If you’re looking to spice up your holiday festivities, I couldn’t think of a better plan than to see Steel Panther in concert. The Holidaze Tour made a stop at Bogart’s in Cincinnati and we caught all the action. Steel Panther and Moon Fever both brought the energy to a packed house.
PHOTOS: Steel Panther and Moon Fever Bring The Heat to Bogart's For Holidaze Tour
PHOTOS + REVIEW: Mammoth WVH Makes Sold Out Show at The Bluestone One To Remember
Just 3 shows in on the Mammoth II tour, Wolf Van Halen’s Mammoth WVH hosted their first SOLD OUT headlining show in Columbus, Ohio at The Bluestone. Not only would this be my fourth Mammoth WVH show but the best one to date.
Nita Strauss kicked off the night. Her energy and spectacular guitar playing is enough to blow the roof off a place, but team her up with a full band and she is unstoppable. They played from her new album and brought out Kasey Karlsen to rock the vocals.
Like any good rock n roll build up, the lights were dimmed and AC/DC ‘Night Prowler’ played through the speakers. Starting the set just like the album, Mammoth WVH revved up with ‘Right?’
As soon as he hit the stage, the energy radiating off Wolf felt stronger than ever. He exuded a level of confidence on stage that I’d never seen before; like a mammoth weight was lifted right off his shoulders. Touring your own music with Guns N Roses, Metallica, plus a few of your own shows can make that difference.
The energy of each band member matched Wolf’s. Frank Sidoris, Jon Jourdan, Ron Ficarro, and Garrett Whitlock bring Wolf’s music to life and play it like it’s their very own.
Between songs, Wolf talked to the crowd. He even confirmed two suspicions I had about songs on the new album. 1. ‘Optimus’ was, in fact, inspired by Tool. 2. ‘Waiting’ is essentially the sequel to ‘Distance’.
Before closing out the night, Wolf had noticed a sign in the crowd that read “let me rock with you.” A few words were exchanged and before you knew it, the fan was running up on stage! Wolf hands him his guitar and the band starts playing ‘Don’t Back Down’. He hits those first hard hitting riffs and the crowd goes wild! (Watch here.) Wolf and the band were super interactive with the fan and he basked in the moment completely. It was such a feel good moment to witness. The perfect ending to a show.
Now, I don’t think Wolf invites fans on stage at every show but I can’t recommend seeing Mammoth WVH in concert enough. It’s a jolt of energy and yet it feels like home. The tour is still rocking, so find the date nearest you and grab tickets here.
*Click photos to enlarge
LISTEN HERE
PHOTOS: Hannah Wicklund Plays Dayton's Levitt Park
PHOTOS: Ohio is For Lovers Fest 2023
Growing up in Ohio during the Myspace era, there is one thing I have learned to be true, it’s that Ohio is for lovers.
Whether you want to call it embracing nostalgia or having a 30-something crisis, these past few years have put a spotlight back on the emo scene. So, what better a time for Hawthorne Heights to create a Warped Tour-esque festival named after one of their iconic hits. Is For Lovers Fest is a one day festival that has grown from 3 cities to now 10, Ohio being the most superior, of course. I mean, the song IS titled "‘Ohio Is For Lovers’ after all.
The festival chose Cincinnati as Ohio’s homebase utilizing the multiple stages at Riverbend plus adding a small third stage. It was a jam packed day featuring many bands once spotlighted on my Myspace profile like Underoath, Relient K, Saosin, and Hawthorne Heights themselves, along with some up and coming bands like Motherfolk, Slutbomb, Skye Wallace, and Proper.
Check out photos from the fest below. (Click photos to enlarge)
HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS
JIMMY EAT WORLD
UNDEROATH
STATE CHAMPS
SLUTBOMB
SAOSIN
RELIENT K
RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS
SKYE WALLACE
MOTHERFOLK
PROPER.
NOX NOVACULA
Matt Cutshall
PHOTOS: Greta Van Fleet Brings Starcatcher Tour Home To Michigan
“You're growing up I'll watch you bloom..”
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a fan is watching your favorite bands grow in their artistry and make their goals a reality.
That’s been Greta Van Fleet for me. Rewinding back to the Fall of 2017, I was lucky enough to see them play up close and personal. Although they didn’t quite work the full stage just yet, I was hooked. I knew these four guys were going to be big.
Fast forward to Fall of 2023, I attended my 14th Greta Van Fleet concert in Detroit Michigan for their “hometown” show on the Starcatcher world tour. This show would be special in many ways.
First - The Little Caesars ARENA was SOLD OUT! The last time I saw GVF in Detroit they had played down the street at the Fox Theatre with a capacity around 5K. Little Caesars can hold 15,000–22,000. That is HUGE.
