9th Annual California Roots Festival Lights Up the Monterey Fairgrounds
California Roots Festival Monterey Fairgrounds May 25-27, 2018 Photos by Pollen Heath. Justin Dahl wrote…
Browsing: Concerts
The Kooks Keep It Hopping at The Warfield
The Kooks Warfield Theater June 14, 2018 Photos by Jill Gerstenberger. The Kooks brought their…
Tower of Power Towers Over The Fox
Tower of Power Fox Theater, Oakland May Photos by Jill Gerstenberger. The Fox Theater buzzed…
Sleep Lights up the Warfield
Sleep Warfield June 7, 2018 Photos by Elizabeth Gohr. Legendary doom metal band Sleep came…
Punk Rock Bowling in Vegas – All Strikes in its 20th Year
Punk Rock Bowling Las Vegas Events Center May 26 – 28, 2018 Photos by Raymond…
![Power Trip Great American Music Hall May 31, 2018 The politically-charged amalgamation of metal, punk, and hardcore — better known as Power Trip — recently brought their anarchic energy to Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Fans thrust themselves into the stage, devouring vocalist Riley Gale, and taking part in the raw, aggressive experience unfolding before them. The floor opened up. People circled the pit, hardcore danced, headbanged, moshed, stood on the outskirts, threw their fists in the air, and sang along. Shirtless, sweaty men slid off each other’s backs while girls pushed and shoved their way through the chaos. A tall, thin man stood center-pit, grabbed his long, frizzy curls, and yanked his head into his knees. Dozens of fists and legs swirled around him. He remained unscathed. Just like its lyrics and sound, it seems violent to an outsider. But underneath, it’s about resisting, expressing yourself, and taking care of each other. Power Trip advocates for the underdog. Their set is anti-establishment, anti-war, anti-sexism, and anti-racism. It says fuck you to nationalism and corporate America, stands up for marginalized people, and promotes free thought. The band’s uncompromising egalitarian backbone is the driving force behind Gale’s lyrics and their fast, unforgiving, thrashy sound. It’s nearly impossible not to headbang along to the relentless riffs protruding from guitarists Blake Ibanez and Nick Stewart. With Chris Ulsh on drums and Chris Whetzel on bass, all five members draw from their unique and eclectic music tastes — from D.R.I. to Nuclear Assault, ZZ Top, Slayer, and, yep, even Al Green. The Dallas band draws fans from across the extreme music spectrum. In the process, they bring back the feel of 80s Bay Area thrash yet simultaneously they release records that feel innovative. They aggressive, raw, and undeniably fun. Producer — and honorary sixth member — Arthur Rizk helped the group record their second album, Nightmare Logic, which was released in 2017. The record is all of 30-minutes long, but is shorter, faster, and heavier than their first studio album, Manifest Decimation. Rizk worked on Code Orange’s Forever and is legendary in bringing back a crisp, nuanced sound. The band also just released Opening Fire: 2008-2014, which compiles their extra tracks. Straight out of 1985, Gayle spin-kicked off speakers and dragged his mic stand across the stage, lifting it over the crowd. People went ballistic when they played “Soul Sacrifice,” “Executioner’s Tale,” and “Firing Squad,” off Power Trip’s latest album. Thick vibrations flooded the floor, crawled up the walls, and lit the swarm of amped up diehards on fire. They touched on some old tracks, like “Drown” and “Manifest Destination” off their first record, as well as some goodies, like “Divine Apprehension,” off their latest release. It’s no surprise that Power Trip likes a really good riff and a well-written song. They keep it primal, simplistic, catchy, and fun. But it doesn’t mean they lose any lyrical substance along the way. “It’s a weird line — symbolic violence and physical violence,” Gayle said in a BangerTV interview. “I think [our lyrics] always tie back into the real world . . . Maybe it’s time to drag these assholes [of power] into the streets and take away their privilege.” Most of Gayle’s lyrics were written before Trump took office. And he titled their latest album after hearing the