August 2015 Vandala Magazine

"

Irr

f

-17

400- .74 Pholtogagpners Want to be a featured photographer? Or do you have •an amazing shot and want t your photo published? Vandala wants to feature photo(s) and Photographers of live music and musical acts.

Press Submission Got News? "-""""-' " Need to get it out to the music fans? Vandala accepts all press releases for Concerts, Music News, Album Releases, Tours Annoucements and so much more.

Full Del-Oils On Our Submissions Page wwwwvandalarnagazine.com Bands & Artists Be In Vandala Magazine Got new album? Need it reviewed? Send it to'Us How about a show or tour coming up? Invite 'V &Looking to be Interviewed? Send us a Request!

Join The Vandala Team as a Writer Do you have a passion for music, love goingriogishows listening to albums and writing about them? We wopld,19vt' to see your wcork ! Freelance writers welcome to submit their art;cies-to4 ps!

Aiw We also have limited spots for writers to go on assignments such as festivals, shows and access to a ton of albums!

The best seller is back and bigger than ever!

BOTTOM LiNE T i BOOK- CAN REALLY CNANGE YOUR' LiFF.

FOR SM. US

'RAMS MOORE MUSICiANS AND BAS

ULTIMATEJ ARKETING MOE FOR StRintiSiNarPENDENTAUSitiANS-AN7 BANDS

"Essential tools for the modern musician, it's a must-have survival guide!"

-S!cope Magazine

OIDEI12

MUSIC FROMM indeperelentffluscprorrrolions.corn

Contents Vandala Magazine August 2015 8 REVIEWS & EDITORIAL Refused - "Freedom" (Hardcore Punk) Jain - "Brain Cream" (Pop) Waves & Cloud Nothings - No Life For Me" (Pop/Rock) AI FA - "Every Hero Needs A Villain" (Hip Hop) Thee Tsunamis - "Saturday Night Sweetheart" (Rock) Fist City - "Everything Is A Mess" (Rock/Indie Rock) Terminus - "The Reaper's Spiral" (Heavy Metal) Hrom - "Legends of Powerheart Part One" (Power Metal/Heavy Metal)

22 LIVE MUSIC & PHOTOS

Er •

ef

dk.:111

•

Walter Trout Makes Triumphant Return to USA With Blues Rock Royalty Special Guests Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Wraps Up 14th Annual Festival With Plenty of Firsts

COVER STORY - EPICA 50 Singing, Subjectivity, and the Science of the Soul with Simone Simons Thirteen years and six full lengths deep, the larger-than-life symphonic metal sextet Epica prepare for a trek through North America hot on the heels of their album the Quantum Before embarking on their journey vocalist Simone Simons sat down with us to talk fire, song-writing, science, and skin-care.

INTERVIEWS 58 Soul Music: An interview with Against Mers Atom Willard You won't find many in the punk scene, or the music scene in general, who have had a more interesting an impressive career than Atom Willard. His resume is filled with great, sometimes genre defining bands such as Social Distortion, Rocket From The Crypt, The Offspring and more and now currently with Against Me! Vandala had a lot to talk about upcoming live album 23 Live Sex Acts, next studio record and more.

66 From The Vault Damning Mankind with Ancient Alter Another Psycho CA interview, this time with west coast darlings Ancient Altar, a band destined to call out mankind and force us to look at the bleak reality we all live in.

Front Cover Design By Erin Torrance

LIMITED EDITION 20"x30" PRINTS ZAKK WYLDE FROM BLACK LABEL SOCIETY 150 NUMBERED PRINTS

* $60.00 Plus Shipping and Handling Signed on the Back By Photographer Dana Zulu * Unframed *Luster Poster Paper

Get Yours Now at: www.danazukphotography.comiprints Full Name Address Required - Ships Every Friday, Sq&H Not Included

Editors Editor In Chief Crystal Lee (Photographer and Journalist) Editor 3. Henkel

Vandala Magazini Comments, Questions, Article copies Interview/Show Coverage Requests VandalaMagazineŠVandalaConcepts.com

Submissions

Design & Layout Assistant Erin Torrance

All Submission Guidelines can be found on our website at www.vandalamagazine.com

Editorial Staff & Contributors

Advertising To advertise with us or to get our rates

Dustin Griffin Freelance Journalist

Snail Mail

Matt Bacon Freelance Journalist

Advertising@vandalaconcepts.com For Address Email: vandala@vandalaconcepts.com

Sean Barret Freelance Journalist Jeff Black Musician & Freelance Journalist

Subscribe Now!,

Darian Magee - Freelance Journalist Emma Guy-Macdonald Freelance Photographer Crimson Art Photography Dana Zuk Freelance Photographer Dana Zuk Photography Michael Smith Freelance Journalist L. Paul Mann Journalist & Photographer L. Paul Mann Photography

Subscription to Vandala Includes: * Vandala Magazine Emailed to you Every month! * Subscriber Exclusive Content, Music & Downloads * Free mp3s & Downloads * Automatic Entry into our Contests *Unsubscribe at anytime 100% FREE

Follow Us Online & On Social Media www.VandalaMagazine.Com

Refused - "Freedom" (Hardere Punk) www.officialrefused.com- 4.5/5 Dragons

By Dustin Griffin If there's two fads that seem to have hooked their roots into punk rock these days, it's acoustic solo/side projects and band reunions. Bands just don't seem to be able to stay broken up.

4t .f 1I ‘110/41 APittillit ,tifike

Good Riddance, Blink 182, Rocket From The Crypt, Black Flag in different configurations) and Refused are but a few who have thrown in the towel, only to pick it back up again shortly thereafter. And while Refused may not have had the biggest commercial success while they were banging away in their initial heyday, theirs was probably the biggest in terms of influence and impact.

The Shape of Punk To Come, their highly influential album released two short years before the end of the millennium, to some, changed everything.

While pop punk boy bands like Blink, Simple Plan and Good Charlotte had a stranglehold on the airwaves and the bank accounts of their fans, Refused were taking punk and reinventing it. Pulling it apart and reassembling it in 'A Chimerical Bombination In 12 Bursts'. And by blending straight rock n roll with indie inflections, electronic accents and lots and lots of hardcore, The Shape of Punk To Come was a bonafide instant classic.

That's a hard act to follow and, perhaps rightly, they didn't try. Refused broke up and left Shape upon their world as the band's swan song, proclaiming resolutely that 'The Refused Are F*cking Dead' to all who would listen.

Well, the Refused are no longer dead. They have risen. They have reappeared. The Refused are f*cking alive. And the proof is their new album, the first in 17 years(!), the aptly titled Freedom.

Refused fans would be right to be both skeptical and excited about a new offering of Refused tunes. On the one hand, the band has been inactive for a long, long time. On the other, they never really died. Even as early as the early naughties, they took the occasional live offer, played the occasional festival. But those appearances were few and far between and for a while there it looked like the closest the world would ever get to a new Refused record was a new The International Noise Conspiracy record.

Still, I think it would go without saying that for a band with a fanbase as rabid as that of Refused's, it would be better to stay dead than to come back and deliver something mediocre or uninspired.

Freedom starts off with the song IElektra'. 'Elektrai is a razor sharp punk rock song. A song in which singer Dennis Lyxzen seems intent on informing the listening public that the song remains the same, so to speak, proclaiming in his very recognizable yell that 'nothing has changed'. He actually isn't singing about the band at all, but the double meaning will be lost on no one.

8 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

'Old Friends/New War' follows and it is probably the most inventive song on the record. A song that changes shape and plays with its sound every few seconds. There are a lot of ideas and sounds in 'Old Friends' and most of them work. It's the Refused song on this album that sounds most like the Refused on Shape.

'Dawkins Christ' is a dark, heavy stomper that takes aim at organized religion in the most effective and in your face way since Nine Inch Nails told us that God is dead in `Heresy' way back in '94 on Downward Spiral. And, in fact, the two songs have more than a passing musical resemblance. `Francafriquer is the catchiest song on the record and is my personal favourite. It sounds like The Hives mixed with, well, with the Refused. It's a fun, easy ripper with very serious genocidal themes.

'Thought Is Blood' is another Shape styled thumper. Think 'Refused Party Program'.

'War On The Palaces' is another favourite of mine. It's another catchy toe tapper and probably won't do much for people who are fans of Refused's harder material.

'Destroy The Man' and '366' are two more heavy hitters, while 'Servants of Death' is another experimental kitchen sink rocker.

And 'Useless Europeans' is a six and a half minute crooner that works its slow burn very effectively. A great way to end the album.

And the end of the day, what people want to know is, is this the Refused we know and loves or have they sullied the name of the band by serving up something subpar?

Well, while I can't say it will be as effective or influential as their last record, what I can say is that Freedom is indeed the Refused we know and love. It sound like the natural next step from Shape and, most importantly, sounds timeless. The Shape of Punk To Come was way ahead of its time. It still is. And so is Freedom. There's really nothing like this out there in the punk world right now. It may not be an instant classic, but it's one of the best records of the year. That's good enough for me.

TICKETS ON SALE Na

Wit

ROCKSTARMAYHEMFEST.COM

AILYEItt itif Oita MA THY ART IS MURDER • JUNGLE ROT • 115 Eft SIN - SWORN IN INA

ED EON • FEED HER TO THE SWAM CODE ORAN OK • EISSIN 4 CANTOCE

August 2015 - VandalaMagazine.Com 9

Jail! - "Brain Cream" (Pop) - 4/5 Dragons

Since we last heard from this group, Milwaukee surf pop trio Jaill has seen a couple of major changes preceding the release of Brain Cream. Having undergone a career restart of sorts, the band parted ways with two of its three original members, leaving singer/songwriter Vincent Kircher with complete musical control. After two successful releases on the legendary Sub Pop Label (2010's That's How We Burn, 2012's Traps) Kircher returned home to the (soon-to-be legendary) label Burger Records, who released the group's first two small-batch albums.

Brain Cream kicks off with the sunny, upbeat, jangly pop sounds of "Just A Lovely Day", setting a foundation for an album that shows, despite the changes in lineup, that fans both old and new will get a gem of an album. Kircher's unique songwriting style includes introspective lyrics that touch on unhappiness and solitude, but which do so with a distinct musical and vocal sound. The listener can envision a smile on his face during the recording process and can see it during a live show, but it's apparent that there's more going on than just sunshine and fun. Still, the innocent and carefree attitude of the album is infectious and will make anyone crack a smile. From start to finish, this album conveys the positive zeal found in mid-60's pop rock, just barely hinting at psych-rock. 2015 is just over half way over, but Brain Cream is an early contender for one of the year's top albums.

Wavves & Cloud Nothings - "No Life For Me" (Pop/Rock) www.wavvesxcloudnothings.bandcamp.com - 4/5 Dragons There's been a lot of talk over the last year about this collaborative effort from Nathan Williams of the surf punk darlings Wavves) and Dylan Baldi (noise rock darlings Cloud Nothings), and on June 28 it was finally released by surprise through Williams' own Ghost Ramp label. It is everything that fans of both WO LIFE FORS bands expect and love; it's loud, hard, and barely Re-CORDeP 'WA RAPAVEP Se gives you a chance to catch your breath. Though awl" MuEr Ar Now thr top Ni6616$,CA Ty mordre# Mar AgrAtr zV many bands now feature the same kind of sound as fOiri AU. &MAW is!- Ave AtI2,2045_ lit suma iswirrew ovazimit both these acts, this album further demonstrates AMP OMNI, ens, eireepr 4,sio eft Lome' *Way Sr slimimINss, MINK why they still reign as two of the best. Williams' 446tIMOS "NenhowAgefea'vhocove voice instantly transports you to sunny California, er hrubv Pim ADAM/ft "Enemaof :SiteTo Aolv) Vvre#444,446,-fitreixo* nt yet an overlay of darkness, clearly Baldi's influence, COW-Dewy' AND 449rows4rigiurnict, Se huttiAmv.,4001,7โ ข4ยงfL wee Av )49# pervades the album as well as some of the riate-Aliirnef eireeve.A.ALL ORM% always-great shoegaze washout effects. Both of aleMACIVIL L. AtteryMA-CAZW. COM/6W eme5istmle "4- _.1 1111 these techniques are best exemplified in peak form on the tracks "How It's Gonna Go" and "Hard To Find". If you are a fan of either of these bands or just a fan of rock music meant to be played loud enough to piss off your neighbors) this album is a must-have. Warning: multiple tracks will incite highly-animated and embarrassing air guitar routines if you think you're alone.

WAWES 11

amax-rof

10 Vandalamagazine.Com - August 2015

MUSIC FESTIVAL

BOW WOW

KAV

MEMPHIS REEK

G.BAKI - YOUNG MIC BOSCH - FRANI! - IAMYYC - VANSON DUN - SOUND IMPROVEMENT • ROHANN -DAPS - HAZE - OSITY MERKULES - YOUNG KAZH RONNIE BONYO.OL 51(001. STR8 GUM DRAGON RI EMPIRE - KONFIDENTIAL - CODY TKACH BDICE MI LYR1QUE - SONNY I - SANDRA SILVA - OUDA OUDA MS. TEAZE BLAZEONE - MITCHELL LAWLER & CONCH SMG NKI LOUISE & ROLE MODEL -.DONATELLO MAIIC & YOUNG IGC WILL HAZE - TREVON - UL SMOKEY - ENIGMA - NILLIE -41 THADDEUS MCFEE BOBBY BLASTEM WILLY SNYPES EVRLOVE - RED WITH CHOPS & KING KHAN BLIEVE - NASH - I RICKY PHEBUS - BRANDON TAYLOR - JOSH MAHON - NADI D v KRIS LABELLE & DOMINIC - DREZUS - RAY RAY - DOOM SQUAD DAM411 JONES - SNATCH - BELLA P - YUNGG CRAZE - NEMO CAINE JUSTIFIED & C-NOTE A.O.N. - STRUCK ZILLA CRIPL CASSIUS FLAMES - 1DUll - DUGGAS - RYAN THE RAPPER -NAY MAMARUDEGYAL & HOPE -SHIFTY EYES - ALBERTA MURDERAZ TWIZZLE RAMOS - BIG DAWGZ BNZ & KRASYED RUBIX

BIGFOOT MUSIC FESTIVAL - SEPTEMBER 5 & 6, 2015 DUISBURG CENTRE - RANGE ROAD 285, DE WINTON, ALBERTA ALL AGES EVENT - KIDS PLAY ZONE 12 & UNDER FREE - FOOD & ALCOHOL VENDORS

TICKETS & INFO: B1GFOOTMUSICFESTIVALBROWNPAPERTICKETS.COM

10 ANS DU PLUS EROS FESTIVAL ROCK AU OUtBEC1 AMNESIAO

ROC

PETITE-NATION

10* EDITION - 2015

I II vir)

