CONCERT REPORT: Ryan Bingham at the Capitol and Wellmont

Ryan Bingham and the Texas Gentlemen at the Wellmont

Ryan Bingham at the Capitol

Ryan Bingham and Brian Fallon at the Wellmont

MUSICAL VIBE:

Drinking tequila with your sweetheart by a romantic campfire after a hard day that life threw at you. Or, alternatively, a good time with your boys at the local bar. 

CROWD VIBE:

Both shows were fairly civilized compared to what I’m used to at other shows. Fans seemed like people who just wanted a good time with no interest in starting any trouble. Respectful of space aka no shoving to get down front. 

I LOVE YOU ALL: RIP Ozzy Osbourne

 Ozzy has been a fixture for nearly my entire life. Random memories: 

Hearing "Shot in the Dark" on the radio as a little kid. 

Learning "Crazy Train" at guitar lessons.

Scotti Hill singing "Mr. Crowley" into his hairdryer in the Skid Row home video "Oh Say Can You Scream" and wondering wtf that awesome song was. 

Wondering why he didn't headline the Moscow Music Peace Festival when the Russians seemed to be there to see him. 

Listening to "No Rest For the Wicked" all the time. 

"No More Tears" and "Mama I'm Coming Home" being on MTV basically nonstop. 

The introduction of Zakk Wylde into our lives. 

Later, I got more into his music that didn't get played on the radio. 

It took me until 2010 to finally see him play (Ozzfest). And from the barricade no less. 

Getting to catch up on old tours and live Black Sabbath through YouTube. 

The livestream 2 weeks ago from Villa Park.

And now listening to Jose Mangin crying on the air as we say goodbye.

It's honestly really hard to write something super cohesive right now, so I will just say thank you, Ozzy. For all of it. 

REPORT: "Metallica Saved My Life," part 2

 

The movie, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, is basically about the relationship between Metallica and their fans. While the movie does cover the early days of the band, it’s not a movie about their career as a whole. The background information about their beginnings really serves as more of a foundation to show how they built a following— from fan #1, all the way to the present-day generation of 12-year-olds. It's filled with emotion and joy, and if you're a superfan of any band, you'll be able to relate.

REPORT: "Metallica Saved My Life" movie premiere, part 1

"But then the girl in front of me in line said “I just heard James is here.” I froze. Her male companion froze. He said quietly “If James is here, my mind is going to f**king explode.” I said “Same. SAME.” He said “Why am I nervous that he’s here?” I said “I don’t know, but now I am too!” I know why.

2023

 

I am still going to shows and shooting them! But what I've really spent my time writing over the past year was a screenplay. I finished a full first draft, edited it, left it alone for a few months to get some space from it, and now I'm about to dive back into it for a second round. I don't want to say too much except it's inspired by the Metal scene of the early 80's (think Metallica/Anthrax not Motley/Poison). 

In the meantime, I've been posting photos on my Flickr and Instagram if you'd like to see what I've been up to!

The Metallica "Last Caress" / "So What" Diary, Conclusion

The conclusion I have reached after watching this video every day for a week. 

The Metallica "Last Caress" / "So What" Diary, Final Day

Photo by Marc Riboud

 Day 7, November 7th

The Metallica "Last Caress" / "So What" Diary, Day 6

Day 6, November 6th

The Metallica "Last Caress"/"So What" Diary, Day 5

 Day 5, November 5th

The Metallica ""Last Caress"/"So What" Diary, Day 4

Day 4, November 4th

The Metallica "Last Caress"/"So What" Diary, Day 3

 Day 3, November 3rd

The Metallica "Last Caress"/"So What" Diary, Day 2

 Day 2, November 2nd

The Metallica "Last Caress" / "So What" Diary, Day 1

 Day 1, November 1st

CONCERT REPORT: Global Citizens Festival 2022

Metallica at Global Citizens Festival 2022

Mariah Carey at Global Citizens Festival 2022

It's hard to believe I've been to gazillions of concerts in New York City and not one of them landed me on the Great Lawn in Central Park. I'd been to the SummerStage, but never the big show grounds where Simon & Garfunkel and Diana Ross made history. My day was finally here! I had the privilege of attending the Global Citizens Festival yesterday and want to share the good and not-so-good things about being part of the event. 

CONCERT REPORT: 4 Nights with My Chemical Romance

Gerard Way singing with My Chemical Romance
Philadelphia, 2022

It has been a roller coaster with this tour. First, when many tours flat out canceled the shows forever back in 2020 until they felt comfortable booking again/knew they could have shows again altogether, they were my only show that said "No. This is going to happen. Come hell or high water." I have never committed to a show 2 years in advance in my life. It was a bizarre feeling. But it was so worth the wait. 

CONCERT REPORT: The Damned

The Damned at Chelsea Music Hall, 2022

I am such a latecomer to the legendary punk band The Damned that it's almost embarrassing. It took me until 2019 to discover their greatness. But better late than never. 

CONCERT REPORT: Royal Blood

Royal Blood at the House of Blues, Boston

When I found out Royal Blood was going to tour the United States in 2022 I nearly leapt for joy. I was supposed to see them in 2020 but it was canceled of course. That had already been a 2 year wait from the last time I was able to see them play in 2018 at Brooklyn Steel. 4 years felt like forever. I think I watched all their live videos in existence during that time. So of course I was on board when they posted the announcement, and honestly, before that!

CONCERT REPORT: Limp Bizkit at Mohegan Sun Arena

Limp Bizkit at Mohegan Sun, May 2022

Limp Bizkit never went away since they exploded onto the Rock scene in the late 90’s. But they seem to have experienced a publicity resurgence. In the Summer of 2021, HBOMax put out a documentary on the notorious Woodstock 1999 festival which (as every other retrospective on the weekend of chaos and crime does) focuses on Limp Bizkit’s set as a noticeable turning point to many. In my opinion, to those who don’t understand how much was obvious before they ever took the stage. But that’s another post for another time. 

CONCERT REPORT: April 2022

April marks the first time seeing the legendary Slipknot! The main drive to going to this show was to see In This Moment, but also to experience someone new as well. Reading was such a great crowd, selling out the whole place. Slipknot was also great-in fact they exceeded my expectations. 

CONCERT REPORT: March 2022

KORN at Providence Civic Center, March 2022

March was when concert life really got back into gear since 2020. Seemingly less cancellations happening around this time, so more shows were a go. Brian "Head" Welch of KORN in the above photo accurately sums up my feelings about this.