Concert Review: Muse

Photo used via creative commons license
via Lucy Truong Flickr page.   Awesome shot!

Atlanta Final Four 2013
BracketTown - Downtown Atlanta, GA
April 6th, 2013

This concert literally fell into my lap.  I've been in love with Muse since 2008 when I became somewhat obsessed with pseudo-rock star glory in the form of the video game Rock Band, and while looking for songs to download, stumbled upon Hysteria.  Since then, they have been on my bucket list, and I actually purchased tickets to a show in Indy two years ago before I had a major injury that required ankle surgery and prevented me from going.

Fast forward to 2013, where I had tickets to the final four to see some basketball games in Atlanta.  Imagine my excitement when I'm surfing the web on my phone while driving to Atlanta and I find out that one of the headliners for the weekend is Muse.  I was thrilled.

I have heard from multiple sources that Muse has an absolutely amazing show - several saying that it's the best they've ever seen.  I'm ready Muse.  Blow my mind!

On the Saturday of the two final four games, I left a bar in Atlanta's Brackettown after the first game just in time to sprint out to the outdoor venue, which was completely packed.  As I was weaving in out of the tens of thousands of people trying to get closer, the Muse show started, and before I knew what hit me, vocalist Matt Bellamy was hitting the insane falsetto chorus to Supremacy.  This show was on, and it was great from the very first note.

Concert Review: Stone Sour / Papa Roach

House of Gold and Bones Tour
The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
1/25/2013

In a random turn of events, I was traveling through the northern Midwest on my way home from a work trip and found out that a group of friends of mine were headed to Milwaukee to catch Stone Sour and Papa Roach on tour.  Both bands had new material, with Papa Roach supporting The Connection, and Stone Sour celebrating the release of their first half of their House of Gold and Bones concept double album.  We all know that I never turn down a chance to see Corey Taylor, so off I headed to The Rave in Milwaukee to check out the show.

Concert Review: The Outbreak Tour

The Outbreak Tour, sponsored by Monster Energy, had an awesome lineup in 2012.  Asking Alexandria, As I Lay Dying, and my new favorite band, Memphis May Fire, were big names on the bill, and they played a show at the tiny Madison Theater in Covington, KY.

Here's some photos and thoughts on the show!!

Opener - Memphis May Fire

The MMF show was awesome.  Not that I'm biased or anything (lies), but I just really thought their set was great.  Objectively, a friend of mine said that he couldn't hear the lyrics, which was hard for me to judge, because I know all the words to all their songs.  However,  I thought they sounded great and I thoroughly enjoyed this show.  For some reason the song structure and breakdowns that MMF writes resonate with me extremely well, and they are just such a fun band to listen to.  LOVED this show.

Matty Mullins - you are a stud.  And your name is Matty.  So, you've overcome a lot.

Concert Review: 10 Years

Cutting Like Knives Tour
The Trocadero Theater - Philadelphia, PA
October 22nd, 2012

Let's pretend it's 2006.  I'm a Junior in college, and just getting into the hard rock and metal scene.  I walk into one of my first festivals early in the day, and head to the little bitty side stage, with no expectations what-so-ever.  The first band walks out, with a dude that has dreads hanging below his shoulders leading the way.  I have no idea who they are, but immediately I like their sound.  By the third song, I was hooked, and their last song (Wasteland) would soon become one of my all time favorites.

Fast forward 6 years.  I now know that band is called 10 Years, and I have been listening to them ever since.  In fact, I've learned that for the past decade, they have created quite a name for themselves in the mid-market hard rock genre, and they are only getting better.  Earlier this year, they released their strongest album to date, called Minus the Machine, which highlights their signature intense yet reserved vocals, but with a much heavier spin than albums in the past.  The album also features an increased usage of backup screams that works very well, and overall, the album sticks out as one of 2012's best.