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  • Lights on Nobody Home

    Lights on Nobody Home

    EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO

    DUNEDIN, FLA–The light are again on at TD Ballpark, spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays but no games are being played.  These photo taken around 11:30 PM on April 8, 2025 also show no cars or fans in the area.  The Blue Jays Lower-A affiliate the Dunedin Blue Jays were playing on Florida’s other coast against the team in Jupiter, Fl.  A question raised by area residents in the past is who is paying the electric bill for the lights?

    EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO

    Toronto Blue Jays players leaving their Player Development Complex have this sight every day again as a neighbor across from the complex’s entrance fly a Tampa Bay Devil Rays flag under the American flag everyday.  This has been going on for some time and the residents of the property are Rays fans.

  • Just Jeeps Jeep Jeeps

    Just Jeeps Jeep Jeeps

    EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO

    CLEARWATER, FLA.–It appears that the resident of 1442 Nursery Rd. in Clearwater is a die hard Jeep fan or lover whatever the case may be.  Usually there are at least seven Jeeps on the property but on Wednesday April 9th there were nine parked at the address.  Of the nine vehicles five had Florida antiques plates on them, interesting.  It is assumed that all nine vehicles were manufactured in the Untied States.

  • Spookala At The Tampa Fairgrounds Adds Additional Guests and Live Events

    Spookala At The Tampa Fairgrounds Adds Additional Guests and Live Events

    With a star-studded cast featuring Tobin Bell, Keifer Sutherland, Corey Taylor and the trio from Marvel Daredevil Series (Charlie Cox, Deborah Anne Woll & Elden Henson), Spookala has announced that Alicia Taylor and the Cherry Bombs will be performing on Saturday afternoon 04-05-25. She will also be signing autographs and taking pictures with the fans.

    Other performances on Saturday include Tyler Posey from the Teen Wolf Series performing an acoustic set and Corey Taylor from Slipknot also performing acoustically.

    The event will be taking place at the Tampa Fairgrounds the weekend of 04/04/25-04/06/25. Tickets are available for single day purchase along with weekend packs and photo and autograph sessions.

    VIP tickets are also available but selling fast:

    SILVER VIP TO INCLUDE:

    – ENTRY INTO CONVENTION ALL 3 DAYS

    – (1) SHIRT OF YOUR CHOICE

    – (1) EVENT POSTER

    – 30 MINUTES INTO THE CONVENTION EARLY

    – (1) EVENT EXCLUSIVE TRADING CARD

    ​GOLD VIP TO INCLUDE:

    – EXPRESS TO MEET CELEBRITIES FOR AUTOGRAPHS

    – ENTRY INTO CONVENTION ALL 3 DAYS

    – (1) SHIRT OF YOUR CHOICE

    – (1) EVENT POSTER

    – 30 MINUTES INTO THE CONVENTION EARLY

    – (1) EVENT EXCLUSIVE TRADING CARD

    There were be all sorts of merchandise to browse and to purchase with many items not available anywhere other than at Spookala. For more information and other guest appearances and available tickets, please go to https://www.spookala.com/

  • Tesla Is Back On Tour In A Town Near You In 2025

    Tesla Is Back On Tour In A Town Near You In 2025

    That they are still roaring and soaring should be no surprise. That’s just how they are built. TESLA may have been born in the mid-80s, but their bluesy, soulful sound is strongly embedded in the roots of organic, authentic, 1970s rock and roll.

    The same roots that produced bands like Bad Company, Grand Funk Railroad, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.

    The ground started shaking in Sacramento, CA, in 1984; gold country that would soon be producing some platinum. They started out as City Kidd, until a suggested name change to TESLA, honoring the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla who pioneered all things electrical.

    Their 1986 platinum debut album, Mechanical Resonance, included Top 40 hits “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi.” 1989’s double-platinum The Great Radio Controversy included hits “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)” and “Love Song”.

    Suddenly, TESLA, who had been touring with bands such as Def Leppard and David Lee Roth, earned headlining status. In 1990, TESLA helped reshape the face of modern rock music by stripping down to the Five Man Acoustical Jam, an informal collection of their biggest hits peppered with rock and roll classics by the Beatles, Stones, and others.

    This album produced their biggest hit single to date, a cover of Five Man Electrical Band’s “Signs.” Other 90s albums from TESLA include platinum selling Psychotic Supper and Bust a Nut. The band continues to record and release material including 9 new albums since 2000.

    TESLA’s legacy is alive and well as they continue to record and sellout venues all over the world. As comfortable, rugged, and dependable as your favorite pair of boots, they endure. TESLA is a celebration of the greatest spirits of rock and roll.

    TESLA:
    Vocals: Jeff Keith
    Guitar: Frank Hannon
    Bass: Brian Wheat
    Guitar: Dave Rude
    Drums: Steve Brown

    Tesla Tour Dates 2025

    Feb 28 @ Kewadin Casinos in Sault Ste. Marie in Sault Ste. Marie, MI

    Mar 1 @ Rock the Otter VII (with Brother Cane) in Carlton, MN

    Mar 4 @ Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, GA

    Mar 5 @ Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, FL

    Mar 7 @ House of Blues Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, FL

    Mar 10 @  Monsters of Rock Cruise 2025 in Miami, FL

    Mar 16  @ Seminole Casino Coconut Creek in Coconut Creek, FL

    Mar 22 @ Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, NV

    Apr 25 @ Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, CA

    Jun 1 @ Indian Ranch in Webster, MA

    Jun 4 @ Waterville Opera House in Waterville, ME

    Jun 6 @ Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton, NH SOLD OUT

    Jun 7 @ @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH SOLD OUT

    Jun 19 @ Summerfest 2025 in Milwaukee, WI

    Jun 20 @ Silver Creek Event Center in New Buffalo, MI

    Jun 22 @ Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater in Decatur, IL

    Jun 28 @ Route 66 Casino / Legends Theater in Albuquerque, NM 

    Jul 2 @ Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA

    Jul 4 @ Casino Del Sol in Tucson, AZ

    Aug 2 @ Mission Ballroom in Denver, CO

    Aug 4 @ Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, SD

    Aug 28 @ Duquoin State Fairgrounds in Du Quoin, IL

    Tickets for the “Keepin’ It Real” Tour 2025 are available for purchase at

    https://teslatheband.com/tour
  • The Silver Pinball Shines Over Saint Pete Beach At the Inaugural Pinball At The Beach Event

    The Silver Pinball Shines Over Saint Pete Beach At the Inaugural Pinball At The Beach Event

    The inaugural Pinball At The Beach event took place this past weekend at The Tradewinds Resort on Saint Pete Beach and from what we experienced and have read, it was a rousing success.

    Players and their families traveled from around the globe and were able to witness some of the best of the best compete in tournaments and just play on some of the newest and oldest games that have been designed and created. 

    This San Francisco Machine was made all the way back in 1965 by Williams and was still playable today.

    The hottest new game there was Dungeons and Dragons and there were 8 of them available to play and you had to jump on it when it was open. The other two big games at the event were Avatar and Elton John. Once again, they were barely open to play due to demand and it was understandable as they are both fantastic machines with a ton of action. 

    There was also a Rocky machine that had a playfield and flipper configuration like no other machine I have ever seen. There were two full sets of flippers at the bottom of the field and the left flipper button controlled both left flippers and the same for the right side. It was built in 1982 and only 1504 of them were produced. 

    Another really interesting machine that I have never seen before was Joust released in 1983 is a a head-to-head pinball machine (played with one or two players simultaneously. There were only 402 Joust machines made by Williams and some of them are now worth over $25000.

    A couple of amazing players that were in attendance were Dave Daluga from District 82 Pinball in Wisconsin and Deborah Talman from Ohio were both considered by their peers to be the ones to beat. Daluga took second in the Class A event with Talman taking 3rd. Florida local Shannon Stafford stole the show and took first home the first place trophy and the cash prize of $2,370. 

    I had the opportunity to talk with Ms Talman who makes her living playing pinball and she has a style all her own. When she’s playing, she sports gloves and headphones and moves to the beat of the machine and the music she’s listening to while playing. 

    One of the tracks on her playlist that she was listening to was “Cream on Chrome” from Ratatat who specialize in electonica and beats so it makes perfect sense that she has that in her ears while playing a mean pinball. 

    She is currently ranked number 1 in the women’s division after only playing competitively the last 8 years and travels throughout the country playing these events and was looking forward to taking in some beach time while on break from the tournament.  Her current favorite game is Rush which was also the favorite current game of others I talked to on Saturday.   

    There were also the whos who of pinball machine developers & artists and even Gary Stern himself from the Stern Pinball company. He is considered the savior of pinball when many of the original Pinball companies were going out of business, he stood strong and continued to create and release machines.  In 2002, there was just one primary designer and manufacturer of pinball machines and that was Stern.

    For more on this and the history of pinball, this is a great read

    The Founding of the Flippers: Your Guide to the History of Pinball

    Marshall Dickson from Little Shop of Games in Lutz and Ed Vanderveen and their staff made sure everything went smoothly and from all accounts, the event will happen again next year. Many of the attendees commented on their weekend and their experience on the Pinball at the Beach Facebook page and are already looking forward to next year.

    Some of the comments were: 

    Ed Aborn:”It was a fantastic experience, Sincerely hope it’s not the last one”

    Marcie G: “Thank you for an awesome show. Can’t wait for the next one”

    Michele Korab-Kurtiak “Such a great event, I hope this is only the beginning”

    Christopher Franchi “I ABSOLUTELY loved this show.”

    Mark Weber “Well done. I loved every minute. The location was amazing.”

    David Paz, “We had a blast. Routing for a 2nd annual and beyond.”

    Vic Clipp: “Had a blast. Look forward to next time.”

    Jared Guynes: “I won’t miss this event in the future. 10/10 our kind of show.”

    Emily Gross: “We had an amazing time and I cant wait to come back again and again.”

    The event even brought in a bride-to-be to play some Cactus Canyon while waiting to be hitched and the owner of a one of kind Hellraiser game brought it to the event for his fellow Pinheads to play.

    To say The Pinball At The Beach event was a success would be an understatement. The team that put the event together did an outstanding job and are already working on making it a better event next year.

    The players and attendees have potential dates circled on their calendars and their sunscreen packed and their wrists ready to flip when the sun sets on the beautiful beaches at the Tradewinds Resort in Saint Petersburg.

    For more information on this years and next years event, go to https://pinballatthebeach.com/

  • Saint Pete Beach and The TradeWinds Welcomes Pinball At The Beach.

    Saint Pete Beach and The TradeWinds Welcomes Pinball At The Beach.

    Saint Petersburg Beach will be invaded by pinball enthusiasts from all over the country as the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort will be the place for the 3 day event. The conference will include over 200 plus pinball machines, your favorite designers and many artists and vendors etc all while being able to have a cocktail and watch the sunset.

    There will be autograph sessions, bonfires and of course the silver ball being played throughout the weekend in the Pinball Paradise Game Room brought to you by Marshall Dickson, Ed VanderVeen & Little Shop of Games.

    There are still weekend VIP tickets available for purchase along with all the info you need for the event at https://pinballatthebeach.com/

    https://pinballatthebeach.com
  • Spookala Brings a Scary Star Studded Weekend to The Tampa Fairgrounds This April

    Spookala Brings a Scary Star Studded Weekend to The Tampa Fairgrounds This April

    Spookala returns to the Tampa Fairgrounds bring along a plethora of who’s who in the action and horror movie realm on the weekend of April 4-6th.

    The event will also include Slipknot’s own Corey Taylor who will be doing photos, autographs and a live acoustic performance without an additional charge. All you need to attend his performance is a ticket for Saturday April 5th.

    Other attendees that will be signing and taking photos will be Tobin Bell from the Saw movie franchise, Charlie Cox and his team from Marvel’s Daredevil TV show and Tori Spelling from 90210 and Scream 2 amongst many others.

    There were be all sorts of merchandise to browse and to purchase with many items not available anywhere other than at Spookala. For more information and other guest appearances and available tickets, please go to https://www.spookala.com/

  • Lightning To Host Stadium Series Outdoor Game At Raymond James In 2026

    Lightning To Host Stadium Series Outdoor Game At Raymond James In 2026

    The Tampa Bay Lightning are set to host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium in the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union™ NHL Stadium Series on February 1, 2026. Ticketing information and start time along with additional details will be announced soon and it will be one of the coolest tickets ever available for the Tampa area.

    The game will be part of a crazy weekend in the area with the annual Gasparilla Invasion being held on Bayshore which draws close to 100,000 attendees dressed up and partying like they were part of Jack Sparrow’s crew.

    “We couldn’t be more excited for this landmark event to finally arrive for Bolts Nation and the Tampa Bay community,” said Lightning CEO Steve Griggs. “This moment has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled to see this dream become a reality.

    I want to thank our incredible partners at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, the Tampa Sports Authority and all of Team Tampa Bay for their tireless efforts and unwavering belief in making the impossible possible. We also express our gratitude to Commissioner Bettman and the NHL for their innovative thinking and for bringing this event to Tampa Bay.”

    “Hosting an NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium has been our ‘white whale’ as a community for the last decade and we’re excited for our collective and unprecedented dream to finally become a reality,” said Rob Higgins, Executive Director, Tampa Bay Sports Commission.

    “We could not be more grateful to our friends at the NHL, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Sports Authority, as well as all of our other Team Tampa Bay partners for the collaboration and vision to help make this happen. Tampa Bay is a truly special place that is consistently capable of pulling off what many think is impossible.”

    “Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and high school hockey throughout the state have demonstrated that Florida is a hockey hotbed. Outdoor NHL games in the Sunshine State? Never let it be said that our League isn’t willing to accept a challenge,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

    The Panthers and Lightning have told us repeatedly that they and their fans want this special experience. Beginning in Miami on Jan. 2, when the Panthers host the Rangers in the Discover NHL Winter Classic, we will stage a month-long celebration of hockey throughout Florida that will culminate in Tampa on Feb. 1, when the Lightning host the Bruins in the Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series. Florida, we’re bringing our unique events to you, and we can’t wait.”

    The 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series™ will be the first outdoor regular season game in Tampa Bay.

    To sign up for further updates, fans are encouraged to visit TampaBayLightning.com/StadiumSeries.

  • Michigan Holds On To Beat Alabama In The 2025 Reliaquest Bowl

    Michigan Holds On To Beat Alabama In The 2025 Reliaquest Bowl

    The Michigan Wolverines got off to a quick start and lead against the Alabama Crimson Tide by going up 16-0 in the first quarter and held on to win 19-16 at Raymond James Stadium on New Year’s Eve.

    The stadium was packed with fans from both sides and they stayed throughout a deluge of rain in the first quarter and were then treated to a beautiful Florida afternoon once the rain subsided.

    The Wolverine’s defense was stout all day holding the Crimson Tide and their quarterback Jalen Milroe who opted to throw his hat into the upcoming NFL Draft ring, to 260 total yards and 21:48 in time of possession.

    Edge Derrick Moore was a beast all day for the Wolverines defense with 4 solo tackles and 2 sacks and a fumble recovery and kicker Dominic Zvada could have been the MVP with 4 field goals but RB Jordan Marshall took home the trophy.

    Michigan also forced a season-high three turnovers in the first quarter and held Bama to -2 yards. Offensively, Michigan was led by the aforementioned Jordan Marshall with a career-high 100 yards on 23 carries and Frederick Moore with 3 catches for 37 yards. Quarterback Warren Davis went 9-12 for 73 yards and was injured in the third quarter and was replaced by Alex Orji.

    Warren told fans that he looked forward to being back on the practice field with his teammates, while revealing the devastating injury he suffered in the bowl game. “Celebrating a win and so proud of the way the boys finished the season!”

    Warren wrote. “I unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in the bowl game. Thanks to the Michigan faithful for all the support this season. “Can’t wait to battle to be back on the field with my guys in AA and go blue!” 

    The second quarter was much better for the Crimson Tide as they were able to get 10 points on the board and get it to a six-point game going into halftime.

    TE Robbie Ouzts caught a 25 yard TD pass from Milroe to cut the score to 16-7 late in the second quarter and kicker Graham Nicholson hit a 24 yard field goal with 4 seconds left in the half to tighten the score at 16-10.

    That felt like a major win after the way the first quarter went, but the Michigan defense was absolutely smothering in the second half.

    Alabama did a good of keeping Michigan from scoring, but they weren’t able to get anything going offensively in the second half. Neither team scored in the third quarter, and then the Wolverines kicked a huge field goal to make it a two-score game with a little over seven minutes remaining in the contest.

    Milroe had a chance to lead the Crimson Tide to victory with a last-second drive but couldn’t punch it in as the Wolverines stopped them on 4th down with 56 second to go to hoist the Reliaquest Bowl trophy.

    The Crimson Tide (9-4) finish the 2024 season with four losses, the first time it reached that total since 2007, when it lost six games in Nick Saban’s first season. It’s a tough loss for Alabama, as Michigan was playing without most of its top players, who opted out to prepare for the 2025 NFL draft.

    For Michigan, it was a positive ending to a tough season but one the players could hang their hat on as the youngsters who played in this game will only get better in the future and will compete next year to get back into college football’s playoff system.

  • W.A.S.P. Stings The Plaza In Orlando With The Album One Alive Tour With Support From Armored Saint

    W.A.S.P. Stings The Plaza In Orlando With The Album One Alive Tour With Support From Armored Saint

    November 24, 2024 | The Plaza Live – Orlando, FL

    All Photos By Randy Cook & Travis Failey

    Almost two years to the day of my first W.A.S.P. concert, the same killer twin bill lineup returned to the same venue for what was a show of the same epic proportions as the first time. With 2024, marking the fortieth anniversary of the release of W.A.S.P.’s debut album, the band played the album in its entirety on their North American tour.

    Supporting W.A.S.P. once again is Armored Saint with original opener Death Angel off the bill due to member availability issues and Unto Others taken off the tour for reasons that aren’t transparent.  Both W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint were formed in 1982 collectively giving us almost eighty years of rock history that we were in store for this evening.  

     W.A.S.P. was formed in 1982 and was a big part of the early 1980s Los Angeles heavy metal scene. My friends and I discovered them from the band’s wild and outlandish video on MTV in “I Wanna Be Somebody” we fell in love with the band’s sound. In my early formative metalhead years of the mid 1980s, that first W.A.S.P. CD was on constant replay.

    “Lead vocalist Blackie Lawless says: “It was an angry record made by an angry band. It was a record that not only reflected the attitude of the band members who made it, but also a record that reflected its time.” This record became a central piece of the 1980s metal scene and remains one of the best metal debut albums of all time.”[1]

    As Judas Priest’s “Delivering The Goods” played over the house speakers Armored Saint took the stage with Gonzo Sandoval lifting his arms up in the air to salute the fans.

    Armored Saint opened the show with “End of the Attention Span” off their most recent album, Punching The Sky and their tightness was evident from the first note. They have had the same lineup since 1990 with the band taking an extended break when John Bush was with Anthrax.

    They played a flawlessly executed fifty minute ten-song set spanning eight of their thirteen studio releases. After they finished “Raising Fear” the “Saint” went into “The Pillar” which they haven’ t played live since 2015 at Hellfest in France.

    After “March of the Saint” the band broke it one of my favorite songs in the catchy and crushing “Left Hook From Right Field off of 2010’s La Raza which is a very underrated Saint album.  John Bush talked about the band adopting the dual guitar attack that influenced them from bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy.

    For me, it adds that extra layer of song complexity that pulls me in as a fan. This sound was shown in spades during “Win Hands Down” with guitarist Jeff Duncan and Phil Sandoval sharing riffs and leads on the center stage riser.

    Gonzo Sandoval’s thunderous drums along with Joey Vera’s booming bass carried the back line during “Can You Deliver” as John Bush went up into the balcony to sing to and with the fans. You can feel the passion he exerts as he is delivering the lyrics and interacting with the crowd.

    He delivers it every night with energy and passion, now up close and personal for those in the balcony section before making his way to the photo pit section to once again get in the faces of the bands fans.

    John went back on stage to join his bandmates in an fantastic rendition of “Reign of Fire” off arguably one of the greatest metal albums released in Symbol of Salvation. The song brought their set to a rousing close and a loud cheer from the audience, which by now most of the sold out crowd was in attendance.

    Elvis took the stage before W.A.S.P. and all of us photographers took a minute to get a photo of him. Elvis is the infamous skeleton microphone stand used by W.A.S.P.’s lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Blackie Lawless.

    After additional security that was completely not needed was added along with an unnecessary warning from the venue staff of the “no moshing” rule, soon the house lights went out as The Door’s “The End” played through the house speakers.

    As this concluded, a mix tape of W.A.S.P. songs played as the band took the stage and with the crowd back at full roar as the first notes of ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’ struck and we began our journey back to 1984 and W.A.S.P.’s debut studio album.

    Each song on this legendary album is someone’s favorite song and literally the reason why they came to the show this night. That was beyond evident in the faces in the crowd that I saw as the show progressed along.

    Each song has a lot happening on stage as you try to take it all in. Bassist Mike Duda wanders over to the side backdrops that are adorned with skulls hanging from chains and he hits them to send them into a spinning frenzy while lead guitarist Doug Blair is wailing on a sweet solo while trying to see the ferocity of Blackie’s facial expressions behind Elvis.

    Many of these songs haven’t been played since the mid-80s including “B.A.D.” “School Daze” &  “Tormentor” and sounded fantastic live.

    At the album’s conclusion with my favorite from the album in “The Torture Never Stops”  that includes one of the greatest lyrics ever written in “Hopes the rope that keeps you tied in knots” there was a short few minute intermission as the stage switched over to the circus theme of the last tour.

    Chants of “Blackie! Blackie! Blackie!…”preceded a medley of ‘Inside the Electric Circus / I Don’t Need No Doctor / Scream Until You Like It”’ to kick off the second half of the show and then their staple cover of ‘The Real Me’ by The Who.

    A highlight was ‘The Headless Children’ with the World War 2 imagery depicted in the background as the song was played. Very powerful and lead into ‘Wild Child’, with Blackie playing the opening riffs and verse solo under a spotlight next to Elvis and then ‘Blind in Texas’ to close out a fantastic show to a very satisfied crowd.

    The band sounded fantastic and Blackie especially sounded great and was able to hit the high parts seemingly with ease with Mike Duda helping out. Many who bashed Blackie for singing to tracks which was evident on the last tour would be remiss to attack him for this on this tour as I watched intently and saw it very rarely if at all. 

    I also have to give the guitarist Doug Blair and drummer Aquiles Priester big props as they were visually and sonically spectacular during the set.

    The tour continues in the United States until mid-December and then continues with a couple of dates in South America and then continues in Europe starting in April of 2025. I cannot stress enough for you to see this tour if possible, so get your tickets today and go see these rock legends and get back into an old “School Daze” one more time.


    Tickets are available here:

    https://www.waspnation.com/tour

    W.A.S.P. setlist – November 24, 2024 – The Plaza Live, Orlando, FL:

    [1]https://blabbermouth.net/news/w-a-s-p-to-perform-entire-debut-album-on-fall-2024-tour-death-angel-to-support

  • Buccaneers Drop a Golden Opportunity for a Win Against The 49ers

    Buccaneers Drop a Golden Opportunity for a Win Against The 49ers

    Tampa, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday were looking to push their record to .500 but Jake Moody put a foot to that idea.

    The 49ers led 20-17 inside the final minute when a Baker Mayfield engineered a field goal drive which tied the game. Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin drilled a 26-yard field goal to tie the score at 20 with just :41 left, and overtime loomed large. It looked like the Bucs could get to overtime and steal a game in which for the most part was outplayed. The 49ers outgained the Buccaneers 413-215.

    San Francisco took over on their own 30 after a Trenton Gill touchback, to start the show and it was Prudy. Four consecutive complete passes, two to Jauan Jennings and two to Ricky Pearsall and just like that the 49ers were at the Tampa Bay 26. Brock Prudy spiked the ball with :03 to set up the Jake Moody heroics. Final heartbreaking score 23-20.

  • Creed Brought Its Summer Of 99 Tour To Tampa With Arms Wide Open

    Creed Brought Its Summer Of 99 Tour To Tampa With Arms Wide Open

    The Creed Summer of 99’ Tour visited Tampa on Friday night at the Tampa Fairgrounds. Well, at least that’s what the venue was called back then. The outdoor venue was packed from the rail to the fringes of the lawn as those who didn’t get to see the Creed’s reunion on their music cruise this last summer, finally got their chance. Creed hasn’t performed as a band since their last tour in 2009 and were broke up for 5 years before that.

    They were joined by 3 Doors Down in direct support with Finger 11 getting the opening slot on this stop as they took the stage promptly at 7. The five piece from Canada has been a band since 1990 out of high school with a couple of replacements behind the kit. The core has remained intact and put on an entertaining 7 song set that included their two big hits in “One Thing” and “Paralyzer.”

    Finger 11 opened with “Above” and then “First Time” and I was really surprised by their sound and style as they differed from their aforementioned hits. Both guitarists, Rick Jackett and James Black gave the crowd a show with completely different styles, with Jackett flinging his guitar in all directions while strumming.

    Black donned a beautiful black and orange hollow-bodied guitar which I’ve never seen before and vocalist Scott Anderson was powerful throughout the set, especially on their new single “Adrenaline.” 

    Finger 11 slowed it down and the crowd rose to their feet with some couples embracing for “One Thing” but then led into “Paralyzer” with a fantastic partial rendition of “That’s All” by Genesis.  

    It was an unexpected twist that the crowd loved singing to and when the notes for “Paralyzer” kicked in, anyone still in their seats were now standing and bouncing to the beat provided by bassist Sean Anderson and drummer Steve Molella.

    Even though Finger 11 had a shortened set, they made a strong impression on not only me, but others in the crowd. I’m looking forward to checking out some of their back catalog and seeing Finger 11 again on another stage soon.

    Three Doors Down was up next as the sun set on a beautiful, thankfully not scorching night in Tampa.  It seems like this band has been touring non-stop since they stuck gold with “Kryptonite” 24 years ago.

    Even though the band has had some considerable situations with former band members, they continue to move forward to play live and put out new music with singer Brad Arnold being the constant. 3DD opened with “Train” from their self-titled album released in 2008.

    Then the set of their hits got into full swing with “Its Not My Time” and “Loser” with a couple of songs later on that I wasn’t familiar with mixed in. The crowd was into them from the jump and many cheered when Arnold brought up that Jesus loves us and how he can help us when we go through tough times.

    He implored the crowd to join him in saying “I am the one that Jesus loves, Amen” before starting his favorite song in “Away From The Sun.”

    Other highlights of the set were “Here Without You” and their new song “Never Look Down” which got a huge pop from the crowd and should be released on all platforms as soon as possible because it’s that good.

    Arnold was thrilled with the response from the crowd and brought up that they always think their new song is great but when played in front of his friends, it sometimes doesn’t have the same effect which leads to second guessing.

    The crowd was in their seats for most of the set but rose emphatically when the opening notes of “Kryptonite” bounced through the speakers. 

    The ratio of attendees was about 50-50 male to female and that is an extreme rarity for a rock show and the ladies were in a dancing mood, especially during this track and then hugged up on their man for the finale in “When I’m Gone.”

    3 Doors Down continues to be relatable to the masses in the States and no matter where they are, or what size venue they’re in, they pack the house while an American Flag flies from the stage. The band is about supporting the country they love and bringing a message to the masses.

    After a half hour break, the black video screen blinked “Creed” in white letters and faded as the overhead lights that looked like a UFO was landing, flashed throughout the Mid Florida Amphitheater. 

    Drummer Scott Phillips got behind the kit as bassist Brian Marshall and guitarists Mark Tremonti and Eric Friedman took their evolving positions on stage. Singer Scott Stapp strode over to center stage as the opening notes of “Bullets” rang out.

    Stapp looked as powerful as he sounded throughout the song and during their whole set. He has obviously spent a ton of time on his body and his mind getting ready for this tour.

    Prior to this year, Stapp had been performing as a solo entity for years while the other members of Creed have been in Alter Bridge with Myles Kennedy and doing other solo projects, especially Mark Tremonti.

    I have seen Stapp twice in the last 5 years and he has been on top of his game vocally. It was obvious that it was only a matter of time before this reunion would happen as it would be lucrative and it’s what their fans have wanted for years.

    After “Torn,” Creed continued with “Are You Ready” which was perfect timing as everyone was back in their seats or up in the grass and you couldn’t see an empty spot in the house. The fans were also blasting back the chorus towards the stage as they would all night long.

    The band members on stage had smiles on their faces as Tremonti and Stapp stood together during “My Own Prison.” Vocally and sonically, Tremonti has never sounded better. Stapp and he bounced back vocally between each other and harmonized in unison with Eric Friedman.

    Stapp introduced a lot of the songs but went on an extended run about how everyone reaches out to God during their time of extreme need.

    “You all cry out to our maker. Stop denying it. You all have done it. One place to look and that place is up. Sometimes getting crumbled is a good thing. It was for me.” These statements were embraced by the crowd prior to him introducing “Weathered.”

    The five video panels flashed different images and backdrops along with the UFO light structure flashed as lasers crisscrossed the stage. This was hands down one of the most impressive stage presentations I have witnessed after going to hundreds of shows. 

    After “What If,” which has a booming bass track by Brain Marshall, Tremonti gave away his stage played guitar to the wildest fan in the crowd which happened to be a young man on crutches with his dad. Tremonti gave it to him as he hopes the young man will learn to play and be on a stage someday.

    Stapp once again addressed the crowd and how the world and we are divided as a people and how the government is responsible etc. and brought a message of unity before starting “One.”

    It was a bit of an extended message with some looking like “is this guy going to keep going or play songs” but it was a valid point, and he was effective while making it.

    A surprise was next as Stapp was introducing “What’s This Life For” and he noticed and had a fight broken up in the crowd with the combatants removed from the show.  The band didn’t skip a beat and continued on with “With Arms Wide Open” and the crowd favorite in “Higher.

    The band left the stage for a brief minute and did a two-song encore in “One Last Breath” & “My Sacrifice” with Stapp stating that Tampa was a top three stop on the tour.

    Someone in the crowd threw a can at Stapp and he stopped the final song of the night to find and call that person out. The crowd booed and Stapp and Creed finished the song with a booming chorus which rang out through the facility and into the night sky with the fans joining in.

    As the band and the crowd departed the venue with Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” playing through the house speakers, I know I witnessed a show that many won’t forget.

    Three great bands that played their asses off and no matter how you feel about Creed, love them or hate them, they are amazing musicians, are putting on a fantastic audio and video show and once again are on top of their game like they were back doing a tour in the Summer of 99.

    For additional tour dates which I highly suggest seeing one of them, head to

    https://creed.com/

  • ProgPower USA XXIII Soars to Conclusion On Day 4 In Atlanta

    ProgPower USA XXIII Soars to Conclusion On Day 4 In Atlanta

    Fully rested up after a rocking day yesterday, ProgPower USA’s XXIII (PPUSA) last day started early with an acoustic show with Jeff Scott Soto & Jason Bieler performing for VIPs and Gold badge holders upstairs in The Loft. It was my first time checking out the upstairs area of the venue and it was quite spacious, accommodating for just under seven hundred people.

    Soto Bieler

    Seats were set up for today’s attendees and one of my local Tampa area friends, Rob, was traveling with Jason and Jeff handling their merchandise. This provided an opportunity to introduce Christina to Rob, as we never had that opportunity earlier this year on The Monsters of Rock Cruise.

    Soto Bieler

    Not only are Jeff and Jason’s performances packed full of comedic gold with the banter between themselves, the musicianship and the emotion in their delivery sets their performances apart and I always seek out their time slots when they play at events.

    Soto Bieler

    This set of theirs was freaking hilarious, and a bit adult oriented with humor, among the tasty musical treats they played the two Siagon Kick songs that always bring a tear to this metalhead’s eye – ‘All I Want’ and ‘Love is on the Way’.

    Soto Bieler

    They also played a surprise version of Iron Maiden’s ‘The Number of the Beast’ and left the stage to a rousing, standing ovation from the crowd. Definitely, a highlight set for me from the weekend and it was great to say hi to Rob.

    Disillusion

    German progressive metal band Disillusion was the first band that I saw today and they were another band performing for the first time in the United States. Once again, the heightened level of excitement was in the air as their set started.

    Disillusion

    Their music shifts between flashes of intense, crunchy heaviness and softer, more melodic sections, and their vocalist effortlessly switches between genre-defining growls and clean, melodic singing, which adds an emotional depth to their music.

    Yet another band that plays across several of the metal genres and again their musical technicality and complexity was on full display, balancing aggression and melodies.

    As this set was concluding, Rob and I met back up and I went in and checked out the merchandise room in more detail. We met and chatted with two band members of Apetron Bound. They made a comment that they were in a band based out of Tampa and instantly new friends were made. Contact information was exchanged and sadly, Rob had to depart for the airport.

    Illumishade was next, and this is another band performing for the first time in the US. After the fact, I learned that this band originated as a class project for one of the members to complete her Master’s degree.

    Illumishade
    Illumishade

    “The band’s name is a combination of the English words illumination and shade and refers to the contrast between light and darkness that emerges in the songs, as well as the contrast between quiet and heavy songs”[1].  

    Illumishade
    Illumishade

    Their music has an epic storytelling feel, and again with the twin guitars, one being a seven string. Heavy, but not overpowering, synthesizers add to their musical structure and compliment the powerful vocals. This was the band that Christina and her friends ‘sponsored’ this year.

    Illumishade

    Again, here is where the uniqueness of this festival comes to light, in that as part of a band ‘sponsorship’ the sponsors are given exclusive access to their sponsored band both before and after their set.

    From the photos I saw from Christina, and other sponsors I met and chatted with, it takes their festival experience to a whole different level having additional access to hang out with their favorite bands.  

    Damian Wilson

    Damian Wilson was up next and he is an English singer-songwriter and musician who has been in the progressive metal scene since 1991. What in impressive fireball of energy this wild man was. Convinced at this point that every band had two guitarists, this man had the crowd absolutely mesmerized within the first few notes of his set.

    Damian Wilson

    During the second song, while I was still up front in the photo pit Damian, with help from the VIPS, sponsors and photographers in the front pit area, gingerly stepped onto the barrier and fell back to crowd surf while still singing.

    Damian Wilson

    Somehow making a surprise appearance at the back of the venue he made his way down and literally parted the crowd before making his way back on stage. Posts and comments in the online Facebook group for this event, people were still talking about this set for days after everyone had made their way home from Atlanta.

    Damian Wilson
    Damian Wilson

    Winger was up next and this was to be a special one-off show where the band would be performing their third studio release, ‘Pull’, in its entirety. This would be my tenth time seeing Winger and their set was my musical highlight of the festival.

    Winger
    Winger

    Kip Winger introduced his brother, Paul, as he would also be performing and contributing backing vocals with the rest of the band, for the ‘Pull’ portion of the show. The band sounded fantastic. Crisp and spot-on from note one.

    Winger

    It was easy to tell on some of the faces in the crowd near me, these songs were a trip down memory lane for most of us in the crowd. Kip mentioned “…This is by far the most difficult show I’ve ever had to sing. It’s been very fun to play this again, so let’s hear it for the promoter for insisting on us doing this show. We had a great time putting this together, and it’s probably the only time we are ever gonna do this…”[2].

    Winger

    One musical hiccup resulted in a song being restarted and Kip reminding us that this proved they were indeed playing live in front of us. Even being one of the longer sets of the day it went by too fast and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, there is only one band left to play for the weekend.

    One thing to note is that “…Promoter Glenn Harveston has shared the following message in the aftermath: “There has been universal praise across social media that Winger not only had the best sound this year, but perhaps in the history of the fest. Every single thing was crystal clear and pitch perfect….and zero backing tracks.

    There are two reasons:  

    1) Their soundman is world class.

    2) They took this show so seriously that they went out and rented the exact FOH board that Center Stage has and rehearsed with it for a few days prior to the fest. They soundchecked for 45 mins on Saturday morning without even going through a full song – just jumped around to certain verses and choruses of different songs: ‘Third chorus, A- minor…’ and they instantly started on that spot.

    I have never seen anything like it. They were just testing various sound aspects they had worked on prior to even walking in the door. No one has ever done that at the fest and I doubt no one ever will again.”[3] It really was the definite moment of the festival for me, it was the set I was most looking forward to and delivered awesomeness in literally every aspect of their performance.

    Pagan’s Mind
    Pagan’s Mind

    Pagan’s Mind was the headliner of the festival and it was a complete shock to find out “…Their music is influenced by Stargate, especially the theatrical film. In an interview, frontman Nils K. Rue said: “I wouldn’t say I like the TV series Stargate, because I never saw an entire episode of that. But I really like the film Stargate. Of course, I took some inspiration from that…”[4].

    Pagan’s Mind

    After the fact as I read up on this band, their longevity as a cohesive unit has lasted through the entire existence of the band beginning in 2000. Vocalist Nils is very theatrical in his delivery, almost operatic in stance. This band blends their intricate instrumental sections with both melody in the guitar and vocal lines.

    Pagan’s Mind

    Certainly a fan favorite the band was shown love from the crowd from before their first note. Playing their complex arrangements flawlessly, their songs go from intense, riff-heavy sections filled with time signature changes to the melodies that result in massive, climactic moments. The band was certainly interesting and was another added to my list of must check out more in depth.

    Pagan’s Mind

    Their set concluded a festival experience where fifteen of the seventeen bands I was able to see were new to me. I very much compliment the promoters of the event, Nathan Block, Day 1 Promoter, Milton Mendonça, Day 2 Promoter, and Glenn Harveston, Owner & Days 3-4 Promoter for their well thought out and executed festival.

    It truly is intimate enough where you are not surrounded by tens of thousands of others and actually have a chance to meet and interact with members of the various bands. They are staying in the nearby hotels just as we fans are so there is fan interaction at every turn.

    While intimate, the festival is also internationally reaching and recognized, their pull evident by the strong contingent of bands making their US debut year after year.

    It was a heartfelt parting of ways with new friends and the friends I had traveled here to see. Likewise to venue and festival staff who were all so friendly and welcoming. I ran into several familiar and smiling faces at the airport and it was a somber trip home and back to reality, and a ton of new music to listen to. 

    PPUSA was certainly a fun adventure, with a ton of interesting, and highly talented and technical bands, incredibly friendly and passionate attendees and staff. It is a community of people who all have at least one common interest.

    With VIP tickets already sold out for the 2025 festival, 900 general admission tickets will go on sale October 19th, 2024 at 12PM EDT. I highly encourage any fan of any of the metal genres, or even all of them, to check out this festival at least once.

    For more photos of the day’s festivities, go here.\m

    [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illumishade

    [2] https://www.instagram.com/p/C_53i_pPsQR/

    [3] https://bravewords.com/news/watch-winger-s-entire-progpower-usa-2024-show-crystal-clear-and-pitch-perfect-and-no-backing-tracks

    [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagan%27s_Mind#Influences

  • An Eclectic Lineup of Bands Take the Stage on Day 3 of ProgPower USA 2024

    An Eclectic Lineup of Bands Take the Stage on Day 3 of ProgPower USA 2024

    Lovebites

    After a good night’s rest, I was refreshed and ready for my second day at ProgPower USA (PPUSA). Just like yesterday as soon as I arrived at the venue I was among familiar faces.

    Striker

    As soon as I stepped foot inside the performance area for the first band of the day it was an obviously larger crowd than the previous day at this time. The third and fourth days of PPUSA were sold out ticket wise ahead of time and there was already a very solid contingent of fellow metalheads on hand.

    Striker

    Striker was the first band to hit the stage and immediately I was taken by their high energy. Serious high energy!

    Striker

    Reading up on this band after the show I discovered their sound is influenced by old school thrash metal and the size of the early afternoon mosh pit was evidence just how hard these guys go at it. Now I was in my element!

    Striker

    Fifth Angel was up next and they kept the furious pace going. Another traditional metal band, with highly evident technical prowess, their catchy hooks and memorable choruses both engaged with and energized the crowd, myself included. 

    Fifth Angel
    Fifth Angel

     Another decent sized mosh pit erupted during their set and I highly enjoyed the way this day had started musically. These first two bands of the day were definitely on my radar that I needed to dig into their discographies!

    Fifth Angel

    Elegy, a power metal band hailing from The Netherlands, continued the action and kept the metal theme of the day going. There was certainly a wider range of musical styles the day before whereas today’s bands were more of the traditional metal style that I love so much.  

    This band just reunited last year after a twenty one year hiatus, and furthering my crowd observations from yesterday (and every concert day) it was easily evident THIS was the band some of the attendees where here to see, like this was THE moment they had been waiting for since Elegy was announced last year as being included in this year’s festival.

    Elegy
    Elegy

    As best as my research can tell, this was their first ever performance in the United States and again this year at PPUSA there were several bands making their debut in this continent.

    Elegy

    Next on today’s metal menu was a tasty serving of some Swedish progressive metal with the band Soen. If today’s underlying musical theme was technicality and complexity, this band takes those two terms to the next level.

    Soen

    I felt like I was taken through a musical journey involving many moods as this band tries to ‘soften the blow’ at the underlying aggression behind their music.

    Soen

    Another theme of the day I noticed was that every band so far showcased a twin guitar attack which I love the additional layering with any band’s song construction involving two guitarists.

    Soen
    Soen

    Like yesterday and is the norm at PPUSA, set times increase as the days go along. Time flies by so fast trying to take in all of the new sounds of bands. When there is time, one of the best parts of this event is the chance to interact in the lobby in between sets with friends new and old.

    Lovebites

    There are also interactive daily giveaways on the event’s Facebook page. Sort of a daily drop of really interesting and obscure memorabilia. Some autographed, some not. Given away in the name of musical fellowship among attendees, with the event organizers getting first dibs.

    Lovebites

    The team keeps the Facebook page constantly throughout the day and into the evenings. Highlight shots of bands are posted soon after they are off stage and the autograph sessions are posted immediately afterwards. The team does a fantastic job of updating the site for those who are not in attendance and for those in attendance who want to see something they possibly missed because it is impossible to take in everything.

    Lovebites

    Lovebites was up next and this all female quintet was another of the bands making their US debut. Once the curtain dropped and yet another twin guitar attack shredded our ears, after the fact I cannot think of a single moment when these kick ass musicians were not smiling while performing. This band received the prestigious “…Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award for Best New Band…”[1] in 2018.

    Lovebites

    Excitement was in the air again as the moments counted down to show time. This band shredded my ears off and after my two allowed songs in the photo pit I made my way to a couple of different vantage points on the floor. Add yet another band to my list that were on my “I have to check them out” list.

    Lovebites

    High energy and highly engaging with the crowd, this band’s set was easily one of my favorite performances that I saw over the weekend.

    Lovebites

    Normally, after a band’s set, the floor and arena clear out for food and beverage and restroom runs, but after Lovebites, the arena swelled to near capacity as it was time for the video presentation and announcements of the headliners for PPUSA 2025.

    Again my people watching observations kicked in to see the growing excitement with each band announced with a louder roar of approval as each new band was named.

    Amorphis

    After the video presentation, focus shifted back to the now and Finnish heavy metal band, Amorphis. This band’s evolution across various genres of the metal tree made for an interesting sound.

    Amorphis

    This music has a very melodic sound and after the fact I learned their lyrics incorporate Finnish folklore and mythological themes, in particular, the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic compilation of poetry telling a story about the Creation of the Earth. And people say heavy metal is just noise.

    Amorphis

    Again, I compliment the festival and venue’s staff for another very smoothly run day. Two days and I have heard nothing but positivity surrounding this gathering from the people I have mingled with. This day, being in the photo pit, I was able to meet and interact with many of the various band’s and overall event ‘sponsors’.

    Fifth Angel

    Being a PPUSA rookie, I did not understand the added value of band sponsorship when I first read about it, or from Christina explaining it to me last year in our initial conversations. Seeing the joy on my new friend’s faces and hearing them talk about their experiences and interaction with their sponsored band really solidified just how well thought out and totally focused on band/fan interaction this event is.

    Fifth Angel

    The day’s events concluded and again I was in need of rest as tomorrow’s adventures would start at noon. For more photos of the day’s festivities, go here. 

  • ProgPower USA 2024 in Atlanta Resumes On Day Two

    ProgPower USA 2024 in Atlanta Resumes On Day Two

    Kristin Starkey

    The journey to attend ProgPower USA XXIII (PPUSA) began in August of 2023 in my initial conversations after meeting my friend Christina. She made a comment about a Monsters of Rock Cruise (MoRC) shirt I was wearing and how the 2024 sailing would be her first time on that cruise.

    Soon, our conversation shifted to had I ever been to PPUSA? My answer was, I had never even heard of it. After more conversation and hearing how Christina had been to all twenty two previous festivals, I knew I needed to check it out. Upon further research I discovered that:

    “ProgPower USA is a progressive and power metal festival held annually in the United States since 2001…The festival’s band selection process focuses on quality over quantity. In addition to the emphasis on the power and progressive metal genres, the festival has branched out into other genres with the inclusion of the “oddball” slot that does not fit the normal motif.

    ProgPower USA gives bands that have never performed in the States a chance to perform in the country. The festival has been described as a cultural experience for fans with autograph signing sessions, guest appearances, reunions, and meet-and-greets. The festival has hosted over 70 bands’ USA debuts…”[1]

    After meeting some of Christina’s PPUSA friends and hearing their excitement as they talked about years past and how much they were looking forward to this year’s event, I could sense the same feeling of a family community within the PPUSA community that I have experienced with the Monsters community.

    When the planets aligned for me to not only attend PPUSA, but cover the event, my travel arrangements were made within the hour after said planetary alignment. This year’s event was again held in Atlanta, GA, September 4-7, 2024, at Center Stage, a mid-sized concert complex comprising three separate venues.

    The 2024 lineup was stacked with bands that it would be my first exposure to, and I specifically chose to go in ‘deaf and blind’ so I can experience these bands in their live, raw sound.

    Venue Staff

    Before I begin to describe the awesomeness that this festival experience was for me, I want to express thanks and gratitude to the behind the scenes staff who make this event happen, specifically the stage production staff, the sound and lighting team and the security group.

    I also want to mention the great job that the venue food and beverage staff, the box office staff, fellow photographers, and the ProgPower USA staff did as a whole. There is tireless dedicated work before, during and after an event like this and there is no way it can be successful without the people who make it happen. I know the effort that goes into making this event run smoothly is considerable.

    I spent a bit of time familiarizing myself with the event website where a detailed daily schedule was posted before the event and I compliment the team on keeping things running on time and smooth for the entire event.  

    On the site I felt the Promoter’s note (Glenn Harveston) solidifies my thought that any song played is THE song any given person there came to hear being performed live when he wrote “…you will see new bands.

    You will see old friends. You will see bands that make you question my sanity. You will see bands you think suck, but others think are awesome…”[2]. I for sure saw a ton of new bands, and for that reason alone I think makes it worth stepping out of your comfort zone in life to experience new things.

    Temperance

    Due to my work schedule I was not able to attend the first day of the event or my knowledge of new bands would be that much greater. However, at my hotel in Atlanta, in the late evening hours I did encounter many obvious first day festival attendees.

    We metalheads roll deep and conversation ensued between a few of us and already new friends were made. After arriving at the venue and making my way to the seating and floor area and being totally unfamiliar with the venue, I found a slightly elevated section at the back of the floor area in front of the seats. The first band I was exposed to was Temperance and the amazing operatic vocal range of Kristin Starkey.

    Temperance

    An Italian modern melodic power metal band, I was more fixated on the power behind amazing Kristin’s vocal delivery. While the words melodic and power metal do not seem to go together to the uninitiated, this band made it work and certainly captured my attention. The day and my festival experience was off to a fantastic start.

    Temperance

    Earthside was up next and they were a little too atmospheric for me. I decided to check out the rest of the venue after getting a few photos of the band performing.

    Earthside

    Each band is given a minimum of an hour to play, with progressively longer sets as the day goes along, so I knew I could pop back in and I did at the end of their set as I always appreciate seeing the fan reaction and Earthside was shown a lot of fan love at the conclusion of their set.

    There were TV feed in multiple places in the venue’s lobby so one was never far from the action. Of the three venues inside the one building, the vendor room was set up in the smaller of the two in the main section. This was also where the autograph sessions would take place throughout the weekend.

    Earthside

    After the Earthside set concluded, I went into the main performance area to get a good look at it in the light. With an open floor area surrounded by elevated stadium style seating with a capacity just over one thousand, it truly was an intimate setting where literally any and every seat in the house has a great sightline views.

    Earthside

    As I was waiting for this set to begin, I noticed more and more people on the floor brandishing blow up swords I sensed there would be a lot of raised swords in the air from my vantage point and I elected to find a seat a couple of rows up and on the stage right side.

    Twilight Force

    Twilight Force took the stage and here is where I first questioned Glenn’s sanity. I saw band members dressed like Robin Hood characters and could not snap enough photos.

