BAD WOLVES, FROM ASHES TO NEW, DIAMANTE & THROW THE FIGHT bring us back to the Varsity!

BAD WOLVES, FROM ASHES TO NEW, DIAMANTE, THROW THE FIGHT
VARSITY THEATER in MINNEAPOLIS
JUNE 6, 2018

First off, it was nice to be back in the Varsity Theater again. It’s a great venue in the heart of the University of Minnesota and oh, how Dinkytown has changed since the last time I was at the Varsity.

This show was a do not miss from the moment it was announced. A chance to see 3 bands in a 950 capacity room before they moved on to venues much bigger. BAD WOLVES was just coming off an arena tour with Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown. FROM ASHES TO NEW just did all the Danny Wimmer festivals in May including Northern Invasion. DIAMANTE is just about to release her debut album next Friday. Add in local opener Throw the Fight who just recorded their next album and you have a great night of music on your hands.

THROW THE FIGHT won the opportunity to open the show, they played to a good sized crowd and put on a very tight set from what I was told. I didn’t make it in on time to catch their set unfortunately.

Brett and I barely made it in time for DIAMANTE’s opening number “Kind of Love” which is a number not to be missed, a stand out on the new album. The band tore thru a killer version of Skid Row’s “Youth Gone Wild” that half way thru went in to Heart’s “Crazy on You”! The latter is included on her record. The band ending their set perfectly with “War Cry”. DIAMANTE is full of energy on stage which was infectious and she definitely made new fans at the Varsity! This was a great 30 minute intro set from a band that you need to know. Check DIAMANTE out, she’s gonna be big. I look forward to repeated listens of her debut album.

This is now the 3rd time in a month that I’ve seen FROM ASHES TO NEW technically in 3 different cities and 3 different states! Somerset, WI at Northern Invasion, Columbus, OH at Rock on the Range and now Minneapolis, MN at the Varsity Theater. They are a tight, energetic band that mixes elements of rock, hip hop and even a little bit of metal in there too – perfectly tying together everything you were going to see tonight and more. The crowd erupted from the beginning and didn’t stop until the final song. The band made use of the entire stage jumping around feeding off the crowd. A couple of my favorites from their new record were early on in the set opening with “The Future” and “Forgotten” not far behind. The sing alongs were huge for their single “Crazy” along with their mash up tribute to Chester from Linkin Park of “Papercut” and “Heavy.” FROM ASHES TO NEW excel as a live band and live up to it on their new album “The Future.” Keep an eye on this band.

BAD WOLVES came out to a huge response from the crowd. My estimate at this point in the time was the place was about ¾ full which is an excellent turnout for a Wednesday night. (Remember this only an estimate) Opening with “Officer Down” it was time for the heavy and this crowd was ready for it! From there, they went straight in to “Learn to Live” and then “No Masters”. Calling this band fine tuned could easily be an understatement. These were 3 of the best tracks from the album to fire off this show.

BAD WOLVES as individuals have all paid their dues and slung it out on the road for years in their prior bands. Their debut Disobey is a well oiled machine. The band took their time, made sure everything was right and released a damn fine debut album. Just like on the record, the live show has a little bit of something for everybody. It’s not all head bangers. There’s grooves, there’s hooks, there’s even slowing it down into a hard rockin ballad territory.

DIAMANTE has returned to the stage for “Hear Me Now” and of course, the show wasn’t over until the crowd sang along with “Zombie”. In their 60 minute set, you heard almost the entire album which is going to be a rare thing in the future seeing this band in this small of a venue.

Hopefully you caught this show and if not, you’ll be paying more for a ticket the next time they are in town. These 3 bands are on the rise!

Hit the jump to see more of Brett's photos from BAD WOLVES, FROM ASHES TO NEW and DIAMANTE at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis!

GHOST brings the Prequelle to the Palace!

GHOST
PALACE THEATER - St. Paul, MN
June 1, 2018

The Nameless Ghouls have returned to St. Paul just down the street from their last trip here with Iron Maiden about a year ago. This time, the Ghouls brought with them Cardinal Copia and a brand new album that was just released the same day "Prequelle." Papa III is gone, the same way Papa II and Papa I have all went. Instead of being replaced by Papa IV, Papa Nil brought forth a Cardinal.

The Rats on the Road tour sounded ambitious in true Ghost fashion and completely blew away any expectations. A 24 song, two act concert experience unlike anything you've ever been to. Starting the night off with "Ashes" into "Rats" just like on the new record, Cardinal Copia wasted little time going into "Absolution" from the previous record and then the now classic "Ritual". Papa Nil made an appearance to play a little saxophone during "Miasma" before the first act came to a close.

