A Perfect Circle - Boston July 12

It was the hottest day of the summer so far. Temperatures in the afternoon reached well into the 90’s and even as the day grew into evening, the oppressive heat hung heavy under the Pavilion’s tent. I last saw A Perfect Circle years ago, after the release of 13th Step. It was an intense experience to watch musicians so well versed in their craft and in harmony with each other. Six years since their last tour, my expectations were high. However, I was also anxious to hear what they had planned for us. Having never really toured with the eMotive tracks, the sets would draw heavily from that album as well as their first two. There was also a rumor about a new song. The anticipation grew unbearable as the opening act closed its set.  Just as the sun went down over the Boston skyline, A Perfect Circle casually stepped on stage to deliver an epic show, drenched in their signature textures and flair; sounds as dense as the air around them.

The set opened with two songs from eMotive: “Annihilation” and their dark rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” I love this version and seeing it live was moving. Maynard was in classic form. He sounded great; his voice was tender and tragic, often within the same breath. He stood in profile, not facing the audience directly, on a raised platform in rear left of the stage. It wasn’t until a few songs in, the raucous and emotional “Weak And Powerless,” did Maynard address the hoard of cheering fans with a simple but sincere ‘Good Evening.’

From there, APC focused material from all of their albums. The covers from eMotive translated remarkably well in the live setting, allowing the band to explore the material even further than they had in the studio. With songs like “What’s Going On,” “Peace Love and Understanding,” and “People Are People” we were reminded of the state of affairs when eMotive was first released (election day, 2004). Things have not changed since APC used this collection of covers to highlight the problems we face as a society, to remind us of the darkness, and to beg us not to lose hope.

One of the highlights for me was the run of The Noose, 3 Libras (All Main Courses mix), and Gravity. All of them are standout studio tracks, but in the live setting APC allowed them to run loose to evolve in the summer heat. Billy Howerdel’s guitar work was perfect, the notes reaching out and wrapping the audience with sinewy fingers of madness. James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) added elegant harmony and complemented Howerdel’s playing with guitar and keyboards. “3 Libras” rose up from Maynard’s looped vocals. Drenched in feedback, it twisted and turned like a tortured soul. It was a beautiful monster of a song.

The final five songs completed the circle, starting with “Orestes” (from their first album, A Mer De Noms) and ending with the newly written “By & Down.” Maynard’s singing on “Fiddle And The Drum” was dead on, showing that he’s still got one of the best voices. The entire 18-song set was well produced. It displayed and, at times, extended all the emotion and passion that made the studio albums and original tours so stunning.  The bottom-heavy mixes were thrust forward wrapping the audience in sound and feeling. A Perfect Circle continues to assert themselves as one of the best bands in metal. Will they continue to tour or even record another album? Only they know and the rest of us are just here for the journey.

Complete set list from Boston  July 12, 2011:

Annihilation (Crucifix cover)

Imagine (John Lennon cover)

Weak and Powerless

The Hollow

What's Going On (Marvin Gaye cover)

People Are People (Depeche Mode cover)

The Outsider

(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding? (Brinsley Schwarz cover)

When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin cover)

The Noose

3 Libras (All Main Courses Mix)

Gravity

Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie (Black Flag cover)

Orestes

Passive

Encore:

Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums

Fiddle and the Drum (Joni Mitchell cover)

By and Down

Source (http://www.setlist.fm)

30 Days Song Challenge: Week 3

day 15 - a song that describes you

“Am I I” – Dark Tranquillity. This is a song that looks inwardly, questioning the roles and purpose one has in this world. It’s not so much that I’m a constantly conflicted person. I just wondering what I all means as I struggle to find my place.

day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate

“It’s Been Awhile” – Staind. I’ve lost all feeling for Staind’s radio-engineered brand of depressing rock. I first discovered one of their songs on a sampler CD and bought Dysfunction. It was dark and heavy, that style of so-called nu-metal that bands were developing. And I followed Staind’s sound to the radio, but after a while the sounds became stale.