    Twilight Force

    It took me a few minutes to realize it was Kristin Starkey on stage again and just delivering vocal power unlike anything I have ever heard before, well, at least before today. I had never heard of the term ‘adventure metal’ but there it was when I looked the band up after their set:

    Twilight Force

    “The group describes themselves as “adventure metal,” in part due to the use of costumes, props, and demeanor onstage. The band has cited early role-playing games like Heroes of Might & Magic and table-top role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons as inspiration for their appearance.”[3] 

    Twilight Force

    I felt like their set was an adventure – like I was fighting the dragons in my life and having an army of metal brethren by my side. It was the most visually stimulating set that I witnessed this weekend and after their set, Glenn’s sanity was no longer in question.

    Leprous
    Leprous

    Next up was Leprous, a Norwegian progressive metal quintet that surrounded themselves on stage with a mass of piped in smoke/fog, which made it difficult to get decent photos. After the fact, once I was home and had a chance to go through my photos I realized while difficult at the moment of clicking the photo, the smoke/fog actually gave the photos a really neat visual effect.

    Leprous

    The technicality of this band’s music is completely off the charts, as some of their earlier catalog makes use of an eight stringed  guitar, which allows for a wider tonal range and  non-standard tuning. I made a mental note that I needed to dig deeper into this band’s discography.

    Dark Tranquility

    Swedish melodic death metallers Dark Tranquility closed out as the headliner for my first day in the PPUSA realm and the second day of the festival. I had heard of this band before but had not knowingly heard any of their music.

    Dark Tranquility

    After the fact, I discovered Dark Tranquility are considered one of the pioneering bands in the melodic death metal genre and after my experience I can describe their musical sound as balance of aggressive ferocity and melodic emotion. Their set was my first instance of seeing a mosh pit break out on the floor.

    Dark Tranquility

    They had the entire crowd captivated and I was mesmerized by the tonal harmonic melodies created by the twin lead guitars that just seemed to fit well with vocalist’s Mikael Stanne use of genre expected harsh, growled vocals. It certainly made for a wide musical range for the various bands that performed this day.

    Dark Tranquility

    At the conclusion of this day’s events I elected not to attend the after show party in The Loft upstairs. I used the walk back to the hotel to reflect on what I had witnessed this day. The new bands I had been exposed to, and the depth of the love fans have for this event and each other.

    Leprous

    At festivals, I love to people watch and see the moment when a fan is overcome with emotion at a certain part of a song and this happened numerous times today. It is those memories that help me appreciate the planets aligning for me to attend this year and to call it a successful first day for me at this year’s ProgPower USA 2024 event.

    For more photos of the day’s festivities, go here.  

    [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ProgPower_USA

    [2] https://progpowerusa.com/media/PPUSA-XXIII-Mini-Program.pdf

    [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_Force

  • Crawlers, Love & Rockets, and Jane’s Addiction Come Down The Mountain At The Moist MidFlorida Amp in Tampa

    Crawlers, Love & Rockets, and Jane’s Addiction Come Down The Mountain At The Moist MidFlorida Amp in Tampa

    Midflorida Amphitheater, Tampa, FL 29AUG2024

    Catching bands who haven’t toured together in some time can be hit-and-miss these days. Jane’s Addiction has not been on tour with their original lineup in 14 years, and Love & Rockets have only had one month-long tour in 16 years.

    Despite this time away from the stage, they haven’t lost a step. Joined by Liverpool, UK’s own Crawlers, the Amp was surprisingly empty, and oppressively humid as Crawlers took the stage.

    Despite being formed in 2018, Crawlers is a band with talent and a vibe far beyond their years. Fronted by Holly Minto, Amy Woodall on guitar, and Liv May on bass, these bad-ass women started their band after meeting at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Adding Harry Breen on drums, their sound is like soon-returning Oasis, Amy Winehouse (RIP), and Alanis Morisette had a powerful, beautiful, bastard child.

    Sometimes deep and brooding, sometimes overtly sexual, there are no apologies in their set. Playing the TikTok viral hit “Come Over (Again)” got one of the biggest pops from the crowd that was slowly filling in. “F*ck Me (I Didn’t Know How To Say),” “I Don’t Want It,” and “Messiah” got some loud reactions as well.

    With the buzz increasing as they played, they easily won them over and turned many into Crawlies (their nickname for the fans). The crowd work from these ladies made many pay attention and disconnect from social media and texting friends.

    Playing like they were back performing a headlining gig back in the UK, they know they are stars and aren’t afraid to show it. They are a tough act to follow.

    Mid-card is always an interesting position to have on a tour. Then again Love and Rockets is an interesting band. With Daniel Ash carrying the singing duties and playing guitar/bass, David J on bass and backing vocals, and Kevin Haskins on drums, the trio has carved out an eclectic niche for themselves over the years.

    A story full of love, loss, pain, and split-ups, no matter how much time has passed they keep coming back together.

    First reuniting in 2023 after not performing together in 15 years, the success of their Cruel World appearance was enough to launch them back on a small tour. As a result of that, they now hopped on this tour. Done seemingly in part as a nod to their openness to taking Jane’s Addiction on tour in 1987 to support their debut album, it’s great to see the process come full circle.

    With an 11-song setlist, they took the stage with a soft introduction of “The Light,” and rolled right into “Kundalini Express.”

    “No Big Deal” was a bit of a tempo shift as the venue was now fully void of daylight, and their red and blue backlights shone brighter than the first two songs.

    Strumming through “Haunted When the Minutes Drag,” and “An American Dream,” they shockingly played their biggest hits “So Alive,” and a cover of The Temptations “Ball of Confusion” back-to-back.

    Ending on “Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man),” the trio were precise in their setlist choices for this tour, and it shows just how damn impressive their catalog is.

    Jane’s Addiction came out back in 1985 from frontman Perry Farrell and bassist Eric Avery. Quickly adding drummer Stephen Perkins and guitarist Dave Navarro, the foursome hit the ground running, and quickly made their mark on LA music.

    With a sound unlike anything else on the scene at the time, they changed things quickly. Forming the deep relationships that still run through the band, their chemistry is evident on stage. While nobody would say they were “bad” with the other members they’ve had, it ain’t nothing like the real thing baby.

    Entering the stage with lighting similar to L&R, it seemed fitting that they opened the night with “Kettle Whistle.” The title track to their first reunion record, it also described the audience as the lights slowly engulfed the stage. Sharp whistles and screams came from the crowd, and the humidity rose to nearly steam-producing levels.

    With no pyro or huge light show, they kept it low-key and lit a simple backdrop in addition to the already in-use lights. It was a far departure from their 1991 breakup tour at Lollapalooza, and yet that intimate feel was perfect for their crowd.

    As “Whores” and “Pigs in Zen” rounded out the first three songs, they made a terrific decision in holding off “Jane Says” to song seven of their 14-song set. Going from the photo pit to the office to properly store a camera usually means you miss songs four and five, even if the singer talks to the audience frequently.

    By holding out, I got a chance to enjoy it in all its glory, and it was great, so thank you!!! While Perry’s vocals were slightly off for the first song, they got him on the money in short order. Navarro seemed less than thrilled with his monitors at times, but given the humidity of an August night in Tampa it’s to be expected.

    Hitting up “Mountain Song,” “Stop!,” “Ocean Size,” and “Imminent Reception,” while ending on “Been Caught Stealing,” they shockingly skipped over “Just Because.” One of the ultimate comeback songs it was featured extensively in movies and clips, so missing it on tour was a bit of a disappointment.

    Given the fact that it was recorded with someone else on bass, they may have omitted it as a matter of respect. Still, it’s somewhat like if KISS skipped out on “Lick it Up” during their reunion tours; you walk away happy but still feel like you missed a moment.

    With 19 dates left on the tour, setlists can change and things can happen, so get your tickets and drop hints on social media. Just make sure you show up for the openers. Just like fans did with Jane’s Addiction and Love & Rockets in the 1980s, you’ll be thrilled you got to see Crawlers before they start headlining area tours.

  • ARMORED SAINT To Join W.A.S.P. On Upcoming North American Fall Tour; Tickets + VIP Upgrades On Sale Now

    ARMORED SAINT To Join W.A.S.P. On Upcoming North American Fall Tour; Tickets + VIP Upgrades On Sale Now

    ARMORED SAINT will join W.A.S.P. on their upcoming North American trek this Fall. The Album One Alive Tour commences on October 28th in Portland, Oregon and makes its way through over three dozen cities across the US and Canada.

    The journey comes to a close on December 14th in Los Angeles, California. Additional support will be provided by Unto Others. 

    Comments vocalist John Bush, “ARMORED SAINT is super excited to be joining W.A.S.P. again on another North American tour where we’ll be playing Canadian cities like Vancouver and Quebec City, which we haven’t played since 1985, and Calgary (Go Flames!), which we’ve never played!

    It’s also been years since we’ve played awesome cities like Minneapolis, Salt Lake, and Wichita and we can’t wait to hit places like Little Rock, Boise, and Spokane for the first time ever!

    “Alas, let’s not forget to mention amazing venues like the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City and the incredible Hollywood Palladium. Thanks to [W.A.S.P.’s] Blackie [Lawless] and the guys for taking us out again. We’ll be punching the sky every day!”

    Tickets, including VIP upgrades, are available now at armoredsaint.com/#tour. See all confirmed dates below.

    ARMORED SAINT w/ W.A.S.P., Unto Others:

    10/28/2024 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR

    10/29/2024 Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA

    10/30/2024 Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, BC

    11/01/2024 The Palace Theatre – Calgary, AB

    11/02/2024 Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA

    11/03/2024 Knitting Factory – Boise, ID

    11/04/2024 The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT

    11/05/2024 Paramount Theatre – Denver, CO

    11/07/2024 The Fillmore – Minneapolis, MN

    11/08/2024 The Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL

    11/09/2024 The Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL

    11/10/2024 Royal Oak Music Theatre – Detroit, MI

    11/11/2024 History – Toronto, ON

    11/13/2024 MTELUS – Montreal, QC

    11/14/2024 Theatre Capitole – Quebec City, QC

    11/15/2024 Orpheum Theatre – Boston, MA

    11/16/2024 Hammerstein Ballroom At Manhattan Center – New York, NY

    11/17/2024 Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia, PA

    11/19/2024 The Agora Theater – Cleveland, OH

    11/20/2024 Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA

    11/21/2024 The Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA

    11/22/2024 The Fillmore – Silver Spring, MD

    11/23/2024 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC

    11/24/2024 The Plaza Live – Orlando, FL

    11/26/2024 Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

    11/27/2024 The Eastern – Atlanta, GA

    11/29/2024 House Of Blues – Houston, TX

    11/30/2024 Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX

    12/01/2024 The Factory in Deep – Ellum Dallas, TX

    12/03/2024 The Hall – Little Rock, AR

    12/04/2024 The Cotillion – Wichita, KS

    12/06/2024 REVEL – Albuquerque, NM

    12/07/2024 The Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ

    12/09/2024 The Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ

    12/10/2024 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA

    12/11/2024 Grand Sierra Resort And Casino – Reno, NV

    12/12/2024 Brooklyn Bowl – Las Vegas, NV

    12/13/2024 The Warfield – San Francisco, CA

    12/14/2024 Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA

  • The Elements of Earth, Wind, & Fire Along With Chicago Bring the “Heart & Soul Tour 2024” to the Amp

    The Elements of Earth, Wind, & Fire Along With Chicago Bring the “Heart & Soul Tour 2024” to the Amp

    Mid FL Amphitheater, Tampa, FL 16AUG2024

    Touring frequently is something usually left to younger bands. For many the grind is too much, and they burn out. However, since the late 1960s, the elements of Earth, Wind, & Fire and the band simply known as Chicago have been bringing the music to the people.

    Given the crossover of their fanbases, the Amp was jam-packed from the start, with a huge backup at the parking lot and entrance gates.

    Opening the evening was Earth, Wind & Fire. Their high energy and funky soul music had people on their feet as they opened with “Shining Star.”

    While one of their most widely known hits, it’s a song with a natural rhythm to play the band on stage. Original members Ralph Johnson (percussion and backing vocals), Philip Baily Sr. (vocals, conga, kalimba), and Verdine White (bass and backing vocals) took to the stage with a pep in their step.

    Given the number of years they have spent on the road, nobody would blame them for playing a short or spaced-out set. Instead, they plow right through it like a well-oiled machine.

    Covering 17 tracks, fan favorites “Saturday Night,” “After The Love Has Gone,” and my personal favorite “Fantasy” were spread out and done beautifully. With ample fan interaction, the group sounded and looked amazing. Certainly a crowd pleaser, they were a very tough act to follow.

    For many the music from Chicago was the soundtrack to their lives from the late 1960’s and beyond. Slowly making their way onto the stage, the band’s introduction was largely instrumental, almost as if something had gone amiss since sound check.

    Unfortunately for the fans in Tampa, it stayed much the same. While original vocalist and keyboardist Robert Lamm and lead singer Neil Donell sounded magnificent, the mix was missing a lot of their vocals compared to the instruments.

    The other original members Lee Loughnane (trumpet, flugelhorn) and James Paknow (trombone) also sounded great, with their sounds echoing loudly across the amp. Playing a selection of 20 songs hits like “If You Leave Me Now,” “You’re the Inspiration,” and “Saturday in the Park” were showcased, and it was during these songs where the fans most came to life to sing along.

    Unfortunately, much of the rest of the set many were on their seats. Too burned out from the opening funk, or merely just appreciating the genius that is Chicago, the energy dropped in between hits.

    The end of the show featured a special encore announced during Earth, Wind, & Fire; a six-song encore from both bands. Going through some great gems together, “In the Stone” welcomed the band back out to the roar of the crowd.

    Jamming through “Free,” “Sing a Song,” “Got to Get You Into My Life” and a few others ended off the night. A rare way to end the night on this tour, both bands gave the fans something special to talk about on their rides home.

    With dates mostly across the southern US through September, the bands then head their separate ways. Earth, Wind, & Fire to a residency in Vegas; Chicago traveling to some one-off Pacific gigs, then along the east coast.

  • “Summer Gods” ARIZONA, Yellowcard, and Third Eye Blind Bless MidFL. Amphitheater

    “Summer Gods” ARIZONA, Yellowcard, and Third Eye Blind Bless MidFL. Amphitheater

    All Photos By Jordan Raiff

    A 33-date tour is rough on most bands. However, for perennial road kings Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard, and ARIZONA, showing up to the tropical sweatbox that is Tampa, FL is just another day.

    Cutting through the moist evening air, these bands worked the crowd, and made it feel like a jam-packed house as the sun was starting to slip below the horizon.

    ARIZONA has been signed since 2015, and this was my first time seeing the trio from New Jersey. Comprised of Berklee College of Music students, Guitarist Nathan Esquite, Keyboardist David Labuguen, and Singer Zachary Charles, they bring a positive and fun energy to their 10-songset.

    Turning around and looking at the people behind me, some of the younger fans were singing right along with “Cross My Mind,” “Dark Skies,” and “Annie” among others.

    Their performance showcases how much a band can grow in the years following a break. Taking their own from 2019 to 2023, ARIZONA has come back with some serious growth, and the chemistry between them is palpable.

    Those unfamiliar with them were singing their praises by the time the set ended. Quite honestly, they don’t get the love they deserve.

    For the last 21 years, the song “Ocean Avenue” has been the lifeblood and global song for Yellowcard. One of the only bands from the early 2000’s to feature a violin player, the quartet is comprised of lead singer Ryan Key, lead guitarist Ryan Mendez, bassist Josh Portman and violinist Sean Mackin and they were joined by touring drummer Jimmy Brunkvist.

    With a 12-song set of their own, Key took the fans through a journey over their catalog.

    Naturally songs like “Cut Me, Mick,” One Bedroom,” and “Be the Young” had people singing all over. Given the sizable growth of the crowd, the reactions, and volume of the fans was incredibly strong.

    With everyone in the pit refusing to use their seats, Yellowcard was reaching out and giving their fans the moments of connection they came for.

    Naturally the singback on “Oceans Avenue” was the loudest of their set, but it made the shade overhead rattle it was so powerful.

    Headlining the night was Third Eye Blind. With Stephen Jenkins at vocals, Brad Hargreaves on drums, Kryz Reid on guitar, and Alex LaCavalier on bass, these four fill a niche of music that’s something special.

    Formed back in 1990, their self-titled debut album has kept them as a major force on the radio and in movies. Playing an 18-total-song set, Jenkins shared bits of history about the band as he played.

    With intense backlighting as the name of the game, they were a challenge to shoot, but with extended time in the pit, it offered some very creative moments. After their opening 10 songs, they brought out the risers, cushions, and acoustic guitars.

    Simply enjoying the moment, they brought out Yellowcard for “Slow Motion” then went through “Bonfire,” “Blinded (When I see You),” and “Semi-Charmed Life” in a proper acoustic renditioning.

    Yet it was the campfire requested singalong of “Jumper” that really connected. A song well known for it’s anti-suicidal message, it hits for many fans in one strong way or another. Looking around the crowd, and many could be seen wiping tears, and just feeling the moment.

    Jenkins at one point explained that this was supposed to be a tour for their new album, but the album has yet to be finished. Asking the crowd if they would come back again in another nine years, he offered to tour again when he finishes it.

    Little tongue-in-cheek jokes like this made the night more personal, as well as his comments about just wearing his street clothes since his stage locker had disappeared.

    With nine shows left on the tour, you don’t have long to catch this line up, but if you can, do it!!

  • Jake Paul Dominates Mike Perry at the Fear No Man Fight Night at Amalie Arena in Tampa

    Jake Paul Dominates Mike Perry at the Fear No Man Fight Night at Amalie Arena in Tampa

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry

    All Photos Provided By MVP Promotions

    The Fear No Man Fight Night at Amalie Arena was a huge success as the stadium was packed to the rafters with fans. They came in droves to see the 5 main card PPV fights headlined by BKFC’s Mike Perry taking on Jake “The Problem Child” Paul.

    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Uriah Hall

    The first fight featured veteran boxer Julio Ceasr Chavez Jr. taking on a 1-0 ex MMA fighter Uriah Hall.

    In the first round Chavez landed 3 good left hooks against Hall and a few shots to the stomach. The experience factor was obvious. Hall was consistent with the jab and threw a solid combination that got Chavez’s attention.

    In the second round, Chavez didn’t do much at all and didn’t through a single punch for over 45 seconds. Not sure if Hall was confusing him with his stances or just decided to take the round off.

    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Uriah Hall

    In the third, Chavez landed a big left hook to the body and was much more active. Hall landed a few puches and a big combination late to try to steal the round but Chavez hit Hall with another short flurry. Chavez concluded the round with a swooping left hook landing again to the side of Hall’s head.

    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Uriah Hall

    Hall then dominated the 4th round by pressing Chavez and the people are wondering what the hell Chavez is doing in this fight. Not one significant punch the whole round and it looks like Hall has more gas in him at this time.

    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Uriah Hall

    It was anyone’s fight after the fifth and we had the scorecard at 3-2 either way as a big exchange between Hall and Chavez ended round 5. This was the most active round for both fighters.  

    In round 6, Hall got stunned by a Chavez combination and fired back to make round 6 close and on press row, we had the fight a draw at 3-3 but that’s not how the judges at ringside saw it.  

    Two judges had it 59-55 and the other 58-56 for Chavez which was highly questionable. Interesting start on main card for the judges. Granted this was the first fight for Chavez in 2.5 years, with his pedigree, he should have knocked out Hall early in the fight. Afterwards, Chavez called out Jake Paul for his next fight which got a round of boos from the audience.

    After Corey Marksman defeated Tony Aguilar in a 8 round majority decision in their rematch, the fight that true boxing fans were looking forward to was up next as Ashton “H20” Sylve (11-0) took on Lucas Badhi (16-0.) Badhi hails from Niagra Falls, Ontario and he took the fight with only 3.5 weeks left to train as  Floyd Schofield backed out the fight against Sylve due to injury.

    H2O Sylve vs Lucas Bahdi

    It was a slow fight but interesting as both fighters landed blows against each other with Sylve winning the fight with his fast hands and leading the punch totals at 101-39. That lead only lasted only until the 6th when the best 4 punch combination of the fight card was thrown by Badhi. 

    H2O Sylve vs Lucas Bahdi

    The first three punches landed flush on H20’s face with the third hitting him on the “button” which caused Sylve to lose consciousness before hitting the mat. Thankfully the forth punch only grazed him on the way down.

    H2O Sylve vs Lucas Bahdi

     Sylve laid face down on the canvas for many minutes after being knocked down as medical attention was provided within seconds of him being counted out. It was a scary moment for Sylve and his team and family but he’s due to make a full recovery.

    The knockout was so scary that ring announcer Joe Martinez uttered these words before declaring Bahdi the winner: “Ladies and gentlemen, before we announce our winner, we ask you to please extend your thoughts and prayers to H2O Sylve and may God restore him.”

    H2O Sylve vs Lucas Bahdi

    With the win, Bahdi remained undefeated at 17-0. The result was Sylve’s first loss in 12 fights

    Badhi discusses the fight and the knockout in the post fight presser. https://www.facebook.com/peter.h.blake/videos/469253089385546

    Amanda Serrano v Stevie Morgan was a mismatch on paper  and in the ring as Serrano dominated Morgan from the ding of the bell. They exchanged punches for the first 90 seconds and after that it was all Serrano.

    Amanda Serrano vs Stevie Morgan

    Morgan played defense until the end of the round and as soon as round two started, Serrano was on Morgan like a dog on a bone. Serrano threw nonstop punches until the referee stepped in with a minute gone in the round to give Serrano the TKO.

    Amanda Serrano vs Stevie Morgan

    Serrano after her easy win and knockout: “It was great to be back in Tampa and with the win as its my 50th fight and 31stknockout.”

    With the win Serrano is now 47-2-1 31and is looking forward to her Nov 13th rematch with Katie Taylor at the 140 pound undisputed lightweight championship.

    Amanda Serrano vs Stevie Morgan

    She talked about her relationship with MVP Boxing and what it has done for her and her family.

    https://www.facebook.com/peter.h.blake/videos/1203816487277141

    Amanda Serrano vs Stevie Morgan

    Paul v Perry looked like a huge mismatch when this fight was announced and it lasted longer than most thought it would which was a true testament to Mike Perry’s chin and heart.

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry

    Upon entry to the ring, Mike Perry got a huge pop and support from the fans in the stands in Tampa. In contrast, Jake Paul received a mixed bag of cheers and boos from the crowd as he made his way to the ring on a chariot dressed in grey, purple and black gladiator armor.

    Side note: Can’t say enough about how Paul markets himself and how he portrays himself as a hero or heal depending on the circumstances.

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry

    Round one started with Perry stalking Paul but Paul’s reach and in-ring boxing skills are noticeable. Paul was double-jabbing Perry and Paul caught Perry off balance with a right hand and knocked Perry down but Perry got up immediately and fought hard until the end of round one.

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry

    In round two, Paul caught Perry with a thunderous right which put Perry on the mat for a second time and many thought the fight was over. Perry thought otherwise and took it to Jake for the rest of the round as Paul held back.

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry

    Even though the round should have been scored 10-8 for Paul due to the knockdown, Perry came back to win the round but still have it be scored 9-9. Chants of Perry bellowed throughout the arena during many parts of the fight that inspired Perry.  

    Third round Perry hit Jake with bigger shots but Jake continued to establish his heavy jab and won the round easily.

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry

    The fourth round was all Jake Paul with Paul dominating the round despite noticeably breathing very heavy out of his mouth. This continued into round 5 as both fighters sort of took the round off.

    We asked ourselves how Perry would fair going deeper into the rounds as BKFC rarely goes longer than 5. That answer came soon enough as Paul in Round 6 hammered Perry once again with a hard right and big flurry of punches on the ropes to drop Perry again. Perry rose to take the count but stumbled to his right  and the referee then stopped the fight at 1:12 of Round 6.


    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry
    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry

    After the fight, Perry apologized which wasn’t necessary at all. He gave it his best but was outclassed by Paul due to his experience in the ring and overall size.

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry

    Paul said afterwards in the press conference “He’s tough as nails, I’m sorry it took so long,” Paul said of Perry after the fight. “He’s tough man, respect to Mike Perry. He’s the king of violence and BKFC champion.”

    Paul guaranteed the Tyson fight was a done deal before praising the former heavyweight champion and saying that the time had come to take Tyson’s crown.

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry Fight Night

    Paul also said in the ring that his goal is to become Cruiserweight champion within 2.5 years and he discussed that after the fight

    https://www.facebook.com/travis.failey/videos/1452212768832195

    Paul is on a mission to provide fans with entertaining fights and he has done so throughout his short career. If he defeats Mike Tyson in November, will it be Connor McGregor or will he try to achieve his goal and start fighting legit cruiserweights in the 4 sanctioning bodies in boxing? Only Jake and his team will know the answer to that, but the fans are guaranteed to be back live and on PPV to see Jake Paul every time he steps in the ring.  

  • The Fear No Man Weigh-Ins With Jake Paul & Mike Perry

    The Fear No Man Weigh-Ins With Jake Paul & Mike Perry

    Jake Paul vs Mike Perry Weigh-Ins

    The P vs P battle for the ages.

    No matter where you look at this main event it boils down to P vs P.

    Paul vs Perry. Problem Child vs Platinum. No matter what way you want to break it down, these two have been on a collision course.

    After Mike Tyson was forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout with Jake Paul in Arlington, TX, Perry was more than happy to step in. Despite being in the rumblings to face off with BKFC Middleweight Champion Dave Mundell (and being the #1 Middleweight contender), Perry elected to jump 20 lbs to take the payday that Paul can bring him.

    Photos By Jordan Raiff

    Given the use of his “King of Violence” title as a “world champion” when was being announced, this promises to be a great fight, and PPV.

    Starting at 6:30 pm with coverage kicking off at 7PM EST with the prelim card. Available for free on various platforms, and the Main Card kicking off at 9PM on DAZN.

    MAIN CARD

    Uriah Hall (199.6) vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (197.8)

    Corey Marksman (134.2) vs Tony Aguilar (134.6)

    Lucas Bahdi (134) vs H20 Sylve (134.4)

    Stevie Morgan (135.6) vs Amanda Serrano (136)

    Mike Perry (196.6) vs Jake Paul (200)

    PRELIMS

    Dane Guerrero (174.4) vs Ariel Perez (175)

    Edwin Rodriguez (122) vs Angel Barrientes (121.2)

    Kevin Hill (159) vs Alexis Chapparro (159)

    Natasha Spence (166.4) vs Shadasia Green (167.4)

    With ample tickets still remaining, those in the Tampa, FL area can get seats at the box office starting at just $20. If this plays out like the last time Paul was here vs Tyrone Woodley, it’ll be worth every bit of that $20, even with the Ticketmaster fees on top!!

    More Pics From Jordan Raiff

  • Jake Paul and Mike Perry Get Ready To Rumble In Tampa

    Jake Paul and Mike Perry Get Ready To Rumble In Tampa

    Jake Paul

    On Wednesday afternoon, Jake Paul and Mike Perry and other fighters on MVP’s Fear No Man fight card gave fans and media members an up close look on their pre-fight training regimens.

    The fight scheduled for Saturday night at Amalie Arena is filled with recognizable names and is co-headlined by a match featuring Amanda Serrano 46-2-1 vs Stevie Morgan 8-1. Also on the card is a matchup I am looking forward to in Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr vs Ex-UFC fighter Uriah Hall.

    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

    Another huge fight on this card features MVP’s young phenom H2O Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs) will face top IBF and WBA-ranked Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (16-0, 14 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight battle of two of boxing’s top undefeated title contenders.

    H2O Sylve

    The open workout for all the fighters was heavily attended by fans young and old including a group of youngsters supporting Jake Paul’s Boxing Bullies foundation. The mission of Boxing Bullies is to instill self confidence, leadership, and courage within the youth through the sport of boxing while using our platform, voice, and social media to fight back against bullying.

    All the fighters and their teams took part in the workout and Ester Lin provided us the images from the event.

    Tickets are available for the event at

    https://www.ticketmaster.com/mvp-presents-jake-paul-v-mike-tampa-florida-07-20-2024/event/0D0060CEB12D31C5?awtrc=true&awtrc=true&c=blue_ext&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-uK0BhC0ARIsANQtgGPkG_hm3lTtmTCoImwp__ep40c1c4ssAj96r0Bp1Qk4e_72hZy54NAaAnHAEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

    Mike Perry
    Jake Paul Open Workout
    Amanda Serrano
    Stevie Morgan

  • Spending The Opening Weekend At The Best Of All World’s Tour With Sammy Hagar

    When the Best of All Worlds tour was announced back in November, there were many questions asked. Two of them that stood out were, could Joe Satriani pull off playing the songs and notes that Eddie Van Halen did with ease and also what would the setlist consist off?

    Well, both of those questions were answered in spades on Saturday in West Palm and on Sunday in Tampa as I attended both of the shows in different capacities but as a fan at both. 

    Opening night in West Palm, Loverboy opened the show with a 8 song set of their greatest hits. As they took the stage at 7pm sharp at the I Think Amp, a sweltering heat engulfed the band and the fans in the packed outdoor venue. The feels like was 105 degrees with zero breeze.  

    Loverboy started their set with “Lucky Ones” and afterward, singer Mike Reno said hello to the crowd. Reno was solid under the conditions and seeing that it was opening night he and the band were superb and had the fans dancing and singing in their seats during “The Kid Is Hot Tonight” & “Loving Every Minute of It.”  

    The “Boys” from Canada continued their set with “Hot Girls in Love” & “Turn Me Loose” with drummer Matt Frenette kneeling on top of his kit and keyboardist Doug Johnson wailing on the saxophone.  They concluded their set with their biggest hit in “Working for the Weekend” which gave everyone a reprieve to go get water and some towels for their drenched faces.

    It was great to see Loverboy once again and unfortunately for the fans in Tampa the following night, they would not perform. This was due to another weather situation as a monsoon came across Hillsborough County and drenched the whole area which almost caused the whole show to be cancelled. A positive occurred from this as the temperature was near 80.

    Thankfully as they say “The Show Must Go On” with the Tampa performance starting at 8:45 instead of 8:20 in West Palm. “Stand Up and Shout” played over the house speakers with many in the crowd not realizing this was a Sammy Hagar song and only knowing it from the Rock Star movie soundtrack with Jeff Scott Soto on vocals.

    A collage of videos of Sammy’s illustrious career played on the video screens which got cheers, a tear and a laugh from the crowd especially when the Simpson’s Sammy character was shown.  They also included a picture with Vinnie Paul who last performed with Sammy at Sammy’s 70th Birthday Bash before passing away a couple months later.

    The lights dimmed across the venues as Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham donned their respected instruments. Sammy then grabbed the audience’s complete attention as he addressed them with “Hello Babyyyyyyy” from “Good Enough.”  This was also the first song from 5150 which was Sammy’s debut with the band in 1986.

    Sammy then addressed the crowd in West Palm and welcomed everyone to the first show of the tour and how the band was pacing with anticipation in their dressing room.

    Joe Satriani then broke out the electric drill for you guessed, “Poundcake” which had only been played by Sammy a few times at special events since 2015.  Joe passed the drill to Sammy and pointed it at the crowd and at his groin which got another big laugh from both crowds.

    Pink neon images of the words “POUNDCAKE” and “DOWNHOME” accompanied a female silhouette on the video screen behind Jason Bonham’s elevated kit.

    After “Runaround” from Van Halen’s FUCK release, the band played the first of four Sammy Hager solo songs in the set with “There’s Only One Way To Rock” as Sammy joined Joe Satriani on guitar.  Other solo material played throughout the evening included the fan favorite “Heavy Metal” “I Can’t Drive 55” and the emotion grabbing “Eagles Fly.”

    Getting back to the setlist question, the band then performed 4 songs that hadn’t been played live in many years. These included a personal favorite in “Judgement Day” (2015), “Summer Nights (2006), 5150 (2010) and a first time performance by Sammy’s solo band in “Panama.”

    Hagar then took a jab at David Lee Roth and introduced the “second best singer in Van Halen in bassist Michael Anthony. In West Palm, Anthony broke out his signature Jack Daniel’s bass and took center stage to sing “Ain’t Talkin About Love” with Hagar taking a break off stage. Funny thing is that in Tampa, Anthony used his “We Don’t Fuck Around” (WDFA) bass.

    Anthony was amazing vocally during both performances with Jason Bonham and keyboardist and guitar player Rai Thistlethwayte assisting him with the harmonies.There is no doubt that without Anthony, Van Halen might not have achieved their legacy as one of the best American bands of all time.

    Joe Satriani fans in attendance got a big surprise when Sammy got another short break when Joe busted out “Satch Boogie” from his ground breaking and highly influential introduction album in Surfing With The Alien. This album has always brought smiles to my face and is the reason I put Joe on my list of favorite guitar players.

    After another deep cut in “Seventh Seal,” Sammy and the boys played “Right Now” which has always been very special to so many and showcased Rai on keyboards. They have played this in the Circle and with Sammy’s solo band but usually not with a key board player as they used tracks. As the song concluded, Sammy said that they were “keeping it alive” meaning Eddie and Van Halen’s legacy.

    Throughout both performances, Hagar put on various clothes, banners and hats thrown on the stage by fans and then signed all of them. In West Palm he put on a Panthers jersey etc. In Tampa, a Derrick Brooks jersey and even a red “Sammy Hagar Makes Van Halen Great Again” hat.

     I have never seen a performer do this before and if you have a seat near the stage, grab a hat and toss it up there to possibly get yourself a special piece of memorabilia. 

    After the aforementioned “Eagles Fly,” Sammy and Michael got the party officially started by breaking out the Santo tequila for the Wabos “Mas Tequila” song.  Sammy’s guys passed the cups out to the fans to have them join in the party.  Joe Satriani played a red and white EVH Frankenstein guitar during this and also during “Heavy Metal.”

    They also performed ‘Space Sation #5 from Sammy’s time in Montrose then went into “Jump” from 1984 and finished off their set with “When It’s Love.”

    “Thank You” lit up the video screen as the band took a bow and left the stage. It was perfect as Led Zeppelin’s “Thank You” played over the house system as a tribute to John and Jason Bonham as the crowd departed.

    Before I close, let’s address the elephant in the room. Was this tour initially supposed to be a celebration of Van Halen and Eddie or more like a celebration of Sammy Hagar’s career? I guess It really all depends on what interview you read or heard and when it occurred. Judging by the past two shows I attended, it was both. Sammy said “It was a celebration of his career leaning really heavy on the VH” during “Best of Both Worlds.”

    Sure, most of the people that prefer the Dave era over the Sammy era left a bit disappointed by them only playing 3 songs from that time period. I myself was a bit surprised at the set especially with the amount of Hagar’s solo material near the end but I loved hearing the VH deep tracks that I haven’t seen throughout Sammy’s solo career and with the Circle.

    If the set list keeps you from seeing this tour then I believe that you are doing yourself a disservice if you are a fan of Van Halen. Satriani plays Eddie’s material flawlessly and doesn’t stray from the original material (that I was able to notice) and Jason Bonham crushes the drums and is perfect to play Alex’s drum parts.

    But if the set list does keep you away, keep an eye on https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/sammy-hagar-23d6802b.html  as they may change it up throughout the tour.

    The band has said they have rehearsed many more VH songs and have them in the vault ready to go and once again are primed to be standing on “Top Of The World” once again at least for a little while.

    1. “Good Enough”
    2. “Poundcake”
    3. “Runaround”
    4. “There’s Only One Way to Rock”
    5. “Judgement Day”
    6. “Panama”
    7. “5150”
    8. “Summer Nights”
    9. “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love” (Michael Anthony on lead vocals)
    10. “Top of the World”
    11. “Best of Both Worlds”
    12. “Satch Boogie”
    13. “The Seventh Seal”
    14. “Right Now”
    15. “Why Can’t This Be Love”
    16. “Eagles Fly”
    17. “Mas Tequila”
    18. “Heavy Metal”
    19. “I Can’t Drive 55”
    20. “Space Station #5” / “Oh Yeah” / “Jump”
    21. “When It’s Love”

  • Budderside’s Latest Album Lights The Way With A “White Flame”

    Budderside’s Latest Album Lights The Way With A “White Flame”

    On July 10th LA rockers Budderside’s third album “White Flame” will be hitting shelves, with a record release party at The Bourbon Room in Hollywood, CA. Teased across multiple singles since 2021, this complete release is extraordinary. Comprised of 12 tracks, the album showcases the band’s showmanship and dedication to rock music.

    1.     Good For Nothing

    2.     Voices

    3.     A Thousand Teardrops

    4.     Never Worth It

    5.     The Truth

    6.     Evol

    7.     Joker

    8.     Ghostlighting

    9.     Black River

    10.  Too Far

    11.  Ain’t Alright

    12.  White Flame

    With “Good For Nothing” serving as the album release single and “Voices” as their first single following the 2021 Album “Spiritual Violence,” the band put the crucial singles at the start of the album, and it’s a great choice. Add in the “Never Worth It,” “The Truth,” and “Joker” EPs, and a good chunk of the album has been slowly released over the last three years. Yet, the full album adds enough new music to make it feel complete.

    Over the last 30 months or so I’ve drummed along to “Too Far” in the truck, singing about “Standing on a mountain made of gold,” as tropical rains fell on the windshield. I’ve listened in honor to “Joker” while waiting for my plane to land. Suffice to say, I’ve been anxious for the full album.

    “White Flame” is a pure rock album. Complete and well-balanced, it’s one of the very few albums I can put on and play from start to finish and not skip a track. Given the genius of their work over the first two albums, it’s not a shocker.

    Comprised of Vocalist Patrick Alan Stone, Guitarists Sam Bam Koltun and Logan Nikolic, and Drummer Jeff Dewbray, the quartet was signed to Motorhead Music by the legendary Lemmy Kilmister himself. Obviously, the God of Metal makes no mistakes, as this album is a shining example of his brilliance in recognizing talent.

    All Photos @Travis Failey Photography https://www.travisfaileyphotography.com/untitled-gallery

  • Danny Wimmer Presents Announces 2025 Festival Dates After Record-Breaking Spring 2024 Events

    Danny Wimmer Presents Announces 2025 Festival Dates After Record-Breaking Spring 2024 Events

    Following 2024’s record-breaking combined attendance of 330,000 fans at Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, producer Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) has confirmed the 2025 festival dates for Sonic Temple and Early Bird Passes are going on sale for Rockville on Monday, June 24.

    Sonic Temple will take place May 8-11, 2025 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, with passes going on sale later this summer. Fans can sign up to get first access to details and passes at www.sonictemplefestival.com.

    In May 2024, more than 130,000 fans attended Sonic Temple, with 130 bands playing four stages on a larger-than-ever festival site, marking the event’s biggest year yet and confirming its reputation as the Pinnacle of Rock Festivals in America.

    Columbus Dispatch praised Sonic Temple’s “cross-generational lineup that emphasized the musical diversity that is a hallmark of the festival.”

    “We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s Sonic Temple was the most attended in its history, drawing over 130,000 fans to the Historic Crew Stadium—the birthplace of rock festivals in America. With 96% of attendees eager to recommend the festival to friends and family, it’s clear we’ve hit a high note,” says Chamie McCurry, General Manager of DWP.

    “As we look toward Sonic Temple 2025, we’re committed to elevating the experience, further cementing its status as the Pinnacle of Rock Festivals in America.”

    Welcome To Rockville is confirmed for May 15-18, 2025 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 2024 festival was the biggest and best Rockville ever, hosting more than 200,000 people and 150 bands on 5 stages for the first time, retaining its title as North America’s Largest Rock Festival.

    This year, Welcome To Rockville – which transforms the World Center Of Racing into the World Center Of Rock – also broke records to become the largest event ever for DWP – and 2025 promises to be even bigger and better.

    CBS12 in West Palm Beach, Florida proclaimed, “Welcome To Rockville continues to cement its status as one of the largest and most iconic rock festivals in the world.”

    DWP’s General Manager Chamie McCurry said, “As we reflect on this year’s Welcome To Rockville, we’re thrilled to announce that not only did we break festival records for North America, but also for Danny Wimmer Presents, with an incredible attendance of over 200,000 fans across four days.

    This monumental achievement showcases the unwavering passion and energy of the rock community. Looking ahead, we’re excited to invite everyone to join us again at the World Center of Rock for Welcome To Rockville 2025. We’re committed to making next year’s festival even bigger and better, setting new standards for live music events and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans.”

    Welcome To Rockville Weekend General Admission, VIP and Camping passes go on sale to the general public Monday, June 24 at Noon Eastern Time at www.welcometorockville.com.

    Daytona Owner’s Club 2024 purchasers will get first access to renew their passes on Thursday, June 20, followed by all other previous Welcome To Rockville pass purchasers as well as email and SMS subscribers on Friday, June 21. Passes will start at $1 or 10% down on layaway (based on cart order value).

    Fans who are not already on the festival’s Insider List can get access to the presale to secure the guaranteed lowest price before the public onsale by signing up for the Welcome To Rockville newsletter at https://welcometorockville.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b20cad8fd8c6f8b3d25f1c918&id=45c5966865  

    Single Day GA and VIP passes will go on sale when the Welcome To Rockville lineup is announced later this year.

    DWP values fan feedback and gained valuable insight from this year’s Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple attendee surveys completed by more than 15,000 fans. Here are some highlights:

    Welcome To Rockville

    ●      Fans traveled to Rockville from all 50 U.S. states and 57 countries including diverse and distant places such as Australia, Angola, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, New Zealand and South Africa.

    ●      The Welcome To Rockville audience continues to grow while retaining a loyal base of fans; 50% of this year’s Rockville fans were first-time attendees. At the same time, more than 10% of survey respondents celebrated attending five or more times. And nearly 5,000 of this year’s Rockville attendees have been to the festival 10 times or more.

    ●      95% of survey respondents said they would recommend Rockville to friends and family.

    ●      The 2024 Rockville music lineup was stacked from front to back, with 150 bands playing the festival. Fans from all over the world loved the lineup, with 96% of survey participants ranking 2024 the top Rockville lineup in years and among the best lineups in the world.

    ●      Based on fan responses to the survey, the favorite performances were from Foo Fighters, Slipknot, Falling In Reverse, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring and Breaking Benjamin. The weekend was also about music discovery with the top new finds being Architects, Greta Van Fleet, Wage War, Bad Omens, Kim Dracula, Falling In Reverse and A Day To Remember.

    ●      More than 70% of fans bought passes for the entire 4-day festival and made a long weekend full of fun. The Rockville party didn’t stop at Daytona International Speedway as festival attendees also enjoyed checking out local attractions. Top activities for fans outside the festival grounds included visiting the beach and the boardwalk, checking out Buc-ees, playing mini golf and getting some ink.

    Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival

    ●      Fans traveled to Sonic Temple from all 50 U.S. states and 27 countries, including Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Spain and United Kingdom.

    ●      Word continues to spread about the three-year-old festival as attendance grows. Out of those who participated in the online survey, 56% of fans attended Sonic Temple for the first time in 2024, 25% for the second time, and 19% have attended all three years.

    ●      96% of survey respondents said they would recommend the festival to family and friends. 

    ●      Fans enjoyed the lineup, with 96% of respondents identifying that they chose to attend because of the bands playing. Of the 130 total bands that played Sonic Temple, according to the survey, fan favorite performances were from Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, Falling In Reverse, Sleep Token, Breaking Benjamin and Evanescence.

    The favorite new discoveries were Electric Callboy, Kim Dracula, Sleep Token, Flat Black, Dirty Honey, Nova Twins and Kittie.

    ●      71% attended all four days of Sonic Temple and more than half also spent time visiting other local attractions including German Village, Ohio State University campus, North Market and the Short North Arts District.

    ●      Attendees found the Sonic Temple app to be very helpful to discover all that was happening across four different stages and a dozen Sonic Temple onsite experiences, with 85% of survey participants using it during the festival.

  • Dancing and Drinking the Night Away With Grupo Firme

    Dancing and Drinking the Night Away With Grupo Firme

    “It’s Peda Time!!!”

    Launching a 32-date tour spread across the US isn’t easy for any band. For Grupo Firme, their opening acts Siempre Firme and DJ Moyo, and their choice to bring the music of Mexico, it could be downright treacherous. With promises to have shots every song, the La Ultima Peda tour has more booze than a mid-80s Metallica rider, and a lot more band members to pass it around.

    An early thanks to my wife Angelica for helping to take notes and transcribe the words from the artists. With my weak Spanish skill set, I relied on her to fully understand the words. Rest assured though; the spice of the music flowed freely through everyone.

    While Ticketmaster listed an 8 pm start time, DJ Moyo was spinning an impeccable mix of Hispanic/Latin music from the time the doors opened.

    As little of the sold-out arena would show up early, he played to a largely vacant room, but he kept the energy building the whole time. With a strong Mexican presence turning out, he had people dancing from front to back.

    Opening the musician aspect of the evening was Siempre Firme. Officially the backing band for Grupo Firme, they used the start of their set to rehearse a medley of the music the audience should be expecting.

    With vocals missing the mark at the beginning, it sounded more like a private sound check than anything. As they got in tune with the sound engineers, their vocalist was asking for Mexican screams, and with the audience now taking a lot more notice, they got them back in spades.

    With couples and single ladies dancing all over the arena, the Quebradita style music was hitting a great assortment of Mexican drinking and dancing classics. Now looking packed, they turned their attention to getting the audience to participate.

    Hyping the audience up, they turned a red-hot crowd back over to DJ Moyo to take a quick 10 minutes before starting the Grupo Firme. A surprising flashlight challenge with DJ Moyo with screams of “Grupo Firme!!” he promised that the louder they were the faster the band would appear.

    Taking the stage as a video montage played from their hit songs, a voice came over the speakers telling everyone “Get ready for your last Peda!!” or drunk party. With lead singer Eduin Caz now on screen saying “The last one? Nah, we are just getting started.”

    Kicking the songs off with his latest single “El Beneficio de la Duda,” Eduin emerged from under the stage. Even though the video dropped just a week prior, nearly the whole arena was singing back at him.

    Flanked by ladies wearing traditional Mexican dresses designed like various Hispanic/Latin countries, he moved right into the romantic chart-topper “Pideme.” Making use of the backdrop screen, they flashed various images, including some of the most realistic Moon footage I’ve seen at a concert.

    Announcing that this was their first sold-out event in Tampa, Eduin shared how excited they were to be playing in Tampa. Expressing that excitement in various ways, the band didn’t limit themselves to original songs.

    Covers of “Aca Entre Nos” originally by Vicente Fernandez, “Mi Mayor Anhelo” by Banda MS, and “Basta Ya” by Olga Tañon, were done beautifully. Joined by special guest Hernan Sepulveda, Eduin let Hernan take over most of the vocals which fit his voice perfectly.

    Calls for “Shots!! Shots!! Shots!!” rang out across the area for most of the second half of the show as the band started making more frequent use of the bartender on stage.

    Following suit, the audience was grabbing beers and mixed drinks two at a time. This went from a simple party to a full-on Peda by this point, and with a small break, the band was suddenly rising from a second platform near the back of the arena.

    Catching hats, phones, sunglasses, and even a bra, Eduin and the band made everyone feel at home. Shining a special light on his co-vocalist Jhonny who is openly gay, they told the audience that this was a show of love.

    Wrapping up around 11:30 pm, Eduin ended the show with “Ya Superame,” another of their most popular songs. A fitting way to cap off the evening, this was a tour that had something for everyone.

    Showcasing the love between Hispanic/Latin cultures, Grupo Firme truly brought everyone together for this Peda. One of the best concerts I’ve been to in a long time, even the exceptionally drunk were loving everyone, not fighting.  

  • Mr. Big Leans Into It During Their Big Finish Tour At The Capitol Theatre

    Mr. Big Leans Into It During Their Big Finish Tour At The Capitol Theatre

    You know what they say “timing is everything.”  This was definitely the case for me last Sunday as Mr. Big brought their “The Big Finish Tour” to the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater. This show was previously scheduled for a Sunday night in January which was one night after their show in Orlando that I had planned to go to but I was super sick.

    Fortunately for me, the band cancelled their show on that Sunday night and rescheduled it for last weekend with Mr. Big playing their second release, Lean Into It in its entirety along with other songs from their catalogue.

    This was a show that I was really looking forward to covering as I have been a fan of Mr. Big since their inception and having this be their “last” tour, there was no way I was going to miss it.

    Upon entering the Capitol Theatre, there was a huge line at the bar and at the merch table with Sydney manning the counter and doing a fantastic job as usual. We talked about their last few tour dates how packed tonight was because usually there is a drop off in attendance when a show gets rescheduled but this was definitely not the case. Every chair was filled, even in the balcony where the seats get a bit tight.

    As the lights went down, bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist Paul Gilbert took the stage with new drummer Nick D’Virgilio waving to the crowd as he got behind his kit. Singer Eric Martin strolled on the stage and clapped to the crowd who roared with applause as the song that got me and many others into the band in “Addicted to That Rush.”

    This was the first single off their self titled album in 1989 and has one of the most recognizable openings of any song in rock with Sheehan kicking off the track with a crazy bass lead and Gilbert bringing a crunchy screaming guitar riff. Everyone in the crowd was on their feet for this song and five more before some but not many sat down to give their feet a break.  

