THE DREAMING Vocalist Chris Hall Slams CHEVELLE Version of "It's No Good" as a "Piece of Sh*t!"

At The Dreaming’s show on Monday, July 23, in St. Paul at Station 4 the band performed their cover of Depeche Mode’s “It’s No Good” (from The Dreaming's latest album Puppet) and vocalist Chris Hall (ex-Stabbing Westward) didn’t hold back on his view of Chevelle’s take on the song:

“I heard the Chevelle version of that song yesterday and I gotta say ours is way f**king better than that piece of sh*t! I don’t know what they were thinking when they released that. Holy crap it’s terrible!”

My YouTube account is still suspended so I can’t post the clip, but I do have video of this declaration that can be downloaded here (.mov, 23.7 MG, 12 seconds).


I’ll get a complete show recap posted soon, but in the meantime here’s a couple pictures of The Dreaming and support band Sargent Avenue. Sargent Avenue was pretty impressive, and The Dreaming put on an awesome, 16 song, nearly 90 minute show. The set was heavily focused on material from Puppet along with some Stabbing Westward songs, including “What Do I Have To Do?”, “Shame”, “Save Yourself”, a cool half-acoustic version of “Sometimes It Hurts”, and an absolutely amazing performance of “Waking Up Beside You”.

Chevelle plays at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Friday, September 7 with Throw The Fight.

In Concert This Week - July 23, 2012

Well I completely neglected getting this update posted before the weekend, so here’s an abbreviated rundown of what’s going on the remainder of this week.

Tonight, Monday, July 23 has two shows in the area. First, former Stabbing Westward singer Christopher Hall brings The Dreaming back to Station 4 in St. Paul with Whither The Tide, Sargent Avenue, and Uzza. Check out my previously posted review of The Dreaming’s latest album, Puppet, here. Hard rockers 12 Stones also play tonight in Mounds View at the North Star Room with Blameshift, Digital Summer, Throwing Gravity, and Sinful Angel.

Off the wall band I Set My Friends On Fire play Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, July 24 with support from The Color Morale, Our Last Night, My Ticket Home, Fact, To Release, and From Concept To Chronicle.

It’s a night of hardcore punk at the Triple Rock Social Club on Wednesday, July 25 with Media Blitz, In Defence, Triple Crossed, Rivit, and Total Trash. There’s also a couple locals show on Wednesday with progressive metal band Hollowstone playing with Urn and Cold Colours at Station 4 in St. Paul, while industrial/electronic band As|Of teams up with Christopher J. Wray, Phenetick, and KPT at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis.

Thursday, July 26 has Within The Ruins, Molotov Solution, and Adestria playing Station 4 in St. Paul. Halfway Jam in Royalton begins on Thursday with an evening show featuring Jackyl, Trixter, and Bang Tango.

Concert Announcements - June 14, 2012

Industrial rock powerhouse The Dreaming returns to Station 4 in St. Paul on Monday, July 23 for 16+ show. Support will come from Whither The Tide and two bands to be announced. The Dreaming was last here in December and you can ready my review of their latest album, Puppet, here.


Local industrial upstarts As|Of play the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 25 with Christopher J. Wray, Phenetik, and KPT. Best of all, this show is free!


Rising stars Halestorm play The Cabooze in Minneapolis with support from New Medicine on Friday, July 27. No further information is available at this time.


Rock outfit Our Lady Peace hits the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday, August 7. Tickets for this 18+ show go on sale this Friday, June 15 at 12:00 noon.


This is the best concert announcement I've heard in a long time—doom guitar master Wino (St. Vitus, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, others) will flatten the Turf Club in St. Paul on Thursday, August 16 with support from Conny Ochs.


Stone Temple Pilots have plotted a tour that brings them to Myth in St. Paul on Friday, September 7. This is an all ages show, and tickets go on sale this Saturday, June 16 at 10:00 am.


Long-running industrial troupe My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult return to town with a gig at Station 4 in St. Paul on Thursday, October 11. No further information is available at this time.


Hard rockers Seether arrive at The Brick in Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 16 with support from Sick Puppies, Kyng, and Eye Empire. This is an 18+ show, and tickets go on sale this Friday, June 15 at 10:00 am.


