X marks the spot

Austin, Texas won the bid to host the X games  (http://xgames.espn.go.com/xgames/) for 4 years starting on 2014. Although there were no major reported problems with the event or locale, it did seem if X Games and the    Circuit of the Americas   (http://circuitoftheamericas.com/) learned and grew for 2015.

Events were much closer together. The main village (called the Galleria) was located in the Grand Plaza. Food and vendor booths abounded. Traveling to the Big Air or Skate Park event areas were close and there was much to see on your way to any event. The dirt courses were also very close to the central hub. So it seemed an overall and overwhelming kudos is on deck.

The music portion is what I care about. It was a varied and wide selection of genres to keep a broad spectrum of the crowd pleasantly entertained. The 360 Amphitheater  (http://austin360amphitheater.com/) was the prefect anchor for all of the sights and events. I only caught one act here. It was exactly who I wanted to see. Although there were several other amazing performances that happened throughout the weekend, I knew I had to pace myself for Saturday.

Phranchyze (http://www.phranchyze.com/) is one of Austin, Texas many outstanding hip hop performers and rappers. It was amazing to see him on the big stage and having the opportunity to strike. His set was fast paced and fun, Lyrically entertaining, and with some catchy hooks. I have seen Phranchyze on the small stage in a club set, this was UNDOUBTABLY a different experience aurally. By the end of his set, the crowd grew from several of us on the floor, to close to a hundred. This did not include the many people hanging around the upper edges of the Amphitheater.

It seems the lesson learned from last year's main act in a venue that holds ~15,000 people was solved. With the construction of the Super Stage on turn 11 of the Circuit of Americas track, more than 40,000 people... Not a problem.

  Metallica (http://www.metallica.com/) made their triumphant return to Austin on the Saturday of the Xgames. With years from their last performance in Austin, no relevant new album out, and not even currently on a tour (all of 3 shows scheduled in 2015) they proved what almost 30 years of music does to a fan base... It makes it Generational!
 

The Super Stage lived up to its name. With 2 huge screens on either side of the stage and the entire back of the stage being a giant screen. There was really not a moment to miss of Metallica's performance. Whether you were looking through a lens or not, the whole performance was dumbfounding. There was even a crowd of about 200 onstage that joined the band for the entire performance.

The use of lasers during Metallica's epic song, One, was timed perfectly and visually stunning. This is not to disparage the entire performance. It was completely complete! From start to finish. Opening with what is now their standard, 'Quest for gold' (including video from 'The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly') until the bitter end and what seemed to be 3 en cores.

For all of those in attendance, the ones who have never seen Metallica, those who have, and those who ARE Metallica, it was an EPIC near 2 hour performance. It left me wanting for no song in their catalog. In the time that has passed from this performance, I have not heard one complaint about a song they didn't do. Even listening to my Metallica CO'S again and realizing what songs they didn't do... It was metal head, metal mulisha perfection.

Here is the link to the full photo album from the XGames (https://goo.gl/photos/SqpxgTtTNtQskM6a6)

Laters

The Battle weary, War torn, Wretched few

Back home at the Dirty Dog (https://dirtydogbar.com/) on 6th St in Austin, Texas. If you must travel to 6th St to get that Austin downtown vibe, you really should make this a stop. If it is a music night with a touring band (or bands) you may have to pay a steep cover to get in. However, there are plenty of nights during the week which allow you to just stroll in, sit in the dirty photo booth and take some scandalous shots. Most nights you can get lucky and listen to some local music at no charge, watch some sports on the many TVs or sit at the bar and have a good, old fashioned conversation with a real, down to earth bartender.

The layout of the Dirty Dog is pretty simple. Walk into the door to a street side lounge area, complete with a pole. The large "U" shaped bar curves around from the street side lounge area to the stage area on the opposite side. The Stage is a fairly decent size with an impressive sound system. Towards the back as you continue throughout the bar are the bathrooms to the left and another bar to the right.

This particular night featured 3 touring bands on the 'Winters Warriors' Tour - War of Ages, Wretched, and Battlecross. The show was kicked off by 2 local Texas bands, Imminent Descent - from  San Antonio, Texas and Southern Front as the hometown boys from Austin, Texas.

Imminent Descent (http://www.imminentdescent.com/) from San Antonio, jumped right into their set with an energy and excitement that the already large crowd ate up. Putting out their originals and a lot of energy, this 5 piece did a masterful job at reigning in the restless crowd and entertaining the crap out of us. With good, solid music, and performance, this band could make a nice little comfortable spot for themselves out of the San Antonio metal scene. The stage has been set by others before them, and the ever growing popularity of one particular burning band, Imminent Descent needs only a little fine tuning to push on through. The crowd seemed to agree as these guys wrapped up their short set. My only cringe worthy moment was the lead singer trying to hit some of the squealing high notes....dude not your forte...don't do it. Trick us and use one of the lead guitars to fill in that register as you go for it.