    After “Take Cover” from the Hey Man and “Price You Gotta Pay” where Sheehan showed off his harmonica skills, the band Gilbert busted out the electric drill to press against neck of his guitar to squeal the opening of “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy. 

    This was the opening track on Lean Into It and the band was on all cylinders with Martin sounding better as the set moved along through “Alive and Kickin” and “Lucky This Time.”

    I don’t know what kind of blood Billy Sheehan has running through his veins but it never seems like the man ages, slows down or ever loses any enthusiasm on stage with Gilbert right there with him. Both guys are virtuosos and each of them took turns doing extended solos. During Gilbert’s, he played the goose bump inducing theme from Rocky in “Gonna’ Fly Now” which I have never heard live before.   

    On a side note: I’ll never understand why Gilbert’s name isn’t on the list of great players with his contemporaries. What he has achieved in his career is staggering. Just take a look at his career and what he is credited playing on and you’ll be very surprised at his credentials all the while looking like a chemistry teacher on stage.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gilbert      

    Mr. Big’s harmonies where on full auditory display especially during “Green Tinted Sixties Mind” and their huge hit in “Just Take My Heart” with the crowd joining in during the chorus.

    After “Road To Ruin,” Mr. Big finished their Lean Into It set with another monster hit in “To Be With You” and took a very brief break. Upon return, they kicked it back into full roar or should I say bark in “Colorado Bulldog.” After Sheehan concluded his bass solo the band transitioned into Talas’ “Shy Boy” with Sheehan on lead vocals.

    This wouldn’t be the last time Sheehan had the mic in his hand as the band switched instruments during the cover of The Olympic’s “Good Lovin.”  Gilbert got behind the kit with Martin on Sheehan’s bass and D’Virgilio on guitar. The crowd really got into the instrument change by the band and was definitely a memorable moment for everyone in the crowd.

    To close out the night, Mr. Big finished their set with The Who’s Baba O’Reilly to the fans surprise and delight as they all sang “It’s Only Teenage Wastleland” like they were still in high school. It was a special moment with a special band and their loyal fans.

    As the lights rose and they took their bows, I thought if this truly was The Big Finish for Mr. Big, then so be it. They left it all on the stage on a beautiful Sunday night in Clearwater where we will always remember them as being “Alive and Kickin.”

  • “BKFC goes Wide Open Throttle at OCC Roadhouse!!!”

    “BKFC goes Wide Open Throttle at OCC Roadhouse!!!”

    Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

    12APR2024

    OCC Roadhouse- Clearwater, FL

    Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returned to the Orange County Choppers Roadhouse in Clearwater, FL on April 12th. Previously visiting the Roadhouse and neighboring Bert’s Barracuda Harley Davidson for weigh-ins and press conferences, this was their first fight night there, and it didn’t disappoint.

    With people watching the BKFC Prospects battle it out in small gloves as they filtered in, there was something to see at every corner of the event.

    Opening the night was Quentin Gaskins taking on Zach Pannell. Making his debut, Gaskins weighed his shots carefully against the 1-0 Pannell. While the duo swapped shots for most of the round, towards the end each of them came to life.

    With Gaskins keeping Pannell pressed against the ropes for most of the last minute, he put a wear on that man. Going to their corners, the ringside doc didn’t even give Pannell a chance to start a second round and called the fight.   Winner: Gaskins TKO (Doc Stoppage)end of the 1st Round

    Following up such a hard-hitting fight isn’t easy, and Angel Hernandez’s fight against Rayne Wells got the message. Instead of drawing out the contest for any length of time, Hernandez launched Wells damn near out of the ring in eight seconds.

    This was fast enough for third-fastest KO in BKFC history. Laying on the canvas under the ropes, Wells looked far worse for the wear and simply stayed on his back for nearly five minutes before leaving the ring. Winner: Hernandez by TKO in 0:08 of the 1st Round

    Leonel Carerra and Mike Heckert prepared to toe the line third. With the first two fights finishing so fast that people were still waiting for their beer order before the opening bell, this needed to be a barn burner, and did they deliver. Both started out with incredibly tight defensive fighting.

    Great head movement from Carerra kept Heckert throwing great feints, and each struck in a flurry when opportunity arose. By the end of the round each of them had been busted open pretty well with Heckert’s left eye visibly swelling.

    Opening the second round, both fighters came out a bit more reserved. Instead of looking to make their own holes, they were instead looking to cover their own. Looking a bit more precise with their strikes, they were putting significantly more on them. Heckert especially was loading up his shots, with Carerra instead choosing to be more pinpoint with his strikes and to keep pinning the damaged eye.

    This made it swell worse, and left Heckert going to the corner with his eye essentially swollen shut. Looked at by the ringside doc, and the fight was ruled over. Winner: Carerra by TKO (Doc Stoppage)at the end of the2ndRound

    Shifting gears to the women’s division, Jessica Borga welcomed Katharina Lehner to BKFC. A welcome that came with both ladies looking to destroy the other.

    Trading absolute bombs in there, with no “fight like a girl” about it. This was a straight-out war, and the “Black Widow” had everything going and the “German Gypsy” only answering with a devastatingly split forehead.

    Knocked to the canvas in just 41 seconds, Lehner couldn’t rise again after Borga simply bodied her to the roar of the crowd. Winner: Borga by KO at 0:41 of the 1st Round 

    Jay Jackson and Idrees Wasi promised to be a barnburner from the weigh ins. Jackson forced the action from the beginning and kept Wasi consistently against the ropes.

    While good head movement and staying away from the looping left helped Wasi significantly, Jackson’s level of attack was more than significant. As the bell ended the round, the two exchanged bits of respect for the opening round.

    Getting out of their corners, both fighters were coated in sweat and water. Both keeping a perfect rhythm in their fight, they found themselves getting close and in the clinch as Wasi looked to keep away from the sweeping fists of Jackson. Utilizing his reach to keep Wasi from coming in, Jackson gave himself the space to time Wasi’s movements, and to cut down the effectiveness of his head movement.

    Going into the third round, Wasi looked incredibly winded. While Jackson certainly was breathing hard himself, it was nothing in comparison. As Wasi moved around the ring, he tried keeping the fight close, and looked to pin Jackson to the ropes. Bleeding pretty solidly by now, Jackson set his sights on the forehead of his opponent, and subsequently split it open like a ripe melon.

    Leaking like an indie wrestler, Jackson worked the cut continuously when shots opened up, but Wasi kept leaning on him. Taking this in stride, the very experienced Jackson just worked his way around and started pounding the body to bring the forehead back out and open to be worked.

    Exchanging pleasantries again at the end of the round, it was as if Wasi knew it was all but over. Despite the best efforts of his cutman, the doctor stopped this before round four could begin. Winner: Jackson by TKO (Doc Stoppage)at the end of the 3rd Round 

    Abdiel Velazquez was welcomed back by Travis Thompson in fantastic fashion. Taking a few years off following a loss at BKFC 19, Velazquez certainly did some training in his nearly three years of downtime.

    Previously having faced off at BKFC 6 in Tampa, this was a great rematch, and a loss that Thompson was looking to avenge. However, Velazquez came out with a vengeance, and had Thompson stumbling almost immediately.

    Sensing the blood in the water, Velazquez closed in and dropped him twice within a minute. With Thompson unable to recover, Velazquez took the win in decisive fashion with a KO. Winner: Velazquez by KO at 1:06 in the 1st Round

    Making his return to the squared circle next was the no. 2 contender in the BKFC flyweight Tyler Randall as he took on local JR Ridge. Both seasoned veterans of the sport, their reputations for defensive fighting was on display.

    With Randall holding a massive height and reach advantage, Ridge needed to find a way to work his way inside. Not an easy feat in BKFC, but I’ll be damned if he didn’t find some great opportunities. Coming into the ring in some of the leanest shape he’s been in, Ridge was not going down easily.

    Round two saw Randall making a strong surge towards Ridge and took to not only cutting the ring in half, but in trying to bully Ridge to moving his way. Thanks to some top-notch footwork, Ridge circumvented that, and instead kept Randall from being able to setup long range or sweeping strikes.

    Keeping away from the clinch was a struggle for Ridge, and the height difference made it even harder to prevent taking significant shots while held on the ropes. Still, he made his presence known and mounted some great offense.

    Getting off their stools was a bit of a challenge for each fighter, as the exhaustion of fighting in such close quarters was clearly weighing on each of them.

    Coming out with a significantly more conservative round, neither one of them seemed to want to make serious strikes, instead they wanted to keep the other at bay. It wasn’t until the waning seconds in the round that both fighters exploded with serious offense.

    Opening the fourth round with similar defensive minded fighting, the fans started getting rowdy, and expressing their disappointment.

    With many yelling for them to stop dancing and start fighting, they answered the boos with a slew of punches. Both fighters suddenly came to life like the fight was restarted. With the new volume of punches being exchanged, Ridge’s nose started to bleed, and the fans loved seeing the color.

    As the only fight to make it to the final round, the fans were really invested in this battle. Ridge’s corner did a great job working on his nose, and had gotten it to slow to a minor trickle at worst, while Randall started showing some significant swelling under his left eye.

    This gave Ridge a new target, and he did everything he could to reach out and tough it, but the volume from Randall was simply too much as it had been in other rounds. Keeping the blood flowing on Ridge, Randall was clearly the more aggressive of the two with his reach and height advantage.

    Going to the cards, there was little doubt about Randall having the win. While Ridge had done a great job defensively, when the stats posted up on the screen (and on TV) it was clear that he had been out struck in at least 3/5 of the rounds.

    Reading off the cards, Randall took it with two judges scoring it 49-46, and 48-47 for him, and Ridge having one judge in his favor 48-47.  Winner: Randall Majority Decision 2-1

    Elvin Brito andJa’FarFortt were up next in the co-main event.With Fortt riding a 3 fight unbeaten streak since he came to BKFC, and Brito looking at avenge three straight losses, a lot was on the line for both fighters.

    Weigh-ins were tension filled between these two, and while there was no shortage of respect, Fortt looked determined to get the W in front of the home town crowd. 

    Each warrior made their way to the ring in short order. While they always have respect for the storied history of the sport, they wanted to get the damn fight going.

    From the opening Brito got Fortt against the ropes and kept him there. Shooting shorts to the ribs, Fortt simply could not answer back, forcing the ref to call the fight just 40 seconds into the opening round.Winner: Brito by TKO at 0:40 of the 1st Round

    Mike Richman returned from a nine month layoff from fighting to face Erick Lozano, and The Marine was ready to test Lozano from the start. Keeping the pressure on him, Richman showcased that tenacity and didn’t waste but 15-20 seconds to time him before launching an all-out assault. Pushing Lozano toward his limits he tossed him down, with Lozano bouncing back up and surviving the round.

    The second round opened up with the Doc taking a look at Lozano’s eye. Given the number of stoppages throughout the night, the crowd automatically began booing this decision. Thankfully the Doc ruled it wasn’t of enough concern and let the fight go on.

    Switching to a Mayweather style defense, Lozano spent more of the round running from Richman than facing him, and even connected with a few wild shots, but Richman kept the pressure on full force. At this point it was clear that Richman still has that USMC style cardio, even as a heavyweight.

    Somehow getting up to go back out there, Lozano decided cardio just wasn’t going to do it, he was going on all heart, and to a degree so was Richman.

    To be fair, heavyweights going this hard in an outdoor venue in the FL humidity is something extraordinary, so it’s to be expected honestly. With Lozano slipping on the sweat, he bounced back up and came back for more. For Richman, this was an opportunity as now a split on Lozano’s nose was now wide open and leaking well.

    Entering the fourth round, both fighters were now bloody, bruised, and exhausted. With defense now taking a backseat for looking for an opening to deliver a heater of a shot, they each allowed for more nothing punches to land than they had previously.

    This kind of shift was something totally different from the first three rounds, but they capitalized on the change. Each fighter was doing their all to find any opening they thought they could hit, and they fired at will. Not enough to end it, it was now time for the final round.

    In the fifth and final round both fighters emerged with a new vigor not previously seen. Their dedication to getting the win was evident, and they would not take a loss for a lack of effort.

    Unfortunately for Lozano, Richman quickly got him on the ropes and simply hammered on this man. Rapid firing his lunchbox sized fists, Richman sent Lozano crashing to the canvas in less than a minute, and Lozano stayed down there and couldn’t beat the count. Winner: Richmanat 0:52 of the 5thRound

    Up next is Knucklemania IV at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, CA. Headlining this incredible card is Mike Perry and Thiago Alves. These UFC veterans were previously scheduled to bang it out but never did. Mick Terrill and Lorenzo Hunt will also square off for Terrill’s Heavyweight title. While not a title heavy card, they are packing this Knucklemania with veterans.

  • Champions are Crowned at BYB 25 Brawl On The Bay in Tampa

    Champions are Crowned at BYB 25 Brawl On The Bay in Tampa

    BYB 25 Brawl on the Bay came to the Fairgrounds on Thursday night and featured two Championship Bare Knuckle Boxing matches and 5 other top-level fights. I have never covered a BYB event, but I was fascinated by the ring that is used for the fights.

     It is called a Trigon and you guessed it, It is a triangle-shaped ring and It’s also the smallest fight surface in all of combat sports.

    BYB Extreme also has the highest finish rate of all combat sports so I was expecting a lot of knockouts and stoppages and BYB 25 provided them in spades with five of the fights stopping early. The other two that went the distance and the longevity that both of those fights had were surprising.

    Getting the night started was Jaica Pavilus defeating Randine Eckholm fairly easily by connecting jabs and uppercuts at will. Eckholm kept pressing and it cost her as damage was sustained and blood continued to flow after the bell rang for the end of round one.

    Pavilus relaxed and took her time as the veteran boxer from New York popped big shots on Eckholm to swell Eckholm’s face.  Pavilus knocked Eckholm down with a beautiful right uppercut left hook combination and the referee thankfully stopped the fight.

    Eckholm was taking too much damage and she has a ton of heart but needs to work on her skills for her to get her first win in BYB Extreme.

    Our second fight of the 7-fight card was Javiel Ramos as a favorite over Lukas Jones. Ramos fighting out of New York, got in a clinch, and struck Jones with open and closed fists 22 plus times with Jones getting a few shots in.

    Ramos smothered Jones and continued to press with both fighters expending a lot of energy.  The two fighters clutched and used dirty boxing against each other with Jones hitting Ramos with body shots then a couple of uppercuts. Ramos took a knee and never got up as the 10 count clicked.  

    Fight number 3 was between Harry “The Hitman” Gigliotti vs “Rowdy” Rusty Crowder. Gigliotti moved to 2-0 after going to war with a resilient Rusty Crowder, winning by unanimous decision that no one in the arena thought would go the distance. 

    The Hitman had the reach and used his distance and his speed advantage over Crowder to place his jab at will on the bridge of his nose.   

    Crowder also landed some shots and showed a ton of heart trying to figure out Gigliotti. He continued to try to connect with an overhand right and landed a few but Gigliotti trapped Crowder on the ropes numerous times, throwing body shots.

    Crowder would bull rush his way back to the center of the ring and throw punches but Gigliotti kept his distance to minimize the damage. 

    His experience, length and skill set were the key factors in getting a well deserved decision 49-45 after the five rounds with Crowder deserving a ton of props. Would have been 50-45 but the Hitman had a point removed for his in-ring shenanigans.

    Even though the scorecards weren’t close, my team had this as the fight of the night and we are all looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for both of these warriors.

    The next fight was a complete contrast in fighting styles as Muay Thai fighter Will Chope took on the hometown slugger in Martin Brown. Brown made easy work out of Chope as both fighters clutched each other against the ropes. 

    Brown hit Chope with a short hook and elbow to put Chope down for an 8 count. After getting back on his feet, Chope also hit the canvas for the final time as Brown clutched Chope again and crushed Chope with a body shot for the K.O.

    Highly impressive BYB debut for Martin “Lay Him Down” Brown and the skies the limit for his future in BYB Extreme.

    Our first Championship Belt was on the line in the Super Flyweight Woman’s division as Agnesa “Spitfire” Kirakosian outlasted Shelby Cannon to win the BYB Super Flyweight title by unanimous decision. 

    Cannon used a lot of dirty boxing and aggressiveness early trying to smother  Kirakosian and took the first of six rounds.  Kirakiosian then used her boxing experience to fend off Cannon’s attack by changing stances and confusing Cannon while delivering shots that bloodied Cannon. 

    Spitfire caused Cannon’s knee to hit the ring for the first knock down of the fight in the second with a clean right hook. In the third round, Kirakosian continued to circle and fire jabs at Cannon and changed angles which helped her with her attack. 

    Kirakosian continued with the combinations and landed body shots and hooks with Cannon trying her best to land a big shot. As the final bell rang in the sixth, all that was left was the raising of the Spitfire’s hand and the placement of the title belt around her waist. 

    The BYB Brawl on the Bay fight card moved quickly with minimal time between fights as the Heavyweight Eliminator was next.

    The Cuban Assassin Gustavo Trujillo (5-0) crushed Levi Costa in the first round of the Co-Main event. The height and reach difference was evident early and often as Trujillo opened up Costa in under a minute. 

    Trujillo was smooth in his movements and punches and setup a thunderous right hand with multiple jabs to score the K.O.

    It was a highly impressive performance by the Cuban Assassin which now leads him to the BYB Heavyweight Championship bout against Ike Villanueva.

    In the Main Event Cub “Savage” Hawkins defeated Ryan Jett to take home the BYB Light Heavyweight championship. 

    Both fighters came into the ring as natural counter punchers and Hawkins got off to a good start taking the first round landing a beautiful left hook and a flurry of punches to close out the round. 

    Hawkins grinned at Jett from his corner trying to get under Jett’s skin. Both Jett and Hawkins came out flying in the second with an exchange of about 30 punches with Jett coming out ahead. 

    The ref talked to both fighters for grabbing and pushing and afterwards, Jett hit Hawkins twice with straight right hands but Hawkins got the best of Jett late in the ring. Jett’s face was turning into a bloody mess with his right eye starting to close.

    Hawkins took his time while Jett spit out blood as he pressed the action in the forth. Hawkins smothered Jett after hitting him with multiple hooks and a solid right hand. Jett’s face and right eye had the crowd thinking that this fight would be called with Jett pleading to continue with the ringside doctor.

    Jett continued to battle and move forward against Hawkins with Hawkins landing at will due to his calculated attack. As the fourth round ended, The fans called for the fight to be stopped as Jett’s face was busted up and a complete mess. He wanted to continue but the ref concluded the fight due to a doctor stoppage.

    Hawkins took home the well-deserved Light Heavyweight Championship and this battle was declared by ringside announcer Pauli Malignaggi as the “fight of the night.”  

    BYB 25 Brawl On The Bay was a huge success for the promotion and for the fans of the sport and continues to grow. The fans in the stands were boisterous and engaged and loved the action as did I. 

    If you like combat sports, BYB is for you. The Trigon ring provides less room for the fighters to move away from each other so the battles are more intense and action-packed. 

    Their next card is scheduled for Denver On May 10 so get your tickets for the Mile High Brawl as Super Middleweight champion LT “Smash” Nelson looks to become BYB’s first two-division title holder when he takes on his toughest opponent yet in Tommy Turner.

    For more info go to BYBExtreme.com

  • A Virgin Survives The High Seas On The 2024 Monsters of Rock Cruise

    Virgin.  I knew that would catch your attention and in full transparency, I have been on the Beach Boys Cruise but never on the Monsters of Rock Cruise. They both have some similarities but The Monsters of Rock Cruise is a whole different animal.  A gorilla comes to mind but imagine one on steroids ala King Kong.  35 plus bands, comics, and all sorts of events to keep you busy from sunrise to sunset and beyond.  

    This was an eye-opener and for those who haven’t been on before, I hope after you read this, you will think hard about going on MORC or a music cruise in the future. The following is what a newbie experienced and some tips if you decide to go on a MORC in the future.  

    People from all over the planet (no exaggeration) traveled to Miami for the 5-day Saturday departure but kicked the party off early as Larry Morand and his crew put on a pre-cruise concert at the Magic City Casino on Friday night.  

    A few thousand people got their drink on and said hello to people they hadn’t seen since last year. It was a good time as Y&T headlined the show with HardCore Superstar, Rhino Bucket, and others hitting the big stage.  The outdoor venue was great, and the weather was even better and was a perfect primer for the festivities to come.

    Saturday morning for the cruisers requires patience as the lines to get through security and check-in are damn long and can take a while to get on the boat. I do suggest parking at the cruise terminal, especially if you are local to Florida and you drove to the port.

     It costs $110 bucks, but the convenience is worth it especially if you are splitting costs. Park the car, check your bags (if needed), and get in line. Many will park at a hotel and take a shuttle or uber etc, but when the cruise is over, the last thing you will want to do is take multiple avenues to get to your final destination.

    After we got checked in, the party had already started as food and booze were available, Glen Hughes did a Q&A with Eddie Trunk and Quiet Riot hit the Theatre Stage at 1:45 to kick off the lineup of bands that concluded with Tuff at Midnight.

    I can go through all the bands and their sets but that’s not the basis for this article. It’s more about the actual cruise experience than the bands but I will point out some stand-out performances.

    What is cool about cruises in general and this one specifically is that it has price points that seem to be affordable especially if you are coming with a friend or multiple friends.  Sure, you can book a cabin that has a balcony and be a Silver or Gold VIP, but even if you book the cheapest cabin, you’re going to have a great time.

    Most of the people that I talked to spent minimal time in their cabins other than sleeping and showering.  I know that was the case for us so even 3 people in a interior cabin was feasible.

    Don’t get me wrong, gold and silver vip cruisers have benefits. A couple of those are first entry into the venues for the shows and first in for the Photo Experience with the bands.

    These benefits are considerable as you are guaranteed up-close access to the two primary stages in the Royal Theatre & Studio B. The other two venues were the Pool Stage and the Star Lounge, and both were first come, first serve no matter what cabin you had.   

    Also, getting into the photo experiences with the bands early saved you a lot of time as the lines were long, especially on the day when photos with Ace Frehley, Extreme, & Queensryche were being taken.  Even if you didn’t have VIP status, everyone was able to get their pics taken with the bands but once again patience is needed.

    Everyone wants to talk to the artists and have their “moment” with the band and I get that completely as that is probably the only time you will have that access.

    Keep in mind though that the staff truly have their hands full as a thousand people are going through the lines each shoot and they are required to keep the lines moving and be professional while doing it.  

    If you are a drinker, the alcohol package might be good for you and it costs about $100 a day for each person in your cabin, but there are discounts available prior to boarding that you can take advantage of online. 

    Just take into account that even though you have the package, It doesn’t mean you should drink yourself into oblivion by 4 pm every day and miss out on the bands you want to see.  We witnessed plenty of people passed out around the ship in precarious positions unaware that there pictures was being taken.

    There are also scheduling decisions that have to be made and band times will and do change for a variety of reasons. Thankfully each band plays 2 sets with most of them playing at different venues.  

    If there’s a band playing later in the week on the pool stage, I highly suggest seeing that band at one of the different venues that might not be affected by the rain. This happened to us specifically with Armored Saint who were scheduled to play the pool stage on the last night and couldn’t perform.

    Every night as the bands finished up their sets, the party continued as karaoke took center stage in the Viking Crown on the Independence of the Sea. The room was packed with artists and with Armored Saint getting rained out, it led to a couple of the coolest things I have witnessed on any stage in my life.

    John Bush and Gonzo Sandoval from Armored Saint were joined by Rachel & Jenna from Paradise Kitty doing “Papa Was Rollin Stone” and then Ritchie Kotzen did his best impression of Chris Cornell when he sang “Cochise” by Audioslave.    https://www.facebook.com/travis.failey/videos/813026893991254?idorvanity=1560929797513981

    But If you were in that room, you witnessed something that I highly doubt will ever be seen again and that was when Ritchie Kotzen along with Justin Hawkins from the Darkness,  joined Glen Hughes for “Fooled Around and Fell In Love.”  Saying it was epic is an understatement.  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=419297110586594

    This was just one of the surprises that you might experience on the MORC. Another was being able to hang out and chat in the Irish pub with Steve Harris from Iron Maiden and British Lion. Steve walked through the Promenade Deck (5) numerous times and stopped and had a pint.

    At any time of the day or night, you would run into musicians walking around or in or near the elevator or getting a slice at the pizza place.

    Deck 5 was always buzzing with cruisers, musicians and new friends. That’s what really makes the MORC so special. I met so many people from all walks of life and from different countries that I now call friends.

    You may bump into the same couple over and over again, even in the ports, and think they are stalking you but timing sometimes just works out that way and I’m still looking over my shoulder wondering if they are nearby.

    You will see and talk to many people all the time on that floor and get caught in what Larry David likes to call “Stop and Chats.” If you are in a rush to get to anything, avoid this floor even if it means going past the staterooms above or below you.  It’s a pro move that may be needed at some point.

    Speaking of the ports, we stopped in Cozumel and in Nassau with Cozumel with both being tourist traps. There is a spot in Cozumel outside the port that has a great Mexican restaurant that put on a show that concluded with an artist putting out a fire with his lower region and 5 men swinging from their feet from a pole 100 plus feet in the air. It’s called the Dance Of The Flyers and it was worth getting off the boat just for that.  

    If you decide to stay on the boat while in port, there are bands playing and activities still going on along with food available 24/7. Some love the food, and some hate it but that’s normal with cruises and you can’t make everyone’s palate happy.  

    The crew also hides plastic ducks throughout the ship and if you find one, it has an entry ticket for a raffle for a free cabin for next year’s cruise. They also have numerous theme nights like Heaven & Hell & Battle Vest night to show off your best gear for prizes etc and a “So You Think You Can Shred” contest with guest judges.  

    Another tip: Come with your A game and make sure you can play at a high level because after you get judged, you might not want to pick up your guitar again. Brutal honesty and I’ll leave it at that.

    Everyone had a great time and I only witnessed one event between cruisers that might have led to fisticuffs. That was in the Star Lounge when people were standing up near the stage watching an awesome and heavy performance by Kaliedo.

    I guess the unspoken/unwritten rule is that everyone is supposed to sit in the Star Lounge to not block people’s view and that was happening and a large man was pissed.

    The situation was quickly defused by security and people went back to their seats where headbanging commenced. Yes, seeing massive headbanging while people sat in white leather chairs was another first for me.

    There was a buzz amongst the people who are serial cruisers on the MORC and that was about the swap meet. People were talking about what they brought with them to share with fellow cruisers.

    From guitar pick holders to custom branded metal straws to everything imaginable with different logos etc were laid out on tables on the Promenade Deck (5.) People swarmed the area to chat and browse and came back with a variety of different swag.  

    There were also multiple Rockstar Painting Classes that you could sign up for to paint.  On this year’s cruise, you had the option to paint David Bowie, Angus Young or Ace Frehley. We did Ace Frehley and 3 members of Ace’s band were in our group with Bassist Ryan Cook sitting directly next to me.  

    I highly suggest it if you haven’t done it before as Ron provides a template and walks you through it. Even a super novice like myself was able to do it and I can’t paint a circle.

    Be prepared to walk and walk and walk. You will get acclimated to the ship in a couple of days but one of the statements you will get used to is: “It’s on the other side of the boat.” Everything throughout the cruise will be on the other side. It just works out that way but I highly suggest taking a look at the layout of the ship before heading on the cruise.

    You will also have to wait for bands to start their performances as previous bands might run long or their sound checks get extended. This led to Justin Hawkins calling Ace Frehley a “cunt” for doing an extended sound check but it was a combination of that and KK’s Priest running their set a bit long.

    It was pretty hilarious and along with The Darkness’ pool stage set, it was one of the more fascinating moments of the cruise. The comment by Hawkins has grown legs with a back and forth between Ace and Justin online.

    Lead singer Justin Hawkins went and joined the cruisers in the hot tub while he played his guitar and during their set in Studio B, he did a handstand and flailed his legs on stage.  Some say the pool stage performance was the highlight of the cruise but I disagree. I base it more on personal preference as KK’s Priest was simply outstanding.

     

    Both their Theatre set and their Studio B sets just crushed with Tim “Ripper” Owens’s vocal performances proving once again that he is one of the best along with Queensryche’s Todd La Torre. Queensryche also played two different sets with their pool set another highlight for me.

    Unfortunately, I missed both of Accept’s sets but once again, decisions have to be made but like in a festival setting, you will get to see bands that you have never seen before. For me, it was H.E.A.T., Dangerous Toys and Bad Marriage.

    All three were great and H.E.A.T.‘s singer was one of the nicest guys I’ve met. We also talked and took pics with Gary from Extreme in the coffee shop. These are just a couple of examples of you never know who you’re going to run into on the MORC.

    After seeing 40 plus sets of music, I can go on and on about the bands, but I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about Faster Pussycat and Lizzy Borden. Both are MORC veterans with FP playing a midnight pool stage set that was simply amazing.

    Taime Downe and the boys lit up the stage and the sky with their hits and non-stop energy as Jenna And Rachel from Paradise Kitty joined them on backup vocals.

     The band has a combination of veterans while mixing in some youth in guitarist Sam Bam Koulton and Ace Von Johnson.  Sam Bam is a can’t-miss player if he’s hitting a stage near you. He’s that good.

    I’ve been a fan of Lizzy Borden for decades but they rarely play in Florida. Thankfully they played twice within 24 hours in Studio B on the last day of the cruise.  

    What a visual experience with Lizzy changing costumes every song and wiping blood on adoring fans’ faces during “There Will Be Blood Tonight.” Both sets were fantastic, and I highly suggest seeing them at least once if you get a chance.

    In closing, The Monsters of Rock Cruise is not only about the music but it’s also about the experiences and the people you will meet. In just a few days, I have made lifelong friends from different countries and already look forward to seeing them again.

    I asked some of them if the lineup matters and many said “not at all” and look forward to the following year as soon as the “cruise hangover” concludes.  

    This is a real thing and I experienced it firsthand. Getting back to “your reality” takes a few days and I suggest not going back to work if you can fit it in your schedule.

    Bookings for next year will start happening soon and it’s never too late to join the other previous virgin passengers who have now become veterans and an integral  part of the MORC family.  

    For information and future bookings, check out their Facebook page as they are updating their web page for the 2025 cruise. https://www.facebook.com/MonstersOfRockCruise/

    For Additional photos from the cruise and other shows, please check out:

    https://www.travisfaileyphotography.com/untitled-gallery

  • Taking it to a New Level with Pantera and Lamb of God in Tampa

    Taking it to a New Level with Pantera and Lamb of God in Tampa

    All Photos by Travis Failey

    After a phenomenal run of headlining the festival circuit in 2023, a reformed Pantera put together a heavy hitting lineup pairing themselves with Lamb of God to tour the planet.

    One of the stops on their second run of shows was in Tampa on Monday night at Amalie Arena affectionately known as the Oil Can.

    When this tour was announced, I was intrigued by what the attendance numbers would be like and seeing this show was on a Monday night, I thought that might have a bit of an effect on ticket sales and butts in the seats.

    But boy was I wrong. Even though the third level was roped off, the floor was packed along with the first and club levels. It was packed and it was great see that the metal community came out in droves in support of the reformed Pantera.

    I believe many in the audience thought that it was just two bands playing but opening the show was the band Nest from St. Louis and they had to be stoked to be playing to the early crowd.

    Nest consists of Jarvis on vocals and guitars, bassist Tim Haar, and drummer Derek Bonn. Their sound is a combination of metal that is aggressive, raw and a bit noisy with sludge added in with odd timing structures.

    Jarvis describes the band as, “a little bit of everything for everyone and Phil Anselmo said “Out of all of the bands I’ve been hearing lately, I think y’all are the most interesting,”“it’s dire and ugly garage punk that is a breath of fresh air in any music climate.”  He liked them so much that Phil; decided to sign them to his label Housecore records and bring them on their biggest tour of their lives.

    Surprisingly Nest played a ten song set and got a huge pop from the crowd when they played “Cheap Sunglasses” by ZZ Top. Nest is a band that you either like them or don’t but I know for a fact that they made new fans on Monday night and that’s what you want to do as up and coming band.  This tour will be introducing other bands like Child Bite and Snafu later in the year so check Pantera’s website to see who will be in support.  

    The metal community loves Lamb of God. This isn’t a new observation by me or anyone else but it was confirmed once again after witnessing them live for the fifth time.

    In the past it was usually a shorter set for me due to it being on the festival circuit but Monday night was a full onslaught of brutal virtuosity.  The video screens and drop curtain read Lamb of God, and Randy Blythe screamed as the curtain dropped and mayhem began.

    Blue and white strobes pulsated with the yellow logo on the backdrop as the band opened with “Memento Mori.” After Blythe splashed his head and others with water, the opening riffs of the fan favorite “Walk With Me In Hell” commenced. The first major mosh pits opened up and were consistent throughout the night but that sort of goes without saying. There was no slowing down.

    Lamb of God continued with “Hourglass” with all the members of the band moving non-stop across the stage. Blythe mentioned how good it was to see everyone in the seats on a Monday night in Tampa at the home of Death Metal.  

    He dedicated  the song “Ruin” to bands like Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Deicide and others. He also had the crowd belt out an old school Ric Flair “Wooh” which of course they did.

    Even though this was only the second show of this tour run with Pantera, Blythe sounded great after a few month show hiatus as did guitarists Willie Adler and Mark Morton with just a booming backline of bassist John Campbell and monster percussionist Art Cruz.

    He asked the crowd if they were ready to hear some mother fucking Pantera songs and the crowd roared in response. He said that it was an honor to be on tour with them and dedicated the set finale “Redneck” to Pantera and also Vinnie and Dime.

    Blythe told the crowd to get a huge circle pit going and if you think you are too old, you need to come out of mosh pit retirement and get in there. The security guys had their hands full but thankfully I didn’t see any need for the EMTs.

    After about a 30 minute break a black curtain with “Pantera” in red with floating pink marijuana leaves donned the stage as home videos of Dimebag and Vinnie with the rest of Pantera played on the stages side screens. “Regular People” blasted through the house speakers getting the fans primed for what was ahead.

      As the screens went black and two white silhouettes of Dime and Vinnie were shown, the  curtain dropped and Phil Anselmo raised his arms to the crowd as huge smoke plumes encompassed the stage as “A New Level” opened the 13 song set.

    Anselmo spoke to the crow and said “every fucking note we hit is for Dimebag and Vin” as “Mouth of War began.

    After a brutally heavy rendition of “Strength Beyond Strength” Anselmo stated “Got everyone’s ass out of the house on a Monday night. “It’s just insane man…Looking out and seeing all the generations of Pantera fans” and asked if anyone saw them in the 90’s. He also said that if the youngsters need to know the lyrics then ask one of the old people in the crowd.”

     He then intro’d “Becoming” with Zakk Wylde screaming the opening riffs with his Warhammer guitar. Zakk was great and moved around much more than at the Rockville show. Both Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante are now well versed in the material and have surpassed all expectations as members of the band.

    After another fan favorite and chorus churner in “I’m Broken”, the reformed Pantera went into deep track mode with the super aggressive “Suicide Note Part 2” from The Great Southern Trendkill. Bassist Rex Brown and Benante sounded like they have been playing together for decades as their timing was dead on balls.

    After “5 Minutes  Alone” and the crowd repeater “This Love” Pantera broke out another deep cut in “Floods” as once again, pictures of Dime and Vinnie played on the large video screens. The brooding 7 minute track concluded with a beautiful solo by Zakk  that would have made Dime proud. 

    The song also gave the fans a bit of a break to get ready for the rest of chain of energy that started with “Walk.” Wrestling legend, Fozzy frontman, and Tampa resident Chris Jerico helped out during the chorus with a few pals including Randy Blythe as the yellow spot lights smothered Wylde.   

    Explosions and fire balls encompassed the stage directly to the right and left of Benante then Rex Brown then took center stage as he rang out the opening bass line to “Domination.” Anselmo addressed the crowd asking the fans if they would come back to see them once again as Wylde played the opening notes to “Cowboys From Hell”.

    The pyro was in full effect and it should be as “Cowboys” is so significant in the history of the music we love and another fan favorite.  We though the night was over as the band did the throwing out of picks and sticks to the crowd  but the band returned to perform “Fucking Hostile,” Anselmo mentioned that 99 percent of Pantera fans know and relate to this song.

    It was a perfect ending to this Monday night of metal madness. High speed aggression, horns raised in the air and metal legends taking the crowd back to the beginnings and through the career of Pantera and paying tribute to Dime and Vinnie’s music and memory.   

    The band came out to center stage, took a bow and a few pics then Anselmo took the mic once again. He then asked everyone to join in as they have done in the past to sing “And She’s Buying The Stair Fucking Way To” and dropped the mic for the crowd to scream “Heaven.”

    As the exhausted crowd departed the venue, many were thankful that they were able to see this version of Pantera at this time in their lives. If you were ever a fan of the band, you will love this show as they leave it all on the stage for their departed brothers and all the Cowboys from Hell out in the crowd.

    For upcoming shows and info https://pantera.com/tour/

  • Sevendust and Static-X Bring The Machine Killer Tour To The Hard Rock In Tampa

    Sevendust and Static-X Bring The Machine Killer Tour To The Hard Rock In Tampa

    All Photos By Travis Failey

    On Sunday Night in Tampa Florida, The Machine Killer tour took over the Hard Rock Casino event center to a sold-out packed house. The tour which featured the co-headlining bands Sevendust and Static-X was joined by Dope in support of their 2022 release Blood Money, Part Zer0, and numerous EPs.

    After arriving at the venue and walking through the cigarette-smoke-filled casino (which I cannot believe is still happening) we got to the event center packed with both male and female concertgoers. The lines for drinks and merch were ridiculously long, especially the merch line.

    After looking at what shirts were available, it was understandable as the designs for all three bands were exceptional. Some of the best I have seen in years, and they were heads and tails above what Pantera and Lamb of God had available the following night at Amalie.

    Dope was first up and crushed it.  They only played a six-song set but frontman Edsel Dope is as good as anyone out there commanding the crowd.  He has been the founder and only remaining member of the band since 1997 and like Sevendust, Dope has been road warriors playing shows consistently since 1998. Every year they have played multiple shows and festivals except during the pandemic years just like every other band on the planet.

    After opening with “Blood Money” Dope went back to 2003 with the next two songs from their Group Therapy release in “Bring It On” and “Bitch.”  Guitarist Acey Slade was a madman moving all over the stage catching the eyes of the crowd especially when he jumped on the riser with saliva streaming off his tongue down his face.  

    Edsel stated that it was crazy playing the casino as it was a beautiful room and that they played nothing like this previously in their career and then the band went into the medley of “Die, Boom, Bang, Burn, Fuck.” “Burn Mother Fucker Burn” flashed on the screen as the fans screamed in unison with Dope.

    Their final song of the night in “You Spin Me Round” which is a Dead or Alive cover, got even the casual fan bouncing and singing in their place. Dope was the perfect catalyst for the co-headliners coming up next.

    Sevendust’s drummer Morgan Rose went through the black backdrop, sat down and grab his drums sticks and looking at him behind my lens, I knew he meant business on Sunday night. He was then joined by his bandmates as they have for the past 30 years. Its truly a rarity in the business that a band that has had this kind of longevity still has their original members left. Sure Guitarist Clint Lowery left to do some solo material etc. but has come back to join his brothers to continue on Sevendust’s legacy.

    Sevendust also surprised many in the crowd with their super heavy and aggressive setlist focusing on their recent release in Truth Killer by opening the show with “I Might Let The Devil Win” and the title track in “Truth Killer.”

    After “Alpha” and “Till Death” it was obvious to many that Sevendust was in a complete “take no prisoners” mode and that they were a well-oiled unit.  Lajon talked to the crowd as he has in past referring to them as family and If you have ever met him, you know he means it as he is one of the most genuine human beings you will ever meet.

    Sevendust jumped around literally on stage and throughout their discography by going back to the Next release by playing “Pieces” and “Hero” and then to Home from 1999 as the crowd joined the band by singing one of their biggest hits in “Denial.”    

    Everyone in the crowd was on their feet as the opening notes to “Black” boomed throughout the venue as it was the song that introduced the band to the public all the way back in 1997.

    The reason why I mention the crowd being on their feet is that the Hard Rock in Tampa has its layout with the floor being general admission and then stadium seating in the back. It’s a great venue for shows with the lighting and the audio usually being top-notch. It’s a venue like no other in the area.

    Sevendust continued their hard-hitting set with “Strong Arm Broken” from Cold Day Memory with Morgan Rose smashing his drums and his trademark screams from behind the kit. It was evident once again that Sevendust leads the way in their genre in vocal harmonies as everyone in the band joined in on the mics throughout the night.

    Lajon also mentioned that a special guest was backstage enjoying the show. We concluded that it happened to be Phil Anselmo from Pantera. Lajon truly looked stoked that he was there along with the fans of course.

    After “Everything” and “Splinter” the band went back once again to their debut and their other single from it in “Bitch” and pull smiles on the faces of the old-schoolers in the crowd and then brought the bats out with “Face to Face.”  The crowd screamed with the band “You Can’t Stop Fucking With My Head, Stop Fucking With My Head” as they jumped up and down with the band.

    Sevendust’s set was a time jump through their career and once again as aggressive as I have seen. It was evident though that this band isn’t going away anytime soon and that their fan base will continue to support the band that they view as brothers.

    After an extended break to get the stage setup, Static-X came on to roars from their faithful fans, many of whom haven’t seen the band since their last tour with original frontman Wayne Static back in 2009.

     I didn’t know what to expect but I knew Xer0 was now singing for them, and I knew a few of their songs but had never seen them live nor did I do a deep dive into their music. I was never a huge industrial guy and bands like Ministry etc. weren’t my thing but I can appreciate it as I lived through the height of that genre.

    Static-X has been described as a combo of nu-metal and Industrial with some electronica and rave beats mixed in. It’s a combination that completely works and gets the crowd moving.

    The band took the stage in the dark as a huge evil pumpkin joined them with dry ice bubbles populating the stage and the crowd.  Xer0 took his perch on the raised staircase platform flanked by his bassist Tony Campo and guitarist Koichi Fukuta with drummer Ken Jay manning the drum kit.

    As their stage intro “Time Warp” concluded, the band kicked off their 16-song set with “Hollow” from their 2020 release in Project Regeneration Vol. 1. This was an album that had tracks from Wayne Static before his death along with many guest vocalists including David Draiman.    

     The band kept the crowd engaged with their sight and sound extravaganza using stage props and crazy visuals along. The pulsing beats were synched up perfectly with purple and pink strobe lights and twisty green and blue anxiety causing swirls with sparks shooting across the stage.

    It was a damn impressive visual showcase and whoever produced this show did a fantastic job and should be commended. They even had a huge green Frankenstein-type zombie come out during…. you guessed it “Zombie.”

    They moved very quickly throughout their set and highlights for me were when they played “Terminator Oscillator” “Bled For Days” and of course “I’m with Stupid.” I was familiar with those songs but the loyal fans throughout the crowd were moshing, crowd surfing, and singing with Xer0 the whole set.

    Static-X closed out the show with their biggest hit “Push It” from 1997’s Wisconsin Death Trip release and with it, the crowd went to another level with intensity and moshing. It was a cool sight to see in this venue as I hadn’t witnessed it before and as the band thanked the crowd and departed, fans left the facility sweaty and even exhausted.

    The Machine Killer tour has everything you want from a tour. Sights, sounds, electrifying visuals and three veteran bands giving it their all for themselves and especially their loyal fans.  If you like these bands or if you are just intrigued by the lineup and are looking for an adrenaline release, The Machine Killer Tour continues throughout the U.S. at a venue near you.

    For show dates:

    https://static-x.org/pages/mk
  • Go Pack Go !

    Go Pack Go !

    EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO

    CLEARWATER, Fla.–A group of Green Bay Packers fans gathered at Fuzzy’s Sports Bar in Clearwater, Florida on Sunday night to witness and cheer on their team in its stumping of the Dallas Cowboys.  Although there were a number of Cowboy fans present those from Winneconne, Appleton and New London, Wisconsin out cheered them throughout the game.  The words “Go Packers” was heard shouted throughout the game and increased in volume as the game ended with the 48-32 final score.  Those present appeared to be enjoying the 60-degree weather presently in the Clearwater area and not missing their hometown snow.

  • LSU Tigers Come Back Multiple Times Against The Wisconsin Badgers To Win The 2024 Reliaquest Bowl

    LSU Tigers Come Back Multiple Times Against The Wisconsin Badgers To Win The 2024 Reliaquest Bowl

    ReliaQuest Bowl

    1JAN2024Raymond James Stadium Tampa

    All Photos By Jordan Raiff & Travis Failey

    Marking the 38th year of Tampa’s historic SEC versus Big Ten inter-conference match-up. This year LSU and Wisconsin were representing their respective conferences. With Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels opting to be a healthy scratch, LSU had an uphill battle in front of their players. Daniels is approaching an almost certain top 5 draft pick, so Garrett Nussmeier was under center for his first collegiate start.

    Despite all the excitement and a Heisman Trophy winner on the sidelines, the parking lots were rather empty, and the fans were not as spirited as in years past. Perhaps it was the unseasonably cool 58* temp at kick-off, or maybe the fans just weren’t too fond of the rule, but the big party atmosphere the Reliaquest Bowl traditionally sees was gone. 

    LSU won the toss, and in a surprise move opted to receive. Staring from their 7-yard line is not where LSU wanted to be, but Nussmeier took the responsibility for this opening drive seriously. Leading off with a 9-yard pass to Malik Nabers, Nussmeier seemed ready to bring his A game. Unfortunately, the no-huddle shotgun he was running only took the team to the LSU 43 before they were forced to punt. 

    Almost as if he wanted to show the kid how it’s done, Wisconsin’s Tanner Mordecai ran his no-huddle shotgun offense. With a team who is already very in tune with his movements and option reads Wisconsin marched down the field 78 yards in just 5 plays and 2:15 off the clock.

    Taking the early 7-0 lead, Mordecai looked brilliant as he aired it out to Will Pauling to drive down the field, and connected with Bryson Green to put the score on the board. 

    Trading three-and-outs, the teams seemed to have a bit of nerves after that opening touchdown. Then with just 23 seconds left in the quarter, Mordecai connected with Pauling at the Wisconsin 47, where he broke free and added an extra TD to the board to end the quarter.

    The life had been visibly sucked out of the LSU sideline, with fabled mascot Mike doing his best to rally the crowd before the start of the second quarter. 

    The second quarter saw both teams yet again getting stuck at the midfield. It was as if the Bucs’ midfield woes from the day before had gotten stuck to the grass. After trading possessions, LSU drove down the field with a 60-yard, 8-play drive with a 1-yard run TD from John Emry Junior. Suddenly the crowd roared to life, and despite the small attendance the game suddenly had increased presence and a 14-7 score with Wisconsin up. 

    With a 28-yard return to the Wisconsin 31, the Badgers were in a solid position to make a real push to extend their lead before the half could close. Mordecai kept with the no-huddle shotgun, and once again found himself stuck at midfield.

    Getting all the way down to the LSU 39, he couldn’t get past the 33 before they sent out Nathaniel Vakos to attempt a 51-yard field goal. Missing the uprights, LSU took over, and rammed the ball back down the field, going 67 yards in 7 plays for a TD to tie the game 14 all. 

    Wasting no time, Wisconsin answers back with a 5-play 75-yard TD of their own. Taking only 41 seconds to get down the field, three 15+ yard chunk plays accounted for most of the field progression.

    Mordecai and Pauling connected yet again, this time for 9 yards, and ultimately with Vakos; extra point going up 21-14. With an interception on LSU at their 45 seemed to set Wisconsin up to add some spice to the board before the end of the half, but a series of failed runs ended with them turning the ball over on downs, and LSU kneeling to end the half. 

    Halftime this year featured a variety of High School marching bands working in sync. Their dedication to their craft is evident, and they performed on one of the biggest stages of college football flawlessly. Talking to security who have worked the Reliaquest Bowl for decades, they said it was one of the finest performances they had seen. 

    Wisconsin got the ball to start the third quarter, and Mordecai picked up right where he left off at the last score. Chipping away at the LSU defense, he chopped the ball up the field. Relying little on the rush all game, Josh Acker came to life and put up 6 yards for the first down, and then a 33-yard run for the touchdown. The 8-play 75-yard push gave Wisconsin a 28-14 lead. 

    Much like the last scoring drive, Nussmeier attacked the Wisconsin defense with a rhythm that was challenging Mordecai’s skill, and calling him out. Facing the same 75 yards from the endzone, he proceeded to cap off the 5-play drive with a 38-yard pass to Brian Thomas. Closing the gap, LSU took the score to 28-21. With a false start penalty essentially negating a great play from Mordecai and Burroughs, they ultimately ended up punting from their own 27.

    LSU came storming back down the field, with Noah Cain getting the Tigers out to the dreaded midfield area. Once here, Nussmeier spread the love across his receivers, hitting Lacy, Williams, and finally connecting with Hilton for a 14-yard touchdown.

