February 3, 2012 in 12, 2, 2b, 3, 31, 50, 9, a, acoustic, after, Again, Against, age, all, am, an, and, Are, as, at, away, ban, band, bands, Bass, beginning, book, brother, brothers, brown, Burn, but, by, ca, can, cat, center, Chant, charlie, City, classic, community, Crazy, Crowd, dance, does, Dust, en, Encore, end, Eve, expo, fee, fi, First, FOR, four, frank, Friend, From, front, gain, Genre, get, gin, glow, Good, great, Guitar, hampton, hi, How, ice, in, inspired, into, is, IT, IX, jam, John, kids, King, know, las, Last, late, Led, Like, live, live music, long, lot, love, MA, Main, metal, MI, mix, moon, Music, My, Nat, nc, New, News, night, no, ny, of, on, one, op, organ, out, PA, Part, Phish, play, player, Pop, pro, Pt, rain, raz, read, reggae, rock, room, row, rs, San Francisco, SC, set, show, Shows, So, Something, song, sound, SPAC, St, stage, start, Starting, stick, sticks, style, super, tab, That, the, to, tone, tour, track, Train, two, us, va, van, venue, vocal, WA, war, Waste, Way, ways, we, Weigh, with, words, years, You, Your, Zero |
Words & Images by: Annelise Poda
Authority Zero and Voodoo Glow Skulls :: 01.20.12 :: Slims :: San Francisco, CA
 Authority Zero by Annelise Poda |
Authority Zero and Voodoo Glow Skulls brought their co-headlining tour to Slim’s, and they rocked the place late into the night with their speedy, grinding guitar riffs and melodic, clear toned ska interludes. The weather on the night of this show was the classic San Francisco mixture of sudden wind and rain, and everyone arriving through the door fit somewhere on the scale of damp to soaking wet, and all very ready to warm up with a drink and some punk rock rowdiness. Ska is a genre that hasnt gotten a lot of love from the mainstream music industry in recent years, but the zealous enthusiasm of the crowd at Slims proved that the Bay Area punk scene is still packed with wild fanatics, singing the words to every song and getting sweaty while crashing into friends in the pit.
The nights mayhem began as an organ track of vampire inspired music played through the speakers as the six-members of the Voodoo Glow Skulls swaggered out onto the stage. They grabbed their instruments and shredded out the distorted, well-known riff of Ozzy Osbournes Crazy Train, and the crowd pushed to the front of the room and against each other, the beginning stages of a mosh pit already forming. The metal guitar was cut short as the Glow Skulls horn section came in and rushed the band away into their set. Frontman Frank Casillas jumped across the stage clad in a menacing Mexican wrestler mask, with his two brothers Eddie and Jorge Casillas flanking him on either side with their breakneck speed guitar and bass playing.
 Voodoo Glow Skulls by Annelise Poda |
The Voodoo Glow Skulls have had a lot of time to perfect their stage show after their formation in 1988, and they have since mastered the art of balancing great instrumentation with an intense stage presence. Frank constantly sang out Spanish and English lyrics in different styles, from choppy ska vocals to heartfelt, drawn out wails at song peaks. Jorges bass parts were my favorite part of the music, as he really utilized the whole fretboard and picked out winding, dynamic lines that drove the songs forward and pushed people to dance harder. Trumpet player Mark Bush and trombonist Brodie Johnson played fast and scaling notes in perfect unison, adding that raw, brassy element that bumps the tracks up to the next boisterous level. The audience was most excited about hearing Charlie Brown, Shoot the Moon, and the bands upbeat ska cover of I Wanna Be Like You from Disneys Jungle Book, which had everyone singing along. The band dedicated one of their last songs to Jose in the Slims kitchen for always cooking them great food when they came through the Bay Area, which I thought was one of the best dedications Ive heard at a show. He waved through the swinging door from the back as they rocked out in his honor.
Authority Zero wasted no time once they had set up on stage, starting right out with the heavy rocking crowd favorite A Passage in Time. The boundless energy of the bands deep voiced singer Jason DeVore contagiously hit the rest of the audience and both the band and their fans seemed to be fueled by Four Loko for the entire show as the surf punk tunes bled out from the stage. DeVores rich voice mellowed considerably during the few slower and more reggae influenced songs of the night, which provided a cool contrast to his usual forceful singing that spares no lungpower. He mentioned that this was their seventh show of a 50-date tour, and that his voice was already strained. He definitely does not hold back in any way, and its what makes people go so crazy at Authority Zero shows.
 Authority Zero by Annelise Poda |
Other popular songs were Over Seasons and their last song Superbitch, where DeVore gathered everyone who said it was their first show ever at the very front of the stage. He said that your first show experience is something that really sticks with you, and that he wanted to make it a memorable night, noting to one of the guys, You look terrified! Seeing those kids being pushed up to the front by their friends reminded me how great the feeling of community is amongst colliding strangers at punk shows, and when the band takes it upon themselves to make it a welcoming night for newcomers it heightens that happy, adrenaline-infused feeling exponentially.
