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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)

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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.

Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan (Vocalist), A Perfect Circle & Puscifer
Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

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.

Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel (Guitarist, Vocalist), A Perfect Circle
Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

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
Carina Round (Vocalist), Puscifer
Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

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.

Carina Round and Maynard James Keenan
Carina Round (Vocalist) & Maynard James Keenan (Vocalist), Puscifer
Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

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.

Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan (Vocalist), A Perfect Circle & Puscifer
Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

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.

Matt McJunkins, A Perfect Circle
Matt McJunkins, A Perfect Circle
Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

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”.

Primus, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle
Primus, Puscifer, & A Perfect Circle
Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

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

Justin Timberlake Returns to the Global Stage with the ‘Forget Tomorrow’ World Tour

Last night on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, renowned musician, actor, and entertainer Justin Timberlake announced his first tour in 5 years with The Forget Tomorrow World Tour. 

Produced by Live Nation, the first leg of his global outing will include 22-cities and kicks off on April 29 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC making stops across North America in Seattle, WA; Los Angeles, CA; Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Boston, MA and more before wrapping up in Lexington, KY at Rupp Arena on July 9.

Additional dates including stops in Europe and the UK will be announced soon. See full ticketing and routing information below.

Get Tickets for All Tour Dates Here

Justin Timberlake 2024 world tour dates
Justin Timberlake 2024 world tour dates

About Timberlake’s New Album – Out March 15

'Everything I Thought It Was' album artwork
‘Everything I Thought It Was’ album artwork

Fans can expect to hear songs from his forthcoming new album Everything I Thought It Was, his latest single “Selfish” out now, and everyone’s favorite hits. Written by Timberlake, Louis Bell (Taylor Swift, Post Malone), Cirkut (Maroon 5, The Weeknd), Theron Thomas, Amy Allen and produced by Timberlake, Louis Bell and Cirkut, “Selfish” is the first taste of solo music from Justin since his 2018 Man of the Woods record.

Justin’s sixth studio album Everything I Thought It Was is out March 15th. Pre-order HERE. This weekend, Timberlake will return to Saturday Night Live as musical guest, making the TV debut of his newly released single “Selfish”.

Justin Timberlake 2024 North American Tour Dates

  • Mon Apr 29 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
  • Thu May 02 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
  • Mon May 06 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
  • Fri May 10 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena*
  • Tue May 14 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena San Diego*
  • Fri May 17 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
  • Tue May 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
  • Wed May 29 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center
  • Fri May 31 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
  • Tue Jun 04 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
  • Thu Jun 06 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
  • Mon Jun 10 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
  • Wed Jun 12 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
  • Fri Jun 14 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
  • Sat Jun 15 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
  • Fri Jun 21 – Chicago, IL – United Center
  • Tue Jun 25 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
  • Sat Jun 29 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
  • Wed Jul 03 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
  • Thu Jul 04 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
  • Sun Jul 07 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse*
  • Tue Jul 09 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena

*Verizon Up Presale Not Applicable

North America Tickets

GENERAL ONSALE BEGINS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 AT 10AM LOCAL ON JUSTINTIMBERLAKE.COM

Tickets will be available starting with a fan club presale beginning on Monday, January 29. Existing Fan Club members will receive a unique code via email for access to purchase tickets. Additional presales including Verizon and Citi (details below) will run throughout the week. The general onsale begins Friday, February 2 at 10 am local time at JustinTimberlake.com.

TICKETS AVAILABLE WITH CITI AND VERIZON PRESALES STARTING TUESDAY, JANUARY 30

  • CITI PRESALE: Citi is the official card of the Forget Tomorrow World Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets for U.S. dates beginning Tuesday, January 30 at 10am local time until Thursday, February 1 at 5pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit citientertainment.com.
  • VERIZON PRESALE: Verizon will offer customers presale access for the Justin Timberlake Forget Tomorrow World Tour for applicable U.S dates through Verizon Up. Customers will have access to purchase presale tickets for select shows beginning Tuesday, January 30 at 10am local time to Thursday, February 1 at 5pm local time. For more details visit Verizon Up.

VIP:

The tour will also offer a variety of VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include tickets in the exclusive VIP Stage Bar section with in-seat service throughout the night, specially designed VIP gift item, early entrance into the venue & more. For additional information, visit vipnation.com

The Paper Kites to Kick off West Coast Tour This February In Support of New Album At the Roadhouse

Australian indie-folk groundbreakers The Paper Kites make their way back to North America this February for the final leg of their tour in support of their latest acclaimed album, At The Roadhouse. The nearly sold-out headline tour starts on February 27th in Salt Lake City with stops in Denver, Phoenix, Pioneertown, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and more. Full list of dates below.

‘At The Roadhouse’ LP

Last fall, The Paper Kites set out on the first leg of their At The Roadhouse tour, selling out numerous dates, including Toronto’s 1,500-capacity Dan Forth Music Hall and Washington DC’s historic 1,200-capacity Howard Theatre, as well as their NYC, Austin, and Durham shows.

Watch the Band Perform “Till The Flame Turns Blue” LIVE

At The Roadhouse is the continuation of an odds-defying run for The Paper Kites that has seen them achieve accolades like a certified Platinum record in the US, over a billion streams and 8M monthly listeners on Spotify, and continuously-growing sold-out audiences across continents.

Removing themselves from the typical pageantry that accompanies accolades like that, the group found inspiration for this new album by relocating to the remote village of Campbells Creek – away from the pressures of daily life – where they joyfully filled The Roadhouse with music around the clock for weeks on end. While often creating new songs by day, performing them to a growing fan community at night, and recording right there the next morning – the resulting sixteen songs form a touching ode to what waits for us on the winding roads of love, loss, acceptance, and wanderlust.

