the band is officially working on new material, to be released when it is just right. If the night's performance was any indication, local rock fans can get excited about more Atomship to come. 

Through the grueling Mississippi heat, hundreds of fans came out to show that the music scene on the Gulf Coast is revitalizing,  and Atomship's resurgence is playing a huge part in that. 

 It was an outstanding night for rock in South Mississippi, no doubt. Keep up with the bands online to see what they are up to next, and feel free to share your favorite moments from the show with us. 

Below we have some Selfie's taken of the 300+ crowd that gathered at the show to support. It seemed like anyone who was a part of the Gulf Coast's music scene between 2002 and 2017 were there in full force, and it was more than just a reunion for Atomship, but a reunion for rockers of the coast.  11 years is a long time to wait, but they say it's better late than never and we surely can't disagree. 

Check out the full  Atomship article posted in the Observer:   
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/GulfCoastObserver/current/2017070101/52.html#52
    facebook.com/OfficialAtomship
    facebook.com/WeAreDarkHorizon
    facebook.com/FleaMarketMascots
    facebook.com/GravityTractors
 

Lindsey Sterling @ The Saenger Theatre, Nola

Words and Photos By:
Canonblue Lalley

Perhaps one of the greatest parts about being born in our generation is the infusion of musical styles that can be remixed and worked into new melodies. The Saenger Theartre was a perfect backdrop, with its Moroccan style architecture set against the twinkling stars of the night sky. As the lights went low, excited murmurs rumbled through the  packed house. 
 

Lindsey exploded through crowd, a whirlwind of sequins and dancing violins. The feel was absolutely electric. Her myriad of dancers stepped intricately around the elaborate sets, creating a world of magic and absolute wonder. 

Between the sets was tons of monologues, comedic shorts, and a heart wrenching dedication to a former Band mate who had recently lost his battle with cancer. It was a night of violins and dancing, and the energy coursing through the air was palpable. The amount of craftsmanship and artistry displayed during this show was nothing short of phenomenal. 

Houston Open Air

Words and Photography By: Canonblue Lalley
Houston, Texas

The very first Houston Open Air festival got off to a rocky start Saturday with lightening strikes that caused the staff at Danny Wiemer Presents to evacuate the grounds before gates even opened. Fans gathered in mass around the front gates in anticipation of seeing their favorite bands live. Gates opened about an hour and a half behind schedule, but the fans didn't allow that to dampen their spirits and everyone made their way into the grounds towards the main stages, awaiting Gemini Syndrome to take the first stage. 

We were in the pit for GS when the storm clouds began to roll closer in, and just before Brian and the guys could take the stage, the emergency evacuation sounded for everyone to clear the grounds. Fans, artists, media and merchants all made their way out of the gates, not knowing when it would be before re-entry, or how that would affect the current lineup. 

After an almost three hour mid-break, media got the alert that we would be allowed to resume work inside of the NRG grounds. Some bands, such as Ministry, Chevy Metal and Alter Bridge were able to maneuver their sets to fit the new revised schedule. Sadly, even more bands including Gemini Syndrome. Sevendust, 12 Foot Ninja and (the most disappointing) Anthrax weren't able to accommodate, and scratched their sets. 

Alter Bridge kicked off the second part of the day, with a shredding solo from Mark Tremonti and new tracks off their freshly dropped album, The Last Hero. Ministry had a ripping set, with circle pits forming to "Stigmata" and inspiring crowd surfers to meet the metal head on. 

Despite the weather and cancellations, day one ended strong with no more weather incidents and The Cult, Slayer and Alice in Chains putting on fantastic performances. Slayer put on one of the BEST performances I have ever seen, with Kerry King's bass solos and Tom Araya's iconic voice ringing through the layers of smoke and lasers. 

To be honest, I was least looking forward to Alice In Chains. Having grown up on their music and Layne Staley's iconic voice and writing, I went into the show with a lot of reservations. We've all seen what it could be like when a band continues without an integral member while still playing their most recognizable material (I'm lookin at you, Stone Temple Pilots) and it isn't always pretty. When AIC took the stage with "Hollow" I inched forward, waiting for those first few notes. No one can deny that DuVall has talent, but it took me a moment to reconcile that it was him and not Layne up there. AIC followed up with "Them Bones" which is my personal favorite AIC song, and I felt myself being pulled closer to the stage with the energy and conviction and by the time Cantrell was busting out those final riffs, I was sold. It was in that moment that it hit me that I was there, the best seat in the house, inches from one of my favorite bands of all time. 


