Concerts for 2023

[cramx3]

Even though I went to a concert in the beginning of January, the month long lull for me makes me feel like today is the true start of concerts in 2023 for me.  Heading down to Atlantic City soon to see Motley Crue and Def Leppard at the Hard Rock Casino  Not sure who's going on first tonight, Nikki Sixx dodged the question on twitter last night just saying it's a rotation (obviously, as they did last year).  Tonight is also John 5's first show with Motley Crue

[lonestar]

Had my concert season appetizer with a livestream of Nemophila's Japan tour finale this morning before work. If the US tour is anything like what they brought to Tokyo, they're gonna leave a trail of melted faces all over the country.

[TheCountOfNYC]

So far the only concert I have tickets for at this moment is Haken. I’m gonna go see Jon Anderson’s Yes show because my old boss as well as family friend and Blue Oyster Cult guitarist Richie Castellano are both playing in his backing band. I’m also planning on seeing Metallica both nights at MetLife Stadium and Pantera’s headlining show the Saturday in between the two Metallica concerts.

[cramx3]

So far the only concert I have tickets for at this moment is Haken. I’m gonna go see Jon Anderson’s Yes show because my old boss as well as family friend and Blue Oyster Cult guitarist Richie Castellano are both playing in his backing band. I’m also planning on seeing Metallica both nights at MetLife Stadium and Pantera’s headlining show the Saturday in between the two Metallica concerts.

Where's the Pantera show, Camden?

The night between the Metlife Metallica shows I'm seeing Disturbed and Jinjer at PNC (and an unannounced band)

[Samsara]

Here's the list so far:

Alter Bridge/Mammoth WVH/Pistols at Dawn - 4x
Mastodon/Gojira
Clutch
Stryper
Helloween
Bryan Adams
Resist & Bite
Kenny Loggins/Richard Marx

That's upcoming. Not a bad run to start 2023. I anticipate adding a few more on the docket throughout the year.

[TheCountOfNYC]

So far the only concert I have tickets for at this moment is Haken. I’m gonna go see Jon Anderson’s Yes show because my old boss as well as family friend and Blue Oyster Cult guitarist Richie Castellano are both playing in his backing band. I’m also planning on seeing Metallica both nights at MetLife Stadium and Pantera’s headlining show the Saturday in between the two Metallica concerts.

Where's the Pantera show, Camden?

The night between the Metlife Metallica shows I'm seeing Disturbed and Jinjer at PNC (and an unannounced band)

It’s in Hershey, PA.

[lonestar]

Never miss a chance to see Allegaeon...

Feb 26- Riverside, Cornerstone in Berkeley
March 7th - Nemophila, Goldfield Trading Post, Sacramento
March 8th - Nemophila, Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
April 14 - Spiritbox & Intervals, Ace of Spades, Sacramento
May 17th - Allegaeon, Neck of the Woods, San Francisco
May 25th - Haken, August Hall, San Francisco
June 30 - Tarja UC Theater, Berkeley

[cramx3]

So last Friday I went to Atlantic City to see Motley Crue and Def Leppard at the Hard Rock Casino. 

I loved how once you got to the casino you saw all the glam metal looks on some of the older people.  It was fantastic people watching including a group a dudes totally decked out like an 80s band and standing around for people to take photos with them.  Maybe they were a legit band?? Just a pretty cool atmosphere in the casino.



Everything stated the show started at 8, I get into the venue at 7:30 and find out that the show isn't starting to 8:30.  Good thing you have in and out privileges. I went back out to grab a cheaper drink and smoke before going back to my seat right on time for Def Leppard to come on at 8:30pm. 

Def Leppard are just fantastic live.  They don't really shake up the set, it's the classics, but they perform them at such a high level. Having said that, I noticed a couple small mistakes, but it's the first show of the tour!  Joe's vocals were pretty strong and that's most important.  Having seen the Stadium Tour last summer, there were no big surprises.  There were two song changes from when I saw them (acoustic Two Step Behind was swapped for acoustic When Love and Hate Collide) and they replaced a new song Fire It Up with a classic, Lets Get Rocked.  They did the full 90 minute set and ended at 10pm.



Now this kind of sucked, and I'm not sure if something was wrong or this was planned, but it was a full 60 minute wait for Motley Crue.  The person who told me DL were going on at 830 had also mentioned MC was going on at 1030 which makes sense.  But this was a LONG wait.  Even with being able to leave the venue, it just sucked the life out of me personally.  I went from being super hyped after that Def Leppard set to bored and tired. 

