Show Reviews
Sublime with Rome – Show Review – July 29th – Ridgefield, Washington – ilani Cowlitz Ballroom
Eric Wilson, Rome Ramirez and Carlos Verdugo took the stage with no opener on one of the hottest days of the year. They searched our bags pretty well, but the smell of weed was ever present. Even though the venue had assigned seats, no one stayed in their chair. On the way to the show I told MIRP co founder [...]
Train and Hall and Oates – August 9, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Moda Center
Kandace Springs took the stage first, unknown to most all of us. She sang with intnt and confidence in the style of India Arie meets Ella Fitzgerald. She sang her own songs with a beautiful version of Bonnie Rait's "I can't make you love me." The best song in her set was an original with lyrics that went something like [...]
Endless Summer Tour – Featuring G-Eazy, Lil Uzi Vert, Ty Dolla $ign, YBN, and P-Lo – July 21, 201 – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater – Ridgefield, Washington
I have never heard “bitches, hoes, n-word, pussy, and dick,” so many times in one setting...not ever in my life. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of rap; mostly because I’m just not that familiar with it. As a die hard metal fan, when I was asked to cover this show I jumped at the chance. I think being a [...]
Pitbull – July 15, 2018 – Rigefield, Washington – Ilani Casino
It was a hot day in Ridgefield, Washington and not just because of the temperature; Miami, Florida native Pitbull was in town! Just like I imagined, Pitbull was here to bring the party. The Cowlitz Ballroom at the beautiful Ilani Casino, was packed with approximately 2,500 screaming fans. A quick little side note: the security and Ilani employees (and Tom [...]
Insomnium – Oceans of Slumber – June 4, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne Theater
While Insomnium ruled the night, it was the locals who made a big splash. Everyone was waiting to hear Winter’s Gate, but as is not often the case, the buzz in the venue was for the debut show of Ligature Marks.
Anvil, Madwagon, Shadowside, Sunlord – May 24, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Bossanova Ballroom
I was the second person in line to see Anvil on this night. I hadn’t seen them since the early 80s, and I was beyond excited. You see, when I was a kid in the early 80s, my best friend and I would sneak into her older brother's room to check out his music. We weren't allowed in there, but [...]
Mushroomhead, Vyces, Gabriel and the Apocalypse, Align the Tide – May 18, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – The Analog
After some controversy, and a quick ownership change, the Analog (or new unnamed venue) held this long-awaited show. The controversy of the quick ownership change surrounded some bad yelp reviews and Facebook posts that made an accusation, locals reacted, and the show that was scheduled for the downstairs stage was cancelled. That left room for all of us attending Mushroomhead [...]
Pink’s “Beautiful Trauma” – May 15, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Moda Center
I’m a metal fan. The more extreme the better. Sure, I’m familiar with Pink and some of her more popular songs, and I think she’s really talented. I was planning on attending Satyricon, a black metal band from Norway on the night that Pink was in town. I got the call about 3:30 PM on the day of the show: “You are covering Pink tonight.” “OK, [...]
Nile and Soulfly Co-Headlining Tour – May 14, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne Theater
I love Nile. When I found out I had the interview, I was elated, and a bit nervous. I had seen a Reddit interview Karl Sanders of Nile did with his fans, and the opening description said something like, “I want to do this with my fans, I’m tired of the same old journalist questions.” So…I knew this interview had [...]
Sabroso Festival – Portland, Oregon – May 13, 2018, Portland, Oregon – Portland Meadows
What is better than summer weather, tacos, beer, music, and Lucha Libre wrestling? Nothing! When the Sabroso Festival came to Portland on May 13th, we had unusually hot weather. Our very white, virginal Oregonian skin was seeing the sun for the first time in nearly a year, and by the end of the night, our white pasty skin turned a nice, very [...]
Nonpoint, Butcher Babies – June 10, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne Theater
Nonpoint and Butcher Babies, two heavy hitters hit the stage in Portland, Oregon on this near summer night. I came in mid-way to Sumo Cyco’s set. As I found my way through the foreign non-metal crowd, I found an empty pocket somewhere in the middle of the floor. Just as I settled, the crowd turned to the right, and there [...]
I Love the 90s – April 22, 2018 – Ridgefield, Washington- Ilani Casino – Cowlitz Ballroom
It’s a shiny new casino with a state of the art ballroom that opened just in time to handle all of the sequins, glitter, and rhinestones that would that was considered “normal attire” in the 90s. The I Love the 90’s Tour brought 90s favorites such as Vanilla Ice, Salt N Pepa with Spinderella, Young MC, Tone Loc, and C&C Music [...]
