Friday, July 13. 2007
All That Remains at the Opera House - more photos... photo by clint gilders- staff photographer | by andrew stricko - club kingsnake contributor
Toronto's Opera House baked like an oven for the June 2 show featuring Canadians the Holly Springs Disaster and Threat Signal, followed by Bless The Fall from Phoenix, Arizona, and a finale with All That Remains and Protest the Hero. With a lengthy 5-band bill, the merciless heat was a true test for those who wanted to take in the entire show despite the threat of physical exhaustion, dehydration, or fatigue.
For a show with a hefty serving of breakdowns, each band seemed to keep the audience’s attention and had a noticeably different hardcore style.
The Holly Springs Disaster and Threat Signal opened, followed by Bless The Fall. With such powerful opening acts, I was still only half-prepared for the finale. With two of the most ‘in your face’ performances money can buy these days left to hit the stage, it's hard to convey the crowd’s frenzied anticipation that night.
The lights went down, and All That Remains stepped on stage. I watched from the balcony as all hell broke loose. It was my first time seeing ATR, and this is not a band that lets you down live. They pretty much tell you how it is and you like it. Playing a flawless set including "This Calling," which made the crowd roar like at a Slayer concert, ATR brought out the big drums, a brief burst of air conditioning, throat-tearing vocals, and shredding that would move some of history's best players to tears.
Finally it came, the final trip to the patio for smokers, the final set change, and the last time anyone in the building would be the same.
Protest The Hero at the Opera House - more photos... photo by clint gilders- staff photographer |
Take five boys from hometown Whitby, Ontario, barely over the legal age and only slightly older than me. Give them unparalleled musical powers. Put them on stage in front of a sold out crowd, and you have Protest The Hero. Moments before PTH came out, both sides of the stage were packed full (very common when PTH are in Toronto). Ultimately this means one thing: lots of action!
As the theme to Star Trek began to play, the noise generated by the crowd was deafening. As the band strutted onto the stage - pandemonium. Within seconds PTH launched into "Nautical" and began their ruthless assault (with comedic sprinklings). They played nearly all of their most recent album Kezia, "I Am Dimitri Karamazov and the World is My Father" from A Calculated Use Of Sound, and a handful of yet to be named/recorded new songs; very little was left untouched. In between songs, frontman Rody Walker carried on the typical stage banter. He kept us all entertained as his fellow bandmates let their limbs rest from the lightning speed moves. Since this was considered a hometown show, the audience was treated to many surprises. There was a guest appearance by Jesse Colburn of Closet Monster during "I am Dimitri," Stuart Aiken lent a hand with "Turn Soonest To The Sea," and Jadea Kelly (the voice of Kezia) appeared for various songs.
But there was one major highlight left in store: A Protest encore (something they don’t usually do).
They finished off the evening with "Heretics and Killers," and it's safe to say that everyone got their money’s worth.
Thursday, July 12. 2007
Apparently it's groundbreaking frontpage news that if you wrap a copper wire around your head and walk around in a thunderstorm, you might just attract lightning. It must be because CNN, FOXNews and other sites are reporting that if you wear your iPod outside during a storm, you might just get zapped. At least one of those struck was Jason Bunch, 18, who was listening to Metallica at the time ( Ride The Lightning no doubt). Jason suffered burns and ruptured eardrums. While there have been no reports of similar lightning strikes on the brand new iPhone, rumors are being widely circulated that the forthcoming iPhone Nano will come with a retractable 40 foot lightning rod unit as an option. Called the iRod, the device will safely discharge the effects of a lightning strike without disabling the phone or its user.
Next, why you shouldn't just stick that fork in the toaster....
If you needed a reason to go to Warped Tour in Barrie you just got it.
Club.kingsnake has just confirmed through their label that Protest The Hero has been added to the Warped Tour date in Barrie, Ontario on August 11th, 2007.
You heard it here first.
See you at Warped.
