So for another year in a row I attended the Music as a Weapon tour put together by Disturbed.  This time it was at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids and not only that but this time I got to sit down and chat with Munky from Korn!  It has been 17 years since the first time I interviewed Korn so it was pretty cool to chat with him after all these years.  I’ll get to that interview soon enough but first I need to do a show review and share some pictures with you of the night.

Of course the show never starts on time, but I was.  I got to Cedar Rapids at about 10 to 5 and called Korn’s tour manager to confirm the interview and to set up a time and place to meet.  That was done quickly and easily and then I headed to the Will Call to get my passes.  This was at about 5:00 PM and no passes where in yet.    I was a little worried since the show was suppose to start at 6 PM, but no biggie.  I headed back to the van to chill out for awhile, well actually warm up, man it was cold.  I then texted my buddy SiNDADDY and chatted about music and recording then headed to the venue at about 5:30.  Passes acquired and the gear was with me.  I got in through the VIP door which was nice since that meant I didn’t have to trudge up stair after stair carrying the camera, tripod and all of my audio equipment.

Found the area that I was suppose to meet Korn’s tour manager at.  It was now just shortly before six and Fieldy’s new band Stillwell was suppose to take the stage at 6 PM, that didn’t happen.  I was to meet up with the management at 6:50 PM, I caught most of Stillwell’s set while waiting for 6:50 to arrive and also met an interesting and hopeful fellow by the name of Bishop who was hoping to give his demo to the guys in Korn.  I gave him some pointers on how the industry works (He was complaining that Road Runner wouldn’t even listen to his demos and I asked him if he know what Solicited versus Unsolicited meant and he didn’t so I explained to him that the label wasn’t being mean, but playing by the rules they set forth).   I gave him my email address and told him to keep in touch.  It’s always exciting to see that kind of raw energy that drive that we’ve all had.  This kid drove all the way from Ohio for this show!

6:50 hit, well about not exactly 6:50 it was a bit closer to 7 and the tour manager and I meet up.  Unfortunately I didn’t get to see In This Moment on stage.  That was a huge disappointment for me.  I had really been hoping to catch Maria and company on stage since I did my interview with her last year.  I really wanted to see them and grab some shots of ITM onstage and see what kind of power they posses on the stage and see what their show is all about.  But on the flip side, I was on Korn’s tour bus interviewing Munky at the time so I guess I can’t complain too much.

After my interview was done and I got to spend some time telling stories with Munky, met Fieldy again briefly and chatted with Munky’s assistant and Korn’s keyboard player.  It was really cool.  It was fun to tell those guys stories about my life and how their music was a part of it at different times in my life.  I liked my interview with Munky too.  I felt like we had a solid interview and seemed to be on the same wav length.  It made me feel like things had come full circle in my life a little bit.  I did try and show Munky the pic of the first time I met them on my phone but it was taking too long and I didn’t want to hold him up any more.  I’ll put the pic here just incase he reads this.

So after the interview is done I run my stuff to the van and put it away and come back to the bus where Munky’s assistant takes me back into the venue and says “Where do you want to be?”  I say on the side of the stage and he leaves me there!  Me on the side of the stage for Sevendust… YES!

Sevendust’s set was amazing as usual.  Full of energy.  Lajon and crew were on point.  A couple of times I felt like perhaps they weren’t getting the energy back from the crowd that they wanted but they were killing it.  Being at the side of the stage the sound was muddy and extremely hard to make out any clear tones but that didn’t really matter because the energy they put on was just amazing.  They were having fun and smiling and interacting with everyone.  I had a blast watching them.  They played a little bit of everything but seemed to really focus on the fan favorites which was alright with me, cause I’m a fan you know.  They even through in a little cover of Pantera’s “Walk” which I saw them do last Summer here in Waterloo too.  I’ve seen Sevendust probably more times that I can count in all different venues from Shag’s to First Ave. to Target Center and no matter what venue they ALWAYS put on a great show and for me this was no exception.  I love the whole night and had a blast watching them, it was even fun to watch them interact with their monitor sound-guy at the side of the stage.  The camaraderie and friendship that these guys appear to have seems absolutely genuine and I was impressed.

