Paul Byron (Alice) of right-on, Love It To Death Photo: Andy Laudano Bryan Adams Photo: Andy Laudano Jet Boy Photo: Gene Reichert Bang Tango - Photo: Gene Reichert Ghoultown’s Count Lyle Photo: Scotty Mankoff Heart’s Nancy Wilson - 7/27 show at Superpages.com Photo: Andy Laudano

2008 Cuervo Black US Air Guitar Championships - House of Blues, 7/26/08
Remember sitting on pins and needles when you were a kid, hoping you’d wake Christmas morning and find the present you’d begged your parents for nestled under the tree? That was how it felt waiting for this show. All I got, though, was a lump of coal.
The crowd was filled with drunk frat boys and sorority airheads jostling for position to see a string of lukewarm performances. Most of the contestants were boring, and few looked as if they’d ever heard the songs they were miming. They had funny names (Deviled Elvis, Mint Chocolate Sex Panther) and flashy costumes, but that couldn’t save them from their drab performances. Guardian won the night with a perfect score, and was the only one who looked like he had ever touched a guitar. Overall this was a major disappointment. (Jesse Wilson)

Jet Boy/Broken Teeth/Rockets to Ruin – Rock Star Sports Bar, 7/05/08
One part Los Angeles and two parts Austin was the recipe for the post-Fourth of July hard rock bash. Former MCA recording artist and L.A.-based Jet Boy (lead by black and red Mohawked Mickey Finn) pulled material from varying parts of their disc catalogue. Song included the familiar “Feel the Shake,” “Heavy Chevy,” and “Stomp it (Down to the Bricks,” taking fans on a trip down that road known as 80’s glam rock, that’s been gaining in popularity.
Austin’s Broken Teeth (featuring vocalist Jason McMaster) lit up the volume with their McBlasting set of stripped-down hard rock. They ran through tracks from debut album Electric and played bits from Judas Priest’s “Heading out to the Highway” and “Devil’s Child.”
The other Austin band, Rockets to Ruin, started the night with a solid set. The marathon man of the night was guitarist Dave Beeson who pulled double duty on the guitar with Rockets to Ruin and then Broken Teeth. (Brian McLean)

Ground - O’Riley’s, 7/12/08
Ground is best described as a pure shot of adrenalin straight to your brain. The inmates running this asylum are vocalist Christopher Ryle, who sometimes sings into a bullhorn, jumps up on tables and chairs and as a unique, humorous style between songs. Jay Shannon (guitar) is pure talent with killer guitar solos and flying hair. Dan Bryan is an assault to your senses and provides comic relief. Finally, there’s Mike Barrett playing bass in a black and white prison attire. Originals from new CD Feeding the Sharks, included “Bi Polar,” “I’ll Fall Again” and “Scarred For Life,” which blew the crowd away. Ground is one of Dallas’s best-kept secrets. (Kim “Kimber” Polen)

SIK - Vampire Lounge, 7/19/08
You expect a good show from veteran musicians - those who have been in previous bands, and who have survived in the scene because of talent, dedication and hard work. SIK is the perfect example of that. Members are Mike Sickels (vocals), Dano Hibbs (guitars/vocals), Nick Vargo (bass) and Keith Wishon (drums) - who make for a tight and active show.
Stand out songs were “New Lesson” and “Blood on Your Hands,” which the band refers to as “our southern metal song.” And then there was “Nothing Left,” with club owner, Matt Storey, joining in on vocals. Yes, Matt can sing, and obviously loves to get up on stage.
SIK also played new song, “Angel,” already a crowd favorite. It’ll be on their next CD, which they’re recording this month. (Linda Hollar)

16Volt - Granada Theater, 7/06/08
As part of the Denial Highway Tour, 90s industrial metal under-lord, Eric Powell, brought his newest incarnation of 16Volt to the as stellar Granada Theater for an under-sized, but very appreciative audience. The partied-out after Labor Day lull in the room did not stop Powell and company from delivering an energetic set of dance floor grooves and metal guitars. Powell sounded in top form amidst a set that leaned heavily on their newest release, Full Black Habit. Touring guitarist Steve White (KMFDM) was rock solid throughout the performance, as was bassist Mike Peoples from Skrape. Although drummer Jason Bazinet played tight as a clock, live acoustic drums did not fit well with material written on a drum machine. That being said, it was still a history lesson for those that think Static X invented evil disco. (D.J. Ivie)

Dirty Penny, The Valentine Failures, Revengeance - Rock Star Sports Bar, 7/25/08
With their second of three recent metroplex dates, Dirty Penny showed what hard touring for nearly three months straight can do for a band - deliver a tight, clean set. Opening with “Midnight Ride,” Dirty Penny breezed through tracks from their debut disc such as “Hot & Heavy,” “Sleeze Disease” and “Push Comes to Shove” - complete with an impressive crowd chorus.
The Valentine Failures and Revengeance both presented sweat-soaked and straightforward rock sets, with members leaving the stage to stand on chairs or small side stages. Unfortunately, Revengeance’s volume was too loud for the venue’s size, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. (Brian McLean)