Wednesday, July 11. 2007
Serena Ryder at Del Crary Park. The Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights - more photos... photo by clint gilders- staff photographer | by clint gilders - club kingsnake staff
Serena Ryder
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
http://www.serenaryder.com/
Serena Ryder Concert Photos
Saturday, July 7th, 2007
Del Crary Park, The Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada)
Now in its 21st season, the Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights is a free outdoor concert series presented by the city of Peterborough and corporate sponsors every Wednesday and Saturday night throughout the summer.
While the lineup has a definite lean toward MOR, easy listening, and classic rock it has also featured some rock and pop stars. The must-see concert for me this year was Serena Ryder. Since her discovery by Hawksley Workman, Serena has become a local Peterborough girl done good.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Serena Ryder at the Peterborough Summer Festval of Lights"
Monday, July 9. 2007
From Salon:
It was a historic moment, signifying a vast sea change: the death of the Hummer and the rebirth of Flower Power. Two billion fans, 130 countries, seven continents and Jon Bon Jovi can't be wrong.
Watching the Gore-backed, star-packed Live Earth festival -- which included televised, Web-streamed concerts in New York, London, Johannesburg, Rio De Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Hamburg -- there was an overwhelming sense that one was seeing the better angels of the human spirit rise lotuslike through the mud and unfold into a better, sober, new counterculture based on a peace, love, understanding and eco-consciousness. Like the '60s, only without so much meth.... Even the perennially depressed Roger Waters from Pink Floyd was having such a good time he looked as guileless as a 10-year-old.
[...]
Alicia Keys, the breakaway star of the event, really torched the roof off with her Category 5, gale-force radiance. Great performing artists can maintain poise while seemingly losing all control: Keys literally quivers from the wild waves of super-soul rippling through her. Her backup vocals on "Gimme Shelter" redeemed the otherwise limp Keith Urban and, if hooked up to a generator, could have powered all of the dryers in Dubai.
[...]
The perennially ageless Sting bumped the mood back up, after his wife's gruesome news. The reformed Police were joined by a highly excited Kanye West in a duet that was actually moving, because it was sincerely felt:
"We can save the world!"
"Sending out an SOS..."
"We can save the world!"
"Sending out an SOS..."
"We can save the world!"
Counter-insurgency, Gen. Patraeus has said, is about capturing hearts and minds. There was simply no denying the infectious, unforced good feelings of Live Earth. You can only front for so long: Joy is real or it isn't. This was the kind of love-fest you can't buy or steal ... and even snarky reviews can't kill.
Full article here -- free to subscribers, or you can see it free with a day pass.
Video of the Police and Kanye West singing "Message in a Bottle" under the jump.
Continue reading "Live Earth Sends an SOS"
Saturday, July 7. 2007
CoCo Carmel and Bobby Whitlock - Celebrity Judge
First Place Winner - photo by Jay West
Second Place Winner - photo by Andrew
Third Place Winner - photo by Jay West
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This month our celebrity judge is Bobby Whitlock, legendary session player, member of Derek and The Dominos and now an Austin local after relocating here in 2006, playing Tuesdays at the Saxon pub with his wife Coco Carmel.
Here are Bobby's picks for this month's contest winners..
#1 - Peter Hayes...Awsome lighting and color contrast..It looks like you 're standing right there in front of him..
#2 - Stefano Intelisano...Black & White medium with perfect lighting and he is "There'' in C...
#3 - tBuddy Guy...Captured him in the moment, just before his finger hits the "over-the-top"accent note.
~Bobby Whitlock~
club kingsnake is now accepting submissions for its 2007 concert photo contest. Last year's contest attracted over 500 photo entries. This year we timed the announcement to occur during Austin's SXSW festival and handed out about 1000 flyers to music photojournalists from around the world.
The 2007 contest will be handled a bit differently, with monthly winners instead of weekly, and with larger prize incentives to the winners. This year's contest prizes are as follows:
Monthly Prizes: (selected at the first of each month)
1st Place - $100 B & H Photo Gift Card
2nd Place - $50 B & H Photo Gift Card
3rd Place - club kingsnake T-Shirt
Year End Prizes: (selected at the beginning of 2008)
1st Place - $2000 Camera Shopping Spree at B & H Photo
2nd Place - Fuji F31 Point N Shoot Camera
3rd Place - $100 B & H Photo Gift Card
So how does it work? Simple - just upload a concert photograph that you have taken yourself (with a camera, not off someone else's web site!) to our photo contest gallery. Make sure to include the artist's name and any other pertinent details such as the camera and lense used in the description. Every month 3 winners will be chosen, and at the end of the year the 3 best will be selected from all the photos submitted throughout the year. This is kind of like American Idol for pictures except our contest judges have been told to keep their rude snickering to themselves.
