Show Reviews
Children of Bodom, Swallow The Sun, Wolfheart Show Review | Portland, Oregon | March 30, 2019
I was fortunate enough to sit down with Janne of Children of Bodom prior to the show. I also am possibly Portland’s biggest Wolfheart fan. So, prior to arriving, I stopped at the local store to buy some fresh Oregon products for both bands. I decided on Rainer Honeycrisp apples, and Moonstruck chocolates. I awaited Janne in the bar, [...]
In Flames, Smash Into Pieces Show Review | March 14, 2019 | Roseland Theater | Portland, Oregon
To say I was excited for this show is an understatement. I love In Flames. In Flames is a band that seems to walk alongside me, providing the soundtrack of my life. They supply the vehicle that allows me to show others how I'm feeling or what I’m going through (and their music just plain rules!) It’s the perfect [...]
Show Review | Rebecca Black and Man Man |March 15, 2019 | Hawthorne Theater, Portland, Oregon
This show was gifted to me by my partner who likes to try to find things other than metal to expose me to, or to torment me; sometimes I’m not sure. I did my research on Rebecca Black. I watched old music videos and any interview I could get my hands on. I saw the spoofs and comments, and then [...]
Soulfly and Unearth Show Review – Bossanova Ballroom – Portland, Oregon – February 24, 2019
The excitement surrounding Max Cavalera and his band Soulfly was audible on this very cold February night in Portland, Oregon. I’d interviewed Max previously and it was the greatest mistake in my journalism career. It was a fantastic interview…one of those organic and inspiring interviews…and the recorder failed. When I got home, I plugged in my trusted recorder, and the [...]
Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, Weedeater, Mothership – Show Review – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne – January 31, 2019
I love Corrosion of Conformity. I love Crowbar. Both bands got me through some rough patches in my life and I will forever love them. To this day I can only listen to America’s Volume Dealer and Odd fellows Rest in their entirety. I’ll pull over in a parking lot to let them finish once started. I was thrilled to [...]
KISS “End of the Road” Tour – February 1, 2019 – Moda Center – Portland, Oregon
Witnessing the first USA date, in Portland, Oregon, for KISS’s “End of the Road” farewell tour last night was nothing short of amazing. We arrived timely to get our credentials and were stunned to see that no one had been let in yet. The buzz in the line was that the stage had been held up in customs from the [...]
Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation, Krisiun, Visceral Disgorge Show Review – November 3, 2018 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, Oregon
Extreme musicians...really nice guys. It was another fantastic lineup by kingbanana.net Presents. It was a night of old friends, new friends, and amazing metal in a zoo like setting. Lola's room is a beautiful room in the belly of the historic Crystal Ballroom. The main part of the venue was designed with a floating floor designed in 1914 for ballroom dancing. [...]
Gwar, Hatebreed, Miss May I, Ringworm Show Review – Portland, Oregon – Roseland Theater – October 18, 2018
The house was packed for a Thursday night in Portland, Oregon, but it was Gwar and Hatebreed after all! Up first was Cleveland’s hardcore punk band, Ringworm. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a dirtier looking band, but they absolutely came out with a vengeance, which started the night off well with their super aggressive set. Watching vocalist James "Human [...]
Dying Fetus, Incantation, Gatecreeper, Genocide Pact and Why Won’t You Die – Portland, Oregon – Bossanova Ballroom – October 3, 2018
Trey Williams, drummer for Dying Fetus, was my first ever metal interview, so besides being an awesome old school death metal band, they hold a special place in my heart, and I see them every time they come to Portland. As the second oldest old-school death metal band on the bill, Dying Fetus, pummeled Portland, Oregon just as you’d expect: [...]
Revocation, Exhumed, Rivers of Nihil, Yautja, and Rank and Vile – Dantes – Portland, Oregon – October 6, 2018
My friend Amir and I arrived at the venue early because I had been granted interviews with the three main bands: Revocation, Exhumed, and Rivers of Nihil. Rivers of Nihil was the first interview of the day, and the first question I asked guitarist Brody was is it Nih hill or Nile; it’s Nile. Just after Revocations’ soundcheck, Brett Bamburger [...]