Day two was not so kind. Gates were once again delayed by almost three hours due to further lightening strikes. Mothership took the stage as massive thunder clouds started to roll in, soon enveloping the sky into a scene out of the Wizard of Oz. We were fully expecting a house to drop out of a funnel cloud right in the middle of a circle pit. 

Unfortunately, Mothership would be the only act to perform that day. Due to rising weather concerns,  DWP was forced to make the call to cancel the second part of HOA. This was met with some serious criticism from fans and concertgoers. It's easy to understand that people were upset, with some having traveled from other countries, but at the end of the day safety is priority 1. Look, I get it. I've stood knee deep in rain with sixty pounds of gear on my back, being pelted with rain while All That Remains banged out a set. I've had a tornado touch down during a set before. When you start talking about lightening, that's an entirely different scenario. 

Danny Wiemer is doing everything possible to make good on their end, including offering refunds to ticketholders and taking complaints and comments. I do not envy their position, but I have worked many a festival that they have put on, and I don't think there is any other way to have made that call. 

Houston Open Air, it was real. We look forward to next year, and hopefully that infamous Texas weather will show us a better time.  

Sevendust @ House of Blues Nola

Words and Photography by: Canonblue Lalley

What do you do when the festival in Texas that you're covering calls it quits due to weather? Book it five hours east to New Orleans and shoot Sevendust of course! One phone call to one of the raddest PR gals on the coast and we were in, front and watching Lajon and the fellas bring the heavy. 

The historic House of Blues venue was completely packed out, with fans of all walks and calibers of life headbanging, shoulder to shoulder. Lajon brought the house to its feet by a particularly emotional performance of "Shine" which was written for his late baby brother. Morgan, of course, was going absolutely insane on the drums, amping the crowd more and more with each beat. John and Vinnie were practically standing in the crowd at a few points, shredding with melodic rifts and heavy breakdowns. 

After the show, there wasn't a single person unmoved by Sevendust's performance. Electric, wild and all around just a badass set, played by some of the most humble and accepting musicians I have ever seen live. 

Catch them on their upcoming tour with Gemini Syndrome this fall! 

Coheed and Cambria, @ The Civic, Nola

Words by: L.B. Wilson lll
Photography by: Canonblue Lalley

Coheed and Cambria at the Civic Theater in New Orleans on 28 September was an intimate affair for C&C fans.  The Civic Theater is a beautiful venue, and small; plaster masks and fleur de lys  carved on walls remind you that this rock concert is brought to you by a building with a history of cool.  With a concert capacity of 1200, The Civic doesn’t have a bad seat in the house.  Fans on the floor closest to the stage were within hand-holding range of the bands, and those farthest away on the floor were no more than fifty feet away.  Two balconies offered similarly close views and even though the show was well attended, the balconies offered a perfect center-stage view of all three acts.  Three bars for three floors made sure that fans could get what they wanted to drink without standing in the dreaded Concert Lines.

Few musical acts bring so many different types of people together like Coheed and Cambria, and the band’s faithful are an eclectic blend of metal-heads, nerds, and hippies.  Walking through the crowd before the show was an experience that nearly matched the concert itself; a sea of flannel shirts, backwards ball caps, superhero graphic tees, chain wallets, dreadlocks, Saints jerseys, high-heels, combat boots, and Crocs.  Veteran metal-heads (you know the ones, the wrinkled guys that saw Sabbath at California Jam in ‘74) mingled seamlessly with 20-somethings playing PokemonGo between sets.  Crowds like that don’t show up for just anyone; Coheed and Cambria’s music defies characterization, and their fans do too.

    The show featured two openers; Polyphia and Saves the Day.  Not to disparage either, as they both gave passable performances, watching them from the balcony was a little painful.  The crowd was very clearly there for Coheed and Cambria.  While the openers did their best to rock out and warm us all up, looking down at the floor the best word to describe the crowd was, unfortunately, bored.

    That changed instantly with the opening melodies of “Ghost,” from Coheed and Cambria’s new album, The Color Before the Sun.  Slow, haunting, and harmonic gave way to The Amory Wars and fan service and with “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3.”  The pace of the show never slowed from there, seamlessly mixing in newer Color songs with a setlist that hit all the high points, from “Blood Red Summer” to “The Crowing.”  Smoke machines pumped in haze that the band’s light show capitalized on, using green and blue spotlight beams and a set of crowd-facing spotlights that occasionally punctuated the band’s choruses by flooding the Civic with white light.  Frontman Claudio Sanchez brought energy to match his massive mane of hair, and Travis Stever never missed a note.  

