Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Media, Photo Galleries, Reviews

REVIEW: Mommy’s Little Monsters, Second Generations, & New Beginnings: Social Distortion Fall 2018 Tour Launches in the Valley of the Sun (9-10-18)

September 13, 2018 Desirée Izquierdo Leave a comment

Tempe, Ariz. — Social Distortion are no strangers to touring, and after a one and a half months long summer tour and 8 weeks of recuperation, they were back at it again and kicking off their Fall 2018 tour to a sold out Monday at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe. Known for bringing along with them some promising new talent to get the crowd revved up before they make their grand entrance, this tour is no different. Accompanying the band for their September shows is Justin Townes Earle, as well as Valley Queen, to be followed by Will Hoge and Pony Bradshaw for the month of October.

Half an hour before the theater doors were set to open, and the parking lot was nearly full. With hopes of snagging a great vantage point, several generations of Social D fans braved the 100 degree heat while standing in line, donning their page boy caps, Black Kat Kustoms shirts, tattoos, and multi-colored hair.

The Los Angeles-based group Valley Queen were the first to take the stage, giving fans a sampling of songs from their recently released debut album, Supergiant.

Valley Queen - Photo Credit: Rodrigo Izquierdo — Natalie Carol (Vocalist), Valley Queen
| Photography: Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

The four-piece group, with an excellent energy and apparent cohesiveness, seemed to truly enjoy what they do. With a voice reminiscent of Sinead O’Connor and a carefree flit about the stage, front-woman Natalie Carol lit up the room with an unparalleled vibrance. Not long into their second song, amidst the sound of Shawn Morones’ slide guitar and Neil Wogensen’s energetic bass licks in alignment with Mike DeLuccia’s drumbeats, Natalie broke a string for the very first time on a guitar she stated she’d had for over 6 years and chalked it up as an omen of great things to come.

Next up was singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle, who connected with the audience on a level that few musicians are known to do. With a smirk and eye contact with the folks up front, he touched on the motivation behind each song he’d written before he performed it.

Justin Townes Earle - Photo Credit: Rodrigo Izquierdo — Justin Townes Earle
| Photography: Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

Accompanying him were bassist Mike Luzecky from Denton, TX, and drummer Bill Campbell from Brooklyn, NY, who had only met that day and had one rehearsal prior to playing together — not that anyone would be able to tell, however, which is a true testament to their talents. It is apparent that this second generation music star is definitely forging his own successful path in the industry; from the fun, upbeat “Champagne Corolla” and “Short Hair Woman”, off of his most recent album Kids in the Street, to the deeply genuine “White Gardenias”, from his album titled Single Mothers. “White Gardenias” was preceded by a shout out to Billie Holiday and all others affected by the opioid epidemic.

The roadies took to the stage to ensure everything was perfectly set as the crowd inched closer to the front in anticipation of Social Distortion’s arrival. Impatient fans gained some visual stimulation from strategically placed items around the stage, like signs that said “funeral, no parking” and “inmates stand here,” as well as boxing gloves, a RCA dog statue, and mannequin parts with lingerie.

Photo Credit: Rodrigo Izquierdo — Social Distortion stage props
| Photography: Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

Without a warning, the band swiftly took to the stage and went right into their opening song, “Reach For The Sky”, followed by “Highway 101” and “Don’t Take Me For Granted”, all from the 2004 album Sex, Love, and Rock ‘n’ Roll. The seemingly endless sea of rowdy fans swayed as Mike Ness, Jonny Wickersham, Brent Harding, and David Hidalgo, Jr. entertained with seamless precision, as Social D is known to do.

Social Distortion - Photo Credit: Rodrigo Izquierdo — Mike Ness (Vocalist, Guitarist), Social Distortion
| Photography: Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

Preceding the 12th and final song of the set, frontman Ness opened up in a heartfelt monologue about having written the next song in 1994 about racism and dedicated “Don’t Drag Me Down” to the Chicanos in the audience.

No show is complete without an encore performance, and Social Distortion did not disappoint. After their flawless performance of “Angel’s Wings”, Ness explained his friends’ unfavorable reactions years ago when he told them he was going to record a Johnny Cash song. He said they all asked, “Why?” to which he quipped, “because it’s cool and I want to,” and asserted that Johnny Cash deserves to be back on the top where he belongs. The crowd roared as the band finished up with a double dose of Cash with “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Ring of Fire”.

Though Ness did mention that he doesn’t know a whole lot of places that Social Distortion could sell out on a Monday night, it seems evident that with the fervor of the fans filing in to see them perform live, it’s bound to happen more often than he may think.

Photo Album

Photographer: Rodrigo Izquierdo

Photography © Reagle Photography
All Rights Reserved

Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Media, Photo Galleries, Reviews

REVIEW: Butch Walker & Greg Holden Celebrate The Last Days of Summer, Starting at Crescent Ballroom 9-7-18

September 10, 2018 Katherine Amy Vega Leave a comment

PHOENIX — While Journey and Def Leppard were “on fire” at Talking Stick Resort Arena, Butch Walker and opener Greg Holden ignited their own explosive show at Crescent Ballroom just a little more than a mile away. As is often the case, Phoenix was the tour kickoff location of Walker and Holden’s tour, and they would thereafter embark on the 17-date “The Last Days of Summer Tour” (2018). While some dedicated fans had even flown in from out of state to see the show, no one was prepared for just how hype this show would get; apparently not even Walker himself, who likened coming out to perform again like getting back into your old prom clothes.

Greg Holden

Greg Holden, who recently interviewed with us prior to the concert date, performed at acoustic set, which as you would expect, was chill and low-key. But while Holden generally presents a fairly serious demeanor overall, he cracked a number of smiles while engaging with the vocal crowd, and joking during stage banter.

