Welcome to 2015! Have fun with your hoverboards, bojos. Those boards don’t work on water! I’m getting a pit bull instead. At least I would if Mattel would get to work on inventing one.
Going into our fourth year of this website’s existence, we want to thank everyone for supporting, contributing and being awesome! Hopefully we’ve done our part to turn you on to a new band or let you know about a show you might have otherwise missed.
We couldn’t close out 2014 without looking back on those shows that made the year memorable. So we reached out to members of the Vegas music scene as well as our own Team PIV to bring you our take on the best of the best.
(All shows take place in Las Vegas/Henderson unless otherwise noted)
How do I narrow down all the great shows I saw in 2014? This year, I decided to break mine up into favorite bar show, favorite festival performance and favorite big venue show, that’s how!
1. Reggie and the Full Effect November 13, 2014 at Backstage Bar and Billiards (gallery)
The best bar show I went to this year was Reggie and the Full Effect’s November 13 gig at Backstage Bar and you know what? I almost didn’t go to it. This show was part of the Vegas Music Summit and between filming with openers Pentimento, lunch with Jesse Pino, and attending/reviewing the Hot Water Music gig at the adjacent Fremont Country Club, I really didn’t think my feet could take another hour.
Thankfully my fond memories of seeing the band in the past won out and I was treated to the best Reggie show I’ve ever attended.
The wacky costumes are still there but a more sober James Dewees – the mastermind behind the Reggie project – is now armed with a sharp wit that perfectly complements his natural storytelling prowess. Backed by the impeccable Pentimento and playing to a small crowd of diehard fans made this the only show I left with a voice raw from singing along and a gut sore from laughing too hard.
2. Saves the Day, Mixtapes and Teenage Bottlerocket at the Van’s Warped Tour June 19, 2014 at the UNLV Intramural Fields (gallery)
Festivals can be fun, but they’re usually not the best place to experience a band. And even though Punk Rock Bowling is definitely more my style, a few bands far exceeded my expectations at this past year’s Warped Tour.
First up, Saves the Day sounded so fantastic during their mid-day performance that I didn’t even notice my growing sunburn. The band decided to mix it up and play a completely different set each day, an admirable feat that gave us such personal favorites as “Three Miles Down,” “In the In Between” and “Banned From the Back Porch.”
Teenage Bottlerocket was the last band that played, ending the night to a crowd depressingly small. But they still played like they were headlining an amphitheater packed with fans. Their sets are always so high energy and I can’t imagine anyone seeing them and not walking away a fan.
But the biggest highlight was Mixtapes. Any reader of this site knows how much I love that little pop punk band and this set shows just why. Seeing only a couple people waiting eagerly for their set to start, the band decided to reward us by starting 15 minutes early and playing all requests, including my request for “Hope is For People.” Mixtapes was a joy to see live and I’m eternally glad I got to see them one more time before calling it quits.
3. Against Me! August 22, 2014 at the Brooklyn Bowl (gallery)
When it comes to big venue shows, there’s no contest for who takes that crown this year. Starting with the lineup changes following the release of White Crosses and really taking hold after frontwoman Laura Jane Grace came out as transgender, Against Me!’s live show has become something of legend. Bassist Inge Johansson is so much fun to watch live, with a big smile and kicks that can only be matched by Intruder Green. But Grace is the real star, all smiles as she belts out the hits with the best backing vocalists around – the fans.
There is really nothing like hearing 100 people shout “Mary, there is no hope for us” from “We Laugh at Danger (And Break All the Rules)” with the band. The band doesn’t just match the crowd’s energy now, they exceed it, making them high atop the list of bands you need to see live, regardless of whether you dig their recorded music or not. In the end, Against Me! actually played Vegas twice this year, and it still wasn’t enough for me.
Honorable mention: Punks in Vegas 3 Year Bash feat. Jeff Rosenstock, Hard Girls and Mercy Music May 22, 2014 at the House of Wonk (gallery)
I’m generally not a fan of honorable mentions, but I felt it was a little unfair to list the PIV three year bash in my main list, due to its sentimental value. Featuring Jeff Rosenstock, Hard Girls and Mercy Music, this show exceeded every expectation.