For a band with so many concept-albums and such an intriguing narrative in The Amory Wars tetralogy, Coheed and Cambria’s live show magically seems immune to the danger of playing those songs out of order or out of context. On Wednesday night, nobody noticed or, if they did, nobody cared.  The crowd’s excitement and energy level might have been partially responsible for that, but there’s something impressive with the band’s technical expertise that makes their show one part rock concert and one part art gallery.  It was a great show, and if you can see them live, do.

Thousand Foot Krutch @ The Republic, NOLA

Words and Photos By: Canonblue Lalley

Thousand Foot Krutch, NOLA
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJWL2R1jKwF/?taken-by=cbluephotographyofficial

3 Pill Morning
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJWa_C2j-lZ/?taken-by=cbluephotographyofficial

Thinking back to my first ever experience with Thousand Foot Krutch, it's amazing to have been able to catch a live show as an adult. The year was 2000, and Set It Off had just dropped. I was a  teenager, and completely enamored with the heavy rifts and relatable teenage angst filled lyrics. As I grew, so did TFK, with singles like "I Climb" and "Break The Silence" breaking onto the charts. Consistently producing records over the last decade, Thousand Foot Krutch has managed to adapt with the ever changing flow of rock music. 

With the 2016 drop of their newest album, Exhale, TFK has managed to get back to their roots while simultaneously bringing the maturity that comes from almost 26 years and over 14 records. We managed to catch up with the guys on the last show of their Exhale tour at the historic Republic, New Orleans. It was a crowded house, with supporting bands such as Ventruss, Wild Fire, and 3 Pill Morning warming up the crowd. Ventruss lit up the stage in true Louisiana fashion, encouraging the mosh and energy to hype the crowd up for what was to come.

Wild Fire took the stage shortly after, bringing the sounds of Gulf Coast rock to the Louisiana masses. With powerful vocals, melodic rifts and a stage presence that brought everyone in the venue to their feet, Wild Fire kept the crowd moving and singing along the entire night.  As a matter of mention, drummer Cameron Alidor showed off his impressive skills behind the kit with such a technical command that it was truly a wonder to watch. Well placed accents and precision fills permeated through each song, perfectly complimenting the musicality without being overbearing. 



 

Ben of Ventruss
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJpAKDEjzd8/?taken-by=cbluephotographyofficial

Minnesota's 3 Pill Morning popped on next and the crowd, already electrically charged, was ready to give it their all. Performing songs like "Nothing's Real" and "Skin" had the crowd moving and swaying and singing along. They played some material off of their newest album, Never Look Back, which was met with great reception to the masses. If you haven't yet, check these guys out. They're doing big things that you definitely don't want to miss. 
 

Thousand Foot Krutch came out strong with "Running With Giants" and continued to power through with "Falls Apart" and "Born This Way". I don't know if it was because it was the last night of the tour, or because of the energy flowing through the Republic, but TFK left it all on the stage. There was first pumping and jumping around, bodies mashing together as concert goers got lost in the music. The light show was incredible, completely complimenting the music and creating an almost ethereal effect during "Light Up The Sky." If you haven't had a chance to catch TFK in concert, do yourself a favor and get on that. If you haven't picked up a copy of their newest drop, Exhale, do it. Just do it. 

All in all, it was a perfect mix of throwback and new, of veterans on the concert circuit and fresh faced up-in-comers. If there's one thing that's for sure, it's that rock still has a pulse, you just have to get yourself out there and hit up a show. 

Book Of Love @ House Of Blues

Words by: Cheli Strumila
Photos by: Canonblue Lalley

New Orleans, LA

Have you ever had those magical nightlife experiences that would change your life forever?  Mine would come at the age of 19 when I and a group of my fellow coworkers at Bennigans Galleria in Dallas decided to go to the Starck Club in Dallas to see the Book of Love concert in 1986.  I had heard about this Starck Club when I was living on South Padre Island, TX and our dear friend Gary London came back from a trip to Dallas raving about this new club that was so not like anything we had ever seen up till that time.  So when my coworkers suggested we go see Book of Love I was all in, so ready to see this club that was nothing like I had ever seen and this new band that my coworkers could not stop talking about how cool and modern their sound was.

Having been raised most my life in Lawton, Oklahoma, there wasn’t a huge amount of new wave music coming to our area.  Mostly country, top 40, hair bands, and whatever MTV was playing at the time back when it was all about “Music Videos.”  There were some music videos being played like Flock of Seagulls, Duran Duran, etc, but it wasn’t until I saw the movie Valley Girl and heard the band Modern English that I realized there was a whole other world of music out there that was more of what I was interested in than what my local market was playing. It wasn’t until I moved to South Padre at the age of 18 that I actually found others who shared my love of European new wave and punk bands such as The Cure, The Smiths, Psychedelic Furs, Joy Division, Kraftwerk, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and so many others. But sadly, once I moved to Dallas I found myself back in the clubs that catered to Top 40 once again to appease those who just settled for whatever the music of the day was that the local radio station was feeding to them.  Now don’t get me wrong, many of those bands and songs back in the early 80’s were cool for that time, but my heart and soul still yearned for something more modern and futuristic in its sound.