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Southern Front (http://www.southernfrontmetal.com/) was scary impressive. This band is fronted by a rather large and aggressive looking lead singer. Now he may be nice in person, but he was all business up onstage. Southern Front definitely played for the hometown crowd and played it up for the hometown crowd as well! As I stood to the side of the stage taking in the raving mosh pit that started, someone in the crowd behind me commented "Holy shit, these guys are fucking Awesome! This is why I came here." Hometown love and support in the house for sure. And it was a great performance. The crowd had grown larger and was definitely hungry for this as they ate this performance up. The lead singer did a very respectable job in thanking the headliners for the spot, the promoter, and the venue. This is definitely appreciated to hear a band working this hard onstage as an opener be so very grateful.

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War of Ages (http://warofagesmetal.com/) was my shocker and surprise of the evening. This was not who brought me out to the show this evening, but this is who made me very happy I came out to rock out. War of Ages crossed over ever so slightly into the electronic medium, but had no bones about smashing our eardrums with the vocals and guitars. They got my blood pumping and had me screaming "Fuck yeah!" with everyone else in the crowd. War of Ages brought out a stunning live performance with all the bad-assery and gut-you-like-a-fish power that is what every metal fan wants and EVERY DAMN PARENT is scared of. Bravo for the Winter Warriors tour knocking it out of the park...and this was just the start.

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Wretched (https://www.facebook.com/wretchednc/timeline) had some tough stage shoes to fill after that prior performance. The problem is that Wretched didn't just fill those shoes, they blew them out. What seems like a fairly benign group of guys onstage turned out to be a raging, cannibal when they started their set. With the lead singer shedding his shirt and pounding the audience with his ferocious vocals to the lead guitarist letting down his dreads and appearing like some type of beast trying with tentacles trying to rip your face off, Wretched was definitely feeding on the audiences energy and screams. At one point during the performance there was no safe place to stand in front of the stage, as the mosh pit became a writhing mass of limbs. Get to damn close and you get pulled in and pummeled just like the music and performance of Wretched. I was satisfied for now I am blessed with a 'Cranial Infesstation' of their music and performance in my head. That which I had missed at Mayhem 2014, had been redeemed.

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Battlecross (http://battlecrossmetal.com/) capped off the night with a wicked performance. With the lead singer cursing Austin and Texas for our bullshit winter weather (it was shorts weather on 12/05/14 in Austin, Texas - and he was just kidding around), Battlecross launched into a stunning performance. Like I said earlier, this is such a well rounded and amazing line-up, it is beyond worth going to see...it's worth living, hearing, and doing it twice if you have the chance! The lead singer changed right before our very eyes. As the music started he became this shrieking like a banshee wrapped in a demonic growl that no one this evening had done before him. The entire band took center stage throughout this performance. Although there was a lead singer, everyone (save for the drummer locked beyond the massive kit) took turns being the front man and it was just mind blowing. Battlecross, ran through their set with such ease and commanded the audience so well, we were all stunned to see the performance end. And happy so that we could breathe.

Thanks to Anthony form Come and Take it Productions

Lena at Victory Records

Adam from Wretched - for taking a few moments to talk with me

and Ben and the staff of the Dirty Dog for hosting, yet again, another kick ass night.

Laters

Filter this

Out of the kindness and generosity of my friend Eric, I strolled into The Dirty Dog this fine evening to catch a favorite and maybe experience some new interesting sounds. BINGO! What a night it turned out to be.

The Dirty Dog (https://dirtydogbar.com/) on 6th st. not only happens to be one of my favorite little haunts to chill at, but one of my favorite places to catch any number of local and national shows. There are some TVs around to watch some sports. The bartenders are pretty damn interesting as well, so pull up a stool on a non-show night. The GM is about the most awesome, down to earth guy you could meet, just make sure you have on skates to keep up with him.  

I have described the place before. Awesome seats at the windows on the streetside that open up to let you take in the sights on 6th, or closed to keep all the badass music inside. For the adventurous type, there is a pole firmly planted in the first open area when you walk in. There is A Huge U shaped bar that allows for ample service to get you your beverage, NOW! The club then opens to another area where the stage sits facing the entrance. The back of the club and to the right of the stage is another bar that runs along the wall...and a lame ass attempt at a green room...LOL! - I'll get a dirty look for that comment next time I am in there.

This evening had a list of bands that represented from Austin, Houston, Round Rock, and of course the headliner from Cleveland. Here is the list of bands: Black Heart Saints, Resisting Vegas, Downfall 2012, Seek Irony, The Artillery, and Filter. This blog post is going to run the whole spectrum; The good, the bad ass, the shitty, and the "what the fuck where you thinking?".

Black Heart Saints (https://www.facebook.com/blackheartsaints), thanks to these guys, this is how I got in. My buddy Eric was working for them this evening and was filming their set. Now I don't know if they just threw down the gauntlet and put on a fucking hella good show and performance because of that, but I don't give a shit! Just fabulous! A charismatic lead singer that sings and performs as much as he performs as a front man on stage. Playing and performing as if they were in front of a crowd of thousands, Black Heart Saints were in the wrong spot this evening. Should've been at the top of the bill right before Filter. 

