hard rock

Clutch: New World Samurai Tour 2024

February 19, 2024 — Leave a comment

Hard rockers Clutch are hitting the road this spring with special guests Blacktop Mojo and The Native Howl. The New World Samurai Tour kicks off April 26th in Richmond, Virginia, and wraps on May 19th in Columbus, Ohio. Tickets are available at clutchmerch.com!

  • 4/26 – Richmond, VA – The National
  • 4/27 – Wilmington, DE – The Queen
  • 4/29 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
  • 5/1 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
  • 5/2 – Estes Park, CO – The Stanley Hotel Concert Hall
  • 5/3 – Estes Park, CO – The Stanley Hotel Concert Hall
  • 5/4 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen
  • 5/5 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater
  • 5/7 – Lubbock, TX – The Garden
  • 5/9 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns
  • 5/10 – Columbia, SC – The Senate
  • 5/11 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville 2024*
  • 5/12 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
  • 5/14 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
  • 5/15 – Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live
  • 5/17 – Sioux City, IA – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
  • 5/18 – Belvidere, IL – The Apollo Theatre AC
  • 5/19 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Festival 2024*

* Festival date

Avatar: The Great Metal Circus 2024

February 16, 2024 — Leave a comment

Avant-garde metal band Avatar is playing a few dates in North America this May! With them will be rap-rockers Oxymorrons and the all-female rock outfit Conquer Divide. Tickets are on sale at avatarmetal.com!

  • 5/8 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
  • 5/9 – Huntsville, AL – Mars Music Hall
  • 5/10 – Greensboro, NC – Piedmont Hall
  • 5/11 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
  • 5/12 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
  • 5/14 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
  • 5/15 – Wallingford, CT – Dome at Toyota Oakdale Theatre
  • 5/16 – Reading, PA – Reverb
  • 5/17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival 2024*
  • 5/18 – St. Louis, MO – Point Fest 2024*
  • 5/19 – Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Metal Fest 2024*

* Festival

The 69 Eyes: Death of Darkness USA Tour 2024

February 15, 2024 — Leave a comment

In support of their latest album, Finnish goth rockers The 69 Eyes are bringing their Death of Darkness Tour to the U.S. this spring! The opening acts will be The Bites and Budderside. Grab your tickets and VIP meet-and-greets at 69eyes.com!

  • 3/26 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
  • 3/27 – Buffalo, NY – Rec Room
  • 3/28 – Cleveland, OH – The Winchester
  • 3/29 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop
  • 3/30 – Chicago, IL – Reggie’s
  • 3/31 – Nashville, TN – Basement East
  • 4/2 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
  • 4/3 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord
  • 4/4 – Columbus, OH – The KING of CLUBS
  • 4/6 – Pittsburgh, PA – Crafthouse
  • 4/7 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s
  • 4/8 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
  • 4/10 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
  • 4/11 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
  • 4/12 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theater
  • 4/13 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz

Carbonstone Explores the Complexities of Relationships in New Single “White Noise”

February 14, 2024 — Leave a comment

Carbonstone is releasing a new song, “White Noise,” on February 17, 2024, and this is one you don’t wanna miss! I was given an early listen of the forthcoming release, and it is certainly a standout track in the Carbonstone library.

“White Noise” has an edge, musically revisiting the band’s heavier side. The aggressiveness of the guitars, carried by the combination of a driving drum beat and rapid-fire bass line, are the perfect foundation for a song that is thematically dark. 

Front man Corey James utilizes his voice to evoke a visceral reaction from his listeners. The melodic delivery of the verses offers an audibly interesting contrast to the music; the clear intonation, almost a croon, lends beauty to the tale of heartache: “You poison everything, like you did to me…” Both the lyrics and the vocal performance speak of disappointment, a resignation to the situation our narrator finds himself in. “Somewhere I can’t be found, and now this wavelength is severed/We’re nothing but white noise.” 

However, as the track progresses, anger and frustration leak through, raw growls woven intricately throughout until the breakdown, when they crescendo into a lengthy scream of catharsis. “Suffocating, close to breaking, you left me buried alive,” Corey snarls, and a strong sense of breaking free seems to be implied. Perhaps the struggle is not yet over, but the light at the end of the tunnel has been seen.

“White Noise” is a song that deals with the complexities of our relationships, romantic and otherwise, and does so in a way with which we all can connect. This is a must-hear, so head to Spotify, presave it, and get ready for Friday!

We Are The Virus Delivers With New Instrumental Track “Get Bent”

February 7, 2024 — Leave a comment

Louisiana-based metal project We Are The Virus is releasing new music on February 29th! Put together and performed by front man Ryan Henry, “Get Bent” is an instrumental piece that clocks in at 3 minutes, 20 seconds. 

The driving beat and intricate thrum of the bass form a solid foundation, and for the first minute or so, a rock-oriented riff is crafted upon this pedestal. But don’t let that lull you into complacency! At roughly the 1:14 mark, the listener is carried into a journey of guitar work, from delay effects to a shredding solo that speaks of WATV’s classic metal influences. The song then falls back into a maelstrom of drums, bass, and guitar, building to its rather abrupt ending.

The story behind the track? According to Ryan, the inspiration was a literal “get bent” to those people who are nothing but a problem in your life. Where words fail, music speaks, as they say, and “Get Bent” is a musically blistering “not anymore” to those who need to be dismissed for your own peace of mind.

Don’t miss “Get Bent” on your favorite streaming service, and be sure to follow We Are The Virus on their various socials so you never miss an update! And, if you would like to learn more about the band, check out the interview I did with Ryan back in November 2023.

Hootie & the Blowfish Shares 2024 Dates With Collective Soul and Edwin McCain

February 2, 2024 — Leave a comment

Say hello to another nostalgia tour! Hootie & the Blowfish have announced the “Summer Camp With Trucks Tour,” and they’re bringing along special guests Collective Soul and Edwin McCain. Tickets are available at hootie.com!

  • 5/30 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
  • 5/31 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
  • 6/1 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
  • 6/6 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
  • 6/7 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
  • 6/8 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
  • 6/13 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
  • 6/14 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
  • 6/15 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
  • 6/21 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park*
  • 6/27 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
  • 6/28 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
  • 6/29 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
  • 7/10 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
  • 7/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
  • 7/13 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
  • 7/16 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
  • 7/17 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
  • 7/19 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
  • 7/20 – Seattle, WA – White River Amphitheatre
  • 7/26 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
  • 7/27 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
  • 8/1 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
  • 8/2 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
  • 8/3 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
  • 8/8 – Somerset, WI – Somerset Amphitheater
  • 8/9 – Chicago, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
  • 8/10 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley Music Theatre
  • 8/15 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
  • 8/16 – Philadelphia, PA – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
  • 8/17 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
  • 8/29 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena
  • 8/30 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena
  • 9/5 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
  • 9/6 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
  • 9/7 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
  • 9/12 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena
  • 9/13 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
  • 9/14 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
  • 9/19 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
  • 9/20 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
  • 9/26 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
  • 9/27 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
  • 9/28 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

* with special guests Barenaked Ladies, Collective Soul, and Edwin McCain