Live Photos: The Juliana Theory @ Highline Ballroom 8/20

The Juliana Theory played their 10 Year Anniversary show at NYC's Highline Ballroom to a sold out and enthusiastic crowd.  The band noted how amazing it was that even though they hadn't played in 5 years the response has been incredible to their performance. They performed a set of fan favorite, the entire Emotion is Dead album, and closed with a four song encore making it a 26 song set. The band play at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sept. 9th. More info here. 

Photos and setlist below. 

Life of Agony @ Highline Ballroom, pics, setlist, video, and more

Keith Caputo @ Highline Ballroom

from keith caputo via Twitter:
Thank you NYC for an amazing sold out Runk Pock gig!!! Thanks to fam, crew, Loa, friends & all of the fans for making it special!!!! Peace!

Life of Agony performed the second of two 20 year anniversary shows at the luxurious Highline Ballroom in New York City. While the band didn’t play its entire River Runs Red album like they did at The Starland Ballroom just two weeks ago, they did play most of the album and the same six encore songs from that show. One Brick Down, AnAka, and Dead Men Dreaming opened the show. They provided a heavy delight for some and not so much for others based on what I heard. But there was a legion of AnAka fans wearing their t-shirt, but the set wasn't too impressive. Dead Men Dreaming held it together nicely and gave an interesting dynamic with the keyboard. But it was the first band, One Brick Down from New Jersey who really impressed. They had a nice heavy sound and two sets of percussion providing a nice groove and some people were even moshing for them.

Then at 10pm, one by one of Life of Agony proceeded to come on stage, first Joey Z, then Alan Robert, Sal Abruscato, and finally Keith Caputo. They kicked it off with “Through and Through” from their debut River Runs Red, followed by the titled track into “Method of Groove,” where Joey Z takes the name of his studio from. On “Weeds,” the only song the band played from their third album Soul Search Son, Alan’s guitar sounded impressive and crisp. Then Alan joked about how pretty soon the band’s going to be singing lost at 42. When “Lost at 22,” I couldn’t help but sing along and head bang to the crunch groovy during which Caputo sings “If I knew how to fly, I’d fly away…cause I’m lost at 22,” lyrics that most 22 year old might actually relate to. I don't’ remember which song but Keith dedicated a song to all the black sheep. During “The Day He Died,” a song about the passing of his father, it was obvious Keith Caputo got very emotional. When the song finished he walked near Joey Z and hugged him and then said “Wow, I almost cried. I’m a fucking pussy.” This slightly bothered me because “pussy” is always used to mean weak when in reality the female organ, which I think people forget it refers to, is far from it if it can stretch to the point where a baby comes out. But I didn’t let it get to me.

The band closed the set with “Respect” before coming out for two encore songs. The first was “Underground” where Keith jumped into the crowd and crowd surf as he sang, “Calling from the underground!” there was a guest backing vocalist next Alan to but I couldn’t make out who it was. Before finishing the band thanked everyone for coming and announced the show was sold out, something they apparently didn’t expect. Keith also said, “one love. Make babies. I don’t know,” then he laughed. “This Time” closed the set. Joey Z handed out guitar pics to some people up front and I scored one, as well one of Sal’s drum sticks which hit my face, then landed into arms. It was a wonderful night.

The fact that this Brooklyn band have been able to last for two decades in a true testament to the band’s hardwork, perseverance, and good music. Even other Brooklyn band’s in the hardrock scene like Biohazard, Type O Negative, and Candiria have been kicking it for years. Life of Agony has gained a loyal, and dedicated fan base with four great releases under their belt. So many bands don’t last either because of musical differences, issues with members, moving away, wanting to purse a different career path or something else but LOA has kept themselves alive. Life of Agony have kept it tight release what Keith Caputo has called “very unconventional hard edged” music. The songs are raw, deep, compelling, and moving with a groove that hooks you in.

Montage of clips from the show


Keith Caputo offered the words in regards to making new music, in an interview at 89.5 FM WSOU in July 2008:

There is no beginning. There is no end. What we did, we did great together. We definetely do love each other. We hate each other. What we did, we did in a banging way. We set a precedence for many, many, many bands. Still to this day lyrical in the market in our music especially with the record broken valley I think we’re still a very unconventional hard edged band. I wouldn't call us hardcore. I wouldn't call us metal. I wouldn't put us in a box. I think that’s dangerous. I think that destroyed life of agony. If destroyed our hearts. It destroyed our inspiration. We were very creative individuals with very different angles in life and with music. a lot of our own fans put us in a box. A lot of industry people put us in a box. Agencies. Management. Everyone. Everyone’s got to. We never played that game. We don’t play that game. We don't play no game. We play our own game. That’s why a name like ours has been household and has been real. What we do is real. What we do is bloody, lyrically. No one can touch us. Lyrically and melodically we’ve done in a great, great way. We respect what we do. Personally I’m not the type kind of guy. I don't like to place the memories of people. I don’t. Life is about being in the now not in the yesterday. People who are in the yesterday are playing a dangerous game. I don’t like to play dangerous games like that. I’ve played with it. Life of agony is an emotional outfit. Especially me. Being that I’m singing the songs. I’m lyrically getting in touch. It’s an emotional problem for me sometimes to be singing things I’ve felt when I’m 19. I’m 35 years old now. I can do it. I’ve done it. I still do it with all the heart I possibly can. Um, I lost track. Damn….Life of agony I don’t want it to be a shadow band. I want people to remember us. Life is uncertain. You take twists and turns. I enjoyed all the great times, all the band times.

