Vans Warped Tour – at The Pomona Fairplex – Pomona, CA

Day One of Vans Warped Tour Pomona, CA was a day full of music, fun, and plenty of surprises. Held at the scenic Pomona Fairgrounds this year’s tour marks Vans Warped Tour 18th year in existence. 

 

What began in 1995 as an extreme sport and music festival has since evolved to incorporate the digital media and constantly expanding array of musical acts in an effort to keep the tour relevant to the current generation of tour goers.

One of the first bands to play this year's Pomona, CA date of the tour was the Architects on the monster energy stage. Established in 2004 in Brighton, England the Architects are known for their intense Metalcore style music. Though the Architects have seen a few band member changes since their establishment they have since seem to have found an artistic line-up that works for them. Their performance on the Monster Energy Stage was marked by emotional intensity that seemed to speak to the audience in a way that was reminiscent of Hardcore Punk Rock acts on the 1980s. A musical tour-de-force unto himself Sam Carter (lead vocalist of the Architects) brought everything he had to the stage, and delivered a front man act to remember. Playing tracks that consisted of “These Colours Don’t Run” and “Alpha Omega” the Architects did more than their part in kick off the day’s festivities.

Memphis May fire a band from Dallas, TX took the KIA soul stage at Just before noon on day one of Vans Warped Tour Pomona. Known for their Post-Hardcore music style Memphis May Fire took command of a four hundred plus crowd by opening up with a scream "How the fuck are you Pomona?" and immediately began playing “The Victim.” Towards the end of their set Matty Mullins (lead vocalist of Memphis May Fire) asked for the biggest circle pit the lead singer has ever seen. At the end of their set Mullins thanked the audience for their awesome energy and thanked Warped Tour for allowing them to join the experience today. Memphis May Fire left the stage in the same way they entered, to the cheers and applause of their fans.

 cczvc

Joey Briggs acoustic set began at 1:10pm on the Acoustic Basement Stage. Known world-wide as the lead vocalist of The Briggs; Joey Briggs’ band that found notable success from their track “This is L.A.” that has since become a fight anthem for many Los Angeles, CA sports teams. His performance brought musical lyrics that spoke of growing up in Los Angeles, and the wisdom he has gained in life. The audience sat in silent contemplation throughout his entire set while he played "Happy Being Miserable," “Lose Our Voices” and “Suburban Kid.” Not to be daunted by the loud music of other bands playing at other stages Briggs set was energetic and well done.

A little while after his performance Joey Briggs took some time to talk with Big Wheel about what he is currently up to and “For about 3 years now I have been writing and performing my solo material. I started it because I was writing songs on the road with my acoustic guitar and sometimes I think of a song, and think that it’s not quite a Briggs song. That led me to putting out my own album. Currently I am working on a new album for The Briggs, and well as a handful of other projects on top of touring.” When asked about how he felt about The Briggs success with their song “This is L.A.” Joey had this to say “We did not mean for it to be a sports anthem, but for some reason the song did become just that. I mean it is an honor and crazy to hear my song be played the L.A. Kings win the playoffs when that role is usually given to a Pop song that was written explicitly for that purpose.”

Like Moths to Flame played the Monster Energy Stage at 1:40pm. A Metalcore band originally from Columbus, OH Like Moths to Flame formed in 2010, and has since released three albums. Upon taking the stage Chris Roetter (lead vocalist of Like Moths to Flame) exclaimed “What's up Pomona!” and opened up with "The Worst in Me" and played an entire set with high energy.  At end of set the Architects lead vocalist Sam Carter joined the band of the stage to sing “You Won’t be Missed.”

Kevin Seconds played an acoustic set at in spite of a calf muscle injury the occurred when “I [Kevin Seconds] was doing a sweet stunt on stage at a show 7 Seconds played in Canada. I nailed the stunt but landed wrong.” Known for both his solo music and his work in 7 Seconds (a Punk band that has been around since 1980) his set consisted of his signature style harmonic musical style with a distinct Punk flavor. During Kevin’s set he mentioned to the audience the last time he played Warped Tour was 1999, where he toured with Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, Blink 182, and Dropkick Murphy's. Kevin played a set that was made for "The broken and the bent" that spoke from his knowledge and wisdom he has gained over the year's playing Punk and living a life that is full of musical sacrifice and hard earned joy.

3OH!3 played the Kia Soul Stage and opened up with "PUNKB*TCH" and "IMNOTYOURBOYFRIENDBABY" and brought the crowds energy up to an insanely high level with little more than a synthesized beat and a charismatic performance. From Boulder, CO 3OH!3 formed in 2004 and have since found commercial success with their album “Want.” They kept the energy of the tour up showcasing how music can revived a crowd that has been in the heat since 11am.