The Paper Kites West Coast Tour Dates

Get Tickets Here

  • Feb 27 – Salt Lake City, UT @ UTMetro Music Hall – SOLD OUT
  • Feb 28 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 2 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 3 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s – SECOND DATE ADDED
  • Mar 4 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 5 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 6 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 8 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 9 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 10 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 12 – Calgary, CA @ Bella Concert Hall – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 13 – Edmonton, CA @ McDougall United Church – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 15 – Winnipeg, CA @ Burton Cummings Theatre – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 16 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café– SOLD OUT
  • Mar 17 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall – SOLD OUT

The Paper Kites have more upcoming tour dates in Canada, Europe, and Australia. View Full List of Tour Dates Here


At The Roadhouse

Listen to the Album Here

‘At the Roadhouse’ album artwork | Photo: Dara Munnis. @daramunnis

Tracklist

  1. Midnight Moon
  2. Till The Flame Turns Blue
  3. Black & Thunder
  4. Marietta
  5. Rolling On Easy
  6. Hurts So Good
  7. Burn The Night Away
  8. Good Nights Gone
  9. June’s Stolen Car
  10. Maria, It’s Time
  11. Green Valleys
  12. The Sweet Sound Of You
  13. I Don’t Want To Go That Way
  14. Pocket Full Of Rain
  15. Mercy
  16. Darkness At My Door

 “anyone who steps into The Roadhouse — in person or via listening to the recording — can carry with them a light against the darkness”  –  No Depression


The Paper Kites are:

  • Sam Bentley (Lead Vocals, Guitars, Harmonica & Mandolin)
  • Christina Lacy (Backing Vocals, Pianos, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Guitars)
  • David Powys (Backing Vocals, Guitars, Banjo)
  • Samuel Rasmussen (Bass)
  • Josh Bentley (Drums)

With The Roadhouse Band:

  • Hannah Cameron (Backing Vocals, Organs, Piano & Percussion)
  • Chris Panousakis (Backing Vocals, Guitars, Percussion)
  • Matt Dixon (Pedal Steel, Guitars)

Avril Lavigne Announces the ‘Greatest Hits Tour’

Today, eight-time GRAMMY®-nominated diamond-certified icon Avril Lavigne announced her 2024 headline tour across North America, Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits. Produced by Live Nation, the 27-date tour will see Avril perform her biggest songs to-date including the RIAA 3x platinum-certified “Complicated,” the 2x platinum-certified “Sk8er Boi,” the 2x platinum-certified “Girlfriend,” the platinum-certified “Here’s To Never Growing Up,” and many more from her record-smashing catalog.

The Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits tour kicks off on Wednesday, May 22 in Vancouver, BC at Rogers Arena, with stops in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Toronto, Charlotte, Chicago and more before wrapping up on Monday, Sept 16 in Edmonton, AB at Rogers Place. All Time Low and Simple Plan will join Avril on select dates throughout the tour as special guests and direct support, with Royal & the Serpent and Girlfriends joining select dates as opening acts.

Avril Lavigne Greatest Hits Tour dates

View List of Tour Dates

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with an Artist presale beginning on Wednesday, January 24 at 10 AM local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning on Friday, January 26 at 10 AM local time at ticketmaster.com.

VIP: The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but may include premium tickets, invitation to the SK8ER BOI Hospitality Lounge, specially designed merch bundle, and more. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

Beyond selling 50 million albums worldwide with 12.5 million units sold in the U.S alone, Avril’s live performance prowess has been widely praised throughout her storied, two-decade career:

EPIC.” – Alternative Press

“Avril Lavigne proved she is STILL POP PUNK’S PRINCESS” – Chicago Tribune

“After all of these years, Avril still has one of the BEST AND MOST VERSATILE VOICES IN THE INDUSTRY.” – Twin Cities Media

ENERGETIC and… EMPOWERING FUN” – The Oakland Press

DEAFENING SCREAMS FROM THE FANS in attendance greeting her Grammy-nominated hit, ‘Complicated.’ The overwhelming reaction and boisterous sing-a-long MADE IT SEEM LIKE THE SONG ARRIVED IN 2022, NOT 2002.” – Times-Columnist

 “While it’s her hits that made Avril Lavigne pop-punk royalty, it’s the PRODUCTION OF HER SHOW that cements that status.” – The Upcoming

 “It felt like Lavigne had never left. Her voice had new depth and power, but her performance was just as BOUNCY, ENERGETIC AND FUN as in the past…Fans seemed to connect with Lavigne from the show’s first notes and NEVER LET UP.” – RIFF Magazine

In addition to the North American Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits tour, Avril is gearing up for a run of UK and European performances this summer including festivals like Rock For People on June 14 in Hradec, Czechia; Nova Rock Festival on June 15 in Nickelsdorf, Austria;  Pinkpop Festival on June 21 in Landgraaf, Netherlands; Hurricane Festival on June 22 in Schnee, Germany; and Madcool Festival on July 13 in Madrid, Spain; as well as two special UK headline shows at Cardiff Castle on July 2 and Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl on July 3. For more, visit https://avrillavigne.com/.

Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits Tour Dates

  • Wed May 22 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena ^
  • Sat May 25 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre ^
  • Sun May 26 — Ridgefield, WA — RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater ^
  • Tue May 28 — Mountain View, CA — Shoreline Amphitheatre ^
  • Thu May 30 — Inglewood, CA — Kia Forum ^
  • Sat Jun 01 — Las Vegas, NV — MGM Grand Garden Arena ^
  • Sun Jun 02 — Phoenix, AZ — Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre ^
  • Wed Aug 14 — Ottawa, ON — Canadian Tire Centre +
  • Fri Aug 16 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage +
  • Sat Aug 17 — Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC — Festival International de Montgolfières ~
  • Tue Aug 20 — Buffalo, NY — Darien Lake Amphitheater +
  • Wed Aug 21 — Hartford, CT — The XFINITY Theatre +
  • Fri Aug 23 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center +
  • Sat Aug 24 — Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center +
  • Tue Aug 27 — Wantagh, NY — Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater +
  • Thu Aug 29 — Camden, NJ — Freedom Mortgage Pavilion +
  • Sat Aug 31 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live +
  • Sun Sep 01 — Charlotte, NC — PNC Music Pavilion +
  • Tue Sep 03 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre +
  • Wed Sep 04 — Nashville, TN — Ascend Amphitheater +
  • Fri Sep 06 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center +
  • Sat Sep 07 — Clarkston, MI — Pine Knob Music Theatre +
  • Mon Sep 09 — Milwaukee, WI — American Family Insurance Amphitheater +
  • Tue Sep 10 — Chicago, IL — Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island +
  • Thu Sep 12 — Minneapolis, MN — The Armory +
  • Sat Sept 14 — Winnipeg, MB — Canada Life Centre +
  • Mon Sept 16 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place

ORGY& COLD to Co-Headline US Tour Celebrating 25 Years of ‘Candyass’

Gear up for an explosive celebration because industrial/metal/glam outfit ORGY is back and they’re unleashing sheer sonic mayhem to mark the 25th anniversary of their badass album Candyass! Yeah, you heard it right. It’s been a wild quarter-century since ORGY burst onto the scene and shook the industrial rock world to its core. And now, they’re hitting the road on an electrifying co-headline US tour with the incredible COLD, with special guests Horizon Theory and I Ya Toyah , kicking off on April 11.

Brace yourself for a whirlwind of edgy performances, face-melting energy, and mind-bending awesomeness that will leave you begging for an encore. These powerhouse bands are joining forces to tear the stage apart and blow your mind.