Fallen South - Skillman Street Bar, 7/13/08
After their few month-long hiatus, Fallen South took the stage with a wall constructed to withstand a tidal wave within their realm of heavy metal. Members not strange to the group are G-Funk, (bass), Brandon, (guitar), and Chris, (drums). Fill-in singer Chase (formerly of Mourning Fury) gripped the microphone and impressed everyone with his more-than-worthy vocal acrobatics, while G-Funk shoveled out good, stick–to-your-ribs, bass lines, Chris and Brandon played as if they were running for their lives. Their driving sound was such, it would get you a ticket for speeding. Songs like “Unfortunate Death” and “The Fallen” qualified exceptionally well for such a traffic violation. If you like your heavy metal with a bit of southern fried taters, then Fallen South would be the pick of the crop. (Misty Johnson)

Poison Cherry - Lakewood Bar & Grill, 7/26/08
Poison Cherry bills itself as “The Ultimate 80’s Hair Metal Experience,” and they didn’t disappoint the capacity crowd this night. There was excitement in the air for Motley Cure’s “Girls,” Poison’s “Look what the Cat Dragged In,” Alice Cooper’s “Poison” and other 80’s favorites. Poison Cherry is sexy Nikki Lixx (vocals), D.D. Semans and Thrash (screaming guitars), Dallas Cooper (thumping bass) and Jakk Wylde (drum powerhouse). They give the crowd what they want, and have fans singing along and even dancing on the stage. Poison Cherry plays all around the area, so check them out at a show near you. (Kim “Kimber” Polen)

Bang Tango - Firewater, 7/11/08
Bang Tango is back with a new line up of both new and familiar faces, with the same outstanding performance we’ve come to expect. With founding member Joey Leste on lead vocals, Bang Tango cranked out all the hits like “Someone Like You,” “Dancing On Coals,” and “Love Injection.” The already frenzied crowd went crazy like a school of feeding sharks when Joey brought out Kenny Queens from his side project Beautiful Creatures to perform “1 A.M.” and “Wasted.” The band also featured Timmy Russell (Beautiful Creatures) on drums, Michael Thomas (lead guitar), Ryan Seelbach (rhythm guitar) and Lance Eric (bass). If you missed this show, bend over and ask the nearest person to kick you because you missed a killer one. (Gene Reichert)

Middle Class Rut - Club Dada, 7/9/08
What a breath of fresh air. It’s always exciting to see a two piece perform live, (mostly to see if they can pull it off or not), and M.C. Rut did. Zack Lopez’s (vox/guitar) and Sean Stockham’s (vox/drums) instrumentation and vocals were equally unpredictable - an impressive accomplishment in punk/alternative rock. Just when you thought you knew the complete hook, they would stray from the usual verse/chorus/breakdown arrangement. On stage, Zack’s vocals were reminiscent of Perry Ferrell and, while having his guitar hung low; Zack completely evoked the spirit of punk rock with his sporadic bursts of flailing energy. Sean looked like a wizard whirling his canes around in every direction, only to kill every beat with conviction -all the while chiming in with vocals here and there. M.C. Rut mixed punk/rock with the right measurements that were very filling. (Misty Johnson)

Misery Index, Origin, Abysmal Dawn - Reno’s, 7/24/08
There are two reasons I love this band Misery Index: 1) The Lyrics. “The Color of Blood” and “Bottom Feeders” feature soul-crushing growls and lyrics that beg you to wake from your consumerism slumber before Wal-Mart and the media eat what’s left of your brain, and 2) Those grind-core death metal, in-your-face, ass-kickin’ guitar riffs! Tunes “Occupation” and “Ghosts of Catalonia” show the band’s upcoming album Traitors packs plenty of intensity. They got a collective jaw drop from the crowd!
The show was nothing short of vicious. Origin also tore up the stage and, from what I hear, openers Abysmal Dawn also kicked major ass. To true grind/death fans: if you missed this show, you suck! (Marissa Bruce)

Ghoultown - Poor David’s Pub, 7/19/08
In this Battle of the Bands, (which they won), Ghoultown played a raging set of horror-punk rock with hard, fast, mean grooves that were dead on. Frontman Count Lyle’s vocals burn like fire from the breath of a dragon. Guitarist Jeff Middlefinger plays fast, gritty guitar solos, as Santi shoots deep and deadly bass notes, Lizard Lazario’s acoustic guitar sounds like a gothabilly orchestra, while Dalton Black’s beat is fast, hard, and evil like the tribal drums of death. As if that’s not enough, Randy Grimm’s trumpet entices you like a snake charmer. This incredible group is one of Dallas’ finest bands. (Scotty Mankoff)