John 5 – April 20, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Paris Theater
The revived Paris Theater is a beautiful venue. Small, intimate, well laid out, and sensually decorated. The show was ambitious with five bands, and that proved to be challenging. We arrived early and had the privilege of watching John 5 and his band perform three songs during soundcheck. Good for us, but the reason for the need for a [...]
Judas Priest, Saxon, Black Star Riders – April 17, 2018 – Portland, Oregon
It felt like the 1980s again…not quite Heavy Metal Parking Lot 1980s, but 80s all the same. The venue, the Memorial Coliseum, brought back so many amazing memories, seeing arena worthy bands of my youth…back when life was simpler…when the biggest decision I had to make was what to wear to school the next day, and wondering if my crush of [...]
ICP/Attila – March 25th, 2018 – Bend, Oregon – Midtown Showroom
The weather could not make up its mind in the beautiful town of Bend on the day of the show. While standing in line, we endured sunshine, snow and cold wind, but what could you expect for a Spring day in the Pacific Northwest? I personally had no idea of what to expect at this show, as this was my [...]
Fozzy, Through Fire, Santa Cruz, Dark Sky Choir, Noise Brigade – March 15, 2018 – Dantes – Portland, Oregon
First off, I’m a girl, and not a wrestling fan…so I have no idea what it’s like to watch Chris Jerico wrestle. All I know is that he can sing, and people love him. I love this band, mostly because I love Rich Ward’s Stuck Mojo, and he is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever had the privilege to [...]
Watain, Destroyer 666, Degial – March 14, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne Theater
I was so excited for this show. We were granted the interview with Erik of Watain, and I’d known this for weeks. Being a fan of Watain, I wanted the interview to be flawless, plus…I have a burning desire to try and understand black metal in its entirety. I don’t mean simply the music; I mean its full essence. I love how I feel when [...]
Doyle, “Hideous Monster” – March 13, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne Theater
It was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been for an interview since my first ever interview with the drummer from Dying Fetus about eight or nine years ago. I’m not the biggest Misfits fan, and do not like Danzig, but when I heard I had the interview with Doyle, I got my hands on everything I could of his, [...]
ZZ Ward Show Review – Sunday, March 4, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Wonder Ballroom
A wide variety of people made it out to this sold out show. More than a handful of ladies donned a hat similar to ZZ Ward's signature style. It was nice to see a different crowd than I am use to in the metal world. To start the night off was Canadian born, young, Dave Grohl look-alike, Billy Raffoul. He [...]
Old School Throwback Jam – Friday, March 2, 2018 – Moda Center – Theater of the Clouds – Show Review
It was a night made up of ten acts designed to remind us of a simpler time. People of all ages attended, making the Moda Center come alive. It was a night with promises of dancing and good music, with heavy hitting 80s acts like Lisa Lisa, the Jets, Expose, Taylor Dayne, on the bill. Walking into the Moda center was like [...]
Cyhra – February 12, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Wonder Ballroom
It was an uncommonly beautiful February day in Portland, Oregon. The sun was out, there was no typical rain, and Cyhra was in town. Not only were they in town, but it was their first show as a band on US soil. It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that Cyhra’s “Letters to Myself” is one of my favorite albums [...]
Toothgrinder – Code Orange – Meshuggah – January 25, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Crystal Ballroom
To say I was excited for this show is a gross understatement. I had been unaware of Meshuggah until 2004, and only discovered them after Dick Lovgren joined. I’d met Dick back in 2000 when he subbed in for Peter of In Flames at Portland’s other historic venue, The Satyricon (RIP), and I’d always followed his career. From 2004 when I first heard [...]
Gwar, Ghoul, He Is Legend, U.S. Bastards – November, 1, 2017 – Portland, Oregon – Roseland Theater
An hour and a half waiting in line in the freezing cold is how it started. Just before doors, which were a bit later than listed, they separated us into “those with tickets,” and “those with will call” - I was will call. I was about the 20th person in line and bolted up to the over 21 section [...]
Demon Hunter – November 4, 2017 – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne Theater
I got to the venue right at 7:00 PM, when the doors opened. It was a cold, dark, and rainy night, and to my surprise (and then horror) the line was two blocks long. Behind me in line were three twenty-something, clean cut guys, who seemed to come from some distance. The really talkative one was giving the other [...]
Hollywood Undead, Butcher Babies, & Demrick – October 30, 2017 – Portland, Oregon – Roseland Theater
Confusion plagued me when I got to the venue. Did I want to stand up front? Did I want to sit upstairs? The delay in decision-making cost me a great seat, but I did end up sitting in the balcony for the show. I was unfamiliar with Hollywood Undead, but had seen Butcher Babies several times. My photographer just kept grinning [...]