CONCERT REVIEW: Decapitated – Septicflesh – Kataklysm – Allegaeon Live at The Observatory


It was my second time coming to The Observatory at Santa Ana, as it’s become a place I enjoy seeing shows, with floor area having inclined sections for fans from afar to see, instead of being blocked from the ground level. Also, the sound of bands and vocals is always sounds great. Walking into venue, there’s a long line for merch, which is expected, as fans talked about whom they came to see, or have seen.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Cradle of Filth – DevilDriver – Black Satellite – Oni Live at The Observatory


 

As I approached The Observatory in Santa Ana, California, people were still hanging in the parking lot, talking about bands and shows. But one group that caught my attention, was a group of people putting on corpse paint on their faces. Such admiration for them to be able to get dressed up for shows.

Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Decibel’s Metal & Beer Fest 2019


Decibel Magazine’s Decibel Metal & Beer Fest was, to put it simply, stacked. Fourteen bands across all variants of Death, Grindcore, Prog, and Doom, descended onto Orange County for a weekend of heart-pounding jubilation. The two-day event was held this year at The Observatory, a large yet paradoxically intimate standing-room-only venue, intelligently designed to put the audience at three different heights across the entire space, offering uninhibited views of the stage beyond the perils of the pit.Continue reading


Dead Cross Kicks Off Their Headlining Tour In California


Dead Cross kicked off their highly anticipated U.S. tour last night in Santa Ana, California, and did not disappoint. Continue reading


Video: EYEHATEGOD’s Full Set With Randy Blythe In Santa Ana, California


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Due to Mike IX Williams being sidelined because of an undisclosed illness, EYEHATEGOD recently announced that Lamb Of God‘s Randy Blythe would be the front man for their latest U.S. tour. Yesterday we shared some of the first fan footage from their current tour, and now, thanks to Youtuber Sexthrash69, you can watch their entire, crushing set from The Observatory in California!Continue reading


Atreyu Streaming “So Others May Live” Music Video, 7″ Out For Record Store Day


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Atreyu is streaming a music video for a brand new song “So Others May Live,” off their upcoming seven inch single out April 18, 2015 for Record Store Day. Watch it below.

They will release a 7″ featuring both “So Others May Live” and the brand new track “When the Day Is Done.” These are the first new Atreyu songs to surface in years. This live footage, which captures the band in its most natural state, was filmed at The Observatory in Santa Ana, CA in December of 2014.

A brand new album will be released later this year via the joint venture partnership between Raw Power Management‘s Search & Destroy label and Spinefarm Records.


Testament, Whitesnake, etc Members On Randy Rhoads Remembered


randy rhoads remembered

The Randy Rhoads Remembered: A Celebration of a Guitar Legend! has been confirmed for Friday, January 23, 2015 at The Observatory in Santa Ana, CA, celebrating the life of original Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads.

Show creator Brian Tichy and partner Joe Sutton conceived this event in 2013 after agreeing years before that Randy Rhoads deserved fresh recognition for his musical impact. They are both huge fans of Rhoads. Tichy himself played with Ozzy Osbourne in 2000. On top of the best guitar players in the world rocking their favorite Rhoads’ songs, Randy’s brother Kelle Rhoads performs and both his sister Kathy and he share their stories making this a very touching and personal experience for all involved!

The following artists have been confirmed as participants in Randy Rhoads Remembered:

GUITARISTS:

Tracii Guns (Devil City Angels)
Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake / Night Ranger)
Nik Kai (Kemical Kill)
Kiko Louriero (Angra)
Marzi Montazeri (Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals / Marzi Montazeri’s Heavy As Texas)
Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob)
Mitch Perry (MSG / Edgar Winter)
Monte Pittman (Madonna)
Rowan Robertson (DIO / Bang Tango / DC4)
Janet Robin (Student of Randy Rhoads / Lindsey Buckingham)
Alex Skolnick (Testament / Alex Skolnick Trio)
Brian Tichy (Whitesnake / Foreigner / Ozzy Osbourne / Billy Idol)
Jeff Watson (Night Ranger)
Brent Woods (Student of Randy Rhoads / Vince Neil / Sebastian Bach)
Phil X (The Drills / Bon Jovi)
Roy Z (Halford / Bruce Dickinson / Tribe of Gypsies)
Mark Zavon (Kill Devil Hill)

“THE MADMEN” (RRR House Band):
Michael Devin: vox (Whitesnake)
Stephen LeBlanc: keys (Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Exp.)
Rudy Sarzo: bass (Ozzy Osbourne / Quiet Riot / Whitesnake / Queensryche)
Phil Soussan: bass (Ozzy Osbourne / Billy Idol / Big Noize)
Brian Tichy: drums (Whitesnake / Foreigner / Ozzy Osbourne / Billy Idol)

SPECIAL GUESTS:
Dewey Bragg (Kill Devil Hill / MOTH)
Host: Dean Delray (Rock n’ Roll Comedian)
Kathy Rhoads D’Argenzio
Dave Ellefson (Megadeth)
Kelle Rhoads
Jeff Scott Soto (Journey / Talisman)
Chas West (Bonham)

*In addition to this lineup, there will be some very specials guests –
some will be announced and some won’t, so stay tuned!