After a 20 minute intermission, Act 2 began. New songs "Faith" and "Dance Macabre" felt right at home with crowd favorites "From the Pinnacle to the Pit", "He Is" and of course "Square Hammer." It was delightful to see "If You Have Ghosts" from the ep of the same name show up towards the end of the second act. The end of the show soon came and Cardinal Copia sent everyone off into the night closing the show with "Moonstrance Clock".

This is a show that will not be soon forgotten. A show that will be hard to top, even by their own standards. Everything was absolutely spot on during that show. I'm surprised that "Secular Haze" did not show up again in the set list but a small gripe for a concert this monumental. If this is what Ghost can do in a theater setting, what will they pull off when they do arenas later this year?

Click the jump to see more of Brett's photos from GHOST live at the Palace Theater in St. Paul!

SLAYER's FINAL MINNESOTA SHOW!

SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, BEHEMOTH, TESTAMENT

THE ARMORY in MINNEAPOLIS

MAY 24, 2018

PHOTOS by BRETT ZISLER

I didn't get to the show but I sent Brett Zisler out to capture the excitement and fury of SLAYER's final show ever in Minnesota. All 5 bands were on fire, with each one trying to outdo the last. This wasn't a competition. This was 4 bands excited to be asked to be a part of the final trek of one of metal's best bands ever. SLAYER!

TESTAMENT

BEHEMOTH

ANTHRAX

LAMB OF GOD

SLAYER

SEE ALL OF BRETT's PHOTOS FROM THE SLAYER SHOW HERE!

THANK YOU SLAYER!

NORTHERN INVASION 2018 recap

NORTHERN INVASION 2018 - May 12 & 13 - SOMERSET AMPHITHEATER in Somerset, WI

Pictures by Brett Zisler

First off, we couldn't have asked for nicer weather out there again this year for Northern Invasion! The first day was a little cool and the second day was hot!

I missed the opening set from Cold Kingdom but as you can tell from Zis' pictures, they were on fire as always. This show turned out to be a little bittersweet as this was Cold Kingdom's second to last show with Dani as singer. (Cold Kingdom's final show with Dani on vocals is July 20 at the Fine Line in Mpls)

DED was a huge standout of not only the day, but the entire festival! Their energy is infectious, their music is catchy and the crowd ate it up! They definitely made some new fans! DED were awesome during our interview and I am definitely hoping they'll be back soon!

BUTCHER BABIES of course slayed as always. The band was a little under the weather, but that didn't stop them from putting on one hell of a performance. We got a few different songs from the last time they were in town with In This Moment. The crowd was jumping along to every song.

Also on day 1 were an energetic I Prevail, A Perfect Circle played half of their new record "eat the elephant" mixed in with favorites from the first two albums and Avenged Sevenfold closed out the day with freaking PYRO! I don't remember the last time anyone had brought pyro to Somerset! The crowd was jumping along and singing along with "Bat Country" (seriously how can you not) and they even pulled out their cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"!

See all the NORTHERN INVASION DAY 1 photos here!

Some of my favorite performances of the festival happened on Day 2 at Northern Invasion this year. Day 2 kicked off with a great performance by WHITNEY PEYTON as I wasn't entirely sure how she would go over, she worked the crowd and left with new fans!

I knew we were all in for something special with THE FEVER 333 however no one saw their set coming. Energetic would only be telling half the story and intense doesn't even begin to describe it. Chaotic comes close but in all honesty, you need to see THE FEVER 333 live for yourself. If their extended set was any indication, they are a force to be reckoned with in any venue they come across. Their EP "Made an America" came out just prior to Northern Invasion and it didn't matter. The crowd kept growing and growing and as the crowd got bigger, the band picked up on the energy and returned it with maximum fury.

Seriously, do not sleep on it the next time THE FEVER 333 comes to town!

MUTOID MAN tried to keep some of the crowd that had amassed from The Fever 333's set but unfortunately not a lot stuck around. MUTOID MAN's set was fast, aggressive and equally playful. Their set leaned heavy on their excellent new album "War Moans" and they did not disappoint. I just wished more people would have stuck around to enjoy their set but unfortunately, MUTOID played at the same time as ASKING ALEXANDRIA.

PARKWAY DRIVE knocked me off my arse at Northern Invasion! I know the band's material well but it's nothing compared to their live show. Mark my words, this band will be headlining bigger venues with this new record "Reverence". The band came out with "Wishing Wells" and did not let up throughout their entire 45 minute set. Easily one of the heaviest bands on the bill was met with some of the best pits of the festival as well. The crowd sung along with "Vice Grip" and continued with "Crushed". Best set of the festival.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS had their first MN/WI area performance with their new singer Jeff Gutt and they gave the crowd exactly what they were looking for. All your favorite STP songs in one set. The crowd was eating it up and sang along to every song.

