MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 04/19/24
HOUR 1
DESTROPHY - "welcome home" // welcome home - single
BULLETS & BUTTERFLIES – “hey rose (it was what it is)" // hey rose - single
VIA – “appetite" // after you drown
RAD OWL – “every second” // rage gracefully
ALPHA WOLF – “whenever you’re ready” // half living things
SUM 41 – “in too deep" // all killer, no filler
THE INTERRUPTERS – “raised by wolves" // in the wild
THE FAILSAFE – “head under water" // erasing color
WEEKEND PICNIC – “I will remain" // I will remain - single
MADAM DRIVER – “innocence fading” // negative ghostrider
SELF EVIDENT – “everything all at once" // endings
NOTHING MORE – “if it doesn’t hurt” // carnal
THE WARNING – “automatic sun” // keep me fed
BOSTON MANOR – “sliding doors” // sliding doors - single
TURNSTILE - "dance off" // glow on
UNDEROATH - "a boy brushed red living in black and white" // they're only chasing safety
HOUR 2
BETTER BROKEN - "queensbury" // tundra
ODDS OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT – “show me a sign" // through eyes of change
SLDG – “calcify" // predicaments ep
THE CHALLENGER DISASTER CONSPIRACY – “corncob messiah" // city pages 2023 band of the year
CLUTCH - "worm drink" // blast tyrant
RED HANDED DENIAL – “one more night” // a journey through virtual dystopia
BAD OMENS x HEALTH x SWARM – “the drain” // concrete jungle
THE GHOST INSIDE – “wash it away" // searching for solace
JOHNNY BOOTH – “ring light alter" // moments elsewhere
JESUS PIECE – “an offering to the night" // so unknown
MAKE THEM SUFFER – “epitaph” // epitaph - single
JUDICIARY – “blood" // flesh + blood
KUBLAI KHAN TX – “low tech" // low tech - single
CONVERGE – “under duress" // the dusk in us
KNOCKED LOOSE – “blinding faith” // you won’t go before you’re supposed to
ENTHEOS – “an end to everything” // an end to everything – single
VEIN - "virus vibrance" // errorzone
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024
KUBLAI KHAN TX throws down hard at a sold out First Avenue!
CONCERT REVIEW :: KUBLAI KHAN TX, SUNAMI, JUDICIARY
First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN
April 9, 2024
Photos by Brett
Review by Nick
It’s not often a hardcore band gets to headline the First Avenue mainroom in Minneapolis so this Kublai Khan TX show was going to be one for the books the moment it was announced. The fact that this show was near selling out two weeks before the show was going to make it even bigger. When we arrived at First Avenue and the sign on the door said “SOLD OUT”, that marks a huge win for heavy music!
We missed MOMENTUM’s opening set but heard good things from people in the crowd. JUDICIARY came out swinging the second the screen lifted and the lights went down. This show was not going to be for the faint of heart. I saw karate kicks and windmills in the circle pits, and even a bloody nose! I’m not well versed at all with JUDICIARY but they were impressive enough for me to pick up their latest disc “Flesh + Blood”. There’s punishing riffs, there’s grooves and there’s Jake Collinson’s intense vocal delivery. Easy to see why Kublai Khan TX brought them along on tour besides also being from Texas. Definitely time for me to get up to speed on JUDICIARY.
SUNAMI was up next. Lots of stomp and a totally different vocal delivery from JUDICIARY courtesy of frontman Josef Alfonso with more of a Rage Against the Machine style delivery. Crowd was completely in to it the entire set with lots of activity in the pit which was fun to watch from some safety upstairs. With Josef himself saying “(They) probably would never have played here if it wasn’t for Kublai Khan taking them on tour.” That’s right, MN isn’t a fly over state, feel free to come back again.
KUBLAI KHAN TX came out to perhaps now the loudest crowd sing a long right out of the gate of the year with “Theory of Mind” opening lines of “Monkey See, Monkey Do. So who the F made you?!” The crowd immediately was loud and crazy. The security guys up front had their hands full with crowd surfers right from the beginning of the song’s feedback to announce the start of the set.
