BY: EVAN J. THOMAS

Saturday night (May 17) at the Mercury Ballroom in Louisville Kentucky was the place to be not only due to the incredible weather outside but the throwdown that was about to happen inside.  The Mercury Ballroom was a new venue for me to visit and I loved every bit of it, from the quaint feel of the main stage to the swanky balcony seating area giving you a different perspective from above.  

First up was ONI, ONI is a metalcore band formed in Canada by singer Jake Oni.  Oni ripped through their 30+ minute set with ease as they lathered up the masses with precision guitar rifts and a crunching tracks.  

Next up and the support band was the boys in DEVOUR THE DAY, the hard rock band hailing from Memphis, Tennessee and featuring vocalist Blake Allison and Joey "Chicago" Walser who both were formerly in Egypt Central.  Allison has a feverish on stage persona as he's thrashing about the stage, hopping up on to the riser from side to side of as he belted out "Respect," "Killing Time," "Empty" among others.  DEVOUR THE DAY is a tight knit band on stage as they feed off of each other while Allison interacts with the masses.  DVD just looks like they are having fun up there while entertaining us floor dwellers.

POP EVIL, fresh off their newest album release "What Remains," headlined the evening making their way on stage to kick off their set with the anthem "Eye Of The Storm".  Fun little fact, DEVOUR THE DAY members Allison plays drums while Walser rips on guitar for POP EVIL as they pull double duty on the tour.  POP EVIL vocalist Leigh Kakaty intently strolls about the stage with his imposing look as he belts out hit after hit.  Knocking out "Trenches," "Skeletons," "Waking Lions" on the nearly one plus hour set, the boys in POP EVIL take a few minute hiatus as the waiting crowd chants "ENCORE, ENCORE."  They got their wish as the stroll back onto the stage for the three final songs culminating with "Footsteps."  I was looking out at the masses during the set seeing them smiling and singing back their favorite POP EVIL songs. 

When the house lights came on I had the pleasure to wander down the dank basement stairs to hang out with DEVOUR THE DAY, shooting the shit with them and reminiscing with Joey "Chicago" about our hometown as we grew up one town over from each other.  What a fun night and another venue to knock off my list.  

BY: EVAN J. THOMAS

A picture perfect day took over the Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing Michigan this past Saturday as Rock Lansing put on their second annual all day music festival.  Headlined by rock bad asses Saliva, as they belted out hit after hit like "Ladies and Gentlemen," "Click, Click, Boom" and others.  Rock Lansing had it all, guitar maestro Ayron Jones headlined the second stage and had everyone in awe with his performance, ripping through "Take Me Away," "Blood in the Water," "Filthy" among others.  Unfortunately I missed Adelitas Way, the return of Evans Blue and Riding With Killers but had the incredible opportunity to photograph the rest of the bands.

A highlight for me was my first onstage introduction of a band, not just any band but one of my favorites as Crobot along with Q106 Detroit Radio Legend "Scary" Terry allowed me to come on stage in front of the sun drenched crowd and let me introduce the boys from Pennsylvania.  Crobot has one of the most entertaining sets i've seen, time and time again putting them in the top echelon of live performances.  Frontman Brandon Yeagley not only engages the masses but gives the photographers some of the most epic photos we have taken.  Crobot took over the afternoon with their incredible performance of "Low Life" as Brandon leaped about 6 feet onto the shoulders of guitarist Chris Bishop and took a lap around the front of the crowd.  

Other notable performances I saw was an incredible set from Conquer Divide, Heartsick, Mr. Denton on Doomsday.  Many of the bands hailed from the Lansing or Michigan area and those who attended saw one incredible show.  Check out my photos below and interviews coming soon!

​By: Evan J. Thomas

Shinedown has solidified themselves as one of the top live shows in rock music after their magnificent show Friday night at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY.  I had the opportunity to photograph the show but due to the restrictions of where I was allowed to photograph from.  The soundboard on the floor is never ideal when you have to shoot through the GA crowd standing in front of you with hands raised and phones in the air.  Despite that blip on the radar it was an incredible show.

Country artist Morgan Wade opened the evening as she was donning a Kentucky Wildcats #1 jersey while strolling around the stage.  Wade’s music was what you would expect to hear while walking down Broadway street in Nashville and stopping in a joint for a drink.   

Hard Rock/ Metal stalwarts Beartooth took the stage next and blew away the masses with an intense and engaging set.  I first saw Beartooth in 2015 at the now defunct Carolina Rebellion and fell in love with their music.  Ripping through banger after banger of classics and new tracks, the boys from Columbus, OH were full throttle ahead putting on an in your face, raw and electrifying performance.  Frontman Caleb Shomo made lots of new fans as he engaged with the crowd nearly between every song.  At one point, Shomo walked to the middle of the Y shaped stage and took in the throngs of fans singing back at him as he seemed to get a bit emotional.