After Sevendust got done I sat at the side of the stage waiting for Disturbed to take the stage.  Soon I was scuttled out of back stage by what I’m guessing was Disturbed’s stage manager being told that I couldn’t be back there and I need to move somewhere up front.  I explained that I had a photo pass and he told me to get into the barricade with the other photographers.  So I did.  HOLY CRAP I was right in front of the stage.  Seriously, I could reach out and grab the band by the feet if I wanted to.  Check out these pictures.

This was my second time seeing Disturbed, while I’ve never been a huge fan of the band, I dig a lot of their singles they’ve released.  It was fun to watch them from this close up for the first three songs.  They really seemed to be enjoying what they were doing too.  Again because of where I was at in the venue the sound was crap and at times I couldn’t tell what was going on, but I must say, it was really weird to hear David clapping and actually be close enough to hear him clapping…  It was also fun to be up that close as well and have a bit of interaction with the band while they were on stage.  It was nice to get some horns in my direction and a few smiles as well.  Lots of energy and the visuals behind the drummer were amazing.  Crystal clear and cool to watch.  I’m sure they meant a lot more to the rabid fans of the band than myself.  My biggest problem with Disturbed live is that David doesn’t do much.  He kind of walks around the stage throwing his hands in the air and singing his hear out but he doesn’t seem to have a lot of energy in it.  Perhaps I’m reading too much into it but he seems tired some times or like he’s just going through the motions.  The rest of the guys didn’t look that way to me at all though and the drummer has the biggest drum kit I have ever seen in my entire life.

After the third song I kind of go off to the side of the stage to get out of the way.  I’m only allowed to take pictures for the first three songs and no flash can be used.  So I follow the other photographer’s lead and get out of dodge.  Then suddenly I’m being rushed out of the back stage area by security despite my press credentials.  OK, fine I’ll just wait on the other side of the curtain.  Nope I’m moved to the other side of the barricade.  I plead my case but am told to just wait until Disturbed are done and then talk to the next stage manager.  So I watch Disturbed play and also watch hordes of people get taken out of the pit.  I watch about four different people get kicked out for smoking inside and I see paramedics and police doing what they do best.  You know concerts are more than just a place to listen to music and meet up with other fans.  There are so many people that are their doing a job it’s amazing.  People who may not even like the music are there to do a job.  It was cool.  It gave me a new appreciation for the job that every one has at a venue for these type of things.

So Disturbed wind up their set and Korn gets set up.  I see the other photographers start heading up front to get pictures and I go to go by security and they stop me.  WHAT?  I have a press pass, I was just up there… I ask the security guard why I’m not allowed to go up and he says he’ll get somebody to help me.  I give them my credentials and off he goes.  Next thing you know another security guard comes up to me after about 15 minutes of waiting and tells me that I don’t have the right laminate to be up front and only those with the proper laminates can be up there so I’ll just have to get my pictures from the crowd.  Yuck.  If you guys don’t know this I’m a short dude.  The security guard apologizes and tells me it’s not them but the bands management and I don’t fault them or the management.  There are always hoops to jump through, figuring out which are the right hoops are part of the learning process.  So I didn’t get to be up front for Korn this time, next time I’ll know better and get my passes taken care of earlier and be more specific in my requests to make sure I’m where I need to be.

Any who, Korn take the stage and start the night off with perhaps my most favorite song by them “Blind”.  What a way to open a set still.  It has a great intense build and just explodes.  But wait… something doesn’t feel right to me.  I’m not sure what it is, but Jonathan just doesn’t seem that into it any more.  Or maybe I’ve seen the show so many times that I’m just not believing that they can bring the same intensity 17 years later from the first time I saw them.  Munky and Fieldy are doing a great job.  Tons of energy great stage presence but Jonathan looks angry and like he’s going through the motions.  I’ve now been moved to the front of the house so I can hear the sound a lot better.  The band sounds great.  I just wish I could have been closer.

Korn played a great set though again of fan favorites and a couple of brief covers, one of Metallica’s “One” and “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen.  The new stuff sounded great and had a lot of power behind it, and the fan really seemed to be into the whole set.  I ended up chatting with a corrections officer named Jared who’s shooting a hunting show with HD cameras and is just starting to work with premier and after effects!  Funny how you run into people isn’t it?

