Thank god for Entertainment or Death.
If it wasn't for the EOD tour and its stop in Columbia, I wouldn't have gotten to hear Motionless in White. And, considering that in the all of two and a half days since the show I've become hooked, I would have never known how much I was missing out on! One of the great things about the tour, though, was early access to MIW's new album, "Creatures," which drops officially tomorrow. I've listened - and listened, and listened, and listened - to this album, and MIW definitely didn't disappoint. I'm digging it all, right down to the album art (it reminds me of Tim Burton, but that could be a reverse effect). This six-piece (which is unusual in itself, but they have a keys player - Josh Balz - and a lot of modern bands lack that) certainly deserves the attention I guarantee they'll get following this killer album. Passionate, angry screams are backed with by intense instrumentals on all sides, but easily transfer to clean vocals backed by easier melody, demonstrating that Motionless in White is more than just a group of angry young people - they're a genuinely talented, deserving group of musicians.
I can't choose a favorite, but some of these songs really do just stick with you. My top three are probably...
"We Only Come Out at Night" - Pulled from their EP When Love Met Destruction, this track starts off with a quote from Bela Lugosi in Dracula. There is no better possible way to start off a song that's got vampire Halloween undertones. (That does not mean you should all go write a song about vampires and start with that. It will not make it good.) Being a huge classic horror fan, that start made this track an insta-favorite. More than that, though, the chorus just stays in my head. It's really good. Reading over comments from other listeners, I'm not alone.
"Puppets (The First Snow)" - This track hold my favorite lyric of the entire album. The line "I've never had the words to say, but I can quote them all" resonates in a beautifully poetic way, because I'm one of those people who seems to have a song for every occasion, but I can never put it quite as right as someone already has. Chris, beautifully said!
"Scissorhands (The Last Snow)" - YES. When I saw these guys in Columbia, they opened with the Edward Scissorhands theme music. So what better way to end the album than with a song about the classic film? I think I would have loved this song even if I'd never heard it, but the fact is, like everything else on this album, it's incredible.
Aside from my tops, songs such as "Abigail" (one that was shouted for by many members of the crowd) and "London in Terror" are incredible. The chanting in "Count Choculitis" is killer. Each word pounds through you, and leads into a GREAT song. I think you just have to love the title track, "Creatures," because, as it says in the album booklet, "all lyrics [were] written and submitted by fans". How many bands can say that? I find that totally awesome of the MIW boys.
So, to Chris, Angelo, Balz, TJ, Ryan, and Ricky: Well-fucking-done.
And to my readers: Get the fucking album. It's worth it. Don't believe me, listen at the band's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/motionless1234.
You can also check out the band on
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MIWband
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/motionlessinwhite
or see my interview with Chris at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LltW0EWRaGo
Mari
marissa.billiet@hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/musiccrit
http://youtube.com/musiccritmari
7048686274
10.11.2010
10.09.2010
Entertainment or Death - 10/8/10
Motionless in White (from Wilkes-Barre, PA) opened up the stage of New Brookland Tavern in Columbia, SC, and I knew it'd be good before they even stepped onstage - it had to be, with Edward Scissorhands music as an intro! Even though I hadn't listened much to these guys before the show, they certainly made a believer out of me. The energy with which they dominated the stage was incredible, and one could tell that they put a lot into their performance. Their love for what they were doing was obvious. The crowd clearly loved it to, because this was the only point in the night people attempted to mosh. (Admittedly, MIW's style was the most suited to the idea as well!) I walked out with their upcoming album, "Creatures," and have been listening to it ever since. Luck also gave me the chance to interview singer Chris Cerulli, which you can see here or just by clicking below!
William Control came next, and as a longtime fan of both Aiden and William Control, I was already pumped. WiL and Nicholas definitely didn't disappoint. WiL took his place as "The King of Disorder" (as he proclaims himself in his single from album Noir "I'm Only Human Sometimes"), becoming an absolute madman on the stage. His energy was balanced out with a dark passion and an absolute connection with the crowd. More than once he descended from the stage to the crowd, sending everyone into an absolute frenzy. I was stoked to sit down with WiL later in the night, to learn more about the man behind the music. I was totally impressed by his overall behavior and composure. He stands in absolute defiance of what a lot of people seem to feel a singer of his sort should be. You guys can see that interview here or below!
