CONCERT REVIEW: Polyphia – Unprocessed Live at The Paradise Rock Club


 

Polyphia, Polyphia, Polyphia. What can you really say that hasn’t already been said? Well, if the show that they had at The Paradise is any indication… you can say a whole hell of a lot more! Because let me tell you something, I have never in my life seen a line that wrapped around the building twice to try to get into see a show at The Paradise when it was already sold out before the line started. Polyphia is a band that has been doing more for guitar driven instrumental music in the current day and age of rock, than I think anyone is even close to admitting to. Every tour they go on, be it here in states or in other countries, sell out almost instantly. They have some of the most innovative records to date that are much more than meet the eye while Tim Henson and Scott LePage may actually be the reincarnations Steve Vai and Joe Satriani with the mind of a wacked out Hip-Hop producer for a millennial ear. They sold out the club and there were people begging for tickets outside the whole night, let’s dive into this night shall we?

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CONCERT REVIEW: Gary Numan – I Speak Machine: Live at The Paradise


The Paradise, Boston, MA 3/14/2022

I have been to quite a few concerts since the world began to re-open and attempt some semblance of normal but so far none have left me with the sense of inspiration and hope the way that the Gary Numan show at The Paradise in Boston has. Not even being crammed into the most challenging venue in the city could crush my spirits. (photographers are not allowed in the barrier and there are few good places just to watch from).Continue reading


GWAR – Sacred Reich – Toxic Holocaust – Against the Grain: Live at Paradise Rock Club


Southern Rock inspired punk/metal, 80’s Thrash Metal, a band comeback after twenty-three years, Trump decapitations, crack busts, and semen canons?! You, my friend, either just walked into your new neighbor’s apartment… OR a GWAR concert. Let’s pray for the latter and jump into the fray! The Paradise Rock Club. Legendary venue, tiny floor space, and a sold-out show. All the makings for a Sunday night show to share with everyone at the office on Monday morning.Continue reading


REVIEW: Neurosis – Bell Witch – Deafkids Live at The Paradise


Fresh from their summer tour of Europe with Godflesh and YOB, Neurosis did a quick run of dates in the USA as well. The band is not only supporting their last full-length album Fires Within Fires (Neurot Recordings), but the and has just released a re-mastered and deluxe version of their excellent Neurosis + Jarboe album, remastered by Bob Weston (Shellac), at Chicago Mastering Service, with all new artwork from Aaron Turner (Sumac, Old Man Gloom) and released it on vinyl for the first time ever (also Neurot). Ghost Cult’s Hillarie Jason took in the Boston date of the tour at The Paradise Rock Club with acclaimed Doom band Bell Witch and Neurosis’ hardcore protegees Deafkids opening.Continue reading


Witchcraft To Play Two Exclusive US Shows This Fall


After being denied a chance to play Psycho Las Vegas this summer due to visa issues, Witchcraft has announced two exclusive shows in the US on 11/19 in New York at (le) poisson rouge and 11/21 in Boston at The Paradise Rock Club. These shows will certainly sell out. Tickets are on sale now at the links below. Witchcraft is still touring behind their 2016 release Nucleus, released via Nuclear Blast. Continue reading


The Dresden Dolls Announce Special Shows In Washington DC and Boston


Infamous rock legends The Dresden Dolls are reuniting for less than a handful of shows including this Halloween at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC, and three shows in their hometown of Boston in early November. The Boston shows will celebrate the 14th anniversary of the bands’ debut album, and 40th anniversary of the historic Paradise Rock Club, where the band has performed many times and filmed a DVD in the past. The band have played together on and off for several years after formally reuniting some years back. Continue reading


Cannibal Corpse – Obituary – Cryptopsy: Live At the Paradise Rock Club


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February 18th, 2016 will be a day that most Boston death metal fans will not soon forget. The Paradise Night Club was jam-packed for a tour package that consisted of death metal veterans Abysmal Dawn, Cryptopsy, Obituary, and Cannibal Corpse. Unfortunately, Abysmal Dawn did not make it out to this stop on the tour as they were apparently stuck in New Jersey. But, as the cliché goes, the show must go on!

