Concert Photography seems like an amazing field to be a part of, but there are many issues involved. This video looks at the pros/cons of the business, how to get into shooting, and why concert photography is rough.
From Google Bard: “Concert photography is the art of capturing the energy and excitement of a live music performance. It can be a challenging but rewarding hobby or profession.
Pros of concert photography:
Get up close and personal with your favorite artists
Capture the passion and excitement of a live show
Meet other music lovers and photographers
Build your portfolio and gain exposure
Get your photos published in magazines, newspapers, or online
Cons of concert photography:
Can be loud and crowded
Difficult to get good shots due to limited space and lighting
Equipment can be expensive
May need to get special permissions to shoot
If you’re interested in getting started in concert photography, here are a few tips:
Learn the basics of photography, such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Invest in a good camera and lenses.
Practice shooting in low light conditions.
Get to know the venue and the rules for photography.
Be respectful of the artists and the audience.
With a little practice and patience, you can capture amazing photos that capture the magic of live music.”
When you want good shoegaze, Slowdive is a synonymous name to go with it. Everything Is Alive continues that notion. The guitar effects and layering create the perfect atmosphere WHILE making songs feel unique. That’s something shoegaze bands have trouble doing. The use of different voices through Everything Is Alive also helps to keep your attention. It’s soothing but never lulls you to sleep. The production and mixing definitely play a massive part and that’s meant as a positive because everything sounds clean. The highlight songs are the ones you’ll keep coming back to and at times want on a loop. Slowdive makes taking it slow sound inviting. 8/10
Slowdive is an English rock band formed in Reading, Berkshire, in 1989. The band consists of Rachel Goswell on vocals, guitar and keyboard, Neil Halstead on vocals and guitar, Christian Savill on guitar, Nick Chaplin on bass guitar and Simon Scott on drums. Halstead is the band’s primary songwriter.
Slowdive were one of the most prominent bands within the shoegaze scene, which rose to prominence in England during the early 1990s. Their music is characterized by its lush, reverb-drenched guitars, ethereal vocals, and hazy atmospheres.
The band released their debut album, Just for a Day, in 1991. The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to define the shoegaze sound. Their second album, Souvlaki, was released in 1993 and was even more critically acclaimed. However, the album was not as successful commercially, and the band began to experience internal tensions.
Slowdive released their third album, Pygmalion, in 1995. The album was a departure from their previous work, and was more experimental and ambient. The album was not well-received by critics or fans, and the band broke up shortly after its release.
Slowdive reunited in 2014 and have since released two new albums, Slowdive (2017) and Everything Is Alive (2023). The band has also toured extensively, and their live shows have been met with critical acclaim.
Slowdive is considered one of the most influential bands of the shoegaze genre. Their music has been praised for its beauty, originality, and emotional impact. The band has inspired a generation of musicians, and their influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary bands.
Discussion Topics: 0:00 – Intro & Hello Fresh Offer 0:46 – Is Rob Zombie For All Ages? 6:14 – Metallica Sets So-Fi Stadium Record 7:33 – Garbage Give Advice On Festival Placements 9:43 – We Came As Romans Down Under 10:55 – New Music Announcements and New Music Night
Sorry about not having a podcast episode last week. I had a moderate allergic reaction to something and was out of commission. The Podcast will be sporadic in September because I’ll be covering two festivals this month, but it’ll still happen. Thank you all for tuning in and please check out New Music Night at 5PM EST Sundays on YouTube.
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From Google Bard: “Rob Zombie is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and actor. His music and lyrics are notable for their horror and sci-fi themes, and his live shows have been praised for their elaborate shock rock theatricality. He has sold an estimated 15 million albums worldwide.
Zombie was born Robert Bartleh Cummings in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on January 12, 1965. He is the oldest son of Louise and Robert Cummings. His younger brother, Michael, uses the stage name Spider One and is the lead singer of Powerman 5000. Growing up, Zombie had a fascination with horror films and “always wanted to be Alice Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Bela Lugosi, and Stan Lee”. He has said of his childhood, “I didn’t aspire to be anything. I was just a dopey kid. Basically everyone seemed amazing to me as a kid. I grew up in some nowhere town.”
Zombie began his music career in the early 1980s, playing in a series of local bands. In 1985, he formed the heavy metal band White Zombie with Sean Yseult, John Tempesta, and Ivan de Prume. The band released four albums, including the platinum-selling Astro-Creep: 2000 (1995). White Zombie disbanded in 1998, and Zombie embarked on a solo career.”
