Tag Archives: Alternative Rock

FEATURING: 5 Pop-Side Artists (Who Aren’t Billie Eilish) Making Waves with Fantastic New Music

May 29, 2024 Katherine Amy Vega Leave a comment

Billie Eilish continues to dominate the music scene with her unique sound and chart-topping hits. However, there are many other artists making significant strides with their new releases. Here are five mainstream artists you should definitely check out, spanning a range of genres and styles, most of who have recently released fresh tracks.

1. Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter has been steadily rising in the pop music scene, and her recent releases are a testament to her growth as an artist. Her fifth studio album, emails i can’t send, released on July 15, 2022, debuted at number 23 on the Billboard 200, marking her highest entry on the chart to date. The album featured singles like “Vicious” and “Nonsense,” the latter peaking at number 56 on the Hot 100 and achieving Platinum certification. Following this, she embarked on the Emails I Can’t Send tour in September 2022.

In March 2023, Carpenter released a deluxe edition of the album, with the single “Feather” becoming her highest-charting song, reaching number 21 on the Hot 100 and number one on the US Pop Songs chart. She performed at high-profile events like the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2023. Her involvement in Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour as the opening act for several international shows further solidified her growing stardom. Recently, she released the single “Espresso” on April 12, 2024, which became her first top-10 hit on the Hot 100, peaking at number four, coinciding with her performance at Coachella 2024.

Follow Sabrina Carpenter:

2. Renee Rapp

Renee Rapp, known for her Broadway roots in Mean Girls: The Musical, has made significant strides in her music career. She recently reprised her role as Regina George in the musical film adaptation of Mean Girls, released in theaters on January 12, 2024, and on streaming on March 5, 2024. However, Rapp has expressed her intention to focus solely on her music career due to the anxiety she experienced in the acting environment.

Rapp’s debut extended play, Everything to Everyone, released in November 2022, was followed by a deluxe version in February 2023. Her debut studio album, Snow Angel, dropped on August 18, 2023, and a deluxe version with additional tracks, including a remix of “Tummy Hurts” featuring Coco Jones, was released in November 2023. She has been actively touring, with her Snow Hard Feelings tour, supported by Alexander 23 and Towa Bird, showcasing her dynamic stage presence and deep connection with her audience. Rapp’s music blends pop and R&B influences, creating a sound that is both contemporary and timeless.

Follow Renee Rapp:

3. WILLOW

WILLOW has continued to evolve her sound and artistic persona. In February 2022, she withdrew from Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever, The World Tour due to production limitations but quickly bounced back by featuring on Camila Cabello’s track “Psychofreak” in April 2022. Her fifth studio album, COPINGMECHANISM, released on October 7, 2022, features collaborations with Yves Tumor and showcases a bold dive into alternative rock with singles like “Maybe It’s My Fault” and “Hover Like a Goddess.”

WILLOW’s recent releases continue to push boundaries. Her first single since COPINGMECHANISM, “Alone,” came out in November 2023, followed by “Symptom of Life” in March 2024 and “Big Feelings” in April. She announced her sixth studio album, empathogen, which was released on May 4, 2024. With a unique blend of punk, metal, and introspective lyrics, WILLOW’s new work explores themes of identity and self-discovery, solidifying her place as a dynamic force in the music industry.

Follow WILLOW:

4. Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan has been steadily carving out a niche for herself with her vibrant and catchy pop tunes. After moving back to Los Angeles in 2022, Roan worked a series of odd jobs before signing a publishing deal with Sony. Her independent single “Naked in Manhattan,” released in March 2022, was praised as a “queer girl bop” by NPR, highlighting her tender and nostalgic lyrics. Following this, she joined Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour Tour and Fletcher’s Girl of My Dreams Tour, gaining significant exposure.

Roan’s subsequent releases, including “Femininomenon” and “Casual,” showcased her versatility and willingness to experiment with different sounds and themes. Her debut headlining tour, Naked in North America, in early 2023, was a hit, featuring themed stops and drag queen openers. Roan’s first full-length album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, released in September 2023, further established her as a rising star. Following the album’s release, she embarked on the Midwest Princess Tour, which saw her performing across North America and internationally. Her latest single, “Good Luck, Babe!”, released in April 2024, has already garnered significant attention, debuting at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving 7 million streams in its first week. Roan’s growing popularity on Spotify and high-profile performances, including at Coachella, mark her as an artist on the rise.

Follow Chappell Roan:

5. Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo burst onto the scene with her debut single “drivers license,” and she hasn’t slowed down since. Her Disney+ documentary, Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U, detailing the making of her debut album Sour, was released on March 25, 2022. Rodrigo received seven nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, winning Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album for Sour, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “drivers license”.

