Add to favorites Examiner Bio

September to be epic month for New York City heavy metal

 

Tuesday, September 8^th: Alice in Chains at Irving Plaza

The reunited grunge metal gods are back with new singer William DuVall, and kicking ass like they never went away. The afro-sporting Duvall looks nothing like late frontman Layne Staley, but never judge a book by its cover. The band is as tight as ever, and the second Duvall opens his mouth you would swear that Layne’s soul is inside him, as he sings with all the tormented passion that made AIC one of the most standout bands of the ‘90s. They have been touring since 2006’s supposed farewell tour, and fan response has been so overwhelming that the group is releasing a brand new album for the first time in over a decade. Fans take note: Irving Plaza is one of the smallest NYC venues, and this show will sell out in hours, if not sooner. An exact on-sale time has yet to be released, so pay close attention to Ticketmaster and Live Nation for updates.

 

Wednesday, September 9^th: Motorhead at Roseland Ballroom

Arguably one of the most important heavy metal bands EVER, Motorhead is cited as a major influence by acts such as Metallica, and the group is one of the original New Wave of British Heavy Metal artists credited with creating and molding the world of heavy metal as it is known today. Their short, punky songs have been classics for decades, and Roseland Ballroom is one of the best NYC venues for a general admission rock show. Even if you’re still sore from the previous night’s AIC show, Motorhead is an act not to be missed.

 

Friday, September 11^th: Down at Nokia Theater

You won’t hear Down on the radio, and probably not on MTV either. But former Pantera singer Phil Anselmo’s New Orlean’s based supergroup is one of the most powerful forces in heavy metal, and their live shows are legendary. Combining a Skynyrd-like southern rock feel with Black Sabbath-era riffs and Anselmo’s legendary metal roar, Down has a unique sound that strips away modern subgenres and worships the power of the almighty riff. Anselmo’s stage banter is also legendary, both for its alpha-male rhetoric as well as its often rambling nature. The Nokia Theater is one of the nicest venues in the city, but is on the small side so this show is likely to sell out fast. Be ready to grab your tickets when they go on sale at noon tomorrow.

 

Monday, September 14^th: Aerosmith with ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden

Dream On. Sweet Emotions. Love in an Elevator. Everybody knows Aerosmith, and they are playing the world’s most famous arena with support from southern rock legends ZZ Top. This tour is also hitting up Jones Beach and the PNC Arts Center in NJ earlier, and for cheaper as well, but if you can’t make the other shows, or if you want to see it again, then this will no doubt be a fantastic concert. Aerosmith have confirmed that they will be playing the entire Toys in the Attic album on this tour, with the possibility of switching to another album in its entirety at some point. The show is not even close to sold out, likely due to the extraordinarily high ticket prices that only MSG would have the gall to charge, so look for scalpers and brokers looking to dump their tickets for under face value on the day of the show.

 

Wednesday, September 23^rd: Alice Cooper at Bergen Performing Arts Center

Before there was Twisted Sister, before there was Marilyn Manson, there was Alice Cooper. The original shock rock artist is on a limited tour, and he is coming to Englewood, NJ, 15 minutes from Midtown. While much is made of his elaborate stage show and fantastic showmanship, his music is at least as impressive. In addition to his numerous radio hits such as School’s Out and Poison, he and his band perform a hard rock masterpiece of riffs, solos, and pure rock bliss. The rocker is one of the older performers still on the road these days, and fans should not miss what is likely to be one of his last tour stops near New York City.

 

Honorable Mention

Wednesday, September 16^th: Rodrigo Y Gabriela at Terminal 5

With so much metal crammed into such a short time span, your ears and neck could use a break. Go to Mexican duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela’s show for an incomparable treat, as the acoustic guitar playing couple show their tremendous talent without needing a drop of guitar distortion. Former thrash metal players, the two often cover medleys of popular metal songs from groups such as Metallica and Slayer in the course of their flamenco-tinged shows. Few groups are talented enough to put on a quality show of ‘acoustic metal,’ so do not miss this rare opportunity. 

 

Tickets for all shows are available at Ticketmaster.com, or the venue’s local box office.