day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio

The what now? Radio...? Sorry, I try to listen to the radio once and while. Honestly, it doesn’t do anything for me. There’s no metal on the radio, especially in New England. I don’t mind listening to good classic rock station, but they tend to play the same hit songs. I’m pretty sure bands like Pink Floyd, Rush, Black Sabbath, etc wrote more than 3 or 4 songs. Fortunately, satellite radio offers a lot more choices and provides a place for music that isn’t on the Billboard Top 10.

day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio

“Black Soul Choir” – DevilDriver. Possibly one of more catchy tracks from DevilDriver, this 16 Horsepower cover stomps and swaggers to Dez Farfara’s throat wrenching snarl. You can’t help bouncing your head along to the sinister groove. Honestly, I’d just like to hear any DevilDriver on the radio… a guy’s allowed to dream, right?

day 19 - a song from your favorite album

“Judith” – A Perfect Circle. A tenacious track from 1999’s Mer De Noms about the perils of blind faith and the justification of your own beliefs. The song captures the dirty angst in guitarist Billy Howerdel’s slide guitar and the raw emotion of singer Maynard James Keenan. This stands out as one of their best tracks and offers a perfect counterpoint to the melancholy despair of tracks like “3 Libras” and “Brena.”

day 20 - a song that you listen to when you’re angry

“Boom!” – System Of A Down. This song always ramps me up. The perfect thing to listen to when you’re already pissed off. This song is about the flagrant injustices forced on the people of this earth by those few who hold all the power. The video was filmed during a day of peace marches around the world. The message here is simple – we demand peace!

day 21 - a song that you listen to when you’re happy

“Holographic Universe” – Scar Symmetry. When you’re happy and you know it listen to Swedish death metal. I love the prog elements in Scar Symmetry’s ferocious sound, especially the 9+ minute “Holographic Universe” with its death growls, rapid thrash riffs, and spacey synths.

A Perfect Circle's "Judith":



Next week is the last week for the 30 Days Song Challenge.

Listen To This - May 15, 2011

What are you listening to? Here’s what keep me going this week:

Serj Tankian – Imperfect Harmonies/Imperfect Remixes

Serj’s second solo album and 4-song remix showcase his brilliantly quirky musical side. While not as metal (or even as rock) as his first album, Elect The Dead , this one is full of electronic sounds, catchy choruses, and poignant lyrics. I find myself listening to “Gate 21” on repeat. The ablum version uses mostly piano to accompany Serj’s emotional lyrics. The remixed rock version steps up the tempo and Tom Morello (Audioslave, Rage Against The Machine) adds his signature punchy guitar work. Other highlights include the dance-beat laden “Borders Are…” and the ballad “Wings Of Summer.” Serj sings “Yes, It’s Genocide” entirely in Armenia, refers specifically to the Armenia genocide of 1915 for which Turkey has not yet formally recognized. This is album is a musical journey and Serj is a brilliant guide.

Scar Symmetry – Holographic Universe

Scar Symmetry is a new band to me. I just got one of their more recent albums, Holographic Universe. It’s what I expect and love from Swedish melodic death metal. There’s plenty of heaviness mixed with soaring choruses, and high-energy vocals. I’d say that Scar Symmetry has a bit of prog to their sound as well. There’s just enough Dream Theatre influence to differentiate them from other bands without going over the top. I’ve heard that Scar Symmetry is getting a new singer, so I’m interested to see how their sound evolves. For now, Holographic Universe delivers the metal you need.

News and Tours:

There are rumors about a new music from A Perfect Circle. In the fall, APC played several shows, back-to-back, in a handful of cities. Each night they played one of their three albums start to finish. This summer’s tour is more extensive and highly anticipated. When A Perfect Circle emerged in the late 90’s they were one of the original ‘Super Groups,’ comprising members from several already famous bands (Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, and Josh Freese, who plays drums for everyone). The term super group seems ridiculous since bands constantly trade members or form other groups. Whatever you call them, I hope A Perfect Circle continues on.

