This year’s Weenie Roast included Coldplay, Incubus, The Dirty Heads, Garbage, and many many more great performers. (Full line up below) I was disappointed to miss the first set by fellow Ohioans Walk the Moon. I heard their set, and Anna Sun was just like I had hoped it would be! Sadly I was still making my way to the stages and didn’t manage to shoot their set, but their upcoming shows in LA will be a must attend.

In full music fest form, after seeing Grouplove and Awolnation, I was one of many to witness the standing ovation received by one brave girl who decided to poo in the bushes. It was about 3 in the afternoon so I like to think that she wasn’t already really that obliterated, but in keeping with KROQ’s shows, she probably was. Seriously though, claps and shouts from hundreds making their way from stage dos to uno. Brave intro to her new friends. She got a stern taking to from some security guards who let her go on her way to the next stage… I wish they had offered her some purelle, but they did not. Anyway, bush pooing aside, the show must go on! Next was Garbage on Uno (It was the Weenie Roast y Fiesta for Cinco De Mayo)

I think every band of the night gave a well deserved shout-out to The Beastie Boys who lost MCA only a day before. Garbage’s tribute was the most emotional and heartflet and was also for “anyone who has lost someone they loved.” They had apparently lost a friend tragically in Brazil and commemorated both loses with Blood for Poppies. Angels and Airwaves had a moment of remembrance in true rock style, no moments of silence here. A hard drum beat gave the audience their time to reflect on rock’s recent loss.

The Dirty Heads, all in Beastie Boys shirts thanked the band and MCA for paving the way for bands like them.

*there’s more after the photos… keep goin’*

With the line up already fantastic we were surprised to have Soundgarden come out to play a full set later in the evening. The surprise set was well received with the audience singing along and on their feet from beginning to end.

Incubus and Coldplay were by far my favorites of the night. I had not seen Incubus live since the 2010 Smokeout with our very own Flak. Last night was sans Flak, but he missed out on georgeous Incubus set. The music was as usual amazing. I have a few favorite songs from their newest album and happily they played their beautiful In the Company of Wolves. The song at over 7 minutes long and filled with instrumental solos, was amazing to hear live and I was lucky to be able to watch just side of the stage after leaving the photo pit. If you get the chance to see the guys of Incubus on their upcoming Honda Tour, go, you will not regret it!

Coldplay came out and thanked everyone for staying for their set. Front-man Chris Martin pointed to a man in the crowd wearing shirt from an old Offspring tour and thanked him personally for staying to hear them play. A small gesture, sure, but a good way to kick off a set with pyrotechnics, giant confetti guns and plenty of big beach balls (I got slammed in the face, but I still got the shot! kudos to me…) Hearing Yellow and Viva La Vida live admittedly made me smile like an idiot for about an hour.

With an evening of emotional ups and downs over loss to the industry and beautiful performances, I was happy to be able to share it with my fellow photographers and audience members. Thanks Kroq for again hosting a great day of music.

Full line of of the day:

Coldplay

Incubus

The Offspring

Soundgarden (surprise appearance)

Silversun Pickups

Pennywise

Angels & Airwaves

The Dirty Heads

Garbage

AWOLNATION

Grouplove

Of Monsters and Men

Walk the Moon

All photos © Tamea www.photobytamea.com

Cheers everyone! I will soon be headed to Ohio to see everyone at Rock on the Range, so if you’re reading this from back east, let us know!

See you at the show,

Ohio

The day-by-day line-up for the massive sixth annual ROCK ON THE RANGE can now be revealed.  Incubus, Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch and Slash lead the Saturday bill and Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Megadeth and Anthrax close out Sunday (the full schedule for this potent lineup covering the rock spectrum is below).  This year, ROTR will be hosted by hard rock aficionado Jose Mangin of Sirius XM and “Headbangers Ball.”  Hard rock music fans will also now have the chance to purchase single-day tickets and ROTR’s first-ever 4-Pack Special when these tickets go on sale Friday, March 16 for America’s premier destination rock festival, held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH.

Single-day tickets are $59.50, plus service fees.  In addition, this year ROTR will be offering the first-ever “4-Pack Special” (which includes a lower service charge with every 4 tickets) for $199, plus service fees.  These tickets go on sale Friday, March 16 at 10:00 AM (ET) at the festival’s website,Ticketmaster and the Crew Stadium Box Office.  All tickets include free entry to the second annual Friday Night 4Play pre-show party.