    The play was heavily reviewed after loud complaints from Wisconsin fans who believed he didn’t get his foot down. Calling a timeout, Wisconsin got the play reviewed, but ultimately the call stood. Now 28-28 with 4:37 left in the quarter. 

    On an interesting choice in kickoff, Wisconsin ran the ball out to their 40-yard line. However, a personal foul on LSU took the ball to the LSU 45 to start the drive, and they turned that into a 36-yard bomb. Getting to the LSU 1-yard line, Mordecai was forced back to the 6-yard line on a failed QB sneak. Settling for a 3-yard field goal, the Badger fans were frustrated to end the quarter only up 31-28.

    After flipping sides at the LSU 31, neither the Tigers nor Badgers could get any real offense going. Both sides seemed unable to string together completions or successful runs. Despite it being unseasonably cool, the sun had been bright all day, and the players certainly had it weighing on them as they played along.

    Trading punts from midfield back and forth, it wasn’t until an LSU drive starting with 6:10 left to play with Williams yet again marching the ball down the field. Trimming down the clock, Nussmeier along with the LSU coaching staff commanded a genius 3-minute 8-play drive. Going 98 yards, the Tigers took the lead 35-28 thanks to a Nussmeier and Thomas pass.

    Starting at the Wisconsin 31, the Badgers only had 3 minutes to play, and needed a big answer to have a shot at overtime. A 24-yard pass to Green had the Badger faithful excited for Mordecai’s push. Getting to the LSU 19, Mordecai seemed to have the perfect setup going.

    Unfortunately, three consecutive sacks drove the team back from the 19 to the 42-yard line of LSU. Turning over the ball, Nussmeier was visibly emotional as he took a knee to end the game. 

    This was a legendary ReliaQuest Bowl. Combining for 773 yards, (395 LSU, 378 Wisconsin), Mordecai and Nussmeier set Bowl Game records, and going 31 of 45 for 395 and with 1 INT and no sacks, Nussmeier rightfully won the MVP vote. With the smaller crowd on hand for such a legendary moment, the LSU players were able to take in the moment and connect with their fans after the game.

    Just seeing how dedicated these players are to the fans, proves that LSU is a college that has that indescribable quality that makes them a true powerhouse.

  • What’s Taking so Long Jays

    DUNEDIN, FLA. –The Toronto Blue Jays minor league players dormitory construction enters its second year with a second floor finally being built over the site’s eastern half.  This while the western half in some places has yet to have concrete flooring poured.  Construction started on the site of a former car wash prior to December 2022.

  • EDDIE TRUNK, MICK MARS, SEBASTIAN BACH, TIM “RIPPER” OWENS, CARLOS CAVAZO, PENELOPE SPHEERIS, BIOHAZARD, WHISKY a Go Go TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE 2024 METAL HALL OF FAME

    EDDIE TRUNK, MICK MARS, SEBASTIAN BACH, TIM “RIPPER” OWENS, CARLOS CAVAZO, PENELOPE SPHEERIS, BIOHAZARD, WHISKY a Go Go TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE 2024 METAL HALL OF FAME


     

    The 2024 7th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala “The most important night in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal” will take place on January 24, 2024, at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove, Anaheim, CA, and will be hosted by radio  Icon / 2024 Metal Hall of Fame Inductee Eddie Trunk, and entertainment personality Cathy Rankin.  The event will include a special 40th Anniversary Induction for Eddie Trunk, with surprise guests, live music performances, and an All-Star Jam.      

    2024 METAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:
    EDDIE TRUNK (Special 40th Anniversary Induction)
    MICK MARS (Special video induction)
    SEBASTIAN BACH (Inducted by WENDY DIO)
    TIM “RIPPER” OWENS (KK’s Priest, Judas Priest, Iced Earth)
    CARLOS CAVAZO (Quiet Riot) 
    PENELOPE SPHEERIS (Producer/Director: Decline of Western Civilization, Wayne’s World)
    MIKEAL MAGLIERI – WHISKY a Go Go, Rainbow Bar & Grill
    CLEOPATRA RECORDS  
    BIOHAZARD
    SURPRISE GUESTS, PERFORMANCES, & ALL STAR JAM!!

    GET TICKETS HERE:
    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-annual-metal-hall-of-fame-gala-tickets-771963873727?aff=oddtdtcreator

    “The 2024 Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala is going to be another exciting night, with some legendary artists performing and sharing some great stories,” says Metal Hall of Fame President Pat Gesualdo. 

    ABOUT THE METAL HALL OF FAME:
    The Metal Hall of Fame is a non profit, volunteer organization dedicated to forever enshrining the iconic musicians and music industry executives responsible for making Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music what it is today. Their contribution to the genre is invaluable, and they continue to inspire fans throughout the world, from generation to generation.  100% of proceeds from Metal Hall of Fame events go to preserving Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Music for future generations, and also bring free music programs to help special needs children and wounded veterans in health facilities and community centers.

    For more information, please visit:
    www.metalhalloffame.org or call 973-263-0420

  • USF Secures A Bowl Bid By Beating Charlotte 48-14

    USF Secures A Bowl Bid By Beating Charlotte 48-14

    USF got an impressive victory on Saturday Night at Raymond James Stadium against the Charlotte 49ers by playing rock solid defense, some trickery and of course behind the legs and arm of their record setting QB in Byrum Brown.

    In front of an announced crowd of over 29,000 fans on Senior Night, The Bulls got off to a slow start as Charlotte moved the ball at will and scored on their first possession of the game with some thinking” Oh no, here we go again” in refence to the matchup the following week where the Bulls got crushed 49-21 by the UTSA Roadrunners.

    But that would not be the case as after Charlotte went for it on 4th and inches from their own 9 yard line and missed on a long pass down the side line, Byrum Brown hit Sean Atkins on a beautiful post route to tie the game at 7.

    Atkins was once again a monster for the Bulls as he has been all season, partnering with Brown for his seventh-straight game with seven or more receptions and extended his season receiving yards record to 961 on the year.

    After the Bulls got the ball back, Atkins took a backwards pass from Brown and then threw the ball to Kelley Joiner for a 62 yard score that got the fans on their feet with the chants of “USF” bellowing throughout the stadium.

    Atkins on the play:

    “What did you see on that big play to RB Kelley Joiner Jr.?” “I saw my best friend running wide open. It was pretty easy to hit him when he was that wide open, so
    that is what I saw.”

    Coach Golesh on the fans:

    “First I want to start out by genuinely thanking that fans that came out tonight. It was a cool crowd with a
    bunch of fans in the house making noise, and I really appreciate that. My job is to fill our stadium, and
    we’re going to continue to do so.

    After the Bulls took a 21-7 lead capped by a 4 yard run by Joiner, Byrum Brown connected with Jaden Alexis for a 60-yard touchdown and the Bulls took a three-score lead just two plays into the third quarter.

    The 49ers needed only five plays to answer, scoring on freshman Steven Johnson‘s first touchdown pass in his first appearance — a 47-yarder to Jairus Mack, to get within 28-14 at the 12:09 mark.

    That was all the scoring for Charlotte though as the Bulls defense stiffened up with three interceptions (Berryhill, Evans and Harris) and LB Jhalyn Shuler and DE D.J. Harris had nine tackles.

    The running game was also strong for the Bulls all night as Michel Dukes rushed for 104 yards on 15 carries, Joiner had an additional 33 and Brown also put up 43 for a team total of 188 yards.

    Brown wasn’t done putting up his Bulls record numbers as he ran 35 yards for a score, giving the Bulls a 41-14 after three quarters then he tossed a 1-yard pass to Naiem Simmons for the lone score of the fourth quarter to go to 48-14.

    Brown on his record and the celebration

    Q: “What does it mean to be the first USF QB to throw for 3,000 yards in a season?”
    A: “It is truly a blessing. It is a testament to the whole organization, my teammates, the coaching staff,
    and the fans they are just building us up. It comes down to everyone going out there and executing. It is
    not just me, it is about the whole team. I am glad for the whole team. I can’t wait to go bowling.”


    Q: “What was it like on the field and in the locker room with this celebration?”
    A: “Everybody was turnt up. I don’t know what to say, everyone was just happy, smiling, and dancing.
    Anything you can name, we were doing it and having a blast.”

    As the Bulls took the field with about 5 minutes to play, Brown and his teammates took the field. Coach Golesh took a timeout and took the starters out to a huge applause as it could be the last time the fans see some of the players on their home field for various reasons. Some are graduating while others including Brown may hit the transfer portal.

    Lets hope that doesn’t happen as this young man has provided this team and this community a huge spark of interest in the Bulls once again.

    After the game, the players high fived the crowd and took pictures with their families prior to going into the locker room.

    No matter which team or whatever bowl game they get invited to, this team is must watch football while he is under center or in the shotgun just like Quentin Flowers was a few years back.

    Many are hoping for a home town USF-UCF matchup in the Gasparilla Bowl, but I’m hoping that the team gets a trip out to Hawaii as they deserve it for what the team and Coach Golesh has done this season.

    We will know on December 3rd who they are matching up with and their destination. The best part is that they will get more time to practice which will help them get ready for the game and for recruiting which is huge for this program and their future.

    Coach Golesh:

    Q: “What does it mean to be bowl-eligible?”
    A: “It is special. Going home for the whole month of December while everyone else practices and gets to
    go to bowl games, eats at you mentally. Being in a position to go out and play in December, and play
    your best football in November, is something that you cannot buy. That is priceless.

    Notes:

    USF recorded its 100th win in Raymond James Stadium.

    USF has registered over 5,000 yards on offense on the season, the sixth time in program history to
    reach the mark and first since 2018.

    USF posted its fourth game with 500+ offensive yards on the year

  • JUDAS PRIEST ANNOUNCES THE INVINCIBLE SHIELD TOUR WITH SABATON

    JUDAS PRIEST ANNOUNCES THE INVINCIBLE SHIELD TOUR WITH SABATON

    Today, heavy metal titans Judas Priest have announced their Invincible Shield Tour with special guest Sabaton. The all-time greats will take over the U.S.A. this spring with 14 shows.

    Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on April 18 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT making stops in Reading, PA; Boston, MA; Rosemont, IL; Washington, DC and more before wrapping up in Syracuse, NY at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview on May 22.

    Full ticketing and tour dates are available below. Metalheads are in for the show of a lifetime as few rock or metal acts remain as much of a must-see live attraction as Judas Priest!

    Also, on Friday, November 17 JUDAS PRIEST will release ‘Trial By Fire’ the second song from their highly-anticipated new album Invincible Shield after the acclaimed lead single ‘Panic Attack’ – https://judaspriest.lnk.to/InvincibleShield

    TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning on Wednesday, November 15. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, November 17 at 10am local time at judaspriestinvincibleshield.com.

    JUDAS PRIEST: INVINCIBLE SHIELD TOUR DATES:
    Thu Apr 18 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre
    Fri Apr 19 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
    Sun Apr 21 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
    Wed Apr 24 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center
    Thu Apr 25 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
    Sat Apr 27 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Center*
    Sun Apr 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River
    Wed May 01 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre
    Thu May 02 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
    Sat May 4 – Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center*
    Sun May 05 – Maryland Heights, MO – St Louis Music Park
    Tue May 07 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Propst Arena*
    Thu May 09 – Daytona, FL – Welcome to Rockville^
    Sat May 11 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
    Sun May 12 – Mobile, AL – Mobile Civic Center Arena*
    Tue May 14 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
    Fri May 17 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center*
    Sun May 19 – Washington, DC –The Theater at MGM National Harbor
    Tue May 21 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
    Wed May 22 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
    *Not a Live Nation Date
    ^Festival Performance

  • Pantera To Continue The Art Of Shredding With A Second Leg Of Their US Tour With Lamb Of God

    Pantera To Continue The Art Of Shredding With A Second Leg Of Their US Tour With Lamb Of God

    Heavy metal icons PANTERA will return to the stage this February on the second leg of their North American headlining tour. The journey follows the band’s massively successful twenty-city run this past Summer, a tour which stood as one of the most anticipated tours of 2023, as well as their dates supporting Metallica.

    Featuring classic members, vocalist Philip H. Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, alongside guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante, the latest stretch of live dates continues the celebration of the lives of late founding members, drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell.

    The trek, which will commence on February 3rd in Sunrise, Florida, runs through fourteen cities, coming to a close on February 27th in Quebec City, Quebec. The band will again be joined by special guest, acclaimed metal powerhouse Lamb Of God, with additional support acts to be announced in the weeks to come.

    Comments Anselmo, “Looking forward to jamming with everybody! These shows mean a lot and we aim to kick ass! Love y’all!”

    Adds Brown, “We’re really excited to announce new dates in 2024. Looking forward to bringing the show to some cities we missed in 2023. Come jam!”

    Ticket presales and VIP upgrades begin Tuesday, November 14th at 10:00am local time. General on sale date is Friday, November 17th at 10:00am local time at Pantera.com.

    PANTERA was recently confirmed to play the 2024 edition of Download Festival. The performance will mark the band’s first UK appearance in three decades! Additionally, fans can catch PANTERA supporting Metallica on the remaining dates of their North American stadium tour this August. See all confirmed dates below.

    PANTERA w/ Special Guest Lamb Of God:

    2/03/2024 Amerant Bank Arena – Sunrise, FL

    2/05/2024 Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL

    2/07/2024 Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY

    2/09/2024 Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN

    2/10/2024 FedEx Forum – Memphis, TN

    2/13/2024 T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, MO

    2/14/2024 Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NE

    2/16/2024 Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB

    2/18/2024 Resch Center – Green Bay, WI

    2/20/2024 Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI

    2/22/2024 Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

    2/24/2024 CFG Bank Arena – Baltimore, MD

    2/26/2024 Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON

    2/27/2024 Centre Vidéotron – Québec City, QC

    End Tour

    6/14-16/2024 Download Fest @ Donington Park – Derby, UK #

    8/02/2024 Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA **

    8/09/2024 Soldier Field – Chicago, IL **

    8/16/2024 US Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, MN **

    8/23/2024 Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton, AB **

    8/30/2024 Lumen Field – Seattle, WA **

    # Festival date

    ** PANTERA supporting Metallica

    “When a newly restructured PANTERA took the stage at Milwaukee’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater, the chorus of cheers that greeted them was a voluminous mix of both excitement and disbelief.” — Illinois Entertainer

    “…a true tribute to the legacy of the Abbott brothers and the music they helped create. It is also a gift to the many fans that have gotten goosebumps from the raw power that PANTERA is able to harness like no other band.” — The Intelligencer

    “…an emotional tribute to the music the quartet made.” — TribLIVE

    “Anselmo, Brown, Wylde, and Benante masterfully honored the band’s legacy while embracing a new chapter, standing as a testament to the indomitable spirit of heavy metal. In a genre defined by resilience, PANTERA’s triumphant return is nothing short of remarkable.” — All Music Magazine

    “As PANTERA closed its set with the opening riff of ‘Cowboys From Hell’ playing behind them, Anselmo asked the packed stadium who would come to see them in the future. The response would be one of the evening’s loudest.” — Dallas Observer

  • USF Bulls Increase Chances Of Going “Bowling” By Beating The Temple Owls 27-23

    USF Bulls Increase Chances Of Going “Bowling” By Beating The Temple Owls 27-23

    On Saturday at Ray Jay, the USF Bulls defeated the Temple Owls 27-23 in a nail biter on Military Appreciation Day. With the victory putting them at 5-5 with two winnable games to play against the UTSA Roadrunners on the road and then back at home against Charlotte, the postseason bowl possibility looks like a reality.

    In front of a crowd of 30,938, Quarterback Byrum Brown led the Bulls once again and got the team off to a great start by hitting Sean Atkins on a 40 yard deep ball to setup Brown to take it in untouched from 7 yards out only 1:46 into the game, which was also their fastest score of the year.

    The Bulls kept their foot on the gas in the first quarter as the defense had three straight stops leading to two more scores for the Bulls to go up 17-0 late in the first quarter. “I thought how our guys started was incredible,” said first-year coach Alex Golesh,

    “I thought offensively to go down and go punch it in relatively quickly, and then the defense to answer the bell, then to score again and the defense answer the bell … now the next part of who we are has to be, how do we keep the gas going?”

    Temple got on the board as EJ Warner hit TE Jordan Smith on a beautiful post play with Smith making a nice cut route to deke Daquan Evans for the score to make the game 17-7.

    Warner playing in front of his Super Bowl winning father, finished the game 24-47 for 280 yards and 3 costly interceptions including a pick six by defensive end Tramel Logan to give the Bulls the lead at 27-10 with 3:09 to go in the third.

    “He came off the field on the sideline and said, ‘I’ve been on the JUGS (passing machine) coach, like you keep preaching,’ ” Golesh said. “It sounds so simple, why is a (defensive) lineman on the JUGS every single day? Because of the one opportunity that might come at him. You talk about process, that’s nothing we make him do.”

    Temple’s defense then stepped up and held the Bulls to no points in the final 18 minutes and turned the game into a nail-biter as the Owls trimmed the deficit to 27-23 as Warner hit WR Dante Wright for a 12 yard score. Kicker Camden Price missed the huge extra point preserving a four-point USF lead with 7:03 to play.

    Warner threw for 199 yards in the second half but USF was able to run out the clock on the final drive to give USF another conference win to go 3-3 on the season. On the final drive, Brown and the Bulls ran a 14 play drive and were able to drain Temple of the timeouts to secure the big home victory.

    There were fantastic performances on the offensive and defensive side of the ball with WR Sean Atkins going for 9 catches and 169 yards giving him the single season team reception record by a Bull surpassing Rodney Adams who had 67 in 2016. Atkins has 69 with two games to go and has been a staple for Brown this season as a first down getting target.

    “It’s surreal, man,” said graduate receiver Sean Atkins, a former walk-on who eclipsed USF’s single-season receptions mark with a nine-catch, 169-yard day.

    “Meaningful games in November are something special. I haven’t (been) able to be a part of it my whole career here, so just being able to live in the moment right now and just go out every day in practice and know that it’s something we’re playing for, it’s just something special.”

    On the defensive side of the ball, Aamaris Brown intercepted Warner twice making highlight type plays to quell the Owls drives. They were the first two picks of the year for Brown and they couldn’t have come at a better time in the season.

    USF amassed 451 yards, but was a combined 7 of 20 on third and fourth down, and was flagged 10 times for 70 yards.

    Byrum Brown also got his bell rung as his helmet came flying off in the third quarter but only missed one play and was back on the field leading his teammates to victory.

    “Week 10 of the season, that should not be happening and it was happening,” Golesh said. “So we’ve got to fix that.”

    In the grand scheme of things, the Bulls with Alex Golesh leading the team and Brown behind center, this team is one that the fans can get behind and the future with their upcoming recruiting classes looking solid, The Bulls seem to be back and looking to throw a strike in the post-season.

  • “BKFC 53 Breaking It Down At Olympia!!!”

    3NOV2023

    Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL

    All Photos by Jordan Raiff

    Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returned to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL on November 3rd. Marking the return of BKFC Middleweight Champ, and FL fighter David Mundell, this was a packed card and held in a smaller more personal section of the Olympia showcase.

    With scale issues causing issues for Julian Lane, and Crystal Pittman’s opponent disrespecting herself, Pittman and BKFC as a whole. As a fighter, coming in more than 20 pounds overweight is inexcusable. You know when you aren’t making it, and she seemed to think BKFC would just roll with it. After weigh-ins were done, and a catchweight agreed to, BKFC officials still scrapped the bout. Hopefully, Pittman will get to compete before the end of 2023.

    Opening the prelim card was Ja’Far Fortt versus Aaron Sutterfield. With a five-inch height and reach advantage, Sutterfield wanted to bring his advantages to the forefront. Getting into his second fight, he got a wake-up call for his first fight. Fortt is 2-0 in BKFC and he has been a huge force in the sport since he started.

    Landing a tremendous overhand right, Fortt dropped Sutterfield in under 30 seconds. Unable to properly get his footing, and balance the fight was done. There was no control from Sutterfield at all, Fortt simply dominated, even driving him back from the scratch line to start.   Winner: Fortt TKO in the 1st Round

    Jeff Janview and Devonte Jeffrey were left to follow such a great TKO. Both making their debut, Jeffrey came out ultimately more aggressive and focused. This energy was brought out by some simply devastating shots. As the two traded shots, Jeffrey seemed to lose his pace for a moment, and Janview locked right in on that. Letting the hands fly, he sent Jeffrey stumbling, but not quite down. 

    In the second round, Jeffrey came out stiffer. Janview capitalized on this and started pinpointing his shots. With fury and a fierce attack, his overhand right hammered on Jeffrey’s forehead, and made him drop his head to protect himself. Backed into the ropes, he couldn’t move and was stuck bent over. With no choice but to call it, the ref ended the fight with some mercy for Jeffrey. Winner: Janview by TKO in the 2nd Round

    In the third fight of the prelims, Michael Larrimore took on Justin Watson. Already suffering a prospects loss, Watson seemed timid about going 0-2. Meanwhile, the confidence from his first BKFC victory back in July had Larrimore incredibly anxious to get the win.

    Hitting Watson so hard he got lifted at one point, he kept that pressure up and showed that his defense simply lacked what it takes to last. Taking a knee after a liver shot, Larrimore had an easy TKO as Watson couldn’t pick up the count at 9 like he thought he could. Winner: Larimore by TKO in the 1st Round

    As the broadcast switched over to the pay-per-view portion of the night, the BKFC audience snagged a ton of free swag. These first-round TKOs make it difficult to eat up the full hour on YouTube’s Free-View and to let the late fans have time to grab a drink as they enter. The fans enjoyed this and had some great give-and-take with Brian Soscia.

    Beginning the PPV was Dagoberto Aguero making his BKFC debut, and 3-2 Chancy Wilson. These 125lb fighters may be light in weight, but the power behind their punches is incredible. Off the start, both fighters seemed to be feeling each other out, with some excellent footwork.

    While neither fighter took a distinct edge, Aguero started dog-walking towards Wilson to taunt him, a move Wilson didn’t have a good answer for before the bell.

    The second round was starkly different, with Wilson coming out of his corner and getting in Aguero’s face. Seemingly feeling disrespected following the charge, Aguero kept the distance, and while he ate and traded some shots, Wilson started responding to the fans, and talking something to Aguero that prompted a series of middle finger responses. Now fighting more in the clinch, Aguero found this was still his game.

    Round three opened with Wilson trying to take advantage of his experience and using his speed to keep the fight close. While using his speed to try and help with this, Aguero timed his attacks, forcing Wilson to bring it back in. This gave Aguero the opening to land a beautiful shot to check Wilson’s chin.

    Crashing to the mat, he didn’t have a chance to get back to his feet. After the 10-count, the docs and medical officials raced to the ring. After 30-45 seconds, Wilson got up, with Aguero checking on him and raising his hand to the roar of the crowd. Winner: Aguero by TKO in the 3rd Round 

    Mike Heckert and Scott Lampert made their BKFC debut. With a 5-inch reach advantage and 2 inches of height, Lampert seemed poised to take an easy victory. Given the sheer size and “combat-ready” build of Lampert, he looked like he could take the hits and keep coming.

    Both coming out strong, Lampert slipped on the canvas and found himself crashing down multiple times in the opening round. Seemingly disappointed in himself, Lampert kept walking right into knockdowns and being thrown down in the clinch. Just before the end of round Lampert crashed again and took Heckert down with him.

    Coming off of the stool, Lampert seemed unable to get it together. Slipping and falling down quickly, Lampert seemingly had no clue where he was. The intelligent defense was gone, and his own corner recognized it.

    Waiving it off, the doc climbed the apron and waived the fight off. Ending as Lampert yet again fell down, it’ll be interesting to see how he recovers and if he can come back to BKFC. Heckert’s dominant performance is a testimony to his work, and the caliber of fighters the Tampa area is churning out. Winner: Heckert by Disqualification (intentional headbutt) in the 2nd Round

    Nathan Rivera made his BKFC debut against Jaymes Hyder, who wanted to avenge his loss back in August during BKFC 49. Showing uncertainty with his footwork, Rivera seemed ready to get some punches in. As Hyder fought for defense, he suddenly froze. Looking as if he broke something, Hyder became a statue. Seemingly like time stopped for him, Rivera took advantage and landed some vicious strikes to the head and body of Hyder.

    Trying to fight back, he just couldn’t seem to get back in the pocket before Rivera sent him to the ground, where he would stay. Winner: Rivera by 1st Round TKO

    Diego Romo and Ravon Baxter were up in the seventh bout of the night. These two light heavyweights had a solid and intense faceoff, and that carried over into the opening round. With Romo clearly the aggressor, he was eager to make his mark in his debut in the promotion.

    Baxter being 1-1 gave him the patience to stick the pocket and push the fight his way. Frequently tying up on the ropes, Baxter was able to keep Romo off balance through the round. 

    Round two had Romo leading the aggression, and Baxter used this to his advantage. Timing the aggression of Romo, Baxter dropped him with a solid left. Recovering quickly, he got onto his feet and kept the attack up. Again, frequently tying up, the fighters each spent a good chunk of time leaning on one another and the ropes. 

    The third round saw Baxter using the ropes almost to his advantage. By keeping Romo on the move, and only having to pivot, Baxter found a rhythm that allowed him to build some lazy but slightly effective offense. It also gave him comfort and energy savings that benefit his fight style. Many of the fans were left questioning the fight, with many yelling for more action.

    In round four both fighters were simply running on heart and heart alone. Getting into the clinch for most of the round, the ref kept having to break them up.

    Romo took a few solid strikes to the jaw and answered back with some devastating body shots. Baxter was able to clinch up but slipped as he was hit. Ruled a knockdown, he recovered and finished the round somewhat strongly.

    In the fifth and final round, Romo seemed to get a fire lit under his ass. Realizing he was likely down on the cards, he started motioning for Baxter to bring the fight to him. Clearly exhausted, the two fighters leaned significantly on one another.

    While not the level of damage we saw in the original Rocky movie, these two stood and traded blows as best they could as the fight ended. As the first (and only) fight to go the distance all night, the fans were excited for the end.

    Going to the cards, many in the audience were chanting “One more round!!” as it echoed over and over across the arena. Given the promotion’s rule that fights should be afforded a bonus round when there was a draw, many in the audience were left questioning what happened as “Mr. Live Worldwide” Jeff Houston announced the fight was a majority draw. Romo took one judge’s card by a point, and the other two judges ruled it a draw. Winner: Majority Draw

    Jonathan Miller and Sawyer Depee took the squared circle next in the featured Cruiserweight battle of the card. With Depee having a sizeable height advantage, Miller kept trying to shrink himself and charge in to close the gap.

    Bullrushing in, Depee kept sidestepping and punching him while driving him down towards the mat. Trading shots when they lacked up, Miller stopped ducking when he saw an opening.

    As the round came towards a close, Miller was stunned, with Depee dropping him right as the bell sounded. Unable to recover Miller stayed down through the announcement of Depee as the winner too. Winner: Depee by KO to end the 1st Round

    The 1-0 Turkish superstar Murat Kazgan and “Let Me Bang” Julian Lane were up in the co-main event. Losing 20% of his fight purse following some true bush league scale problems, Lane came in at 170, with Kazgan at 166.

    Determined to follow up his bloodthirsty response to Kazgan’s headbutt at the weigh-ins, Lane came out with a plan. The plan? Simply to keep him tied up and work that patented banging clinch attack. While not landing significant damage, the two traded shots. Cheers of “USA!!” and “Istanbul!!” filled the room off and on during the fight.

    The second round was a more violent and unpredictable part of the bout. Kazgan landed a powerful blow to Lane that I could hear but not see or photograph, thanks to people standing in front of the media section. Lane got back up quickly, rating the knockdown more like a slip. Busted open (as usual for Lane) the blood dripping down seemed to wake him up. 

    Round three saw both Lane and Kazgan in the clinch frequently, with both fighters showing life, but not accurate or significant shots. As the ref kept pulling them apart, like magnets they kept linking back up and leaning on one another. Lane used this time to maneuver his head around as his head rubbed in a bit a worked the cut.

    This traditional and classic style of infighting was beautiful, and Lane targeted the hell out of Kazgan’s left eye. Again, heavily blocked from seeing the end, the eruption of the crowd told the tale of their excitement. Surviving the round, the doc looked at his eye and determined he could no longer effectively see to defend himself. Winner: Lane by Doctor Stoppage at the end of the 3rd Round

    Taking to the squared circle in the main event, David Mundell defended his 175lb Middleweight championship title against the 3-0 Doug Coltrane. Coming out an inch taller and with four inches more in reach, Coltrane moved more like a giraffe on ice skates than a challenger for a world title.

    Mundell tested the waters and figured out a game plan, and seemed to have an answer. Working with a squatted stance, Mundell showed Miller a prime example of how this is supposed to look. Making Coltrane slip on his feet, as well as knocking him down, Coltrane was lucky to survive the round, but still pieced together an answer as the bell rang.

    Going into the second round, Mundell stuck to working the body. As Coltrane grabbed at Mundell, he couldn’t seem to grab him. As one person described it, this was like someone trying to “rip out a mighty oak stump, but the damn thing is rooted so deep the crane tipped over instead!!”

    A few exchanges of volleys later, Mundell forced Coltrane to double over in pain before dropping him with a devastating right hook. Unable to find his feet, much less the count Coltrane was done for.

    Thought to be a minor challenger, after being announced the winner, Mundell expressed his disappointment with paper challengers. Calling out Mike Perry (who was ringside) the two look to be squaring up soon!! Winner: Mundell by KO in the 2nd Round

  • Beast In Black Claws The Orpheum

    Beast In Black Claws The Orpheum

    It’s always interesting going to not only a new venue but also seeing a couple of bands that you have very limited knowledge of. Well on Saturday night in Tampa, both of those situations were in play as Beast in Black headlined the new Orpheum with Dance With the Dead as the opening act.

    I also wasn’t very sure what size the crowd would be but the venue moved the bands from the smaller inside stage area to the outside larger stage which was definitely needed as the place was packed.  It was a great move by the manager as it was a beautiful night in Tampa with the weather finally shifting from the African heat that we have had all summer down here.

    What was really surprising though was the number of girls in the crowd especially at the rail. This was a huge difference from what you normally see at a hard rock or metal show and there were also a few interesting characters in attendance, but I’ll get to that later.   

    Dance With the Dead opened the show and I’m glad I made it to cover them as they were really cool blending hard rock and metal with synch pop sounds. While I was listening to them, multiple band influences for them popped into my head including Satriani, Dream Theatre, and Dragonforce but they also took me back to my days in the rave scene with their beats etc. 

    I would refer to their sound as Rave Metal and as I watched the crowd throughout their 45-minute plus 14-song set, the fans were bouncing around and head-banging in unison with smiles on their faces.  

    I was also surprised to find out that Dance With The Dead has been around for 10 years and the duo of Tony Kim on guitar and Justin Pointer on keys and a killer green guitar were joined on this tour by a slamming drummer in John Terry.

     Even though the band does not have a singer as there aren’t any lyrics in their songs, the music did not get stale or repetitive during their set.

    The crowd and I were super impressed with their songs and ability, and I personally would go see this band again as a fan or cover them from a media capacity as they are that good at the sounds they are creating.

    After a short break, Finnish metallers Beast in Black took the stage joined by two female naked mannequins cut at the torso in half in large glowing science experiment tubes.  These were some of the coolest stage effects that I have seen in a long time, especially from a band who are doing a club tour in the States as moving them around must be a chore and a half.

    The five-piece hit the stage in full metal regalia with leather jackets, trench coats, boots with spikes etc and thankfully for them a cool breeze flowed throughout the outside stage area.

     Drummer Atte Palokangas jumped on his Tama kit between the two domed mannequins and had a huge smile on his face throughout the 19-song, 90-plus minute set.

    Guitarists Kasperi Heikkinen and Anton Kabenon then joined him and bassist Mate Molnar with the latter having one of the coolest bass guitars I have ever seen.

    Vocalist Yannis Papadopoulos strode on stage as the band opened with “Blade Runner” from their 2021 release Dark Connection.  All three guitarists were together multiple times during the song and throughout the night bouncing back and forth and thrashing their head in synch ala Tipton, Hill and Downing from Judas Priest.

    As the set continued on with “Eternal Fire” and “Die By The Blade” it was evident that Papadopoulos is a complete vocal specimen. His range was fantastic and was able to drop down octaves and then hit screams that only Geoff Tate and a few others could hit in their youth. His stage command and presence were engaging and extremely professional.  

    What really caught my attention though was the fans not only in the crowd but especially on the rail as they knew the words to every song and I mean everyone, especially the 20 or so girls on the rail. They bounced, thrashed, and sang all night long. It was super impressive, and their smiles were infectious to the rest of the band members.

    Heikkinen and Molnar made faces at me in the photo pit and hammed it up to the camera and the fans more than any band I have seen in the 35 years of going to concerts and it looked to me like they were having a blast.

    They moved through the set quickly limiting the banter between them and the fans but as the first of the three-song encore in “Cry Out For A Hero” concluded Papadopoulos asked the crowd if they wanted to go to a different country with them tonight. The crowd responded with a huge response of screams of affirmations as Papadopoulos said he was taking them out for “One Night In Tokyo.”

    One of the more interesting fans in attendance took an Asian folding fan and started fanning Papadopoulos and Kabanan all the while having a full orange space suit on including a helmet.  Another first time event that happened at Saturday Night’s Beast in Black show.

     The white helmet had signatures all over it from various bands and EDM performers and Ian was super stoked when the band signed it for him directly after the set.

    After concluding their set with “End Of The World” the band and tour manager Sam Chilli took their bows and departed the stage. It was the second time Chilli joined the band as she came out and played a keytar during “Krazy, Mad, Insane.  

    Saturday night at the Orpheum was a trifecta of success as the venue and both bands now have new fans especially the author of this article as I would definitely go see a show there and check out Beast in Black and Dance With The Dead again. 

    While the US tour has concluded, Beast in Black is back in full swing with tour dates all over Europe with Glory Hammer and Dance With the Dead will be back on the road soon

    For more info on:

     Dance With The Dead https://www.facebook.com/dancewiththedeadmusic/events  

    Beast In Black https://beastinblack.com/

    More Pics From The Show

  • Outsiders Revival Tour Comes to an End for Eric Church and Whiskey Myers

    Outsiders Revival Tour Comes to an End for Eric Church and Whiskey Myers

    MidFL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 30SEP2023

    A 35-date tour in the dead of summer is hell for any band. For Southerners and country music mega stars Whiskey Myers and Eric Church though, it’s just another day at the office. Cutting their teeth in their respective Texan and North Carolina backgrounds though, these groups are all too familiar with the heat and humidity that comes from a late September set at the Amp in Tampa. 

    Whiskey Myers has well over a decade in the music industry. Over that time, they have toured the nation from coast to coast, and made a massive impact on not only country music but on television as well, with a feature on the monumental show Yellowstone.

    Taking the stage with it set to look like an old club, they were flanked by handing sheet metal and air vent-mounted stage lights. The curiously familiar stage was a lot like the backroad bars and clubs that made them famous. In a six-piece band like this, their double drummer outfit is excellent and provides for some great moments.

    Quickly growing from half to 90% full, the venue loved what they were hearing. This is a band with not only tremendous stage presence but a fantastic sound. While the opening two songs were a bit spikey, their “Glitter Ain’t Gold” song is one that just connects with the soul.

    With a jazz and blues-inspired jam rhythm to it, guitarists John Jeffers and Cody Tate traded riffs through their 10-song set. Lead singer Cody Cannon initially had a rough noise as if he missed soundcheck, but by the second song he had found the note, and their closure with a cover of CCR’s “Fortunate Son” would have El Duderinohimself singing along as he did a J.

    With a small tour to end the year on the books for them, this was one hell of an ending set for the final stop on this tour.

    Coming to see someone like Eric Chruch isn’t just a concert. It’s a damn experience. First off, I have never seen a “little person” steamrolling a blunt as he made his way across the stage and guided 20+ stagehands as he moved around.

    Looking to the crowd, at no other show that I have covered have I ever seen so many people wearing the shirt of the band they came to see. With a slogan simply put as “Eric F*cking Church” emblazoned across the chest, his shows are more like going to a Bucs game with how diehard his fans are.

    Opening with “Country Music Jesus,” the crowd popped like they were watching the end of his set, and not the beginning. With the FL state flag flying high above the stage, the crowd knew it was the end of the show, andwanted to send him off right. 

    Up second was “Heart On Fire,” and while the women in the audience certainly seemed ablaze with love for him, as their screams rang off the rafters.

    Almost in response to this, the air suddenly filled with the scent of the guys lighting up the mids, and getting the amphitheater a bit smokey. This scent seemed to kick the backing band into full swing. The three horn section and three backup vocalist ladies (some of the best in the business IMO) came to life for “Bad Mother Trucker.”

    Feeling like the early 1990s CMT music videos were back on, for a moment I wondered when I would see a lady rocking big hair and bangs with high-waisted acid-wash jeans. 

    A few songs later, as “Mr Misunderstood” ended it appeared as though a decent-sized fight broke out across the Amp. As Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the in-house security responded, the band played on.

    It looked like at least 5 people were involved, and shortly following the incident at least 20 people quickly left the area, seemingly for the night. Joined a few songs later by up-and-coming sensation Maggie Rose, they sang “That’s Damn Rock & Roll” and “Mixed Drinks About Feelings” together.

    Continuing through the rest of his 27-song total set, he did a Little Feet and Bo George shout-out for his cover of “Sailin’ Shoes. 

    Coming back at the end of the 22-song main set, he made the fans work for the encore. Screaming at the tops of their lungs, he came back out a few minutes later.

    As a treat, he also announced this was the retirement of the opening for “Springsteen.” A part of this encore was a solo acoustic medley of Love Your Love the Most / Carolina / These Boots / Sinners Like Me. Going closer to midnight than 11, he ended with “Those I’ve Loved.”

    This was one hell of a tour ending. The setlist was like nothing else on the tour too. Then again, as he said, Tampa and the nearby Dallas Bull helped give him his start touring, so he gave them back some long-overdue love.

  • Blue Ridge Raged On While The Weather Lurked In The Shadows on Day 2

    Blue Ridge Raged On While The Weather Lurked In The Shadows on Day 2

    All Photos By Kellye Robinson & Trevor Williams

    After day 1 was abruptly cut short, anticipation for day 2 was at an all time high. Fans eagerly lined up and quickly entered the venue so that they wouldn’t miss a moment of the music.

    On the Famous Monsters stage, San Antonio metalcore band Upon a Burning Body returned to Blue Ridge Rock Fest for the second year in a row. Showing pride in where they come from, they had a huge Texas state flag as their backdrop. They are known for their high-energy stage presence. Often enter the stage with an intense burst of energy, setting the tone for the entire show.

    The band members move around the stage, interacting with the audience and each other, creating a dynamic and engaging atmosphere.

    Crown the Empire took the stage at the Blue Ridge Rock Fest 2023 with an electrifying presence that got fans excited for the rest of the day. They delivered a performance that left a lasting impact on fans and newcomers alike. The band’s unique blend of post-hardcore and metalcore was on full display, creating an atmosphere charged with emotion and energy.

    Crown the Empire’s stage presence was magnetic, as they engaged with the crowd, encouraging sing-alongs and creating an intimate connection with their fans. The band’s chemistry was evident as they moved seamlessly across the Monster Energy stage throughout their show.

    Chelsea Grin, in particular, made their presence known on the Famous Monsters Stage. Marking their second appearance at the festival they solidified their status as a crowd favorite.

    With visual effects such as colorful lighting, fog machines and strobe lights, they created an atmosphere to match the intensity of their music. Vocalist Tom Barber’s stage presence is powerful as he engages with the audience and creates an atmosphere that matches the dark and aggressive nature of their music. 

    On the Monster Energy Stage, Trustcompany made a monumental return to live music, marking their first show in 12 years and reuniting with their full original band members after an astounding 17 years.

    This emotional and highly anticipated reunion left fans both in awe. The band showed appreciation to their fans for sticking with them after all the years. Their set ended with their biggest hit, “Downfall”, which left the crowd feeling nostalgic.

    Of Mice and Men took the ZYN Stage by storm with the promise of a new album on the horizon.  It had been 1313 days since their last live show so there was a lot of anxious energy leading up to their set.

    The crowd’s anticipation was palpable as they eagerly awaited a glimpse of the band’s upcoming material. Teasing fans with what was to come, they played the never heard before song, “Into the Sun.” Their setlist was composed of both new and old songs, which made all fans happy.

    Meanwhile, After the Burial graced the Famous Monsters Stage, treating fans to the premiere of two new songs, “Nothing Gold” and “Death Keeps Us From Living” left a lasting impression. During their performance, vocalist Anthony revealed that they were releasing a new album soon.

    Throughout their set, the band’s energy radiated into the crowd. Closing their set with an unmistakable guitar riff from “Behold the Crown”, fans started jumping with the rhythm of the song. This was just a warm up show for the massive upcoming tour with Motionless in White.

    Throughout their set, the band’s energy radiated into the crowd. Closing their set with an unmistakable guitar riff from “Behold the Crown”, fans started jumping with the rhythm of the song. This was just a warm up show for the massive upcoming  tour with Motionless in White. 

    Despite the looming threat of more dangerous weather, Knocked Loose unleashed a relentless onslaught of heavy riffs and bone-shaking breakdowns on the ZYN stage. Their high-octane performance sent shockwaves through the crowd, starting a frenzy of mosh pits and crowd-surfing.

    The band’s raw intensity and frontman Bryan Garris’s ferocious vocals left a lasting impression, making it clear why Knocked Loose has become a formidable force in modern hardcore and metalcore music. Their set was a visceral and unapologetic sonic assault that left fans exhilarated and craving more.

    Flyleaf’s reunion on the Monster Energy Stage was a trip down memory lane for fans, as they showcased their lineup featuring all original members. The band’s ethereal melodies and powerful lyrics resonated throughout the festival grounds, evoking a sense of both nostalgia and renewed appreciation for their music.

    Lacey Sturm’s emotive vocals captivated the audience, and the chemistry among the band members was obvious. Flyleaf played familiar songs such as “I’m So Sick”, “Cassie”, and “Fully Alive.”

    As the sun began to set and the rain clouds began to dissipate, Sleep Token made their way onto the ZYN stage, They used the opportunity to introduce their new album to the world, delivering a show that will surely be remembered as one of their largest in a US festival setting.

    The performance began with a hushed silence that envelops the crowd. Sleep Token’s enigmatic frontman, known only as “Vessel,” emerges onto the stage heavily drenched in fog. Wearing a flowing robe and a mask, it added to the mystery and intrigue.

    Vessel’s powerful and soulful voice captivates the audience from the very first note, drawing them into a world where emotion and music are intertwined. As their popularity had skyrocketed over the last year, the crowd for their set was massive compared to when they played the fest in 2022. 

    After the sun went down,  Job for a Cowboy reunited on the Famous Monsters Stage, marking their first show in seven years. Teasing fans with the promise of new music after a nine-year hiatus, they played their latest release, “The Agony Seeping Storm.”

    During their song, “Entombment of a Machine”, Will Ramos, from Lorna Shore joined them on stage. This epic duo featuring two deathcore’s finest vocalists, had the crowd in an insane frenzy. 

    Getting ready to start The Touring the End of the World Tour, Motionless in White returned to Blue Ridge Rock Festival for the third year in a row.  Each time playing a bigger stage to a significantly larger audience

    In the middle of their set, Chris Motionless made an emotional tribute to their dedicated fans that demonstrated the deep appreciation for the support they’ve received throughout their career. Literally, with pyro, they set the stage ablaze with their incendiary performance, reminding everyone why they are a force to be reckoned with in the metal world.

    Lorna Shore’s appearance on the Famous Monsters Stage was nothing short of a sonic tempest that engulfed the festival-goers in a torrent of crushing brutality and haunting melodies. As they took the stage, the crowd was immediately transported to a dark and foreboding realm, driven by their intense brand of deathcore.

    The band’s frontman, Will Ramos, unleashed guttural growls and unearthly shrieks that sent chills down the spines of onlookers. Lorna Shore’s precision in execution and their ability to seamlessly blend melody with extreme heaviness showcased their evolution as a powerhouse within the metal scene. Lorna Shore’s set was a  highlight of the festival, and a reminder of the boundless possibilities within heavy music.

    Slipknot, headlining the Monster Energy Stage for the second year in a row at Blue Ridge Rock Fest. Their stage setup was a spectacle in itself, featuring eerie visuals and the band’s iconic masks. As the curtain dropped and the band erupted into their set, the crowd was engulfed in a sensory overload of sound and visuals.

    Slipknot’s intense energy and precision were on full display as they blazed through a setlist that spanned their career. Corey Taylor’s commanding presence as the frontman and the collective energy of the band members created an electrifying atmosphere that left fans craving more. 

    However, as the sun began to rise on day 3, ominous clouds covered the sky. Due to rain and thunderstorms, festival management delayed opening the fest gates until the weather passed. Shortly after, the decision was made to cancel the entire day due to possible inclement weather. They also announced that a decision for Sunday would be made at 5pm. 

    The final announcement was made at 5pm that the festival had been officially canceled leaving many fans feeling heartbroken and disappointed. Although the festival didn’t go as planned, attendees made the most out of the time they were given and the band’s that they did get to see.

  • A Camera’s View Of Day One Of The 2023 Blue Ridge Rock Festival

    A Camera’s View Of Day One Of The 2023 Blue Ridge Rock Festival

    All photos by Kellye Robinson & Trevor Williams

    Disclaimer: This review is written from the point of view of someone who was providing unpaid, volunteer media coverage for the festival. Given the circumstances of how things went down, I felt that this was the most appropriate way to cover what I witnessed first hand.

    My experience is likely very different from those who had VIP or GA tickets. I want to remain sensitive to all of those who had negative experiences, but I will not condone spreading misinformation or rumors.

    First and foremost, my focus is on the music, and that will be the center of this review. Our love for music is what brought us all together, and it’s the one thing that will keep us moving forward. 

    ____________________________________________________________

    On September 7th, Blue Ridge Rock Festival began its first full day of live music at the Virginia International Raceway for its second year. 

    Blue Ridge Rock Fest sold out just two weeks before it even began, making it America’s largest US based rock festival. While the final number of tickets sold remains unknown, the festival grounds felt more packed than ever.

    Fans worldwide gathered together to take part in the event, spanning from Virginia, to Alaska, and even headbangers all the way from Australia! It truly said something about how much the vast lineup spoke to fans. There is absolutely something for everyone, up and down the entire bill of 150+ bands. 

    On Tuesday, September 5th, fans camping in the Virginia International Raceway for Blue Ridge Rock Fest began to make their way into the venue for early entry. This was meant to help alleviate the previous year’s backup and delays getting so many fans in and set up for the weekend. However on September 6th, fans coming in at the last minute still spent hours waiting to get into their spots. 

    Campers were promised more space, access to more free water stations, and more amenities including a full liquor spread at each alcohol vending tent. The campgrounds were divided into several different areas: glamping, premium tent camping, RV hookups, ADA camping, family/quiet camping, and general tent camping. 

    For those not staying on site, off site parking was available. In previous years, the shuttles from the parking lots may have been one of the biggest hurdles to overcome.

    Not wanting to have the same pitfalls again, Blue Ridge Rock Fest purchased 40 school buses. Both trained drivers and buses were readily available to shuttle those with day passes into the festival. At the beginning of day one, buses seemed to operate without any issues. However, as time went on, that quickly changed. 

    One of the biggest differences from 2022 to 2023 is that the festival grounds were redesigned. In an effort to remove the dreaded hay hill, the fest went from five stages to four. Slimming down to four stages was meant to help improve the fan experience by reducing any overlap in set times and amount of miles walked per day. 

    At the start of day one, fans flooded into the venue as soon as gates were open. Long lines formed at the merch tents, people set up camp at stages to catch their favorite bands, and others spent time chilling in the shade while comfortably listening from afar.

    Around noon, it was already blazing hot, but that didn’t seem to stop fans from enjoying the music. With only one GA free water station available and $4 bottled water, security started handing out free water to help keep festival goers hydrated. 

    Following Outline in Color on the Smart Punk Records stage, Kingdom of Giants came out in full force. Front man, Dana Willax, dominated the stage with his intense vocals and commanding stage presence.

    With the amount of energy coming from the stage, fans would have never known that this was the last date on the Hollow Bodies tour with Blessthefall.

    Although their setlist predominantly featured tracks from their latest album, ’Passenger,’ they seamlessly integrated their latest single, ‘Wasted Space,’ into the performance. 

    Warming up the ZYN stage, Stitched Up Heart stole the crowd’s attention with their energetic stage presence, led by the powerful vocals of Alecia “Mixi” Demner.

    Their visually captivating shows often incorporate lighting effects and gothic-style costumes, while their engagement with fans creates a sense of intimacy.

    A diverse setlist ranging from “My Demon” to “To the Wolves’ ‘showcases their emotional depth, connecting the band with their dedicated audience.

