Blog — Page 16 of 282

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Hordern Pavilion
Sydney, Australia
24 July 2023

Formed in New York City in 2000, the trio known as Yeah Yeah Yeahs has consistently pushed boundaries with their unique blend of indie rock, post-punk, and art-punk influences. 

Comprising the enigmatic and charismatic frontwoman Karen O, flanked by guitarist Nick Zinner, and the powerhouse that forms the driving backbone, i.e. drummer Brian Chase, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have carved a path of innovation and creativity and thereby inhabit comfortably their own niche, breaking stereotypes and challenging traditional gender norms in the male-dominated rock industry.

In a live context, showcasing their raw energy and captivating stage presence, Karen O commanded Hordern Pavilion’s stage from the moment she steps into the red hued spotlight. Her dynamic and unpredictable stage presence had the audience enthralled, as she effortlessly transitioned from her signature powerful vocals to soulful whispers and moans, taking us on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the night.

The band's chemistry on stage was undeniable. Guitarist Nick Zinner's frenetic riffs and drummer Brian Chase's thunderous beats provided the perfect backdrop to Karen O's magnetic performance. 

Their synergy as a trio was evident via their unapologetic expression signifying that they were enjoying every moment of the show as much as the crowd of the nearly sold out show on Monday night, following their much heralded incarnation on the main stage of the Splendour in the Grass festival.

The setlist was a well-balanced mix of the band's iconic hits and tracks from their latest album, with some welcome deep cuts from the early days peppered in, keeping both long-time fans and newcomers engaged throughout the night. 

The production was a visual feast, with striking lighting designs, Karen O’s elaborate costumes / make-up and mesmerizing visuals adding another layer of theatricality and intensity to the performance. 

However, the band's focus remained on the music and their connection with the audience, making it an intimate and immersive experience despite the size of the venue.

Henry Rollins
State Theatre
Sydney, Australia
28 June 2023

Spoken word performances prove to be a powerful platform for artists to speak on various social issues through their own identities, especially when it encompasses stand-up comedy, introspective accounts of experiences and self-deprecating stories about the respective protagonist’s own shortcomings, especially when it comes to a renaissance man like Henry Rollins who has since the mid-1980s consistently honed how he channels his alchemy in captivating audiences for a whole evening by himself. 

While I usually make a point of checking in with the chief whenever the opportunity presents itself during travels, it has been over seven years since I had the chance to indulge in Rollins’ unwavering anger fuelled, idiosyncratic, earnest and engaging chatter.

The fact that the man keeps himself busy all year round with a relentless schedule of work that over the decades has branched out into a myriad of media realms paired a sheer insatiable and infectious curiosity and the fact that he uses every opportunity to explore the less travelled regions of this earthround as a solitary traveller, make his spoken word performances never not a meaningful event.
The tour motto, i.e. “Good To See You”, could have not been chosen more appropriately as it proved to be applicable both ways for the artist and this night’s audience, whose frenetic welcome only seemed to charge Henry’s dynamo even further.

The initiated would appreciate how Rollins’ experiences and stages of his career have made him not merely an artful storyteller but a more compassionate man with a wide horizon whose wit cuts both ways. 

Having seen him incarnate solo over the decades, it was gratifying to see how he cleverly  spins his matter-of-factly yarns and arranges his anecdotes and often insightfully vulnerable musings on the need to be in a manner that not merely connects overarching themes but conveys so much more than mere attitude and opinion in between the lines, thereby making even the most entrenched of his middle-aged audiences susceptible to embracing the notion that painting with a broad brush might be convenient but does little more than perpetrate stereotypes.

Summa summarum, experiencing Henry Rollins and the energizing buzz in the wake of his seamlessly intertwined narratives in the wild is always a night well spent that not merely makes for what feels an intimate experience despite a backdrop of a crowd of 2,000 but feels like a welcome impulse to live life more eventfully and become a better version of oneself.

Thrice just got done finishing up the first leg of their Artist in the Ambulance tour with Holy Fawn. It's been 20 years since the band released the original Artist in the Ambulance, but the band is also celebrating the "Revisited" version of the album which the band released earlier this year. The release features re-recordings of all the songs, with some tracks containing special guests from Hot Water Music, Curl Up and Die, Holy Fawn, and more. Holy Fawn are no strangers to opening for Thrice. They recently opened one of Thrice's Illusion of Safety shows, as well as their 2019 Vheissu tour.  Holy Fawn continues to be a great addition to the show with their blend of Metal and Shoegaze. The band ran through a set of songs across their entire discography, from their first EP, Realms, to their 2022 release, Dimensional Bleed.

