The Darkness @ Masonic Auditorium - San Francisco
October 3rd, 2023: The Darkness, The Comancheros @ Masonic Auditorium - San Francisco, CA
The Darkness - Photos Courtesy of: Vanessa Solis
The Darkness kicked off their Permission To Land 20th Anniversary US Tour in San Francisco at the Masonic Auditorium on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The Comancheros from Columbia, MO for the West Coast dates.
The Comancheros are a band that you don’t want to miss. They brought out so much energy, which was the best way to get the crowd going. Their music is considered heavy Western with bellowing vocals by Tanner Jones, who is also on lead guitar. Drummer, Michael “Bobcat” Cook, is primal on the drums. Bassist John “Deere” Green appeared to constantly whip around his hair, while not skipping a note and singing vocals. They played a great set with both old and new songs.
When The Darkness took the stage, the crowd was ready! The band was in top form, with Justin Hawkins smiling throughout the entire show and his vocals soaring over the crowd. You felt that he was happy to be there and he let his fans know it. Always the showman with high kicks, headstands, and his 5-octave range. Justin never showed signs of slowing down!
The band played a wide range of songs from their discography including classics, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love," "Get Your Hands Off My Woman," and "Bald." The crowd was on their feet from the start, singing along and dancing to every song. During the encore, they ended the show with "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)," for the first time in North America.
It was a night of pure rock and roll, and the Darkness delivered everything fans could have hoped for. The band started the show at 100% and ended it at 110. The Darkness is a band to see. You are guaranteed a brilliant show.
The Comancheros
Maisie Peters @ House of Blues - Houston
October 5th, 2023: Maisie Peters, Grace Enger @ House of Blues - Houston, TX
Maisie Peters - Photos Courtesy of: Brittaney Penney
Maisie Peters brought The Good Witch Tour to Houston, Texas last week and it was a beautiful day filled with incredible energy.
Grace Enger opened up the show and she was so lovely. With just herself and her guitar, she took us on a journey with her beautiful vocals. She even deviated from her setlist, when a fan in the crowd asked for a demo she made while in college. In shock that someone knew the song, she played it and the entire crowd was mesmerized. We will be keeping an eye out for more releases from Grace in the future. We can see her going very far in her career as a singer/songwriter.
Maisie Peters was up next and boy, was the crowd ready! Maisie’s setlist started out with the tour’s namesake, The Good Witch, and immediately got the crowd on their feet. The energy that was exchanged from the crowd to Maisie up on stage throughout the entire show was an incredible thing to witness. Everyone in the crowd either came as a fan or they for sure left as one.
Standout tracks of the night: Her medley of older songs, BSC, and History of Man (with Grace Enger) coming out on stage to sing with Maisie.
Grace Enger
Lil Yachty @ Old National Centre - Indianapolis
October 8th, 2023: Lil Yachty, Stoop Lauren, The Concrete Family, and Nick Hakim - Indianapolis, IN
Lil Yachty - Photos Courtesy of: Asia Austin
Miles Parks McCollum, better known as Lil Yachty, had a sold-out show at the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN on Sunday night during his Field Trip Tour. His DJ who goes by the name of ‘Anthony Somebody’, had the crowd fired up by playing both older and newer rap hits including “Meltdown” by Travis Scott and Drake, which Drake made a special appearance at Yachty’s Toronto show a few days prior.
Before he graced the stage, Lil Yachty had three openers which included rapper Stoop Lauren, The Concrete Family, and R&B singer Nick Hakim. All of which collectively kept the audience alive and enthusiastic until it was time for the main event.
Wearing Tomás Vokoun’s Nashville Predators Jersey, Lil Yachty took the stage opening with his song, “drive Me Crazy!”. Tensions were high and the energy of the crowd could be felt from the front to the back as Yachty also had an all-female band and choir backing him up. Performing hits such as Poland, Broccoli, iSpy, and Strike (Holster), fans sang along and rapped every single word as the show continued. With Lil Yachty only being about halfway through the North American portion of his tour, this is definitely a show you do not want to miss out on.
Royal Blood @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia
September 30th 2023: Royal Blood @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia, PA
Royal Blood - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
UK’s Royal Blood made their triumphant return to the States in celebration of their latest album Back to the Water Below. I for one have been patiently waiting for them to have a proper Philly show since their last venue show here in 2017. Royal Blood packed out The Fillmore, giving fans a perfect mix of new and old tunes, including the live debut of “Tell Me When It’s Too Late”. The night flew by quickly and the set was flawless, with very little dialogue to go with it.