Launching in to “Loyal to None” and “Resentment” from 2022’s “Lowest Form of Animal” EP, the band wasn’t letting up and neither was the crowd. For as punishing as KUBLAI KHAN TX’s music is, you can definitely tell there was some love between the crowd and the band with a few smiles cracked from the band from the intensity being thrown back at them. Jordan from MOMENTUM came up to help out on “Swan Song” creating a dynamic two headed monster on stage. If you thought the crowd was letting up once they launched in to that song, you were very mistaken.
Newly released “Low Tech” got a big pop from the crowd as they launched in to “Us & Them” with another shout along from the crowd. Before “The Truest Love” frontman Matt Honeycutt shouted out all the parents in the house who got a babysitter to come to the show and gave some extra love to all the single parents in the house celebrating everyone’s struggles and successes as parents. “Taipan” was a good pit turner as it’s a short and heavy number before heading in to “Self Destruct” which brought along another great shout along, no one can deny that “Every F'n Human is Built to Self Destruct” is a killer shout before the band breaks it down.
If you don’t know who KUBLAI KHAN TX is, remedy that now. Check out the new singles “Low Tech” and “Theory of Mind” as well as their most recent releases “Lowest Form of Animal” and “Absolute” and keep working your way back from there. Matt is an excellent and intense frontman, guitarist Nolan Ashley, bassist Eric English and drummer Issac Lamb lay it down heavy and thick. It’s pretty impossible to stay still during their set, heads were nodding if they weren’t moving in the pit.
This is a band that is not letting up anytime soon and has the show to back up the heaviness that they set the bar on record. Don’t sleep on catching KUBLAI KHAN TX the next time they roll through town. Can we get a Harm’s Way, Dying Wish, Kublai Khan TX tour to happen? It should.
SEE MORE OF BRETT's PICTURES FROM KUBLAI KHAN TX, SUNAMI and JUDICIARY HERE!
First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN
April 9, 2024
Photos by Brett
Review by Nick
It’s not often a hardcore band gets to headline the First Avenue mainroom in Minneapolis so this Kublai Khan TX show was going to be one for the books the moment it was announced. The fact that this show was near selling out two weeks before the show was going to make it even bigger. When we arrived at First Avenue and the sign on the door said “SOLD OUT”, that marks a huge win for heavy music!
We missed MOMENTUM’s opening set but heard good things from people in the crowd. JUDICIARY came out swinging the second the screen lifted and the lights went down. This show was not going to be for the faint of heart. I saw karate kicks and windmills in the circle pits, and even a bloody nose! I’m not well versed at all with JUDICIARY but they were impressive enough for me to pick up their latest disc “Flesh + Blood”. There’s punishing riffs, there’s grooves and there’s Jake Collinson’s intense vocal delivery. Easy to see why Kublai Khan TX brought them along on tour besides also being from Texas. Definitely time for me to get up to speed on JUDICIARY.
SUNAMI was up next. Lots of stomp and a totally different vocal delivery from JUDICIARY courtesy of frontman Josef Alfonso with more of a Rage Against the Machine style delivery. Crowd was completely in to it the entire set with lots of activity in the pit which was fun to watch from some safety upstairs. With Josef himself saying “(They) probably would never have played here if it wasn’t for Kublai Khan taking them on tour.” That’s right, MN isn’t a fly over state, feel free to come back again.
KUBLAI KHAN TX came out to perhaps now the loudest crowd sing a long right out of the gate of the year with “Theory of Mind” opening lines of “Monkey See, Monkey Do. So who the F made you?!” The crowd immediately was loud and crazy. The security guys up front had their hands full with crowd surfers right from the beginning of the song’s feedback to announce the start of the set.
