Knocked Loose @ Paristown Hall - Louisville
June 14th, 2024: Knocked Loose, Poison The Well, White Reaper, and Division of Mind @ Paristown Hall - Louisville, KY
Photos Courtesy of Emily May
Beloved Oldham County, KY hardcore punk band Knocked Loose performed three consecutive Louisville shows recently, all of which sold out, with this being night two of three. Nights two and three were the larger capacity Paristown Hall shows, with night one being a smaller, more intimate show at a small local venue. You could feel the energy buzzing in the room from the fans packing out the venue as soon as doors opened, with the fans waiting outside for doors to open wrapping around the venue! The fans cheered and screamed as the lights dimmed, indicating the band was coming out on stage. The band released their latest album You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To in May of this year and started their set this evening with the track “Blinding Faith” from the album. Performing other tracks from the album that included “Piece By Piece”, “Don’t Reach For Me”, and the live debut of “Sit & Mourn”, they showcased their new album in a live setting. With plenty of older tracks for longtime fans, such as “Counting Worms”, “Billy No Mates”, “Deadringer”, “Tapped In The Grasp Of A Memory”, “Belleville”, “Guided By The Moon”, and “All My Friends”, they performed a nice variety of songs that spanned their 10-year catalog as a band.
Early on, vocalist Bryan Garris told the crowd, “Louisville, we are home! We’ve been on the road for the past 6 weeks practicing for this weekend! These shows are to support our brand new album!”. “This is day 2 of three to celebrate the album and we want to thank you for being a part of it.” Telling the crowd they were going to play an old song, Garris announced, “If you know the words, you have to sing along! Those are the rules!”. For most of their set, there were several mosh pits going, with the band at one point telling everyone to join forces to make a big mosh pit, to which the crowd happily obliged. The band got the crowd hyped throughout the set, encouraging everyone to mosh and sing along. It was a high-energy set, both from the band and the crowd, from the first note to the last! Ending the set with “Everything Is Quiet Now”, they had the fans moshing until the very last note! Opening the show this evening were Richmond, VA hardcore band Division of Mind, popular Louisville garage punk band White Reaper, and Miami metalcore band Poison The Well.
Poison The Well
White Reaper
Division of Mind
Livingston @ The Complex - Salt Lake City
June 3rd, 2024: Livingston, Connor Kauffman @ The Complex- Salt Lake City, UT
Photos Courtesy of: Rachel Leonard
A Hometown Odyssey: Livingston Live at the Complex
On June 3rd, Livingston brought his highly-anticipated “A Hometown Odyssey” tour to the Complex in Salt Lake City, delivering an unforgettable performance that left the audience buzzing long after the final note. Originally planned to take place at the iconic Kilby Court, Livingston’s performance was quickly upgraded to the Complex due to overwhelming demand. Even the upgraded venue sold out, allowing over four times as many fans to attend.
The evening began with an impressive performance from Connor Kauffman, who did an excellent job ramping up the crowd. Kauffman delivered a dynamic set that included everything from high-energy anthems to emotional, heart-wrenching ballads. He even performed his rendition of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” which had everyone screaming. His energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and he quickly won over the crowd. Kauffman’s musical style perfectly complements Livingston’s, making him an excellent addition to the tour.
From his first moment onstage, Livingston commanded the room with an energy that was both powerful and infectious. His vocals were impressive throughout the night, whether accompanied by a full production or just the piano, and the raw emotion was overwhelming. The fans positively received the setlist; everyone in attendance screamed along with each word, whether it was a major single or an unreleased gem.
The crowd was fully engaged from start to finish. Livingston regularly interacted with the audience, sharing various stories behind his songs and expressing genuine gratitude for the support he was shown. The connection between him and his fans was palpable, and it was inspiring to see the sense of love and community he’s created.
Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual listener, seeing Livingston live is an experience not to be missed. His ability to connect with the audience and deliver a high-energy, emotionally rich performance makes him a must-see performer. Jumping from a 200-capacity venue to one that holds over 800 is quite the leap for someone on their first headlining tour. Still, Livingston proved that, even with his increased popularity, he can captivate large audiences without losing the personal touch his fans have come to know and love.
