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Archive for the ‘Newark, NJ’ Category

Twin Temple (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, February 10, 2022) [GHOST]

Posted in Ghost, Ghost B.C., Newark, NJ, Prudential Center, Set in New Jersey!, Twin Temple, Volbeat on February 10, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 10, 2022] Twin Temple

I was really intrigued to see Twin Temple because I’d heard about them through….NPR? I’m not sure, but I remember hearing about this satanic doo-wop group.

I don’t really like the music as I don’t like doo-wop, but I was all in for the spectacle.  And wow, what a spectacle.

The band came out of stage: drums, bass, keys and a big old tenor sax.  After riffing for a bit, the two main persons in the band came out on stage in their full satanic regalia.

Their bio states:

The band was started on Halloween (a Witch’s Sabbath) in 2016 when a destruction ritual was performed, and Alexandra and Zachary James stepped into their power as Twin Temple, energetically killing all their previous incarnations up until that point. 

And while a lot of “Satanic” metal bands begin and end their worship of Satan on stage, the same can’t be said for Twin Temple. Both their music and their practice of Satanism, on and off the stage, are rooted in the ideals of free will and giving space to those who are often not allowed any.

So no, Twin Temple doesn’t drink the blood of virgins or kill babies to sacrifice on the full moon. They are challenging notions about what it means to free the oppressed, fight back against dated and binary ways of thinking, and doing it all while hailing the dark lord himself.

So the duo came out on stage–Alexandra in her huge beehive hairdo and Zachary with his tiny mustache–and proceeded to do some rituals.

(more…)

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My Chemical Romance: 2020 MCRXX (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, September 21, 2021) [rescheduled]

Posted in My Chemical Romance, Newark, NJ, Postponed, Prudential Center on September 21, 2021| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: September 21, 2021] My Chemical Romance [rescheduled from September 22, 2020; moved to September 20, 2022]

indexOn April 16th, My Chemical Romance decided to postpone their tour once again.  And I’m glad they postponed and didn’t cancel because I have great seats.  But I realized that my son was a freshman when I ordered these tickets and he will be a senior when the show actually goes on!

My Chemical Romance is postponing our 2021 touring plans until 2022.  We are deeply sad, but those emotions are only a fraction of the depth of feeling we have all experienced watching the suffering and loss of the past year.  We just want to be as sure as we can be that everyone is safe.  Refunds will be offered to anyone who wants them.  We are sorry if this is disappointing, and we REALLY can’t wait to see you in 2022

I enjoyed My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade album quite a lot, although I haven’t listened to all that much beyond it.

I wasn’t really aware that they’d broken up because my son and his friends like them and listen to them on trips (sometimes).  When this tour was announced, I thought it would be so much fun to go to see this massive spectacle (which I assume it will be).

I bought a ticket for me, my son and his friend and the seats were great!  I was really excited about the show and was hoping that it wouldn’t get postponed–end of September seemed like maybe we’d be out of lockdown.

Then on June 16th, it was announced that the tour would be pushed back to next year.  I am getting rather concerned that rescheduled dates are going to be on the same night.  Turns out this sow is the day after the Pet Shop Boys show.  But since I had great seats, I’m glad we get to keep them.

One more year just builds up more anticipation.

 

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Five Finger Death Punch / Ice Nine Kills / I Prevail / Papa Roach (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, October 28, 2020) [rescheduled date–CANCELLED]

Posted in Cancelled, Five Finger Death Punch, I Prevail, Ice Nine Kills, Newark, NJ, Papa Roach, Postponed, Prudential Center on October 28, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[CANCELLED: October 28, 2020] Five Finger Death Punch / Ice Nine Kills / I Prevail / Papa Roach [moved to May 6]

indexAs they started to say people could gather in smaller groups, the likelihood of huge arena shows like this seemed in doubt.  We can all hope that as things get better, new shows will be on the horizon.

At some point (I don’t know when exactly), the band posted this message

Message from the band: We were really looking forward to getting the green light for hitting the road in 2020.

