On November 3, 2019, the relatively quiet college town of New Haven, CT welcomed a five-part, earth-shaking line up to their prized venue, Toad’s Place. Back-to-back headbangers, Santa Cruz, Tempting Fate, He Is Legend and Whitechapel, all supported Atreyu on their 20th-anniversary tour and packed out the intimate venue. None of the “do not mosh” signs stood a chance against the excitable and enthusiastic fans who could not resist a circle pit.Continue reading
It comes as no surprise that this year’s Aftershock Festival was once again sold out. I mean, how could it not with big-name talents such as Slipknot, Tool, Korn, Rob Zombie, Blink-182, Lamb of God, Dropkick Murphys, Marilyn Manson, Bad Religion, Chevelle, and many others. And with the über-early announcement of next year’s headliner—Metallica, for those of you living under a rock—there’s no question that 2020’s Aftershock will sell out as well. In fact, as of this writing, VIP weekend passes were all gone. A year in advance! So, how was this year’s outing? Damn good, in our humble opinion.Continue reading
Aftershock Festival gets underway this weekend in Sacramento, California! The now three-day event is sold-out and features Tool, Slipknot, Staind (in a rare reunion show), blink-182, Korn, Rob Zombie, Bring Me The Horizon, A Day To Remember, Marilyn Manson, Lamb of God, Halestorm, Dropkick Murphys, BABYMETAL, Bad Religion, Stone Temple Pilots, Chevelle and many more. Ghost Cult has been fortunate to cover the fest for many years, often the highlight of our annual festival coverage. Al lthe bands are tight, but clashes being what they are, check out our day by day list of can’t miss acts.Continue reading
The king of US rock and metal festivals, Aftershock Festival held yearly in Sacramento is here with a big announcement for 2019. Expanding to a three-day affair, the fest will be led by such major acts as Tool, Slipknot, blink-182, Korn, Rob Zombie, Staind, Bring Me The Horizon, A Day To Remember, Marilyn Manson, Lamb of God, Halestorm, Dropkick Murphys, BABYMETAL, Bad Religion, Stone Temple Pilots, Chevelle and many more! Aftershock takes place at Sacramento’s Discovery Park October 11, 12 and 13th. Tickets, VIP Packages and Hotel options go on sale Friday, April 26 At Noon PST at the link below.Continue reading
According to common knowledge, Glam Metal died in 1991, somewhere between the releases of Warrant’s Cherry Pie (CBS) and Poison’s Flesh and Blood (Capitol) to Pearl Jam’s Ten (Epic/Sony) and Nirvana’s Nevermind (Geffen). It appears this memo did not make it to Finland, as since their debut album five years ago Santa Cruz have been churning out Hard Tock straight from the pages of Skid Row and Guns n’ Roses, like their equally glammed up compatriots Reckless Love.Bad Blood Rising (M-Theory Audio) is their third album, and the continuation of their modern Glam Metal influenced rock. Continue reading
AXS TV will be launching an all new original music series Breaking Band on Sunday, January 24, 2015 at 9:30 PM EST. The documentary style series is hosted by Donovan Leitch (of Royal Machines) and features six 30-minute episodes of the country’s most talented emerging acts to be mentored by Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray); chart-topping music artist Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go’s); rock legend Robin Zander (Cheap Trick); award-winning producer and techno star Moby; master of metal Sebastian Bach (Skid Row); and beloved guitar guru Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction). Breaking Band was filmed at YouTube Space LA, and concert highlights are available on youtube.com/axstvconcerts.
The Complete Episode Schedule is as Follows (All Times Eastern):
• Dave Navarro mentors “Andie Case” (Seattle-based band) – Jan. 24 at 9:30 p.m.
• Moby mentors “Runaground” (Los Angeles-based band) – Jan. 31 at 9:30 p.m.
• Sebastian Bach mentors “Santa Cruz” (Finnish band) – Feb. 7 at 9:30 p.m.
• Robin Zander of Cheap Trick mentors “Set The Charge” (New York-based band) – Feb. 14 at 9:30 p.m.
• Belinda Carlisle mentors “Sick of Sarah” (Minneapolis-based band) – Feb. 21 at 9:30 p.m.
• Mark McGrath mentors “Stick Figure” (Los Angeles-based band) – Feb. 28 at 9:30 p.m.