Orgy & Cold Co-Headlining 2024 US tour admat

View List of Tour Dates

“Hey guys, I’m excited to announce our upcoming tour with Orgy, Cold, Horizon Theory, and I Ya Toyah. We will be headed out in April and May. So make sure to get your tickets early, so you get a chance to come check all of us out. It’s been a minute since Orgy has done a full tour, so I couldn’t be happier about that.

We will be playing new songs as well as tons of your favorite classic Orgy songs, as we have just released, both Candyass (25 years), and Vapor Transmission on vinyl. 

Everyone in the band is crazy excited about the tour, so I can assure you, it will be well worth the price of admission! Hope to see all of you at the shows! Peace and Love.” – Jay Gordon, lead singer of Orgy.

Candyass vinyl

Candyass & Vapor Transmission 
Remastered Reissues on Vinyl
In Stores February 2

Get ready to pound the pavement and snag the remastered vinyl reissues of Orgy’s groundbreaking albums Candyass and Vapor Transmission.

These two records were released on the Elementree label (started by Korn’s Jonathan Davis) at the turn of the century and have remained among the most requested albums of the era for vinyl release. They are here at last, each remastered for LP and issued with lavish gatefold packaging.

Pre-order Candyass

Orgy was the first act signed by Korn’s Jonathan Davis to his Elementree imprint, and the move paid off right away with their 1998 debut, which went Top 30 and scored a huge hit with its cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday.”

Somehow, though, this enduring late-‘90s favorite has eluded a vinyl release…till now! With the full cooperation of the band, it has been remastered for vinyl (by Mike Milchner of Sonic Vision) and placed this platter inside a beautiful gatefold jacket. Clear with red and yellow swirl pressing.


Pre-order Vapor Transmission

Orgy welcomed the new millennium with another smash album replete with sci-fi themes appropriate to the epochal period of its release (and no doubt influenced by the previous year’s unveiling of The Matrix).

Their debut vinyl issue includes the bonus track “The Spectrum” that only appeared on the first 1,000 copies of the CD, and comes in a dazzling gatefold jacket. Remastered for vinyl by Mike Milchner of Sonic Vision, and pressed in red and yellow “plasma” vinyl.

Anticipate an eargasmic experience as these legendary records hit the shelves of record stores near you. It’s time to crank up the volume and feel the raw power of Orgy in its truest form.


Orgy & Cold 2024 North American Tour Dates:

  • 4/11/2024 – Chicago, IL – The Bottom Lounge
  • 4/12/2024 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
  • 4/13/2024 – Des Moines, IA – Lefty’s Live Music
  • 4/14/2024 – Sioux City, IA – The Marquee
  • 4/16/2024 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
  • 4/17/2024 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
  • 4/19/2024 – Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s
  • 4/20/2024 – Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom
  • 4/22/2024 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s
  • 4/23/2024 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky a Go Go
  • 4/24/2024 – Fresno, CA – Fulton 55
  • 4/25/2024 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
  • 4/26/2024 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
  • 4/27/2024 – Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock Live
  • 4/28/2024 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
  • 4/30/2024 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
  • 5/1/2024 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
  • 5/2/2024 – Dallas, TX – Trees
  • 5/3/2024 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
  • 5/4/2024 – Shreveport, LA – Strange Brew
  • 5/6/2024 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
  • 5/7/2024 – Tallahassee, FL – Legacy At The Riverfront
  • 5/8/2024 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live
  • 5/9/2024 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville @ Daytona Speedway
  • 5/10/2024 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
  • 5/11/2024 – Knoxville, TN – The Concourse
  • 5/12/2024 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
  • 5/14/2024 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s
  • 5/15/2024 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
  • 5/16/2024 – New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre
  • 5/17/2024 – Allentown, PA – Maingate Nightclub
  • 5/18/2024 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
  • 5/19/2024 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
  • 5/21/2024 – Syracuse, NY – The Song & Dance
  • 5/22/2024 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s
  • 5/23/2024 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater
  • 5/24/2024 – Columbus, OH – The King of Clubs
  • 5/25/2024 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club

“Cold is excited to be back out on the road with Orgy this Spring on our Co-headline tour for their anniversary of the album Candyass. That album has always been a staple record for an era of music that changed the landscape for things to come in our genre. Looking forward to being a part of the celebration!” – Scooter Ward, lead singer of Cold.

Don’t miss out on this insane musical journey. Head over to the official ORGY website to secure your spot in the chaos for a night that will bring you closer to rock and industrial nirvana.

Prepare yourself for an earth-shattering celebration of 25 years of ORGY’s Candyass like you’ve never experienced before. Get ready to unleash your inner beast because ORGY is back to rock your world once again!

Orgy Online

When We Were Young Announces 2024 Lineup Featuring over 50 Full-Album Live Performances & More

My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy to Headline with A Day to Remember, Jimmy Eat World, Pierce the Veil, The Used, Simple Plan and more!

LAS VEGAS FESTIVAL GROUNDS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024

PRESALE BEGINS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 AT 10AM PT

When We Were Young will return for a third year to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on October 19, 2024 with headliners My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy leading the massive lineup. In 2024, over 50 bands will each perform an album front-to-back with highlights including My Chemical Romance performing The Black ParadeA Day To Remember’s HomesickJimmy Eat World’s Bleed AmericanPierce The Veil’s Collide With The SkyThe Used’s In Love and DeathSimple Plan performing No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls, Dashboard Confessional’s Dusk and SummerCoheed and Cambria’s Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, along with Nada Surf’s Let Go, in addition to rare reunions from Cobra Starship performing ¡Viva La Cobra! and Chiodos performing All’s Well That Ends Well and much more. View the entire lineup with dedicated album performances below.

Fans can sign up now for the festival SMS list at WhenWeWereYoungFestival.com to receive an access code for the presale that will begin Friday, November 17 at 10AM PT. Any remaining tickets following the presale will go on sale to the general public at 2PM PT. GA, GA+, VIP, and VIP Cabana Tickets will be available, with layaway payment plans starting at $19.99 down.

VIP packages include preferred viewing areas, charging stations, a dedicated entry lane at the festival entrance, air-conditioned restrooms, and more. VIP Cabanas are available with exclusive viewing areas, featuring VIP service including food vouchers and select complimentary beverages, expedited entry and more. When We Were Young has partnered with Jampack to offer hotel and ticket packages with exclusive amenities, including discount rates on select Las Vegas hotels. For the full list of available tickets, packages, and the amenities included in each, visit WhenWeWereYoungFestival.com.

Sign up for official When We Were Young SMS and email lists to be the first to receive new information on the WWWY website.

Follow along on social media to stay in the loop for all festival announcements: 

When We Were Young is produced by Live Nation and Redrock Entertainment.