Connor Kauffman
Vampire Weekend @ 713 Music Hall - Houston
June 6th, 2024: Vampire Weekend, La Lom @ 713 Music Hall - Houston, TX
Photos Courtesy of: Violeta Álvarez
Vampire Weekend Brings Their Vibrant Music Exploration to Houston
Kicking off their new tour in Houston on Thursday night June 6, 2024, Vampire Weekend delivered a captivating performance that spanned their eclectic catalog of indie rock and world music influences that was a music exploration. From the moment LA opener La Lom warmed up the crowd with their surf rockabilly sound, the atmosphere at 713 Music Hall buzzed with anticipation.
When Vampire Weekend took the stage, they opened simply as a three-piece in front of a giant backdrop bearing the band's name transitioning to a grand production as Vampire Weekend dived into their repertoire. Their expanded lineup, a seven-piece touring ensemble, infused the venue with a chamber orchestra of indie rock world sounds. The addition of an interpretive dancer, combined with the band's diverse instrumentation including piano, violin, saxophone, pedal steel, bass, acoustic and electric guitar, and two drummers, produced a dynamic symphony of sound that fully engaged and captivated the audience.
As the night unfolded, Vampire Weekend's music traversed their sound from one vibe to the next - a bit jazzy here, an 80s electronic tinge there, next grinding out an edgy indie rock sound oozing NYC attitude, to haunting melodies that tugged at the heartstrings then back to their world indie pop twangy surf sound. Lead singer Ezra Koenig's tender pop vocals were highlighted by the band's masterful instrumentation, creating a dynamic interplay of sound and emotion.
An equally imaginative stage design and lighting complemented the varied musical ensemble. The crew, dressed as construction workers, created a visual backdrop resembling an underground tunnel construction site. The lighting effects brought about dramatic phase shifts, from bathing the band in blue to green-hued melancholy to synchronizing strobes with pummeling rhythms.
Songs like "Hannah Hunt" and "Hope" emerged as poignant highlights of the evening, resonating with tracks like "Oxford Comma." Ezra Koenig's introspective lyrics struck a chord with the crowd, infusing the performance with emotional depth. The encore brought a delightful surprise as Koenig engaged the audience for song requests, resulting in spirited covers of "1901" by Phoenix, "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House, and a snippet of "Wonderwall" by Oasis, revealing Vampire Weekend's playful spirit.
Throughout the night, the crowd of fans was filled with happiness, dancing and cheering, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and excitement. From the vibrant world indie rock sound and electric energy of their anthemic pop highs to the wistful horns to tugging at the heartstrings, Vampire Weekend's Houston show captured their unique ability to deliver an unbound live sonic exploration experience that both electrified and soothed in the same breath. Their seamless shapeshifting between styles and eras made for a mesmerizing performance that electrified and delighted the devoted Houston fans.
SETLIST
Mansard Roof
Holiday
Ice Cream Piano
Classical
Capricorn
Connect
Prep-School Gangsters
White Sky
Unbelievers
This Life
Sunflower
2021
Unbearably White
Flower Moon
Campus
Oxford Comma
Gen-X Cops
Diane Young
Cousins
A-Punk
Mary Boone
Hannah Hunt
Harmony Hall
Hope
ENCORE
1901 (Phoenix cover)
Don't Dream It's Over (Crowded House cover)
Wonderwall (Oasis cover)
Walcott
La Lom
Taking Back Sunday @ White Oak Music Hall - Houston
May 26th, 2024: Taking Back Sunday @ White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX
Taking Back Sunday - Photos Courtesy of: Brittaney Penney
Taking Back Sunday rolled through Houston on their most recent North American Tour in celebration of their new album, 152. It was a humid night, but that didn’t stop TBS fans from packing the White Oak Music Hall lawn!
If you aren’t familiar with Taking Back Sunday, they have been a band for over 20 years and have sold millions of albums all across the world. You might know two of their most played tracks, “MakeDamnSure” and “Cute Without The ‘E’ (Cut From The Team)”. If you aren’t familiar with them, I highly recommend taking the time to listen to their discography. With 8 full-length studio albums, there is bound to be a song that you’ll like!
It was amazing to see Taking Back Sunday live and performing all of their hit songs. The set list was a great mix of fan favorites, while also adding in songs from their newest album. “Amphetamine Smiles” and “Quit Trying” were our personal favorites from the album, 152, and it was so nice to finally hear those live.
If you haven’t been able to make it to see TBS when they are on tour, we highly recommend you find a show near you and attend! The energy between the band and the fans in the crowd is something to behold.
