House of Vans Presents HalloWolfBat - with Red Fang, Windhand, and Pelican | Visual Conjuring by artist Dennis McNett

10/31/2022

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

House of Vans Chicago - Saturday - October 29, 2022

House of Vans presents another historic Wolfbat- it's third, featuring the mighty Red Fang, along with Windhand, and openers Pelican.

Quite the triple bill folks, all three bands heavy hitters, with lots of stoner rock, sludge rock, and instrumental rock with a serious kick in the ass.

You gotta give thinks to the fine folks at House of Vans, who year in / year out know how to set the bill for Halloween Weekend, summoning up the right feel with bands that can give you chills, especially for such an intimate and cool space which House of Vans is, in the West Loop of Chicago.

Not to go unnoticed is the bells and whistles for all things Hallowolfbat- and that would be artist Dennis McNett, of Wolfbat Studios, who once a year brings to town his meticulous graphic creations, both in print and also movable installation form, that being giant creatures that roam the main floor of any given bands performance, sometimes just for visual appreciation and display, sometimes acting out macabre hand to hand combat with their movable arms and heads.

Even that brief paragraph doesn't sum up the overall feel and aesthetic- the size of some of these creatures on their movable carts are in the neighborhood of 9 to 10 feet.
And as far as my picture taking in relation to size and scale, even that does not do them justice.

This is well thought out in advance- having now been to all three Hallowolfbats at House of Vans, and have witnessed firsthand that all three have had different and unique creatures, let alone the paintwork and artwork which is also on display.
The overall feel and design, in conjunction with the music is all drawn into fantasy and folklore, immersing yourself in this design like you're in a true event, beyond, the scope of hard concrete warehouse and stage.

House of Vans, their appeal beyond the given uniqueness of their shoe designs, along with Dennis McNett have created an event that goes well beyond an actual intimate performance- all well and good with their other events throughout the year- but Hallowolfbat...man oh man- it is the Halloween event of the year.
Inventive and artistically appealing as all get out.

I hope to some extent my pictures convey this overall mood, even for a guy like me that knows a thing or two writing about bands and music.
Again, hard to describe Dennis McNett's creations firsthand, unless you were actually there soaking it all in, and conveying that to like minded and present individuals such as yourself.

As far as the actual bill, with headliners Red Fang- to see them perform in an intimate venue such as House of Vans, with clean lighting, and a PA that bludgeons to your sternum-

Their setlist was mighty.

Opening with "Blood Like Cream", and then into "Malverde"- this is a one / two punch of punishing and persuasive ripping, all the while looking like normal folk you walk by on the street, but they have a dark side you don't know about.
Have been following this band for years, dating back to 2009 or thereabouts, with their first release "Red Fang" on Sargent House".
With all subsequent releases, the latest being "Arrows" in 2021, they have delivered the rage and might, ever tightening their noose on catchy hooks and simmering to a rage vocals.

After the first three songs in the pit, had a chance to roam around the main floor of House of Vans and take it all in- most of the audience in my purview were standing stunned, and the sheer might from these guys, with punch and after counter punch in song selection, with of course "Arrows", and also "Into the Eye", with a further bludgeoning into "Antidote" and "Unreal Estate".

It just continued to roll downhill from there, ending with the volley of "Wings of Fang" and into "Number Thirteen".
Put it this way- the men of Red Fang have bite. Chomping at the bit bite.
Or put another way, these guys know intrinsically how to worship the almighty riff, and summon the demons down below. With lots of distortion for good measure, ever taking chances of seeing how their Orange amps will hold up in the deluge that follows.
Now you have a better idea of why everyone was stunned on the main floor witnessing them firsthand.

And the same goes for the band Windhand, just on a lesser scale real estate wise on the stage, bit still enough room to roam for singer Dorthia Cottrell, who plays the part in all things Hallowolfbat and Halloween, what with a white lab coat smeared in blood, and a guttural yowl that gives you chills, backed up with a band that knows a thing or two as well in all things "Down Tuned" and Sludge with a littler more Sludge added for good measure.

For what it's worth, they did a decent job of commanding the stage with their brief set, all the while taking in the giant creatures roaming the main floor getting into battles while circumventing the crowd immersed in Windhand's music.
As for openers Pelican- have been looking forward to their set as well, this instrumental / metal quartet knowing a thing or two as well with unleashing the hounds at a moments notice, tight as all get out, playing to their strengths without the assistance of any vocal whatsoever.

