Spotify For The Win!

Call me late tot he game on this, but I am really enjoying the versatility of Spotify as a streaming source for music.  I at first was skeptical of using the service because of the cost versus artist availability.  That was until I was given an invitation for a premium account from a family member (Thanks Simon!) to try it out without any ads, or introductory time frames.

What won me over was a combination of many things, especially for the mobile devices.  The accessibility to a huge selection of artists to start.  Spotify has obtained quite the roster of bands and compilations over the years.  This comes in very handy for me when I make my playlists.  So not only can you search for other people's playlists, but you can following top trending ones, radio stations, and also create tons of your own!

(Photo courtesy of Spotify: Design Resources)

Another bonus feature that sealed the deal for me was the ability to download as many songs as I wanted (on the premium account) for offline use when I am in an area that doesn't have WiFi, or signal issues, which can be frequent in the mountain areas nearby.  It's a relatively easy process to download, remove, and add new downloads.  You can do them as a whole playlist, a whole album, or individual songs of your choosing.

So far, the playlists have been a hit. I have been sharing them with a few family and friends, and hoping to add to them as I discover more and more artists.  Add me if you are a member (afgallagher86).  I believe it's also free to sign up!

Alexisonfire - Live At Copps

A wonderful flashback occurred recently.

It was a crisp, cold GTA evening in the end of December, 2012.  After returning from holiday festivities in my hometown, I grabbed our whack of tickets and took off for three nights of Alexisonfire at the Sound Academy.  Being that it was supposed to be their farewell tour, I was looking forward to the band and crowd energy at each show.  Needless to say the GF and I suffered a few bruises and bumps in the mosh pit/entire crowd (haha).

So after they depart from the city after four days of havoc, I received a text message from my buddy John, asking if I was available that evening.  With no idea what he's got planned, or any real plans myself, I was happy to tag along.  I had a slight suspicion anyways, being that he attended previous shows with us.

(Courtesy of theonlybandever.com)

We ended up in Hamilton for Alexisonfire and their [apparent] farewell show after 10+ years as a band.  While St. Catherines is the guys hometown, Copps Coliseum felt the perfect venue for fans all across the Niagara region and the GTA.

With Moneen warming up the crowd as we entered the venue, there was a great vibe in the air, and a huge crowd screaming, eagerly awaiting what would eb the final time anyone was going to see these five on stage together.

Shortly after an energetic show from Moneen, the five gentlemen took the stage, and gave it all they had.  I would normally find myself in the moshpits for something such as this, I decided to lick my wounds from previous evenings and watch the night unfold by the sound booth.

So the flashback came from John a few weeks ago when he shared that concert with me (Thanks John!).  I had noooo idea this was being filmed, but remembered saying something along those lines when I was in Copps.  So, here is that full concert, courtesy of Dine Alone records!

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Review

So here I am sitting at a computer with a great review in my head to write about, but lacking the creativity to word it together.  I think it's best to start from the beginning of the evening.  Last minute decision by my girlfriend Allison, we luckily snagged tickets hours before Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue was to take the stage at the Jack Singer concert hall.  I like to think it was good karma as I tried to enter a promo password, and managed to knock a couple of bucks off each ticket.  Now thinking about it in hindsight, I would have gladly paid full price for this concert.

We managed to find the entrance quite easily, despite the ongoing construction outside the venue.  I have to say I was both impressed and taken back by the layout of Jack Singer.  It had the aesthetics that resembled both a modern touch, and a throw back to something I would have seen in the 80s.  The gold plated railings I think helped this vibe.  Regardless of aesthetics, the place was beautifully set up, the bar staff were friendly and fast, and the sound barriers were awesome!



As we got to our section, we were greeted by an usher who was very helpful in us finding our seats, and explaining rules of entering/exiting during performances.  We waltzed into the concert about 10 minutes late of starting time.  Needless to say the show was already off to a great start, with a handful of fans.  Both myself and my girlfriend were instantly connected with the tunes going on inside the hall.  The trumpet was flying, the drum beats were getting faster, and everyone was up and dancing in the venue.  Did I mention it looked close to a sellout?  Very impressive Calgary!

(Snapped this from our seats on my phone.  Not a bad view!)

