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.

Epica / Eluveitie / The Agonist @ Baltimore Soundstage 9/8/2015

I went to see Epica with Eluveitie on the opening night of their Revolver North American tour at Baltimore Soundstage.  It sucks that most all of the heavy shows come up to Baltimore. Last time, Eluveitie sold out the place! I got a ticket in advance, in anticipation of this- but this time, it wasn't as crowded.  I saw Scott, Spencer, Jacinda, Dave and his brother, and even Rockandrollexperience(!).

Slipknot / Lamb of God / Bullet For my Valentine @ Jiffy Lube Live 8/11/2015

I went to see Slipknot with Lamb of God and Bullet For my Valentine ($20 groupon!) at Jiffy Lube Live. Motionless in White also played, but I didn't see them again. As I just got a lawn seat, it was with the masses (or lack thereof until LoG) for me. I did see Scott, Jen P, Chris Crazy-Wolf, and Bridget there.

Slipknot's 1000 members

Amaranthe / I Prevail/ Santa Cruz @ The Trocadero 5/16/2015

I went up to Philly to see Amaranthe at the Trocadero ($28) because of their tour manager's horrible decision to play in Baltimore on the same day as Nightwish in Silver Spring. I heard that Baltimore had a decent turnout, actually- which was odd to me since I figured much of the audience for Amaranthe and Nightwish were crossovers. I did see William, Lyndsey and her friend, Xtina, Audrey, and Kerenda there. I think Mike was there but I didn't see him.

Amaranthe! Drummer is in the back, and MacBookPro to the side

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.

Machine Head @ Baltimore Soundstage 1/28/2015

I went to see An Evening with Machine Head (~$30) at the Baltimore Soundstage last night. It was an interesting turn of events and MH ended up canceling their super tour with Epica, Children of Bodom, among others, but now have returned with the promise of a 2 hr + setlist with old and new songs alike! Needless to say, I was quite enticed, even though I am not the biggest MH fan. I did see a lot of friends there- Ariel and James, Raul, Bobbie, Scott, and maybe a couple others.

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.

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

Nothing More / Sleepwave / Guns Out at Sundown / Fatally Yours @ Ottobar 8/18/2014

I went to see Nothing More ($8) at the Ottobar (part of 98 Rock's Noise in the Basement). I met up with Josh and Erin, Kris, and Rock and Roll Experience guy.  Also met John T and Stephanie there.  This was going to be a long night, as I noticed the line to get in snaking out into the parking lot from the side door.

Summer Slaughter 2014- Dying Fetus/ The Faceless/ Thy Art is Murder / Goatwhore/ Origin/ Decrepit Birth /Within the Ruins /Fallujah @ Empire 8/12/2014

I went to see the final stop of the Summer Slaughter Tour (Dying Fetus/ The Faceless/ Thy Art is Murder / Goatwhore/ Origin/ Decrepit Birth /Within the Ruins /Fallujah + locals WHEW) at Empire (a pricey $30/35).  This date was added to the end, and Morbid Angel was supposed to headline, but there was some reason why they didn't. There were a ton of friends there- Zach, Luke (thanks for the ticket bro!), Scott, Allie, Nathan w/ a J, Sean, Jason, Stacey, Miss Lindsey, Marie, Ariel, James, D'andre, Dorothy, John, Chris J., Shelly, Matt Rice, Matt C, Steve G and Danielle, and Metal Chris too!  I think that was everyone (hope I remembered everyone).

Killswitch Engage/ Trivium/ Battlecross @ Rams Head Live 5/15/2014

I went to see Killswitch Engage up in Baltimore ($35 after fees WTF). I met up with Tony and saw Kris, Matt Rice n Witt Black (Yesterday's Saints... who let those chumps out of the studio?) Jose, Scott, and I am pretty sure the singer from Hydra Kyll and Jen P and Bridget were there too.  I was pumped to see Killswitch and hang with my buddy Tony, but I also was interested in the rest of the bill. Would Nothing More sound like an Octane band? Would Battlecross sound the same as last time? Would Trivium be underwhelming like last time?

Black Label Society/ Down/ The Devil You Know/ Butcher Babies @ the Fillmore Silver Spring 5/4/2014

I went to see Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society ($35!) at the Fillmore, Silver Spring. BLS was one of my first concert experiences, and def one of my favourite. It's been a while since I've seen BLS, and the addition of Down was amazing!  Howard Jone's Devil You Know and the questionable Butcher Babies were just icing on the cake. I saw Tony, Tom, Sean, Scott, Nids, Jacinda n Heather, Johnny, Joe, Dale, Jen, Bridget, Kris, Patricia-lynne, Chris Crazy-Wolf and Lisa there.

Carcass/ The Black Dahlia Murder/ Gorguts/ Noisem @ Fillmore Silver Spring 4/13/2014

Went to see Carcass in Silver Spring ($28) for the last stop of the Decibel tour.  I saw several people there- Steve Miller, Kris, Krysia , Sean, Nathan with a J, Bridget, Renae, Miss Lindsey, Kavin and Daniel G., Brian B, Metal Chris, MattRice, Zach, Crystal, Dylan, Tom, Jacinda, Ethan, greekgirl, Kim. whew!

All That Remains/ Darkest Hour/ Wilson/ Wings Denied @ 930 Club 4/9/2014

I went to see All That Remains again at the 930 Club ($20, $28.75 after fees wtf).  I met up with Chris Crazy-Wolf, saw Stacy and Jacinda, and new Denzel. I think James O., Danica, and Rick were there too, but not entirely sure.

The Aborted/ Pyrexia/ Hydra Kyll @ Empire 3/27/2014

I caught the Aborted at Empire ($15) this past week on the opening date of this 2014 tour.  I saw Zach M, Renae, Kavin, Sanil, Daniel G, Steve M, Jason, and Sean there. I had not seen any of the bands except Hydra Kyll before.

Sick Puppies/ Lacuna Coil/ Eyes Set to Kill @ Empire 2/23/2014

I went to see Lacuna Coil ($30), along with other bands at the Revolver "Hottest Chicks in hard Rock" tour. I met up with Jen P, a couple of her friends, Scott, Dale, and Ariel.

Iris Divine/ Pain/ Opteryx/ Feritas/Silence the Blind/Cammo Shorts at Tally Ho Theater 12/20/2013

I went to the December to Dismember II at the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg ($13 at the door, I should have thought ahead). It was the first I had been to that venue, but I've heard good things since LA Guns (among others) played there.  I saw Scott and Nids, Annie, Joel, Brian B, and Mike G and Dan there too. The couple who was at The Agonist was there too... I really can't recall their names but they recognized me!?

All That Remains / Asking Alexandria/Devour the Day at Ram's Head Live

Went to see All that Remains at Ram's Head Live ($22) as part of 98 Rock's sold out Not So Silent Night. I met up with Josh and Erin and we hung out. I also saw Mr Rock n Roll Experience there. Everyone else there was as expected, with ball caps, affliction shirts, and maybe some neck tats. Someone in a Bane cosplay (Dark Knight Rises movie version) was there also, for who knows what reason.

Lamb of God/ Killswitch Engage/ Testament/ Huntress @ Fillmore Silver Spring 11/26/2013

I went to see the sold out last top of the tour for Lamb of God, Killswitch, Testament, and Huntress ($35) at the Fillmore.  Even though this was a sold out show, I saw a ton of people there.  They included Ariel y su Mujer, Jaime,  Dwayne, Brenda y su hombre, Scott, DanPaytas, Victoria, Meghan, D'andre, Dorothy, Jen P, bridget,  and Bill from work.