Rodrigo’s second album, GUTS, released on September 8, 2023, debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was acclaimed as the most critically acclaimed album of 2023 by BBC News. The album’s lead single, “Vampire”, became her third single to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first artist to debut the lead singles from two career-opening albums at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Following the success of GUTS, Rodrigo announced her GUTS World Tour, which runs from February to October 2024. She also released a deluxe version of the album, GUTS (Spilled), in March 2024. On April 13, 2024, Rodrigo made a special guest appearance at No Doubt’s Coachella show, where she performed the band’s 2000 single “Bathwater” alongside them. Rodrigo’s music continues to capture the angst and emotions of youth, solidifying her place as a pop icon for a new generation.

Follow Olivia Rodrigo:

Billie Eilish’s Latest Release: Yeah…We Couldn’t Ignore This One

You didn’t think we’d skip over Billie Eilish’s new album, did you?

On April 8, 2024, Billie Eilish announced her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which was released on May 17, 2024.

This album marks Eilish’s highest-performing album yet, with 339,000 units earned and over 193 million streams.

This album is incredible.

Despite a close race with Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, Eilish’s album debuted at number two on the albums chart. To support the album, she announced the Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, which will cover North America, Oceania, and Europe from September 2024 to July 2025.

While Eilish and Swift continue to dominate the charts, these five artists are proving that there is plenty of fresh talent in the music industry. Sabrina Carpenter, Renee Rapp, WILLOW, Chappell Roan, and Olivia Rodrigo each bring something unique to the table, offering new music that is well worth a listen. Whether you’re into pop, rock, or something in between, these artists have something for everyone.

Honorable Mentions

For those interested in more emerging artists making waves with their recent releases, here are a few to check out:

Follow Billie Eilish:

Featured photos (top, from left to right) by Anthony Arquier (WILLOW), Unknown (Sabrina Carpenter, Renee Rapp), Ryan Clemens (Chappell Roan), Nick Walker (Olivia Rodrigo)

Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Media, Photo Galleries, Reviews

REVIEW: Primus, Puscifer, & A Perfect Circle Perform The True Sessanta Celebration for Maynard’s Official 60th Birthday at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre (4-16 & 17-2024)

April 19, 2024 Mark Greenawalt 1 Comment

Jump to Photo Gallery

April 16 Setlist | April 17 Setlist

PHOENIX — Not everyone can invite thousands of people to their birthday party, but that is exactly what Maynard James Keenan did for the “Sessanta” (Italian for “60”) concert held at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre. He turned the stage into a “house party”, complete with living room sofas on the drum risers, ping pong tables, and Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots, too! When the party guests are musician friends, a jam is inevitable. Fans were treated to a revolving mix of Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, and special guests Primus.

Unlike the prototypical concert, there was no opening act and there was no headliner. This was a party of contemporaries taking turns at the helm and then joining together like alchemists creating something new. The comical video intro to the show promised Puscifer, Primus, A Perfect Circle, Primefer, A Primus Circle, A Pusifect Primcle, and A Prifmect Puscicle!

The focus was the music. The sound was fantastic, arguably better than usual for this venue. The musicianship was flawless and the songs showcased the songwriting prowess. However, at times, the visual experience was disconcerting. The video feed was continually ‘artsy-fartsy’ with overlays of two separate video feeds infused with motion and tilt. This was obviously intentional and maybe it was supposed to mess with your head and keep you focused on the live show instead of watching TV! The issue that led to watching the video screens, however, was because there was very little front lighting on the performers.

The light show in the background was a marvelous cacophony of color palettes and dynamic design, but the people in the lawn may not have even noticed Keenan’s black eye make-up on his shadowed face. Not to mention that the videographers did their damndest to keep from showing the reclusive Keenan on the ‘jumbotrons’ at all…presumably since they would be fired if they focused on him.

A Perfect Circle

A Perfect Circle kicked off the 30-song ride by delivering “The Package,” “Disillusioned,” and “The Contrarian.” Keenan chose a three-piece black suit and a buttoned-down white shirt from his diverse selection of guises to complement his sculpted blonde mohawk. This outfit was befitting the ‘most interesting man in the world’ and could easily transition from his day-job of running a successful winery to bringing a touch of class to his night on the stage. By his side since the inception of the band, a quarter century ago, was guitarist/composer Billy Howerdel, who still looks exactly the same after all these years. Plus he is still playing the Cinnamon Burst Gibson Les Paul that is part of the signature sound of the band.

Sessanta had a two-evening engagement in Phoenix. On Tuesday, Keenan was 59-years-old. On Wednesday, he was 60. His voice still sounds like it’s in its prime! Each stanza harkened back to the creepy “Sober” video by Tool, when much of the world was introduced to his iconic vocal sound in 1993. From the haunting ‘mello, dramatic’ melodies to the gritty howls of angst, there was no doubt that he’s still got game.

Primus

A Perfect Circle brought epic songs, but the beats per minute multiplied once the screens announced Primus. The elevated drum stage extended from stage left to stage right and all three drum sets were mic’d and ready to go. Primus kicked off their first set with “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers,” followed by “Too Many Puppies,” “Sgt. Baker,” and “Follow The Fool.” There was definitely no time to go get a beer between bands.