After 7 years, KYNG has made their electric return with brand-new song “Haunting Visions,” a pummeling track that shows the “California heavy” rock band at their finest.
The track recently debuted on Sirius XM’s Liquid Metal channel and comes alongside a gripping new video, directed by by K.Hunter Lamar and Nick Shindzielos. It follows the story of Private Lawrence “The Wolf” Stewart Tolbot III, who is wrestling with the idea of life as a marine ordered to take lives in war-torn territory.
Says KYNG of the track, “’Haunting Visions’ is a story about a Vietnam veteran whose entire humanity was, for lack of a better word, transformed into an unrecognizable being. We jokingly claim that it’s ‘based on true events (sort of)’ because, although the mental transformation in fact happened, it’s not a visual, literal transformation as portrayed in the video. Musically, it represents where KYNG came from and where we’re going. The idea is to eliminate stigmas and preconceptions by tapping into influences that might seem unlikely to the average listener.”
In addition to the new music, KYNG will return to the stage this fall with anticipated appearances at Metal Injection Festival September 17 in Anaheim, CA and Louder Than Life Festival September 21 in Louisville, KY.
The band—currently featuring Eddie Veliz (vocals, guitar), Nick Shinz (bass, backup vocals), and Pepe Clarke (drums)—is working on additional new music for upcoming release.
In an electrifying feat, Los Angeles-based rock sensation Bad Omens continues to dominate the airwaves with their RIAA-certified Gold single “Just Pretend“ claiming the coveted #1 position on the Alternative Radio chartafter having already achieved the #1 spot at Rock Radio earlier this March. Off the band’s phenomenal latest album ‘THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND’ (out via Sumerian Records), “Just Pretend“ has nearly 100,000 spins from radio overall between all formats, and taken on a life of its own after claiming the #1 spots on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs for 20 weeks and Hard Rock Digital Song Sales charts as well as climbing Spotify’s Viral 50 playlists in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia amongst others. Directed by Erik Rojas (Chase Atlantic, Jessie J, Waterparks), the official music video was based on a story written by Bad Omens vocalist Noah Sebastian which has amassed over 6.4 million views on YouTube and a staggering 190 million streams across DSPs with no signs of slowing. Furthermore, the band’s titular album title track “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND“ is currently climbing the Top 5 at Rock Radio. Speaking about the news, Sumerian Group Owner and CEO Ash Avildsen commented:
“Brilliant songwriting with an undeniable work ethic and creative tenacity has proven that an act this young can go #1 at both formats while being on a fully independent label. This is a huge moment for all artists part of the genre’s new era as well as all our peer indie labels who have stayed in the fight and not sold their brand to the majors.”
Listen to “Just Pretend“here and watch the music video below.
Fans can catch the band live beginning this week on their nearly sold-out headlining tour CONCRETE FOREVER (with ERRA and I See Stars as support). For ticket information please click here.
CONCRETE FOREVER North American Dates
September 1 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center (Sold Out)
September 2 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater (Sold Out)
September 4 – New Orleans, LA @ Joy Theater (Sold Out)
September 5 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live (Sold Out)
September 6 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues (Sold Out)
September 8 – Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy (Sold Out)
September 9 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works (Sold Out)
September 12 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 (Sold Out)
September 13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall (Sold Out)
September 14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE (Sold Out)
September 15 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore (Sold Out)
September 16 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner (Sold Out)
September 18 – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS (Sold Out)
September 19 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel (Sold Out)
September 21 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed (Sold Out)
September 24 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! (Sold Out)
September 26 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Eagles Ballroom (Sold Out)
September 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Myth Live (Sold Out)
September 29 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium (Sold Out)
September 30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union (Sold Out)
October 2 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom (Sold Out)
October 3 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre (Sold Out)
October 4 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo (Sold Out)
October 8 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium (Sold Out)
October 9 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels
October 10 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre (Sold Out)
October 11 – Albuquerque, NM @ Revel (Sold Out)
October 13 – Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum (Sold Out)
Fall Festival Dates
September 10 – Alton, VA @ Blue Ridge Rock Festival
September 22 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
October 6 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock
Bad Omens recently announced their new comic book series “Concrete Jungle” (via Sumerian Comics). Co-written by Noah Sebastian and Kevin Roditeli (“Freak Show”) and illustrated by Nicola Izzo, the four-issue monthly series will be available for purchase in stores starting next week on Wednesday, September 6. Be sure to keep an eye out for limited edition bundles later in the year and for further information, please click here.
