Concert Review: WAYNE STATIC, AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE, SMILE EMPTY SOUL, and THIRA in Minneapolis

Wayne Static, American Head Charge, Smile Empty Soul, Thira

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Skyway Theatre, Minneapolis, MN

Click on any of the photos to see more live pictures of the respective band on my Flickr site.

About 20 bands had been playing since early afternoon in the main theater and the smaller Studio B room at the Skyway, and I arrived just as Blue Felix left the stage. The time between sets was very short, so I reluctantly stayed in the theater and missed all of the performances in Studio B. This was my first time seeing local industrial metal band Thira, and the horrendous sound made it a disappointing experience. The band was tearing it up on stage, but unfortunately the muddy sound left Thira’s music an indecipherable mess.

Surprisingly, the crowd was slow to warm up to rock radio favorites Smile Empty Soul. Leading off their 30 minute set with “Black And Blue” from their new album Chemicals, the band mixed up some album cuts with a few of their many singles. After playing “Don’t Ever Leave” and “Faker”, the audience finally came to life midway through the show for “Silhouettes”. “False Alarm” and “Bottom Of A Bottle” were well-received before “Hard Biter” closed the set. Original bassist Ryan Martin is staying off the road due to the expected arrival of he and his wife’s first child this summer, so Phil Lipscomb from Taproot filled in and seemed like a natural fit for the band. Guitarist/vocalist Sean Danielsen was stuck by the mic stand for most of the show, but he managed to step back at times while ripping out some solos. Despite the slow start, Smile Empty Soul managed to put on a great show that was far too short.

I hadn’t seen local favorites American Head Charge since their release show for The War Of Art at First Avenue in 2001, and tonight left me with a far more favorable impression of the band. They came out like they had something to prove to the 2,000+ strong crowd, and one couldn’t help but be impressed. Yes, this was a hometown crowd, but the audience went nuts throughout the entire nine-song, hour-long show from the moment the band took the stage and launched into “A Violent Reaction”. Nearly the entire set was drawn from The War Of Art and last year’s Shoot EP; “Pledge Allegiance” from The Feeding was the only exception. Guitarist Ted Hallows was having what appeared to be major technical problems and the band forged on without him until he finally emerged from behind the backline to play late in the show. A frustratingly long time was taken between songs, often to do silly things like handing the remaining sandwiches from catering out into the crowd. Despite the problems, American Head Charge was the highlight of the night. Former guitarist Benji Helbert even came out to play “Seamless”, while guitarist Karma Cheema took a dive into the crowd and got into a scuffle with security (I previously wrote out this here in some detail, and I now have some video footage of the incident that I’ll be posting). American Head Charge is sounding better than they ever have, and they proved to be a difficult act to follow.

Former Static-X frontman Wayne Static closed the show, and playing after American Head Charge’s home crowd proved to be difficult. Wayne’s band is effectively an all-new version of Static-X in all but name only, and the band’s signature flaming X logo was even used on stage props and banners (and notice the larger, more prominent color Static-X logo on the flyer). This tour was to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the ground-breaking and much-beloved Wisconsin Death Trip album, but the performance of the album seemed flat and uninspired. Having seen the original band play most of these songs many times, going back to tours before the album was even released, tonight’s show just couldn’t match those early tours. The crowd didn’t seem to notice, however, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. A few songs were played after running through Wisconsin Death Trip in its entirety, the best being “Assassins Of Youth” from Wayne’s Pighammer solo album. I hate being so negative because this really wasn’t a bad show, but it’s difficult to shed past memories of how great Static-X used to be and this just didn’t live up to that standard.