REVIEW: Incubus, Sublime with Rome, The Aquadolls Chill Out the Desert at Ak-Chin Pavilion (8-22-22)

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PHOENIX — Ak-Chin Pavilion wrapped up its summer concert series with Incubus, Sublime with Rome, and The Aquadolls as part of their “Summer 2022” tour. The three California bands brought a reggae-meets-alternative end-of-summer party to Phoenix, and a party it was! The kick-ass girl band The Aquadolls, plus 90’s and beyond radio favorites Sublime with Rome and Incubus brought a “chill” to the desert and a whole lot of fun for a Monday night in Arizona. 

The Aquadolls

The Aquadolls
Melissa Brooks (Vocalist, Guitarist), The Aquadolls
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

The Aquadolls emerged as Abba’s “Dancing Queen” ushered them onto the stage. Singer and lead guitarist Melissa Brooks shouted, “Who’s ready to party?” and jumped into the 2013 song “Mine” from their album Stoked on You, followed by “Our Love Will Always Remain” from the same album. 

The all-girl band of “perma-teenage mermaids” from the Orange County area were founded in 2012 by lead singer and writer Brooks, who recorded demos in her bedroom before signing with indie label Burger Records. Their current lineup includes Jacqueline Proctor on drums and Keilah Nina on bass. Their tongue-in-cheek lyrics paired with an upbeat pop sound served as a great fit for this summer tour. A psychedelic, tie-dye screen with floating palm trees and the Aquadolls logo were the perfect scene-setting backdrop for their high-energy pop-alternative music. 

The Aquadolls
Jacqueline Proctor (Drummer), The Aquadolls
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Their seven-song setlist continued with their new single “Beachy,” which is scheduled for release on August 26th on Enci Records, and a high-energy cover of the Go-Go’s classic hit “Vacation.” Brooks gave a shout out to their crew and tour headliners: “Who’s ready for freaking Sublime? Who’s ready for freaking Incubus?!” while the exuberant crowd cheered. Next up, a catchy and fun song about obsession, “Sneaky,” followed by “Take Me Away.” Finishing out the set was a song Brooks said was about tripping out, called “Wander.” The Aquadolls made sure to take time for fans at the merch booth after their set. 

Sublime with Rome

Sublime with Rome performing in Phoenix
Sublime with Rome
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

With flashing red and blue police lights and images of riots projected behind them, stoner-music favorites Sublime with Rome kicked off their set with “April 26, 1992”. As if on cue, the arena filled with the smell of weed, with Rome Ramirez asking, “Where my stoners at?!” before sliding into the weed-friendly anthem “Smoke Two Joints.” Eric Wilson’s deep guttural basslines hit hard during “Doin’ Time” while images of lowriders were projected on the screen and the crowd sang along to the chorus, “most definitely”. Drummer Carlos Verdugo didn’t miss a beat with his huge beaming grin, and his unique bent-elbows-held-high style of drumming.

Carlos Verdugo (Drummer), Sublime with Rome
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

The band played more reggae-inspired hits next with “The Wrong Way” and “Badfish”. They also made time to pay homage to “our brothers in Katastro”. The Phoenix reggae-rock band Katastro lost their lead singer, 32-year-old Andy Chaves to a deadly car crash on May 12th on the Pacific Coast Highway in California. Sublime is no stranger to loss, and have rebuilt the band following the death of original singer Bradley Nowell to a heroin overdose in 1996. With the house lights up, a dalmatian dog joined the band onstage, in honor of “Lou Dog,” the Sublime mascot who shared the stage with the band in the 90’s.

Rome Ramirez (Vocalist, Guitarist), Sublime with Rome
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Ramirez started “What I Got” while fans danced with their flashlights on. Their set ended with the popular “Santeria”. Sublime brought their mega-talent and chill vibe for a fun, end-of-summer show. 

Incubus

“I want my, I want my MTV…” from “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits played over the P.A. as the walk-out song for Incubus, the third California-based band of the tour. On came the lights, and frontman Brandon Boyd sang a powerful version of “Nice To Know You” to kick off a nearly two-hour set covering three decades of songs from the alternative band. Boyd spent the entire set on a chair, stating he hurt himself without elaborating how, but amused by the spinnable chair. 

Brandon Boyd of Incubus in Phoenix
Brandon Boyd (Vocalist), Incubus
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

With his shoulder-length hair and white pants, Boyd said he remembered playing Ak-Chin Pavilion years before, after traveling from California in a van when Incubus toured with Dirty Heads in the 90’s. Currently, he is touring with bandmates Mike Eiziger on guitar, Chris Kilmore on turntable, José Pasillas on drums, and Ben Kenney on bass guitar on a 27-date U.S. tour that began July 24th and wraps up September 3rd. 

Chris Kilmore (DJ), Incubus
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Next up was “Circles,” matching the track sequence from Morning View. Afterward, the house lights came on and Boyd asked for the crowd’s help as the band performed “Wish You Were Here”. A powerful version of “Anna Molly” blew the crowd away, followed by an amazing, extended version of “Just a Phase” with a little of The Doors “Riders on the Storm” injected into the middle.

Brandon Boyd of Incubus in Phoenix
Brandon Boyd (Vocalist), Incubus
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Their 16-song set was full of both radio hits and deep cuts from their 30-year history, like Make Yourself’s “Stellar” and “Pardon Me”, “Sick Sad Little World” from A Crow Left of the Murder, 2020’s apropos “Karma, Come Back” from Trust Fall (Side B), “Vitamin” (barely placating S.C.I.E.N.C.E. fans) and more. During “Mexico” the injured Boyd placed his arm around guitarist Eiziger’s shoulder in a sort of seated side-hug and sang the “ooo”s of the song’s bridge in a beautiful bromance moment.

Mike Eiziger (Guitarist), Incubus
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

When Incubus said goodnight, fans naturally were not having it. With cell phone flashlights beaming, the fans cheered for more, and the band returned to the stage. They closed out the night with “Warning” and “Drive.” What a way to end the summer – three hella chill bands bringing Cali-style fun and cool vibes to the desert!