Beartooth Playlist
The Lines
The Past Is Dead
Sunshine!
ATTN.
Disease
I Was Alive
Might Love Myself
The Last Riff
You Never Know
Riptide
In Between


It was almost 9pm and the energy for the emergence of the main act, the before mentioned Shinedown.  I first say Shinedown in 2010 and Friday was my 4th time seeing Shinedown and every time they just blow me away.  The stage wet up was dynamic as it was shaped like a Y so each member could walk towards the center of the floor and then out to either the left or right of the venue.  It made it more intimate and you were close each time one would stroll over.  What blew me away was the pyro as there was a bevy of fire that would shoot up from the well placed spots on the main stage as well as the center of the Y and not only that there was 4 fireball shooters that shot out from above the band as you feel the heat rocking Rupp Arena.


Singer Brent Smith personality shines throughout, right before belting out one of their most recent singles “Three Six Five”, Smith asked the crowd if they had recently lost anyone.  I had lost my mother recently as she passed away 7 weeks earlier in March due to her battle with cancer.  As Smith brought that up my emotions were all over.  I get emotional at shows, if the song means a lot to me then the water works begin.  “Get Up” and “A Symptom of Being Human” are also songs that hit hard.  Shinedown also makes sure to go all out as they blow the masses away with bangers like “Cut The Cord”, “Sound of Madness” and one of my personal favorites “Planet Zero”.  The 18 song set was filled with the bands 20+ year catalog and at one point during a rendition of “Simple Man” Smith had the horde in full throat singing at the top of their lungs.  I absolutely loved it and would see Shinedown any chance I can get.  As I had mentioned previously, they to me are easily a top 3 all time must see concert!!  Don’t miss your opportunity to see Shinedown during this tour.


Shinedown Setlist:
Dance, Kid, Dance
Asking for it
Cut The Cord
If You Only Knew
Devil
Three Six Five
Enemies
Call Me
Get Up
Misfits
Fly From the Inside
Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)
A Symptom of Being Human
Planet Zero
Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd Cover)
Monsters
Sound of Madness
Second Chance
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BY: TERRELL STEWART

Returning to the Oriental Theater I was looking forward to Fozzy’s tour being the first time for me to see them. I had heard it would be a fun show but that was an understatement! The night started off with another band I had not seen before, The Nocturnal Affair. They started their set with drummer “RJ” doing a solo that was not really long but effective. From there the rest of the members joined him on and went right into, “It’s No Good” a (Depeche Mode cover) and the energy level took off! From there they moved right into their 2021 debut single, “Down” and let the head banging, hair throwing begin! 

Great energy from the band to get the night rocking and rolling and watching them work the stage was fun to watch as the crowd was enjoying every minute with them. It was a short 8 song set but they got the night started off with a great energetic set. 

The Nocturnal Affair members:
Brendan Shane - vocals
Andy Ingraham - guitar
Dru Lappin - guitar
Michael James - bass 
Raistlin "RJ" Hamman - drums 

Setlist:
Drum Solo 
It's No Good (Depeche Mode cover)
Down 2022
Unwound
Benefit Of Doubt 2025
Interlude
BACKBITER
Cross Me Out 2024
What Is Love (Haddaway cover)

The stage was set for Fozzy and as the members made their way onto the stage starting their set with their new single, “Fall in Line” and the crowd cheered and waved as moved to the front of the stage wearing a sparkling silver sport coat and letting out his vocals that filled the venue. Behind him the other members let loose and a controlled chaos took over the stage. From there it was back to 2014 with the song, “Bad Tattoo”.  If there was a barometer for the energy level on stage, it would have broken by the third song, “Painless”. Honestly, there were 5 ham’s on stage and I was loving every minute of it as I was photographing their set. (see the photo gallery) The interaction between themselves, the crowd, and me was something to see and the crowd was loving every minute of their set. 

The setlist was a time table of songs and a fun cover of ABBA's “SOS” followed by “Sane” from the 2022 album, Boombox. Moving through their set, the interactions on stage as well with the crowd was only getting better and more fun to watch. The title to some of the songs are also interesting such as, “Drinkin With Jesus” 2017, and “Spider in My Mouth” from 2012. As their set was winding down, there was “Enemy” from 2005 and they topped off their amazing, high energetic set with a cover from Krokus, “Eat the Rich”. I have to believe everyone at this show slept very well that night. This is a must see show that’s full of fun and energy by all the bands. It was a pleasure to cover this show and can’t wait to do it again!

Fozzy members:
Chris Irvine – lead vocals (1999–present)
Rich Ward – lead guitar, keyboards, programming, backing and occasional lead vocals (1999–present)
Billy Grey – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2010–present; touring 2002)
P. J. Farley – bass, backing vocals (2020–present)
Grant Brooks – drums (2022–present)

Setlist:
Fall in Line 2025 new single
Bad Tattoo 2014
Painless 2017 Judas
Do You Wanna Start a War 2014 same as Album
Lights Go Out 2014
SOS (ABBA cover)
Sane
I Still Burn
Nowhere to Run
Spotlight 2023
Army of One
Drinkin With Jesus 2017
Spider in My Mouth
Purifier 2022
Enemy 2005
Judas 2017
Eat the Rich (Krokus cover)

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