ALICE IN CHAINS brought it with a career spanning set of everything you wanted to hear. The band is tight and spectacular live. They don't miss a step. As a fan from back in the "Facelift" days, this was my first time seeing AIC live and they were everything I wanted them to be and more. "It Ain't Like That" was missing from the set but hearing the new song "The One You Know" live stomps even harder than on the recording.

The night and the festival closed out with an intense set from TOOL. Easily the band everyone came to see. If it wasn't sold out, it had to be damn close. I have never seen that many people at Somerset Amphitheater and TOOL did not disappoint. They even brought out "Sober" for the occasion.

See all the NORTHERN INVASION day 2 photos here!

THANK YOU to everyone at DANNY WIMMER PRESENTS and AEG LIVE for another phenomenal year at NORTHERN INVASION! 2018 was the best yet and I can't wait to see what they have in store for 2019!

As always, thanks to Brett Zisler for the fantastic photos from out there!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 06/01/18 - DIVIDING EDEN

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 06/01/18
GUESTS :: DIVIDING EDEN

HOUR 1
EAON – “fan the flame” // fan the flame – single
THROW THE FIGHT – “skeletons” // skeletons – single
BAD WOLVES – “learn to live” // disobey
DIAMANTE – “coming in hot” // coming in hot
BAD WOLVES feat DIAMANTE – “hear me now” // hear me now – single
WITHER THE TIDE – “wake it up” // wake it up – single
LATE NIGHT FIGHTS – “fuel the disease” // renal 911

ARMS FOR ELEPHANTS – “charlatan” // my judas scene
FLIPP – “hairdo” // blow it out your
DIVIDING EDEN – “hey ya (losing gravity)” // here comes the water
DIVIDING EDEN – “shakedown” // shakedown – single
THE MAYBERRY RIOT – “closed out” // shanaska

HOUR 2
DROPKICK MURPHYS – “kicked to the curb” // 11 short stories of pain and glory
FLOGGING MOLLY – “within a mile of home” // within a mile of home
SAUL – “bolide” // bolide – single
NUISANCE – “ashes of empires” // 10 or 10,000
EXACTLYNO – “black Friday” // exactlyno
MASTODON – “andromeda” // emperor of sand
BLUE FELIX – “hate inside” // hate inside – single
AVATAR – “get in line” // hail the apocalypse

PYRALIS – “axe grind” // demo
TREASONS – “sense of pride” // black hearts, broken bones
DEAD HORSE TRAUMA – “psycho” // kill the precedence
INDEX CASE – “silver” // ocean
GREEN DEATH – “lord of the dead” // manufacturing evil
REAPING ASMODEIA – “ritual of ignorance” // impuritize
HARM’S WAY – “call my name” // posthuman
PSYCHOSTICK – “dogs like socks” // IV: revenge of the vengeance

**SPECIAL THANKS to ELISSA and COLLIN from DIVIDING EDEN for calling in to the Midwest Beatdown this week to talk about their new single “Shakedown” and their forthcoming release!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/25/18 - PROF

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/25/18
GUESTS :: PROF

HOUR 1
CLUTCH – “gimme the keys” // book of bad decisions
FLIPP – “half a brain” // flipp (20th anniversary platinum edition)
COLD KINGDOM – “not tonight” // cold kingdom
BIFFY CLYRO – “biblical” (unplugged) // MTV unplugged live at the roundhouse
FORIEGN INFLUENCE - "last little hurt" // last little hurt - single
THUNDERPUSSY – “fever" // thunderpussy
LEDGER – “not dead yet” // ledger

SKILLET - "the resistance" // unleashed
ATMOSPHERE – “the best day” // to all my friends
PROF – “bar breaker” // liability
PROF – “no” // pookie baby
PROF – “time bomb” // pookie baby
PROF – “eulogy” // pookie baby
BODY COUNT – “raining blood / postmortem” // bloodlust

HOUR 2
NINE INCH NAILS – “God break down the door” // bad witch
MY ZERO - "can't lose control" // can't lose control - single
GHOST – “rats” // prequelle
ENEMY X - "crawl" // enemy x
COMMON CHOIR – “lower roads home” // lower roads home – single
GABRIEL AND THE APOCALYPSE – “march of the dolls" // the ghost parade
BLEEDING THROUGH – “fade into the ash" // love will kill all

MARTYR A.D. - "bring out your dead" // on earth as it is in hell
CODE ORANGE - "real" // forever
BARONESS - "isak" // red album
LET IT BREATHE - "second hit" // let it breathe
WARROOSTER - "save the date" // bilderberg workshop
CROWBAR - "walk with knowledge wisely" // symmetry in black
NORMA JEAN - "the anthem of the angry brides" // meridional