F:A -CA

k:4

CA

Pwl

111:n

410

PROG RAMMATEU RS INVITES. TIM ARMSTRONG DE RANCID fi FAT MIKE DE MIX

LINKINPARK 40-.-SINTEM OF A' DOWN THE OFFSPRING %TM • SLAYER • sNoop DOGG.• PIXIE9 ROB ZOMBIE •DEFTONESIELT • gLIBLIMEWITH ROME RANCIDiria. TENACIOUS BAD RELIGION • REFUSED GOEDFINGER • FLOGGING ' MOLLY • GOGOL BORDELLO • THRICE 6 COHEED AND CAMBRIA • STORY OFTIlt YEAR MINISTRY • - SKINNY PUPPY • PARKWAY DRIVE • DOWN :• FEAR FACTORY • ATREY11.- • HATEBREED PROPAGANDH101'1X, • LESS THAN JAKE • GOOD RIDDANCE • THE BOUNCING SOULS • MELVINS BANLIEUE ROUGE • IFS COWBOYS FRINGANTS • GROOVY AARDVARK • MONONC" SERGE • SUBB • RESET DESCENDENTS • ALL • BUZZCOCKS • THE EX Pt-0 ITED • GBH • MICHALE GRAVES or MISFITS • TEN FOOT POLE TOM GREEN • MIKE WARD • STEVE-0 OF JACKASS • CKY • FILI LAPLANCHE • UNWRTITEN LAW • DPERAI1ON IVY mum SATANIC SURFERS • RAISED FIST • NCI FUN AT ALL • RANDY • BIGWIG • MAP • THE PLANET SMASHERSinte n:1 BIG AND THE KIDS TABLE • MAD CADDIES • CATCH 22 • VOODOO GLOW SKULLS • SUICIDE MACHINES • MHO CARCASS • THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN • BOLT THROWER * EVERGREEN TERRACE • FROM AUTUMN 113 ASHES BLIND WITNESS • SICK OF IT ALL • CRCI-MAGS • SNAPCASE • FIRST BLOOD • WALLS OF JERICHO • SLAPSHOT THE REAL MCKENZIES • PENELOPE • BALD VULTURE •_ CILECT1VO •-OVERBASS • 1ES EKORCHES • MIRACLES CAPITAINE REVCILTE • wow • SLAVES ON DOPE CAAAVANE • BODHAKTAN -* GET THE SOOT BARRASSO • BOOKAKEE a RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE t iiri • YES IR MILLER • SHARPIE MAN ENORMEMENT DE MERE BEAU OUP PLUSI

441 12741,

:141 •

pi0k.

-411110%.„.

mull

BILLETS EN VENTE MAINTENANT! DIME MI MINOMMIZERMICOM ET BINS LES ismencuEs alma MIKESUJECCESIDAI 11,1mlis -

011°111°.

VA

Canacrg Quebec Ng %Rio Artztr=i, Eip=t1=,,, 1F.Iller0! t°.-%

fit

Vigtniltintr Ler4a.904' ni) ez r4;,-. 0 ri-L7]

c-t 2z4d

Pal= 0.90/u

AF FA - "Every Hero Needs A Villain" (Hip Hop) www.brickrecords.com 4/5 Dragons

By Dustin Griffin Czarface are a talented trio of rappers who came together in 2013 and dropped one of the better hip hop albums of the new millennium with their self titled debut. Boston's underground speed spitters 7L & Esoteric and Wu Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck (one of the best rapper in the group) play off each other's styles and sensibilities, trading rhymes and verses back and forth to create something fresh, catchy and raw.

Their new album 'Every Hero Needs A Villain' continues that turn play, but doesn't quite hit the nail on the head as effectively as their last album did. The beats have slowed, it isn't as raw and the rapper don't sound like they're having as much fun. Which isn't to say it's a bad album.

Songs like 'Nightcrawler' featuring fellow Wu Tang-er Method Man and 'When Gods Go Mad' featuring GZA (also from Wu Tang) are sharp, edgy and to the point. And `Sgt. Slaughter' is a short burst of speed rapping that highlights 7L's control over the mic.

There are also cool guest spots from Juju (from the Beatnuts), Large Professor and MF Doom. Song like 'Czartacus' and 'Sinister' on the other hand, sound like less inspired retreads from Czarface's first record. And the Inspectah Deck spotlight `Red Alert' is just plain bad. A couple of verses interspersed with bleeps and boops and radio samples. It's a filler song if I ever heard one.

As with their debut, and the whole purpose of the band it seems, 'Every Hero' is chock full of lyrics and themes which pay tribute to the comic book universe. Tales of good guys overcoming bad guys and bad guys overcoming good guys. Tales of war and tales of woe all set to a storyboarded background. If every comic book came with a soundtrack like this one, they'd be a lot more fun to read.

The first Czarface record came out of nowhere, with no expectations on it, and blew everyone away, garnering huge accolades right out of the gate. I don't know if that reaction put pressure on this follow up record or not. Most hip hop group's best records are their first ones though and this group is no different. I would go so far as to predict that their first record will go down as something of a modern classic in years to come.

As for 'Every Hero'. It's a good record. A little disappointing as a follow up, has more filler than the last, but also has more than enough good stuff to keep the party bumping. And, just like the last record, that amazing comic book styled album cover is amazing. Worth buying the vinyl for alone.

Overall, Czarface is still, for my money, one of the best side projects the Wu camp has going on right now.

14 vandalamagazine.Com - August 2015

firafriFY •

;-T1

1•1

I

CANADA'S HOTTEST BEACH FESTIVAL I JULY24-262015 KELOWNA BC

Prl=ii.gri

ArNIEFE

PARTY

PLO

it amnidm

ZEonnAti MOM* ATMOSPHERE SLAV tvitiO PHANTOGRAM ALPHABETICAL ORDER

r

MUM

1

•

NEM

hi

k•stezaytAImA,

A

Tangta88 %It:2

paris x simo NBB fal-kfr y;'iolifkak: Eftli D STONE 1,rinuiziaLr.

TWAYNE

VI=

kidilfigi II 14 MIN

_Meat

c...11:71-1T MEOW

en c•

MIME „gm,,, sc_EL0

SWEDEDREAIMS

ee #42s

trAtInk

147o

3STARZ I BAG-O-BEETZ I BDICE I BUSHIDO 1 DAHLY LLAMA I DEEPSOUNDS I DISCO DAVE I DISERO DJ GLOBAL J DJ SHADO I DROPLINE I ERIC DANG I IMMACULATE I JGIRL & MANDUSOS I JOACHIM SPEIDEL KEIF I KETAFERE IK-MAK AND THE BEATNIKS 1 KRIS FALCO I POP'N'FRESH I ROBERTO STYLI ROMO SUNSEEKERZ I TAKTICS I TEN-0 I THE SPECIALIST I TITAN I TODDY ROCKWELL

finer4SAFIE

Sunfrn Pi3Ay •/ •

M N I L

emprAbeT ,.• • ,

USED LIFOOTVERK boot:km-pa

E

Ue

1111111143c

4ai Ile= MOO'

0 104*

Sp./_2qK

KIM RODESiGN 14:15-65

/CENTIEROFGRAVITY

/COGFESTIVAL

Ronic

r4 CII;)

rig ; /COOFESTWAL I

VACATION

lot brandaii„3

410 R GoonsiR

/CENITEROFGRAVITYFIEST • #MECOG2O1S

TICKETS 1 FESTIVAL INFO AT CENTEROFGRAVITY.CA

i@hael

Ri@_1§5

Thee Tsunamis - "Saturday Night Sweetheart" (Rock) www.theetsunamis.bandcamp.com - 5/5 Dragons Garage rock fans that have yet to discover the Bloomington, IN label Magnetic South, should do so sooner than later. This first full-length release from the all-female trio Thee Sunamis will erupt through your speakers or ear buds) with a bubble gum girl group sound that would make Phil Spector proud, though it also embodies the contumacious rock In' roll attitude Ray Davies and the Kinks brought to the masses in the ‘60s. Now some may develop the wrong impression when they see an all-girl band described with adjectives like "bubble gum".. However, those impressions will be quickly transposed during tracks such as "Drag" and "Saturday Night Sweetheart" where they subsume the imagery of an all women's biker • gang, dressed head to toe in leather, riding through Any town, USA. Switchblades in hand, these ladies are ready to rumble with anyone that tries to f*ck with them. Put on your sunscreen, get your swim wear ready, and call your friends; you and your best guy(or gal) are ditching school and having the wildest beach dance party with this as your soundtrack. You'll have the chance to trot out your best dance moves when "Skip Tracer" and "Psycho" are played. Then when the sun's going down and the bonfire is blaring, you'll pull him/her close and slow dance to what could be a punk-rock prom staple in "Cry Baby". This album (and everything out of the Magnetic South studios) is recorded in analog, providing the perfect grit and crusty fuzz you want and need from a garage rock and reinforcing the honesty of the band's rebellious rock In' roll sound.

•■

•

9 4

Fist City - "Everything Is A Mess" (Rock/Indie Rock) www.fistcitycult.com - 3.5/5 Dragons Buzzing, fun, and aggressive: just a few words to describe the latest release for Lethbridge's own Fist City. This cyclonic summertime album fuses the contentious shoegaze elements--one imagines radiating out of a Brooklyn rock club ("The Mess")--with the fuzzed-out brashness of SoCal Surf punk ("Surf's Up"). Produced by Ben Greenberg, who's worked with The Men and Hubble in the past, the album was recorded in Chicago at Steve Albini's own electrical audio studio. Twin siblings Kier and Brittany Griffiths, along with the other two members of the band, have crafted a sound and an album that syncs perfectly with the current season now that summer is fully upon the Western Hemisphere.

Elements like racism, police ("F*ck Cops"), and 16 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

Album Reviews. M @Mae 5111101ns Flii@ks life as a rock 're roll band in a small town infuse the tracks' lyrical contents. Those looking to enhance the flavor of their Summer 2015 roadtrip playlist need not look further than the tracks "The Smell" and "Let Rip". Others seeking a more intense sound will find it in the guitar and drum-heavy tracks "End Of the Good Times" and "The Mess", both of which posses the unrestrained rock `n' roll sound that makes someone happy they showed up early to any live performance. However, one does not need to be on the move to fully enjoy and experience the furor and flair of this album. Beyond being perfect for driving, Everything Is A Mess, offers an album well-suited for day drinking with your friends on the porch or hanging out pretty much anywhere. Highly recommended for fans of Viet Congis 2015 self-titled release.

The Shredders Fantasy Early Bird Specials-Book www.AxesAndAnchors4o Awe 404 7

IF

- . r

6a-

- •

-

• ir

.;••• •

.1. •;jf. *Lt.'

"%".

•

p

\

31,7-1.82015 KIRJURINLUOTO, PORI ` •

0

g

1

.

•

VON HERREN BROTHERS + VIIKATE DISCO ENSEMBLE 4 NUCLEAR ASSAULT (USA) TURMION KATHY+ JULIE! IONESIN SYDAN + 01AVI UUSIVIRTA + LOST sway+ ATOMIROTTA PHU + MELROSE+ LAPKO + TEFLON BROTHERS+ PM 101 PERTFI KURON NIMIPAIVAT

•

h

Terminus - "The Reaper's Spiral" (Heavy Metal) www.terminusni.bandcamp.com - 4.5/5 Dragons I believe vocalist James Beattie when he claims to be "battle-hardened" and/or "ready to STRIKE," and so should you. Terminus cranks out muscular power metal forged in the long-forgotten American way, featuring more than a few guitar bits that make me think of what OMEN might have sounded like had Kenny Powell shirked the axes and hired a band comprised of T-1000's set to "Somewhere In Time" instead. Some other cool early-Fates Warningisms and Solsticean passages strewn about here and there, leaving very little if anything) to complain about. Beattie's singing -• .- • may be a bone of contention for more-polished listeners, but he's got this blue-collar charm and sounds great when laying down the sandpaper on tracks such as "Fortress Titan" and "The Encyclopedists," with "Centaurean " possibly having the catchiest refrain of the year.

Four tracks originate from the 2013 demo Into Exile which, under normal circumstances, would be an annoying move, but these are not normal circumstances. The demo tracks get a face-lift in both performance and production, keeping even the golden oldies a few jigawatts ahead of the curve. Best served with Asimov paperbacks and the whiskey of your choice.

I....5 •

11.1E

Fe' Ihr: 116 1.117 I

L

Hrom - "Legends of Powerheart Part One" (Power Metal/Heavy Metal) www.facebook.com/Hromcanada - 3.5/5 Dragons Let's face it: you bought into macbooks and man-buns like every other millennial. If you find yourself with a few spare minutes between Buzzfeed/Upworthy articles then do yourself a favor and lend your ears to Calgary's leading 80's Euro-power throwback machine H1 M! This is pure melodic speed metal, nodding sagely at mainstays like Helloween and Rage and with sly sidelong glances to more cult acts such as Cloven Hoof's Dominator and Chroming Rose. You've got th A' t the siren scream vox of Jan Loncik who nails the I rich timbre of Russ North and does real good on the big choirs (see "Hellhound" and "Ancient • Scrolls") and pretty much everything else. Drums are a near-constant flurry of kick drums and gated snare, and don't even get me started on what's probably the best budget late-80's guitar tone ITve ever heard. The riffs mean a lot whether they're hailing notes from on high ("Citadel of Heroes") or taking the low road to melancholia ("Virtue's Decay"). This is the album that Power Metal needs, not the album that Power Metal deserves. Worth your dollar!

I

20 VandalaMagazirte.Corn - August 2015

liftnENING THAT WU AMEN YOUR BARES SENSES

I

K NOT T movie lifi(nor 41'44744 A M mAsTeDeN

BRING ME f THE HORIZON

0

_ + 1.

CLUTCHe

U

GHOSTFACE MAN

OB 914 ii>ALcANNIBAL 101)4j, weirdo"

AT THE GATES ii5E.LN1 1 01 •604 i rcOlTgi 'cant Tier! KT

RAiL.N LIA TIANTS HELMET

, tjate-f 5

A VA IPFKIltab

r

THE SWORD • BATTLECROSS • ii0.11610FiE • DEVOUR THE DAY, • BEARTOOTH KATAKLYSM • SIX FEET IMER • 3Y1115 FETUS 5ELPHEGOR • DISGORGE • IIMUISITION ABYSMAL DAWN • NITRO' 51.EEDING • CIREEM DEATH • & MANY MORE 5 STAGES, CARNIVAL RIDES, FOOD TRUCKS •VIP & 3-DAY CAMPING PASSES AVAILABLE,

OCTOBER 24 EDE 25 SEE ['DEPUTY OCHER 23 FIT 111E YEN

ONYONE WHO PEICHIMS [PPM OR YIP

SAN MAHE APANITHEARR & FESTIVA'., GROUNOS coLICIIR "L'Inrarr

IVESISTIF

BERWARTOR CAI FORMA

zIPP0

KNOTFEST.COM

$GE

Walter Trout Makes Triumphant Return to USA With Blues Rock Royalty Special Guests Article & Photos By L. Paul Mann www.Lpaulmann.com Veteran blues rock guitarist extraordinaire Walter Trout made a surprise appearance at the tiny Topanga, California music club, the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon, as part of the Southern California Blues Society's regular Monday night jam session. The June 29th concert was billed as a power blues rock trio, featuring veteran drummer Michael Leasure, known for his work with the Edgar Winter band, Philip Sayce band, and the Walter Trout band. The group was rounded out by keyboard player Sammy Avila and bass player Johnny Griparic. Trout, himself was the special guest leading the entire 100 minute jam session. The New Jersey guitarist began his prestigious career in the 1960's before moving to Los Angeles, where his true talent was utilized by original American blues greats like Percy Mayfield, Deacon Jones, John Lee Hooker and Joe Tex. In 1981, Trout joined Canned Heat as the lead guitarist, reinvigorating that legendary blues band, most well known for their Woodstock performance. From there, Trout was asked to play with the godfather of English blues rock, John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers. In 1989, Trout went on to form his own band and became a well known fixture in the Euopean blues circuit, where the blues genre has always been more commercially viable than in the United States.