Of course, many fans recognized his “claim to fame”; the infectious hit song “Home”, written by Holden and chosen by American Idol finalist Phillip Phillips. Solidarity and warmth were felt with a strong cheer from the audience as he reached the end of the heart-wrenching song “Boys in the Street”, about the strained relationship between a father and his gay son, and finally growing to acceptance.

Holden’s “On the Run” was actually produced by headliner Butch Walker, who has an impressive list of work as a producer; including the likes of Katy Perry, Panic! At The Disco, Weezer, Pink, Fall Out Boy, The Maine, and many more.

Butch Walker

Anyone unfamiliar with Butch Walker was in for quite a surprise when he and his live band took the stage, as the shift in energy was immediate and palpable. Walker is not a country artist. Despite a name that might suggest as much, and Butch Walker’s charming southern roots poking through his stage presence, the more dominant and effortless image and energy he exhibited conveyed his background of a music career in glam metal (SouthGang) and pop punk/post-grunge (Marvelous 3). Walker has 8 studio albums under his belt — the most recent being Stay Gold, which was released in August of 2016.

The 48-year-old, who shared his age with the crowd himself, seemed almost surprised, and definitely pumped, that as the night went on, his solid and seasoned musical prowess had no problem kicking into high gear. Not to be taken for granted or uncredited, Walker’s live band matched his enthusiasm and skill perfectly as they danced and jammed with a fury.

As his set was coming to a close, his performance climaxed after a medley of magnificent covers of David Bowie that couldn’t have felt like more of a worthy tribute, which segued into Walker’s “Hot Girls in Good Moods”. With his shining sense of humor, he began a drawn-out activity amidst the crowd that built anticipation and inspired nearly all, save for the wallflowers on the bleachers in the back of the venue, to participate and, “GO CRAZY!” Confetti and streamers popped out over the thrilled concertgoers.

The duality between Walker and Holden’s performances indeed complemented each other perfectly, and the show was unforgettably dynamic and downright mind-blowing. We highly recommend picking yourself up and heading out to this show in a city near you, because it is so worth it.

PHOTO ALBUM

Photographer: Katherine Amy Vega

(View separate Butch Walker & Greg Holden photo albums)

Photography © Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
All Rights Reserved.

Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Media, Photo Galleries, Reviews

REVIEW: Journey & Def Leppard Rock Phoenix for Ages 9-7-18

September 8, 2018 Emily Rudolph 2 Comments

PHOENIX — Historic classic rock duo Journey and Def Leppard put on a massively vivacious performance Friday night at their sold-out stop at Talking Stick Resort Arena on the North American tour (2018). It’s been twelve long years since Def Leppard and Journey co-headlined a tour, with rumored signs of an aging sound. On the contrary though, this arena setting was more than fitting, as the show proved to be impressively larger than life.

Def Leppard

The crowd continued to pour in by the thousands even as Def Leppard took the stage, erupting in a phantasmal melting-pot of emotions from fans of all ages when their vocalist, Joe Elliott approached the crowd.

With his hands held high, Elliott teased the rippling stadium, loosely conducting the opening instrumentals to “Rocket” with closeups of the band members flashing in-and-out of 2-D televisions seemingly stacked above and behind the stage. Def Leppard’s energy was as contagious as ever, coaxing fans along to hit after hit beneath blaring blankets of velvety light that morphed into everything from hypnotizing geometric patterns to a striking laser show.

Each song seemed to ignite even more elation than the last. Fans sang along to every word of “Animal”, “Foolin’”, “When Love and Hate Collide”, and “Let’s Get Rocked” as the stage transformed again, almost magically, from a wall of vintage neon signs into thick rotating rays of foggy light before turning to a dim, red glow that illuminated the buzzing audience. Elliott could be seen thrusting the mic stand back and forth across the stage as the first few notes of “Armageddon It” rumbled out from beneath the speakers.

Def Leppard’s current and longest-lasting lineup to date also includes Rick Savage (bassist), Rick Allen (drummer), Phil Collen (guitarist), and Vivian Campbell (guitarist); and like Elliott, none of them showed any signs of slowing down. Their British heavy metal style is as alive and well as ever, complete with leather and tight pants, sweat-glistening, guitar shreddin’, and an incredible one-armed drum solo.

Between nostalgic performances of the David Essex cover “Rock On”, “Two Steps Behind”, and “Man Enough”, Elliott introduced each member of the band while offering a small bit of history on each iconic track to follow. “We’ve been touring for 38 years,” he announced, speaking briefly on the group’s English background and how they got their start. “All we ever wanted was to make music.”

Without all the fancy high-tech showmanship, it would have been easy to forget that we were seeing Def Leppard 20 years post multi-platinum success of Hysteria and Pyromania – which ranked at #384 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003. “Love Bites”, “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak”, and “Switch 625” were up next, each accompanied by its own light display and related imagery glowing boldly in the background.

Speaking of multi-platinum, Def Leppard definitely knew what they were doing when they saved “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me” for last, but not of course without the explosive encore we’d been dying for – “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph”. What more could a Def Leppard fan ask for, right?

Journey

After a refreshingly brief set change, it was time for Rock n’ Roll Hall-of-Famer, Journey, to steal the show with their own non-stop marathon of legendary greatest hits. Despite having been noted as “one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time” – No. 96 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time to be exact, Journey’s continued evolution has left some critics wondering how things could ever sound the same.

Current vocalist Arnel Pineda put those rumors to rest with a heart-wrenching opening performance of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” from chart-topping album Frontiers (1983). Despite not being a man of many words, Pineda undeniably uplifted the crowd with his infectious, positive energy as he jumped, kicked, and bounced across the stage. The entire arena followed in suit, immediately pointing their phone flashlights and lighters to the sky and singing along to every word.