Motley Crue came on just after 11pm and we got to see John 5 perform on guitar with them for the first time.  I must say, John 5 looked VERY happy on stage.  Big smiles and during the opening song, Wild Side, you could see Nikki Syxx playing around with John 5 and the two of them having fun.  I'm no MC expert, I only saw them once last summer, but there's a different energy that John 5 brings (the guy constantly walks around the stage) that I didn't see from Mick Mars.  Nothing against Mick, the guys a legend, but I think John 5's excitement was easily seen in his performance.  There were many examples of this throughout the night. 



I actually thought Vince Neil was OK.  Likely because it being the first show in some time, his voice wasn't strained.  BUT he did have his moments of cringe.  I got a couple laughs in from such moments.  It is what it is with them.  Tommy played drums for the entire gig (which he did not do last summer, although I think he did at the end of the tour).  Setlist was almost exactly the same, except the cover medley had an extra song thrown in and John 5 got to do his own solo spot.  Sadly, I was underwhelmed by his solo spot.  If you were to see a John 5 solo show, you'd see something incredible on guitar, but I don't think his solo spot showed that off.  Felt a bit reserved. 

Show ended almost at 12:30am.  Probably the latest concert I've attended in quite some time.  Before heading out, I turned $20 into $60 on one last slot play to make my night.

My full video:

Motley Crue & Def Leppard LIVE @ Hard Rock Etess Atlantic City NJ 2023

My videos were also shared here  :

https://loudwire.com/setlist-photos-video-motley-crue-def-leppard-2023-show/

https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-motley-crue-plays-first-concert-with-new-guitarist-john-5

[cramx3]

To follow up with another review, last Saturday was a sold out metalcore show at my local ballroom with Parkway Drive, Memphis May Fire, and Currents.

There was sooo much traffic getting to the venue, I missed most of Currents set which sucks.  I don't think I ever experienced such a back up from the traffic trying to get to the venue before and being that it was a Saturday, I'm a bit annoyed that I didn't try to get there earlier.  Oh well, I wasn't really familiar with them, just would have liked to see their whole set.  Saw the last two songs and since I was just getting in, I didn't really get to focus too much on the band to really share an opinion.

Memphis May fire were pretty good.  It was very noticeable that they were playing to a backing track though, so much, that it was hard to tell what was real and wasn't.  A lot of bands have this live sound these days where it just feels too perfect.  The venue being sold out was really hard to get around so I ended up being stuck on the side area for their set, but I could clearly see the mass amounts of crowd surfers and the singer pretty well.  They played most of their newest album, which I had been listening to lately, so was familiar with most of their set and the songs are pretty catchy.  Good set overall.

Parkway Drive just absolutely killed it.  Easily the best performance of the four bands I saw last weekend.  They are just on another level in terms of energy.  The singer has so much energy, not just in his voice, but his stage prescence.  It's no surprise this band has grown to become festival headliners.  I saw them 5 months ago in Amsterdam at a venue 3 times the size, and since they sold out the 2k venue, I've got to think my chances of seeing them in a ballroom like that again aren't too big.  The crowd was also wild for them.  Multiple times the singer mentioned how good this show was and how of a bar the crowd set for the tour.  From the last time I saw them, they changed a bunch of songs too so I got to see 2 more new songs from their latest album whcih I love.  Sadly, being such a packed venue, I tried to get onto the floor and it was just impossible so I was stuck in the back, but at least I had a view and was able to really enjoy the set without having to get all sweaty.

Parkway Drive & Memphis May Fire LIVE @ Starland Ballroom NJ 2/11/2023

[Ben_Jamin]

Well, there's a couple of shows I would like to attend, but with the ridiculous ticket pricing, and how it's being priced is making me not want to go. The only way to be in the pit for most shows is to buy the VIP packages. And then you get the stupid Platinum ticket crap. I might just have to wait until it gets closer to the show date to see if they start releasing more of the PIT GA tickets when the VIP cutoff dates get closer as well. IF anything, I might just get lawn tickets for this show.