It was most certainly Keenan’s night, but if there was a close second, Les Claypool nearly stole the show. His bass playing is a master class in technique, proficiency, and feel. There is something about this band that shouts that there are no fucks given for them trying to fit into the mold of any genre of music…and it works. Claypool’s voice and melodies are like a brilliant comedy and grinning at his delivery is contagious.

Puscifer

In the dark moments after the last Primus song, the musicians playing on center stage rotated once again. As the lights reignited, the sonic curtain was infused with synthesized textures and the continuous male/female vocal harmonies of Puscifer.

Carina Round brought a feminine aesthetic to the party dominated by the boys and she was amazing. When she wasn’t in flight across the stage, choreographed with Keenan’s moves, she was playing the pads of a Waldorf Iridium synth and morphing the sounds on the touchscreen. This short first set included “Galileo,” “Tiny Monsters,” and “Indigo Children.” Guitarist Mat Mitchell stayed on the left side of the stage with a reserved swagger and elevated the heavy moments with rock riffs and solos from his star-shaped Kiesel.

And So It Went…

The revolving cast of characters continued throughout the evening. Each band played three sets and included top songs from their catalogs such as “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver” from Primus, “The Remedy” from Puscifer, and “Weak And Powerless” from A Perfect Circle. Nobody seemed to ever go to the green room when they weren’t playing. “Back stage” were the two the couch areas next to the three drum sets, and musicians would either just hang out there, or from time to time play ping pong down stage while waiting for their turn in the limelight.

There was only one brief 10-minute intermission, and even that proved to be entertaining with a video of Keenan made up to look way older than 60 and dressed in a hospital gown while breathing through a nasal cannula. Throughout the intermission, his character would fall asleep in the green-screen hospital room only to be awoken by the countdown announcing each minute left of the break. You come to expect Keenan’s humor after naming his wine “Merkin” and his band Puscifer, but his dad jokes as this old man really made you roll your eyes. “What did the pirate say when he turned eighty?…Ay matey”, “Why are rock stars so cool?…They have lots of fans,” and many others. You can watch this character in the promotional videos for the concert for more corny humor.

Claypool was wearing a Pinnochio nose to compliment his familiar round glasses and derby cap as Primus wrapped up the preliminary rounds of music with the epicly plodding “Southbound Pachyderm.” Then Keenan came on stage to interject that this is what it’s like to be 60! The enthusiastic crowd cheered and wished him a happy birthday. The next three songs were introduced as the new material from the Sessanta E.P.P.P (presumably more humor derived from being an extended play (EP) of Primus, Puscifer, and [A] Perfect Circle (P.P.P). This EP was available exclusively online or at the merch booth. Many fans were carrying around their purchased copies.

Each of the songs were slow, starting with piano-driven “Kindred” by A Perfect Circle with deep lyrics about dealing with death. Next up was “No Angel” by Puscifer, which spotlighted Mitchell with tasty guitar accents and the angelic voicings of Round reverberating in the background. The Primus song, “Pablo’s Hippos” was electric, and the subwoofer synth parts seemed to be emanating from inside your head instead of from the speakers! Guitarist Larry LeLonde was shredding on a two-neck Gibson SG reminiscent of Jimmy Page and Keenan guested as the lead singer with a few harmonies in injections from Claypool. Claypool also made several appearances throughout the evening playing a beautiful upright bass while wearing a pig mask.

In addition to crew videographers positioned in the photo pit, some unusual camerawork sights included: the video camera attached to a massive jib arm sweeping across the stage, emphasizing the grandeur of the occasion throughout the night, and drone cameras buzzing almost playfully over the lawn crowd. This no-doubt assured everyone that the experience would be captured in high quality. A good thing too, since cameras were otherwise strictly forbidden for this show, as is customary at Keenan’s concerts. Those caught disobeying would be ejected from the concert and ‘turned into the special ingredient of Spam’ – Keenan’s humor shining once more. However, for this one last song, fans and press photographers alike were finally permitted to indulge their need to shoot. He articulated the rule that lights and flash must not be used, and he quipped to “consult a 9-year-old if you don’t know how to do that”.

The culmination of the two nights of celebration was the full cast hitting the stage together for a monumental version of Puscifer’s “Grand Canyon.” The melody took on modes of distant cultures and the three drummers amplified the tribal feel.

It was a great night of reminiscing with the eclectic mix of songs that abruptly came to an end, Keenan passing out fist bumps to everyone on stage who made his birthday party spectacular. We hope he will come back for “Settanta” when he turns 70!

April 16 Setlist | April 17 Setlist

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Rodrigo Izquierdo

Sessanta: Primus, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre 4-16-24

‹ › ×

Photography © Reagle Photography
All Rights Reserved

Live Nation, News, Tours

Third Eye Blind Announces 2024 Summer Gods Tour With Yellowcard & A R I Z O N A

January 8, 2024 Katherine Amy Vega Leave a comment

Third Eye Blind is excited to announce the fourth edition of the Summer Gods Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the tour will begin June 8 in Spokane through August 3 in Houston, with special guests Yellowcard and A R I Z O N A.