Trout nearly died from a failing liver, until a transplant in 2014 gave him a new lease on life.

The surprise show in Topanga, was the beginning of his first tour since his remarkable recovery. Trout said on his website; "The last year has been one where the blues truly came calling, and I came face to face with death more than once. My wife moved me to Nebraska to improve my chances of getting a life-saving liver transplant, and after a long wait, I got my new liver on May 26th, 2014. Since then I have been filled with immense gratitude.

Gratitude for the fans who supported me via fundraisers, cards, messages, thoughts and prayers, for the donor and his or her family, for medical science, for my family, and for life itself. Everything matters more to me now. Now, 8 months after my transplant I feel like a new man. I have strength and energy. In some ways I feel like I am in my 20's again! The past couple of years of playing I was getting dizzy spells, severe cramps in my hand and forearm and played many shows in severe pain. It turns out that was a result of my deteriorating liver. That is gone now! I am able to play better than I have in years. I feel reborn. I cannot wait to get back out on the road again and do what I love to do for my fans.

The future looks great!"

The Topanga show began with an opening set by Los Angeles based blues trio Lightnin Willie and The Poor Boys. The southern California fixtures on the blues circuit, feature personable frontman Lightnin' Willie on guitar and vocals along with Dennis Gurwell on keyboards Jerry Olson on drums. Playing in a classic Texas roadhouse style, with some Chicago blues vibes thrown in, the band is a powerhouse trio that oozes authentic American blues music.

Trout led his quartet into the next set beginning with a fiery blues rock guitar drenched jam that galvanized the standing room only crowd, packed into the tiny lounge. After twenty minutes of epic guitar work, Trout invited one of his old mentors, John Mayall, to step out of the euphoric crowd and join him onstage. The 8!year old blues legend took up the challenge and took over keyboard duties for several songs.

During a break in the songs, Trout told an anecdote about his days in the Bluesbreakers. "I see there is a two drink minimum here tonight. Back in the old days with John Mayall it was more like a two ounce minimum a night. One night I asked John for an advance to buy drugs. He said he will find me some. Then he took me out in the parking lot and went up to a group of bikers and said, Hi I am John Mayall and this is Walter Trout. He needs drugs! We 22 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

are both lucky to still be alive", Trout quipped, now healthy and sober. Following the short set with Maya'', Trout invited harmonica player master Bob Landgraffto to join the band for a jam of Canned Heat songs. Later in the set Walter's son Jon Trout, also an exquisite guitar player, joined in on an epic guitar drenched jam. After several more songs one final guest graced the stage for a classic guitar duel with Trout. Jimmy Vivino, most well known as the band leader on the Conan O'Brien Late Night show, may be one of the most underrated blues guitar players in America, except by the legions of legendary musicians who have played with him. Well known on the local California blues circuit, he is a force to be reckoned with on lead guitar and he offered up a fierce finale for the surprise Walter trout comeback tour, complete with an awesome drum solo by Leasure.

Trout has now begun an extensive tour that will take him across America, Canada and Europe in the coming months. For more information on the tour visit: www.waltertrout.conThe Southern California Blues Society strives to keep Blues music alive in the region and features regular concerts across the southland. According to their website: ''Every Saturday (@ Big Mama's Rib Shack, Pasadena 5:30 pm), Sunday (@ Malarkey's Grill, Long Beach 4 pm) and Monday (Maui Sugar Mill Saloon, Tarzana 8 pm) we fly in the greatest living blues musicians in the world just for you!

How it works: We pay the bands, their airfare, hotel, local transportation and everything else. You just come and enjoy the phenomenal show, eat, drink, be merry, and slip us a $10 to $20 in our donation jug. That's it! 100% of the money goes to the band!

We do all the hard work, you reap all the exciting benefits. And together this thing thrives for a long, long time! We love you and appreciate your patronage more than you can ever possibly know!" This is truly a labor of love for the music for all involved as evidenced by the volunteer donation jug that is passed around towards the end of the show, with no one collecting cover at the door. For more information on upcoming shows visit: www.scbsevents.orgihome.html

August 2015 - Vandaialigagazine.Com 23

SACytilivi

21115

• • •...•

CALIFOR IA SATURDAY 11°

egn5dtrk 113jgakNign tve

4

BRING ME THE HORIZON

OIVIENIJEK ELYMEIDABID P.D.O. SHERBET w PIIP,Mt LOP REEKS, HELMET SNOVBERIITOOTHIATMEOWOLF VIE DYINCITEMPEMINCE IMOVEMENT aoltk1110 „DEVOUR oiTHE 01114 /le SEEDIER ITIPUIPIMMTIIIISJII.STERP ARENDT ND AY <0_, P^ 11.13Inarierai

04241

DEATHiFROM1 AW919iltamit-aili71:6 SEM WITH SR:El TELIMILF FRILMIWISTIWN( SI1E111110LTENENCIES46SIWTHCSINDRO MOLY SEPECTIEli RP] FIINET ONEINICH,MIECHILD NECHIIIEEP PINIFSLIPS e

FEATURINGM OCTOBER 24 & 25. 2015

GIBSON RANCH TICKETS ON SALE 5129 www.AFTERSHOCKCONCERT.com •Ift4717.

TAVIR YelIA: JACK DANIELS

IfIrrw‘

24-7 PRESENTS

THE

A

lifiviiS/C4377YAL

THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN!

1.MP !MM.

••••■■■ ■■••■• i■ion ilm■■•

GODSMACK STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

.ANTHRAX*CLUTCH*CHEVELLE*HELMET

REVEREND HORTON HEAT*NOTHING MORE*CROBOT S1LVERTUNG* BLACK ANGEL DOWN*MIRE TO MONROE 2 RAIN STAGES NO OVERLAPPING SETS

RIPLEY'S 'BELIEVEIT OR NOT" SIDESTAGE

DINGLEBERRY DYNASTY FIRE BREATHERS SWORD SWALLOWERS BURLESQUE SHOWS TATTOO CONTESTS & PtIORE1

CARROLL VIDDOEIOODOODLIVOM01:30.00C2

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Wraps Up 14th Annual Festival With Plenty of Firsts Article & Photos By L. Paul Mann wwwilpaul ma n n.com Bonnaroo, the most prestigious and sophisticated music festival in the United States, came to a close Sunday night, June 14th, completing a historic 14 year run.

The festival, known for its impromptu jams and all night sets, saw many new first time events and changes to the revered format. The biggest change came this year when Bonnaroo's co-founders, AC Entertainment and Superfly, sold a controlling share of their beloved operation to Live Nation, the concert promotion giant that also owns more than 60 festivals, including Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza. Live Nation is currently engaged in a corporate takeover war against AEG Live to grab up the last remaining independent festivals. But Bonnaroo's longtime organizers have said they would retain control of day-to-day operations, insisting the sale will only enhance the scope and quality of the Manchester experience. Local officials are also getting ready for a total of four large music events each year. Bonnaroo already brings some 50 million dollars annually into the tiny Manchester community coffers, so local officials will no doubt be delighted with expanded operations at the concert site.

The most psychical changes to the festival include bigger and better facilities, from more bathrooms and water areas, to larger shade and gathering areas. Everything seemed better organized with plenty of staff on hand to process lines, keep the grounds clean and make sure nearly every set ran on time, like clockwork. Even the weather cooperated with relatively mild temperatures, compared to the normally swampy and sizzling June heat up in Eastern Tennessee. There was also no rain to speak of, keeping the fields from becoming mass mud pits like some of the past years.

The changes to the music have actually been morphing to a more modern, younger fanbase, but as usual keeping in a good mix of almost every pop music genre including, classic rock, country, bluegrass, EDM, Hip Hop, and a little world beat music. Jam band fans may be a little disappointed that the other genres have infiltrated their territory. For instance, this years' legendary Superjam, included Hip Hop, and EDM artists, as well as Jam band stalwarts. For hard core Jam band fans, probably nothing could top last year's three hour set anchored by Tedeschi Trucks and featuring a small army of jam band legends, moving in and out of the extended set. But, as the big Superjam the following night showed, there were plenty of eager young fans, for the crossover jam led by EDM star Skrillex, that featured musicians as diverse as the Doors Robbie Krieger, to the Fugees' Ms. Lauryn Hill. Young music fans are now embracing the jam band experience as a truly versatile mix of musical genres. About the only down side to this years' Bonnaroo festival was that many of the headliners had their sets shortened to be more in line with other music festivals, leaving only the biggest closing acts with the coveted two hours plus time slots.

This, of course didn't apply to this year Superjame which lasted nearly three hours.

This year saw the first main stage headline show by an EDM star, Deadmau5 and a Superjam, that by any account, was a unique one off of musical genius. Whether the new changes at Bonnaroo will make for a better or worse festival will ultimately be 26 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

Lime Cc,i lverrago. BEimmacto Musig At Eestimal decided by the music fans who chose whether or not to face the grueling festival ordeal to witness history being made.

Bonnaroo Day 'I Fir sant Start Opening day of Bonnaroo 2015 was a clown right pleasant one, with temperatures peaking in the lower 80's and puffy white clouds partially blocking the blaring summer sun. The mood in Centeroo was a pleasant one as well, with perhaps one of the most polite crowds ever at the festival, at least this first day. Pardon me and excuse me may have been the most used expressions throughout the grounds as eager fans daintily made their way through the masses. Bonnaroo often emphasizes the "we are all in this together" and "exude positive vibes" approaches to dealing with the massive crowds in their literature, and the message seems to have been received. Everywhere eager concert goers offered up high fives and chanted ROO incessantly.

This years' festival offered new and bigger facilities all throughout the Centeroo. In fact, there are even new developments in the campground. New this year was The Grove, a shady tree area within the campgrounds complete with fancy lighting, hammocks, and art instillations. Performance artists planned entertainment throughout the festival at the new site.

In Centeroo, the infamous Mushroom fountain was the center of attraction long before the music began. With a huge waft of fresh white water the fountain proved irresistible for sweaty music fans to indulge in a showery euphoria. As the festival processes the fountain tends to take on a brown tinge from the recycled water and the water pressure slowly wanes. So this first day is the optimum one to take a dip in the watery wonder. This years fountain artwork was designed by Queen Andrea (Andrea von Bujdoss), a New York graffiti and paint artist.

First Day Band Highlights With the two main stages yet to open on Friday, the three tent stages became the main stages.

First to play in them was the young all black hard rock trio Unlocking The Truth from Brooklyn, New York. First formed in 2010, the trio consists of guitarist and vocalist Malcolm Brickhouse, bassist and vocalist Alec Atkins, and drummer and vocalist .farad Dawkins. Playing in the heady tradition of Jimi Hendrix and In Living Colour, began as a child novelty act, but has greatly matured over the last two years on the festival circuit both musically and physically. Lead singer Brickhouse has a much deeper voice than just a year ago, lending itself better to the traditional metal music that the band has perfected.

Sydney based Australian band DMA, followed soon after with their own Indie style rock music sounding a bit inspired by Faith No More. Strand of Oaks, a music project

by Indiana singer, Timothy Showalter, also was another crowd favorite, firing up the audience with folksy southern inspired rock. Sultry San Diego singer Ryn Weaver turned in an early smoking performance with her kick ass band.

Copenhagen based Iceage brought a retro feel to their music with animated lead singer Elias Bender Ronnenfelt seeing to channel Jim Morrison and the band playing music which sounded like a cross between the Doors and a modern jam band.

Meanwhile across the way another European band, Temples, from Kettering 28 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

30 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

o Music a Arts Festival -Day 1 Highlights

August 2015 - VandalaMagazine.Corn 31

usic & Art

a 0

England, played some fierce Euro style psychedelic rock, led by another charismatic singer guitarist, James Bagshaw. Southern Americana rockers, Houndmouth, from Indiana played an impressive set, thanking fans who helped propel them from the smaller stages that they had played in years past at the Bonnaroo festival.

One of the most highly anticipated moments of the first night was the set by Swedish disco darling Tove (Love) Lo. It was a pleasant surprise to see her appear with a full band of veteran rock musicians and the sensuous young singer may have stole the evening with her steamy performance.

The tiny performer offered up strong vocals belying her little frame. The barefoot little singer gyrated her tiny frame while repeatedly simulating masturbation techniques as she belted out her sexy lyrics. Yet another sexy late night performance was turned in by yet another sensuous tiny framed female, this time the black Hip Hop artist known as Dej Loaf.

This little Detroit rapper with a big voice dressed only in a camouflage jumpsuit with nothing underneath briefly flash the crowd to add to the excitement. But her music was what really captured the festival goers attention with crisp modern Hip Hop attributes.

On a more jam band vein festival circuit veterans, The Growlers from Southern California offered up some intricate Indie music, led by the larger than life persona of lead singer Brooks Nielsen, who tends to channel an early Bob Dylan, although Brooks can sing and dance a lot better than the legendary Dylan. The band likes to call their music "Beach Goth," and their concert jams are stuff of legend in Southern California. Dopapod, originally from Boston may have turned in the most impressive true jam band set of the evening offering up the kind of music that the legend of Bonnaroo was built on. This band could have played until dawn and virtually no one would have walked away.

The last impressive set of the evening was turned in by EDM masters Gramatik, joined by EDM rappers Cherub for a funky EDM all out dance party finish for the main stages first night.

Bonnaroo Day 2 All Systems Go Day two of Bonnaroo saw the whole Centeroo come alive with both mainstays up and running as well as some ten other venues across the grounds. With so many music fans trying to move about it was time for them to pick their battles.

The day was much more humid than the previous one, but the large fluffy white clouds acted as an insulation from the searing summer sun most of the day. All possibilities of rain were erased from the forecast, ensuring there would be no repeats of the mudfests from some of the years before. Everyone seemed to be getting into the spirit of Bonnaroo, with creative outfits, face painting and all manner of totems being displayed. The giant waterslide and mushroom fountain were of course big hits again, with some adventurous fans shedding their clothes completely to take a bath. The music started early and went into the early morning hours this day. Some of the highlights included: Brown Sabbath got things rocking on the second largest Which stage early in the afternoon. This Austin based band rocks covers of Black Sabbath songs. But they are not really a cover band adding their own funky rock take on the heavy metal 32 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

I

VandalaMagazine.Com

- August 2015

Hendric

roo Music s Festival Highlights

Tears For Fears Moon Taxi -

August 2015 - VandalaMagazine.Corn 33

Live Coverage

Festival

legends, including a stellar horn section, creating an incredible cacophony of sound.