Black Veil Brides may have some of the craziest fans in ever. That was chaos - but not in an altogether bad way, I guess. Their army, decked out in warpaint (including myself; even though I didn't go in warpaint, I left in it, though most was washed off between TJ of MIW's spit-water and Zombie Nicholas' water bottles), chanted for the band as the curtain stood between us and them, their chants proving that the end of the "Perfect Weapon" video was no joke. When the show began, the surge pinned those of us at the front to the stage - painful, but worth it. Andy jumped and moved like the music was inside of him, never faltering - even when his overexcited fans nearly made him topple. Jake and Jinxx were every bit as awe-inspiring a duo live as you'd expect from hearing them play recorded. The way their talent complemented each other was incredible. Relative newcomer Christian "CC" Coma rocked it all the way, and we got to see before the show that he's a pretty cool guy, talking on the phone to a fan who couldn't be there. Ashley Purdy was wild, playing up the camera (which was much appreciated, of course), and staying true to his "outlaw" title.
I've gotta say, with the individual styles of the three bands present on the EOD tour, one might think they couldn't possibly go together. Instead, though, this lineup meshed as well as or better than any lineup I've seen this year. Somehow they all complemented something about each other, and it gave fans a chance to be exposed to something totally new. I would never pass up the chance to work with any of these bands, in any capacity, again, because it was a truly incredible experience. If the "Entertainment or Death" tour hasn't yet hit your city, don't pass it up!
Pictures up now at http://bit.ly/bj5z6R!
Love to you all. Keep on kickin' ass.
Mari
marissa.billiet@hotmail.com
(704)-868-6274
10.01.2010
Locals at Tremont Music Hall, August 26
A big part of Tremont Music Hall's draw on August 26 was the presence of Frankie Muniz as the drummer of headlining band You Hang Up. The spotlight shined just as brightly, however, upon Charlotte bands Matchgrip and The Decour, who reminded everyone that all bands start local and that locals can pack just as much of a punch.
Matchgrip got things started, and they caught a lot of attention for their unique sound. Blending vastly different musical backgrounds (influences range from classical to Dave Matthews and soul to Smashing Pumpkins), the band has developed an infusion that takes listeners by surprise and holds them captive. With singer Marc's powerful soul tone weaving in and out of melodic keys, fierce guitars, and pounding drumbeats, Matchgrip's first venue show proved them to be great musicians with incredible potential.
Next to the stage came The Decour. The members of this four-piece may be young, but they absolutely held their all. No strangers to the stage, the band radiated energy and confidence. An enthusiastic audience belted their songs back to them as they worked the stage. There were a couple of technical difficulties - a la picking up radio through an amplifier - but they carried on and pulled through easily, never losing their easy smiles and charms.
Matchgrip got things started, and they caught a lot of attention for their unique sound. Blending vastly different musical backgrounds (influences range from classical to Dave Matthews and soul to Smashing Pumpkins), the band has developed an infusion that takes listeners by surprise and holds them captive. With singer Marc's powerful soul tone weaving in and out of melodic keys, fierce guitars, and pounding drumbeats, Matchgrip's first venue show proved them to be great musicians with incredible potential.
Next to the stage came The Decour. The members of this four-piece may be young, but they absolutely held their all. No strangers to the stage, the band radiated energy and confidence. An enthusiastic audience belted their songs back to them as they worked the stage. There were a couple of technical difficulties - a la picking up radio through an amplifier - but they carried on and pulled through easily, never losing their easy smiles and charms.
9.02.2010
Uproar Festival - September 1
Yesterday's Charlotte stop of the Rockstar Uproar Festival was one of the greatest shows I've seen all year. The heat was insane, but it was nothing compared to the crowd. When the locally sponsored band, Straight Line Stitch, was on the Jagermeister stage starting us off, the crowd was just as enthusiastic as they would later be for some of their favorites. Their energy never faltered.
The Jager stage was filled with talent, with New Medicine starting off the official lineup. Ranging from upbeat fan-favorites like their single "Laid" to the personal song "Little Sister," New Medicine made a lot of new fans as the day went on. The signed for some fans at their merch tent, and did a signing later on at Rockstar's tent. I got to sit down with Jake Scherer (vocals) and Matthew Brady (bass) later in the day, and I had a great time. In the meantime, check out the band here.
Next to the stage was Airborne. I'm not really sure what I thought about them. A little bit chaotic, the music only so-so. The energy was great, but I felt like there was just a lot of flailing around. You tell me - do you disagree? They were followed by Hail the Villain, but, unfortunately, we didn't get to see much of their set. Sorry guys - come back and we'll see you again! It really sucks that we missed out. We did get back in time for HellYeah. They were good - I hadn't heard much from them before - but it really bothered me that their first two songs were "Hell Yeah" and "God Damn". Where's the creativity? But that only goes so far, and musically, I liked it. Let's face it - how can it be helped when the group's made up of a Mudvayne vocalist and guitarist (Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett), Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell, Damageplan bassist Bob Zilla, and drummer extraordinaire (formerly of Pantera) Vinnie Paul. A little while into their set, we went over to the New Medicine Rockstar signing, and I was pleased to see that they recognized those of us that they'd seen earlier in the day. It showed that they were in touch with the fans, which was great.