    On the final day of The Outlanders Pt. 1 Tour, Adema took over the Monster Energy stage. The band delivered a powerful performance, treating the audience to a setlist filled with their beloved hits, including “The Way You Like It,” “Giving In,” and “Immortal.”

    The crowd was swept away by the nostalgic tunes. Although they started earlier in the day, Adema’s performance was a fitting crescendo to the tour, as many festival goers gathered to hear their favorite songs. 

    At the ZYN Stage, CKY made a much-anticipated return to the live music scene, with an introduction by drummer Jess Margera’s parents, Phil and April. Their performance at Blue Ridge Rock Fest marked their first U.S. performance since 2019.

    CKY’s return to the stage was met with enthusiasm and a sense of nostalgia, as fans eagerly awaited the band’s signature sound and high-energy performance.

    Returning for the second year in a row by popular fan vote, Vended came out on to the Famous Monsters Stage with insane energy. In an effort to make a name for themselves, they came out covered in paint and  eye-catching costumes.

    The crowd was hyped as frontman, Griffin Taylor, commanded the audience and sang popular songs such as “Asylum” and “Ded to Me.” 

    Finishing up their tour with Upon a Burning Body, Born of Osiris dominated the Smart Punk Records stage. The band’s unique lineup includes keyboard player, Joe Buras, adding a distinctive layer to their sound. Their set was met with a wave of crowd surfers, a testament to the band’s magnetic presence.

    With the inclusion of two vocalists and dueling guitar harmonies, the music resonated with a powerful and multifaceted energy. Born of Osiris treated their fans to a balanced setlist, featuring both classic tracks and their latest release, “Torch Bearer,” which had debuted in August 2023.

    Thrash metal legends, Exodus, burst onto the Famous Monsters Stage with an explosive performance that left the audience in awe. Their expressive frontman commanded the spotlight, delivering powerful vocals and engaging the crowd.

    Their set was punctuated by an abundance of crowd surfing, as fans couldn’t contain their excitement, riding the waves of adrenaline-fueled music.

    Metalcore band, The Ghost Inside started their set late on the Monster Energy stage due to Vince Neil playing several encores that lasted an additional 15 minutes.

    Energy was high as they had just finished up their first full tour since their bus accident in 2015. They played a wide variety of songs, including older songs and their newest single “Earn It.”

    Later in the afternoon, Alpha Wolf made their way onto the Smart Punk Records stage. Unexpectedly, theirs would be one of the last performances for the day. This was Alpha Wolf’s second time playing Blue Ridge Rock Fest, and the growth they had over the last year was obvious as the crowd in front of them was massive.

    Gearing up for The Touring the End of the World Tour with Motionless in White, Knocked Loose, and After the Burial, they announced new music and played a never heard before song, “Bring Back the Noise.”

    Just as Alpha Wolf finished their set, the dark clouds that had been forming in the sky finally started to release. After hours of a dangerously high heat index, the rain felt like a reprieve for most. Fans happily welcomed the coolness of the rain, and celebrated. 

    As Coheed and Cambria took the (Monster Energy) stage, the weather took a turn for the worse. Within a matter of minutes light rain sprinkles turned into a windstorm. Things quickly became dangerous due to lightning and hail and the venue was evacuated.

    Campers and staff were asked to make their way to their vehicles, while those with day passes waited for hours, exposed to elements, in line for shuttle buses back to their cars. According to various fan accounts, they waited in line for over 4 hours before they were able to get on the shuttles. 

    Meanwhile, in the venue, those who were unable to evacuate in time hid under stages, trees, tents, and whatever shelter they could find as lightning illuminated the sky and hail the size of marbles fell. 

    Several hours later, Blue Ridge Rock Fest announced that the show would possibly start at 9:30pm. Because they are remotely located, the fest was not restricted to a noise curfew. They had hoped to push set times all the way back until 1am. However, due to damage caused by the unexpected storm, the rest of the day was canceled. 

    With Day 1 of the festival in the books and questions revolving about the weather for the rest of the weekend, this years Blue Ridge Rock Festival will be remembered for a long time no matter in what capacity you attended it in. More to come as our coverage will continue with day 2 with pictures of Slipknot and many other bands with a full review.

  • Bulls Bounce Back With Big Plays To Defeat Rice

    Bulls Bounce Back With Big Plays To Defeat Rice

    After a slow start to the game between the USF Bulls and the Rice Owls on Saturday afternoon, the game turned into an airshow and score fest with the Bulls taking the win by the score of 42-29. It was a good start for the Bulls as they won their opening game of the American Athletic Conference.

    QB Byrum Brown struggled a bit in the first half with his accuracy, but exploded in the third quarter and forth quarter with five huge throws to wide receiver Naiem Simmons. Brown finished the day going 22-29 for 435 yards, his career high.

    He also had 82 yards on the ground. Simmons was dominant finishing with 8 catches for 272 yards and a score. USF posted a season-best 12 explosive plays, including five plays of 42 yards or better between Brown and Simmons.

    USF #17 Byrum Brown QB:
    “It was a lot of fun being up and being able to go out there and execute and get the victory in the end. It was a lot of fun.”

    On the deep ball working:
    “It was really what they showed us on film. Naeim and all the other receivers did a great job of attacking, making good decisions, and being decisive. I just let them go make plays, get the ball to them in space.”

    But let’s not forget the job the offensive line did along with Sean Atkins who also had a huge game catching the ball as he had 8 catches for 73 yards. Alot of these were clutch grabs for first downs and drive starters.

    Defensively, 10 players recorded a tackle for loss, as the Bulls posted their second game of the year with double-digit tackles for loss and held Rice to 1 yard rushing, the lowest total for a USF opponent since 2017. But Rice QB JT Daniels would not be denied as he was stellar also through the air as he was finding the open spots all afternoon.

    Daniels was 27-40 for 432 and 3 scores before he went out with an injury in the third and that changed the tide of the game when backup AJ Padgett came in and just couldn’t get the Owl offense going.

    USF #10 Jonathan Ross DE:
    “Honestly, I’m just excited, for stopping the run. That was one of our main goals was to stop the run. We held them to only one rushing yard. We just have to stack on the good and fix the bad.

    I feel like we’re making the turn. As Naiem Hines said, we need to perfect our process. I feel like we will be able to do what we want to do in this league and this conference.”

    Another standout for the Owls was Luke McCaffrey. The younger brother of the 49ers running back, Christian, was targeted 15 times with 9 catches for 199 yards with 78 after the catch with a long of 51.

    USF #8 DJ Gordan IV LB
    On holding Rice to one-yard rushing.“Oh, my feeling great. Our biggest motto this week was stopping the run and stopping McCaffrey.

    I feel like we did for the most part. We did what we were supposed to, what we practiced. That’s a big thing without coaching, be who say you are. That’s what we were going to do, and what we did.

    The fans in the stands weren’t as prevalent as they were last week against Alabama but were treated to beautiful weather and a standout game by their team. Coach Alex Golesh said after the game:

    “In the second half we took advantage of our opportunities. We changed some things up and made a decision to attack vertically. Byrum (Brown) settled in nicely. The second half was really a different ballgame, we didn’t do any of those things in the first half.

    We got off the field the field on defense on third downs and we were able to create chunk plays offensively against what I think is a really good Rice team, as is evident by what they’ve done up to this point.

    “At the end of the day, we’re 1-0 in the league which is right where we want to be. Now we have to go on the road and face another test. I’m really proud of our kids and our coaches, all the students and fans that were here for this game tonight. We need to keep packing this place and make it a really cool college environment to play in.”

    Up next: The Bulls head to Annapolis, Md. to take on Navy next Saturday in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff

  • Moving “Away From the Sun” With Candlebox and 3 Doors Down

    Moving “Away From the Sun” With Candlebox and 3 Doors Down

    With over 30 years of making music each, Candlebox and 3 Doors Down are the true definition of touring musicians in the US. Their brand of rock is incredibly catchy and is almost always incredibly successful in getting people off their seats.

    With the hot and humid Tampa night following downpours earlier in the day, they took to the stage with people already sweatily dripping with anticipation.

    Dropping the self-titled EP back in 1993, Candlebox spread across the country like wildfire after just two years of consistent achievement in Seattle clubs. Main staging at Woodstock ‘94 after being the opener for Rush and Metallica got the band quickly whipped into road shape, a build they have maintained since.

    Kevin Martin on vocals and lead guitar is the only original member, but he hasn’t lost a step. Opening with “Don’t You,” “Change,” and “Blossom” they came ready to take fans through a bit of the entire catalog.

    Engaging with the fans, Martin talked about how “Mother’s Dream” was a personal song and proceeded to tell us about how he wrote it for a grandmother he simply could not stand named Thelma. Grabbing an acoustic guitar, he strummed a few notes before handing it off to a youngster in the front pit. While a great gift, he didn’t sign it until later in the set.

    Dedicating “He Calls Home” to his father who stormed Omaha Beach in WWII as well as to our Veterans, he told the audience “Thank you for your services brothers and sisters.” As the 11-song set began winding down, he changed on stage into a “Still Relevant” shirt, which was a somewhat delf depreciating joke given how popular the band still is. 

    With “Far Behind” playing, the audience exploded. Dedicated to Soundgarden’s famed and deeply missed frontman Chris Cornell, Martin shared just a touch of how special Cornell was not only to the Seattle grunge movement but to him as a person.

    As some in the audience wiped away a tear, the song touched a spot most don’t show in public. Hopping down to quickly sign the guitar before the final song “You” came to an end, he ended the set with a loud “WE LOVE YOU!!” to the audience.

    Following a brief set changeover, 3 Doors Down was up next. With a more “relaxed” sound, many in the audience used the opening of their set to enjoy a slight rest off their feet, “Pop Song” and then “When I’m Gone” quickly got them back up. Those who stayed seated to just vibe to the music mostly stayed there all set, but they were not high in number. 

    Reminding people that we are all friends throughout the night, his message before “Ticket to Heaven” got many to take note of how music makes us all just like being in a family. “If you ever feel alone, or if you ever feel like nobody loves you. Just remember that you’ve always been loved, Jesus loves you. You’ve never been alone. God Bless You.” 

    A few songs later, “Here Without You” had everyone singing along. While many quickly found themselves flooded with memories that the song invokes, it was amazing to look around and see the different reactions. One woman was singing along, and pointing to the sky as she was lost in the moment.

    Simply looking to be singing to a lost loved one, this intimate and special moment with a band is not something many experience. For the band, they fed off the energy of the fans, and they played with the passion of a group that truly wanted to do nothing else in life.

    With Chris Henderson and Chet Roberts on both rhythm and lead guitar as well as backing vocals, the band has a very distinct sound available for different songs. Justin Biltonen rounds out the sound on bass, with Chris Henderson on drums, these 5 have turned the band into an incredibly well-oiled machine. Jumping into “Loser,” they had a duet of sorts between the guitar and drummer. This mixture formed another sensory overload for many, as the passion these two play with is i.

    Talking about Tampa, he described how the city and our radio stations gave 3 Doors Down their first break. With the rampant radio play they got out here, they started off on the right foot, and we gave them an opportunity to tour. Telling them “You’ve been here since then. Thank you, my friends, thank you for having us. Thank you for the last 24 years!!”

    With “Landing in London” and “Kryptonite” as their encore, the fans were as loud as can be to encourage them to return for those songs. With an 18-song total setlist, they gave everyone an amazing night.

    With only a few dates in Texas left, if you’ve missed your opportunity to catch the tour, you may have missed out on catching Candlebox as their “The Long Goodbye Tour” portion of the tour is also concluding. To them, thank you for such an amazing set.

    Additionally, I want to thank the two fellow Army Veterans working as roadies for 3 Doors Down. With the American flag on stage right all night, seeing it properly taken down, folded, and stored away was a great thing to see.

    The fans who stuck around loved seeing it as well, and I cannot commend them enough for doing the right thing, even though nobody (except for me it seemed) was paying attention. Well done brothers!!

  • Bulls Play Their Hearts Out But Fall To The Alabama Crimson Tide 17-3

    Bulls Play Their Hearts Out But Fall To The Alabama Crimson Tide 17-3

    Coming into Saturday’s game with the Crimson Tide, no one except the Bulls thought they could stay with them for 4 quarters. Well the USF Bulls proved everyone wrong as they were in the game until late in the forth quarter when Bama Quarterback Ty Simpson punched it in from the 1 yard line to give Alabama a 17-3 lead late in the game.

    The Bulls fought all game long and weathered a hour rain delay in from of over 65,000 fans. It was the most fans I have see in the stadium for a Bulls game since I started covering them 15 years ago. It was also great to see Alabama fans worry about losing the game as their team struggled.

    Bulls QB Byrum Brown was great with 23 carries for 92 yards but struggled mightily with his accuracy and finished by going 14 for 28 for 87 yards and 1 costly pick as the team was moving the ball in the forth quarter trying to tie the score at 10.

    Bulls fans, the coaches and the national media could not say enough about the Bulls defense who held Alabama QBs to 107 yards in the air with Buchner and Simpson throwing for a combined 10 for 23. The Bulls defense was led by Daquan Evans who had 8 tackles with 4 for loss, 3 sacks and 1 pass deflection. He was in Bama’s backfield all day long and had an amazing game.

    Other Bull players who stood out in Saturdays contest were linebacker Jhalyn Shuler, who led all players with 11 tackles; receiver Sean Atkins (six catches, 42 yards); and running Nay’Quan Wright, who rushed 15 times for 62 yards and ignited the entire stadium with an early bull-dozing run of an Alabama defender.

    With 6:54 left in the third and the game tied at 3, Alabama got things going as expected late in the game. Taking over at their own 16, the Crimson Tide went 84 yards on 6 plays with Roydell Williams diving in from the 1 yard line.

    After Alabama scored, The Bulls got momentum and drove into Bama territory.  On 1st and 10 at the Alabama 41-yard line, Golesh decided to go for a bomb towards the end zone. Brown threw a corner post route but the receiver ran a middle post and Malachi Moore intercepted the pass to thwart USF’s comeback attempt.

    You could feel the air come out of the stadium and many fans departed after the play. Golesh said “Because we were moving it, we were chunking down the field on that drive. That was a critical drive in the game for us to make it 10-10 and I don’t know if I got impatient as much as I saw an opportunity. … In every imaginable way that’s my fault, and I told Byrum that and I told (the receiver) Michael Brown-Stephens that.”

    With Alabama having 4-5 star players for backups, its tough for a club like the Bulls to keep up with SEC powerhouses when backups have to get rotated in. Its just a size situation but keeping with Alabama for the whole game, the talk of moral victory was said by many but Bulls Head Coach Alex Golesh wasn’t having it.

    “Valiant efforts are for losers,” he said. “Moral victories are for losers. Winners win. So there are no moral victories. … You can say that’s an SEC team. You can say the No. 10 team in the country. You can say whatever you want. They’re on our schedule. They are playing us at home. We’ve got to go win football games. I’ll own it. We weren’t as good as we had to be tonight to win.”

    Nick Saban after the game said he was most proud of how the team competed. Says they didn’t play great but kept answering the bell and was his happy with how team competed.

    Up next for the Bulls, their conference schedule kicks in with a home game against Rice at 4pm.

  • Lighting Up The Sky with Godsmack, Atreyu and Flat Black at the Amp

    Lighting Up The Sky with Godsmack, Atreyu and Flat Black at the Amp

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    MidFL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 2SEP2023

    A summer without Godsmack on tour just doesn’t feel right these days. The perennial road artists are back out, and Tampa got one of the last shows with the legendary Atreyu on board.

    Opening the show was Flat Black and they will largely join them for the rest of the tour. Despite the thick air and a lack of center monitors, this was a perfect night at the amp!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Formed back in 2020 when Jason Hook found himself looking to regain his musical focus, the quartet has been igniting stages since its debut. With Hook on lead guitar, Nick Dilitz on bass, Rob Pierce on drums, and Wes Horton as the frontman, the band made themselves some big shoes to fill from the work go. After some word and music was leaked, the hype was huge, but this tour is proving just how legit they are. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    An energetic and “f*ck” filled six-song set into the day, and Flat Black set one hell of a tone for the show. With a cover of the FFDP hit “Wash It All Away” and their own single “It’s Your Lack Of Respect” capping things off, they paid homage to Hook’s past and treated the fans, as well as whetting their appetite for the rest of the night.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    While not taking away from Atreyu, Horton announced a meet and greet after the set, and the band followed through, spending roughly 45 minutes with fans. Taking pictures and answering questions, this was the happiest Hook has looked in some time. With the band as a whole meshing like this, they’ll likely be headlining a tour in 2024. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Up second was Atreyu. Despite multiple lineups throughout the years, these metalcore artists have remained largely dedicated and on the path for years. Drenched in a largely blacked-out stage, the limited red and blue lights with occasional flashes of white light might have been a rough shoot, but it was interesting to watch from the crowd. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Vocalist Brandon Saller does an excellent job of taking charge of the stage for their opening riff on “Drowning.” While the notes fettered around the amphitheater, the crowd quickly grew restless and jumped right into creating a small pit and joined the band helping them perform the chorus.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    As “Save Us” began, the audience got roped into a proper sing-along, and they nailed it. Despite a less-than-sold-out crowd, they made the place sound and feel jam-packed. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Walking through the crowd, Saller got more people up and moving, as Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel on guitars and Mac McKnight on bass lit them up!! Getting people to stay into it when it’s Florida “didn’t rain today” humid is never a simple task, but they accomplished it over their 11-song setlist.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    While talking about being out on a boat they decided to go with Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance (With Somebody).” While a quick jam, it was pointed out that the biggest and most bearded dudes were rocking out to the idea the most.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Closing the night was Godsmack. After 25 years of entrances, they had to come up with something new, and the double kabuki curtain was a great way to do that. With a video package via DJ Mix Master Mike on the first curtain, then their curtain behind it, they emerged loud and triumphant before their fans.

    Comprised of Tony Rombola on lead guitar, Robbie Merrill on bass, Shannon Larkin on drums, and Sully Erna on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, the band has remained unchanged for 20 years.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    In that time, these four have developed a close personal relationship, and despite reports of this being their last album, they play like they still have 6 more in the tank. Across a 14-song set, the band blazed through hits like “When Legends Rise,” “1000 HP,” and “Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!” in just the first three songs. The headbanging faithful were delighted with this opening trio. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Getting into “Surrender,” Erna asked the guys to put their muscles to work and to hoist the ladies up. Asking that production effects be turned off, they played as the rest of the audience lit the amp with their cell phones.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Not to be outdone, the “Batalla de Los Tambores” drum-off between Larkin and Erna has reached a new crescendo. While they still play a lot in sync, the battle has elevated, and it is amazing. It could easily be a set of its own. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Bringing up little headbanger Audrey along with about 8 other kids, Erna had them introduce themselves, and proclaimed “Ladies and gentlemen this is the future of rock and roll!” Ending after their visit, the encore was something else.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Opening with the tear-jerking “Under Your Scars,” Erna reminded the fans of how important their nonprofit is, and how many lives they touch. Keeping people safe, and reminding them there is help is crucial, and something they take seriously. To Prevent ending on a somber note, major favorites “Bulletproof” and “I Stand Alone” rounded out the set.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Continuing through October, this is not a tour you want to miss. Significant in their own way, Flat Black is the biggest shocker of the tour. While anyone who has seen Jason Hook before knows the man can play, it seems like so many were left in the dark about Dilitz, Pierce, and Horton. With their open and easily accessible meet and greets, get a ticket and see this show!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
  • Summertime and Sunshine Make A Final Appearance With Movement, Atmosphere, Sublime w/Rome, and Slightly Stoopid At the Amp

    Summertime and Sunshine Make A Final Appearance With Movement, Atmosphere, Sublime w/Rome, and Slightly Stoopid At the Amp

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Summertime jam sessions are just something special. Much like Creedence sang about, they take on a life of their own, and they welcome everyone. While Tampa was the second to the last stop of the tour, they gave the photographers a rare treat.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Getting the ability to shoot the rest of the show anywhere in the venue, following the first three from each band at the front of the stage is rare. Big thanks to their managers for making such a rare opportunity happen!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    As the 20-year (and yet “newest”) band, The Movement proved, this was a day to get people together. Looking across the slowly filling pit before the first notes were played, there were people of all ages and walks of life in the crowd.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Opening with some very chill vibes, their choice of soft reggae was a great hit with the crowd. As people danced around, many had a drink in hand, others a joint or vape.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Across a six-song set, they gave the audience a great sampling of their music. Interacting frequently with the audience, frontman Joshua Swain did a great job of softening the heat on this humid FL evening.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Kyle Jerome’s stripped-down and classic chops on the saxophone added a welcome sense of authenticity and origin that is all too often missing. With mixed graphics including a swimming pig at the end, their set was a delight for all the senses.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Up second was Atmosphere. Formed back in 1996, the duo of Slug and Ant have been at this for 27 years now. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, they bring a unique and refreshing look to hip-hop. The ultimate “outcast” on the bill, they fill the niche perfectly.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Unfortunately for Slug, many in attendance weren’t familiar with their work. Asking for the peace signs as they started “The Loser Wins,” he had the crowd worked up and taken over by the end of the song.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    As “Shoulda Known” rolled to an end, Slug keyed the fans into high gear by proclaiming “You are all doing a great job. I’d like to make a special dedication to all of you ugly motherf*ckers right now!!..I’m happy to be here! I’m happy to be alive! God Loves Ugly! Louder! x3” Not to be left out, the next song was dedicatde to the “5-7 beautiful people who made it,” as they kicked into crowd favorite “Sunshine.”

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    Seeing them and hearing them perform like this was in rare form. I’ve seen them win over Warped Tour crowds back in 2003, but never a reggae crowd. With Ant talking from his mixer like never before, this was the most polished I’ve seen them in some time.

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    Taking time to talk more to the audience, he asked people about feeling alive and then asked everyone to put their hands down. After asking who masturbated at least twice that day to put their hands up, a large percentage of people (and women) responded favorably. Gotta love Florida!! Vowing for hand sanitizer to go around, Slug closed with a tear-jerking version of “Yesterday,” the deep “God’s Bathroom Floor,” and the fist-pumping “Tryin’ to Find a Balance.”

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    While a short set compared to his headlining gigs, this was a blessing and a curse to shoot. Failing to nail the “connection” photograph where I caught his eye, the photographer in me was crushed. Having that moment from the crowd with my camera down soothed the soul of the fan in me. LOVE LIFE!!

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    Following Atmosphere is never easy. Yet night after night Sublime with Rome has been stepping to the task and succeeding. Technically a cover band (as true Sublime died with Bradley Nowell), they busted right into some of the biggest crowd favorites right off the jump. “April 29, 1992 (Miami),” “Doin’ Time,” and “Wrong Way” kicked things off. Fully loaded with lights and visuals on display, they used the background effects and graphics to make a big visual spectacle.

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    A cover of a cover, “Smoke Two Joints” was naturally a fan favorite and had people sparking up across the venue. Up on the lawn, some stacks were rolling, but nothing like down in the lower seats and in the pit.

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    While “Pawn Shop” also got many going, it was “What I Got” that had the top pop of the day. As people sang and danced along, there were more arms in the air than beers in people’s hands.

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    When “Santeria” hit though, that was where things shifted. As the ending song, it quickly became more like the audience was the singers, and Rome was just trying to keep up. Mixing it up in the crowd for a bit, the fans were incredibly warm, receptive, and largely looking to share their smoke and the vibe. Bradley would be proud.

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Capping things off were Florida favorites Slightly Stoopid. Formed in 1994 over in the Ocean Beach section of San Diego, CA it was the parents of bassist Miles Doughty that allowed his band with Kyle McDonald and Adam Bausch to be heard by Sublime’s Nowell while he was in rehab with Doughty’s parents, and in turn, being impressed enough to offer them a record contract. With their first start coming from Sublime, they have never forgotten this.

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    Kicking their headling set off, they entered the stage to always inspiring, House of Pain’s classic “Jump Around.” This had fans singing along and bouncing around everywhere. Even in the photo pit security, photographers, and fans were all grooving along. As classic clips and bits of history of the band played, they took the stage.

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    With gallons of smoke and dark lighting, they jammed through “Top of the World,” “Officer,” and “Good Life.” With flashes of tremendously brilliant white, the stage went from darkness to daylight randomly.

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    With a solid 19-song main set, they even worked in covers of “Franklin’s Tower” by the Grateful Dead, “Rat in My Kitchen” by UB40, and a personal favorite “You Don’t Know How It Feels” by the late Tom Petty with a deep reggae vibe. A mellow tune, it was a perfect rendition. Slug from Atmosphere came out for a rendition of “No Cocaine,” before ending the set with “Closer to The Sun.”

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    For an encore, they paid tribute to the late and just announced Jimmy Buffet with their rendition of “Margaritaville”. Coming from an ocean town, they know the power of the parrot and mourned with the people of Florida Jimmy so deeply resonated with. While “Collie Man” was another great encore, it was the Beastie Boys hit “Intergalactic” with everyone back out and in full jumpsuits and helmets that topped it off. 

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    This was a tour to remember, and if you didn’t make it, you truly missed out. While each of these bands has more dates announced for 2023, none are together.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

  • Time to Sing A Song with Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire All Night Long!!

    Time to Sing A Song with Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire All Night Long!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL 26AUG2023

    Arena tours stopping in Tampa, FL is nothing new. The city has welcomed some of the biggest and best tours for decades. With its gorgeous location in downtown Tampa and amazing access for bands coming from or going to Miami, it is a natural stop for some of the biggest and best tours. So when Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire announced they would be coming to Amalie Arena on August 26th, 2023, the tickets sold quickly, and the show was officially sold out.

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    The multi-generational crowd packed the arena, even selling out the seats to the side and slightly behind the stage!! Kicking off the night were the mighty elements of the universe, Earth, Wind, & Fire. As someone who grew up listening to them while riding with my dad on weekends, I have more fond memories of this band than many others.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Original members Verdine White on bass and vocals, Philip Bailey Sr. on lead vocals and percussion, and Ralph Johnson also on percussion and vocals haven’t lost a step. Completing the sound were the other members Philip Bailey Jr. on percussion and vocals, B. David Whitworth on percussion, Myron McKinley on keyboards & musical director, John Paris on drums, Morris O’Connor playing lead guitar, and Serg Dimitrijevic mastering the rhythm guitar. 

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    Kicking off with “Shining Star,” White took control of the stage, as his bass rang out across the arena, and he commanded the stage. Bailey Sr.’s interaction with the audience got people up and dancing all over. He and Johnson spent a good chunk of the evening playing up with the fans, including getting the arena to be lit by cellphones as he introduced “Reasons.”

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    Singing along from my seat by this point, the concert flooded me with emotions and memories that you just can’t put a price on. Keeping that feeling going through “After the Love Has Gone” and “Fantasy” (as well as a few others) it was easy to see why the arena was packed from the first notes. Even after all these years, these three are keeping the elements alive and the rest of the band plays perfectly to keep time with any changes the core members want.

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    Introducing the band before launching into “Boogie Wonderland,” they made use of the full catwalk stage, and the air was simply electric with excitement. When “September” played through…The arena came alive with an excitement that took the set to a whole new level. As my wife perfectly explained it, “It’s a weird way to describe it, but you could almost feel the emotions of everyone around you with this song.

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    There was a mix of happiness, excitement, and sadness too. But all the emotions blended together to create the feeling of being here and experiencing this song at this very moment. It was lovely.” The 16-song set was a great mix of hits, with a few hidden gems and a bushel of talent along the way!

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Headlining and following that amazing band was Lionel Richie. In a subtle and almost sensuous nod to the overwhelming the senses that Earth, Wind, & Fire brought the audience, Richie opened with “Hello” in a very soft rendition of the already touching song.

    Coming up from a lift at the front of the catwalk, smoke filled the stage as brilliant white backlights hit the stage in pockets. The soft soulful lines of the song carried across the arena as people took a moment to sing along and make an introduction to the maestro himself. 

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Telling the audience “Alright, let’s get this party started!” the stage lit up, and just like that we were “Running With the Night.” Working the crowd, he complimented the audience on their loudness, and told the youngsters “What you are going to see tonight; it is how crazy grown folk are. Tonight, you are going to believe your mother. You are going to see how your mother can be,” as he pointed to a few ladies near the catwalk. While people laughed at this statement, it was not all that far from the truth. 

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Transitioning into “Easy/My Love,” Richie started exploring the catwalk even more as he walked away from his piano towards the end of the song. Joined by his saxophone player, guitarist, and bassist at separate points, he mentioned he had not been to Tampa in some time, asked to be played to so it would sound like he was being chased down the street.” They nailed the combo they wanted, and the audience ate it up.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Doing some more interaction, he let the fans know that he had the best seat in the house as he could see everyone. He also reminded the audience, “My job is to warm them up, your job is to get them home. I’m just a servant.”

    This also tipped the cap towards his next point. In his opinion, being called “Mister” conveys a level of respectability. So when the new generation calls him simply “Lionel” it brings him a deep sense of joy as it seems to remind him of being younger.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    No show from Lionel Richie would be complete without paying homage to the historical career he enjoyed with The Commodores. A medley of “Fancy Daner,” “Sweet Love,” “Lady You Bring Me Up,” and “Just To Be Close” was a great way to get things going and bring the crowd on a journey through time. Teasing “Endless Love” by mentioning Diana Ross had many hoping and ready for her to join him, but alas she did not.

    However, he reminded the audience “There’s probably 30,000-35,000 Dianas here tonight!” as he asked them to sing her part with him. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The energy needed to go up from there. With help from a little pyro, a medley of “Brick House,” “Skintight,” and “Fire” got the crowd back on their feet and dancing. When he got to “Say You, Say Me” another piano rose from the front of the stage.

    The lighting transcended time and transported you back to 1986. It’s a powerful emotion to hear this song. A quick costume change and reemergence from under the stage, and another singalong of “We Are The World” came.

    With the red sequined jacket, Richie had people singing along, including my neighbors and myself who were all doing the Bob Dylan “quiet mutter” singing to the rhythm. Closing with an extended “All Night Long” the tour left no corner of his career untouched.

    The tour now rolls into Austin, TX on August 29th, crosses through the West, and ends on September 16th, with a three-night residency in Vegas coming up in October as well!!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
  • Construction Moving on Jays Dorms

    Construction Moving on Jays Dorms

    EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO

    DUNEDIN, FLA. –Construction continues at the Toronto Blue Jays new players dormitory on Causeway Blvd. in Dunedin.  It appears that extra footings and larger foundations are being constructed because of the weak soil on the site and its closeness to the Gulf of Mexico.  The site was previously occupied by a car wash.

  • The World Is a Vampire Bite the Tampa Amp!!

    The World Is a Vampire Bite the Tampa Amp!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Mid FL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 20AUG2023

    Setting back out on the road, the Smashing Pumpkins brought out some of the overlooked heavy artillery, with Rival Sons and Interpol joining them for this second half leg of the tour. Billy Corgan also brought out his wrestling promotion, the storied NWA.

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    Unfortunately, as is par for the course, it poured off and on all day, even delaying doors opening, and severely slowing down traffic. With all the tourists, people forget how to drive in the drizzle. This ultimately means I missed catching the Rival Sons, so my apologies to the band and their fans. From what I was able to hear though, it was a great set.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Opening things from my perspective was Interpol. Despite having a wide open floor, much of the audience was content checking out NWA and grabbing merch to start their set. Flanked by massive white lights and disco balls, the band played to a rather blacked-out stage.

    Described by one fan as looking “rather formal and ready to cater a reception,” they wore matching blacked-out suits and sunglasses. Formed back in 1997, the band consists of Paul Banks carrying the singing and lead guitar duties, with Daniel Kessler adding in on keyboards and guitar, and Sam Fogarino on drums. A bonus keyboarder in Brandon Curtis, and Bran Truax on bass rounded out the touring lineup.

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    With a softer sound to accompany their unique look, they played a solid 14-song set that didn’t have people dancing in the aisles, but rather mellowing with the steadily building humidity.

    To be fair though, they are part of the NYC indie-band darlings, and the diehard fans they had in the crowd sang every word and hung on Paul’s every note. Watching them play, it’s the kind of music to partake in the green or have a introspective moment to. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    36 years after forming, the Smashing Pumpkins are still at it. While not the original lineup, Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin have settled into a groove that 20 years ago would have seemed impossible. They were joined by Jeff Schroeder on keyboards and guitars, as well as touring bassist Jack Bates and Katie Cole on keyboards and vocals. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Taking the stage following what seemed like a 4-minute intro, the band settled into place to open their set. Playing “The Everlasting Gaze” it seemed like the rain from earlier might have made them miss a sound check. Very garbled and muddy vocals to open the set, with a face-off with Iha that played to the pit audience for sure.

    Keeping the muddy sound through “Doomsday Clock,” the lights punched up and shocked much of the crowd. On “Once in a Lifetime,” the Pumpkins introduced a string of vocal effects, which just didn’t sound quite as good as they have on previous tours.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Yet when “Today” played, the band seemed to come alive. Now maybe it was the filled house, but the band suffered a massive shift in their energy and sound. The audience sang along, and it was like Corgan remembered his places and pitch effort. The backing vocals from Cole complimented Corgan beautifully. Her range is beautifully mixed with Iha’s notes.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Hitting into “Tonight, Tonight” Corgan made a note about how this song is always dedicated to the audience, but with his father having lived here before his time, he wanted to send it out to his Daddy as well. The closing “Believe in me cause I believe in you “**45-second applause** “Tonight, tonight,” segment had numerous people around me wiping their eyes.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The rest of the set had the band teasing the audience to get them more into the show, and some of Corgan’s NWA workers came onto the stage, with two of the girls dancing on stage. As one of the wrestlers came up and confronted them, he was dropped with others in the band putting the boots on him.

    With massive static in the mix, Corgan’s voice gave out a bit towards the end, but the audience seemed to pick up with Cole’s backing vocals boosting things as well. Overall, an awesome tour, even with the audio issues. Given the humidity and earlier rains, it’s more than understandable. The tour rolls on through mid-September, and still have numerous stops to go!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
  • Mr. Jones and Me Sweat Our Asses Off for Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional

    Mr. Jones and Me Sweat Our Asses Off for Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Long since a staple of “grocery store jams” the Counting Crows have always been humble and been a part of our lives. This kind of longevity should tell you all you need to know about them and Lead Singer Adam Duritz.

    But no, you also need to know that this man must have the best heat tolerance of anyone I have ever seen. Clad in shorts and t-shirt for the intro, and jeans with a jacket for his set, he never looked drenched like the rest of the sun-stricken people in attendance. 

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    This kind of cool under fire gets the tour to attract an audience of all ages. In a concert lineup transcending the ages, the Counting Crows front-man came out to introduce Dashboard Confessional, a band he calls one of his personal favorites. His humility as he spoke was palpable.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Dashboard Confessional is a Florida-grown band, with many of the band’s family members sitting in the crowd. Naturally, they gave them their due for their support as well as having the audience thank them for their long-term support. Blazing through a 12-song set, with “Screaming Infidelities” that had 90% of the crowd singing along. Ending off with “Stolen,” “Vindicated,” and end with Hands Down,” they nailed a nice mixture of top songs and some back stuff.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Returning in the aforementioned Canadian Suit (no denim shirt so no tuxedo), Duritz and the rest of the Counting Crows took the stage. Spreading out across the stage, they walked on to a standing ovation. Given their over 30 years of music, they have amassed a loyal following that will defend their music to the ends of the world and back.

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    Given the fact that this band set a new record for the fastest-selling album (at the time) surpassing Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” they blazed a trail few could, and their true fans always turn out to relive those days.

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    Entering the stage with a humble presence, they opened their set with “Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby” and “Come Around.” Both songs are songs that set up a 1-2 punch for them to get their fans in the mood. MPL is a straight-up singalong that has slowly become a deep staple of the kid trying to show off with an acoustic and Come Around gets people up and moving more. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The beloved “Mr. Jones” rounded out the tone-setting songs of the night. As one of their most famous songs, the band. Given the age and the popularity of the song, many 45-60-year-old fans were dancing, singing, and reliving the glory days of their youth. Among the 16-song set, that night was “If I Could Give All My Love -or- Richard Manuel Is Dead.” Dedicated to The Band guitarist Richard Emmanuel, The Band was a massive influence on their first record which was recorded in his house. No studio, just them in the house. It made it raw and formed them as a band.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    As the night sweated on, “Round Here,” “Washington Square,” and “A Long December” were hit to close out the main set before the three-song encore, including one with Dashboard Confessional.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The number of people at the barricade talking about seeing them on a tour a day or two on either side of bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana,  & Hootie and the Blowfish, and now Disturbed was a testament to their longevity and a sign of their genius.

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    That genius carried on for this length of time means they got something right as a band. With the tour going on until the end of September, they are only halfway done, with plenty of stops to go. 

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
  • Pumping it up with Pentatonix in Tampa

    Pumping it up with Pentatonix in Tampa

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Pentatonix brought their tour to Tampa’s Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre to a packed crowd on Thursdy night. Pentatonix was formed in 2011 and took NBC’s The Sing-Off by storm and won the $200k first prize with little real challenge. Their choreography, singing, and musical skill overall pulled audiences in immediately.

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    Seeing their online social presence exploding, they took that energy and used it to focus on getting views through YouTube. This gave them a rabid and diverse fanbase, all of whom were well represented at the show.

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    Opening for them was Lauren Alaina. After taking second on American Idol at 16, Lauren Alaina has been out there working on making it happen from coast to coast. By finishing so highly she was deeply encouraged and kept pushing to make a career in music. Excited for the opportunity to open for the Pentatonix, she credited her band for much of her success.

    Playing an upbeat bit of country music, she covered a wide variety of stereotypical country assumptions. For her though, she’s not trying to be funny. It’s her deal and she’s telling it. One spot, in particular, was when she started talking about her dear momma staying in a relationship for too long. Her sacrifice for the kids was to ensure that punishment.

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    Not to be dragged into a downer she tried getting the ladies at the show to enter some banter with her. After a “mic check” due to a dull response, the crowd got with the program. As the evening progressed, she discussed body positivity by introducing one of her songs about her curves.

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    A very self-aware message, she embraces and accentuates her hips magnificently. Earlier she promised the audience some of the best guitars we would hear, and she was right. Her guitarist did an amazing job, and it was good to see him get a moment before the set ended as did the other musicians.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The Pentatonix took the stage next. With a full video package of past shows, home movies of the history of their group, it was a brilliant way to get those who may be new to Pentatonix a taste of what was to come.

    Illuminated by a brilliant light setup, the five piece went through a set of various covers and some original pieces. The opening choice of a cover of Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive” was a full theatrical production.

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    And that’s exactly what this group is. No doubt, they are INCREDIBLY talented musicians, and it’s like a Las Vegas show that comes to your town. They just left the $8.99 lobster buffets and loaded dice in Mississippi. The level of simplicity in design (not by skill level) choreography, placement, and lighting is next level. Adapting it to different stages almost nightly is incredible.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    When they got to the fabled cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” out came Lauren Alaina. While they initially did their version with Dolly herself, Lauren made a fantastic stand-in, and she did the legend proud.

    Making a TikTok video with the audience, they announced that their song “I Rise” would be coming out, and the TikTok from that song would release it on the world.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Ending with a total of 20 tracks, and an additional two-song encore, Pentatonix brought something for everyone. They know their bread and butter as well as their best music. They not only hit the nail squarely on the head, but they also drive it home better than most others.

    The musicianship on the cello, drums, and beatboxing is nothing less than jaw-dropping. With this tour just getting going, you likely still have dates near you between now and September.

    For more information and tour dates: go to https://www.home.ptxofficial.com/

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

  • Disturbed Show You The Light ( And Fire) in Tampa, FL

    Disturbed Show You The Light ( And Fire) in Tampa, FL

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Mid FL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 5AUG2023

    The aptly named “Take Back Your Life” Tour from Disturbed has had some great guests on the bill, and for the Tampa, FL leg, Breaking Benjamin joined in with limited announcement.

    Keith Wallen also From Breaking Benjamin, took the place of Jinjer in the opening slot, as they were across the pond playing at the annual Wacken festival.

    With heavy heat and humidity, and a near-capacity crowd at the Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre, people were doing everything they could to stay hydrated and cool. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Joining Wallen on stage from Breaking Benjamin was Shaun Foist on drums, along with a touring guitarist and bassist. With an already packed amphitheater, the crowd didn’t initially pop for him as loudly as expected. However, by the second song, he was getting people to interact back and forth, and he was loosening into his stride at that point. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    As Wallen’s brand of mellow rock wafted in the hot August humidity during a short set, gaggles of VIP patrons made their way to the front of the fenced-off pit, and to up-front padded chairs. With clear bags filled with VIP merch, and men carrying their wife’s fanny packs like bandoliers of ammo, it was a great hint for the mixed-ages crowd that would pack Mid Florida. Talking about chasing your dreams, Wallen reminded people to never stop chasing them, because when they do, they will never come true.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Breaking Benjamin took to the stage next. With a white-out curtain hung, the band loaded in behind it and teased the audience with a single note. Opening with “Failure” the band was suddenly revealed as the curtain dropped and was whisked off to the side. With phones out, the crowd sang along, and damn near drown out lead guitarist and singer Benjamin Burnley. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    During “Breath” the guitar picks started flying out across the audience. This theme continued through the entire set. As the pit was showered in these bits of plastic, the crowd firmly took over for Burnley. While he was singing and you could hear it in the pit, even halfway back on the floor, and the crowd was simply drowning him out. They truly loved being there. The energy for the band firmly matched the attendance at this point, and the audience was the powerhouse tonight.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The rest of their 13-total song set was chock full of singalongs to songs like “Until The End”, “Polyamorous”, “So Cold,” and ending with “The Diary of Jane.” While a predictable set, it was damn good. Especially after 20 years of playing, the band has seen some serious ups and downs, but their ability to draw and entertain a crowd is beyond contestation.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Let’s start this off by making something crystal clear. The photos here do not to the pyrotechnics of Disturbed justice. No matter if it was because of liability, or something else, the fire seen in these photos from the pit is child’s play compared to the full show. As of this point, hands down the best pyro of any tour in 2023 thus far.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Much like Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed elected to use the drop curtain as well. However, they didn’t tease their presence with single notes. Instead, they posed and used backlights to allow their shadow to project. Larger than life shadow. Thanks to some terrific posing, they had the crowd in a rabid mood before the notes to “Hey You” rolled across the smokey and fiery darkness.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Decked out in a flowing sweater over a sleeveless t-shirt and jeans, in all black, David Draiman took command of the stage. With how he commanded the crowd one fan remarked “The choice of wardrobe of the singer was rather quirky, he looked more like a priest than a rock/metal singer…(By the) third song, he lost the priest cloak. He asked for fists, he got fists,” all night long!! Given Draiman’s background and upbringing, this was a unique choice to describe him, but not an unfitting one.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    However, much like a priest, the fans who came out for Disturbed got more than they likely expected. While the band is known for their marathon sets, they covered 17 tracks and a three-song encore. For “A Reason to Fight”, Draiman took a moment to share his suicide prevention video and had everyone give a moment of silence for those, not with us.

    Talking about his own story of addiction and depression, he shared how the demons almost got him this past February. Choking up in front of his son (despite admitting he hoped tonight he might not), he reminded us that this was our people. Our therapy session, and that we needed to let it out and enjoy it. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Following that, Dan Donegan played a fantastic solo to re-orient the crowd, and work into “Land of Confusion.” For me, this is a song that never gets old. The nods to the original artist’s Genesis that instantly come to mind as they play always bring back tons of great memories.

    Naturally, the crowd was singing along loudly, and keeping the positive energy flowing through the Amp. “The Animal” made its tour debut as well, and it was a magnificent touch before Mike Wengren hit his drum solo. An acoustic version of “Sound of Silence” followed two songs later, with various artists joining to help keep the acoustics of their cover of the Simon and Garfunkel tune.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Bringing out a fan from the meet and greet to tell his story, this young man shares his story of the loss of his family members, and especially the loss of his mother. Draiman not only invited him to stay for “The Light” but the rest of the band honored him as well. It was an emotional moment, with many around the Amp wiping their eyes. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    “The Light” followed, with the Amp lighting up via lighters and cell phones during the chorus lines. With a near-capacity crowd, it was almost daylight even though the stage lights died down during this part. It was a tremendous feeling and overall sense of family. Using “Unstoppable”, “Down With the Sickness,” and “Inside the Fire” for the encore, the band capped off an amazing 20-song total set. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    With Tampa on the later side of the mid-tour, the tour winds through Raleigh, NC on August 7th, Bristow, VA on August 9th, before wrapping up on September 2nd in Noblesville, Indiana. While the lack of Jinjer in Tampa was a downer for many, they’ll be back for the rest of the tour, with Breaking Benjamin also there for most of them as well!!

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
  • Can You Dig it? Mudvayne Brought Their Psychotherapy Sessions Tour Stop #2 To Tampa

    Can You Dig it? Mudvayne Brought Their Psychotherapy Sessions Tour Stop #2 To Tampa

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Mid FL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 21JUL2023

    Pushing down the road as the headliner for the first time in 14 years, Mudvayne is back!! This time they are bringing the metal staple Coal Chamber and the Green Jelly with no-budget masters known as GWAR, on tour with them. Also joining in are nu-metal and video game legends Nonpoint, with Butcher Babies grinding the crowd up.  

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Masterful front women of metal Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd led their fellow bandmates through the set. With palpable energy, the crew kicked off at the early start time of 5:30. Given how godawful humid it’s been in Tampa lately, you would have expected a later time with shorter setlists, or fewer artists on this leg of the tour. Yet this early, they have all five running at full speed.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    With a quick five-song setlist, the band played their usual aggressive and provoking stage performance. They captivated the audience, even if the mixer was a tad off. While not the best vocally this time around, it was completely understandable given the weather. Racing through “Red Thunder” “Monsters Ball” “Last December” “Bottom of a Bottle” and “It’s Killin’ Time, Baby!,” the Butcher Babies gave a solid performance throughout their setlist despite the heat and had people off their seats and the first crowd surfers going over the rail into the arms of security.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Nonpoint is a band that’s been around in various parts of the metal scene from 1997 on. Based out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, the band had a massive built-in audience in Tampa. Opening up with “What a Day” the five-member group picked up the baton of energy and kicked the crowd into the next gear.

    Getting the audience involved in a sing-along, lead singer Elias Soriano and his full extension mic stand reached out and touched the front of the crowd. During the set, Soriano climbed onto the front speaker to rally the horns and get the arms to stay up. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    One of the most interesting aspects of their set is the way drummer Robb Rivera positions himself on stage. Turned facing stage right, Robb’s focus stays on the drums while still connecting with the crowd. His energy is incredibly infectious as the crowd jams along with the beat from his kit.

    Nonpoint’s seven-song set culminated with their masterful jams “A Million Watts,” “Ruthless,” and “Bullet With a Name.” While a solid mid-card slot, their energy and flawless performance would put them as co-main on most other tours.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Otherworldly shock rockers GWAR took the mid-card spot. Easily the longest-tenured band on the tour, after 39 years they have become a band with a few main musicians, with a rotating cast of others who help fill in the void. Their traditionally bloody and violent set was exactly what you’d expect, with Vladimir Putin as the sacrificial bastard for their slaying.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The Berserker Blóthar garbled out classics such as “Hail, Genocide!,” “The Cutter,” and “Sick of You” during their nine-song set. The GWAR faithful stood in the pit for their blood bath as Bonesnapper and Sawborg Destructo waged battle along with Putin and Blóthar. As the blood sprayed on the front row of the fans and security, the roars from their elated fans were deafening. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Beefcake the Mighty on bass is a legendary part of GWAR and one that people who don’t even know GWAR, are familiar with him. He he has influenced other musicians across the globe with his otherworldly skill. His connection with drummer JiZMak da Gusha on drums, and Balsac aka the Jaws of Death on guitar was proof that ESP is real.

    For decades now, people have been either disgusted or amazed by GWAR. After years of missed shows, and finally getting to see them perform, it makes sense on both ends of the spectrum. No matter why you notice them, they still make you take notice. Something many musicians miss.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Following GWAR is never easy feet. For the roadies and Mid FL crew, this was an especially challenging task to get the floor cleaned up (somewhat) and to change over the set in 30 minutes. Thankfully due to excellent staging, they were right on time. For Coal Chamber, this kind of wait is an important part of being a band, but they came out with an intensity that told the crowd that they were there to melt some Goddamned faces off.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Minus a few festival gigs over the last few weeks, this is their first full tour in 8 years. Taking that kind of time off can be a Godsend to most bands, but it honestly felt like it made Coal Chamber bitter and angry for not having this release on the stage for so long. Opening up with “Loco” was an incredible choice for their set. Translated to “Crazy” in English, it was the perfect word to describe the sweat and fake blood-soaked people of the pit now jumping to teh infectious beat of Coal Chamber. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    As the 12-song set cranked along, they book-ended their Roadrunner career with 4 songs off their freshman self-titled album and four from 2002’s Darkest Days. Dez Fafara’s vocals came with incredible energy as he commanded the entire stage from side to side. His facial expressions and how he interacted with fans and pit photographers alike were magnificent.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Of everyone in the band, he seemed the most amped up about being back on stage as his energy was cranked up to 11. Bassist Nadja Peulen’s strumming and movements were magical. Her long and magnificent red hair flowed as she headbanged for all to see. Precise with her rhythm, she was locked in with each note.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Guitarist Miguel Rascón’s playing is incredibly intense. As a few fans remarked later in the evening, his intense staring towards the crowd and bandmates give him a certain Keith Richards-like mystique. It’s not due to his playing style though, instead, it’s the 1000-yard stare that is common with people who spent years running the show at Richards’ level.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Drummer Mike Cox has probably one of the simplest drum kits on any major stage, but it makes him a favorite for fans, and as his tech soaked him with water, he was doing everything he could to stay cool. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Running through “Rowboat,” “El Cu Cuy,” “Another Nail In the Coffin,” and “Sway,” their entire set was masterfully assembled. Finding a mix of tracks your fans will love, people can crowd surf to, and that can push the fans up another notch, isn’t so simple.

