• Blog,  Conventions

    Second Time Around: My Huntington Comic & Toy Convention 2022 Experience

    June 3 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Convention: June 3, 2022
    • Location of Convention: Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, WV
    I had a great time at the second edition of Huntington Comic & Toy Convention.
     
    I went Saturday and Sunday.
     
    I got to see Chuck Norris for the third time (he signed a DVD for me and gave me a great hand shake), Kevin Conroy (voice of Batman), Beau Smith (the writer of Wynonna Earp, one of my girlfriend Mariah Startzman favorites), actor Sam Jones (star of Flash Gordon-Great guy), Jim Shooter (Marvel Comics writer), wrestling tag team The Rock And Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson-Ricky was very kind), and the great Joe Barta IV (one of my mentors) and his great wife V Brittany Barta.
     
    Joe makes old VHS boxes and turns them into notebooks.
     
    The company is called Be Kind Rewind VHS Notebooks Check them out!!
     
    I love going to Comiccons just as much as I do concerts.
     
    Huntington Comic & Toy Convention is run by the same people who do Lexington Comic & Toy Con and own The Inner Geek and I can’t say enough what a great operation they run and a great service they provide to fans.
     
    Thank you so much and let’s do it again next year.

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2

  • Blog,  Concerts

    My 9th KISS: KISS Concert Review

    May 13 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: May 12, 2022
    • Location of Concert: Wright State University Nutter Center in Dayton, OH
    • Opener: David Garibaldi (Painter)
    Thank you KISS for everything.
     
    My favorite band ever.
     
    All albums.
     
    All lineups.
     
    I love it all.
     
    This was the 9th time I saw them.
     
    First time seeing them in Dayton, Ohio, though.
     
    My friend John Robinette was with me.
     
    We had a great time.
     
    I love KISS and I always will.
     
    Oh and it was their drummer Eric Singer’s birthday.
     
    Happy Birthday Eric!! You’re the man.

    KISS Band Members:

    • Paul Stanley (Lead Vocals/Guitar)
    • Gene Simmons (Lead Vocals/Bass)
    • Eric Singer (Drums/Vocals)
    • Tommy Thayer (Guitar/Vocals)

    KISS Set List:

    1. Detroit Rock City
    2. Shout It Out Loud
    3. Deuce
    4. War Machine
    5. Heaven’s On Fire
    6. I Love It Loud
    7. Say Yeah
    8. Cold Gin
    9. Guitar Solo
    10. Lick It Up
    11. Calling Dr. Love
    12. Tears Are Falling
    13. Psycho Circus (most of it)
    14. Drum Solo/100,000 Years ending
    15. Bass Solo/God Of Thunder
    16. Love Gun
    17. I Was Made For Loving You
    18. Black Diamond
    19. Encore:  Beth
    20. Happy Birthday Eric!!!!
    21. Do You Love Me
    22. Rock And Roll All Nite

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2 … 4

  • Blog,  Concerts

    3 Thrash Classics: Testament/Exodus/Death Angel Concert Review

    May 8 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: May 7, 2022
    • Location of Concert: Madison Theater in Covington, KY
    Wow what a concert in Covington, Kentucky at the Madison Theater
     
    These are three bands still at the top of their game.
     
    All still making great new albums.
     
    All still great live.
     
    My cousin Zachary and I had a great time.
     
    Thank you to all the bands for the great concert and for all the great albums you’ve made and will make.

