Queensryche & John 5 Take Over Emos With Iconic Performance!

by Tracy Fuller | Jan 24, 2020

Queensryche & John 5 Brought The Electricity To The Austin Crowd

Todd La Torre,John 5,John 5 Solo,Geoff Tate,5 Solo,Queensryche — Queensryche & John 5 Take Over Emos With Iconic Performance! 20

Queensryche and John 5 at Emos on Riverside was this night’s agenda. I couldn’t be happier about this show. Personally, I have seen Queensryche with Geoff Tate, and Geoff Tate solo show. I have not, however, seen Todd La Torre as the lead vocalist. On that note, nor have I seen John 5 solo stage set. Of course, I have seen his ax-wielding glory on stage with Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson.

The stage for John 5 was condensed and narrow on space due to the LCD screens that began to flash clips and distorted images of some iconic horror films. Next thing I know the string master and band take the stage. I’m not so familiar with John 5 solo work but damn did I become a fan after seeing this performance. From start to finish it was pure entertainment. With the aid of a few props, some extras in costumes, and an enchanting led lit guitar, this set stood out as one to embrace.

A Set Never To Forgotten Was About To Embark The Stage

As the stagehands cleared the stage, we all knew the moment for Queensryche was quickly approaching. As the lights turned down, the band takes the stage. First on the list was “Launder the Conscience” that got the crowd up and moving out of their seats. After this, they rolled into “Prophecy” that got the blood running through everyone’s veins. Presumably one of the most iconic Queensryche songs “Operation: MindCrime” first few cords hits the guitar and everyone grasps what song it was and put their fists up and sang along word for word. You can feel the force flowing back and forth from fan to band and the night had just begun.

The band did a magnificent job of mixing up the new with the old..and giving everyone what they came for. “Walk in the shadow” is added great classic that hits home with the more seasoned fans and bringing back memories. Blending in some of the new stuff was great as well like “Bent”, “Dark Reverie” which was glorious to hear as well. For me and I think most of the people there were aching to hear the old music that they grew up listing to and singing in their cars like “Jet City Woman”, “Silent Lucidity“, and even going way back to “Queen of the Reich” that got the crowd-drawing their fists and going crazy.

Todd La Torre Takes Queensryche To New Royalty

Queensryche ended that show like only they could with three mega-hits that set the house on its ear and made for one hell of a show…Resistance, Empire and the last Eyes of a Stranger that everyone was holding and belting out at the top of their metal lungs!!

For me…This was one of the band best shows I have seen!! If you get a chance check them out!! you will not be disappointed in one hell of a rock show!!

Tool Takes ‘Fear Inoculum’ Tour to Austin, TX
by Tracy Fuller | Jan 24, 2020
Tool Makes Their Way To Austin’s Frank Erwin Center With The Fear Inoculum Tour
January 21, 2020
Photos and Words By Alicia Armijo
Supported by Author & Punisher, Tool brought a hit-packed set to the Frank Erwin Center for a sublime midweek metal indulgence. While fans trickled into this downtown arena, the one-man band, Author & Punisher, entranced listeners with his dark tones and industrial oddities. Enclosed in a custom fabricated drone/dub machine, Author & Punisher brought the crowd to a shared wavelength seamlessly. This band was a happy and unusual discovery for many listeners.
After 13 years of waiting for new music from this quartet of progressive metal legends, Tool finally gave the Tool Army what they’ve been craving: the new studio album “Fear Inoculum.” The album has been noted for being a mature and exciting collection that was well worth the painfully long wait.
The prog-rockers integrated a glorious set that intertwined their new music with some fan-favorites from their eclectic discography, such as “Ænima,” “Jambi,” and more. While the band members were fairly hidden behind a fringed curtain for the first thirty minutes of their set, fans had much to marvel at for the remaining two hours of their performance. From stunning, geometric lasers to projections of hypnotic visuals and their classic music videos, Tool created an extraordinarily immersive experience for their adoring fans.
In place of a traditional encore, the band ended the night with a brief intermission timed by a twelve-minute countdown on-screen. Following this anticipation-builder, the band launched into three rhythmically impressive final numbers. Danny Carey led the band back on stage and all but stole the show with an exceptional drum-solo for one of their newest instrumental pieces, “Chocolate Chip Trip.” His striking performance was well-complemented by an assist from King Crimson’s own Pat Mastelotto. To close out the night, brilliant frontman Maynard James Keenan announced to the crowd that the phone restriction was lifted and that we could all “play around with your phones or whatever.” Diving into their much-loved song “Stinkfist,” Tool brought this unbelievable concert home to the delight of this completely absorbed crowd.
Set-list:
“Fear Inoculum”
“Ænima”
“Parabol”
“Parabola”
“Pneuma”
“Schism”
“Jambi”
“Vicarious”
“Descending”
“Forty Six & 2”
Intermission
“Chocolate Chip Trip”
“Invincible”
“Stinkfist”