The young psychedelic rock band from Australia, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard packed the tent where they played early on. Often compared to Tame Impala, their sound is retro and fresh at the same time and band members perform with the rebellious energy of young Avant Gard rockers.

Back over on the Which stage, English rock duo Royal Blood took over the crowd sweltering in the blazing afternoon heat. "Is everyone sufficiently sweaty?", lead singer and guitarist Mike Kerr asked the crowd, as they erupted into a huge water bottle spraying fight. The band takes thrice from other power rock duos like the Black Keyes and White Stripes, but with an edgier English garage rock sound. Jam music veterans, Duster, returned to Bonnaroo for the first time in eleven years, which is hard to believe since their campy Indie sound is tailor made for the traditional Bonnaroo fan base. The band did a clever cover of "Come On Eileen" to mark their return to the festival.

Nashville resident Ben Folds, who may have been at every Bonnaroo festival so far, brought his new project YMusic to one of the tents, featuring a mini orchestra backing offering up one of the most unique sets of the day. One of the other most unique sets of the day was by Tanya Tagag. The native Inuk Canadian comes from remote Nunavut on the South coast of Victoria Island. She joked with the crowd that she had to fly back the next day because it was too hot for her so far south. The young singer displayed a modern take on the guttural vocal style of traditional throat singing usually done between two women. But it was modified by Tagag with the help of two incredible musicians playing avant grade instruments like a tiny horn that emulated the sound of whales. The trance like music produced truly unique music.

Santa Barbara based Soja turned in one of the only Reggae inspired sets at the years Bonnaroo, but what a set it was. Playing to a mid afternoon main stage crowd of at least 30,000 people, the band pulled out all the stops in their genre bending take on Reggae music. Speaking of genre bending music local Nashville Indic music favorites, Moon Taxi played a rock set that was infused by influences as diverse as Radiohead and Hip Hop music. The resulting musical cocktail was magnificent.

The newly remodeled Who stage, formerly the Sonic stage, showcases lesser known musical acts, and some of the real gem sets of Bonnaroo can be heard here, without the massive crowds of the bigger stages. Mini Mansions, the side project of bassist Michael Shuman from Queens of The Stone Age was on the Friday treasures found on the little noticed stage, playing some southern California desert tinged rock.

As night fell on the main stage, the Athens Alabama band Alabama shakes brought their rocking Gospel music inspired sound to a massive euphoric audience. Led by gutsy Gospel and Blues singer Brittany Howard, the band brings back memories of an early Janis Joplin with Big Brother and The Holding Company. These veterans of the festival circuit have reached a new crescendo of sound with their latest tour and album. Meanwhile back in the tent area classic English rockers Tears For Fears were wowing the crowd with their timeless Beatlesque sound that made them so famous in the 80's. The founding duo, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith may have aged physically but their immense musical talent has stood the test of time and they are still a great live band.

36 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

Coverage. BA! marioo Musig At Eestimal Ben Harper the blues drenched singer and phenomenal guitarist played a smoking set, now back with his band of veteran musicians, The Innocent Criminals. As the night wore on a massive crowd made their way to the main stage for what may have been the best set of the night.

Kendrick Lamar, the Los Angeles hip hop artist has had a meteoric rise in his career over the last two years, headlining a dizzying array of music festivals. Lamar came to perform at Bonnaroo and the crowd went wild for his fresh rap sound. The inevitable comparison between his set and last years' set by superstar Kanye west had to be made. Unlike the whining meandering set of probably the biggest rap star on the planet, Lamar endeared himself to the crowd and played off of a terrific backing band. His incredible group of musicians gave a whole new dimension to Lamar's' popular rap songs.

Meanwhile a much smaller crowd was swaying to the super "Avant Groove" sound of Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood. Any one of these jazz rock greats could turn in a formidable set of live music, but together they created some of the most sophisticated and intricate music of the festival.

Late night on the Which stage a large crowd gathered to see and hear the offerings of 70's disco legends Earth, Wind and Fire. The band has actually been producing a variety of different music sounds over the decades, but it is their timeless classic dance hits that always get the crowd gyrating. The surviving members of the classic band played on singing, dancing and joking like teen spirits. While Kendrick Lamar's set may have been the biggest surprise of the night. It was the last main stage set on Friday that made history.

Canadian EDM star, Deadmau5 was the first EDM act to headline Bonnaroo. The mouse eared electronic music guru, seems to take his cues from the legendary French electronic wizard, Jean Michel Jarre. Jarre was well known for his spectacular one of performances of EDM music, with incredible synched visuals like fireworks and huge light shows. He was the precursor to today's modern EDM show, heavy on visual emphasis. To this end Deadmau5 has taken the visual performance to a whole new level with a unique and spectacular light show. Whatever you may think of EDM music as an art form, Deadmau5 creates a unique symphony of sound for each set, more like a classical orchestra than you typical EDM mad up DJ. The huge crowd at Bonnaroo loved his closing set, creating a sea of glow sticks and all manner of gyrating EDM costumes. Deadmau5, Kendrick Lamar, Alabama Shakes, and Sop all warmly received on the same stage. Could that happen anywhere else but Bonnnaro?

Bonnaroo Day 3 Heats Up In More Ways Than One The third day of Bonnaroo 2015 began early with temperatures warming to near 90 Degrees and the beloved clouds beginning to wane. Saturday is always the longest day at Bonnaroo with music starting before noon and going until first light, which comes early in Eastern Tennessee, just a few weeks from the summer solstice. Many festival campers were beginning to sag under the searing summer sun. Lines were long to get into the air conditioned venues like the comedy tent where Madmen star John Hamm could be observed feeding gummy bears to comedian Zack Galafanakis down on all fours.

There were long lines into the cinema tent as well where a pale dark hooded Cory 38 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

Dive Oomenage. laaly 3 Feldman answered questions about his film career and played with his all girl band dressed in white lingerie complete with angel wings. But many just passed out in any shady spot they could find. But for those who still had the energy to crowd into the different venues there were also more music choices than any other day.

Some of the highlights included: The first band up on the main stage was the Duluth, Minnesota bluegrass troupe known as Trampled By Turtles. This veteran group of the festival circuit is simply one of the best bluegrass bands in the country, with tinges of all manner of Americana music including rock, folk, and country.

Over on the Which stage Rhiannon Giddens was playing banjo and singing like an angel. The former Carolina and The Chocolate Drops singer has gone solo with her exquisite voice.

In the tent area a large crowd gathered for the quirky geeky music of Jack Antonoff and his band the Bleachers. The musical savant has written numerous hit songs for other performers like Taylor Swift and for his own projects including the band Fun. Like Fun the Bleachers are all out feel good rock, but more guitar driven. The War On Drugs took the stage in the afternoon to play their popular brand of retro inspired nee psychedelia. Sturgill Simpson played one of the purest alternative country sets of the festival. Simpsons life read like an episode of Justified, growing up in a small Kentucky town, with a father in law enforcement and relatives in the coal mining industry. Maybe that is why his lyrics seem to ring so true. Gary ClarkeJr., a guitar drenched sunset set on the Which stage in front of a large crowd coming to life with the fading searing sun. Clarke, a child guitar prodigy since the age of 12, channels the Austin blues perfectly into his sets. While a huge crowd gathered for well received set by Bonnaroo veteran jam band My Morning Jacket, a much smaller crowd watched one of the gem sets at this years' festival.

In a salute to deceased African musician William Onyeabor, a small army of legendary jazz, soul and funk players came together under the moniker, Atomic Bomb. The phenomenal players included English soul singer Jamie Udell, Luke Jenner, Money Mark, Pat Mahoney, Sinkane, Mike Floss, and the incredible jazz trumpet legend Charles Lloyd. The jam was astonishingly good.

A little later a sizable crowd gathered around the tiny Who stage for a set by NewYork alternative rockers, X Ambassadors. The high energy foursome wowed the crowd with spunky set.

Every year Bonnaroo tries to include at least one big Metal band in the line up and this year it was one of the "Big Four" trash metal bands, Slayer. The band delivered the hard driving head banging set the they are so well known for.

The Saturday headline set was by Mumford and Sons. It was a triumphant return for the band who had to cancel their planned 2013 headlining set, and were replaced at the last minute by Jack Johnson. Johnson had actually been at the festival the first night of 2013 as a surprise guest of his long time collaborators ALO. It was great to see that Bass player Ted Dwayne's seemed to be fully recovered from his emergency brain surgery that canceled the 2013 gig. The band played flawlessly though one of the longest sets on the main stage, before inviting out nearly everyone who had played on the main stage throughout the day.

August 2015 - Vandaialigagazine.Com 39

The (liar On Drugs

Bonnaroo usic a Arts Festival Day 3 Highlights Rhiannon Kidd

40 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

August 2015 - VandalaMagazine.Com 41

Coverage orimarooC lusic .& Art Festiva These included My Morning Jackets Jim James and Patrick Hallahan, Dawes Taylor Goldsmith, Hozier, photographer and harmonica player Danny Clinch, War On Drugs saxophonist Jon Natzhez and others. Appropriately they all played a cover of "With A Little Help From My Friends". For many though the biggest thrills for the night were yet to come during the three hour late night jam session dubbed 1Superjam Throw Back to The 80's. Like last year an EDM star led the festivities acting as a sort of maestro to the funky orchestra of pop stars.

Pretty Lights took the honor this year and Skrillex held the coveted spot last year.

The event was kicked off by an exuberant introduction by Zach Galafanakis and John Hamm. What followed was an extraordinary three hour jam anchored by a phenomenal band, and a seemingly endless array of guest singers. The band featured one of the best dual bass match ups ever with the former Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge and Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo. Robert "Sput" Searight played phenomenal drums. A horn section led by Karl Denson smoked the entire night. Eric Krasno and The guitarist from Cherub wailed through the evening.

John Medeski and Brian Coogan played an array of keyboards. Guest singers included, Cherub, Rhiannon Giddings, SZA and the Bleachers singer Jack Antanoff, Reggie Watts, Chance The Rapper, Jamie Lidell, and the legendary rapper DMC, who may have stole the show towards the end. The singers picked covers from the 80's and the live video would be interspersed with clips of the original performers making for a great visual for the legions of music fans trying to cram into the tent for the marathon jam.

On an interesting side note, both Antanoff and Watts appeared on the Late Late show the following Monday and did not realize that they were both guest performers in the super jam. While the phenomenal super jam was going one of the biggest EDM stars, Bassnectar was living up to his moniker playing thumping beats across on the Which stage, with a fantastical light show. It is hard to believe that this same dj was the lounge act on the Jam Cruise ten years ago. But as the early morning light began to appear on the horizon and the super jam and Basnectar sets came to a close, young dance enthusiast weren't done yet. They crowded around the giant Calliope machine, spitting out gas flames high into the air as well as a lazer light show and danced literally until the sun rose.

Bonnaroo Final Day 2015 The final day is always the shortest at Bonnaroo, with almost all the music coming to a close before the final 9PM Main Stage act comes out. Traditionally, many younger EDM fans pack up and leave this last day, but this year it seemed that many more than usual stuck around, with such a strong final day line up to choose from.

Temperatures in the low 90Fs made it the hottest day of the festival and again many early on were seeking the sanctuary of shady areas. But by the time Awolnation hit the Which stage in the afternoon, legions of music lovers began crowding around the stage. Animated lead singer Aaron Bruno had the crowd fist pumping early on.

Austin rockers, Spoon followed on the massive main stage, also with a well received set. Brandi Carlile, a Washington State folk rocker took over the Which stage and played a fiery brand of southern rock influenced Americana music.

Florence and The Machine played the main stage in late afternoon to an absolutely massive crowd. Lead singer Florence Welch pranced around the stage like one of the 42 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

Florence and The Machine

Bonnaroo liusic Arts Festival Day 4 Highlights Billy Joel Robert

Acuolnation

44 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

August 2015 - VandalaMagazine.Com

45

CcAlverage. BIlimaricto Musig Arit Eestival the whirling dervishes, belying the fact that she had broken her ankle at the first week of the Coachella festival back in April. She actually had to be carried on stage for her second weekend performance at Coachella and the UK band played a very unusual set in deference to her handicap. But Florence hit the stage at Bonnaroo with all guns firing and it may have been the best main stage set of the final day. The huge crowd then stood up en masse and moved all the way over to the Which stage, in a testament to the draw of the legendary Robert Plant.

Together with his band the Sensational Space Shifters, he too played an energetic set, no doubt spurned on by the huge crowd. With their relentless touring schedule over the last few years, the band has become a real powerhouse of jam rock music, meshing perfectly with the vocals of the legendary front man of Led Zeppelin.

The coveted closing set was taken up this year by classic American rocker, Billy Joel and by the time the singer piano man took the stage, most of the massive crowd had made it back from the other side of the festival. The personable Joel played some of his massive catalog of classic hits and joked with the audience throughout the show.

Early on he said, "This must be what Woodstock looked like. I was there at Woodstock, not to play but in the audience".

Later he looked up in the sky feigned ducking and said "What the hell is that?", as several candle lanterns drifted up into the balmy night sky. Then he pretended to shoot them down with an invisible gun.

Joel featured a talented band of veteran musicians including a phenomenal saxophone player. Later he came out from behind his revolving piano and played guitar on several tunes, including a cover of Highway To Hell, by AC/DC. He had one of his roadies come out and sing the lead for the song. Finally he admonished the crowd not to drink and drive. "Do what I do," he said. "Take a Limousine". Then as quickly as it started Bonnaroo 2015 was over.

Joel, while playing a respectable hour and forty-five minute, actually left forty-five minutes earlier than his allowed set time, leaving the crowd chanting for more to no avail. The final performers are always given an extended set time and most choose to use it to full advantage or even go beyond the times in marathon jam sessions.