    Testament Band Members:

    • Chuck Billy (Lead Vocals)
    • Alex Skolnick (Lead Guitar)
    • Eric Peterson (Lead Guitar)
    • Steve Di Giorgio (Bass)
    • Dave Lombardo (Drums)

    Exodus Band Members:

    • Steve "Zetro" Souza (Lead Vocals)
    • Gary Holt (Lead Guitar)
    • Lee Altus (Lead Guitar)
    • Jack Gibson (Bass)
    • Tom Hunting (Drums)

    Death Angel Band Members:

    • Mark Osegueda (Lead Vocals)
    • Rob Cavestany (Lead Guitar)
    • Ted Aguilar (Rhythm Guitar)
    • Damien Sisson (Bass)
    • Will Carroll (Drums)

    Testament Set List:

    1. Children Of The Next Level
    2. The Pale King
    3. Practice What You Preach
    4. The New Order
    5. WWIII
    6. Eyes Of Wrath
    7. D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)
    8. Legions Of The Dead
    9. Electric Crown
    10. Bass Solo
    11. Souls Of Black
    12. Night Of The Witch
    13. Over The Wall
    14. Into The Pit
    15. Disciples Of The Watch

    Exodus Set List:

    1. The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)
    2. A Lesson In Violence
    3. Blood In Blood Out
    4. The Years Of Death and Dying
    5. Deathamphetamine
    6. Blacklist
    7. Piranha
    8. Prescribing Horror
    9. Bonded By Blood
    10. The Toxic Waltz
    11. Strike Of The Beast

    Death Angel Set List:

    1. The Ultra Violence (Intro)
    2. The Evil Priest
    3. Voracious Souls
    4. Seemingly Endless Time
    5. Claws In So Deep
    6. The Dream Calls For Blood
    7. The Moth
    8. Humanicide
    9. Thrown To The Wolves

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2 … 4

  • Blog,  Concerts

    Genesis Revisited: Steve Hackett Concert Review

    April 29 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: April 28, 2022
    • Location of Concert: Taft Theatre in Cincinnati, OH
    I saw another awesome concert.
     
    Steve Hackett at the Taft Theater in Cincinnati, Ohio.
     
    Steve and his awesome band played almost 40 minutes of Steve’s solo stuff, then took a 20 minute break and then came back to play all of the double live Genesis album called Seconds Out.
     
    Steve was the lead guitarist of Genesis during most of the 70s and since then has made MANY albums.
     
    He is a phenomenal musician and his band is AWESOME!
     
    Thank you sir for this great concert.
     
    I bought a tour book and a signed double live album/Blu-ray.

    Steve Hackett Band Members:

    • Steve Hackett (Guitar/Vocals)
    • Nad Sylvan (Vocals)
    • Roger King (Keyboards)
    • Rob Townsend (Saxophone/Flute/Percussion/Keyboards/Vocals)
    • Jonas Reingold (Bass/Twelve String Guitar/Vocals)
    • Craig Blundell (Drums/Vocals)

    Steve Hackett Set Lists:

    Set 1:

    1. Clocks-The Angel Of Mons
    2. Held In The Shadows
    3. Every Day
    4. The Devil’s Cathedral
    5. Shadow Of The Hierophant

    Set 2:  Genesis Seconds Out Album

    1. Squonk
    2. The Carpet Crawlers
    3. Robbery, Assault and Battery
    4. Afterglow
    5. Firth Of Fifth
    6. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
    7. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
    8. The Musical Box (Closing Section)
    9. Supper’s Ready
    10. The Cinema Show
    11. Aisle Of Plenty
    12. Encore:  Dance On A Volcano
    13. Drum Solo
    14. Los Endos/Slogans/Los Endos

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2

  • Blog,  Concerts

    Monster Metal: Doyle and Wednesday 13 Concert Review

    April 3 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: April 2, 2022
    • Location of Concert: The King Of Clubs in Columbus, OH
    • Openers: Salem's Childe and Everlasting Godstopper
    My cousin Zachary (really more like my little brother) and Kevin Montavon had a great time at a concert Saturday.
     
    Saw Doyle Wednesday 13, Salem’s Childe, and a local band called Everlasting Godstopper.
     
    All were very good but we were mostly there to see Doyle and Wednesday 13.
     
    Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein is the guitarist of the legendary punk rock band The Misfits but also has a solo band, which is really good.
     
    Definitely more Metal than punk but very good.
     