Check out Airborne, Hail the Villain, and HellYeah.
Mainstage!!! Halestorm opened things up, and damn! Lzzy was unstoppable, a powerhouse up onstage. Gotta say, I like the short hair she's rockin', and the attitude she doesn't seem to leave home without. Her brother Arejay was killing on drums, tossing sticks and playing like a madman. Joe and Josh were pure energy, and altogether the band was incredible.
Stone Sour rocked it next; I was on my way to an interview when they started, but they could be heard all across the grounds, and I swear the sounded like they were recorded. They played some old favorites along with some stuff off the new album, and wow. While I'm not usually as into them as the other bands, I loved the sound, and everyone I came across to ask later said they put on a great stage performance. Wish I could've seen it! I'll have to catch up next time around. We did get some great pictures!
Avenged Sevenfold. There are no words. They absolutely stole the show - in fact, they were probably my favorite set all summer. Theatrically, their setup was flawless, intense and engaging, from the sick opening to "Nightmare" to the final words after "Almost Easy". More importantly, it was clear that they put their hearts and souls into the performance. Musically, there are few guitar duos that can top Syn Gates and Zacky Vengeance. Johnny Christ was incredible, rocking his across the stage. M. Shadows proved everybody who's ever said he can no longer scream totally wrong as he tore through song after song. Mike Portnoy (of Dream Theater) was freaking incredible, working the kit like a mad genius, working the crowd; I can't think of a single person better to fill The Rev's spot onstage. At one point, the band honored their fallen brother with "So Far Away," a tribute ballad off of their latest album. Beautifully done, and it was impossible not to be carried away in the emotion of the song. But then, it was impossible not to feel the attachment to all of their music as the band interacted with the crowd and with each other. They're brilliant musicians, and I'm more than honored to have been in the crowd last night. My voice was hoarse with screaming, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
(See some of the pictures from MusicCrit's Lauren Glennon here!)
Last but not least came Disturbed. I learned through talking with others in the audience that some bittersweet things had been said regarding the band's onstage performance, but all of that was quickly proven wrong. While I think their intro seemed to drag, musically they were incredible. Vocalist David Draiman worked the stage with ease as he belted out hits both new and old. The staging worked wonderfully, a ton of leveling and video. They ended the night with an encore of what is likely their most widely known hit - "Down with the Sickness".
When it all comes down to it, I don't think anyone could have possibly walked away from this festival disappointed. An incredible lineup, the perfect atmosphere - it was a helluva good time, and I can't wait 'til next year.
Pictures will be up Monday - sorry, but we're waiting for the edits and such!
Mari
marissa.billiet@hotmail.com
http://www.twitter.com/musiccrit
The Jager stage was filled with talent, with New Medicine starting off the official lineup. Ranging from upbeat fan-favorites like their single "Laid" to the personal song "Little Sister," New Medicine made a lot of new fans as the day went on. The signed for some fans at their merch tent, and did a signing later on at Rockstar's tent. I got to sit down with Jake Scherer (vocals) and Matthew Brady (bass) later in the day, and I had a great time. In the meantime, check out the band here.
Next to the stage was Airborne. I'm not really sure what I thought about them. A little bit chaotic, the music only so-so. The energy was great, but I felt like there was just a lot of flailing around. You tell me - do you disagree? They were followed by Hail the Villain, but, unfortunately, we didn't get to see much of their set. Sorry guys - come back and we'll see you again! It really sucks that we missed out. We did get back in time for HellYeah. They were good - I hadn't heard much from them before - but it really bothered me that their first two songs were "Hell Yeah" and "God Damn". Where's the creativity? But that only goes so far, and musically, I liked it. Let's face it - how can it be helped when the group's made up of a Mudvayne vocalist and guitarist (Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett), Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell, Damageplan bassist Bob Zilla, and drummer extraordinaire (formerly of Pantera) Vinnie Paul. A little while into their set, we went over to the New Medicine Rockstar signing, and I was pleased to see that they recognized those of us that they'd seen earlier in the day. It showed that they were in touch with the fans, which was great.
Check out Airborne, Hail the Villain, and HellYeah.
Mainstage!!! Halestorm opened things up, and damn! Lzzy was unstoppable, a powerhouse up onstage. Gotta say, I like the short hair she's rockin', and the attitude she doesn't seem to leave home without. Her brother Arejay was killing on drums, tossing sticks and playing like a madman. Joe and Josh were pure energy, and altogether the band was incredible.
