Guitar Virtuoso Joe Satriani at LBC

Eddie May 9, 2024 No Comments

Longtime guitarists and pals Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, never ones to sit idle and rest on their laurels, embarked on their current tour on March 24^th. And while their tour ultimately ends in our fair city of Santa Rosa on May 12^th, fans can expect even more new music and more touring when time permits. 

Their latest collaboration and single is called “The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1” and finds the two friends playing on a whole other level than their guitar peers. For those who have yet to hear the collaboration, expect some shredding over the 6-minute-plus song. Audiophiles will remember that both started releasing new music at Relativity Records and would follow one another with a run at both Sony Music and Epic Records. From G3 tours to incessant touring as headliner artists, both guitarists’ trajectory has been upward with no limit in sight. 

Although known as a largely instrumental guitarist, Joe Satriani’s records have also proven him to be an able singer, helping him sell an astounding 10 million copies. Lifetime accolades include (but are not limited to) two Platinum, four Gold-certified records, and a whopping 15 Grammy nominations. And while he has hosted workshops under the G4 Experience banner, Joe has been quite prolific, releasing 19 full-length platters, with “The Elephants of Mars” (2022) being his latest offering.

We caught up with Satriani while crisscrossing the United States during what little downtime he has. 

Bohemian: You’re now 67 years old and still touring like a 20-year-old. How do you do it?

Joe Satriani: Music has always been a welcome source of energy for me. It keeps me going. I’m grateful I can continue to make music and art every single day. I try to challenge myself as much as possible and improve my playing skills daily. I do follow a healthy lifestyle, so that must count for something. 

Bohemian: I purchased ‘Not Of This Earth’ (1986) as a teenager and remember loving the myriad styles on the album. Was that your intent during your early years? 

Joe Satriani: My intent in those early years was the same as now; to be as original as I wanted to be, but not affected by the current trends. I had different ideas about melody and harmony that I needed to share with the world. The opening chords of ‘Not Of This Earth’ go a long way to explain my creative state of mind back then. My engineer and co-producer John Cuniberti shared my desire to make a groundbreaking album that sounded unique. His studio chops were amazing.

Bohemian: You’ve been signed both to Epic and Sony Music and are now part of the earMUSIC family. Does being on a major mean anything today as a largely instrumental guitarist? 

Joe Satriani: Being with Sony from 1995 to 2020 was a great experience, especially in the early years. They had a great national and international staff of super creative people. As the internet flourished, record companies started to scale down in size and their role in manufacturing and distributing music changed. A solo artist like myself wasn’t in need of their new, lean record company structure. It was an amicable split and we are still partners in my catalog from ‘Not OF This Earth’ up through 2020’s ‘Shapeshifting.’ Working with earMUSIC has been fantastic. They have expanded my music’s reach all around the world with their modern approach to artist relations and marketing.

Bohemian: You’re going to tour with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony playing vintage Van Halen songs. How are you managing to practice Eddie Van Halen’s parts during a national tour of your own?

Joe Satriani: While on tour, I put in an hour or so each day. It’s a joy and a labor of love. The Van Halen songs are interesting and fun, and the extra time focusing on another artist’s unique technique has had a beneficial effect on my own playing. I’ve been sneaking in some EVH stuff during the jams, getting a good rise out of the audiences for sure.

Bohemian: What do you like more about being a solo artist as opposed to projects like Chickenfoot? 

Joe Satriani: It’s apples and oranges when you get down to it. Both are super fun and artistically satisfying. I love being left alone to create music with no outside influence or distraction, but the band thing is not to be missed if you’re lucky enough to find collaborators you can really click with. I like having both opportunities to explore.

Bohemian: Will we be seeing a follow-up to ‘The Elephants of Mars’ (2022) anytime soon? Any songs already written or demo’d yet? 

Joe Satriani: Steve and I have embarked on a long-awaited collaboration which is a full album of new music. “The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1” is our first single from the album, and will be followed by subsequent releases as we progress with recording the album. We are looking at a Spring ’25 release date for the finished album followed by a tour.

Bohemian: As an aside, I was your Sony rep for many years based in the Sacramento Valley and ran an in-store at Skip’s Music for the ‘Super Colossal’ record some 18 years ago. Do you ever do these anymore given the state of the industry? 

