Category Archives: Music

Mac Sabbath plays at Holy Diver

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Lead singer Ronald Osbourne on Stage at the Holy Diver Bar, Photography by Bryce Fraser

Bryce Fraser
Staff Writer

It’s not an unusual sight any Friday night at the Holy Diver Bar to see drum sets and guitars up on the stage, but a giant cheeseburger, a clown, a cat burglar, and a purple Grimace, might be considered an unusual sight to see  on any stage.

Mac Sabbath is not a typical Black Sabbath tribute band because they  not only play Black Sabbath music but they incorporate the world famous McDonalds characters into their imagery.

The band consists of lead singer Ronald Osbourne, who is a take on Ronald McDonald, the drummer Catburglar, who is a take on the Hamburglar, and The guitarist Slayer MacCheeze, who just has a giant cheeseburger  head with gigantic horns that sticking out of his cheeseburger face, and last but not least the bass player Grimalice, who is Grimace. All well known Mcdonald’s characters.

On stage Ronald Osbourne envelops many of Ozzy Osbourne mannerisms. Ronald walks the walk in a mirror image of Ozzy when he’s on stage and he even has the Ozzy stare.

The band performs many Black Sabbath songs, but replaces the words with a fast food spin, such as Black Sabbath’s famous song “Iron Man,” which is changed to “Iron Pan.” During the song Ronald is cooking hamburger patties in his Iron Fry Pan as he tosses a hamburger beach ball into the audience.

The night was full of puns, such as calling Sacramento, “Sacramentos the Fresh Maker,” Ronald refers to the Mentos slogan the Fresh Maker.  Also Ronald makes fun of non existent bands that he claims are copying him such as “Dairy Quensryke” and “Twisted Sizzler.”

The show had a good mix of all sorts of fans, such as a group of fans in their early 20’s decked out in Mac Sabbath T-shirts and wearing clown makeup resembling Ronald Osbourne  himself.

All in all they put on a great show, mixing hard rock with the all American McDonalds hamburgers, so if you are looking for something different, like hamburgers and Ozzy this is the show for you.

 

Monster Energy Aftershock Festival returned to Discovery Park

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Tom Araya lead vocalist of the band Slayer performing at the Monster Energy Aftershock festival Saturday Oct. 22, 2016-photography by Keith Koenig

Joseph Daniels
Staff Writer

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Max Cavalera performing at the Monster Energy Aftershock Festival Sunday Oct. 23, 2016-photography by Bryce Fraser

Once again hundreds of people ventured to Discovery park last weekend to partake in the sold out event  the Monster Energy Drink Aftershock Festival. This year brought more metal bands to their lineup and that had sold out.

Slayer:

Only at a Slayer concert will you hear people cheerfully sing the words “God Hates Us all.”

Slayer is not only an influential band within thrash metal, but their music helps spawn both death and black metal. To say that the band is monumental is a vast understatement.

Hence the reason why their audience at Aftershock sang along eagerly to songs like “Angel of Death,” the song that is inspired by Josef Mengele, the person who was responsible for human experimentation during the Holocaust.

Slayer’s set list celebrated their career’s catalog by playing songs that dates back to “Show No Mercy.”

Tom Araya was hitting notes that wasn’t seen much since “Reign in Blood” during his performance on “The Antichrist.” His guttural vocals on “Hell Awaits” sounds as if belongs to something that lurks beneath the land and that lies just south of Heaven.

“This is a love song,” Araya described their “Dead Skin Mask,” which was about the infamous killer Ed Gein. Gein has a huge impact on pop culture in general, such as inspiring movies such as “Psycho” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

Slayer’s live performance captures the horror movie imagery that their albums invoke. It’s no wonder why this music scared the crap out of parents.

Meshuggah:

Meshuggah is so metal, when the day comes when one of the band members dies, doctors are going to find a terminator like skeleton. Their set list at Aftershock in Sacramento only served as further evidence for this theory.

If there ever was a band that deserves the metal label, it’s Meshuggah. The sound the body creates, invokes images of machines in operation. Jens Kidman manages to hit every word with each chaotic note.

While some members of the audience could argue that Meshuggah’s songs sound the same, they sound nothing like what was at Aftershock to a point where they sound as if they were out of place from the rest of the festival.

With their complicated time signatures, Meshuggah showed how metal could be both extreme and sophisticated.

Anthrax:

When Anthrax started their act with “Caught With a Mosh,” it became clear their set will be mostly from their earlier years.

While their setlist also included newer songs such as “Fight Em ‘Til You Can’t” and “Breathing Lightning,” they feel like they could belong on “Among the Living.”