The Starcatcher tour is steps above the rest. From the production, to their stage presence, vocals, and technique, Greta Van Fleet has truly blossomed and grown into their own. Josh, Jake, Sammy, and Danny are true performers. I love that they use a lot of the show to jam out and really showcase their talents. It’s not all about the lead singer, it’s about every single member of the band.
From barely moving around the stage to now using catwalks and B stage, Greta Van Fleet have become true professionals at engaging a room. It feels like their really isn’t a bad seat in the house. The B stage offers a very intimate experience, one that we really haven’t experience before. It’s stripped down AND we get to hear all of the men sing in chorus. It feels like they’re sitting around a campfire singing songs and we’re nestled around it with them.
Between the energy of the fans and the pure joy oozing from the stage, the arena truly felt full of magic that night. Greta Van Fleet seem to be stronger and happier than ever and I look forward to seeing them bloom again, and again.
Don’t miss the final U.S. dates of the Starcatcher tour. Get tickets here.
** Click the photos to enlarge **
Surf Curse opened up the show.
PHOTOS: The 5 Seconds of Summer Show featuring Meet Me At The Altar at Riverbend
The 5 Seconds of Summer Show took over Riverbend in Cincinnati on August 26th and really took the whole “show” thing very seriously.
Meet Me At The Altar kicked off the night and brought incredible energy to the stage. I was beyond thrilled to see this band as support on such a big tour. MMATA has been killing it with their high energy pop-punk releases and that same energy shows itself within their live performances as well.
As the hosts of the show, 5SOS absolutely brought their A game. The band sounded fantastic, they commanded the stage, and often interacted with their fans. Playing off of the “show” vibe, little video snippets were played that weren’t just for watching but for interacting with. They really called for the attention of the fans and they got it!
There are still a few tour dates left, so make sure you don’t miss it! Find tickets here.
Click photos to enlarge.
PHOTOS: Alter Bridge, Sevendust, and MJT Rock the Andrew J. Brady Music Center
Alter Bridge brought their Pawns and Kings Tour to Cincinnati with Sevendust and MJT. This tour package did not disappoint. It was high energy from beginning to end and every band seemed so grateful to be performing on that stage.
*Click photos to enlarge.
PHOTOS: Marcus King, Charley Crockett, & Molly Tuttle Breathe New Life into Old Country
The King and Crockett tour brought a fusion of rock n roll, blues, and outlaw country to Cincinnati’s Brady Music Center. Marcus King, Charley Crockett, and Molly Tuttle all swept the stage in their own right.
*Click photos to enlarge
PHOTOS: Gojira and Mastodon Kick off Second Leg of the Mega-Monsters Tour!
Gojira and Mastodon kicked off the second leg of their Mega-Monster tour in Newport, Kentucky at Megacorp Pavilion this week. Gray skies and rain couldn’t keep the metal heads away; the outdoor space was packed with fans dressed in black throwing up their horns, headbanging, and starting up circle pits. With a billing of Gojira, Mastodon, and Lorna Shore, it was the perfect mix of metal.
The tour continues into September, so make sure to hit up a show. Get tickets here.
*Click photos to enlarge
Incubus, Badflower, and Paris Jackson Tear The Roof Off on a Tuesday
In a perfect fusion of energies, Incubus, Bad Flower, and Paris Jackson took over Cincinnati’s Brady Music Center on August 1st.
Setting the tone for the evening, at the front of the barricade was a young fan named Lillian who was passing out hand-painted homemade buttons that said “i am loved”. Everyone was just smiling and ready to basque in a night of live music.
Paris Jackson kicked off the night with her slightly grungy sound and playful crowd banter. Any chance you get to scream along to “Bandaid” with her is a chance you should always take.
Playing off the current hot topic, Badflower walked out to “Barbie Girl.” You couldn’t help but sing along and it was the perfect song to get the crowd moving for what would be a high energy performance from the Rock quartet.
Building into the perfect crescendo, it was time for Incubus. Even they’ve been doing this for around 30 years now, Brandon Boyd still embraces the stage with every ounce of passion and emotion. His band members are no different. I look over and Chris Killmore stands behind his deck while windmilling his dreads to the music. Grooving through their discography, they took us through a journey and even cleverly intertwined some covers including Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.”
The tour continues into November. Check out dates and get tickets HERE.
*Please note: We do receive a commission from tickets purchased through this link.
*Click images to enlarge.
INCUBUS SETLIST
– Magic Medicine
– Privilege
– Anna Molly
– Just a Phase
– Nice to Know You
– Absolution Calling
– The Warmth
– Make Yourself
– Karma Come Back
– Come Together (The Beatles cover)
– Sick Sad Little World
– Echo
– Are You In? (with a snippet of The Doors' " Riders on the Storm")
– Pardon Me
– Stellar
– Dig
– Wish you Were Here (with a snippet of Pink Floyd' s "Wish You Were Here")
Encore:
– Vitamin
– Drive