Joe Satriani: Skip’s Music! Yes, I remember Skip’s. I miss those days of visiting record /music stores and signing LPs, CDs, cassettes, etc., but change is a constant. Those events have been replaced by the VIP Experience at each gig. Steve and I have been doing special Q&A sessions with VIP ticket holders at the concert venues each afternoon and they are really fun. We get to spend some quality time with about a hundred fans answering all their questions and getting some photos taken. It’s a better experience for us and the fans than the crush of the old in-store appearances.

Bohemian: Why not dub the current tour with Steve Vai a G3 extension and add another guitarist as you just did with Eric Johnson? Are you playing even more songs together on this co-headliner? 

Joe Satriani: The Satch/Vai tour is like no other tour Steve and I have ever done. Can you even think of another tour that focused on two different solo guitar players that have been playing together since childhood? Steve was one of my first students when he was just 12 years old, and I just 15. We’ve known each other and worked together ever since we were kids. This tour is a celebration of that long, enduring relationship. It’s truly special for us.

Joe Satriani plays the Luther Burbank Center For The Arts located at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa. Steve Vai co-headlines the night’s festivities. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts promptly at 7:30pm, Sunday, May 12. Tickets start at $79 and can be purchased at https://lutherburbankcenter.org. All ages are welcome. There’s certainly no reason you can’t celebrate Mother’s Day with a little guitar calisthenics. So good even your mother would approve. 

(North Bay Bohemian)

Fleet Foxes at Mill Valley Music Fest

Eddie May 8, 2024 No Comments

Now in its third year, Marin County’s largest-drawing outdoor music festival returns with a lineup sure to please even the most avid music aficionado.

Curated by the fine folks who hold down the annual Noise Pop festival, Mill Valley Music Fest’s musical docket this year is quite impressive, with performances by Fleet Foxes, Greensky Bluegrass, Thee Sacred Souls, Margo Price, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Fruit Bats, Rebirth Brass Band, Danielle Ponder, Eric Lindell and Elliott Peck.

Said Michelle Swing, CEO of Noise Pop Industries, “Mill Valley Music Fest is coming back bigger and better than ever in ’24. Major kudos to the team for curating such an impressive and eclectic lineup, one that really stands out from the crowd and attracts music lovers of all kinds to Mill Valley.”

First-time concert-goers can expect myriad food options, craft beer from the immediate and outer-lying areas, a dedicated gaming area, a roller skating rink, art installations and a whole lot more in a setting like no other. Nestled in a redwood tree-surrounded plot, MVMF excels at providing fans with the consummate show experience.

Founding member Robin Pecknold has been steering the ship for indie rock greats Fleet Foxes since 2006. And although nowhere as prolific as his adoring fans would hope for—he and his collective have only released four full-length albums, three extended plays and one live record—their latest record released in late 2020, the simply and aptly dubbed Shore, has been their most enduring.

Recorded before and during the pandemic, it finally saw the light of day when the music world needed it most. In many ways, it signaled Pecknold’s need to control his surroundings when, in fact, everything around him was falling apart.

Standout tracks from their ambitious 15-track record include (but are not limited to) “Can I Believe In You?,” “Sunblind,” the short-but-sweet album opener “Wading in Waist-High Water” and “Maestranza” are filled with sweeping highs and lows. Shore treats its listener to large-scale sweeping melodies with a lovely array of instrumentation giving way to a newer, more emboldened Fleet Foxes experience.

Shore has also received numerous accolades both in the press and on countless independent radio stations all over the U.S. After ending up on myriad 2020 year-end lists, the record was featured in such disparate publications as Mojo, The New Yorker, Uncut, USA Today, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, SPIN, Stereogum and VICE, as well as on NPR. More importantly, the music found new fans at multiple radio formats.

For those fans expecting a repeat of their earlier output, it may be a head-scratcher. Marking their most complete collection of songs to date, it’s a heady and oftentimes depressing affair that always seems to find its own light at the end of the tunnel. Whether or not that is Pecknold’s intent, Shore is an all-inclusive affair that beckons to be enjoyed in its entirety rather than piece-by-piece, and especially so in a live setting.

And for the band’s many fans who saw them with My Morning Jacket at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley back in August 2023, their return is greatly anticipated.

Fleet Foxes play the Mill Valley Music Festival at Friends Field, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, May 11. Tickets start at $145 per day. 2-day passes are $239, and VIP options are available at millvalleymusicfest.com. All ages are welcome.