The Aquabats, a band from Huntington Beach, CA that formed in 1994 and has since made a name for themselves with their kids television show entitled “The Aquabats! Super Show!” They arrived to stage on a giant Vans Sneaker.   Their set consisted of a cover of “Institutionalized” by Suicidal Tendencies, as well as their hits “Fashion Zombies,” “The Shark Fighter,” and theme song to their kid’s television show. Half way through their set MC bat Commander (lead vocalist for The Aquabats) brought a kid named Kailey on stage and asked her what her favorite T.V. show was. Kailey responded with “Mickey Mouse” was her #1 choice making “The Aquabats! Super Show!” #2 pick. During the end of their set MC Bat Commander instigated a Where’s Waldo fight while MC bat Commander noted to the audience “We have Waldo’s wiggling and slamming into each other, I don’t know why all of you are even watching us. We are old and fat and there are plenty of other better bands playing today.” The Aquabat’s set brought with it a lighthearted vibe to the first day of the Pomona, CA stop of Warped Tour.

Bring Me the Horizon played to an audience that had been waiting patiently for their set to come up. From Sheffield, Yorkshire Bring Me the Horizon formed in 2004 and has released four albums since. Upon taking the stage Oliver Sykes (lead vocalist for Bring Me the Horizon) exclaimed “We're a bit disoriented because we literally just flew in,” and immediately began playing for the excited Warped Tour audience. Their entire set was marked with high energy from the band and fans in attendance. 

Day one of the Pomona leg of the Vans Warped Tour finished up with a performance by Goldfinger on the Tilly’s Stage. From Los Angeles, CA Goldfinger has been playing their signature mix of Punk/Ska music since 1994. Their set consisted of John Feldmann (lead vocalist of Goldfinger) crowd surfing while they played tracks like “Spokesman,” “99 Red Balloons,” and “Superman” and the audience skanked danced. At one point towards the end of the bands set Darrin Pfeiffer (drummer of Goldfinger) had an audience member eat a Twinkie out of his butt, bringing Day one of the Pomona leg of Warped Tour to a memorable close.

       

    More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Ryan R.-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

 

 

Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

Vans Warped Tour 2013 – at The Sleep Train Amphitheater – Chula Vista, CA

I used to have a calendar to count down the days leading up to The Warped Tour.   Since then, I’ve upgraded to obsessively following the Twitter feed. Walking into an arena with thousands of people who all share an interest in teen angst and loud music, Warped Tour is now home to a selection of post-hardcore groups, pop Punk bands, a few alternative rock icons, death metal, Punk, and even electronica.

The best part about the Warped Tour as a music festival is it allows you to see a spectrum of bands across genres without breaking the bank. Warped Tour San Diego, (technically Chula Vista) is no exception to the menagerie of girls wearing little to nothing, men with tank top tan lines and women's pants, and crowds of people in all black, long sleeved sweatshirts.  Each band has a merch tent, along with sponsor tents and vendors, all bidding for whatever is left in your wallet. 

Like Moths to Flames, the post-hardcore group from Ohio, kicked off our day.  The Monster Energy stage is the Shangri-La of stages for post-hardcore bands, with an inflatable roof that has become synonymous with quality performances. The crowd was energized to get moving early in the day, and quite a response roared when “Know Your Place” and “The Blackout” blared through the amplifiers. The group appeared to be very comfortable with the crowd, especially for only having one studio album release. They concluded with “You Won’t be Missed”, and the crowd lost it in a debauchery of circle pits and hardcore dancing. 

Other notable performances on the Monster Energy stage included Upon a Burning Body, Silverstein and The Architects.

Hawthorne Heights first appeared at Warped Tour in 2005.  The emo-rock group from Ohio, famous for “Ohio is For Lovers” and “Saying Sorry” have struggled with popularity since their unfortunate loss of guitar and vocalist Casey Calvert in 2007. Despite the adversity, the group performed flawlessly on stage, showing that their experience has not left them jaded. The crowd was lack-luster, but this may be the start Hawthorne Heights is looking for to ascend back to the throne.

Blessthefall has been a Warped Tour band many times, cycling from former frontman Craig Mabbitt (Escape the Fate) to a fresh, energetic Beau Bokan.  Bokan has recorded on the latter two of three studio albums, with another on the way later this year, titled Hollow Bodies.  His ability to translate songs off the first studio album in order to connect to die-hard fans is typically a difficult hurdle for new frontmen to get over, and he has done an exceptional job.  Bokan appears to feed off the energy of the crowd, walking in and among them while performing.  The setlist had a decent variety of old and new, with a song off the upcoming album titled “You Wear a Crown but You’re No King.”  The album looks to follow the prestige that blessthefall has set up for themselves. 