[chknptpie]

2/11 Saturn 3 (Husbands band)
2/25 Innings Festival (Green Day, Weezer, Back Crows, Offspring, etc)
3/3 Saturn 3
3/16 We Are The Union, Catbite, Kill Lincoln
7/29 Yellowcard 20year Ocean Avenue tour - I'm gonna cry at this one lol
10/7 Coheed and Cambria Neverender No World For Tomorrow in LA
10/23-27 Coheed and Cambria SS. Neverender Raiders of Silent Earth 3

[twosuitsluke]

2/11 Saturn 3 (Husbands band)
2/25 Innings Festival (Green Day, Weezer, Back Crows, Offspring, etc)
3/3 Saturn 3
3/16 We Are The Union, Catbite, Kill Lincoln
7/29 Yellowcard 20year Ocean Avenue tour - I'm gonna cry at this one lol
10/7 Coheed and Cambria Neverender No World For Tomorrow in LA
10/23-27 Coheed and Cambria SS. Neverender Raiders of Silent Earth 3

Great line up here dude! I've seen some posts about the Ocean Avenue tour. I assume they are playing the album in full? I really hope they bring this to the UK, I would be all over it!

[chknptpie]

Great line up here dude! I've seen some posts about the Ocean Avenue tour. I assume they are playing the album in full? I really hope they bring this to the UK, I would be all over it!

I'm assuming we get the whole album. I'm just sad my date doesn't get Story of the Year supporting.

[cfmoran13]

January 31st - Anthrax, Black Label Society & Exodus @ Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ
February 27th- The Winery Dogs @ Newton Theater, Newton, NJ
May 18th - Clutch @ Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
June 6th - Dave Matthews Band @ Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY
August 3rd - P!nk, Brandi Carlile @ Citi Field, Flushing, NJ
August 4th - Metallica, Pantera & MammothWVH @ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
August 6th - Metallica, Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills @ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

[cramx3]

We made a decision when, for the first time in awhile, we were able to snag half price balcony tickets for Bush and Candlebox tonight so we won't be seeing Flogging Molly and Anti-Flag.  Pretty happy about that because Bush is my favorite of those four bands (I never saw a headline set from them either) and Candlebox is the only one I haven't seen yet.

[DTwwbwMP]

Show #2 for the year and #801 all time was last night at the Keswick for the Winery Dogs and what a performance it was!  When MP (the greatest drummer in R&R history IMO) is the 3rd wheel on stage, you know you're witnessing something special. This was my 4th time seeing the dogs, and most definitely the BEST! Ritchie Kotzen stole the show and is just an ABSOLUTE BEAST on guitar

videos from previous night in Penns Peak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExWj2oLjrVo&t=134s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3JIedeIUwk&list=UULFba2-gANDSwZcW7xB9igAHQ&index=9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0l4r3QuWdE&list=UULFba2-gANDSwZcW7xB9igAHQ&index=11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZM6D55VbtM&list=UULFba2-gANDSwZcW7xB9igAHQ&index=10

[SoundscapeMN]

Twin Cities weather this week: 18-22 inches of snow potential. 

I may not end up going to Kimbra on Tuesday night if it's  bad, although the worst of it is projected to be Wednesday and Thursday, it's supposed to start and have 5+ inches on Tuesday night.

[Glasser]

Loudness, May 5. The Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie NY.

[lonestar]

I thought about catching their show, but it's 2 hours away on a Monday night. Just won't work if I gotta be up at 4am the next day.

[Glasser]

I thought about catching their show, but it's 2 hours away on a Monday night. Just won't work if I gotta be up at 4am the next day.

I can’t miss this, it may be the last time they come to the states.

[lonestar]

I thought about catching their show, but it's 2 hours away on a Monday night. Just won't work if I gotta be up at 4am the next day.

I can’t miss this, it may be the last time they come to the states.

Yeah, I'm not a massive fan, I only really know of them cause they opened for Nemophila on a recent tour (they did 5 shows with some of the giants of the J-metal scene opening for them- Loudness, Show-Ya, Mucc, Rottengraffty, PassCode)

[cramx3]

On Saturday I saw Bush and Candlebox in New York City.  We scored half price balcony tickets the night before the show which was awesome because those balcony seats at Hammerstein Ballroom are sooo much better than being on that huge GA floor.  The floor was actually sold out too, so it was pretty packed venue.  After waiting in line to get in, the opening band Devora was playing.  Saw the second half of her set and honestly didn't care much for it.  She looked good though. 

Candlebox were main support for this show.  I had never seen them before and honestly, the 90s Seattle grunge music was never my thing so it's no surprise that I didn't totally love their set.  Having said that, they did their hits at the end of the set and I found it pretty nostalgic and enjoyable.  The crowd clearly livened up too and started singing along to the hit songs.  I'm pretty happy I got to see this set at the end of the day.