GENERAL ONSALE FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 @ 10AM LOCAL TIME

Tickets will be available for presale Tuesday, January 9 with Citi, and additional presales throughout the week. General onsale will begin Friday, January 12 at 10:00am local time at ThirdEyeBlind.com.

“I have this sense that I am feeling the same way everybody else is—that we need a summer tour so badly, like more than ever,” says Stephan Jenkins. “We need the lights, the noise, the heat and everybody up close to each other, singing as one. Can’t wait.”

“Third Eye Blind self-titled is a masterclass in songwriting that blew all of our minds when it released in 1997,” says Ryan Key of Yellowcard. “As 90s kids we were gifted with so much incredible music in our formative years and we are all such massive fans of the band because of that record. It doesn’t feel real yet that we will be sharing the stage with one of our all time favorite bands every night this summer.”

“Third Eye Blind was the soundtrack to so many summer adventures during high school!” adds Nate Esquite (A R I Z O N A). “My friends and I would drive up and down the NJ Parkway blasting “Semi-Charmed Life” out the windows and dreaming about one day playing PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel as we passed. To be a part of this tour is a dream come true in so many ways – being able to sing our hearts out to 3EB every night and playing so many incredible venues along the way.”

Fun Fact: The Summer Gods tour poster was designed by Charlie Benante, the founding drummer of Anthrax and member of Pantera’s touring band.

2024 Third Eye Blind Summer Gods Tour Dates

June 8 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
June 9 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
June 13 – Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
June 14 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
June 15 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
June 21 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 22 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas
June 25 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
June 26 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
June 28 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
June 29 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis
June 30 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
July 2 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
July 3 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
July 5 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
July 6 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
July 7 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 9 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
July 11 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
July 12 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
July 13 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
July 14 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
July 16 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
July 18 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
July 19 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 20 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
July 21 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
July 23 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
July 25 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
July 26 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
July 27 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
July 28 – Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 31 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
August 1 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
August 2 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
August 3 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

Ticket information and more at ThirdEyeBlind.com

WORLD’S FIRST PLAYABLE GOLD RECORD: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF “JUMPER”

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of “Jumper,” Third Eye Blind is releasing the world’s first playable .999 silver-coated and .997 karat gold-coated records, in collaboration with Precious Sound. Manufactured in Germany, each 5”, 7 ounce record is playable at 33 ⅓ RPMs on any manual record player, and pressed with 1,250 tons, using groundbreaking technology. The B-side is an engraving celebrating the cover art of the self-titled album.

“25 years in, ‘Jumper’ makes a message of the value of a common heart. I’m happy that this is the first message immortalized on precious metals,” says Stephan Jenkins. “The song has gone from dark to light. It started as a noir—where I am talking to somebody telling what I would have said to them had they not jumped off the Coronado bridge. Pretty dark stuff. Now when I sing it, it is a celebration of understanding and inclusivity and you can see how eager people are to express that feeling. I love it. I love the transition.”

AVAILABLE ON PURE GOLD, GOLD COATED & SILVER COATED 5” PRESSINGS

“Jumper” will be available in .999 silver coating ($450), in .997 gold coating ($800), and twenty-five 24 karat solid gold pressings (price available by request at PreciousSound.com).

Pre-orders will be available at ThirdEyeBlind.com and PreciousSound.com.

As always, a portion of the proceeds will benefit SeaTrees. Third Eye Blind has been on a mission to restore the kelp ecosystems of the entire California coastline and sequester carbon. Since 2017, Third Eye Blind has sought to mitigate the touring industry’s carbon impact and also banned plastic water bottles backstage, saving an estimated 17,000 bottles per tour.

“We have a beautiful, bright future,” with climate action in the center of it. “That’s what I want people to know,” says Jenkins on CBS Mornings.

Precious Sound has created the world’s first playable gold, silver, and platinum records. Founded by Mark Sutton and Ursina Beerli, two friends with a deep experience in precious metals and an adoration for music. The company is based in Zurich and New York, with a production partner in Munich.

APPEARING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10 ON “GOOD MORNING AMERICA”

On Wednesday, January 10 catch a special performance and interview on “Good Morning America.”

Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Reviews

REVIEW: Portugal. The Man Kicked It Like It Was 1986 at The Van Buren 10-12-17

October 16, 2017 Sean Tingle Leave a comment

PHOENIX – Thursday, October 12th, was a much-anticipated night for fans of indie rock band Portugal. The Man. While many people may have heard of Portugal. The Man, or PTM for short, over the years since their inception in 2004, the band truly found fame after releasing their hit single “Feel It Still” from their new album, Woodstock. Almost overnight, “Feel It Still” became a widely played hit and currently sits at a comfortable 6th place spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list, inclusive of all genres of music.