Stone Sour rocked it next; I was on my way to an interview when they started, but they could be heard all across the grounds, and I swear the sounded like they were recorded. They played some old favorites along with some stuff off the new album, and wow. While I'm not usually as into them as the other bands, I loved the sound, and everyone I came across to ask later said they put on a great stage performance. Wish I could've seen it! I'll have to catch up next time around. We did get some great pictures!
Avenged Sevenfold. There are no words. They absolutely stole the show - in fact, they were probably my favorite set all summer. Theatrically, their setup was flawless, intense and engaging, from the sick opening to "Nightmare" to the final words after "Almost Easy". More importantly, it was clear that they put their hearts and souls into the performance. Musically, there are few guitar duos that can top Syn Gates and Zacky Vengeance. Johnny Christ was incredible, rocking his across the stage. M. Shadows proved everybody who's ever said he can no longer scream totally wrong as he tore through song after song. Mike Portnoy (of Dream Theater) was freaking incredible, working the kit like a mad genius, working the crowd; I can't think of a single person better to fill The Rev's spot onstage. At one point, the band honored their fallen brother with "So Far Away," a tribute ballad off of their latest album. Beautifully done, and it was impossible not to be carried away in the emotion of the song. But then, it was impossible not to feel the attachment to all of their music as the band interacted with the crowd and with each other. They're brilliant musicians, and I'm more than honored to have been in the crowd last night. My voice was hoarse with screaming, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
(See some of the pictures from MusicCrit's Lauren Glennon here!)
Last but not least came Disturbed. I learned through talking with others in the audience that some bittersweet things had been said regarding the band's onstage performance, but all of that was quickly proven wrong. While I think their intro seemed to drag, musically they were incredible. Vocalist David Draiman worked the stage with ease as he belted out hits both new and old. The staging worked wonderfully, a ton of leveling and video. They ended the night with an encore of what is likely their most widely known hit - "Down with the Sickness".
When it all comes down to it, I don't think anyone could have possibly walked away from this festival disappointed. An incredible lineup, the perfect atmosphere - it was a helluva good time, and I can't wait 'til next year.
Pictures will be up Monday - sorry, but we're waiting for the edits and such!
Mari
marissa.billiet@hotmail.com
http://www.twitter.com/musiccrit
8.10.2010
"Bridging the Gulf"
Musicians come together for a lot of things. They joined together when Katrina destroyed the Gulf states, and when an earthquake brought already-struggling Haiti to ruin. Now, they've joined together to help rehabilitate the environment following the damaging oil spill in the Gulf. This past Saturday, area musicians banded together to raise money in a benefit called "Bridging the Gulf," from which all proceeds went to the National Audubon Society.
Organizer and performer Brian Lewis says he knew right away that he wanted to help, and there was a personal note involved, as well.
"I grew up on the East coast of Florida," stated Lewis, "the Cocoa Beach area. The beach is sacred to me. My Mom grew up on the gulf coast of Mississippi. I spent all my summers there when I was a kid. I've swum in Gulf waters. Seeing what happened after the oil spill tore me up. I knew I had to do something." And he certainly did. Lewis called up Steve's Bar and Grille in Fort Mill, SC, to set up a meeting about what he had planned. When it came to calling on the bands, he relied on local talent, coming up with a lineup of nine bands from the general area, including his own band, 8th Street Stereo. Other acts were Under Attack, Zach Fowler, the Rockaholics, the Square Roots, Ziggy Van Zant, Tattermask, Beyond the Fade, and Drop D. The lineup, attendees could see, was incredibly diverse - which was the intention. The more diversity, the more people were likely to show up.
My musical top three? The last three acts of the night: Tattermask, Beyond the Fade, and Drop D. Yes, I'm a little biased - this is my genre - but going off of energy, they're definitely up there. Presence-wise, Johnny Rochester (bassist of Beyond the Fade and Drop D) and DZL (guitarist and vocalist of Drop D, as well as DJ for 106.5 the END), seemed more comfortable on the stage than anyone I saw earlier in the day. I look forward to hearing more from all three of these acts. Others thoughts from throughout the day? Acoustic soloist Zach Fowler, and 8th Street Stereo. Coordinator and drummer Brian Lewis informed me early in the day that, due to their bassist being called to work, 8th Street Stereo was going to have to alter their set, turning it into an unexpected acoustic set. Well, hearing things acoustic makes me want to hear how it would sound, and I have a lot of respect for the band for pulling everything together so smoothly at the change.