Setlist
Mountains at Midnight
Boilermaker
Come on Over
Lights Out
Triggers
Trouble's Coming
Typhoons
Pull Me Through
Little Monster
How Did We Get So Dark?
Tell Me When It's Too Late
Loose Change
Out of the Black
Encore:
Waves (ft. Will Phillipson from Bad Nerves on guitar)
Shiner in the Dark
Figure It Out
Noah Cyrus @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
September 30th, 2023: Noah Cyrus with Anna Bates @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Noah Cyrus brought her The Hardest Part Tour to Mercury Ballroom on September 30th, supporting her new album The Hardest Part, to a sold-out crowd. She and her band came out on stage to cheers and screams of excitement from the crowd, who sang along with Cyrus throughout the set. The sold-out crowd of fans filled every facet of the venue, from the floor to the front and sides of the balcony, and filled the venue with fun and warm energy. For the first few songs, Cyrus was wearing a black, shimmery dress with a large black bow on the front and a mask of sorts covered in holes and made of a shimmery black mesh-like material that fit over her face and head. She later took the mask off. Starting her set out with 3 tracks from the album, “Noah (Stand Still)”, “Mr. Percoset”, and “Unfinished”, she also performed some older songs from her first album, including “Liar”, “Ghost”, “I Got So High That I Saw Jesus”, and “July”. She was having fun on stage with her band and with the crowd, engaging often with her fans and band members. She chatted a bit between songs, talking about her new album and telling a couple of stories, but mostly she let her music do the talking and led the crowd in a couple of sing-alongs! She talked about how much she loved the guys in her band and thanked the crowd for all of their support and how her bandmates had become like family to her. Leaving the stage at the end of the set, she and her band soon came out for their 3-song encore, with Cyrus again wearing the mesh-like mask! She ended the evening with “Lonely”, “Make Me (Cry)”, and “The End of Everything”. It is clear that Cyrus loves her fans and they love her just as much, with the mutual excitement and enthusiasm making for a really fun night!
Opening the show this evening was Los Angeles/Nashville singer-songwriter Anna Bates, who along with her boyfriend and bandmate Van Andrew Berkemeyer, sang some beautiful songs and created beautiful harmonies. She started writing and releasing music mid-pandemic in 2020, having amassed a nice collection of songs, several of which she and Van performed this evening. Chatting a bit with the crowd and sharing some funny stories from the road, they thanked everyone for coming out and Noah Cyrus for bringing them out on the road with her and her band and saying how lovely and welcoming they had been. It was a nice way to start out the evening and get the crowd warmed up. I have no doubt that they made plenty of new fans this evening!
ANNA BATES
The Mars Volta @ Old Forester's Paristown Hall - Louisville
September 29th, 2023: The Mars Volta, Teri Gender Bender @ Old Forester’s Paristown Hall - Louisville, KY
Progressive rock band The Mars Volta brought their North American Tour to Old Forester’s Paristown Hall on September 29th to a packed house! The band released their latest album Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon in April of this year, an acoustic re-recording of their 2022 self-titled album, and performed songs from the album this evening that included “Shore Story”, “L’Via L’Viaquez”, and “Graveyard Love”. As the lights went down and the band came out on stage, the crowd erupted in a sea of cheers and screams of excitement. Starting out with “Vicarious Atonement”, “Drunkship of Lanterns”, and “Graveyard Love”, they performed a 12-song setlist with a varied selection of tracks, with several from their first album De-Loused in the Comatorium. With Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals/lyrics) and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the founders and only constant members of the group, dancing around the stage throughout the set, awash in a kaleidoscope of beautiful lighting, it was clear that the crowd was having a great time. The Mars Volta’s music has a fun and eclectic mix of sounds, going from slow and progressive, with sounds of jazz, Afrobeat, and salsa, to heavier and more rock and punk-oriented sounds, sometimes in the span of one song, all the while sounding cohesive. Going from one song straight into the next, there was no talking between songs, with the music taking center stage! Hanging at the back of the stage, behind the band’s setup, were several rectangular mirrors flanked in lights that made for a cool and dramatic backdrop, with the band’s reflections being mirrored back to the audience. Ending their set with “The Widow” and “Inertiatic ESP”, they gave their fans an energetic and fun evening that will no doubt leave everyone hoping the band comes back soon!
