Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

June 23rd 2014, The Down & Out Bar, Los Angeles CA: Following the release of their debut full-length album ‘Mirrors For A Prince’, Washington DC-based progressive rock/metal quintet Wings Denied embarked on a US headline tour on June 5th and made their way to the West Coast. Having started out in 2012, Wings Denied were playing their first ever show in Los Angeles, headlining a ‘Metal Monday’ gig at the Down & Out Bar in downtown LA, put together as always by local promoters Church Of The 8th Day and Thee Static Age and also featuring LA bands Andraus and Livin Alive as support acts. Continue reading “Wings Denied, Andraus & Livin Alive Play ‘Metal Monday’ At Down & Out”

By Andrew Bansal

June 22nd 2014, The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA: Based out of Los Angeles, Raw Fabrics is a rock trio comprising youngsters Jack B. Franco (guitar/vocals), Justus Dixon (bass/keyboards/samples) and Jon Fredrik (drums), who came together in 2012 and began their journey. They recently self-released a new single and have been cutting their teeth into the LA rock scene with live gigs on a regular basis. Last night they played as one of the opening acts for a show at the Viper Room. I was asked to come check out this band, which I did despite being completely unfamiliar with them, and as it turned out, I didn’t regret it. Continue reading “Raw Fabrics Perform At The Viper Room”

Review by Andrew Bansal
[Live photos by Matt Nielson, marquee photo by Carsten Steinhausen] 

June 21st 2014, The Troubadour, West Hollywood CA: Southern California riff worshippers Fu Manchu recently released their eleventh full-length studio album ‘Gigantoid’, and along with Los Angeles-based support acts The Freeks and Moab, they played a headline show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood last night to celebrate its release. My first ever Fu Manchu experience came last year at the Satellite where they played a Scion A/V-sponsored show, also featuring Moab. My appreciation for the band’s music grew tenfold upon witnessing their live performance that night. All the great things I’d heard about them from their die-hard cult fanbase were indeed true, and ever since then, I was yearning for another Fu Manchu show. The moment had arrived, and all seemed in readiness for a rifftastic evening. Continue reading “Fu Manchu Play ‘Gigantoid’ Record Release Show At The Troubadour”

By Andrew Bansal

June 20th 2014, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Los Angeles’ very own ‘goblin metal’ heroes Nekrogoblikon descended upon the Sunset Strip for a headline gig at the Whisky-A-Go-Go last night to present material from their latest EP ‘Power’, an assortment of older songs and a brand new tune or two in front of their hometown fan base which has grown astronomically in the past couple of years, as was evident from the excellent turnout they had for this show. Along with support from fellow Los Angeles band Sirion, Nekrogoblikon promised to treat attendees with an epic evening of unabated nerd metal. Continue reading “Nekrogoblikon & Sirion Perform At The Whisky”

By Andrew Bansal

June 19th 2014, Viper Room, West Hollywood CA: Continuing on with their quest to conquer the local scene, Burbank CA-based heavy metal quartet Legal Tender played at the Viper Room last night along with Los Angeles bands Aeges, Goldsboro and Max Cady completing the all-local lineup for a potentially entertaining Thursday evening on the Sunset Strip. Legal Tender opened up their guest list to everyone on their social networks, and gave their fans and followers absolutely no excuse or reason to miss this gig. Having seen them a few times in the past year or so on various stages, I’ve developed an admiration for Legal Tender’s musicianship in the live setting and I was expecting another great performance from them here, but was also looking forward to seeing the other three bands, none of whom I’d ever seen previously.  Continue reading “Legal Tender, Aeges, Goldsboro & Max Cady Play At The Viper Room”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal
[Pomona show review by Darshun, photos by Matt Nielson] 

Following their first show since 1997 at the El Rey Theatre last February and their participation in two special shows for Maynard James Keenan’s ‘cinquanta’ birthday celebrations at the Greek Theatre last month, Los Angeles-based alt/space rock band Failure embarked on an 18-show ‘Tree Of Stars’ North American headline run, announcing their comeback with two-set ‘evening with’ shows in every town. Failure disbanded in 1997 and after a long 16-year gap, reunited as a three-piece lineup of Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards and Kellii Scott and began working on a new album, slated for release in early 2015. They visited the Glass House in Pomona last Saturday June 14th and the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood last night, both venues packed with Failure fans for whom it was a highly anticipated event. Continue reading “Failure Brings Comeback Tour To Hollywood & Pomona”