Show Reviews
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 [...]
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 [...]