Launching in to “Loyal to None” and “Resentment” from 2022’s “Lowest Form of Animal” EP, the band wasn’t letting up and neither was the crowd. For as punishing as KUBLAI KHAN TX’s music is, you can definitely tell there was some love between the crowd and the band with a few smiles cracked from the band from the intensity being thrown back at them. Jordan from MOMENTUM came up to help out on “Swan Song” creating a dynamic two headed monster on stage. If you thought the crowd was letting up once they launched in to that song, you were very mistaken.
Newly released “Low Tech” got a big pop from the crowd as they launched in to “Us & Them” with another shout along from the crowd. Before “The Truest Love” frontman Matt Honeycutt shouted out all the parents in the house who got a babysitter to come to the show and gave some extra love to all the single parents in the house celebrating everyone’s struggles and successes as parents. “Taipan” was a good pit turner as it’s a short and heavy number before heading in to “Self Destruct” which brought along another great shout along, no one can deny that “Every F'n Human is Built to Self Destruct” is a killer shout before the band breaks it down.
If you don’t know who KUBLAI KHAN TX is, remedy that now. Check out the new singles “Low Tech” and “Theory of Mind” as well as their most recent releases “Lowest Form of Animal” and “Absolute” and keep working your way back from there. Matt is an excellent and intense frontman, guitarist Nolan Ashley, bassist Eric English and drummer Issac Lamb lay it down heavy and thick. It’s pretty impossible to stay still during their set, heads were nodding if they weren’t moving in the pit.
This is a band that is not letting up anytime soon and has the show to back up the heaviness that they set the bar on record. Don’t sleep on catching KUBLAI KHAN TX the next time they roll through town. Can we get a Harm’s Way, Dying Wish, Kublai Khan TX tour to happen? It should.
SEE MORE OF BRETT's PICTURES FROM KUBLAI KHAN TX, SUNAMI and JUDICIARY HERE!
Friday, April 12, 2024
MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 04/12/24
MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 04/12/24
HOUR 1
RAD OWL – “every second” // rage gracefully
BULLETS & BUTTERFLIES – “to grey" // to grey - single
VIA – “the reincarnate" // the day of purification
JOHNNYROOK - "if you're dying, I'm dying" // if you're dying, i'm dying - single
THE WARNING – “automatic sun” // keep me fed
GREYWIND – “antidote” // antidote ep
IGNESCENT - "monster you made" // fight in me
AMARANTHE – “interference" // the catalyst
MADAM DRIVER - "innocence fading" // negative ghostrider
WAGE WAR - "magnetic" // stigma
POLARIS - "with reguards" // fatalism
SAUL - "more of the same" // this is it...the end of everything
BACKHAND BLUE - "paranoid" // paranoid - single
WIDOW7 - "miserable" // miserable - single
JUDAS PRIEST – “vicious circle" // invincible shield (deluxe edition)
HOUR 2 MAKE THEM SUFFER – “epitaph” // epitaph - single
REFLECTIONS – “deva” // deva – single
BY THE THOUSANDS – “the flood” // the descent
VENDED – “the far side” // the far side – single
KITTIE – “we are shadows” // we are shadows - single
RED HANDED DENIAL - "parasite" // a journey through virtual dystopia
SLDG - "1000 yard stare" // predicaments ep
SETYOURSAILS - "lately" // bad blood
MANY EYES - "mystic cord" // mystic cord - single
YEAR OF THE KNIFE - "wish / last laugh" // no love lost
DYING WISH – “path to your grave" // symptoms of survival
HARMS WAY – “devour" // common suffering
BETTER LOVERS – “the flowering” // the flowering - single
SEEYOUSPACECOWBOY feat COURTNEY LaPLANTE – “to the dance floor for shelter” // coup de grace
