Battles @ Roadrunner, Sep 11 2023

John Stanier is one of my favorite drummers, so I was PRETTY excited to see Battles.  I got there at doors open to get a front row view from the balcony.

The headliner was Mr Bungle, who always brings out a diverse crowd, as witnessed by the fashion observed from the balcony: 

T-Shirts of such bands as DRI, SNFU, Anthrax, COC, Pantera, Jinjer, Rob Zombie, Tree, Bad Brains, Health ("sad music for horny people"), Sam Black Church, Sonic Youth, Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Rough Trade, Dillenger Escape Plan, and multiple Zappa shirts. 

Plus: 3 Mohawks, 2 sets of animal ears, 1 white face paint, 1 tye dye shirt and 1 red dress. 

And the winner of them all, a Tim & Eric themed Bungle album cover: 

The Battles set was top notch and Stanier's playing was out of this world.  He continues to rock a long sleeve button down dress shirt, which is drenched with sweat by the end of the show.  

I wish his snare mix was a bit louder but otherwise no complaints.  Well except for Ian making a joke about Roadrunner being a "sports" name for a music club.  Does he not know the official rock song of The Commonwealth? 

It's nice to see Lars paying homage to Stanier, using a similar yellow Tama kit for their tour with Pantera.  

He Is Legend @ Taffeta, Sep 2 2023

Hi-intensity rock n roll from North Carolina 

It was my first time seeing He Is Legend and also first time in club Taffeta, in an industrial area of Lowell.  You know it's a good sign when a freight train is rolling in at 8pm right next to the club.

The lead singer has been having some health problems and missed the showed last night but was here at 50% and NOT vomitting.  

Dennis, Jim and I were right up front were the vocal mix was shiite so his 50% energy didn't matter.  Nonetheless, the band SHREDDED.  Absolutely killed it.  Bluesy rock n roll with heavy metal riffs and killer drumming. 

The drummer Jesse played a sweet vistalite kit. He was a hard hitter, lots of Bonham-esque tom fills, well placed double bass and cymbal chokes.  He laid the backbone for all the songs. 

The lead singer, Schuylar, was a pretty groovy dancer. 

They also had dope merch, dude! 

The Alchemy @ The Spotted Cat (NOLA), Aug 14 2023

The best of Monday night jazz in New Orleans. 

I’m here on a business trip during the boring part of the week - Sunday to Wednesday.  After some Facebook advice, I went to Frenchman Street and found this good quartet playing modern Jazz originals and IIRC a tongue in cheek cover of “Just the two of us”.  The small crowd was into it and grooved attentively.  Entry was $5 plus 1 drink minimum.  I'll take it. 

The last day of my trip I got to visit the Jazz Museum, which had an exhibit about the history of drums (above, a Ludwig pedal from early 1900s).  

Even better I got to visit Congo Square, which is were all modern music started. Amazing stuff.