They can pack a punch, what with the two guitar onslaught from Trevor de Brauw and Laurent Schroeder.

With heavy hitting drumming from Larry Herweg and all things bass from Bryan Herweg, the density, the might in their chord selections just conveys time and time again that you stand and you listen.

It's clear that they're way beyond any kind of classification or labeled this and that- although if you were to ask them, they would be cool with it to some extent just on the chance of discovery and searching them out and giving them a listen.
It's an overall haunted and compelling sound that they time and time again conjure, equally fitting in this third creation of Hallowolfbat, a triple bill that conveys aspects of Halloween, but with a more adult themed feel.

A Halloween for the mature audiences, the ones that give a damn about cool music, along with all the costumery.

Such a wicked display of artistry, both from the bands and also Wolfbat creations from Dennis McNett.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

JBTV, Bobby Talamine, Red Fang, Hallowolfbat, Pelican, Windhand, Dennis McNett

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Live Review: Turnstile - The Love Connection Tour 2022 - with Special Guests JPEGMafia and Snail Mail

10/26/2022

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Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom Chicago
Sunday 10/23/22

And before Brendan Yates and the gang from TURNSTILE get around to even playing a note, the crowd is amped, chanting along with arms raised to their intro song "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" from Whitney Houston.
This should tell you lots, being first and foremost a "Love Connection Tour", which I assume means to some extent that the band TURNSTILE wants to make this a party for tonight.

A house party that you never forget.
A party where we're all one and the same, and try to get to know your neighbors on the main floor.

Clearly not much has changed since the last time they bolted through town- that being Day Three at Lollapalooza back in the summer.
They still trailblaze- they still know how to provoke a main floor crowd to instantaneously fling about into a menacing mass of swinging limbs with the obvious bar-age of waves of body surfers.

Was told in advance upon entering the pit for tonight's show that we may be "one and done" in the pit, depending on the crowd and security potentially having their hands full.

Well shit. Who wouldn't expect something of that sort with TURNSTILE.
This by way of Maryland hardcore band have made a name for themselves with crowd participation over the past few years, ever so mightily building a steady and strong and faithful following, sometimes lately performing without any barriers depending on the venue, and me losing count back in the day of how many fans rush the stage to dive-bomb headfirst back into the crowd.

This is all a part of their show, what with songs such as the heavy duty opener "HOLIDAY", into not for the faint hearted "Real Thing", and into "Big Smile".
And guess what?
We were able to stay for the first three songs, even though like I said it was volatile as all get out.

Some eighteen songs in total, with not much time to catch your breath between songs.
For as young as they are, they're certainly polished and tight as all get out, ever so electric in everything they do, and especially in their songwriting- penning such catchy and full of might songs which are inviting and meant to provoke action and movement.
TURNSTILE are tried and true and honest to the gills embracing everything underground hardcore.

Although clearly by now, the cats are out of the bag, what with every stop through town, their audience, their performance spaces are getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
Even at the somewhat imposing Aragon Ballroom, they have a way of shrinking the space to make things feel like you're still witnessing them play at Subterranean, or at the Beat Kitchen.

Tried and true heavy hitters, Turnstile are, making sure the folks in the back are good and sweaty, equal to the masses all the way in the front.
So yes, we have body surfers galore, big and bigger mosh pits depending on the song, mass singalongs which seemed like every song the entire night, and hot and sweaty energy permeating throughout the main floor driving the show all the way to the end.
No need for fancy lighting, no need for stage banter, or circus tricks to amp up this crowd.
Minimal staging is all that's needed tonight, even on a Sunday, what with lead singer Brendan Yates vaulting about throughout, with the occasional high kicks, all to the beat of each and every song.

A crushing and sweaty time was had, even with this old timer photographer.
Clearly Turnstile put on one of the best shows of the year.
As for Barrington DeVaughn Hendricks- better known as JPEGMafia- a one man wrecking crew, even though his set was rather short.
This guy, even with his sophisticated beats and all things industrial and experimental hip hop, also knows by now a thing or two in commanding an audience, equal to headliners Turnstile, with minimal fanfare and flash and pizzaz.