Being that I am not overly familiar with his work, I didn't know many of the songs.  However, there were many times where the improv started to seep through the saxophone or trombone, and seem like it wasn't going to stop.  We loved it!  There was a point where the boys even busted out their own rendition of "Give It Away" from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  It clicked in afterwards that they recently announced a tour with them in the US, with two Canadian dates (Toronto and Vancouver), so it seemed like a nice tribute to them.

The show lasted just under two hours all together, which seemed a lot shorter than we wanted.  Call us selfish for it, but we have consistently enjoyed Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue so we are always ready for extended performances.  This made it our third time watching his highly energetic performance (the other two were in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square, and Washington DC's RFK Stadium).  While most of my show reviews tend to be hard rock and metal shows, it's very refreshing to have a change of beat, and get down with something that you can dance to.  The style and approach that Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue give is both throwback, with a modern personal spin.



I would highly recommend this show to most of my readers who are able to appreciate a good love of jazz, blues, and big band.  He has been consistent in his tour schedule, so let's hope he makes a speedy return to Calgary for another performance (coughsummertimeoutdoorscough).

Respect Given, Respect Earned

It was the perfect setting for the summer.  Family and friends paying their visits to our home in Calgary, the weather was sunny, the BBQ was ready for cooking, the fire pit in the backyard was roaring, and on the television we tuned in to the final show of arguably Canada's greatest band.

I was one of 11+ million Canadians that tuned into the CBC to pay respects and watch the farewell that The Tragically Hip gave to their fans.  Now I am sure most of you heard SOMETHING about this before reading this article.  Lead vocalist Gord Downie was unfortunately diagnosed with terminal brain cancer (to lay it out as easy as possible).  Being the true musician he is, he decided, along with the band, to say goodbye in the best way they could...they went on tour!

After a few weeks of sold out concerts across the country, they said their final goodbyes in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario.  It was a pretty memorable moment to say the least.  Our Prime Minister showed up in a typical Canadian tuxedo (aka jean pants and jean jacket), the 6000 person venue was packed to the limit, as well as twenty thousand spectators outside the venue, and our beloved CBC cut live feeds from Rio's Olympics to give Canadians what they really wanted to see that night.

(Photo courtesy of The Tragically Hip Blog)

Let me be honest with you all though, I was never a real Hip fan.  I had numerous opportunities to attend their final shows in Calgary, but thought it would be rude of me to grab tickets for a band that others have waited endlessly to see.  Their tunes were fun, but never in my playlists or catalogue.  However, I ALWAYS sing along to "Ahead By A Century" when it hits the radio waves.

Once the show got underway on Saturday night, and reading multiple articles about this farewell tour, I'll admit I got a little emotional, much like the rest of the country.  Gord and the gang was giving 120% all evening, and they themselves could not hold back a few tears towards the end.  This was a turning point for me, and goes back on a belief I have always had about music.  You may not like the band, the music, or even the musicians, but you HAVE to respect what they have done for millions of their fans, and the effort that goes into their 30+ year career.

In the end of this lil rant, I just hope someone is reading this and thinking "You know what, I may not feel that connection to the music, but I equally respect what they have done over their career".  That is what music should all be about.  Different strokes for different folks, but a sense of respect for a legendary band who have brought smiles, hopes, and dreams to fans.

Now after saying this, I am feeling the urge to go back to my PVR tonight and watching the farewell one last time.

Ticket Stub Doormats?

I am sure that many of you readers have collected ticket stubs from the various concerts you have attended over the years.  I have spent a good portion of my life collecting these artifacts from my teens and early twenties, some of which are residing in pictures frames due to frailty.

So if you're like me and want to try and keep these stubs in your memory, a company based out of Metairie (borderline New Orleans) is now able to print those ticket stubs onto mugs, mats, etc.  While I understand it seems like we've been able to put photos on almost anything, this was on of the first times I have seen a company do this with ticket stub.

 

(Photo courtesy of Lakeside Photo Works)

 

I know what you are all thinking at this point.  You don't want to part with that stub that has been sitting in your collection for 10, 15, 20+ years.  That's quite OK, as I myself had doubts at first.  As it stands, there are three options they provide, which all look pretty safe and secure:

1. Capture your stub using your smartphone.

 

2. Mail your stubs to Lakeside Camera Photoworks.  Mailing in your tickets is the best way to ensure a quality mat. All tickets will be returned with your completed order.  All work is done in house by real live humans. Normal service turnaround is three business days + shipping if we ship.