This unexpected and sudden boost in attention may explain why their show at The Van Buren quickly sold out, and it may also explain a shirt they had on display at their merchandise booth with the message, “I LIKED PORTUGAL. THE MAN BEFORE THEY SOLD OUT.” This was just one of many interesting shirts and various other accessories they had on sale, with some items featuring their iconic and fascinatingly styled artwork. The lead singer, John Gourley, is the artist, and his style is quite unique.

A post shared by Portugal The Lords (@portugaltheman) on Oct 4, 2017 at 7:10pm PDT

The Van Buren is a new establishment, but it is quickly establishing its dominance in the Phoenix Metro area. Many people visited The Van Buren for the first time on Thursday evening, and many people in the crowd could be overheard discussing how great this new space is. Since the show was entirely sold out, they had the house cleared out as much as possible and even set up an auxiliary bar located house right, close to the side exits to the restrooms. This made for 3 bars inside to complement the bars out on the patio. The crowd was definitely hydrated, and the drinks were flowing — everyone was getting ready for the time of their lives.

The Chamanas

By the time The Chamanas started playing, the house was filling up fast. People were well lubricated, and cans of PBR could be seen in hands throughout the rapidly-growing crowd. While they were enjoying their beverages, The Chamanas treated them to a soothing mix of several of their distinctly varied songs. Paulina Reza, lead singer of The Chamanas, has a beautiful voice and a powerful set of lungs which she employed to their fullest throughout the show.

The Chamanas are considered a “Fronterizo pop fusion ensemble,” and their name is part English, part Spanish, and part portmanteau; all together, they represent a physical manifestation of the magical, spiritual qualities that music may sometimes bring into the world. Their goal? To change the way people may think or feel by bringing a positive outlook and spreading love through their songs. What better way to celebrate the idea of people coming together across borders to celebrate common interests and emotions? The members come from both Juarez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas, making this a fantastic fusion of cultures, languages, and styles.

The Chamanas performing a Spanish cover of Portugal. the Man's "Feel it Still." 👍 @thechamanas @portugaltheman @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #concertreview #portugaltheman #livemusic #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicislove #musicislife

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 12, 2017 at 8:24pm PDT

Reza brings vocals that are at once unique, but also reminiscent of many famous singers who may not be well known in the US. In fact, the style of her voice in many of her songs brings hints of Jeanette, the famous British-Spanish pop artist who spent much of her own musical career bridging cultural gaps through music. The rest of The Chamanas are also reminiscent of similarly-minded bands, such as Calexico, who will be playing at the upcoming Lost Lake Festival on Friday, October 20th, as well as Chicano Batman, who will be playing at The Van Buren on Saturday, November 4th.

During The Chamanas’s performance, Reza took a moment to tell the crowd, “We love music. We love to do this.” She continued to share positive thoughts like this throughout their performance, both in Spanish and English; “Music is the answer,” she said; it can become a cure for discrimination across the country.

Towards the end of The Chamanas’s time on stage, Reza also shared that, when using Portugal. The Man’s recording studio, Sonic Ranch, they became quite friendly with one another. After a while, PTM asked The Chamanas to perform some of their songs in Spanish to help bridge the gaps between genres and cultures. Reza and the band were thrilled to do so.

This lead to a stunning rendition of “Purple Yellow Red & Blue” in mostly Spanish, with a few famous lines still in the original English — most notably, the lyrics from the chorus that are the same as the title of the song. They also played their version of “Feel It Still,” which was phenomenal as well. This was a great way to get the crowd excited for Portugal. The Man, and Reza further hyped the crowd by asking if they were excited to see PTM later. The crowd screamed their approval.

The Chamanas performing my favorite Portugal. the Man song, "Purple Yellow Red & Blue" in Spanish 😅👍 @thechamanas @portugaltheman @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #concertreview #portugaltheman #livemusic #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicislove #musicislife

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 12, 2017 at 8:45pm PDT

Portugal. The Man

After a short break consisting of eager fans pressing ever-closer together towards the stage, the lights went out, and “Unchained Melody” by Righteous Brothers began to play. The crowd’s eager cheers soon gave way to gentle swaying, and a few people pulled out their lighters. Several others joined with their cell phones, but the effect was not the same. Some began to sing along, especially as the song reached its climax, so to speak:

“Are you
Still mine
I need your love
I need your love
Godspeed your love to me”

Just as the song reached the peak of its climactic crescendo, one of the Portugal. The Man logos was projected onto the backdrop along with their title, “The Lords of Portland.” Their desert kingdom awaited them.

What an entrance!!! . . . #concert #concertreview #portugaltheman #livemusic #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicislove #musicislife

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 12, 2017 at 9:15pm PDT

Following their royal title was a message for their loyal subjects: “We are not very good at stage banter, so tonight’s performance will feature some slogans written by our management. Thank you for your continued understanding. PTM.” They followed this projected message with a verbal greeting: “What’s up Phoenix? We’re Portugal. The Man.” Immediately after this, they went right into their cover of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” complete with ominous bells preceding stellar instrumentals.Those guys can rock out with the best of them.