Big Freedia, The New Orleans Queen Of Bounce Makes Her Way To Emo’s
by Tracy Fuller | Jan 20, 2020
Big Freedia, The New Orleans Queen Of Bounce Makes Her Way To Emo’s
Big Freedia, The New Orleans Queen Of Bounce Makes Her Way To Emo's 42
Big Freedia and company bright that magical sparkle of our neighboring friends of New Orleans to the live music Capital of the World, Austin, Tx.
The Queen of Bounce made her way to the iconic Emo’s on Riverside just outside of downtown.
You could tell after arriving it was going to be a special sort of night. With a nearly sold-out out crowd, it was tremendously packed. Last I remember hearing was about 1400 tickets were sold. The NOLA energy was in the air. Everyone was gearing up for the party of the weekend.
I’ll admit I didn’t get to catch the opening act but was able to get there in time to see the Houston favorites The Suffers. Upon a little research, I discovered they have moved in a new direction with the group. They are starting the New Year by amicably parting ways with originating members Adam Castañeda and Patrick Kelly. In on the backline is the latest member of the group, Juliet Terrill on bass guitar.
From upbeat singles like “Do Whatever” to soulful contributions such as “Giver”, The Suffers are sure to hit you with some kind of passion as they pull on your heartstrings while making you hop and sing along.
Next year will mark a decade since the band’s debut, and as lead singer Kam Franklin reassures everyone, there are plenty more Suffers jams coming soon.
One of the new tracks was an empowerment song about staying true to yourself in the face of life’s many hindrances. “It don’t cost a thing to be you, so be you!” sang Franklin as she moved across the stage with determination and grace. The second new song was a fun bounce-inspired track called “Yadda Yadda”, a not so subtle “f*ck you” to the establishment and the haters in the music industry.
High above the stage was a crown enclosed in booty, ready to be embellished by the Queen Of Bounce herself, Big Freedia. One by one, Freedia and her dancers took the stage wearing purple church choir robes, which were quickly shed once the first beat hit the sound system.
After their introduction to the crowd, the robes came off and the party ensued. Every beat was felt with high energy from Freedia and the dancers. As to be expected, the twerking captivated the fans. The dancers would shift between songs between a group of girls and a group of guys. Giving a fair share of stage time.
From that first note until the end of the night, the show was non-stop action and twerking. The audience was hypnotized by all the booty-shaking and enticed by the several call and response chants led by the New Orleans diva. At this time, not a soul in the room was still, stimulated by the bounce and turning up to the beat.
You can catch Kesha and Big Freedia touring together later on this Spring together. You can get more info on tickets for the Kesha and Big Freedia tour by going here

Dirty Honey Saves Rock N Roll At The Parish In Austin
by Tracy Fuller | Jan 20, 2020
Dirty Honey Brings A Familiar RockSOund To The Parish Stage
What better place to kick off your first headlining tour than the music capital of the world? Dirty Honey brought their Rolling 7s tour to The Parish in Austin on Friday 1/17/2020. Hailing from Los Angeles these boys came to save Rock and Roll. With heavy influences of Guns and Roses and Aerosmith, the sound coming from this band is sure to get you going.

After a high energy set from supporting act The Amazons, Dirty Honey took the stage with a swagger that was soon backed by their musical talent. Singer Marc LaBelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian and drummer Corey Coverstone complement each other well on stage taking cues without skipping a beat. The fluidity that flows between the group is reminiscent of seasoned veterans who’ve been touring since the early 90s. They looked the part with their rock star boots and their rock star hair it was guaranteed to be a fun night.

The driving guitars from the set opener Scars got the crowd swaying and pumping fists in the air as frontman LaBelle reminded them “don’t be alarmed.” From there the band plowed through songs from their self titled EP only pausing to debut a new unreleased song The Wire for the Austin crowd. Late in the set came a cover of the Aerosmith classic Last Child. Trying to emulate Steven Tyler can be quite a daunting task for many, Labelle did not disappoint. His vocal range allows him to hit all the highs and lows in one breath. They closed the night by running through When I’m Gone which was the first song from an unsigned act to reach number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. In true rock star fashion, they left the audience craving more and happily obliged with the tune that holds the same name as the tour -Rolling 7s. The venue chosen for this stop fits perfectly with where they are at this point in their career not too big and not too small. The walls of the Parish held the sound together tightly so nobody missed a chord. This show will be remembered by all who were there. This band will be back to fill a larger venue in the future.

Dirty Honey needs to be on your watch list. Their onstage presence and enthusiasm leave you with a sense of euphoria by the end of the night. They’re quickly gaining momentum and are on the path to rock stardom. Don’t miss this band! Go tell all your friends to go give them a listen… NOW!
Setlist
Scars
Break You
Fire Away
The Wire
Heartbreaker
Down The Road
Take My Hand
Last Child
When I’m Gone
Rolling 7’s