FOREIGN HANDS – “God under fingernails” // what’s left unsaid
ENTHEOS – “an end to everything” // an end to everything - single
HOUR 1
RAD OWL – “every second” // rage gracefully
BULLETS & BUTTERFLIES – “to grey" // to grey - single
VIA – “the reincarnate" // the day of purification
JOHNNYROOK - "if you're dying, I'm dying" // if you're dying, i'm dying - single
THE WARNING – “automatic sun” // keep me fed
GREYWIND – “antidote” // antidote ep
IGNESCENT - "monster you made" // fight in me
AMARANTHE – “interference" // the catalyst
MADAM DRIVER - "innocence fading" // negative ghostrider
WAGE WAR - "magnetic" // stigma
POLARIS - "with reguards" // fatalism
SAUL - "more of the same" // this is it...the end of everything
BACKHAND BLUE - "paranoid" // paranoid - single
WIDOW7 - "miserable" // miserable - single
JUDAS PRIEST – “vicious circle" // invincible shield (deluxe edition)
HOUR 2 MAKE THEM SUFFER – “epitaph” // epitaph - single
REFLECTIONS – “deva” // deva – single
BY THE THOUSANDS – “the flood” // the descent
VENDED – “the far side” // the far side – single
KITTIE – “we are shadows” // we are shadows - single
RED HANDED DENIAL - "parasite" // a journey through virtual dystopia
SLDG - "1000 yard stare" // predicaments ep
SETYOURSAILS - "lately" // bad blood
MANY EYES - "mystic cord" // mystic cord - single
YEAR OF THE KNIFE - "wish / last laugh" // no love lost
DYING WISH – “path to your grave" // symptoms of survival
HARMS WAY – “devour" // common suffering
BETTER LOVERS – “the flowering” // the flowering - single
SEEYOUSPACECOWBOY feat COURTNEY LaPLANTE – “to the dance floor for shelter” // coup de grace
FOREIGN HANDS – “God under fingernails” // what’s left unsaid
ENTHEOS – “an end to everything” // an end to everything - single
Monday, April 8, 2024
MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 04/05/24
MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 04/05/24
HOUR 1
KITTIE – “we are shadows” // we are shadows - single
AMIRA ELFEKY – “save yourself” // skin to skin
WEEKEND PICNIC – “I will remain” // I will remain - single
BAYSIDE – “castaway” // there are worst things than being alive
THE BLACK CROWES – “wanting and waiting” // happiness bastards
FEVERDREAM – “falling out” // falling out - single
ROYAL TUSK – “here on out” // altruistic
RAD OWL - "hannah barbera" // madison beast
MADAM DRIVER – “through the trees” // negative ghostrider
BLACK FLOOD DIESEL – “chasing the atrophy" // new asylum
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS – “ghost in the mist” // phantoma
EVERNOIR – “three sharp knocks" // stages of grief
BARONESS – “last word” // stone
ANGRY WATERS - "first blood" // the ghosts we chase
HOUR 2
BETTER LOVERS – “the flowering” // the flowering - single
SEEYOUSPACECOWBOY feat COURTNEY LaPLANTE – “to the dance floor for shelter” // coup de grace
FOREIGN HANDS – “God under fingernails” // what’s left unsaid
KNOCKED LOOSE – “blinding faith” // you won’t go before you’re supposed to
XAETO – “amalgam” // amalgam - single
HANABIE - "otaku lovely densetsu" // otaku lovely densetsu - single
DRUID – “overrated" // overrated - single
ENTHEOS – “an end to everything” // an end to everything - single
REFLECTIONS – “deva" // deva - single
BY THE THOUSANDS – “the flood” // the descent
IN SEARCH OF SOLACE – “no turning back” // the endless ache
SOULKEEPER – “inflorescence" // holy design
KUBLAI KHAN TX – “low tech” // low tech - single
CAPRA – “silana” // errors
BOUNDARIES feat MARCUS VIK – “blame’s burden” // death is a little more
FUGITIVE – “standoff” // standoff - single
HOUR 1
KITTIE – “we are shadows” // we are shadows - single
AMIRA ELFEKY – “save yourself” // skin to skin
WEEKEND PICNIC – “I will remain” // I will remain - single