term dream logic — when you can’t differentiate between what is real and what is fake. Gayle felt stuck in a nightmarish world, and making powerful, intelligent, pissed-off music helped him navigate through the day and remain optimistic. The fans could feel that energy. And they ate up every last bit of it. When everything was said and done, the band left the stage, only to appear again to appease 400 screaming people. Before closing with “Crossbreaker,” Gayle dedicated the song to two dear friends who died that afternoon, his pals Bear and Liz. Just like Power Trip can’t be put in a box, neither could their openers. Red Death, a DIY hardcore band out of Washington DC, opened the show and set the tone for the night. Their face-punch racket is more in line with hardcore/thrash crossover, though their aggressive, humanist force would have made their DC punk/hardcore predecessors proud. Hailing from Orange County, Fury kept the energy alive. Vocalist Jeremy Stith trudged across the stage in blue jeans and a salmon button-up shirt. He didn’t look the part but delivered some gnarly, hoarse vocals that kept the crowd wanting more. And then there was Sheer Mag, who’ve been described by Rolling Stone as,“a gang of punks with a not-so-secret love of seventies classic rock.” The Philadelphia band celebrated their last night on tour with a fiery retro set. Vocalist Tina Halladay belted out tunes about gentrification, voting rights, equal pay, and discrimination. They brought some pelvis-thrusting force, which was a sweet surprise before Power Trip took everyone to the dark side. Find out more about Power Trip here. Check out Red Death on their website. Everything that can be told about Fury is here. Check out Sheer Mag on their website.](https://sfsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PowerTrip_KevinEstrada_41-351x185.jpg "Power Trip Unleashes Politically-Charged Mayhem at Great American Music Hall")
Power Trip Unleashes Politically-Charged Mayhem at Great American Music Hall
Power Trip Great American Music Hall May 31, 2018 The politically-charged amalgamation of metal, punk,…
Lynyrd Skynyrd Bids Farewell to the Bay Area
Lynyrd Skynyrd Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View May 25, 2018 Photos by Elizabeth Gohr. The time…
An Epic Night with Godspeed You! Black Emperor at the Fox Theater
Godspeed You! Black Emperor The Fox Theater, Oakland May 29, 2018 Photos by Raymond Ahner.…
Slowdive Resurface with Ethereal Dream Pop After 22-Year Hiatus
Slowdive The Fillmore May 30, 2018 Photos by Raymond Ahner. It’s been a long wait.…
The Revivalists Take Reno By Storm
The Revivalists The Outdoor Plaza at Harrah’s, Reno May 25, 2018 Photos by Paul Piazza.…
Modest Mouse Fires up the Fox Theater
Modest Mouse Fox Theater, Oakland May 24, 2018 Photos by Elizabeth Gohr. Alternative rock titans…
Eric McFadden and Broun Fellinis Serve it up at The Ivy Room
Eric McFadden and The Broun Fellinis Ivy Room, Albany June 25, 2018 Photos by Tom…
Acoustic 4 A Cure Unites Music and Charity at The Fillmore
Acoustic 4 A Cure Fillmore Auditorium May 15, 2018 Photos by Raymond Ahner. The fifth…
Lauren Ruth Ward: A Flash of Brilliance At The Chapel Growing Stronger
Lauren Ruth Ward The Chapel May 25 2018 Photos by Tom Dellinger.Some photos taken at…
Pink Brightens Up Oracle
Pink Oracle Arena May 18, 2018 Photos by Jill Gernstenberger. Pink brought her Beautiful Trauma…
Soulfly Body Slams the UC Theatere
Soulfly and Nile UC Theatre, Berkeley May 16, 2018 Photos and review of Skinlab by…
Taylor Swift Hits the Sweet Spot
Taylor Swift Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara May 11, 2018 Photos by Raymond Ahner. Taylor Swift…
Slayer Obliterates Papa Murphy’s Park
Slayer, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Behemoth, Testament Papa Murphy’s Park, Sacramento May 13, 2018 Photos…
True Fans Occupy the Warfield for SUM 41’s 15th Anniversary of “Does This Look Infected?”
SUM 41 The Warfield April 27, 2018 Photos by Pollen Heath. Nothing builds excitement for…
Editors Keep It Fresh at The Regency
Editors Regency Ballroom May 11, 2018 Photos by Jon Bauer. Review by Naomi Elvove. British…