Mud, Twix and Akron/Family - Scarecrow's post-APW thoughts

Just some quick linkage:

Scarecrow's post-All Points West thoughts can be found here on the Campus Buzz blog.

Killswitch Engage @ Starland Ballroom 8/5/09

Seeing Massachusetts metalcore natives Killswitch Engage perform live is indescribable-once you’ve had a taste of their sheer metal awesomeness, you’re hooked. Thus is the reason I ventured to the lovely Starland Ballroom to see Killswitch for the fourth time. As usual, they didn’t disappoint. Here are some of the reasons why this particular show was so incredible and why I must see them for a fifth time:

1) Killswitch was very stylin’: Once they came out onstage, I had to smile. All of the members wore identical tuxedo shirts complete with bowties and their logo. Howard even commented that they were all dressed up to party. Adam, of course, sported a long golden cape and a complimenting bandana with short shorts, his usual get up. All of the members except Adam showed off their impressive, hairy beards, with Joel also modeling his 80’s metal style long, puffy hair.

2) Good times all around: During their performance, it was clear everyone was having a great time. The show was sold out and everyone was packed in tight. Lots of crowd surfing and moshing went on in addition to fans screaming, cheering, and loudly singing along to songs. At times I heard my fellow fans more than I did the band, that’s how loud everyone was. Let’s not forget all the devil horns in the air either.

3) Cool enough to be your friends: In between songs, Killswitch members Howard and Adam continued to crack jokes, laugh, and thank the fans for their generous and unconditional love and support. Howard mentioned how much more he enjoyed playing in small clubs compared to gigantic venues for tours since it was more personal and he could look fans in the eye. Adam even teased Yankee fans about his favorite team, the Red Socks. All of this light bantering just shows how sweet and down to earth this band really is. Even more so, the band was nice enough to take time off from their hectic Mayhem tour schedule and perform at a small club to jam out to tracks from their new, self titled record.

While their appearance, stage energy, and personalities definitely contributed to an awesome show, I can’t forget about their performance, which highlights the entire night. Everything seemed well rehearsed and dead on, without a single note missing. The guitar lines were tight and smooth and even the solos sounded fresh and rocking. Howard’s voice was amazing as always and, man, can he sing. Here is their set list, not necessarily in this order:

Opened with: My Last Serenade
Reckoning
This Fire Burns
Starting Over
A Bid Farewell
Take This Oath
A Light in this Darkened World
My Curse
The Arms of Sorrow
Rose of Sharyn
The End of Heartache
Encore: Holy Diver

While I definitely enjoyed this show, the only thing I was not fond of was all the pandemonium on the floor area. Fans went nuts from the excitement, resulting in much pushing and shoving, especially near pit areas and when Howard ordered for a wall of death. At times I could not enjoy the show as much as I wanted as I fought my way through the mayhem, but I guess that’s just something that comes along with such dedicated, passionate, and fun metalhead fans.

Aside from Killswitch, opening bands White Chapel and Job for a Cowboy also performed. Both of their sets were just as intense and enjoyable as Killswitch’s, with fans keeping their energy and spirits high. Overall, a great show leading into the Rockstar Mayhem fest and a definite highlight of my summer.



















All photos courtesy of Allen Thomas Ross and Mark R. Sullivan

By: Gabby Canella

Eagles of Death Metal @ Webster Hall 8/6/08

California’s garage rockers Eagles of Death Metal played an impressively entertaining, lively, and sexy set in NYC last Thursday. Opening the show was New York’s Rival Schools. They got a 40-minute set. Nothing like EODM both in sound and performance, but they rocked nonetheless. While a bit of an odd opener to go with a band that is very engaging, it was nice to see a rock band with no gimmicks just playing their music. They played hits like “Travel by Telephone and “Used for Glue,” which closed the set. They also threw in a new song. It was a solid performance.

At 9:14pm, Eagles of Death Metal took the stage for what would be a night of rock n’ roll coupled with some sweet twists. Boots Electric, as the singer is known as, was so engaging with the crowd. I must say, I’ve been to plenty of shows to say that he’s one of the most engaging live performers I’ve seen next to the singers from Monotonix and Valient Thorr. He’s constantly saying “Can you dig it?,” giving out high fives to the people in the front, talking to the crowd, dancing around, and accepting gifts from fans. Boots made out great. Fans threw him an Axle Rose tee shirt, Camel Lights, and sunglasses. The Camel Lights was because he tweeted on Twitter that he wanted them in Canada because he was dying with the Canadian cigarettes. His blonde haired boy could also be seen in the back on the side of the drummer. His mother was in the balcony to. Boots said, “I shit you not, I’m nervous” because I have the watchful eye of my mother here. Every now and again he would look up at his mother. He also dedicated a song to the Butthole Surfers.

