DOROTHY previews her Redemption Tour at Treasure Island

CONCERT REVIEW :: DOROTHY, BULLETS & BUTTERFLIES
Treasure Island Event Center – Welch, MN
3/29/25
Photos by Brett Zisler
Review by Nick

DOROTHY brought the heat of her Redemption Tour to the Treasure Island Event Center in Welch, MN on a cold and rainy Saturday night. Cold weather isn’t going to stop any MN rock fans and they definitely showed up for this excellent double bill of female fronted rock and roll. DOROTHY’s new album “The Way” that’s a great mixture of her first album “Rockisdead” and her previous album “Gifts from the Holy Ghost”, strong songwriting and great riffs.

If you ever wanted to attend what feels like a private soundstage rehearsal before tour, that’s what the vibe was like for this show. Two weeks before the tour starts, DOROTHY provided MN with a peek behind the curtain as she gets ready to take the show on the road. DOROTHY has a strong band behind her that can solo and jam wherever needed as the show started out with a little jam session before DOROTHY came out and they launched in to “Down to the Bottom”. DOROTHY’s vocals were on point for “The Devil I Know” from her new album The Way before making “Ain’t Our Time to Die” a little heavier fitting nicely in to the set.

DOROTHY got a nice sing along going for the newer track “Mud” showing the crowd has lots of love for the new material along with the live debut of the standout track from the new album “Bones”. Which then was followed by a little reimagination of the classic “After Midnight” taking a little slower approach from the original while still keeping it pretty rocking. Before “After Midnight”, DOROTHY told the crowd her life is a little different now than when those songs came out, going to bed by 9pm. DOROTHY even lovingly poked a little fun at those who just might have had a few drinks before the show leading in to “Whiskey Fever” and the crowd ate it up. This is when DOROTHY was at her best, rocking out and having fun with the crowd even though she says she’s bad at banter between songs.

Let’s be honest, no one is having a bad time when “Raise Hell” comes on. DOROTHY then brought out a little bit of a deep cut with the cover of “Key to the Highway” from Slash’s new blues covers record. The track fit very well in to the set and was a nice nod for everyone looking for something new in the set. “Gifts from the Holy Ghost” closed out the main set before the encore brought the house down with a fired up “Tombstone Town”. DOROTHY fans going to the Redemption Tour are in for a treat when this rolls in to town. Bare bones, no bull, warts and all rock show the way it should be.

Minneapolis’ BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES opened the show celebrating the release of their debut album “Full Circle” playing a chock full 40 minute set showcasing the release. The newer band featuring local scene vets from Skywind, Vaudeville and Cold Kingdom played to their strengths right away with “Rabbit Hole” kicking off the set – with newcomer Josephine’s vocals shining in the forefront over a rocker that shows how tight of a band the 5 of them are together. The band had a good fan base they brought with for the show as evident by the Bullets and Butterflies shirts in the crowd. Newer song “Complicated” sounded great along side previously released singles “Abandon Ship” and “Sleepless Nights.” The band tore it up for their last song, the unreleased sassy rocker “Ain’t Yours to Lose” proving this band still has many tricks up their sleeve for the future. Keep an eye on this band, it’s only the beginning for them and they’ll only get stronger.

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PHOTOS OF DOROTHY & BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES HERE!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/28/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/28/25

HOUR 1
UNDEROATH – “shame” // the place after this one
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES – “rabbit hole" // full circle
DOROTHY feat SLASH – “tombstone town" // the way
ANXIETY SOCIETY – “sole rejection” // sole rejection - single
SHINEDOWN – “dance, kid, dance” // dance, kid, dance - single
WEEKEND PICNIC - "echo chamber" // echo chamber - single
CALIBER 39 - "end of time" // end of time - single
DEADLANDS & THE PRETTY WILD - "kundalini" // kundalini - single