The day-by-day breakdown is as follows:

FRIDAY NIGHT 4PLAY:  Hairball; Foxy Shazam; Black Tide; Hells Bells…tribute to AC/DC.

SATURDAY, MAY 19: Incubus; Shinedown; Five Finger Death Punch; Slash; Cypress Hill; Chevelle; Theory of a Deadman; Halestorm; P.O.D.; Adelitas Way; Cavo; Bobaflex; Falling In Reverse; In This Moment; New Medicine; Kyng; Otherwise; Rival Sons; Emphatic; (Fox TV winner TBA).

SUNDAY, MAY 20: Rob Zombie; Marilyn Manson; Megadeth; Anthrax; Mastodon; Volbeat; The Darkness; Down; Escape The Fate; Lacuna Coil; Black Stone Cherry; Attack Attack!; Trivium; Redlight King; James Durbin; Aranda; 12 Stones; SOiL; Eve To Adam; Ghosts Of August.

Presented by Right Arm Entertainment, AEG LIVE andCrew Stadium, ROCK ON THE RANGE is a multi-stage music and lifestyle event featuring a potent line-up of bands on three stages.  The nationally renowned festival centrally located in the heart of the country has annually drawn weekend crowds in excess of 70,000 since its inception in 2007.

Visit www.RockOnTheRange.com, www.facebook.com/rockontherange, and www.twitter.com/rockontherange for the most up-to-date information.

I just might see you there!

~Ohio

For easily over a decade, I have been well versed in the works from a little band from Calabasas that you may have heard of. That bands name is Incubus, and they are in fact, one of the key reasons that I got into music journalism and performance. I don’t think that fact has been more evident of just how powerful music can be than with their 7^th studio album, If Not Now, When?

I’ll start by talking about the current dialogue is with the band; that the band has “strayed away from their roots” and changed for the worse. But I do ask to the people who have defected over the years…what two albums of Incubus have had a similar feel or sound? I can’t name any, and I doubt you can either. Most importantly, the band has maintained the ability to get people thinking, and get people talking, all while having great musicians, and great studio quality throughout (for the most part; the beginning albums obviously wasn’t as fine-tuned as now). This is definitely the best composed album they have written to date.

A heartfelt Brandon. Photo by me!

On the new album, lead singer Brandon Boyd knows that he has the attention of young hearts and minds, like many popular musicians do. The genius thing about it, is what he chooses to bring to the table as a lyricist; the state of world affairs, and rather than giving a glaring generalization, he has instead chosen to let the youth (hell, and beyond) know that they are important, and more specifically, that he, and all of us are flawed. Of course the final message is to love and make the differences that you can, when you can (the track Tomorrow’s Food being the perfect example). Of all the times I’ve met him and the band, they always remember to be kind and have a good time. The world is an island, and they are indeed all for making it better than they found it.

Of course, now I give you my thoughts on their latest album.

Growing up in the predominantly white suburban city of Moorpark, I felt like the self-dialogue that track four, Thieves, spoke to me more than I expected it would. As grateful as I am, there was always that set of questions that the lyrics seem to capture perfectly. ‘When will I get mine, and must I be a God fearing, white American? ‘ rings about during a verse, with a steady and rounded bass line by Ben Kenney. Inner dialogue is universal, and this was a well done song that I’m sure some will resonate with.

Mr. Low End Theory, Ben Kenney. Photo by moi.

Of course Incubus had to include a song to make all the girls wild, and this time around that song is track nine, Switch Blade. Jose really came through with the cymbals, keeping an upbeat tempo while Mike goes wild, and Ben lays the funk down like a boss. A haunted Brandon describes a disarming temptress with green eyes, a black hat, and thigh highs. Ten bucks says at least a hundred girls per concert will dress like that to a T.

Overall, my favorite song was the eighth track, In the Company of Wolves. I’m big on imagery, and this song painted it beautifully. Beginning on a light note, maybe a funeral, speaking of someone here that is now gone. Perhaps this was the death of a personal phase, and not a physical person. Organs by Chris Kilmore solidified the scene, with the rest of the band behind him. After a reluctant Brandon tells the tale of sitting in the corner with the wolves, being observant, the mood shifts. A dark fog brought on by strings finally breaks with a funky bass line, and steady drum pattern. Brandon’s voice echoes, and talks about a beautiful night; a rite of passage played out over a hard remembered memory. It’s hard to explain, but to me, this was the most cohesive song on the album. It had it all, and even jammed out for an explosive ending.