Acrassicauda has embarked on their first us tour. Acrassicauda is an Iraqi thrash metal band. After leaving Iraq (where metal can get you killed) they're spreading their punishing sound across the US. Aggressive, technical, and lyrically intense (not surprisingly), their 4 song EP Only The Dead See The End Of War is dark and awesome. You must check out this band!

DevilDriver is out on tour with Danzig in support of their 5^th studio album, Beast. I’ve been following lead singer Dez Farfara on Twitter and the shows have been met with awesome fan feedback. I’m looking forward to seeing them in July! Check out my review of Beast: http://greenchamberstudio.blogspot.com/2011/02/evolution-of-beast.html

System Of A Down have started their reunion tour. I’m glad to see them back. I don’t know if there will be any new music coming soon, but at the very least I’d like them to come to the East Coast!

Valet Parn is a metal band from Greece. Check out their album. They’re on tour with long-time Greek death metalers, Septic Flesh (who also just released a new album, their seventh).

Summer Concert Primer

After a long, snowy winter I think I can finally say that spring is here.  It’s a time of renewal and rebirth; a time to drag out the grill and annoy the neighbors with some head-bangin’ tunes. More importantly, it’s time to start thinking about concert season. There are a ton of tours ramping up for this spring and summer and I’m hoping to catch as many as I can. From reunited bands to multiday festivals, there’s a lot to look forward to this year.

Over the winter, both System of a Down and A Perfect Circle reformed for tours. While all the members have been busy with projects, neither band has released a new album in years. Instead, it appears that the driving force is simply the performance. APC is touring the US this summer and bringing new songs. I’ve heard mixed messages about a new CD, but either way, I’m hoping to grab some tickets when they come to Boston. System of a Down is touring on the West Coast – but there’s no East Coast love. Maybe next year.

Widespread Panic is celebrating their 25^th year. I’ve seen these guys three times, both solo and on tour with the Allman Brothers Band. Sure, you can go and download any of their live performance (and I have), but there’s no replacement for seeing them live. It’s hard to believe that in 25 years they’ve never repeated a set list. There are rumors circulating about the life of the band beyond this year’s touring. After all this time no one would blame them for taking a break, but the summer wouldn’t be the same without a Driving Song or some Chilly Water.

It’s been about 10 years since I was at a metal music festival. Lately it seems like all the good stuff is in Europe or Australia. But this year I’m looking forward to heading north to Canada for the Heavy MTL fest in Montreal. Toronto is hosting its own version the same weekend. The lineup for this 2-day fest was too crazy to ignore. Day 1 features a stop by the Rockstar Mayhem tour including Godsmack, Disturbed, In Flames, Trivium, Kingdom of Sorrow, and Straightline Stitch. Day 2 (which alone is worth the ticket price) features Kiss, Motorhead, Opeth, Anthrax, Devildriver, Times of Grace, and others. The Toronto festival also features Rob Zombie and Megadeth with Slayer and Mastodon.



Also check out Trivium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsmWOZRtN8s&feature=related
and Mastodon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3HVLyI-t3E.

There’s one festival that I never miss: Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA. Ten days of music, awesome food, and beer by the mug-full: Musikfest is the only place to be in August. If you’ve never been, I strongly recommend it. Every night features a big concert from mainstream genres including Country, Classic Rock and Pop. But you don’t have buy a ticket to get in. There’s music throughout the day and night. From Blues to Latin to World… and even Polka, there’s plenty of music for every palate. (http://www.fest.org/)

My advice this summer is to get out there and get a heavy dose of music. What else is the summer for anyway? This is rock. This is life. What are you listening to?

Be My Valentine

For this week’s installment, I decided to dive deep in my iTunes library to retrieve some suggestions for your Valentine’s Day playlist. In any good movie, the soundtrack provides a constant backdrop for setting the mood and filling the otherwise empty spaces. Your perfect valentines would be utterly incomplete without an equally stunning soundtrack.