The moment we walked the stairs at the front door of Starck Club, were selected by the doorman to be allowed to enter and pulled back the curtain to enter what would be the coolest atmosphere of a club I had ever seen (most nightclub designs today actually owe their ambiance to Starck Club for setting the bar for the look and feel of clubs today), in that moment my life would change forever!!

As we made our way to the front of the club where the stage was, my friends and I waited in anticipation for Book of Love to take the stage.  Having not heard them before, I had no idea what to expect, but once they took the stage I knew right then and there from the first sounds coming from the keyboard as they began to play Boy that they were one of the bands I had been searching for in my musical journey.  Over the next hour+ we would be treated to some of the most incredible talent and creative musical sounds we had not been accustomed to in the pop culture of the day. To say that concert changed my life would be an understatement!!  So synthesized and electronic, synthpop as it would later be called, this mixture of punk meets electronic dance with a hint of Goth would be the new norm for me and my friends as Book of Love would forever change our music world as we knew it.   The next day my roommates Julie & Sam and I went out and bought the cassette and over the next months it would be played everywhere we went!  While we were getting ready, while we were driving around, while we were cruisin’ White Rock Lake, while we were hanging out, no matter where we were the Book of Love would be the background music of our lives at the time with such great tracks as I Touch Roses, Still Angry, Yellow Sky, Modigliani, Boy, and so many others!   

So many years have passed, 30 to be exact, but I still hold fast to that beautiful memory of the first time I entered Starck Club and the first time I ever heard Book of Love!!  Times have changed, music has changed, and I never got a chance to see Book of Love in concert again after that first night.  In the decades to follow everyone has moved into new musical styles over the years which is just the cycle of life.  But this year has seen a reemergence of so many Great 80’s New wave and punk bands coming back to perform such as Kraftwerk, The Cure, Psychedelic Furs and Yes, even my beloved Book of Love!!  Guess you can say our cycle of life has come full circle!

Book of Love was one of the premiere 1st wave electronic groups that emerged out of the New York City scene in the mid-’80s and legendary Seymour Stein signed them to Sire Records. On April 1, 1986, art-students-turned-musicians Susan Ottaviano (Lead Vocals), Ted Ottaviano (Songwriter/Keyboards/Vocals), Lauren Roselli (Keyboards/Vocals) and Jade Lee (Keyboards/Vocals) released the band’s debut album. At a time when you didn’t see many all-girl or mostly girl bands, Book of Love with 3 women and 1 man as the members were not only pioneering electronic music, but also breaking gender gaps in music.  

As their biography on their website states…. Friends since high school, Ted and Susan (who share the same last name but are not related) initially worked with Susan’s Philadelphia College of Art classmate Jade Lee in a band called Head Cheese in the early 80s. In 1984 Ted recruited fellow School Of Visual Arts friend Lauren Roselli and a quick chain of events secured Book of Love its breakthrough. It was Roselli who got a copy of “Boy” to DJ Ivan Ivan who himself had just scored a dance hit with “The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight” and was looking for new projects. Ivan then passed it along to Seymour Stein, head of Sire Records. “When Ivan played Seymour the demo of ‘Boy’,” says Ted, “he went, ‘That’s the One I want.’ ” ” Boy”, anchored by pulsating keyboards, infectious hooks and a deadpan delivery told the tale of a girl who wanted to be where the boys are but is “not allowed”. An underground smash in NYC, this one track had secured the unknown group a recording contract and a support slot that introduced them to America. Between 1986 and 1993, Book of Love released four albums, Book of Love, Lullaby, Candy Carol and LoveBubble and had such hits as Boy, I Touch Roses, You Make Me Feel So Good, and Pretty Boys & Pretty Girls/Tubular Bells which crossed over on the Billboard Hot 100. The band’s music was also featured in the movies Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Silence of the Lambs, and American Psycho.

This year Book of Love commemorates their 30th Anniversary with a New Album, “MMXVI – Book of Love – The 30th Anniversary Collection,” as well as Special Anniversary Concerts scheduled all across the country and even more dates to be added than those that are already scheduled.

