Photo Credit: Bryce Fraser
Elias Soriano lead singer and Front-man to Nonpoint shakes his dreadlocks while head banging on stage of the Ace of spades venue in Sacramento, CA

Lance Gawthrop, writer

Photo Credit: Bryce Fraser
Nonpoint’s Adam Wolosyzn the Bass player in front, while Dave Lizzio Guitar player for the band is in the background on stage at the Ace of Spades venue in Sacramento, CA

Febuary 5, 2013
Shiftsync Media

Photo Credit: Bryce Fraser
Elias Soriano lead singer and Front-man to Nonpoint on stage of the Ace of spades venue in
Sacramento, Ca

Nonpoint – straight to the point – Nonpoint has nonstop energy that resembles P.O.D.’s way of screaming and distorted guitar riffs with every head swaying – even grannies heads can be found rocking back and forth –  at Ace of Spades in Sacramento.

The jam “Wake up the World” was kicking out with Elias Soriano on a platform growling lyrics from behind lengthy dreads.  After Nonpoint blasted the track they could have walked off stage at that moment and called it a night, but Nonpoint’s front man Soriano, original drummer Robb Rivera, three new guitarists – Dave Lizzio and Rasheed on leads, and Adam Wolosyzen slapping the bass, wasn’t playing a one hit wonder leaving a bad taste in the back of a dry throat with dry rot.  Instead, the newly developed group revealed that their band has great chemistry.

Soriano was able to bounce from the front of the stage to the side of the stage; while bellowing his god given grunts without ramming into Thomas or Lizzio.  Wolosyzen was slamming bass chords in his own little bass land world without bumping into his mates either, and Rivera’s drumming is heaven sent for percussion heads.

Right before Nonpoint performed “That Day”, Soriano sang a break from Tupac’s “California Love” letting the audience know California knows how to party.  Then, the remake with nearly 4 million views on YouTube, “Air Tonight”, was recognized by the crowd, but not nearly as identifiable as “Bullet with a Name on It”.  The band was able to stop playing all of their instruments simultaneously as the mass sang the rest of the lyrics – totally awesome.

Photo Credit: Bryce Fraser
Candlelight Red’s Vocalist and Front-Man basking in the glow of a stage light at the Ace of spades venue in Sacramento, CA

Candle Light Red – a pleasure to have a band hand selected by KISS’ Gene Simmons from a battle of 10,000 bands for a spot on stage.  Ryan Hoke’s magnetic voice drew the spectators closer to the stage while Jamie Morral, bass and vocals, and Jeremy Edge, guitar and vocals, lured the crowd into a mob at the front of the stage with Brian Dugan on the drum sticks.  Hoke’s deep voice was well heard as he sung and scrum through “Everything Falls Apart”.

Hoke’s fist pumped with every kick to the double bass drum as 1000 watt metal halide lamps melted lumens all over the decibels.  The audience’s response to the cover song “She’s Got the Look” was untouchable next to songs “Closer”, “Medicated” and “Demons”.

Digital Summer – deserved a larger audience than what Sacramento brought spite an unsettling

Photo Credit: Bryce Fraser
Digital Summer’s Lead Vocalist and Front-man on stage at the Ace of Spades in Sacramento, CA

sound check right before Kyle Winterstein warmed up his voice box.  If Powerman5K were to have a baby with Gravity Kills, then Digital Summer would be a product from that environment.  Ian Winterstien and Jon “Bubba” Stephenson played guitar while Anthony “Guido” Hernandez was on bass and Ben Anderson on drums.  Remnants of Chevelle were picked during “Suffocate”, but more technological synthetic applications were sprinkled inside tracks like “Broken Halo”, “Ex-girlfriend”, and “Just Right”, which were accompanied with guest drummer Austin Rios, a12-year-old drummer prodigy who sent grown-up drummers back to the drum lines.

Dedvolt – is not Shazamable on the Antroid app Shazam.  The Sacramento based band doesn’t have much online, but had much to offer on stage.  Dedvolt played a bunch of different metal-rock special effects that had variable tempo speeds.  It was obvious the small crowd responded well to the eclectic sample because they were jumping around as if they were on a pogo stick.

Fair Game: is another Sacramento local treat that resembles Flyleaf .  Their set was a short set.

Photo Credit: Bryce Fraser
Candlelight Red’s Bass Jamie Morral on the Ace Of Spades stage in
Sacramento, CA

Photo Credit: Bryce Fraser
Dedvolt’s Bobby Real on stage at the Ace of Spades in
Sacramento, CA

Fair Game the Opening band of the night, shown playing on stage at Ace of spades in Sacramento, CA