All of that not needed folks- including no need for a DJ to proceed to the next song with the occasional and obnoxious boat horn.

JPEG knows how to incorporate a wide variety of genres into his mix, and also doing it with samples and beats from his laptop which don't sound dated, or are in any way weak to the punch of his rap vocals.

A mesmerizing set from JPEG, clearly A Plus in amping up all things Turnstile to follow.
And as for openers Snail Mail, which is in essence Lindsey Jordan and her hand picked band-
I felt bad for her.

She didn't have much of a soundcheck before the doors opened. which became obvious before she played a single note, what with her guitar chord patched in not correctly, or it must have failed.

Even with several attempts to switch opposite plugs, and try new patch chords, the scratchy pitch emanating from her guitar was troublesome throughout, to the point where she did her best to improvise, and sing her songs without guitar at all.
You could tell that this frustrated her to some extent, but the main floor crowd was supportive, along with her band.
So unfortunate for Lindsey, me being a fan of her releases, both "Lush" and also her latest from last year- "Valentine".
Still, for all the hiccups, a rather chill and nice set to start the evening off.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

JBTV, Turnstile, JPEGMafia, Snail Mail, Aragon Ballroom, Concert, Live Music

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Live Review: The Mars Volta with Teri Gender Bender

10/11/2022

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Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom Chicago - Sat 10/8/22

The Mars Volta, currently traversing the states with their "The Mars Volta Tour 2022", which began in mid / late September.
With a stop on Saturday at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
And the place was rowdy.
Maybe because it's a Saturday night.
Maybe because it's the month of October.

Maybe because people are frothing at the bit for The Mars Volta performing live in Chicago, which the last time through town, seems like ages ago.
Maybe it was a combination thereof.
I bring all of this up because of the band photo policies- which for one included they do not want any photographers in the actual photo pit in front of the stage any time.
Not that they would notice, what with the Aragon stage being so high- around 7 to 8 feet.

It's their policies - their rules.
But that crowd on Saturday night- rowdy and unruly, even by the main floor bar stage left / audience right where I was perched.
Thought this would be a safe place to cover the three songs allotted.

Nope.

Have to say for a seasoned photographer like myself, I can hold my ground, and accept whatever circumstances get thrown my way.
Put it this way- no place was safe on the main floor of the Aragon for Cedric and Omar of the Mars Volta.

Loved the feel of the energy of the place, and the sudden heat coming off the main floor when they came out, building up steam with the opener "Vicarious Atonement" from "Amputechture"- a heavy and slow build of a song, then into the barnburner "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)", from the most represented album of the evening- "De- Loused in the Comatorium", from 2003 - some seven songs total throughout their set.

Obviously this album has made am impression on them, clearly noting that it's a fan favorite, and as such, must be played.

Sharp guys, Omar and Cedric.

Stylish, the both of them, Cedric in nice black suit and blazer, Omar looking cool as always, with his fedora stylishly placed on the side of his head, and cradling his guitar passionately when immersed in whichever song, even when not playing a note.
These guys are passionate as all get out, embracing their songwriting with such honesty, as if they created all their songs yesterday.

The whole evening, band members included, carried this vibe.
Only two songs made the cut from their latest release from this year "The Mars Volta"- "Graveyard Love", and "Blacklight Shine".
Both songs are cool, and matter of fact, after repeated listens, I find the album with a chill and subdued vibe that grows on you.

But volatility- that clearly belongs to anything and everything from "De- Loused at the Comatorium".

Witnessing the main floor at the Aragon- it was banshee / gremlin heavy duty nutty.
And the smiles coming from Cedric in response- he has to stop briefly and take it all in- Chicago on Saturday night with an oh so revered band-
Makes things unforgettable.

That's the vibe I get from Cedric mid show to close.

Yes- the musicianship was jaw dropping, meticulous to a "T", followed by full throated Cedric, in fine form, in wailing form, brandishing about, swinging his microphone, or testing the limits of his microphone stand with stress and pull.
The band- consisting of heavy hitters Marcel Rodriguez- Lopez on percussion / synths and keyboards, Linda- Philomene Tsoungui on drums, Leo Genovese on keyboards/ synths and saxophone, and Josh Moreau of Hoobastank filling in rather nicely on bass for Eva Gardner.