But this anticlimactic moment was probably one of the only sour notes in what was otherwise a very successful Bonnaroo 2015

DOOMTREE 25 JUNE BRISTOL. LJ 26 JUNE LONOON, UK

27 JUNE LONDON. UK 28 JUNE GLASTONBURY. UK 30 40UNE ERNIAOHAN. UK 02 JULY ROSKILDE, DENMARK 0. JULY HAmsuRG. GERMANY

MIR CONTI UES 11

THE FLEECE THE GARAGE BARFLYEA GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL O. ACADEMY3 ROSKILDE FESTIVAL %lop/ CLUB

04 JULY Taeum. METHE4A11D5 NOC HAM) FESTIVAL BI NUU 06 JULY BERLIN. GERMANY AMPERE 07 JULY MUNICH. GERMANY 08 JULY COLOGNE, GERMANY

09 JULY PARIS. FRANCE 11 JULY BREMEN, GERMANY

17-18 JULY EAU CLATRE, WE 28-30 AUG DENVER. CO 11-13 SEPT CHICAGO, IL

19-20 SEPT TORONTO. OR 25.27 SEPT BOSTON, MA 6-$ NOV AUSTIN, TX

C.B.E. LA mARDOUTNERiE 'ILA EULE

FAUX CLATRES FESTIVAL RIOT FEST RIOT FEST RIOT FEST BOSTON CALLING PUN PUN PUN FEST

II

10/27 10/29 10/30 10/31 11/01 11103 11/01 11/06 11/07 11/08 11/09 11/11

Baltimore Soundstage- Baltimore, 11/13 1, MacEwan Hall- Calgary, AB- CANADA Danforth Music 11211- Toronto, ONUeiion Hall- Edmonton, AB- CANADA Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre- Montreal, QC- CANADA 11/1 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC- CANADA The Palladium- Worcester. 11A 11117 Studio Seven- Seattle, WA Union Transfer- Philadelphia, PA 11/19 The Fillmore• San Francisco, CA Webster Hall- New York, NY 11120 Ace Of Spades- Sacramento, CA Carnegie of Homestead Music Hail- Munhall, PA 11121 it}• National Grove or Anaheim- Anaheim, CA The Crofoot- Pontiac, MI 11/22 The Marquee- Tempe, AZ 11/24 Gas ►Monkey Live- Dallas, TX House Of Blues- Cleveland, 011 Concord Music Hall- Chicago, IL 11/25 Warehouse Live- Housion, TX Mill City Nights- Nlinneapolis, MN 11127 The Masquerade- Atlanta. CA The Summit Music Hall- Denver. CO 11/28 The Plaza Live- Orlando. FL

BLIND-GUARD1AN.COM 11/BLINDGUARDIAN OciiiIBEAND__GUARDIAN

N

ST

AWN,

AfIELYTAI* THE BEINNEARS PIM VICTORY RECORDS STAGE

THY ART Is MURDER - JUNGLE ROT SISTER SIN - SWORN IN HAT-TERED SUN - FEED HER TO THE 110-IARK5 - CODE ORANGE - KISSING CANDICE

06.26 06.27 06.28 06.30 07.01 07.03 07.04 07.05 07.07 07.08 07.10 07.11 07.12

SAN DIEGO, CA SAN BERNARDINO, CA MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA SEATTLE, WA BOISE, ID PHOENIX, AZ ALBUQUERQUE, NM DENVER, CO COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA MILWAUKEE, WI INDIANAPOLIS, IN DETROIT„ MI CHICAGO, IL

07.15 07.17 07.18 07.19 07.21 07.22 07.24 07.25 07.26 07..29 07.31 08.01 08.02

TORONTO, ON PHILADELPHIA, NJ PITTSBURGH, PA HARTFORD, CT HOLMDEL, NJ GILFORD, NH BRISTOW, VA BOSTON, MA WANTAGH, NY ATLANTA, GA SAN ANTONIO, TX HOUSTON, TX DALLAS, TX

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY APRIL 17TH, 2015 RocksteirMayhomFast.com ZcA;-‘

Cli ,max-1 REVOIYER

WY

fJOMayhemFest

illaTle Cnnccr

iteidth

Interimtew. Epic-a

Thirteen years and six full lengths deep, the larger-than-life symphonic metal sextet [pica prepare for a trek through North America hot on the heels of their album the Quantum Enigma and a fire-y Hellfest performance on the main stage.

Before embarking on their journey with fellow-nature-spirits Eluveitie and the furious five who compose The Agonist, vocalist Simone Simons sat down with us to talk fire, song-writing, science, and skin-care.

Hey, how are ya?

Simone: I'm fine, thank you. How are you?

Very good. Thanks. Where are you calling from? Home? On the road?

Simone: I'm calling from home in Germany.

You're coming fresh off your Hellfest performance. How was that?

Simone: That was one of the best festivals for us in years. Everything just...everything fit. The audience was amazing. We had a great show. Also, we had some pyro, some fire on-stage with us, very magical. Epica is doing pretty well in France. We also played in Belgium at Grasspop, so it was a long festival weekend and we had the best time. We made a behind-the-scenes video of the after-parties, goofing around, and having a good time, giving people a look at what's happening backstage.

Any plans to introduce visual elements into this upcoming tour?

Simone: We have a really amazing lighting engineer with us who knows the music by heart, so the light show will be of very high quality. With pyrotechnics, it's not typical, because we have our team who make this in Europe when they travel with us. We have done it overseas as well, but that almost ended up in some band members catching fire.

Epica, Eluveitie, and The Agonist is a pretty diverse bill. How did that come about?

Simone: I think it's important to not have exactly the same sounding bands. You attract a bigger audience and it will be a musical evening you won't forget. It would become tedious if the bands are too much alike, then it might be that the fans are tired by the time we get onstage. Eluveitie is a very popular band as well, and it still has an overlap with Epica, but it's not completely the same or very similar. The Agonist we toured with many years ago when we were in the U.S. for the first time, so we thought it would be cool to have them here. So it'll be a nice evening with good music and we hope fans still have enough energy when Epica comes.

The heavier moments on this album seem like more straight-up headbangers than is usual for Epica. Was this a natural progression?

Simone: In a way, yes. We've been working with a great team for this record We've been working on the songs over and over again, taking away all the unnecessary parts, and if a riff or a melody feels good, then you wanna incorporate it and put it in a good spot. You already know this while you're writing the songs, the vocal parts, or the lyrics, you think 'Hey, this can really work live' and you make a show out of it, so 52 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

i ...

•

..- ....,-•

ilow ....,

-.47:-.:r. .',.. ?.... ,. ,co•• ,-Fi-ar.-.., - --• - . .. ..›.... a:••-, ; -•.---:-.--1.-i ---........ a...—...--....,

.,

,

• •• •,.

•.

,.• • .1 ....• .,

../..

-..

-• .

-

me

FF 1

j•

it's a combination; it evolves naturally, but there's a formula behind it as well...a secret formula.

Has the philosophy behind your lyrics changed over the years?

Simone; We've always been a band with philosophical topics. In each record it's changed a bit; sometimes we write more about politics, religion, or we'd have a concept album. When Mark and I are writing lyrics together, he set up the concept.

The history of The Quantum Enigma is a study where they found out that, through our observation, we can alter reality. In a way, the big red line going through this record is that we cannot be sure what is reality, if we are living in multiple realities, if what you're seeing is a different reality than me because, through your observation, you can change the particles in the air and you can change material, so what is real? We're searching for reality. The Quantum Enigma has already been a part of Design Your Universe with the near-death-experience, what is there after we die? So this record is very spiritual as well. Life and death has always been a big theme within Epica songs and Canvas of Life is about the circle of life and Kingdom of Heaven Part II is basically a continuation of the Design Your Universe song, Kingdom of Heaven Part I. It's a very philosophical, spiritual, and scientific record. Those are the three cornerstones of the lyrics, but, definitely, philosophy is a big part of Epica.

What are some of the non-musical influences behind that?

Simone; Well, Mark is the one who loves to read books about quantum physics. He loves Mayan culture, so he really becomes inspired by books, by authors, where I'm more the person who loves movies. I'm a huge Tim Burton fan. My favorite genres would be fantasy and science fiction. I draw a lot of inspiration from movies and real-life experience. I recently became a mother, so it's been life-changing, and a bit eye-opening for me. I use my own life and the lives of the dear people around me.

Me and Mark do have separate visions on life. He's the more spiritual person, and I would be the person saying 'nah, that's not real' or 'no, that doesn't exist', because I like clarity. Now we're 13, 14 years later, we've traveled around the world, and we've seen a lot of things, good and bad, so it does make you think more. Besides having scientific proof - near-death experience and stuff - it still scares me in a way. Death scares me. At the same time, it inspires you, it makes you think, in the moments when we feel down the most, we sometimes write the most beautiful lyrics or music. So I would say we've evolved, become grown-ups, but Mark's still the same spiritual guy and I've become more spiritual, so he kind of drew me in.

You also run a beauty-bldg. Any skin-care tips for sweaty club and festival environments?

Simone - Stay hydrated. Always drink a lot. I do try to do that during the show as well.

We have a couple of fans on stage to keep us cool, towels on stage. For me, since I also wear make-up on stage, sometimes I will do little touch-ups during the show and, when there's an instrumental part, I can quickly leave the stage, dry my face, and apply some more powder or brush my hair. So, yeah, drink a lot of water, not only alcohol. Shows can get really hot and sweaty. We recently had one in Brazil. It was insane. We had those fans on stage. Normally we would move around, but we were all right in front of those fans. As soon as we'd step one step to the left or right, we would just be hit by this wall. People were fainting, we were throwing water bottles into the audience; it was just insanely hot. We looked like we had just come straight out of the shower, completely soaked with sweat.

54 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

I wish you more air-conditioned venues to come.

Simone: Sometimes it's really best for everybody's health to have air-conditioning at the venues, but we've had shows where it would be on stage, and it would be this ice-cold stream on top of our heads. For singers, air-conditioning's not always great.

It's not good for the voice. But, for these kinds of hot shows, I allow air-conditioning to run, because it's for everybody's health. If people are fainting, that's not good.

Everybody should have a good time and everybody should be safe. We should be able to perform and people should be able to enjoy it without fainting.

Anything else for us?

Simone: Well, I just wanted to say that we're super-excited to come back to the

states. It's been a long time, over two years. We had a tour planned, but another band had to cancel, and that's made us and the fans more hungry EPICâ&#x2013;ş is touring North Amercia this fall so be sure to check out all the dates on the next page. You can follow and keep up to date with EPICA online at: www.epica.nl www.facebook.comiepica www.twitter.com/epica www.youtube.comtepica www. instagram .comiepicaofficia I

August 2015 - Vandalaitfagazine.COM 55

KILIMANJARO BY AMMO ENT WITH CO

~ MOTION & FEAT •

.AGEMENT PRESENT

5 EMIG] A

THE

+ SUPPORT ASY:15

116.•th.A.

NOVEMBER 2015 WEDNESDAY 11 • BRISTOL 02 ACADEMY THURSDAY 12 • MANCHESTER RITZ SATURDAY 14 • GLASGOW GARAGE SUNDAY 15 • LONDON FORUM TICKETS: KILILIVE.COM • SEETICKETS.COM VIP PACKAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.EPICAAL

4EVOLVER PROUDLY PRESENTS

SPEOAL GUEST

SEPT 8 US - BALTIMORE, NO - SOUNDSTAGE SEPT 9 US - BOSTON. MA - PARADISE ROCK CLUB SEPT 11 CAN - MONTREAL, QC - CORONA THEATER SEPT 12 CAN - QUEBEC CITY, QC - IMPERIAL THEATER SEPT 13 CAN - TORONTO. ON - PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE SEPT 15 US CHICAGO, IL - HOUSE OF BLUES SEPT 16 US MINNEAPOLIS. MN MILLS CITY NIGHTS SEPT 18 CAN - SASKATOON, SK O'BRIANS EVENT CENTRE SEPT 19 CAN EamONTON, AB - UNION HALL SEPT 20 CAN - CALGARY, AB - MaCEWAN BALLROOM

SEPT 22 CAN - VANCOUVER, BC - VOGUE THEATRE SEPT 23 US - SEATTLE. wA - NELImOS SEPT 25 US - SAN FRANCISCO, CA - REGENCY BALLROOM SEPT 26 US LOS ANGELES. CA - FONDA THEATER SEPT 28 US - DENVER. CO - GOTHIC THEATER SEPT 29 US - OMAHA, NE SOKOL AUDITORJUM OCT 1 US - LOUISVILLE, KY - MERCURY BALLROOM OCT 2 US • CLEVELAND. OH - AGORA BALLROOM OCT 3 US NEW YORK CITY. NY - IRVING PLAZA

Interview By Dustin Griffin

Ryan Russell

You won't find many in the punk scene, or the music scene in general, who have had a more interesting an impressive career than Atom Willard. josh Freese comes to mind. And like Freese, Willard's resume is filled with great, sometimes genre defining bands: Social Distortion, Rocket From The Crypt, The Offspring, Angels & Airwaves, Danko Jones, theHELL with Matt Skiba he also filled in with Alkaline Trio for a brief time) and of course, Against Me! The band he is currently in and has been in the past few years.

With all that history, we had a lot to talk about, including but not limited to Against MO's upcoming live album 23 Live Sex Acts and their next studio record, which could be in the can sooner than you think.

Against Me! have a live album coming out in September. I'm assuming the album (23 Live Sex Acts) is taken from a single show, rather than cobbled together from a number of shows on that tour?

Atom: Yeah. We recorded a number of different shows, but we settled on this one as being, what we thought was the best.

That always works out better than having a patchwork of songs from a number of different shows. And I like the spontaneity on this record. In 'New Wave' for example, you guys stop the song because a kid is getting kicked out and Laura is trying to stop him from getting kicked out. That struck me as funny and very honest. As much as I would've liked to hear you guys finish the song, I like that you left that in there.

Atom: Yeah.

So is 23 Live Sex Acts a good representation of the typical Against Me! live experience?

Atom: Yeah, I mean that was the whole idea. Just to get as close as we can to a typical representation of what we do, just about every night. And I think we got pretty close.

There is that level of spontaneity, it's not a perfect performance. There's definitely flaws and mistakes, but 'warts and all' is really the idea.

Well, it's nice for the listener. There's nothing worse than hearing a live album slicked over with overdubs or whatever and then going to see the band and they sound nothing like they did on the record.

Atom: Yeah, I agree.

Is this your second or third year in the band?

Atom: I don't know. It feels like I've been in the band for ten years (laughs). We've basically been on tour the entire time. But it was the very end of 2012, when I had my first rehearsals with them. And we went to Australia right after that.

Do you see Against Me! as a long term gig?

Atom It seems like it. It's a really cool environment for me to be involved in. And I really like working with Laura and James. Professionally and off stage, we just get along really well, everything just clicks and feels natural. And it's a real band with people that love to play and can play and are ready to tour and do the work required.

And these are all different things that are important to me. And if we can continue August 2015 - Vanclaialtgagazine.Com 59

writing together the way we do, (because) Laura and I really work well in that regard too. And that kind of stuff is hard to come by.

You keep pretty busy, musically. theHELL, with Matt Skiba, was something I know you were involved in a couple years ago. Are you involved in anything besides Against Me! right now?

Atom: I've done some of the reunion shows with one of my old bands, Rocket From The Crypt. And Matt Skiba and I have plans to continue doing stuff whenever we're not busy. But the reality of that is that we've both been super busy. But no, Against Me! is my main focus and my main priority.

You've been in bands at all levels of success. From big stadium bands to dance hall bands, to bar bands. Other than bigger pay cheques and bigger venues, what are some noticeable differences behind the scenes between big, established bands and the ones working their way up?