I have a theory that by bringing Joey Belladonna back on the lineup is to invoke nostalgia from their fans similar to J.J. Abram’s sequel to “Star Wars.”

While Anthrax was never as heavy as the other bands from The Big Four, but their stage presence makes up for it. Watching Scott Ian head bang and run around while playing rhythm guitar itself was a pleasure to watch.

 

The Soul Shakers Release Music Video For Debut Single “Here to Have a Good Time”

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September 29, 2016 – Nashville based Rock N Roll band The Soul Shakers, have released a music video for their debut single “Here to Have a Good Time” . The video, which originally premiered with Revolver Magazine, comes from the band’s upcoming full length LP. Here to Have a Good Time is available for purchase now online.

“Here to Have a Good Time” is our definition of straight up rock n’ roll and a short story of where we come from and how we met. We hope this song makes you want to get up, shake what you got, grab a shot and have a good time. – The Soul Shakers
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About The Soul Shakers:

When Elias Paul Reidy (formerly of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus) and Brett Hellings formed The Soul Shakers after a chance meeting outside of a club on the Sunset Strip, they had one single goal in mind – to bring good ole-fashioned, ass-shaking rock ‘n’ roll back into the forefront.

After two years of writing in Los Angeles and then a move to Nashville, Hellingsand Reidy were ready to lay down the tracks for their forthcoming full length LP. The two flew to Philadelphia to record at Soundmine Recording Studios with producer Dan Malsch (Motionless in White, Tantric, Framing Hanley), featuring Chuck Treece from Bad Brains on drums. The result is a culmination of the diverse lives they’ve led and experiences they’ve had along the way.

The Soul Shakers are one of those bands that seemingly have come out of nowhere. In an age, where the lines of music are blurred and everything is automatically defined by genre/sub-genre, comparison or cornered into a media-contrived box, make no mistake – The Souls Shakers personify what true Rock ‘N’ Roll is. Their repertoire and live shows are guaranteed to shake your very soul and strike a nerve, regardless of your musical tastes.

The band chose the track “Here To Have A Good Time” as their debut video, which was shot in and about their old Los Angeles stomping grounds with director Shane Drake (The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Taylor Swift, Panic! At the Disco) and is set to debut September 28, 2016 on Revolver.com.
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Monster Energy Aftershock Band Times

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MONSTER ENERGY AFTERSHOCK

BAND PERFORMANCE TIMES AND ADDITIONAL ONSITE EXPERIENCES ANNOUNCED FOR OCTOBER 22 & 23 FESTIVAL

AT DISCOVERY PARK IN SACRAMENTO

Band performance times, food and beverage options, and additional onsite experiences have been announced for the fifth annual Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK on Saturday, October 22 & Sunday, October 23 at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA.

 

Led by iconic bands Tool (in a rare U.S. festival appearance) and Avenged Sevenfold, Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK boasts a lineup of 35 bands on three stages, including Slayer, Korn, Primus,Disturbed and many more. California’s biggest rock festival also features the return of The Jack Daniel’s Experience, The Music Experience, the Juxtapoz MAKE YOUR MARK Graffiti Zone and more to engage fans with all aspects of the rock and roll culture.

 

A very limited number of single-day Saturday tickets for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK (previously sold out) have just been released. Weekend General Admission and single-day Saturday and Sunday tickets are available at current prices through October 16 or while supplies last at www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com. Non-service fee tickets are also available at Dimple Records locations throughout the Sacramento area. VIP and hotel packages for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK are now sold out.

 

The current Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK performance times (subject to change) are as follows:

 

Saturday, October 22
Monster Energy Stage Discovery Stage
8:20 PM Tool 7:15 PM Slayer
6:20 PM Primus 5:30 PM Meshuggah
4:45 PM The Pretty Reckless 3:50 PM Anthrax
3:10 PM Baroness 2:35 PM Motionless In White
2:00 PM Avatar 1:25 PM letlive.
12:50 PM Whores. 12:20 PM Big Jesus
11:45 AM American Sharks    
       
Capital Stage  
4:45 PM Deafheaven    
3:40 PM Face To Face    
2:35 PM Drakulas    
1:35 PM The Shrine    
12:20 PM Aeges    
11:15 AM Death Angel    
       
Sunday, October 23
Monster Energy Stage Discovery Stage
7:40 PM Avenged Sevenfold 6:35 PM Korn
5:30 PM Disturbed 4:35 PM Puscifer
3:45 PM Chevelle 3:05 PM Ghost
2:30 PM Parkway Drive 1:55 PM The Amity Affliction
1:20 PM Silver Snakes 12:50 PM Ignite
12:20 PM The Mendenhall Experiment    
       
Capital Stage  
4:15 PM Zakk Sabbath    
2:55 PM Max & Iggor Cavalera Return to Roots  
1:50 PM Suicide Silence    
12:50 PM Whitechapel    
11:50 AM Some Fear None    

 

Doors open at 11:00 AM each day.

