Author Archives: Chris R. Smyth

Music Park: The Struts @ 9:30 Club — 10/8/18

Posted on by

The Struts 2
Luke Spiller fronts The Struts at 9:30 Club on Oct. 8, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

Dave Grohl called them “the best opening band we’ve ever had.” That’s high praise, and something The Struts may never hear again if they continue performing with as much incredible excitement as they did at the 9:30 Club on Monday. Currently on their own headlining tour of America in support of their soon-to-be-released second full-length album, Young & Dangerous, The Struts danced and sang the night away. (Hey, check out our Parklife DC review of The Struts opening Foo Fighters at The Anthem’s grand opening in 2017!)

Continue reading →

Advertisements

Music Park: Tom Morello @ The Miracle Theatre — 10/6/18

Posted on by

Tom Morello
Tom Morello billed at The Miracle Theatre on Oct. 6, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

A movie theater is an unusual place to hold a concert, but very little of what happened Saturday night was traditional. Less than a week in advance of the release of his new album, The Atlas Underground, Tom Morello brought an entirely new type of show to The Miracle Theater, a venue where Tom joked about receiving second billing on the marquee to Ant-Man and Hotel Transylvania 3.

Continue reading →

Music Park: Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 10/2/18

Posted on by

Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
Myles Kennedy performs with Slash at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Oct. 2, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

There was no easing into the show on Tuesday. Starting with the opening riff of the night, the pedal was slammed to the floor, and everyone inside The Fillmore Silver Spring was along for the fast ride of guitar-driven, hard rock with rock ‘n’ roll icon Slash.

Continue reading →

Music Park: Lenny Kravitz @ The Anthem — 9/24/18

Posted on by

151_LennyKravitz_MainIMG
Lenny Kravitz (Photo courtesy Press Here)

Nearly 30 years after he told us all to “Let Love Rule,” Lenny Kravitz recently released Raise Vibration, a record, for better or worse, still covering many of the same topics now three decades later. But cover them he did with vigorous conviction at The Anthem on Monday.

Continue reading →

Music Park: Shinedown @ Jiffy Lube Live — 8/19/18

Posted on by

Shinedown Shinedown performs at Jiffy Lube Live on Aug. 19, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

The concert started with a giant explosion, but it would be far from the only startling moment of the night. On a co-headlining tour with Godsmack, Shinedown put forth everything one would hope from an arena ready rock band at Jiffy Lube Live on Sunday — extreme energy, pyrotechnics and lasers, eardrum-blasting musicianship, and soaring vocals that touch everyone from the front of the pit to the back of the lawn.

Continue reading →

Music Park: Godsmack @ Jiffy Lube Live — 8/19/18

Posted on by

Godsmack
Godsmack performs at Jiffy Lube Live on Aug. 19, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

The deep drumming that opens the title track and first song on the new album, When Legends Rise, immediately fills you with the sense of impending doom, as many Godsmack songs tend to do. This made for the perfect opening song for Godsmack’s performance at Jiffy Lube Live on Sunday. A quick transition into a heavy guitar riff, and 15 seconds into the night, there is no doubt that Godsmack has put forth another powerful, rib-crushing album.

Continue reading →

Snapshots: In This Moment @ UMBC Event Center — 7/31/18

Posted on by

In This Moment
In This Moment performs at the UMBC Events Center on July 31, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

In a spectacular display of visual and auditory stimulus, gothic metal band In This Moment brought its unforgettable show to the UMBC Event Center in Baltimore, opening Halestorm. In addition to the smoke and lights of a traditional concert, In This Moment used set changes, face and body paint, many different masks, costume changes, and a stage covered with multiple crosses to capture the attention of their fans.

Continue reading →