 

3. If you're in the New Orleans area, bring your stub(s) in to Lakeside Camera Photoworks at 3508 21st Street in Metairie, Louisiana 70002. We are located across Severn Avenue from the Lakeside Mall, right next to Phil’s Grill.

 

Now there isn't any indication on the website that these items can be shipped internationally, but I am almost willing to give it a shot and see how much the shipping and handling costs.  If anyone has the chance to order from them, we'd love to hear your thoughts on the experience!

Hopsin @ Marquee Beer Market

This was my first photo shoot in Calgary, and I couldn't be happier that it was a hip-hop show.  I have to admit at first, Calgary did not strike me as a hip-hop city.  Maybe that is just the perception you get from being an outsider, and from a different part of the country.  My assumption was proven wrong when I showed up to the venue, with a lineup stretching around the corner of the building, and a packed house already inside.

Thanks to a photo pass from Nightshift Entertainment, I was able to walk freely around the venue, backstage, and stick around the wings of the stage to snap as much as I wanted throughout the evening.  It gave me a much better perspective of the concert, and personally, some better photos to paint the picture of the evening.  The entire crew working during the evening (Nightshift and associates) was very helpful, friendly, and great to hang around with.  It definitely made the evening much more enjoyable.

There were a few opening acts for the evening, which all did a great job of getting the crowd warmed up for the headliner.  But the entire evening had chants for the imminent arrival of Hopsin.  Here are a few of the shots I took over the course of his set.  I always believe that evening during a shoot, stop and enjoy the moment that you are in.  I started to watch fans interacting with Hopsin at that moment.  It was a great evening to capture on camera.  Head over to my Facebook page to check out a few other ones I took.

Show Review: August Burns Red @ MacEwan Hall, Calgary

So despite me attending at least a handful of shows in Calgary so far, I have yet to do reviews on them.  It's kind of that debacle between paying attention to the details of the show, or having a couple beers and just enjoying the sights/sounds/people.  More often than none my laziness has taken over and I just want to be one of the fans enjoying music.  On the other hand, August Burns Red's performance on Tuesday night (March 29th) invoked a response.

While touring across Canada/US on a co-headlining tour alongside Between The Buried and Me, August Burns Red hosted many eager fans at the University of Calgary's MacEwan Hall.  Me being the party pooper I am, I missed the opening acts of the show due to my day job.  However, we (the girlfriend and I) managed to make our way in for the tail end of BTBAM's performance, which ended amazing due to their dueling guitar solo(s).  While not being a major fan of BTBAM, this was definitely worth the price of the ticket.  Hint hint, they are some major talented artists!

(Photo courtesy of August Burns Red, and Wikipedia)

Now we move onto the main attraction of the evening.  Being that it has been many years since I have seen them take the stage, I had a million different thoughts going through my head.  My first thought was 'they better play some of the tunes I want to hear', like any other selfish music lover would want.  Despite them not playing "Truth of a Liar" or "A Shot Below The Belt", the entire show screamed of professionalism.  The lighting for the show was perfect, the sound was almost perfect the entire time, the crowd energy was very apparent, and the band had equal tons of energy to expel in their fourteen song set.  Check it out below:

1. Martyr
2. Identity
3. Empire
4. Everlasting Ending
5. Spirit Breaker
6. Cutting the Ties
7. Provision
8. Back Burner
9. Ghosts
10. Marianas Trench
11. Composure
12. Majoring in the Minors
13. Drum Solo
14. White Washed

From "Martyr" to "White Washed", the five members seemed like they were both enjoying themselves, and giving 110%.  All in all, a win in my books, and a reminder of why I pay to see them every time they come through town.

Crystal Lake - Rollin

Well good morning/afternoon to all you fine people out there!  I trust you all have your headphones blasted, and your car speakers pumping out the good tunes.  While life in Calgary has me away from the computer for weeks at a time, I felt the need to drop a well needed video for this Thursday.