Bad Omens slither through boundaries, only to ultimately choke convention in the process. The quartet—Noah Sebastian (vocals), Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson (guitar), Nick Ruffilo (bass), and Nick Folio (drums)—materialize with ghostly atmospherics, striking hooks, and the tingles of sensual high-register harmonies uplifted by cinematic production. Racking up over 250M worldwide streams to date and earning acclaim, the band presents an uncompromising and undeniable vision on their third full-length album, ‘THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND’ (Sumerian Records).
“Making the record changed us as songwriters and musicians. In many ways, I feel like it set me free as an artist because every decision made in the writing process was for myself, with no fear for anyone else’s expectations of what our third album should sound like. Be it our fans or our record label.”
They’ve always wielded this level of magic though…
The group’s 2016 self-titled debut, ‘Bad Omens’, yielded fan favorites such as “Glass Houses” and “The Worst In Me” which eclipsed 43 million Spotify streams. On its heels, 2019’s ‘Finding God Before God Finds Me’ spawned “Dethrone” (32 million Spotify streams) and “Careful What You Wish For”. Along the way, they toured with numerous marquee acts and received tastemaker praise.
After their first headline tour was canceled mid-way at the top of the global pandemic, the band found themselves at home in Los Angeles with plenty of time. Where they absorbed and imparted a different palette of unexpected inspirations. Channeling what the frontman describes at times as a “cursive sound” they embraced newfound confidence and boundlessly loose creativity. Anything went in the studio, and all “rules” were broken. Noah and Jolly wrote, produced, and engineered the music themselves while GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer and songwriter Zakk Cervini (Halsey, Grimes, Poppy, blink-182) lent his talents with the mix and master. Challenging himself, Noah decided to “make a track sampling items around the house, none of which were musical instruments”.
This ultimately became the framework for the first single “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND”. Claps puncture the icy soundscape as his voice stretches from a breathy moan into an evocative and entrancing hook, breaking from a whisper into the seductive chant, “It wasn’t hard to realize. Love’s the death of peace of mind.” It culminates on a climactic scream uplifted by a distorted crunch.
“The whole record really details the loss of peace of mind,” he explains. “The lyrics in the title track are a little more specific in terms of the conflict at the heart of something more intimate and personal.”
By speaking it aloud, Bad Omens offer a level of comfort and empathy, with a sinister shroud. At the same time, they also give rock music a sexy new shape on‘THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND’.
“Sonically, we want to do something you can’t arrive late or early too,” he leaves off. “You can’t cheat your way to the final act. You have to get on the ride and process it until the end. The songs are meant to be heard from start to finish. We want you to take the whole trip with us.”
Portland’s own DYING WISH have announced their new album Symptoms of Survival. It arrives on November 3 via SharpTone Records. Pre-order the album, produced by Randy LeBoeuf, here.
To accompany this exciting news, the quartet has shared the video for “Lost in the Fall.” Watch it here.
It’s a stormy clip — quite literally. The band is performing amid a lightning storm but there is nothing quite as fierce as singer Emma Boster — both her blood-curdling screams and her piercing stare.
“‘Lost in the Fall’ is written about the natural untangling of a friendship or a relationship with someone over time,” Boster says. “It’s about letting go of control and accepting your fate and failure in love. Imagine the feeling in your throat and gut when you know things are coming to an end. Surrender to that feeling and face the direction of moving on.”
“Lost in the Fall” follows “Watch My Promise Die,” which Stereogum lauded as “a massive slab of heaviness.”
Dying Wish also announced an extensive fall tour schedule. All dates are below.
