Ten out of ten. Zero notes. Cage the Elephant delivered an absolutely insane performance. Lively. Wild. And positively electric. Brad Shultz came out first, strumming like a man possessed, building tension with deep rock rhythms as if daring Matt to appear. It worked. Matt sprinted out, leapt into the air like he was suspended there by heaven, and crashed into “Broken Boy.”
Read MoreI have a lot to say about The Black Keys. They were one of the pillars of my teenage listening habits–you can’t talk about 2000s rock without mentioning El Camino. So walking up to their Shaky Knees set, I wanted to feel that same rush. Unfortunately, what I got instead was a reminder of how far they’ve drifted from their peak.
Read MoreAfter the chaos of Die Spitz’s pits, Radio Free Alice felt like a chance to catch my breath without losing momentum. I found a patch of shade and let the Australian band’s sound rebuild my energy. They play like they’ve studied everyone who came before them and are determined to make it their own.
Read MoreThey played the entire Black Parade album to start the show with the cornerstone being “Welcome to the Black Parade.” The crowd erupted at every familiar line. When “Mama” hit, the stage was bathed in deep crimson. Flames shot up. Sylvia (Charlotte Kelso) sang the mother’s part with a haunting presence. Everything was happening as if we were in some gothic cathedral, built from amps and pyros.
Read MoreWhat can you even say about Deftones other than holy shit? They’re one of those bands whose reputation precedes them, but still nothing prepares you for the real thing. I’ve followed them for years without ever catching a live show. They blow the doors off wherever they play.
Read MoreMusic, energy, and raw emotion return to Albania’s capital as the Check In Festival gears up for its fifth edition, promising two nights of unforgettable performances and city-shaking energy. Taking place on September 26 and 27, the festival continues its mission to place Tirana firmly on the global music map, bringing international talent and an electrifying atmosphere to one of Europe’s most rapidly emerging cultural hubs.
Read MoreHer signature opening silhouette painted against a white circular curtain drew out the crowd’s anticipation before she appeared, back bending and contorting into impossible shapes as she performed their first song. The night was a mix of fan favorites snd new songs: “Nobody New,” “Back to Me,” and a treat for longtime fans, “No One Noticed” with an extended Spanish section. Each song was like its own little world.
Read MoreFrom punks in mohawks and studded leather to kids wearing their parents’ original Sublime shirts, the crowd in front of the stage was proof of a fanbase that spans generations. It was a living cross-section of Southern California’s legacy spread across the world. Skaters, surfers, and rock fans gathered under the hot Georgia sun as Sublime made their Shaky Knees debut.
Read MoreJoe Talbot came out like a man possessed, neighing like a horse, spitting into the air and catching it, and begging for more and more energy. When they played “Mother,” he dedicated it to “any man in the audience who needs to learn how to respect women online and everywhere.” The crowd roared back. Their black-and-white screens flickered and cut like old film, giving everything a hard contrast, a jagged texture. Underscoring the raw, punk rock energy that drips from the band.
Read MoreInhaler crossed the Atlantic to open Friday at Shaky Knees with a set that quickly spread through the Georgia field like ivy. Their sound crept from person to person, latching on and holding tight, until the whole crowd was swaying under its pull. Their visuals matched that slow-rolling takeover: red and black overlays twisting into purple, band portraits morphing and blending into psychedelic shapes at the edge of the screens.
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