 Cryptopsy, by Ebil Robb Photography

Cryptopsy, by Evil Robb Photography

Cryptopsy was up first which was probably my most anticipated band of the night as they were the only band I had yet to see live. It was nice to say I had finally seen the long time technical death metal band, but it just did not seem the same without hearing Lord Worm’s vocals. Even with a set list that was a majority of old material from None So Vile (Century Media) and Blasphemy Made Flesh (Century Media), I just found myself disinterested in Matt McGachy’s vocals. The mix was also a little off as the bass was clearly overpowering the other elements on stage.

 

 Obituary, by Evil Robb Photography

Obituary, by Evil Robb Photography

Next up, the legendary Floridian death metal outfit, Obituary. I, for one, was very excited to see them again since my first experience seeing them at Maryland Death Fest last year was limited (hey, a guy has to find food, even if that means sacrificing time in the pits). From the start of the set until the final note (which seemed like they were cut short), the fans had the floor moving violently and very well stole the show. Prior to this evening, I already considered myself a fan of Obituary. However, after this set which seemed to fly by was over, I realized that I liked them a lot more than I initially had thought. One of the better sets I have ever seen from a death metal band.

 Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

Finally, it was time for the biggest name in the death metal scene, Cannibal Corpse. Having seen this group countless times, I had most of the set list figured out going into the night. Staple tracks such as ‘Scourge of Iron’ , ‘Stripped, Raped and Strangled’ , and ‘Make Them Suffer’ were scattered into the sixteen song set. As for some surprises, we were lucky enough to catch ‘Death Walking Terror’ , ‘Pit of Zombies’ (my personal favorite) , and ‘Born in a Casket’. I had not yet seen any of those three songs live yet so it is safe to say I was very happy with Cannibal Corpse this time around. For a band that tours as much as they do, it must be hard to try and promote new material while also playing some older tunes but have about 30 years of material to cover in a short window. Having said that, switching up a few songs here and there to pull out some rarely played live tracks is always a crowd pleaser. Obviously the biggest pit of the night went to ‘Hammer Smashed Face’ which even included a few female participants!

 Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

Overall, I was very pleased with the show even after being let down by Cryptopsy and Abysmal Dawn not making it out of New Jersey in time for this show. Obituary and Cannibal Corpse proved to the Boston fans in attendance how they have stood the test of time as death metal bands and can still bring it on a live setting.

 Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

 

 Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

 Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

Cannibal Corpse, by Evil Robb Photography

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WORDS BY TIM LEDIN

PHOTOS BY EVIL ROBB PHOTOGRAPHY

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Crosses ††† – Nostalghia – Death Valley High: Live at The Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA


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As sometimes happens in the world of music journalism, one finds out last minute that they are going to a show that night. A quick shift in gears in order to make it to the show on time, and it’s off to the races, er the venue. Lucky for me weeknights in Boston are easier to get around than other cities I have lived in, and I wanted to get in just after doors opened. I had a chance to grab a rare weeknight adult beverage, mingle with my Metal New England crew, and catch opener’s Death Valley High. It was definitely an odd mix of metal fans in the room, obviously brought out mainly for Chino Moreno and his new band Crosses or †††, and vis a vie his other notable groups Deftones and Team Sleep.

Death Valley High hit the stage and they seemed to have ten guys in the band, packed on to the little stage taken up with gear. It was really only a handful of dudes, but they had a stage presence you couldn’t help but notice. They we’re a wake up call to the crowd that certainly wasn’t expecting this. Front man Reyka Osburn, with his Adam-Ant ca. 1982 make up job, is a one-man tornado on the stage. Screaming into the mike, playing guitar, and just generally whipping the crowd into a frenzy, he certainly was entertaining. It took the audience a few songs to grasp the deft blend of Nine Inch Nails style arena ready electro-goth, alt- rock posturing, with some legit throwback 80s synth work, but I dug it right away. The burned through a bunch of songs from their debut Positive Euth (Minus Head Records) and even tossed in a brief cover of ‘Rebel Yell’ by Billy Idol that has people moshing. By the time the band was ready to leave the stage and mentioned it was their first ever show in Boston, the crowd gave them a big reaction, for a little known opener.

