So sadly I have been extremely busy this school year and haven't been as into the scene up here as I love to be. But I will be working on this and coming back with some good show reviews, some album reviews and more.
As always check out your local music scene and show them some love- they work hard and love what they do.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Gossip Girl to Metal Girl?
As most of you probably don't know Taylor Momsen plays the "sweet" little Jenny Humphrey on the show Gossip Girl... A girl who can't make up her mind whether she wants to be a good girl or to fall into the trickery and plotting of her fellow upper east-siders.
Apparently to solve this dilemma in her real life she decided to showcase her "talent" on the cover of Revolver Magazine's October issue. Not only did she decide to follow her TV dark side with the dark make-up, but she decided to amp it up with lingerie, ridiculous heels, and what looks like an old school pirate shotgun.
Accompanying this amazing talent is also her song Miss Nothing. Let's emphasize these words... she is a Miss, of only 17 years old, and Nothing would exemplify her hard rock talent. At least the women in hard rock before her could play the guitar or something, if you're gonna be a hot mess like Courtney Love then at least have the talent to back it up.
Not only is it nothing special, but she went the sex kitten way. The highlight of the video for most people, and by people I mean more guys, is the fact that she is in a cute little pink nightie with lace black thigh-highs on... and she crawls around on the table for a while too.
What's worse is that this is another example of the good girl gone bad, not only is she on Gossip Girl but she played Cindy Lou Who in "How The Grinch Stole Christmas," and on Revolver's cover she showed how the Grinch, or naughty Santa, stole her clothes.
So apparently Taylor Momsen has chosen the dark side in real life... let's hope that if she continues that she chooses some real talent also.
Apparently to solve this dilemma in her real life she decided to showcase her "talent" on the cover of Revolver Magazine's October issue. Not only did she decide to follow her TV dark side with the dark make-up, but she decided to amp it up with lingerie, ridiculous heels, and what looks like an old school pirate shotgun.
Accompanying this amazing talent is also her song Miss Nothing. Let's emphasize these words... she is a Miss, of only 17 years old, and Nothing would exemplify her hard rock talent. At least the women in hard rock before her could play the guitar or something, if you're gonna be a hot mess like Courtney Love then at least have the talent to back it up.
Not only is it nothing special, but she went the sex kitten way. The highlight of the video for most people, and by people I mean more guys, is the fact that she is in a cute little pink nightie with lace black thigh-highs on... and she crawls around on the table for a while too.
What's worse is that this is another example of the good girl gone bad, not only is she on Gossip Girl but she played Cindy Lou Who in "How The Grinch Stole Christmas," and on Revolver's cover she showed how the Grinch, or naughty Santa, stole her clothes.
So apparently Taylor Momsen has chosen the dark side in real life... let's hope that if she continues that she chooses some real talent also.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Best 2010 Local Metal Shows
2010 was an exciting year for local metal bands. There were some amazing shows that these bands got to take part in and I was happy that I got to catch them.
5. St. Patty’s Day Metal Mayhem at Mac’s- This show was the first local metal show I went to in 2010 and I’m glad I did. Endless Aisle played and got the crowd pumped up by interacting with the crowd in the pit. Although one band, XFactor1, was lame and didn’t fit in, Blacktooth Brigade and Sin Theorem made up for it.
4. Death Valley Dragline Oct.9 at Mac’s- I found out about DVD earlier in the year but every time they played I was already going to another show, so I put this one on my calendar. Upset by the fact that they played first, because they deserve more people to hear their stuff, didn’t matter because they rocked out like they were playing the Palace. Suma, a Swedish band, was interesting to watch. Their set was very theatrical, but then Unearthly Trance came on and the place exploded, the pit opened up, and I found another favorite band (at least for a while).
3. Impromptu show Nov.4 at Uli’s Haus of Rock- Blacktooth Brigade and All Ends Black put on a sudden show that Thursday night and it was exactly what I needed. Country Blacktooth went on first and played some old, down to earth country. Then All Ends Black played, reminding me why I like new bands, then BTB wrapped up the night. It was a chill night with everyone just hanging out, less formal than a show and it was nice to just be able to relax and listen to some great music.