MVRROW – “hope" // fever dream
AMIRA ELFEKY – “take me under" // surrender ep
ARCHITECTS feat AMIRA ELFEKY - "judgement day" // the sky, the earth and all between
BRING THE SUN - "death pigeon" // ghost
ELECTRIC CALLBOY - "elevator operator" // elevator operator - single
REVILWEN - "those who control" // follow the money
BABES IN TOYLAND - "he's my thing" // painkillers
ANGRY WATERS - "invasive species" // hold the high ground

HOUR 2
ARCH ENEMY – “a million suns" // blood dynasty
BLOODYWOOD – “tadka" // nu dehli
JINJER - "tantrum" // duel
BABYMETAL - "gimme chocolate" // babymetal
SLDG – “calcify" // predicaments
ALIEN WEAPONRY feat RANDY BLYTHE – “taniwah" // te ra
LAMB OF GOD feat KUBLAI KHAN TX and MALEVOLENCE - "another nail for your coffin" // ashes of the wake (20th anniversary edition)

AFTER THE BURIAL - "laurentian ghosts" // dig deep
EMPLOYED TO SERVE - "breaks me down" // fallen star
CYMOTHOA feat Nate Galbraith – “chuggernaut” // make noise loud again but with vocals
SHADOWS FALL - "in the grey" // in the grey - single
MESHUGGAH - "ligature marks" // immutable
GHOST – “satanized" // skeleta
HATEBREED - "tear it down" // the rise of brutality

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/21/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/21/25

HOUR 1
ANXIETY SOCIETY - "sole rejection" // sole rejection - single
THE WARNING - "apologize" // keep me fed
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES – “abandon ship" // abandon ship - single
DOROTHY – “bones" // the way
MADAM DRIVER - "through the trees" // negative ghostrider
ARROWS AT DAWN - "let live" // pieces
COPELAND – “no one really wins" // in motion
ANBERLIN – “the runaways" (2020 livestream version) // tear us apart

ANBERLIN feat MATTY MULLINS - "a day late" // nevertake
FORBIDDEN SEAS - "sirens" // sirens - single
COHEED AND CAMBRIA – “play the poet" // vaxis III: the father of make believe
SLEEP TOKEN – “emergence” // even in arcadia
GORE - "angels like you" // a bud that never blooms
AMIRA ELFEKY – “will you love me when I'm dead" // surrender
UNDEROATH – “all the love is gone” // the place after this one

HOUR 2
BLOODYWOOD - "tadka" // nu delhi
BLOODYWOOD & BABYMETAL – “bekhauf" // nu dehli
JINJER - "duel" // duel
EVERNOIR – “you tried" // hateful lullabies
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – “aftermath" // this consequence
KUBLAI KHAN TX – “mud" // exhibition of prowess
PARKWAY DRIVE - "prey" (live) // viva the underdogs

EVERNORTH – “venture through ruins" // venture through ruins - single
XAETO - "amalgam" // amalgam - single
POISON THE SERPENT - "shattered illusions" // shattered illusions - single
BLEEDING THROUGH - "dead, but so alive" // nine
SOULKEEPER - "heavy glow" // holy design
BY THE THOUSANDS - "the flood" // the descent
REFLECTIONS - "my cancer" // exi(s)t
ARCH ENEMY – “liars and thieves" // blood dynasty

DISTURBED IS STILL SPREADING THIS SICKNESS 25 YEARS LATER

CONCERT REVIEW :: DISTURBED, THREE DAYS GRACE, SEVENDUST
Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
March 6, 2025
Photos and review by Brett Zisler

It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago, OzzFest was making its mark as the summer tour king and helping break bands into the mainstream. That year had its fair share of new and up & coming bands, but one group with their unique sound stood out from the rest. Chicago’s DISTURBED released their major label debut THE SICKNESS, set out to dominate the hard rock scene.

