In early November, Sammy Hagar announced “The Best of All Worlds” Tour, featuring himself, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Joe Satriani. The tour arrives on the heels of the release of The Collection II, the box set of newly remastered versions of four consecutive #1 albums from Van Halen (5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance.
Hagar, Anthony, Bonham, and Satriani will be playing hits from Van Halen’s vast arsenal. They have also invited Australian musician Rai Thistlethwayte along on keyboards and backing vocals. Loverboy will be their opening act.
Beartooth is touring North America early in the new year with special guests The Plot in You, Invent Animate, and Sleep Theory. Tickets available at beartoothband.com.
1/12 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
1/13 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
1/14 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
1/16 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
1/17 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
1/19 – Toronto, ON – History
1/20 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
1/21 – Boston, MA – House of Blues Boston
1/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
1/24 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre
1/26 – New York, NY – Palladium Times Square
1/27 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live!
1/28 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
1/30 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
1/31 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte
2/2 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
2/3 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues Orlando
2/11 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
2/13 – Huntsville, AL – Mars Music Hall
2/14 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues New Orleans
2/15 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
2/17 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
2/18 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Dallas
2/20 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
2/21 – San Diego, CA – SOMA San Diego
2/22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
2/24 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live Sacramento
2/25 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
2/27 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
2/28 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory Concert House
3/1 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory Concert House
3/2 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
3/3 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
3/5 – Fargo, ND – Sanctuary Events Center
3/6 – Maplewood, MN – Myth Live
3/8 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
3/9 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
3/10 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s Nightclub & Concert Venue
3/12 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
3/13 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
3/14 – Fort Wayne, IN – Clyde Theatre
** From 2/7 through 2/10, Beartooth will be on Shiprocked Cruise 2024!
Metalcore band Veil of Maya is heading out on The [M]other Tour in early 2024 with special guests AngelMaker, Reflections, and Alluvial! Left to Suffer or Until I Wake will also be appearing on select dates. You can get tickets/VIP now at veilofmayaband.com.
1/19 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center*
1/20 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre*
1/21 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi*
1/23 – St. Louis, MO – Red Flag*
1/24 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note*
1/26 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre*
1/27 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep*
1/29 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre*
1/30 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater*
2/1 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar*
2/2 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage*
2/3 – Jefferson, LA – Southport Hall*
2/4 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven)+
2/6 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground+
2/8 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage+
2/9 – Hartford, CT – The Webster+
2/10 – Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center+
2/13 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
2/14 – New Kensington, PA – Preserving Underground
This will be my last update of 2023! I reached my goal of 60. I actually surpassed it and finished the year with 63 books read.
Here are the books I read in December with my personal ratings and a little review. If you would like to see my full year-in-review (without having to find the blog posts), you can visit my Instagram account.
Dracula (Bram Stoker)
Rating: 4/5
The story itself was really good. It definitely held my interest. The writing style, however, took some getting used to. (Yes, I am aware when it was written and that Stoker was Irish. Lol.) If this is a classic that you have also not read thus far, I would highly recommend it.
The Witch of Halloween House (Jeff DeGordick)
Rating: 2/5
I was not a fan of The Witch of Halloween House. It was very simply written and rather predictable, and I didn’t care for how DeGordick wrapped it up. This is apparently part of a series, but I doubt I will be pursuing its successors.
You Love Me (Caroline Kepnes)
Rating: 2/5
Okay. I have overlooked a few things I do not care for in this series (like Kepnes’ insistence on waxing poetic about her liberal beliefs via Joe), but this novel… This was the worst of the series so far. I will not include spoilers; however, I will say that too much time is dedicated to the building of Joe’s relationship with Mary Kay for the book to end the way it does. Unfortunately, I am not a quitter, and I’ve made it this far, so I am going to read For You and Only You.
Camp Slaughter (Sergio Gomez)
Rating: 3/5
If you want a slasher without any deeper plot and with some graphic descriptions that might make you gag, Camp Slaughter is the book for you. It’s like a cross between Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Sergio’s writing style was not my favorite, but I do think I’ll try out the sequel, Halloween Slaughter.
Witching on a Star (Amanda M. Lee)
Rating: 3/5
So far, Witching on a Star has been my least favorite of Amanda M. Lee’s “Wicked Witches of the Midwest” series. I do enjoy the cozy mystery genre, but Lee is teetering on a little too much seriousness. I will continue this series; if the books continue in this vein, though, I will likely stop reading them.