The crowd of very few (I hate the opening slot for a band - especially when they turn out to be really good) enjoyed the energetic rock/metal that these guys did. The lead singer looked like a model from a muscle magazine cover, but sang like a champion (yeah! that's a nod to the forever vocals of Freddie Mercury). The lead guitarist was just as much a showman as well. I had a chance to speak with the bass player afterwards and was shocked to find out this was only their third performance live!

Sheeeeeiiiittttt! I would happily take my girlfriend to a show of theirs and don't mind telling all of you to go as well. Good stuff coming from these guys here, as far as a live show.

Resisting Vegas (https://www.facebook.com/ResistingVegasOfficial) was up next. With female lead vocals running the show, this was a decidedly different sound than the rest of the bands this eve. The crowd was about the same as with the first band, still REALLY early in the evening. Not what I was expecting from the female front of a metal band. I can't say if it was nerves or what, but in my opinion she seemed to lack the 'kick you in the balls' confidence needed to front a metal outfit, dude or chick. As a whole the band was really good and seemed vaguely reminiscent of Evanescene. Don't know if that was the inspiration, but it was the feel. All an all a good performance to warm up for the headliner.

Downfall 2012 (https://www.facebook.com/DF2012) hails from Houston and HOLY SHIT! This was a show. A true punk 3 piece with a bassist, lead guitarist, drummer, Mohawks, and dreads. All 3 sharing the vocal duties and much more!

I had wandered to the opposite side of the venue after the previous band, but then Downfall 2012 started. With a big, huge, smile I made my way right back to the floor to catch this trio do there thing. With the bass player fiercely attacking the vocals just as hard as he was killing the bass, the guitarist trying to rip the stings off his guitar, and all the while the drummer just sat back there smiling and dropping some very heavy beats. They rolled through their set like a fire in the Black Cat. Playing originals and covers alike. Owning everything they did like a strong band should. If you didn't originally write "Baby Got Back" but you have the balls to play that at a metal show as a punk band, then own it you shall.











Then Downfall 2012 did this crazy shit that made me flash back to the high school drum line. They broke out the homemade, paint bucket, 55 gallon plastic bass drum set AND TORE SHIT UP! Synchronized and all. Could seriously be viewed as some kind of joke, but then if you are serious about what you are doing and do it well, then audience knows and has fun with you! Ending with the most bad- assery version of "Folsom Prison" I have ever heard. All they did was prove Mr. Cash was decades ahead of his time!

Seek Irony (http://www.seekirony.com/en/index.php) is rooted in a pair of brothers that hail from Tel Aviv, Israel. This was yet another twist on the rock theme that was flowing like lava throughout the evening. Although they seemed to be the standard guitar, bass, drums, lead singer, 4 man set up, they were not. It became very evident, very quickly that they were something slightly more. With that technical, industrial sound, the digital sounds and synth coming from a computer somewhere on stage, this band launched into their set.





















Seek Irony seemed to have very deep and intelligent lyrics and the industrial part of their sound was very Static X (a great thing in my opinion). The crowd swelled and pushed forward at this point in the night. I savor the opportunity to check these guys out some more as the lead singer announced that they have recently relocated and made Austin their new home. Yay!

The Artillary (https://www.facebook.com/theartillery) was the last band up before the main event. With a full house, these guys launched into their set. I don't know if the crowd was really into these guys or just eager for Filter. The lead singer seemed like he was channeling Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon. I can't place their sound.

The depressing or aggravating thing is that these guys just didn't seem to get it. They were up on stage kinda acting like rock stars, but it was pretty bad. If I had my cordless mouse with me I would've strangled myself. I only had the thought of Filter coming up next to keep me from walking out. The vocal and antics of the lead singer is what brings me to say this. It was just bad enough overall where I am slamming the band as a whole, when I am unfairly doing this because I couldn't hear them over the sound of myself internally running my fingers on a chalkboard.

Filter (http://www.officialfilter.com/). Fucking rock star diva bullshit! I will get to that in a minute. To roaring excitement of a packed house on a Thursday night in downtown Austin, Texas on 6th St at The Dirty Dog, Filter mounted the stage. Kicking it off right with the hit song from the movie and soundtrack of SPAWN - Can't You Trip Like I do, Filter knocked everyone on their heels. They completely plowed through their set. Hitting their other big hit 'Take A Picture'.

After about 45 minutes on stage, Richard Patrick was attempting to play his guitar, with some technical difficulties. Nothing really drastic or massive, but after fiddling with his guitar and having the sound cut in and out a few times, a guitar tech appeared on stage and he handed off his guitar. AND THEN...the rock star, diva, bullshit! He picked up his pedal board and chunked it across the stage. Really you douchebag! WE, the audience, didn't really even notice, and honestly were having too much fun to give a shit, until you did that. What an ass bag!

So to wrap up the evening, Filter played the next song, hurriedly played their monster hit "Hey man, Nice Shot!" and ran off stage and out the back door to their awaiting bus. At least we didn't have to stroke any one's ego by cheering for an encore and "one more song!"

I had a nice shot, man, with Ben, the GM of The Dirty Dog, and my buddy Eric. Great evening, and memories I share here on the net with all of you in photo and words.

Special thanks to Anthony at Come and Take It Productions for a Hella good time!



Laters