    Wednesday 13 is definitely more punk rock but great.
     
    Really fun show all around.
     
    My next concert is Steve Hackett April 28.

    Doyle Band Members:

    • Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein (Guitar)
    • Alex "Wolfman" Story (Lead Vocals)
    • Luke Wright (Drums)
    • Brandon Strate (Bass)

    Doyle Set List:

    1. Abominator
    2. Beast Like Me
    3. Virgin Sacrifice
    4. Witchcraft
    5. Cemeterysexxx
    6. Mark Of The Beast
    7. Show No Mercy
    8. Head Hunter
    9. Dreaming Dead Girls
    10. God Of Flies
    11. Hope Hell Is Warm

    Wednesday 13 Set List:

    1. I Want You…Dead
    2. Put Your Death Mask On
    3. Cadaverous
    4. Die My Bride
    5. 197666
    6. Rambo
    7. I Walked With A Zombie
    8. Bad Things
    9. I Love To Say Fuck

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2

  • Blog,  Concerts

    Metal Gods: Judas Priest and Queensryche Concert Review

    March 28 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: March 27, 2022
    • Location of Concert: Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston, WV
    Woo!
     
     
    This was my 6th time seeing Priest and 3rd time seeing Queensryche.
     
    Queensryche started the show with a mostly old school set.
     
    I’ll always be a Geoff Tate fan but Todd LaTorre is amazing.
     
    Two original members guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson are still great.
     
    Returning guitarist Mike Stone is great.
     
    And newer drummer Casey Grillo plays Scott Rockenfield’s parts very well.
     
    They dedicated Take Hold Of The Flame to Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, who passed away Friday.
     
    Casey’s left kick drum also said RIP Taylor on it.
     
    Queensryche rules!!!!
     
    Then the MIGHTY Judas Priest came on and played for almost 2 hours, playing a pretty cohesive set from most of their albums.
     
    Rob Halford is one of my favorite singers and heroes and he’s still incredible!!!
     
    Guitarist Richie Faulkner, who had a bad health scare last year, is back with a vengeance.
     
    Touring guitarist and their producer/mixer Andy Sneap is great and he’s playing more solos than he did when I saw them in 2018.
     
    The longest standing member, bassist Ian Hill, is still solid as a rock.
     
    And their longest standing drummer Scott Travis is soooooooo underrated.
     
    And guess what?! I saw guitarist Glenn Tipton!!!!
     
    Since 2018, he’s mostly not performed at the concerts because he has Parkinson’s Disease but he still comes out from time to time and plays part of the encore.
     
    He did that tonight!!!!!!
     
    Oh, and during their song Desert Plains, they put a picture of Taylor Hawkins up on the screen.
     
    Awesome!!
     
    What a great concert!!
     
    I love both of these bands.
     
    This is what I live for.
     
    My next concert is Saturday in Columbus, Ohio when I’ll be seeing As We Die World Tour 2022 – Doyle & Wednesday 13

    Judas Priest Band Members:

    • Rob Halford (Lead Vocals)
    • Glenn Tipton (Guitar)
    • Richie Faulkner (Guitar)
    • Andy Sneap (Guitar)
    • Ian Hill (Bass)
    • Scott Travis (Drums)

    Queensryche Band Members:

    • Todd LaTorre (Lead Vocals)
    • Michael Wilton (Guitar)
    • Mike Stone (Guitar)
    • Eddie Jackson (Bass/Backing Vocals)
    • Casey Grillo (Drums)

    Judas Priest Set List:

    1. Intro (Battle Hymn)/One Shot At Glory
    2. Lightning Strikes
    3. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
    4. Freewheel Burning
    5. Turbo Lover
    6. Hell Patrol
    7. The Sentinel
    8. A Touch Of Evil
    9. Rocka Rolla
    10. Victim Of Changes
    11. Desert Plains
    12. Blood Red Skies
    13. The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)
    14. Diamonds And Rust
    15. Painkiller
    16. The Hellion/Electric Eye
    17. Hell Bent For Leather
    18. Encore (All with Glenn Tipton):  Metal Gods
    19. Breaking The Law
    20. Living After Midnight