As it stands – and probably as no surprise to you – our Fall tour with Papa Roach, I Prevail and Ice Nine Kills, unfortunately, has to be canceled. Rest assured, we are watching the situation very closely and we will be back on the road the moment it becomes possible 👊🏼💥 We hope to see you guys soon and in the meantime, follow us on social media for news, new music, special announcements, giveaways and all kinds of surprises. 👊💥

(more…)

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My Chemical Romance: 2020 MCRXX (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, September 22, 2020) [POSTPONED]

Posted in My Chemical Romance, Newark, NJ, Postponed, Prudential Center on September 21, 2020| 1 Comment »

[POSTPONED: September 22, 2020] My Chemical Romance [moved to September 21, 2021]

indexI enjoyed My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade album quite a lot, although I haven’t listened to all that much beyond it.

I wasn’t really aware that they’d broken up because my son and his friends like them and listen to them on trips (sometimes).  When this tour was announced, I thought it would be so much fun to go to see this massive spectacle (which I assume it will be).

I bought a ticket for me, my son and his friend and the seats were great!  I was really excited about the show and was hoping that it wouldn’t get postponed–end of September seemed like maybe we’d be out of lockdown.

Then on June 16th, it was announced that the tour would be pushed back to next year.  I am getting rather concerned that rescheduled dates are going to be on the same night.  Turns out this sow is the day after the Pet Shop Boys show.  But since I had great seats, I’m glad we get to keep them.

One more year just builds up more anticipation.

 

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Five Finger Death Punch / Ice Nine Kills / I Prevail / Papa Roach (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, May 6, 2020) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Five Finger Death Punch, I Prevail, Ice Nine Kills, Newark, NJ, Papa Roach, Postponed, Prudential Center on May 6, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: May 6, 2020] Five Finger Death Punch / Ice Nine Kills / I Prevail / Papa Roach [moved to October 28]

indexMy son and his friends were going to go to this show primarily for Ice Nine Kills.

He and I saw Ice Nine Kills last summer and thought they were amazing.  So good in fact that I offered to be the chaperone of this show (rather than his friend’s dad).  It might still happen.

I feel like disappointment is inevitable since INK are opening, not headlining.  And they wont be on as long or be able to do as much (I assume), but even a little INK is better than none.

I actually don’t know Five Finger Death Punch, although I’ve certainly heard of them.  I had no idea they were [according to Wikipedia] one of the most successful heavy metal bands of the decade.  The few songs I’ve heard were alternately catchy or really vulgar.

I don’t know I Prevail, but they are a metalcore band, like so many other bands these days.  Catchy with some screamo vocals.

I’ve known of Papa Roach for a long time but have never heard them.  I feel like I dismissed them early on because they were part of the nu metal scene.

Papa Roach has been described as alternative metal, alternative rock,hard rock,nu metal,rap metal.  Allmusic has compared the band’s recent work to 1980s glam metal-a knowing update of an ’80s Sunset Strip sleaze rock outfit with new elements of djent.

I listened to one song (from 2005) and found it catchy and another song (from 2015) and heard the djent influences.

I think this entire show would have been exhausting.

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Billie Eilish / Denzel Curry (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, March 16, 2020) [CANCELLED]

Posted in Billie Eilish, Denzel Curry, Newark, NJ, Postponed, Prudential Center on March 16, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: CANCELLED March 16, 2020] Billie Eilish / Denzel Curry

indexUPDATE: On December 3, this show was officially cancelled.  What a bummer.  I hope her future tour is as good as this one was supposed to be.

March was going to be a very busy concert month for me.  This was to be the third of four shows in five nights.  This show was going to be for me and my daughter–her opportunity  to see the biggest pop star in the world–Billie Eilish.

I actually managed to get us decent seats and I was pretty excited to see what this show would be like as well.

I have to assume that this show will get rescheduled.  It’s one of the few shows I go to where I actually have a seat and not just GA, so when it gets rescheduled I assume they’ll give us the same seats?  I also hope it’s not on a school night.

Opening for this show was a rapper named Denzel Curry who I don’t know.  I don’t really have an opinion about whether he opens next time or not.

This turned out to be the third of dozens of shows cancelled or postponed by the coronavirus.

Obviously, my main concern is for everyone’s safety, including the bands!

My selfish concern though is that once the shows are rescheduled that all of these shows will be scheduled on the same day!