The 2007 club kingsnake concert photo contest is now live! Post your images at http://clubpix.kingsnake.com/index.php?cat=521
Contest Rules
- You may enter as many concert photos as you like AS LONG AS THEY ARE PHOTOS YOU HAVE TAKEN!
- Entries must be posted before the end of the day on the last day of the month, according to the clocks on our systems.
- You must include a valid email address on your post for it to qualify.
- Staff and volunteers of OnlineHobbyist.com, Inc. and its associated sites are ineligible to participate in the contest although they may certainly post their photos as well.
- Anyone may enter, regardless of age, although for persons under 18 a parent or guardian must claim the prize.
- No purchase is required to participate.
- You must have a physical address somewhere on the planet earth that can receive parcels sent through the U.S. postal service.
Friday, July 6. 2007
Yes, yes, I know Amazon.com sells music. It sells CDs and it sells digital music too.
But proving once again that we will buy the cow even if the milk is free, they also give it away. So get on over to Amazon and check out their current offerings. Today it's Madness and Koufax:
'80s favorite Madness is back with a funky bunch of cool covers on The Dangermen Sessions, Vol. 1 and indie rockers Koufax hit their stride with Hard Times Are in Fashion. Download a free track from each new release:
"Shame and Scandal" from Madness's The Dangermen Sessions, Vol. 1
"Why Bother It All" from Koufax's Hard Times Are in Fashion
Those and more, free and legal, here.
Thursday, July 5. 2007
Nick Hexum of 311 at The Backyard - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer | by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff
Well there's floodin' down in Texas, all of the telephone lines are down
- Stevie Ray Vaughn - Texas Flood
It appears that Austin has another new title in its sights, at least this year. Looking more like Seattle than Central Texas, the Austin area has been pelted by rainstorms on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. While a few venues have been impacted, i.e. Missing Persons were missing persons after Carlos and Charlie's stage flooded and they canceled their show along with Tommy Tutone, the Romantics, and 10,000 Maniacs, other outdoor venues and events are charging ahead through the mud and rain.
Charlie Sexton of The Arc Angels at Antone's - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
This week at the Backyard they have five consecutive nights of concerts scheduled, starting last night and tonight with 311 and Matisyahu, and then finishing out with 3 nights of Widespread Panic. Tickets are still available and the shows promise to go on rain or shine. Luckily they've made special arrangements to ease the parking problems caused by the mud. Concert goers need to park in the HOME DEPOT lot located at 3600 RR620 or LAKE HILLS CHURCH located at 11431 Bee Cave. Both have graciously offered to accommodate Backyard patrons in their lots (thanks!). Carpooling is encouraged and a FREE shuttle bus will transport to and from the Backyard. I went to the 311 show last night and though the venue site is a bit messy, it's not a mud bog. Wear appropriate shoes and you might consider a poncho as well, although last night was relatively dry. No cameras are allowed for the 311 shows, so leave them at home or in your car. The shows start way early with doors opening at 5:30 pm and the first band going on at 6:30 pm.
For those not wishing to brave the rain, the legendary Arc Angels are playing a two-night only gig starting tonight at Austin's Antone's. One of Austin's first "super-groups," the Arc Angels consist of Charlie Sexton, Doyle Bramhall, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon. If you never got a chance to see them before they broke up, this is your chance. The special "Reserved Upstairs Table" seats at $50 are already gone, but a limited number of general admission tickets are still available for these very special reunion shows
Wednesday, July 4. 2007
Okay, I'm flailing around here, totally madly in love with Bryan Ferry's Dylanesque.