BAYSIDE – “castaway” // there are worst things than being alive
THE BLACK CROWES – “wanting and waiting” // happiness bastards
FEVERDREAM – “falling out” // falling out - single
ROYAL TUSK – “here on out” // altruistic
RAD OWL - "hannah barbera" // madison beast
MADAM DRIVER – “through the trees” // negative ghostrider
BLACK FLOOD DIESEL – “chasing the atrophy" // new asylum
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS – “ghost in the mist” // phantoma
EVERNOIR – “three sharp knocks" // stages of grief
BARONESS – “last word” // stone
ANGRY WATERS - "first blood" // the ghosts we chase
HOUR 2
BETTER LOVERS – “the flowering” // the flowering - single
SEEYOUSPACECOWBOY feat COURTNEY LaPLANTE – “to the dance floor for shelter” // coup de grace
FOREIGN HANDS – “God under fingernails” // what’s left unsaid
KNOCKED LOOSE – “blinding faith” // you won’t go before you’re supposed to
XAETO – “amalgam” // amalgam - single
HANABIE - "otaku lovely densetsu" // otaku lovely densetsu - single
DRUID – “overrated" // overrated - single
ENTHEOS – “an end to everything” // an end to everything - single
REFLECTIONS – “deva" // deva - single
BY THE THOUSANDS – “the flood” // the descent
IN SEARCH OF SOLACE – “no turning back” // the endless ache
SOULKEEPER – “inflorescence" // holy design
KUBLAI KHAN TX – “low tech” // low tech - single
CAPRA – “silana” // errors
BOUNDARIES feat MARCUS VIK – “blame’s burden” // death is a little more
FUGITIVE – “standoff” // standoff - single
Saturday, March 30, 2024
MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/29/24
MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/29/24
HOUR 1
WEEKEND PICNIC – “I will remain” // I will remain - single
KORN – “worst is on it's way" // requiem
GOJIRA – “our time is now" // our time is now - single
SPIRITBOX – “jaded" // the fear of fear
JOHNNYROOK – “if you’re dying, I’m dying” // if you’re dying, I’m dying - single
BOSTON MANOR – “container” // container - single
THE CHALLENGER DISASTER CONSPIRACY - "corncob messiah" // city pages 2023 band of the year
AMIRA ELFEKY – “save yourself" // skin to skin
KILL THE LIGHTS - "from ashes" // death melodies
HOT WATER MUSIC – “menace" // vows
THE BURN VAULT - "Johnny Thunders come lately" // ignite
THE WARNING – “hell you call a dream” // keep me fed
THE FORECAST - "good journey" // good journey
ALPHA WOLF – “whenever you’re ready” // half living things
WAGE WAR - "magnetic" // magnetic - single
HOUR 2
FLIPP - "half a brain" // flipp 20th anniversary platnium edition
CLUTCH – “a shogun named marcus" // transnational speedway league
IRON MAIDEN – “stratego" // senjutsu
THE HU – “shoog shoog" // the gereg
CORSAIR - "battle eternal" // the golden heart
SLDG - "100 yard stare" // predicaments ep
SPOKEN feat RYAN CLARK – “sleeper” // reflection
BOUNDARIES feat MARCUS VIK – “blame's burden" // death is a little more
VENDED - "the far side" // the far side - single
RED HANDED DENIAL – “parasite” // a journey through virtual dystopia
KUBLAI KHAN TX – “low tech” // low tech - single
HARMS WAY - "devour" // common suffering
OUR COMMON COLLAPSE - "languish" // languish - single
KITTIE - "eyes wide open" // eyes wide open - single
REAPING ASMODEIA - "false awakening" // darkened infinity
HOUR 1
WEEKEND PICNIC – “I will remain” // I will remain - single
KORN – “worst is on it's way" // requiem
GOJIRA – “our time is now" // our time is now - single
SPIRITBOX – “jaded" // the fear of fear
JOHNNYROOK – “if you’re dying, I’m dying” // if you’re dying, I’m dying - single
BOSTON MANOR – “container” // container - single
THE CHALLENGER DISASTER CONSPIRACY - "corncob messiah" // city pages 2023 band of the year
