concerts....who you seeing?

[LordMortis]

We eatin' pork tonight!

Was thinking about that show. I don't actually know any of PIGs work but I like the current lineup. Hope it was a good time.

[Skinypupy]

Zeal & Ardor tonight was absolutely epic. Best show I’ve seen this year, easily. Just a masterful performance from start to finish with a ton of insane energy for sold-out small club show. Gaerea were superb openers as well.

Only downsides were the two assholes a couple of us had to physically escort out of the pit, and the fact that I’m going to be so sore tomorrow I won’t be able to move. Totally worth it though.

There are some shows you go to and think “man, I’m bugged that I paid so much for that show”. King Diamond a couple weeks ago was one of those. Then there are shows that you think “man, I would have gladly paid 2 or 3 times more to have that experience”. Tonight was one of those. It may be a personal top 10 show for me. I’ll have to sit it’s it for a couple days and see what I think after the post-show high wears off.

Bonus: I even caught the pick that he threw out at the end.

[disarm]

Long way off, but I just bought tickets to see Coheed & Cambria, Mastodon and Periphery in May... should be a kickass show!

[hitbyambulance]

Zeal & Ardor tonight was absolutely epic. Best show I’ve seen this year, easily. Just a masterful performance from start to finish with a ton of insane energy for sold-out small club show. Gaerea were superb openers as well.

did Zetra also open, by chance?

[Dramatist]

I found out today that my friend bought me a ticket to see the Ocean Blue in January. They’re going to play their first two albums and I’m excited.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skinypupy]

Zeal & Ardor tonight was absolutely epic. Best show I’ve seen this year, easily. Just a masterful performance from start to finish with a ton of insane energy for sold-out small club show. Gaerea were superb openers as well.

did Zetra also open, by chance?

They did. I think I would probably like listening to their albums (I do dig me some goth/darkwave), but they were a real snoozefest live.

And after a couple week’s reflection, that show did earn a place in my personal top 10.

[Lassr]

Taking the wife, for her birthday, to see Trevor Hall in Nashville.

[hitbyambulance]

Zeal & Ardor tonight was absolutely epic. Best show I’ve seen this year, easily. Just a masterful performance from start to finish with a ton of insane energy for sold-out small club show. Gaerea were superb openers as well.

did Zetra also open, by chance?

They did. I think I would probably like listening to their albums (I do dig me some goth/darkwave), but they were a real snoozefest live.

And after a couple week’s reflection, that show did earn a place in my personal top 10.

i heard their collab with Sólveig Matthildur (of Kælan Mikla) and i am going to check out their latest full length album - production sounds good

[Skinypupy]

Definitely a thumbs up for their music. Had a very Clan of Xymox/London After Midnight vibe to it.

[Sudy]

Just got tickets to Viagra Boys next September. I am STOKED.

They've become one of my favourite bands over the past couple years. Thanks to hepcat for introducing them to me.

My only regret is that I missed their show at my favourite, super-small venue in 2022. They either weren't as on my radar back then, or I wasn't attending concerts post-COVID yet. That would have been such an amazing experience. The venue for the upcoming concert is medium-sized, but still fairly intimate.

[Skinypupy]

They Might Be Giants are coming in June. Although I haven’t followed anything they’ve done in 20 years, I’d still love to take Mrs Skinypupy. We listened to them a ton when we were first married.

General Admission tickets (at a shitty venue) are $130 each. Noooooooooope. Don’t like them that much.

[Dramatist]

About to see The Ocean Blue at a small venue in Houston. They’re playing their first two albums and I’m excited. I haven’t been to a show in ages.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sudy]

I'm not a huge Paradise Lost fan, but if I've never seen them and they're doing a short North American tour that stops at my favourite tiny venue, I have to go, right? Depending on the set list? Some of the dates are getting Trouble supporting. Toronto's getting Gigan, whom I'm unfamiliar with but at an ear-glance I appreciate their jib.

I feel like I'll get burned if they don't play the handful of songs I love.

[Skinypupy]

I'm not a huge Paradise Lost fan, but if I've never seen them and they're doing a short North American tour that stops at my favourite tiny venue, I have to go, right? Depending on the set list? Some of the dates are getting Trouble supporting. Toronto's getting Gigan, whom I'm unfamiliar with but at an ear-glance I appreciate their jib.

I feel like I'll get burned if they don't play the handful of songs I love.