(Pacific Sun)

Tu-Ner in Tune with Sweetwater

Eddie April 30, 2024 No Comments

“Tu-Ner for Lovers” is the latest release from drummer Pat Mastelotto, guitarist Markus Reuter and bassist Trey Gunn.

Fans of King Crimson need no introduction to the trio, as they already released the highly ambitious Contact Information two-disc record set via the MoonJune Records label last August.

Although the new collection comes out just days before the guys hit the road starting on May 9 in Phoenix, Arizona, Marin County and its neighboring residents will be delighted to know the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley is among one of the first five shows on their abbreviated itinerary.

For the uninitiated, drummer Pat Mastelotto has proven himself quite the ambidextrous drummer, having played with such disparate acts as Mr. Mister, XTC, David Sylvian, The Rembrandts, Kimmo Pohjonen, King Crimson and Stick Men.

Trey Gunn, who is known in many musician circles as the master of the Warr guitar, also has an impressive resume, having worked with King Crimson, David Sylvian, Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, Happy Rhodes, Puscifer, Tool and John Paul Jones.

Guitarist Markus Reuter is also a versatile musician, having conquered the Chapman Stick and then later the U8 Touch Guitar. Reuter has quite the catalog under his belt and has released numerous solo albums along with collaborating with Gary Husband, Robert Rich, J. Peter Schwalm, Mark Wingfield and Devin Townsend’s touring band.

Others may already know him from his work with Stick Men (also with Pat Mastelotto and Tony Levin from Peter Gabriel and King Crimson fame), TRUCE (with Asaf Sirkis and Fabio Trentini) and the fabulous Markus Reuter/Tim Motzer/Kenny Grohowski project.

We caught up with drummer Pat Mastelotto while in preparation for yet another run of shows.

Pacific Sun: Tu-Ner has a brand new album coming out May 3. How long have these songs been brewing in the background?

Pat Mastelotto: The new album coming out is taken from our live tour last September. They’re basically improvs. We do play songs and several from the King Crimson catalog that Trey and I participated in. We also do others from Trey’s back catalog, Markus’ catalog, some stuff from Tu and Tu-Ner, along with a Stick Men song. However, we are more excited to put out the freshest jams. We put some of the strongest moments together, mixed them in a blender and came out with a cohesive combination of tracks taken from several of the shows.

PS: You’ve been making music on and off with Markus Reuter for 19 years now. Will we see more music from the duo aside from Tu-Ner?

PM: We’re always up to this and that, so even behind the scenes we’re helping each other with different projects. Will there be another duet? I’m not sure. I couldn’t predict that right now, but I am trying to arrange a time for Markus to come join me and record later this year or early next year.

PS: Tu-Ner’s latest is fantastic but begs the question: Will you be playing these compositions verbatim or throwing in even more improv?

PM: Ha! Besides playing songs, we play some of the more epic King Crimson pieces that Trey and I were involved with, as well as some Stick Men material and stuff off of Trey’s and Markus’ solo records. However, the band is largely a vehicle for improvisation, research and development.

Will we play the last record “verbatim?” The short answer is no and highly unlikely. That stuff was all played off the cuff. It was improvised, and then we did some editing as it was being mixed. Those are all live performances. You can expect something very similar, but not the same. The shows are unique and vary depending on the vibe of the venue.

Tu-Ner plays Sweetwater Music Hall, located at 19 Corte Madera Ave. in Mill Valley. Doors open at 7pm, and the show kicks off at 8pm, Tuesday, May 14. Tickets are $30 advance and can be purchased at sweetwatermusichall.com. All ages are welcome. For more info, visit Tu-Ner.com.

(Pacific Sun)

‘Petty Theft’ headlines Bodega Bay fest

Eddie April 29, 2024 No Comments

For over half a century, the annual Fisherman’s Festival in Bodega Bay has been a destination for live music, crafts, food, entertainment and more.

And for those who love their libations, expect more than 25 Sonoma County wines and a plethora of top-shelf beer choices.

There are also many activities for the kids, such as face painting, spin paintings, games and a touch tank tide pool. Foodies can relish in the myriad eats, which include barbecued oysters, fish & chips, clam chowder and a handful of food trucks serving different fare.

