Obituary UC Theatre, Berkeley May 18, 2023 Photos by Raymond Ahner Florida Death metal legends Obituary recently announced a spring tour in support of their latest release Dying of Everything, and last week they pulled up to the UC Theatre in Berkeley for an evening of metal that proved to be one of the heaviest shows to hit the Bay Area in recent memory. The beyond stacked tour also includes New York death metal heroes Immolation, Blood Incantation, and Ingrown. After the Pat Travers classic “Snortin’ Whiskey” blared over the PA, Obituary hit the stage with “Redneck Stomp,” ‘ and proceeded…
Author: Raymond Ahner
Raymond Ahner
Raymond Ahner, a professional freelance photographer residing in San Francisco, California, is the Photography Editor for SF Sonic. Growing up in the Bay Area, Raymond was lucky enough to witness both the Punk and Thrash Metal scene of the 1980's explode literally right in front of his eyes. It was a pretty special time in his life and is what instilled his love for live music. Over the years Raymond has been fortunate enough to combine his passion for live music with his love of photography. And although he will always love shooting the big arena Rock show, it is in a tiny, packed to the rafters club were he his most at home with his gear.
Mastodon/Gojira Concord Pavilion, Concord April 20, 2023 Photos by Raymond Ahner. Metal heavy hitters Mastodon and Gojira recently joined forces for the Mega-Monsters Tour, a 35-date co-headlining affair that will see the bands play coast to coast through the spring and summer. The second night of the tour recently took place at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA., and if the remainder of the tour is anything like this show, it will be a VERY successful tour for both bands. Supporting their eighth studio album, Hushed and Grim (which also serves as a tribute to their late manager Nick John…
The Pixies The Fox, Oakland May 4, 2023 Alt-rock icons Pixies recently announced the addition of Leg Two for its 2023 North American concert tour, and will be kicking off Leg Two with an already sold-out show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, Ca. With many other dates on Leg One already sold out, Leg Two launches on June 8 and will see the band headlining in venues from Boston to Ohio to Texas, as well as making a special appearance at Bonnaroo on June 18. Also announced, the Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, and American indie rockers Bully will…
Death to All Great American Music Hall March 7, 2023 Photos by Raymond Ahner The current lineup of Death to All, which includes previous members Bobby Koelble (guitar), Steve DiGiorgio (bass), and Gene Hoglan (drums), of the legendary death metal band Death, along with ex-Cynic frontman Max Phelps, recently announced their latest tour, during which they’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of the classic Individual Thought Patterns record. The 23-date tour included a night in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall, where the band played a near sold out show in front of their rabid fans, many of whom had…
Ride, The Charlatans The Fillmore Auditorium February 17, 2023 Photos by Raymond Ahner What happens when one the biggest shoegaze bands from the 1990’s go on tour with one of the biggest Britpop bands1900’s? You get the “Between the Nowhere” tour, which pairs Ride with The Charlatans, each of whom are playing one of their seminal albums. The pair recently pulled up to The Fillmore in San Francisco, where they performed to a sold-out crowd that sang along to every song. Both bands were clearly missed, having returned to the city for the first time in a few years. Walking…
Anthrax Fox Theater, Oakland February 18, 2023 Photos by Raymond Ahner Continuing to celebrate their 40th (now 42nd) anniversary, New York metal legends Anthrax just wrapped up the second leg of their North American tour, bringing Black Label Society as well as Bay Area metal legends Exodus along for the ride. Anthrax and Exodus are no strangers when it comes to touring together, and with BLS on the bill, it was the perfect evening of metal. The band’s fans that sold out the Fox Theater in Oakland definitely seemed to agree. Opening their set with “Among the Living,” Anthrax hit…
Unsane The Ivy Room, Albany February 13, 2023 Photos by Raymond Ahner Veteran Metal/Crossover/Post Punk New York trio Unsane have recently resurfaced, and are currently out on the road for a 10-show tour to play older material that dates back to the very beginnings of the band. Founding member Chris Spencer has recruited bassist Cooper (Made Out of Babies) and drummer Jon Syverson (Daughters) to reignite and revisit songs that have not been played live in years, and the new line-up has brought both a new life and new energy to the songs. The band stopped off at the iconic Ivy…
Sunn O))) Great American Music Hall January 24, 2023 Photos by Raymond Ahner. Just when you think that they can’t possibly add to their ongoing legacy, drone metal masters Sunn O))) have stripped down to the 2 two core founding members Greg Anderson and Stephen O’ Malley for a project known as Shoshin (初心) Duo. The pair have been on the road for a 14 date tour, and recently pulled up to the Great American Music Hall for a two night stint, bringing all the smoke, strobes, and volume that they always have, and possibly even more. With a wall of amplifiers that consumed a good portion…
Steel Panther The Fillmore Auditorium January 5, 2023 Photos by Raymond Ahner. With their forthcoming sixth studio album (On the Prowl) being released on February 24th, parody hair-metallers Steel Panther recently kicked off a 37-date tour at the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco recently, playing to a packed crowd who sang along to every word. Opening their set with “Goin’ in the Back Door,” the band wasted no time in bringing their sometimes X-Rated, yet tongue and cheek humor with them. Most bands fans might be more than a little offended by the song titles, lyrics, and between song banter, but not Steel Panther’s.…
Twin Temple Great American Music Hall December 30/31, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner. After a very eventful 2022 which saw them support Ghost and Volbeat, as well as their headlining their own Satanic Orgy Tour, Twin Temple wrapped up the year with two shows at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall on December 30th, and December 31st. The near biblical rain during the day of the New Year’s Eve show didn’t stop their fans, as many lined up in front of the venue early, waiting to get inside. From their opening ceremony in which they denounced sexism, racism, transphobia, and…