2. Halloween Metal on the River Oct. 22 on the Michigan Princess- No better way to celebrate an early Halloween than to rock out with some local metal bands and dress up… and be on a boat. The line-up was awesome and I found one of my new favorite local bands, Chemical Crutch. With bands playing on both levels there wasn’t a time when music wasn’t playing, and seeing drunken people try and maneuver around a moving boat is always a good time.
1. The Girls Gone Wild Party Oct. 2 at Men’s Rea- This was the last stop on Blacktooth Brigade’s City Tour (Oct. 2)and they were the band that made this show the best of 2010. The energy level in the set spread to the crowd and the club exploded with it. The whole feeling in the room changed when they were playing. It went from I’m-at-a-concert to this-band-makes-me-want-to-rage. The other bands were good too, but nothing could top BTB’s set, and seeing them play at least 10 times now, it was one of their best sets performance-wise. Best show of 2010 and probably best show that will be played at the dank place now named Men’s Rea.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
All Ends Black
Last night at Harpos was amazing. One of our very own up and coming metal bands, All Ends Black, got to be on of the opening bands for Straight Line Stitch and Soulfly.
There were four local bands that got to open up for these two headliners, and although none of them got much playing time, 3 songs opening for Soulfly is an opportunity I know I wouldn't have passed up.
All Ends Black went on second and played "Nightmare," "Believe" and "Last Laugh." Although their set was cut short the crowd didn't seem to mind. Hanging around while all the other bands played, and waiting for Soulfly, people kept coming up to the members of All Ends Black and telling them how much they liked them.
One guy who had drove up from Indiana asked the band to sign a snare head and was incredibly excited about getting it- you wouldn't have thought that Soulfly signed it. But people like him are the people who make a difference in the local scene.
And of course, Soulfly played last, as the headliner does. They. Were. Amazing. I had just recently found out about them earlier this year but I have multiple albums and I was so excited to hear they were playing a show in Detroit, and with All Ends Black.
Only downside was they only played about 30 seconds of my favorite song "Jump Da Fuck Up," but it didn't matter. They played stuff from older albums, like Primitive, and really got the crowd going.
The pit was vicious and not one person in Harpos that night was not raging out to Soulfly. The place was in a frenzy and Soulfly knew how to keep it going. As someone who missed most of the good concerts because the bands I really want to see were big when I was about 9, this was a chance to see one of the "older" bands that I love- and see them play with a band that I have covered multiple times, All Ends Black.
As always support your local scene. Get out there, talk to the bands, tell them what you think cause it helps them and they'll thank you for it.
There were four local bands that got to open up for these two headliners, and although none of them got much playing time, 3 songs opening for Soulfly is an opportunity I know I wouldn't have passed up.
All Ends Black went on second and played "Nightmare," "Believe" and "Last Laugh." Although their set was cut short the crowd didn't seem to mind. Hanging around while all the other bands played, and waiting for Soulfly, people kept coming up to the members of All Ends Black and telling them how much they liked them.
One guy who had drove up from Indiana asked the band to sign a snare head and was incredibly excited about getting it- you wouldn't have thought that Soulfly signed it. But people like him are the people who make a difference in the local scene.
And of course, Soulfly played last, as the headliner does. They. Were. Amazing. I had just recently found out about them earlier this year but I have multiple albums and I was so excited to hear they were playing a show in Detroit, and with All Ends Black.
Only downside was they only played about 30 seconds of my favorite song "Jump Da Fuck Up," but it didn't matter. They played stuff from older albums, like Primitive, and really got the crowd going.
The pit was vicious and not one person in Harpos that night was not raging out to Soulfly. The place was in a frenzy and Soulfly knew how to keep it going. As someone who missed most of the good concerts because the bands I really want to see were big when I was about 9, this was a chance to see one of the "older" bands that I love- and see them play with a band that I have covered multiple times, All Ends Black.
As always support your local scene. Get out there, talk to the bands, tell them what you think cause it helps them and they'll thank you for it.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Weird Night at Oades
Even though it was a weird combination of bands playing a Oade's Hidden Camel Saturday night, they were all amazing so it didn't matter.