Gazebo Festival @ Waterfront Park - Louisville
May 25th, 2024: Gazebo Festival @ Waterfront Park - Louisville, KY
Photos Courtesy of: Asia Austin
The first inaugural Gazebo Festival kicked off its 2-Day music event this past weekend at Waterfront Park in Louisville, KY, and had the entire city buzzing with excitement. Curated by GRAMMY-nominated rapper and Louisville native Jack Harlow, the festival included a special and unique lineup of music that Harlow stated feels like a chance to express his personal music taste. The month of May is usually very exciting for the city of Louisville with events such as the Kentucky Derby and Forecastle. However, with Forecastle taking a hiatus in 2023, the city was left with a feeling of emptiness and decided the Gazebo Festival would be the perfect solution to bring all of the liveliness back to Louisville on Memorial Day Weekend.
The gates were opened on Day One and fans entered Waterfront Park with excitement built up over the last couple of months. Acts such as Vince Staples, Rich Homie Quan, Larry June, Karrahboo, as well as Louisville natives SHY!!, and Dom Haley graced the stage preparing fans for an electrifying closing set by SZA. After an exhilarating day with good vibes across the park, it was safe to say that the Gazebo Festival would be a staple for the city of Louisville.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned for Day Two as Louisville was met with hazardous weather conditions and winds as high as 80 mph which left a bit of damage to the site at Waterfront Park. Fans were left with disappointment as acts such as PinkPanthress, James Savage, Omar Apollo, and a highly anticipated closing set from Jack Harlow did not take place. In response to the cancellation, Gazebo Festival will be sending out full refunds to all Sunday ticket holders and 50% refunds to all 2-day ticket holders.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances taking place on Sunday, May 26th, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg was very impressed with Harlow’s efforts. “Jack Harlow is an extraordinary Louisvillian who continues to give back to his hometown.”, says Greenberg. Harlow also states that there are many full-circle aspects to the festival and some of those aspects include a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales as well as on-site revenue streams going to different organizations in Louisville through the Jack Harlow Foundation which was established in 2023.
With Gazebo Festival highlighting Louisville’s underground music scene, there is no doubt that the festival shined a light over the entire city and left a vibrant aura that will have fans and Louisville natives waiting for Gazebo Festival to return for years to come.
EVE @ CROSS THE TRACKS – BROCKWELL PARK, LONDON
May 26th, 2024: Cross the Tracks @ Brockwell Park- London
Photos Courtesy of: Angela Howell
It’s the third day of the Brockwell Live Summer Festival—a fusion of jazz, soul, funk, and hip-hop—and Cross The Tracks pulsates throughout Brixton’s Brockwell Park, bringing old souls and new ears to South London.
Eve Jihan Cooper, known to most as simply Eve (or Ruff Ryders’ First Lady for those who’ve known her since the blonde braids), took to the stage to headline the afternoon, and her performance was the standout of the lineup.
Her all-black attire and potent, smoky voice mesmerised young, old, and older alike—with the audience rocking to classics such as ‘Who’s That Girl’ and, of course, ‘Let Me Blow Ya Mind’. What made this performance extra special was her tribute to the legendary DMX, who passed away in April 2021.
Mammoth WVH @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
May 17th, 2024: Mammoth WVH with Intervals @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Mammoth WVH - Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
You could feel the excitement in the air this past Friday night when Wolfgang Van Halen brought his rock band Mammoth WVH to Mercury Ballroom. This was the final show of their Mammoth II Tour, which ended with a packed venue of fans! Opening the show this evening was the Canadian progressive metal band Intervals. Before this evening, I had not heard them before, but I was a fan after hearing them perform! These guys are amazingly talented instrumentalists, wowing the crowd with each song. Guitarist Aaron Marshall chatted with the crowd a bit between songs but the band mostly let their music do the talking. The band was enjoying themselves on stage and, despite having no singing, connected with the crowd, who was enjoying the set! The band, formed in 2011 by Marshall, has released 6 albums, with the most recent one having just been released, so the band made sure to include some new songs in their set! It was a great start to the evening!
Closing out the evening was Mammoth WVH. The band has released two albums, Mammoth WVH (2021) and Mammoth II (2023), with a nice selection of songs from both albums being featured on the set list this evening. Following in his father’s footsteps, Van Halen is a gifted guitarist and, along with his bandmates, wowed the crowd this evening with their guitar-driven rock! Starting this off with “Right?” and “I’m Alright”, the band had fun with each other and with the crowd throughout the set. On a few occasions, fans at the barricade would hold their hats out while the guitarists Frank Sidoris and Jon Jourdan and bassist Ronnie Ficarro put picks in them! “Louisville! It’s been a while since we’ve been here! We’re gonna play you some music!”, said Van Halen, with the band performing a 15-song set list to the hundreds of fans in attendance!