View Setlist


Photo Galleries

Photographer: Katherine Amy Vega

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Incubus* | Sublime with Rome* | The Aquadolls*

*Includes a few additional photos

Incubus, Sublime with Rome, The Aquadolls – Ak-Chin Pavilion 8-22-22

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

REVIEW: System Of A Down & Korn Help Phoenix Get Lost in the Grandeur (1-31-22)

PHOENIX — In 2020, System Of A Down announced a massive tour co-headlining with Faith No More and Korn, with support from Helmet and Russian Circles. As the pandemic progressed, the shows were postponed a total of three times, with the final postponement due to Serj Tankian (frontman of System of a Down) contracting COVID in October. Faith No More also announced that they would be canceling the concerts so Mike Patton could step back to handle mental health issues. Korn had dropped out, but once Faith No More canceled, Korn returned. To the delight of the metal faithful in Arizona, it was also announced that this line-up (excluding Faith No More and Helmet) would be playing a show at an arena in Phoenix now known by many names. This arena, built in 1992, is now known as Footprint Center and is now on it’s 6th name. The arena just completed a much needed remodel, which brings the once dated arena firmly into the 21st century.

The show started off with Russian Circles, a group that was founded by two childhood friends, Michael Sullivan and Dave Turncrantz, who play guitar and drums respectively. They are joined by Brian Cook, who is the bassist, baritone guitarist, and keyboardist for the instrumental band. Surprisingly, the set was only 18 minutes and 3 songs, but in that short timeframe the post-metal band impressed the audience with their highly technical prowess. If Russian Circles is billed as an opener, it is well worth your time to arrive early enough to catch this trio’s excellent mastery of crescendos and crashes of bass and drums.

Jonathan Davis of Korn in concert at Footprint Center
Jonathan Davis (Vocalist) – Korn
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

With a “Here we go!” from lead singer Jonathan Davis, the first bars of Korn’s “Here to Stay” began, spotlights flashed from the stage, and strobing lightboxes backlit the band. Throughout the night, the unmistakable voice of Davis was replaced many times by the audience, as he solicited audience participation. When performing live, Korn has an underappreciated ability to echo the sound of their studio recordings, and it speaks to the vast talent of not just Davis, but guitarist Brian “Head” Welch, guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer, drummer Ray Luzier, and Ra Diaz (who is filling in for Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu while he takes time to “heal and reflect at home”). 

Brian Welch of Korn in concert at Footprint Center
Brian Welch (Guitarist) – Korn
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Korn is well known for their staggeringly large discography, with 13 studio albums having been released, and a 14th out on February 4th named “Requiem”. The audience was treated to the live debut of the song “Start the Healing”. As part of the upcoming album release, Korn will be playing a “Requiem Mass” on the evening of February 3rd at Hollywood United Methodist Church, which will be live-streamed worldwide.

Jonathan Davis (Vocalist) & Ray Luzier (Drummer) – Korn
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Three songs later, Davis came out on the stage with his bagpipe, playing the intro to “Shoots and Ladders,” the third single from their eponymous debut album. This, predictably, caused the crowd to erupt, much to the delight of Davis. There is a connection and love between Korn and the audience, which takes the shows to another level. Davis is 4 months removed from his battle with COVID, which saw him have to sit on a throne and use oxygen while performing during a show on August 27th. It is a relief to watch him move around with no noticeable side effects from his battle, which he said scared him shitless.

Jonathan Davis (Vocalist) – Korn
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

The crowd, at the urging of Davis, held up their middle fingers collectively during “Y’All Want a Single” – a song written in response to Sony asking for them to “write a radio hit.” This likely is not at all what the poor sap who made this request expected to get, but it has become a fan favorite. Other hits included “Freak on a Leash,” “Did My Time,” and “A.D.I.D.A.S.” As Korn wrapped up, Davis thanked the fans, and almost ominously said, “…we’ll come back and fuck this motherfucker up one more fucking time.”

As the opening notes of “X” played, System Of A Down was silhouetted against the curtain in the moments before it dropped. Serj Tankian – vocalist and keyboardist – was center stage, flanked by guitarist Daron Malakian to his right, bassist Shavo Odadjian to his left, and drummer John Dolmayan almost directly behind him. “Prison Song” was performed next with an arsenal of nearly blinding strobes that assaulted the audience. An extraordinarily intense light show, designed to match the intensity of their music, would persist through the night.

Serj Tankian of System Of A Down in concert at Footprint Center
Serj Tankian (Vocalist, Keyboardist) – System Of A Down
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

To watch System Of A Down play is like watching one of the great Renaissance masters paint. A great painter must carefully select their canvas, their paint, and then they must be able to combine these quality pieces in such a way that it withstands not only the test of time, but withstands the test of the taste of that particular moment. System Of A Down does this with an ease that defies the expectations of a band that has only released 2 new songs in the last 16 years. Tankian’s voice is the paint over the music that stands in for the canvas, and we in the audience are the viewers who do not necessarily realize what beauty we are witnessing in the moment.

Serj Tankian of System Of A Down in concert at Footprint Center
Serj Tankian (Vocalist, Keyboardist) – System Of A Down
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Tankian has one of the greatest vocal ranges in all of metal at 4 octaves. This was on full display in “Chop Suey,” one of the songs that landed them squarely in the mainstream limelight, though the metal community was made aware of the band a few years before with the release of their first album and the success of “Sugar” and “Spiders.” While lavish praise should be heaped on Tankian for his immense vocal talent, the same praise should also be heaped onto Odadjian and Malakian, as they make highly technical and rather difficult riffs look absolutely effortless.

Imagine how incredible it would have been if Tankian and his would-be tour mate, Mike Patton of Faith No More (who boasts an unbelievable 6 octave range) accompanied each other for one song.

It is impossible to discuss System Of A Down and their impact without discussing their political contributions. Tankian in particular acts as a prominent voice for the downtrodden and the less fortunate, both in lyrics and in his personal capacity. The two new songs, “Genocidal Humanoidz” and “Protect the Land,” were released in response to the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020. The two singles raised about $600,000 for the Armenians who were affected by the devastating war. Both songs were played separately during this concert, with Malakian first thanking the audience for the last year, and then starting to explain what the song “Protect the Land” was about, only to turn to Tankian to ask him to explain the song. Tankian turned to the audience and said, “This one goes out to all the indigenous people in the world that are fighting for their rights. For all of the people in the world protecting their families against evil and injustice. We are all united, and we are one.” As the band launched into the song, the lights behind the band lit up in the colors of the Armenian flag.

Shabo Odadjian of System Of A Down in concert at Footprint Center
Shabo Odadjian (Bassist) – System Of A Down
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

It could be argued that the mark of a great show is that it alters the perception of the passage of time. In this case, by the time the band played the opening notes of “Sugar,” their first hit that made the metal world take notice of the band with Dadaist lyrics, a distaste of the exploitation of the less fortunate, and a lyrically devastating take on war – both the wars between countries and the war on drugs – it felt like only moments had passed, when in reality it was an hour and a half set.