Pineda was overflowing with a spectacularly excitable stage presence, making sure to run the full perimeter of the platform while high-fiving everyone within reach during emotional renditions of “Only The Young”, “Escape” and “Stone In Love”. Meanwhile, psychedelic album art filled the towering screens surrounding the stage while flashes of bright white light spliced across the arena. Closeups of Neal Schon (lead guitarist), Ross Valory (bassist), Steve Smith (drummer) and Jonathan Cain (keyboardist) could also be seen rotating in and out, with big smiles on their faces.

Journey - Photo Credit: Mark Greenawalt — Jonathan Cain (Keyboardist), Journey
| Photographer: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Each member boasted their own bit of personal wardrobe style as well. Cain could be seen with an old school Suns jersey peeking out from behind his jacket. Fans belted out the lyrics to the ever-popular tracks “Chain Reaction” and “Be Good To Yourself” before Pineda finally addressed the crowd. “How are you doing Phoenix?!”, he echoed. “Thanks for coming out and seeing us tonight!

Schon stepped into the spotlight to set the mood with a smooth-and-sultry, otherworldly guitar solo before launching into “Lights” with Pineda once again. Time seemed to slip away as listeners lost themselves in the music, rocking out to “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’”, “Who’s Crying Now”, “Open Arms”, and “Ask The Lonely”, followed by “La Do Da”, and “Any Way You Want It”. From lovestruck couples to lonesome onlookers, it was clear why Journey’s music has achieved such timeless success.

Schon stepped forward once again to introduce “Wheel In The Sky”, a song he composed along with Robert Fleischman and Diane Valory – wife of bassist Ross Valory. He went on to say, “That’s when I realized we were family. We all love the same way. I’d like to dedicate this song to a man that just had a birthday recently, our vocalist, Mr. Arnel Pineda. And to the fans who stayed over the years.”

As one might have guessed, Journey concluded the night with that one track that hits us all right in the feels – “Don’t Stop Believin’”, which crescendoed to a climax of strobing light, squealing guitar, and eruption of glittering white confetti that combusted into a weightless cloud drifting out over the audience. It was a feeling of total bliss and slight overstimulation, of not wanting the night to end, while also being so incredibly satisfied, overjoyed, impressed, and amazed. That’s the thing about bands like Def Leppard and Journey; they’ve not only carved out a place in our memories, but in the depths of our hearts as well.

Pineda stepped forward to address the crowd for the last time,
“Arizona, you are magic tonight.”

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Mark Greenawalt

Photography © Mark Greenawalt.
All Rights Reserved

Adrenaline PR, Albums & EPs, News, Tracks

Renowned Guitarist Eric Peterson Reveals New DRAGONLORD Track “Lamia” with Gimme Radio

September 7, 2018 Katherine Amy Vega Leave a comment

Renowned Testament guitarist Eric Peterson recently announced the release of his highly-anticipated new Dragonlord album, entitled Dominion, out September 21, 2018 via Spinefarm Records. The symphonic black/death metal album serves as the long-awaited follow-up to 2005’s Black Wings of Destiny, but takes the fantasy and storytelling to a whole new level. Dominion explores themes of darkness owning and influencing these times we now live in, and things that have come to pass. It also delves into other eras, real and otherworldly.

Get another taste of Dominion today via Gimme Radio‘s New Releases Show! Listen in today at 8:00 AM PT/11:00 AM ET to hear the world premiere of “Lamia“, a track about the mythical feminine man-eating creature! Listen by visiting Gimme Radio.

You can also tune in to encore airings of the show on:

Sunday, September 9 – 12:00 AM PT / 3:00 AM ET
Monday, September 10 – 8:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM ET
Wednesday, September 12 – 10:00 PM PT / 1:00 AM ET
(Thursday morning)

“Oh Lamia it’s witching hour!”
“Oh Lamia thy sons devoured!”

Eric Peterson says, “Musically, this song just rocks! Starting off with ethereal keys backed by a stronghold of bombarding riffs and drums, Leah‘s siren wails and my melodic screams of Lamia’s constant call for filicide, reaping forth complete despair! Tonight’s the night she’ll tear your soul apart! Through telepathy she knows who’s calling her and she will find you!”

Digital and physical pre-orders for Dominion are live here:

Physical + Merch | Digital

Stream/Download via Additional Retailers Here

Make sure to pick up the newly available “Ultimate Dragonlair” merch bundle, which will be available today via Spinefarm Records, featuring:

LP gatefold w/ large size 20 page lyric booklet

DIGI CD Pack

THE BURNER Comic

T-shirt
While online, make sure to check out the “The Making of Dominion” video series! Unreleased audio clips of the album are also mixed in amid the video content. Watch here:

Part One

Part Two | Part Three

Also, watch the lyric video for the album’s first single, “Dominion” here, and the fantasy-driven music video for “Northlanders” here.

Dominion is a dark fantasy fan’s musical dream – exploring everything from Nordic history to Lord of the Rings! Dominion‘s eight songs create a deep and heady musical journey rife with meaning and menace, from the blackest and loudest recesses of Eric Peterson‘s mind.

Peterson recorded Dominion at Northern California’s Trident Studios and produced it with an assist from engineer/mixer Juan Urteaga (Testament, Machine Head, M.O.D.). Dominion was mastered by famed producer/engineer Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. In addition to Eric Peterson, Dominion features the musical talents of Lyle Livingston (Psypheria) on orchestrated keys and pianos, Alex Bent (Trivium) on drums, and notable fantasy metal singer Leah on female vocals and choirs (who has performed/recorded with members of Blind Guardian, Nightwish, Delain, and others).

