The Summer of 2015 has finally begun to heat up after a frigid Winter and iffy Spring in the North Eastern portion of the USA. With the Winter attire packed away; shorts and tank-tops out, what better way to get the season rolling then a early Summer tour of Powerman 5000, SOiL and 3 Years Hollow. Kicking the fun off on June 20th in Arizona, the tour is scheduled to run through July 22nd in Colorado, but not before hitting the East Coast. With Independence Day the first true indication that the Summer has really begun, getting the party started an evening early, the three bands rolled into Revolution Bar & Music Hall on Friday July 3rd.
With three national acts already on tap for the night, three local acts by the name of Adiron, Permanent Scar, and One More Breath set the table of Rock-n-Roll. Adiron, a Suffolk County Long Island based act came together last year and came out blaring their Hardcore Punk styling with tracks off their Frequency & Pressure album. Next up, out of Bay Shore, Permanent Scar brought on their own brand of Grunge influenced Metal. Be on the look out for more shows from them around Long Island all Summer. The last of the homegrown talent was One More Breath, a four-piece Alternative Metal band out of Bohemia. Emotionally driven and tight, the band did a fine job of getting the blood flowing for the rest of the evening.
After a multitude of local acts, 3 Years Hollow were the first national band to take the stage around 9:30 PM to a cohort of loyal fans they have deservingly built over the past year and a half. It has been a busy venture for the Quad Cities gentlemen, specifically taking off after the release of last years “The Cracks” on Imagen records produced by Sevendust’s Clint Lowery. After recent lineup changes in the past year, the band has decided to forge on as a quartet with founding members Jose Urquiza and guitarist Tony Reeves, former guitarist Neil Kuhlman moving to bass and former Eye Empire Ryan Bennett handling drum duties. Having been on the road for most of the previous year in support of bands like Red, Nonpoint, and the Rockstar Uproar Festival in 2014, the boys have built a solid and growing fan base here in New York.
Playing true to their fans’ requests, the band came out swinging through numbers like “For Life” and “Remember.” Urquiza, being the charismatic and gracious frontman, introduced the number “The Cracks,” paying homage to both Clint Lowery and Morgan Rose for their support and production roles. Bennett certainly adds a unique flair to the band, effortlessly swinging arms from snare to toms and crash cymbals. Kuhlman fills the void left by previous bass player Dex Digga perfectly, and the band sounds just as solid as a four-piece. Before leaving the stage, Urquiza invited all fans to hang out with the band as they closed with Octane’s favorite, “Chemical Ride.” As always, 3 Years Hollow put on a show that was packed with excitement, and their hard work continues to pay off as they establish themselves as mainstays in Hard Rock.
While everyone patiently awaited, drinks were flowing, Metal was pumping from the speakers, and finally, around 10:45 PM, long-time Chicago rockers SOiL claimed the throne at Revolution. Having recently reformed with original vocalist Ryan McCombs in 2011, after his tenure with Drowning Pool, long-time bassist Tim King and guitarist Adam Zadel were joined by former Echoes the Fall drummer Mitch Gable to a rambunctious crowd roar.
Coming out to an electronic mix of “Halo,” the band rolled into “Loaded Gun” off of their 2013 album, Whole. Being the true road veterans they are, McCombs marched across the stage carrying his signature mic stand in providing his gravely vocals which sounded remarkably clean and on point. Zadel immediately moved into the opening lick of “Breaking Me Down” off of their self-titled release many moons ago, to the excitement of the old school fans in the crowd. Gable fills the big shoes left by original drummer Tom Schofield with a booming bass kick that filled the room. Full of energy, the band played fan-favorites off of 2001’s Scars and 2004’s Redefine including “Redefine,” “Pride,” and “Unreal” interspersed with newer tracks from their recent album like “The Hate Song.” McCombs fed right into the crowd’s boiling frenzy and kept the chit-chat to a minimum between numbers as they powered through. The thundering tom work of “Halo” signaled the end of SOiL’s reign was nearing, but the crowd seemed undeterred. Inciting crowd participation during the infectious chorus of their 2002 breakthrough single, the band closed with an interesting cover of Ram Jam’s “Black Betty.” Leaving the stage no worse for wear, the band graciously bowed out and left the venue waiting for the headliners. SOiL, in this game for almost two decades now, prove they are warriors, and thanks to their ability to stand strong, they seem as vital to the Alternative Metal scene as ever.
Late into the night, everyone packed close to the stage for Powerman 5000. Making their return to Revolution Bar and Music Hall for the first time since May of 2014, and second trip to Long Island in less than a year, the band have established their dedicated following who cannot get enough of them. Have undergone drastic changes throughout the past few decades regarding their sound, image, and band members, mastermind Spider One has always stayed true to his vision as an artist. Returning to their Sci-Fi/Electronic-based Hard Rock sound that broke them into the mainstream in a big way, 2014’s Builders of the Future has been received in an overwhelming positive way. To the delight of old school fans, it appears Powerman 5000 are still blazing their own trail via the “Rockets and Robots” mantra and motif they have fostered with their ground-breaking Tonight the Stars Revolt! back in 1999.
Taking the stage, DJ Rattan on Drums, Nick Quijano and Richard Jazmin on guitars, and newest member yet, Murv Douglas on bass, came out first dressed in all black with the big skull logos on side banners and speakers around them. Forgoing the space helmet look seen on their last tour cycle in support for 2009’s Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere, all faces were clearly visible. After the introduction, Spider One swaggered to the front of the stage kicking off into the funky and cheeky track “Supervillain.” Welcomed with open arms, the band wasted no time and rolled into newer track “Invade, Destroy, Repeat” followed by the electronic ring of “Nobody’s Real” which erupted a quake from the floor.
Having chemistry on stage, Quijano and Jazmin, having now been in the band for a full album and multiple tour cycles, seemed at ease and comfortable with the tunes, providing album quality licks and chords. DJ Rattan gracefully dominated the impressive, sparkly kit from the rear of the stage, and newcomer Douglas seemed to be fitting right in with the rest of the band. Spider’s characteristic moves and grooves were in full effect as the band played songs from all over their back catalogue including “Hey, That’s Right!,” “Horror Show,” and the earth-shattering “Bombshell.” True to their form, a brief intermission of “Eye is Upon You” boomed through the speakers which of course meant “Supernova Goes Pop” was not far behind. The crowd simmered and bubbled, ready for the first guitar note of the tune and then erupted in a predictable frenzy. Having everyone’s adrenaline pumping, Spider and company saved their number one hit “When Worlds Collide” for the very last minute and left their fans very pleased with the set.
Powerman 5000 never seem to give a half effort when performing live. They have the same enthusiasm each time out and entertain their dedicated followers in electrifying fashion. Dressing their set with their most body moving songs, the band was anything less than dull on this pre-4th of July celebration.
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