I was lucky enough to attend their sold out New Orleans concert at the House of Blues recently.  A show that sold out in less than 72 hours speaks worlds to how much their fans love them and were impacted by their music.  To say it was another Magical Experience would be an understatement.  Some of my dear friends from my Starck Club days drove down from Dallas & Arkansas just to be a part of this Fabulous Show which made it even more special!! Scarlett, Michael, Mona, and I were beyond excited to once again see Book of Love live since they were a part of all the beautiful memories we made back in our Starck days!  I mean seriously, how many bands out there have fans driving through numerous states picking up other friends just to attend their show?!! You have to be something special for your fans to even consider doing that for a few hours of a concert.  Even our friend Angelique who is younger and wasn’t with us during our Starck days knew all their songs and her older brother who was also a big fan of BOL was so jealous that it was already sold out.  And he had every right to be jealous as it was one Fabulous show as Ted Ottaviano and Susan Ottaviano took us back to a musical journey in time of all the songs that made us such huge fans to begin with.  We could not stop dancing and singing, and smiling and cheering with every favorite song they began to perform.  As I sit here writing this story I find myself still smiling remembering just what a wonderful night it was of music and friendship!!

I had a chance to chat with Susan Ottaviano while they were traveling to their next show to find out where they have been, what they think of the music today and what they thought of the reemergence of so many of our favorite 80’s new wave bands.

What have ya’ll been doing over the past 30 years?

In addition to raising a family, we’ve gotten back together a numerous times over the years and since 2000 we’ve done a variety of tours, but this is the most comprehensive reunion that we’ve had.

Being one of the pioneers of electronic music, What do you think of the new direction electronic music has taken? Are you a fan of all this new technology?

I’m a fan of today’s music, I would say I’m still a fan of songs more than just electronic music...as a music community we’re always moving forward

Back in the 80’s, your music was so new and fresh, who were some of your favorites during the 80’s and who were your musical influences before electronic started to take a hold of our music scene?

We actually have a song out now called “All Girl Band” that is about that…There weren’t a lot of all girl bands and we were out in the punk rock scene as fans during the time of the Ramones, Sid Vicious…many of the all-girl bands that inspired us were Delta 5, Slits and others that didn’t get as popular during the time of the British punk invasion…We were Fans out in the clubs…

How did ya’ll start to experiment with the electronic music sound while you were all art students.

It was more of an accident. We were just playing the instruments that we knew like Ted’s first instrument was the piano and the accord, and we had a bass player, and started writing music and it just sort of happened as we played whatever instrument we had on hand…it wasn’t a conscience thing it just evolved…and Ted just took on all the writing and producing and afforded us to have the ability to work with all types of sound

These past couple years we have seen the reemergence of many popular 80’s electronic bands such as Kraftwerk, The Cure, Psycadelic Furs that had disappeared from the scene for decades, now with your return to the music scene, it seems like we’re coming full circle again.  Why do you think this is happening? Why do you think it took so long for so many of these fabulous bands to start touring again?

I think it’s all really timing… Many of us took a break after touring for so long.  The music scene had changed but I think that it’s come back around with a new appreciation and come full circle to withstand the test of time and still feel fresh

Covering so many bands and concerts as we do here at Coast Observer Live, It was nice to see that Book of Love’s music and sound has not missed a beat all these decades later.  You could almost say it has been frozen in time with Ted and Susan still bringing to the stage that electronic glamour 80’s presence that helped to start and pioneer what could be called the birth of EDM.   

Book of Love’s new compilation album, “MMXVI – Book of Love – The 30th Anniversary Collection,”  to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the band’s eponymous debut album is now available for download and features re-mastered versions of the band’s greatest hits and never-before released demos. This digital collection will also feature two new songs – “All Girl Band” and “Something Good” – which are the band’s 1st new recordings in more than 15 years.  For those not in the digital age as of yet, you’ll be able to buy their new CD available this fall around September.

Book of Love will also host many concerts for you to be a part of with many more dates to be added.  For a list of all their upcoming shows and to download their new album or purchase the CD when it becomes available, visit their website at  http://www.bookoflovemusic.com/      

Matt Nathanson, @ Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Photographs by: Canonblue Lalley
Words by: Tom Schmidt & Canonblue Lalley

Even on a stormy day in July, the Atlanta Botanical gardens made for a fantastic venue. The front lawn was marked with concert-goers on blankets, sipping on their beer or wine and taking in the magic of the gardens at sunset. The audience remained captivated through the up and coming openers, A Great Big World, and showed their enthusiasm by giving their energy to the band. From performing some of their lesser known pieces like “Everyone is Gay” to spellbinding audiences with an intimate solo performance of “Say Something,” AGBW performed with energy and spunk. Each song brought a different ebullience to the crowd, as the trees echoed the songs back with an amphitheater like quality.