DYING WISH ON TOUR: WWITH BOUNDARIES, OMERTA, FOREIGN HANDS, GATES TO HELL, ROMAN CANDLE, + EXCIDE: 10/20 — Santa Cruz, CA — The Vets Hall 10/21 — Fresno, CA — Full Circle Brewery 10/22 — Las Vegas, NV — American Legion Post 8 10/24 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Underground 10/26 — San Antonio, TX — The Rock Box 10/27 — Dallas, TX — Wrecking Ball Fest* 10/28 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall 10/31 – 11/4 — Downtown Miami, FL — Headbangers Boat* 11/6 — Tampa, FL — The Orpheum 11/7 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade Purgatory 11/8 — Greensboro, NC — Hangar 1819 11/9 — Baltimore, MD — Metro Gallery 11/10 — Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts 11/11 — Brooklyn, NY — Meadows 11/12 — Worcester, MA — Palladium 11/14 — New Kensington, PA — Preserving Underground 11/15 — Columbus, OH — Ace of cups 11/16 — Detroit, MI — The Sanctuary 11/17 — Chicago, IL — Cobra Lounge 11/18 — Saint Paul, MN — Amsterdam 11/19 — North Kansas City, MO — The Rino 11/21 — Denver, CO — Marquis Theater 11/22 — Salt Lake City, UT — Kilby Court 11/24 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theater 11/25 — Seattle, WA — Vera Project 11/26 — Spokane, WA — Big Dipper 11/27 — Boise, ID — The Shredder 11/29 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Posts 11/30 — San Francisco, CA — Neck of the Woods 12/1 — San Fernando, CA — Midnight Hour 12/2 — Anaheim, CA — Chain Reaction *Dying Wish Only
SYMPTOMS OF SURVIVAL TRACK LISTING: “Symptoms of Survival” “Watch My Promise Die“ “Starved” “Prey For Me” “Path To Your Grave” “Paved In Sorrow” “Tongues of Lead” “Kiss of Judas” “Hell’s Final Blessing” “Torn From Your Silhouette” “Lost In The Fall”
HOLY WARS Take Us on a Wild Ride in Epic New Single & Video “Deus Ex Machina” Stream HERE | Watch HERE Announce Signing To Pale Chord
Genre-blurring provocateurs HOLY WARS have dropped their mind-bending new single and music video “Deus Ex Machina” today. Matching hard hitting metal riffs with frantic spoken word, soaring pop melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics, “Deus Ex Machina” is the next step in the evolution of HOLY WARS, perfectly showcasing the indefinable combination of vocalist, Kat Leon’s dynamic vocal techniques and guitarist/producer, Nick Perez‘s down-tuned guitar riffs and cinematic soundscapes. Stream “Deus Ex Machina” HERE and watch the video HERE or by clicking the thumbnail below.
Holy Wars “Deus Ex Machina”
The cinematic music video for “Deus Ex Machina” immerses us in the literal rollercoaster ride of vocalist Kat Leon’s deep and sometimes dark psyche. She unpacks the song’s themes as follows:
“Deus Ex Machina was inspired by my love of psychology and how fascinating the brain is. The God of the human machine. Deus Ex Machina meaning God from the Machine really helped shape the message of what I was wanting to say lyrically in this song, how our personal narrative is powerful. We often rewrite our stories as the hero’s tale but we very possibly could be the villain in another’s. Our words are powerful and our story is our legacy. In this song I wanted to display the attack side of the narrative, how any issue I have had with another has stemmed from projection, a choice and the power I allow it to have. The ghost in the machine haunting my thoughts and puppeting my actions. Deus Ex Machina is a hard hitting wild sonic ride of the mania that lives underneath us all.”
The single will be the first HOLY WARS release via their brand new label home, Pale Chord, as they also announce their signing to the prominent alternative label today, joining an impressive roster of fellow groundbreaking artists such as Spiritbox, Harper and Thousand Below.
Blending thoughtful introspection with their trademark chaotic energy, “Deus Ex Machina” highlights HOLY WARS’ unrelenting creative spirit and is arguably their heaviest release to date. Today’s release and new label announcement only furthers the band’s incessantly gaining momentum garnered from their authentic, DIY approach, which has already yielded nearly 10 million global streams and 700,000 YouTube views for previous releases.
With their unpredictable sound, provocative artistry, and new label home, HOLY WARS continue to defy genres and blow minds. Embrace the weird and stay tuned for more from these sonic shapeshifters soon.
Right off the bat, this Asking Alexandria album is better than the previous two. The big problem is most of this album is writing and material already covered over the years, with a 2023 over-production polish. For every strong drum blast, there is an electronic backing track. For every guitar riff, there are a dozen digital effects. The music isn’t terrible but it sounds processed to death and it all fits the perfect mainstream radio format Asking Alexandria is dead set on hitting. Even if it’s a step up from recent albums, it’s still not great. Where DOES Asking Alexandria go from here? 5/10.
Asking Alexandria Where Do We Go From Here? Album Review
From Google Bard: “Asking Alexandria are an English rock band from York, North Yorkshire, consisting of guitarists Ben Bruce and Cameron Liddell, drummer James Cassells, lead vocalist Danny Worsnop, and bassist Sam Bettley.
