Photos: OF MICE & MEN at Welcome To Rockville
My photos of Of Mice & Men live at Welcome To Rockville! All photos were taken by Luke Spencer in Jacksonville, FL on 4-25-15.
Photos: WE ARE HARLOT at Welcome To Rockville 2015
My photos of We Are Harlot live at Welcome To Rockville! All photos were taken by Luke Spencer in Jacksonville, FL on 4-26-2015.
Photos: SLIPKNOT at Welcome To Rockville 2015
My photos of Slipknot from Welcome to Rockville! All pictures were taken by Luke Spencer in Jacksonville, FL on 4-26-15.
Photos: STARSET at Welcome To Rockville 2015
My photos of Starset live from Welcome to Rockville 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. All photos were taken by Luke Spencer on 4-26-2015.
Album Review: Blur – The Magic Whip
The first album from Blur in over 12 years. How does the return of the British alt-rock legends compare to their unique past discography?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj0_vy2XnFQ
https://vimeo.com/125879508
Text Review:
Blur is one of the quintessential alternative bands that everyone knows the name of but many people can’t name more than two songs. After millions of albums sold, side projects, massive tours, and over a decade on hiatus, Blur has returned with their first album since 2003.
Inspiration can come unexpectedly and from anywhere. Whether it’s the Dali method of allowing yourself to be aware of everything or sitting in a studio and writing until you get tendonitis, great things can come if you are willing to create from what inspires you and if you take the time to have it represent something special.
What is interesting about the Magic Whip is that it was inspired in a Hong Kong hotel room. Back in 2013 when a Japanese festival was unexpectedly cancelled, the boys of Blur were left stranded for five days. What came was a Japanese inspired album that ended up taking years to master and record.
Blur is that unique entity in the alternative scene that you know exactly when you hear, but when trying to describe the sound it can be hard to explain – like trying to explain what “salt” tastes like to someone who has never tasted it before. Blur has an identity all their own that is hard to blend with others. The Magic Whip perfectly describes that description.
Five songs from the upcoming 12 track album have been released so far to the public, and the full stream on iTunes Radio was aired a week before release. For many people, this was the first look into nostalgia of British pop rock that they haven’t heard in years.
Everything about Go Out has that Blur name brand written all over it. Listening to “To The Local” being extended to 12 syllables, the guitar feedback used as the rhythm, and the bouncing tune that this song makes it a case where it requires a few listens to get used to, but then it will never leave your head.
And that is how The Magic Whip can be described as a whole. It’s the type of album that will take a few listens and some growing time, but once it has, it will grow into your subconscious and never leave. Quickly listening to a few tracks from this album will NOT do justice to the creativity and music that is presented.
The Magic Whip excels most when the rhythm and mood is low and brooding. There is a haunting beauty in songs like My Terracotta Heart and New World Towers that create a perfect atmosphere that makes you feel like you are in a new moment that no one has experienced before.
The guitar is soothing with the high tone chords and Albarn’s voice syncs perfectly with the flow of this song. The rhythm feels fast but the song feels slow in and odd paradox that somehow turns into a gorgeous song.
There will be many listeners who aren’t used to this style of music who may not be able to enjoy it when they hear after just one listen. While every song may not resonate with you, this album still is the perfect example of growing into something you love if you give it time.
While many people with think of Blur from their screaming chant in Song 2, Their discography over the past 20 years has offered a world of creativity and style and gained the love of fans across continents. After a long wait, the first album from the band in over 12 years continues to give that level of talent.
Overall, The Magic Whip delivers on many different levels after the initial listen. IT undoubtedly feels like Blur picked up right where they left off without missing a step. The British poprock may not be for everyone, but it will hit the perfect chord for the fans of Blur in the past and present.
Photos: FALLING FOR SCARLET at Freebird Live in Jacksonville, FL
My photos of Falling for Scarlet from the Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock Tour! This was the opening band of the night from Canada and you can check out more of their stuff here = http://www.fallingforscarlet.net/
Interview: FLYLEAF
Kristen and Sameer take some time to talk about Between The Stars, an actual place called T. T. Bears, and bringing pets to festivals!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSW1llPB8Bs
https://vimeo.com/125422380
Photos: FLYLEAF at Freebird Live in Jacksonville, FL
My photos of Flyleaf from the Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock Tour!