This band is tight folks, and it's my impression that Omar in particular has a vision- and it's rehearsals on top of rehearsals, followed by solid musicianship, which anything Mars Volta related is needed without coming off second rate.
Complex noise delivers on all counts.

Everything about their show at the Aragon was just so locked in, beyond what I photographed from the first three songs.
Had to roam around the venue a bit just to take it all in, the crowd, the spectacle, the overall appearance of the stage and stagecraft and lighting.
Such a memorable evening with these guys from beginning to end.
And it seemed it was over in a flash- trailblazing through the last 4 songs of the evening from all things "De- Loused'- from "Cicatriz ESP", to "Televators", into "Son et lumiere", and lastly with "Intertiatic ESP".

As great a capstone as those four songs- you just didn't want to leave.
You just didn't want this show to end.
Roaring and fire burning live shows like this are rare indeed.
You have to have a band that's up for the challenge.
They have to be forward thinkers.
Clearly The Mars Volta has all this in spades.
As for opener Teri Gender Bender- she clearly has her heart and passion in the right place as well.

Set to a minimal stage real estate wise, she makes do with she's got with contortionist poses, along with a fierce delivery vocal wise, no different with her other occupation in fronting all things Le Buthcherettes.
Although her set was rather brief, she more than made up for the short time slot by singing and performing like her life depended on it.
A great and memorable evening, without a doubt.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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Concert Review: Amyl & the Sniffers- Comfort to Me Tour 2022 with Special Guests - Bob Vylan & Ganser

10/4/2022

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Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

So here we go again - Round two with Amyl and the Sniffers, bringing their volatile live show back to Chicago yet again- a bigger venue- The Vic Theatre, along with a bigger stage presence.
Nothing much else has changed in regards to rip roaring performance, courtesy of Amy Taylor, their lead singer and all around firebrand.

Doesn't matter the size of the venue- doesn't matter the size of the festival and the time they go on- doesn't matter the amount of time allotted when asked to perform- whether it be 20 minutes, or up to a little over an hour, as was the case at The Vic Theatre in Chicago.

Each and every performance I've witnessed firsthand with them, they make it their own, and you walk away with the "What did I just see happen?' Or "How the hell does Amy keep things going at 100 miles per hour, all the way up to and into the end of the show with no let up?"

I don't have answers to these questions yet again.
Neither did I back in mid May, when they came through town on a Saturday night at the Logan Auditorium.

Surprised that that venue is still standing after that performance, with a mosh pit mostly of women holding court front and center.
And here we are at The Vic, on a mid day work week, and we have a main floor, first tier, second tier to the the soundboard packed for tonight's beatdown.
So what has changed?

They have a gigantic backstage banner, in black, with Amyl and the Sniffers front and center, with a lion added in for good measure.
Although kinda old school, the addition of the lion says lots.
The male lion depicted is a beast. The lord of the jungle. The main focal point of the tribe.

So in that aspect, welcome to the world of Amyl and the sniffers.
Outside of the banner, all things are still quite minimal, like a true hardcore slash punk rock show- no different when the likes of Jesus Lizard commanded this stage at The Vic years ago, or The Cramps, or any other cool and unhinged kinda hardcore rock act.
Minimal stage equals eyes focused on musicians and lead singers.
Especially lead singers that know how to command an audience, such as a David Yow, or a Lux Interior, or an Amy Taylor.

So how do you best describe a band such as Amyl and the Sniffers?
Well first off, I believe they don't care what you think.

Witness them firsthand before making your decision, or coming to conclusions.
And don't mistake a YouTube anything live with them, it's clearly not the same as actually being there.

They'll most likely say something to that effect.
They don't have the time for bullshit.

And I'm sure they find coming to a some sort of conclusion with all of this laughable.
Hell, I find it laughable even bringing it up, let alone taking the time to uncover some nuggets from this and that writer, especially in their earlier years, when they were performing in lots of friends living rooms, in and around Melbourne.
Suffice it say that most have come to the conclusion of, and variations on a theme of pub rock mixed with punk rock, or some version of hardcore '70's rock thrown in, and all round lawlessness, or lawless attitude.

All of these assumptions are kinda right, and also not telling the whole story.
It's obvious as a whole that they fight for what they get.
They work hard at seeing this maintain, and come to fruition, even if by all accounts it could have all started as a joke in a middle of a weekend bender, and who's left standing, knowing any instruments be damned.