Thrice walked out and jumped right into "Cold Cash and Colder Hearts." From there, the quartet continued on through all of Artist in the Ambulance, taking moments here and there to thank the crowd for 20 years of support for the album. Thrice put everything they could into the show, from fog blasts, confetti cannons, and a number of lights set up all across the stage that enhanced the visual aspect of the show.

Once Thrice finished playing all of the record, they proceeded to play a b-side from the AITA sessions before playing another set of fan favorites from the rest of their career like "The Earth Will Shake," "Deadbolt" and "Summer Set Fire to the Rain" from 2021's Horizons/East. When they came back for their encore, they played a heavy cover of The Beatles' "I Want You (She's so Heavy)" before closing the night with "The Long Defeat."

Thrice's Artist in the Ambulance Anniversary tour was arguably the best Anniversary tour I've seen this year so far. The band made sure to really deliver something special that had the fans feeling loved and appreciated while the fans gave it right back at them. Thrice will continue to take the show on the road throughout the year with a stint in Australia, Europe/UK, and another leg in The US. Don't miss it! In the meantime, check out a gallery below from the show.

Artist in the Ambulance 20th Anniversary Tour:

Thu 31 Aug | Northcote Theatre, Melbourne

Fri 1 Sept | Northcote Theatre, Melbourne

Sat 2 Sept | Metro Theatre, Sydney

Sun 3 Sept | Princess Theatre, Brisbane

Tues 5 Sept | Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide

Wed 6 Sept | Badlands, Perth

Thu 7 Sept | Badlands, Perth

Oct 05 | Chicago | Concord Music Hall

Oct 06 | Indianapolis, IN | Egyptian Room

Oct 07 | Pittsburgh, PA | Roxian Theatre

Oct 08 | Wantagh, NY | Mulcahy’s Pub

Oct 09 | Hartford, CT | Webster Theatre

Oct 11 | Boston, MA | Big Night Live

Oct 12 | Sayreville, NJ | Starland Ballroom

Oct 14 | Charlotte, NC | The Underground

Oct 15 | Nashville, TN | Marathon Music Works

Oct 17 | Houston, TX | House of Blues

Oct 18 | Ft Worth, TX | Tannahill’s

Oct 20 | Tucson, AZ | The Rialto

12 Feb | Madrid, Spain | La Paqui

13 Feb | Barcelona, Spain | Sala Apolo

15 Feb | Paris, France | Trabendo

16 Feb | Antwerp, Belgium | Trix

17 Feb | Tilburg, Netherlands | 013

19 Feb | Berlin, Germany | Huxley’s

20 Feb | Munich, Germany | Backstage Werk

21 Feb | Cologne, Germany | Live Music Hall

23 Feb | Bristol, UK | Marble Factory

24 Feb | Manchester, UK | Academy

25 Feb | Glasgow, UK | SWG3

26 Feb | London, UK | O2 Forum Kentish Town

Murder by Death recently hit the road and were joined by Laura Jane Grace. They had a stop in So-Cal, and of course, I couldn't miss an opportunity to see two of my favorite artists on one bill. Laura Jane Grace warmed up the crowd with a slew of Against Me!, Devouring Mothers, and solo tracks, including a few new songs entitled, "Tacos and Toast" and "Fuck You (Just Because)." With their stop in Pomona, Murder by Death brought something special. The band made it one of a few stops where they performed their 2003 album, Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them? with the addition of another set of songs spanning the rest of their discography. Check out the gallery below:

The second iteration of Caterwaul festival took place in Minneapolis, MN over Memorial Day weekend, spanning two venues and three days/nights. The lineup is too big too list thoroughly but you can read about it here.

Headliners included Flipper (with Shannon Selberg), Chat Pile, Child Bite, VAZ, and Tongue Party. While Scene Point Blank was unable to personally attend, we did the next best thing -- we got a guest contributor to supply us with some original photos from the festival.

A thousand thank yous to the talented John Oakes for taking these shots.