Empire Farewell - Next to None, A Sound of Thunder, Yesterday's Saints, Iris Divine @ Empire 5/3/2015

I went to see the final Empire show ($15), with progressive metal/rock band Haken (rhymes with Bacon apparently) headlining. A number of local bands were added in addition to Iris Divine (who was the only original billed local). I saw so many people there- Neil and Michelle (and their brood!), Ariel, Ruby, Annie and Amy, Alie and Nathan (w/ a J), Mr and Mrs. Nina, Jesse, Chris H, Josh, Navid, Witt, Matt Rice, Heathen, Nick n JennG (!!), Mike AG, Tom, Superfan Dave, Patricia, Scott, Martin, Sako and Greg, Daniel G and Nick, Avi, Sean, Catherine L, Dorothy, Lacy, and of course- Metal Chris. WHEW. I bet there is someone I missed.

Mike Portnoy

Faster Pussycat / Loveblast/ Gino's All Stars /Baby Jayne @ Empire 4/24/2015

I went to see Faster Pussycat at Empire ($13), for one of the last shows ever at the venue! Recently, Empire announced that they would be closing in early May. This really is the end of an era, and I'm not sure where all the shows that came there will go- Baltimore? Maybe DC? I met up with Tony, Nathan and Alie, Jen, Kim, Matt Rice, Beth, and Ruby and Julia there.

Shut Up n ROCK

KIX @ Empire 3/27/2015

I went to see KIX at Empire ($36! perhaps a little more expensive than I would have preferred), for a highly anticipated club show. The last several times they've come around (to Baltimore I think), they've sold out- so I opted for getting a ticket in advance. I met up with Patricia and Tony, Johnny, and Tony Sr.

Doro / Archer / A Sound of Thunder @ Empire 3/4/2015

I went to see the METAL QUEEN Doro ($17) at Empire! I saw Ariel, Yave y Sara, Bobbie, Miss Patricia, Rene, Nina, Mr. Nina, Chris, Jesse, Josh, Superfan Dave, Sako, Ray C, Tom, Mike AG, and most of the Dogs and Daydrinkers -Dan with Eric and Erich! Were we ready for a night of true metal?

1349 / Origin / Wolvhammer / Yesterday's Saints @ Empire 2/24/2015

I went to see black metal monsters 1349 ($18.50) and more at Empire. They brought an odd tour package- sludgy Wolvhammer and death metal band Origin to go along with their black metal. I saw a number of people there- Ariel, Nathan and Alie, Sean, Jason, Renae and her dude, Tom, Lindsey n Blake, Kim, Kris, and of course Metal Chris.

The Contortionist / Revocation / Fallujah @ Empire 2/18/2015

I went to see The Contortionist /Revocation at Empire ($15) this week. I had heard good things about Fallujah and The Contortionist, but wasn't sure about Toothgrinder. I was curious as to how Revocation would be compared to previous shows (2012, 2013) where I thought they were a bit lackluster. I did see a few friends there - Ariel, John H, Sean, Ashley,  and Scott.

Uli Jon Roth/ Vinnie Moore/ Black Knights Rising / Old James @ Empire 2/9/2015

I went to see the XG Extreme Guitar Tour featuring Uli Jon Roth ($25) with special guests at Empire. Uli Jon Roth was amazing the last time I saw him, and did a monster over 2 hour set! I didn't know how this time would fare with that high standard! I saw  Neil and Michelle, Juani and Ariel, Teresa, and Tony Dio and his lady there all the way from NC! Well worth the trip taken, I assure you!

Deceased / Morbius/ Inhumantion @ Empire 2/7/2015

I went to see Deceased's 30th anniversary at Empire ($12) with some other bands I hadn't heard of. I met up with Ariel and saw Omar and Gori, Renee,Gerber, and Luke there as well. This was more of a last minute show, as I was not really too excited about any of the bands, but I needed my FIX, and it would be good to see Deceased again.

Alestorm/ Swashbuckle/ The Dread Crew of Oddwood / Sekengard @ Empire 1/29/2015

I went to see the Piratefest America 2015 featuring Alestorm  ($16-20), Swashbuckle, The Dread Crew of Oddwood, and Sekengard at Empire. I expected this to be a pretty ridiculous show
I saw DanPaytas, Sarah, Evan P, Marie, Sean, Steve Miller, Steve Harris, Russell, Spencer, Ray,  Lauri, Danica, Lex, Kevin, Ethan's cousin,  Nathan and Alie, Ariel, ETHAN, Ray, Patricia and Bobby, Bobbie, Jason, Jen P, Yaniv, Matt, hackerStacy, Mike, Bridget, and a tired Metal Chris. This was one of the first nights of the tour as well!

Dark Tranquillity / Insomnium / Aurelian @ Empire 1/5/2015

I went to see Dark Tranquillity with Insomnium at Empire ($20) for the first metal show of the year (pretty early this year!)! This ended up being a very well attended show, and I saw Ariel y Ielm, James, Dwayne, Chena, D'Andre, Sean, Jason, Patricia Lynn, Annie, Chris Crazy-Wolf, Danica, Lauri, Scott, Kyler, Elyse, and Mike A.G, Dorothy, Catherine, and of course Metal Chris.

