Jet Opera House Toronto, Ontario March 5, 2010

Last Updated on Sunday, 07 March 2010 22:17 Written by Allan Robertson Sunday, 07 March 2010 22:11

    Australian rockers 'Jet' made their only Canadian appearance in Toronto, Canada, on this leg of the tour. The boys hit the stage at 10:05pm and delivered a solid 80 minute set. They had a very simple stage set-up with the drums stage left, the keyboardist stage right and a massive black backdrop with the band name in silver. The venue was packed and the crowd was chanting and singing along. Starting with the third song “Beat on Repeat”, the drummer, Chris Cester, took on lead vocals and did so several times throughout the show. Frontman and Brother Nic Cester was spot on with his vocals and they both complement each other very well.
    This band is very tight and they perform with ease, no gimmicks or stage show, just straight ahead rock and roll. Louis Macklin from 67 Special joins the line-up live to add keys and percussion, making it a five piece band on stage.  At the merch table, Jet offered a one-of-a-kind autographed drum head that went to the highest bidder. It also had a huge maple leaf drawn on it, along with the venue and date. It was very cool looking.

Set List:

She’s a Genius
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Beat On Repeat
Hey Kids
La Di Da
Walk
Cold Hard Bitch
Get What You Need
Skin and Bones
Come Around Again
Shine On
Black Hearts (On Fire)
Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Seventeen
Rip It Up

Encore:

K.I.A. (Killed In Action)
Holiday
Goodbye Hollywood
Get Me Outta Here

Photos by Karl Anderson

Flogging Molly Main Street Armory Rochester N.Y. February 28, 2010

Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 March 2010 12:18 Written by Backstageaxxess.com Correspondent Thom Jennings Wednesday, 03 March 2010 03:27

     The lights went down shortly after 9:00 pm this past Sunday and loud eerie organ music filled the arena as the seven-piece band Flogging Molly hit the stage at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, New York.  It was part of Flogging Molly's extensive Green 17 tour. The band appeared in front of a backdrop of a pirate ship lit up with fluorescent colors. They opened with “Paddy’s Lament” from their latest studio release, 'Float.' Immediately, the band put the near capacity crowd of 7,000 into a state of frenzy, pumping fists in the air and slamming into each other.
The two-hour plus set continued with “Likes of You Again” from the band’s first album, the first of many songs that the crowd enthusiastically shouted out the chorus. The set included over twenty songs from all of the band’s studio albums and gave each member of the band an opportunity to shine.
Flogging Molly front man and founder, Dave King, joked with the crowd all night and when he was not singing and playing guitar, he enthusiastically danced to the music. The rhythm section of George Schwindt and Nathen Maxwell held the complex arrangements together with a fast driving beat. Maxwell‘s bass playing was showcased on the intro to “Man With No Country.”
    For a seven-piece band with eclectic instruments, Flogging Molly sounded amazingly tight and polished without sacrificing the tremendous intensity of their music. The diverse selection of songs included in your face punk rock songs like “Rebels of the Sacred Heart,” and slower melodic numbers like the title cut from “Float.”
    Accordion player Matt Hensley and fiddle player Bridget Regan add the Celtic flavor to Flogging Molly songs, along with the amazingly versatile Bob Schmidt, who seems to change instruments after every song. Rochester native Dennis Casey pleased the hometown crowd with guitar heroics on a variety of Les Paul’s and Telecasters.
    When King introduced Dennis Casey, the crowd offered a thunderous roar for their hometown guitarist who was once employed at the legendary House of Guitars in Rochester. After years of packing the much smaller Water Street Music Hall, last year selling out two consecutive nights, Flogging Molly showed the large crowd how they earned their reputation as a great live band.  
    Flogging Molly closed their set with a show-stopping version of “What’s Left of the Flag,” and returned a few minutes later to perform three encores including the live staple, “Black Friday Rule” which opens with just King on an acoustic guitar and then the entire band finishes off the song.
Opening for Flogging Molly were The Architects from Kansas City and English punk singer/songwriter Frank Turner. The Architects delivered an energetic set of punk rock filled with screaming vocals, which truly energized the crowd.  Turner's set was more melodic. Both acts received a great reception from the fans at The Main Street Armory.

 
Set List:

Paddy’s Lament
Likes of You Again
Swagger
Requiem for a Dying Song
Every Dog Has it’s Day
The Worst Day Since Yesterday
Drunken Lullabies
Won’t Make a Fool Out of Me
Man With No Country
The Wanderlust
Us of Lesser Gods
Factory Girls
Float
Punch Drunk Grinning Soul
Tobacco Island
Rebels of the Sacred Heart
Devil’s Dance Floor
If I Ever Leave This World Alive
Salty Dog
Lightening Storm
What’s Left of the Flag

Encores:

Wrong Company
Black Friday Rule
Seven Deadly Sins

We would like to thank Jon Pebsworth of SideOneDummy for allowing us to cover the show. We also would like to thank Tom Casserino for his gracious hospitality. For more information on Tom's site V 10 Music and Sports, you can go to: http://v10musicsports.com/v10ms/event-planning/