    Despite the stormy weather in southern Georgia, the green had a fresh dew on it which kept everyone cool. Matt Nathanson opened up with “Summer Time”  which has a fast beat livening up the audience and bringing them to their feet. Mere moments after the crowd showed their elation, security mandated that everyone sit down. Nathanson’s response to this was to play “Modern Love” and as he  entered the crowd, he encouraged everyone to their feet.

    Matt Nathanson performs with such an intensity that it’s easy to feel  both completely lost to the music, and connected to everything and everyone around you. With each note and each inflection in his music you can feel his conviction as a tangible entity. Looking around during “All We Are” you could see that each person was completely entranced in whatever moment that song brought them back to. Some were softly singing, some holding hands or resting on shoulder, and some even let silent tears slip down their faces. It’s rare to find an artist who is able to establish such a connection, that is a common link but completely personal to each person.

“Laid” broke the palpable intensity with a serious level of crowd participation. Made famous from the American Pie trilogy, fans were belting out their favorite lyrics and a booming round of  “...you’re driving me crazy when are you comin home..?” thundered through the gardens. Matt broke the crowd down into sections to sing  out the chorus, which they did enthusiastically. The air was electric, and the band and crowd felt it simultaneously. The crowd feed the band with their voices, claps, and dancing, while the band serenaded them with jokes, songs, sweat and music that seemed to cascade down from the heavens.

        The setting sun changed the dynamic of the amphitheater, with  the summer lights of the  botanical gardens creating one of the most intimate concert settings imaginable. Swirling glass sculptures infused with light, twinkling trees and even the parting of cloud cover to allow the stars to peek began to  cast seductive shadows across the faces of the crowd.  The darkness of night allowing the baser inhibitions of the crowd to come forth, people moved a little closer and allowed themselves to really let go and live in the moment.

Matt Nathanson was phenomenal. Such an enigmatic, electric and intimate performance, by one of the most humble artists. Matt Nathanson and Philip Phillips are on tour with A Great Big World for the duration of the summer, and if you get the chance, treat yourself!

Buckethead, House of Blues

New Orleans, LA
Photos and Words by: Canonblue Lalley

First, it would be poignant to say that Buckethead put on one of the greatest shows this photographer has ever captured. The perfect mix of melodic and technical rifts, Buckethead captivated the crowd from start to finish. Kicking off with "Jowls" and my personal favorite, "Soothsayer" Buckethead kept the entirety of the House of Blues engaged and entranced (even passing his guitar down to be played by fans). 

It's difficult to describe how truly incredible of a sight Buckethead is to non-fans. Mysterious, enigmatic and overtly talented, Buckethead stands a solid 7 feet tall, black on black clothing, his kabuki mask and signature whitewashed bucket adorning his head. Always the enigma, he commands the stage with his deliberate but erratically robotic movements that are in perfect inflection and reaction to the music. It's hard to not be entranced by both the music and the man himself. 

Unlike most musicians and bands, who feed off of the crowd energy to create the experience, fan interaction seems to stem directly from Buckethead himself. It is safe to say that almost every type of fan demographic was represented in the HOB that night. Young, old, metal heads, millennials and stoner-rockers all stood shoulder to shoulder hypnotized by the art of it all. His hour long set dipped into songs mastered over his almost thirty studio albums, each coming from a different era of Buckethead but still flowing together just the same. In the midst of his first tour in four years, if you get the chance, get to a show. You will not leave disappointed. 

The Cure @ UNO Lakefront Arena

New Orleans, LA
By: Cheli Strumila
Photography: Canonblue Lalley

It's Just Like Heaven when I see Pictures of You & hear our Love Song down on Fascination Street because everyone knows Friday I'm in Love and Boys Don’t Cry!!....

I've been looking so long at these pictures of you
That I almost believe that they're real
I've been living so long with my pictures of you
That I almost believe that the pictures
Are all I can feel.
 

Just as their lyrics began in one of their most beautiful hits, Pictures of You, I too thought I would be left to my memories of a dreamy time in my life when our generation was searching to find our own sound, look, and leave our mark on the music scene that was nothing like the generations before!  Proud to be one of the original Club Kids of the 80’s at the infamous Starck Club in Dallas, The Cure would play a huge role in the shaping of my musical appreciation not to mention the fashion that could be seen not only on club goers, but all across the world.  As the decades to follow have come and gone and added to it a lot of bass, rap, and cookie cutter pop, my heart has yearned to once again hear the melodic beauty of the sounds that changed a generation and would influence the music scene for generations to come.