Fishbone Great American Music Hall December 15, 2022 Photod by Raymond Ahner The legendary Fishbone recently announced their “Red Hot Holiday Tour,” which saw them play 8 shows up and down the west coast in just 10 days. One of those shows just so happened to be held at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, where the band played a near sold-out show for their long-time Bay Area fans. It was their first time back in San Francisco in a year, and they definitely gave those in attendance their money’s worth, playing a career spanning setlist that included…
W.A.S.P. The Regency Ballroom December 9, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner Hitting the road for their first U.S. tour in over a decade, Los Angeles metal legends W.A.S.P. recently hit the road to celebrate their fortieth anniversary as a band. The 28-date trek saw the band zig-zagging across the country before pulling up to San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom on December 9th. Led by founding member Blackie Lawless, the band played a ten song setlist that covered most of their storied career. The rabid sold-out crowd not only ate it up, but also sang along to every word. As the road…
AFI Fox Theater, Oakland November 23, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner After postponing their Bodies tour earlier this year due to the still ongoing pandemic, California’s own AFI finally returned to the Bay Area for a hometown show, playing to a near sold out crowd at Oalkland’s Fox Theater. Although it was the night before Thanksgiving, that didn’t stop their fans from coming out in droves to sing along to every song. As the lights dimmed, the band hit the stage already full of energy, which was only a small glimpse of what was to come. By the time they launched into…
Cannibal Corpse The Regency Theater November 21, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner Death Metal veterans Cannibal Corpse have hit the road in support of their fifteenth studio record Violence Unimagined, and have brought along Swedish black metaler’s Dark Funeral, American death metal legends Immolation, and New York American balck metal stalwarts Black Anvil. The tour recently steamed-rolled its way to the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, and delivered a brutal night of metal at it’s finest to a beyond sold out crowd. As the now beyond capacity crowd packed the main ballroom, Cannibal Corpse hit the stage and immediately launched…
Arcade Fire Bill Graham Civic Auditorium November 19, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner Not letting the recent allegations against vocalist Win Butler stop them, Montreal’s Arcade Fire have been out on the road supporting their sixth studio album WE, and recently stopped off in San Francisco for a two-night, near sold out affair at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Judging from the fans reaction to the bands music, their fans didn’t seem too worried about the controversy, and were more focused on their own dance moves, while singing along to every song. As the lights dimmed, the band entered the…
Testament with Exodus and Death Angel San Jose Civic Center, San Jose October 15, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner After a summer in Europe, and then a full 25-date US tour, San Francisco Bay Area thrash legends Testament, Exodus, and Death Angel brought their The Bay Strikes Back Tour back to the Bay Area for the final show of the tour, definitely saving the best for last. All three bands were on fire, and judging from the near capacity crowd, the Bay Area metal scene is not only still alive, but very much still thriving. Headlining the show, Testament did…
Puscifer The Warfield October 13, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner Part concert and part theater production, Puscifer (a side project of Tool frontman Maynard Keenan) brought their Existential Reckoning Tour 2.0 – Let the Probing Continue tour to San Francisco’s Warfield Theater last week for its opening night, and put on a spectacle that left fans of the band not sure what that had just witnessed, but without a doubt quite impressed at the same time. During the pandemic, the band released four concert films, and finally have had the chance to act them out on the road. Split into…
Michael Schenker Great American Music Hall September 29, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner Celebrating his 50 years performing live, the legendary Michael Schenker recently hit the road for his 50th Anniversary Universal Tour which will see him play over 30 dates across the country, before heading to Japan. Multiple shows have already sold out well in advance, including the recent stop at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. With a lineup that includes Ronnie Romero on vocals, Steve Mann on guitar and keyboards, Barend Courbois on bass, and Bodo Schoph on drums, the band tore through a 17 song setlist…
Iron Maiden Concord Pavilion September 27, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner Returning to the Bay Area for the first time since September of 2019, the nothing short of legendary Iron Maiden returned to these parts for a nearly sold out, two hour show that saw multiple set changes, plentyof pyro, and a career spanning set list. For most bands that may seem like a big deal, but for Iron Maiden, it’s simply par for the course. The band is touring in support of their seventeenth, and latest release, Senjutsu, but made sure to include some of their biggest songs into…
The Melvins Great American Music Hall September 5, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner Because supporting Ministry on the Industrial Strength Tour, and then headlining the Electric Roach Tour so far this year wasn’t enough, the legendary Melvins just hit the road for The Five Legged Tour, which will see them traverse across the country for seven weeks, before returning to the West Coast to play the Halloween Freakout on October 29. The band recently kicked off the tour at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, which has hosted the band more than any other during their storied existence. Taking the stage to the theme song from Sanford…