At the heart of the outdoor festival are this year’s musical guests, on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, which include The Unauthorized Rolling Stones (a Rolling Stones tribute), Rotten Tomatoes (’70s and ’80s rock), The Pinball Wizards (a Who tribute), 7 Summers (a Morgan Wallen tribute), The 7th Sons (’60s to ’80s classic rock) and the longest-running and most successful Tom Petty tribute, Marin County’s Petty Theft.

We caught up with Petty Theft guitarist Monroe Grisman as the band was finishing a slew of April gigs and preparing for yet another handful of May shows, including headlining Saturday’s Bodega Bay festivities.

Bohemian: Petty Theft has been together for 21 years now. That’s quite an achievement for an original or tribute band. How many of the members were there from the beginning?

Monroe Grisman: Our founding members are Django Bayless (bassist/vocals) and Dan Durkin (lead singer/acoustic guitar). In the early years, there was some turnover in the line-up before we settled into our core group, which has now been performing together for 16 years. Our newest member, Steven Seydler (keyboards), has been in the band for six years.

B: How does the band juggle its members’ schedules with you and the drummer playing in AZ/DZ (an AC/DC tribute), your wife and you playing in the April & Monroe Grisman project, Dan doing solo shows and more?

MG: All of us play in other bands and still write and record our own original music too. Singer Dan Durkin also plays with The Illeagles (Eagles tribute) and Revolver (’60s tribute) and works a lot doing solo acoustic shows. Michael Papenburg (guitar) and Steven Seydler both do a lot of session work and also write music. Michael also teaches at the School Of Rock.

Adam Berkowitz (drums) and I are both in two other bands together, AZ/DZ (AC/DC tribute) and The 85’s (’80s dance). I also play in a reggae classics group called Soul Jah Family Band. My wife, April, and I have recently written a bunch of songs and have started recording and performing out locally under our names. As far as how do we juggle all this, I got two words for you: Google Calendar.

B: Any advice for budding musicians wishing to start a tribute?

MG: A lot of people think that starting a tribute band is an easy way to start packing clubs. While the process may be easier at first, as the songs are already written and the road map, musically speaking, is there, you still have to be good. It can be a double-edged sword, as fans already know the songs (and well).

It generally takes at least three years to really start hitting your stride playing the music together as a band. Petty Theft didn’t start drawing our own crowds until about five or six years into it, in part because our line-up was still in flux, but also because we were still developing our chemistry as a band. Some people think that tribute bands have it easy, but we have worked our butts off. My advice? Do it because you love doing it and always have fun doing so.

Petty Theft (a Tom Petty tribute) plays the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival inside Westside Regional Park located at 2400 Westshore Rd. in Bodega Bay. For more info and tickets, visit bbfishfest.org. All ages are welcome for this family-friendly event.

(North Bay Bohemian)

KVMR Celtic Festival, May 3 to 5 @ Nevada County Fairgrounds

Eddie April 26, 2024 No Comments

Now in its 26th year of producing California’s greatest Celtic music festivals, this gathering features international, national, and local acts over three fun-filled days. Whether you’re a fan of Celtic music or not makes little difference as this curated festival delivers something for everyone.

Just some of the many, wholly different musical acts on this year’s docket include (but are certainly not limited to) Heron Valley (pictured), Old Blind Dogs, Boho Celtic Orchestra, Mec Lir, Wake The Dead, Socks In The Frying Pan, Cassidy Joy, and more. Also on the docket this year is The Friday Night Ceilidh featuring musical acts Ryan McKasson & Colin Cotter and Summer McCall for an additional fee. Featured Irish dance schools include returning troupes McKeever School of Irish Dance and Kennelly School of Irish Dance.

For those not in the know, the KVMR Celtic Festival now draws well over 7,000 music lovers over the weekend and has multiple demonstration stages, a fabulous youth arts program, magic expos, animal exhibitions, art, dance and collaborative singing groups. Additionally, it is the largest fundraising event of the year for KVMR Community Radio which operates as a non-profit. Tune in to KVMR for updated schedules of live broadcasts at www.kvmr.org.

For those looking to wander, shop, and engage in myriad activities, the Celtic Marketplace now features a whopping 100+ vendors with artisans selling and showcasing their wares along with storytelling groups. From Scottish Highland Games to Guild & Clan encampments (Living History), children’s activities to workshops, the options at this family-friendly gathering are endless.