    Queensryche Set List:

    1. Queen Of The Reich
    2. Warning
    3. En Force
    4. Empire
    5. NM 156
    6. The Whisper
    7. Operation Mindcrime
    8. The Needle Lies
    9. Take Hold Of The Flame
    10. Screaming In Digital
    11. Eyes Of A Stranger

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2 … 4

  • Blog,  Concerts

    Heavy and Loud!!: Slaughter Concert Review

    March 19 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: March 19, 2022
    • Location of Concert: The King Of Clubs in Columbus, OH
    • Openers: The F-Bomb and South Of Eden
    I saw Slaughter live in Columbus, Ohio.
     
    A great loud, heavy, rocking concert.
     
    Mark Slaughter still has that amazing voice.
     
    Bassist Dana Strum is awesome.
     
    Guitarist Jeff Blando is amazing.
     
    And drummer Will Hunt is a beast.
     
    We got a bonus track they haven’t played:  I Don’t Know by Ozzy Osbourne.
     
    This was in tribute to guitarist Randy Rhoads, who passed away 40 years ago on the day of this concert.
     
    Dana Strum was actually the one who put Randy and Ozzy together.
     
    A great concert!
     
    I got one of Dana’s picks, even though it has Jeff Blando’ name on it.
     
    I also saw The F-Bomb and South Of Eden, two great local bands.
     
    My next concert is Judas Priest and Queensrÿche next Sunday.

    Slaughter Band Members:

    • Marc Slaughter (Lead Vocals)
    • Dana Strum (Bass)
    • Jeff Blando (Guitar)
    • Will Hunt (Drums)

    Slaughter Set List:

    1. Mad About You
    2. Burnin’ Bridges
    3. Spend My Life
    4. Immigrant Song
    5. Eye To Eye
    6. The Wild Life
    7. Days Gone By
    8. Real Love
    9. Fly To The Angels
    10. Up All Night/Won’t Get Fooled Again ending
    11. I Don’t Know

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2

  • Blog,  Concerts

    United: New Edition Concert Review

    March 13 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: March 12, 2022
    • Location of Concert: The Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, OH
    • Opener: Jodeci
    I saw another group I never thought I would see.
     
    That was New Edition.
     
    I saw them in Cincinnati, Ohio.
     
    It was a very fun show.
     
    Jodeci opened and he was fun, but of course, I was there to see New Edition.
     
    All the guys (Singers Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins, and Ricky Bell) were having fun singing and doing some pretty cool dancing/choreography.
     
    And lots of songs.
     
    New Edition songs and songs from the guys’ solo outputs.
     
    A lot of fun and a huge bucket list show off my list.
     
    I have three more concerts this month and more after that.
     
    I’m doing what I love again and that’s going to concerts!!

    New Edition Set List:

    1. Candy Girl
    2. Mr. Telephone Man
    3. If It Isn’t Love
    4. Roni (Bobby Brown song)
    5. My My My (Johnny Gill song)
    6. Do Me! (Bell Biv Devoe song)
    7. Fairweather Friend (Johnny Gill song)
    8. You’re Not My Kind Of Girl
    9. Hit Me Off
    10. N.E. Heart Break
    11. Jealous Girl
    12. Is This The End
    13. Cool It Now
    14. My Secret (Didja Get It Yet?)
    15. Count Me Out
    16. Every Little Step (Bobby Brown song)
    17. Love TKO (David Oliver cover song)
    18. Boys To Men (Make It Last Forever-Keith Sweat cover song, Sweet Thing-Rufus & Chaka Khan cover song)
    19. Sensitivity (Ralph Tresvant song)
    20. When Will I See You Smile Again? (Bell Biv Devoe song)
    21. Rock Wit’cha (Bobby Brown song)
    22. Poison (Bell Biv Devoe song)
    23. My Prerogative (Bobby Brown song)
    24. Rub You The Right Way (Johnny Gill song)
    25. Can You Stand The Rain

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2

  • Blog,  Concerts

    Rock Me! Rock Me!: Jack Russell’s Great White Concert Review

    February 26 2022 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: February 25, 2022
    • Location of Concert: The Bluenote Harrison in Harrison, OH
    Jack Russell’s Great White played a rocking show last night in Harrison, Ohio.
     