Hardcore/punk/pop godfathers Dinosaur Jr. will bring a room full of smiles to The Cabooze in Minneapolis on Thursday, October 18. Tickets for this 18+ show go on sale Friday, June 22 at 12:00 noon.

THE DREAMING Album Review

The Dreaming - Puppet

Epochal Artists, November 2011

8/10

Led by Christopher Hall, former lead singer for popular industrial metal band Stabbing Westward, The Dreaming doesn’t stray too far from the sound he built with Stabbing Westward to deliver an enjoyable, pleasing record. Following a slew of EPs and one full-length album, Puppet has founding members Hall and Johnny Haro (drums) back with a revamped lineup that includes one-time American Head Charge guitarist Nick Quijano. Whereas Stabbing Westward delved into a dark, morose sound towards the end, The Dreaming takes the heaviness and great melodies of that band into more pop-sounding territory while retaining Hall’s bitter, personal lyrics. Right off the bat, “Puppet” shows that The Dreaming is out to make a statement with its dense, molten riffs. The single “Every Trace” has a more upbeat sound and cool march-like beat that gives it instant appeal. My favorite track, “Breathing”, has a brilliantly simple keyboard melody layered over a fast guitar riff while Hall sings a tale of regret and forgiveness. The next few songs aren’t quite as remarkable, but all are solid tracks, especially “Fight For You” and “Stitches”. A pleasant surprise is the inclusion of Depeche Mode cover “It’s No Good”, a heavier selection from a dark phase of the masters of synth-pop. The last part of the album features “Solo Crucifixion”, an interesting track that opens with some precise guitar work that eventually incorporates a heavy, low keyboard line that reminds me of something from Kill Switch…Klick, and “Too Late”, a great song with a memorable sing-along chorus. Puppet succeeds because Hall has taken elements of Stabbing Westward and woven them into a more accessible sound that at times surprises and impresses the listener. Hall’s voice sounds better than ever, and he still croons and screams as well as he did with Stabbing Westward. Big fans of industrial music are likely to dismiss The Dreaming as pop metal-sounding fluff, but there’s way too much talent here for anyone to write off without being a bit less than credible.

The Dreaming performs tonight, Thursday, December 8 at Station 4 in St. Paul with support from 3 Pill Morning, Killing Floor, Withering Deity, and Create, Control. This is a 16+ show with early doors at 6:00 pm, and tickets are $10 at the door.

Weekly Concert Update, Part 2 of 2 - ANVIL, THE DREAMING, NEW MEDICINE, 12 STONES Concerts Announced

Looking ahead first for the biggest news of the week, Canada's legendary and unlikely film stars Anvil are set to explode at Station 4 in St. Paul on Wednesday, February 22. No further information is available at this time. If you're unfamiliar with Anvil, you owe to yourself to learn about them by watching the award-winning movie Anvil: The Story Of Anvil and reading their autobiography of the same title.


  


Former Stabbing Westward vocalist Christopher Hall brings The Dreaming to St. Paul at Station for a just-announced show on Thursday, December 8 with Killing Floor, Withering Deity, and Create Control. This is a 16+ show and is $10 at the door. The Dreaming just released their latest album, Puppet, earlier this month.

Local hard rock bands Eden, Vaudeville, Smiling Politely, and Aiming For Aurora are teaming up for a show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on Friday, December 9. Advance tickets are only $5 ($8 at the door), and this show is 18+.

Twin Cities-based New Medicine is currently wrapped some dates in the southern US, but they return home to play the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis on Thursday, December 22 with an opening band to be announced. This show is 18+, and tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.


Mega-selling Christian band 12 Stones comes to Station 4 in St. Paul on Sunday, January 15 with Forever Waiting, Requiems End, Tepetricy, and Essex for an all ages show ($12 advance, $15 at the door).

As expected, Belphegor has dropped off the upcoming Dark Funeral tour that comes to St. Paul at Station 4 on Thursday, February 9 and Inquisition has now been announced as their replacement. Still on the bill are Abigail Williams, Gigan, and Maledicere. This show is 16+, and tickets are $17 in advance or $20 at the door.