The 2024 KVMR Celtic Festival takes place at the Nevada County Fairgrounds and is located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley. Tickets can be purchased at www.kvmrcelticfestival.org in advance or at the door for an extra charge. Single day options are available for both Saturday and Sunday. Adult tickets start at $70 for single day passes.

Regular children’s tickets (6-16) start at $45 for single day passes. Children 0-5 are free. Both RV and dry camping passes are also available for a nominal fee.

(Rio Linda Online)

Denver, Colorado’s own WAYFARER to bring their own brand of black metal to the Cafe Colonial. May 1.

Eddie April 24, 2024 No Comments

Now into their 2nd decade as a band, American black metal merchants Wayfarer will be making their way to the Sacramento Valley to showcase their distinct take on the black metal genre. Sacramento’s stop is just the second show of an ambitious full-fledged tour with Sonja that will take the band from Portland, Oregon to Lincoln, New England in just under a month.

Photo credit : Frank Guerra

For those not paying attention, they issued their ‘American Gothic’ album on Profound Lore Records last October and have since received numerous accolades from the press including landing on ‘Best Of 2023’ lists at Rolling Stone, Decibel Magazine, and Metal Hammer UK (to name just a few). One part black metal, one part Americana fare, and another gothic country, their head-scratching sound is sure to turn heads upon first listen. With a discography that now includes five full-lengths, one single, and a demo, fans Of Wayfarer have been able to watch their progression from largely a bedroom project to a veritable live force.

Highlights from the band’s eight track opus include “The Thousand Tombs Of Western Promise,” “The Cattle Thief,” “False Constellation,” and the mesmerizing instrumental interlude of “1934.” Fans of Borknagar, Enslaved, and dissonant black metal will appreciate the band’s wall of sound as well as their attention to detail. And while the group draws from myriad influences, these songs stand up nicely both in the band’s and label’s catalog and as part of the larger black metal diaspora.

At present, the band features Isaac Faulk (drums), James Hansen (bass, vocals), Shane McCarthy (guitars, vocals), and Joey Truscelli (guitars). Said founding member McCarthy about the upcoming tour dates, “This tour has been a long time coming for us – it will actually be the band’s first ever full US headlining tour in our 10+ year history. We are looking forward to hitting some places we have never been before and, of course, returning to several of the places that have always brought it in the past. We are thrilled to bring ‘American Gothic’ to the stage in a big way.”

Wayfarer play the Cafe Colonial located at 3520 Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento. Rounding out the bill is tourmate Sonja and locals Dessication. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $18 at http://www.cafecolonial916.com. Cafe Colonial is located at 3520 Stockton Blvd.. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts promptly at 8pm. As always, all ages are welcome. Get there early to score some fine Cafe Colonial food fare.

(Capital Chaos TV)

Germany’s BLIND GUARDIAN return to the Regency Ballroom yet again to shake the Bay Area to its core. April 28.

Eddie April 22, 2024 No Comments

Blind Guardian’s 22-date US tour supporting ‘The God Machine’ started on April 18th at The Fillmore in Maryland and will inevitably end with a coveted headlining slot at the 2024 Milwaukee Metal Fest in mid-May. For those not in the know, it was preceded by the band’s highly successful ‘Somewhere Far Beyond Tour’ throughout across Germany.

And while the power metal quartet has been nowhere as prolific as their adoring fans would have wished, ‘The God Machine’ stands up nicely among their storied catalog without sounding dated nor derivative. Highlights from the latest album issued on Nuclear Blast Records include ‘Damnation,” “Secrets of the American Gods,” “Deliver Us From Evil,” and ’Architects Of Doom.”

Not ones to sit idle, the group also issued a wonderful collection dubbed ‘Legacy of the Dark Lands’ under the banner of the Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra back in 2019.

At present, the band includes founding members Hansi Kürsch (vocals) and André Olbrich (lead guitar), along with mainstays Marcus Siepen (rhythm guitar) and newest addition Frederik Ehmke (drums).

We caught up with vocalist Hansi Kürsch during the opening night of their US tour to get the lowdown on all things Blind Guardian-related and then some.

Capital Chaos TV: ‘The God Machine’ was released in 2022 after a seven year drought. Why the long wait?