Dark Tranquillity- The Science of Melodic Death Metal

Death to All / Obituary / Massacre @ Empire 12/3/2014

I went to see Death to All (aka Near Death) w/ Obituary (and others) ($25) at Empire. I saw a lot of people at what seemed to be a huge Death Metal show- Miss Lindsey, Ariel y Ilem, James, Yave y Sara, Sean, Jason, Rene, Nathan w/ a J, Alie, Kris, Daniel G and Nick, Matt R, Kyler, Dorothy, Omar, Ruby, Catherine, and Metal Chris of course. This is kind of an odd tour because Death really isn't a band anymore, and the members of Death to All are playing all old Death songs, kind of like a tribute or cover band. Now I'm not complaining because this is the closest many of us will get to hear Death songs live. This was a packed show, I was surprised given the low turnout last time at the Fillmore. Looking at it  now, it seemed that 300 at the Fillmore is pretty full for Empire. So this venue was a better fit for this package.

Whoa is this Empire?

Exodus / Yesterday's Saints @ Empire 11/24/2014

I went to see Exodus ($17) on a one-off date from their tour with Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies at Empire. For a Monday night, Exodus drew very well. I think if this was a weekend, it would have been closer to selling out. I saw a bunch of people there- Ariel y Ielm, Sara y Yave, James, Rod, Dwayne, Jose, Neil and Michelle, Kyler, Alie and Nathan w/ a J, Kris, Erika, Miss Lindsey, Dorothy, Matt R, Zach O, Ruby, Marc, Sean, Marie, Steve Harris, GreekGirl, Catherine, and of course Metal Chris! It was great seeing the whole metal family (or many of them!) at this show, and on a crappy Monday night to boot!

EXODUS

The Birthday Massacre / New Year's Day / The Red Paintings @ Empire 11/15/2014

I went to see The Birthday Massacre ($17) at Empire, hopefully to play a full set this time! Last time, Chibi had an accident and her knee got screwed up, forcing a short set.  I met up with miscreants- Mari, Bridget T, and Spencer! I noticed that the parking lot was full and had to hustle in the cold from across the street. It turned out to be a sold out show, apparently. This was one of the rare Empire Sold out shows!

Onslaught/ Artillery / VX-36 @ Empire 11/3/2014

I went to see Onslaught with Artillery ($18) at Empire for Monday Night Thrash. Striker had dropped off, and there was not much info on other openers. I saw a number of people there- Ariel, Nathan with a J, Greekgirl, Gori, Neil and Michelle, Brian B, Krysia, Ruby, Kyler, MattRice, and Thane and Ronnie. For a Monday night, a number of people I knew, but definitely not a great turnout.

ONSLAUGHTs, featurings Neil Turbins

Suffocation / Kataklysm / Jungle Rot/ Pyrexia @ Empire 10/10/2014

I went to see Suffocation and co at Empire ($20). There were originally  11 (!) bands slotted to play from around 6. I saw Nids, Scott, Sean, Jason, Miss Lindsey, Blake, Ariel y Ilem, Nathan w/ a J, Alie, Chris Crazy Wolf, Dorothy, Dan G., Brian B, Matt R, Luke, Renae, AND Metal Chris there. I had Seen Suffocation last in February up in Baltimore.

Frank

Skeletonwitch / Ghoul / Black Anvil @ Empire 9/12/2014

I met up with John and we went to see Skeletonwitch ($18) for a one-two punch of heavy shows (yesterday was Overkill). I saw a bunch of people there too- Patricia and Bobby, Kyler, Annie, Renae, the Sanctuary shirt guy from Overkill, Nathan with a J, Allie, Nicole, Dorothy, Ariel y su mujer, Daniel G, Luke, Mary and Jason, Noc, and Metal Chris.

From a very Cloudy Stage

Overkill / GI9 / Blunt Force Rebellion / Nomad @ Empire 9/11/2014

I went to see Overkill  at Empire ($25). They were the only touring band, and there were a number of locals that differed from the billed local bands. I did see a lot of friends there- Ariel y hombre, Sean, Nathan w/ a J, Miss Lindsey, Marie (and Rolland later!), Greekgirl, Dave, Kevin, and Bryan, Luke, Marysol, Marc, Dorothy, Kyler (crowdsurfing CITY), and Metal Chris. WHEW.

Overkill, saying hi from the gutter

Arsis/ Allegaeon/ Exmortus @ Empire 9/1/2014

I went to see Arsis ($20) at Empire this Labour Day. This was a good lineup- Exmortus and Allegeon  I had both missed on 2 different dates (tho I did get merch).  I was wondering how the first stop of the 10th year anniversary of "Celebration of Guilt" tour was going to be on this holiday weekend. I saw Sean, Jason, Jen P, Bridget, Ariel, D'Andre, Steve Miller, and super Arsis fan Scott there.

James Malone's Arsis

Agalloch / Vex @ Empire 6/28/2014

I went to see Agalloch ($15) at Empire.  I apparently didn't know that they were that popular, because it was pretty crowded. Accordingly, I saw a bunch of people there -Sean, Jason, Sarah, Evan, Kris, Kristen, Nathan with a J, Scott, Kyler,  Milla, JACINDA, Danielle and Steve G, Steve Miller, Joel, Antonio, Annie, Brian B, Marie and Rolland, maybe one more.

The Allogochs

A Sound of Thunder / Benedictum / Leather Leone / Dark Sermon / Metanium / Darker Half @Empire 6/26/2014

I went to see Benedictum and more at Empire ($13), including 2 of my favourite local bands!  There were a number of people I knew there- Renae, Gloomy William, Brian B, DAVE, RUBY, Gori y Omar, Ariel y Ilem, Yave, Mr. Nina, Bobbie, Sean, Henry, Martin, Alex T and Johnny, Sako and Greg, and METAL CHRIS (seemed like a bit of an odd show since he likes the heavier stuff!).