I’m not a big fan, but have seen them a few times at festivals. They’ll be at Deathfest, so I’ll likely catch them again in May.

Not being overly familiar with their music, I find them to be pretty boring live, tbh. Nick has good pipes, but not much in the way of stage presence.

[Sudy]

Thanks, I always appreciate your advice. Their recent concerts have included most of my favourite songs, but there's no way to be sure that's the set list we'll get. And the tickets are priced at $50 CAD which, while not unreasonable, is more than I like to pay for bands I'm lukewarm on. But it's such a wonderful stinky little venue. I mean when I saw PIG there a couple of months ago my face was basically buried in Raymond Watts's crotch which completely transformed the experience.

Guess I'll be playing their most popular tracks all night as well as giving Gigan a spin to try to help me make up my mind before tickets sell out.

[hitbyambulance]

CULPRITS next Wednesday (Digable Planets/Shabazz Palaces backing band) at The Triple Door - and only $10 !

[Dramatist]

The Ocean Blue concert was fantastic. Small room, the band was very laid back, the sound was great and the show was almost three hours. They played 28 songs!

I really enjoyed the performances of whole albums. It really kind of transported me back in time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hitbyambulance]

Jan 17 - Alan Sparhawk / Circuit des Yeux @ The Crocodile [this one is a maybe]
Feb 25 - Apocalyptica @ The Moore Theater [they're going back to their early days and doing an entire Metallica set]
Feb 28 - Молцат Дома @ Showbox Sodo
Mar 11 - Alcest / MONO / Kælan Mikla @ The Neptune
Mar 16 - Russian Circles / Pelican @ Showbox
Apr 04 - BEAK> @ Neumos
Apr 25 - Mogwai @ Showbox
May 08 - Godspeed You! Black Emperor @ The Neptune [this one is a maybe, but why not]
Jun 02 - Napalm Death / Melvins / The Hard-Ons / Dark Sky Burial @ Showbox

[Skinypupy]

I only have a couple shows between now and Desthfest at end of May

- Decapitated/Incantation - Feb 19
- Tyr/Aether Realm - March 1
- Chat Pile - March 5
- Swallow the Sun/Hakiri for the Sky/Ghost Bath - March 12 (maybe)

[Lassr]

Wife got tickets to see Metallica in Nashville. They were pricey so I'm not going, I'll walk her to the venue (Nissan Stadium) and back to the condo. I'll hang out in the bars while she is there. it is a bucket list for her. I never really liked them.

[LordMortis]

So again, I'm finally thinking about getting out to my first show. OK Go on April 26th. However, no mention yet of pricing and by the time I get to buy tickets, who knows?

Fanclub Presale: Tue. 1/21 @ 12pm
Artist Presale: Wed. 1/22 @ 12pm
Majestic Presale: Wed. 1/22 @ 12pm
Spotify Presale: Thu. 1/23 @ 12pm
Public On sale: Fri. 1/24 @ 12pm

[Skinypupy]

Nine Inch Nails just announced a US tour this summer. Last time I saw them was in 2006, just hoping I can afford tickets to this one.

[hitbyambulance]

going to Kraftwerk in April, despite a) having seen them twice before and their live show is the opposite of exciting as they're all standing behind their laptop podiums the entire time - are they actually doing anything?, b) Ralf is the only original member left (with Florian having died in 2020) and c) their STILL not having released a new album since 2003 (and the one before that was in 1986 !) and i think this is more or less the exact same set list as their previous shows in the past two decades - but still, how many late-60s/early-70s 'Krautrock' acts are still active to this day...

[Sudy]

Nine Inch Nails just announced a US tour this summer. Last time I saw them was in 2006, just hoping I can afford tickets to this one.

Apparently some folks on Reddit datamined Ticketmaster's site before they removed the info, and depending on the venue tickets range from a minimum of $45-$130, and a maximum of up to $230 (though the latter may be a Canadian value). Take it with a grain of salt though.

I have very little interest of stadium shows unless I can get floor tickets, and I don't think I'm willing to pay what they'll be for this event. NIN would be a bucket list band though, so I guess I'll wait in line tomorrow and see what they offer me just in case it seems worthwhile.

[disarm]

I've seen Nine Inch Nails three times...Fragility tour in 2000, Live: With Teeth in 2006, and the 2023 tour after Hesitation Marks was released. Those three shows will forever stand as some of best concerts I've ever seen, and I would love to see this new tour. Unfortunately, the limited number of shows near me and exact locations/dates make it unlikely that I'll be able to make it this time around.