Having loved The Cure since the 80’s, I never thought in my lifetime that I would have the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful, talented group of musicians that had ever Topped the Charts again. It was so ironic that just months before the announcement of their 2016 tour, I had actually been searching the internet to see what had become of Robert Smith.  We hadn’t heard anything since the 90’s. Yet we have been having so many Starck Club Reunions to bring us all back together again to a time so many of us will forever cherish that a fire in our heart still burned and yearned for the sound that shaped our generation!!

Remembering you how you used to be
Slow drowned
You were angels
So much more than everything

As facebook blew up with the announcement of The Cure’s 2016 Tour, my heart seemed to beam just knowing that I would once again get to see one of my favorite bands of all time. Having covered and attended so many concerts in the decades since and knowing that with age sometimes the sound changes as the voices get a bit more raspy, the cords seem to not be as sharp as they once were, I thought to myself what would this experience be, would I still be in awe of them as I once was?  

Then I started to have a conversation with a friend of mine in his 30’s who seemed to not even know The Cure’s music other than the remake of their Love Song by current band 311.  I was heartbroken.  How could he not know the talents of this phenomenal band, and then it hit me…just as our generation was searching for our sound and really not wanting anything to do with the sounds of our parents while we were young (we would grow to love and appreciate our parents music as we grew older) this is just a natural transition of generations to find their voice and mark in this world.  But what an epiphany I would have on the drive to the concert with my friend and her 17 year old daughter and her 18 year old friend.  It turned out the 18 year old friend was actually the one that purchased the 3 tickets for them as he had grown up with his mother listening to The Cure and had become a huge fan since he was young. So maybe just maybe the love and appreciation of true talent skips a generation I thought to myself.  And wouldn’t you know it, the crowd at UNO Lakefront arena confirmed just that!!  A mixture of late teens & 20’s, some 30’s and many late 40’s & 50+’s would be entangled together in one of the most Incredible Musical Experiences we’ve had in decades!!

There was nothing in the world
That I ever wanted more
Than to feel you deep in my heart

As I sit here writing this, I still get chills remembering back to the moment The Cure took the stage and began to remind us why they willForever be Legends and Timeless in the music scene and our hearts!!!  Not only did the concert far exceed our expectations with an incredible stage presence and digital journey, but their sound had been frozen in time and we were once again whisked away to a time of true talent, beautiful melodies, and the timeless voice of Robert Smith enchanting us with the deep heartfelt lyrics that we all yearn for!!

“I was in a trance with the beauty of how wonderful they sounded. You don't need videos or too many visuals, really, when the songs go through you like theirs do” - Amy Beaugez of New Orleans, LA

“It was E P I C. Robert Smith must have made a deal with the devil because his voice sounded as good if not better than I remember.” – Jason Rosetti of Gulfport, MS

“From the Kaleidoscopic swirls of colors bouncing off the walls of the UNO Lake Front Arena, to Robert Smith's crisp vocals and perfect lyrics, The Cure Is Just Like Heaven.” – Celeste Randall of Biloxi, MS

After 29 Songs and 5 Encores, mixed with all our favorites and some new ones for us to fall in love with, The Cure once again cemented their place in music history and have proven once again why they will Forever be Timeless!!

"Truly one for the ages. Can't believe how awesome they were. 29 songs & 5 encores. Fascination Street indeed Mr Smith."-  Bryan Bounds of Biloxi, MS

To all generations of today, don’t wait till you’re older to appreciate truly great music, and Don’t get so caught up in the pop of today that the radio stations are forcing on you or become such a generation music snob, or music snob in general, that you miss out on some of the Most Talented Incredible Music you will ever experience. I think I am truly blessed to have an appreciation and love of all music!! No matter which generation you are a part of, you owe it to your heart, soul, and love of music to add The Cure to your song list.   

There was nothing in the world
That I ever wanted more
Than to never feel the breaking apart
All my pictures of you

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Welcome To Rockville

Jacksonville, FL
Article: Scott Keller
Photography: Canonblue Lalley

    On April 30th and May 1st our Coast Observer Live team had the opportunity to venture out to sunny Jacksonville, Florida to visit the Welcome to Rockville festival for our second year in a row. Once again, it proved to be an unforgettable experience for lovers of rock and metal music. 
    It's a few hours' drive for our South Mississippi readers, but for a massive two-day festival with more than 45 bands and a weekend's worth of activities geared toward  rock, it's worth every mile. 

