Angels & Airwaves Concert review

Strange symbols stobes and a layer of sythedic made this show a bit more than it had to be. Every thing is just like it was at any other show. However, there seemed to be quite a few people that seemed to care about more about the past, wanting to hear Blink 182. 
I could only feel sympathy for the members, imagine if you were Robert Kennedy, having to live in the shadow of your brother John, and people dont support you cause they like your policies on the issues, they just like you cause you just happened to be John F. Kennedy's brother. It's hard living in the shadow that was Blink 182. The more that I think about it, I just think there was alot pf people there wanting to see a Blink 182 concert and not an Angels & Airwaves show. It would not be aparent if it was not for a third of the crowd wearing Blink shirts. 

I thought it some how amusing how different Tom Delonge's voice really is in person. It seems more whiny live compared to how it sounds in a recording, me not being used to this found it to be slightly annoying, however this show was worth seeing if you adore A&A or Blink 182. Just keep in mind that you are not seeing Blink 182.

modlife.com/angelsandairwaves

R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio 1942 - 2010

 The Heavy Metal world has lost a hero, Ronnie James Dio to stomach cancer at the age of 64. Dio was best known for his unique vocals and his showmanship. I must say when a friend informed me of the news my usual happy mood became sad and silent. Wendy Dio (widow of Ronnie Dio) left this statement on ronniejamesdio.com and on the Ronnie James Dio page on Facebook.

“Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”

He leaves behind millions of fans and his band Heaven and Hell. He will be missed and admired until the end of time. 

"This is not a Paul Simon Concert." Porcupine Tree Concert Review

 Sunday night concerts are not popular among any crowd, though for more than 500 local and out of town fans, Porcupine Tree was a hot ticket!

Their on stage presence was immediately established in a few riffs, then quickly went mellow, as they went into playing songs from their new album “The Incident”. After a few songs it became apparent that front man Steven Wilson is the conductor of this five piece Progressive Rock Symphony. Wilson's energy on stage would fit more in a several thousand seat arena, and his talent appears to be unlimited. The overall quality of Porcupine Tree's performance surpasses anything not heard in person.

Porcupine Tree sets the bar for the next generation of Progressive Rock very high, from the lyrics to the keys. Porcupine Tree gets no where near the attention from the music world that it deserves, like other talents in Prog Rock. If you ever have the opportunity to see Porcupine Tree, go see them, you will not be disappointed.

porcupinetree.com

myspace.com/porcupinetree

More photos here!

MGMT Congratulations Album Review

The duo is back and going in a different way that is still very much Indie. They are back with there second album, Congratulations. If you are looking for anything Ocular Spectacular in this album, there are a few things but not many. Congratulations has had a few issues keeping itself out of the radar until the release date, due to it being leaked and shared all across the Internet. MGMT released this statement on their website soon after, “Hey everybody, the album leaked, and we wanted you to be able to hear it from us. We wanted to offer it as a free download but that didn't make sense to anyone but us”. MGMT now has full streaming of the album on their website.

Congratulations starts off at a slow pace compared to the last album, but it functions more like a book, starting off slow, then the climax near the end, and then two chapters to tie everything leaving the listener content, and immediately starting from track one. Congratulations maybe best to listen while in complete darkness. Some tracks are hypnotic, especially Siberian Breaks. Unlike Ocular Spectacular, not every song is an instant favorite. I found that three tracks on the album can be little a hard to listen to, with songs that are much longer than most are used to hearing. Though followers of MGMT should be nothing less than thrilled with Congratulations, which is due out April 13th.

Whoismgmt.com

Gorillaz "Plastic Beach" album

Five years ago I remember waiting in line at Borders with what would be the last CD I would ever buy, it was Demon Days. I had been anticipating the release after receiving my first gen iPod Shuffle (which was released in Jan '05) after discovering Gorillaz while searching for things on iTunes.

The new album is Plastic Beach, which doesn't sound to inviting, but alluring enough to get some one to pick it up and look at the other side of the CD case if it is to be spotted in FYE. Name aside this is a great old school, chill album featuring Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, and many more. This album, like the other Gorillaz albums, is very different.

Everything starts out slow and does not pick up until the third track and 2D is not even heard until the fourth song. Then everything flows seamlessly. This album is not for the typical listener, its very experimental and old school, though if you love some electronic beats and tolerate some rap you will love this. You can see the video for the song Stylo here.

Gorillaz.com

Dropkick Murphys

There I was front and a little off of centre, in front of me was a stage, behind me were hockey fans and a sea of men wearing flat caps, waiting to see the famous Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys (DKM) from Boston. lights dimmed and they all walked out some with instruments in hand, and played "Boston". The stage presence was great but not the best. Al Barr (lead vocalist) had a presence that seemed greater than the rest of DKM.

Going to a DKM concert is very different than going to any other kind of concert, in many ways it is like going to a concert for the first time.

This is there 2010 St. Patty's tour, that ends on the 17th, after a week of shows in Boston, MA. Then they hit the British isles.

