Reviews

The Used/Pierce The Veil Pittsburgh Show Review

Published

10 months ago

June 29, 2023

Summer is here, and for any music lover, that’s the best time of the year. Yes, you guessed correctly; that means it’s concert season. What better way to kick off the summer than with a pop-punk show like the Creative Control Tour, which features co-headliners Pierce The Veil and The Used?Every generation can appreciate this tour, whether you are old enough to have known about The Used since they formed over 23 years ago, or if you’re completely new to the scene and came to see Pierce The Veil because their song started a TikTok trend. There’s room for everyone on this upbeat and energetic wave of a tour. However, we do want to share a little bit of the spotlight with the opening bands, Girlfriends and Don Broco.

Hailing from across the pond in Bedford, England, comes Don Broco, a rock band with a bit of a funk-type vibe. These guys like to move, and dancing is certainly in their vocabulary. The band formed back in 2008 and has since then released 4 studio albums, the latest, Amazing Things, releasing back in 2021, and shared the spotlight on their short but jam-packed setlist with another fan favorite album, Technology. Don Broco most definitely took their time slot and went above and beyond with it, gearing the crowd up for the first half of our co-headliners, The Used.

With a set filled with a plethora of pink flowers and lights so bright, even frontman Bert McCkracken needed shades for the set when The Used took the stage. Forming nearly 23 years ago, the band was at the height of the pop punk music movement, and they certainly haven’t lost their touch. They played favorites such as “The Taste of Ink”, “The Bird and the Worm”, and “Pretty Handsome Awkward” just to name a few, and the band certainly filled the hearts of fans both old and new. To top it off, McCracken took a moment to shine a light on the sensitive subject of depression before playing “Giving Up” a song off of their latest album Toxic Positivity, which was released earlier this year. Along with new music, the band announced that they will be going on tour this fall with Sleeping With Sirens and Dead American, so if you missed this round of shows, be sure to catch one of the dates later this year.

Finishing up strong with a fan favorite amongst lovers of pop-punk, and alternative music, we have our other co-headliner, Pierce the Veil. Having just released their latest album, Jaws of Life, and frontman and lead guitarist Vic Fuentes welcoming a beautiful baby girl into the family, the band certainly has been busy thus far this year. Along with playing some of the more popular songs off their new album like “Emergency Contact” and “Pass the Nirvana”, the band certainly couldn’t go without playing some other fan favorites, which of course included songs such as “Bulls In The Bronx”, and “Hold On Till May”, which included a special serenade session for a lucky fan by Vic himself and ended with him giving them his personal guitar. Of course, this wouldn’t be a proper PTV show if we didn’t end the night with “King For A Day” a song loved by fans of the band and overall genre, as well as newer fans who have found it amongst some of today’s latest TikTok trends. So, whether you are a fan, young or old, remember that you are never too old to rock out.

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Shelby Tyce

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Reviews

Collective Soul “7EVEN YEAR ITCH” Greatest Hits 1994-2001 Vinyl

Published

4 months ago

January 4, 2024

Ron

I’ve always been a big fan of Collective Soul and have been lucky to have seen them a few times. This band has always been in my music mixes since the 1990s.

The vinyl release is exactly what you would want for a greatest-hits album. All the best songs that collective soul had from 1994–2001 If you were a teenager or an adult in the 90s, you can’t tell me that you didn’t jam out to songs like “Shine,” “Gel,” and “December.”

With other great songs like “Heavy,” “Run,” “The World I Know,” and “Forgiveness,” This greatest hit album sounds amazing on vinyl as well. Craft Recordings has done a really great job of keeping the magic and sound of these amazing songs.

The sleeve cover has some cool photos of the band throughout the years. This vinyl just came out in Collective Soul fashion in December, and is ready to be part of your vinyl collection, and just brings you back to a great time in life.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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Reviews

Otep – Hydra 10th Anniversary Vinyl

Published

5 months ago

December 15, 2023

Ron

I received a copy of the album, and when I first opened it, the artwork struck me first. Otep has always been a great visual artist, with her amazing drawings and characters. I even have one of them tattooed on myself. When you see the artwork on this vinyl release, you will really be drawn in and appreciate the artistry.

The sound of this vinyl is amazing. It’s been years since I’ve listened to anything on vinyl and forgot how much I loved the sound of the medium compared to CDs and digital releases. I love the songs on this album because, as with all Otep albums, it has such raw power and emotions, mixed with the anger and beauty of Otep’s poetry. Otep is one of the greats.

The album starts off with the track “Rising,” and this initial song sets the tone for what you’re about to hear from the balance of the album. The standout tracks on this album have to be “Necromantic,” “Apex Predator,” “Voyeur,” and “Feral Game.” Over all, the album as a complete piece of art is amazing. I would encourage you, if you’re a fan of Otep or a collector of vinyl, to add this vinyl to your collection.

About Author

Ron

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Reviews

WEDNESDAY 13: Performs Muderdolls Lititz PA Show Review

Published

5 months ago

November 24, 2023

Ron

Wednesday 13 came into Lititz, PA, on November 18th, bringing the music, or The MurderDolls, with him. Continuing the legacy of Joey Jordison and Ben Graves.

Wednesday 13 is on a tour now; that’s all MurderDolls. 21 years have passed since Beyond the Valley of the MurderDolls came out, and 13 years have passed since Women and Children Last was released. Wednesday and his bandmates are sharing the stage with Infected Rain and Gemini Syndrome on this tour.

The show was amazing; this was our first time covering a show at Mickey’s Black Box. The venue, the staff, and our media contact were so hospitable. The venue was amazing, with a cool balcony on the second floor to watch the show as well.

We got to hear a full set of 20 MurderDolls songs, which was pretty much every song on both albums. There were some songs I haven’t gotten to hear in a long time, like “Grave Robbing USA”, “Drug Me To Hell”, and “Summertime Suicide”. Of course, it wouldn’t be a MurderDolls show if they didn’t play “I Love to Say Fuck” and finish the night with “Dead in Hollywood.”

It’s always a blast to see Wednesday 13 in concert, and I was so excited for the band that a lot of these shows were sold out. It was also a special night because it was my GF’s “50th” birthday and my buddy’s GF’s birthday the next day. We got the MC of the show, Don Jamieson, to give them a little birthday shout-out.

Although it’s sad that Joey and Ben are no longer with us, I’m sure Joey is loving that Murderdolls is still kicking ass after all those years, and I know that Wednesday 13 is so appreciative of what MurderDolls has done for his career.