The next song in PTM’s lineup was their second most famous song, “Purple Yellow Red & Blue.” It was clear that fans in the crowd loved hearing one of their favorite songs performed live, and many sang along. While much of the song was the same as the radio or album versions, they did add quite a few instrumental intermissions. This showed off their passion for progressive rock, which they would dive into again frequently throughout the remainder of the show.

Their penchant for progressive rock is rivaled by their love of psychedelic rock, so of course they had to cover Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)” — if the singing heard from the crowd was any indication, the rest of the room definitely seemed to approve of this addition to the show. “Hey, teachers, leave those kids alone!” This was quite fitting because many might say Portugal. The Man is quite similar to a contemporary version of Pink Floyd, though they definitely have their own, signature style.

The light show tonight was psychedelic! 🌈☮️✌️ . . . #concert #concertreview #portugaltheman #livemusic #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicislove #musicislife

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 12, 2017 at 11:41pm PDT

To couple with all the alternative, psychedelic, progressive, and experimental tunes Portugal. The Man were playing, they treated the crowd to an equally-psychedelic light show, complete with a section of “Purple Yellow Red & Blue” transitioning into an entrancing display of alternating rainbows reaching out towards the audience. Naturally, they also threw in purple, yellow, red, and blue lights, perfectly timed with their accompanying lyrics.

Hypnotic lasers, flashing lights, and rainbow hues were not the only visual accoutrements during the show; Portugal. The Man brought some fascinating visuals to display on the backdrop behind them. These frequently featured nightmarish images of bodies, heads, and eyes, and each song had a unique combination of one or many of these features. Diamonds and other geometric shapes also found their way into the visual feast on the projector. One thing is for certain — these graphics were unforgettable, hollow eyes and all.

As advertised, occasionally, the “management” threw up more messages throughout the show. Some of these messages stated things like, “We are Portugal. The Man! Just making sure you’re at the right concert,” and “Thank you for buying and/or stealing our new album.” Their self-awareness and reticence (or perhaps just pure love for playing music) were quite refreshing, and these textual messages were more than enough stage banter for this show.

Absolutely loved the messages projected onto the backdrop throughout the show — "that's f*ckin badass" . . . #concert #concertreview #portugaltheman #livemusic #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicislove #musicislife

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 12, 2017 at 11:37pm PDT

Other amusing messages included the following series: “Smokin’ Weed???” “Gettin F*cked Up???” “Discussing Politics at Family Gatherings” and, finally, “That’s F*ckin’ Bad Ass.” The most important message throughout the entire show, however, was most likely the message that read, “That’s right kids. No computers up here. Just live instruments.”

We can feel it still… 🙂 . . . #concert #concertreview #portugaltheman #livemusic #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicislove #musicislife

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 13, 2017 at 12:12am PDT

After playing “Feel It Still” and many other hit songs, and after bringing some Woodstock vibes to Phoenix, it was time for a Portugal. The Man style encore. The crowd was greeted with a customized PTM version of the old-school “Indian-head test pattern” that used to play on broadcast TV: “Please Stand By.” Fans of the Fallout video game series may also recognize it quite well. This take on the interim between main show and encore was different and, again, self-aware, but everyone knew they’d be coming back out for a few more songs anyway. They must have wanted to be efficient about it.

Almost as soon as Portugal. The Man had swept into The Van Buren, the show was over. After their last song, the band quickly dispersed and left the stage without as much as a farewell. However, this is their style, so this is the way it must be. PTM fans were not bothered by this one bit, and many could be heard after the show eagerly chatting about how this was “the best concert of all time.” One thing is for sure: they put on a damn good show, and Phoenix is definitely feeling it still.

Light em up. 👀👀👀👀 . . . #concert #concertreview #portugaltheman #livemusic #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicislove #musicislife

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 13, 2017 at 12:26am PDT

Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Reviews

REVIEW: MUTEMATH’s “Play Dead” Live Brings New Life to The Van Buren 10-10-17

October 13, 2017 Sean Tingle Leave a comment

PHOENIX – Tuesday, October 10th, was yet another perfect early-fall evening in downtown Phoenix. MUTEMATH, during the latter half of their US “Play Dead Live” Tour, graced The Van Buren with their ethereal presence. Joined by the relatively new band ROMES and Tennessee indie rock band Colony House. Together, they filled The Van Buren with an interesting mix of different styles of music, approaches to live performance, and interaction with fans.

ROMES

ROMES was first up; these young musicians came to Phoenix all the way from Toronto, Ontario and Wicklow, Ireland — all four met while attending school over the pond. This was their first time in Phoenix, and their enthusiasm and excitement to be at The Van Buren was palpable. The lead singer, Jacob Alexander, even sported a Phoenix Suns t-shirt to show his love for the city.

The members of ROMES had a few lights, including a lit-up sign of the band’s name, behind them on stage, but they relied mostly on their stage presence and energy to entertain the crowd. Their music was an interesting mix of styles, and they identify as indie, alternative, soul-pop or alternative pop. Their single, “Believe,” is a great introduction to their unique style. While they may be relatively new to the music scene, they have just released their self-titled debut album on October 6th.