But, as I was reminded throughout the day, this event was not about the music; it was about raising money for the cause. So, in addition the the music, a raffle was suggested by DZL as a way to earn more for the cause. Prizes included Heart tickets, a setlist and poster autographed by the Metallica and Alice in Chains, respectively, and - what many considered the top prize - a BP replica bass boat. Why a BP replica in a raffle to raise money to fix what BP has brought about? Well, the winner got to smash the boat with a hammer. (See the video here.)
By the end of the night, $2900 was raised to go to the National Audubon Society. This money will go toward restoring the wetlands, cleaning and relocating the birds, etc. As Brian Lewis reminded me, "The cleanup from this is going to take a long time. The Exxon Valdez spill was 21 years ago, and they're still having problems in Alaska because of it. This isn't going away anytime soon." That being said, every little bit helps. If you were unable to attend, but you would like to help with the Gulf restoration efforts, please go to http://www.audubon.org/ and click "Donate to Gulf Oil Spill Recovery."
Organizer and performer Brian Lewis says he knew right away that he wanted to help, and there was a personal note involved, as well.
"I grew up on the East coast of Florida," stated Lewis, "the Cocoa Beach area. The beach is sacred to me. My Mom grew up on the gulf coast of Mississippi. I spent all my summers there when I was a kid. I've swum in Gulf waters. Seeing what happened after the oil spill tore me up. I knew I had to do something." And he certainly did. Lewis called up Steve's Bar and Grille in Fort Mill, SC, to set up a meeting about what he had planned. When it came to calling on the bands, he relied on local talent, coming up with a lineup of nine bands from the general area, including his own band, 8th Street Stereo. Other acts were Under Attack, Zach Fowler, the Rockaholics, the Square Roots, Ziggy Van Zant, Tattermask, Beyond the Fade, and Drop D. The lineup, attendees could see, was incredibly diverse - which was the intention. The more diversity, the more people were likely to show up.
My musical top three? The last three acts of the night: Tattermask, Beyond the Fade, and Drop D. Yes, I'm a little biased - this is my genre - but going off of energy, they're definitely up there. Presence-wise, Johnny Rochester (bassist of Beyond the Fade and Drop D) and DZL (guitarist and vocalist of Drop D, as well as DJ for 106.5 the END), seemed more comfortable on the stage than anyone I saw earlier in the day. I look forward to hearing more from all three of these acts. Others thoughts from throughout the day? Acoustic soloist Zach Fowler, and 8th Street Stereo. Coordinator and drummer Brian Lewis informed me early in the day that, due to their bassist being called to work, 8th Street Stereo was going to have to alter their set, turning it into an unexpected acoustic set. Well, hearing things acoustic makes me want to hear how it would sound, and I have a lot of respect for the band for pulling everything together so smoothly at the change.
But, as I was reminded throughout the day, this event was not about the music; it was about raising money for the cause. So, in addition the the music, a raffle was suggested by DZL as a way to earn more for the cause. Prizes included Heart tickets, a setlist and poster autographed by the Metallica and Alice in Chains, respectively, and - what many considered the top prize - a BP replica bass boat. Why a BP replica in a raffle to raise money to fix what BP has brought about? Well, the winner got to smash the boat with a hammer. (See the video here.)
By the end of the night, $2900 was raised to go to the National Audubon Society. This money will go toward restoring the wetlands, cleaning and relocating the birds, etc. As Brian Lewis reminded me, "The cleanup from this is going to take a long time. The Exxon Valdez spill was 21 years ago, and they're still having problems in Alaska because of it. This isn't going away anytime soon." That being said, every little bit helps. If you were unable to attend, but you would like to help with the Gulf restoration efforts, please go to http://www.audubon.org/ and click "Donate to Gulf Oil Spill Recovery."
8.05.2010
Local Names Benefit Gulf Catastrophe - NC/SC
This Saturday, August 7, in Fort Mill, South Carolina, nine area bands will be coming together to perform a benefit show entitled "Bridging the Gulf". All funds will benefit the National Audubon Society. Ten dollars will get you in to see Tattermask, 8th Street Stereo, the Rockaholics, the Square Roots, Under Attack, Ziggy Van Zant, Zach Fowler, Beyond the Fade, and - headlining - Drop D, who a lot of people know because of member and 106.5 The End DJ, DZL.
As everyone is aware, the incident in the gulf caused mass amounts of damage to the wildlife population of the area. That's what this show is about - not any one of the bands, but the big picture, and making every bit count. Aside from entry sales, there will also be a raffle of items gathered from 106.5, and donations will be accepted. Remember, every little bit helps! To take part in this event, you can RSVP on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=128898757142301&ref=mf, or you can just show up at Steve's Bar and Grille (2150 Gold Hill Rd, Fort Mill, SC) at noon on Saturday. Visit the Facebook page to learn more, or drop me an email or a comment and I'll make sure to get your questions answered!