Atom: Well, it depends on what way you're involved in those situations. For me, being with The Offspring, who was, at the time, arguably one of the bigger bands around, I was an employee. I wasn't 'in the band'. I wasn't making decisions, I wasn't writing songs. I was just a paid drummer. And that's a very different scenario than being part of the creative process. And the reason I was drawn away was because Tom Delonge had phoned me and said he wanted to start this band (Angels & Airwaves) and it would be an equal partner kind of thing. So that's what prompted me to leave what some people would consider a sure thing at the time with The Offspring. And Angels & Airwaves had its ups and downs and ins and outs and devolved into something that wasn't really a working band. Or something that wasn't holding my interest completely. So with Against Me!, it is fun to kind of have the hunger back, and be in a situation where everybody is working and striving to give the best show every night and not have an attitude of, 'we've already established ourselves and don't have to work hard'. I don't like that attitude in anything. I don't like to see anyone resting on their laurels. Every night is a new opportunity to prove ourselves and of trying to be the most kick ass band you can see. That's the goal.

What about major labels vs. indie labels, because you've worked with both. Do you see major labels as a necessary evil, or are they easier to work with now than they once were? '.tom: Well, that's such a complicated question, because, for example, the major label deal that I signed in 1992 is so different from the major label deals being signed today. And the climate and landscape of the music industry is so different now than it was then. At the time, that was a real viable opportunity, to have somebody pay for a record to be made. Now, you're much better off financially just doing it yourself and putting it out yourself, the way we (Against Me!) do. I think that there was a time when major labels were extremely useful and important to an artist who was trying to explore studio time, that stuff doesn't come cheap. But now, the technology has changed and you can record a record in a much cheaper way. And you don't need to sell your guts out for the rest of your life for that one record. I think that majors had their time and their place, but it's not as much of a factor any longer.

Against Me!'s last permanent drummer, Warren Oakes, had a great stage presence and a very particular style of drumming. When you come into a band and fill a seat of such a recognizable member, is there ever a level of anxiety with it?

Atom: You know, I don't want to sound shitty about it, but I really didn't feel that. I 60 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

-

•

Interview. Against MR! saw an opportunity. And I was a huge fan of the band before I was in the band or playing with them, or anything, so for me it was just pure excitement to be playing along with these songs that I've listened to so many times, with the people that wrote them. That was really what I was thinking about. And Warren is my favourite former drummer of all the drummers that Against Me! has had, but I always thought that I would love to have his job. So it was really just a cool opportunity that came along.

And when you're playing the older songs live, do you replicate what the former drummer did in the studio or do you do your own thing with them?

Atom: Well, as you can kind of hear on the live record, I really tried to stick to the things that were maybe indicative of a certain song. What you might call signature drum sounds. But outside of that, I've really been given the freedom to do what I think is appropriate. And that's what's been great about working with Laura and James, they've really been open to that. And there has been times when they've asked me to keep a certain part in, but it's always a conversation. And I've been in the other situations too (with other bands), where you're asked just to play what's on the record. And we have gotten to that place where things do evolve and I'm able to do something different in the show and they're right there with me. It's intuitive. We all just kind of know what we're going to do.

And does the musical style of the band you're in dictate the style of drumming you bring to it?

Atom: I'm not really that versatile, to be honest. I just come in to whatever situation it is and just play the way I play. For Offspring, that was faster, in a lot of cases, than I was used to. And in Social Distortion, it had to be a little bit quieter than I was used to. But ultimately, it's just me. I'm just doing the only thing that I know how to do.

And I'm not technically proficient, or have a lot of tricks. I'm just a very meat and potatoes kind of drummer.

Well, what you may lack in technical proficiency, you make up for in power. I always think of Dave Grohl when I hear you play. You have a very hard hitting, solid sound that, I think, elevates the sound of the band's you're in.

Atom: Thanks, that's nice to hear.

take that (laughs).

Against Me! is a raw, raw band. They were even back when it was just Laura by herself playing songs on an acoustic guitar. But Transgender Dysphoria Blues is probably the rawest and most honest record to date. What was your reaction when you heard these songs initially?

Atom: Yeah, other interviews I've done have asked that as well and to be honest, the

lyrics are not something I focus on initially. I really listen to vocal melody and vocal cadence. And to figure out where her vocals are going to change and lift. So I don't really focus on what the words are until later, after I've written my parts. So I didn't understand everything that was being said and being talked about until much later and it all just kind of hit me like ton of bricks. This is a very personal and very powerful collection of songs. And it just made me really excited to be a part of it.

Do you guys have any plans or any new material you're working on yet for your next studio album?

Atom: Yeah, we're, I'd say, seven songs deep. With songs that we have ready to go

and record with. We're going to start the process in September. I don't think we'll be fully immersed until October, but I'm 99% sure we'll have our new record finished by 62 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

the end of this year.

Wow, that's great. So do you guys write and record on the road?

Atom We have been, yeah. Our sound guy on the road is also our recording guru and his house and studio is kind of our home base now. His name's Mark Hudson and he's been instrumental in keeping us documented. He recorded the live record and mixed it and he'll be doing our next full length as well. But we get songs together and demo them in whatever way we can and then if we are starting a tour or ending one, we record what we have with him and it's a good representation of where the songs are at the time.

Will the new record be similar in theme and sound as the last one?

Ai:on:. I don't think there's ever going to be an Against Me! record quite like Transgender Dysphoria Blues. It's just not something you can bottle, or reproduce or anything like that. But I'm really excited about the songs we are doing. It's going to be powerful and probably a bit more lighthearted than the last record (laughs). But it's still very much Against Me! You've been in so many great bands over the years and worked with a lot of really talented people. Do you ever look back on your career and think 'damn, I've done a lot so far'.

Atom: To be honest, I don't really, until someone like yourself asks me that question and then I kind of think, maybe it is something to think about. But it's never something I sought out to do, play with a bunch of different people. I've always wanted to be in a band and be someone like, for instance, Alex Van Halen, who has been in...Van Halen. That's all he's done and he's created a signature sound, which is commendable and hard to do. So that's something that was kind of my goal, but I'm also an idealist. I want the whole package. I want to be creatively fulfilled and I want to make a living. I'm not trying to buy any sports cars or anything, but I don't want to have to work outside of making music. And up till now, there's been some level of compromise there which each of the band's that I've left. And every one of the those steps have lead me to where I am today and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Against Me! is currently on Tour in Canada and the USA. They will be heading over to Europe in August. Be sure to catch them live!. Also you can

wigike ArTgEepqmvdrEt World Premiere! :IA !Nor% e Show TOTAL TREBLE prow- iwpRi . .1c1rGs et

The rise and rise ah and rise And fall and tag ..lor

1 NOW W

now Pre-Order their upcoming album "23 Live Sex Acts" due out this Spetember via iTunes.

Daily NEW • -SHOW. 7EVER VERY .. .a

Keep up with Against Me! Online: www.againstme.neti www.facebook.com/AgainstMe www.twitter.corniagainstme www.youtube.cornitotaltreblemusicl wwvv.fatwreck.com

,X:1 t.,:.....}......aL.A—'....-.....

5?.]ffSli

ma •..,.....f.,.■,,z1z.:,i.= ... . 4! 1214.1 L. ro 44. ni l ft,IMer L,-Kvity'. yiii"- • • . d,..` ". -IV 51.7' . ..",wrir.

-'-.- --^ --, • •-••• ■•

4

THE

0 .

frz,ir,

23 live SEX AC TS

MI!ln:.Ez .C.!

Pin Men. flpIlly.11:11314.1.02

August 2015 - VandalaMagazine.Com

63

ILLINOIS

SIPIEMBIR 1047 *

IT!

7... e• ma.. .

z{.

lED

I R ILLW P

141111"*-1.

ki

AS

I

•

40 46

EYEHATEGOD TERRORIZER 7 VALIENT THORR MISERY INDEX IRON REAGAN JREVOCATION -1 WARBEAST " BROKEN HOPE M.O.D. ' KILL THE CLIENT " FULGORA JP MURDER CONSTRUCT NASHVILLE PUSSY CANNABIS CORPSE' NOISEM IN FERIA( N)

'6 ,, 1

46)

'

f **,1

al..

•11

'

WACO JESUS 4 PUTRID PILE • STARKILL • IMPALER • WRETCHEDPAJN(CAN) ' ROITENNESS(MEX) • CARDIAC ARREST • DISINTER • SOG(SPECLAL OPS GROUP) I WRATH

•

PROTEST • HEADCRUSHER • FROSTHELM • DEAD SHORE

IN DEFENCE • SEXUAL ATROCITIES • DEATHBED CONFESSION

I

LEGION OF DEATH • SCALAFAREA • SACRIFICIAL SLAUGHTER • SIKFUK TH ELL BARRIO(MEX) • DROGHEDA • BLACK FAST FINAL DRIVE • FRAMEWORK

•

•

CARN1VORA

INNER SEIGE • MICAWBER • GREEN DEATH

TYRANNY ENTHRONED • CONDITION CRITICAL • SPLITWIG CREATED TO KILL • COATHA_NGEFI ABORTION • HELMSPLITTER IMAGES OF VIOLENCE • INFALLING • 6 PRONG PAW • DEAD IN 5 APPARITION • XAEMORA

•

DEATH GRIP • TESTIMONY

MASTICATOR • HELLBENT • SUPERCHIEF • KILL IT AGAIN THE DR. ORPHYUS PROJECT • ABSTRUKTOR • VOLTUMNA( GET IGNORANT

•

SKINNED • ALTERED EXISTENCE

MOISTENED DISCIPLES • LUST OF DECAY • TON • ASPHYXIATOR

izi nizerrinot 3days 3 nights just COO GYM F aoss toa.ult.com o rg

1 IL 7/09 LAKEWOOD, OH • THE FOUNDRY 7/10 LANSING, MI • COMMON GROUND MUSIC FEST .swek.

7/11 NEWPORT, KY • THOMPSON HOUSE 7/12 INDIANAPOLIS, IN ',EMERSON THEATER 7/14 SPRINGFIELD, IL • DONNIE5 7/16 COLUMBIA, MO • ROSE MUSIC HALL 7/17 TULSA, OK - VANGUARD 7/18 LAWRENCE, KS • GRANADA THEATER 7/19 COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA • RIVER RIOT 7/23 PITTSBURGH, PA • REX THEATRE 7/24 NUTLEY, NJ • RADIANT 7/25 ALLENTOWN, PA • PLANET TROG ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX VISIT BANDSINTOWN.COM/IPREVAIL

7/26 AMITYVILLE, NY • AMITYVILLE MUSIC HAIL 7/28 JACKSONVILLE, NC • HOOLIGANS 7/29 ATLANTA, GA • THE MASQUERADE (HEAVEN) 7/31SHREVEPORT, LA ° RIVERSIDE WAREHOUSE 8/01MCALLEN, TX • SOPHIE'S SALOON 8/04 LUBBOCK, TX • JAKE'S 8/08 ANAHEIM, CA CHAIN REACTION 8/14 PORTLAND, OR - HAWTHORNE THEATRE 8/15 MISSOULA, MT - STAGE 112 8/16 BILLINGS, MT PUB STATION 8/20 CHICAGO, IL - TBD 8/22 GRAND RAPIDS, MI • INTERSECTION

Mankind aktiCitf aâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;air

Damning

By Matt Bacon

Another Psycho CA interview, this time with west coast darlings Ancient Altar, a band destined to call out mankinds bullshit and force us to look at the bleak reality we all live in.

Come and join me in exploring what exactly these dudes think will Pck us all over.

So what is up?

Barry We just played Psycho and were really excited. Coming down from the high of playing.

After playing a great show like tonight how do you feel?

Barry: I feel really good. We worked really hard to prepare for this. We played two

songs today that we've never played live before and we wanted to make sure everything was cool. I personally feel great.

I do as well. At the last minute we found out we were playing outside instead of inside and that can be weird for sound but it ended up being fine. You always think things can go wrong, but it went pretty well. We all feel really good about it.

Were privileged to be here!

Does this festival represent a step forward for Ancient Altar?

Scott: I don't see how it couldn't!

Barry: ThereTs exposure that weTre going to see from this that we wouldn't get playing smaller shows or even just from our online presence. There's probably a lot of people who stumbled outside not expecting to even see a band so hopefully we won a couple new fans.

What do you think Ancient Altar is building towards?

65 VandalaMagazine.Com - August 2015

Barry: Definitely more touring. We're going to do a southwest tour in August. We have a new record coming out in the summer. The CD is going to be on Black Voodoo Records and the cassette is going to be on Midnight Collective. Were just going to keep writing and playing as much as we can!

Scott: To me, I put it more on ourselves to just write better music, be better musicians and to tour better. We just want to get better all the time.

How is the new record an evolution on previous stuff?

Scott: There's two different members who weren't on past stuff. It's a huge evolution.

There's clean vocals which we had never done before. We are longer as a band and we were able to grow more. If you're not improving with every release you're doing something wrong.

The new members allow us to do so much more. The old guys are amazing, but I just feel that our new guitarist Jesse has allowed us to open up a little space in the songs and let it breathe so it's not just pounding all the time. The drumming too has propelled us to this point that we can be as creative as we want with no limitations.

Even what Scott had said with the clean vocals, our last album maybe had some slight clean harmonizing but it wasn't anything that stood out. With this it's really prominent. What we want to do with each song is take the listener on our journey. Our last album would just pound you in a face for seven minutes.

Scott: I think we just stumbled across the clean vocals. It's a happy accident I'd say.

Barry: I've sang in multiple bands before and have sang clean before. It wasn't a stretch for me really but as far as this band it was something that was like "Oh shit, I can't believe we're actually doing this!" It was kind of scary at first because we weren't really sure how people were going to take to it but the couple people that have heard the album are just like 'wow' How far along is the album now?

Barry: It's at the pressing plant. So we're just getting ready to wrap up artwork. We have a really awesome guy, a new artist from New York named Miles Parr and he's very abstract in his work. He did a cover for us and it's really mind-blowing. We're excited to have it out and when people hear it they are going to be stoked.

Is there a concept behind it Barry: It actually turned into a concept by accident. Each song was written individually without worrying about how it tied in thematically to other songs. What ended up happening with the songs themselves. It's about how us as a civilization have screwed things up and were obsessed with war and were obsessed with religion and let it dictate so much of how people live, not only people but also the environment and the planet. The progression of the songs goes from war to the religious aspect of these leaders who are just duping everybody to finally mankind getting to a point where they're fed up and leave the earth. That's the end point.

So what do you think is f*cking over mankind?

Scott: What isn't?

Barry: It's everything from the politicians to the religious leaders to people in general who get sucked into the most trivial stuff like watching reality television and not really caring about anything except for what's happening in the moment and not even thinking about what they're doing in the environment. You can look at what's going August 2015 - Vandalaitfagazine.Com 67

Interview. Ai rmient on in California right now. They keep saying we have a years worth of water left but you can still see fountains going. These rich people don't care because the fines are so small so they keep watering their lawns. You can look at ISIS or the Christians in the US who have no concern for human rights. Its exciting to see how we've moved forward with gay rights but there's still a lot of bigotry. It's gotten to the point that people like Stephen Hawking say that we just need to leave this planet - we can't survive here.