The set ended and the crowd immediately started chanting for an encore. DeVore came back out and did a couple acoustic songs to promote their new live album, Less Rhythm More Booze (released January 31). DeVore demonstrated his lyrical prowess when singing the Irish drinking song Rattlin Bog, where he spat out words faster and impressively faster as the music progressed. Everyone clapped along and it was a great way to end the night while showing a different side to Authority Zero.
If this all sounds like a good time to you, theres a good chance this tour will be in your city on one of the many upcoming dates. So, grab your Vans slip-ons and get ready for a rowdy night in the pit with some great veteran ska-punk heavyweights.
Authority Zero Tour Dates :: Authority Zero News
Voodoo Glow Skulls Tour Dates :: Voodoo Glow Skulls News
JamBase | Bay Area
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Tags: acoustic, chant, charlie, crowd, dates, gain, kids, love, metal, Music, organ, super, van
January 21, 2012 in 11, 12, 12/31, 12/31/11, 2, 2001, 2011, 3, 30, 31, 50, 9, a, after, Again, Against, age, all, Also, am, an, and, another, Are, around, as, at, ban, band, bands, Bass, beginning, bh, big, Bill, Burn, but, by, ca, can, cat, center, chris, City, close, Closer, COLUMBUS, comes, community, concert, covers, Crowd, dance, Day, down, Drums, electric, en, Encore, end, epic, Eve, fee, festival, fi, First, FOR, friday, Friend, From, front, gain, Genre, get, gin, give, glow, GMA, Groove, Guitar, hampton, hi, high, home, Hope, How, ice, in, inspiration, into, is, IT, jam, key, Keyboard, Keyboards, Keys, Killing, King, know, Labor, las, Last, let, life, live, live music, love, MA, machine, maze, mcconnel, mcconnell, MI, midnight, mike, miles, Music, name, nc, New, News, night, no, nothing, ny, NYE, of, on, one, op, Open, opening, out, PA, Pavilion, Phish, photos, play, Pot, pro, Pt, rage, redding, rock, room, row, rs, run, SC, scent, sci, set, show, Shows, So, Something, song, Soul, sound, SPAC, St, stage, start, state, style, Summer, tab, That, the, to, Too, tour, two, us, va, view, vocal, WA, war, waves, Way, we, with, words |
Words by: Alicyn Lane | Images by: Brian Hockensmith
Papadosio with The Werks :: 12.30.11-12.31.11 :: LC Pavilion :: Columbus, OH
Full gallery for two night run below review!
 Papadosio by Brian Hockensmith |
Papadosio and The Werks combined forces for the New Year to host what would become one of the best local events of the year. The Ohio bands brought it all back home for a two night celebration at the LC Pavilion in downtown Columbus. They would go on to play to a sold out crowd on New Years Eve, making the night only more remarkable. Playing host to fans from all across the state and beyond, what the bands had in store was nothing short of a genuinely crafted live musical experience that came straight from the heart. With their inclusion of live art in the spatial context of their sets, The LC was set up to also host painters, hoopers, and dancers/performers. Reminiscent of both the bands respective festivals, Rootwire and The Werk Out, familiar faces glowed in every corner. Both bands have a strong following of dedicated friends and fans that will relentlessly turn out, thus completing the creative circle of artistic collaboration within the musical landscape. When it comes to The Werks and Papadosio, everyone has something to bring to the table.
Both bands defy genre classification with ease, which in turn makes them noticeably intriguing and mesmerizing to watch. Each band is uniquely comprised of heavy hitters that cover all realms of their crafted sounds. Rob Chafin (drums), Dino Dimitrouleas (bass), Norman Dimitrouleas (keyboards), and Chris Houser shredding the guitar merge their individual and respective strengths to form The Werks, which is truly a product of each of their own eclectic musical influences. At the heart of Papadosio is Anthony Thogmartin (guitar, keys), Mike Healy (drums), Rob McConnell (bass), Billy Brouse (keys), and Sam Brouse (keys). The five talented guys excel with their inspirational artistic means of expression through music.
 The Werks by Brian Hockensmith |
Friday night brought in opening acts The Polish Ambassador and the on-the-rise Space Panda. The Werks played a high energy set as they threw down Althea for the first time, brought Mike Healy out on drums to jam, and at one point Space Panda on the keys. They were then followed by Papadosio, who took the stage to headline the evening, playing a set to warm the soul with excitement and smiles. As fans began to arrive in town, the first night was a gratifying one with a peaceful edge as friends reunited and anticipated the impending epic-ness to come the next night.