I was really hoping Bush would go on at 9:30, but sadly they didn't hit the stage until 9:45 and that 15 minute difference meant I was going to have to catch a later train home unless I wanted to miss the encore, but being a Saturday, we stuck it out.  Pretty awesome set overall.  I saw them only 5 months ago as an opener and really loved their set, but this time I finally got to see their full show.  Pretty cool to see them play 9 songs off their last two albums and then round out the set with the hits.  I get the feeling, as mostly a nostalgic act, that seeing those new songs was something the band doesn't do that often.  I honestly have liked a lot of the new stuff I've heard from them over the last few years (although never listened to their albums).  During one of the newer songs Gavin (the singer) actually did do his walkthrough of the crowd.  He went right up the balcony to the top.  Seeing this, I got out of my seat and went right to the staircase on the opposite side thinking he was going to cross the balcony and come down.... which he did.  So I had a perfect spot to get right next to him.  Sadly, he didn't give me a fist bump, but it was awesome to be right next time him for a moment, which I somehow managed to do all 3 times I've seen Bush.  You can see the clip of this here: https://twitter.com/Cramx3/status/1627729072330620929  Overall, a really good concert and the encore for Bush was worth staying for as the crowd really woke up and was singing along to the hits. 

Bush & Candlebox LIVE @ Hammerstein Ballroom New York City NY 2/18/2023

Next up:

Winery Dogs Tonight! 

[Samsara]

Funny, I didn't know the Hammerstein was still open. I was last there in...I want to say it was October 1, 1999, for Creed. I was, given your picture, in the lower right corner on the floor. Absolutely an intense performance. Oleander and Our Lady Peace opened for them at that point.

[cramx3]

Funny, I didn't know the Hammerstein was still open. I was last there in...I want to say it was October 1, 1999, for Creed. I was, given your picture, in the lower right corner on the floor. Absolutely an intense performance. Oleander and Our Lady Peace opened for them at that point.

Nice! They call it The Manhatten Center these days, or The Hammerstein Ballroom at The Manhatten Center.  It's an OK venue.  I saw 311 for my first time there in 2003 and I also saw some old ECW (wrestling) events there, one event that included Billy Corgan (of the Smashing Pumpkins and now owner of NWA) beating someone over the head with a guitar  Definitely have lots of good memories there so seeing Gavin Rossdale walk down those steps was pretty awesome for me.

[cramx3]

I wrote my review for the Winery Dogs show in NYC in the band thread so won't spam here but I will share my full video that came out really well:

The Winery Dogs Live @ Sony Hall NYC 2/21/2023

Tonight however is my most anticipated show of the 3 from this week.... Powerwolf's first ever US show, sold out, at the Palladium Times Square!

[cramx3]

The bar is set high for best concert of the year early on here as Powerwolf made their US live debut last Thursday at the Palladium Times Square (formerly the Playstation Theater) in New York City.

I had a strong feeling this was going to be a special show the moment it was announced.  It sold out right away and it seemed like almost everyone in the venue was from a different part of the country.  They eventually added a few more US shows after this one sold out so most people booked the trip before knowing that.  A lot of the progpower folk who I see in Atlanta were there and it was nice running into a few of them before the show. 

I got there about 45 minutes before Seven Kingdoms opened the show.  The merch line was something I've never seen before.  They were selling a NYC event tshirt and it sold out right away, but the merch line snaked through the entire venue.  You probably were waiting an hour on that line if you got there when I did.  While I didn't get the event tshirt, they did have the tour tshirt available still when there was no line during Powerwolf's set.

Seven Kingdoms started the show and I enjoyed thier set.  They had a packed venue there for them, so pretty good for the small band to get to perform in front of a large and active crowd.  The crowd who mostly likely didn't know who they were went along with all the claps and waves as instructed by the band and definitely seemed to enjoy the show.  I have their latest album and don't really love the vocals on album, but live, she sounded great.  I think it's something wtih an effect on her vocals on the album that wasn't there live which I enjoyed.  It seemed like the band soaked up the opportunity.  Their cover of The Boys of Summer was really awesome, a nice power metal version of the song.

Powerwolf were incredible. The crowd was absolutely wild for them.  This type of concert just reinforces my love for power metal.  Is it cheesy?  Yup!  But is it fun? Hell yeah.  I'm not really big of all the make up and werewolf themes.  It's all an addition on top of the music for me.  If they performed without it all, I think I'd like it just the same. It's all about those sing along chorus's and energetic muisc.  You can just feel it in the venue when EVERYONE is chanting/singing/clapping along.  And it was this way for the entire hour forty five minute set.  I still find myself singing some of these songs in my head.  Between every song the crowd would chear for Powerwolf and the singer would just stand there in amazement.  He constantly mentioned how blown away he was by the response and mentioned feeling like home at one point. While maybe he had similar reactions in the other two shows after, his reactions seemed 100% legit and real emotion.  It certainly felt that way in the venue. They basically did their same headline set from Europe so no surprises there.  There also was no pyro which they would typically use in Europe.  The show didn't need it.  They said they would be coming back so I think the positive reception really helps to show that the band does have fans over here. I'd go see them again.