 

Here is a list of Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK festival experiences, including various food options, as well as nonprofit organizations with a presence at the festival:

 

Coors Light Sports Bar: Coors Light, World’s Most Refreshing Beer, is proud to sponsor the Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK festival. The Coors Light Sports Bar will be showing college football games on Saturday and NFL games on Sunday, courtesy of Coors Light and Sacramento’s KHTK Sports 1140 AM. Coors Light goes to great lengths to bring you the coldest, most refreshing beer. Please remember to drink responsibly.

 

Monster Energy Experience/Sampling: Monster Energy will be keeping all fans fueled up and ready to rock by offering free sampling on their Monster Energy viewing deck. Enjoy Monster Energy drinks from one of the best seats in the house. Make sure to check back throughout the festival for a schedule of Monster Energy’s interactive artist experiences.

Facebook: facebook.com/monsterenergy

#monsterenergy #monstermusic

 

Eats: Food vendors at Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK include Angry Bird Grill • Bacon Mania • Barrett’s Gourmet Burgers • Big Joe’s BBQ • Bubba’s BBQ • Deluxe Asian Cuisine • Dippin Dots Ice Cream • Dog Town Dogs • Drewski’s Hot Rod Sandwiches • Florez Mexican Restaurant • La Mex Taqueria • Mac Attack • Monster Fries • Mt. Olympus • Sausage King • Spicy Pie Pizza • Strawberry Fields • Tube Steak Boogie • What’s Poppin Kettle Corn • Xochimilco Mexican Restaurant. VIP exclusive eats include Barrett’s Gourmet Sliders • Cousins Maine Lobster • Smokin Hot Pizza

 

Caduceus Wine Garden: This wine garden will highlight Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards, owned by Arizona resident Maynard James Keenan, co-founder of international recording acts TOOL, A Perfect Circle, and PUSCIFER. Having already dove headfirst into this venture, Maynard found out from a distant relative that wine making is in his blood. His Great Grandfather, “Spirito” Marzo, had vineyards and made wine in Venaus, Italy, just North of Turino in Piemonte.

https://caduceus.org/

 

The Music Experience: The Music Experience features all the elements that are involved in making music in a professional band setting. The interactive exhibit features guitars, basses, amps, drums, keyboards and electronic gear that are used by today’s most popular bands. The Music Experience has autograph signings and artist interactions throughout the day. Check Facebook and Instagram for the latest info on who will be hanging out at The Music Experience.

Facebook: facebook.com/themusicexp

Instagram: @tmexp

 

Jack Daniel’s Experience: “Taste of Tennessee” invites visitors to come out and tour the nation’s oldest registered distillery from outside the Jack Daniel’s Hollow. Visitors get to see (and smell) whiskey dripping slowly through charcoal and the new oak barrels used in maturing Tennessee’s finest whiskey. The Jack Daniel’s Experience is open to all fans, 21 years old and up, for tours free of charge. Stop by the Jack Daniel’s Experience for interactive engagements throughout the weekend. Whiskies available at the Jack Daniel’s Experience include Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Honey, Gentleman Jack, and Single Barrel.

Facebook: facebook.com/jackdaniels

Instagram: @jackdaniels_us

#jackdaniels #BornToMakeWhiskey

 

Juxtapoz MAKE YOUR MARK presented by Hellrzzr & Montana: This interactive graffiti art installation will showcase multiple live demonstrations and will allow AFTERSHOCK artists and fans the chance to add to the exhibit.

 

Keep Golf Metal: Keep Golf Metal is a movement that encourages festival attendees to play a 9 hole putt putt course with PGA level golf clubs provided by Rife Putters and MasterFit Custom Golf Clubs. Keep Golf Metal also has apparel that features designs that fuse the rock and golf worlds together.

