Photos: Monster Dolls @ The Alex Theater

It's been over a month since my last post. Rest assured, the fire still heavily burns and I shall light the path to share great content with you all. Now...it's time to turn a new page and show you something completely new, beautiful, and downright 'ghoulish' that exhibits a great deal of skill and stage presence. Yup, it's the Monster Dolls!

The Monster Dolls, described as a professional Horror Cabaret Dance /Performance group from Cleveland, played an intimate show for friends/family at the Alex Theater in their home city. This being my third time seeing them perform since Ink in the Clink over the summer, I was even more thrilled they invited me to shoot their performance for the very first time. These girls are extremely talented as they can easily put you in a forbidden trace with their mesmerizing moves. The bobble of their hips, the flexibility of their kicks, all the way to their creepy stares that send a chill lingering down your spine. Whether it's Halloween or not, the holiday continues to be celebrated all year long!

Also, would like to throw out a massive thank you to Alanna for the coverage and Ashley for the great intel!! Now let the dancin' commence.

Photos: Tom Keifer and Devilstrip @ The Hard Rock Rocksino

Big hair still continues to sound so good after all these years. Cinderella's own, Tom Keifer played the Hard Rock Rocksino last Friday night with hits from his solo album, "The Way Life Goes" and much of the anticipated material the front man played in his Cinderella days. The 'glam' may of subsided, but his voice certainly has not. Here's what went down.

It's a shame these guys are just now getting over to my blog, but they need no introduction. Akron's own 3 piece ensemble, Devilstrip opened the evening off playing an outstanding 45 minute set that got the arms raised in no time throughout the venue. Opening for such bands as Europe and Steel Panther recently, Devilstrip don't shy away kick starting an evening with good rock and roll. If you're looking for a 'tight' band who's firing all on cylinders, I don't need to direct you anywhere but to Devilstrip.

Tom Keifer's Setlist

1. Once Around the Ride
2. It's Not Enough
3. Heartbreak Station
4. The Flower Song
5. A Different Light
6. Somebody Save Me
7. Shake Me
8. Ask Me Yesterday
9. Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)
10. Nobody's Fool
11. Solid Ground
12. Night Songs
13. Coming Home
14. Shelter Me
15. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It) (The Rolling Stones Cover)
16. With A Little Help From My Friends (Beatles Cover)
17. Purple Rain (Prince Cover)
18. Gypsy Road

Devilstrip

Tom Keifer

Photos: Grindhouse @ The Empire Concert Club

More and more bands these days are creating their sound to become "different" to stand out amongst their peers. While some actually take it and improve upon the original recipe, othersfailed to kick up any dust. I guess it goes back to the cliche saying, "if it isn't broke, don't fix it." Grindhouse, a newly band formed back in early 2015 from Columbus, have strictly just kept with the traditional rock-n-roll formula and it works.

Album artwork courtesy of Grindhouse

Over the past Labor Day weekend, they made their first trip to the Empire Concert Club to play their brand spankin' new album, The Devil You Know" that drops next Saturday with a release show at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus. The verdict. It simply stuck to the ropes of 'rock' with all the familiar riffs and beats that blended into what you'll be introduced from the album. With sound, comes image. Each member of the band (with Se7en getting the Gene Simmons experience) deck themselves in face paint for a visual on-stage ride.

Check out the Grindhouse images below.

Photos: Summer Meltdown @ Venue 18

Jeremy with his daughter, Dana.

Jeremy Schindorff, founder and the face of NWO Metal Militia, probably ended the summer of all shows at Venue 18 in Fostoria, Ohio. No exaggeration. This place is a hidden gem located towards the western side of Ohio. The venue has an amazing sound system, enough lights to melt the eyebrows off your face, monster fog machines surround the stage, and a newly added catwalk to strut your goods at fans. His new venue makes any band look like a nationally touring band with a million dollar synchronized light system.

Again. I'm running out of adjectives to describe this Venue 18 where I should just showcase the four bands that played that evening. But real quick, I must thank Jeremy and his amazing family for opening up his home and cooking all of us a bomb-ass BBQ before the show and pitching tents in his backyard to crash afterwards. Thank you, Jeremy! You do so much for the local music scene. I am privileged to come out and help put this place on the map!

Overcast

Ackretion (Green Springs, OH)

Reject the Silence (Monroe, MI)

Olathia (Cleveland, OH)

Photos: 3 Doors Down @ The Goodyear Theater

Last Sunday, I got to check out the new Goodyear Theater in Akron as 3 Doors Down headlined the evening with Pop Evil and Red Sun Rising as direct support. Very interesting venue with movie theater-style seating with great looking architecture surrounding the stage. 

**Setlist
1. Still Alive
2. It's Not My Time
3. Citizen/Soldier
4. Believer
5.The Broken
6. Let Me Go
7. Away From the Sun
8. Duck and Run
9. Let Me Be Myself
10. The Road I'm On
11. Be Like That
12. Better Life
13. In the Dark
14. Kryptonite
**Encore:
15. Here Without You
16. Loser
17. When I'm Gone

Check out my shots from the evening of 3 Doors Down.