(Photo courtesy of Crystal Lake, and Artery Recordings)

Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Crystal Lake have made quite the splash (all puns intended) in the metal world, especially after their newly inked deal with Artery Recordings.  Now I must admit that so many bands fly past my radar, this one might have been on that list.  However, me being the closet Limp Bizkit fan I am, I couldn't help but blast the shit out of their "Rollin" cover.  It was just released back in September, so still rather fresh on the internet.  Check it out below!



If you like what you heard, then be sure to check out their other material on their official website.  Cheers and enjoy the good tunes!

Audrey Horne - Pure Heavy

OK, so there has been one band on my playlist for some time now, and I cannot seem to bring myself to deleting it.  Despite the fact that band members had previously played in black metal bands such as Gorgoroth and Enslaved, Bergen, Norway's Audrey Horne has been honing in their classic rock band sound since 2002.

Their latest album, Pure Heavy, has been a staple on my playlist for well over a year.  I think the overall groove of the album has made it rather fun, even after multiple plays.  For those that find the name familiar, the band was named after famous fictional character Audrey Horne from the ABC show Twin Peaks.  I have not watched the show to find the reason why they did so.  haha



I was rather surprised to find out the group was from Norway after hearing the first couple of tracks, but who knows, maybe their is a huge underground market I have yet to discover?  Pure Heavy is one of those albums you can spin from start to finish, as the tracks all tend to flow together quite well.  The band currently consists of:

Torkjell Rød/Toschie - Vocals | Arve Isdal/Ice Dale - Guitar | Thomas Tofthagen - Guitar

Kjetil Greve - Drums | Espen Lien - Bass

"Audrey Horne are a band that have very much sailed their own vessel since launching and ‘Pure Heavy’ is another strong album on this remarkable voyage." -Planet Mosh

(Album artwork courtesy of Audrey Horne and Napalm Records)

1. Wolf In My Heart
2. Holy Roller
3. Out Of The City
4. Volcano Girl
5. Tales From The Crypt
6. Diamond
7. Into The Wild
8. Gravity
9. High And Dry
10. Waiting For The Night
11. Boy Wonder

Pure Heavy is the fifth LP from AH, and was released on September 29th, 2014 via Napalm Records.  I think any rocker that appreciates a good melody, and a solid riff can appreciate these guys.  They're my go-to group when I need a morning pick me up, or my after work cruise home.



So if there was one album you can get antiquated to this coming spring/summer, it has to be Pure Heavy.  Cheers!

"Pure Heavy is pure joy and if I have a complaint, it’s that it didn’t drop three months ago so it could have been the soundtrack to the summer. Music this much fun almost had to be conceived and recorded by guys half in the bag, and it’ll make you feel like you need to catch up toot sweet." -Angry Metal Guy

Full Album Stream: Parkway Drive - Ire

So one of the new(er) sections I created was "Full Album Streams".  Not only did this gave folks something to listen to when they are cruising the site (being that the original intention of this site was to acts as a hub to explore), but also a chance for people to explore new artists, new genres, and new albums before deciding to purchase them (also from links on AFGM's site).

Full album streams seem to be a new fad that a lot of internet savvy people are jumping on.  It can be in the form of a Soundcloud widget, a YouTube playlist, or even a single YouTube video.  This often gives record labels a chance to promote new artists and for people to subscribe to their social media pages.  So hopefully this provides you access to some new music, bands, and/or artists.  Cheers!

PS - Feel free to send us an email if you have any albums you think you should be on this list or a new one coming out we missed.  We're always listening!

(Artwork by AFGM.  Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Hailing from Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia, the five piece group Parkway Drive have undeniably made a name for themselves in the heavy metal world.  Since the band's inception in 2003, the group has released five LPs, one EP, two DVDs, and has toured countless times across the globe for millions of fans.

The group has seen great success with the release of their latest album, Ire, which was released on September 25th, 2015 via Resist/Epitaph Records.  It's nice to note that the recording of this album was done primarily in Mississauga, ON (Metalworks Studio), and Ottawa, ON (All Buttons In Studio).