Food, drinks, music, and charity. We'd love to see you out there!
Much love,
Mari
marissa.billiet@hotmail.com
As everyone is aware, the incident in the gulf caused mass amounts of damage to the wildlife population of the area. That's what this show is about - not any one of the bands, but the big picture, and making every bit count. Aside from entry sales, there will also be a raffle of items gathered from 106.5, and donations will be accepted. Remember, every little bit helps! To take part in this event, you can RSVP on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=128898757142301&ref=mf, or you can just show up at Steve's Bar and Grille (2150 Gold Hill Rd, Fort Mill, SC) at noon on Saturday. Visit the Facebook page to learn more, or drop me an email or a comment and I'll make sure to get your questions answered!
Food, drinks, music, and charity. We'd love to see you out there!
Much love,
Mari
marissa.billiet@hotmail.com
Mayhem Festival 2010 - Raleigh, NC
Mayhem: absolute chaos or severe disruption; disorder, confusion, turmoil, havoc, pandemonium, bedlam.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
When Mayhem Festival 2010 stopped in Raleigh, Time Warner Cable Pavilion went wild. Before they started letting people in, the line seemed like it went on forever. Everyonewreaked havoc as they braved the heat to see their favorite bands. Vendors laughed and joked like anyone in the crowd (I distinctly remember a one man circle pit at the Fuck Your City booth - the guy was hugging a box of crackers), and the smaller stages proved to be just as capable of chaos as the headliners. When 3 Inches of Blood hit the Silver Stage, the show got started. Old fans shouted along, and new fans were made. Personal opinion: Not my favorite, but they certainly enjoyed it!
Every Mayhem stop has had a local band open up the Jager stage, and in Raleigh that band was Gollum. Though the concert-goers came for the more established, Gollum was in no way lacking local love. It was great to see so many people singing along to a band that had gotten such a cool opportunity!
Next to take the Silver Stage was my personal favorite, In This Moment. After opening and before going into heavy-hitter "Next Life", vocalist Maria Brink demanded to see crowd-surfers, and when Maria speaks (or sing), fans listen. People started rushing over the crowd hoping to touch a hand. After the first three songs, the audience was in for a treat. The band was joined onstage by Adrian Patrick, vocalist of Otherwise, who came on to sing his part in a fan favorite from the latest album - "The Promise". This was an incredible performance, and, I learned, a great opportunity for Adrian. (Hopefully sometime tomorrow, MusicCrit's interview with him will be posted!) The set was finished with some of In This Moment's heaviest material, and while Chris, Blake, Kyle and Jeff rocked the stage for the final song, Maria made her way through the crowd, and the sick circle pit, to the soundboard. The crowd was thrilled, and I was ecstatic to get to watch one of my favorite bands perform - it was definitely not disappointed.
(Either later tonight or tomorrow, I'll link my interview with Chris Howorth!)
Next came "Shadows God Damn Mother Fuckin' Fall" - their words not mine! These guys were insane, from the songs to the chaos to vocalist Brian Fair's flying dreadlocks (for real, those things are totally weird, and awesome at the same time). Shadows Fall definitely didn't disappoint anyone - their energy was palpable. And no, I'm not mixing it up with the thick humidity.
Norma Jean. DUDE. I loved this set. Bassist Jake Schultz was absolutely wild with energy, and vocalist Cory Brandan screamed passion as he belted out crowd-pleasers. Norma Jean's style seems a bit different than many of the acts present, but that's the appeal of a festival show like this - there's so much diversity, and it gives bands a chance to be exposed to fans who migh not otherwise check them out.
Unfortunately, I missed the next two sets, Chimaira and Atreyu (Winds of Plague was scheduled for the spot, but they and Atreyu ended up switching out), to run for an interview with Chris Adler of Lamb of God. (You guys'll see that one soon, too!) Chris was really great to us, and he was really intelligent. It was an honor to get to meet him. And we came back just in time for Hatebreed. They had one of the best crowd connections of the day, I say. The crowd loved it and connected in return. There was a t-shirt launcher involved, and then, eventually, vocalist Jamey Jasta called a crowd-member up onto the stage to watch from the side - a little eight year-old boy who'd been up against the barrier, hardly tall enough to see over. I love seeing that, because it shows that human element to people fans often put up on pedestals.