Night two was packed full of energy and new faces. As the start of the event got closer, the news of a possible sell out was lifting as last minute fans snagged their tickets and pushed The LC to capacity for the inevitable sold out evening. Local bands RoeVY and Karma/Attak kicked it off and the crowd began to pour in. Papadosio would go on first to an ever-expanding crowd, stoking the excitement as midnight drew closer and closer. At just about midnight, the beginning of the end ensued as The Werks joined Papadosio onstage, combining their magical musical powers to become Werkadosio. They kicked off the collaboration with Polygons, a song by Papadosio. It was becoming more clear by the minute that something incredible was about to happen. The countdown began, instigating the crowd into an eruption of excitement as the tolling of bells and clocks rang throughout the room, and the heartbeat pounding thuds followed. There was only amazement as fans realized what the guys had put together as they covered Pink Floyds Time. Masterfully recreated into the Werkadosio style to initiate the New Year, the moment was transcendental.
 The Werks & Papadosio by Brian Hockensmith |
Then it became The Werks set again as they continued to awe the room with high energy grooves, and some new and bar-raising covers. The Werks debuted OG, covered R.E.Ms Its the End of the World, and rocked Liquid as former member Chuck Love joined the guys for yet another astonishing moment. The jam was so emotionally charged that it appeared to send waves of electricity throughout the room. The set hit yet another high point as the guys covered Rage Against the Machines Killing In the Name for the first time with Norm on vocals. The night was brought to the perfect end as Papadosio joined The Werks again to play a 2001 encore, which included Chuck.
The two bands are at the forefront of what appears to be a shift occurring in the musical world. After a strong summer of numerous festivals and shows all over the country, the two bands took the beginning of 2012 head on and at full speed. For some time now, they have been progressing at a fast rate, astounding fans as they appear to just be getting better and better each time out. NYE was proof of that, and it signified the beginning of a new outlook for this musical family that encourages and is enthusiastic about change, progress, and the promise of what the future holds for us all.
The Werkadosio collaboration represented a New Year of transformation, a shift and change towards a different level of musical experience and consciousness. At the heart of these two bands is a message around the idea of love and appreciation, as well as positivity and one-ness which pulses throughout each song and in every set they play. The two have proven that we as a live music community can transform to become bigger and better. It gives hope that music can be more than just a concert. With their feet well through the door, and the potential to irreversibly change the world of music as we know it, it appears these guys arent going anywhere anytime soonand thats just that way we want it.
12/30/11 – 12/31/11 – The Werks and Papadosio @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (Columbus, OH) View Photos
Papadosio Tour Dates :: Papadosio News
The Werks Tour Dates :: The Werks News
JamBase | Worldwide
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Tags: 2011, bands, big, hampton, heart, night, redding, view
January 18, 2012 in 10, 11, 12, 2, 3, 30, 30th, 9, a, acoustic, Again, Against, age, all, am, an, and, as, at, attempt, Ball, ban, benefit, Burn, but, by, ca, cat, Crowd, Day, denver, does, down, en, Enjoy, Eve, fee, fi, fight, FOR, gain, get, Good, great, hi, home, How, ice, in, is, IT, jam, Joy, King, life, live, live music, MA, MI, Music, Nat, nate, New, News, night, NJ, no, NV, ny, of, on, one, op, Open, out, PA, Part, photos, Pt, rad, rage, Road, rock, row, rs, SC, set, show, Shows, So, sound, SPAC, St, That, the, theater, theatre, to, tour, track, us, va, view, WA, we, with, words |
Words & Images by: Brad Hodge
Railroad Earth – Rock the Earth Benefit :: 12.30.11 :: Ogden Theater :: Denver, CO
Denver-based Rock the Earth does an impressive job of making their attempt to save the world one note at time felt globally. Thanks to Railroad Earth and Rock the Earths holiday schedule, the home team won out on this evening. Railroad Earth was in Denver for a three-night stand for New Years Eve, and RtEs home office is located in downtown Denver. So, the fortunate ones that ponied up the cheese to come out early for the 30th show were treated to a wonderful meet and greet with delicious food and beverage, and the best part, an acoustic and very intimate Railroad Earth set.
The privileged crowd were not only treated to great food, drink and music, their contribution helps Rock the Earth continue to fight against pollution of our rivers, urban sprawls consumption of open space, and many other efforts that make life more enjoyable and definitely more green. So, it was a night where everyone was a winner. Feels good doing the right thing, especially with a Railroad Earth soundtrack!
12/30/11 – Railroad Earth @ Ogden Theatre (Denver, CO) View Photos
Railroad Earth Tour Dates :: Railroad Earth News
JamBase | Earthy
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Tags: crowd, dates, denver, fee, gain, images, night, open, rock, row, save-the-world, theater, theatre, update