Following The Black Dahlia Murder, the band I was most enthusiastic to see was scheduled to appear.  Chiodos is a post-hardcore band with a long history.  I was fortunate enough to see Chiodos at the Outland Ballroom in Springfield, MO with less than one hundred people, and the performance was unforgettable.  Lead vocalist Craig Owens has a long resume, including Cinematic Sunrise, supergroup Isles & Glaciers, a solo career acoustically, and the group Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (D.R.U.G.S) formed in 2011.  Craig had left Chiodos early in 2011 due to internal conflicts, and the band appeared to struggle with their studio release illuminadio as the new lead singer received a fair amount of criticism. The set began with “The Undertaker’s Thirst for Revenge is Unquenchable (The Final Battle)” and followed with the D.R.U.G.S. Song “Thermacare”.  After the song, he asked the crowd, “How many of you thought you would never see this again?” Referring to Craig’s disappearance, the crowd teemed with excitement and rose their hands.  The bands history has led to a very loyal fan base, and every single person appeared to know all the words as the set continued.  Excitement permeated the air as Craig mentioned his gratitude for the fans, and announced a new Chiodos album release early next year, with an accompanying tour. They then premiered the song “Expensive Conversations in Cheap Motels” that they cryptically alluded to on the bands facebook page earlier in the week. 

Craig concluded the Chiodos set with hit track “Baby, You Wouldn’t Last One Minute on the Creek”, off breakthrough album All’s Well That Ends Well.  He then walked to the Acoustic Basement to perform songs from his long history. Craig’s tagline, printed on several tanktops and posters, “Learn to Love Yourself”, was brought to life as Craig said, “I want this to be one giant fucking kumbaya, if thats okay with you?” The setlist included songs from Chiodos, D.R.U.G.S, and his solo career.  Concluding with “A Letter from Janelle,” the crowd all sang in unison, “It’s so easy to get lost in constantly having to present whatever face you believe a person wants to see rather than your own.”

Sleeping With Sirens has achieved a large amount of popularity in the brief time since their formation in 2009.  Vocalist Kellin Quinn has been featured on tracks with some of the most notable post-hardcore bands in recent years, including the tracks “Miles Away” by Memphis May Fire, and “King for a Day” by Pierce the Veil.  The performance kicked off with wild excitement in the largest crowd among bands we had seen. Each song exemplified the live performance perfection the group has become renowned for.  Quinn’s vocal range is extensive, and the songs felt much heavier live than on album.  The band performed songs from a selection of each studio album they have released, including the recently released Feel on June 4th, on Rise Records.  Overall, the Sleeping With Sirens set held my attention with enough alteration from album sound to make it seem authentic, and brilliant energy from their live performance.

Memphis May Fire killed it on the Kia Soul Stage late in the evening, with a guest appearance of Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens, and Vic Fuentes of Pierce the Veil hanging out watching the show. 

As the sun started to go down, there was one more band scheduled to go on at the Kia Forte stage.  Black Veil Brides, who I had only listened to in passing before the show, had an exceptionally large crowd from what I had expected.  I will admit, I was a little reluctant to watch a band who I had assumed were almost entirely a gimmick. However, when the first guitar riff pervaded my senses, I know I was in for something more than I had bargained for.

Calling Hollywood home, Black Veil Brides have successfully fused metal, post-hardcore, and alternative rock into a mind-bending euphony.  With performances of hits “In the End” and “Knives and Pens”, as well as a  cover of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell”, the band showed that they knew how to take advantage of stage presence. 

Walking out and through the parking lot, as the tents started to go down and the headlights illuminated the asphalt, we looked back at a day of music that seldom comes to Southern California, let alone anywhere.  Fortunately, the Warped Tour seems as alive as it did when I would drive hundreds of miles to go see it for just one day, and it doesn’t appear to be dying off any time soon.       

    More photos of the show can be seen HERE

- Tyler Jo Gaines-
Big Wheel Contributor

 

 

 

 

Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

The Pullmen – The Western Score

When I was first handed The Pullmen’s EP “The Western Score” to review I was skeptical at best about how a band could successfully convey a western thrash musical vibe to someone listening to their band.

And what I found when first listening to the band took my misguided skepticism and threw out a metaphorical window of a thirty story building never to be seen or heard from again.

This album is a must have for anyone that is into Thrash, and Western music. The fourth track of the EP entitled “Mourning Song” lyrically speaks of man that has learned a lesson about how in life hind sight is truly 20/20; conveying that message with a musical delivery reminiscent of “Against Me!” with a dash of “Johnny Cash” thrown in for a melodic kick, all the while, taking that aforementioned sound to a whole new level.