Winds of Plague played the last set of the smaller stages due to their rescheduling, and I turned out to be glad for the change, because it allowed me to see them play. I later told singer Johnny Plague that he was, quite possibly, a photographer's nightmare; I meant it as a compliment, and he took it as one. He - and the rest of Winds of Plague - had so much energy. It was insane, and nearly impossible to get a clear shot, but totally worth it all. I hadn't heard much from the band prior to the show, and that made me even more grateful to get to see them play. I'm considering myself a convert, and happily so.
Mainstage - holy crap! Five Finger Death Punch started things off, and it was killer. I love how Ivan Moody pulls you in. Though they haven't been around as long as their mainstage companions, they proved that they were well deserving of the spot alongside the huge names on the bill. Their stage presence was great, there was a good level of energy, and everyone emanated passion. At the end of their set, we left to go on to some more interviews - Chris Howorth, Adrian Patrick, and Johnny Plague (promise they'll be up soon!) - and we returned midway through Lamb of God's first song. Lamb of God was incredible. Absolutely incredible. Randy Blythe's another who makes it hard to get a shot, but that isn't a negative thing. They put on a great show. They were followed by Rob Zombie, and after shooting that set, I felt like I should have gone back and apologized to Johnny Plague. THIS was a photographer's nightmare. The lights... But from a non-photographing point of view, this was the best-executed set to hit the mainstage. Rob Zombie goes all-out - lights, robots, costumes, pyrotechnics, anything. It was wild, and interspersed with his comments to the crowd and to his bandmates. He joked a lot with John 5 - who formerly played with Marilyn Manson - about being too feeble to keep playing, telling the crowd that John was in too much pain to play. When he told his guitarist to play something that "hurt less" and he started playing Mansons' rendition of "Sweet Dreams," Rob informed John that "neither I nor they give a shit" about the pain, and that he was to play the damn song. Shortly after, John 5 broke into a SICK solo (at one point he played with his tongue). The set was finished off with "Dragula," which involved robots, confetti, and a whole hell of a lot of Mayhem. Korn finished off the night, and while musically they were really good, I had an issue - as a photographer - with the fact that Jonathan Davis was kind of spazzing at points. Still, they did well, though overall I feel like Zombie should have been the main act - in a lot of ways, that was.
Now, throughout this review, there's one thing I haven't mentioned: Metal Mulisha. These daredevil motorcyclists were INSANE. I mean that almost literally. Unfortunately, we didn't really get any good shots of their stunts, but it was definitely a sight to see.
So, overall, Mayhem was everything the name implies, and then some. It was a great chance for musicians of a loose grouping but very different styles to come together, put on a great fans, and be there for fans both new and old. My favorite sets were In This Moment, Winds of Plague, and Rob Zombie, and I'm honored to have been there and to have gotten to talk with so many great musicians. If Mayhem hasn't stopped in your city yet, make sure you're there when it does! And if it has, and you were there, what are your thoughts on the chaos?
Photos and interviews up soon!
Mari
marissa.billiet@hotmail.com
http://www.twitter.com/musiccrit
Yeah, that sounds about right.
When Mayhem Festival 2010 stopped in Raleigh, Time Warner Cable Pavilion went wild. Before they started letting people in, the line seemed like it went on forever. Everyonewreaked havoc as they braved the heat to see their favorite bands. Vendors laughed and joked like anyone in the crowd (I distinctly remember a one man circle pit at the Fuck Your City booth - the guy was hugging a box of crackers), and the smaller stages proved to be just as capable of chaos as the headliners. When 3 Inches of Blood hit the Silver Stage, the show got started. Old fans shouted along, and new fans were made. Personal opinion: Not my favorite, but they certainly enjoyed it!
Every Mayhem stop has had a local band open up the Jager stage, and in Raleigh that band was Gollum. Though the concert-goers came for the more established, Gollum was in no way lacking local love. It was great to see so many people singing along to a band that had gotten such a cool opportunity!
Next to take the Silver Stage was my personal favorite, In This Moment. After opening and before going into heavy-hitter "Next Life", vocalist Maria Brink demanded to see crowd-surfers, and when Maria speaks (or sing), fans listen. People started rushing over the crowd hoping to touch a hand. After the first three songs, the audience was in for a treat. The band was joined onstage by Adrian Patrick, vocalist of Otherwise, who came on to sing his part in a fan favorite from the latest album - "The Promise". This was an incredible performance, and, I learned, a great opportunity for Adrian. (Hopefully sometime tomorrow, MusicCrit's interview with him will be posted!) The set was finished with some of In This Moment's heaviest material, and while Chris, Blake, Kyle and Jeff rocked the stage for the final song, Maria made her way through the crowd, and the sick circle pit, to the soundboard. The crowd was thrilled, and I was ecstatic to get to watch one of my favorite bands perform - it was definitely not disappointed.