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This year's bill was graced by some of the biggest names in the business, including Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Megadeth, Shinedown and Five Finger Death Punch, which was an excellent followup to the wonderful insanity of last year's show led by Slipknot and Korn. 
    The festival is set at Metropolitan Park, just next to the Jacksonville Jaguars' Everbank Field and along the St. Johns River, which provides the scenic backdrop to all the weekend's festivities. Once you enter the gates, you'll find you've stepped into a piece of rock and roll heaven. This year's configuration included four stages- the Metropolitan stage to the east, the River Stage toward the center grounds, and the huge, side by side Lefty and Righty stages at the west end. A highway overpass runs parallel to the river and marked the northern boundary of the grounds, provided coverage to an array of food and vending booths, and served as a convenient (and shaded) avenue for festival goers to hike their way back and forth between stages. Scattered throughout the grounds were all sorts of food and drink vendors, the Jack Daniels, Jagermeister and Monster Energy Experience setups, merch, art and clothing booths, a ferris wheel, multiple VIP access areas, The Music Experience instrument and gear exhibit, and the F.Y.E tent where fans could have the opportunity to meet some of the artists.
    After our visit to the media area we gathered in the eastern VIP section to plan our next move just as Lacey Sturm was warming up the adjacent Metropolitan stage with her new solo material as well as some Flyleaf favorites. One of the things that became more and more apparent to me over the weekend was how much I liked that particular VIP area, which was a tree shaded, park-like setting with a small pond, gazebo and its own bar. As much as I love rocking out right up front in the pit, it provided us a comfortable place to relax and recharge a bit while still being able to view the bands on stage, so if that's your sort of thing then check out the VIP packages.
    Probably the most difficult part of Rockville is deciding which bands to see. This isn't such a bad problem to have, of course; there's just a hell of a lot going on with four stages blasting out that much rock music in one weekend. Your trusty hand flyer that they provide at the gate lists all the set times and locations, and with a carefully laid out plan of attack you can catch a crazy amount of music in a single day. There's definitely never a dull moment. 

 As the show got going and fans were treated to performances from bands like Filter and Wilson, I caught up briefly with Mike Protich, singer of Rockville veterans Red Sun Rising and one of my favorite newer bands. He was happy to let me know that things have really taken off for them since the release of their album Polyester Zeal last year, and they did not disappoint me or the thousands of other fans who gathered at the Lefty Stage to see their set, where their live performance of their single "The Otherside" took on an even more powerful energy. Our concert photographer Canonblue Lalley spoke with Candlebox about their new music, and we even got a few words in with our fellow coast native Brad Arnold from 3 Doors Down, who went on to play a decidedly righteous set as the Metropolitan Stage's headliners that night.

As the River and Metropolitan stages finished up for the day, the tens of thousands of festival goers gathered in the massive open space ahead of the twin stages for the final two acts of the night. This is where things always build up to a climax as you find yourself in a sea of people, the sun is setting and a wave of excited anticipation moves over the crowd as the big boys get ready to come out and play. You are definitely doing something right if you can get close to the stage in a crowd this large, but at Rockville you really don't even have to. The production is larger than life with huge screens magnifying the bands from various camera angles and a sound system that could throw a submarine off course. Disturbed came out with full pyrotechnics and blasted through hit after hit from their catalog reaching back from their first album to their number one charting version of "The Sound of Silence," and threw in an unexpected yet cool cover medley that included some U2 and Rage Against the Machine. Shinedown were on their game as well, and opened up their set with a tribute to Prince before keeping the party going until the end with their full range of active rock hits.
   

 Day two went on much the same as day one, except a lot of people in the crowd were sporting some brand new tan lines. We explored the festival grounds in search of new food that we weren't able to sample the day before, and got caught up by a line of excited fans when the members of Megadeth (one of this writer's personal favorites- they absolutely killed it live) made an appearance at the F.Y.E. tent. Ghost, Cypress Hill, Lamb of God and the newly reincarnated Sick Puppies were just a few of the highlights from day two, and after Five Finger Death Punch and Rob Zombie closed out the festival at the twin stages each with their own beloved brands of madness, although we were well worn and exhausted, I can't have been the only person in the crowd who was already looking forward to next year.
    As one of the major rock festivals in the country, you really can't go wrong with Welcome to Rockville. The organizers are currently celebrating the record turnout for the 2016 show, and even though I don't yet know what is in store for us next year yet, I know we can expect a huge lineup of top notch acts ranging from the biggest headliners to the most promising up and coming and touring bands, all packaged into a well organized event full of fun amenities, rock culture and thousands of friendly music lovers. We came across some fellow South MS folks along the way who already knew what was up, and now we're letting you know: keep an eye out for next year's festival and make the trip!
Horns up