That's going to make this next question sound super shitty...

Scott: (Laughter) Shoot I want you to finish this sentence for me "I've never told this story before and probably shouldn't but..."

Barry: Well - with everything I've just said... about 15 years ago I was in a Christian rockabilly band. We got signed, toured the US a bunch of times. We played some major festivals.

That should blow some minds! I won't even say the name of the band, we'll leave it at that!

What do you love so much about music?

Scott: The expressiveness of it. The vastness of the sounds and how different sides of music can still speak to you and the universalness of it.

Ancient Altar www.facebook.comiancientaltar ancientaltar.bandcamp.comi

BEARPwsir aCE1S * TigIM ivmsHier TO AIV1Vi

MINR

tW â&#x20AC;˘

L1ECIIS FAMILY AWAKEN 3 II F

_

RUIN

ThE EmPIF

...AWILMUST EITH, OEMS WV ROIL= CLUB rxrmq FCC R913U 11/B , Mali TEX SBCI WWW-TqC1XCIrr N TIM IM M Al T. CC!rfin

,.rm. ram. - im•■••••

18/9 • TIVOLI, BREMEN, DE 19/9 - OPEN AIR, BAROEG, NL *VENOM ONLY * 20/9 ' GARAGE, SAABRUUCKEN, DE 21/9 • SCALA, LONDON, UK 22/9 • DEVAN DU MONDE, PARIS, FR 24/9 • TB; 2519 • 'MC, SANTiAGO DE compAsiiii LA, Es 26/9 - CINE TEATRO DE CORRO[os, LiSBOA, PT 27/9 • CARASOL, MADRID, ES 2819 • BOVEDA, BARCELONA, ES 29/9 - METRONUM, TOULOUSE, FR 30/9 • CAFE LIBER, TORINA, IT I/I0 • TRAFFIC CLUB, ROME, IT 2/10 CIRCULO COLONY, BRESCIA, IT 3/10 KoMPLEXTREME, ZURICH, CH

J

4/ 10 • BLEBOB, VOSSELAAR, BE 5/10 - LOPPEN, COPENHAGEN, DK 6/10 • NiOR1SICA PAVILJONGEN, MA LM SE 7/10 KI7, BERLIN, DE 8/10 • PROXIMA, WARSAW, FL 9110 • PARLEMENT, GDANSK, P1 10/10 • sLowiAN IN, szChECEN,PL 10 - ALIBI, WROCLAW, PL 13/10 • TVORNICA, ZAGREB, FIR 14/10 • COLLOSEUM, KOSICE, SK 15/10 - DURER KERT, BUDAPEST, HU 16/10 • MELODKA, BRNO, CZ 17/10 • F HAUS, JENA, DE 18/10 • BACKSTAGE, MUNCHEN, DE

ON SALE JUNE 22

4

SECOND

0106- 111 1...1 111

STAGE Bill

VWS i OLD NHL JAM

1,e1

THE ADOLESCENTS • AGENT ORANGE • CI RAMONE DEVILS BRIGADE • DUANE PETERS GUNFIGHT MANIC HISPANIC • PULLEY • RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS SHAM 69 • =UMW UTTERS • THE DICKIES • TSOL TM STAGE BANOS

II • LEFT ALONE • OTHERIZED • RHYTHMIC ASYLUM • THE BRIGGS THE MTEBRIPTERS • TIE UNTOUCHABLES • TOTAL CHAOS

SKATERS

MIKE FRAZIER • STEVE CABALLERO CHRISTIAN HOSE • MEAL HENDRIX ALEX PERELSON • 81111 11551K JOU BORDEN • LIZIIE MINIM BMA

DENNIS MCCOY

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2015 GENERAL ADMISSION SHOW SAN MANUEL AMPHITHEATER FESTIVAL GROUNDS, SAN BERNARDINO, CA OVERNIGHT CAMPING AVAILABLE! #ITSNOTDEADFEST Nw

k NOISE _CORDS

present:

special izu

â&#x20AC;˘ 061 5 Taihn'(EST) Factory ct ValenCla (E) oh Tao . : et 6 Riga (LV) MelnaPfektdieha Oct 28 Barcelona (E) Razzateltz n et 7 Vilnius (LT) Forurn iPaladt ._-1. Oct 0ct 3Q.Prattein (CH) Z-7 Oct 9Fakow (PL). aFtiryk Oct 31 BMancon (F)11La Roth Oct 10 arsaw ( FL Progres j Nov 1 raris (F) TAbendo __Oet 1 Berlin (D) C-Club ov 3 London'(UK) 02 ISM-iron Acadeiny Oct-13 Vienna (A) Szene Nov 4 Vosseiaar (B) Biebob Oct 14 Budapest (H) Barba Negris 6*-5 Eindhoven (NL) Effenaa,r Oct 16 Geiselwind (D) Mtzsichall Nov 6 Cologne (D) Essigfabrik Oct 17 Lindau (D) Vaudeville Nov 7 Bochum (D) 3fatrix Oct 20 Munich (D) Backstage Nov 9 Frankfurt (D) Batschkapp Oct 21 Milano (I) Live Clitib lmv: Nov 10 Stuttgart (D) LKA Oct 23 Bilbao (E) Santana Nov 11 Hamburg (D) Griinspan . Nov 12 Karlsruhe (D) Substage Oct 24 Madrid (E) Sala. BUT Oct 25 Sevilla (E) Custom Nov 13 Kufstein (A) Kulturfabrik

_

*ate, 'out ,fcii.'

- the

neisr STRAiOVARIUS--' maSterplece ETERNAL, to be released Sep 11. 2015 on earMUSIC

H AUCPIC)

LINEUPS VARY 8Y CITY IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

SAFARI

sal

DAMN(

zompoye WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS SUPPORT

COLOCOCK "liHMEY

ti

41

°eft.

401 MMM1

AUGUST 14 • 15

JEAN-DRAPEAU awmitimagais

'/1//I OASIS

BUD LIGHT LIMING

Dl SH KE KASKADE DIE ANTWOM FLOSSTRADAMUS

STEVE ANGELLO AZEAL1A BANKS BLASTERJAXX

BUSY P

BORGEOUS RAE REWORD

AMINE EDGE & DANCE

PARIS & 511410 SLANDER

SHIBA SAN MERCER

EVA SHAW

ANDREA

GRANDTHEFT

61111/ZY rr

SURPRISE CREW will BE RWEAUD IN MAY! STAY TUN ED

BLACK TIGER SEX MACHINE KRISTIAN NAIRN ROE OF THRONES

NEON UM Mill 6 CUM 710101101(

•

DMA

BAKERHAT

SNAILS I OOKAY

WATONA I THE OMR I PORN

TRIPPY TURTLE /

LANE 8 / PRINCE ■■•■■■■=.M

YWYRE

-

ASSES AVAILABLE AT ILE

HAT ZO SAVANT A KARIM

SATURDAY 818

SUNDAY 8/9 THEORY OF A LITTLE RIVER BAND DEADIWIAN

FRIDAY 8/7

'DEE SNIDER TWitt.4

QUIET RIOT SKID ROW WAR PUDDLE OF MUDD

UT CRAP BLACK N BLUE

SALIVA

CHUCK NEGRON formarly col Thris. Dog Night

WHISKEY RIVER

AMAX'S HARVEST JARED STEWART

BLUE TATTO9i

HELL'S BELLES

THE MAX ALSO FEATURING

THURSDAY NIGHT PRE-PARTY MATURING DELLACOMA- APPETITE FOR DECEPTION NOVA REX • BLACK POWDER COUNTY

Kids 12 and under free c OLIS, ISO GLASS, bar 23, shacled stagers 4 fu11 2 beer garden, concessions,

SCRATCH • SHADES OF BLUE VOODOO CADILLAC EXIT 288 ALTER EGO MABELS RAGE INTERGALACTIC TROUBADOURS HIGH VOLTAGE - METAL STEEL

(Ers.rtfief-J ci5e4-4-)Zelerw ILNI.A7P feir-lure•g111,4

on-site store and showers

WINW.ROCKINTHERIVERS.COM OVER 30 BANDS ON 2 STAGES

PIUS MANY BANDS INCLUDING...

THE MISFITS GANG OF FOUR THE ADICTS SICK OF IT ALL THE SWEET THE BOYS THE PARTISANS HUGH CORNWELL

UTS DC THE REZILLOS THE BUSINESS THE SUBHUMAN NEVILLLSTAPIi UK SUBS POISON IDEA JOHNNY MOPED THE AVENGERS KING PRAM/CHAOS UK : LAST RESORT STEVE IGNORANT WITH PARANOID VISIONS THE MN CHELSEA t THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES 999 •ART BARGY MOM NEUROTICS HARDSKIN TV SMITH & THE BORED TEENAGERS oHEAVY METAL KIDS SPECIAL DUTIES THE CREEPSHOW CULTURE SHOCK CITIZEN FISH RM. THE RESTARTS TALISMAN RHYTHM !TES GOLDBLADE VICE SOU ME CHORDS TOXPACK BLOOD OR WHISKEY IMPERIAL LEISURE BOOZE & GLOW - THE LURKERS NEW TOWN KINGS GONADS PAIN. VINCE RATS LOSER MACHINE 4 THE BLOOD THE MEMBRANES THE SKEPTIX HOBO JONES & THE JUNKYARD DOGS FRANTIC FLINT$TONES OCTOBER FILE EVIL BLIZZARD A HEADS WASTED MAHONES ANTI SYSTEM DRONGOS FOR EUROPE THE STRAPS THREE JOHNS ON THE BUS RANDOM HAND GIMP FIST SCHEISSE MINNEW POTENTIAL THREAT' ZORS MIR OF ACE THE RAMONAS BARBED WIRE POLICE BASTARD DRAGSTER DRUM. DISCO GEOFFREY OICOTT THE TERRACES THE ASTRONAUTS CONTROL?' FROCIOUSIOG KNUCKLEDUSI THE ROUGHNECK RIOT IN EVIL HOUR BRASSIC LECTRIC RIVER CYANIDE PILLS LOUISE DIMAS THE PUKES HEALTHY JUNK

4 DAYS 6 STAGES OVER 250 BANDS ARTISTS

'4111114DAY 6TH SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST 201514

THE WINTER GARDENS*BLACKPOILL*11K..'

•

::7

IRE

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2015

OCT 29 SAN DIEGO. CA HOUSE OF BLUES

NOV HI NEW YORK. NY IRVING PLAZA

NOV 25 NEW ORLEANS. LA HOUSE Of BLUES

OCT 30 ANAHEIM, CA HOUSE Of atm

NOV 15 BOSTON. MA HOUSE OF BLUES

NOV 27 HOUSTON. TX HOUSE Of BLUES

ocr 31 SACRAMENTO. CA ACE Of SPADES

NOV 16 HUNTINGTON. NY PARAMOUNT

F4OV 25 SAN ANTONIO, TX AZTEC THEATER

NOV 1 PORTLAND, OR HAWTHORNE THEATRE

NOV 17 PHILADELPHIA. PA THE FILLMORE

NOV 29 DALLAS, TX HOUSE Of BLUES

NOV 2 SEATTLE, WA Et CORAZON

NOV la PITTSBURGH. PA ALTAR

NOV 30 TULSA, OIL CAIN'S BALLROOM

NOV 3 VANCOUVER RICKSHAW

NOV 19 -CLEVELAND. OH HOUSE OF BLUES

DEC 1 DENVER, CO THE FILLMORE

NOV B MINNEAPOLIS. MN THE CABOOZE

NOV 20 CINCINNATI, OH BOGART'S

DEC 2 SALT LAKE CUT. UT MURRAY THEATRE

NOV 9 CHICAGO, IL HOUSE OF BLUES

NOV 21 SILVER SPRING, MD THE FILLMORE

DEC 3 MESA. AZ NILE THEATER

NOV 11 DETROIT. MI THE FILLMORE

NOV 22 CHARLOTTE. NC THE FILLMORE

DEC 5 LOS ANGELES, CA THE WILIERN

NOV 12 TORONTO DANFORTH MUSIC HALL

NOV 23 LAKE BUENA VISTA. FL HOUSE OF BLUES

OEC 6 LAS VEGAS. NV HOUSE Of BLUES

NOV 13 MONTREAL METROPOLIS

NOV 24 ATLANTA. GA TABERNACLE

-IRE" IN STORES SEPTEMBER 25

tvaao PARKWAYDR1VEROCK.COM

HAMILTON'S MUSIC + ARTS FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 11TH + 12TH 1. 13TH 1 mu ADMISSION FEATURING MUSICAL PERFORMANCES BY:

SHARON JONES &THE DAP-KINGS I DANIEL LANDIS • MONSTER TREK

ELLIOTT BROOD 1 HAYDEN 1 HEALTH 1 THE KILLJOYS 1 FRED PENNER

RICK AUGOIN • BASEMENT REVOLVER BLACK RHINO RIOT THE BROS. WEIRD SCAR LAURA COLE' CUSTOMARIES THE ELWINS• ESCHATON FRET RICH • MIGUEL BERSTACK EC EYES' GREY LANDS ORM\ WATER GUN HAMILTON CHILDREN'S MR • HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA # THE HARPOGNIST AND THE AXE MURDERER HEALTH HIGH KITES' HUMANS • AMU LECLAIR TERRA MINT 9 ARIANE MalffATT • MOTEL RAPHAti NOT OF # PET SUN RAH RAH ROYAL CANOE ' THE SEES SINGLE MOTHERS SPRUCE INVADERS STEVE STRONGMAN SUN K TOM MICK 1 TWIN WITHIN I THE VAUDEVILLIAN MAHN VERBALI I VIET CCM PLUS TICKETED PER BAWL PRESENTATIONS: AUG- 771 1 Mit 4 PARE

CARIBOU JAMIE XX I

JESS)! LANZA • EGYIPTRIXX

SEPT. 10111 I tiny VISION traanD CHURCH

WM-FEMME GOB LUND I

ETIQUETTE

DOWNTOWN HAMILTON, ONTARIO

fOR EVENT INFO VISIT SliPEFICRAWLCA

Ca 'la di ArOlocM1110i

OHIO(y1IM1101.00,

0

HAmiuroN SAB I Canada iincicrliapit Limp, )111,1111

[71

>01.446)

;

r41

TOUR DATES: 7/30 San Diego. CA Angeles, CA 7,31 8/11 San Frandsen, CA Portland. OR 8/3 8/4 Vancouver, DC 8,5 Seattle, WA 8/7 Salt Lake City, UT Denver. CO 818 H 10 Minnearx)11s, MN 8 E 1 Chicago. IL 8 1 ? Ferndale. MI

Th e Caba h Fichnplex The Regency. Ballmom lawthorne lheater Rickshaw Neumos The Complex The Gothic Mill City Nights lhalla [all The Loving lbuch

8113 Toronto. ON 8114 Syracuse. NY 811. 5 New Y[Irlk, NY 8/17 Boston. MA 8118 BrixAdyn, NY 8.1 19 Philadelphia, PA 8,20 Baltimore. MD 8121 Winston-Salem_ NC 8..22 Atlanta, GA 8,23 New Orleans, IA

Opera 1-louse 1 st Horizon Irving Pla;r.a.