    My girlfriend Mariah Startzman and I had a great time.
     
    We are both huge fans of Great White and of Jack and he/they did not disappoint.
     
    We love all their albums and I don’t think they’ve ever made a bad song.
     
    Jack is one of the best singers ever, in my opinion.
     
    His band is phenomenal.
     
    Great first concert of the year.
     
    Many more to come.

    Jack Russell's Great White Band Members:

    • Jack Russell (Lead Vocals)
    • Robby Lochner (Lead Guitar)
    • Tony Montana (Guitar/Keyboards)
    • Dan McNay (Bass)
    • Ken Mary (Drums)

    Jack Russell's Great White Set List:

    1. Call It Rock ‘N’ Roll
    2. Heart The Hunter
    3. Lady Redlight
    4. Mista Bone/Come Together
    5. Save Your Love
    6. On Your Knees/Achilles Last Stand
    7. Desert Moon
    8. All Over Now
    9. Rollin’ Stoned
    10. Face The Day
    11. Rock Me
    12. Can’t Shake It
    13. Once Bitten Twice Shy

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)

  • Blog,  Concerts

    The Last Domino: Genesis Concert Review

    December 9 2021 / No Comments
    • Date of Concert: December 8, 2021
    • Location of Concert: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
    What can I say? Genesis were great in concert!!
     
    I saw them in Columbus, Ohio December 8, 2021.
     
    Singer Phil Collins, guitarist/bassist Mike Rutherford, keyboardist Tony Banks, along with guitarist/bassist Daryl Stuermer, Nic Collins (Phil’s son on drums), and backing vocalists Daniel Pierce and Patrick Smyth put on a great performance.
     
    Phil has had a lot of difficulties in the last several years, but he’s still singing very well and has kept his sense of humor.
     
    And even though he’s mostly sitting these days through concerts, he’s still the consummate frontman entertaining the crowd.
     
    Mike Rutherford is still rocking out and having the time of his life.
     
    The whole band sounds great.
     
    Great visuals with the screens.
     
    And the set list is great if you’re a Genesis fan.
     
    I’m glad I FINALLY saw them.
     
    Thank you guys for everything.
     
    I love you all.

    Genesis Band Members:

    • Phil Collins (Vocals)
    • Mike Rutherford (Guitar/Bass)
    • Tony Banks (Keyboards)
    • Daryl Stuermer (Guitar/Bass)
    • Nic Collins (Drums)
    • Daniel Pierce (Backing Vocals)
    • Patrick Smyth (Backing Vocals)

    Genesis Set List:

    1. Behind The Lines/Duke’s End
    2. Turn It On Again
    3. Mama
    4. Land Of Confusion
    5. Home By The Sea/Second Home By The Sea
    6. Fading Lights (first two verses of it)
    7. The Cinema Show (second half of it with Riding The Scree and In That Quiet Earth snippets)
    8. Afterglow
    9. That’s All (Acoustic)
    10. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (Acoustic)
    11. Follow You Follow Me (Acoustic)
    12. Duchess
    13. No Son Of Mine
    14. Firth Of Fifth
    15. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) with snippet of Stagnation
    16. Domino 
    17. Throwing It All Away
    18. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight
    19. Invisible Touch
    20. Encore:  I Can’t Dance
    21. Dancing In The Moonlit Knight (Intro and first verse only)
    22. The Carpet Crawlers

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)


    1 2 … 5