Mike Einziger aka Mr. Harvard in his school shirt. Photo by yours truly.

Incubus is still exploring their talents without sacrificing what makes them great. Honestly, I didn’t mind the several year wait for the new album, because the work put into it was…. Well, the proof is in the pudding, or whatever the hell they say. If Not Now, When? comes out this Tuesday, July 12^th, with their first California date set for this Friday at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Tickets are sold out like a muhfugga, so hopefully you got your hands on one.

Until next time my friends,

~Flak

P.S.- Sugar. Water. Purple. True fans will understand.

Incubus just announced a huge world tour for this summer, to coincide with the release of the band’s seventh album, If Not Now, When? on July 12th.

The trek begins at a one-off show in London, UK before going all over the United States.

There are several California shows, including one at the Hollywood Bowl on October 7 and the tour’s finale at the Shoreline Ampitheater in Mountain View on October 9th.

The full tour itinerary:

06/14 – London, UK @ HMV Forum
06/18 – Scheessel, DE @ Hurricane Festival
06/19 – Neuhausen, DE @ Southside Festival
07/15 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
07/23 – Kuala Lumpur, MY @ Stadium Negara
07/26 – Jakarta, ID @ Istora Senayan
07/28 – Manila, PH @ Araneta Coliseum
07/30 – Niigata Prefecture, JP @  Fuji Rock
07/31 – Jisan Valley, KR @ Jisan Valley Rock Festival
08/05 – Honolulu, HI @ Kaka’ako Waterfront Park
08/17 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08/19 – Kansas City, KS @ Livestrong Sporting Park
08/20 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheater
08/21 – Chicago, IL @ Charer One Pavilion
08/23 – Indianaplis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
08/24 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
08/26 – Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavillion at Nautica
08/27 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
08/28 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Ampitheater
08/30 – Columbus, OH @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
08/31 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
09/01 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
09/03 – Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach Theater
09/04 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
09/07 – Hartford, CT @ Mohegan Sun
09/09 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
09/10 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
09/11 – Columbus, OH @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
09/13 – Virginia Beach, VA @Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
09/16 – Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheater
09/18 – Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Encore Park
09/18 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
09/20 – Miami, FL @ Bayfront Park
09/29 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
09/30 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
10/01 – Austin, TX @ The Backyard
10/05 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theater
10/07 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
10/08 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
10/09 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Ampitheater

Stay tuned for our review of Incubus’ new album.

Incubus are back, kids.

The band announced that their new album, titled If Not Now, When?, will be released on July 12.

The album’s lead single, Adolescents, was supposed to have its world premiere tonight at 6 pm Pacific Time on their official website, but since we’re in the age of early leaks, it’s already out. More on that below.

The band, who haven’t released any new music since 2006′s mellow Light Grenades, recently completed working on the new record.

Antiquiet already has the new single up on their site, thanks to KROQ ruining the band’s official release tonight, so check it out ahead of time if that’s your kind of thing.

Oh Smokeout…that yearly festival organized by Cypress Hill that brings smokers together to unite with the glowing embers of what would love to be Woodstock. With blunts raised high, the patrons of this lovely event are the most mellow you’ll see all year, and for obvious good reason.

My journey started out on the long journey to San Bernardino to the NOS Events Center, which is actually perfect grounds for an event of this type, with several stages compacted, but not overcrowded, with food among easy reachings. While waiting hours on the 215 bridge, I smiled at the underage kids with blunts in their hands, getting out of their cars in the middle of the freeway to use the local hydroponics shop’s restroom on their arduous wait. From that alone, I knew I was among very entertaining people.

This year’s headliner was reason to believe that this would be one of the best shows of the year. Incubus led the way, with this being their only U.S. performance this year. While that was my cream of the crop, I had several other acts I wanted to check out.

I started the afternoon off with the always entertaining Atmosphere, of whom the rapping half of the dup limped out on a crutch. “You’ve got your crutch, and I’ve got mine!” he laughed, pointing out all the glassy eyed festival participants. He play his usual amazing set, with a live band as usual, and even asked the crowds permission before playing songs off of an upcoming album, whose name has not been revealed yet.