 

Dyin 2 Live / Fxck Cancer: The F C Cancer Foundation’s mission is to fight cancer by raising awareness and to educate about early cancer detection, ultimately putting an end to late stage cancer diagnosis. The Dyin 2 Live wish granting program looks to enrich the lives of those fighting cancer by offering them an experience that will bring joy, hope, inspiration, and courage into their lives. In doing this, the program hopes it can help give the cancer fighter a chance to forget, even if it’s only for a day, what they are battling. The hope is that it can be used as a source of inspiration to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour.

www.FxckCancer.org

www.makingdreamshappen.org

www.Dyin2Live.org

Facebook: facebook.com/Dyin2LiveDREAMS or facebook.com/FxckCancerUSA

Instagram: @FxckCancer and @Dyin2LiveDreams

 

Take Me Home Animal Rescue: Take Me Home is a not for profit, volunteer based foundation that has been saving the lives of homeless animals since 2001. Many families living in low-income areas cannot afford medical care, basic vaccinations, or spay/neuter surgeries for their companion animals. The donations raised help us to fund mobile veterinary hospitals to travel into these under-served areas to provide free spay and neuter, vaccinations, microchipping and administer medical care for animals in desperate need. Take Me Home also supports local animal charities. Come by the booth to help out our furry friends by buying a shirt, signed merchandise, and entering a raffle. Danny Wimmer, Founder, DWP, said, “DWP is proud to support various charities, giving them a national platform to promote their messages. We are particularly fond of Take Me Home, which advocates for animal adoption. I hope everyone stops by their booth and supports their fundraising efforts to help animals in need.” For more information, please visit:www.takemehome.tv.

Facebook: facebook.com/TakeMeHomeRescue

Instagram: @TakeMeHomeRescue

Twitter: @TMHRescue

 

Life Looks Good On You: Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK has partnered with Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks for the Life Looks Good On You life jacket water safety campaign. Danny Wimmer Presents is pledging support with Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK alumni and DWP friends to create awareness for the Life Looks Good On You campaign. So far, music artists that have joined the efforts include Sacramento’s own Deftones, Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Pop Evil, and Avatar. Photos of band members wearing life jackets will be part of a social media campaign designed to encourage people to safely participate in water activities by sharing photos of themselves and friends wearing life jackets.

www.lifelooksgoodonyou.org

#sacrivers

 

LTD (Living The Dream) Foundation: A portion of all Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK ticket fees will be donated to Living the Dream. LTD Foundation bridges the music industry together with fans who are fighting terminal illnesses by giving them All Access VIP experiences backstage with their favorite bands and artists.

www.ltdfoundation.org

 

The most convenient way to get to Discovery Park for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK this year is to use the Park & Ride program. Each Park & Ride ticket includes parking for one vehicle at Sleep Train Arena and a non-stop shuttle directly to the festival site for all passengers. Single day and weekend Park & Ride passes can be purchased at http://aftershockconcert.com/parking-shuttles/.

 

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, a producer of some of the biggest rock festivals in America, including Rock On The Range, Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville, Monster Energy Fort Rock, Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion, LOUDER THAN LIFE, Northern Invasion, Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, Chicago Open Air, and more.

 

Sponsors for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK include: Monster Energy, Jack Daniel’s, Coors Light, The Music Experience, El Jimador Tequila, Keep Golf Metal, Sound Exchange, Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home, KHTK, 98Rock, California Finest, Dimple Records, Juxtapoz, SoHo Concessions and more.

 

For more information on Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK, visit:

 

Website: www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AFTERSHOCKFestival

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AFTERSHOCKSAC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aftershockconcert/

2015 Video Recap: https://vimeo.com/166288461

Fitz and the Tantrums plays at the Ace Of Spades

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Fitz and the Tantrums’ percussionist and singer Noelle Scaggs, singing on stage, Thursday August 18, 2016. The band performed for a soldout audience at the Ace of Spades in Sacramento Calif. Photo by Bryce Fraser

 

Jonathan Ayestas
Staff Writer

The year 2016 has proved itself a productive year for Fitz and the Tantrums. With the release of their new album and hit single “Handclap,” and tour dates across the country, the six-piece pop-rock band is streamlining from their indie roots toward a mainstream presence.

The proof was in Thursday night’s crowd as the show was not only sold out, but the atmosphere felt thick with anticipation for the band to show up. Once the members started taking their position past the smoky background of a stage, cheers filled the room to a band that assumes a superpower presence confidently.

While the show overall was entertaining and poppy, Michael Fitzpatrick’s voice failed to reverberate past the front row. When comparing the studio version of “Spark” to the live version at Ace of Spades, it was unfortunate to hear Fitzgerald’s voice lack that sharper edge that creates such an appeal in the band’s later work.

He hadn’t redeemed himself till much later on when he treated his fans to the nostalgic gem “Moneygrabber.” At that point, the expectation of a sharp voice by a live Fitzpatrick had already left the venue.

The night was not without total consequence. The show was very much energetic — just not mainly from Fitzpatrick. Instead, co-lead singer Noelle Scagges brought the hype with her encouragement of crowd clapping and dancing during instrumentals. She reminded people that they were at a live show.