Serj Tankian of System Of A Down in concert at Footprint Center
Serj Tankian (Vocalist, Keyboardist) – System Of A Down
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Earlier in the night, Davis had said, “It’s so good to be back up here, y’all. The world has been going through some crazy shit, and this is where I get to forget all about it. I want y’all to do me a favor tonight: I want you to just forget about everything. We got System Of A Down coming up, and I want you guys to do this for me: just forget and have a good fucking time!” This challenge was accepted by the enthusiastic crowd, who spent 4 hours losing themselves to the sounds of these masters of metal as they performed their greatest hits.

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Katherine Amy Vega

System of a Down & Korn – Footprint Center 1-31-22

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Photography © Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
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System Of A Down Online:

Phoenix Pays Tribute to the Late Stefan Pruett of Peachcake, The Guidance (1-15-22)

PHOENIX — Near the heart of an ever-evolving downtown Phoenix, set back a bit from the intersection of 2nd Ave and Van Buren, sits a music venue named Crescent Ballroom – constructed in 1917 and renovated from The F.L. Hart Garage. Since its 2011 opening, the brick exterior has changed some, with an expansion adding a second level of outdoor seating. It would be here that friends, family, and loyal fans of Stefan Pruett would gather to remember the radiant and deviant man who changed countless lives, leaving everyone whom he met a better version of themselves. (Read our June 2020 memorial article Remembering the Power of Peachcake – In Loving Memory of Stefan Pruett…)

This night’s celebration of a life so rich and well-lived was a fitting way to remember Pruett. For over a decade, he was the charismatic frontman of Peachcake – a band that had started out as an experimental electronic music duo with his childhood friend John O’Keefe, and blossomed into both a nationally and internationally known band. 

Among the many incredible achievements that Peachcake and Pruett attained over the years included being made honorary members of the International Peace Bureau in 2009 for their efforts to promote tolerance, peace and love through music and live performance. The IPB, along with Demilitarize.org, later selected their song “Were We Ever Really Right?” in 2011 as the official song for a worldwide event to support demilitarization worldwide. The band dissolved 6 months after their Unbelievable Souls LP was released, and Pruett went on to continue in music solo, under the stage name The Guidance.

The front room of Crescent Ballroom serves as a lounge and restaurant, as well as an additional place for other acts to perform when a larger concert is going on. Straight back from the entrance to this room is a set of double doors that leads to a large room with a stage and a second bar within. Upon entering this music venue, all guests were handed two items: The first was a brochure / program with a vastly condensed story of Pruett’s incredible life, and the second was a packet with QR codes to stream albums that included unreleased music he had worked on. It also contained a card for a drink – one last round on Stefan, with which we could raise in his memory. There was also a guestbook so that everyone who loved him could stay in touch. 

Merch sales were set up in the back to the left of the stage as usual, however all proceeds from this show would go toward benefitting Rosie’s House – a music academy for children – and HEAL International (Health | Empowerment | Aid | Light).

Nearly 9 years prior, Peachcake had played their final show on this very stage. On the stage sat a lit up cut-out letter sign that simply said “HAPPY” – the same sign featured in a publicity photo by AJ Colores.

Stefan Pruett photo by AJ Colores
Stefan Pruett (Vocalist) – Peachcake, The Guidance | Photography: AJ Colores

To the left of the stage was also a fantastic homage, put together by Pruett’s loved ones, exhibiting items from his life and performances. Two of the outfits he had performed in were displayed on body forms – an impactful sight for those that witnessed those shows at which he donned them. The criminally underrated Unbelievable Souls record was mounted on a plaque, which was given as a gift to everyone who worked on the record as a celebration of its release. A poster for The Guidance’s headline show at the Brooklyn Fire Records showcase, on March 28 of 2019, inconspicuously hung on the wall behind the exhibit, and across the room from this was a commemorative display of prints related to that music project.

Beautiful artwork on the exhibit table paid tribute to the late singer – a painting by Chris Babicke, a large mixed media piece, a poster designed by Quokimbo, and the Peaches comic book by band member / artist Johnny McHone. A photo book titled The Magic Man featured a collection of press and social media sentiments following his passing. An article written by music journalist Ed Masley of the Arizona Republic had been laminated and laid out, along with another article from The Entertainer! Magazine by Christina Fuoco-Karasinki. Some of the photography in the articles and books was contributed by Katherine Amy Vega (Kataklizmic Design), Uriel Padilla, and Jeremiah Gratza (former manager of Peachcake, owner of The Thunderbird Lounge and President Gator Records). Scrapbooks documented Peachcake on tour, and Pruett’s personal life.

Peachcake member Mike McHale – who put enormous amounts of work into planning this beautiful night – started the evening off by thanking everyone for being there, and then introduced Forrest Kline, lead singer of the band hellogoodbye.

The show began with a somber performance that contrasted the normal upbeat and pulsing dance music that Peachcake and The Guidance produced, but it set the tone perfectly. Kline sat on a stool holding an acoustic guitar, and in between songs he talked about his memories of Pruett; one of which was a chance meeting on the streets of LA after Pruett moved there. He spoke of how much of an inspiration Pruett was, about the two of them texting back and forth about making new music, and then – in reference to making music with him – said, “I thought we had plenty of time, you know? You never know how much time you have.

Forrest Kline of Hellogoodbye
Forrest Kline (hellogoodbye)
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

An acoustic cover of Peachcake’s “Stop Acting Like You Know More About The Internet Cafe Than Me” was recently released by Kline’s band.

Producer Jeremy Dawson, one of the founding members and keyboardist of Shiny Toy Guns, took the stage next to DJ the songs from Pruett’s solo career. In the middle of the set, a small crowd took to the floor in front of the stage to dance – the first of many moments that brought the joy back into focus. At long last, this is now, the album Pruett and Dawson completed shortly before his passing, dropped on January 14th – the day before this memorial event. How bittersweet it was to hear the culmination of all of their efforts – never able to tell him how incredible the album is.

Jeremy Dawson (Shiny Toy Guns) DJs just-released music of The Guidance
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

“As a means to honor his life and all the work spent on the creation of this stunning album, together Dawson, Pruett’s family and Handwritten Records decided to continue with the release. This Is Now, is the first and last album from The Guidance.” – FindYourSounds

After Dawson wrapped up, and as the stage was being transformed for the final set of the night, a video played of McHale, A Clarie Slattery and others talking about the impact that Pruett and his music had on them. The consensus – both in the video and from everyone who spoke at the show – was that he made life fun. He reached into people and pulled out the person they didn’t realize they were, and he showed them that anything really is possible in life. There was also a short clip of Pruett talking about 4 heart surgeries he had, and his pacemaker, speaking on the congenital heart disease that would eventually claim his life – but he did not let that stop him from living life to the fullest.