The band was formed in 2006 by Ben Bruce, who was originally the band’s drummer. He later switched to guitar and recruited Worsnop as the lead vocalist. The band’s lineup was completed by bassist Joe Lancaster and drummer Ryan Binns.
Asking Alexandria released their debut album, Stand Up and Scream, in 2009. The album was a commercial success, reaching number 19 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. The album spawned the singles “Final Episode (Let’s Change the World with Rock and Roll)”, “Stand Up and Scream”, and “Not the Same”.
In 2011, the band released their second album, Reckless & Relentless. The album was even more successful than their debut, reaching number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album spawned the singles “Run Free”, “To the Stage”, and “Moving On”.
In 2013, the band released their third album, From Death to Destiny. The album was a departure from their previous sound, incorporating more electronic elements. The album was not as successful as their previous albums, but it still reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart.
In 2015, lead singer Danny Worsnop left the band to focus on his other band, We Are Harlot. He was replaced by Denis Stoff.
In 2016, the band released their fourth album, The Black. The album was a return to their metalcore roots. The album spawned the singles “I Won’t Give In” and “The Death of Me”.
In 2017, Denis Stoff left the band and Danny Worsnop returned. The band released their fifth album, Like a House on Fire, in 2017. The album was a commercial success, reaching number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album spawned the singles “Alone in a Room” and “Undivided”.
In 2020, the band released their sixth album, See What’s on the Inside. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album spawned the singles “Antisocialist” and “Alone Again”.
Asking Alexandria have sold over 2 million albums worldwide. They have toured extensively, and have appeared at major festivals such as Download Festival and Warped Tour. They are considered one of the most popular metalcore bands in the world. #AskingAlexandria
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Asking Alexandria Where Do We Go From Here? Album Review
Avatar Land First #1 Single of Career With “The Dirt I’m Buried In” Supporting In This Moment + Ice Nine Kills In Fall 2023
The heavy metal ‘n’ roll, dark, madcap visionaries collectively known as AVATAR — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson — are having a banner year in 2023, with lots of firsts!
They’ve achieved their first #1 single “The Dirt I’m Buried In” from their magnum opus and ninth album, Dance Devil Dance, produced and mixed by Jay Ruston which was released in February. The track has surged itself to #1 on Mediabase’s Active Rock Chart. On Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart, the single rises to #1 on its 31st week, making it the longest trek to #1 in 20 years! Read more about it over at Billboard.
Avatar “The Dirt I’m Buried In”
“If you told the 16 year old me that we would hit the top of the U.S. radio charts, I’d ask you what you’re smoking. If you then would proceed to tell me that a fossil would be named after us, I’d ask you what you’re smoking, and if you could share. Hitting the charts was never a priority, but now that we’re here, I’m grateful. It shows the reach of what we’re doing and it is baffling. The fossil shows something else. That to me is a sign of people truly making our music a part of their lives. It’s a true honor. A beautiful gift. All we can say is thank you. We fully intend to keep earning your participation, over and over again,” says Eckerström.
Another first — Avatar have been immortalized as a fossil from Southern Sweden; discovered by Dr. Ben Thuy, a paleontologist at the Luxembourg Natural History Museum. This fossil is now known as Ophiocoma avatar. Read below to learn a little more about the Avatar fossil.
Some 80 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed our planet, southern Sweden was located at the shores of a subtropical sea. One particular location, the old quarries at Ivö Klack, exposes an exceptional palaeo-environment that is only rarely preserved in the fossil record: a rocky shore with oyster-encrusted boulders. The mud that accumulated between these boulders millions of years ago contains the fossil remains of the animals that lived in and around the rocky shore. One of these animals is the brittle star named after Avatar: Ophiocoma avatar.
Brittle star skeletons tend to fall apart very quickly after death. As a result, most brittle-star fossils consist of tiny skeletal fragments that are collected with the sieve. The original fossil of Ophiocoma avatar is a fragment from the arm skeleton that carried the long arm spines.
The Avatar brittle star belongs to a genus that nowadays lives along tropical and subtropical shores. They are known to hide under rocks and in crevasses at daytime and emerge at night to collect food particles with their spiny arms. A remarkable feature of living Ophiocoma species is that many of them are capable of sight, without even having eyes or a brain! They can literally see with their entire body surface, and some even change color between day and night as part of a sunglass effect. Whether the Avatar brittle star exhibited the same features is impossible to determine based on fossils alone. What we can say, however, is that Ophiocoma avatar is by far the oldest known representative of this exciting group of brittle stars.