AMIRA ELFEKY – “save yourself" // skin to skin
KILL THE LIGHTS - "from ashes" // death melodies
HOT WATER MUSIC – “menace" // vows
THE BURN VAULT - "Johnny Thunders come lately" // ignite
THE WARNING – “hell you call a dream” // keep me fed
THE FORECAST - "good journey" // good journey
ALPHA WOLF – “whenever you’re ready” // half living things
WAGE WAR - "magnetic" // magnetic - single
HOUR 2
FLIPP - "half a brain" // flipp 20th anniversary platnium edition
CLUTCH – “a shogun named marcus" // transnational speedway league
IRON MAIDEN – “stratego" // senjutsu
THE HU – “shoog shoog" // the gereg
CORSAIR - "battle eternal" // the golden heart
SLDG - "100 yard stare" // predicaments ep
SPOKEN feat RYAN CLARK – “sleeper” // reflection
BOUNDARIES feat MARCUS VIK – “blame's burden" // death is a little more
VENDED - "the far side" // the far side - single
RED HANDED DENIAL – “parasite” // a journey through virtual dystopia
KUBLAI KHAN TX – “low tech” // low tech - single
HARMS WAY - "devour" // common suffering
OUR COMMON COLLAPSE - "languish" // languish - single
KITTIE - "eyes wide open" // eyes wide open - single
REAPING ASMODEIA - "false awakening" // darkened infinity
Saturday, March 23, 2024
MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/22/24
MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/22/24
HOUR 1
WAGE WAR - "magnetic" // magnetic - single
THROW THE FIGHT - "obey" // strangeworld
DIVIDE THE FALL - "I won't fade away" // dead memories
ANGRY WATERS - "invasive species" // hold the high ground
THE BLACK CROWES - "bedside manners" // happiness bastards
ZAKK SABBATH - "lord of this world" // doomed forever/forever doomed
MADAM DRIVER - "through the trees" // negative ghostrider
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS - "ghosts in the mist" // phantoma
PLUSH - "hope it hurts" // find the beautiful
AMIRA ELFEKY - "tonight" (demo) // tonight - single
CHARLOTTE SANDS - "pity" // can we start over?
WIDOW7 - "miserable" // miserable - single
BACKHAND BLUE - "paranoid" // paranoid - single
GREYWIND - "you're my medicine" // antidote ep
PINKSHIFT - "i'm not crying you're crying" // love me forever
HOUR 2
RED HANDED DENIAL - "parasite" // a journey through virtual dystopia
STARBENDERS - "blood moon" // take back the night
JUDAS PRIEST - "vicious circle" // invisible circle (deluxe edition)
SEBASTIAN BACH - "everybody bleeds" // child within the man
SETYOURSAILS - "bad blood" // bad blood
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA - "ritual" // ritual - single
KNOCKED LOOSE - "blinding faith" // you won't go before you're supposed to
KUBLAI KHAN TX - "low tech" // low tech - single
SOULKEEPER - "inflorescence" // holy design
IN SEARCH OF SOLACE - "no turning back" // the endless ache
REFLECTIONS - "my cancer" // exi(s)t
BY THE THOUSANDS - "the flood" // the descent
BETTER LOVERS - "30 under 13" // God made me an animal
FORIEGN HANDS - "conditioned for a head-on collision" // conditioned for a head-on collision - single
BOUNDARIES - "easily erased" // death is a little more
ORBIT CULTURE - "descent" // descent
HOUR 1
WAGE WAR - "magnetic" // magnetic - single
THROW THE FIGHT - "obey" // strangeworld
DIVIDE THE FALL - "I won't fade away" // dead memories
ANGRY WATERS - "invasive species" // hold the high ground
THE BLACK CROWES - "bedside manners" // happiness bastards
ZAKK SABBATH - "lord of this world" // doomed forever/forever doomed
MADAM DRIVER - "through the trees" // negative ghostrider
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS - "ghosts in the mist" // phantoma
PLUSH - "hope it hurts" // find the beautiful
AMIRA ELFEKY - "tonight" (demo) // tonight - single
CHARLOTTE SANDS - "pity" // can we start over?