Life of Agony

Life of Agony Setlist:

1. Through and Through
2. River Runs Red
3. Method of Groove
4. Other Side of the River
5. Love to Let you Down
6. Weeds
7. I Regret
8. Lost at 22
9. Bad Seed
10. The Day He Died
11. My Eyes
12. Respect

Encore:
13. Underground
14. This Time

Dead Men Dreaming




AnAkA






One Brick Down

Life of Agony @ Highline Ballroom NYC Tonight

Tonight Life of Agony celebrate their 20th anniversary with a show at the elegant Highline Ballroom. Opening the show is some of the area's best hardrock acts, One Brick Down, AnAkA, and Dead Men Dreaming. Tickets are $20. Doors are at 6pm. Show starts at 7pm. The show is all ages. Last month LOA played "River Runs Red" in its entirety. There's no word of whether the band will do a similar gimmick or what the set will consist of, but it's sure to be a great night of music. The lyrics speak of his homelife, parents, growing up, and self, themes many people can relate to. Keith Caputo is committed to every note he sings and with Joey Z, Alan Robert, and Sal Abruscato backing him, I predict this show will be nothing less stellar. More info is available here.

SUICIDE CITY's Frenzy out Aug. 4th, NYC CD Release Aug.5th at Highline Ballroom

SUICIDE CITY will mark the release of their album, Frenzy, with a cd release show the day after its release on Aug. 5th at the Highline Ballroom. The album comes in much anticipation of the band's debut on The End Records. Made up of ex-Kittie bassist, Jennifer Arroyo, and Biohazard guitarist Billy Graziadei the band brings together a sound unlike these two bands. Joined by drummer Danny Lamagna, guitarist AJ Marchetta, and singer Karl Bernholtz Suicide City deliver an alternative brand of rock with punk roots and a dazzling performance.

Graziadei describes SUICIDE CITY’s sound as “punk rock, dirty rock ‘n roll with some big balls of metal and a touch of manic depression thrown in.”

You can join ShockHound for a free download of the band's new song "The Best Way."

So join the band on Aug. 5th for a night of fun, frenzy, and frolicking for the
Cirque du Rock: Gotham Underworld. The show is all ages. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show. Doors open at 8pm and the concert starts at 9pm.

Cirque du Rock is back. Imagine the wildest night you’ve had in your life - go ahead, take a minute. Got it? Clear in your mind? Now multiply that into an infinite loop and you might understand a tenth of the essence of Cirque du Rock. It is night of complete extravagance, where music and visual arts are combined to leave you dizzy, spellbound, and thirsty for more. Every sort of genre of music is fused together under the umbrella of heavy rock: it IS self-willed chaos.

The bill is packed with amazing stage performers and sideshows including magicians, belly dancers, stilt walkers, jugglers, and much MUCH more. All these elements come together to create a carnival-like atmosphere, a turbulent ride for all five senses.

This is about raising questions, turning heads, and daring to blur social values.

Highline Ballroom
W. 16th St. between 9th and 10th ave.
Manhattan, NYC

9:00 PM Hate in the Box
10:00 PM Suicide City
11:00 PM PUi
12:00 AM Game Rebellion

8:30 – 11PM DJ Chris Landry will spin
11:30PM – 1:00AM (approx) DJ Michael T will spin

Sp. guests
HEATHER HOLLIDAY & SERPENTINA
from the CONEY ISLAND CIRCUS SIDESHOW

+ Sensual Dominatrix GODDESS SHEA

Mates of State @ Highline Ballroom, NYC 8/7/08

Mates of State the power-duo couple, Jason and Kori performed at Highline Ballroom in NYC to a packed room, where they played a solid, dance-able set filled with cello, violin, guitar, and songs off all its releases.

Click read more for setlist.

Mates of State- Highline Ballroom, NYC- Aug. 7, 2008 Setlist

Fraud in the '80s
Now
Like U Crazy
Get Better
Think Long
You Are Free
Jigsaw
Goods (All in Your Head)
Beautiful Dreamer
Blue and Gold Print
Haha
Offer
Re-Arranger

Encore:
Proofs
So Many Ways