RayChuang

The production values of that show are nothing short of amazing--small wonder why the production cost is rumored to be over US$100 million. By the way, I've described the Eras Tour as the "World's biggest in-stadium sing-along," so much so that Swift has to sing at a higher volume just to overcome the noise level of the crowd singing along.

Spiderbite

Dear god, just kill me.

I guess I am an old fogey now, but I HATE going to concerts where people sing so loud you can hardly hear the performer. I came to hear the artist sing, not every average joe surrounding me.

I have gotten to where I have just about quit going to live shows. Maybe average half a dozen a year nowadays. People are so annoying with phones in the air the entire time, everyone singing or screaming as loud as they can the entire time, people so drunk they either can barely stand or are vomiting all around them. Then add on the price you pay for decent seats plus all the fees...or buy the cheap seats and watch the giant screens because you can't see shit. Acoustics or the sound system/mix can also ruin a concert.

Ugh. Sorry. Didn't mean to threadcrap. It just started flowing out of me. It just makes me sad because I used to really enjoy going to concerts. Now that I older and can afford to go to more concerts, I don't want to. Dammit. hahaha

And this is just after I purchased tickets to James Taylor and Ben Folds. At least there shouldn't be too much screaming at those...or vomiting

Kdogg

I can attest to that. I’ve been wearing earplugs to shows since college. This was the first time I had to take them out because the crowd singing was covering Swift’s sing. It was much better without them but my ears felt it afterwards.

PerryD

Electronic punk rock band Wargasm UK was super energetic and the female singer, oh my...

darkdaze73

While it's not a concert I recently attended, I am considering purchasing tickets to this years Blue Ridge Rock Fest in Virginia. It would be my first multi day festival and first festival since Ozzfest in the mid 2000's. They just announced all but one of the remaining bands for this years show(Blessthefall is rumored to be the remaining band). For those unfamiliar with how they do things, towards the end of the year/begining of the next year, they will start announcing bands one at a time with some multiple announcements on some days and others spread out towards the end.

The final announcement came on last Wednesday with quite a few of the major acts named including Danzig who will do a special set containing the entire 1988 self titled album. I posted a link with the entire lineup.


https://blueridgerockfest.com/lineup/

Decker

Second Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert. This one at Lincoln Financial Stadium, Philadelphia.

with Phoebe Bridgers opening.

PerryD

Delhi India metal band Bloodywood on Friday night at the Metro Chicago.

mndtrp

If I was anywhere close to the Blue Ridge festival, I would have gone last year as well as this year. Quite a few bands I listened to in the early 2000's reunited and played those shows. It'd take me back to my Ozzfest days, for sure.

darkdaze73

I ended up purchasing the 3 day VIP tickets for me and my daughter. While there are a few bands I would like to see on Thursday, I ultimately decided to just go three days. We'll get together with my brother for those days and split cost on gas, parking, whatever and hang together. He bought the 4 day VIP a couple of months ago. I hate that I won't get to finally see 10 Years, Motograter and Nonpoint as they are part of the pre-show package for campers only. We live about an hour from the venue so no need for hotel/camping or any of that.

My daughter has been wanting to see Bad Omens really, really bad and the 3 or 4 shows scheduled in the NC/SC area are sold out. So provided there's no issues and they play, she'll finally get her chance to see them.

PerryD

Avatar at the House of Blues Chicago last night. They have a huge passionate fanbase, very active crowd, wearing the clown makeup, singing throughout the set, etc.

mndtrp

I saw Motograter with Mushroomhead back in 2003, back when Ivan Moody was in the band. I'd never heard of them before, but they put on a good show. Better than Mushroomhead, in my opinion.

[email protected]

Saw Gary Numan for the first time last night. Can't believe how great he was! Very much like seeing NIN in a club environment. Its always a good sign when the biggest hit ("Cars") is one of the weakest songs in the show.

Also, a strong opening set from A Place To Bury Strangers.

PerryD

Rhapsody of Fire and Wind Rose last night at the Forge in Joliet. Highly entertaining night of power metal.

PerryD

Swedish symphonic metal band Eleine (pronounced closer to Elaine) last night at the Forge in Joliet IL

The Cow

Changing up the tone a bit.

2023-05-19: Rick Springfield, Hard Rock Casino, Cincinnati

joeblow69

I take it these dwarf metal guys are big fans of the unreal engine?

PerryD

Nice, maybe it's a standard font. But I did buy this Diggy Diggy Hole merch shirt

PerryD

Korean rock band Rolling Quartz at Reggies in Chicago.

Pointyskull

05/20/23
Alejandro Escovedo
w/ Nicholas Tremulis
Old Town School of Folk Music
Chicago IL

I've seen Alejandro ten million times seemingly over the years. This time around it was Al on guitar, backed by a drummer and keyboardist.
For a 72 year old he can still deliver, and his voice sounded as strong as ever. The only negative was a 25 minute acoustic set in the middle of the show, where he wandered the main floor without a mic. Great if you're on the main floor, but for us balcony folks it was momentum-killing buzzkill because you could't hear him talk (and he likes to set up what a song is about) and we couldn't see him. C'MON AL!! The venue is small, so that seemed like a shit move.

Tremulis opened, did an acoustic set and I dug it for the most part....

mndtrp

Alestorm
Gloryhammer
Lutharo

Sound wasn't good for Lutharo, couldn't hardly hear the guitars at all. Gloryhammer was a surprise, especially since I'm not much of a power metal fan. Going all-in on the cheesiness of the subject matter helped. Alestorm was lots of fun. The crowd was REALLY into all three bands, moreso than most other concerts I've been to.

dex14

5/25 - Phantom Planet, Wheatus - NYC

Jippy2

5/20-5/21 - Cruel World Festival, Pasadena. Overall, this was a great experience for me. I attended last year's as well. This year, as some who follow the music news may know, the show on Saturday was ended abruptly around 9:20PM due to an approaching lighting storm (which never materialized, of course). Iggy Pop and Human League both had to end their sets and Sioux's (headliner) didn't get the chance to perform. Fortunately, Goldenvoice came through and was able to reschedule Gary Numan, Iggy, and Siouxsie for the following evening. I was able to make it back to the venue and had a great time. Getting to see Iggy a couple of times in a month was a real treat for me. Different band/setlist than what he played at the Palladium, so that was a huge bonus for me. Siouxsie has aged and her voice can't hit the high notes anymore, but from a nostalgia perspective, I couldn't have cared less. I grew up with her music and it was a thrill to see her live once again.

5/24 - The Damned, House of Blues, Anaheim - I try to never miss them when they are in town. One of my favorite bands of all time. They sounded great as always. The setlist heavily featured songs from their latest album, but they squeezed in enough of their older material to balance things out very well.

cultshock

Iggy, Siouxie, and the Damned, nice!

Kurt D

I don't do concerts much lately but saw Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew for the Remain in Light tour last week. Their backup band is its own band, Cool Cool Cool which does nice '80s style large band dance pop.

Saw Love and Rockets last night. Lots of nostalgia around lately!

The Cow

2023-05-26: The Birthday Massacre, Madison Live, Covington, Kentucky.