On a Thursday night in downtown Minneapolis, MN, the sold out crowd gathered at the Target Center in anticipation of hearing the album that brought Disturbed to the masses and made them a household name. With a video playing on the large white curtain before they took the stage showing the band over the years, it was hard to believe that Disturbed was celebrating 25 years of THE SICKNESS. The crowd growing more and more riled up as the curtain slowly rose as frontman David Draiman was wheeled out to center stage wearing a straight jacket and mask.

Hearing those songs again just reminds you of how much of a staple Disturbed has been over the last two and a half decades. David Draiman worked the crowd on the ramp extending out from the stage as the band went into the fan favorite, “The Game.” All credit to the crowd, they brought their singing voices in full force for the show. As fire blew from the back of the stage towards the rafters of the Target Center, the excitement level rose. Watching Disturbed go into “Stupify,” the song that for many was the first they heard by Disturbed, solidified the direction the show would be going. The fans grew more and more frenzied as “Down With the Sickness,” went through its intro and legendary breakdown.

Disturbed put together a solid show honoring 25 years of the Sickness along with an 8 song mini-“best of” set including their new single “I Will Not Break,” that the crowd hung on by every lyric. Closing out the show with “The Light” and “Inside the Fire,” seemed like the perfect way to wrap up the night of metal.

With 25 years under their belt and numerous sold out shows on this tour run, it’s not hard to believe that there is still a long and bright future ahead for the band. The question is, do we see them with other metal acts and hit stadiums in the US in the near future? Only time will tell. By the reaction of the crowds on this tour run, the fans will be ready and waiting!

SEVENDUST kicked off the night with an awesome 6 song set highlighting the early part of their carrer with "Black", "Denial" and the always epic closer "Face to Face"!

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PHOTOS FROM DISTURBED, THREE DAYS GRACE AND SEVENDUST HERE!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/14/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/14/25

HOUR 1
SLEEP TOKEN - "emergence" // even in arcadia
DEFTONES - "you've seen the butcher" // diamond eyes
PHANTOGRAM - "it wasn't meant to be" // memory of a day
FLESHWATER - "foreign" // we're not here to be loved
WEEKEND PICNIC – “echo chamber” // echo chamber - single
BLACK MAP – “hex (come get it)” // hex
THE THIRSTY GIANTS – “the shape of thirst to come” // thirst a.d.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA – “play the poet" // vaxis III: the father of make believe
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES – “rabbit hole" // rabbit hole - single
DOROTHY feat SLASH – “tombstone town" // the way
SEETHER – “walls come down" // the surface seems so far
P.O.D. – “rock the party" // the fundamental elements of southtown
NONPOINT – “alive and kicking" // to the pain
ANGRY WATERS – “the heist" // the ghosts we chase
TORCHE - "walk it off" // harmonicraft

HOUR 2
AFTER THE BURIAL – “pi (the mercury God of infinity)” // forging a future self
ODDS OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT – “where dreams go to die” // where dreams go to die
CYMOTHA – “chuggernaut” // make noise loud again but with vocals
POPPY – “new way out” // negative spaces
SPIRITBOX – “deep end” // tsunami sea
DYING WISH – “I gave you my soul (your world gave me despair)” // I gave you my soul - single
LOATHE – "new faces in the dark" // I let it in and it took everything
GEL - "persona" // persona ep
SPEED – “don’t need” // only one mode

RED FANG – “stereo nucleosis” // deep cuts
SLDG - "1000 yard stare" // predicaments ep
GHOST – “satanized" // skeleta
AUGUST BURNS RED – “your little suburbia is in ruins" // truth seeker
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE – “4 words (to choke upon)" // the poison
TRIVIUM – “dying in your arms" // ascendancy
TURNSTILE - "big smile" // time and space
REAPING ASMODEIA – “shattered leviathan” // shattered leviathan - single

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/07/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/07/25