I definitely can't commit to tickets tomorrow, so I'll also be stuck paying ridiculous secondary market prices if I figure out a date to go...

[Sudy]

I GOT FLOOR TICKETS TO NIN!

Holy shit! I was about 1,200th in the queue. By the time I got in all the floor tickets were gone. I kept refreshing, pondering the lower level seats as they disappeared. Prices were insane, the lowest was $170 CAD I think, and as high as $500 (??). I pondered first row upper deck seats, but they were $170 too and I just couldn't stomach it. I refreshed for twenty minutes, was thinking of giving up. AND THEN FLOOR SEATS BECAME AVAILABLE! And for "only" about $200 CAD per ticket! (About $140 USD.) I'm going to ask my best buddy if he wants to come. Otherwise I imagine I'll be able to resell the second ticket easily. Holy shit! Expensive, but this is going to be a bucket list experience.... I've never seen them.

[disarm]

Congratulations! I'm sure you're in for a great experience that is worth every penny. Getting on the floor for that price seems like a steal compared to other bands.

[Skinypupy]

Congrats man, you're in for a hell of a time. I've seen them three times, and NIN is truly incredible live. Easily in my top 10 shows ever. They really are a "bucket list" experience and I can't wait to hear how it goes for you.

Be warned though, floor crowds at NIN shows can get rowdy. Like, seriously rowdy.

The Salt Lake show is already sold out, with floor tickets going for around $300. That's just barely under what I paid to see four entire days of bands at MD Deathfest in May. As much as I'd like to see them again, that's simply way too much for me. I might check closer to the show and see if regular seats are a little cheaper (even the nosebleeds are over $100 right now), otherwise I'll have to skip this one.

[hitbyambulance]

word is upcoming Ministry tour will feature the return of Paul Barker

(and is going to be 'farewell tour part 2')

[disarm]

word is upcoming Ministry tour will feature the return of Paul Barker

(and is going to be 'farewell tour part 2')

I saw Ministry open for Alice Cooper last summer and, unfortunately, was not impressed... never been a huge fan anyway, but it just didn't click for me. The most memorable thing about it was just how ear-pummeling loud they played.

To each their own I guess....

[Sudy]

Yeah, I'm super excited for this! I'm a big fan of Barker's work. 1990's Lead Into Gold album Age of Reason is a moody, little-known masterpiece. After listening to it, it became super easy to hear his fingerprints all over Ministry of that era and I suspect his contributions were most of the reasons I've always enjoyed the frequently maligned Filth Pig and Dark Side of the Spoon (e.g. Vex and Siolence). I met Barker when he opened for Skinny Puppy on their farewell tour a couple of years ago and got him to sign his most recent LP. It hangs in a frame on my wall. Well... it did until the damn cat knocked it down and shattered it. It's now lost behind a shelving unit I don't want to have to move. BUT A TIME OF RECOVERY AND RENEWAL SHALL COME!

Ministry is weird for me. They're a band whose image I never particularly enjoyed or identified with, and I didn't really appreciate them at the beginning of my industrial phase. (And I was born too late to be a fan of most classic industrial bands during their heydays.) But now I look back and they're one of my most-played artists. I didn't get into all their stuff, but I listen to With Sympathy, Twitch, and Relapse as much as or more than I do their "classic" albums. (I mean, Twitch is an undeniable EBM classic in my mind, but it's not part of their holy trinity of industrial metal albums. We Believe will never not give me chills.) And while I think Ministry became something very different in their post-Barker thrashy years, there's a lot to like there as well. (Ghouldiggers may be self-indulgent, but for me, its repetitive riffs are a delicious combination of playful and aggressive and instantly get my blood pumping.)

I saw them last year for the first time. Frustratingly, I have partial memory loss from that period due to a medical treatment. Hopefully I can catch them on their final tour and see Jourgensen and Barker together!

[Skinypupy]

word is upcoming Ministry tour will feature the return of Paul Barker

(and is going to be 'farewell tour part 2')

I saw Ministry open for Alice Cooper last summer and, unfortunately, was not impressed... never been a huge fan anyway, but it just didn't click for me. The most memorable thing about it was just how ear-pummeling loud they played.

To each their own I guess....

