Paul Hanson – The Daily Vault

27 Oct

Devotion & Desire: Bayside / What’s Eating Gilbert / State Champ Live

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I drove two hours to see this show and, due to other obligations, I wasn’t able to stay around to see Motion City Soundtrack (MCS). I was looking forward to hearing “When You’re Around” and them hope to catch you next time they’re in the area. Don’t take it personally, MCS. The first band on the bill, State Champs, is a five piece hardcore/punk/alternative rock band that play their material with spirit. Cramped onto a small stage, the lead singer was forced to simply jump and down. Some might even be able to make the comparison to a boy band…

29 Sep

Generation(s) Metal: Saxon / Fozzy / Halcyon Way / The Unity Live

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Probably 150 people came to see the tour that rolled into Spicoli's in Waterloo, Iowa last week, but for those 150 people, seeing a legendary metal band like Saxon play in an intimate club setting was worth every penny for a ticket. The Unity, Halcyon Way, and Fozzy warmed up for Saxon. Each band had high points. After slaying through their original songs, The Unity ended their short set with a note-for-note worship of Iron Maiden's "The Number Of The Beast" as the approving crowd roared. Next up was Halcyon Way, who rocked the stage with their material, including the…

28 Aug

Carnival of Madness: Shinedown / Skillet / Papa Roach / In This Moment / We As Human Live

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When you go see the Carnival Of Madness tour in 2013 as it weaves across the USA to your town, you need to remember to note the starting time. If you do not, it’s possible you will miss the first band, We As Human. Don’t blink. In Cedar Rapids, they got 30 minutes and played five songs, including the well received “I Stand” and “Strike Back.” This quartet is the best band you’ve never heard on your local rock station. Because they are first, they get a small stage, but it was big enough for Skillet’s vocalist to come out…

03 Feb

One More For The Road: Shine Down, Three Days Grace & POD Live

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It was winter – cold and a little windy – in Moline, IL, on Friday, February 1st, 2013, which meant going to a rock concert with hard rock's hottest bands, Shine Down and Three Days Grace, was a fantastic way to spend the evening. After hearing from Joe Winters, Chief Meteorologist at KCRG-TV9 that it didn't look like the weather would turn into a blizzard, I began the journey to Moline. Opening band POD took the stage first and played with a lot of confidence. They are a Christian band but did not preach anything but rock ‘n’ roll. The…

16 Jun

Rocking The Plains (or, Bayside’s Magic Number)

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The magic number at the Exit.Emergency / Into It Over It / Make Do And Mend / Polar Bear Club / Bayside gig at Gabe’s Oasis was not five (the number of bands playing would be too obvious) nor was it one (the number of Aleve pills used to battle my 15 year-old daughter’s headache). Rather, the magic number, per my daughter, attending her first real rock show with her dad, was 37. That was the number of times the F word was used during the second act. But that’s getting ahead of the story. As I walked into the…

13 Oct

Opeth & Katatonia:

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The First Avenue Club in downtown Minneapolis is a legendary venue. There’s good food next door at the Depot which is connected to the club and you can get a breakfast burger (hamburger, cheese, bacon, fried egg) before the gig you see inside the venue. On the outside of the building, the bands that have played the venue are written within a white star. Metallica, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and a bunch of others have played the place. Based upon Friday’s performance, I’d be hesitant to add Opeth to the aforementioned stars. Their show was mediocre at…

07 Aug

A Night Of Metal: Fear Factory, 36 Crazy Fist, After The Burial, and Divine Hersey Live

Paul HansonFeature

Metal fans form a unique family, something I realized on Monday July 19 at People’s Court. People really looked out for each other that night, and it made the night that much better. The venue is divided into a large music area and a separate bar area. If someone fell down in the pit, someone helped them up. If someone slammed the door open going into the bathroom and startled someone, there was an apology (“Sorry, dude”) and an embarrassed smile. When I ventured into the bar, the bartender was friendly. The music being played was tasteful. I was in…

10 May

I Am Ozzy: Tripping Through A Madman’s Brain

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John Michael Osbourne, known to the world as Ozzy Osbourne, takes you deep inside his mind in nearly the 400-page I Am Ozzy. Those familiar with Osbourne will know what that means: lots of f-bombs and lots of anectdotes that trace his life from his beginnings, through the formation of Black Sabbath, being fired from Black Sabbath, forging his solo career with equally controversial wife Sharon at his side, reuniting with Black Sabbath with Ozzfest, the MTV series The Osbournes, and then ending with his sobriety. Even highlighting those events in life doesn't cover nearly half of the gory details…

05 Aug

Trapt In Cedar Rapids With A Four-Band Lineup

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As I walked towards 1st Avenue Live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the venue that hosted Trapt, Framing Hanley, Since October, and Inept on Friday, July 17, I was greeted by Since October's road manager. "Are you Paul?" He had caught me geeking out, carrying a Since October CD and a small notebook, and brought us inside to greet Since October's drummer, Audie Grantham. Grantham is an intimidating guy. He's 6'4, around 280 pounds with tattoos up and down his arms and neck. Beyond that, he’s a humble, thoughtful, talented musician who is a member of a band that is on…

04 May

New Found Glory Down By The Bayside (…In Des Moines,,,?)

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To be clear, there was a fourth band on the bill this night, but due to driving an hour and a half to get to the show, I missed them, arriving instead towards the end of the energetic set by Set Your Goals. With a lot of dual vocals and a drummer with a huge tattoo across his bare chest, SYG was good. I was only familiar with one of their songs “Mutiny,” so when they launched into it, I was able to compare their recordings with a live reproduction. Not bad. The best thing SYG has going for them…