Review: Return of the Dreads Tour @ Blossom Music Center

Last Wednesday (August 24), I made my Blossom debut shooting In This Moment, Korn, and Rob Zombie for Uncivil Revolt Magazine on the "Return of the Dreads Tour". So much went down in front of the lens, I felt like a little kid in a toy store just snatching up every moment I could it my little greedy hands on. If there was one experience that hindered my experience, it had to be my little hour and half expedition looking for my vehicle that night. It was horrible, embarrassing and downright humorous by night's end. 

In This Moment

In This Moment is what I consider a photographer's dream band to shoot. Two reasons. One, the production value is top notch. The stage is fully immersed in fog most of the set with fantastic light strobes of different colors flickering throughout the venue. Maria Brink, the vocalists of the rock/metal band, is decked out in a different costume for each song. And with her two counterpart dancers choreographing beside her, the full effect transforms into full circle. Second, you get to shoot the whole set!

Korn

If I had to hand out performance medals that evening, Korn took home the gold. After 20+ years and their twelfth studio album, The Serenity of Suffering set to drop this October, their longevity hasn't diminished in quality nor as their stage shows.

Rob Zombie

The man of fringe and bell-bottoms, Rob Zombie himself. I can't think of a guy today who can rock both and quite frankly, I'm sure he's the only one. Zombie has been on my radar for while to see. I got a sample of it last year when John 5 did his solo thing in Cleveland, but I just love his stage vibe and the guy has an iconic image that's easily recognizable. Not necessarily the best lights for a photographer, but it worked for his show. I was telling another shooter that he must really love the red and greens so us photographer would end up transferring them to B/W.

--SONG LIST--

1. Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown 
2. Superbeast
3. In the Age of the Consecrated Vampire We All Get High
4. Wild Thing (Tone‐Lōc cover)
5. Living Dead Girl
6. Well, Everybody's Fucking in a U.F.O.
7. More Human Than Human (White Zombie song)
8. Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)
9. The Hideous Exhibitions of a Dedicated Gore Whore
10. House of 1000 Corpses
11. Guitar Solo
12. Thunder Kiss '65 (White Zombie song)
13. Am I Evil? (Diamond Head cover)
14. The Star-Spangled Banner (John Stafford Smith cover)
15. We're an American Band (Grand Funk Railroad cover)
16. Dragula

Photos: Romantic Rebel @ The Outpost

Romantic Rebel, a hard rock band out of Chicago, Illinois, stopped by the Outpost in support for Smile Empty Soul last Thursday night. Fronted by a dynamic female lead vocalist and also been picked as Revolver's "Hottest Chick in Hard Rock/Metal" in their January 2015 issue, I thought since my schedule was open for that evening, this would be a worthwhile opportunity to give this band a look. My verdict. A well-polished and fluid sounded group I expected while listening to them online. The biggest thing that I appreciated from their set was everyone's progressive energy. Alex's 'David Lee Roth' high kicks was a prime example of this intensity.

The current lineup for Romantic Rebel includes; Alex Vincent, KT Paige, Zach Smith, and Ty Del Rose.

Photos: Ink in the Clink @ Ohio State Reformatory

The world famous prison penitentiary, Ohio State Reformatory was the setting for the 3-day tattoo festival, Ink in the Clink in Mansfield, Ohio. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Warm 80 degree heat with sun shining all weekend long. Sadly, I missed the first day, but was present for the rest to make sure no moments went undocumented.

The staff and everyone involved with the production were outstanding to work with. Met with a lot talented artists and amazing photographers who really were on another level. Browsing the reformatory was one of the coolest parts of the festival. With all the history that presented itself from room-to-room, you also got to witness highly skilled tattoo artists and unique vendors that you wouldn't normally see at your local flea market.

Special effect artist, Robert Kurtzman had his work on display there, but he himself wasn't there in person due to business obligations in NYC. Paranormal Penitentiary were there to give me the low down of his artwork. The twisted wickedness Robert creates is damn impressive and his attention to detail grabbed my attention right off the bat. 

Monster Dolls

The horror dancing cabaret girls, the Monster Dolls, were there dancing the whole weekend with synchronizing dances, fire twirling, and fantastic stage props. Just watching them move around on stage kept me engaged as they flawlessly moved to the beat of the music.
Look at their costumes and tell me they're aren't bad ass?! They were all super sweet to let me grab a shot of them back stage. Thanks, ladies!  

Psychostick

If there was one band that stuck out beyond the rest, it certainly had to be Psychostick. A metalcore band from Chicago with a HUGE twist. It's all comedy worked into their stage act and music. Farfetched outfits accompanied their charismatic persona kept you entertained from the first strum of the guitar cord.