DKM brings a unique sound inspired by life in Boston, Celtic music, drinking songs, and punk rock. They gained mainstream attention when their song "I'm Shippin Up to Boston" was featured in the Oscar Award winning movie "The Departed". Stream some songs on their Myspace and check out their website, and be on the lookout for their Live On Lansdone album coming out March 16th.

myspace.com/dropkickmurphys

dropkickmurphys.com

Assemblage 23

While listening to VNV Nation I came across an album called Failure by Assemblage 23. A small industrial band with some wicked beats and poetic lyrics, for me it was like the first time I listened to New Order's Substance all the way through.

The simplicity of the synth creates an old school sound mixed with rhythm that are unique, creating a truly original sound that reflects the Industrial genre of the early 90's. The lyrics (most if not all) are deep, though uplifting in some songs, but not upbeat in the traditional way that most popular music is.

Assemblage 23(AKA: A23) is the brainchild Tom Shear, a musician that dabbled in Punk and Pop in the 80's that went into the Industrial scene after hearing some tracks from an opening act at a Depeche Mode concert. Tom Shear writes, plays, and records everything. On stage he preforms along side a few musicians.

A23 will kickoff it's tour in the states in Seattle, Washington on March 29th. The full tour schedule is posted on A23's website.

http://assemblage23.com

The Knight Parade (AKA: The Night Parade)

It is always strange to see families amongst the normal club crowd after dusk in Ybor city, but the families and the club kids had a good reason to be waiting on the side walk and not to be home or in a bar.

It was by far the biggest of the three Gasparilla parades this year was the Knight Parade in Ybor City. I wouldn't doubt that more people made an effort to come to the knight parade that the day parade. Any parade goers that wanted to go to the normal Gasparilla parade a week ago were promised to be hit by rain and high winds, but this parade was spared from harsh weather.

The parade was not spaired from the Jesus Freaks that hang near Centro Ybor, spreading religious propaganda. Their group leader was giving his little rant into a megaphone, saying that anyone that was in Ybor to see the parade had a "guilty conscience". He was met by backlash that started across the street from one of the artist in the Ybor Art Colony yelling from a second story window, "Hey listen everybody! That man. Says your all going to Hell cause your here to enjoy a parade.", people started to verbally attack the Evangelical Christians that were pestering the parade goers, forcing them further down 7th avenue.

The night parade had some of the same participants as the one held in the day hours last weekend, though spirits seemed higher than those at the day parade. It seemed like more beads pelted me in the face this time than at the previous parade, and the higher attendance did not help my efforts to photograph this night time celebration. The girl next to me would spread open her arms and lick her lips, old men would give her beads. The group of people that accompanied me thought low of her, and so did the other parade goers. Her efforts got her beads, and that's all she seemed to be interested in, this was very apparent when she went to kneel down to pick up beads as people left after the parade.

This parade was like Gasparilla turned all the way up to eleven. It had every thing: old men, old women trying to look attractive in costume, professionals dressed as pirates, marching bands, people with unlit cigars, dancing firemen, kids on floats that dont throw beads, and some even fighting over beads. And much like most parades, when they come to a close, many spectators stand around and ask "is it over?", and sadly it was over.

Rising Down

Like in any city, town, or suburb there is always a few good bands, and Tampa has a few handfuls. One of the many is Rising Down, an Indie band that started as an idea between a few musicians and a poet in high school, together they dissolve the negative stigma that surrounds the words "local band".

When they are live, they are at their best, and look as if they have been playing arenas for years, when they have only been playing together for less than one year.

You can stream some of songs of theirs at

http://www.myspace.com/risingdown2009

Gasparilla 2010

This years Gasparilla Parade was different from years past, due to rain, wind, and cold. This deterred many from seeing this local annual spectacle that closes major streets in the down town area and else where, but not I!

My assistant and I arrived early, and found decent parking just as the streets were closing behind us. Both of us running on nothing but overpriced Premium French Roast Coffee we drank just hours before.

We were awake! Are Batteries were full, cards cleared, lenses clean, and rain ponchos at the ready encase the clouds decided to let loose. Now we did look a little funny with clear plastic food wrap around our cameras but it was difficult getting it on, but cheaper than buying a waterproof bag.

Around 1:00pm the clouds let loose, and for 2 hours my assistant and I stood at our spot on Ashley drive shivering while water fell on us from the sky. Time passed and my nose started to make the clear stuff that makes people sick if they stand in they type of weather I was standing in. Thankfully the Sheraton that we stationed ourselves in front of had a restaurant inside, with $2 coffee. I was hesitant at first, though I became desperate. I was not going to let myself become tired and sick, and my assistant was starting to doze off too. So I got to coffees to-go, and they were both worth the $3.99 that I paid for them (but did not get my one cent change).

Many sips later, the police came and went, several more sips and I finished. The caffeine hit my bloodstream and the float became visible in the distance. My assistant and I opened up and never stopped shooting. I shot blind most of the time, but that’s what I do best. I was surprised how many people still participated in the parade despite the weather. The bright jovial attitudes of each Krewe seemed contagious, spreading joy and making me feel like a happy little kid.

Gasparilla was proof that no matter how bad the economic situation of anyone is, they can still go out and get some joy from watching pirates invade their streets and catch some twenty cent plastic beads here and there. I look forward to the next parade.

I got around 32 beads and one feather boa, all of which I gave away to some beadless family I saw in the parking lot.






All photographs in this post taken by Kyle Henderson (me).