Let’s hope the rescheduled dates also do some social distancing.

eilish

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Judas Priest (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, March 20, 2018)

Posted in Black Star Riders, Fleetwood Mac, Judas Priest, Katy Perry, Newark, NJ, Prudential Center, Saxon, Set in New Jersey!, Thin Lizzy on March 20, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 20, 2018] Judas Priest

Judas Priest was one of my favorite bands when I was a kid.  I remember being very excited when Screaming for Vengeance came out.  I even liked Turbo (“Turbo Lover” may be a terrible song but it is sure catchy).  But then by 1988 I had stopped listening to them, thinking that they’d gone all synth.  I moved on from JP to more heavy music, but I returned to JP’s earlier more progressive-sounding rock quite a lot.  Which means I missed the outstanding “Painkiller” and the whole “Ripper” Owens period.

I even saw Rob Halford live with his band Halford in 200o (opening for Queensryche and Iron Maiden).  I decided I wanted to see this essential childhood band especially since they had a new album out that had gotten decent buzz.  I knew it wasn’t all the original members.  Bassist Ian Hill was still there with Halford.

The drummer Dave Holland was replaced by current drummed Scott Travis in 1989, so he’s a veteran of the band.

Original guitar maniac K.K. Downing left in 2011 and his replacement Richie Faulkner has been accepted into the Priest fold.

And then there was Glenn Tipton, the other original member and part of the twin guitar attack.

So 3/5 original members is pretty good for a band that started in the mid 1970s.  Then Tipton revealed that he had Parkinson’s and would not be touring with the band.  Ouch.  I wondered if it was still worth gong, and I was soundly criticized for doubting the Beast which is Priest.  He was replaced by their engineer Andy Sneap. (more…)

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Saxon (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, March 20, 2018) [JUDAS PRIEST]

Posted in Judas Priest, Motorhead, Newark, NJ, Prudential Center, Saxon, Set in New Jersey!, UFO on March 20, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 20, 2018] Saxon

Back in high school, I loved Saxon.  I may have loved them more for their logo than their music (that battle-axe S is still awesome). But I know I listened to their records enough that their songs were often familiar (and cool).

“Denim and Leather” was my introduction and favorite song, although hearing it now, it’s not as good as many of their other classics.

I bought their first eight albums on vinyl. And then I kind of forgot about them. Or at least assumed they had broken up or something.

But, unlike most bands that started in the 70s, Saxon appears to have never stopped.

Indeed, since that last album I bought in 1988, they have put out fourteen (!) more (not including ten live albums and countless compilations). (more…)

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Black Star Riders (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, March 20, 2018) [JUDAS PRIEST]

Posted in Black Star Riders, Judas Priest, New Model Army, Newark, NJ, Prudential Center, Saxon, Set in New Jersey!, The Almighty, Thin Lizzy on March 20, 2018| 1 Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 20, 2018] Black Star Riders

I had not heard of Black Star riders before this show.  My friend Nick told me that they were involved with Thin Lizzy in some capacity.  I really like Thin Lizzy, so I was intrigued by that aspect.  Although I didn’t quite understand  the connection, I assumed it was the original members plus a new singer.  I have just looked at the timeline of Thin Lizzy members and trying to figure out what an original member would be is a futile gesture.

Scott Gorham who is in Black Star Riders joined Thin Lizzy in 1974 (after the band had released three albums) and has been with them ever since.  Thin Lizzy broke up in 1983 (Phil Lynott, singer, bass player and primary songwriter died in 1986–I always assumed they broke up because he died).  (more…)

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Katy Perry (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, October 8, 2017)

Posted in "Weird Al" Yankovic, Beetlejuice, Dark Crystal, Duran Duran, Katy Perry, Newark, NJ, Noah Cyrus, Prudential Center, Set in New Jersey! on October 8, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 8, 2017] Katy Perry

For Tabby’s birthday, I bought her (and us) tickets to see Katy Perry.  She’s a pretty big fan and we thought this would be a fun “big” concert (bigger than “Weird Al”, anyhow).  I’m not a Top 40 person (no duh), but I like a few of her songs (“Firework” and “Roar” are wonderfully catchy uplifting anthems).

I had heard that her shows put the spectacle in spectacular.  And I love spectacle.  I wish we had been able to get a little closer (but I wasn’t paying $500 a ticket), but hey for a first concert it wasn’t too bad. (more…)

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