The Used Rapids Theater Niagara Falls, NY February 16, 2010

Last Updated on Friday, 19 February 2010 17:48 Written by Jade Baird Friday, 19 February 2010 00:47

    The Used came to Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls this past Tuesday the 16th, along with their opening acts, California’s Drive A and Atreyu. Things kicked off around 7pm with newcomers Drive A, who set the vibe in the house and amped up the crowd. Their singer, Bruno, took it upon himself to step into the audience at one point to establish a mosh pit. The crowd took the hint, and as the body slamming ensued they actually had to dodge the cord to Bruno’s mic, which was tripping audience members as he continued to mosh. Next up was Atreyu, who are skilled experts in riling up an audience. With their heavier songs, faster pace, and triple bass drum set, much more moshing began and the crowd surfers seemed endless. They played a perfect set, complete with older favorites, well known hits, and brand new tracks off of their new album. The guitarists even had little synchronized movements when they played together, making their performance even more of a ‘show’ for their fans, and proved highly entertaining. Before they left the stage, they threw out picks and drum sticks, as most bands do, and a cluster of people actually started a fight over one of the sticks due to about three people catching it at once.
    Once the opening bands were done, the backdrop fell to reveal a giant ‘The Used’ logo, complete with the needle from the ‘Artwork’ album cover, accompanied by the bass drum, which also had the ‘Artwork’ cover art on it. Even this got the female fans to scream, before a glimpse of the band had even been seen. Then, the lights dimmed, initiating more screams, and one by one, the band members emerged from the darkness. They kicked off the set with their most recent single, “Blood on My Hands.” They continued with a set list full of favorites, including “Take It Away,” “All That I’ve Got,” and only a few newer songs. At one point, their singer, Bert, asked if audience members would like to join him on stage to dance with him for a song. I was actually one of the few lucky girls to be pulled out of the crowd by the security guards up front, and was able to experience that unique perspective of a concert. Bert was even kind enough to share his mic with me for a line of the song, as I was singing along, word for word, the entire time I was on stage. Later in the night, Bert announced it was his birthday… in 10 days, and that his birthday wish was to be able to “f**k everybody in the venue” that night. This, and the comment that he pissed his pants, so he was wearing his buddy’s cammo shorts, accentuated The Used’s fun-loving personality as a band and got the crowd involved by getting them to laugh and enjoy themselves through Bert’s words. One of my favorite parts of the night was when Bert and Quinn, the guitarist, came back out for the encore and played an acoustic version of “On My Own.” It was equally beautiful and emotional, and literally brought me to tears. The Used are truly amazing performers, and very talented in what they do. I had an amazing night, was thoroughly entertained, and even went home with a signed drum head. I highly suggest seeing this band when they come to your town next; I promise you that you will not be disappointed.
 
Set List:

Blood on My Hands
Take It Away
Listening
Empty With You
I Caught Fire
Hospital
Taste of Ink
All That I’ve Got
Buried Myself Alive
Blue & Yellow
Paralyzed
Best of Me
Pretty Handsome Awkward
Encore:
On My Own (Acoustic)
A Box Full of Sharp Objects

photos by Gus Griesinger 

We would like to thank Melissa Levine of Warner Brothers Records, Chris Ring of Buffalo After Dark Productions (www.buffaloafterdark.org/templates/contact.html ), and Carl Labate of the beautiful new venue in Niagara Falls, the Rapids Theater (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Niagara-Falls-NY/The-Rapids-Theater-Niagara-Falls-USA/184354421517) for allowing us to cover the show. 

Flyleaf Towne Ballroom Buffalo, NY February 12, 2010

Last Updated on Monday, 15 February 2010 19:01 Written by Gus Griesinger Monday, 15 February 2010 18:55

    Flyleaf, on tour in support of their latest effort Memento Mori, played to a sold out crowd in Buffalo, New York, this past Friday.  The band’s singer, Lacey Mosley, may be short in stature, but packs a wallop of a voice behind her. Her range was consistent throughout the performance at the Towne Ballroom.  Dressed in a white prom-like dress, she engaged the crowd on her religious beliefs in between songs. She stressed that she wasn’t trying to tell the fans what they should or shouldn’t believe in, but told them how she found her religious beliefs. This was no more evident than on the John Mark McMillian song “How He Loves Us.”
    The band’s stage was bare except for a two (2) step stair that bassist Pat Seals kept using to jump off of and a standard guitar pedal board. In fact, I felt the constant jumping of Pat was very redundant and took attention away from the other band members. During the tune “Sorrow,” lead guitarist Sameer Bhattacharya did his best Jimmy Page impersonation using a violin bow on the strings. The band played a 70 minute set with no encore.


Set List:

Fully Alive
Beautiful Bride
Again
Cassie
All Around Me
Chasm
In the Dark
Missing
So I Through
The Kind
Sorrow
I’m So Sick
Set Apart This Dream
Swept Away
Circle
Arise
How He Loves Us (cover by John Mark McMillian)