“I didn’t know that it was just a rock and roll band with some clever, silly lyrics too, but just a rock and roll band and then I started playing with them and they’re just so tight without ever really discussing being tight. It’s not like we practise all the time, it’s just that everybody’s ears are open and you’re […]

Ok, so everyone that knows me personally knows that I’m a huge Bon Jovi fan, have been for 25 plus years and I’ve seen it all. Been through the good times and bad times with the band and stuck with them every step of the way. Each album as they’ve ‘grown’ or ‘evolved’ with the day and ages sound to […]

On the second night of their Sydney jaunt, we see Kiss, Mötley Crüe and Thin Lizzy back to take on Allphones Arena, after what I was told was a monster show the night prior it will be interesting to see how tonight plays out. Diva Demolition are on early to a small yet receptive crowd with some minimal crowd participation […]

A sold out crowd at the Enmore tonight for the last of the Soundwave Sidewaves in Sydney sees The Offspring in Australia for the first time in five years, here to play their 1992 ‘Ignition’ album in full as well as some hits, and judging by the eager crowd here tonight, we are already in for a great show. As I watch […]

“At the time he said if it wouldn’t have been for ‘Heritage’ maybe the band wouldn’t have existed anymore. So it was in a way it was some kind of, well I wouldn’t say cleansing, but I’m proud of the album, I still like it, I understand people, hardcore metal fans because there was no screaming but in a way […]

“We try to cater these shows to the more hardcore Offspring fans that have been around for a while you know, the fans that grew up with ‘Ignition’ and not just ‘Smash’ and all the records since, it’s kind of self-indulgent but it’s fun *laughs* and I think the fans are loving it.” From tour press release: If you were […]

“I really think this is probably one of the best albums I’ve ever been on… I went there OK? *laughs* It’s just the way we wrote the songs, the arrangements, Ricky’s phrasing, his lyrics, Damon’s playing some kick ass guitar in there, Jimmy DeGrasso is like a fresh face in there, the whole deal. Lighting a fire is kind of […]

“It’s been great man, it seems like it would be a little more challenging *laughs* which it is, but it’s a welcome challenge and I’m just taking care of myself out here, not having as many beers as I probably would like to have *laughs* but it’s been going great, the shows have been going amazing and everybody seems really […]

Tonight, a night of old school classic rock with two bands that really are miles apart in terms of style so it will be quite interesting to see how the balance is tonight and not only with the bands but also for the fans that will be here tonight. I personally am more excited for Journey; I mean I have a ‘Dont Stop […]

“There’s one word that I can say is what we aim for, and I always aim for our set as a whole, collectively to be sort of a spectacle. I want it to look like one massive unit, I want it to look like a spectacle and sound like a machine and want us to all look the same way, […]

Sydney. Thank you for your amazing last day of summer and your ridiculous rain that currently sees me in a cab stuck in traffic on my way to the Factory Theatre to catch Motion City Soundtrack, The Early November and hopefully Deaf Havana, but that all depends on how fast Mr Cab Driver can get me there. Ok. I made […]

“It’s a great way to come down here and get the most people, like the most bang for your buck with people watching because we don’t get here that often but when we do get here and see tonnes of people it’s a really great way to get our band out as much as possible.” From Bio: Sometimes, a much-loved […]

“The whole idea of this record is like a very communal based thing like engaging people as listeners and it’s a record for a listener rather than a record for musicians or about a singer in the band or the band itself.  The idea of being able to read it as a headline sort of connected the community to the […]

Tonight, it’s time to get a little heavy in my Sidewave week, so it seemed like the right thing to do to go and check out the perfectly matched trio of Miss May I, Cancer Bats and Bullet For My Valentine for a night of loud, just loud… Miss May I make their way to the stage and ambitiously call […]

Oh another Sidewave? Don’t mind if I do… This time we’re heading up to Soundwave headliner status with Linkin Park, and along for the ride tonight on this awesomely paired show is Stone Sour. This is shaping up to be a big night and I for one can’t wait to see both of these monster bands who I have had […]