The last CD of covers I was excited about was Patti Smith's Twelve, which was a huge disappointment to me. I hadn't even heard a rumor of the existence of this one (perhaps I need to get out more?), and when I saw it I was at first OMG I MUST BUY THIS AT ONCE, and then hesitant, based on that recent disappointment.
I've now listened to Dylanesque pretty much continuously all day and I can't give this CD enough love.
When Clint and I saw the Scott Walker: 30 Century Man documentary at SXSW last March, it opened with some vintage video of Roxy Music doing "Editions of You," with a glammed-out Brian Eno (who was featured in the film) on tambourine. I love that Bryan Ferry. And I think Roxy Music's live version of "Like a Hurricane" is probably my favorite cover song ever. And I have another album of Bryan Ferry covers, Foolish Pleasures (he sings "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To" on that one, it's priceless). But this CD of Bob Dylan covers is as good as anything I've ever loved by Roxy Music or Ferry solo. It's stunning.
Like the cover of Neil Young's "Hurricane," these cuts are all live, although recorded in the studio over a one-week period. He turns rockers into pop songs, croons the most blistering of Dylan's lyrics, and there are strings... STRINGS... on his brilliant, beautiful rendition of "Positively Fourth Street." And there's not one cut on here that doesn't work, but standouts were "Fourth Street," "The Times They Are A-Changin'," "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," "Simple Twist of Fate," "All I Really Want to Do," and "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down."
Videos of "Positively Fourth Street" and "The Times They are A-Changin'" under the jump, along with a track list. But don't waste time watching these vids, go buy the CD. Go now.
Continue reading "CD Review - Dylanesque by Bryan Ferry"
Tuesday, July 3. 2007
I Hate Sally
http://www.myspace.com/ihatesally
Camden Palace, London, UK
Saturday 14 April 2007
To quote the lead singer of Hayseed Dixie, “A person who only listens to one kind of music ain’t any guy I wanna drink any beer with.� And I’m all in agreement with that, I really am. My CD collection is testament to that and no one could accuse me of being narrow-minded. However, when Clint asked me to review I Hate Sally, one of his “favourite new bands,� I knew I had a problem. You see, Clint and I have very different tastes in music. I like the guy and I respect him highly, but I just don’t dig all of his tunes. Going to see a band on his recommendation would always be something of an experience.
A quick look at their website confirmed my guess that I Hate Sally are seriously metal, more metal than my delicate little palate is used to. I knew this was going to be a difficult review to write and I needed to come up with a plan. If I wasn’t the right person to write the review then perhaps I should ask someone more qualified. I decided to start with the people in the room.
“Its very……..rock and roll isn’t it?�
“It’s noise, but I like it.�
Zac H. – aged four.
“Sounds like a bloody zoo on fire.�
John H. – stockbroker.
It seemed I needed a better plan, but. undeterred. I decided to continue my interviews at the gig. At least I’d be guaranteed a more discerning crowd. After the gig I collared a couple of punters at the bar and asked them for their views.
Continue reading "Concert Review - I Hate Sally, London, UK"
Sunday, July 1. 2007
Les Claypool at Stubb's BarBQ - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer | by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff
Les Claypool
Hometown: San Francisco, California
http://lesclaypool.com
The Les Claypool Concert Photos
Tuesday, June 19th, 2007
Stubb's BarBQ (Austin, Texas)
Also: The Two Gallants
With the temperatures in the upper 90s, I cut out of work early in hopes of scoring a video interview with Les Claypool. I'd already done a telephone interview with him and figured I would try to push my luck. His publicist had arranged for passes to the show, and I figured I would take the video camera just in case. I was just in time to hear the last part of Les' sound check wafting over the barbed wire topped wooden fence that surrounds the venue. Unfortunately the sound check was closed, and the nearest I would come to Les offstage would be to shout him a greeting as he moved from the backstage door to the bus.
My brush with celebrity over for the day, I still had three hours before the gate opened -- too long to just hang around outside the gate, too short to drive home and back. I decided to have dinner at Jaime's Spanish Village across from Stubb's and then wander around 6th Street window shopping.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Les Claypool - Stubb's BarBQ, Austin, TX"
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