Then there’s saxophonist James King. His solos not only demanded attention but retained it. His mastery of playing is one of the reasons why Fitz and the Tantrums’ eccentric style of music doesn’t come off as eccentric. It somehow combines elements that shouldn’t go well together into a fusion that proves itself a coherent, competent unit, which is a blessing for the usual mix of Sacramento bands that pride themselves on fusion.

It’s not like Fitzgerald’s singing was atrocious, either. His monologue to the crowd before each song excited the audience. Fitz and the Tantrums is still a band worth seeing, but the differences between studio sound vs. live sound showed stark contrast and should be noted before attending one of their concerts.

The retro-reminiscent band remains a treat for the Sacramento scene. Sactown’s usual scene of fusion mixes could learn a thing or two from Fitz and the Tantrums, a band that has broken barriers of the swathes of indie bands trying to get their name in the limelight. If any band could do that, Patrick Fitzgerald and company are capable of doing it.

The sound is there. The energy is there, as is the capability of captivating the ears of larger crowds. For example, the Golden1 Center that is due to finish this year. Fitz and the Tantrums was a treat at Ace of Spades, and it would be worth a listen to seeing them in a Staples Center-sized venue.

Maybe it’s to their benefit that they emerged in the later half of the 2000s, when the indie-rock craze has mostly fizzled down to who made it and who remains deep in the indie woods.

But above all, it should be noted that this is one of the bands that sounds different live compared to what you listen to on your Spotify. It is up to the listener on what they like more.

The Joy Formidable @ Harlow’s

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Ritzy Bryan lead singer of the Joy Formidable performing at Harlow’s Photo by: Bryce Fraser

Bryce Fraser
Staff Writer

Harlow’s nightclub and bar in the heart of midtown Sacramento was host to the performance of the Welsh indie rock band, The Joy Formidable hit the stage at Harlow’s alongside opening band the New Regime who had performed for an ecstatically excited crowd.

The band Joy Formidable has been on their USA Spring Tour around the nation for months now since their new album Hitch was released last March.

The opening band was New Regime, their sound was a blend of electronica mixed with hard rock and the drumming was very hard rock of the 90s in style. The band did great in getting the audience pumped up.

The band, The Joy Formidable, came on stage amped up and ready to perform for their fans. After the first few songs they apologized for being a few minutes late getting on stage and informed the crowd that the reason involved the dog that travels with them. They informed the audience the dog was ok and now enjoying a much needed quiet time.  They performed many songs from all of their albums, such as “Cradle” from their album The Big Roar.

The Joy Formidable played “Radio of Lips” and “Last Thing on My Mind” from their new album Hitch. The song “Radio Lips” really showed off Rhydian Dafydd versatility going from bass to keyboard while doing vocals.

The band returned on stage for an encore, they then preceded into the middle of the audience where  they  played “The Brook” from their new album acoustically without any microphones, or electric instruments. Ritzy Bryan, front-woman and lead vocalist of the band, explained how when writing their songs they are created acoustically away from usage of electric equipment.

Bryan showed off her angelic voice during the performance within the crowd while preforming “The Brook”. The band finished off the night with their hit song, and a favorite among fans, Whirling, getting the audience members got excited.

The song included a prolonged instrumental section at the end where the band jammed out as hard as they could. They invited a few audience members up on stage and even let one hold and even play guitar all while the instrumental continued, and then ended strong and with satisfied fans.

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK 2016, Sacramento, California MOMENTOUS MUSIC LINEUP LED BY ICONIC BANDS TOOL AND AVENGED SEVENFOLD UNVEILED FOR FIFTH ANNUAL MONSTER ENERGY AFTERSHOCK CALIFORNIA’S BIGGEST ROCK FESTIVAL RETURNS TO

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Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK 2016 flyer with band lineup and venue details

SACRAMENTO’S DISCOVERY PARK OCTOBER 22 & 23

TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8

An awe-inspiring, momentous music lineup led by iconic bands Tool (in a rare U.S. festival appearance) and Avenged Sevenfold has been unveiled for the fifth annual Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK, which returns to Sacramento, California’sDiscovery Park Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23.