    Despite that struggle, Coal Chamber not only made the most of their time, but they rocked some faces off in the meantime. With the smoke cannons firing off and on throughout the set, they clouded the place out when mixed with the cannabis smoke that was now wafting through the air as Mudvayne finally took the stage.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Back on tour for the second time since their return in 2021, this is Mudvayne’s first time as the full headliner since 2014. Following a hiatus since 2010 due to side projects, the band sounds like they never spent a day apart, nor did they look it. Vocalist Chad Gray took the stage by crouching on the up-lit centerstage mini riser as the curtain dropped to the opening notes of “Not Falling.”

    The screams of his vocals were incredible as they rang out across the amp. Despite the smaller-than-expected crowd, almost every voice in attendance shouted back through “Under My Skin” and “Internal Primates Forever.”

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Instead of the long blue dreaded chin hair and long dreads, he now sports short black and white dreads, with a black-on-white winding path going from his jaw to his temple on each side. Complete with “blood” sprayed on the front of his face, his metal and punk-infused stage look is magnificent, and the crowd loved it. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Not to be outdone, guitarist Greg Tribbett brought back his usual spiked head and black and red face paint. Still playing rather statuesque, the robotic demeanor of his play inspired many to do whatever they could to hail for his attention.

    Bassist Ryan Martinie brought out a very different stage look than in the past, but his incredible slap-pluck technique was on full display. Even backing guitarist Marcus Rafferty found himself in an elevated and more pronounced position since he joined them on the road when Mudvayne returned.  He stayed parallel to the drum kit and handled both the guitar and keyboards, often switching between them during the set.

    Drummer Matthew McDonough set the standard for the band though. While perched atop a high riser lifted drum kit, it seemed as if much of the light was missing him. However, his clear drumheads presented one of the most unique photo opportunities I’ve seen in ages. The rhythm and energy between him and Rafferty is infectious and got the crowd going nuts. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Their 14-song set included a cover of “King of Pain” from The Police, “Dull Boy,” and “Fish Out of Water.” Coming back with “Dig” and “Happy?” as an encore, the band nailed something for everyone. By the time, Chad got to “Dig” it seemed like his voice had gone out a bit on him.

    Given the long intros to a few songs, the heat, dripping humidity, and his likely dehydration, it wasn’t surprising. His voice also isn’t the same as it was 23 years ago, and that’s to be expected.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Rolling next into Charlotte, NC on July 23rd, and Bristow, VA on the 25th, the Psychotherapy Sessions Tour has numerous stops across the US before ending August 26th in Englewood, CO. Tours this packed with intensity, blood, anger, and adrenaline just don’t come along this often. Given the Live Nation ticket packages largely available, this tour is more affordable than ever. Now get your ass off the couch, get in the pit, and dig it!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    More photos by Jordan Raiff

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

  • Camera Review: CampSnap Camera

    Camera Review: CampSnap Camera

    A Kid Friendly Digital Camera

    **Disclaimer: All photos in this article are unedited, and as extracted from the camera. Images courtesy of Jordan Raiff and Angelica Franco Estrada.**

    As the kids get ready to head off to their end-of-summer camps, many parents want a camera to send their kids with. Many sleepover camps want kids to leave their cell phones at home, so they can unplug from modern tech, and connect with as kids. This means sending them with a camera to capture moments. 

    But disposable cameras are hot garbage in 2023. It can be difficult finding a film processing place, and kids have gotten used to having more than 36 opportunities to capture the moment.

    Toronto, Ontario native Brian, and Melanie remembered taking those moments as kids and wanted to send their kids off to camp with a digital camera to capture more than 36 moments, but they didn’t want to worry about screens the kids could break.

    Enter the CampSnap Camera. www.campsnapphoto.com This simple camera is made of black plastic and has a small Dijon mustard yellow strip of what feels like vegan leather down the middle of it.

    For features, it only has a small LCD bar panel to keep your exposure counter, and a dual LED flash and selector switch. It features a fixed lens, turns on by holding down the shutter for 5 seconds, and comes along with a micro built-in speaker to produce an audible click and a plastic viewfinder.

    That’s it. Incredibly simple, and the true return of a point-and-shoot. With my wife and I going back to Western NY for a week before the 4th of July, we brought our CampSnap Camera everywhere with us. 

    After arriving I took a few test shots to see what the camera could do around the house. Inside the airport, the camera took some interesting shots as we greeted Phoebe, the new Tampa Airport mascot and statue installation.

    During our layover in Atlanta, I captured some of the planes where it had a difficult time with the harsh light. However, it still performed as expected in the darkened rainforest areas of the Atlanta airport. 

    While traveling around NY this camera came to life. From stopping in at some antique shops in Angelica, NY, to the first discovery of oil in North America over in Cuba, NY, the camera took some great shots and captured a very raw, film feel to the images.

    I took a few low light shots sitting on the deck one night, simply to test out the depth of field and the light capabilities here. It’s not a great image comparatively, but given the price point and how it’s made, these are some phenomenal images. 

    Yet a trip up through East Aurora, NY, and by Viddlers gave the camera a few challenges as the smoke from the Canadian wildfires blanketed the air. Crossing into Niagara Falls, NY provided a bit clearer air thanks to the moisture from the spray produced by the Falls. Passing by the historic hotel from Pam & Jim’s wedding on The Office, the colors were vibrant and perfect.

    Going to the falls themselves produced some amazing pictures at the Cave of The Winds. While trying to avoid getting the camera soaked, I didn’t hide it under a plastic bag, or any other precautions I might have taken with my DSLR.

    Trying to take pictures like a kid, or someone just trying to have fun, I know the camera got a bit wet. Yet a quick wipe of the lens to get moisture off the glass, and the viewfinder, and it was back in business.

    The color and depth of field are accurate, but it’s the aged feel of the photos that are simply amazing. Even selfies turned out bright and reminded me of the photos I saw of my parents when they were there back in the 1980s as newlyweds. While my wife and I don’t look like them, the grain gave me that feeling. Especially when we took this onto the Maid of The Mist. 

     Now powered by an electric engine that is charged by the power of the falls, it feels fitting to be taking photos with a new ‘disposable’ digital camera. People from all walks of life asked me about the camera as they could see it wasn’t a typical digital camera, nor was it film. 

    Heading to Friendship, NY we stopped by Island Park where the Republican Party was born in 1854. Taking photos of the cannons that are also there and the now lowered creek that runs behind the park, there were a few spots where the focus wasn’t as tack sharp as you would have liked. Again, as it’s a point-and-shoot, this is to be expected from time to time. 

    Joining my brother and his girlfriend for a double date night of mini golf and (not pictured) bowling, the camera had great sensitivity at night, but again that vintage feeling grain came back in focus.

    Over the next couple of days, we also stopped back in Angelica for the Lavender Festival, and I even used it to capture a couple of quick images of a retiring Delta pilot as he was heading to his final flight. While I missed getting his name, he was kind enough to stop for a quick moment, and it was fun to capture such a momentous occasion with this camera.

    All in all, this is exactly what I expected for a $45 camera. It’s something you can give to the kids to have fun at camp, toss in your truck for a weekend out, or take to a daytime concert when they have a no-cell phone rule.

    I will openly admit, I have not had a chance to test this in low-light uses like at a regular evening time concert, a fight night, or other incredibly difficult situations. Overall this camera gets a 5/5 for value, 2.75/5 for image quality, 5/5 for durability, and 5/5 for ease of use. Well worth the money, and it makes a great gift. 

  • David Mundell Knocks Out Mike Richman At BKFC-47 To Retain The Middleweight World Championship

    David Mundell Knocks Out Mike Richman At BKFC-47 To Retain The Middleweight World Championship

    BKFC was back. Back In Lakeland that is for BKFC-47. Headlining Friday night’s card was two Championship fights and 7 other battles in the ring that thrilled the sold-out crowd.

    The first preview fight got underway right at the scheduled 8pm start time as the crowd was still entering the RP Funding Center. Those that were in their seats jumped out of them as Michael Lattimore sent Daniel “Black Mamba” Gary to the showers early in round one. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    After the opening bell sounded, both fighters went quickly into the center of the ring to exchange knuckles. After a ten punch fury, Lattimore ducked a swooping right hand by Gary and returned with a tornado left hand from the belt line that hit Gary cleanly and sent him to the canvas for the ten count.  What a start to another great card in Lakeland.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Next up was Clearwater’s own Ja’Far Fortt Knox at 162.6 pounds vs. Tim “Homelander” Hester who weighed in at 165.6. Hester started the fight off quick by going to Fortt’s body and got him with a low blow that paused the fight for a bit. 

    Fortt recovered but then got smacked with a straight left that put him down at the 1-minute mark of round one which got Fortt Knos’s attention. Both fighters connected numerous times as the bell rang at the end of round one.   

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    We had an “untintentional” intentional scoop slam by Hester that highlighted the second round but with 12 seconds to go in the third round a big left hand by Fortt Knox dropped Homelander for good. As Fortt’s hand was raised, he was smiles galore with Hester extremely disappointed with the result.

    2 preliminary fights down and two extremely entertaining knockouts. That’s why you get to BKFC events on time to catch all the battles.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The Main Card got underway with the ladies getting in the ring to put on a show for the fans as Crystal “The Rugged Beauty” Pittman, 132.1 vs. Toni Tallman, 130.8

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    “The Rugged Beauty” controlled the first round and threw the much harder punches and landed a lot more damage than Tallman. Pittman kept the pressure on and continued to do damage that Tallman’s face couldn’t continue to take and the referee stopped the fight at 1:07 in the second. Her lack of experience was evident, and it was shown by the damage her face displayed as she walked backstage.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Tony Murphy, 175.4 vs. Michael Jones, 174.8 turned out to be a rough and tumble brawl early and often throughout the whole fight with Jones throwing looping haymakers and uppercuts.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Murphy countered with jabs and big shots of his own and when pressured, Murphy would underhook Jone’s arms which tied up Jones or Murphy would through him down. After this happened again in the second round, Referee Dan Miragliotta gave Murphy a warning.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    In the third as Murphy continued to apply pressure to Jones and push him around physically using some level of wrestling or mma training, Jones committed the mortal sin by turning his back on Murphy.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Murphy through a hook around the back of Jones head and connected flush to his face, which dropped Jones for the ten count. Murphy remains undefeated and will be moving up in the ranks and on the fight cards in the BKFC.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Our second fight in the woman’s division took place at the flyweight level between Martyna Krol, 126 vs. Gabrielle Roman, 120.2.

    What started out as a bit of a feeling out kind of 1st round with minimal punches thrown, turned into a big victory for Gabrielle Roman.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Both fighters moved around the ring and checked each other’s punches with Krol getting her feet tied up a couple times and falling to the canvas. Roman applied more pressure at the end of the first round and hit Krol with a body shot then a late punch to the face as Krol was bent over on the ropes. 

    Referee Chris Young called the fight as Krol could not continue. She was visibly hurt not only physically but emotionally as tears fell down her face as she was consoled by her corner.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Roman’s victory and her overall aggressiveness should have her set up for a bigger matchup and I for one am interested in seeing he back in the ring. She took some good shots from Krol and kept coming at her. She’s a spitfire and is perfect for BKFC.

    The Reber versus Thompson fight turned out to be the best and most controversial fight of the night. Ryan Reber from Clearwater came in undefeated with a 3-0 BKFC record and took on a smaller but more aggressive Travis Thompson. Fan favorite Reber kept his distance and worked the jab as Thompson tried to get to his ribs with flurries of punches.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Thompson continued to pressure Reber with his forward motion with Reber trying to counter the attack. Reber hit Thompson with an unintentional eye poke which put Thompson down on one knee momentarily.  Thompson continued to come forward during rounds two, three & four with Reber taking punishment.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    As the fifth-round bell rang, Reber needed a knockout to win the fight as he just hadn’t done enough to combat Thompson’s advances and shots. Reber countered much better and threw more punches that connected with Thompson in the fifth, but it didn’t seem to be enough to get the home court win.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    When the scorecards came back with a majority draw, some in the crowd booed the decision but were stoked to find out a 6th round would take place between the hand wrapped foes.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The overtime round went a lot like the fifth round with Reber snapping the jab and Thompson continuing to throw but missing more often than in the first four rounds.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The fight ended once again going to the scorecards with Reber’s name and arm being raised in victory. He fought a perfect fight with a ton of precision. Thompson seemed to control the ring but his face was beaten up pretty badly from the jabs but on press row, Thompson won the fight. Hands down the best fight of the night and would love to see a rematch.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The Knockout of the Night fight was up next in Lakeland as Brandon Allen came back and defeated Seth Shaffer. Both fighters got off to a slow start moving around the ring feeling each other out.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    After the first minute elapsed, both fighters went inside and starting throwing punches at each other’s body. A massive exchange ensued and right at the bell, Shaffer dropped Allen with a flash right cross to the side of the head.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Allen quickly recovered and as the second round progressed early on, Allen hit Shaffer with a 1-2 combination with the second blow knocking Shaffer’s body into a twisting fall which a body isn’t supposed to do. Everyone in the room was surprised how quickly Shaffer got back up, but Allen attacked Shaffer and hit him with another right cross. Ref Chris Lewis saw enough damage and stepped in to stop the fight. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    On a side note, I’ve been covering BKFC since its inception, and Allen’s KO of Shaffer was one of the best I have ever seen in any form of combat sports.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    If the RP Funding Center wasn’t already up in arms with excitement from the previous fight, the highly anticipated Jared Warren vs. Josh Dyer fight for the Interim BKFC Light Heavyweight Championship was next.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    After the round 1 opening bell it was a slugfest with Dyer bull rushing Warren and connecting a few shots early but then hit Warren with a uppercut that looked like a knee.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Warren went down briefly but it was scored a knockdown.  The rest of the first was pretty even but Dyer took round one because of the aggression and knockdown.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Warren was winning the second round by a slim margin but got struck late behind the ear and was stunned badly and struggled to get to his chair. There was a delay in getting the third round started as the ref decided to take a point from Dyer.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The medical official reviewed Warren for many minutes and the fight was then declared a no-contest with the title belt remaining vacant.  It was the right choice as Warren was obviously concussed from the blow and I’m not a doctor or play one on tv.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    It was unfortunate for both the fighters and the crowd, but the safety of the fighters is what’s most important. Rematch please???

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The Co-Main Event was next, and the pre-fight hype was in full swing from the start. Mike “The Marine” Richman had a full squad of Marines from the Lakeland Marine Corps Detachment lead him out to the ring as AC/DC’s “Back In Black” blasted from the house speakers.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Richman came out swinging and connected on Mundell and put him down for 9 seconds and Mundell got back up to his feet.  Mundell from Oldmar, said after the fight that the knock down woke him up.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    And woke him up it did, and he came back with monster shots and a knockdown of his own that rocked Richman as the round ended.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The second round was even with both fighters connecting with big shots. Mundell was connecting cleanly which lead to the first of two knockdowns. Near the end of the second, Mundell caught Richman with a shot near the back of the ear and the night for Richman ended at 1:54 into Round two.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Mundell retained the title in a major way then called out Mike Perry as that’s the only fight that makes sense for him right now. “Bring me Mike Perry, he’s the only one I want to fight next.”

    Photo-Travis Failey

    BKFC brought another big night of fights to a packed house at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. 9 action packed fights giving the fans a roller coaster of emotions and athletes that put it all on the line to have their hands raised in the ring. BKFC isn’t going away anytime soon and with cards all over the country, if you love combat sports, BKFC is for you.

  • Cheap Trick Brings Their Hall of Fame Setlist To Open “The Sound”

    Cheap Trick Brings Their Hall of Fame Setlist To Open “The Sound”

    Photo-Jim White

    On Wednesday night, Clearwater, Florida was once again alive and well after being somewhat of a ghost town the last decade or so. With the arrival and opening of The Sound, the new outdoor entertainment and music venue in Coachman Park, the area was once again vibrant and bustling with people who came to check out the new landmark facility. It also didn’t hurt opening night the attendance numbers by having Rock N Roll Hall of Famers, Cheap Trick play opening night.

    Photo-Jim White

    The festivities started early with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5pm. Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst gave everyone thanks for all their hard work getting everything completed and ready to go to open the facility and for beautifying the area and the new park.

    After the ceremony, we got into the facility early and checked out the amenities and looked for some shade as it was blazing outside which is normal for this time of year. Thankfully, there are covered seats and many trees that provided ample coverage and with a great variety of food trucks and beverage stands with multiple options. On opening night, The Sound had something for everyone in attendance.

    Photo-Jim White

    As the 7000 people got settled into their seats and onto the lawn area, Robin Taylor Zander and his band opened the show.  Out in support of his first solo cd in The Distance, Robin and his bandmates opened their six song truncated set with “What Am I To Do” and then right into “Ize on the Prize.” RTZ then addressed the crowd and stated how cool it was to be the first band playing at the new venue which got a roar from the crowd.

    Photo-Jim White

    As they were performing “Down & Out,” I mentioned to my wife that he sounded like a cross between his dad and John Lennon when Lennon sings in a higher register. Well low and behold, RTZ then stated that their next song would be a tribute to the Beatles by doing a cover of “Dear Prudence.”

    Photo-Jim White

    Robin Taylor Zander and his bandmates then brought his sister on the stage to sing backup vocals on the title track of The Distance then thanked the fans. He wouldn’t be off the stage long as he is also the third guitar player in the headliner for the night in Cheap Trick.

    Photo-Jim White

    Safety Harbor local Robin Zander and the boys in Cheap Trick took the stage promptly at 8 pm as the sun was finally behind the stage and opened with the apropos “Hello There.” Zander was wearing a top hat with a huge feather in it with a black vest on top of a t-shirt. The other guys in the band also dressed for the heat but veteran guitar master in Rick Nielson had his trademark black suit on but more on that later.

    Photo-Jim White

    Cheap Trick followed up with “Just Got Back” and then the recognizable “Big Eyes” which got some of the the crowd off their seats. They continued with “Borderline” and then “He’s a Whore” which Nielson attributed to his ex-girlfriend calling him many times in the past.

    Photo-Jim White

    At this point, I was surprised that Cheap Trick didn’t play one of their bigger hits to really get the crowd juiced as many seemed uninterested with their deeper tracks but after “California Man,” Cheap Trick struck audience gold in “Aint That A Shame.” The Fats Domino cover finally got everyone into the show and put smiles on their faces.

    Bassist Tom Peterson looked and played fantastic throughout the night in perfect sync with drummer Dakk Nielson who is Rick’s son. Peterson played a short bass solo on his custom 12-string bass after “Stop This Game” which led into a string of Cheap Trick’s big hits after “I Know What I Want.”

    Photo-Jim White

    Zander’s voice was clear and pristine throughout the set with it being highlighted during ‘The Flame.” As someone who is very familiar with this song and what it takes to sing it especially at the end with the high notes, Zander proved once again that he is one of the greatest rock voices ever.

    Photo-Jim White

    They followed it up with “I Want You To Want Me” with RTZ and Rick Nielson trading off during the solo. Nielson looked like the elements were taking their toll on him as he came off the stage multiple times to get cool towels around his neck. You can’t fault him for doing this but damn, that suit jacket had to feel like he had a small furnace wrapped around him.

    Photo-Jim White

    Cheap Trick finished their set with their big hits in “Dream Police” & “Surrender” and of course “Goodnight.” It was the perfect ending to a fantastic night of music by one of the top ten greatest American rock bands in history and the opening of one of the best looking and sounding venues in all of Florida. Big congrats to both of the bands and to all the people who put their blood, sweat and tears into the new facility.

    Photo-Jim White
    Photo-Jim White

    For Cheap Trick Tour Dates: https://www.cheaptrick.com/tour-dates.html

    For Upcoming Shows and Info about The Sound: https://www.rutheckerdhall.com/the-sound

    Photo-Jim White

    Setlist:

    Hello There

    Just Got Back

    Big Eyes

    Borderline

    He’s a Whore

    California Man

    Ain’t That A Shame

    Light Up the Fire

    Need Your Love

    Stop This Game

    Downed

    I Know What I Want

    The Flame

    I Want You to Want Me

    Dream Police

    Surrender

    Goodnight

  • BKFC Is Back In Lakeland On July 14th With The Middleweight Championship On The Line

    BKFC Is Back In Lakeland On July 14th With The Middleweight Championship On The Line

    THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING COMBAT SPORTS PROMOTION!

    BKFC-47: DAVID MUNDELL VS. MIKE RICHMAN HEADLINE

    IN BKFC MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!

    FRIDAY, JULY 14 IN LAKELAND, FL

    TICKETS NOW ON-SALE

    Lakeland, FL (June 21, 2023) Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion has announced BKFC-47 set for Friday, July 14 at the Jenkins Arena in Lakeland, FL headlined by the BKFC Middleweight World Championship between Champion David ‘Redneck’ Mundell, (6-1), of Dunedin, FL and #1 Ranked Contender, Mike ‘The Marine’ Richman, (5-1), of Rosemount, Minnesota.

    Tickets, starting at $60 for BKFC-47 are Now On-Sale at BKFC.com. The Jenkins Arena is located at 701 W. Lime Street, Lakeland, FL. BKFC-47 will also be broadcast internationally as part of the BKFC+ Subscription for $7.99 per month on the New BKFC App – The Best Value in Combat Sports and is sponsored by Bucked Up, Only Fans, Crescent Tools, LIONS NOT SHEEP and Knockout Gummies.

    “David Mundell and Mike Richman are two of the toughest bare-knuckle fighters in the world,” said David Feldman, President and Founder of BKFC. “Mundell has been on a torrid run through the division over the last two years culminating in his world title victory last December over Francesco Ricchi. Richman ran through the opposition in his first four BKFC fights before the epic ending to his fight against Lorenzo Hunt at KnuckleMania 3.”

    “The Lakeland / Tampa Florida area has been home to some of BKFC’s biggest nights and this main event along with the loaded undercard promises another sensational night full of fireworks in the squared circle.”

    Currently riding a four-winning streak, David Mundell also hold dominant wins over David Simpson (BKFC Fight Night: Tampa 2), Julian Lane (BKFC-25), Stanislav Grosu (BKFC Fight Night: Tampa), Ronnie Forney (BKFC-8) and Drew Lipton (BKFC-6).

    Prior to his loss against champion Lorenzo Hunt for the BKFC Light Heavyweight World Title, Richman had impressively defeated Isaac Doolittle (BKFC-31), David Rickels, (BKFC-23), Dakota Cochrane, (BKFC-21) and Marcel Stamps, (BKFC-17).

    Co-featured in the middleweight division at BKFC-47, Josh ‘Ken Doll’ Dyer, (2-1), of South Dakota and Jared ‘Captain Deadpool’ Warren (5-2), of Tampa, FL will battle in a rematch of their outstanding clash at BKFC-12 won by Dyer. Dyer also holds a first-round knockout victory over Dakota Cochrane at BKFC Fight Night: Omaha. Warren victories have come against Jay Jackson (BKFC-32), John Michael Escoboza (BKFC Fight Night: Tampa 2), Scott O’Shaughnessy, (BKFC Fight Night: Jackson), Zion Tomlinson (BKFC-19) and Brian Maxwell, (BKFC-8).

    Krystal Pittman will be taking on Toni Tallman. Pittman is Jared Warren’s significant other. This is only the second time in BKFC history that a bare knuckle couple is fighting on the same card, and the first time one is going for a title

    Fighting in the featherweight division, #3 ranked Brandon Allen, (3-1), of Tampa, FL faces  undefeated challenger Seth Shaffer, (3-0), of Marshallville, OH.

    Welterweight newcomers will see action as Ja’Far Fortt ‘Knox’, (1-0), of St. Petersburg, FL battles Tim Hester, (1-0), of Columbus, GA.

    In the featherweight division, Tennessee native Gabe ‘Warrior of God’ Freyre, (2-1), clashes with Josh ‘Tha Prodigy’ Wright, (0-2), of Montana.

    Rounding out the announced fights, featherweights Glendel Futrell, (0-3), of Lakeland, FL and Chevvy ‘Wild Man’ Bridges, (1-2), of Oklahoma City, OK. will toe the line.

    Additional fights for BKFC-47 will be announced shortly.

  • Dio: Dreamers Never Die Released On Blu-Ray

    Dio: Dreamers Never Die Released On Blu-Ray

    FILM ON LIFE OF LEGENDARY HEAVY METAL SINGER
    RONNIE JAMES DIO WILL AVAILABLE ON SEPTEMBER 29

    PRE-ORDERS LAUNCH TODAY

    “DIO: Dreamers Never Die,” the first-ever, career-spanning documentary on the life and times of the late legendary metal icon Ronnie James Dio, will be released worldwide by Mercury Studios on DVD and Blu-Ray+4K and as a special Deluxe Edition featuring the DVD and Blu-Ray packaged with exclusive merchandise on September 29, 2023.  All of these configurations of the film will include a 20-minute selection of deleted and extended scenes restored from the cutting room floor to create a special fan experience.

    The limited Deluxe Edition will be packaged in a two-piece lift-off lid box containing both the DVD and Blu-Ray versions of the film plus branded DIO merchandise that will include logoed trading cards, guitar picks, lapel pin, coasters and a fold out poster from the film.   

    Additionally, fans will be able to purchase the film along with bundles of exclusive Dreamers Never Die merchandise, including a Limited Edition Screen Print Movie Poster, Dreamers Never Die T-Shirts, Hoodies, Trucker Hats and Beanies, Etched Beer Stein, Mousepad, Tote Bag, Replica of “Dio Way” Street Sign, and Word Magnet set as well as a Raglan Shirt and Dome Pin celebrating Dio’s first band, Elf.

    “DIO: Dreamers Never Die,” which world premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, enjoyed a special event theatrical release in more than 600 cinemas worldwide last fall and is available on SHOWTIME.   

    Of the film, Reel News Daily wrote:  “This film stunned me from the first frames.  I expected to like it, but I never expected to fall madly in love with the film and the man.  This is truly one of the best music docs I’ve seen.  I can’t recommend this film enough.”

    “DIO: Dreamers Never Die” delves deep into the singer’s incredible rise from a ‘50s doo-wop crooner to his early rock days in Elf and Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, to replacing Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, and finally cementing his rock star status with his own band, DIO. The film incorporates never-before-seen footage and personal photos, as well as offering intimate scenes with his closest peers, family, and friends, among them Wendy Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Glenn Hughes, Vinny Appice, Lita Ford, Rob Halford, Sebastian Bach, Eddie Trunk, and Jack Black, as they bring viewers inside the life of one of rock and roll’s true heroes and most beloved figures.

    Dio’s widow and longtime manager, Wendy Dio, who executive produced the film, commented:  “I wanted this documentary to be authentic, for the fans to see the roller coaster ride that was Ronnie’s life—the good times, the bad times and everything in between, especially including events that even the most diehard fans would not have known about.  It’s all in there, right up to the very end.”

    In addition to SXSW, the film was showcased at the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto, IFF Boston, DocsLisboa International Film Festival, the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival in Korea, the Athens International Film & Video Festival and Gimme Shelter Film Festival in Athens, Greece.  Last October, it won the Audience Award at the In-Edit International Music Documentary Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain.

    Fully authorized by the artist’s estate, “DIO: Dreamers Never Die” was directed by Don Argott and Demian Fenton (Framing John DeLorean, Believer, Last Days Here), produced by Don Argott and Sheena Joyce for 9.14 Pictures, and executive produced by Wendy Dio for Niji Productions and Kathy Rivkin Daum for BMG.

    Ronnie James Dio, who died of gastric cancer in 2010, reigns as one of the most influential rock artists of all time and one of the greatest vocalists ever. With an illustrious recording career spanning from the 1950’s through to the 2000’s, the documentary follows his trajectory from sideman into singer, songwriter and frontman of not one, but three, of rock’s internationally-renowned, multi-Platinum-selling arena attractions: Rainbow, Black Sabbath and DIO. Famous for popularizing the ‘devil horns’ hand gesture that is now synonymous with hard rock and heavy metal music, Dio was known for not wavering in his pursuit of his rock and roll dreams and continues to influence a new generation of music artists.  His fans the world over remember him not only for his massive talent, but for his kindness, resulting in millions of dollars raised for cancer research in his memory via the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.

    Argott and Fenton said, “People who have conviction, talent and heart like Ronnie James Dio are in short supply these days. It is refreshing to share his inspiring story of believing in yourself and chasing your dreams. As life-long DIO fans, it is incredibly humbling to bring Ronnie’s journey to the screen, and we can’t wait to share it with audiences.”

    For pre-orders of “DIO: Dreamers Never Die” DVD, Blu-Ray+4K and merchandise bundles, visit: https://shop.bandwear.com/dioFor more information on Ronnie James Dio and
    “Dreamers Never Die:
    https://www.diodreamersneverdie.com/
    https://www.ronniejamesdio.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio/
    https://twitter.com/officialrjdio
    https://www.instagram.com/_ronniejamesdio/
  • Tesla Shines At Night Number Two at The House of Blues

    Tesla Shines At Night Number Two at The House of Blues

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Fresh off two performances on the 2023 Monsters of Rock Cruise, hard rockers Tesla took over the House of Blues in Orlando for two nights, playing to a sold-out audience on Friday, May 5th followed by a nearly sold-out show on Saturday, May 6th. I attended the Saturday show with a good friend and concert photography mentor, whose behind the lens Jedi skills have earned him the nickname Lord Nikon.

    We had a spirited and entertaining music-related conversation enroute to the venue based around the two Tesla shows I had just seen onboard the cruise and how well they were attended.

    Well that carried over to their two dates at the HOB as Friday was sold out and from the looks of the line on Saturday when we arrived, this was the case again or darn close.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Opening for Tesla was Kurt Deimer and sadly, I was not able to enter in time to take photos of him and his band but something he mentioned in between the songs caught my attention. His spoken introduction to a song written during Covid questioned why everyone was so hateful towards each other? His point was that we should all be nice to each other.

    My thought was that this should not have to be kept being said in the world today, it should be an unspoken rule. The band covered “Have A Cigar” by Pink Floyd and that was the song of theirs that stood out to me.

    Photo-Randy Cook

     Fastest Land Animal was up next and I noted they had a twin guitar attack just like our headliners for the evening. I thought their sound had some solid rhythms and grooves and at least two of their songs after my time down in the photo pit had my head nodding to some crunchy riffs and leads.

    Photo-Randy Cook
    Photo-Randy Cook

    Singer “Screamin” Jack Novack tossed out tambourines to fans at various areas of the crowd and had them join in on creating the band’s sound. I had noticed the pile of tambourines stacked around a microphone stand and wish that would have happened earlier in their set, as I can picture tambourines flying in my photos.

    Photo-Randy Cook
    Photo-Randy Cook

     In the minutes leading up to the main event for the evening, I took note of how much the crowd was singing along with the in-between set songs. From what I experienced from varying locations around the venue for Tesla’s set, the sing along never stopped, if anything it only got louder and more people joined in. The crowd was also multi-generational with grandparents and parents bringing their young ones to the show who were also singing their lungs out. Its pretty special sight to see and realize that kids are enjoying rock and just not pop music these days.

    Photo-Randy Cook
    Photo-Randy Cook

    This would be my fourteenth time seeing Tesla and the third time in the past six days as I was one of the lucky ones to have sailed on this year’s Monsters on Rock Cruise.

    This is a band that I have been a fan of since my discovery of their music with their debut release “Mechanical Resonance” back when MTV played music videos. My first time seeing them live was in 1989 and this (as well as every other prior show of theirs) is a stroll down memory lane for me. I appreciate their straight-up solid rock n roll with no frills – combined with the passion of each band member’s delivery and interaction with the fans.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Lord Nikon and I both mentioned after the show how there was very little chit chat in between songs, and not as a slight to talk to us in attendance, it was more to fit sixteen songs into a ninety minute time slot. I would venture to say that every song played this evening was the favorite song of someone in attendance as I saw continual evidence of air guitars, air drums and many people putting their head back to try and hit the same note and length as lead singer Jeff Keith.

    Photo-Randy Cook
    Photo-Randy Cook

    I shared the photo pit with a trio of incredibly skilled photographers who I am thankful to also call friends. We had plenty of room to move around during our three-song allotment as Tesla brought the crowd to a roar starting off with “Change in the Weather” and then rolling right into their gateway song for me, “Modern Day Cowboy.” Our last song up front was “Time to Rock” and I was thankful we had beautiful lights to work with and very little piped in smoke.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    After my time down front I made my way up to the balcony hoping to find a decent view of the band but with the crowd as full as it was, that proved to be a challenge. I was over in the corner near one of the stage lights and became quick friends with a group of people who were rotating out those in their group to the balcony rail.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    One of them noticed my media credential around my neck and asked if I had gotten any good shots? I replied “absolutely!” I showed a couple of photos that I had already copied to my phone and then they put me in their rotation club in exchange for me taking their family photo after the show. I got to experience another perfect unobstructed view of these rock titans that I grew up with.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    As the set list progressed and “The Way It Is” hit my ears, I closed my eyes for a few moments of self-reflection. These songs take me back to life events that have such thought provoking emotion within me and to where I once was. I then opened my eyes and appreciate where life has taken me and joined the crowd in the sing along.

    I would say the exact same thing for the song “What You Give”, but it was my turn at the rail and with this view, there would be no eyes closed reflecting on my past.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    During “Miles Away” which was a late addition to the set, the twin guitar attack of Frank Hannon and Dave Rude, and bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Steve Brown holding down the rhythm section, the band sounded as crisp ever.

    After “Miles Away,” Tesla segued into the fabulously gut-wrenching “Love Song.” To quote an old Sam Kinison joke, this is the song that makes you think about the girl that broke your heart and made you say “…make that TWO fifths of Jack Daniels!” For the third time in the past six days I am man enough to say that hearing this song live gave me goosebumps.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    After tearing our hearts out with what truly is a beautiful love song, “Little Suzi” brought the crowd’s feet back to life and brought the main set to an end with a roar of approval from the crowd. The band concluded the evening with their famous rendition of “Signs” by Five Man Electrical Band and truly brought the evening and their two night stint to a fantastic conclusion.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    With how strong this band is live they truly are still kicking ass and I encourage anyone and everyone to go and see them live at least once. I can adamantly say I look forward to whenever the future brings me my fifteenth Tesla show. I did end up taking the family photo for the gracious group and they were a lot of fun to rock out with. I hope they do end up using that picture as the family Christmas card photo.

    Tesla will be back on the road after taking a brief break with tour dates all over the country.

    For a list and additional info on the band, head to https://teslatheband.com/tour/

    \m/

    Tesla set list for Friday, May 5th 2023:

    Lady Luck

    Modern Day Cowboy

    Hang Tough

    Time to Rock

    Heavens Trail (No Way Out)

    Miles Away

    Changes

    Were No Good Together

    Love Me

    Call It What You Want

    What You Give

    Song & Emotion

    Edison’s Medicine (Man Out of Time)

    Love Song

    Little Suzi (Ph.D. cover)

    Encore:

    Signs (Five Man Electrical Band cover)

    Tesla set list for Saturday, May 6th 2023:

    Change in the Weather

    Modern Day Cowboy

    Time to Rock

    Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)

    The Way It Is

    Shine Away

    Changes

    Pvt. Ledbetter

    Lazy Days, Crazy Nights

    Love Me

    Call It What You Want

    What You Give

    Miles Away

    Love Song

    Little Suzi (Ph.D. cover)

    Encore:

    Signs (Five Man Electrical Band cover)

  • Sunshine City Roller Derby Bout: A High-Action Game Derailed by Electrical Malfunction.

    Sunshine City Roller Derby Bout: A High-Action Game Derailed by Electrical Malfunction.

    By Codzilla #F15H

    Photo: Brian Craig

    On Saturday 4/22, Sunshine City Roller Derby hosted another fun filled evening of hard hitting action at the Youth Park outdoor roller hockey rink. This bout featured the league’s home athletes sorted into team Orange and team Teal, with a handful of guest athletes from nearby leagues joining the rosters.

    Caption: Roller Derby athletes wear roller skates designed for speed and agility
    Photo: Randy Cook

    Roller Derby is a full-contact team sport played on roller skates. Two teams each send five players to an oval track, and the teams assist their point-scoring member to break out of the pack and to pass opponents for points. Sunshine City Roller Derby utilizes a ruleset designed for Banked Tracks, which produces fast-paced gameplay.

    Each team’s Jammer, the point-scorer, is marked with a star helmet cover.
    Photo: Randy Cook

    Sunshine City Roller Derby’s newest athletes Chase N Chaos #584 and Chew-blocka #514 marked their debut bout.

    Caption: Chase N Chaos #584 regroups on the bench in her premier bout. Photo: Randy Cook
    Photo: Brian Craig
    Photo: Randy Cook

    As the sun set and the halftime break approached, it became apparent that an electrical issue was preventing the facility lights from operating. A City of Pinellas Park employee arrived to assess the situation, and determined the lighting system could not be immediately repaired. Unfortunately, the bout could not proceed.  Sunshine City Roller Derby ended the bout early, with the Orange team taking the win 61-54. League skater, Circuit Break-her #90, denies involvement with the broken circuit breaker.

    Photo: Brian Craig
    Photo: Randy Cook
    Photo: Brian Craig

    Congratulations to Frankenfine #369 and Chew-blocka #514 on being awarded Most Valuable Blocker, and to Circuit Break-Her #90 and Jamel Toe #386 as Most Valuable Jammer.

    Photo: Carnage Asada #130

    The City of Pinellas Park has since repaired the lighting system, and Youth Park is ready for Sunshine City Roller Derby’s next bout on May 20th. Fans can take advantage of early bird ticket pricing and find more information at https://sunshinerollerderby.com/bout

    Photo: Randy Cook
    Photo: Brian Craig
    Photo: Randy Cook
    Photo: Brian Craig
    Photo: Randy CooK
    https://sunshinerollerderby.com/bout
  • Trauma Awakens-An Interview with Drummer Kris Gustofson

    Trauma Awakens-An Interview with Drummer Kris Gustofson

    Photo-Travis Failey

    Most bands when they fade away early in their careers never make a comeback but that’s not the case with Trauma. After having their song “Such A Shame” included in the Metal Massacre II compilation in 1982, Trauma signed with Shrapnel Records and released Scratch and Scream. It received high praise with the band hitting the road to try to gain traction in the industry and with the fans and unfortunately they didn’t gain the steam that many other thrash bands did at the time.

    After disbanding in 1985, Trauma got the band back together in 2013 and have been active on the road and in the studio releasing Rapture and Wrath in 2015, As The World Dies in 2018 and Awakening, most recently in 2022. Out on the road and with their new vocalist Brian Allen in tow, we caught up with drummer Kris Gustofson as Trauma is opening for Queensryche on their Digital Noise Alliance tour.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    Travis: Welcome to St.  Pete. Big show tonight and the venue should be packed as it’s Todd and Casey’s hometown. How has the tour been going?

    Kris: Oh, it’s been great. You know, a great bunch of guys. Everything’s been going smooth, you know? It’s been really good, man. It went positive.

    Travis: Any craziness on the tour at all?

    Kris: Not too much.

    Travis:  I know you guys are a little bit on the older side, has to be a bit different from back in the day.

    Kris: Yeah, yeah, but I mean, it’s all been falling really good, man.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Travis:  What are the biggest changes that you’ve seen on this tour in comparison to when you guys used to be on the road 20, 30 years ago?

    Kris: Not much, really. I mean, the road’s the road. Except that the roads in the United States now, man, are not in great shape.

    Travis: Probably more of a guy-centric-type crowd that you guys have been seeing?

    Kris: Yeah. I mean, here in the United States, it seems like it’s…you know, it’s a lot of just, you know, white guys, and anywhere from, you know, 20-year-olds up to 60, 70-year-olds are coming to these shows.

    Travis: So what’s the big difference between the shows in the States and shows in Europe? Music like Trauma’s is more predominantly in tune with the people over in Europe. We have our core family of metal fans here but its at a whole other level in Europe.

    Kris: I think there’s pockets of metal people who are in the States, obviously. But over in Europe, and that’s where all the big festivals and everything are. So, I mean, it’s like a real popular type of music over there.

    Travis: You guys have any tours dates set up over for any of the festivals over in Europe?

    Kris: We’re working on some. I don’t know if we’re going to be able to get over there in the summer this year. But, you know, there’ll be some stuff coming up.  Last August we just played the Alcatraz Festival. There were a ton of people there. So, it was a blast.

    Travis: I’ve been listening to both Scratch And Scream and Awakening and some of the other material that you guys have released. I wasn’t familiar with “Scratch” at all and it’s amazing. Along with Awakening, the guitar work and just the musicianship in general on both of those releases is just incredible. The guitar player that was on Scratch And Scream, was Ross Alexander. What happened to him? After you guys broke up in ’85, the guy disappeared and I couldn’t find anything on the internet on him which is very rare.

    Kris: Yeah, a lot of guys just didn’t continue on doing anything with music really. He was 17 when we were together. When we signed with Shrapnel Records, Mike Varney didn’t like one of the other guitar players. So, they used to do these competitions in the Bay Area with drummers and guitar players, everybody. And we went and picked Ross from going to one of these things.

    Travis: Was there a major age difference at the time between the rest of the band and Ross

    Kris: No, he was, like, 17. I think when we recorded that record I was around 21.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    Travis: You’ve mentioned signing with Mike Varney and Shrapnel and both Metal Blade and Shrapnel were signing thrash bands at that time. Was Trauma ever close to signing with Brian Sagel and Metal Blade at the time?

    Kris: No.

    Travis: So getting back to Scratch And Scream, you guys aren’t playing anything from it in the set. Was it tough to leave any of that out?

    Kris: No. We got a new singer in Brian Allen formerly of Vicious Rumors after Donny Hillier unfortunately passed away. Brian is more comfortable singing the new music at this point in time. Plus, we’re trying to promote our new album. There’s no reason to promote an album that was done back in 1984. But right now, on this tour, we only play for such a limited amount of time. At some point, we’ll probably start picking some of those to play.

    Travis: A lot of the new metal bands prescribe to a clean lead vocal mixed with metal-core type screaming vocals. An example of this would be Crown the Empire. What I like about your band’s sound and style is that I can understand the vocal track.  

    Kris: Donny Hillier, the original singer, never sang like that. I’m not a huge fan of it. I mean, I appreciate people who are doing those kinds of vocals but we’re a thrash metal band from the Bay Area. So, we like a singer to be heard and that the listener can sing the words with us.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    Travis: My condolences on Donny’s passing. I know you guys were very close. He sounded a bit like U.D.O., a little early Joey Belladonna from the early Anthrax stuff with a bit of Dickinson with his own style obviously mixed in. Brian is a little bit more like Halford, but he has his own tone and much more aggression. So, it’s interesting to hear the music on Awakening with Brian in comparison to Donny from the previous records.  Brian’s work on Awakening especially on tracks like “Burn” is stellar.

    Kris: Brian has the experience and is a really good vocalist. He’s a great front guy.

    Travis: Were a lot of the vocals and the vocal tracks and the lyrics changed once Donny passed away?

    Kris: Well, some of the lyrics Donny wrote before he passed away, not all of them, but some of the songs. He’s actually on the album on some of the vocal lines, we left them on there. So, his spirit’s on there, you know, but we had to kind of change it up a little bit for Brian.

    Travis: Of course. Different vocal styles.

    Kris: The songs were written kind of in the mindset of Donny singing them. But with Brian, he’s got more of an aggressive kind of voice. So, I think the next stuff we do is going to be really…it would be really good.

    Travis: Well, you’ll be more cohesive as a band and you’ll be able to get into a room and work together instead of sending tracks to each other by computer and putting songs together during the pandemic while writing for Awakening.

    Kris: That was a pain in the ass. Yeah, that was a tough time for everybody, you know? I mean, you know, everybody was on lockdown, especially in California.

    Travis: Well I found that the production on Awakening is fantastic. Did the band do a lot of that themselves by Pro Tools or something of that nature?

    Kris: No, we sent files back and forth quite a bit, but that was pretty much done by the producer, Juan Ortega. He’s really good in the studio, a lot of ideas, you know, he’s done albums with Testament and many others. So, we kind of had a vision of what to do with it.

    Travis: It’s such a full sound and all the different instruments stand out at throughout the album.

    Kris: Yeah, he worked his ass off on that album.

    Travis: I saw that you were in a band with Frank Hannon for a little bit of time with Tesla. How did that come about?

    Kris: We had this band called in San Francisco called Moon Dog Mane. Frank was working with the manager, a guy named Steve Clausman and he had helped Tesla with some of their stuff and we played a gig at the Boardwalk one night, and he brought Frank down. We ended up replacing a few guys and we formed a whole new band with Frank and kept the name and then we started playing a bunch of shows all over the place and got a record deal. It was cool.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Travis: After this tour other than possibly doing some tour/festival dates out in Europe if it plays out that way, will you go back into the studio to do the follow up to Awakening?

    Kris: Yeah, at some point. You know, I mean, we’re starting to kind of talk about it right now.

    Travis: You guys ever think about going out and maybe doing a West Coast roadie by yourselves?

    Kris: Maybe. Maybe. We just went out for six weeks doing this. And, you know, it’s time to go home and take care of home life, business-type stuff. But we’ll see what comes around.

    Travis: Do you guys all have regular jobs back home, or how’s that working for you?

    Kris: I have my own business, but pretty much everybody, you know, does their own thing.

    Travis: The music cruise industry is doing big business and I just went on one and it was great. I know you guys played 70,000 Tons of Metal. Would you guys go back out on that and do that again? Was that a good time for you all?

    Kris: Oh, it was killer. Yeah, it was great, man. There’s people from around the globe on that thing. A lot of people from South America were telling us, “Oh, you guys need to come over here and play.” You know, at that time, it was…when we did it in 2017, it was Anthrax, Testament were on it. It was great.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    Travis: Have you guys been getting any kind of airplay on Liquid Metal at all? It seems like that would be perfect for Awakening to be on…

    Kris: No, for some reason, and I’ll say it, you know, we haven’t gotten much love from them or Full Metal Jackie. I was hopeful we would, you know, but the powers that be, man, it just didn’t happen.

    Travis: Will you get to spend anytime in Florida to relax after the show tonight

    Kris: No unfortunately. We have got to fly home, I have got to be at the airport tonight.

    Travis: I was hoping you’d have down time here as it’s one of the best times of the year in Florida.

    Kris: We all got to kind of get back.

    Travis: Well, I want to say thank you so much for spending time with me and Rocket Sports and Entertainment. We wish nothing but the best for you guys and you are both Scratch and Scream and Awakening are now on my regular playlist. I always promote bands that some might not know about to my close friends and people in the industry and hope to see you at the various metal festivals in the future. I really hope that you guys can get picked up by them to attain more success and keep pushing this thing because the music is exceptional.

    Kris: Right on. Thank you for the support.

    To keep up with all things Trauma, go to their website at https://www.traumametal.com/

  • My One Day in the Show with a Uniform On (The Other Side of Sports Too)

    My One Day in the Show with a Uniform On (The Other Side of Sports Too)

    EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO (COLLECTION)

    April 3, 1964

    I met then future HOF’er Tim McCarver on the St. Louis Cardinals team bus in route from Al Lang Field in St. Pete to Ft. Myers where the Cardinals played the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training 1964.  Yes for at least that day I was a major league batboy wearing a Cardinals road uniform with the number 63 on the back.  During the trip down old route 41 to Ft. Myers I sat in the back of the bus in front of the rest room next to McCarver who while I watched the card game showed me how to play “Hearts.”  That coupled with an occasional, “So Right, So Right,” by McCarver with the rest room door made the trip interesting.  After a 12-5 loss to the Pirates that afternoon the trip back wasn’t as interesting as the trip down but still it was the show.  The photo is of what I still have of that uniform I wore, my major league hat.

