Show flyer
Here we go again, time for another concert review. Last night was the Loco Lockdown, which was basically a two tales in one city. The return of a titan and the first headline show of a true up-and-coming band. Before I start, I just want to thank J-Rock and Patty to hosting the show, I talked with them before the show (Hi Patty! Hi J!) and their pretty cool, not the typical FM DJ ditz. It was held at the State Theater, a wonderful venue, as I was there for the Rock Solid Pressure Industry Showcase. So if you missed it, were there but got drunk and don't remember it, or if you were there and just want to see if I was right on how of a blogging prick I am, here is what you missed/remembered of last nights Loco Lockdown show.
Who's on first? What's on second? Up first was the return of a titan in Tampa metal, hell in underground metal itself, the one and only Ulcer. To give you a feel of how truly amazing these guys are, J-Rock practically ordered me to quote him when he said "These guys should be signed!". And you know what? They should. Ulcer tore up the stage with their aggressive sound, high energy stage presence and a bassist that almost flies. Very high pit potential, but because of low-attendance, we were reduce to seeing hardcore kids doing those annoying windmills. Oh the days how I miss starting real pits. I could say these guys are real Tampa death metal, but I'd be wrong. Their straight up real Tampa metal. No fancy labels here, Ulcer is THE Tampa band.
I really didn't understand why hardcore kids were at Loco Lockdown til this band played. The Audrey Slam. Undoubtedly the most popular, but least favorable. It was nice that their parents made it out to see them. The real vocalist has some talent, he can do metal but he mainly sticks to the dirty hardcore, but the whole sound is ruined when the keyboardist wants to try to do the same thing. Listen, either stay a watered down Rise 2 Brutality or stay at the keyboards. Dime a dozen band, with a quarter a pop show. Honestly, worst band of the night.
Let's tone it down a little. No, not the quality, the music. Full Flight has a more of a rock sound then metal, but damn do they have a sweet sound and show! High stage presence, high energy, it was a shame most of the audience left after T.A.S, but I don't think they'd get it. Full Flight starts their set with a smoke screen. OOOOO, spooky. Music is very good, with that mainstream rock feel. But then the singer jumps into the pit, trying to start one himself. Gotta love that. It was cute though, because a 21 month old baby came running into the pit area when no one started one and started head banging. I hope someone got that on video, Metal Baby is the next Nooma Nooma. Overall, this band is a really live band, near-perfect sound. I'm looking forward to see them again.
Are you ready? No! I said ARE YOU READY!! Straight from their Rock Solid Pressure Industry Showcase victory comes the menacing creatures of Suggestion. That's right, the band your momma warned you about headlined. It was a Halloween pre-party so the bassist dressed up like a penguin (It Might Be a Penguin!). The two managers squabbled at each other, which is always funny to watch. All of the band was all over the stage, the managers were in the pits. They even had a girl with LED-lit hool-a-hoop doing cool tricks. One of their pits caused bloodshed- automatic Pit Of The Night. Again, Suggestion did not disappoint, they were highly entertaining.
So there you go. The Good, the Great and the God-Awful. Overall, with the exception of one band, the whole show was amazing and really wished more people could of showed up. Ulcer and Suggestion should really play more shows together, Ulcer is THE Tampa band and Suggestion is the best LIVE band. Loco Lockdown truly made me wish I had an assistant or someone to hold my notes and glasses so I can start a pit. Ulcer deserved Pit of The Night with their performance, Suggestion deserved more audience and Full Flight deserved some kind of pit. Audrey Slam, however, deserves a break. It's obvious they got some chinks to work out in their armor. So if you missed it, that's what you missed. If you were too drunk, that's what you don't remember. If you were there, agree or disagree? Until next concert, this is the only metal critic in Tampa that matters, saying Horns high or bye-bye.
Comments
I'd really like you to review the Marduk/Nachtmystium show Nov. 25th in Tampa.
You're an idiot. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but seriously, Audrey Slam did a much better job then Ulcer did. Ulcer is a great band and what not and I don't want to bash on them at all, but seriously, all their songs sounded the same. They put on a good show, but thats the extent of it. This whole thing is a bunch of favoritism bull. I talked to you last night and you were a total jerk off who thinks he is all high and mighty because he has got some dumb little column on the internet that no one reads. If you want to do a good article, try not to be biased at all and talk smack about the bands and the crowd that they draw out. I am sure you would be annoyed if you go and play some show in a death metal band and you are the only death band at a hardcore show then you bring a bunch of death kids and then some guy who doesn't know jack about music writes a review saying "I don't know why these metal heads were here until i saw this awful cannibal corpse cover band"
audrey slam did a better job than ulcer? HA. thats hilarious! you gotta be kidding me. uclers awesome.
suggestion owns
Well I'll be honest here, Im in The Audrey Slam. I've read this review twice now and I cannot tell you how inaccurate and very biased your review is. And I'm not just saying that because you said we were the "worst band of the night" . First of all, we DO NOT draw out hardcore kids. Get your facts straight and learn about real hardcore and how it has evolved today and the people that are a part of that scene. Windmills? Come on man, they were screwing around. Second, I don't mean to bash on Ulcer but come on dude, you know that all of their songs sound the same. They're still a good band! They went ten minutes over their set cutting ours by ten. We would have gladly stayed for the rest of the bands like Full Flight and Suggestion with an open ear for their music (I am actually into some mainstream rock. Real shocker, eh? Oh but wait I might not like it because I'm "hardcore") but we had things to do in the morning. Learn how to write a more balanced review instead of playing favorites.
just cause he didnt like a band doesnt mean hes biased
I just can't get over the fact that you people think that TAS was better than Ulcer. That's the only true bias here. FAN BIAS. Oh and I love how everyone says "no one reads your crappy column", when aalll these TAS kids, in their pleather pants show up to talk smack on a guy who writes a ficken column.