WIDOW7 - "miserable" // miserable - single
BACKHAND BLUE - "paranoid" // paranoid - single
GREYWIND - "you're my medicine" // antidote ep
PINKSHIFT - "i'm not crying you're crying" // love me forever
HOUR 2
RED HANDED DENIAL - "parasite" // a journey through virtual dystopia
STARBENDERS - "blood moon" // take back the night
JUDAS PRIEST - "vicious circle" // invisible circle (deluxe edition)
SEBASTIAN BACH - "everybody bleeds" // child within the man
SETYOURSAILS - "bad blood" // bad blood
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA - "ritual" // ritual - single
KNOCKED LOOSE - "blinding faith" // you won't go before you're supposed to
KUBLAI KHAN TX - "low tech" // low tech - single
SOULKEEPER - "inflorescence" // holy design
IN SEARCH OF SOLACE - "no turning back" // the endless ache
REFLECTIONS - "my cancer" // exi(s)t
BY THE THOUSANDS - "the flood" // the descent
BETTER LOVERS - "30 under 13" // God made me an animal
FORIEGN HANDS - "conditioned for a head-on collision" // conditioned for a head-on collision - single
BOUNDARIES - "easily erased" // death is a little more
ORBIT CULTURE - "descent" // descent
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
NITA STRAUSS and STARBENDERS harness the wild at Studio B
CONCERT REVIEW :: NITA STRAUSS, STARBENDERS
Studio B @ Skyway Theater in Minneapolis, MN
March 16, 2024
Photos by Brett
Review by Nick
NITA STRAUSS returned to Studio B at Skyway Theater to support her second solo record “The Call of the Void” in a full headlining capacity. NITA was opening for Mammoth WVH just as the record came out and had a very solid set at First Avenue a couple months ago but what could she do when she got to fully shine on her own?
NITA brought with the massive lighting set up she had with Mammoth WVH, as she’s just coming off the second leg of that tour finishing up the these solo dates getting her back to the West Coast. I kinda think they couldn’t put up ALL the lights on stage with having 6 band members on that kinda small Studio B stage but it was still blinding and impressive nonetheless.
NITA and the band seemed to really enjoy having the crowd up close and personal for the full hour set. No barricade and everyone was on their best behavior the entire night. The whole band really seemed to enjoy playing some songs that they didn’t normally get to play in their limited opening set time. There was more new material from Call this time with the first half still being instrumental and the second half with touring vocalist Kasey Karlsen. Kasey comes out swinging absolutely crushing “The Wolf You Feed” doing vocal gymnastics to stay true to Alissa White-Gluz’s version on the album. While no easy feat there, Kasey ran head first in to “The Golden Trail” and delivers the goods on “Through the Noise”.
Nita gives everyone equal time to shine live. While Nita’s shredding, her guitarist and bassist (forgive me, I couldn't find their names on the internet) are running around the stage as much as they can keeping the crowd hyped up. Keyboardist and background vocalist Katt Scarlett whips her hair around constantly while laying down the groove while drummer Josh Villalta is a monster behind the drums! Nita has a really impressive band with her look no further than the intricaices of tracks like "Our Most Desperate Hour" and "Marianas Trench".
I’m still at a loss on how to describe STARBENDERS and I’m good with that. STARBENDERS don’t easily fit in to any catagory or genre. Best I can do is think 70’s and 80’s rock and metal put together in a blender and updated for today’s time. The band really blurs lines with each song, when you think you got it, they throw another curve ball.
“Blood Moon” kicked off their set and I was confused and interested all at the same time – crunchy riffs and infectious grooves with vocalist and guitarist Kimi Shelter belting out these insane screams at the end of the chorus without opening her mouth super big like every other singer. Guitarist Kriss Tojkaji looks like Slash up on stage while bassist Aaron Lecesne gives a nod to Bowie. New drummer Qi Wei looks like she’s having time of her life up on stage with the band. Put all 4 together and you have a band you can’t look away from – they keep you engaged with great stage presence and then add in the electricity of knowing that you’re not quite sure what you’re gonna get next.