Peterson formed Dragonlord in 2000 as its singer and guitarist (with keyboardist Lyle Livingston and now-ex-members Steve Di Giorgio of Testament and Jon Allen of Sadus), and notes that the growth from Dragonlord‘s first two records to the cinematic triumph and brutal blast-beats of Dominion has been immense. Dominion‘s stellar, complex, brutally symphonic metal is triumphant in its execution, bringing together layers of meaning and musicality into an unholy whole.

Album artwork painted by artist Eliran Kantor (Testament, Iced Earth, Sodom)

Dominion track listing:

1) Entrance
2) Dominion
3) Ominous Premonition
4) Lamia
5) Love of the Damned
6) Northlanders
7) The Discord of Melkor
8) Serpents of Fire

Dragonlord Online:

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Albums & EPs, BMG, News

The Faim’s Debut EP, “Summer Is A Curse”, Out Today Via BMG

September 7, 2018 Brianne Dunn 1 Comment

Los Angeles, CA – The Faim’s debut EP, Summer Is A Curse, is out today! The six-track effort was recorded with the iconic John Feldmann (blink-182, Good Charlotte, All Time Low) and features four brand new songs in addition to smash single, “Summer Is A Curse,” and the band’s latest release, “A Million Stars.” The EP also serves as a prelude to the group’s highly-anticipated first full-length album, slated for 2019. During the recording process, the Perth natives teamed up with industry staples including Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy (on “Saints Of The Sinners”), Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots, Mark Hoppus of blink-182, and Ashton Irwin of 5 Seconds of Summer (on “Summer Is A Curse”).

Summer Is A Curse showcases the pop-rock/punk outfit’s stadium-ready anthems, infectious hooks, impressive songwriting chops, and frontman Josh Raven’s striking, powerhouse vocals. The record includes a solid blend of pop-punk and indie-pop tunes, and the final product is both explosive and fiery, while being authentic, raw, and emotive at the same time. Listen to the EP on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and other digital retailers.

The Faim have this message to share with their fans:
“To say we’re excited about releasing this EP is an understatement. More than just songs, to us these six tracks are a window into our world. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of the community around us and welcome you all on this beautiful journey. We’re proud to be able to share our music with you and hope you enjoy listening as much as we’ve enjoyed writing it.”

Summer Is A Curse EP Track Listing:

1. Summer Is A Curse
2. A Million Stars
3. Make Believe
4. I Can Feel You
5. My Heart Needs To Breathe
6. When It Comes

Photography by Max Fairclough — The Faim
| Photography: Max Fairclough

The Faim will head out on tour this month, supporting Against The Current for a run of dates across Europe. The stint launches on Saturday, September 15th in Dublin and hits major cities including London, Amsterdam, and Berlin, before ending in Paris on Thursday, October 11th. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE, with a full list of dates included below.

It has also just been announced that The Faim will soundtrack the brand new Coca-Cola television advertising campaign in the U.K. with their cover of Blondie’s classic hit, “One Way or Another.” Check it out HERE, and the song is also up on Apple Music and Spotify.

The Faim Tour Dates w/ Against The Current:

9/15/18 – Dublin, Ireland @ The Academy
9/17/18 – Bristol, U.K. @ SWX
9/18/18 – Southampton, U.K. @ Engine Rooms
9/19/18 – Norwich, U.K. @ Waterfront
9/21/18 – Birmingham, U.K. @ O2 Institute
9/22/18 – Leeds, U.K. @ Stylus
9/23/18 – Manchester, U.K. @ O2 Ritz
9/25/18 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Garage
9/27/18 – Newcastle, U.K. @ Riverside
9/29/18 – London, U.K. @ O2 Forum
10/2/18 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix Club
10/3/18 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
10/5/18 – Cologne, Germany @ Kantine
10/6/18 – Berlin, Germany @ Gretchen
10/7/18 – Hamburg, Germany @ Uebel & Gefaehrlich
10/9/18 – Munich, Germany @ Ampere
10/10/18 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Batschkapp
10/11/18 – Paris, France, @ Yoyo

The Faim Online:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Media, Photo Galleries, Reviews

REVIEW: Crazy World Tour Brings Scorpions to the Desert, Along With Queensrÿche 9-5-18

September 6, 2018 Brittney Coon 1 Comment

PHOENIX – Scorpions brought the third stop of the North American leg of their “Crazy World Tour” to sizzling Phoenix, with special guests Queensrÿche opening the night. Last year, Scorpions were supposed to “sting” (or delight) fans, but their lead singer Klaus Meine had a laryngitis diagnosis, and was advised by doctors not to sing, resulting in a cancellation of the rest of their tour. The band apologized for missing Arizona last year, and made up for it with their amazing sixteen-song set list.

Queensrÿche did a phenomenal job of starting the show and warming up the audience. For those unfamiliar with Queensrÿche, they are an American heavy metal band from Bellevue, Washington. The band was formed in 1980, and originated as Cross+Fire, which was renamed to The Mob, and finally to Queensrÿche. The band has sold over six million albums in the United States and over twenty million albums around the world. They kicked off the show with the song “Best I Can” from their 1990 album, Empire.

Queensryche - Photo Credit: Mark Greenawalt — Todd La Torre (Vocalist), Queensrÿche
| Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

The lead singer Todd La Torre banged his head to the beat, greeted the crowd, and invited all to sing along to “Empire.” Many people stood up and sang along with the band, throwing their fists up into the air. La Torre expressed his appreciation, saying, “We are happy and honored to play for you. Thanks to Scorpions for having us. This song has been on our set for a while. Sing along if you know it. This is ‘Guardian’.” Later, La Torre referenced the band’s history, saying, “Who is an old school Queensrÿche fan? You know how we got our name. Here’s ‘Queen of the Reich’.” They wrapped up their nine-song set list with the song, “Eyes of a Stranger” from their 1988 album, Operation: Mindcrime.

