As I Lay Dying Photo: Misty Johnson Back In Black

As I Lay Dying - Palladium Ballroom, 4/26/09
This band is often imitated but never duplicated. After seeing years of copycats, both local and national, one can’t help but feel jaded about metalcore. From the moment genre forbearers As I Lay Dying took the stage, any doubt was erased. This San Diego quintet tore through their hour-long set with ferocity and passion only barely matched by headliners Lamb of God. Songs that helped put metalcore on the map - like “Forever” and “94 Hours” from Frail Words Collapse - exploded with intensity like it was 2003 again. Shadows are Security was well represented with “The Darkest Nights” and the anthemic, “Through Struggle.” The band especially shined on tracks from their most recent release, An Ocean Between Us. Bassist Josh Gilbert’s backing clean vocals were the yin to Tim Lambesis’ screaming yang on Headbanger’s Ball favorite, “Nothing Left.” Side note: With 90% of local metal bands having at least one member in attendance, this night could have been billed as “DFW Metal Prom Night.” (D.J. Ivie)

Back In Black - House of Blues, 4/17/09
This performance proved why AC/DC tribute band, Back In Black, has been named one of the best such bands in the DFW area. Their performance was pure perfection and, judging by the packed house, fans agree. The band has toured the country for several years and is currently playing House of Blues across the U.S. Back In Black features Mike Morz (lead vocals), Darren Caperna (vocals), Mike Wagner (guitar), Taylor Smith (bass) and Jay Benzi (drums). They performed AC/DC’s major hits including “T.N.T,” “Highway to Hell,” “You Shook Me All Night Long” and, of course, “Back In Black,” with non-stop excitement, energy and talent. If you closed your eyes, you’d swear it was the real thing.
They handed out free CDs of their original project, Stripwired (which sounds a lot like AC/DC doing Back In Black originals!) Don’t miss this band for an evening of sights and sounds that you’ll remember for a long time to come. (Kim “Kimber” Polen)

Sidekick Mafia - July Alley, 3/26/09
It was obvious how much the energetic crowd enjoyed Sidekick Mafia this night. The band has their own style of music, quite unlike anything else; you’re likely to hear around town. Vocalist Justin Pickard has always been extremely talented, but his stage presence has evolved into something rare - even a little reminiscent of Elvis on stage in his early years. Justin’s smooth moves, with his catchy, humorous lyrics, seem to flow effortlessly; his natural talent shines. Other members are Matt Brannon (bass/backup harmonies) and Brondon Esco (drums). The bang played one hit after the other, mostly originals with a few covers thrown in. Favorites included “Graveyard Love,” “Burnin Time,” “Smoke & Drink,” “Just Me” and the ballad, “Natalie.” Sidekick Mafia has an eleven song CD available for purchase online or at one of their shows. (Jill Jackson)

Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest - Nokia Theater, 5/2/09
The three comedic geniuses behind one of the greatest movies of all time, This Is Spinal Tap, were in town for a rare acoustic performance, Unwigged & Unplugged. Because Michael McKean (guitar, keyboards, harmonica), Harry Shearer (bass) and Christopher Guest (guitar, mandolin) are so well known for their many television, movie and radio roles, you don’t realize just how talented they are musically as well. The set was a combination of songs from Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind with a few extra surprises thrown in. Between songs the guys would tell funny stories, show videos (including two fan submissions) and even had a brief question and answer session. Highlights included “Hell Hole,” “Bitch School,” “Stonehenge,” “Sex Farm,” a jazzed up version of “Big Bottom” and the Academy Award nominated “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” with special guest, McKean’s wife, Annette O’Toole. This was a truly special show. (Andy Laudano)

Amon Amarth Ugly Mus-tard - with wonderful, brutally-crushing tunes Photo: Jason Janik Killswitch Engage - meant business Photo: Travis Tutwiler

Ugly Mus-tard - Curtain Club, 4/25/09
The circus was in town this night, or so it seemed. Curtain Club’s walls were filled with fans waiting on “the greatest show on earth.” Known for visually and aurally over-stimulating their fans, the Dallas quartet didn’t disappoint.
Sounding like a better – and heavier – version of Nine Inch Nails, The Mus-tard crew delivered 70 minutes of wonderful, brutally crushing tunes. Quite possibly the tightest drum, bass, and guitar trio in town, ringmaster Kelly Barker rounded things out with his gritty vocals.
New tunes were kept to a bare minimum, as the band stuck mostly to old favorites. Nearly everyone in the audience screamed along, while the remainder spent less time singing and more time moshing. The highlight was “Friend,” the band’s closing song. Filled with more energy than an atomic bomb, it gave fans a chance to end the evening with a bang. (Jason Janik)

Disturbed/Killswitch Engage - Nokia Theater, 3/31/09
Killswitch Engage brought their usual high-energy, tongue-in-cheek stage antics to the fourth installment of the Music As A Weapon tour. More than that, though, they brought out a ferocity and power sometimes lost behind the band’s good-natured banter.
KSE meant business, and it could be felt from the swollen pit to the top of the balcony. Songs like “This Is Absolution,” “My Curse” and, of course, their balls-out cover of Dio’s “Holy Diver,” kept the pit circulating all night.
While other bands might have cowered a bit after such a raucous warm-up, Disturbed proved they have no reason to fear anyone on stage. The Chicago quartet came out swinging and delivered blow after blow to the frenzied crowd. Though front man David Dramain was clearly battling a cold, it didn’t slow him in the least as he belted out the notes and ruled the crowd with his patented swagger. Songs like the opener, “Breathe,” “Indestructible,” “Ten Thousand Fists,” “Land Of Confusion,” “Shout” and the encore, “Down With The Sickness” provided a solid wall of metal for the crowd to slam into. In a word, awesome. (Kevin White)

First Annual Reunion, The Basement - Lakewood Theater, 4/18/09
In Texas, and especially in the D/FW area, The Basement has a legacy of great bands and good times. This night, that legacy lived on. Red Leather, Bone Circus, Lowside, July Alley, Lord Tracy and Sweet Savage stirred up some old and new memories. The show deserves two thumbs up and a standing ovation.
Highlights (for me) were, of course, Lord Tracy (with my boy Barney’s bass solo whammy bar and all. Favorite song of the night was Sweet Savage doing the classic Sweet tune, “Fox On The Run.” Everyone had his or her own personal stories of the good times the club had provided. On a personal note: a toast to my bro’s Jimbo an Roger - with one hundred pennies in each pocket, we would cruise on down to The Basement on “any coin night.” Long live Rock-n-Roll; long live members of The Basement. (Ray InFante)

Krave - Fox & The Hound, 4/09/09
Krave was the entertainment for the entire night at this Richardson club, playing a nonstop string of chartbusters from a huge variety of artists over the decades. “Funky Music,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Superstition,” and “Hey Joe” were from the 60’s, while more recent hits from Bon Jovi, The Black Crowes, Finger Eleven and Queens of the Stone Age were also played. Their impressive set list has an astounding 41 songs. The highlight was when Christopher (aka “Paul Stanley” of Kiss tribute band, Destroyer) sang a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Krave returns to The Fox and The Hound in May. (Jill Jackson)