Royale Music â&#x2013; LAI i.,INVilliarnsburg Theatre of Living Arts Baltimore Soul-Kist age Ziggy's Masquerade One Eyed Jack's

4/151ADIAH 4—k

CELEBRATING7YEART

FOR 77 HOURS

r • • arr. gab

I I.'"

- •ilmor ..mrairr

YOU CAN GET

m•Elm.

suss Nair *VOW •••..

I

4

FINAL MOST I

I

A SINGLE-DAY PASS FOR $77

I

Si

is

a'

II

MOVE QUICKLY! YOU HAVE UNTIL 5PM ON MAW

II

S!TORDAL AUGUST 8

SHOAL MIST 9

FAITH NO MORE

SLIPKNOT

PERIPHERY GOMIS [0111 IONFOR YEIL Of MAYA THE fiiiiiNgS

GEM K PENTAGRAM MIK TOWNSEND PROJECT DEREPIEN 011N6 MOS

THFACICII SIPA MORN OBSCHI ifIER AI BURN. CllIIEOECIPI11fIUN KUM CM TRIM

BILL SERV OURS BEE INE l60NISl HUD HUM 01111E:ROSS SUMS ON BIM IKIENS DIG IT UP MISS OBER NESS1111

NUCLEAR AMIE 1113111N 19:11i0 htEXINDEll DOUR COAL RUHR P16 PESTRVER IONICS 111 WHITE

KORN

UHL ; RIR S111 11M11111311

iscr POP NOR IAMB OF GOD hiR130NEIEE MASTODON M[3110N,th [AMASON BIM TALENT x IESTIMEHT NET FOR MI VALENTINE MATH x ONE WITHIN TEMPTIT1011 Wang [PUMP ARCH DINI R!110111 HEID NEOROSISv STROH OUT llil FORD x BOdIEi NON CUR

(V heavymentreal • Heavykill HeariMTLiv

heartmorineal ILIME041311TPIJIE1

SIM BERRIE IMMO JIM 1Pfli 8011016 BODY 111011110S GNU MIRA OHO 11110 SlMOYEIiS

AUGUST 1 B 9, 2015 I PARC JEAN-DRAPEAU HEAVYMONTREALCOM 1 514 18 0.2525 1 1 855 310-2525

arymosaa

• ••••

.•

Paw kwrsChipenp .11W 111;11I II I.11$11.

45411P

TOUITSMO J PoiOnTteaL

Qudbec

AVOCADO tiOMPIG. Pita

3C" Via Orin (I) it3W (F) X1-10143 F351 3i_01.

30.07. lit Btu OE tiny D3Ifi1.

31.07. OIUMALL53N (D) 031V31-3

20.07. 114053ILL3 (F) 1.3 KOLOTOV 2.3.07. KUM (I) 10

0108. B3M,1N (D) AT31355 5003TY F35-r

Fl CUB

02.08. COHNHAON (DX) DIA

TOUMN (1.0) 143TALDAY5

03.08. STAY/WOK (N) COCKNYNT CnAKt13

5 25.07. pOVVIaIO (I) gik13i00

04.08. 83K3N (M) 0AM3

26.07. INN5Wa (h) 711.111Gikikr

05.06.0510 (N) K3VOLV3K

(D) ablik 41351-

22,07. FKRIONICT (D) 7.107. ULU (F) l l PRCCIO

Th's

TS

()6.08. GAM (5) G3TAWAY NOCK

113 07.08. JAK0043K (CZ) BRUTAL &VAULT 08.08. 5011.0THAN (TO ritivrY

AvocuroKING

EUKOVIAN5ummek A551k

PSYCHIC WARFARE WORLD TOUR 2015 NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

FRI 20 DUBLIN OLYMPIA SAT 21 BELFAST LIMELIGHT MON 23 GLASGOW 02 ACADEMY TUE 24 NOTTINGHAM ROCK CITY WED 25 BRISTOL 02 ACADEMY

THU 10 MANCHESTER RITZ FRI 11 WOLVERHAMPTON WULFRUN NALL SAT 12 LONDON SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE

ISSIICIII1D

w ww.pro. rock corn

ON SALE NOW 4 indiemerchstore (1)

-1-1(AL:,

%V 0 L

Mit 1146244 • 1444

NAC

20

5

GUESTS

ORDEN OGAN & XANDRIA_* & CIVIL WAR** 04.09.2015 05.09.2015 09.09-2015 10.09-2015 12.09.2015 01.10.2015 02.10.2015 03.10.2015

DE DE UK FR FR DE DE DE

22.10.2015 SPEYER - HALL1 101.

23.10.2015 KI5LN - LIVE MUSIC HALL LONDON - 02 ACADEMY ISLINGTON • 24.10.2015 29.10.2015 PARIS TRABENDO • 30.10.2015 STRASBOURG - LA WIER IE 31.10.2015 BREMEN - ALADIN • 07.11.2015 OBERHAUSEN - TURIMIENHALLE • HAMBURG - GROSSE FREIHEIT •

DE DE DE DE DE DE DE

BERLIN - C-CLUB " LEIPZIG - HELM/USER MUNCHEN - BACKSTAGE RAVEN BURG - OBERSCHWABENHALLE " GEISELWIND - MUSIC HALL" STUTTGART - LKA LONGHORN • SAARBROCKEN - GARAGE • "

"

Wralbeftellmrximri

wocit

211•4

*IQ

ARE YOU READY FOR EXTINCTION?

#rnoonsp211 #extinct # r udi.,[012 .q rclioNuur

1\it

1],16013

#moDrispElluitichil

PHI A

pip RTAR .

-

MOONSPELL NEW ALBUM EXTINCT OUT NOW!

TICKETS AVAILAB L VIPMOONSPELL PGMALCOM

SHOP. NAPALMRECORDS.LOM /110ONSPELL

ROAD TO EXTINCTION TOUR 015 (PART 10 23/10 INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA WEEKENDER CAFE Et CLUB 24/10 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY BARBA NEGRA MUSIC CLUB 25/10 GRAZ, AUSTRIA PPE - PROJECT POPCULTURE 26/10 VIENNA, AUSTRIA SZENE WIEN 27/10 BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA MAJESTIC MUSIC CLUB 28/10 KRAKOW, POLAND FABRYI(A KLUB 29/10 POZNAN, POLAND ESKULAP 30/10 WARSAW, POLAND PROGRESJA MUSIC ZONE 31/10 GDANSK, POLAND KLUB B90 01/11 VILNIUS, LITHUANIA FORUM PALACE 02/11 RIGA, LATVIA MELNA PIE( TDIENA 01/11 TALLINN, ESTONIA ROCRCLUB TAPPER 04/11 JYVASI(YLA, FINLAND LUTAKKO 05/11 TAMPERE, FINLAND KLUBI 06/11 HELSINKI, FINLAND TAVASTIA CLUB

07/11 JOENSOU,TINLAND RAVINTOLA KERUBI 09/11 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN DEBASER STRAND 10/11 OSLO, NORWAY JOHN DEE I1/11 GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN STICKY FINGERS 12/11 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK PUMPEHUSET 14/11 GLAUCHAU, GERMANY ALTE SPINNEREI 15/11 ZLIN, CZECH REPUBLIC WINTER MASTERS OF ROCK FESTIVAL 16/11 NURNBERG, GERMANY HIRSCH 17111 SOLOTHURN., SWITZERLAND KULTURFABRIK KOFMEILL 18/11 BRBCIA, ITALY CIRCOLO COLONY 19/11 LINDAU, GERMANY CLUB VAUDEVILLE 20/11 STRASBOURG, FRANCE LA LAITERIE 21/11 HUT, BELGIUM ATELIER ROCK 22/11 EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS EPIC FBI

EUROPEAN SUMMER TOUR 2015 •

4 •

r

41.

•

4 0.: e

• d

er,=

¶

Pir7

- •

;r 4L, 417::

• •

•

f • ,1 4,

.•

.-

- 7• -

..' .,.

ir• • 1 :

04-07 MUNSTER, GERMANY

VAINSTREAM ROCKFEST . 25-D7 ZAGREB, CROATIA

CLUB MOCHVARA

05-07 LEIPZIG. GERM ANY 13-07 VALENCIA. SPAIN

WITH FULL FORCE FESTIVAL 26-07 BELGRADE. SERBIA 27-0 CLUJ NAPOCA. ROMANIA ROCK CITY

DOM OIVELADI NE THE SHELTER

14-07 MALAGA, SPAIN

TRINCIIER

1S-07 LISBON. PORTUGAL

PARADISE GARAGE

16-07 VIVEIRO. SPAIN

RESURREC11ON FFSTI VAL

18-07 DOUR, BELGIUM

DOUR FESTIVAL

19-07 COLMAR. FRANCE

GRILLED,

20-07 LYON, FRANCE

CCO

21-07 LUY DIES. FRANCE

LE KORIGAN

22-07 MILAN. ITALY

CIRCOLO MAGNOLIA

30-07 LUSTENAU. AUSTRIA 01P-08 ScH1IESWIG;1101.STE1N. GE:RMAN 03-08 .t:OPE N HAGEN. DENMARK 05-08 HELSINKI. FINLAND

SZENE OPENAIR WACKEN FESTIVAL

.07-0GAV LE, SWEDEN JAROME R. CZECH REPUBLIC

GETAWAY ROCK FESTIVAL BRUTAL ASSAULT FETSIVAL ROCK PA VESTIVAL LIVERPOOL

23-07 CASCINA (PISA). ITALY THE JUNGLE

09-08 BALATONSZEMES, HUNGARY 10-00 WROCLAW. POLAND 11 -08 POZNAN. POLAND 14-08 DINKELSBUEHL. GERMANY

MINOGA SUMMERBREEZE FESTIVAL

24-07 TCILMIN. SLOVENIA

15-08 TRIER. GERMANY

SUMMERBLAST FESTIVAL

a

METAL DAYS FESTIVAL

/1 10 . -4041/4-7-

NUCIALAST .1.10fl•T11.10.1.1.1.

J(-ray

VEGA NOSTURI

AVOCADO BOOKING PRESENTS

ti

et4A* AKE;-ECER

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS AT SELECTED SHOWS

HOLYWAR EUROPE 2015 11 08 - MANCHESTER (UK) SOUND CONTROL

17 08 - WIESBADEN (D) SCHLACHTHOF

12 08•LONDON (UK) BARFLY

18_08 BERLIN (0) CA$StOPEIA

13.08 •SITTARD (N L) VOLT

10.08. MUNCHEN () BACKSTAGE

t408. - DINKELSBUHL () SUMMER BREEZE

20.08. STUTTGART (D) KELLERKLUB

15 08_ • TRIER (0) SUMMER BLAST

2109 HASSELT (B) PUKKELROR

15 08. - KOLN (D) UNDERGROUND

2208 DESSAU (0) DESTRUCTION DERBY

miryar ut Fie AsT

1111

KIK

imputptepsem

coal chamber epk FACTORY--

Mliktikk KING'

PERIPHERY UPON A BURNING BODY MEET FROM ASHES TO NEW. BEYOND MENU MURDER FM PSYCHOSTICK ANOTHER LOST YEAR EYES SET TO KILL BEAOHINGER THE CONVALESCENCE BELOW THE TIDE BLUE FELIX THE BAD CHAPTER CRITICAL Ma NAME CHILD BITE BEAST IN THE FIELD AUTUMN COMA BREHM HEARTSICK IT LIES WITHIN AND MANY MANY MORE!

AUGUST 7.

BIRCH MIN EXPO CENTER BIRCH RUN, MI www•OIRTFEST•com VW° Walls=

37.511JOIOS

it44ADINCr

14-15-16 AUGUST 2015 / SAINT-NOLFF (FR 4 I'.e l

701 : P

u.r

114

mT0 '•

)

TRIVIUM J CARCASS DEATH DTA

SEPULTURA ELUVEIT1E PENTAGRAM SICK OF IT ALL SODOM MADBALL MIANGE GOBLIN KYLE LASS BAND GOD SEEDi -A(AuTAKLYSM FINNTROLL SEPTICFLESH SIX FEET UNDER TANKARD KRISIUN SOILS:TAR

BOMBERS CRYPTOPSY DELAIN PSYCROPTIC -%\ALCEST THE OCEAN

LITTLE BIG ALL OUT WAR HALLOCH RISE OF THE NORTHSTAR TROUBLE NE OBLIVISCARIS ANGELUS APATRIDA MY SLEEPING KARMA BIRDS IN ROW DER liVEG EINER FREIHEIT WEHRMACHT MARS RED SKY KLONE GLORIOR BELLI ANCIENT RITES GUTALAX

CRISIX PSYKUP DOPETHRONE CLITEATER KILLERS RAMMING SPEED NESSERIA CROWN MENDS BLISS OF FLESH ARCANIA DRAKWALD ABYSSE MACHETE HEXECUTOR MOEllI

+ MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED! goal c4704 Aw;=,10*ZEIMMI 117,111.KES eR4TAGN 0 sootily!Nam' Mal HARD

11404.04:appt

NNE '.--0Psi "01-1

WWW.110TOCULTORIESTIVALCOM

Auriu

1111110 •noise

e1-

"•

IKELYLItivk THE NW/WEARS PRAM VICTORY RFCORDS STAGE

THY ART is MURDER - JUNGLE ROT SISTER SIN - SWORN IN • HATTCRED sum - Pizzo Hen TO THE SHARKS - CODE ORANGE • KISSING CANDICE 06.26 SAN DIEGO, CA 07.15 TORONTO, ON SAN BERNARoiNO, CA 07.17 PHILADELPHIA, NJ 06.27 06.28 MOUNTAIN VIEW. CA 07.18 PITTSBURGH. PA 06.30 SEATTLE, WA 07.19 HARTFORD, CT 07.01 BOISE, 1D 07.21 HOLMDEL., NJ 07.03 PHOENIX, AZ 07.22 GILFORD, NH ALBUQUERQUE, NM 07.04 07.24 BRISTOW, VA 07.05 DENVER, CO 07.25 BOSTON, MA 07.07 COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 07.26 WANTAGH, NY 07.08 MILWAUKEE, WI 07.29 ATLANTA, GA 07.10 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 07.31 SAN ANTONIO, TX 07.11 08.01 HOUSTON, TX DETROIT, MI 07.12 CHICAGO, IL 08.02 DALLAS, TX

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY APRIL 17TH, 2015 gip

RockstarPAnyhemFest.corn -

0MayhemFest