California’s biggest rock festival will feature over 35 bands on three stages at Discovery Park, conveniently located near downtown Sacramento, where the American and Sacramento Rivers meet. The current daily music lineup for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK is as follows:

  • Saturday, October 22

    Tool, Slayer, Primus, Meshuggah, The Pretty Reckless, Anthrax, Baroness, Face To Face, Deafheaven, Motionless In White, Avatar, American Sharks, Whores, Twelve Foot Ninja, The Shrine, Aeges, Big Jesus

  • Sunday, October 23

    Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Disturbed, Puscifer, Chevelle, Ghost, Parkway Drive, The Amity Affliction, Zakk Sabbath, Max & Iggor Cavalera Return To Roots, Suicide Silence, Whitechapel, Ignite, Some Fear None, Silver Snakes

“We’re excited to give fans a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, Primus, Slayer, Korn,Disturbed and the rest of this great lineup all together during this special weekend. Discovery Park is such a unique venue that allows us to put on an experience on a grand scale, but in an intimate setting that sets AFTERSHOCK apart,” saysMonster Energy AFTERSHOCK founder and producer Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents.

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 8 at Noon PT at www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com. Tickets are limited and will go fast. Fans are encouraged to buy early so they don’t miss out on the chance to see so many iconic rock bands at one American festival. See below for details.

In 2015, a sold-out crowd of 45,000 was in attendance at Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK to experience the best hard rock, metal and alternative artists, along with gourmet food trucks and extensive onsite experiences. Loudwire.com called the festival “one of the nation’s premier music events.” Elsewhere, Johnny Firecloud of CraveOnline.com noted, “…Aftershock has found a new thread, and the way they’re approaching the festival ecosystem may just defibrillate the soul of rock fests in America. They’re mixing vibrant alt rock colors into what was typically a monolithic skull-and-crossbones metal template of black on black, side-stepping the big-box corporate model and building peripheral excitement through on-site activities, enhanced Gourmet Man Food attractions and more” (February 18, 2016).

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 8 at Noon PT at www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com. Tickets and VIP packages will initially be priced as follows (increasing in the coming weeks):

 

  • General Admission Weekend: $149.50
  • General Admission Single Day: $89.50
  • GA Weekend 4-Pack: $476.00
  • VIP Weekend: $279.50
  • VIP Single Day: $154.50
  • VIP Zippo 2-Packs: $679.00 (includes VIP amenities + 2 Monster Energy Aftershock 2016 commemorative Zippos)

VIP passes include: VIP entrance lanes into venue, shaded VIP hang area with seating for dining, seated and standing viewing area of main stage South (left), video screens featuring live feed from main stages inside VIP hang area, upgraded food and drink selections (for purchase), dedicated VIP restrooms, and a commemorative Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK 2016 laminate.

Specially priced hotel + festival ticket packages make planning forMonster Energy AFTERSHOCK as easy as possible. Visithttp://aftershockconcert.com/tickets/#post-2994 for more info. Discounted online hotel rates are also available through Curadora at:https://curadora.com/events/aftershock-2016-44293b99/.

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK is also offering a Park & Ride shuttle program this year, since parking at Discovery Park is extremely limited. Each Park & Ride ticket includes parking for your vehicle at Sleep Train Arena and a non-stop shuttle directly to the festival site. Festivalgoers are encouraged to carpool to Sleep Train Arena and save. For pricing and more details, visit www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com.

Here’s a preliminary lists of onsite experiences and nonprofit organizations with a presence at Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK:

  • Monster Energy Experience/Sampling:

    Monster Energy will be keeping all fans fueled up and ready to rock by offering free sampling on their Monster Energy viewing deck. Enjoy Monster Energy drinks from one of the best seats in the house. Make sure to check back throughout the festival for a schedule of Monster Energy’s interactive artist experiences.
    Facebook: facebook.com/monsterenergy
    #monsterenergy #monstermusic

  • Jack Daniel’s Experience:

    “Taste of Tennessee” invites visitors to come out and tour the nation’s oldest registered distillery from outside the Jack Daniel’s Hollow. Visitors get to see (and smell) whiskey dripping slowly through charcoal and the new oak barrels used in maturing Tennessee’s finest whiskey. The Jack Daniel’s Experience is open to all fans, 21 years old and up, for tours free of charge. Stop by the Jack Daniel’s Experience for interactive engagements throughout the weekend.
    Facebook: facebook.com/jackdaniels
    Instagram: @jackdaniels_us
    #jackdaniels #BornToMakeWhiskey

  • The Music Experience:

    The Music Experience features all the elements that are involved in making music in a professional band setting. The interactive exhibit features guitars, basses, amps, drums, keyboards and electronic gear that are used by today’s most popular bands. The Music Experience has autograph signings and artist interactions throughout the day. Check Facebook and Instagram for the latest info on who will be hanging out at The Music Experience.
    Facebook: facebook.com/themusicexp
    Instagram: @tmexp

  • Dyin 2 Live / Fxck Cancer:

    The F C Cancer Foundation’s mission is to fight cancer by raising awareness and to educate about early cancer detection, ultimately putting an end to late stage cancer diagnosis. The Dyin 2 Live wish granting program looks to enrich the lives of those fighting cancer by offering them an experience that will bring joy, hope, inspiration, and courage into their lives. In doing this, the program hopes it can help give the cancer fighter a chance to forget, even if it’s only for a day, what they are battling. The hope is that it can be used as a source of inspiration to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour.
    www.FxckCancer.org
    www.makingdreamshappen.org
    www.Dyin2Live.org
    Facebook: facebook.com/Dyin2LiveDREAMS or facebook.com/FxckCancerUSA
    Instagram: @FxckCancer and @Dyin2LiveDreams

  • Coors Light Sports Bar:

    Coors Light, World’s Most Refreshing Beer, is proud to sponsor the Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Festival. The Coors Light Sports Bar will be showing college football games on Saturday and NFL games on Sunday, courtesy of Coors Light and Sacramento’s KHTK Sports 1140 AM. Coors Light goes to great lengths to bring you the coldest, most refreshing beer. Please remember to drink responsibly.

  • Keep Golf Metal:

    Keep Golf Metal is a movement that encourages festival attendees to play a 9 hole putt putt course with PGA level golf clubs provided by Rife Putters and MasterFit Custom Golf Clubs. Keep Golf Metal also has apparel that features designs that fuse the rock and golf worlds together.

  • MAKE YOUR MARK Graffiti Zone:

    This interactive graffiti art installation will showcase multiple live demonstrations and will allow AFTERSHOCK artists and fans the chance to add to the exhibit.

  • Take Me Home Animal Rescue:

    Take Me Home is a not for profit, volunteer based foundation that has been saving the lives of homeless animals since 2001. Many families living in low-income areas cannot afford medical care, basic vaccinations, or spay/neuter surgeries for their companion animals. The donations raised help us to fund mobile veterinary hospitals to travel into these under-served areas to provide free spay and neuter, vaccinations, microchipping and administer medical care for animals in desperate need. Take Me Home also supports local animal charities. Come by the booth to help out our furry friends by buying a shirt, signed merchandise, and entering a raffle. Danny Wimmer, Founder, DWP, said, “DWP is proud to support various charities, giving them a national platform to promote their messages. We are particularly fond of Take Me Home, which advocates for animal adoption. I hope everyone stops by their booth and supports their fundraising efforts to help animals in need.” For more information, please visit: http://www.takemehome.tv.
    Facebook: facebook.com/TakeMeHomeRescue
    Instagram: @TakeMeHomeRescue
    Twitter: @TMHRescue

  • Life Looks Good On You:

    Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Festival has partnered with Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks for the Life Looks Good On You life jacket water safety campaign. Danny Wimmer Presents is pledging support with Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK alumni and DWP friends to create awareness for the Life Looks Good On You campaign. So far, music artists that have joined the efforts include Sacramento’s own Deftones, Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Pop Evil, and Avatar. Photos of band members wearing life jackets will be part of a social media campaign designed to encourage people to safely participate in water activities by sharing photos of themselves and friends wearing life jackets.
    www.lifelooksgoodonyou.org
    #sacrivers

  • LTD (Living The Dream) Foundation:

    A portion of all Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK ticket fees will be donated to Living the Dream. LTD Foundation bridges the music industry together with fans who are fighting terminal illnesses by giving them All Access VIP experiences backstage with their favorite bands and artists.
    www.ltdfoundation.org

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, a producer of some of the biggest rock festivals in America, including Rock On The Range, Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville, Monster Energy Fort Rock, Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion, LOUDER THAN LIFE, Northern Invasion, Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, Chicago Open Air, Houston Open Air, and more.

Sponsors for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK include: Monster Energy, Jack Daniel’s, Coors Light, The Music Experience, Keep Golf Metal, Sound Exchange, Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home, KHTK, 98Rock, and SoHo Concessions.

‘August Burns Red’ and ‘Between The Buried and Me’ live show

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Jake Luhrs frontman for “August Burns Red” preforming at the Ace Of Spades. Photo by Veronica Elena

Bryce Fraser
Staff Writer

Midtown was the scene for many concert goers for their fix of hard metal with the streets were filled with guitar rifts and beat of drums.

“August Burns Red” and “Between the Buried and Me” during their nationwide tour with 40 stops that included parts of Canada as well took their action  to Sacramento at the  Ace Of Spades venue in midtown.

The “August Burns Red” and “Between The Buried and Me” tour sold out for that night at The Ace Of Spades venue.