**SPECIAL THANKS to PROF for calling in to the Midwest Beatdown this week! PROF’s new album “Pookie Baby” is out now on Rhymesayers Entertainment!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/18/18 - NORTHERN INVASION INTERVIEWS

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/18/18
GUESTS :: THE FEVER 333, DED, WHITNEY PEYTON & PARKWAY DRIVE (NORTHERN INVASION INTERVIEWS)

HOUR 1
DIVIDE THE FALL - "our existence" // divide the fall
ANTISTAR - "vixen" // antistar
EAON - "fan the flame" // fan the flame - single
FIRE FIGHT - "the ghost inside" // transitions
THE FEVER 333 - "walking in my shoes" // made an America
THE FEVER 333 - "made an America" // made an America

THE FEVER 333 - "we're coming in" // made an America
CITY OF THE WEAK - "pardon me" // pardon me - single
OLD TOWNE GHOSTS - "trve" // the end.
DED - "anti-everything" // mis-an-thrope
DED - "remember the enemy" // mis-an-thrope
DED - "hate me" // mis-an-thrope

HOUR 2
BABYMETAL - "distortion" // distortion - single
ENEMY X - "dirt" // enemy x
WHITNEY PEYTON - "riot (rock version)" // firecracker (pyro edition)
WHITNEY PEYTON - "sorry that I'm not sorry (rock version)" // firecracker (pyro edition)
PARKWAY DRIVE - "dying to believe" // ire
PARKWAY DRIVE - "wishing wells" // reverence

PARKWAY DRIVE - "the void" // reverence
SLAYER - "raining blood" // reign in blood
LAMB OF GOD - "I against I" // legion XX
ANTHRAX - "soror irrumator" // for all kings deluxe edition
TESTAMENT - "more than meets the eye" // the formation of damnation
POWER TRIP - "executioner's tax (swing of the axe)" // nightmare logic
PSYCHOSTICK - "abcdeath" // we couldn't think of a title

**SPECIAL THANKS to JASON, STEPHEN and ARIC from THE FEVER 333, DED, WHITNEY PEYTON and WINSTON from PARKWAY DRIVE all for stopping by and seeing us out at Northern Invasion!

THE FEVER 333’s “Made an America” is out now via Roadrunner / 333 Wrecking Crew.

DED’s latest album “Mis-An-Thrope” is out now via Sharptone.

WHITNEY PEYTON’s latest record “Firecracker (Pyro Edition)” is out now via Tragic Hero Records.

PARKWAY DRIVE’s new album “Reverence” is out now on Epitaph Records!

Thank you to everyone at Danny Wimmer Presents and AEG Live for another great year at Northern Invasion!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/11/18 - GOODNIGHT RITUAL

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/11/18
GUESTS :: GOODNIGHT RITUAL

HOUR 1
GOODNIGHT RITUAL - "say you will" // fu kung
GOODNIGHT RITUAL - "international" // ep2
GOODNIGHT RITUAL - "medal" // ep2
COLD KINGDOM - "not tonight" // cold kingdom

COUNTERFEIT. - "you can't rely" // together we are stronger
DED - "anti-everything" // mis-an-thrope
MISS MAY I - "shadows inside" // shadows inside
BUTCHER BABIES - "the huntsman" // lilith
BREAKING BENJAMIN - "sugarcoat" // saturate
PARKWAY DRIVE - "dying to believe" // ire
A PERFECT CIRCLE - "the outsider" // thirteenth step

HOUR 2
AVENGED SEVENFOLD - "wish you were here" // the stage (deluxe edition)
WHITNEY PEYTON - "riot" // firecracker (pyro edition)
10 YEARS - "novacaine" // (how to live) as ghosts
THE FEVER 333 - "walking in my shoes" // made an America
MUTOID MAN - "melt your mind" // war moans
LIKE A STORM - "wish you hell" // awaken the fire
HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS - "just another ghost" // bad frequencies
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS - "meadow" // stone temple pilots
THE USED - "the taste of ink" // the used

ANDREW W.K. - "I don't know anything" // you're never alone
ALICE IN CHAINS - "it ain't like that" // facelift
ALICE IN CHAINS - "the one you know" // the one you know - single
TOOL - "vicarious" // 10,000 days
TOOL - "parabola" // lateralus
BY THE THOUSANDS - "visions of inner depth" // visions of inner depth

**SPECIAL THANKS to GOODNIGHT RITUAL for calling in to the Midwest Beatdown this week! GOODNIGHT RITUAL’s the first 2/3 of their new record is available now at http://www.bandcamp.com/goodnight-ritual