“If you ever think you can’t do something, and I know everyone in this room has their obstacles and stuff they’ve gone through… don’t let that shit hold you back.” – Stefan Pruett

“He was living on borrowed time his entire life. He knew that from the time he was very, very young. He didn’t think he was going to make it out of being a teenager. Every minute of every day was bonus points. He knew it and he lived in such a way that he never made you forget it.” – The Entertainer! Magazine

There was also an anecdote from his brother’s memorial service, which was an experience described as profound. Pruett played the song “Someone Great” by LCD Soundsystem in memory of Alex Pruett, who passed away in 2007. With his “unique ability to bring people together”, he encouraged people of all walks of life to close their eyes and share “in this beautiful musical moment… creative moment with Stefan.”  His aunt beautifully encapsulated who Stefan Pruett was, speaking of him as a honeybee – something his mother called him. He was, as she put it, “a builder of dreams,” in the same way a bee builds a hive.

Steven Pruett, the father of Alex and Stefan, spoke after the video ended; the pride he felt for his son and the pain of losing him evident in his voice. He spoke of the amazement he felt regarding his son becoming a singer, saying that Stefan did not even like singing in church. Calling Peachcake an iconic band, he reflected on the journey his son had taken, from MySpace, to a touring group, to an internationally known band.

It was a reunion of sorts for Peachcake. Guest singers performed in Pruett’s stead, with the first being Jessica Biaett, who was his girlfriend, singing “Hearts Can’t Lie.” Normally a peppy, yet wistful song, she gave it a hauntingly beautiful quality, making an incredible tribute to the man she lost.

Jessica Biaett
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

McHale (vocals, guitar, keys, percussion) became frontman for a few songs, and just as Pruett wore a shirt that said “NOT A DJ” at this venue 9 years prior, he wore one that said “NOT A SINGER”. Other guest vocalists included: Chris Babicke, Damien Salamone, Mickey Pangburn (The Prowling Kind, MRCH), Jake Greider, and Jason Catlin

Mike McHale ( Guitarist) – Peachcake
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 had been blazing its way through friends and family prior to the show. As such, a balance had to be struck between the crowded nightclub-like environment of a typical Peachcake show, and social distancing. Throwing back to staples of Peachcake shows, the crowd was encouraged to crouch down and spring up during the climax of “Welcome To The Party To Save The World”, and later formed a circle for mirror dancing during “Souls Have No Drum Machine”.

Crowd anticipates springing up
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved
Mike McHale, Peachcake
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Peachcake closed by accompanying a video of Stefan singing “We Never Pretended To Know Anything, Why Would We Now?” in at Modified Arts (Phoenix) in 2009. It was a moving, perfect way to end the night, allowing a man who touched so many lives to posthumously perform for us one last time. With that, Peachcake ended their set, and Jes Danz took to the stage to DJ some of the songs Pruett loved and was inspired by as the night faded out.

Stefan Pruett’s “final performance”
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

McHale later told Burning Hot Events, “Everything I did with putting together the memorial show for Stefan really helped me get through a lot of emotions that I had with hearing of Stefan‘s passing... Stefan‘s mom, Paula, had mentioned to me how much that show meant a lot to the people that had come to it and how much it helped her and her husband as well. To me, that was the most rewarding thing about doing this show for Stefan. I wanted to give some sense of closure and celebrate him properly when we were able to.

It has been said that Stefan Pruett left this world on June 14th, 2020, but I would argue that Kline was correct when he said that “no one really goes anywhere. We keep them in our memories and in our hearts. He lives on through his art and the connections he made.” Pruett burned brightly and fiercely, a force for good to be reckoned with, in the best way possible. He made the most of every day of his 35 years on this planet, and those he met had their lives changed for the better.

To quote the band Sleeping At Last’s song “Saturn”:
You taught me the courage of stars before you left, how light carries on endlessly, even after death.

Photographer: Katherine Amy Vega

Open Album in a New Window

A Night Celebrating the Life and Music of Stefan Pruett of Peachcake and The Guidance 1-15-22

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

The Guidance Online:

Peachcake Online:

REVIEW: Authority Zero Celebrates 25 Years with Friends at the Marquee (12-28-19)

Tempe, AZ — Authority Zero has reached a milestone that all bands aspire to: a quarter of a century of putting out incredibly great music — in their case, punk rock. To celebrate 25 years, they threw a bit of a party, inviting their fans as well as four local bands to join them in celebration. Madd Dog Tannen, Skull Drug, Black Mountain Moonshine, and ZeeCeeKeely all preceded Authority Zero, playing to a rowdy and energetic crowd.

To the uninitiated — those who have never had the joy of attending a punk, ska, or reggae show — it would be easy to be a bit puzzled as to how all three are related. The first wave of ska formed in the 1950s, and reggae evolved from ska in the 1960s. Punk’s roots are also in the 60s, stemming from the garage band scene, and was focused mainly in England and New York, while ska and reggae got started in Jamaica. Ska punk, closely associated with third wave ska, blossomed in the 80s and 90s. The punk scene from the start was anti-establishment, and that carries into today. There is a sizable underground punk scene in Arizona, with smaller venues such as Yucca Tap Room, Pub Rock, Chopper John’s, Last Exit Live, Rebel Lounge, The Underground and others playing host to some loud and fun concerts on a weekly basis.

This underground scene does not get the recognition it deserves; there are many massively talented local bands and artists that play every week, but they rarely rise to the level of national stardom that some ought to. This show was a duality of a celebration of a band that rose to fame, and the introduction and showcase of local bands that are hidden gems.

There was a buzz around Marquee Theatre as the crowd started to trickle in with eager anticipation of the night ahead and the experience of Authority Zero. This is a band who has worked hard to get where they are and appreciate the fans and those that come behind them.

ZeeCeeKeely

The first band was a reggae band from Tucson: ZeeCeeKeely. They were the perfect choice to start the night off. Their music is excellent, albeit a bit calm compared to what the rest of the night had in store. But they are still a loud, energetic, and fun reggae band to watch.

ZeeCeeKelly
| Photographer:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved
Band Photo Gallery

The short 7-song set included a very nice surprise: a reggae version of “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd. With great vocals from Zachery Keely and a group of talented musicians that will soon include horns, this band is one you should catch if you enjoy reggae. They will perform on February 23rd, 2020 at Rawhide during the Arizona Roots festival.

ZeeCeeKeely Online:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify

Black Mountain Moonshine

After a quick stage change, the second band, Black Mountain Moonshine, took the stage. Shortly after they started, a staple of a punk show formed: a mosh pit — a unique and nearly sacred place where total strangers can run into each other and pummel one another, and at the end of the night, hug each other and leave exhausted and elated.