I got my second live look at Nas and Damien Marley at Smokeout, with another powerful, flag waving performance. It still amazes me how well the two completely different genres and background can mix together to make such a great album. They are one of the few groups that I think can put out and perform a single record, and have you feeling something new and great each time.

The night continued with great acts, but obviously the crown jewel was my first favorite band since my love of music arose, Incubus. The boys started out with the powerful buildup of Megalomainiac, and from there took everyone for a hell of a ride. Their set went everywhere from Make Yourself to their greatest hits album, Monuments and Melodies.

The best songs of their set for me however, were Look Alive and their new song, Surface to Air, before which Brandon explained would be on the new album Incubus has been working on. Pumped!

This was my first Smokeout, but damn sure not my last. Enjoy the gallery of my shots and see you next year!

Until next time my friends,

~Flak

123►

Hungry for new Incubus? Okay, even if you aren’t, if you were as disillusioned by Light Grenades as I was, give this a chance.

I found this video of the band performing a new song, Surface To Air, from some South American gig a week or so ago…check it:

Based off of this performance, I think I really dig this song. It seems much more inspired and creative than the super low-key stuff on Light Grenades…

I had, like many of my friends, been disappointed with LG, as the songs were poppier, much more mellow, and seemingly uninspired compared to Brandon Boyd and Co.’s prior output…but I’m impressed with this song. The melodies are thick, the instruments really vibrant, and overall this song gives me some hope for their next album.

Stay tuned in the coming days for Flak‘s review of the Smokeout Festival in San Bernardino last night, which also featured a lengthy set by Incubus.

Lead singer of Incubus, Brandon Boyd has been busy. Simply put, Brandon is one of the most interesting and talented lyricists in the game. From the sunny hillsides of the community college in my hometown Moorpark, to sold out shows on the shores of Dubai, he has remained an inspiration not for just my musical creativity, but challenge of literature as well. He has come a long way, and has recently released a solo album that he says is “music for the sake of making music”.

I’ve taken the last week to really think about how The Wild Trapeze can be defined. This album is very organic, intelligent, and holds a certain tinge of strange creativity that Brandon Boyd is known for. I’ve come to think that this album is what happens when you ask Brandon Boyd to score an old Wild West film, with a world music, spiritual perspective. I’ve had the honor of meeting and hanging out with Brandon at the TOMS Shoes collaboration party that he did last year, and just by our little converstation, you can tell where his head is creatively.

Upon the first few listen throughs, I noticed that heavy echoing bass kicks were prevalent throughout the album. Also, strumming an acoustic guitar is a must have staple for Brandon. It’s a little strange not hearing Mike shred away on his guitar along to Brandon’s voice, but it really does still work.

The album is chock full of goodness, but I’m not without a breakdown of my favorites. Let’s discuss.

The oddly timed A Night Without Cars has a catchy guitar throughout and the same can be said about its chorus. Whether or not you believe that Brandon took one singing lesson and learned everything he needed to know, this song was a good one.

Second up was a song that can be easily dedicated to my lady friends who don’t quite have the strength to make it through those tough ones in life. Courage and Control keeps the instrumentals simple, and lets Brandon get to work with that kill chorus:

It’s time to let your hair down
and give yourself permission
it takes courage and control
but you start by letting go

My favorite track was a tie between the 7^th track, Runaway Train and the 9^th track Mirror of Venus. On the former, a great use of channel bouncing (when the sound goes from one speaker/headphone to another) on the guitar, coupled with a beautiful piano and flute combination. The echoing voices, and chorus structure was something to be admired.

On the latter, the drums sounded like Jose was in the room coordinating its production. The strings and xylophone were an excellent touch, giving a little more feeling of an epic feel to the track. Also, the distorted, high treble bass guitar is powerful, but still plays its role in keeping the smooth groove. Lyrically a short song, but a powerful one in regards to make a play on imagery, this rounded out my favorites of the album.

When Brandon Boyd said that his best work with Incubus was ahead of them, I didn’t know how I felt, but this album told me that he still has it in him; and this is the solo album! I look forward to their future work, and recommend this album to Incubus fans, and fans of interesting music in general.

Until next time my friends,

~Flak