Then again, maybe Valentine’s is not your favorite day. I’ll start off with a few for you…

Coal Chamber – Unspoiled

The story goes that singer Dez Farfara’s wife left him just prior to recording Coal Chamber’s first album. He screams the lines, Do I look fine to you/ do I seem alright with such raw intensity. It’s a wholly unnatural sound, coming from a place deep inside a wounded soul.

The Verve Pipe – Barely (if at all)

Best known for the moody grunge radio song, The Freshmen, The Verve Pipe’s debut album opened with a hollow, whining guitar sustain before bursting into angst-riddled distortion. Singer Brian Vander Ark bitterly rails against the woman who pretended much but only loved me barely, if at all.

Bob Dylan – It Ain’t Me Babe

Whatever it is you’re looking for, whatever you think you need, Bob Dylan doesn’t have it for you. That’s the just the cold, cruel reality. Wherever you were hoping to the take this relationship, Dylan delivers his verdict, in no uncertain terms.

Johnny Cash – Hurt

Everyone I know/ goes away in the end. Johnny Cash’s Hurt is solemn, dark, and haunting. It’s an epic dirge for the funeral of life, love, and all that could be good. You could have it all/ my empire of dirt/ I will let you down/ I will make you hurt. Enough said.

Apocalyptica – SOS (Anything But Love) with Cristina Scabbia

Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia gives her intense, sultry style to Anything But Love. Listening to Lacuna Coil, you get a sense that she’s someone not to be messed around with. On this track, Christina’s love-wronged voice is powerful with Apocalyptica’s sweeping strings to comfort her bitter melody.

Jimi Hendrix

The blues are filled with lost and poisoned love. Hey Joe demonstrates a man, wronged by love, on the edge of sanity. Yet, through Hendrix’s blues-drench delivery, you feel sympathetic and almost understand Joe’s course of action. My favorite Hendrix song (for any occasion) is Red House. Imagine wandering home to your lover to find the house empty and the locks changed. Everything you knew is gone. Even if you deserved it, that’s still not cool. But Jimi offers hope at the songs conclusion: Even though my baby don’t love me no more/ I know her sister will.

Now for the playlist of love…

A Perfect Circle - Magdalena

Swirling with intense emotion and sexuality, Maynard James Keenan beckons the love of Magdalena. The song builds through the verses and charges headlong into each chorus, climaxing against Billy Howerdel’s blistering guitar breakdowns. I’d sell my soul/ my self esteem/ a dollar at a time/ … for one kiss/ one taste of you/ my Magdalena.

Deftones – Passenger

A lot of the Deftones’ music bristles with sexual tension and Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle) lends his voice to one of their most intense. Let your mind wander through the twisting ambient riffing and tensely strained vocals. Throw caution to the wind and love without boundaries.

The Doors

It couldn’t be Valentine’s without playing The Doors. Take your pick: Hello, I Love You; Light My Fire; Love Her Madly; We Could Be So Good Together. There are too many to choose. Just start with Waiting For the Sun and go from there. Don’t bother sweating over the perfect soundtrack to charm your significant other. Just let Jim Morrison do all of the talking.

Franz Ferdinand

For that special kind of love that fails conventional description, go no further than Franz Ferdinand. This is dirty, slinky rock that slithers its way into your heart with catchy grooves and smooth vocals. It captivates and keeps you coming back for more. Perhaps you should keep the lyrics away so she doesn’t get any ideas… or maybe that’s just what you need.

System of a Down – Ego Brain

System is known mostly for chaotic, politically driven metal, but Ego Brain is an alternative emotional gem. Serj Tankian’s vocals soar and reassures us that when all else fails, trust in your partner and find that love prevails over all.

Metallica – Nothing Else Matters

This song holds a lot of meaning for me. Starting slow and soulfully, it crescendos into a elegant ballad. Musically, it transcends the reach of mere rock and metal. Check out the video of Apocalyptica’s instrumental arrangement. This song teaches us that love belongs to each of us and we must love in spite of everything life throws in our way. Love is the only thing that really matters. Give everything of yourself through love and through life. This is rock. This is life. What are you listening to?

Happy Valentine's Day!