The handsome and talented @romes hanging out with us at @thevanburenphx for their first visit to Phoenix

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 10, 2017 at 9:13pm PDT

Jacob Alexander, Nicolas Amadeus, James Tebbitt, and Andrew Keyes provided fantastic stage presence, energy, instrumentals, and vocals to the crowd. Their performance was a great warm-up for the incredible MUTEMATH show to come later, but ROMES certainly could hold their own. It was clear these guys are quite close, and you could feel the camaraderie on stage as they played their favorite songs. Their smiles were infectious, and their positive, friendly, welcoming aura certainly set the mood for the rest of the evening.

@romes rocked the stage at @thevanburenphx as the first opening band this evening

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 10, 2017 at 9:04pm PDT

Colony House

After a short break, Colony House’s time had come. Their set-up was a bit irregular, with the drummer on stage right and close to the audience. This provided everyone with a clear view of each band member’s performance, which was a nice addition. They certainly made excellent use of the entire stage. They also displayed a huge sign with their band name and logo behind them, which many in the audience thought looked a bit like a nice coffee shop or brand’s logo. They also provided a moderate amount of stage lighting, including what appeared to be four lighthouse beacons. At the very least, the audience could rest assured that no boats would be approaching too closely during the show.

@colonyhouse was the second opening band this evening at @thevanburenphx — eagerly awaiting @mutemath now!

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 10, 2017 at 9:23pm PDT

Colony House is from Franklin, Tennessee, which is also home to MUTEMATH lead singer Paul Meany’s record label, Teleprompt Records. While Colony House is not a part of this record label, it is clear they are quite close with MUTEMATH. They performed admirably, further lighting the fire under the crowd and increasing the energy. The highlight of their show was their hit song, “Silhouettes,” and the crowd certainly sang along with them. Later on in the show, the lead singer Caleb Chapman told the crowd to sing along with another song; after all, “it sounds so much better with your voices in it.” This was a nice way to get the audience involved.

@colonyhouse performimg their hit song “Silhouettes” at @thevanburenphx

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 10, 2017 at 9:16pm PDT

Colony House is considered indie rock, and they currently have two albums out. The most recent, Only The Lonely, was released in January of this year. Some of the singles off the new album are “You Know It,” “Lovely,” and “This Beautiful Life.” Chapman, his brother Will Chapman, and their friends Scott Mills and Parke Cottrell have been playing music together since high school, and once again, it was clear they are close with one another, just like ROMES. It is always wonderful to see a band composed of members who genuinely seem to love and respect one another.

Once Colony House was done playing, it was time for another break. This time, the break was a bit longer than last; MUTEMATH had a lot of equipment to set up. During this recess, the crowd continued to increase size as latecomers finally arrived to The Van Buren. Slowly but surely, people started packing in closer and closer to the stage, eager with anticipation. Meanwhile, The Van Buren was setting up for what was to be a truly impressive light show, projecting light towards the stage from the back of the house, illuminating the backdrop as well as the crowd.

MUTEMATH

After what seemed an eternity, New Orleans-based MUTEMATH finally arrived on stage. The crowd instantly went wild, and they were greeted by a band clad in purely white outfits. Aside from looking uniform in their comfortable outfits, their attire also served to complement the visuals being projected on to the stage and the massive silver backdrop. Their first song was “War,” joined by plenty of interesting visuals that either matched the song or captured the audience’s attention — soldiers, rising fists, a spiral galaxy, and various machines of war. Fans of the band who have seen the music video for this song may have recognized some of the imagery.

We are going… To War! @mutemath @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 10, 2017 at 9:58pm PDT

MUTEMATH continued the show with very different images across the board; each song brought something new, and just about every color of the rainbow was covered in the light show. In fact, this concert was less live music and more performance art. The band itself, primarily Meany, performed admirably. Their energy levels were truly unprecedented — perhaps even over 9000. They were all over the stage, dancing and playing all sorts of instruments, aside from the drummer. It was interesting to watch multi-instrumentalists performing a menagerie of fascinating instruments.

Performance art to the MAX. This is seriously a contender for my favorite concert of all time. @mutemath @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 11, 2017 at 1:49pm PDT

Meany’s featured instrument of choice seems to be the keytar, which he plays exceptionally well. Mixed with his bizarrely charming dance moves, unconventional voice, and the entrancing light show, the keytar is clearly the perfect weapon of choice for this artist. Later on, however, he also played his Rhodes keyboard, electric guitar, a bizarre stringed electronic instrument, and even the drums along with 2 other band members.

Them dance moves. Damn! @mutemath @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 10, 2017 at 10:10pm PDT

Meany did not just rely on his dancing and singing to entertain the crowd. He also resorted to surprise attacks in the way of headstands on top of his keyboard, the swinging of an LED light on a chord to mimic the display on the projector, getting up close and personal with the front row of fans, standing on top of his keyboard to absorb graphics being projected onto himself and the stage, and a few more surprises.