Flaw

It was great to see Flaw again. Last time I saw them was a month ago in Akron at the Empire Concert Club. Beofre the start of their set, the band had some technical difficulties which there was a long 20 minute delay. From the fans' perspective, they were getting a little antsy and annoyed. None-the-less, they eventually busted out and played a solid show.

Drowning Pool

One of the two national bands that played that night was Drowning Pool. I was especially excited to see how they sounded since going through several singers in the past. The best part of the show and I think everyone there could agree, was seeing America's Got Talent star, John Hetlinger do Drowning Pool's famous "Bodies" song. If you don't know who John is, he's the 80 year old guy that's been a internet sensation covering the band's heaviest song on the national television show. Drowning Pool invited him to travel with them and to bring his talent out on the big stage.

Saliva

Last of the night, Saliva came on stage and didn't hide the fact they came loaded with the hard stuff. Crown and Fireball were available as refreshments to quickly heat up day 2 of Ink in the Clink. Saliva was more difficult to shoot as the stage lights was very spotty and had me quickly adjusting my camera for each shot. A lot of Bobby, but I was able to grab some stage side shots for a gloomy look, which I ended up liking more than anywhere else.

Dread Engine

I really wasn't anticipating such a forceful and heavy ass band besides Olathia to ignite the final day of Ink in the Clink. I was wrong. Columbus area electronica metal group, Dread Engine played a mind-blowing set with wicked dual vocal screams and fast tempo'd guitar riffs that took my adrenaline above 10. No exaggeration. If James Hetfield of Metallica decided to mesh with Lamb of God in his heyday, you'd have a good idea of the sound of Dread Engine, but you get a music video below instead. You're welcome.

Olathia

I've seen their sound evolve. I've seen there comfort zone mesh tighter than the waistline of a 80's glam hair band. Seeing their cooperative teamwork by producing catchy melodies with Chris' talented writing, transforms each new Olathia piece into heavy metal nirvana. The new stuff is soo good and we heard more than a few that afternoon from their 45-minute set.

Red Sun Rising

Wow. It's probably be almost a few years since I last saw Red Sun Rising. Their success keeps climbing the charts. Already with two top charted singles from their "Polyester Zeal" album, Red Sun Rising haven't slowed the wheels down at all. Playing the biggest festivals in the country and opening for some of the biggest names in rock. It sure is nice these Akron natives have made northeast Ohio proud.  It's one thing to love the album, but seeing them live is just a sweet entertainment perk to witness. Be sure to check them out next month when they come to the new Goodyear Theatre next month in Akron with 3 Doors Down.

Pop Evil

Seeing Pop Evil twice already, I didn't expect to see anything that I haven't already witnessed. Well, maybe their new drummer, but it all seemed like a typical Pop Evil show. Not a big fan of their music, but I love their crowd control they use with some of their popular songs, such as "Footsteps" and "Take It All". 

Review: Kyle Thomas Country and Big Machine

A new artist, a new venue, and a new genre. Went Country for the first time Saturday night at the Dusty Armadillo to shoot a new client, Kyle Thomas and the Big Machine and survived! It wasn't bad. Actually quite the opposite. I had a great time and learned a new way of concert life. Swap out the big hair and leather studs, and strap in some boots and cowboy hat—you got yourself a country showdown on the dance floor.

I first got wind of Kyle Thomas back in May when he played the Outpost in Kent opening for Flight 619. He loved my work so much, he hired me to come out and shoot his 2-set performance. He went all out. Brought in a videographer to shoot his music video and topped it off with a great light show his management designed.

Kyle gettin' his "sexy" on The Kyle Thomas tour bus before showtime.

Kyle has all the talent and charisma to win any country fan and make it to the top. And when he's performing with the Big Machine, he pretty much invites you to be part of the show. Hopping on and off stage, parading the mic around fans to help sing songs. It was awesome! Let me not forget the Big Machine. They amplified and complemented Kyle's vocals in a catchy ensemble.

This whole new experience brought a new kind of energy I haven't experienced before at a show. In a way, it felt like family or close friends meeting up. The hospitality from Kyle and his band mates were unmatched. They made sure I had everything I needed and treated me like I was part of their inner circle. I want to personally thank Kyle and everyone that night for the great memories you let me captured. All the positive vibes that showed up on my computer when I got home, made it very difficult on picking my favorites. Happy to share them here with you all.

Kyle Thomas and Big Machine consists of: Kyle Thomas, Steve Faulkner, Dennis Eggerton, Sean Lotz, and Wes Porter

Photos: The Four Horsemen @ The House of Blues

They were so good, I had to feature them again. Yes, the most authentic tribute to Metallica, The Four Horsemen played the House of Blues a second time this year with another crowd stunner over the 4th weekend. This time, I had an All-Access pass to roam the venue without security on my arse.

If you didn't catch my previous review of these guys back in March, all that applied then, still applies now.  I would like to throw out a special thank you to Sean, Mike, and Rich for having me back. It was a privilege to see your show. Check out my plentiful photo review from the night.