As the roadies prepared the stage for Scorpions, a giant black banner went up with the logo of the “Crazy World Tour”. It proudly overlooked a nearly sold out show. When the banner dropped, a video of a helicopter going over a bright city at night began to play. The helicopter clipped the arm off of the statue of Scorpions’ “Crazy World Tour” logo, a spaceman.

As the video played, fans whistled and cheered. The video segued into the performance, with visuals that gave appearance of the band’s black silhouettes jumping out of the helicopter. The lights over the crowd were blinding as Scorpions took the stage, immediately going into the song, “Going Out with a Bang,” from their 2015 album, Return to Forever. The backing screen proudly displayed “Scorpions” in Titanic-sized letters behind the legendary band. Nearly everyone in the audience stood up and rocked out. Lead singer Meine addressed the crowd before the third song, “Come on, Phoenix. I want to hear you!”

Scorpions - Photo Credit: Mark Greenawalt — Klaus Meine (Vocalist), Scorpions
| Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

As the song “Make It Real” played, the entire screen behind the band displayed an American flag waving, with the silhouettes of the band jamming out. After five songs in, Scorpions did a 70s throwback with a mashup of songs, “Top of the Bill”, “Steamrock Fever”, “Speedy’s Coming”, and “Catch Your Train”. During the entire throwback, the screen was tie-dyed, and the name “Scorpions” flashed on and off the screen in multiple colors. It was almost dizzying to see the graphics move. The side screens were also incorporated, making it appear there were three of Meine in different colors as he sang, while the crowd indulged in a drug-like music high.

As “Send Me an Angel” from their 1990 album, Crazy World, began to sway the audience, Meine said, “I know you know the words. You can sing by heart. ‘Send Me an Angel’. Come on Phoenix. I want to see your hands in the air.” All over the venue, arms went up into the air, and some people held up drinks, their phones, and more sparsely, lighters in the air. Couples grew closer, even attempting to slow dance while standing in their row.

Scorpions played Motörhead’s title-track “Overkill” from the 1979 album, to honor the late English musician and singer-songwriter Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister who passed away in December of 2015. In honor of the singer, fans rose up their metal horns, and the primary LED screen flashed with a compilation of images of Lemmy throughout the song. After the touching tribute song, the drum stage began to rise as drummer Mikkey Dee, former member of Motörhead, rocked out on a drum solo.

As he murdered the drums and sent a shockwave of sound around the venue, cover art from all of the albums Scorpions have released in their music career fifty-three years slowly appeared on screen, one-by-one. A total of eighteen studio albums are currently under their belts.

In typical concert fashion, the best known songs were saved for last. “Big City Nights”, from their 1984 album Love at First Sting, got everyone up and jamming. Cities were displayed, as if the audience was taking a cruise through the heart of each big city. One city was Tokyo, which is actually the city that inspired the song. Scorpions stepped off the stage for a brief minute before coming back for the encore. The last two songs were “No One Like You” from their 1982 album, Blackout, and “Rock You Like a Hurricane” from the album, Love at First Sting. Before going into “No One Like You,” Meine teased fans by singing the first line of the song “Arizona” from their album, Blackout, and then praised the fans, “Phoenix, there is no one like you!”

The drums were amazing, the lights were blinding, the colors on the screen were hypnotizing, and the 70s mashup was a trip. — One might wonder what the show would have been like on an acid trip, while it’s no doubt that some long-time fans know exactly what that would be like. Scorpions, with special guests Queensrÿche, performed with great ferocity that resonated throughout the crowd and Comerica Theatre. This tour is a unique experience that’s worth every penny, and a must-see for every diehard classic rock fan.

Scorpions did not disappoint in Phoenix. They brought the house down and left fans of all ages happy to see this classic rock band. After the final song, the band waved to fans and gave out drumsticks and guitar picks. One lucky fan got a piece of autographed merch. Scorpions gathered in the middle of the stage, standing side-by-side, to wave at fans, and Meine closed out the night saying, “Goodnight Arizona. We love you!”

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Mark Greenawalt

Photography © Mark Greenawalt.
All Rights Reserved

Bands & Musicians, Emails, Interviews, Kataklizmic Design

INTERVIEW: Greg Holden Talks About His Musical Progression, Inner Battles, & Upcoming Phoenix Show

August 31, 2018 Emily Rudolph 1 Comment

Greg Holden is a British singer-songwriter based in the United States. He is best known for his hit charity single “The Lost Boy”, and for co-writing “Home” — the 2012 debut single for American Idol-winner Phillip Phillips.

Genre: Rock, Singer-Songwriter
Hometown: Born in Aberdeen, Scotland and raised in England
Record Label: BMG
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New Song “On The Run” Out Now

“With a fresh Mumford and Sons style, this New York based British singer-songwriter sings it straight from the heart.” – AXS

Q & A with Greg Holden, Singer-Songwriter

Flier for Butch Walker featuring Greg Holden at Crescent Ballroom on September 7, 2018 — Get Tickets

During the small break from his fall tour, between his August 2 performance in London and the following tour date in Phoenix on September 7, Holden took the time to share his thoughts with journalist Emily Rudolph of Burning Hot Events:

Thank you for talking with us! According to your interview with People, you’ve had no intention of leaving New York. I’m curious… Are you currently living in LA after all? If so, can you tell us a bit about how you came to call Los Angeles home?

Yes, it’s all very ironic I know. I came to LA two years ago with my tail between my legs. My reasoning was that 99% of the people I know and work with were already in Los Angeles, and I really was cutting off my nose to spite my face by not relocating. So I did. I don’t regret it, but I sure do miss New York. I’m not sure that Los Angeles is the right place for me, but I’ve been told by other ex-New Yorkers that it takes 3 years… So I’ll give it another year and then see what happens…

What inspired you to relocate from England to Brooklyn, NY?