Billiards Music, as always, played a great set. Including a few new songs. If you know anything about me it's that I like metal, but Billiards Music is just that band that can transcend tastes and everyone enjoys them. "Loaded gun" is a new song and the gorgeous melody just entranced me. I couldn't take my eyes away from the guitar, and the lyrics just made it even better. They had a few problems with some reverberation from one of the drums, but the joke was that every girl just grabbed their crotch in ecstasy- always a fun time with them.
Next was The Violent Sun, and I would like to retract a comment I had made in an article I wrote about them. The singer's voice totally fits and it should not be changed. I don't know if it was just because the article was about their first show, or if the sound was different or what, but last night I just kept thinking how perfectly the singer goes with the melodies. The piano playing is amazing, and all I wanted to do was jump up and start playing because he made me remember how much I loved it and how many different things you can do on a piano.
Blacktooth Brigade closed up the show and thank god they were there last night. As I said in my last post I've been dealing with the loss of a close friend and BTB's "Way of the World" is a song that I love to blast when I'm going through a hard time. And last night was amazing. The band was in a zone, everyone was meshing with each other and smiling... they were on fire. It was one of the best sets I've seen from them, and their music allowed me to let out some of the emotions, that I've had built up inside, out. I was headbanging, singing, well screaming, and just having a great time.
As always support your local scene. Check out the bands I mention and any others that play around Lansing (or wherever you live).
Billiards Music, as always, played a great set. Including a few new songs. If you know anything about me it's that I like metal, but Billiards Music is just that band that can transcend tastes and everyone enjoys them. "Loaded gun" is a new song and the gorgeous melody just entranced me. I couldn't take my eyes away from the guitar, and the lyrics just made it even better. They had a few problems with some reverberation from one of the drums, but the joke was that every girl just grabbed their crotch in ecstasy- always a fun time with them.
Next was The Violent Sun, and I would like to retract a comment I had made in an article I wrote about them. The singer's voice totally fits and it should not be changed. I don't know if it was just because the article was about their first show, or if the sound was different or what, but last night I just kept thinking how perfectly the singer goes with the melodies. The piano playing is amazing, and all I wanted to do was jump up and start playing because he made me remember how much I loved it and how many different things you can do on a piano.
Blacktooth Brigade closed up the show and thank god they were there last night. As I said in my last post I've been dealing with the loss of a close friend and BTB's "Way of the World" is a song that I love to blast when I'm going through a hard time. And last night was amazing. The band was in a zone, everyone was meshing with each other and smiling... they were on fire. It was one of the best sets I've seen from them, and their music allowed me to let out some of the emotions, that I've had built up inside, out. I was headbanging, singing, well screaming, and just having a great time.
As always support your local scene. Check out the bands I mention and any others that play around Lansing (or wherever you live).
Friday, November 19, 2010
Pick me up
I have had a shitty last week or so. I've been dealing with some drama in my life and on top of that I just found out Saturday that a good friend passed away, and then her birthday was Sunday. Dealing with all this stuff has really dragged me down so of course I turned to music and one of the songs in specific is Blacktooth Brigade's "Way of the World."
This song is that perfect here's-how-the-world-goes-but-that-doesn't-mean-you-have-to-like-it. It starts off slow and somber and explains how it's the way of the world and it will not end well for us. It then starts to dominate and show the anger everyone has when things aren't going well.
It's hard to do this song justice. The 7 minutes of domination, the sweet guitar riffs and solos, the fighter attitude in the lyrics, it all adds together to make one of my favorite songs. The way I feel when I listen to it is hard to put into words, but if it can help me through a time like this then it's definitely worth everyone checking out.
As always, support your local scene. And don't be afraid to have one of your favorite songs be from a band everyone else hasn't heard of.
This song is that perfect here's-how-the-world-goes-but-that-doesn't-mean-you-have-to-like-it. It starts off slow and somber and explains how it's the way of the world and it will not end well for us. It then starts to dominate and show the anger everyone has when things aren't going well.