Whether it was Hunter and I filming with the bands beforehand, Brendan putting on a fantastic solo performance when the rest of MM couldn’t make it last minute, Hard Girls premiering songs from what would end up being one of my favorite albums of 2014, seeing so many friends and meeting people who enjoy what we do, seeing all the support for two of my favorite nationals, the awesome hospitality the House of Wonk guys showed, or Rosenstock agreeing to play a special song from Bomb the Music Industry! for Ashleigh and my anniversary, I just couldn’t have been happier with how that night turned out.
1. Vexx, Warsong, In Fugue, Headwinds, Unfair Fight July 15, 2014 at The Womb Room
2. The Breeders September 15, 2014 at The Bunkhouse Saloon
3. Life Is Shit Fest 2 (Lenguas Largas, Face Man, White Mystery, Headwinds and more) October 25, 2014 at The Dive
1. Deafheaven, Destruction Unit, Demon Lung March 28, 2014 at LVCS (gallery)
2. Code Orange September 8, 2014 at Eagle Aerie Hall (gallery)
3. Touche Amore, Tigers Jaw, Dads July 3, 2014 at Hard Rock Live (gallery)
1. Life is Shit Second Annual October 25th, 2014 at The Dive
Best set of the show: Lenguas Largas
2. 15 Years of GC warehouse party June 29, 2014 at Civilian HQ (review)
Best set of the show: Four Letter Words
3. Punk Rock Bowling 2014 Kickoff club show May 23, 2014 at the Beauty Bar (gallery)
Best sets of the show: Off With Their Heads, Illicitor, Western Addiction
Honorable Mention: The Maxies, The Mapes, Time Crashers and Alan Six November 14, 2014 at The Dive (I still can’t get the flour out of my black hat…)
1. A Wilhelm Scream, Get Dead, TheCore., Fredward June 15, 2014 at Backstage Bar and Billiards (gallery)
Ridiculously huge Wilhelm fan, and until then, I’d never been able to see them live and I couldn’t have been more impressed. We at the Armory rented a shuttle bus, pregamed there, then all 15-20 of us rolled together and proceeded to run our own fight club during Wilhelm’s entire performance. It was easily one of the best nights of my life. It didn’t hurt to see Brock, Sal, Chris and Brian play either.
2. Unfair Fight, The Quitters, Nothing With Numbers, War Called Home and Illicitor August 3, 2014 at The Artistic Armory (gallery)
David Bartlett from War Called Home and I have our birthdays within days of each other so we decided to have a birthday show, and it turned out to be amazing. A night full of drunkenness, friends, I shot people with tennis balls, and people saw me be a real emotional bitch – it was fantastic.
3. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones August 17, 2014 at the Brooklyn Bowl (gallery)
I’ve looked up to Dicky Barrett my entire life and I hadn’t seen the Bosstones in over 10 years. I got wicked hammered, pissed off my then-girlfriend and met Dicky for the first time. It was glorious.
1. The Quitters’ Album Release Party July 11, 2014 at The Artistic Armory (gallery)
How could I not mark this as my number one?! After over a year of recording and mixing Contributing To Erosion, The Quitters finally released it with the help of The People’s Whiskey, The Dirty Panties and TheCore. at our favorite venue in Vegas, The Artistic Armory. It was packed and so much fun! Don’t believe me? Check out the Punks in Vegas photo gallery of the show!
2. The Blood Brothers November 7, 2014 at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, TX
This was my first time seeing Blood Brothers perform, and goddamn, did they deliver! I had only discovered them after their break-up, and it’s always a rush to see a band when you thought that it would never happen. BB write such interesting and complicated music and pulled it off expertly live. I hope they make a new record!
3. Off With Their Heads w/ Illicitor, Punk Rock Bowling May 23, 2014 the Beauty Bar (gallery)
I had seen Off With Their Heads perform before and didn’t really care for them, but for PRB, they brought it hard and made me a believer! That, mixed with the fact that I was lucky enough to play this show with Illicitor as part of Punk Rock Bowling, made it one of the more memorable shows I have ever seen. Also, until Ty Segall, I had never seen the Beauty Bar more packed.
1. Direct Hit!, The Bombpops September 10, 2014 at The Dive (gallery)
I was super excited to see Direct Hit come to Vegas, since I’ve been listening to Brainless God on repeat pretty much for the last year. They were on-point that night, and I love seeing the mellow Nick Woods turn into a screaming madman on stage as soon as their set starts. The Bombpops were really awesome as well that night. Totally was worth being tired at work the next day.
2. The Lawrence Arms, Nothington, Great Apes February 16, 2014 at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles (gallery)
I know I’ve seen the Lawrence Arms in the past, but don’t really remember them. They’ve been in increasing circulation on my stereo, so decided to drive out to LA to check them out. I loved the pics I got at the show, and the set they played was also great.
3. The Svetlanas September 23, 2014 at The Artistic Armory (gallery)
I went to checkout the Svetlanas at the Artistic Armory because my buddy Cody (The People’s Whiskey, New Cold War) had been talking them up. They had crazy energy, and lit the place up. It was hilarious seeing their tiny singer Olga stomping around the Armory with the biggest scowl I have ever seen.
Honorable mentions:
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones August 17, 2014 at the Brooklyn Bowl (gallery)
I haven’t seen the Bosstones since Warped Tour in like 2001 or 2002, and never seen them headline. The show ended up being a lot more fun than I expected, and the Interrupters sounded great (though they felt the need to introduce each song as literally as possible). I even skanked at the show, which hasn’t happened probably since the aforementioned Warped Tour.
Against Me! August 22, 2014 at the Brooklyn Bowl (gallery)
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Against Me! before, maybe at a Warped Tour or Punk Rock Bowling, but wasn’t really all that familiar with them. I’ve really enjoyed their newest album, so decided to check them out. The live energy was incredible. For me, one of the barriers to really getting into the band was the poor fidelity of their older recordings, but everything at the Brooklyn Bowl sounded great, and gave me a much better perspective on a lot of the songs. I can totally understand why people enjoy this band so much now.
1. A Wilhelm Scream June 15, 2014 at Backstage Bar and Billiards (gallery)
2. Bob Mould September 30, 2014 at the Bunkhouse Saloon (gallery)
3. Single Mothers November 17, 2014 at the Bunkhouse Saloon
1. The Svetlanas September 23, 2014 at The Artistic Armory (gallery)
Never heard or seen Svetlanas in my life. I was pleasantly surprised of how BADASS they were. First of all they are from Russia. They barely spoke any English. I made out a few words like “Fuck you” and “Thank you” but other than that I couldn’t understand anything. Olga the singer had no shoes on and reminded me of Henry Rollins in female form. The drummer was just tearing it apart while the guitar player and bass player walked around in the crowd. The place was packed and The Svetlanas brought it. Easily the best show of the year for me. Oh ya and New Cold War got to play it.
2. Pulley November 21, 2014 at Backstage Bar and Billiards (gallery)
Pulley is one of my favorite punk rock bands of all time and when we got the chance to open the show for these guys I jumped at it. Even if we didn’t get to open the show I would have put this in my top 10 shows of the year cause I love this band. The show was pretty cool not enough people there though. The real cool part and the reason the show is in my top 3 is I got to hang out with Pulley in the green room. I was worried they were going to be dicks and not want to talk to a fanboy like me but we talked for a good hour and half. We talked about regular things and totally got along. My punk rock heroes were regular rad dudes and that was so badass to me. I also got an album signed and they had no problem doing that. I’ll never forget it.
3. Masked Intruder Day 2 of Punk Rock Bowling May 25, 2014 at Fremont East (gallery)
I loved the whole festival but Masked Intruder stood out to me. Never seen them live and I was pleasantly surprised. Of course they all wore masks and played their parts as thieves, but they were funny as hell and put on an awesome show. The highlight was the dancing cop. He wore tight shorts and got the crowd going. He eventually got into the crowd and fired them up. One of the best shows ever.
1. Neutral Milk Hotel, The Breeders, Daniel Johnston Sept. 18, 2014 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA (review)
I never thought I’d get to sing “Holland, 1945” in the same room (well, giant amphitheater) with Jeff Mangum and crew, so this was a dream come true for me. Check out my review for details on all the awesome.
2. Against Me! August 22, 2014 at the Brooklyn Bowl (gallery)
I just don’t know if there’s ever going to be a better feeling than screaming these songs in a crowded room with your best friends.
3. Direct Hit! September 10, 2014 at The Dive (gallery)
A bar show on a week night? I broke one of my self-imposed big kid rules here. These guys have what it takes to get my fist in the air screaming along. And plus – they played “Werewolf Shame” for me, and for that, they’ll always have a place in my heart.
1. Weezer/NOFX as played by The Quitters and War Called Home July 19, 2014 at The Artistic Armory (gallery)
A fun outdoor concert where the fans sang along to every song and the pit extended to encircle War Called Home. Voices were raspy by the end and as a thank you to Dustin Hoots for having the best venue in town, money was raised to get his car fixed. Great night all around!
2. Cage the Elephant & Grouplove January 9, 2014 at The Chelsea
Two of my favorite mainstream acts playing a one-off show for CES. The dance party was in full force and the sound was impeccable at the newly opened Chelsea. Grouplove has amazing energy onstage that will put most hardcore bands to shame.
3. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue April 19, 2014 at the Brooklyn Bowl
Trombone Shorty melds big band/swing with modern rock and it is beyond awesome! To top it off they pulled out a killer cover of “Brain Stew” by Green Day
Honorable mention: The Quitters’ Album Release Party with TheCore., The Dirty Panties, People’s Whiskey July 11, 2014 at The Artistic Armory 🙂
1. The Hold Steady August 2, 2014 at Vinyl Las Vegas (gallery)
This is a band that has to be seen live to truly appreciate. I have had the opportunity to see The Hold Steady at least a half dozen times, but this was the first time they had Steve Selvidge on guitar. Trading lead work with longtime guitarist Tad Kubler, the Steady were simply more powerful than ever. Even as the house lights repeatedly failed, Singer Craig Finn, ever the showman, delivered his offbeat poetry illuminated by the lights of our phone cameras. It was an amazing communal experience.
2. ††† March 28, 2014 at Hard Rock Live (gallery)
After hearing the production heavy record from this band, I was worried about the transition to live performance. I was not let down. Chino Moreno was clearly having fun, a luxury he is allowed to have outside of his more angry Deftones. Guitarist Shaun Lopez still has a tremendous gift for catchy riffs and a certain heaviness that made his previous band, Far, one of my favorite bands. Hard Rock Live was absolutely packed and there was just a really great positive energy in the room.
3. Kacey Musgraves October 26, 2014 at Life is Beautiful
As the most unpunk entry on this list, Kacey played my favorite set of the year. In a country music scene dominated by dudes singing about trucks and jeans and other banality, Kacey infuses her music with social issues and real life observations. She hit the stage with an absolutely killer live band. The crowd was sparse, and maybe that made it better, but I really feel like she was able to connect with and hold the attention of everyone watching. Singalongs can really make a show, and the audience never stopped singing. I didn’t either.
Honorable Mention: Afghan Whigs completely blew me away at Riot Fest in Chicago this year. What an incredible return from those guys.
1. Code Orange, Presagers & others September 8, 2014 at Eagle Aerie Hall (gallery)
Less than a week after the official release of I Am King Code Orange (formerly Code Orange Kids) showed up at our own Eagle Aerie Hall. The band started their set with the crushing “My World,” which set the tone right from the start. As the night went on they relentlessly charged through their high energy set, playing a majority of I Am King as well as a track from their previous release “Love is Love.” The night finished with the punishing album closer “Mercy.” It proved to be a night to remember.
2. Twitching Tongues, Disgrace, Presagers, Acid Rain October 15, 2014 at Eastside Joe’s
On a chilly fall night in October, LA weirdos Twitching Tongues and thrash/hardcore outfit Disgrace came to town. Twitching Tongues released their recent full length “In Love There is No Law” in 2013 and brought all the jams to Eastside Joe’s. They opened with the devastating “World War V” which was received with wild enthusiasm by the small, but passionate, crowd that night. The band played through their entire discography and finished with their maniacal rendition of the 1996 Merauder classic “Master Killer” which had the entire room screaming the lyrics.
3. Judge, H20, Killer of Sheep, Folsom May 24, 2014 at Las Vegas Country Saloon (Punk Rock Bowling) (gallery)
This one was a classic through and through, beginning with LVHC legends Folsom and progressing to NYC legends H20, who started their set at a blistering pace with their newer 2008 track “Nothing to Lose.” It continued as they played all the hits including the anthemic “What Happened” which had the entire crowd singing along. To cap off the night, Mike Judge and his group of straight edge lifers known simply as Judge took the stage. The crowd thinned slightly but seeing such a classic group perform was amazing none-the-less. Judge ripped right into “Take Me Back” and played through their entire discography as the night wore on. Ultimately it was an incredible opportunity to watch so many hardcore legends on one show.
1. Slint and a bunch of other lame bands August 23, 2014 at FYF Los Angeles, CA
I had just recently gotten into Slint’s music before we headed to California for the festival. My friends we’re all stoked on the band so I figured I might as well get stoked too. Slint was slated to play at the same time as Joyce Manor which I guess kinda sucked, but I think that Joyce Manor peaked on their first album, so I wasn’t trying to see them play a bunch of half time tunes that I don’t care about on a giant awkward stage. Anyways as Lips and I waited for Slint to start, we stood in the ornately lighted ballroom and did typical pre-show ritual stuff. When they finally got started it was loud as all hell and there were a million lights glowing on the stage. It was a super psychedelic journey that I don’t think you can trade for anything because that’s not how things work. Slint played all of the songs off Spiderland as well as some b-sides. I don’t know how to put this experience in words but it was probably how kids feel at edc. Groooovy.
2. Bearcubbin’, Oranges and Alaska March 8, 2014 at House of Wonk Las Vegas, NV
This was Alaska’s SXSW tour kick-off, but that band sucks. Bearcubbin’ and Oranges are straight up some of the most talented people making music in this country, so having them on a show together was almost crazy enough to work, or something. The night started when my buddy Lips (who I was also with at the Slint gig) brought me Chicken Shack. While I don’t support the industrialized murder of animals, that place is super bomb. After that I got real drunk, which was way dope. Oranges played and absolutely slayed. There were hella people so we got tons of donations for Bearcubbin’ and us. Bearcubbin’ played and it was fckn nuts, everyone was dancing and shit. Chris like loops a bunch of shit and then the drummer boy rips it all to hell. Meanwhile, bass boy is holding it down. Too crazy. It was a good night with some good boys.
3. Animals as Leaders and a bunch of other lame bands May 1, 2014 at UNLV Courtyard Las Vegas, NV
It was like 4 o’clock and I had just gotten out of my creative writing final (which I was already drunk for) so then I walked to my boy Sleeve’s crib and we necked a few brews. After skulling way too many, we walked back over to campus. Nothing quite matches the feeling of being drunk on a college campus, it’s awesome. It’s like you’re winning a game that everyone is playing and no one can stop you because they’re all losers. We stood around waiting for AAL to start and I think a bunch of other garbage bands opened up for them, but there’s no way I could remember that. Hopefully whatever bands played, I never, ever, ever have to see/hear again. Anyways, it was just this miserable horrible couple of half hours waiting for AAL. And then boom they’re set up. Boom, all my boys squad up. Boom, Animals goes off like crazy. Shredding and shredding so hard. I could cry thinking about it. The drummer boy was going nuts too. My friend Christian did a stage dive, that was rad too, dang. I got a picture with Tosin Abasi but I feel like I’m touching him kind of weird, so that’s bad, but still dope! Way crazy dope show! Animals put all the other lame bands to shame. Hopefully, whoever they were, they never ever play again.
1. Into It. Over It. September 24, 2014 at The Holland Project, Reno, NV
I’ve been wanting to see Evan Weiss for over three years. Seeing him in the intimate space of the Holland Project was simply outstanding. The gentle ease into “Anchor,” the crash-in of “Embracing Facts” and the overall sincerity and passion in Evan’s performance made this a night that won’t slip my memory for a very long time. Definitely reminded me why he’s my favorite songwriter of all time.
2. Basement, Cloakroom, Creative Adult, Fell To Low August 12, 2014 at The Glass House, Pomona, CA
Road tripped with my friend Mark to this show. All the support acts were solid and Cloakroom was great. Basement played one of the loudest sets I’ve ever heard. The crowd was surprisingly fun, despite the presence of barricade. 800 people singing “when I’m with you, I don’t wanna be with you” was incredible.
3. Joyce Manor, Toys That Kill December 13, 2014 at Midtown Barfly, Sacramento, CA
Stage diving jokes aside, Joyce Manor ripped. One of the most energetic sets I’ve seen in a long time.
Honorable mentions:
The Wonder Years, Fireworks, Citizen, Real Friends, Modern Baseball March 27, 2014 at The Summit Music Hall, Denver, CO,
American Footbal- December 12, 2014 at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
1. Unfair Fight, The Quitters, Nothing With Numbers, War Called Home and Illicitor August 3, 2014 at The Artistic Armory (gallery)
Little biased on this one considering it was mine and Dustin’s Birthday party but it was one of the greatest times of my life. A night filled with great bands and great music. Kicking off the show was Illicitor. These guys are fantastic live. The energy and power they bring in every show is always a pleasure to take part in. Next up was The Quitters. Micah pulling double duty and thankful he killed both sets. The quitters are such a great band and even better people. So much fun watching and sharing the stage with these guys every time. Always fun and full of chaos.
Next up was War Called Home. Since I’m in that band, all I can say is I love playing with these guys. It’s fast and it’s fun, I couldn’t ask for anything more. Next up was the once a year Nothing With Numbers gig. This was my part of the double duty. Again since I’m in that band as well, I’ll just say that these guys are the reason I got infused in the local scene. And I couldn’t be any more humble to call those guys my brothers.
Closing out the night was Unfair Fight. And closing out the double duty gigs was Chris Duggan (guitar in numbers also). Keeping with the aggressive progression of sound, unfair fight did nothing but destroy the place. Nearing the end of the set, I joined the quitters and some friends outside behind the drums with the door open in the rain and we had our own little pit going. Refreshing and fun. I will never forget this night and thank everyone for creating something so special.
2. Propagandhi February 22, 2014 at The Glass House, Pomona CA
A very much anticipated west coast show for Prop. With The Flatliners opening, it made a great start to what was an amazing evening. Flatliners has been going at it this year and had a good crowd moving around while they rocked. Then came the time for Propagandhi. They stayed away from talking politics between songs for the most part but they all were having a fun time on stage. A good mix of new and old stuff. Didn’t matter bc everyone was just ready to see them kill it. Which they easily did.
3. Face To Face “Triple Crown” shows December 26-28, 2014 at The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA.
It was a real incredible experience to watch Face to Face play their first 3 records over 3 nights. The crowd was electric and the band was having a lot of fun on stage. With only one opener a night, they teamed up with great bands to kick things off. Pulley, Guttermouth and Unwritten Law. Face to Face have only been sounding better and better with every show. If it happens again, I certainly won’t miss it.
1. The Faction, Jodie Foster’s Army, and Drunk Injuns May 24, 2014 at Atomic Liquor (Skate Punk Reunion Volume 1)
I discovered punk rock through skateboarding in 80s, and if you would have told me then that I would see these bands live in 2014, I would have said you were nuts. This was a flawless event a cool venue that was topped off with some quality shredding on a ramp set up behind the stage. Easily my favorite show of 2014.
2. Cro-Mags May 23, 2014 at Fremont Country Club (Punk Rock Bowling) (gallery)
There was so much energy at this show, as well as a whole lot of shirtless dudes running the pit with absolute authority. And while John Joseph and Mackie are the only original members in this version of the band, A.J. Novello (Leeway) and Casey Watson (Old Firm Casuals) on strings round out the JJ-Mags nicely. World peace still can’t be done.
3. Schizoid November 8, 2014 at Backstage Bar and Billiards on 1as Vegas Punk Rock Reunion II)
I knew of Schizoid during their existence thanks to the punk show on KUNV 91.5, but I was never able to see them live as I was stuck in Boulder City with no car and no license. An important local band from the late 80s that influenced my musical endeavors. It was also rad to see my man Jeff Dean from Tomorrows Gone on guitar for this reunion lineup,
Honorable mentions: Mastodon at House of Blues, Night Birds at Fremont Country Club (Punk Rock Bowling), Sage Francis at LVCS.
1. Empire strikes back tour with Assuming We Survive, Dose of Adolescence, Cromwell, Fredward, Revolve March 7, 2014 at Fremont Country Club
2. A Wilhelm Scream, Get Dead, Fredward, TheCore. June 15, 2014 at Backstage Bar and Billiards (gallery)
3. Pulley, The Core, Happy Campers, War Called Home January 11, 2014 at Backstage Bar and Billiards (gallery)
1. Die Antwoord September 28, 2014 at the Cosmopolitan Pool
This concert was one of my most anticipated shows that I have ever gone to. I have been a fan of Die Antwoord for a little over a year and a half now, and I always thought it would be a cool experience to go see them live given how odd they are and strive to be. I was not disappointed in the least. They gave a phenomenal performance. Everything was planned, they had dancers on stage to every song, they did costume changes between songs, DJ solo sets, it was mind blowing for me. Considering that I paid almost $100 dollars for two tickets (one for me and one for my mother, who is also a fan of theirs. Yes, my mother.) I had high expectations, and they exceeded them entirely. The crowd was a mixture of all sorts of people, too, which is hard to find most of the time. Best show I have been to in a very long time. If you ever get the opportunity to go see them, I would highly recommend it. Definitely money well spent, if you ask me. I also had never been to a show in the pool area of a casino, so that was an interesting experience in its own way. Sitting by the pool while witnessing “I fink u freeky.”
2. Twenty one Pilots May 7, 2014 at The Brooklyn Bowl
I have also been a fan of twenty one pilots for a long time and I had seen them about a year ago at the I Heart Radio village festival, but being that each band only had a 20 minute set, it didn’t really give me a good idea as to what they were like live. They are amazing live. They never stop and the energy of the entire show is just amazing. At one point, the drummer was on a drum riser and crowd surfed! The drummer also did a backflip off of the piano before jumping back to his drum set to finish out the song. Totally amazing. I would highly recommend going to see twenty one pilots in the future. While they are not your typical band, they definitely hold their own as far as live performances go, and since there are only two guys in the band, that’s awesome.
3. Bayside and Four Year Strong March 19, 2014 at Hard Rock Live (gallery)
While I have seen both bands more than once, they always put on a great show. I personally like Bayside more than Four Year Strong, they both had a really fun and well put together show. Both bands played their most popular songs and not as many of their newer songs, which for Four Year Strong, was the right decision. Bayside played more of their new songs since they were better received, but still, not that many. I enjoy seeing both bands every time I get the chance to, so they get a thumbs up from me.
1. FYF Fest 2014 August 23-24 at the LA Sports Arena & Exposition Park, Los Angeles
FYF is the fest that just keeps getting better each year. I bought my ticket without hesitation minutes after the initial lineup was announced, giddy with excitement because newly-reunited English shoegazers Slowdive were on the bill. They were just as good as I’d imagined, and they played alongside Mac Demarco, Blood Orange, Interpol, and Future Islands who all gave stellar performances.
2. Flume August 7, 2014 at The Brooklyn Bowl
A night’s mood can make or break a show, and Flume’s performance at Brooklyn Bowl had all the right vibes. The Australian producer’s live set exhibited his talent as a musician and shattered the notion that electronic artists simply press play on a MacBook.
3. Zoom, Barge, Fury August 16, 2014 at Tipsy Coffee House
This was truly a show for the underdogs. Three up-and-coming hardcore bands from across the country played some great sets and gave us a tease of what’s to come from them in 2015. I’m sure you’ll see these names numerous times in 2015.
1. Twenty one Pilots May 7, 2014 at The Brooklyn Bowl
There is no question that this was my favorite show of 2014. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun put on a show with two people better than most bands do with 5+ members. The energy in that room was something you had to feel in order to describe. They blew me away.
2. Machine Gun Kelly with Limp Bizkit September 16, 2014 at House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay
I didn’t really get into Limp Bizkit until a couple years ago, but I’ve been a big MGK fan for quite some time. The lineup was too good to pass up. I don’t think I will ever see a better show from a rapper. MGK was in the crowd, climbing things, by the bar, crowd surfing and keeping everyone hyped up. Limp Bizkit headlining was the icing on the cake.
3. Bleeding Through with Winds of Plague July 13, 2014 at The Glasshouse, Pomona, CA
Being that I had never seen Bleeding Through before, I had to make it out to one of their last shows ever. Not only was the show sold out, but the crowd was absolutely insane. It was a bittersweet show, because it was a lot of fun, but sad knowing it was one of the last times Bleeding Through would ever play. The front man Brandan teared up a couple times talking about it.
1. Mewithoutyou, The World is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, Dark Rooms June 20, 2014 at Chain Reaction, Anaheim, CA
2014 was a great year for shows in Las Vegas as well as the southwest as a whole. A lot of bands that don’t usually make it over here were coming in droves. Mewithoutyou has been one of my favorite bands growing up so it didn’t take much to convince myself to make the drive to Anaheim. It was the ten year anniversary tour for the release of Catch For Us the Foxes and they were playing it in its entirety. The synth heavy, down tempo band Dark Rooms started off the night, and though it was a bit of a strange choice for an opening band, I enjoyed what I was hearing. The World is a Beautiful Place played next and I was floored by their performance. I wasn’t really into them before but quickly changed my mind after seeing them play. There was a heaviness and intensity that wasn’t present in the recordings I heard. Mewithoutyou then came on and had exceeded every expectation I had going into the show. They played each song flawlessly and with as much energy as they must of had ten years ago when the album was first released. When the chorus started in the first song, “Torches Together,” pure chaos broke out into the sold out crowd which was maintained throughout the night. They ended their set by playing a few newer songs and then finally the older favorite “In a Sweater Poorly Knit.” There is no doubt that this was my favorite show of the year.
2. Mogwai, Majeure April 14th, 2014 at Vinyl Las Vegas
Each year, during Coachella, a diverse array of bands find their way to Las Vegas and this year was no exception with Mogwai and Majeure coming to play at the Hard Rock. Majeure is a lo-fi, electronic, retro inspired project that opened the night. Think of the soundtrack to any early 80s sci fi movie. I wasn’t really digging it but then again I don’t delve too far into that genre. When Mogwai finally played I was pretty excited. They started the set with the opening track from their album Rave Tapes, which had come out earlier this year. They had great dynamic control, as any good instrumental post rock band should, but we’re able to shape and the deliver the songs in a way that still feels fresh, instead of just slowly doing a crescendo and decrescendo throughout. They played a good mix of material that spanned their entire discography, the standouts being “How to be a Werewolf” and “We’re no here.”
3. For You, My Lady; Nasalrod, slit goat, Irqouis Pliskin January 14, 2014 at The Busta Crack Shack, Cedar City, UT
Cedar City has always been a favorite place for my band to play. There’s a small but close knit DIY scene up there that throws shows inside an unused, converted garage near the college. We’ve played here a bunch of times before so to us it’s a second home. This show was supposed to be the last one at this space ever, so everyone in town it seems came out and stuffed themselves inside this fire trap of a venue. Portland band Nasalrod, as well as locals slit goat, and our close buddies Irqouis Pliskin (RIP) all played awesome sets. It was a night a good friends, music, questionable alcohol choices, and celebration of the venue that made the night special. We ended up playing 2 more “last show evers” at this space but they weren’t nearly as fun or special as the first one.
1. Extreme Thing March 29, 2014 at Desert Breeze Park (gallery)
2. Viva Ska Vegas September 20, 2014 at the Fremont Country Club (gallery)
3. Reggae In The Desert June 14th 2014 at the Clark County Amphitheater
Honorable mention: Van’s Warped Tour June 19, 2014 at the UNLV Intramural Fields (gallery)
1. Into It. Over It. & Mineral September 19, 2014 at the Marquis Theater, Denver, CO
2. The 1975 May 14, 2014 at The Brooklyn Bowl
3. Knuckle Puck & Transit June 7, 2014 at Eagle Arie Hall (gallery)
Photos of Emily Matview, Mikey Haddad, Cameron Beck, Joel Kirschenbaum, Adam Blasco and Brian Saliba/Extreme Thing by Hunter Wallace. Photos of Micah Malcolm, Dustin Hoots, Nevermore/A Wilhelm Scream and Andy Harrison by Aaron Mattern. Photo of Louise Lincicome by Tylor Thuirer. Photo of Justin Fornof by Steven Brown. Photos of Patrick Trout, Shahab Zargari, Aaron Mattern, Brendan Scholz, Ashleigh Thompson, Dave Bartlett, Ian Caramanzana and Parker Adsit by Emily Matview.
“PIV Best of 2014″ banner created by Adam Blasco of adam blasco design.
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