(Either later tonight or tomorrow, I'll link my interview with Chris Howorth!)
Next came "Shadows God Damn Mother Fuckin' Fall" - their words not mine! These guys were insane, from the songs to the chaos to vocalist Brian Fair's flying dreadlocks (for real, those things are totally weird, and awesome at the same time). Shadows Fall definitely didn't disappoint anyone - their energy was palpable. And no, I'm not mixing it up with the thick humidity.
Norma Jean. DUDE. I loved this set. Bassist Jake Schultz was absolutely wild with energy, and vocalist Cory Brandan screamed passion as he belted out crowd-pleasers. Norma Jean's style seems a bit different than many of the acts present, but that's the appeal of a festival show like this - there's so much diversity, and it gives bands a chance to be exposed to fans who migh not otherwise check them out.
Unfortunately, I missed the next two sets, Chimaira and Atreyu (Winds of Plague was scheduled for the spot, but they and Atreyu ended up switching out), to run for an interview with Chris Adler of Lamb of God. (You guys'll see that one soon, too!) Chris was really great to us, and he was really intelligent. It was an honor to get to meet him. And we came back just in time for Hatebreed. They had one of the best crowd connections of the day, I say. The crowd loved it and connected in return. There was a t-shirt launcher involved, and then, eventually, vocalist Jamey Jasta called a crowd-member up onto the stage to watch from the side - a little eight year-old boy who'd been up against the barrier, hardly tall enough to see over. I love seeing that, because it shows that human element to people fans often put up on pedestals.
Winds of Plague played the last set of the smaller stages due to their rescheduling, and I turned out to be glad for the change, because it allowed me to see them play. I later told singer Johnny Plague that he was, quite possibly, a photographer's nightmare; I meant it as a compliment, and he took it as one. He - and the rest of Winds of Plague - had so much energy. It was insane, and nearly impossible to get a clear shot, but totally worth it all. I hadn't heard much from the band prior to the show, and that made me even more grateful to get to see them play. I'm considering myself a convert, and happily so.
Mainstage - holy crap! Five Finger Death Punch started things off, and it was killer. I love how Ivan Moody pulls you in. Though they haven't been around as long as their mainstage companions, they proved that they were well deserving of the spot alongside the huge names on the bill. Their stage presence was great, there was a good level of energy, and everyone emanated passion. At the end of their set, we left to go on to some more interviews - Chris Howorth, Adrian Patrick, and Johnny Plague (promise they'll be up soon!) - and we returned midway through Lamb of God's first song. Lamb of God was incredible. Absolutely incredible. Randy Blythe's another who makes it hard to get a shot, but that isn't a negative thing. They put on a great show. They were followed by Rob Zombie, and after shooting that set, I felt like I should have gone back and apologized to Johnny Plague. THIS was a photographer's nightmare. The lights... But from a non-photographing point of view, this was the best-executed set to hit the mainstage. Rob Zombie goes all-out - lights, robots, costumes, pyrotechnics, anything. It was wild, and interspersed with his comments to the crowd and to his bandmates. He joked a lot with John 5 - who formerly played with Marilyn Manson - about being too feeble to keep playing, telling the crowd that John was in too much pain to play. When he told his guitarist to play something that "hurt less" and he started playing Mansons' rendition of "Sweet Dreams," Rob informed John that "neither I nor they give a shit" about the pain, and that he was to play the damn song. Shortly after, John 5 broke into a SICK solo (at one point he played with his tongue). The set was finished off with "Dragula," which involved robots, confetti, and a whole hell of a lot of Mayhem. Korn finished off the night, and while musically they were really good, I had an issue - as a photographer - with the fact that Jonathan Davis was kind of spazzing at points. Still, they did well, though overall I feel like Zombie should have been the main act - in a lot of ways, that was.
Now, throughout this review, there's one thing I haven't mentioned: Metal Mulisha. These daredevil motorcyclists were INSANE. I mean that almost literally. Unfortunately, we didn't really get any good shots of their stunts, but it was definitely a sight to see.
So, overall, Mayhem was everything the name implies, and then some. It was a great chance for musicians of a loose grouping but very different styles to come together, put on a great fans, and be there for fans both new and old. My favorite sets were In This Moment, Winds of Plague, and Rob Zombie, and I'm honored to have been there and to have gotten to talk with so many great musicians. If Mayhem hasn't stopped in your city yet, make sure you're there when it does! And if it has, and you were there, what are your thoughts on the chaos?
Photos and interviews up soon!
Mari
marissa.billiet@hotmail.com
http://www.twitter.com/musiccrit
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