Hansi Kürsch: There are plenty of reasons. On one side, we lost two years due to Corona; all plans had to be skipped. We also had two years of live activities after ‘Beyond the Red Mirror’ where composing was not possible at all. Blame the last years on our passion for perfection!

Capital Chaos TV: You have a lot of catalog to pull from each night. How often do you switch up the set list on a US tour?

Hansi Kürsch: We play mostly the same songs each night to be in control. We have approximately two different songs in the set each night to make sure we do not get too confident about what is coming next. It’s a mixture of routine and surprise. There are around 30 songs we can chose from, and a set contains 14 to 16 songs depending on the night.

Capital Chaos TV: What current bands are on your radar that you listen to regularly?

Hansi Kürsch: We have Night Demon along with us in North America. Before that, we had Sorcerer from Sweden and German band The Night Eternal. These are bands we like and we wanted to have with us. They are appealing to our audience, which is a top priority thing. All of these bands have a great chance to become bigger.

Capital Chaos TV: How do you and the others deal with the 22 hours you’re not on stage on a typical US tour? Any regimens you follow?

Hansi Kürsch: Everybody is free to do whatever he wants to during most of the other 22 hours. Everyone‘s focus is on the next upcoming show, though. I‘d say that 50% of our time is reserved for warm-ups, soundchecks and show-related stuff. The rest of the time we try to visit comic or record stores. When we have the chance, there is also a bit of regular sight-seeing involved. We love to visit churches and graveyards.

Capital Chaos TV: Does Blind Guardian still make residuals on previous Century Media and No Remorse records releases? Any plans to get the catalog back in full and re-issued by Nuclear Blast?

Hansi Kürsch: I think Nuclear Blast did great in distributing all our old records in every possible way. I don’t think we will add the old Century Media versions to the catalog as that would be a bit too much. Our focus is the future so we keep our focus not only on our legacy, but also on new songs that are going to be distributed on physical formats.

Capital Chaos TV: Some acts today live off of sync licensing in addition to live shows and merchandising. What films, commercials, etc have you been featured in? Is there anybody working on your behalf to secure more placement?

Hansi Kürsch: We take this as it comes. We have a bunch of stuff being brought in by several partners. Nuclear Blast and our publishing partners are good in acquiring such things. We also actively contacted many computer game companies ourselves. I might be the wrong one in telling you what we are involved in, but it ranges from computer games to movies, TV trailers, and TV- series. We take it as it comes. In this regard, we are very old school.

Capital Chaos TV: What do you attribute the band’s longevity to? It’s your 40th anniversary this year as a band and you are still bringing in newer generations.

Hansi Kürsch: The main reason – as with any band being in the music business for so long – is not only absolute passion and dedication to the music, but also confidence about our own musical mission. People keep saying that we’ve had a long run, but it does not feel like 40 years. I am grateful for the fact that younger generations are also loving our music. This is partly due to older fans passing the Guardian spirit to their children who became dedicated fans. Nowadays there are kids who are just now catching the spirit of our music because it is moving something within them. That is a precious thing.

Blind Guardian play The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco located at 1300 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. Support comes from Night Demon. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts promptly at 8pm. All ages are welcome. Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased at www.theregencyballroom.com.

(Capital Chaos TV)

New York’s legendary CRO-MAGS set to tear the roof off Old Roseville’s Goldfield Trading Post. April 25.

Eddie April 22, 2024 No Comments

Since forming 43 years ago, Cro-Mags would eventually turn the hardcore punk / metal scene upside down releasing some of the genre’s most important records:  ‘Age Of Quarrel (1986) and ‘Best Wishes’ (1989). And while the band would be riddled with various line-up changes and more commotion than necessary, its founding member Harley Flanagan has been flying the flag for New York hardcore and its scene for nearly half a century.

Photo by Mathieu Bredeau

At present, Cro-Mags personnel list includes Harley Flanagan (bass, vocals), Christian Lawrence (drums), Dave Sharpe (guitar), and Dominic DiBenedetto (guitar).

And while Flanagan would find himself embroiled in a lengthy trial over the band’s moniker, it was decided in April 2019 that he would eventually reach a settlement with former Cro-Mags members John Joseph (vocals) and Mackie Jayson (drums) that Flanagan would now retain the name and its trademark. Harley would soon receive a permanent injunction against his former members.