Guns N Roses, Janes Addiction, etc Members Set To Perform At 2015 Bonzo Bash


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The 2015 Bonzo Bash NAMM Jam! will be happening at The Observatory in Santa Ana, CA on Thursday, January 22, 2015, with an all star cast set to perform.

With Bonzo Bash creator Brian Tichy newly endorsed by Ludwig-Musser Drums and Percussion, the legendary Ludwig is revealed as the main sponsor of the highly anticipated 2015 Bonzo Bash NAMM Jamm! Led Zeppelin’s John Henry “Bonzo” Bonham is consistently regarded as the #1 drummer in rock. Bonham played Ludwig drums his whole career and his name is synonymous with Ludwig.

Having Ludwig sponsor Bonzo Bash gives an added authenticity to the celebration! Tichy/ Sutton Productions is very excited to have the two entities come together, all in the name of John Bonham!

The following artists have been confirmed to participate in this year’s Bonzo Bash:
DRUMMERS:

Steven Adler (Guns n’ Roses / Adler)
Athena (Femme Fatale / Ex-Wives of Rock)
Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp / John Fogerty / Smashing Pumpkins)
Charlie Benante Fan Page (Anthrax)
Jimmy D’Anda (Lynch Mob / Lies, Deceit & Treachery)
Bevan Davies (Wayne Static / Danzig / Jerry Cantrell)
Cortney DeAugustine (Frank Hannon Band / Ronnie Montrose / Michael Lee Firkins)
Joe Franco (Good Rats / Twisted Sister)
John Hummel (Lady Gaga)
Brandon Kachel (Barbarian Overlords)
Corky Laing (Mountain / Bonzo Bash Legend Award Recipient)
Thomas Lang (Asia / John Wetton / Paul Gilbert)
Dave Lombardo (Slayer / Philm)
Khurt Maier (Salty Dog)
Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour)
Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction)
Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs / Dream Theater)
Gregg Potter (The Buddy Rich Band)
Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow / Black Sabbath)
Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper)
Matt Starr (Ace Frehley / Mr. Big)
Todd Sucherman (Styx)
Jason Sutter (Marilyn Manson / Foreigner / Chris Cornell)
Mike Terrana (Rage / Yngwie Malmsteen / Tony Macalpine)
Brian Tichy (Whitesnake / Foreigner / Ozzy Osbourne / Billy Idol)
Franklin Vanderbilt (Lenny Kravitz / Stevie Wonder / Chaka Khan)
Les Warner (The Cult / Bow Wow Wow)
Simon Wright (AC/DC / DIO / Queensryche)

SPECIAL GUESTS:
Burning Rain (Doug Alrich / Keith St. John / Sean McNabb / Matt Starr)
Host: Dean Delray (Rock n’ Roll Comedian)
Ali Handal (Neil Young / Paul Williams)
Robert Mason (Warrant)
Jeff Ocheltree (John Bonhams’s drum tech)
Mike Orlando – Fan Page (Adrenaline Mob)
Mitch Perry (MSG / Edgar Winter)
Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses / The Dead Daisies / Hookers & Blow)
Phil X (The Drills / Bon Jovi)
The Moby Dicks: Michael Devin (Whitesnake), Stephen LeBlanc (Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Exp.), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake / Foreigner / Ozzy Osbourne / Billy Idol), Chas West (Bonham), Brent Woods Music (Vince Neil / Sebastian Bach)

Bonzo Bash on Twitter


Pig Destroyer Confirm Upcoming West Coast Dates


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Pig Destroyer has confirmed upcoming West Coast dates:

Jan 10: El Corazon – Seattle, WA
Mar 20: Constellation Room at The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA (feat. Despise You, ACXDC & Suspect)
Mar 21: The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA (feat. Nails, Despise You, ACXDC & Dead Beat)
Mar 22: DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA – (feat. Ghoul, Despise You, ACXDC & Agenda Of Swine)
May 29-31: Temples Festival – Bristol, UK
Jul 8-12: Obscene Extreme Festival – Trutnov, CZ

Pig Destroyer recently released a two song doom EP entitled Mass & Volume, which was previously available for a limited time as a digital only release, but now reissued on limited edition LP and CD via Relapse Records in October. The album can be streamed in its entirety here.

Pig Destroyer on Instagram
Pig Destroyer on Twitter
Pig Destroyer on Bandcamp

pig destroyer tour

 


Atreyu Performing ‘The Curse’ At Tenth Anniversary Show


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Atreyu will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of their 2004 The Curse album with a special show on December 19th at the Observatory in Santa Ana, CA, playing the album in its entirety. There is reportedly another show on December 20th at the same venue, except as a regular show. They are reportedly working on a new album due out in 2015.