Ethan Minney (Vocalist, Mandolinist), Black Mountain Moonshine
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Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved
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The lead singer Ethan Minney plays an electric mandolin, a piece that is not often seen in a punk band, and plays it very well. Their sound is also unique: at points it sounded like they were about to launch into a country song, while at others, you would swear that Flogging Molly was on the stage. Currently, they have no shows showing as scheduled, so following them on social media is a must to find when and where you can catch this unique, talented band.

Blue Mountain Moonshine Online:

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Bandcamp

Skull Drug

Skull Drug was up next, and it immediately became apparent that we were in for an incredible set. When asked before the show how to identify lead singer Evan Williams, the band manager described him as looking like he had murdered a muppet. This was accurate, as Williams had bright red hair, a green shirt and blue plaid pants. 

The set unfortunately did not start smoothly, but this did not keep them down. While working through technical issues with Williams’ guitar, the guitarists Justin Waldrop and Roger St. John kept the crowd entertained and bantered with them until everything was worked out, including asking the crowd, “Are you ready to party?” Party they did, launching into the loudest and most entertaining set of all the openers. 

Evan Williams (Vocalist, Guitarist), Skull Drug
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Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved
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All three are amazingly talented guitar players, backed by an incredible drummer in Wyatt Clark. They also have a stage presence and can get the crowd involved to work them into a frenzy. The set felt extremely short, even though it was over 30 minutes long. The style is loud, in- your-face, and impossible to not want to move to it in some way – either by bobbing your head, by running into your neighbor in the mosh pit, or by dancing. All three of those scenarios played out that night. Williams and Waldrop danced around the stage nonstop during this set, and kept the party going after their set ended. Waldrop was spotted crowd surfing during the Authority Zero set while Williams was in the crowd next to the mosh pit. 

Together since 2010, it would not be a stretch of the imagination to see Skull Drug headlining their own tour at some point in the very near future. Their set, from their stage presence to the music, was every bit as memorable as Williams’ hair. You can catch them on January 4th at Yucca Tap Room. They also have an album coming out sometime next year called Your Government and God Won’t Save You.

Skull Drug Online:

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube |
Bandcamp | Spotify

Madd Dog Tannen

Madd Dog Tannen took the stage next as the final opener. For those who think that the name sounds familiar, it should if you are a Back to the Future fan. All members were a bit of a contrast to the previous bands: well-dressed, looking more like they were about to close a business deal with you than melt your face off with some amazing punk music. As they did a quick sound check before their set, Brian Willey (lead singer) comically tried to lead the crowd in a rendition of “Deck the Halls”. 

Brian Willey (Vocalist), Madd Dog Tannen
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Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved
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Willey and his band quickly jumped into a fantastic set, at times bringing out a younger guitar player as their fifth band member. They are veterans of the music scene, playing since 2006, and have opened for Authority Zero in the past. Willey is an imposing figure on the stage as he puts everything he has into the performance. He is entertaining to watch and produces great power with his voice. While mainly a punk band, there was some ska mixed into the music. As they wrapped up their set, they played a cover of “When I Come Around” by Green Day. They, too, are a band that should be followed on social media to hear about their next dates. You won’t regret tracking them down to see their shows.

As Madd Dog Tannen left the stage, the anticipation built for Authority Zero. The chant “We want Zero!” started right before the band took the stage, growing in volume until they got what they wanted. 

Madd Dog Tannen Online:

Facebook | ReverbNation | Spotify

Authority Zero

To the delight of the band, the crowd exploded as they walked onto the stage. Lead singer Jason DeVore greeted the crowd with a grin and launched into “A Passage in Time,” from their first album. The opening bands had slowly cranked the intensity up to 10, then Authority Zero quickly cranked it up to 12 and never slowed down. DeVore seems to be utterly indefatigable, a force to be reckoned with after nearly a quarter of a century as the lead singer of Authority Zero. He delivers each line with fury and passion, and yet looks out at the crowd awestruck that he’s lucky enough to keep doing this.

Jason DeVore (Vocalist), Authority Zero
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Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved
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While DeVore is keeping the crowd pumped up with his incredible delivery, drummer Chris Dalley is tasked with keeping the beats going in the unimaginatively fast songs that are the staple of Authority Zero’s catalog. He seems to do this effortlessly. Rounding out the band are guitarist Dan Aid and bassist Mike Spero, both of whom are incredibly talented and fun to watch. 

Dan Aid (Guitarist), Authority Zero
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Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved
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As the set progressed, the mosh pit showed no signs of slowing down and the crowd surfing started. DeVore repeatedly reached out to the crowd surfers to help them as they were being set down, giving a couple of high fives, pointing to crowd members and acknowledging them throughout the night. He announced that they were going to use that night as a New Years Eve party, which hyped up the rambunctious fans. DeVore has apparent and enormous appreciation for the fans and the bands who opened for them. 

Jason DeVore (Vocalist), Authority Zero
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Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved
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It would be fair to say that this was not just an early New Years Eve party, not just a celebration of the 25 years of making music, influencing and inspiring the Arizona and national music scene — it was something more. It felt like a love letter to the fans, the people who have faithfully shown up even when the venues were tiny, when the sound wasn’t great, when the band was struggling. DeVore held the mic out to the crowd, asking them to sing lines in the song, gesturing for them to be a bit louder, and all in all, making sure that every single person walked away from that show happy. He also repeated “Thank you Arizona!” more than once, obviously meaning it from his heart every time.

Mike Spero (Bassist), Authority Zero
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Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved
Band Photo Gallery

As the night drew to a close and after returning to the stage for the encore, DeVore called out onto stage a young fan, one who is known for his incredible music talents. His name is Recker Eans, a name that I believe we will hear many more times over the years, and he played the drums for the song “Mesa Town”. It was a great way to end the night, almost the passing of the torch to the next generation, though I believe we will have many more great years to look forward to with Authority Zero.

The night was one for the ages. It is also a night that happens weekly around the valley, albeit on a much smaller scale than what was at the Marquee on Saturday. The punk scene is alive and thriving, and there are many, many great bands out there who deserve to have you stop by and listen to their music, to watch their shows. There are hidden gems playing in small venues, bands that love their craft and love their arts. The appreciation that these bands all have for each other is clear, and the love for Arizona and the punk scene that Authority Zero has was on full display on a magical night — a celebration of the upcoming new year, and the birthday celebration of an influential and great band.

Authority Zero Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Rodrigo Izquierdo

View Separately:
Authority Zero | Madd Dog Tannen | Skull Drug
Black Mountain Moonshine | ZeeCeeKeely

Authority Zero 25th Anniversary – Marquee Theatre 12-28-19

Photography © Reagle Photography
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