Music essentially. All the artists that inspired me had all lived in New York in their 20’s, so I wanted to as well. Strangely it didn’t even feel like a crazy thing, quitting my job in London, selling all my shit, and moving to a different continent during a recession. I was just going with my gut, and I’m glad I did. Nearly ten years later I don’t regret a thing.

I’ve heard that it all started when you first picked up a guitar at age 18. I’d love for you to tell me more about that journey. What was your musical experience like growing up? What compelled you to begin writing your own music?

I wrote from the moment I started playing guitar. In the beginning I just wanted to write songs so I could get my repressed feelings out in the open. Naturally I started playing in punk and metal bands in my home town, which I did for a few years, before realising that I actually had a half decent voice, and a talent for lyrics too. I was wasting my time in bands. This was at the time when Damien Rice, John Mayer and Ray Lamontagne were the chart toppers, and so the logical next step was to become a solo singer-songwriter. So I decided to move to Brighton, one of the big cities in the UK that was known for its music scene. After a couple of years I moved to London to really focus on getting “discovered,” and once I wasn’t discovered, I thought fuck it, I’m going to New York, I’ll get discovered there…

Could you share with our readers the events that led up to the forming of “Home”? What was the inspiration behind the concept?

The short version is, I had a friend that was going through a very difficult time and was chronically depressed. I was thrown into a co-writing session in Los Angeles on one of my first times there with a guy named Drew Pearson. We decided to write a song about my friend, and that song was “Home”. We wrote it in a couple our hours, easy peasy, and I walked out of the session completely unaware that I’d just written a song that would change my life, and for 6 months I didn’t really even think about it. Then, I got the call from American Idol and the rest is history I guess.

Do you feel your experiences with sophomore album, I Don’t Believe You (2011), influenced your later work on massive success, “Home”?

Not really, no. I mean I guess you could say that “Home” is just a more commercially accessible version of songs I’d written in the past, but I Don’t Believe You was quite a dark record, with very little hope. Whereas “Home” is quite the opposite.

Your sound has been described as “folk”, “rock”, and even “a fresh Mumford and Sons style”.’ How would you describe your sound to our readers?

I really have no idea to be honest. What even is a genre anymore?

What do you feel is the best track that you have produced so far? What does it mean to you?

Probably “The Lost Boy”, just because I recorded in my bedroom in Brooklyn, with one mic, and had no intention of anyone other than my manager hearing it. Somehow that version took on a life of its own and has now been heard by millions of people, a song that I poured my guts into. Since its release it has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity, has been in the Billboard Charts, been a #1 single in Europe and been featured on major TV shows in the U.S. Still the same, shitty original version, mixed on Apple Headphones at my kitchen counter back in 2011. Despite its simplicity, I’m still more proud of that than anything else I’ve done.

Are there any parts of your story that you’d like to share on low points you’ve experienced and how you overcame them?

I am always experiencing low points. Constantly. Somehow I always find a way out of the hole, but it never stops. That’s the problem when something you love so much, and something that is so reliant on your raw emotions becomes your day job. When I was younger, if I hated my day job, I just got a new one. I can’t do that now, I can’t just apply for new emotions, or new creative skills. The only way to overcome the negative sides of this journey, is to constantly remind myself of the positives, because there are a lot.

What do you do to handle doubts or frustrations when they come up?

I drink wine. Or, I look through my Instagram feed to remind myself that my life is absolutely unreal and I am incredibly fortunate. That doesn’t really handle the doubts, or frustrations, but it certainly puts things into perspective, which helps.

What advice would you give to someone in the industry who is struggling to move forward?

Don’t give up. The one thing I can guarantee is that if you do, you won’t make it. But, if you stay in the fight, there’s always a chance, even if it’s only a small one.

<strong>Greg Holden</strong> — Greg Holden

What have you been working on in 2018? What are you most looking forward to?

I’ve been working on my mental state mostly, because without that I’m fucked. Musically though, I’ve been trying to refocus my attention on making something I love, and not on what I think other people want. That’s a difficult balance these days, but it’s important to give yourself what you need first, otherwise you can’t offer anything helpful or inspiring to anyone. I’m most looking forward to the last quarter of this year as I’m headed out on tour in the US in September with Butch Walker, then I’m headed down to South America in December to play some shows with my buddy Joshua Radin. Can’t complain about any of that.

If you had to summarize your journey to produce your latest single, ‘The Power Shift’ how would you describe it?

An existential crisis.

Beyond 2018, what is on the radar for Greg Holden?

Staying happy, and staying inspired. The rest will come naturally.

Is there anything specific you’d like to mention about your upcoming performance in Phoenix?

I’m going to be stripping it all back to just me and my guitar, the way it began. Get your voices warmed up, as you’re going to be singing.

What can our readers do to support your music?

Listen, hopefully enjoy, and share.

Greg Holden is coming to Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix with Butch Walker on Friday, September 7, 2018: Get Tickets

If you’re wondering why there’s finally a picture of me smiling, it’s because on top of getting married in a month, I’m closing out my year with all this craziness! 🇺🇸 🇦🇷 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/VbTsSEha3I

— Greg Holden (@gregholden) August 30, 2018

BMG, News, Tracks

The Faim Unveil New Single, “A Million Stars”

August 31, 2018 Brianne Dunn Leave a comment

LOS ANGELES – Following the release of three massive singles and videos for “Saints Of The Sinners,” “Midland Line,” and “Summer Is A Curse,” The Faim have returned with yet another anthemic track, “A Million Stars.” The song highlights a more pop-leaning, melodic side of the group and features a vibrant chorus paired with frontman Josh Raven’s striking, powerhouse vocals. Listen HERE, and stream/download “A Million Stars” HERE.