Their latest album – ‘In The Beginning’ – signaled a return to form even though released after a 20 year wait back in 2020. Since then, Flanagan and company have toured both in North America and Europe and with great results. Additionally, they also issued a three-song EP in 2019 featuring Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell appropriately dubbed ‘From The Grave,’ which was the precursor to their long-awaited full-length. The band also issued even more new music with a six-song EP in 2020 .

Sadly, Cro-Mags were forced to live stream a free performance from SIR studios as their big show with Body Count at Webster Hall in New York was canceled due to COVID restrictions back in March 2020. However, the event was an online success and one of the first of its kind.

Fans will be pleased to know Harley and company are in the middle of a lengthy US tour which will see the band co-headlining large capacity rooms with New York’s Helmet. Starting on April 14th in Michigan, the bands will criss-cross the country eventually ending on May 19th in Ohio.

Cro-Mags play Goldfield Trading Post located at 238 Vernon Street in Roseville. Also on the bill is Helmet. Doors open at 7pm and the show kicks off promptly at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 at www.goldfieldtradingpost.com. All ages are welcome.

(Capital Chaos TV)

Hellbender Releases ‘Scumlordz’ EP

Eddie April 16, 2024 No Comments

Sonoma County-based metal bands of all styles come and go, but the four guys in Hellbender have always been inclusive when it comes to playing shows and have outlasted many others.

Rather than bringing a homogeneous cast out each and every time they play, Hellbender’s varied bills are what makes them a veritable live force and bring back their own and newbie fans time and time again.

With its four members part of many well-known and lesser-known bands, Hellbender’s strength lies in its members’ myriad influences. And although at first listen most would categorize their music as metallic hardcore, upon further inspection the guys are doing something much bigger with nods to classic thrash and New York’s underground punk scene.

And with a brand new EP waiting in the wings, the band is looking to play more in 2024 and, more importantly, broaden their fan-base playing coveted support slots with national acts when possible.

At present, Hellbender is rounded out by core members Eric Lee (bass), Greg “Clee” Clecak (guitar) and vocalist Bill Scheffler. Their latest addition is drum phenomenon Eric Strand. For those not in the know, Lee was part of Petaluma Junior High’s first metal band to play a talent show, the much-talked-about Sacrilege featuring the late Miles McNaught (also from Accolades) on guitar.

Bohemian: You guys have been around for a minute. Hellbender started in what year?

Eric Lee: Clee and myself started this band back in 2012, with Billy joining shortly after. We wanted to be the heaviest thing around, and that has always been the focus. We have been through six drummers, but not by choice. Our current drummer, Eric Strand, we have known since the ’80s.

B: For the newbies out there, what were members’ previous bands?

EL: I’ve been playing with guitarist Clee since 1996, including Porterhouse, Wingnut and Crimeseen. I was also in Accolades and an extreme metal duo called Concoction. Bill has been in several bands, such as Indulgence, Seeds of Hate, Bombsquad 707 and S.E.E.D. Eric (Strand) has been in too many bands to name, but he’s mostly known as a former member of Engage, Victims Family, Roadside Bombs, Closing In and is currently playing with Lucky Ol’ Bones.

B: What is the title of the new CD, and will it be pressed on vinyl as well?

EL: The EP is called Scumlordz. It’s a title that had been floating around since the beginning of the band. I would love to get it out on vinyl, but we are going to wait on that for now.

B: How many songs didn’t make the record? Where did those riffs initially come from?

EL: This was all new music. All five songs made the cut and we didn’t really have anything else. It was stuff I wrote during the pandemic that was recorded on my iPhone. Clee also had a bunch of new riffs, so we would get together at his house and try to organize parts before we played it with everyone. Riffs would also come up in the practice sessions. It was very much a group effort. We wrote with Eric (Strand) for about a year. The whole thing takes time and you have to try different ideas and melodies to hear and feel what works. We also used Dropbox a lot. Songs got rearranged a dozen ways.

B: You’re also playing a huge 8-band bill at the UC Theatre with New York’s Biohazard and Forbidden. How did that come about?

EL: Since we worked with Craig & Chris on the record, it was a natural progression to land a Forbidden gig. We are extremely honored to be part of the first Omega Fest on Saturday, May 4th. New York’s Biohazard hasn’t played here in 30 years. Also on the bill are Exciter, Warbringer, Hatriot, DeathGrave and Frolic.