It was a good time though, all the bands did great.  I learned a lot again and I had a good time.  I also got a free Monster Energy drink after the show which was flipping sweet.  Thanks to Warner Brothers, Century Media, Amanda Cagan, Amy at RoadRunner and the staff at the US Cellular Center for all of your hard work.  Also thank you to Munky’s assistant and Korn’s Tour Manager for making things run so smoothly.

Posted under Local, Music, National Touring Show

Not quite sure how to start this.  In the late 90′s I was working at Steb’s on the Hill in Cedar Falls.  I was helping Sherm book bands and the name iLL CONVOY came up to book for a night.  Hip Hop… wasn’t sure how it would go over, but it surprised us all when they packed the room and brought the party with them.  Here we are some 12 or 13 years later and iLL CONVOY are still bringing the party to the room.  They will be taking the stage on April 2nd at The Wheelhouse in Cedar Falls opening for Grammy nominated hip hop group Nappy Roots.  Since this is a pretty big show I figured I’d take a few moments to catch up with Chuck T and Fuller to see where they are at musically and to see what their game plan is for the next phase of iLL CONVOY!

What inspired you guys to get into Hip Hop?

Chuck T: When we met in the mid 90s, we had almost identical taste in hip hop; Beastie Boys, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Digital Underground….all of the classic old school material.  We had a lot of friends that were into hip hop, so the music was always around.  I know we used to hang out with friends and talk about bands and record labels we wanted to start.  Fuller and I had a pretty good concept and I just got the ball rolling by buying some equipment and off we went.

What has changed for you as musicians, technology wise from when you first started doing this until now?

Chuck T: Everything has changed since we started.  I started producing our music with a 4 track recorder, a sampler and a drum machine.  That’s it!  I did jump to the keyboard a year or so later, but it was all analog for the first several years.  Now we do just about everything on the computer.  We first started by pushing cassette tapes we made, now we’ve got music on iTunes and everywhere else.  Also, promoting was much more personal.  It used to be hanging flyers, tagging windshields, or just passing out promo material to people on the street.  Now I post something on Twitter and 5 different social media sites see it.  I think we were lucky to come in during the transition phase of a lot of technological advances…we got a taste of both worlds.

Fuller: Wow….everything…Digital Audio Tape was the new wave of recording back then. MP3 format was in its infancy, transferring audio from the 4-track to digital to burn a cd was even quite difficult. Today, music production, marketing and distribution is more in the hands of the people than it ever has been. The playing field has been leveled from that aspect for good or for bad. Anyone can post music on the internet, click, refresh, click and like themselves or others to no end. We still get a tingly feeling when someone comes to a show and asks if we remember handing them a flyer. Musically, we still try to achieve an analog sound, digitally through effects and recording tricks, in order to stay true to our genre, old school hip hop.

After so many years of doing it what keeps you motivated to keep going and to keep making music?

Chuck T: I would say our friends, family and fans that still come out for our shows.  It’s all about the shows.  There’s nothing like the feeling you get right before you hit the stage.  I know that keeps us motivated.  And the creation process itself.  Back in the day, our original message was, “Lets Party!”  Now that we’re older, I think we have more to say, which creates better music.  I think our sound has gotten better because both of us have grown up while still maintaining a strong connection to music.  I’ve been able to produce several side projects over the years while building a studio.  Plus, we’ve added DJ No Relation to the production crew and he can play a zillion instruments.

What do you think has been your most crowning achievement so far?

Chuck T: That’s a tough call.  Probably the show we have coming up April 2 with Nappy Roots.  We’ve never played with anyone that successful before.  I think events worth mentioning are our first gig at Stebs and then getting invited back to play the reunion in 2009.  Releasing our first studio album in 2000 was a big deal but coming back 10 years later with a new record and getting it on iTunes is huge.  But at the end of the day, just getting back out there has felt the best.

You guys are separated by distance, Fuller you are in Cedar Falls and Chuck you are in Minneapolis how does technology keep you two working together and moving forward?

