Led Zeppelin2 @ Fillmore, Silver Spring 2/26/2016

I went to see Led Zeppelin 2 (Led Zeppelin cover band) at the Fillmore with my friends Andrew and Glenda. I believe we had comp tickets, so why not?

Tesseract / The Contortionist @ Baltimore Soundstage 12/6/2015

I went to see Tesseract ($13) at Baltimore Soundstage for the last show of 2015. Last time it was sold out at Empire, so I made sure I got a ticket before hand. Also, there was some promotion for cheaper tickets as well! I think Jason, Erin, and Scott were there. Tesseract just released their latest album Polaris, so this tour would be promoting that.

Overkill / Symphony X / Ghost of War @ Fillmore Silver Spring 10/16/2015

I went to see Overkill ($28.75) with Symphony X and Ghost of War at the Fillmore, Silver Spring. I saw Annie, Dan, Dave and Kevin, Erin and Ti, Ariel and Ilem, James, Dwayne, Kyler, Lisa, Dorothy, Lindsey and Blake, Kris, Gonzalo, Marie,Navid, Marc and Marysol, Allie an Nathan, Sean, Jason, and Sara.

Rush @ Jiffy Lube Live 5/30/2015

I went with my buddy Andrew to see progressive Canadian power trio RUSH ($50.50 lawn) at Al Fin Del Mundo (aka Jiffy Lube Live). We met up with Ariel, James, Rod, Dwayne, Metal Chris and Catherine, Navid, and Nina there too! I'm not a huge Rush fan, and I hadn't seen them before, but I think it was good to finally see them, as they are not getting any younger and I believe I heard rumours that this may be their last big tour. I am glad my buddy decided he wanted to go! This was their R40 tour, celebrating Neil Peart's 40th year in Rush (wow).

It was hard to take pics in the Limelight of Rush

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.

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.

HIM / Motionless in White @ Fillmore, Silver Spring 12/12/2014

I went to see HIM (a pricey $38) with my buddy Tony at the Fillmore, Silver Spring. I saw Robin and Marie there, but not many other familiar faces. My buddy had seen HIM before, many years ago, but I never managed to see them until tonight. I think that this Finnish goth rock/metal band has consistently put out solid albums, albeit a bit more on the emo/mopey/mushy side of lyrics, and I thought they'd be great live. And at the Fillmore, you know it was going to sound pretty fabulous! Initially it was just HIM on this tour when it was announced, and at some point they added Wounds and Motionless in White, neither of which I was excited for.

Crowbar / Unearth/ Black Crown Initiate / Yesterday's Saints @ Empire 12/7/2014

I went to see Black Crown Initiate on their tour w/ Crowbar and Unearth ($18.50). I was on the fence about this show because I like BCI but was kind of meh on the others. I ended up going, as you can tell. There were a decent number of people there- I saw Chris Crazy-Wolf, Kris, Bridget, Dale, Matt R, J. Oliver, Ashleigh~, Dorothy, and Kyler there.

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?

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!

Lacuna Coil / Devil You Know/ Unlocking the Truth @ the Fillmore 10/8/2014

I went to see Lacuna Coil ($30) at the Fillmore, Silver Spring and met up with Bridget and Mari (AGAIN), Russell, Scott, Ray,a nd boot brother TJ! It was a pretty small group but it was fun hanging. The last time that I saw Lacuna Coil was earlier this year on the "hottest chicks in hard rock tour, and the turnout wasn't near sold out (and they didn't headline either), so I was expecting a pretty light night.

Within Temptation / Amaranthe at Rams Head Live 10/7/2014

I went to see Within Temptation ($30) at the Rams Head Live. They brought the amazing Amaranthe with them this time. Last time, I went to PA to see them.  I had seen WT in 2011 last. I met up with Bridget D, Mari, their sisters, Spencer, Ray, PhotoRay, Lauri, Danica, and I think Bobbie and Nick were there too. This evening there was also Butcher Babies at Soundstage and Deicide /Inquisition/ Spetic Flesh/ Carach Angran at Empire, but that didn't prevent this show from being pretty packed!

WITHIN ALL YOUR TEMPTATIONS

Coheed and Cambria @ the FIllmore, Silver Spring 9/23/2014

I went to see Coheed and Cambria at the Fillmore ($35!) for their Neverender (aka play the full album)  of "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3." I guess it is the 11 year anniversary of its release. I met up with Scott, Stacey, Timmy, Oksana, and Nate. This as a sold out show a few months before the show, so you know it as gonna be crazy. The last time they came around as on my birthday, and it was an excellent show!

Cousin It Claudio Sanchez

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

Grendel / Ludovico Technique / Deathmaschine @ Asylum 13 (Delaware) 8/23/2014

I took a road trip to see aggrotech band Grendel ($24) at Asylum 13 (Mojo 13?) up in Delaware. The trip up took a bit, due to rain, a fuel spill on 95, and general weekend traffic, but coming back wasn't too bad.  I actually saw a couple people I recognized from the DC area gothy scene (Midnight) who also made the trip up!

Led Zeppelin 2 @ the FIllmore, Silver Spring 8/9/2014

I went to see the extremely hard to google  Led Zeppelin cover band, Led Zeppelin 2( I got a free ticket, but I know some people paid around $20 for tickets).  I think it's pretty bad business sense these days to have a band name exactly the same as one of the albums  which has the same name as the band you're covering. A play on a popular/famous song would have been better, because the particular choice is really going to give you great results when you google Led Zeppelin 2 you'll get mostly items about their second album.  Anyways I met up with Mary and Jason, and Yave and Sara.  Unexpected but fun company!

Ritchie Blackmore's Night / Wizard's Consort @ the Birchmere 5/20/2014

Finally I went to see Ritchie Blackmore ($52.85 after fees!!) and Blackmore's Night at the Birchmere.  I met up with Nina and Josh, Neil and Michelle, Tom, and Dorothy.

Disclaimer: I have never seen Ritchie Blackmore live, so this night was a special bucket list night, as I needed to see him live before one of us departs.

Blackmore's Night!

M3 Fest Day 2 Part II- Tesla/ Night Ranger/ Sabastian Bach/ Slaughter/ L.A. Guns/ Autograph/ Queensryche @ Merriweather Post Pavilion 4/26/2014

Part II of M3 Festival Day 2- the 2nd half  (Part I here)  We left as I was scampering over to see...

Texas Hippie Coalition @ Empire 4/1/2014

Went to see Texas Hippie Coalition (THC, very funny guys) ($13 or free with a Sam Adams bought at Metal Church). I didn't see anyone I knew there, somehow.  I think a friend or 2 couldn't make it (despite boletos gratis)