SMILE EMPTY SOUL Interview: “We probably won’t make another full length album” Says Vocalist/Guitarist Sean Danielsen

California’s Smile Empty Soul achieved immediate success with their debut, self-titled album in 2003, aided by the support of rock radio for the record’s three singles: “Bottom Of A Bottle”, “Nowhere Kids”, and “Silhouettes”. Their heavy, melodic songs got them lumped in with similar bands such as Chevelle and Breaking Benjamin, and were embraced by both fans and critics. Despite this and a string other successful albums, Smile Empty Soul over the last ten years has had each of their albums released on a different record label. Undoubtedly, the lack of long-term financial backing by a single company has been frustrating. A lesser-committed band would have certainly called it a day by now, but Smile Empty Soul undertook the huge responsibility of taking control of every aspect of the work in forming their own label imprint (Two Disciples Entertainment) in partnership with Pavement. Chemicals, the first result of this arrangement, was released in October 2013 and the band has been on the road nonstop to promote it. Currently on tour with Wayne Static and Twin Cities bands American Head Charge and Thira, Smile Empty Soul has five upcoming shows in Minnesota (details below), including one Saturday, June 7 at the Skyway Theatre in Minneapolis, as well as some headlining dates.

Smile Empty Soul (photo courtesy of the band)

In answering some questions by email, founding vocalist and guitarist Sean Danielsen commented, “Not at all,” on whether the speed at which Chemicals was recorded (two weeks, nearly unheard of in this day and age) had the band feeling rushed. “We made the record fast, but that was by design. Chemicals has so much more of a human feel than some of our other records we spent more time on, and we'll record like that from now on.” Fans shouldn’t expect new music any more frequently, however, as Sean explains that “There's still always gonna be a cycle to things. You release music, and then you go on tour a bunch. Just because we can make a record quicker doesn't mean we'd spend less time promoting it. Even if we only release EPs from now on it would probably be once a year or two years.”

The mention of EPs raises the timely issue of whether releasing new music in the traditional album format makes sense when streaming is the biggest growth area in music consumption. Sean reveals Smile Empty Soul’s intentions by stating, “We've already decided that we probably won't make another full length album. As the times change you need to evolve with them, and it doesn't really make a lot of sense for a band like us to record and release 10 or more songs at one time. Look for us to release EP's from now on, most likely.” He does view releasing new music as essential: “Making new music is what this is all about. That's why we do this. It's true that you don't make any money from album sales, but that would never stop us from making music. Even if we stopped doing Smile Empty Soul, I'm sure we'd all be releasing music on our own.”

Now that the band is in full control of their career with their own label imprint without deep corporate pockets, the success of Chemical’s first single, “False Alarm” is surely welcome. Sean admits that the “costs to run a radio campaign are insane.” Despite this and other potential frustrations, he adds that “We'd like to stick with our own imprint if possible. We like to do our thing, our way.”

Watch the video for "False Alarm", the lead single from Chemicals

After a well-deserved rest at home in July, Smile Empty Soul will return to the road for a headlining run in August and September. Touring is the lifeblood of bands more than ever, and Sean encourages people that view Smile Empty Soul as simply a radio band with its implied negative connotations to come check out the band live. He comments that those that only know their radio songs are “Usually impressed with our live show and want to get deeper into our music. I think they're surprised they haven't heard more of our music based on the quality of our songs and live show.”

Smile Empty Soul plays a remarkable five concerts in Minnesota this week, so there’s no reason to miss this great band. Go to the band’s webpage for all tour dates, and here are the upcoming ones in Minnesota:

June 5 – Moorhead, MN, The Garage Bar, Summer Static Fest, w/Wayne Static, Bobaflex, Shadow Of A Giant, Thira, Angel Roze, Romantic Rebels, Killform, Six Gun Freedom, Star Crown, Sinematic, Anomic, and A Dying Tide

June 6 – Rochester, MN, Wicked Moose, w/Wayne Static, American Head Charge, Thira, and Embrace The Ending

June 7 – Minneapolis, MN, Skyway Theatre & Studio B, Totally F*kn Awesome Fest, w/Wayne Static, American Head Charge, Thira, Blue Felix, Nuisance, Black Flood Diesel, Gabriel And The Apocalypse, I Corvinus, Solution Thirteen, Born In Regression, Rooin, Emergent, Tepetricy, Pinwheel, Ashes From Stone, Spacemaniam, Names To Faces, Karma Sutra, Piranha, Whither The Tide, A Pre-Fabricated Lie, Shadow Of The Giant, Killform

June 8 – Sauk Rapids, MN, Bubba’s (headline show)

June 9 – Duluth, MN, Clyde Iron Works (headline show)

In Concert This Week - July 27, 2012

This weekend has an insane amount of shows, so let’s get right to what’s coming up.