Ulcer= +A
Suggestion= +A
Full Flight= B
TAS= simple crap
i think its so funny how the audrey slam people are saying they were better than ulcer. the keyboardist looked like he had a stick up his ass half the time and didnt know what he was doing as far as the songs were concerned. also the fact that theyre saying wes is biased is retarded cause all those people are either friends with TAS or in the band. if anything, thats a way more biased point of view than that of Wes.
hey dude don't listen to the haters! I enjoy reading your articles and would be honored if you came to one our shows and reviewed us!
Nah bro i was there
All of the bands were good but all of you need to lighten up on "The Audrey Slam" seriously screw all of you haters its our music lets stop putting it all of the people who play it down, these dang kids scream and practices there butts off
i listened to there myspace and i think they have some NOT generic breakdowns, there original i love it, open your freaking ears, i love trash but these kids are gonna make it
Listen to them myspace.com/theaudreyslam
Honestly, I don't know any of these bands.
But wow, this is the most unprofessional review I have ever read in my entire life. I don't see any potential of you being a journalist or anything of that sort. A tip, don't use words like prick. That just shows how amateur you really are.
Seriously kid, work on it. I could go on & on about how you need to improve on your writing but I'll leave you be.
I am lacking an understanding where this whole emo thing came into play. These guys have a hardcore influence more so than a metal influence so that makes them 'emo'? Emo is like that pop punk crap you hear on MTV that all the little girls freak out over, not some metal band. Big deal, they have nice haircuts and wear tight jeans, so did half the bands that influenced what you are into now, again, like the 70's and 80's glam bands.
You Audrey Slam folks need to get some thick skin. You get one bad review and go into full "leave britney alone" mode. If this guy's views are that skewered and biased, what does his opinion mean anyway, right? No, your fragile little egos got bruised and now you've gotta prove to the rest of the world that you're as hardcore as your skinny jeans make you look. Prowling around like you've got a chip on your shoulder is probably the most laughable characteristic one could have, especially when that prowling is done over the internet. You all act like you expected to go your whole careers without a word of criticism. If you really think you're that good, well, by all means, chug down that delusion, but when you want a reality check, maybe you can the paragraph in here about you to find out what people actually think about ya, baby.
This is really going nowhere at all, I think that some of the kids defending TAS at this point are really making them look dumb when they are calling the reviewer and other people siding with the other bands when they are calling them gay and child molesters and other such things. Way to completely fail at holding a stable position in an argument.
Not going to lie, I looked up The Audrey Slam just to see if they were that horrible. I respect your opinion and you've been great to work with so far bro, but I like their music just fine. They might not be stereotypical "metal" but they do have a good sound for hardcore music. They have a spot on our label anytime they're ready. www.myspace.com/diamondintherough813
PS: Good review overall (aside from a few grammar errors) it's nice to get another opinion on local bands.
"The Glenn Beck of Metal" Suits you well my friend. Keep up the good work
Has any one on the thread ever heard "there is no bad publicity"? I'm sure traffic for the band and the review have been pretty good during all this. and just for good measure- f**k Global Decay- I hate those guys! and mostly the bassist!! He wears leather and sometimes lights a bass on fire!!! www.myspace.com/globaldecay (and on twitter and facebook) :)
~K
The critics of this article are either fans of the Audry Slam or are numerous anonymous comments by Audry Slam themselves. Wes's review wasn't half as half as some of the ignorant comments left on this forum! Jeeeezus Christ! I'm glad Wes is here telling it like it is. Wes's stuff is phenomenal, and it belongs in a hardcore fanzine. He's one of the most active members in the Tampa Metal music scene. I hope to see his articles in print soon. As for those who can't handle free press: get over it, and get a friggin life!!! Wes, you are the man!!
And Wes, keep up the good work.
Okay, switching sides. Everyone on her flaming people who dislike The Audrey Slam, congratulations at making them look absolutely retarded. Band members themselves should not even post on here. It really makes your band look bad as a whole when it comes to looking professional and you're bound to get a bad review every once in a while. Then we get to the random posting between random kids on here talking about disliking girlfriends, that is down right retarded as well. Yeah, the calling people out thing, not a good idea with a bunch of 16 and 17 year old kids. I know you guys are big and bad, but seriously, don't mess with adults. They're bigger in most cases and it is just dumb to mess with people who could be your father.
cant we all just shut up and enjoy metal. if you are a true metal head you dont trash other metal bands.
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