The wrath of Soundwave continues. In the midst of Sidewave week here we are at The Manning Bar in Sydney tonight to see Danko Jones, Fozzy and Loaded and I’m set for what I know will be a rockin’ night. Danko Jones are up first tonight, this three piece from Canada are in Australia for the first time and doing […]

Here we are again this time, this year Soundwave is bigger and better than ever before as headlining you have the one and only Metallica. In an amazing turn of events the day before it was torrential rain but today is absolutely marvelous! I know, right, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that the day remains perfect. In with absolutely […]

As I walk through Sydney Olympic Park tonight there are many a barrier, food van and ride sitting there in preparation, readiness for Soundwave on Sunday, but as we keep walking and the crowd start making their way in to Allphones Arena tonight they are off to see a show nine years in the making. Yes, it has been nine […]

“To write songs for the people and the people can like it, instead of writing something about drugs or chicks, that’s not Journey’s thing, it was more about beautiful ballads, great rock songs with a cool message for the people, they were a band for the people, still is.” As a band for forty years now, with some of the […]

“We’re looking forward to coming, sucks that we had to cancel last time but we’re ready to come this time and we hope the shows will be good and it will be a fun time. I think this line-up is actually better, it’s probably the best line-up I’ve seen in a long, long time since I’ve been touring, so it’s […]

In summary: A perfect companion and conclusion to The Afterman storyline concept. Musically and lyrically heartfelt and one to definitely check out. Following on from 2012’s ‘The Afterman: Ascension’ here only a few months later Coheed and Cambria bring us part two of this opus in ‘The Afterman: Descension’ and if it’s anything like the first then this will be […]

“So this is an absolute beast that’s coming on the road and we couldn’t be more proud, we feel like we’re back with a vengeance and we’re really hungry, this is a hungry animal and I’m really proud of the band, I couldn’t be more excited, I’m so stoked to be coming over there.” From Press Release: If you have […]

“I know we haven’t been down there before and it’s going to be awesome for everybody, man, for us, for the fans that haven’t seen the band ever down there. We’re just looking forward to it; we’re going to be at the top of our game so we hope everyone can stand the brutality.” When you’re given the title of […]

“We just do our own thing and that’s what we’ve done, and we try to keep turning the screw a little musically on the new music that we write and we like to be a little different and we’ve got ourselves a nice little following around the world and Australia’s next.” From tour press release: When names like Guns N’ […]

“We grew up and started as a live band and that’s all we’ve ever wanted to do with music, writing and recording is awesome, but playing live is what we love doing.  Just expect six massive smiles on some stupid Welsh heads.” From Bio: Originally formed in South Wales in 2003, THE BLACKOUT have gone on to shift over 60,000 […]

In summary: The Dixie Dead is a ‘feature’ of heavy riffs, gruesome lyrics, awesome melody and many a toe tapped. What more can you ask for? From the opening of ‘The Dixie Dead’ with its haunting musical introduction and the premise of ‘Death Arise – main titles’, this concept from Wednesday 13 on his newest studio release gives you the […]

“Obviously you’re only as good as your last album, so we’ve improved and adopted a little less is more on this album, the songs only have what the songs need and we’ve matured a lot…” Bullet For My Valentine have been ripping it up now for almost fifteen years.  In that time have released three albums and helped pave the […]

“I think I’m more focused and writing better and I think I’m more appreciative of my whole career than I’ve ever been in my whole life.  I’m back on track so that’s the ‘Transition’.  I have mortality staring me in the face.” It blows me away when you can speak to an artist that has been touring almost as long […]

In Summary: You actually feel like you’re along for the ride on this transition, vocally, lyrically and musically, it all draws you in to what ‘Luke’ has created. Some of you may know him by name, some may not, but I can tell you one thing, you’ve heard his work before. Steve Lukather has been touring for the best part […]

From Bio:  For years, the United Kingdom has provided the hardcore scene with quality acts including BRING ME THE HORIZON, GALLOWS, ARCHITECTS, and ASKING ALEXANDRIA to name a few. Following suit, five friends from South Wales formed a metal band, unaware of how quickly their talent would be discovered. It did not take long for their ruthless, cutthroat style to […]