Flyleaf headlined Revolver’s tour and it was the first time in a while where I saw a band have serious fun performing for the crowd. By the time Flyleaf got to the stage the venue was packed and Kristen was high fiving just about everyone in the first three rows. One thing I loved is that during their performance of Magnetic she allowed some fans to come up on stage during the performance to dance and sing and take pictures.
All photos were taken by Luke Spencer on April 17, 2015 at Freebird Life in Jacksonville, Florida.
Album Review: Apocalyptica – Shadowmaker
Apocalyptica work with vocalist Franky Perez to bring their 8th album. Will the new vocals match with their classically trained composure, or is this better as an unspoken symphony?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL-iBMMEMNo
https://vimeo.com/124712227
Text Review:
What started as a classical tribute to metal legends has become a legend in its own right. I have always been an advocate of bringing in string an orchestral instruments into the rock scene and there may not be a better example than Apocalyptica.
Since 1993, these classically trained Finnish musicians have been performing vivid and grand performances of iconic metal songs. After years of covering Metallica, Pantera and Faith No More, original material started to surface and it blew listeners away – proving that the band were capable of much more than just playing sheet music to past works.
For bands like Apocalyptica and Russian Circles, there is audial proof that you don’t need vocals to belong in the rock genre. When vocals are added though it can make the experience that much more complete. Over the past decade Apocalyptica has featured guest vocalists like Corey Taylor, but never had a consistent singer. The focus was always on the instruments.
In comes Shadowmaker, and with it comes only one singer throughout the album. Apocalyptica were given over twenty different suggestions on vocalists and they found that Franky Perez was a natural choice. Perez, now on a two year trial with the band on tour, is the standing voice for some of the greatest cellists in the world.
In an interview with an Austrailian media outlet, Toppinenn stated that:
“We wanted to challenge ourselves even more and we wanted to be tight as a band before the pre-production and the thing that Franky was part of the pre-production, we spent weeks with him in the rehearsal room arranging the songs and getting things more defined before we went into the studio…this album is full of attitude, it’s a real attitude record.”
In February came the single Cold Blood along with one of the most unique and imagery filled videos I’ve seen in a long time. It was then when I started getting excited for the new album
Putting the video aside, this song was a great way to get people introduced to the combination of Franky Perez along with Apocalyptica. The vocals at no point overshadow the instruments and there is the perfect pacing and intensity throughout. The song has depth and flows seamlessly from verse to chorus and everything compliments each other.
Having a consistent vocalist and especially one who people may not expect WILL polarize some of Apocalyptica’s fans. It can be jarring to hear a consistent voice after either hearing guest vocals or no words at all. The beauty of Shadowmaker is that it still offers the best of both worlds.
While there are several songs like Cold Blood that work with the unique vocal pattern of Perez, there are also gorgeous instrumental pieces such as Till Death To Us Part that create a fully atmospheric world in the track.
Hearing songs like Till Death Do Us Part is what reminds me why I love music. The build in energy from slower strings to intense drumwork and a powerful rhythm is the type of experience that can literally stop you in the moment. When you look at music composing and performance, it is songs like this that should stand as an example of what can be done with creativity and the ability to build emotional reactions from sound.
Shadowmaker has its moments of gorgeous landscapes and loud energy, and throughout the album you can’t help but get the feeling that this is truly a unit of musical masterminds that put things like this together. While the style of a new vocalist may take some getting used to, it is definitely worth giving it a chance.
There are bands that may be known for one specific act like covering songs, but if you give them a chance with their own material you can be completely blown away with just how much talent and potential they have. Apocalyptica is the perfect example of this. Shadowmaker reaffirms that comparison.
Overall, Shadowmaker is the perfect album if you love the classical string selections brought into rock. Apocalyptica have proven they are capable of bringing a massive amount of energy and volume with their performance. Some of it may take getting used to when diving it head first, but it’s worth the headrush.