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Normally a band like Nostalghia comes along and I am all about it. Those that read these reviews of mine, perhaps think of me as a meat-and potatoes prog-rock nerd and thrash junkie going back to my childhood. But on a normal day the weirder and more out of the box a band is, the more I am apt to give them a fair shake and check them out. I prefaced this all with a detour into Keefy-land because Nostalghia came on the stage and instead of setting an ethereal mood before the headliners, they sucked all the energy and good vibes out of the room. I just wasn’t feeling it, and by the bewildered looks in the room, many felt the same way. Likely in a different setting than this, I will give them another chance, but tonight they didn’t impress me one iota.

 

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After getting some fresh air and a fresh beer I was ready for Chino and †††. Obviously the band is not just about Chino, but he does tends to be the focal point in anything he does, doesn’t he? The group is as much as Shaun Lopez (Far) and Chuck Doom’s as it is Chino ‘s pet project, the music being the sum of their combined creativity. Also much hyped is whether the band is a witch-house group, but I hate to break it to the sub-genre gestapo, they are not. Still, they hit the stage slowly as if we were at an art presentation, coming out one at a time to opening track ‘†hholyghs†’ as the final reveal. Chino is a smooth bastard if nothing else, acknowledging the audible oohs and ahhs from both sexes as he came out. It was an orgy of Chino fangirl and fanboy worship that made me wince with every orgasmic “I love you Chino!” cried out, but at least he lived up to it with his performance.

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The band was excellent as they cut through just about every song in the bands catalogue. Chino, in this setting is more like a Jazz chanteuse or a 70s R&B crooner; adopting his breathy soulful feminine wail, for the club acoustics and improvising here and there with certain phrases. There is no cheating live with Chino as so many others do, and he was in fine voice. He certainly enjoyed himself here and frequently stepped on to speakers that brought him closer to the crowd, each time making a connection with the fans. The unsung hero of the band is Lopez, who laid down a wonderful torrent of droning guitar parts, and slick keyboard work. If I had only one complaint tonight it was the electronic snare sound of Dino Campanella on the drums. The guy is a powerhouse player and a fine performer. However, he alternated between two clackity clacking snare timbres that ranged from mildly annoying to grating on my last fucking nerve all night. Oh well.

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Most of the night the audience was transported away between lush trip-hop and pop anthems, to shimmering post-rock flourishes. The killer set list included hits like ‘Bi†ches Brew’ and ‘†he Epilogue’, but also the underrated numbers like ‘Blk S†allion’. The simple stage set up with just the minmal giant crosses with alternating lights fit the music perfectly sparse. Someone should give their lighting designer a medal, because i have have seen folks go too far in the past. When they came back out to the steamy, packed room for the encore and did a cover of ‘Goodbye Horses’, I totally started freaking out and lost my shit. The song made famous by Q Lazzarus is famous for its inclusion in the film The Silence of Lambs and now has a big place in pop culture too. Being a massive fan of anything Thomas Harris, I went berzerk. The cover was totally unironic and worked well with the bands musical style. Closing out a fun night with ‘†he Years’, everyone was left exhausted and satisfied.

††† Set List:

hholyghs†

his Is a †rick

Bi†ches Brew

Fron†iers

Blk S†allion

Bermuda Locke†

elepa†hy

Prurien†

Nine†een Eigh†y Seven

he Epilogue

rophy

Op†ion

Encore:

Goodbye Horses (Q Lazzarus cover)

he Years

 

Crosses ††† on Facebook

Nostalghia on Facebook

Death Valley High on Facebook

 

WORDS BY KEITH (KEEFY) CHACHKES

PHOTOS BY GREG WALKOWIAK