Kimi channeled some serious Stevie Nicks vibes with “Seven White Horses” complete with a tambourine. A slower tempo track that stood out from the rest of the set which flowed really well in to “Cherry Wine” showcasing the beauty in Kimi’s vocals before amping it back up to close out the set with “If You Need It.”
I’m glad I bought a record from Kimi as she was packing up the merch table during Nita’s set. I’m very intrigued that this band is very unique to the point where after seeing as many concerts as I have, there’s still a band that keeps me on my toes and keeps me guessing. Check out STARBENDERS live the next time they roll thru town and be entranced.
SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PHOTOS OF NITA STRAUSS and STARBENDERS HERE!
Studio B @ Skyway Theater in Minneapolis, MN
March 16, 2024
Photos by Brett
Review by Nick
NITA STRAUSS returned to Studio B at Skyway Theater to support her second solo record “The Call of the Void” in a full headlining capacity. NITA was opening for Mammoth WVH just as the record came out and had a very solid set at First Avenue a couple months ago but what could she do when she got to fully shine on her own?
NITA brought with the massive lighting set up she had with Mammoth WVH, as she’s just coming off the second leg of that tour finishing up the these solo dates getting her back to the West Coast. I kinda think they couldn’t put up ALL the lights on stage with having 6 band members on that kinda small Studio B stage but it was still blinding and impressive nonetheless.
NITA and the band seemed to really enjoy having the crowd up close and personal for the full hour set. No barricade and everyone was on their best behavior the entire night. The whole band really seemed to enjoy playing some songs that they didn’t normally get to play in their limited opening set time. There was more new material from Call this time with the first half still being instrumental and the second half with touring vocalist Kasey Karlsen. Kasey comes out swinging absolutely crushing “The Wolf You Feed” doing vocal gymnastics to stay true to Alissa White-Gluz’s version on the album. While no easy feat there, Kasey ran head first in to “The Golden Trail” and delivers the goods on “Through the Noise”.
Nita gives everyone equal time to shine live. While Nita’s shredding, her guitarist and bassist (forgive me, I couldn't find their names on the internet) are running around the stage as much as they can keeping the crowd hyped up. Keyboardist and background vocalist Katt Scarlett whips her hair around constantly while laying down the groove while drummer Josh Villalta is a monster behind the drums! Nita has a really impressive band with her look no further than the intricaices of tracks like "Our Most Desperate Hour" and "Marianas Trench".
I’m still at a loss on how to describe STARBENDERS and I’m good with that. STARBENDERS don’t easily fit in to any catagory or genre. Best I can do is think 70’s and 80’s rock and metal put together in a blender and updated for today’s time. The band really blurs lines with each song, when you think you got it, they throw another curve ball.
“Blood Moon” kicked off their set and I was confused and interested all at the same time – crunchy riffs and infectious grooves with vocalist and guitarist Kimi Shelter belting out these insane screams at the end of the chorus without opening her mouth super big like every other singer. Guitarist Kriss Tojkaji looks like Slash up on stage while bassist Aaron Lecesne gives a nod to Bowie. New drummer Qi Wei looks like she’s having time of her life up on stage with the band. Put all 4 together and you have a band you can’t look away from – they keep you engaged with great stage presence and then add in the electricity of knowing that you’re not quite sure what you’re gonna get next.
Kimi channeled some serious Stevie Nicks vibes with “Seven White Horses” complete with a tambourine. A slower tempo track that stood out from the rest of the set which flowed really well in to “Cherry Wine” showcasing the beauty in Kimi’s vocals before amping it back up to close out the set with “If You Need It.”
I’m glad I bought a record from Kimi as she was packing up the merch table during Nita’s set. I’m very intrigued that this band is very unique to the point where after seeing as many concerts as I have, there’s still a band that keeps me on my toes and keeps me guessing. Check out STARBENDERS live the next time they roll thru town and be entranced.
SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PHOTOS OF NITA STRAUSS and STARBENDERS HERE!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
