Live Concerts
Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton
Bell Centre
Montreal, Canada
February, 22nd, 2009
It was a brisk winter night at the home of the Montreal Canadiens and the venue was filled to capacity. Tonight however, taking center stage wasn't the home town National Hockey League team, but rock guitar icons Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. It was the final stop in a four city tour (London, New York, Toronto and Montreal) that teamed up the prominent guitarists. Promptly at 7:30, the lights dimmed in the massive stadium and without introduction, the lean figure of Jeff Beck appeared, striding from out of the shadows on stage left as he walked on with his band. With a polite nod, a big smile and a simple wave to the crowd he was met at center stage by his guitar tech and handed a cream-yellow Fender Stratocaster. With his characteristic understatement, Beck's volume swell transformed into a thick, almost saxophone-like tone as he opened the show with the gentle strains of “Oh Canada,” the beautiful anthem of the land of the scarlet maple leaf. While certainly aware that nearly 13 thousand people were in the building, he appeared content to let his guitar act as his voice.
Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton
Arch Enemy
House of Blues
Chicago, IL
1/29/2010
Live Photos
Arch Enemy’s current outing is a flash fire sweep across North America and Canada. The tour, dubbed Tyrant's of Evil, consists of 16 dates that combine fresh metal blood with seasoned warriors. The supporting cast includes 30-year thrash veterans Exodus, fellow metalheads Arsis, and newcomers Mutiny Within.
Hosted by WNOU 100.9 FM, Santa Slam '09, Murat Theater, Indianapolis, IN offered a diverse lineup of Top 40's acts which included 3OH!3, Cobra Starship, Iyaz and Kaci Battaglia.
3OH!3
Named after the Boulder/Denver, CO Zip Code, 3OH!3 is best known for their hit single "Don't Trust Me" and their recent single "Starstrukk" featuring Katy Perry. Without question, the duo is a fun band to put you in the holiday spirit.
Live Arts Group 2nd Annual Benefits Concert
Alanis Morissette, Greg Laswell, Miss Willie Brown
The Troubadour
West Hollywood, Ca
12/10/2009
Live Photos
Alanis Morissette is known for the size of her heart so it’s fitting that she would headline The Live Arts Group 2nd Annual Benefit Concert at The Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA. The Live Arts Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing free arts to underserved inner-city youth. Morissette headlined a bill which also featured singer-songwriter Greg Laswell and alt-country duo Miss Willie Brown. A mighty worthy cause supported in the intimate confines of West Hollywood's Troubador. Blasting to international fame with the release of 1995’s “Jagged Little Pill,” Morrissette continues to record but she’s focused on acting these days by being Dr. Audra Kitson, a no-nonsense obstetrician, in seven episodes of the TV series Weeds.
Dir En Grey
The Metro
Chicago, IL
11/16/2009
Live Photos
Dir En Grey returns to the US for a handful of dates in November to hype their successful seventh album, Uroboros (2008), and a recent DVD release titled Average Blasphemy. The schedule includes multiple dates in Texas, New York, California and single stops in Chicago and Colorado. Devoted fans lined up in the rain in New York and in the early morning hours in Chicago filled with excitement for the shows to come. In response to the outpour of the loyal Dir En Grey audience, the group plans to play extremely different sets and hold signings for the LA shows.
Rob Zombie
Murat Theater
Indianapolis, IN
11/16/2009
Live PhotosHalloween may have come and gone 16 days ago, but Rob Zombie's Hellbilly Deluxe 2 World Tour brought the spirit back to Indianapolis. Despite being held in the somewhat beautiful but stodgy Murat Theater (home to musical and and stage productions), Rob Zombie's extravaganza of ghoulish fun did to fail to incite the enthusiastic crowd. During the second song John 5 and Piggy D played to and with the first row of the audience as Rob Zombie climbed through the middle section of the theater as he sang the majority of the song.
Devo’s 2009 tour stopped in Chicago for back to back dates at the Vic Theatre on November 12th and 13th. The shows celebrated the group’s reissue of their first two albums on deluxe CD, digital download, and color vinyl. Each performance included one of the entire Devo reissues plus select fan favorites. Thursday’s set was the group’s first album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and Friday’s set was 1980’s Freedom of Choice.
Voodoo Art & Music Experience THE TENTH RITUAL, returned to City Park, New Orleans to celebrate its 10th Anniversary for the three-day Halloween weekend with a diverse lineup that featured more musical treats than tricks. Everything under the sun and a nearly a full Halloween moon was offered at Voodoo 2009. From burlesque to jazz, punk, rap, zydeco and the staple of rock and roll were all available for consumption. Voodoo’s home, City Park (est.1891) is truly an experience in and of itself and is the perfect setting to worship the music. Voodoo fans wandered and danced throughout the 1,300 acre park that’s filled with lagoons and 600 year old moss-draped oak trees. Festival organizers called on spectators to try to break the Guinness Book of World Records mark for the Largest Gathering of Zombies. The record to beat is 4,026 Zombies which was set in England and by the looks of the three day attendance; Voodoo should be wearing the ‘Zombie crown’! Check out the Voodoo Music Festival photo gallery HERE.
A Fan Enjoys The Flaming Lips
For the Canadian metal-quartet Kittie, 2009-10 could prove to be a defining period. Formed over a decade ago in London, Ontario Canada, the all-female band has endured their share of personnel changes, issues with labels and personal loss. Today the band it working harder than ever to take control of their own music, management and destiny. So far so good as the bands newest album, "In The Black" contains an array of strong metal cuts chock full of grinding, evil guitar riffs based around the foundational vocal work of Morgan Lander. Kittie's official website (www.kittierocks.com) informs readers that the "drama" level in camp Kittie has dropped considerably over the past years. That despite the sudden and unexpected death of the bands manager (the father of Mercedes and Morgan Lander) and
lackluster results on thier prior album.
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Riviera Theater
Chicago, IL
10/16/2009
Live Photos
Rodrigo Y Gabriela filled the Riviera Theater to capacity last Friday in Chicago. The duo's blend of classical guitars and metal inspired riffs is winning over audiences worldwide. Their most recent release, 11:11, pays tribute to 11 artists including Dimebag Darrell, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd. Friday's set drew heavily upon this material and included some extra surprises such as a guest appearance by Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo. Rodrigo Y Gabriela's current US tour wraps up on the 24th of this month in Baltimore, MD and makes a stop in Mexico before heading back overseas.
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