HOUR 1
WEEKEND PICNIC - "echo chamber" // echo chamber - single
MADAM DRIVER – “crossroads" // negative ghostrider
SKILLET – “fire inside of me" // revolution
JOHNNYROOK - "if you're dying, I'm dying" // if you're dying, I'm dying - single
THE OFFSPRING – “OK but this is the last time" // supercharged
NEW FOUND GLORY – “all downhill from here" // catalyst
JIMMY EAT WORLD – “bleed American" // bleed American
ARCHITECTS feat HOUSE OF PROTECTION – “brain dead" // the sky, the earth and all between

ODDS OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT – “bearer of bad news" // where dreams go to die
ELECTRIC CALLBOY - "elevator operator" // elevator operator - single
UNDEROATH – “all the love is gone" // the place after this one
THE THIRSTY GIANTS – “dopamine" // misery and thirst
HELMET – “milktoast" // betty
EVERNORTH – “venture through ruins" // venture through ruins - single
POISON THE SERPENT - "shattered illusions" // shattered illusions - single

HOUR 2
SPIRITBOX – “fata moragna” // tsunami sea
DYING WISH – “I gave you my soul (your world gave me despair)” // I gave you my soul - single
GEL - "mirage" // persona ep
SCOWL - "special" // are we all angels
HANABIE – “OTAKU lovely densetsu" // otaku lovely densetsu - single
DOROTHY feat SLASH - "tombstone town" // the way
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES - "sleepless nights" // sleepless nights - single
THE PRETTY RECKLESS feat KIM THAYIL and MATT CAMERON - "only love can save me now" // death by rock and roll

PLAGUE OF STARS - "false reality" // extinction
GABRIEL AND THE APOCALYPSE - "march of the dolls" // the ghost parade
EVERNOIR - "you tried" // hateful lullabies
POPPY - "the center's falling out" // negative spaces
MVRROW - "hope" // fever dream
OLD TOWNE GHOSTS - "knight boat" // the old ones are and forever shall be
EMPLOYED TO SERVE feat WILL RAMOS - "atonement" // fallen star
ENTHEOS - "an end to everything" // an end to everything

MAKE THEM SUFFER throw the "Doomswitch"!

CONCERT REVIEW :: MAKE THEM SUFFER
Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, MN
Feb 20, 2025
Photos by Brett Zisler
Review by Nick

MAKE THEM SUFFER kicked off their 2025 U.S. Tour in Minneapolis, MN at a sold out Varsity Theater. The crowd was packed in excitement for the return of the Australian metal band who released perhaps their career defining self titled album back in November. An album that has not left constant rotation personally since it’s release almost 5 months ago.

The opening melody of “Epitaph” plays as the band takes the stage. The stage goes black and silent just as the song should pop off, giving the crowd a moment to have their voices heard. The band kicks out a blast of sound as they officially launch in to the track starting a frenzy. Not letting up, the band rolls right in to “Bones”, a stand out track from How to Survive a Funeral. Guitarist Nick McLernon, bassist Jaya Jeffery and drummer Jordan Mather throw down a wall of sound for keyboardist and vocalist Alex Reade to weave in and out while lead vocalist Sean Harmanis powerful screams lead the charge.

“Mana God”, “Ghost of Me”, “Oscillator” and “Weaponized” come one after the other showcasing the new album in style and providing many sing along moments with the crowd during the choruses. While they didn’t play most of the back half of the new album, they made sure to play at least one song from every album previous.

Closing the main set was the 1-2 punch of “Erase Me” into “Doomswitch” which was a pretty perfect way to leave the crowd wanting a little more before going back to the Neverbloom record for the encore of “Widower” complete with Alex wielding a keytar! This was exactly what you would want from the band. A mostly bare stage leaving the band plenty of room to roam with a solid light show to go with the frantic breakdowns and melodies that would crush the hour long set.

Jet lag and illness be damned, the band powered thru and left it all on the stage accomplishing a solid set equally enjoyable for new fans just coming on board and old fans that have been around awhile. MAKE THEM SUFFER left the fans wanting more and hopefully a return visit is in the cards where they can play more of the new album live.

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PHOTOS OF MAKE THEM SUFFER HERE!