Though the band stopped after every song so Boots could do something it didn’t offset the energy of the band and the crowd still seemed excited. Opening song “Secret Plans” and “Cherry Cola” were some of the highlights of the set. The band closed the main set with “I Want You So Hard (Boy’s Bad News),” but minutes later Boots without his band came back on stage. This time he sported an Eagles of Death Metal tee shirt and a hat. He played a few solo songs before inviting his bandmates back on stage. But first he said, “I like romance,” then brought a guy and his girl on stage. The guy asked the girl to marry him. The women accepted. The crowd cheered. Boot said, “That shit was adorable and you know it. Can you dig it?”

Finally the band would play their single, “Wannabe in L.A.” and then closed with ‘Speaking in Tongues” off their 2004 album “Peace Love Death Metal.” The band was loud and rocked. Boots grabbed his boy, put him up to the mic, and said “Thank you New York and good night.” Did I dig it? You bet.

Eagles of Death Metal Setlist:
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/eagles-of-death-metal/2009/webster-hall-new-york-ny-7bd7ba1c.html
Secret Plans
Don’t Speak (I Came To Make A Bang)
Bad Dream Mama
Heart On
Cherry Cola
Now I’m A Fool
Anything “Cept The Truth
Already Died
Stuck in the Metal (Stealers Wheel cover)
Prissy Prancin’
Kiss the Devil
I got A Feelin’ (Just Nineteen)
Whorehoppin (Shit, Goddamn)
I Want You So Hard (Boy’s Bad News)

Encore:

Beat on the Brat
Midnight Creeper
I Only Want You
Wannabe in L.A.
Speaking in Togues

--By Star Child

Incubus @ PNC on Friday August 7th

Incubus is one of the early mainstream alternative rock bands I heard growing up and one of my favorites, so getting to hear and see their “Monuments and Melodies” tour brought back at least a few memories of my middle school days. It's good to see that after the band's 1997 debut EP Enjoy Incubus, that the band still manages to stay relevant and pack huge venues.

Opening the show was The Duke Spirit, a U.K. band with a lady singer, nice groove and '70s/ '80s rock vibe to them. They played for 30 minutes, which I feel wasn’t too long. But they had a big sound to them and the sound quality was awesome. It’s a bummer people were still hanging out in the parking lot during their set, they missed a good band.

Incubus came on at 9pm kicking it off with “Pardon Me,” where the crowd quickly got pumped. It was nice hearing all the hits, acoustic songs, and the oldie “Redefine.” I didn’t expect the band to play anything off of “S.C.I.E.N.C.E,” so it was a cool treat. Brandon Boyd still maintains a youthful appearance and high energy after being in the band over 10 years which is really awesome to see. The excitement of the big show was topped off by the lighting and video screen which were like mini music videos that fit each song the band played. For instance, during "circles" there was a bike wheel spinning in the video.

The band played an hour and a half set, then came back out for a 3 song encore that closed with a jammy, almost heavier song that didn't sound like an Incubus song, but I later found out it was Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy.” It was an interesting choice to close with a cover, but it seemed to work and everyone indeed went “crazy.”

Incubus Setlist
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/incubus/2009/pnc-bank-arts-center-holmdel-nj-33d7b401.html

1. Pardon Me
2. Nice to Know You
3. Anna Molly
4. Stellar
5. Megalomaniac
6. Circles
7. Love Hurts
8. Just a Phase

9. Drive (Acoustic)
10. Talk Shows On Mute (Acoustic)
11. Dig (Acoustic)

12. Redefine
13. Warning
14. Oil and Water
15. Quicksand
16. A Kiss to Send Us Off
17. Wish You Were Here
18. Aqueous Transmission

Encore:
19. The Warmth
20. Sick Sad Little World
21. Let's Go Crazy (Prince cover)

--By Star Child

Poison the Well Pictures and Interview!

Poison the Well visited WSOU for an interview with Star Child on July 10th, before the band's show at Terminal 5 in New York City. They spoke about their new album The Tropic Rot, new video for "Exist Underground," and being on the 10 bands for $10 tour. The band rolls into New Jersey this Saturday at The Starland Ballroom with Vision Of Disorder, Terror, Vision, War Of Ages, The Ghost Inside, The Mongoloids, Trapped Under Ice, Crime In Stereo, This Is Hell. More information is available at www.starlandballroom.com

Also, maybe you can get a stream of the interview. Here's an mp3 of it:
http://www.mediafire.com/?t2c4gm3nnzo











All photos by That Guy.

Static-X Meet & Greet Photos!

Static-X performed at The Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza on July 27th. WSOU's Dejon, Gabby, Sheigh Hey Hey, and Star Child were there for a meet and greet with some listeners and the band.




















All photos by Star Child.

We Have New (And Improved) Streaming Audio!

Just a brief housekeeping note:

WSOU's online streaming audio has changed! It's got better audio clarity and will hopefully have less downtime than the Real-based stream we used to run.

Make sure to update your bookmarks the next time you click through to it on WSOU.net

Or, here's a direct link if it makes your life easier.

Or, if you're a fan of those short URLs, remember these. They'll take you to the same place:

http://tr.im/WSOUStream
http://tinyurl.com/WSOUStream


Any problems with the new audio? Try here.