Reviews

Young the Giant: Baltimore Show Review

Published

11 months ago

June 13, 2023

Marley Hein

Photos and review: Marley Hein

Hello everyone. There was a lot going on in the DMV yesterday. We had the Pixies with Franz Ferdinhand at the Anthem in DC, the Pride Parade, and Young The Giant and Milky Chance performing at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia!

Who doesn’t like a cold beer at Merriweather and sitting underneath the pavilion with your close friends and singing your favorite songs at the top of your lungs? I know I do!

Let’s “talk” about who kicked-off this shindig. Vocalist Nicholas Durocher known as Talk hails from the great country of Canada, but maybe it’s not so great since we in the North East were bombarded by smoke from their forest fires. Talk had gained international attention and platinum status with the huge hit single “Run Away To Mars”. Their new track “Afraid Of The Dark” was just released a couple days prior to the show at Merriweather. This new track’s lyrics focus on Durocher’s grandmother, who was hospitalized while Talk was recording their debut album.

The second artist to hit the stage was Milky Chance. They came very far to be with us since the duo of childhood friends; Clemens Rehbein and Phillipp Dausch, are from Germany. Their new album, Living In A Haze, was released on June 9^th. So it felt kind of cool knowing that it was still very fresh for both them and the fans. It was also exciting knowing that they hadn’t been on tour in the US in some time. Milky Chance opened the show with several tracks from the new album, including: “Synchronized”, “Cocoon”, and the title track. They also performed their haunting version of The Culture Club’s 1980s hit “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?” Closing out the set were “Colorado” and “Sweet Sun”.

The lights begin to dim and eventually fade to black as the packed house of fans are chanting “Young The Giant!, Young the Giant!” at the top of their lungs. The band is preceded by a short intro video that I believe featured frontman Sameer Gadhia’s parents, who emigrated in 1984 from India to . The video served to draw you into a stage that had been transformed into a Bollywood wonderland. As the band appears from out of the darkness, you can see that lead vocalist Sameer Gadhia along with one of the guitarist are clad in beautiful saris.

The quartet performed a mix of fan favorites, including multiple tracks from their latest release, American Bollywood. The set also included an accoustic version of “Metropolis”. They closed out the set with “Tightrope”, “Silvertongue”, and “My Body”.

The tour continues through late August, so make sure you catch this enthralling show when it comes to your area. In addition, Young The Giant has partnered with REVERB to reduce the tour’s environmental footprint and engage with fans to take action for people and the planet. Visit REVERB.org for more details.

About Author

Marley Hein

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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.