This is a huge tour for “August Burns Red” since their resent album release “Found In Far Away Places” in 2015.

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Tommy Giles Rogers Jr. frontman for “Between The Buried and Me. Photo by Veronica Elena.

“August Burns Red” however, did not play anything off their new album “Found In Far Away Places” but focused instead on playing their well-known music.

Each band had a recent album out since “Between The Buried And Me” had their own recent album release “Coma Ecliptic” also released in 2015.

“Between The Buried and Me” only played one song off their album “Coma Ecliptic” called “The Coma Machine”.

Headliner band “August Burns Red,” brought strobe lighting effects unlike their previous counter parts that got the fans moving.

“August Burns Red” performed a 16 song set list of their music through to the end of the night.

“Between The Buried and Me” the band that played before “August Burns Red” played a nine song set list that included one Cover.

“Between The Buried and Me” Cover was that of the legendary band “Queen” which played the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” with a hard metal flair.

“Between The Buried And Me” which opened up for “August Burns Red,” with their song “Selkies: The Endless Obsession” that got the crowd started to get fired up.

Mosh pits opened up in the center of the venue where audience members jumped and pranced and some got a little too rough with each other.

After “Between The Buried and Me” finished up their set the excitement to see “August Burns Red” intensified.

The band came out on stage and opened up with their song “White Washed” and the crown went berserk to finally see their headliner.

After “August Burns Red” played their last song of the night, “Composure,” the band’s drummer, Matt Greiner, showed off his talents with a drum solo.

The audience demanded an encore and after the band had walked off stage they then returned to the stage to play their song “Carpe Diem.”

The band finished out the night with a crowd favorite, their song “Empire”, which the band performed with intense energy not seen all night as much as with this song. The audience themselves went into a frenzy.

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Paul Waggoner the guitarist for “Between the Buried and Me” preforming at Ace of Spades. Photo by Veronica Elena

Spring Fling at Sleep Train

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Matt Shultz, frontman for Cage The Elephant preforming at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento Calif. Saturday, March 12. Photo by: Bryce Fraser

Monica Dattage
Staff Writer

Headliner Cage The Elephant, along with Bear Hands, Foals and Silversun Pickups, brought the the energy to Sacramento on Saturday night. With the second stop of their tour, dubbed the Spring Fling Rock AF 2016 Tour, each band was dialed in to the crowd bring a more energy than the one before.

The 15-city tour will take the bands across the U.S., with each act showing off music released in the past year.  Cage The Elephant’s Tell Me I’m Pretty album was released in December, the Foals’ What Went Down album last August, and Silversun Pickups’ Better Nature album last September.

 

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Brian Aubert, frontman for Silversun Pickups preforming at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento Calif. Saturday, March 12. Photo by: Bryce Fraser

Saturday night New York natives Bear Hands opened the night to a half-empty arena as people faced a rainy downpour outside.

Joining the tour from the UK, the Foals took to the stage just as the crowd started fill in. They started their set with “Snake Oil” and almost instantly got the crowd cheering and jumping a long to their high energy performance. For part of their performance it was like staring at a camera flash as strobe lights went off in sync with every note played.

At one point frontman Yannis Philippakis, known for his crowd surfing and diving off balconies, left the stage to join the crowd in the pit area. He attempted to crowd surf with mic in hand but didn’t get too far before security helped pull him back to the stage. They ended their set with “What Went Down” of their latest album, leaving the crowd primed as Silversun Pickups took to the stage.

Starting their set with “Cradle”, Silversun Pickups worked to get the crowd back to the energy level Foals left them with before the intermission. They achieved this when their frontman Brian 

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Dylan Rau, frontman for Bear Hands preforming at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento Calif. Saturday, March 12. Photo by: Bryce Fraser

Aubert called out bassist Nikki Monninger for being nervous on stage.

“Everybody stare at Nikki,” Aubert said. “And Nikki don’t F*** it up!”

Rounding out the night, Cage The Elephant took the stage to screams and yells. The band played all their hits including: “Come A Little Closer”, “Cigarette Daydreams”, and “Mess Around”. The biggest response from the crowd all night came when they played “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked.”

Before wrapping up their set Frontman Matthew Shultz left the stage and came back missing his western-inspired shirt and then took off into the crowd. The fans surged forward as they all tried to reach him and hold him up as he moved around the pit.

At the end of the night the bands were met with a standing ovation all around, and each person left with a buzz of excitement that carried them into the rain waiting outside.

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Yannis Philippakis, frontman for Foals dives on top of the audience during the bands performance at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento Calif. Saturday, March 12. Photo by: Bryce Fraser