The performance schedule for Rock On The Range 2015 has been announced, and the event is May 15, 16 and 17, 2015 at MAPFRE Stadium (formerly Crew Stadium) in Columbus, OH. The event is now sold out and those without tickets can watch the event on AXS TV throughout the weekend.
Performance times are as follows (subject to change):
Friday, May 15
(Doors open at 11:00 AM.)
Monster Energy Main Stage
1:05 PM: We Are Harlot
2:15 PM: Apocalyptica
3:30 PM: Live
4:50 PM: Breaking Benjamin
6:15 PM: Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
5:40 PM: Yelawolf
8:00 PM: Marilyn Manson
9:30 PM: Slipknot
Ernie Ball Stage
11:45 AM: Shaman’s Harvest
12:30 PM: Islander
1:40 PM: VAMPS
2:55 PM: Young Guns
4:15 PM: The Dillinger Escape Plan
7:15 PM: Falling In Reverse
Jägermeister Stage
11:45 AM: XFactor1
12:30 PM: Highly Suspect
1:40 PM: Dorothy
2:55 PM: Dangerkids
4:15 PM: Beartooth
5:40 PM: Hatebreed
Rolling Rock Comedy Tent
6:15 PM: Joe Howard
6:30 PM: Brent Terhune
6:45 PM: Mark Poolos
7:00 PM: Jim Florentine
7:20 PM: Brian Posehn
Saturday, May 16
(Doors open at 11:00 AM.)
Monster Energy Main Stage
1:10 PM: Special Guest
2:20 PM: Of Mice And Men
3:35 PM: Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts
4:55 PM: In This Moment
6:15 PM: Papa Roach
8:00 PM: Godsmack
9:40 PM: Judas Priest
Ernie Ball Stage
11:50 AM: Screaming For Silence
12:35 PM: Like A Storm
1:45 PM: Sabaton
3:00 PM: Tremonti
4:20 PM: BABYMETAL
5:40 PM: In Flames
7:15 PM: Ministry
Jägermeister Stage
11:50 AM: Novallo
12:35 PM: Red Sun Rising
1:45 PM: From Ashes To New
3:00 PM: Saxon
4:20 PM: Nonpoint
5:40 PM: The Devil Wears Prada
Rolling Rock Comedy Tent
6:15 PM: Bill Arrundale
6:30 PM: Jay Snyder
6:45 PM: Bill Squire
7:00 PM: Don Jamieson
7:20 PM: Jim Norton
Sunday, May 17
(Doors open at 11:00 AM.)
Monster Energy Main Stage
1:05 PM: Hollywood Undead
2:20 PM: The Pretty Reckless
3:35 PM: Anthrax
4:55 PM: Halestorm
6:20 PM: Volbeat
8:00 PM: Rise Against
9:20 PM: Linkin Park
Ernie Ball Stage
11:45 AM: Unlocking The Truth
12:30 PM: Art of Dying
1:45 PM: Starset
3:00 PM: Otherwise
4:20 PM: Rival Sons
5:45 PM: Motionless In White
7:15 PM: Tech N9ne
Jägermeister Stage
11:45 AM: Santa Cruz
12:30 PM: September Mourning
1:45 PM: Marmozets
3:00 PM: Crobot
4:20 PM: Upon A Burning Body
5:45 PM: Periphery
Rolling Rock Comedy Tent
6:25 PM: Chad Zumrock
6:40 PM: Craig Peters
6:55 PM: Jake Innarino
7:10 PM: Rod Paulette
7:30 PM: Rob Schneider
Rock On The Range on Facebook
Rock On The Range on Twitter
Santa Cruz is streaming their new music video for “My Remedy,” off of their newly released self titled album, out now via Spinefarm, below. They will be touring with Amaranthe across North America.
May 12: Virgin Mobile Theater – Montreal, QC
May 13: Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
May 14: Rams Head Live – Baltimore, MD
May 15: The Palladium – Worcester, MA
May 16: The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
May 17: Rock on the Range – Columbus, OH
May 20: Mojoes – Joliet, IL
May 21: Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN
May 23: Republik – Calgary, AB
May 24: Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
May 26: Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC
May 27: Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
May 29: Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
May 31: Vinyl – Las Vegas, NV
Jun 02: The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
Jun 03: Club Nokia – Los Angeles, CA
Santa Cruz on Facebook
Santa Cruz on Twitter
Rock On The Range has announced their daily band lineups, various fan activities and an interactive art installation with graffiti artist Risk. The event will be held on May 15, 16 and 17, 2015 at MAPFRE Stadium (formerly Crew Stadium) in Columbus, OH, and recently was announced the event is sold out.