The definition of being born care free, mistakes added for good measure, cover songs to start of bands we dig, original music to follow, once we find that we tolerate each other.
That formula works, again and again again.

So looking at where we're at with the band as a whole, you have a front woman who kicks ass, can yell in a timely and righteous manner, has the looks and the demeanor of a gymnast or wicked cheerleader, wearing skin tight this and that that is somewhat provocative, but if you get close, she'll kick you in the nuts, bit still she wear outfits that allow her to bodysurf and shake things up audience wise, and come out of it time and time again unscathed.

Plus if things do get a bit out of hand, she has loyal bodyguards on stage watching what's going down- that being lead guitarist Dec Martens, and bassist Gus Romer.
Have seen Dec firsthand scare the shit out of some wayward num nuts who thought otherwise with Amy surfing by.

On top of that, they're developing quickly in stage presence, in tightness as a band, in ferociousness as a whole, with confidence front and center.
Doesn't matter the song- from opener "Control", through the middle with "Gacked on Anger" into "Westgate", Into "Shake Ya", into "Maggot", all the way through to the end, with no encore- "Some Mutts (Can't Be Muzzled)".

All of it- some 19 songs in total, mean business, and a fight.
They're playing for keeps folks.
I don't need to get into specifics with Amy- more writers than me have been there- done that.

This is a band man.
A four piece all equal, and up for the challenge.
Kinda like fellow Aussies from back in the day- that being AC/DC. Yes, you've had wicked lead singers, and a wicked lead guitarist.

But the hidden gem was always Malcom on rhythm guitar, and Cliff Williams on propulsive bass.
Same goes with Amyl and the Sniffers, with flame throwing chunks of sound from Dec Martens, and a heavy duty rhythm section in Gus on bass, and Bryce Wilson on drums.
The three of them- propulsive as all get out.

Can't explain it more than that- outside of I need to see this band each and every time they pass through town.
That- and they're sure damn fun, bringing out the 23 year old in me who doesn't give a damn, at least for a couple hours.

As for openers Bob Vylan and Chicago's very own Ganser-
After Bob's ultra torqued performance at The Vic, makes me wish I changed my schedule at Riot Fest a couple weeks back, when Bob perfomed at the Rebel Stage- his performance was that good.

For a two piece- a drummer, and also Bob, with punch your gut samples thrown in, and a frontman in Bob, who could easily come off as a star forward on any professional soccer team, with a physique to match, let alone a guy who certainly knows how to mix it up with no problem moshpit wise, let alone dive in to the main floor and rap a few songs...the makings of another volatile performer who know how to swing for the fences in a brief set.

Same with openers Ganser, who never cease to amaze creativity wise, from their full length "Just Look At That Sky", to their recent announcement of a new EP release- "Nothing You Do Matters".

Composed of bassist / vocalist Alicia Gaines, keyboardist / vocalist Nadia Garofalo, guitar firebrand Charlie Landsman, and drummer Brian Cundiff- this is also a band that has chops and confidence and songwriting that grabs your attention, even in their brief set as well.

Absolutely adore this band, and what they bring to the table, whether it be headlining at the Empty Bottle, performing at Riot Fest, or opening for whomever, (Amyl included).
They're the definition of hardworking grass roots, with songwriting chops that bring with it a heightened state of too many themes to mention, which goes to show they have ears to the ground with solid musicianship to see ideas come to fruition.
I know that's lots to say, but time and time again, they pull it off, songwriting wise, and also performance wise.

Ganser are invigorating.
And you should check them out.
Such a show- a one / two / three punch knockout from all three bands.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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THE JBTV BLOG

House of Vans Presents HalloWolfBat - with Red Fang, Windhand, and Pelican | Visual Conjuring by artist Dennis McNett

JBTV, Bobby Talamine, Red Fang, Hallowolfbat, Pelican, Windhand, Dennis McNett

Live Review: Turnstile - The Love Connection Tour 2022 - with Special Guests JPEGMafia and Snail Mail

JBTV, Turnstile, JPEGMafia, Snail Mail, Aragon Ballroom, Concert, Live Music

Live Review: The Mars Volta with Teri Gender Bender

Concert Review: Amyl & the Sniffers- Comfort to Me Tour 2022 with Special Guests - Bob Vylan & Ganser

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