Glam jokesters Steel Panther and Throw The Fight play to a sold out crowd tonight, Friday, July 27 at the newly renamed and renovated Mill City Nights (formerly The Brick) in Minneapolis. There’s also a slew of great local shows tonight, too: Tepetricy, Eden, Blood Root Mother, Windowvyne, and DJ Diesel play the Fine Line in Minneapolis; Tomorrow Brings New Blood, Beastface, The Atlantis Theorem, Element 33, and Apothecary are at Station 4 in St. Paul; and The Cabooze in Minneapolis is hosting New Medicine for a benefit show with Toussaint Morrison, Sheeped, Dr. Wylie, Big Villian, Q’s Junction, and Chrome Lotus.

The Halfway Jam in Royalton continues this weekend with .38 Special, Molly Hatchet, and Blackfoot playing tonight, Friday July 27. Saturday, July 28 features the first show of Queensrÿche with new vocalist Todd La Torre, Stryper, Lynch Mob, and Enuff Z’nuff. There’s also a number of local second stage acts both night as well.

The Cinderella, Sebastian Bach, and Lita Ford show at Myth in St. Paul scheduled for Saturday, July 28 has been cancelled. I haven’t heard a word about what happened – the listing just disappeared from the Myth website and the tour is now scheduled to play at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux City, Iowa instead.

The Bouncing Souls, Smoking Popes, The Menzingers, and Luther play First Avenue in Minneapolis, Saturday, July 28. Also taking place on Saturday: Station 4 in St. Paul is having a free memorial show to honor Allan Wilson with Metal Witch, Mousia, Eternal Voyager, and Minos; Ted Nugent returns to the area for a show at Treasure Island in Red Wing; and Tesla plays Vetter Stone Amphitheater in Mankato with Jason & The Scorchers.

Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon plays a solo show on Sunday, July 29 at the Rush City Tavern in Rush City. That same night Station 4 in St. Paul has a brutal show with Pathology, Enfold Darkness, Fallujah, Fit For An Autopsy, Aegaeon, Apothecary, Beauty Of Decay, and Sadistic Passage.

Monday, July 30 you can catch Taproot with Smile Empty Soul, Severah, 14 Clicks, Requiems’s End, and Terror Overising at Station 4 in St. Paul.

Theory Of A Deadman, Aranda, and Charm City Devils play at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 31.

On Wednesday, August 1, Bane, Terror, Naysayer, and Rotting Out play the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. The Banshee show scheduled for Wednesday at Station 4 has apparently been cancelled. It’s been quietly removed from the Station 4 Facebook page, so I’ve removed it from the Concert Calendar.

Concert Announcements - July 6, 2012: BANSHEE Reunion, FEAR FACTORY/VOIVOD Shockwaves Tour Cancelled

Minneapolis-based Tooth & Nail recording artist Write This Down have scheduled a show at Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, July 10 with support from Red Moring Voyage, Harp & Lyre, Awaken, Imagine The Silence, and Sick Of Talking About It. Write This Down released their new album, Lost Weekend, last month.

Following the announcement a couple weeks ago of major lineup changes to the Shockwave 2012 Tour and co-headliner’s Voivod July 3 cancellation, Blabbermouth reported two days ago that the other headliner, Fear Factory, has also dropped out resulting in the whole tour having the plug pulled. The tour was supposed to start tonight, July 6 in Seattle, and pull into Station 4 in St. Paul on Thursday, July 12.

Hard rockers 12 Stones return to the area on Monday, July 23 for an all ages show at the North Star Room in Mounds View with Blameshift, Digital Summer, Throwing Gravity, and Sinful Angel.