  • The Chief Metal Officer’s Year in Review

    The Chief Metal Officer’s Year in Review

    Photo-Randy Cook

    No one knows exactly what their future holds, and when January 1st rang in the New Year I had no idea that 2022 was going to be the most epic concert year that I have ever had. This calendar year has afforded me the opportunity to see some musical legends and my favorite bands, and to have been approved with photo credentials for more shows than I have ever been credentialed for.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    I discovered new bands that expanded my musical horizons even further. I met many new rock friends and shared time with friends old and new at shows throughout the year, across the country and on the high seas.

    You might ask me if I am able to pick a single favorite show or band out of my epic year’s adventures. My first answer would be that every single show I saw kicked ass in its own right. Then I started debating if I could somehow quantify each show across multiple variables to see if there was in fact a mathematically proven top show of the year.

    I kept getting stuck debating on what weight would each variable hold, and how out of town shows would potentially skew results as it does add an extra level of excitement to travel for a show which usually involves going to a new venue.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    After some contemplation, a new Excel spreadsheet and a few conversations with my concert going brethren, I came to the conclusion it is a personally subjective outcome and that traveling for a show would indeed skew the outcome. I counted too many variables between the ones that I came up with and the suggestions of my friends added in and returned to my initial answer that EACH. AND. EVERY. SHOW. KICKED. ASS!

    2022 summarized numerically:
     37 shows
     26 credentialed shows and 2 shows I was able to bring my camera. 2 shows I got denied (both
    Iron Maiden) and 7 shows I didn’t try for credentials.
     169 band performances
     6 different states
     14 different cities
     18 different venues and 2 cruise ships
     11 new venues I had never been to

    My first show of the year was in early February at the sail away party for my annual excursion on the Monsters of Rock Cruise. Axeman extraordinaire Adrien Vandenberg was the headliner and it had been over thirty two years since his last performance in the United States. I was astounded at his jaw dropping playing ability as a teenager in the mid-1980s and to see and capture with my lens this man absolutely shredding right in front of me were moments of pure joy. And this was just the first show of the year!

    Photo-Randy Cook

    He also played twice on the Monsters of Rock cruise so three times within less than a week I witnessed a true master of his craft at work.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    The Monsters of Rock Cruise was beyond awesome seeing forty two performances over five nights and alongside a good friend who is a Jedi behind the lens and one of my photography mentors (Obi Wan). New friends were made as have been every music cruise I have ever been on. One as a result of me going “Hey, that is a cool t shirt – can I take a photo?” Even though I now abstain from indulging, that conversation has me an honorary member of the “Heavy Metal Beer Club”. Just that simple exclamation and question has led to a great friendship with a great metal and beer loving couple who live in Arizona.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Many great bands were seen onboard, some newly discovered as well as many I was very familiar with. This was also my first exposure to the Van Halen tribute band Nerd Halen. I shot their meet and greet photo experience and I had in front of the front row access for part of their pool stage show that both Obi Wan and I were still talking about weeks later and we both proclaimed as our favorite show of the cruise. I cannot wait for the cruise in 2023 as it is an incredibly stacked lineup.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    A week after the cruise returned I flew out for my first ever visit to Las Vegas for my tenth time seeing Metallica and was a promised metal quest fulfilled for the Chief Metal Maiden’s first Metallica show. That the show was in Sin City was an added bonus! Thankfully no bail money was required.

    Gretta Van Fleet was one of the openers and it was my first exposure to their music beyond what I had heard on terrestrial radio. I would for sure like to see them again and as a headliner. Crazy to see one of my local friends out there at the show, but we metalheads roll deep and travel for what we love.

    Photo-Randy Cook


    Two weeks after Metallica I went with another friend and Jedi behind the lens photography mentor (Lord Nikon) to see Tesla at the Strawberry Festival. While I was not credentialed for this show, their security does not check for cameras so I brought mine, shot the whole show from my seat and ended up posting over a hundred shots.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    The Cannibal Corpse show was my friend’s teenage daughter’s first ever concert (and her idea for them to go) and a people watching old mine. I witnessed a very interesting ‘exchange’ (that needs to stay unwritten) between a guy and his wife/girlfriend during one of Cannibal Corpse’s more anatomically graphical songs. Um, if you catch me at a show ask me about this story lol. Thankfully, while my friend’s teenage daughter also witnessed this said unmentionable exchange, I am beyond certain she had absolutely no idea what the band was singing about and I confirmed after the show that she is not scared for life.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    The Cult sounded phenomenal and Ian Asbury still has an amazing voice. A one hundred percent amazing show in a nearly acoustically perfect venue. I so look forward to seeing them again.

    Cruise to the Edge was an absolute blast, Obi Wan and I worked as part of the meet and greet photography team. We had a balcony cabin (my first time ever on my seventeenth overall and sixth music cruise) and woke up to paradise out the sliding door each morning. My first time ever with “Production” credentials. Which means there is no three song limit from the photo pit (which is the norm with media credentials) and I shot on stage with the bands at various times for the first time ever. Initially that was a terrifying experience as I took each and every step up there carefully, as I did not want to trip over a wire and bring the show to a halt. Shooting on stage turned out to be the most exhilarating experience I have ever had doing concert photography.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    A special shout out filled with much appreciation to the Spicy Ginger for having us along on board. Overall I saw forty six performances (including the sail away party), Obi Wan and I each did four meet and greet shoots and again, new friends were made.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Jackyl was a fun show and also a people watching gold mine given the venue. I have always loved this band and every time I have seen them live they put on a great, very highly spirited rock n roll show, and this night was no different. 

    Shooting the Pussy Riot show was an experience. To say I was expecting an actual band to play, when the emcee of the night said we were minutes away from Pussy Riot hitting the stage and me only seeing a table at the back of the stage with a laptop on it I turned and asked Obi Wan “Where’s the drum kit?”

    Let us just say I have a newfound enjoyment of electronic music after seeing this show. It was very hypnotic, sensual and angry all at the same time. It was a heightened crowd and ‘band’ as the show was the headliner show of the local Pride Festival. The major abortion ruling had just rippled through the nation earlier that day so hence my description of the anger I felt from the band but they used that to bring solidarity to the crowd and it was just a powerful evening in many ways.  

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Def Leppard/Motley Crüe/Poison/Joan Jett at Wrigley Field was an out of this world show, trip, and experience. For the review I wrote as a fan in the stands I came up with what I consider as my best title ever with “Pour Some Shout at the Devil on Me”.

    A shout out of appreciation to my boss for the tickets, as much as I thought Motley Crüe kicked ass, I, the Chief Metal Maiden and those around us were in agreement that Poison stole the show.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Volunteering to photo the Girls Rock St. Pete end of camp concert was an unexplainable experience for the fact that some of these girls had never picked up an instrument before the Girls Rock camp started a week ago and here they were on stage performing to a packed courtyard at Jannus Live.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Obi Wan and I each submitted hundreds of shots and the reception and pure gratitude we received in return has us both anxious to volunteer again and photo as much of next year’s camp as possible in addition to the finale concert. This is a great organization and there are chapters all over the country. Girls Rock!

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Lord Nikon, his wife and another friend did a road trip to see Tom Kiefer Band/LA Guns/Faster Pussycat at The Ranch in Fort Myers. It was a huge venue inside with a bar along the wall all the way around and a giant ‘dance’ floor in the middle as it was apparent from all of the signed guitars on the wall it was mostly a county music venue.

    Conversation on the drive home included both how great the show was as well as how cool that venue was, how great the sound system there was and we all vowed to keep an eye on their event calendar.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Anthrax/Black Label Society/Hatebreed – Before we even went into the show I was in the presence of the Holy Quartet of Jedi photographers (Joel, Steve, Mark, Lord Nikon). While I and several other photographers were not approved to photo Black Label Society somehow we all got to shoot the whole set, while we all had the normal three song limit for the opener and headliner).

    Photo-Randy Cook

    With the stage height only coming up to my waist at the House of Blues in Orlando, I got some of the best shots of any show I have ever photographed during their set (you should see the Holy Trinity’s collective jaw dropping shots – Lord Nikon did not photo).

    It was a killer show and a fun, literal at the last minute road trip with Lord Nikon as I did not even get the approval that I was credentialed until 3:30 PM the day of the show and then had to make the trek from Tampa over to Orlando as doors opened at 6 PM. So worth it!

    Photo-Randy Cook

    More appreciation goes out to the Spicy Ginger as she invited Obi Wan and I to the Monsters on the Mountain festival. Over the three day period I saw twenty eight performances, did five meet and greet shoots and met one of the most interesting, friendly and personable guys ever.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    For simplicity and to protect the identities of the innocent, I will call him Sparky and let me just say, within a few minutes of getting in for a ride in his (I have free candy but I am not a serial killer stalker) van, meeting and chatting with him it was like we had been friends for decades. I cannot wait to hang with you again Sparky! It has been great to keep in touch with you and follow your cross country adventures.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Obi Wan and I hope this festival returns to Gatlinburg again next year so we can put a day on either side of the festival to explore and photo the area. For this trip we didn’t arrive until after 2 AM the morning of the festival (Friday), each ‘worked’ almost forty hours and had an airport pick up at 5:15 AM on Monday. Such a fun trip and Sparky was only one of the new friends I met.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Seeing Paradise Kitty and The Iron Maidens in Milwaukee was the record breaking show for the year and it was not even September yet. This was my twenty sixth show of the year, breaking my previous record attained in 2014.

    The Maidens sounded awesome and even played the hardly ever performed live “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” which clocks in at over thirteen minutes. The Kittens rocked the house and the whole night again solidly proves that Girls Rock!

    Photo-Randy Cook

    What I called and considered the Tour of Biblical Proportions, Testament/Exodus/Death Angel absolutely obliterated the ground in and around Jannus to where I witnessed a portal to Hell open up in the mosh pit.

    Another people watching gold mine show, this was another show where I had to remind myself that I am not skilled enough to headbang and take (good) photos at the same time.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Iron Maiden in Chicago was the longest wait in between ticket purchase date and the show date I have ever had to withstand (non-pandemic related or rescheduled). Ten months since the charge hit my credit card to the time the Chief Metal Maiden, two of our ‘Lake Bluff Bubble’ peeps and I entered the United Center for what was all three of their first time seeing this legendary band. To say it was an awesome show was an understatement.

    The set list was pure brilliance, a great time was had by all in our group and I still had the local Tampa show to look forward to in two weeks.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    The Iron Maidens at OCC Roadhouse had the same people watching gold mine qualities as this venue always has. This time here my view was from side stage as we were allowed to photo the whole show from inside the crowd and the Maidens put on another stellar performance. They really mixed up the deep cuts of their set list from only a few weeks ago.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Iron Maiden in Tampa I guess technically was a longer wait from ticket purchase to the show but you get the idea it was a long wait. This show was a reunion of three buds, Timbro, The Foz and it and was Timbro’s son’s first ever concert. We reminisced about how Timbro’s first concert was with The Foz and I back in 1987 (Motley Crüe and Guns n Roses).

    The sound quality of this show was far better than in Chicago and to where I would say the best ever sounding show I had ever seen at that venue.  Four of my last five shows were Iron Maiden related, and three of them were in October so instead of Rocktober I referred to it as Maiden Month. One other item to note was this show was the 139th and final performance of the ”Legacy of the Beast’ tour that started in 2019 and of course was pandemic delayed.

    I had attended the opening night of the North American leg in Sunrise, FL in 2019 and got to close out this tour with a treasured, highly detailed, ‘Easter egg’ filled Iron Maiden event shirt commemorating the tour itself. Only time in my life I have ever bought four shirts at the same tour (three online, saving that hour long wait in the merch line) and for the one I got in Tampa, when I popped out quick during one of the songs and came home with fabric gold! 

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Twist of the dial with a (mostly) reggae show in Virginia. While the trip also included a Lightning hockey game and some sightseeing, the chance to catch an out of town show was high on the list and much appreciated. The show was super chill with some extremely talented musicians. A nice change of musical pace. Definitely more reggae shows in my future.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    The Scott Stapp show was the other where I was not photo credentialed for but still was able to bring my camera. I had won tix for a section in front of the VIP section (SVIP – a new higher priced category I had not yet heard of) and this eventually got me on the rail up front. Scott still has his amazing voice, it was perfect weather for an outdoor show, and I got some great shots.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Seeing W.A.S.P. in Orlando was the culmination of a teenage dream so many years ago to see them live. Life and their tour dates never matched up until this tour was announced and not quite as long of a wait as Iron Maiden, but we bought the tix back in January.

    An epic road trip which finally introduced Lord Nikon to The Foz and the show was beyond epic in itself. This time I only have to wait a mere seven days to see them again!

    Photo-Randy Cook

    W.A.S.P. in Chicago may be the epic adventure of the year. Lord Nikon’s connections back home got us tickets to the sold out show on the first of the only back to back stops on their tour.
    Then prior to the Saturday show he and I both got to watch a bit of the W.A.S.P. sound check and also check out the Arcada Theatre.

    He and I agreed that this was the coolest venue either of us had ever been to. Then we got to hang out for the Armored Saint sound check before returning to the venue a few hours later for the sold out show we originally bought tickets and planned
    the trip for. It was concert history for me as it was the first time I had seen the same band for three concerts in a row and my third time seeing W.A.S.P. within a week.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Cannibal Corpse once again decimated and laid waste to Jannus and by far it was the darkest show I saw of the year as one of the opening bands literally had the crowd chanting “Hail Satan.”

    There were dozens of people there proudly displaying their face corpse paint and upside down crosses on their foreheads. Thankfully this show was on a Saturday night so it was not too long before I could get to church and repent. I saw all four bands and did not understand a single word being sung. That is awesome!

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Jinjer was freaking amazing– I had never heard a band sound so good at Jannus. P.O.D. certainly has me as a new fan after hearing more beyond just their radio tunes. To say that Tatiana mesmerizes me is an understatement and my review of the show spawned this literary gem of me describing her on stage.

    She transitions from that super sweet girl next door with a smile that will melt your soul to an alluring succubus that will rip your f*cking heart out just for the fun of it. I already yearn for my next Jinjer show.”

    Photo-Randy Cook

    I would say it is hard to put into words the experiences I have had this year, but here we are almost thirty three hundred words later. All I can say is wow! What an amazing year.

    My favorite show of the year? It has to be seeing Metallica in Las Vegas. It is Metallica. It is Las Vegas. They finally hit double digits in my overall count. A promise was fulfilled to the Chief Metal Maiden for her to see them for her first time. The week leading up the show was a whirlwind tour of the city and part of the Grand Canyon. The show itself was absolutely awesome as those guys are still kicking ass.  

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Months prior when I bought the tickets  Ticketmaster received much ire from me as we should have had great seats, but one of the infamous Ticketmaster SNAFU errors put me back in the queue at the time of purchase. Still, it was freaking Metallica in Vegas and if tomorrow they scheduled another concert there I would find a way to make it!

    Serious contenders for show of the year has to include Anthrax/Black Label Society/Hatebreed (for the photo experience I had). Both Iron Maiden shows (Tampa for the sound quality, but also for the band to put out what I think is their best ever event shirt). Def Leppard/Motley Crüe/Poison/Joan Jett (for the epicness of the whole trip, the venue and the show).

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Tom Kiefer Band/LA Guns/Faster Pussycat (for how fun the adventure was and how killer all three bands sounded) and the second day of Monsters of the Mountain which had me seeing a Ratt iteration for the first time since 1991 and Queensrÿche kicking ass. I could add in several more shows here – seriously, the whole year kicked ass.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    All three festivals I attended (two of them cruises) were the funnest times ever (I say that about every music cruise). Great people, great friends, great bands and great destinations. Good times.

    My favorite newly discovered band is Nerd Halen, by far. I got to see two of their shows and I shot their meet and greet sessions on the Monsters of Rock Cruise and at Monsters on the Mountain.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Their performances are musically so spot on accurate, entire Van Halen career spanning and with the mixed in comedic gold of lead singer Hal Sparks I was laughing my ass off and headbanging through both of their shows.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    Both of their shows left Obi Wan and me still talking about it days and weeks later, and they were months apart. After getting to spend some time with them in and around the meet and greet shoots I count them all as new friends and say that they are the nicest, most humble guys you could possibly meet.

    Photo-Randy Cook

    What a year. And 2023 is already looking pretty kick ass as at the time I conclude this I am booked on three more music cruises, have tickets to three shows and my friends and I always have eyes and ears out for announced tours.

    To see my favorite concert photos of the year go here.

    To see the list of shows and bands I saw in 2022 go here and start with show number 255.

    C.M.O.

    \m/

  • It’s a Blue on Black kind of night With Five Finger Death Punch, Brantley Gilbert and Cory Marks

    It’s a Blue on Black kind of night With Five Finger Death Punch, Brantley Gilbert and Cory Marks

    Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL 22NOV2022

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Crossovers in music are nothing new. Aerosmith and Run DMC. Metallica and San Francisco Symphony. FFDP and Brantley Gilbert? That’s right, after their cover of Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Blue on Black” with Brian May of Queen and others joining in, they hit the road together. Joining them was Canadian country music sensation, Cory Marks. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Cory’s not a newcomer to the stage or music. For a few years now he has been cementing his status in county music, and it’s something people of all ages were there for. With his band starting the rain of guitar picks through the night, this electric stage performance set the bar high for the night. Coasting across the stage he made sure everyone felt the love, especially as he kept yelling “Tampa” to hype the crowd. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Playing through a seven-song set, he put a crushing touch on “Keep Doing What I Do”, “In Me I Trust” and “Blame It On The Double” to a rather full audience for the opening band. His incredibly talented set of touring musicians backing him play like a well-oiled machine.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Their fan interactions are just as powerful as Cory’s and it sets the stage for a great night of music. The backlit stage makes for an interesting mix of band lights and smoke for a unique experience, especially when he tosses out t-shirts and grabs a fan’s phone to record a quick clip!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Brantley Gilbert has been at this for some time now. Over the course of his 15 years in the big time, he’s racked up a few CMAs, iHeart Radio awards, and some mainstream success with the song “Bottoms Up” as well as his cover with FFDP, and well as “A Country Boy Can Survive.” Naturally, all three were on tap tonight, along with 12 other tracks. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Emerging from the back to a dark but foggy and backlit stage and the start of “Back in Black”, Brantley Gilbert took command of the room from the opening notes of “Kick It in The Sticks.”

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    This kind of country anthem is one that both the guys on the farm and those who wish they could be can connect with, and even the metal heads found themselves nodding along as the country fans all around sang along. Jumping through “Hell On Wheels”, “Son of The Dirty South”, and “Country Must Be Country Wide” before landing on “One Hell of An Amen.”

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Taking a moment to express his pride in being a southern man, and how in the south that means showing appreciation for the Veterans. Thanking them for their service, he dedicated the song to them, and the patriotism and love on his face were the signs of deep respect from a true American. With just three songs left in this 15-song set, he ended with “Read Me My Rights,” a song nearly half of the audience could personally identify with, and the other half had family that could attest to it. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Following a lengthy break to change over the stage, the lights dropped before FFDP took the stage. With the sounds of Ivan teasing the crowd through the mic, the roars of the crowd became deafening. As the curtain dropped, Washington monuments on both sides of the stage flanked an infinity-shaped snake behind the drum kit.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Kicking off with “Inside Out” Ivan ran around the stage a bit as he sang and tossed his sweater to a fan up on the rail. Carrying over through “Trouble” and into “Wash It All Away” you could sense and see a change in the crowd. Especially as the pyro kicked in at full force.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    People of all ages connect deeply to the song, and you could see them hugging and dancing together as they sang. Even my non-metal head fiancé was surprised and touched at seeing this. Oddly enough, the photo pit and rail were “washed away” by Ivan’s water bottle mid-song. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Complete with a voiceover segue, “Jekyll & Hyde” came up next. With Ivan now doing another wardrobe change and coming out in a custom Lightning sweater, the energy in the building hit one of its highest peaks of the night. Fans followed his commands to raise their hands and waive them side to side, he paraded around the stage while dancing at times as he sang.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The energy coming from the stage by the entire band was being picked up by the audience and reshared back out. Seeing a kid pressed to the rail, Ivan shooed the wet photographers to the side so he could hand his signature cobra cane to the young man. His eyes shrink wrapped in tears, he was overcome with emotion being so close to him.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Ivan tossed out stacks of the FFDP signature cash as confetti coated the arena, and gave the sound guy what he had coming for forcing Ivan to push his voice too hard. Following the tongue-lashing, Ivan’s sound was not only much louder but also clearer. For “Sham Pain”, he really needed the extra range by not having to scream, or else he’d likely break his vocal cords. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Ivan brought back the patriotism as he came out with an American flag, waving it and telling the crowd “Every time I hear you chant ‘USA’ I know my grandfather can hear you!!” He explained how his grandfather served as a Marine as they launched into “Bad Company.”

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The cover of the Bad Company signature tune that put them on the map with those outside the metal community still sounds just as amazing in 2022 as it did when they first released it. What wasn’t out then were the “F*ck Joe Biden” chants that also accompanied the intro. Given the lack of respect for the military given by the current administration and their pro-military stance, as shown in the video for the single, it fits well.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Following that, Ivan discussed his love for covers, and joked about someone yelling for “Freebird,” but not much of the crowd sang along beyond the opening bars. However, “You Remind Me” by Nickleback had a thunderous response. Joking about how guys will sing that with the lights down, but not up, he pressed through the rest of the 17-song set. Unfortunately “Wrong Side of Heaven” suffered from some problems getting into the right key, and it seemed to be a reflection of the earlier sound problems for Ivan. Mind you, the rest of the band’s guitars and bass sounded amazing.  

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    With a side-versus-side competition for “Burn mother*cker, burn!!” between Ivan and bassist Chris Kael, the crowd somehow got even deeper invested in the set. As the rest of the band took a break with just the drummer lit, one of the best-lit and performed drum solos from Charlie Engen, came forth.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Not having seen him before, I was absolutely amazed at what he could do. Naturally, Zoltan Bathory and Andy James raised the bar once again after this brief break, and they had even the “seasoned” farmers in overalls and s*itkickers dancing around across the floor. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Heading into “Life Me Up” Ivan took the opportunity to recognize more members of the audience. One lady “Hack” chose one of Ivan’s bats over a hug for her 4-year sobirthday. Another guy whose social media content Ivan has grown to love also got a bat of his own. Ending with “The Bleeding” the band took a bow and preceded to hand out a ton of guitar picks, extra FFDP cash, drumsticks, and setlists.

    After the band left and most of the crowd too, Ivan stayed around to shake hands, take photos, and give fans a real connection moment. I’ve never seen him do this before, and it was a real treat.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The tour rolls on, with dates scattering the country before ending back in Las Vegas on December 17th. If you haven’t caught these groups before, it’s worth the price to spring for floor tickets.

    The energy on the floor for these bands is much stronger as you rub shoulders with your fellow knuckleheads. It’s strange seeing the energy-crossing genres like this when you see how so many paint country music and metal into different categories. Truth be told, both groups are the same people, just one has closer neighbors and grocery stores.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
  • BKFC Brings Their Action-Packed Card Back To Orlando!!!

    BKFC Brings Their Action-Packed Card Back To Orlando!!!

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returned to the Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL on November 5th. With a six-month gap since their last visit to the theme park destination of Florida, the room was jam-packed with fans ready to see these warriors duke it out once again!! This raw segment of combat sports is like nothing else in the American market, and they have grown by leaps and bounds over the last four years.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Opening the prelim card were Tony Murphy and Shane Stapp. These two jumped right into the action headfirst and gave the fans a great example of what BKFC is all about. Testing each other with fierce aggression, Murphy found the button on Stapp quickly. With his balance a bit off, and seemingly lacking focus, Stapp looked like he hadn’t properly recovered from his weight cut. Murphy landed a clean shot on Stapp’s chin that sent him crashing to the canvas. Unable to recover Murphy was able to secure a quick KO. Winner: Murphy KO in the 1st Round

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Even on the prelim portion of a fight card following a great KO is incredibly difficult. Christopher Cornelius and Jafar Fortt entered the squared circle looking to do just that. Cornelius looked uncertain of his capabilities as the fighters were being introduced. While nerves often help a fighter find that focus, it, unfortunately, left him open for a three-piece from Fortt. These vicious hits were just too much for Cornelius as he just couldn’t find his way back up. Winner: Fortt by KO in the 1st Round

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    In the third fight of the prelims, Brandon Allen and Josh Marer made their way to the ring. With the flow of the other opening bouts, many expected another early knockout. These two chose to go more traditional and feel one another out. Marer looked to work the ribs but slipped himself off balance quickly. Despite getting back up, Allen pushed him back to the canvas. On the way down Marer knocked his face on the canvas and busted his right eyebrow open. While he was able to get back up, it was clear that he had been damaged, and was rocked for the rest of the round. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Round two brought about much of the same as the first. Allen was about to work over Marer cleanly and keep him off balance. This lack of balance once again took him to the canvas. Slow to recover, it seemed like this second knockdown woke him and his legs up. Marer was able to land some tremendous shots on Allen before the end of the round, but he couldn’t take him off his feet.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The third round didn’t get very deep before Allen dropped Marer yet again. This knockdown took Marer back out of things. After fighting his way back to his feet, Marer kept falling down or off balance as he attempted to throw everything but the spit bucket at Allen. While some of these shots landed, there weren’t many. Allen was able to land some consistent counter-punching, and he send Marer back to the canvas again. Clearly struggling to compose himself, the ref waived off the fight despite Marer’s objections. Winner: Allen by Corner TKO in the 3rd Round

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    As the broadcast switched over to the pay-per-view portion of the night, the BKFC bombshells were highlighted by hype man, interviewer, and entertainer extraordinaire Brian Soscia. Unlike with boxing or anything else, he brings in years of experience in working a crowd from professional wrestling, and he got them worked into a frenzy as the PPV went live. Surprisingly, the crowd seemed more amped for the free merch than the bombshells who were throwing it out with Socia. 

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Getting the PPV to start on the right foot is absolutely crucial. This is where people call their buddies to remind them to buy the event, so Jonathan Miller and Stephon Reese took the challenge to heart. These two heavyweights were a bit unsure of working their way in, and looked to brawl in the clinch anytime they got close enough to tie up. Given the fact that both were making their BKFC debut, it wasn’t incredibly surprising to see this.

    Reese worked intensely to slip Miller’s stiff shots but got caught with a booming left. This shot seemed to nearly cave his face in and sent him down quickly. With Reese unable to recover, Miller earned a great KO and almost certainly another fight in BKFC soon!! Winner: Miller by KO in the 1st Round 

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    Ryan Reber and Jack Grady made their return to the squared circle, both eager and ready to go. During their faceoff at the ceremonial weigh-ins, Grady showed incredible intensity in his dedication to trying to intimidate Reber. This kind of aggression is usually the sign of someone who isn’t all there, or who is so scared they cannot help themselves. Grady brought that same intensity to the fight. This led to him throwing unbalanced shots and headbutting Reber any time they tied up. As the round ended he received an admonishment for headbutting, after already getting one warning. Reber almost knocked him down as the bell sounded, but Grady escaped.

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Round number two brought about a total change in how Grady was attacking. He kept pressing Reber towards the ropes and he kept throwing inside shots and headbutts. This kind of action not only goes against the rules, but it’s something completely unorthodox in BKFC. With another clear headbutt, the ref stopped the fight. After some deliberation, the fight was deemed over. Naturally, Grady objected, and Reber approached him, with both middle fingers flying high at Grady. 

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    In what can only be described as something similar to a cocaine-fueled attack, Grady charged him and attempted to turn this into an MMA bout. With everyone from Brian Soscia to BKFC President David Feldman, and even Julian Lane hopping in to break up the fight, Grady was eventually escorted from the ring so Reber could get his due, and Lane was escorted from the building. If BKFC wants to continue being taken seriously, people like Grady will need to be banned from the sport. Winner: Reber by Disqualification (intentional headbutt) in the 2nd Round

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    JR Ridge and Chancey Wilson squared up next. These two are a stark contrast to the fighting style of Grady. Well-established professionals in and out of the ring, these two came out energetic, and battled towards and against the ropes. Ridge used his aggressive energy to keep Wilson pinned against the ropes, with Wilson able to escape from any serious damage by sheer luck. 

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    Round number two saw Wilson getting himself tangled up in Ridge’s web yet again. The ability to work the inside and use his head movement to his advantage allowed Ridge to keep Wilson working from the clinch, even with the ref separating them rather frequently. This tactic slowed down the pace of the fight, and with both fighters looking a bit exhausted, the round wasn’t quite as action-packed as the first.

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    The third round was like a whole different fight. Wilson started finding his range and kept Ridge at bay. By keeping the distance, he was able to land some incredibly clean shots. This distance made it tougher for Ridge to work his way inside and get strikes, but he still found a way to get in there. Wilson kept working the jab and an overhand right, eventually nailing a solid shot that rocked Ridge a bit and knotted up his left cheekbone. Keeping himself going, Ridge stayed on his feet and both fighters finished the bout strong. 

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    Going into Round four, saw even more aggression from both fighters. Inspired by the blood on the left side of Ridge’s head, Wilson started throwing heat sinkers that were peppering Ridge. At one point Ridge was nailed squarely in the nose, with blood pouring forth almost instantly. This kind of shot would stop any normal man, and even send most fighters looking for the bus that just hit them. Not Ridge. Instead, he stayed on his feet and kept pressing Wilson as the round closed.

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    The final round opened up with Wilson taking aim at the now dry nose of Ridge and finding it quickly. Leaking blood pretty solidly, Ridge still hung in there and kept himself in the fight. With the blood flowing like beer in a honkytonk, this fight had gotten incredibly brutal, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats from the opening bell.

    With blood also flowing from the inner left eyebrow, Ridge kept himself well protected and kept Wilson on his toes. As the claps for the last 10 seconds of the round sounded the crowd found their peak loudness, and they stayed there through the end of the bout. Going to the cards for the first time of the night, the crowd seemed split on who they thought took it. Unsurprisingly, Ridge got the unanimous decision, with his aggression and targeted strikes a big factor in the win, and in them being one of the two FOTN bouts. Winner: Ridge by Unanimous Decision

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Travis Thompson and David Diaz were up in the seventh bout of the night. The day before the fight, Brian Soscia attempted to do a sit-down interview between these two, but their intense personalities would not allow that to happen. Carrying over the intensity of the weigh-ins, the interview was over before they could even finish introductions. Thompson used Diaz being escorted away to his advantage to sit and build the hype for their bout.

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Entering the first round, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. It was clear that these fighters truly are not big fans of one another, and the crowd was equally as divided. With both fighters coming out aggressively, Diaz looked to be a different fighter from past bouts. Settling into the pocket, it was clear that he had studied and adapted for Thompson’s style. Nonetheless, Thompson picked it apart and landed a devastating blow to Diaz’s left eyebrow. Leaking blood, he kept targeting it and busting it wide open as the round ended, and the fans roared for the action.

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Round number two saw Diaz knocked to the canvas stunningly. However, he rebounded back to his feet like it was simply a slip. This kind of rebound doesn’t always work so well when a fighter is already heavily damaged in one eye, but Diaz trained for this kind of fast recovery. Using this tenacity, Diaz was able to battle back and keep Thompson well at bay, even though shots kept sneaking in. By keeping him on the outside and slightly awkward, Diaz was able to land some significant shots himself, but the leathery skin of Thompson would not yet break.

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Getting to round three was a feat in and of itself for Diaz. With his left eye seemingly swollen shut, the doctor demanded a look at it before the round could get underway. Fine with Diaz’s responses and eye movement, the fight continued. Naturally, Thompson kept working the cut, and with Diaz intelligently defending his eye, he kept in the fight. Throwing consistent power shots, Diaz was now pushing to keep the fight on the outside and away from Thompson’s fierce overhand right. 

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    Round four had the doc yet again checking Diaz’s eye. Given the fact that the BKFC uses the same doctor in every card, it left many wondering if he would allow the fight to continue. Diaz was once again able to give the right answers and keep the doc happy, so the fight carried on.

    Thompson once again targeted the injured eye and was able to work Diaz back to the canvas. Diaz has the tagline of “Let’s go Perros!!” and he keeps fighting just like a dog. This man does not know the meaning of the word quit, and he kept pressing Thompson. With both men clearly bleeding as the round ended, they both went to their corner with what seemed to be a small exchange of newfound respect and to the roar of the crowd.

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    The fifth and final round opened with a final check of Diaz’s eye. Surprisingly not looking much worse than the previous two rounds, the doc was quick to let them finish the fight on their own. Diaz showed signs of timing Thompson’s punches and throwing his counter punches, neither was finding their target with the same precision the fight began with. The exhaustion of a five-round fight was clearly visible on their faces, as the duo battled for any semblance of control.

    While not playing it safe, Thompson was more relaxed with his attack, as he knew he had the decision if Diaz couldn’t get the KO. For what it’s worth, Diaz stayed looking for it, and with the smile on his face throughout the fight, it was clear that he was loving every moment of this bout.

    As the final claps rang through the venue, the crowd came to the utmost crescendo of the evening. While they were loud for the previous bout, this one was the fight they were there to see. Thompson got the unanimous decision, and the newly earned mutual respect was on full display both before and after the announcement.  Winner: Thompson by Unanimous Decision

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Jessica Borga and Sarah Click stepped in the ring as the only women’s bout of the evening. Click was a late substitution for Brooke Gilley, and she was ready to go from the opening bell. These ladies fight with the same kind of intensity the men bring, the women’s bouts are always a huge highlight on any card. While Click was trying to time Borga, the reach and strength advantage was clearly on Borga’s side, and she used that to launch shotgun blasts. These blasts sent Click to the canvas multiple times in short succession before the ref ended the fight. Jumping into her trainer’s arms, Borga was lifted high before getting to hear her name as the winner. Winner: Borga by KO in the 1st Round

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Bobby Taylor and Gabriel Freyre were up next. Following the quick lady’s bout, these two seemed to feed on the energy from the previous bout. Taylor’s experience was clearly on display as he busted Freyre open quickly. The BKFC trademark punch and twist strike was working perfectly to his advantage against the newer Freyre.

    A quick inadvertent eye poke stopped the action for a minute, but Taylor was able to carry on quickly. While both were throwing heavy and precise shots, the strength and almost microscopic precision of Taylor sent Freyre crashing down cleanly. Recovering well, he was able to survive the round and get some good advice in the corner.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Before the second round could even begin, Freyre seemed to be ready to put the instructions of his corner to use. Even though he was worn, he was ready to get back at it. Taylor on the other hand was willing to be patient. Throwing tight jabs and overhand rights, Taylor was able to pick apart Freyre quickly. After falling to the mat, it seemed like Freyre had enough but still got back up.

    Taylor seemed impressed with the toughness of the younger fighter but being impressed doesn’t mean you let off the gas. Mashing Freyre’s face firmly, Taylor was able to knock him back down, and despite his best attempts, Freyre could not find his feet for the third time. The clear KO from Taylor is a sign that he is ready for a serious advancement up the card. Winner: Taylor by KO in the 2nd Round

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Jared Warren and Jay Jackson squared up in the co-main event of the evening. These two have quickly become household names in BKFC, and their styles are perfect for the 185lb division. With Jackson coming out aggressively, Warren took advantage of his slightly off-balance shots and sidestepped to allow Jackson to nearly trip himself up. This made Jackson slow down and take more precise and balanced punches. This more solid base slowed down his tempo, and Warren used this to force shots down the pipe and into Jackson’s face. With a now leaking left eyebrow, Jackson was clearly not ready for Warren’s fighting style.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Going into the second round, Warren stuck to his game plan and it kept working perfectly for him. Even as Jackson tried to limit the damage by being more evasive, Warren kept finding his mark. The dance was favoring Warren as he was simply outclassing Jackson. Getting dumped to the ground on a clean right hook, Jackson barely found his feet as he was knocked back down. With a beautiful one-two combo, Warren tagged Jackson cleanly and sent him down to the canvas for a second time in the round, and ended the fight as Jackson was unable to get back in it. Winner: Warren by KO in the 2nd Round

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    In the main event, Reggie Barnett and Geane Herrera squared off, with Barnett making history as the first fighter with 10 bouts in BKFC. “Educated Hands” is an appropriate nickname for the interim bantamweight champion, and as he welcomed the UFC vet Herrera, class was in session. Taking the opening round lightly, both fighters moved around looking to find an opening to deliver some serious pain, but none really existed. With 30 seconds in the round left, Barnett indicated that he had been hit a win and inadvertent eye poke on his left side. The doc took a look but saw nothing wrong so the fight continued.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Barnett was clearly uncomfortable on the stool as his corner checked on the eye. They got him seemingly cleaned up, and he went back out there to tangle with Herrera. The two traded shots openly and kept the action closer to the middle of the ring for this round. While not specifically targeting that left eye, he certainly found his mark with it, and some swelling was incredibly visible under the eye. Given the damage Barnett has taken there over the previous nine fights, this swelling wasn’t too shocking. 

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Both fighters fell to their corners and were showing clear signs of extreme exhaustion. These kinds of fights take their toll, and both fighters were doing their best to find points and not a knockout. This kind of slower pace is more common in the middle rounds of boxing than in BKFC, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind the more scientific style of fighting.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Round four saw Herrera becoming significantly more on the defensive. The sudden shift in tactics was a warm welcome for Barnett. Seeing how gassed Herrera had become was the green light Barnett needed to absolutely tee off with shots. These punches cleanly found their mark and started chipping Herrera down as the round went on. While Herrera didn’t get knocked off his feet, it certainly looked like the only thing keeping him on his feet was the suddenly loud section of Columbians who had come out to support their fellow countrymen and family member. 

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The fifth and final round was a clear clinic from Barnett. While Herrera was trying to find openings, Barnett had timed his opponent incredibly well, and he was ready to make Herrera pay for his earlier telegraphing of his punches. Slipping and dodging the punches, Barnett was landing frequent counter punches in addition to his open punches.

    As the fight came to an end, the crowd was soundly on their feet as both looked to see if they could land a KO or even a knockdown before the fight ended. As history shows us, education and experience are a huge combination, and Barnett used these tools to get a unanimous decision.  Winner: Barnett by Unanimous Decision

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  • Vigilant MMA Strikes The Stage At The Tampa Gold Club

    Vigilant MMA Strikes The Stage At The Tampa Gold Club

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    “Violence and ladies pack the house!!”

    Vigilant MMA returned after a few months off, and Tampa Gold Club on Adamo Drive in Tampa, FL welcomed them with open arms!! This well-known club is not only one of the biggest locations in the Tampa area, but their award-winning food and knockout ladies have made this one of the gems of the Tampa area. Choosing this as the site for CQ 23 was one of the best decisions Vigilant MMA could have done.

    Combat Ju Jitsu opened the early afternoon card in the 145-150lb division. With Matt Allison and Jorge Betacourt going toe to toe. The opening round was a solid grappling match, and Allison was able to land some solid slaps to distract Betacourt. Both fighters worked their way into multiple submission attempts, but the match reached the time limit, and was forced into overtime.

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    Allison started off attempting to escape and was able to do so in a decent time frame. Betacourt was trying to keep him locked in, but Allison was far too flexible. Reversing roles, Betacourt was unable to escape in enough time, and ultimately lost because of this.  Winner: Allison in OT with fastest escape.

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    Brian Velez and Joshua Kabay squared off second in 159lb Muay Thai kick boxing. The opening round had Velez dominating Kabay, and that continued throughout the fight. Both combatants came out with signs of advanced striking knowledge, but the practical experience to find openings was lacking early.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    In round two Kabay started finding his favorite target of the night; Velez’s balls. With repeated strikes to the midsection, it was like any shot he attempted at the lower stomach or inner thigh ended up there. Velez kept battling back and kept moving forward to win the second round easily. With Kabay losing a point for the strikes, it was Velez’s fight to lose.

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    Velez-4

    The final round was a war of attrition. Both fighters were clearly exhausted and straggling to find open shots. Naturally, Kabay found his favorite target yet again, and seemed to find it a few more times “accidentally”. Despite this, Velez kept moving forward and dodging the meat sinking missiles Kabay was trying to launch. Velez took the time to notice a few weaknesses and exploit them before the round ended. This and the point dedication was more than enough to earn him a unanimous decision. Winner: Velez by Unanimous Decision

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Ryan Arquette and Kahlil McKinnie faced off in 170lb MMA next. This bout had Arquette coming out like a man possessed. While his strikes were pinpoint in their execution, McKinnie was able to take advantage and get him into a grappling match. While his submission attempts were outstanding, they couldn’t make him submit.

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    The second round saw Arquette bringing heavy strikes back into the rotation, and they worked McKinnie to the mat very efficiently. With a rear mount, Arquette was able to rain down blows as McKinnie attempted his best defense to the frequent punches. At first it looked like Arquette was looking to find a submission move, but the strikes were working perfectly. The ref stopped the contest with McKinnie being clearly out hit.Winner: Arquette  by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:08 in Round 2

    Graves-8

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    Opening the main card, Daniel Meadows and Devin Flores squared up in 126lb boxing. Both fighters came out looking to establish the jab early, but neither gaining significant ground. Meadows worked the breadbasket a bit, but the midsection of Flores was able to take the shots and keep moving forward.

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    Round two had both fighters looking tired and using the tie up and the cage to stay up. Flores was able to get Meadows pressed into the cage, and the ref allowed these tie ups to stay going a bit longer than you’d like to see in boxing. This was something clearly noted by Flores’ corner towards the end of the round.

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    The final round opened with both fighters looking to end the bout quickly. Unfortunately for Meadows, Flores was able to get him back against the cage relatively quickly and keep him there most of the round. Had this fight had a more boxing focused ref, this tactic would not have been as effective, as Meadows was doing his best to work the outside game. Needless to say, Flores was able to work the ribs strongly, and rack up the points clearly. This gave him a decisive majority decision. Winner: Flores by Majority Decision

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Dontei Young and Kwanme Jordon brought us back to Muay Thai kick boxing. Jordon came out with a solid boxing posture to open the round, with Young in the more traditional style MTKB setting. This duality of styles looked to end it early for Jordon, but Young battled back and kept his feet under him.

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    Round two saw more traditional movements from both fighters, and Young now had him playing his game. Jordon was able to land some significant body strikes, but they weren’t impacting Young’s game plan a bit. Eating these strikes eventually wore him down and to the mat he went. Rebounding quickly, he finished the round with a significant strike advantage.

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    The final round was another chess match. The even matchmaking between these two made for an amazing fight, with Young eventually taking an accidental shot to the groin that kept him down for a good bit, but he recovered with a new fire. Out striking Jordon a good bit, he ended up taking the split decision. Winner: Young by Split Decision

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    In the Co-Main Event, Michael Faulkner and Grayson Fischer battled it out in 155lb MMA action. Faulkner came out striking and grappling. Fischer battled back to avoid being taken down as best her could. Unfortunately for him, Faulkner was able to get him to the ground with a decisive and devastating rear into side takedown. This seemed to stun Fischer as he tried to avoid the guillotine choke, and ultimately a rear naked choke that he quickly tapped out to. Winner: Faulkner by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:48 in Round 1

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    In the Main Event, Dakota Trice and Champion Morquez Forest squared off for the 155lm MMA Title. Despite feeling each other out to open the fight, Forest took Trice to the mat quickly. Controlling the mount decisively, Trice gave every bit he had to trying to defend various submission attempts. From in the guard or side control, Forest was consistently looking to make him tap.

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    From the outset of the second round, the fight returned to the ground. Trice looked for variations of triangle chokes and locks, but to no avail. As the two battled on the mat, Forest varied his choke positioning, and how much effort he was putting intop the submission with Trice preventing him from locking it in. This conservation of energy meant Trice was starting to get gassed.

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    The final decisive round was more of Forest controlling things from the mount. With the amount of time these two spent on the mat, neither showed much damage, but they were clearly operating on pure love for the fight. Keeping Trice in a rear mount for most of the round, Forest was incredibly dominant in the round. Then again would you expect anything less from the #1 MMA fighter in Florida? Ultimately this control was more than enough to earn the unanimous decision.  Winner: Forest by Unanimous Decision

    Photo-Jordan Raiff
    Photo-Jordan Raiff

    Vigilant MMA continues to bring the action across Florida. In 2023 there are rumors of the organization taking their action-packed events across state lines. Stay tuned for updates!! When they come to your town, you will not regret coming to see the future stars of combat sports today!! You can find tickets and PPV information on social media @vigilant_mma, their website at www.vigilantmma.com, and don’t forget to check out their channel on Roku!!!

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    Photo-Jordan Raiff
  • The Scorpions Bring A Blackout To Tampa

    The Scorpions Bring A Blackout To Tampa

    Hurricane season started early this year in Tampa, but it wasn’t because of the weather as the Scorpions brought their Rock Believer tour to Amalie Arena on Wednesday night. The Scorpions also brought some thunder with them as Thunder Mother opened for them after Whitesnake dropped off the bill due to continuing and unfortunate medical issues.

    This was supposed to be Whitesnake’s farewell tour and a huge double bill and with them not performing, it had a huge effect on early attendance in the arena. This was unfortunate as many missed Thunder Mother’s set as the show pre-partying was happening out on the plaza and in the parking areas.

    Thunder Mother is a quartet of women musicians from Sweden that have been playing for over 8 years now and fortunately with this tour, they are picking up traction in the States.  

    The band consists of vocalist Guernica Mancini, Drummer Emlee Johansson, guitarist Filippa Nassil and bassist Mona “Demona” Lindgren.  They have recently released their new album, Black and Gold and played three songs from it during their extended 11 song setlist. These were “Loud and Free” “Black & Gold” and “I Don’t Know You.”

    They started their set with “Whatever” from their self-titled album from 2018 and finished with “Driving In Style.”   

    The four of them were having a blast and were smiling and posing not only for the photographers in the photo pit but also for the fans in the stands. Hopefully this tour will lead them to getting more fans going out and streaming their music and maybe getting out on next year’s festival season which really seems to catapult bands to another level.

    As the crew did the changeover between bands, a huge curtain with a Scorpions emblem hung from the rafters covering the stage. As the crew dropped the curtain, another one appeared with “Are You Ready To Rock?”  Then that curtain was pulled down and a huge stage setup appeared which was definitely one of the highlights of the set.

    The Scorpions started their 17-song set with “Gas In The Tank” from this year’s Rock Believer release. Most of the crowd didn’t recognize this song but that situation was quickly fixed with the next song, “Make It Real.” The song was released on Animal Magnetism in 1980 and was released as a single along with “The Zoo.” These two hit songs helped The Scorpions achieve platinum status for the first time in their careers.

    The Scorpions continued with the aforementioned “The Zoo” with the Tampa crowd showing their vocal abilities by helping lead singer Klaus Meine with the chorus.

    There were many chances throughout the evening for the fans to chip in as Meine went to the front and sides of the catwalk throughout the evening and stuck his microphone into the crowd.

    The fans were happy to oblige, and both the crowd and the band seemed to feed off each other’s energy throughout the extended set. Klaus also threw out 20 plus drumsticks while he was playing the cowbell which the crowd absolutely loved.

    The epic instrumental, “Coast to Coast” was next as Meine took a short and well-deserved break. His vocals weren’t as good as the last time they were here 4 years ago, and he moved around a bit slower, but he joins a list of a few that are still killing it at 70 plus years of age.

    Guitarists Rudolph Schenker & Mattias Jabs showcased their dual ax-attack and made their way to the front of the catwalk to the delight of the screaming fans. Schenker is not only a great player, but what a showman. He got right in the fans’ faces with his guitar and stormed back and forth across the stage throughout the night.

    The Scorpions then played a couple more songs from Rock Believer In “Seventh Sun” and “Peacemaker” the rest of their set was filled with hit songs from various stages of their very successful career.

    The pace slowed down a bit after “Bad Boys Running Wild” with “Send Me an Angel.” I’ve never seen a guitarist play an acoustic Dean Flying V guitar before, but Schenker did and it was gorgeous. “Angel” was followed up with an amazing rendition of “Wind Of Change” that highlighted Klause Meine’s whistling skills during the opening notes. Meine introduced it as a dedication to the people of the Ukraine with the Ukrainian flag on the video screens and the phones lit up in masse by the crowd.  

    After “Tease Me Please Me,” Meine introduced the crowd to former Motorhead drummer, Micky Dee, who was behind the skins once again for the Scorpions. Dee and bassist Pawel Maciwoda performed “New Vision” which was a bass and drum solo. This was finished off by Mickey Dee slamming his kit with his pedals and drumsticks while a video slot machine spun in the background.

    The screen had all sorts of images but what stood out were the images of Lemmy showing up on the five colorful spinning wheels. The stage setup also had a round cylinder with a huge flashing and striking scorpion and included an amazing and I mean amazing light show.

    A Scorpions’ set just wouldn’t be complete without the fan favorite, “Blackout” as a police siren accompanied the red and blue light flashing strobe lights that lit up Amalie Arena. This song always takes me back to high school when I saw it in 1988. 35 years later and it still rocks as hard as it did back then.

    After “Big City Nights,” the Scorpions took a short break then concluded the night with “No One Like You,” and of course, “Rock You Like a Hurricane.”