One of the many shenanigans they pulled last night. 2 hours of unprecedented energy!!! What’s their secret?! ❤️ @mutemath @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 11, 2017 at 1:39pm PDT

One of the most touching moments of the show was the shocking moment when Amelia Meany, Paul’s daughter, came out on stage. She had ear protection, for anyone who might worry about her little ears. She joined her dad in singing the song “Pixie Oaks,” containing these lyrics in its chorus:

“My Amelia, my Amelia,
My Amelia, my Amelia,
She’s a killer, she’s a healer,
I believe her, my Amelia…”

“Never turn the camera off…” (Swipe for more!) That amazingly adorable moment from last night when Paul Meany’s daughter came out on stage to sing and dance with her dad. The song is kind of about her, after all… ❤️😍 @mutemath @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 11, 2017 at 1:37pm PDT

While the true meaning of the song is likely a personal thing, it is clear that his daughter has inspired much of his recent music and lyrics. She seems like an awesome kid, and her dance skills may one day rival her father’s.

“I’ll just sing along with her instead…” That amazingly adorable moment from last night when Paul Meany’s daughter came out on stage to sing and dance with her dad. The song is kind of about her, after all… ❤️😍 @mutemath @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 11, 2017 at 12:53pm PDT

In the middle of the show, MUTEMATH seemed to be finished. They had played for about an hour, after all, and vacated the stage. The crowd was not happy with this and continued to cheer for quite a few moments. After a short break of ambient background music and interesting graphics projected onto the screen, MUTEMATH came back on stage. What at first appeared to be an encore turned out to be an entire second act, so this must have been an intermission of sorts. Nobody in the audience was upset by the second hour of music, of course.

During the second half of the show, Meany, Todd Gummerman, Jonathan Allen, and their new drummer David Hutchinson somehow increased their energy levels and truly blew the crowd away. Their stage presence is nearly unparalleled, and for those up front, it was a fully immersive experience. Aside from Meany getting up close and personal with those close to the front at various points in the show, he also pulled out that interesting stringed electronic instrument and let a few people in the crowd play it with him. He passed it out to the crowd, let it float on the sea of hands for a while, and then quickly took it back.

“…aaaand I’ll take that back now, thank you.” 😂👍 So many unique and interesting instruments were used last night… By the band AND the audience!!! 🎹🎶🎧🎛🎚🎸🎵 @mutemath @thevanburenphx . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 11, 2017 at 1:41pm PDT

The second most touching moment of the show came when Meany decided to jump down into the crowd while singing. When he wasn’t too focused on vocals, he began handing out high fives to those in the crowd. He proceeded down the center of the crowd, coming across a lucky individual whom he high fived and then proceeded to embrace him in what must have been one of the best hugs ever given. A few others in the crowd wanted in on this, so he gave out several more hugs before heading back to the stage. Those who received a hug seemed to be stunned in disbelief due to this intimate moment Meany shared with them.

While there were many incredible moments throughout the show, one thing is for certain — MUTEMATH rocked The Van Buren well into the night, providing an experience the crowd will not soon forget. They may have lost their beloved drummer, Darren King, and his iconic duct-taped headphones during live shows, but the new drummer did an admirable job. In fact, there was so much going on during the show that it was easy for people to forget about Darren King’s unfortunate departure from the band.

Getting our Vitals… . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 10, 2017 at 10:31pm PDT

While the show blew everyone away, it was not without its faults. One attendee and long-time MUTEMATH fan, Jim S., mentioned a few concerns: “The live mix wasn’t great. The vocals were washed out. Might have to do with the mic technique.” Despite this minor concern, he was not at all let down. He proceeded to say, “The music complimented the stage presence. They have some really amazing songs and they sound good live, other than the mic mixing, but the stage presence really put the whole show over the top.” This was perfectly put, and a few others who attended the show agreed with Jim after discussing it once the show was over.

Thank you so much for visiting Phoenix, @mutemath !!! Please come back asap!!! And keep making new music. ❤️❤️ . . . #concert #livemusic #concertreview #thevanburen #thevanburenphx #downtownphx #downtownphoenix #dtphx #musicjournalism #musicjournalist #ineedanewphone #musicislife #musicislove #electronicmusic #rock #rockmusic #alternative #alternativemusic #performanceart #mutemath #playdead #playdeadlive

A post shared by Sean Tingle (@music_seen) on Oct 11, 2017 at 1:59pm PDT

MUTEMATH is in a league of their own. They’ve gone through so many changes since 2002, and they have had some tough times, but fans old and new alike are so happy MUTEMATH is still making music and touring. In fact, people in Phoenix already seem to be prepared for their next stop — hopefully at The Van Buren again! Their new album, Play Dead, was just released last month and is a worthy successor to Vitals. Five albums and counting so far, and fans are certain to be eagerly awaiting new songs and albums in the future.

Burning Hot Events