The Pullmen are currently working on a new EP that is being released later this year. Until then catch out on their musical history and check out “The Western Score.” The EP can be found HERE

 

-Ryan R.-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter
 

 

 

 

                                           Go HERE to see all the latest record reviews

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenny Lashley’s Gang of One – Illuminator

In some ways, reviewing a great album is much easier than reviewing an average or, god forbid, a bad one. You just spill out all the things you like about it, and that's that. But sometimes an album is so good it grabs you, holds you spellbound and immobile until it is finished with you. And then you hit the play button again. You want to tell everyone about this album, so that you can talk about it with them, so you can see that experience play over their faces, but you are trapped.
 

Lenny Lashley's new album, Illuminator, is one of these. 

Ten new songs from the former Darkbuster frontman are scheduled for release June 25th, though the album is also streaming online and available for pre-order already. Illuminator kicks off riotously energetic, as a good Punk album should, with the defiant "Kingston", and the snarlingly nostalgic "Hooligans". The album runs a gamut of styles, however, transitioning into an acoustic stretch before closing out with the furious "Re-Covering". 

The honesty in this album is at times almost painful, like the reflections of a broken relationship in "Happily", but the songs evoke sadness with understanding and courage instead of wallowing in self pity, and the pace of the album brings you through the sad parts and back to energy and hope. Musically and lyrically this is a very eloquent album, sure to reveal a new little sneaky twist even on the hundredth listen.

 

You can hear the album yourself HERE

Then when you're ready to buy a copy, hurry HERE to Pirates Press, as the two color vinyls are already sold out, and you'd hate to miss this

 

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter
 

 

 

 

                                           Go HERE to see all the latest record reviews

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Stranglers – On Stage On Screen

Are you a fan of The Stranglers? If you aren't you should be, and if you are, I've got some good news for you. Wienerworld Presentation has released The Stranglers On Stage, On Screen, an excellent DVD that contains not only their full 79 minute electric set at Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2005 as a five-piece, and a 30 minute acoustic set, but also the very strange (but award winning) short film Norfolk Coast starring bassist Jean Jacques Burnel, and featuring cameos by members of the band.

 

The title screen comes up with shots from both sets intercut with scenes from the film showing over a loop of the introduction to "Peaches". The electric set is first, and begins with shots of the crowd dancing and singing with the intro, and welcoming the band on stage. Both the audio and video quality are excellent as the band blazes through all your favorites, including "Skin Deep", "Lost Control", and "Time to Die", before ending with "No More Heroes". Stand-in frontman Paul Roberts is energetic and charismatic throughout the performance, though light on chatter between songs. The crowd is enthusiastic, singing along, even taking over the chorus on the cover of The Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night".

The acoustic set is also filmed at Shepherd's Bush Empire, during the same show, and introduces Roberts on some conga drums as the band comes back on stage. The acoustic set is more of an encore, with an additional 7 songs, including "Dutch Moon" and "Still Life". There's still plenty of power in the acoustic set, and the band are obviously enjoying themselves on stage almost as much as the crowd is, which makes this DVD fun to watch. Roberts at times sounds eerily like David Bowie, but it works well with this mature version of The Stranglers.

Norfolk Coast is a strange little film that will undoubtedly appeal to cinema buffs, and other fans of indy media. Even if you hate it, it's only about 15 minutes long, and packed with interesting imagery, so it won't eat up much of your life, and is worth watching at least once, but it's the concert footage here that's the real gem, and will put this DVD in regular rotation through your player. Copies are available HERE or on amazon.com

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff  Reporter
 

 

 

                                           Go HERE to see more DVD reviews

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

Stigma – For Love and Glory

There are few names in Punk Rock as respected as Vinnie Stigma, and for good reason. From founding Agnostic Front, one of the most iconic Hardcore bands of all time, to NYHC Tattoo, and even saving the life of a child in Melbourne last year, it seems there is very little he hasn't done (though he is not publishing a children's book telling the plot of "The Warriors" with bunny rabbits.

 

That was a joke. Please stop asking where to buy it.). And now his new project Stigma has released their second album titled "For Love & Glory" available through Durty Mick Records.

 

"For Love & Glory" is 13 furious songs about working, drinking, surviving, and loving music, averaging about two and a half minutes each, but this isn't just another hardcore album from the "Godfather of Hardcore". While there are some recognizably NYHC breakdowns and lead-ins, there is an undeniably strong Oi! sound to many of the tracks, especially "Don't Lose Faith" and "The Spirit Remains". Lars Fredericksen helped co-produce the album, and the punk influence is similarly identifiable, as on "Free Your Mind". 

Some fans may find the album disappointing on first listen, as it is a more complex and varied album than previous Stigma projects, but the songs are infectious, and have a tendency to creep into your mind. Given some time, this album will probably be able to win over even the most dedicated Hardcore fans. 

If you'd like to check out the album for yourself, you can pick up a copy from Durty Mick HERE

 or you can preview tracks HERE

 

 

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter
 

 

 

 

                                           Go HERE to see all the latest record reviews

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

« Previous Page — Next Page »