As Blabbermouthreported earlier this week, the revamped Queensrÿche with new lead singer Todd La Torre will still be playing their scheduled show at Halfway Jam in Royalton, Minnesota on Saturday, July 28. This lineup has played two shows as Rising West, but apparently this will be their first appearance officially as Queenrÿche.

Hardcore/crossover band Media Blitz from California will storm the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis for a special half-room show on Wednesday, July 25 with In Defence, Triple Crossed, Rivit, and Total Trash.

Local metal band Tomorrow Brings New Blood are having a record release show on Friday, July 27 at Station 4 in St. Paul with Beastface, The Atlantis Theorem, Element, and Apothecary. This is an early 18+ show. Tomorrow Brings New Blood will be selling their new, self-titled album for only $5 at the show.

Support for the Taproot and Smile Empty Soul show announced last week at Station 4 in St. Paul on Monday, July 30 has been set. Opening the show will be Severah, 14 Clicks, Requiems’s End, and Terror Overising. This is a 16+ show that starts early at 6:00 pm.

Totally underrated technical power metal band Banshee has reformed with a new singer, George Call (Omen, Aska), and released a new album, Mindslave. Original guitarist Terry Dunn is taking the band out on the road, and they will be playing Station 4 in St. Paul on Wednesday, August 1. I witnessed the first Banshee reunion concert with original vocalist Tommy Lee Flood in 1999 at America’s Pub in Kansas City, and they guys blew down the house. This promises to be another killer show.

Rock band The Classic Crime is making a stop at the North Star Room in Mounds View on Saturday, August 18 for an early all ages show.

Black metal band Abigail Williams has booked a final, lengthy U.S. tour that circles the continent from July 26 in Santa Barbara, California to September 15 in Portland, Oregon. Right now they are slated to play in St. Paul on Thursday, September 6. This show is unconfirmed, but I would guess that it will happen at Station 4. Additional details will be posted when they become available.

Norwegian industrial/electronic band Icon Of Coil are touring North America this fall and hit Ground Zero in Minneapolis on Wednesday, September 12 with [:SITD:}, Gabriel And The Apocalypse, and Dissociate.

Stoner-sludge band Big Business will hit the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Monday, September 17. This is an 18+ show, and tickets go on sale Monday, July 16 at 12:00 noon.

Write This Down was recently added to the list of artists performing on the Shiprocked cruise from November 27 to December 1. The cruise departs Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Bahamas with an impressive roster of hard rock bands including Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, P.O.D., Sevendust, Filter, Fuel, Geoff Tate, Gilby Clarke, Lit, Black Stone Cherry, and In This Moment. You find more information at the Shiprocked website.

Concert Announcements - June 29, 2012

Minneapolis-based hard rock band New Medicine will be headlining a Live on Arrival benefit show on Friday, July 27 at The Cabooze in Minneapolis with Toussaint Morrison, Sheeped, Dr. Wylie, Big Villian, Q’s Junction, and Chrome Lotus.

Taproot and Smile Empty Soul have lined up a date at Station 4 in St. Paul on Monday, July 30

Henry Rollins brings his spoken word performance out on the road for an appearance on Thursday, September 27 at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, June 29 at 12:00 noon.

Folk metal fans can rejoice at the return of Finland’s Korpiklaani to Station 4 in St. Paul on Labor Day, Monday, September 2. Joining them for this voyage are fellow Finns Moonsorrow, Denmark’s Týr, and Estonia’s Metsatöll.

Hard rockers Chevelle play at 21+ show at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Friday, September 7. Locals Throw The Fight open the show before apparently heading to Ellsworth, Wisconsin to headline their own show at the Gaslight Bar & Grille. General ticket sales begin at 12:00 noon today, Friday, June 29, and you can buy presale tickets through Etix (linked at the First Avenue website) using the password "93x".

A second Lagwagon date has been added at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Wednesday, October 3. The October 4 show must either be sold out or close to it, so get your tickets soon!