Redemption (David Baldacci)
Rating: 4/5
This was my first Baldacci. I received it when I did one of those “blind date with a book” things on Etsy. As someone who is not a huge fan of books that center around cops, FBI agents, etc. as the main focus, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Redemption. To my surprise, I enjoyed this one! Detective Amos Decker was quite likable, as was his former partner, Mary Lancaster, and the man Decker saved from death row, Melvin Mars. Redemption was the fifth book in Baldacci’s “Memory Man” series. I may have to go back and read its predecessors.
Twelve Slays of Christmas (Jacqueline Frost)
Rating: 4/5
Have I mentioned my love of cozy mysteries? I saw Twelve Slays of Christmas recommended on Instagram and decided to try it. After all, ’tis the season! This is definitely a book you choose when you’re going to be wrapped in a blanket, sipping tea or cocoa, and indulging in a merry murder mystery! I’m about to dive deep into this series, even if Christmas is almost over.
Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow (Christina Henry)
Rating: 4/5
Horseman was an interesting re-imagining of the well-known legend of Sleepy Hollow. Learn the “real” story of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane, the man who won Katrina’s heart and their granddaughter who bucks social norms and sets her own path. This was a fun read, a well-written page turner. I already have my next Christina Henry novel picked out: Alice.
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If you read anything in 2023 that you particularly enjoyed, drop a comment and tell me about it!
Crosses, the darkwave/dream pop/gothic electro-industrial side project of Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno and Far guitarist Shaun Lopez, is kicking off their Familiar World tour in February 2024. I checked their official site, Facebook, and Ticketmaster but found no supporting acts listed.
The Lucidia Project is a metal outfit hailing from North Dakota. The band stands out with their unique blend of hard-hitting riffs, atmospheric stylings, and orchestral elements. Thus far, The Lucidia Project has released a self-titled EP (2022) and The Requiem EP (2023).
I recently chatted with lead vocalist/pianist Chase Baldwin about the founding of The Lucidia Project, their purpose, influences, and writing/recording process, as well as what’s next for the band.
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Mostly Music: First and foremost, thank you for reaching out!!!! Tell me about the formation of The Lucidia Project, and the story behind the band name (it’s rather unique).
Chase Baldwin: Thank you so much for interviewing us and for following us on Facebook! We really appreciate the support you are showing us!
The Lucidia Project was an idea that I had been thinking about for 15 years, so… a very long time, I know! I wrote songs for a demo EP back in the spring and summer of 2022, because I felt like in order for me to describe what I wanted musically for this band, I needed to provide sort of a template before showing it to anyone else. I met Benjamin Jacobs (our bassist live, but he plays guitars for us in the studio), through a website called Band Mix. I showed him early versions of the songs I was working on, and he loved the idea, and the two of us decided to start working together. I’ve been waiting a long time to find the right person creatively to collaborate with on original songs, and Ben has been amazing to work with!
The name kind of has a deeper meaning for me. Lucidia is a name that’s derived from the Latin word Lucida, which means “light, brightness, clarity,” and “distant star” in some translations. Our lyrical content focuses on some pretty heavy and dark emotional topics. These topics include trauma, addiction, wider political issues, abuse, darkness, depression, etc. The goal for me lyrically is to shine light upon these topics. Through our music, I am not only healing myself but also helping other people from their own personal struggles (at least that’s my hope). That’s where the “project” part comes in. “To shine light upon darkness” is, in essence, what The Lucidia Project is all about.
MM: Y’all definitely blend a plethora of subgenres in your music. Who are the band’s biggest influences? Do y’all come from similar musical backgrounds, or did you have to bring stylistic differences together in order to find your sound?
CB: We are a fusion metal and alternative rock project. Stylistically, it’s a mix of dark metal (gothic, doom, and some death metal), alternative rock/metal, indie singer/songwriter influences (think Tori Amos and Natalie Merchant), as well as symphonic and orchestral influences as well.
Ben and I kind of approach things from two different angles. I’m more influenced by the metal and sort of the darker elements of this project, Ben brings in a lot more of the alternative rock side (think Primus, Placebo, early Tool, Stone Temple Pilots), so we try and create this juxtaposition with the darker elements of metal and alt rock with the more vulnerable and sensitive piano singer/songwriter moments. The orchestral elements are there to add emotional depth to our music. All of this is meant to carry the lyrics and add deeper meaning to the project as a whole.