Chuck T: Technology makes things much easier now.  I can create the music and just zip it over to Fuller to hear.  Fuller can create flyers and graphics and do the same to me.  Now, the only time we HAVE to be together is when recording or performing.  Plus, we can work on two different fronts; Iowa and Minnesota.

How have things changed for you guys from the beginning to now?

Chuck T: For starters, we’re old.  People change as they grow older and with it the music has changed.  There is much less time to work on the music now, so it means more to us.  In the old days, if we had nothing to do, we would work on music.  Now, we must make time for it.

What lessons have you learned about this business?

Chuck T: The business is the business.  If your ultimate goal is fame and fortune, you’re in for a rough ride.  Music is about the people…from artists to fans and everyone in-between.

What is the next phase for iLL CONVOY?

Chuck T: Who knows?  The Stebs reunion show in 2009 was supposed to be a one off gig, but things went so well we kept the ball rolling.  There wasn’t a master plan with this return.  We decided that this time out we were just going to have fun with it and see what happens.  You can expect more shows and more new music from us over the next year or so.  We want to help build the scene up and work with other musicians as well.  We will be working with outside producers for the next album..should be cool.

Do you align yourselves with the Rebel Alliance or are you loyal to the Empire?

Chuck T: Are you serious?  We have an F’N Stromtrooper on stage with us.  It’s all about the Empire for me.

What do you want people to know about you personally, musically, politically?  This is your chance to talk about anything you think is important whether it be music, politics, life this is your soap box and it’s all yours?

Chuck T: With the world crumbling around us right now, there is no way I’m touching politics.  I guess I would say to anyone that has not seen us perform live that you need to give us one shot.  I know you will be back for more.

And for anyone in the local, underground, or independent category…support the ones around you.  And play more shows!  Anyone can post tracks on a social media site…Lets book some gigs.  We are open to working with anyone.

Oh yeah, buy the new record.

Posted under Hip Hop, Local, Music

We all like Free Music, we all like New Free Music even more.  How about New Free Music that are Covers of our favorite bands.  In this new promotional tool from the video game Homefront you can get yourself some awesome new music from some of my most favorite new artists including IWrestledABearOnce and Winds of Plague as well as an old favorite The Dillinger Escape Plan and another new band that is going to be in Cedar Falls tomorrow at the Wheelhouse Periphery.  This is a totally limited thing though, they are only giving away 25,000 copies of this record and then it’s gone.  So hurray yourself on over to the Homefront Website and get yourself some new music.  It features covers of Black Sabbath, Public Enemy, U2, Pink Floyd, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Metallica.

Posted under Uncategorized

One of the bands that I’ve gotten turned onto over the last year from friends is Boris.  They simply are with out borders or definitions and some of the most original work I’ve heard in years!  I love everything they have done from their own albums to collaborations with experimental artists like Merzbow and SUNN O))).  I had been speaking with their publicist lately about getting their two new albums for review and setting up an interview with the band.  Then the earthquake and tsunami hit.  Like most of us, I was dumbstruck by the devastation and hart broken by what I was seeing but it felt so far away from me.  I didn’t know anybody in Japan apart from an old co-worker here at the station who I heard from and said she was OK.  Then it hit me BORIS!  I immediately emailed their PR guy to check on him.  He told me he had just spoken with them the night before and they were OK.  I was relieved to know that they were alive, healthy and doing alright.  Below is their official statement.

“Boris expresses our condolences to everyone who passed away because of current unexpected earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, and also our deepest sympathies for all of the people who have a hard time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

“All Boris members, our families and staff are safe now. Thank you very much for kind words and thoughtful messages.

Hope,
Boris”

In light of the recent events both of their new albums are going to see a delay, I don’t think any one will blame them for that at all.  I’ve asked several times if there is anything that we here in the States and here in Iowa can do to help Boris and the people of Japan and it’s been reiterated to me that this is still the best way to help the people of Japan.

Donations to aid the disaster relief efforts in Japan are being taken by the American Red Cross HERE, or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 for a $10 donation.

I wish them the very best and hope that people of Japan have a speedy recovery and rebuilding.  I also urge all of you to donate time, money or services to the people of Japan.  My thoughts, hope and positive vibes are being sent their way!

Posted under Uncategorized