It's hard to do this song justice. The 7 minutes of domination, the sweet guitar riffs and solos, the fighter attitude in the lyrics, it all adds together to make one of my favorite songs. The way I feel when I listen to it is hard to put into words, but if it can help me through a time like this then it's definitely worth everyone checking out.
As always, support your local scene. And don't be afraid to have one of your favorite songs be from a band everyone else hasn't heard of.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Thursday Night at Uli's
After going to see the Filipino National Dance company perform I decided that a metal show was just what I needed to make my night normal- at least in my terms. And it never hurts when the show is free either.
Blacktooth Brigade and All Ends Black put on an impromptu show at Uli's Haus of Rock, or Pain according to Uli. Country Blacktooth played first and that was a little weird, mostly because it was actually good. Clint Cox, Daniel Neff, and Ian Smith entertained the crowd with some good ol' country music- not twangy, not poppy, just down home country. The set would have been a little better if they had actually spent time practicing with all of them, but other then the few mess ups with transitions they played well. And it had a great entertainment value nonetheless.
All Ends Black got up and rocked it out. Adam Ray's rap hands make me laugh, but they somehow fit with the scream metal they play. The set was perfect for letting out some rage or just enjoying some good music. Well setting up for their song "Last Laugh" Ray looked over at me and we were both laughing and he went on to say "if you don't know what this song is about go read spartan edge." I had covered the Halloween Metal on the River show, where they played, and in my article spoke of "Last Laugh" and how it was about Ray's old band, Endless Aisle. Some of EA's band mates saw the article and commented about the song, Ray was asking why I had to "sell him out"(but he wasn't actually mad) earlier in the night, so that's why we began laughing when they played it Thursday night.
Blacktooth Brigade closed the night off with a solid performance. I have seen them many times, but their songs still have the same effect on me, and now I know most of the words. Eric Wolfe's and Neff's solos were the icing on the metal cake, and as far as I could tell they didn't mess up. Halfway through the set Cox got a little preoccupied with ordering beers and kept asking if they were on the way, but he didn't let it interrupt the songs- just the time in between haha. Like always BTB put on a good set and the best part of it was that they enjoy playing those songs every time- whether or not they've played three shows in a row, or there are two people at the show, it just doesn't matter to them. They all love what they do which makes it easy for the crowd to love it too.
Blacktooth Brigade and All Ends Black put on an impromptu show at Uli's Haus of Rock, or Pain according to Uli. Country Blacktooth played first and that was a little weird, mostly because it was actually good. Clint Cox, Daniel Neff, and Ian Smith entertained the crowd with some good ol' country music- not twangy, not poppy, just down home country. The set would have been a little better if they had actually spent time practicing with all of them, but other then the few mess ups with transitions they played well. And it had a great entertainment value nonetheless.
All Ends Black got up and rocked it out. Adam Ray's rap hands make me laugh, but they somehow fit with the scream metal they play. The set was perfect for letting out some rage or just enjoying some good music. Well setting up for their song "Last Laugh" Ray looked over at me and we were both laughing and he went on to say "if you don't know what this song is about go read spartan edge." I had covered the Halloween Metal on the River show, where they played, and in my article spoke of "Last Laugh" and how it was about Ray's old band, Endless Aisle. Some of EA's band mates saw the article and commented about the song, Ray was asking why I had to "sell him out"(but he wasn't actually mad) earlier in the night, so that's why we began laughing when they played it Thursday night.
Blacktooth Brigade closed the night off with a solid performance. I have seen them many times, but their songs still have the same effect on me, and now I know most of the words. Eric Wolfe's and Neff's solos were the icing on the metal cake, and as far as I could tell they didn't mess up. Halfway through the set Cox got a little preoccupied with ordering beers and kept asking if they were on the way, but he didn't let it interrupt the songs- just the time in between haha. Like always BTB put on a good set and the best part of it was that they enjoy playing those songs every time- whether or not they've played three shows in a row, or there are two people at the show, it just doesn't matter to them. They all love what they do which makes it easy for the crowd to love it too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