The group members have remained consistent since 2006 (with a replacement of bass duties), so the lineup for most of their albums has been:

Ben "Gaz" Gordon – Drums | Luke "Pig" Kilpatrick – Guitar | Jeff Ling – Guitar

Winston McCall – Vocals | Jia "Pie" O'Connor – Bass

(Album artwork is courtesy of Parkway Drive and Epitaph Records)

1. Destroyer

2. Dying To Believe

3. Vice Grip*

4. Crushed*

5. Fractures

6. Writings on the Wall

7. Bottom Feeder*

8. The Sound of Violence

9. Vicious*

10. Dedicated

11. A Deathless Song

(* = AFGM Recommendations)

"The Sound of Violence" and "Destroyer" lay Jeff Ling and Luke Kilpatrick's shredding on thicker than helicopter memes on disgraced parliamentary speakers – with McCall's vocals dialled up to strip-paint level – and there's also the now-almost obligatory hardcore 'fuck the haters, this one's for you' cut in the breakdown-laden "Dedicated". As a result, Ire is Parkway Drive in their natural state: uncompromising and brutal. -Rolling Stone Australia

Ire, the fifth album in the band’s growing catalog, is exactly the release Parkway Drive needed at this point in their career. It’s a bold and brash reinvention that finds the band taking every element of their sound to a new level, including the vocals of McCall. Epitaph reportedly invested in a talent coach to help the frontman better his talent, and the results are present on every minute of Ire. The music has matured further as well, bringing together elements of rock, metal, punk and just a dash of everything in between to create a tough, yet inviting sound. “Bottom Feeder,” for example, offers both the heaviest and catchiest song on the record. -Under The Gun Review

American Wake (Nova Scotia)

I have to admit that I have watched this video a few times now, and still cannot get enough of the versatility between AFGM favourite Angel Vivaldi, and YouTube music lover Ben Eller.

Largely known for a track in Riverdance, American Wake (Nova Scotia) is a much different choice of song than what I am used to for these two gentlemen, but I guess that explains my fascination for it.  Not to mention the amazing equipment they are playing, the precision of the song requires quite the finger work when in sync, and these two make it seem easily accomplished.

Anyways, I just thought to throw this video on AFGM for you all to enjoy, as I have.  Cheers!

Crimson and Blue

I couldn't very well jump on the blog today, and not give a shout out to a great friend and musician of mine.  Straight out of my hometown Chatham, now relocated to Toronto, Jeremy de Freitas has spent countless hours putting together a solo career worth mentioning.  It was very often that my visits with him would turn into jam sessions.  You know when you're at a party, and that one guy always has a guitar on hand?  That would be Jeremy. haha

So that being said, he dropped his first solo material a couple weeks ago, and I suggest that you give it a listen.  Without trying to be biased, his single "Crimson and Blue" has a great vibe to it, as the blend of guitar, strings, and vocals had me clicking replay a few times.  "Crimon and Blue" is taken from Jeremy's debut album Crossed Off, which was released on January 6th, 2016.

Cheers!

Respect for Musicians

So it's been long periods in between entries here, and I do apologize.  The relocation to Calgary from Toronto has kept me rather busy, and will continue to do so for quite some time.  However, there has been a large amount of coverage for major music news the past few months.  This of course circulates around the untimely deaths of musicians Lemmy Kilmister, David Bowie, and most recent Glenn Frey.  I want to first and foremost wanted to acknowledge that I was not a big listener of any of these artists, nor did I own any of their records.  I think that point might help me explain the emotional connection to their music.

I think one of the biggest factor in my diversity of music has to come down to respect.  All three artists did not appeal to me with music really.  I admit, I'd dabble from time to time in their hit singles, or leave the radio station on if their songs were playing.  I never went out of my way to listen to them though.  Their deaths sent shock waves through the music industry, and even outside fans (such as myself) felt these guys deserved some respect for the impact they had on society.  Lemmy taught me to just rock, and let the music do the talking.  Bowie taught me that it was OK to listen and enjoy to music that was against the norm, and Frey taught me the connection of music between old and young listeners.  I can't remember how many time I have seen friends/family members all singing "Hotel California" when it comes on the playlist.

Regardless if it was "Ace of Spades", "Let's Dance", or "Take It Easy", these musicians had impact that far stretched beyond their music.  These are great examples of how music influences society in the ways we think and act.  You may not have to enjoy their music, but there is a level of respect that each of them gained over their lives.  The record sales are not my driving factor for this respect, but more the impact they had on people around you.  If you don't believe me, watch one of their live performances on YouTube, and watch the emotional reaction(s) that fans had for their favourite artists.

Rant done.

RIP Lemmy, David, and Glenn.