Blue Balls Holiday Tour With Diamante Tour Stops At Stubbs
by Tracy Fuller | Dec 16, 2019
Blue Balls Holiday Tour With Diamante Tour Stops At Stubbs 96
Coming In Hot, Diamante Brings The Blue Balls Holiday Tour To Stubbs
In the Spanish language, Diamante means diamond and there is no more suitable representation for the artist that bears the name. Making big waves with her 2017 single “Haunted” off her debut album Coming In Hot, Diamante is a breath of fresh air with songs that rock you to the heart but also hit you straight in the feels.
Her demeanor on stage sparkles more luminous than any gem and the spirit she brings will have you captivated in no time. Fresh off the heels of spring and summer tour run with hard rock titans Breaking Benjamin, Diamante has started on her first-ever headlining tour of her own. The Blue Balls Holiday Tour provides the perfect opportunity to see what Diamante is all about and last Thursday evening fans at Stubbs got their opportunity to catch a great show.
One by one the members of Diamante’s band took their necessary places on stage as the crowd applauded in recognition. As Diamante entered from the amphitheater entrance and took her spot front and center. The show started with “Kind of Love.” Diamante sounded magnificent as her vocals moved across the venue. Her sapphire sky-blue hair flowing all around her from the fan that was set up. She took a few seconds to talk about her half-Mexican, half-Italian heritage before introducing the song that simply signifies I’m sorry, “Lo Siento.” It was breathtakingly lovely and a highlight of the night. After that, things went in the total opposite route. She came with a frenzied mixture of rock classics including “Iron Man,” “Rock and Roll,” and “Crazy Train.”
The fans went insane, banging their heads, and rocking out while Diamante took the time to present each member of her band. Delivering them the accolades they so greatly earned. In an attempt to blow the roof off the house, “Coming In Hot” was up next. Although I’m pretty sure the roof structurally endured, it was obvious that Diamante had made a lasting mark on the souls of fans that evening. Diamante continued to shred the stage with her hit Black Heart that left a lasting imprint to everyone in attendance.

During the last few years, Diamante has had the chance to work with some of the most passionate rock artists around. Giving her knock-out vocals to songs by All That Remains and the song “Hear Me Now” by Bad Wolves which she chose to play for us in cosmic fashion. Although no one wanted the evening to come to a close, the show was nearly over but not before locking it out in perfectly with a rowdy version of “War Cry” which had the fans on their feet and hands in the air.
After the show, Diamante and her band came out to meet every fan that stayed. She posed for photos and taking the time to chat with everyone. Truly showing that she shines just as vividly on the inside. If you ever get the chance to see Diamante in concert, you must go. This is an emotionally energy charge performance that will leave you fulfilled by the end of the night.
SETLIST
Kind of Love
Bite Your Kiss
Haunted
Sound of Us
Bulletproof
Black Heart
I’m Sorry
Iron Man / Rock and Roll / Crazy Train
Coming in Hot
Obvious
Hear Me Now (Bad Wolves cover)
Sleepwalking
War Cry

Daughters Takes The Stage At Emos In Austin
by Tracy Fuller | Dec 13, 2019
Daughters Brings An Intimate Vibe To The Fans
Photos & Words By Jake Rabin
Walking up to Emo’s Austin, past the band’s enormous idling tour van, it’s clear that in the span of a few short months, the band are now moving forward in their career at an exponential pace. The last time I shot Daughters in Austin in March of this year was at a smaller, maybe-500-person capacity venue. The more intimate setting allowed for the band and the audience to connect and engage in a way that you don’t often get to see at larger shows.
No press pit, no barrier; just frontman Alexis Marshall screaming directly into the faces of a chaotic crowd. It was loud and intense and cathartic and physical. Is such an intimate performance even possible at a larger venue?
It turns out that yes, yes it is.
Taking the stage at the 1700-capacity Emo’s, the nearly sold-out crowd immediately went into a frenzy as the band began performing songs from their 2018 release “You Won’t Get What You Want.” In contrast to their 2003 release “Canada Songs,” or even their most recent release, 2010’s self-titled LP “Daughters,” the newest Daughters material feels the most structured, deliberate, and coherent.
They do not shy away from the at-times-hard-to-listen-to elements found in their early material of course (if anything they lean into them). These often jarring sonic elements feel like carefully crafted pieces in a bigger, more artistic composition. The music is gritty, violent, beautiful, moody, fast, slow, abrasive, enveloping. It entices you in as much as it gently pushes you away, and it’s this dichotomy that makes a Daughters performance so mesmerizing. Whether swallowing the microphone whole, hurling it around his head and neck, or shoving it into the entranced faces of the screaming crowd, Marshall’s stage presence feels more like a cult leader than a lead singer. His energy and intensity are absolutely captivating, a blend of violence and mystery and aggression and compassion.
Throughout the 60-minute performance, the crowd proved just as energized and enthralled as they did in March. People were screaming along with Marshall from the very first note. They were pushing and clawing their way to the front of the barrier. Eventually, Marshall climbed down from the stage, through the press-pit, and stood perched directly on the railing. He gave the audience that personal physical element required of a proper Daughters show. A subtle smirk crawled across Marshall’s face. Even he couldn’t help but show his approval.
Overall, the show and performance were incredible. This was a real testament to how far this band has come since it’s inception. Also, where it now stands in the musical landscape. Rightfully so. Daughters consistently make powerful music that forces emotion into the listener. Whether instrumentally, vocally, or lyrically, you’re now captivated. You’re hooked. And that’s the best way to feel at a show.