Friday, May 15: Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Breaking Benjamin, Live, Falling In Reverse, Yelawolf, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Apocalyptica, Hatebreed, We Are Harlot, Young Guns, Beartooth, VAMPS, Dangerkids, Islander, Dorothy, Highly Suspect, Shaman’s Harvest, XFactor1
Saturday, May 16: Judas Priest, Godsmack, Papa Roach, Ministry, In This Moment, Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts, Of Mice & Men, In Flames, BABYMETAL, Tremonti, The Devil Wears Prada, Nonpoint, Saxon, Sabaton, Like A Storm, From Ashes To New, Red Sun Rising
Sunday, May 17: Linkin Park, Rise Against, Volbeat, Halestorm, Tech N9ne, Anthrax, The Pretty Reckless, Hollywood Undead, Motionless In White, Rival Sons, Periphery, You Me At Six, Starset, Upon A Burning Body, Crobot, New Medicine, Unlocking The Truth, Marmozets, September Mourning, Santa Cruz
Multi talented fine artist, illustrator and graffiti artist known as RISK, will be curating an interactive art exhibit to be displayed on site, showcasing multiple live demonstrations and allowing fellow event participants such as Slipknot’s M. Shawn Crahan (Clown) and fans to interact and add to the exhibit.
The Rolling Rock Comedy Tent will feature sets from some of the biggest rock n’ roll influenced comedians, including: Rob Schneider, Brian Posehn, Jim Norton, Don Jamieson, Jim Florentine, Rod Paulette, Jeremy Essig, Brent Terhune, Joe Howard, Bill Squire, Jay Snyder, Bill Arrundale, Jake Iannarino, Kenny Smith, and Craig Peters.
Rock On The Range on Facebook
Rock On The Range on Twitter
The opening of thirty seconds of the self-titled sophomore album (Spinefarm) from Finland’s Santa Cruz teases of this being (yet another) post-hardcore album before, like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible II, rips off the covering mask with a stomping cojones-to-the-max Sleaze Rock riff. We’re implored to get our “middle fingers up” and raise our “fucking hands in the air” before being swept up into the type of chorus that used to get millions of mulleted and permed peeps singing along.
Santa Cruz have unveiled their true selves.
But let’s get some disclaimers in early before we end up doing Santa Cruz a disservice and having you all rolling your eyes to the heavens and thinking this is some kind of retro throwback, na-na-na (as many a great chorus’ go), this is sleaze and glam but up-to-date. Yes, the roots of the rock swagger on display have been led from Park Avenue to Skid Row, but there are also similarities to The Used and Hardcore Superstar in there.
OK, there is no musical revolution going on here, but when you have songs as massive as ‘6(66) Feet Under’ or ‘My Remedy’ you don’t need to be setting a new agenda, you’ll win hearts and minds just by producing damn good, catchy, slick spirited rock songs; ‘Wasted & Wounded’ is, (woah-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh), the song Black Veil Brides have always been striving for.
Vocalist “Archie” has Seb Bach ‘tood in his voice and “Johnny” Parkkonen is happy slamming riffs, chugs, and searing widdling leads (the solo to ‘Vagabonds’ is pure Marty Friedman – love it!), but between them the quartet stay on target for the duration of the ten tracks on display, high-energy rock music, excellently captured with enough heaviness, balls and vibe in the sound to help them stand out, and to indicate a live show would a great night out.
There’s a line between disposable, retro hero-worship rock (that frankly bores the fuck out of me and flatters to deceive) and being a goddamn good rock band, and Santa Cruz are man-walking, chests out, over there; the line is a dot to them. With the power of a Bullet For My Valentine, and the choruses of Ratt, Santa Cruz is an album that’ll get your boogie on, get your hand in the air, your air guitar out and get your mouth singing along.
And you can’t argue with that.
8.0/10
STEVE TOVEY