Opening the show was Teri Gender Bender, singer of Le Butcherettes, and her band. Full of energy, she and her band came out on stage with colorful onesies that had unicorn hoods pulled onto their heads, with Teri Gender Bender holding a unicorn stuffed animal that she held through the first song. Presenting the stuffed animal to the audience towards the end of the first song, she then set it on the stage until later in the set, taking the opportunity to move about the stage. Moving her body throughout the set, whether in slow and synchronized moves or faster-paced dancing, she was a bundle of energy on stage, constantly interacting with the crowd and her bandmates. Alternating singing songs in Spanish and some in English, with some spoken word moments, the crowd was having a great time dancing along, with her infectious and fun energy permeating the room. Overall, it was a really great night of music!
TERI GENDER BENDER
Noah Gundersen @ The Foundry - Philadelphia
October 1st 2023: Noah Gundersen @ The Foundry - Philadelphia, PA
Noah Gundersen - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
We celebrated the first night of October at Philadelphia’s The Foundry catching Noah Gundersen. Noah is currently touring in support of his seventh studio album If This Is The End. The album really shows a more reflective look at Gundersen’s career and, as he mentioned during his set, he wasn’t sure he still wanted to return to music after the pandemic. Noah has always been one of my favorite songwriters, and the setlist for this show really showcased that gift he has of hitting on some of the darker thoughts in life. The crowd was also super respectful (give or take an Eagles chant or two) and might go down in the books for one of the quietest shows I’ve been to at The Foundry.
Highly recommend showing up early for the show to catch Casey Dubie, her songwriting and live show really will give you an ethereal experience to start off the night.
Setlist
If This Is the End
Swim
Heavy Metals
The Sound
Haunted House
Round Here (Counting Crows cover)
Painted Blue
Atlantis
First Defeat
Moment Like This
Lover
Sleepless in Seattle
Headlights
Robin Williams
Better Days
Encore:
Cigarettes
Wild Horses
Thomas Headon @ The Ritz - Raleigh
September 28th, 2023: Half Alive, Thomas Headon @ The Ritz - Raleigh, NC
Thomas Headon - Photos Courtesy of: Chinaza Ajuonuma
Thomas Headon kicked off the show in Raleigh at The Ritz on September 28th with an explosive burst of energy that left the audience breathless. Jumping and dancing as he took the stage, he set the bar sky-high from the very start. But it wasn't just about the music; Thomas, in a playful mood, initiated a spontaneous "trivia time" during a short break. He handed out a crisp dollar bill to an unsuspecting fan who correctly guessed how many Bojangles locations could be found in the state of North Carolina, all while professing his newfound love for the southern fast-food chain.
With his drummer Josh hailing from North Carolina, the concert felt like a jubilant hometown reunion. Thomas didn't stop there; he brought the house down with two unexpected cover songs that had the crowd singing along. First, he transported us back to our Disney-channel-watching days with a soulful rendition of "The Best of Both Worlds" by Hannah Montana, and then he had us swaying to the infectious rhythm of Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." The night was a whirlwind of surprises, infectious energy, and unforgettable moments that left the audience buzzing with excitement long after the final notes had faded away.
Half Alive, the indie-rock band known for their unique visuals and energetic performances, did not disappoint. The set was an experience in itself, with a cool and ever-changing stage design that featured a giant sheet at the beginning, reminiscent of their recent music videos.
The sheet came down in the middle of "The Fall" to reveal leading man Josh Taylor dancing as his bandmates, drummer Brett Kramer and bassist J. Tyler Johnson kicked off the show. Josh Taylor's dancing was on full display throughout the night, lying on his back on the giant raised platform during "Yosemite," and launching into more interpretive dance during "I'll Stop" and "Conditions of a Punk," among others.
The show was broken up into "seasons," with mini set changes and a sheet with the name of each season projected on it. The dancers, as well as Taylor, were interpretive dancers, adding another layer of artistic expression to the show.
The show was not without its surprises, such as a corded phone that rang in the middle of the stage after "Call Back," which Taylor handed to an audience member dressed as Waldo to speak on, and the crew tearing down the black backdrop to reveal a white one for winter. There was also a beautiful use of autotune during "Hot Tea".
Taylor engaged with the crowd throughout the night, encouraging everyone to get low and jump up during "Back Around," and even launching into a Phil Collins cover of "Strangers Like Me." The band's hits were well-received, with the audience giving three-minute ovations after their medley, including hits like “ice cold”, “arrow”, and "Still Feel." The band ended the night by thanking the crowd for inviting them “into their living room” before playing their final two songs, "Conditions of a Punk" and "Creature." All in all, Half Alive delivered an unforgettable and visually stunning performance.