B: Why the Phoenix Theater for your CD release show over other Sonoma County venues?

EL: Everyone in this band has basically grown up there, and we all have played countless shows since the ’80s. During the pandemic, we had no studio, and the great Tom Gaffey allowed us to do weekly rehearsals there until we finally got our own studio. The Phoenix is our home, so it’s a no-brainer to do a release party there.

Hellbender plays the Phoenix Theater, located at 201 Washington St., Petaluma. Supporting acts include Right To Remain, Here Comes The Comet, and Prostitution. Tickets are $12 in advance and can be purchased at thephoenixtheater.com. Doors open at 7pm, Saturday, April 20, and the show starts promptly at 8pm. All ages are welcome.

(North Bay Bohemian)

Cult band Panchiko to headline Ace Of Spades. April 17.

Eddie April 11, 2024 No Comments

Photo by Gabe Dreschler

Although point of origin shouldn’t be an issue, Panchiko hail from Nottingham, England. And while the band’s inception date has been hard to pin down, it’d be safer to say to it was over two decades ago and change. Their story, however, is an odd one and deserves your attention.

After releasing the ‘D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L’ demo in 2000 on a small batch of CDRs, the band’s music would sit dormant until an avid music fan discovered the demo in a small shop in Nottingham some 16 years later. Through the powers of social media, a 4chan user and new Panchiko fan contacted the group in 2020. The band would later re-issue the recordings as well as releasing more digital and physical media in the form of compilations and singles. At present, the song “D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L” has gone viral and racked up over 25,000,000 dedicated streams with other tracks “All They Wanted” and “Laputa” clocking an astounding 17,000,000 and 13,000,000 streams respectively.

For those not in the know, Panchiko includes core members Owain Davies (vocals, guitar, sampling, production, piano, artwork), Andrew “Andy” Wright (guitar, keyboard, sampling, sequencing, engineering, production, lyrics), and Shaun Ferreday (bass, bass programming, effects). The band is rounded out by newer musicians Robert Harris (guitar) and John Schofield (drums, percussion).

Today, Panchiko are touring in support of their first full-length effort – the oddly-named ‘Failed at Math(s)’ – released in 2023. Starting in Berkeley and just a day before their Sacramento show, the tour will inevitably end over a month later in San Diego with two headlining shows at majestic Southern California venue, The Observatory.

Fans of both the anime culture as well as electronic, shoe-gaze, and melancholy lo-fi indie fare will appreciate the songs found on their latest album. Highlights from the 8-song offering include the title track, “Gwen Everest,” and the largely instrumental “Breakfast Seance” which could easily have been an outtake from Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’ release or a Clinic B-side.

We caught up with Andy Wright while the band was preparing for their pending US tour.

Capital Chaos TV: Will there be more shows after the tour ends on May 19th in San Diego?

Andy Wright: We’re planning some more shows and hoping to do another month to cover all the lovely places we had to miss on this tour later on in the year. We love to play to folks as often as possible, but we have families at home in the UK that we occasionally need to check in with.

Capital Chaos TV: What do you recall about your first US tour? Any highlights?

Andy Wright: The first tour was just incredible from start to end. None of us had spent any significant amount of time in the US before. We loved pretty much every show, but the highlight for us was on our second tour. In Los Angeles, someone made a marriage proposal on stage. They said yes!

Capital Chaos TV: How long did it take to write and record ‘Failed At Math(s)’? Any songs that didn’t make the record?

Andy Wright: At least half the songs from ‘Failed At Math(s)’ had been written 25 years ago, so we had a bit of a head start on the process. There were plenty of songs that didn’t make it onto the album for one reason or another, but we’re proud of the songs we released. The whole thing took about a year to finish whilst we were all juggling full time jobs, families and a new born baby.

Capital Chaos TV: Are there any other musical projects you or the other members are involved in aside from Panchiko?

Andy Wright: All of us have worked on various projects over the years, but we prefer our lovely Panchiko friends to find out about our old bands by themselves. It’s more fun that way.

Panchiko play Ace Of Spades located at 1417 R Street in Downtown Sacramento. You Ain’t Doing That Kitty Kat opens the show. Tickets start at $38 and can be purchased at www.aceofspades.com. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. All ages are welcome.

(Capital Chaos TV)