Ben and I are both classically trained musicians and have taken collegiate level music theory and composition courses. So we are able to construct pieces while speaking the same musical language, which helps us communicate our differences stylistically as well. Dan and Chris, who are both on guitars (lead and rhythm, respectively) step in usually once Ben and I have laid down the ground work or the blue print for the songs, and they help us figure out things like riffs, phrasing, and such.
MM: So I’m curious if you’ve had vocal classes of any sort? Because you do some really cool things with your voice, and have moments that are almost…operatic? It sounds so beautiful with the piano.
CB: I was training to be an opera singer when I was in college. I really wanted to just be a composer, but I was encouraged to go the vocal performance route. I almost finished my bachelor’s of music degree, but I switched to nursing before my final year of study.
MM: I can certainly hear that training.You guys just released The Requiem EP in September. What was the writing and recording process for that record?
CB: The writing process was mostly a collaborative effort between Ben and me. Chris also contributed melodic ideas, as well as the spoken word part in the song “Requiem.” We wrote and produced that EP before Dan became part of our group, so unfortunately, he’s not on it, but he has contributed to future music.
A couple of songs started out with just me at the piano completing the structure and then arranging them for the band to then add additional riffs, bass lines, and melodic ideas. We had two songs (“Eventide” and “Deliverances”) that were only fragments. Ben stepped in and helped me to complete those two structurally. And then I wrote the interlude by myself.
We recorded it out of my home studio. I did the initial engineering on it and then sent it to Danny Meyer of the German metal band Oversense to help with the post production on it.
MM: Do you have a song from the EP that is your favorite, whether because you connect to it more than the others or because it’s just a cool track?
CB: Ben and Chris love “Requiem” (the lead track) because it’s fun to play. I know that Dan has a handful of favorites, so he doesn’t have anything specific. My favorite is “The End of the Lies.” Because I get to be loud and angry, LOL. It was a very cathartic release for me lyrically.
MM: Did you always want to be a musician? (That may seem like an obvious question, given that you’re classically trained and studied music theory/composition, but some people use those studies for other paths in the musical world.)
CB: Ben started taking being a musician seriously at around 14 or 15 and knew this is what he wanted to do. His dad was in a band and he wanted to be part of something like that.
Me, I’ve always sang, and while I started playing piano when I was 9, I didn’t want to start being a musician professionally until I realized I could write my own songs when I was 16 years old.
MM: Do you remember what made you want to play music for a living?
CB: I remember wanting to write songs that touched people’s lives, and expressed who I was as a person. The side of me that most people don’t really get to see. I am really good at being fake happy, and pretending to be ok when I’m actually not. Music and lyric writing has always been my way of confronting myself with the truth. Then based on the messages in my lyrics, making choices in my life that lead me to a better place. So it’s more therapy for me than anything else.
Ben has always had a major passion for music, and playing it, so it’s just been natural for him to progress down that road. Ben also plays multiple instruments from guitar to piano to bass, so he can see things from many different angles musically. He’s kind of this musical polymath and his love for it shows in his dedication to his playing.
MM: What would be your dream lineup, if The Lucidia Project could play with anyone?
CB: It can be hard to find people who you love playing music with and who are good people to boot. The people in this band are talented and well trained musicians with big hearts, I couldn’t ask for better people to play with. As far as drummers go, we are without one, so my fantasy drummer would be either Will Hunt from Evanescence or Markus Hirvonen from Insomnium.
MM: I see that y’all have been added to a lot of playlists this year, as well as doing interviews and being picked up by radio stations. This may be a generic question, but how did it feel the first time you heard yourself on the radio? How much does it inspire y’all when you see these representations of your music reaching people and catching on?
CB: Scary! I’m a very private person but decided to start putting myself out there last year vocally, so it’s kind of surreal that so many people have heard my voice and my lyrics. And all of our playing as well. It was weird hearing myself on the radio. Exciting but still weird. I’m still getting used to it. It’s validating, though. It means that the vision for this band is strong and that people get it.
MM: And last but not least, what are your plans for the rest of 2023 and into the new year?
CB: Writing! We are working on a lot of new music and making plans for 2024 and 2025!
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Do yourself a favor and check out The Lucidia Project on their various socials and your favorite streaming platform. If you are a fan of Evanescence, Apocalyptica, Nightwish, and the like, you will definitely enjoy this band. I will share links and include my favorite songs below!
Mostly Music 