About halfway through the set, he had the band leave the stage and performed a solo acoustic version of “Distance”, a song he wrote as a tribute to his father Eddie, who passed away in 2020. “We always said that if we filled a room on our own, we’d mark the occasion with something special, but never thought we’d fill one so soon!”, said Van Halen, who decided it might be better to perform the song acoustically, like he wrote it. Having a bit of fun with the crowd, he jokingly started playing a bit of “Wonderwall” before launching into “Distance”. Towards the end of the set, he thanked the crowd for making the end of their already great tour so amazing. After performing “Take A Bow”, the band left the stage, only to come back out moments later to a roar of cheers and applause, with Van Halen announcing in good humor, “Why did we do that? That was stupid! We should have just stayed up here, but that’s showbiz baby!”. They ended the evening with “Another Celebration at the End of the World” and “Don’t Back Down”. With sing-alongs, fun banter with the crowd, and plenty of incredible instrumentation this evening, it was a night in which the fun energy lingered well after the music had stopped!
Intervals
Interpol @ Bayou Music Center - Houston
May 5th, 2024: Interpol, Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado @ Bayou Music Centers - Houston, TX
Interpol - Photos Courtesy of: Violeta Álvarez
"Interpol's Euphoric Evening at Bayou Music Center in Houston"
On the night of May 5th, 2024, at the Bayou Music Center, was one to remember for music fans in Houston. Interpol who is the legendary indie rock band from New York City, came through town and fans could hardly contain their excitement. It was a rare treat to see them live, especially after their massive concert in Mexico City's historic Zócalo Square, where they played for 160,000 fans. That connection meant a lot, especially to Paul Banks' deep ties to Mexico for over twenty years.
Latin Grammy winner Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado, an Argentine indie rock band from La Plata, Buenos Aires, took the stage as the second act. Their graceful and emotional performance, reminiscent of Pixies and The Velvet Underground, struck a chord with the audience and set the mood for the night.
As Interpol took the stage to a packed house, they opened a night of music that seamlessly illustrated their artistic growth over the years. From the opening song "C'mere" to "Evil" and closing with the encore finale of "PDA,". Interpol's immersive sound mesmerized the crowd effortlessly transiting between songs as the smoky haze in a trance-like atmosphere left a lasting impact.
Frontman Paul Banks exuded an undeniable swagger and coolness on stage, his haunting vocals effortlessly connecting with the enraptured crowd. He offered a heartfelt acknowledgment to the openers in Spanish which was a charming touch that delighted the audience. Alongside him, Daniel Kessler's energetic guitar work and infectious dance moves, paired with riveting drumming, added layers of dynamism and depth, anchoring the band's musical realm with precision and flair.
The visual exhibition was meticulously curated, with lights enriching the overall experience and adding to the captivating atmosphere that left the audience in awe. As the crowd chanted for an encore, Interpol reappeared, surprising fans with a nostalgic performance of "Pace is the Trick" a song revived live for the first time since 2008, sending longtime fans into raptures of delight.
As the final notes faded into the night, there was a bittersweet realization that the evening was coming to an end. Yet Interpol's nostalgic vibe rekindled cherished recollections of my days living in New York City. I was flooded with fond memories of the late 90s and early 2000s, when the iconic Luna Lounge was our sanctuary – sipping champagne in the basement with friends, hanging out on Ludlow Street, living, and breathing the very indie rock scene that Interpol played such a pivotal role in shaping. Those were the halcyon days, and for a few transcendent hours, Interpol transported us back to that magical era, reminding us why we fell in love with their music in the first place.
Interpol had once again effortlessly captivated the audience with their beautiful songs and irresistible stage presence, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who were present. It was an unforgettable magical performance.
Setlist
C'mere
Say Hello to the Angels
My Desire
Take You on a Cruise
Into the Night
Obstacle 1
Lights
Pioneer to the Falls
The Rover
All the Rage Back Home
Rest My Chemistry
Toni
NYC
Evil
The New
Slow Hands
Encore:
Pace is the Trick
(First time played live since 2008)
No, I in Threesome
PDA
Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado
