Devin Townsend Project in Baltimore, MD on 11/30/17

The Devin Townsend Project (DTP) came to the Baltimore Soundstage at the end of November. In addition to DTP, Baltimore’s own Bridge To Divide and Dark Water Transit, supported the ticket.  Townsend, who has a huge catalog of incredible music, brought a set list that ranged from older fan favorites to tracks off their latest album Transcendence. The show was one of the few headlining stops while they are on tour with Clutch and The Obsessed. Fans excitedly braved the frigid winter weather to catch Townsend headline the intimate Baltimore venue. The band brought an incredible live show that really showcases the musical talent of Townsend. The songs from his latest album, which included the individual band members, added a new layer to the music didn’t disappoint. The added bonus of showing off some of Baltimore’s local talent made for a perfect night of music. The night also showed that DTP can still bring fresh content that has fans excited more than ever to see the group and look forward to what they can bring in the future.

Set List:

Truth

Stormbending

Failure

Night

Deadhead

Hyperdrive

Gaia

Canada

Bad Devil

Supercrush

Poozers

More

Kingdom

Ih Ah

Higher

PHOTO GALLERY: Silversun Pickups at 9:30 Club on 11/14/17

HIM at Fillmore Silver Spring on 11/9/17

“Love Metal” band H.I.M.’s farewell tour made one of its final U.S. stops in the DMV to celebrate their long and successful career. The Bang & Whimper 2017-The Farewell Tour is giving fans one last chance to see a live performance that has been crafted with the experience H.I.M. has gathered from a long career full of playing everything from small club shows to large festivals and it does not disappoint. Their incredibly dedicated fans started lining up to get their spot in the sold-out venue at noon and some even traveled all the way from South America. 3 Teeth took the stage first and if you haven’t heard of them before they bring an industrial style of music that was made popular by acts like Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails. They have an incredible stage presence and put on a high energy show that left many fans surprised because of the live style of the headliner which is naturally softer but delivered in a way that compliments the music. CKY came on next and has long been associated with H.I.M. because of skateboarder Bam Margera who became a huge advocate of the both H.I.M. and CKY. Margera’s brother Jesse is also the drummer for CKY. CKY played some of their more popular songs but also performed material from their latest album The Phoenix which was released in June 2017. H.I.M. closed the night and performed their last show in the area much to fans dismay. Ville Valo, H.I.M.’s front man, walked out to cheering fans and Finnish flags flying as the their instantly recognizable heartagram symbol glowed behind him on drummer, Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger’s kick drum. With this being a farewell tour and the band having many years of success, they had no shortage of material and played the fan favorites. Overall the show was a fantastic display of the hard work and success that H.I.M. has seen over the past 22 years.

311 at Rams Head Live on 11/2/17

311’s Fall 2017 tour made it’s stop in Baltimore to a sold out show at Rams Head Live which had fans eagerly waiting for the doors to get the best spot in the unique venue. The show was supported by D.C. area natives RDGLDGRN, which always put on a great show with their rap/reggae hybrid style. RDGLDGRN did a short set which ended with Green jumping into the crowd, which he regularly does at their shows. 

311’s recent album Mosaic was released in June 2017 and some of the tracks off the new album made their way into the night’s setlist. This new album brings another aspect into the genre spanning 311, by bringing a hip hop element to their reggae/rock feel and shows that the band continues to grow while giving their audience something new and fresh to look forward to. Known as a band that continuously tours, 311 more impressively changes their setlist every night to keep things fresh for their fans. This show was no different as 311 fans chanted for the band from before the doors opened until the band took the stage. The enthusiastic fans sang along throughout the full set which shows just how passionate and supportive 311 fans really are. If you have seen this band live before or not, you will definitely want to check out their upcoming shows to hear some of the new music that is being released.

Cypress Hill at Fillmore Silver Spring on 11/1/17

Cypress Hill came to Silver Spring, Maryland’s Fillmore and played their most well-known hits. Cypress Hill, fronted by rappers Sen Dog and B Real, are one of the more influential rap groups in the 90’s. While do not regularly tour, when they do come to town it brings out a wide spectrum of fans – some traveled hours to see the group.

The show was supported by DJ JS-1 and rapper/beat boxer Rahzel, who is a former member of The Roots. Rahzel showcased his talents by beat boxing and singing songs simultaneously with tracks from popular acts like Black Sabbath and Rage Against the Machine. Cypress Hill’s B Real is currently working with Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello on their new project, Prophets of Rage, which includes Chuck D and all the members from Rage Against the Machine except Zack de la Rocha.

Overall, the show was a great opportunity to see legendary names, and due to their infrequent tour dates, it gave fans a special opportunity to see one of their favorite artists.