The name Ophiocoma avatar, is valid for eternity. Avatar is now a part of the Earth’s history, of the palaeontological heritage of Sweden, and has gained a small piece of immortality.
The band will return to the road this fall for their headline “Chimp Mosh Pit Tour” and will be supporting Ice Nine Kills and In This Moment for their “Kiss of Death” Tour. All dates are below, including key festival appearances. Get tickets HERE.
FALL 2023 CHIMP MOSH PIT TOUR DATES: 9/10 — Alton, VA — Blue Ridge Rock Fest + 9/12 — Quebec City, QC — Imperial Bell 9/13 — Montreal, QC — Olympia 9/14 — Toronto, ON — Phoenix 9/15 — Grand Rapids, MI — The Intersection 9/16 — Des Moines, IA — Wooly’s 9/17 — Bloomington, IL — The Castle 9/19 — Houston, TX — Rise * 9/20 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom 9/22 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life + 9/23 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall 9/24 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl 9/25 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ’s Live 9/26 — Wichita, KS — Cotillion 9/28 — Fargo, ND — Fargo Brewing Company 9/29 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theater 9/30 — Saskatoon, SK — Coors 10/1 — Calgary, AB — Palace Theater 10/2 — Edmonton, AB — Midway Music Hall 10/4 — Vancouver, BC — Commodore Ballroom 10/5 — Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory 10/6 — Eugene, OR — McDonald Theater 10/7 — Sacramento, CA — Aftershock + 10/8 — San Louis Obispo, CA — Fremont Theater 11/26 — Albany, NY – Empire Live ^ + Festivals ^ No Orbit Culture or Native Howl
ICE NINE KILLS + IN THIS MOMENT “KISS OF DEATH” TOUR 11/3 — Gary, IN — Hard Rock Live 11/4 — Maplewood, MN — Myth Live * 11/5 — Kansas City, MO — Uptown Theater * 11/7 — Indianapolis, IN — Blue Ribbon Pavilion 11/8 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center 11/9 — Milwaukee, WI — Eagles Ballroom 11/11 — Green Bay, WI — Epic Events Center * 11/12 — Louisville, KY — The Louisville Palace Theatre * 11/14 — Greenville, SC — Bon Secours Arena 11/16 — Estero, FL — Hertz Arena 11/17 — Jacksonville, FL — Daily’s Place 11/18 — Orlando, FL — Orlando Amphitheater 11/20 — Atlanta, GA — Coca Cola Roxy 11/21 — Greensboro, NC — Greensboro Coliseum Complex 11/22 — Reading, PA — Santander Arena 11/24 — Wallingford, CT — Oakdale Theatre 11/25 — Bangor, ME — Cross Insurance Center 11/27 — New York, NY — Hammerstein Ballroom 11/28 — Washington, DC — The Anthem 11/30 — Norfolk, VA — Chartway Arena Dec 01 — Johnstown, PA — 1st Summit Arena Dec 02 — Wheeling, WV — Webanco Arena *ITM ONLY
The lyric writing and personal connections made on this album hit like a brick. Dylan Slocum’s almost warble as he’s performing and that adds to the experience of an album about finding peace in any type of turmoil. Spanish Love Songs increased the variety in tone between songs. Some of the rhythm and acoustic guitars elevate this album big time. No Joy is an album that will require several listens to take it all in, and I mean that as a massive compliment because it’s incredibly layered and complex. Swaying to the rhythm and singing along to songs about finding peace in the middle of misery should not be this fun, but it is. Spanish Love Songs can call this album No Joy all they want, but I found plenty of joy through it. 9/10.
Spanish Love Songs is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, that was founded in 2013. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Dylan Slocum, guitarist Kyle McAulay, drummer Ruben Duarte, bassist Trevor Dietrich, and keyboardist Meredith Van Woert – the lattermost of whom is also Slocum’s wife. The band’s name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that their music is often about the darker side of love and relationships. Their sound has been described as emo, indie rock, and punk rock.
Spanish Love Songs released their debut studio album, Giant Sings the Blues, in 2015. Their second album, Schmaltz, was released in 2017. Their third album, Brave Faces Everyone, was released in 2020 and was met with critical acclaim. The album debuted at number 21 on the Billboard Vinyl Albums chart and number 61 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.
In 2023, the band released their fourth album, No Joy. The album was produced by Will Yip and was praised for its emotional honesty and catchy melodies. Spanish Love Songs have toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe. They have shared the stage with bands such as The Menzingers, The Wonder Years, and Say Anything.