Also, my video came out really well and I got LOTS of footage!

Powerwolf & Seven Kingdoms LIVE @ Palladium Times Square New York 2023

Now I have a 3 week gap until my next concert

[lonestar]

Bloodywood Tix purchased...and Korean Rock group Rolling Quartz announced for a very small club in SF. It's on a Thursday, so it's a firm maybe for sure...

Feb 26- Riverside, Cornerstone in Berkeley
March 7th - Nemophila, Goldfield Trading Post, Sacramento
March 8th - Nemophila, Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
April 14 - Spiritbox & Intervals, Ace of Spades, Sacramento
May 6th - Bloodywood, Sacramento
May 11th - Rolling Quartz, Bottom of the Hill
May 25th - Haken, August Hall, San Francisco
June 30 - Tarja UC Theater, Berkeley

[Samsara]

Considering checking out Nemophila next week. Been listening to Seize the Fate. They remind me musically a bit like Nevermore at points, with the singer mixing in the tonal screams of Morgan Rose from Sevendust, and the cleaner vocal style of the late Warrel Dane. But it's warmer than Warrel. And of course, the language is Japanese.

What has me curious is the intensity. I haven't looked at any YouTube footage. If they are as intense live as they are on record, it could be a great show. Have the Mrs. checking them out. If she's in, we may go check em out. Date night with Japanese metal! 

[chknptpie]

Strawberry Girls are coming into town on a Wednesday and I'm just not sure I'm into them enough to go out on a work night. I've only really listened to their catalog once or twice. Has anyone seen them? Is it a good show?

[lonestar]

Considering checking out Nemophila next week. Been listening to Seize the Fate. They remind me musically a bit like Nevermore at points, with the singer mixing in the tonal screams of Morgan Rose from Sevendust, and the cleaner vocal style of the late Warrel Dane. But it's warmer than Warrel. And of course, the language is Japanese.

What has me curious is the intensity. I haven't looked at any YouTube footage. If they are as intense live as they are on record, it could be a great show. Have the Mrs. checking them out. If she's in, we may go check em out. Date night with Japanese metal! 

They seriously bring it live, just absolutely fire.


Go to 19:30 mark for the start of this show... First two songs from the Whisky performance...

https://www.youtube.com/live/Yo1QKSlqJ24?feature=share

Also, I'm assuming you mean the Roseville performance... Shoot me a pm if you decide to go, I should be lining up by 5 pending on how fucked I80 is.

[cramx3]

Considering checking out Nemophila next week. Been listening to Seize the Fate. They remind me musically a bit like Nevermore at points, with the singer mixing in the tonal screams of Morgan Rose from Sevendust, and the cleaner vocal style of the late Warrel Dane. But it's warmer than Warrel. And of course, the language is Japanese.

What has me curious is the intensity. I haven't looked at any YouTube footage. If they are as intense live as they are on record, it could be a great show. Have the Mrs. checking them out. If she's in, we may go check em out. Date night with Japanese metal! 

My gf may tag along with me for their NYC show.  I still need to dig a bit more into them so I can know all the music before the show.  I'm not too sure my gf will like them though, but she loves Japanese culture and is intrigued based on that alone. 

[lonestar]

Just FYI, and I think it goes without saying...m/f ratio at this show makes a DT show look like late 80s Def Leppard.

[Samsara]

Thanks for the live clip. I watched a little. They are pretty good. We'll have to see.

If we do go (wife said she'd listen to 'em), it won't be at 5 p.m. 

[Stadler]

Just FYI, and I think it goes without saying...m/f ratio at this show makes a DT show look like late 80s Def Leppard.

Having personally attended a late 80s Def Leppard show:  HAHAHAHA.

[lonestar]

Just FYI, and I think it goes without saying...m/f ratio at this show makes a DT show look like late 80s Def Leppard.

Having personally attended a late 80s Def Leppard show:  HAHAHAHA.

Seriously though...check out the video above, the first six rows of people are all bald spots (including mine lol). I'd say that show had maybe 25 women out of 500 people.


Aftershock was a much better mix, but the upcoming tour will be another collection of sausage fests.