    As the house lights came on in Amalie Arena, the fans exited with huge smiles on their faces and thankfully the pouring rain that was happening during the show, subsided. No one commented about Whitesnake not being on the bill as both Thunder Mother along with the Scorpions put on a heck of a show. Even if we don’t get the opportunity to see them live again in Tampa, The Scorpions will always be remembered that there was no one like them.  

    Setlist:

    Gas In The Tank

    Make It Real

    The Zoo

    Coast To Coast

    Seventh Sun

    Peacemaker

    Bad Boys running Wild

    Delicate Dance ( Guitar Solo )

    Send Me an Angel

    Wind of Change

    Tease Me Please Me

    Rock Believer

    New Vision ( Bass & Drum Solo

    Blackout

    Big City Nights

    Encore

    No One Like You

    Big City Nights

  • Rocking With The Monsters On The Mountain

    Rocking With The Monsters On The Mountain

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    With an invitation in hand to come and check out the 2022 Monsters on the Mountain music festival, my ‘Jedi behind the lens’ friend Brian (B Man) and I made travel arrangements and the day of could not get here soon enough.

    We would be flying into Knoxville, TN and then had a ride pre-arranged to get us over to Gatlinburg, TN where the event would be held.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    The Monsters on the Mountain is part of the Monsters of Rock Cruise family which I have been a part of since 2018. Any gathering with this group of like-minded rockers is also a reunion of old friends with the guarantee of both getting our rock on for multiple days, but also the promise of meeting new friends along the way.

    This was my sixth Monsters of Rock Cruise produced event and it was as much fun and kicked ass just like the previous five events have.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Travel day finally arrived and we had a 9:30 PM flight out of a local airport I had never flown out of in 52 plus years of life in this town so that alone was kind of a cool way to start the adventure. Throughout the day I had seen on the socials of other event attendees having travel chaos so I kept hope alive that we would not suffer the same fate as miserable as others were having.

    Late flights, lost luggage and gear seemed to be the norm this day. Alas, we did end up having flight delays that had us departing after the time we were originally scheduled to land so we really felt bad for whoever was on the other end of our flight waiting to pick us up for the forty five minute drive to the hotel.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    After a long day at work and a very delayed flight, my tiredness was instantly evaporated the moment we met our chauffeur extraordinaire, Will. Not only was he gracious and understanding about the delay we could just tell how much fun he was having interacting with all those who got to ride in his ‘free candy van’.

    (Photo-William Doüglas)

    Great conversation was had up to the point where Will said he was a retired policeman, to which I had to ask if he had ever tazed anyone? His answer was not only comedic gold, but B Man and I are still laughing over it a week after the event and I am sure will be forever. Will said “I tased all those mother f*ckers!

    (Photo-Brian Craig)

    I made them ride the lightning” Holy hell that was the laugh we needed at such a late and tired hour and made the ride that much more fun as he took us through a back road adventure we
    could have never found on our own – to the point I was thinking ‘where the hell are we?’ Already a new friend had been made!

    Autograph (Photo-Randy Cook)

    As we arrived and tried to check into the hotel at 1:45 AM, the guys in Autograph were at the desk struggling with the desk clerk to find their reservations.

    Nerd Halen (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Alongside those guys was Caleb, the axe slinger of Nerd Halen who is a new friend from the most recent Monsters of Rock Cruise so it was great to already be in and among my rock brethren.

    Our new tase happy friend figured out that the Autograph
    band’s reservations were actually for a different hotel and he soon invited them into the ‘free candy van’ and away they went leaving Caleb, B Man and I to chat for a few minutes before we finally got the keys to our room and went and immediately passed out.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Before I begin to describe the awesomeness that this weekend event is and was, B Man and I want to express our thanks and gratitude to the behind the scenes staff who make this event happen. The people the fans do not see (much of at least).

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    The stage production staff, the sound and lighting team,
    the security group, the caterers, fellow photographers, the drivers who got us safely from and to the airport at all hours of the day and the Monsters staff as a whole.

    There is tireless dedicated work before, during and after an event like this and there is no way it can be successful without the people who make it happen. Many thanks to everyone we interacted with, broke bread with, laughed with, rocked out
    with and just enjoyed the company of our fellow rockers!

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Day one of the event had B Man and I eating breakfast at one of the over abundant pancake houses in the area. Then back to the hotel for a preflight check of our camera gear before we made the half mile trek down to the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Literally as soon as we step foot in the venue the reunion commences right away as familiar faces are everywhere.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    After doing a quick walk through of the empty main stage arena and vendor area we make our way to the “Summit Room”, which is another stage ‘venue’ as well as the location for all of the photo experience meet and greets that B Man and I would be photographing.

    (Photo-Brian Craig)

    After checking out a little bit of the Tango Down set, the first of what turned into twenty eight performances seen, we make our way back to the massive main hall with two side by stages.

    Tango Down (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Actually there was probably room for there to be three stages across the massive presence, but logistically with everything happening behind the scenes two stages did make more sense. The side by side stages were set to allow the maximum amount of rock and viewing in the least amount of time and space.

    Tango Down (Photo-Randy Cook)
    (Photo-Jody Wilk)

    As part of the ‘Production’ team for this event B Man and I also took some time to figure out access to both side and backstage as we had access to photo from literally anywhere as long as we were not interfering with any given band’s performance. So it was a necessity to get those routes figured out as soon as we could to allow for maximum photo potential.

    Nerd Halen (Photo-Randy Cook)

    When the daily schedule was announced and Nerd Halen was listed as what I perceived to be the opening band of the event, both B Man and I were elated to find out they were actually the closing band of the day. We thought this would mean possibly a longer set, but each band had the same out of performance time.

    It was just we were both blown away by Nerd Halen on the 2022 Monsters of Rock Cruise and even with some of my favorite heavyweights of rock scheduled for this day, Nerd Halen was
    the band I was most looking forward to seeing.

    Nerd Halen (Photo-Randy Cook)

    As a seasoned concert going dude and a knowledgeable
    Chief Metal Officer, I simply cannot stress enough just how amazing Nerd Halen is live. Their flavor of the iconic and anthemic tunes of the mighty Van Halen mixed with the humor that only (lead singer) Hal Sparks can deliver I savored every second and note of their hour long set.

    Caleb rocked the house right in front of both B Man and I more than once, and was beyond appreciative of the photos we shared
    directly with him and the band after the weekend. Super great guys in this band and totally the highlight show of the whole weekend for me, even though it was still only the first day.

    Tom Keifer (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Another musical highlight for me this day was seeing Tom Keifer’s Band. The amazing depth of his emotion as he screeeeeeeeeeams his heart out on “Nobody’s Fool’ gives me goosebumps as I write this because I saw him express that exact same passion a few weeks ago in Fort Myers, FL on the Sonic Slam Tour. https://www.rocketsports-ent.com/sonic-slam-2022-tour-sends-shock-waves-in-fort-myers-florida/

    Extreme (Photo-Randy Cook)

    In addition to Nerd Halen and Tom Keifer’s Band the day ended after seeing sets by Extreme, Quiet Riot (including the return of Rudy Sarzo), Richie Kotzen, Kip Winger acoustic, Autograph, Lillian Axe, and Tango Down. What an incredible first day musically.

    Kip Winger (Photo-Randy Cook)
    Tom Keifer (Photo-Randy Cook)

    For the photo experience sessions this day I had Nerd Halen in the afternoon and Autograph in the evening. These sessions are incredibly fun as it gives us photographers extra time with the bands as we get sorted out who will be where in the photos and for me it is a literal laugh fest the entire time – especially with comedian Hal Sparks, the lead singer of Nerd Halen.

    Kip Winger (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Hal kept telling everyone to “say hi to Kip (Winger) at the next photo station as they left our station – it was comedic gold as the guys in the band a few times wondered how many people were actually saying ‘Hi’ to Kip and something I’ll never forget! For the evening session, I got to share with the guys in Autograph how they were the first band I ever saw live, opening for Van Halen back in 1984 and I proudly showed off my ticket stub to the show
    and they all exclaimed how cool it was that I still had it.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)
    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Our second day started again with breakfast, and we found a really picturesque stream not too far from the café that we ate at. We respectfully stayed at a distance as a couple were exchanging their wedding vows at the exact spot B Man and I wanted to get a few captures from. Soon after man and wife became one, we moved in and snapped our shots then headed off for day two preflight check.

    Quiet Riot (Photo-Randy Cook)
    Lillian Axe (Photo-Randy Cook)

    As we departed the hotel, we encountered the guys in Lillian Axe, who B Man had done their photo experience the day before and I had on the 2022 Monsters of Rock Cruise. They were on their way to Germany for some shows and were gracious enough hanging out to enjoy a friendly chat with us as for as long as they possibly could before Will and his ‘free candy van’ arrived to whisk them to the airport.

    Nerd Halen (Photo-Randy Cook)

    We also encountered both Caleb and Hal from Nerd Halen who were also on their way to the airport headed to Texas for a show that night. We thanked them for an outstanding performance the night before and all shook hands farewell with me mentioning how Florida NEEDS a Nerd Halen tour.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    B Man and I make the trek to the Convention Center and by now we were familiar with the layout of the venue and the quickest routes from in front of the stage to both side and backstage that the metal media gods had bestowed upon us. After our first photo experience session of the day we found some
    time to go out and wander the streets close to and around the Convention Center.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Upon returning to the comforting air conditioning of the Convention Center we spent some time browsing and paying closer attention to the wares the rock vendors had on display. We got the chance to chat with my friend Tom, one of the curators of the Wentworth Gallery which manages the art display that has accompanied every ‘Monsters’ event I have attended.

    I met Tom on the Monsters of Rock Cruise in 2018 when an afternoon snack turned into a conversation with the gentleman seated next to me and an instant friendship was had.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    After seeing Tom on the most recent Monsters of Rock Cruise, he
    read my review after the fact where I mentioned B Man and I playing mini-golf aboard before the music started for the day. Tom asked me “Where the heck did you find mini-golf aboard the ship?” Once I found out Tom would also be aboard the 2022 Cruise to the Edge (another Monsters sponsored cruise), B Man and I made sure Tom was able to carve out some time to play mini-golf with us.

    Michael Sweet (Photo-Randy Cook)

    The three of us had a great laugh when Tom mentioned how insane the local mini-golf course looked but we all knew
    that would have to be for a later adventure as B Man and I literally had no play time on either side of this event.

    Wild America (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Soon after returning from our venture into the city, B man and I discovered the patio area and stage. Immediately walking out onto the patio, I do not recall which one of us said it first, but one of us commented how it smelled like the Pride Festival (an event B Man and I covered together earlier this year).

    Ritchie Kotzen (Photo-Randy Cook)

    It is an inside joke between him and I how at that Pride show we never went more than a few minutes without smelling someone burning the Devil’s lettuce. Funny thing is that was the one and only time the whole weekend we made that inside joke.

    Stephen Pearcy (Photo-Randy Cook)

    The musical highlight for me this day was seeing Stephen Pearcy. It had been since August 9 th, 1991 since I had seen Ratt and I have always been and forever will be a fan of this band. I held out so much hope that Ratt was one of the surprise last-minute additions to the 2020 Monsters of Rock Cruise, but alas that was not to be.

    Thirty one years in between shows and seeing this man perform with his backing band instantly took me back to my musically formative teenage years. Wow did his show ever kick ass.

    Stephen Pearcy (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Sending much love after the fact (there were many thank yous at the time of) to the spicy ginger who went out of her way to re-arrange the photo experience session photographer schedule when I mentioned how much of a highlight seeing Stephen Pearcy would be – sending hugs from here to again show my appreciation! My camera and I thank you!

    Stephen Pearcy (Photo-Randy Cook)

    More rock was had as this day held fantastic sets by Queensrÿche, Stryper, Dangerous Toys, Enuff Z’Nuff, Cold Sweat, John Corabi acoustic, and Cody Parks & The Dirty South with their funky blend of ‘country metal’ as we continued to see more old friends and all the while still making new ones.

    Queensrÿche (Photo-Randy Cook)
    Queensrÿche (Photo-Randy Cook)

    For the one photo session I did today I had Cody Parks & The Dirty South who had just performed moments before. I got to share how much I enjoyed their blend of country and metal and found out Cody (their lead singer) was local to my area, having played several of the beach bars I had frequented years back.

    Cody Parks & The Dirty South (Photo-Randy Cook)

    What a small world as B Man and I shared how we often go out to John’s Pass in Madeira Beach to do animal and sunset photography and Cody joined in the chat with how much he loved the laid back beach vibe out there and my reply was how “…we live in paradise”.

    Cody Parks & The Dirty South (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Our third and final day had us back for breakfast at the same pancake house as our first day. Walking back to our hotel, I could see in the distance some wording on a hotel marquee that I couldn’t quite read in the distance, but upon getting closer it made me stop and take a photo.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    It did not quite register at first, but upon re-reading someone (probably a drunken, long haired, Devil’s lettuce induced, rock n roll hooligan) had changed to the wording to read “I Lick WAP” – well, B man and I had a great laugh over who, when and how the change was made and especially we laughed at the owners who were probably wondering why their local one-off motel was all of a sudden trending on social media.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    I recall thinking that while I could not recall what the sign said in the days before, if anything, because the other side was blank, who carries those letters around to even do something like this. After our final preflight check, during our trek to the venue we noticed the newly erected sign was down.

    Vixen (Photo-Randy Cook)
    Vixen (Photo-Randy Cook)

    From the moment we arrived at the Convention Center, while we had the whole day still in front of us sadly we knew it would be time to say goodbye to friends old and new because this day would go by in what seemed like an instant. “See you on MoRC 23” was the realization of the next time our rock family would all be together again. Social media and texting keeps us in touch, but I much prefer the person to person interaction, especially in an environment that we all enjoy so much.

    Kix (Photo-Randy Cook)

    I cannot pinpoint a specific musical highlight this day as I was savoring every note of every band knowing the event was steadily drawing to a close. Cody Parks & The Dirty South playing outside on the patio, Vixen totally kicking ass, Kix commanding the stage and Firehouse absolutely rocked out.

    Firehouse (Photo-Randy Cook)
    Firehouse (Photo-Randy Cook)

    I was completely wiped out by the time Night Ranger took the stage to close out the main stage fun. My feet hurt so bad from so much walking that I planted myself to watch and just enjoyed their set, taking not one single photo (which I now regret as my feet eventually grew back after several days rest).

    John Corabi (Photo-Randy Cook)

    My photo experience sessions this day were with Nelson in the afternoon and The Hot Summers in the evening. As fast as the crew tries to funnel people through these photo experience sessions we photographers always take that quick second to look after a shot to make sure everyone’s eyes are open and nothing wacky happened to the camera’s settings since the last shot.

    Quiet Riot (Photo-Randy Cook)

    This one guy I thought his eyes were closed so I called him back for a second photo. That second photo his eyes looked like they were closed too, but more than likely he had joined in a Devils lettuce session out on the patio earlier. The Nelson brothers asked to do a third shot with him and asked me for a three count (instead of a two count) and as I said “Three”, they both closed their eyes for the photo.

    Nelson (Photo-Randy Cook)

    One other funny moment occurred at the Nelson photo experience, after we were done and a few people who had waited patiently outside after their turn to come back in to hopefully have a few minutes with the guys in the band(s) and possibly get items autographed.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    As I am putting my camera away, a guy comes up to me and says “Hey man, I’m friends with (I do not recall the name he said) and we used to hang with you guys after you played back in the day at (again I do not recall where he said)…” It took me a second to realize he thought I was part of the band, even though I am wearing a clearly marked “Crew” shirt, I had my camera in my hand and I was the one who just took his picture with the band minutes ago. Well we had a laugh, I pointed him over to the right group of people and I jokingly wondered if maybe it was time to get a haircut.

    Enuff Znuff (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Sadly we exited the venue for the last time (this year at least– hint, hint, bring Monsters on the Mountain back to Gatlinburg in 2023 please!) and with an 8 am flight on Monday, it was a 5:15 am pick up time for us and both B Man and I hoped for another ride in the ‘free candy van’ with Will.

    (Photo-Randy Cook)

    Well, it was another Will who provided this ride’s entertainment as DJ Will of KNAC.com fame was in our group with early flights. This time thankfully there were no flight delays or anything and B Man and I arrived back in St. Petersburg. We stopped and had breakfast, then we each went our separate ways and soon after
    arriving at my house literal total exhaustion grabbed hold of me and the next thing I know it is more than five hours later after I woke up.

    Dangerous Toys (Photo-Randy Cook)

    It is a total first-world problem to be that tired after having so much of a fun, head banging and kick ass weekend but I would not trade the recovery time it took me to get back to feeling like myself and I seriously cannot wait to do it again next year (but with a day or two on either side of the festival to explore the area).

    Wild America (Photo-Randy Cook)

    It was a fantastic weekend. We got to spend time with some amazing and incredibly talented people, musicians, photographers and support crew. We got to rock out with some of the legends of 80’s hair metal as well as exploring bands both new and old I was not familiar with, to the best tribute band I
    have ever seen.

    Stryper (Photo-Randy Cook)

    I already miss my “Monsters” peeps and while I have enjoyed seeing other photographer’s work from the event and reading their words of how kick ass of a time they had I am
    already counting down the days until we can get our family back together again!

    Additional Photos By Randy Cook

    Joe Satriani (Photo-Randy Cook)
    Don Jamieson (Photo-Randy Cook)
    (Photo-Randy Cook)
    (Photo-Randy Cook)
    (Photo-Randy Cook)
    Vixen (Photo-Randy Cook)
    Queensrÿche (Photo-Randy Cook)

  • Video Interview with Sabian Lynch of Alpha Wolf

    While attending Blue Ridge Rock Fest, I had the very special opportunity of interviewing guitarist, Sabian Lynch, from Alpha Wolf. If you haven’t heard of Alpha Wolf then you should stop right now and check them out. I highly suggest, Akudama or Ulta-Violet Violence from their most recent album, A Quiet Place to Die.

    Alpha Wolf is an up-and-coming Australian metalcore band, recently touring in America with bands such as Polaris and ERRA. Here, Sabian and I discuss some of the band’s most recent projects, future plans, anime, and cultural differences between The States and The Land Down Under.

    Rocket Sports & Entertainment’s Kellye Robinson chats with Sabian Lynch at the 2022 Blue Ridge Rock Festival

  • Rammstein Sets Soldier Field In Chicago On Fire

    Rammstein Sets Soldier Field In Chicago On Fire

    Photo-Travis Failey

    After the painful wait of over two years due to Covid restrictions worldwide, Rammstein finally made it to Soldier Field in Chicago, as part of their current North American stadium tour this past Saturday night (September 3rd). A fair question for people to ask is “Was it worth the wait?” I can answer that with a very enthusiastic (more like bombastic) Hell yes! It damn sure was.

    Photo- Chuck Ignarski

    Photo-Travis Failey

    As a veteran of photographing/reviewing many live shows throughout the years, I gladly accepted the challenge of putting the band’s live performance into perspective here. As a fan of the music since their inception in 1994, it’s hard to imagine the level of popularity attained by chosing to not follow the more traditional routes of exposure that are typical of bands of this magnitude.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    Make no mistake though, Rammstein remains as one of the few musical juggernauts that made their bones mostly through their reputation as incredible musicians, along with their infamous use of fire, pyrotechnics, lighting and a flair for “over the top theatrics.”

    Photo-Travis Failey

    To give you a sense of the enormity of the post-apocalyptic themed stage that is currently in use, it took seven, (yes you read that correctly) seven 747 jumbo jets to haul this monster across the pond, as well as 60 trucks to take two complete stages around North America. As if that’s not enough, they average 265 gallons of fuel (per show) for all of the fire effects and that doesn’t even include the massive display of fireworks and explosions that are also on display.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    To say that Rammstein’s show is unlike anything that you’ve ever seen before (or probably ever will in your lifetime) is like saying Till Lindemann likes playing with matches. Let me just say that you will definitely feel the heat and that may include some singed hairs before it’s all said and done.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    So, let’s talk about the live show that unfolded before a sold out audience of 40,000 plus fans. The opening act Duo Abelard, consisted of dual pianists playing Rammstein songs much in the same “punch you in the face” fashion that the band would play some of those very same songs later on in the evening.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    Although slightly skeptical of this choice for an opener, much to my surprise and I suspect most everyone else in the stadium, it worked very well. Those poor pianos though, they literally took a pounding from these very talented young ladies from France.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    After a brief intermission and a recorded announcement from the band “enjoy your evening with Rammstein” (akin to a flight attendant asking you gently to please fasten your seatbelts) the epic audiovisual assault began with a set of explosions that caught nearly everyone off guard [including myself] while launching into “Armee Der Tristen” and “Zick Zack.”

    Photo-Travis Failey

    From this point it was an all out assault to the senses with a 21 song set list that covered their three decades of music and lasted over 2 and a half hours.  Just to name a few, songs included fan favorites “Du Hast,” ‘Links 234,” “Mein Herz Brent,” “Sonne,” “Deutschland” and so many more.

    Photo-Travis Failey
    Photo-Travis Failey

    One of the surprising moments of the evening consisted of the band doing a stripped down version of one of my personal favorites “Engel,” once again accompanied by pianists Duo  Abelard.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    While slightly bummed about Till “retiring” his Engel wings of fire from previous tours, sans said wings and instruments, this version was just absolutely amazing and hauntingly beautiful. Ramping up the power of this song was the added effect of everyone in the stadium singing along word for word, while completely lighting up the venue with their phone flashlights, it was truly something to behold.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    As this was the first of a two encore set, the band opened up the final volley of the evening with “Rammstein,” and frontman Till Lindemann donned a “pyro backpack” that intermittently spewed a perfect half circle of flameas around him. This was followed by the stacatto march of “Ich Will” and the final song of the evening, appropriately “Adieu.”

    Photo-Travis Failey

    As the band gave their traditional front of stage kneel to the crowd showing their true appreciation, there were many thoughts that crossed my mind, as they continue to do days after the show.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    The sensory overload that is a Rammstein show can not be matched by anything that I’ve ever witnessed and as stated earlier, I don’t think ever will. The endorphine and adrenaline fueled high that is part of a Rammstein show is something that no artificial or natural substance can provide.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    The only letdown was the day after the show when I realized it was over and all that was left was unforgettable memories, a horse voice, ringing ears and begin the long wait for the band to come back to the States and do it all again.

    Set list

    1. Armee der Tristen
    2. Zick Zack
    3. Links 2-3-4
    4. Sehnsucht
    5. Zeig dich
    6. Mein Herz brennt
    7. Puppe
    8. Heirate mich
    9. Zeit
    10. Deutschland

    (Remix by Richard Z. Kruspe)

    1. Deutschland
    2. Radio
    3. Mein Teil
    4. Du hast
    5. Sonne
    1. Encore:
    2. Engel

    (with Duo Abélard) (Piano version; performed on B-stage)

    1. Ausländer
    2. Du riechst so gut
    3. Pussy
    4. Encore 2:
    5. Rammstein
    6. Ich will
    7. Adieu

  • Blue Ridge Rock Fest Rages On During Days 3 & 4

    Blue Ridge Rock Fest Rages On During Days 3 & 4

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Day 3 

    On the morning of the third day, ominous clouds replaced the sunny skies of the previous days. While many festival goes welcomed the cooler temperatures, the clouds above left everyone feeling nervous about what was to come.

    The earlier hours brought disappointment for many fans as they discovered that SION and Lacuna Coil had canceled their sets. However, the setback was short-lived thanks to a lineup full of big names for the day.

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Starting the day off, front-women, Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey, of Butcher Babies, made their way onto the URW stage in full force. The vocalists alternated between singing and screaming as they captivated the crowd with fierceness and beauty.

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Over on the Fan Driven stage, Telle Smith of The Word Alive earned the attention of the crowd with his passionate energy. Despite many hurdles, they have overcome in the past few years. Die-hard fans were singing along with the emotion-filled lyrics with smiles on their faces. 

    Photo-Kellye Paige
    Photo-Kellye Paige

    On top of the hill, Hollow Front made themselves known on the Heart Support stage. Sporting brightly colored Hawaiian style shirts, they weren’t easy to miss. They were full of excitement, as this was their first time playing at a festival. It was easy to see that they made a good impression as their crowd grew throughout the set.

    Photo-Trevor Williams
    Photo-Trevor Williams

    Over on the ZYN stage, Finnish band, Apocalyptica, also made an impression. Unlike any other band at the festival, members had multiple cellos. While their style is usually mostly instrumental, they brought a guest vocalist to go along with their symphonic sound. 

    Photo-Trevor Williams
    Photo-Trevor Williams

    As Mushroom Head was preparing to play on the URW stage, the clouds finally let loose. Despite the heavy rain falling from the sky, fans became even more energized. With smiles on their faces, they began chanting “Mush-room Head” in unison.

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Charged from the chanting and the rain, the masked members emerged onto the stage with enormous energy. Being one of the most interactive bands on the weekend, both vocalists traded places, jumping off the stage to sing with fans at the barricade.

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Simultaneously, Fit For a King was braving the ominous weather. Heavy rain fell from the sky as they played their first song, When Everything Means Nothing. It was a picture-perfect moment as they sang the lyrics, “I was born in the rain.” Their fans were equally energized. Crowd surfers made their way up to the barricade with little regard for the weather.

    Photo-Kellye Paige
    Photo-Kellye Paige

    With the first Trinity of Terror tour being so successful, Black Veil Brides, Ice Nine Kills, and Motionless in White went on a second run, which appeared at BRRF. As the rain let up, Ice Nine Kills took over the ZYN stage. With non-stop prop and costume changes and horror movie-themed theatrics, they stole the crowd’s attention, distracting them from the weather.

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Next up on the Monster stage was Motionless In White. Riding the high from the success of their most recent album, Scoring The Ending Of The World, they had a huge crowd waiting for them. Much like their visit to BFFR in 2021, they brought pyro, which hyped up the excited fans even more. 

    Back down the hill, fans were preparing themselves for another big reunion. Both God Forbid and their fans embraced the weather and made the absolute best of it. When watching them on the URW, it was obvious they had missed playing music together. Their fans fed off of their intense energy as they moshed in the rain and mud with no care.

    As the sun set and the rain finally stopped, fans were preparing themselves for visitors from outer space. GWAR puts on a show that is truly unforgettable. As they perform, they tell a visual and very messy story, leaving the fans closest to the barricade covered in fake blood.  

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    After dark, Tenacious D hit the URW stage as one of the most highly anticipated bands of the entire festival. Band members Jack Black and Kyle Gass drew in both festival goes and artists for their performance, creating one of the largest crowds of the weekend.

    Photo-Trevor Williams

    Closing out day three, Slipknot played up the hill on the Monster Stage. With one of the rowdiest crowds of the weekend, Corey Taylor had to stop the set multiple times to ensure that the fans were safe. Along with playing most of the classics, they debuted Dying Song for the first time in the Unities States.

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Day 4 

    Starting out day four, clouds from the day before lingered in the sky but did not stop fans from enjoying one last day full of music. Fortunately, it only rained for a short time, and the weather cleared up. While the days had been long, festival attendees still had plenty of energy. Lacey Sturm, known mostly for her time with Flyleaf, was the second act on the Monster stage. While she performed many songs from her solo projects, long-time fans were happy to hear songs from her Flyleaf era.

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Shortly after, Nonpoint played on the ZYN stage. As they did, some of the residual clouds from the day before let loose for another short rain storm. Their high-energy and tornados of dreads and hair had the crowd whipped into a frenzy. Back on the Monster stage, Hoobastank led the crowd into several sing-alongs with some of their most iconic hits. Notably, they were the only band with a “kid-friendly” mosh pit. 

    Photo-Trevor Williams
    Photo-Trevor Williams

    On the fourth day, the Fan Driven stage hosted both new and old metalcore staples. After completing the Pull From the Ghost Tour, which was mostly sold out, ERRA performed to a group of die-hard fans. They were super engaged as they sang along with some of their favorite songs. BRRF was a short stop before their Australian headlining tour. Vocalist JT Cavey would do double duty later that day with Texas In July on the Heart Support Stage.

    Next up on the same stage, The Devil Wears Prada played their full Zombie EP. Their stage presence is unmatched and the energy they put off is truly infectious.

    As the sun set, post-hardcore classics, Silverstein hit the stage. With hits ranging from brand new to almost 20, they’ve aged well with a strong fan base. Shortly after, Australian natives, The Amity Affliction, made a rare appearance in the US and drew in a large crowd.

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Richmond natives, Lamb of God, made a blazing performance on the Monster stage, bringing with them a new stage setup from The Omens Tour. They played new songs that were just released days before, along with some of their classics, such as Laid to Rest. They lit up the stage with enormous bursts of fire that could be felt deep into the crowd.

    Photo-Trevor Williams
    Photo-Trevor Williams

    On the ZYN stage, radio rock legends 3 Doors Down, took the tempo down, but did not disappoint. It felt as if the entire crowd was singing along with all of their hits from the last 20 years. 

    Photo-Kellye Paige

    Down the hill, pioneers of metalcore, Killswitch Engage was the final band on the URW stage for the weekend. While the festival grounds were mostly dark, the full moon illuminated the sky. So much that even vocalist, Jesse Leach, commented on it. He addressed the crowd, “I’m a nature nerd — turn around and look at the full moon. Let’s all get naked, take shrooms, and run around naked in the woods!’

    Photo-Trevor Williams

    Following their performance, fans make the final trek up the hill, cursing it the entire time, only to cheer for their great feat, knowing that it was the last time.

    Photo-Trevor Williams

    Disturbed was the final band of the night, closing out the Monster Stage. They kept their performance simple, focusing more on the music than on the stage show. 

    Photo-Trevor Williams

    As the night came to a close, fans walked away feeling that the four days had been a success. Despite the dreaded hill, many festival attendees loved the new venue. Many also enjoyed the campgrounds, side-by-side mainstages, and the affordability of the festival. Of course, there is always room for growth and improvement.

    Photo-Trevor Williams

    Many attendees had trouble with the long shuttle lines and they reported missing some bands with earlier set times. Many found the hill difficult to traverse, and they found themselves staying mostly at the mainstages. Small complaints that could easily be improved upon included not enough water stations and trash cans.

    Overall, most were happy with their experience, and reported that they will likely be returning. Blue Ridge Rock Fest continues to have one of the most diverse lineups out of many of the US festivals, keeping fans coming back year after year.

    Photo-Trevor Williams

    As BRRF continues to grow, it is likely that it will continue to improve based on fan feedback. Something that most would like to see is bigger bands and less overlap. With fan-voting already complete and un-signed band announcements starting, many are looking forward to what Blue Ridge Rock Fest has in store for 2023.

    Photo-Kellye Paige
  • BKFC Knocks Out Tampa Once Again at BKFC Fight Night Tampa 2

    BKFC Knocks Out Tampa Once Again at BKFC Fight Night Tampa 2

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, once again put on an amazing event in our back yard of Tampa FL.

    “This was our fifth event in Tampa, and we’re thrilled to return and promote this world class event for the outstanding Florida BKFC fans,” said Dave Feldman, President of BKFC. The night was headlined with the main event between Reggie Barnett and Jarod Grant with the co-main light heavyweight being a clash featuring Jared Warren versus John Michael Escoboza. Grant vs. Barnett was for the Interim BKFC Bantamweight Title.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    With a packed crowd full of rabid BKFC fans out in attendance at the Fairgrounds Expo Center, the night got started off with the preliminary fight card that showcased some up-and-coming fighters. But before the fighters hit the mat, Brian Soscia got the crowd even more fired up by throwing out some great shirts and hats from the main sponsor in Lions Not Sheep. https://www.lionsnotsheep.com/

    (Photo-Travis Failey)
    (Photo-Travis Failey)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    The first event of the preliminaries was broadcasted live on Youtube and featured Alex Tierney of Tampa against Darrick ‘The Buck’ Gates of Montana. The fight got started with a bang and a spatter of controversy. After Gates took an early lead in the fight with a barrage of punches that connected and cut Tierney badly, Tierney continued to press forward.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Tierney was successful in his attack and landed punches that were effective but also hit Gates with an unintentional head butt that stunned him and dropped him. After getting back up, Gates was looked at by the referee and it was determined that he could no longer continue.

    All of Tierney’s local supporters and fans and even Tierney himself disputed the call especially after the replays on the big screen but the official decision stood up with a no contest due to an unintentional head butt. Tierney’s enthusiasm and skill cannot be denied, and he will be back fighting in the BKFC

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    Photo-Travis Failey)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    The second prelim matched JR “The Lion” Ridge from Clearwater vs. Justyn Martinez from Wichita, Kansas. There was lots of clutching early on then haymakers galore with Ridge landing the more effective strikes.  The second round was more measured as both fighters laid back a bit but then the “Lion” struck fiercely with multiple blows and Martinez went down slowly with the ref calling timeout to check on a cut. Martinez took the standing 8 count also and the fight continued.

    (Photo-Travis Failey)

    In the 3rd round, Ridge continued his attack with Martinez trying to find a location for his wide looping punches. As he got more and more frustrated, Ridge jabbed him into submission with the knockout punch being a hard straight left jab that put Martinez down for the last time.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Just watching Ridge up close, you can see that he has the defensive skills, and he knows when to strike to be effective. This young man from Clearwater should have a bright future with bigger fights to come in the BKFC.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    The Pay View Card got underway with an exciting matchup that matched Paul Waters v Henry “Pit Bull” Williams from Clearwater’s “Team Reaper.”

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Waters started the fight with a bull rush head of steam toward Williams but slipped down twice with one being called a knockdown. Waters then got hit with heavy right hand that put him down for a third time.

    (Photo-Travis Failey)

    The fight continued with Williams hitting Waters with a variety of punches with Waters hitting the canvas two more times. The referee and the fans had enough of Waters going down on one knee and at 1:19 into round one the fight was stopped. Not a great start to the main card but Williams was impressive and him and Team Reaper from Clearwater are having a great night so far.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Up next was a fight that had the crowd buzzing a bit prior to the event getting underway. It was the matchup that included Stevo “The Blessed” Morris from Tampa vs. Brandon Allen from Saint Pete.  This fight I dubbed “The Battle Across The Bridge.” 

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    In the opening round, both fighters were content with just feeling each other out but in the second, Allen hit Stevo with a big right hand to send Stevo to the canvas for an eight count. After shaking his head at Allen throughout the first two rounds, he acknowledged the big strike with a nod.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Right after the bell for the third, Allen moved across the ring quickly and hit Stevo with a hammer that dropped him once more. After getting off the mat and regaining his composure, Stevo was able to land a few shots of his own on Allen before going to the fourth round.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    After an even fourth round and with Allen ahead on the judges’ cards, the fifth round unfortunately was pretty uneventful with Stevo rushing Allen late to try to win the round.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    As the bell rang, Allen jumped in celebration as he believed he won the fight. Allen was right with his prediction as the judges score were unanimous as Brandon “Super Man” Allen won the battle of the Howard Franklin Bridge over favorite Stevo “The Blessed” Morris.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    One of the more interesting conclusions to a fight was next up as “Royal” Ryan Reber vs. “Slick” Rick Caruso who was 6ft tall and weighed 134.6 pounds from West Virginia.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Reber walked out to Rage Against The Machines “Killing in the Name of” as the whole crowd started headbanging as Reber entered the ring.

    What transpired though was a slow tentative start by Reber as Caruso was lightning fast and was throwing a lot of punches. Reber got caught late by a big Caruso right hand late to solidify the first round on the judge’s cards.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    In the 2nd round, both fighters struggled to find entry points for their punches but then in the last ten seconds, Reber and Caruso sent an arsenal of blows at each other with Caruso landing the more effective strikes.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    The third round was dead even until Reber hit Caruso with a monster punch that stunned Caruso, but he regained his composure much quicker than anyone in the audience expected.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    In the fourth round, Reber once again crushed Caruso with a right that sent him down to the canvas and after getting back up Reber hit him with one of the best combinations of the night which dropped Caruso again.  The bell struck and both fighters went to their respective corners but after the medical people looked at Caruso, it was determined that he had a broken jaw and obviously couldn’t continue even though he plead to the staff to continue.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    After a slow start, Reber impressed everyone with a strong victory against a solid opponent that could take a punch. We will definitely see both of these two guys again as long as Caruso recovers from his broken jaw.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    One of the best matchups was next up as two goliaths then approached the ring separately as the heavyweights took center stage.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Josh “Bad Intentions” Sanchez from New Port Richey faced off against Paul ‘Superman’ Shough from Bellefontaine, OH.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Sanchez looked like he meant business from the pre-fight walk up to early in first round with both men landing considerable punches not only to the face but also to the body. This was the first fight of the night that body blows were connecting and were causing considerable damage to both fighters. With Sanchez taking an early lead in the fight, Shough kept his composure and battled through but never looking like he was injured or in serious trouble.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

     After counterpunching during the first round, Shough started to force the action with solid shots to the face and body with Sanchez tiring. Even when Sanchez landed blows, Shough kept coming and finally in the late moments of round 3, Shough hit Sanchez with another combination that put Sanchez down on one knee for the count. Shough is a good ole boy that can take a punch and I can’t wait for this guy to fight once again in the BKFC.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    In one of the more controversial fights of the night, Rynell “Black Rhino” Riley was matched up against Heinrich Coorssen from Paraguay. What a start it was for the man they call “The Rhino” as less than eight seconds into match he knocked Coorsen down.  To the surprise of the crowd, Coorson jumped right back up to his feet. Riley dominated the first round with another knockdown with the clock ticking down.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    The second was more of the same with Riley smashing Coorssen down again but Coorssen bounced back up again. To say this guy was resilient would be an understatement. Coorson then started to aggravate Riley with his determination and his heart an even a few indiscretions that the referee took issue with and warned him about. He definitely walked a thin line of fighting dirty and it was very noticeable.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Riley looked a bit tired and frustrated then Coorsoon took over the fight with powerhouse combinations and a final short right jab that hit the button and dropped him to win the fight in the third round.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Headlining the undercard in the heavyweight division, David “The Redneck” Mundell fought David Simpson of Mankato, Kansas.

    Mundell-4.jpg

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    The two veteran BKFC fighters battled back and forth during the first two rounds with the fight being tough to judge. As the third round roared on with both fighters getting a bit winded, Simpson started to take the lead with solid body shots that lead to a solid right to open a cut under Mundell’s left eye. 

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Mundell flipped the script in the fourth with a solid round with him focusing on the body with multiple punches connecting on Simpson. At this point it was anyone’s fight going into the fifth round.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    But as anyone knows who follows BKFC, expect the unexpected as Mundell hit Simpson with a short but powerhouse right hook that exploded like a grenade that dropped Simpson. Even as he got up before the ten count, Simpson was in no condition to continue as Mundell got the big TKO victory.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Another semi-controversial fight occurred next as John Michael ‘Jomi’ Escoboza ( the official BKFC Hitman) battled # 5 ranked hometown favorite Jared ‘Captain Deadpool’ Warren.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Warren came out to “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent and did just that to Escoboza in round one. Warren’s boxing skills were in full display as dodged and weaved and countered Escoboza beautifully.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Escoboza regained his composure as both fighters exchanged shots with Escoboza getting the best of Warren in round 2.

    Round three was a struggle and a battle for both men but late in round three, Warrens left eye showed a lot of damage as many though the fight could be stopped because of it but the fight continued onto the fourth.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Warren was trying to end the fight with multiple shots to Escoboza in the round, but Escoboza held on and going into the fifth it seemed like it was anyone’s fight.

    Warren once again established his jab and stuck Escoboza it seemed at will in the fifth with his left as the fight went the distance.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    As the judges’ score cards were read, many were left shaking their heads as the as two judges had it 49-46 and 48-47 for a unanimous decision for Warren. Everyone thought it was close but most on press row had Escoboza at least winning two of the five rounds.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    For the finale and main event of BKFC Fight Night Tampa 2, Reggie ‘EAZ E’ Barnett Jr dominated Jarod ‘Kid Gatti’ Grant 5-0 for the Interim Bantam Weight Title. To say this fight was even close would be straight up shenanigans as Barnett hit and aggravated Grant at will.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    In the first round, Barnett hit Grant with flurries to the head and body with jabs connecting to easily win the round. It was more of the same in round two and three with Barnett doing whatever he wanted in all aspects of the fight and even in the drawn blood department with Grants nose bleeding profusely.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    In round four, Grant was a bit more of the aggressor, but Barnett laid back for a more defensive posture as he knew he was way ahead in the fight.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    An accidental thumb to the eye of Grant by Barnett stopped the fight unexpectedly and after a huge delay the fight then went to the Judges’ score cards with Barnett easily winning the fight as he was up 4 rounds to none. 40-36

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)
    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    Once again, the team and founders of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC),  did an amazing job putting on BKFC Fight Night Tampa 2 at the Fairgrounds. It was a sellout show with the fighters doing their best to give the fans a great time and performance and that they did.

    (Photo Jordan Raiff)

    BKFC is growing exponentially and will soon be in a town new you and hopefully back in Tampa. For future fight cards and locations, check out https://www.bareknuckle.tv/ for all your BKFC information.

  • BKFC Fight Night -Time To Weigh In So You Can Knuckle Up!!!

    BKFC Fight Night -Time To Weigh In So You Can Knuckle Up!!!

                      

    It can’t be summer without Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship coming to Tampa, FL!! This is combat sports in some of its purest form available today. The squared circle isn’t for everyone, but Tampa seems to breed them as there is at least one fighter from the area on almost every card. So when they come home, it’s extra stacked!!

    Gates v Tierney (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Gates v Tierney Photo-(Jordan Raiff)

    Opening the night, Darrick Gates (143.3)  and Alex Tierney (145.9)  will be battling it out with Gates looking for his first win, and Tierney makes his debut.

    Martinez v Ridge (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Martinez v Ridge (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Martinez v Ridge (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Capping off the Free on YouTube Prelims, Justyn Martinez (125.5) is following up his debut loss against JR Ridge (125.4), with Ridge looking to bounce back from a hard-fought loss against Daniel Alvarez.

    Walters v Williams (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Walters v Williams (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Walters v Williams (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Kicking off the PPV Paul Walters (150.3) will make his BKFC debut against the undefeated Henry Williams (154.2).

    Allen v Morris (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Allen v Morris (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Allen v Morris (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Walking to the ring forth, Brandon Allen (144.9) looks to even his record as he takes on the unbeaten Stevo Morris (146).

    Caruso v River (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Caruso v River (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Caruso v River (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Rick Caruso (134.6) is still hunting for his first victory in BKFC from the undefeated Ryan River (132.2).

    Shough V Sanchez (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Shough V Sanchez (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Shough V Sanchez (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Bringing out the heavyweights Ryan Shough (253.6) makes his debut against Joshua Sanchez (257.1), who is eager to even up after his debut loss back in Orlando.

    Coorson v Riley (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Coorson v Riley (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Coorson v Riley (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Heinrick Coorssen (165.3) is also making his debut, as he tries to hang with the undefeated Rynell Riley (165.8) who previously shocked the Tampa crowd in his debut.

    Simpson v Mundell (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Simpson v Mundell (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Up next, David Simpson (185.8) tries to build off his first win, as he takes on the 4-1 David Mundell (185.7).

    Escoboza v Warren (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Escoboza v Warren (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Escoboza v Warren (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    In the Semi-Main event, Joni Escoboza (185.4) puts his undefeated, seven-fight winning streak on the line against the 3-2 fan favorite Jared Warren (185.8).

    Barnett v Grant (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Barnett v Grant (Photo-Jordan Raiff)
    Barnett v Grant (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Ending the night, the 6-2 Reggie Barnett (134.5) becomes the first challenger for the Interim Bantamweight Championship as he takes on the 5-0 Jarod Grant (134.4). These two have had the writing on the wall for a fight for a long time, and Tampa is in for an absolute war!!

    BKFC Ring Girl Amber Fields (Photo-Jordan Raiff)

    Tickets are nearly sold out, and if you can’t make it into Tampa, the BKFC app is where to catch all the action. No matter how many times you’ve watched fights on TV, it takes on a whole new meaning when you see them in person!! These fighters are some of the toughest brawlers walking the earth. You never know which celebrities will be in the crowd or the fighters who will pop up!!!

  • Tom Keifer, L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat are Bringing The Sonic Slam 2022 Tour To Florida

    Tom Keifer, L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat are Bringing The Sonic Slam 2022 Tour To Florida

    Tom Keifer is fired up to tour for 2022 and he’s bringing along some veteran bands to provide support. L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat will join the #keiferband when they hit Florida this weekend starting in Melbourne on Friday, then Ormond Beach on Saturday night then hitting Fort Myers Sunday night for what they’ve dubbed the “Sonic Slam” tour.

    Tom Keifer says, #keiferband is amped for the ‘Sonic Slam’ 2022 tour with our friends L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat! Get ready for a 100 percent live, raucous, loud and slammin’ rock show. Looking forward to seeing everyone in 2022.”

    Photo-Travis Failey

    L.A. Guns’ Tracii Guns agrees, “I’m excited L.A. Guns will be heading out on the road with Tom Keifer. We are really looking forward to touring again.”

    Photo-Travis Failey

    Faster Pussycat’s Taime Downe adds, “Faster Pussycat has toured with Tom’s band and L.A. Guns before, but never all of us together. The shows were always amazing, and you can expect the same this summer. There’s going to be three decades of friendship and great music all under one roof, ‘Sonic Slam’ is going to be a blast!”

    Having initially made his name as the frontman for Cinderella, Keifer has enjoyed a well-received second act over the last decade with the new solo albums The Way Life Goes and Rise. The latter album, released in the fall of 2019 prior to the early 2020 pandemic, is the focus as Keifer and his band return to the road to give the record its due in the live setting.

    Photo-Travis Failey

    As for L.A. Guns, they’ll be promoting The Devil You Know album that arrived just last month, while ’80s faves Faster Pussycat have been cranking out new music again with the songs “Nola” and a cover of Johnny Thunders’ “Pirate Love” already arriving over this past year.

    All three bands are on fire on this tour and this trio are coming at you 100 percent live. Catch them at these three venues :

    07-23-22 at the The Maxwell King Center in Melbourne

    07-24-22 at Destination Daytona

    07-25-22 at the Ranch Concert Hall and Saloon

    There are tickets available for the three Florida shows and you can get them here:

    http://www.tomkeifer.com/events/

  • Does not Throw Like a Girl

    Does not Throw Like a Girl

    She isn’t the only female at Baseball City this week in St. Pete, Fl. but she sure can pitch in a game.  Yes, fans this young lady Jeanne Charron of the 16 and under from Gatineau, Quebec was serving them up to the all-male opposition and getting the job done on Sunday afternoon. 

    Unfortunately, no stats were available for her performance because of an injury to a teammate who made a brilliant catch in center field and shortened the game because of his injury.  As a personal observation fans, this young lady has a bit of a future as a pitcher.  The Canadian teams will play for a few more days at Baseball City, the former home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and St. Louis Cardinals spring training sites.

    (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

  • Oneida Lake is in the Hangout

    Oneida Lake is in the Hangout

    Yes fans, that is right a couple from Constantia, N.Y. on the north shore of Oneida Lake did invade Hogan’s Hangout on Clearwater Beach Monday night for the weekly karaka contest.  The friendly couple, Amy and Jeremy Shippee had their photo taken by me with the “Mouth of the South” between them Jimmy Hart.  Talking to them afterwards it appeared that it made their entire trip worthwhile.  In fact, again this past Monday the Hangout was again packed for the karaka contest which you can enter when you are in town at 862-202-1301.  Hey fans if you can sing then why not. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

  • Full House For The Yankees At The Blue Jays As Spring Training Kicks Off In Dunedin

    Full House For The Yankees At The Blue Jays As Spring Training Kicks Off In Dunedin

    DUNEDIN, Fl.–With fans lined up to the sidewalks waiting to enter TD Ballpark Saturday morning for the Toronto Blue Jays first spring training game of their 49th season, the fans were anxious but calm as the Jays hosted the NY Yankees. 

    Area parking lots were full all around the stadium as was the staidum itself was full of diehard fans of both teams.  A Blue Jay fan was seen cruising the area with an Ontario plate reading “GO YRD” eh!

  • Tony Orlando Surprises Karaoke Attendees at Hogan’s Hangout in Clearwater

    Tony Orlando Surprises Karaoke Attendees at Hogan’s Hangout in Clearwater

    Clearwater Beach, Fl.–Singer Tony Orlando with West Virginia couple John and Meanly Lilly, entertained the troops at Hogan’s Hangout on Clearwater Beach Monday night for another packed house for the weekly karaoke competition. 

    With Orlando singing his top 10 favorites to warm the audience and brighten the crowd, the karaoke contest got underway at the top of those in the fortune.  Also in the hangout were a large group of upstate New Yorkers from the Albany area who had about a dozen of their offspring with them on a vacation. 

    There were also two couples from Nova Scotia who were pleasantly surprised that Tony Orlando was in attendance and performed for the crowd.

    The karaoke contests at Hogan’s Hangout are a weekly occurrence that packs the house even if Hulk Hogan doesn’t appear because of other stars in attendance.

    For additional info on Hogan’s Hangout go to https://hoganshangout.com/