Wolfheart Show Review and Interview – Paris Theater – Portland, Oregon – October 10, 2018
The bill was full with European metallers Carach Angren (Netherlands), Mors Principium Est (Finland), Wolfheart (Finland), and Empyrean Throne (California). I’m a huge Wolfheart fan. 2017’s “Thyjyys” is one of the best albums I’ve ever heard. So, when I found out I had the interview with Tuomas Saukkonen I have to admit I was both excited and nervous. I've done over [...]
Shinedown, Godsmack, Asking Alexandria – Portland, Oregon – October 11, 2018 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum
It was a brilliant line up. Smart; showcasing heavy hitters of hard music from the 90s – today. England’s Asking Alexandria opened the show with polish and poise, showcasing vocalist Danny Worsnop amazing voice. Guitarists Ben Bruce and Cameron Liddell provided the movement, often spinning around in circles while they played. As the youngest band on the bill, they quickly and easily proved [...]
Lauryn Hill – The 20 Year Anniversary of The “Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” – September 12, 2018 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Portland, Oregon
It was a brutal evening with a sparkly ending. A DJ void of excitement opened the show, and ended up being 75% of the entire show. While she was likely there to get people to their seats (and that was the end of the agreement) she ended up playing for nearly two and a half hours after Santigold and NAS [...]
Garbage Show Review – September 30, 2018 – Roseland Theater, Portland, Oregon
I felt very lucky to attend this sold-out show at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon. Sold out shows are always amazing because the energy is usually off the charts with the maximum amount of people, and this night was no exception. I found my spot in the back of the venue and quickly befriended other excited concert-goers ready for [...]
Evenescence and Lindsey Stirling – September 8, 2018 – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater – Ridgefield, Washington
On this typical autumn Pacific Northwest night we made our way to Ridgefield, Washington’s Sunlight Supply Amphitheater for what would be their final concert of the year. This was also the last stop for Evanescence and LindseyStirling’s tour with a full orchestra. They promised "a sensory experience like no other" which not only met, but exceeded our expectations. Both of these [...]
Geoff Tate’s Operation Mindcrime 30th Anniversary Tour – August 24, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne Theater
It was the year 2018, but felt like 1984 when Leathürbitch took the stage. In another amazing Mike Thrasher Presents lineup, Portland’s throwback “sleeze speed metal” favorites took the stage. Thirty years past the decedent time when they would have ruled the world, Sebastian Silva and his band put on an amazing show. Looking like a cross between Spinal Tap and [...]
CKY, Slaves, Royal Thunder, Awaken I Am – Portland, Oregon – August 16, 2018 – Dantes
Slaves CKY I was only familiar with CKY, and that was the sole reason I wanted this show. However, I left with a new love for Awaken I am, a respect for Royal Thunder, and incredibly impressed with Slaves. Oh, and of course, continued love for CKY. When Awaken I Am [...]
Powerglove, August 20, 2018 – Hawthorne Theater – Portland, Oregon
It was another ridiculously hot night in Portland, but that didn’t keep the power metal, video game loving fans away. "Go Go Metal Heads!! In the tune of Go Go Power Rangers." Up first was Portland’s Sabateur. I’m always stuck with the fact that their confidence is that which is rarely seen even in the most seasoned bands. On this [...]
The Smashing Pumpkins and Metric – August 25, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Moda Center
To a 25% full house, Metric Took the Stage. The foursome looked tiny positioned on the huge stage. Likely selected because they are… solid. Unmemorable. Usual. Unimaginative, I found myself looking away, and waiting for the 45-minute set to end. They were nearly void of movement except for the brief bursts of jazzercize moves by vocalist, and sometimes keyboards and [...]
Slayer, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Testament, Napalm Death – August 23, 2018 – Ridgefield, Washington – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
It was undoubtedly the concert of the year for those of us in the Pacific Northwest. Even if we’d seen Slayer 10 times, we still bought the ticket for this “last tour.” While none of us believe it will actually be the case (they’ll return in a year or two because this is what they know), if they do [...]
Otep, Dropout Kings, Ragdoll Sunday – August 15, 2018 – Portland, Oregon – Hawthorne Theater
It seems that the support for this “Fire and Fury” tour must have been hand selected by Otep Shamaya herself. I found everyone in all the bands and their crew to be overly happy, or at least have the appearance "happy." The line was long, and I guess not surprising, there were a lot of girls / women, many wearing [...]
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 intent 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 [...]