The Faim Online:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

Featured photo (top) by Max Fairclough

Adrenaline PR, News

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES Announces CONVERSE Footwear and Apparel + Reveals New Track

August 30, 2018 Brianne Dunn Leave a comment

Heavy music legends Suicidal Tendencies recently announced the upcoming release of their latest album, STill Cyco Punk After All These Years, out September 7, 2018. STill Cyco Punk After All These Years is a re-recording and re-imagining of a Cyco Miko (Mike Muir) solo album recorded in 1995, originally entitled Lost my Brain! (Once Again). The album is an auditory time capsule – a full-on Cyco Punk record taken to a whole new level – featuring legendary drummer Dave Lombardo brutally beating the songs and sound that is made to get your slam on.

In conjunction with the release, Suicidal Tendencies is pleased to reveal details about their upcoming Converse collaboration. The new Converse x Suicidal Tendencies collection will be available the same date as the new album, September 7, via Converse.com and select retailers. To celebrate, in Converse’s hometown of Boston, the collection will be available at Bodega Boston, in a pop-up on September 6 from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM and on September 7 from 11:00 AM to 8:00 AM, before the Suicidal Tendencies show at the House of Blues in Boston.

**Converse x Suicidal Tendencies Footwear and Apparel**
Photo Photo Courtesy of Converse

Vocalist Mike Muir‘s relationship with Converse started long before Suicidal Tendencies. “When I was young, I still remember getting my first pair of ‘Chucks’ for my birthday and how stoked I was to wear them to school the next day,” says Muir, reflecting on the iconic sneaker. “It was almost like a rite of passage, the beautiful thing about them is whatever ‘direction’ you were headed, you could go there with your Chucks.

Converse x Suicidal Tendencies is a collection of Chuck 70’s and accompanying apparel based on digital and screen-printed graphics in the classic style of Ric Clayton, who designed posters and fliers for the band back in the ’80s. The Chuck 70 HI’s vintage canvas upper features an all-over digital print and the Suicidal Tendencies leather patch on the lateral side. An Ox version, comes in black with an all over digitally-printed lining. The Suicidal Tendencies logo is printed on the tongue and heel. Both the Hi and the Ox pair feature two sets of additional laces including a Suicidal Tendencies printed logo lace.

All apparel, which feature original, screen printed Suicidal Tendencies artwork, include a woven poplin shirt, two pull over hoodies, a pair of sweatpants, a pair of sweatshorts, one long sleeve tee, and two short sleeve tees.

The footwear will retail for a suggested retail price of $90-$95 USD. Apparel will retail for SRP of $35-$80 USD.

“All these years later, Converse has the same meaning to me,” adds Mike Muir. “Just as young Mike will never forget putting on his first pair of Chucks, I can’t wait to relive that amazing feeling with the new Converse x Suicidal Tendencies, a massively proud moment for the band, our fans and of course me personally!”

Listen to two re-imagined tracks from
“STill Cyco Punk After All These Years” here:

“F.U.B.A.R”

“It’s Always Something”

As originally premiered via Full Metal Jackie, featuring footage of Alan Pirie a.k.a. Samurai Guinea Pig airbrushing wall art the Nuthouse STudio:

STill Cyco Punk After All These Years will be available in digital, CD, opaque purple vinyl (with download card) and opaque gold vinyl (with download card, patch and poster) formats. All merch and physical formats can be pre-ordered via the official webstore, and digital formats can be pre-ordered via iTunes and Amazon. You can also pre-save the album via Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer here.

“STill Cyco Punk After All These Years” Track Listing:

1) I Love Destruction
2) F.U.B.A.R.
3) All Kinda Crazy
4) Sippin’ From The Insanitea
5) It’s Always Something
6) Lost My Brain… Once Again
7) Nothin’ To Lose
8) Gonna Be Alright
9 Aint Gonna Get Me
10) All I Ever Get
11) Save A Peace For Me

New Album, “STill Cyco Punk After All These Years”,
out September 7, 2018
Pre-Order:

Physical/Merch | iTunes | Amazon

Suicidal Tendencies will perform in several cities this coming September and October. See below for all confirmed performance dates:

Suicidal Tendencies North American Tour Dates:

9/7 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues – album release party and anniversary show, playing first album in its entirety! – TICKETS
9/8 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club – album release party and anniversary show, playing first album in its entirety! – TICKETS
9/16 – Chicago, IL @ Douglas Park – Riot Fest – TICKETS
9/18 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Pressroom – TICKETS
9/19 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater – TICKETS
9/21 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar and Grill – TICKETS
9/22 – San Antonio, TX @ The AT&T Center Grounds – Bud Light River City Rockfest – TICKETS
9/23 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues – TICKETS
9/25 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade – Heaven – TICKETS
9/27 – Greensboro, NC @ Cone Denim Entertainment Center – TICKETS
9/28 – Louisville, KY @ Champions Park – Louder Than Life – TICKETS
9/29 – Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop – TICKETS
10/1 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue – TICKETS
10/3 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s – TICKETS
10/5 – Denver, CO @ Summit – TICKETS
10/6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex – TICKETS
10/27 – Huntington Beach, CA @ Huntington State Beach – Surf City Blitz – TICKETS

Suicidal Tendencies Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Suicidal Tendencies is:

Mike Muir – lead vocals
Dean Pleasants – guitars
Dave Lombardo – drums
Ra Díaz – bass

Adrenaline PR, News

Progressive Metal Group ETHERIUS Reveals Stunning New Music Video for “March and Defy”

August 24, 2018 Katherine Amy Vega Leave a comment

New EP, Thread of Life, out Today

New Jersey-based progressive metal quartet Etherius are thrilled to release their remarkable new instrumental progressive metal EP, entitled Thread of Life, today. The impressive new five track offering is available to order now via Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play. You can also stream it now via Spotify.