I love old school Ministry, but haven't really followed anything since "Filth Pig". First time I saw them, Death Grips were the opener and about half the crowd left when they finished. It caused a really weird vibe for the rest of the show.

Last time I saw them, they played a bunch of new stuff while everyone just sort of milled around kinda bored. About 40 minutes in, Al said "I guess we may as well play the stuff you came for" and launched into an hour of the good stuff. That part was incredible, especially since I got to cross off a bucket list item (being in a mosh pit for "Thieves").

I've seen Barker twice now opening up for Ohgr (maybe it was FLA?) and Puppy and thought it was fine. I don't dislike his tunes, but they aren't anything I'd actively go out of my way to listen to either.

[hitbyambulance]

Underworld just announced US tour:

https://www.underworldlive.com/live

[Sudy]

Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats is kicking off their US tour this week. Jonathan Hultén, who just put out a new album (Eyes Of The Living Night) is supporting them.

This is a seated concert (at least at the Toronto venue, I'm not certain of all the others). Uncle Acid will be playing the entirety of their 2024 concept album Nell' Ora Blu. It's inspired by the 60s/70s Italian giallo murder mystery/horror/thriller genre. I expect this will be a special experience.

The album doesn't have a lot of conventional songs/singles. This track is close and one of my favourites, but the whole album just casts an amazing mood.

(Whole album link)

Hultén:

[hitbyambulance]

got ticket to Underworld. last time i saw them was Coachella 2003, where they had literally just gotten off a transatlantic flight and driven immediately to Indio (their set was 20 minutes late due to this) and they were pretty jetlagged - also no projections or custom lighting at all - so this time will be the real experience.

[Sudy]

Just got tickets to Ministry in May. They're touring with Die Krupps and either Nitzer Ebb or My Life with the Thrill Kill Cult depending on the date. I would have preferred the former for my show, but alas.

They're playing songs from With Sympathy and Twitch (their first two new wave and EBM albums), something I didn't think they'd ever do. Apparently they've re-recorded modern versions of some of the songs to be released in March. The Reddit thread suggests Paul Barker won't be with them on this tour, but is still expected to be with them for their tour for their "final" album in 2026. I'm a bit bummed about that, though Barker didn't join the band until Twitch anyway.

Really wasn't expecting another tour this year, but given the importance of this era to me I'm stoked. I'm also excited for Die Krupps. Never got into TKK, but the rumour is they're only playing Wax-Trax-era stuff.

The presale code for today is DUET. Tomorrow's is TWITCH. On sale for everybody on Friday.

[YellowKing]

Surprising my wife for Valentines Day with Teddy Swims tickets in May. She's a big fan and was disappointed he was going to be in town but we "couldn't afford tickets." "Can't afford" a core memory? Challenge accepted.

I'm not super familiar with this music outside of "Lose Control" but I've heard really positive things about his live performances. Apparently his band is freaking incredible and he does some really cool covers. He's playing our local amphitheater which is a small-ish venue, so it should be a good time.

[Zarathud]

I saw TKK on my 21st birthday. It was hot enough to hose down the indoor crowd and delay the late show a few hours to cool off, but a fun time.

[disarm]

Surprising my wife for Valentines Day with Teddy Swims tickets in May. She's a big fan and was disappointed he was going to be in town but we "couldn't afford tickets." "Can't afford" a core memory? Challenge accepted.

I'm not super familiar with this music outside of "Lose Control" but I've heard really positive things about his live performances. Apparently his band is freaking incredible and he does some really cool covers. He's playing our local amphitheater which is a small-ish venue, so it should be a good time.

I saw Teddy Swims at a musical festival at the end of summer and he's incredible...amazing voice, catchy songs, and his backing band are seriously talented musicians. He has two guitar players with him and they're both incredible, going into some really crazy instrumental breakdowns. I've been encouraging pretty much anyone with even a remote interest in him or that style of music to catch him live because they really put on a great show.

It also doesn't hurt that he seems like a genuinely nice, humble guy who is still coming to terms with his somewhat-sudden fame. When I saw him, the crowd of 20k+ went wild after a song and he got a little choked up on stage while trying to thank everyone for the support. While it could all be an act, I honestly think he's still a relatively "normal" guy riding a well-deserved waves of success.

[YellowKing]

That's great to hear, disarm! I'm looking forward to it. It's been quite some time since we've been able to catch a concert together.