In celebration of today’s release, Etherius have revealed a brand new music video for their barnburner track, “March and Defy”, filmed/directed/edited by Michael J Adams of Blackline Studios and recorded at High Tor State Park, NY.

Guitarist Jay Tarantino says about the track and video: “‘March and Defy’ was the last track that was finished for this EP. When I brought the song to the guys we agreed that it felt incomplete. We worked out a new section for after the intro and made some changes to the arrangement and it really came together. It features some of my most challenging lead work and I love the way the main hook came out.”

The new video for “March and Defy” introduces new guitarist Jon Perkins, stepping in for former guitarist John Kiernan. Perkins originally hails from São Paulo, Brazil, and brings a strong a jazz guitar and classical composition background into the fold, accelerated by his studies at both UMiami’s Frost School of Music and Columbia University. He came in contact with the members of Etherius after performing with drummer Zaki Ali in guitarist Gus Sinaro’s backing band.

Perkins says, “It’s been exciting getting to know the members of Etherius and getting a sense of how they interpret musical ideas in a performance setting. I’ve come to see a strong sense of musical discipline and a shared sense of focus, determination and all around professionalism in everyone. I am greatly looking forward for the album release and what lies ahead for Etherius.”

Jay Tarantino adds, “We’re excited to have Jon come into the band. We’ve had the chance to get to know him after he filled in on guitar for us a few months ago for a gig at the last minute. I was impressed with how quickly he picked up the material, because it is not easy music to play. His jazz background makes him a versatile player and his attitude and work ethic fit right in with the chemistry that’s been created between Zaki, Chris, and myself.”

While online, check out the latest Etherius behind the scenes videos detailing the making of Thread of Life, exclusively hosted by Gear Gods. Catch parts one and two here, detailing drums and bass, respectively, and stay tuned for part three detailing the recording of guitars: Part One, Drums | Part Two, Bass

Check out more Etherius videos here:

“The Inevitable End” Music Video

Drum playthrough for “The Inevitable End”

Guitar playthrough for “Soothsayer”

Guitar playthrough for “Thread of Life”

Bass playthrough for “Thread of Life”

Etherius was formed by guitarist Jay Tarantino in 2017. After gaining experience as a touring rhythm guitarist for guitar virtuoso Angel Vivaldi, Tarantino decided to branch out on his own with the goal of making music unlike the djent/electronic stylings of the current instrumental guitar scene. The result is Etherius – a fresh new take on progressive metal/neoclassical shred incorporating classic thrash elements. Etherius features lead guitarist Jay Tarantino, drummer Zaki Ali, bassist Chris Targia and second guitarist Jon Perkins.

The concept of Thread of Life and the album’s artwork were inspired by ancient Greek mythology, specifically TheMoirai (moy-ray), or “three fates”. Thread of Life was produced and engineered by Jay Tarantino and Zaki Ali with Angel Vivaldi acting as co-producer, was recorded at Backroom Studios in Rockaway, New Jersey (owned by Dillinger Escape Planguitarist Kevin Antreassin), and was mixed/mastered by Mutiny Within vocalist Chris Clancy at Audioworks Productions. Additional tracking was completed with Angel Vivaldi at his home studio.

With one listen to Thread of Life it’s clear that combined, the four extremely talented musicians of Etherius produce a clean, awe-inspiring sound merging powerful progressive elements that will appeal to not only the most discerning and critical metal fans, but to the heavy music-loving masses as well.

Etherius are currently endorsed by Kiesel Guitars.

Thread of Life track listing:

1. Thread of Life
2. The Soothsayer
3. March and Defy
4. The Inevitable End
5. Lament

Etherius Live Dates:

9/2 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge w/ The Astra Cadence, Book of Harmony – 6:00 PM, $12 – TICKETS

Etherius Online:

Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube

Photo Album

Greg Holden

Butch Walker

PHOTO ALBUM

Def Leppard

Journey

Photo Gallery

You can also tune in to encore airings of the show on:

Digital and physical pre-orders for Dominion are live here:

Make sure to pick up the newly available “Ultimate Dragonlair” merch bundle, which will be available today via Spinefarm Records, featuring:

Dominion track listing:

Dragonlord Online:

Summer Is A Curse EP Track Listing:

The Faim Tour Dates w/ Against The Current:

The Faim Online:

Photo Gallery

New Song “On The Run” Out Now

Q & A with Greg Holden, Singer-Songwriter

Greg Holden is coming to Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix with Butch Walker on Friday, September 7, 2018: Get Tickets

More Music Videos from The Faim:

Stay tuned for more news from The Faim – the forthcoming track listing for the Summer Is A Curse EP will be revealed soon!

The Faim Online:

Listen to two re-imagined tracks from “STill Cyco Punk After All These Years” here:

“F.U.B.A.R”

“It’s Always Something”

“STill Cyco Punk After All These Years” Track Listing:

New Album, “STill Cyco Punk After All These Years”, out September 7, 2018 Pre-Order:

Suicidal Tendencies North American Tour Dates:

Suicidal Tendencies Online:

Suicidal Tendencies is:

New EP, Thread of Life, out Today

Check out more Etherius videos here:

Thread of Life track listing:

Etherius Live Dates:

Etherius Online:

News & Reviews from the Fiery Mosh Pits of Arizona

Listen to two re-imagined tracks from
“STill Cyco Punk After All These Years” here:

New Album, “STill Cyco Punk After All These Years”,
out September 7, 2018
Pre-Order: