Archive for a tour of the american dream

COLD – A Tour Of The American Dream: Live Photos and Overview From The Crocodile Rock Cafe, Allentown, Pennsylvania, March 19th, 2011

Posted in alternative metal, alternative rock, concerts, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock concerts, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on July 4, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(All Live Photo Credits: Tom Coderre)

COLD – Back on March 19th, 2011, Alt/Modern Metal Legends COLD brought A Tour Of The American Dream to The Crocodile Rock Cafe in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Myself and Metal Odyssey’s staff photographer Tom Coderre were there to take in this night of Hard and Heavy hittin’ bliss, which featured four fabulous supporting bands that are on the rise: KOPEK, Oceans Divide and Egypt Central. Eastern Pennsylvania’s very own Maddam Ink. closed out the night after the headliners COLD.

COLD presented themselves onstage like the tried and true Rock legends they are, playing a tight set of songs that spanned their career. Wherever I turned, fans were in a psyched-out mode, realizing they were watching the continued comeback of a band that has been highly influential to a generation of Hard Rock, Modern Metal and Alternative Heavy Music bands. Speaking of which, the members of KOPEK and Oceans Divide spoke reverently of COLD. This all added further proof, that COLD has without question left its mark on Rock Music history and an impressionable influence on many young, current and successful bands.

With COLD, it is not the amount of albums that is important, it is the quality of these albums in their discography that impresses me. COLD has sold well over a million albums for good reason. Their music’s originality blended with plenty of heaviness and fortified with an alternative vibe, feel and personality, have all been key with their successful bridge to strengthening the Alternative and Modern Metal genres over their career. From their newest single Wicked World to The Day Seattle Died, COLD performed their songs at The Crocodile Rock Cafe with a conviction of a band that has been around the block and Rocked it to kingdom come as well… many times over.

For a band of any stature to take a short or long hiatus from the scene, then only come back to Rock out the brains of a throng of adoring fans says quite a lot. The age group of these fans at The Crocodile Rock to see COLD on this evening, in late March, told another astounding story, with young and middle-aged Heavy Music fans alike seeming to be there for one purpose: COLD solidarity. With their forthcoming studio album Superfiction (Eleven Seven Music) being released on July 19th, 2011, the feeling in the air is that COLD is no longer on a comeback… COLD is back.

All the live photos you see here were taken by Tom Coderre. I’ll speak for Tom… he was quite psyched-out to be documenting this live set from COLD with his camera lens, documenting A Tour Of The American Dream… a tour and band that shall forever be an important part of Rock Music history. I know I was psyched-out to be there.

Scooter Ward – vocalist

Scooter Ward – vocalist

Sam McCandless – drums

Jeremy Marshall – bass

Jeremy Marshall – bass

Zach Gilbert – guitar

Drew Molleur – guitar

* For more information on COLD, click on the links below:

COLD ARMY.com

COLD – myspace music

LONG LIVE COLD.

Stone.

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MADDAM INK – Live At The Crocodile Rock Cafe, Allentown, PA, March 19th, 2011: Exclusive Photos and Overview

Posted in alternative rock, concerts, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, modern rock, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Left: Adam Burke/vocals & guitar, Right: Steve Benecke/bass)

(All live photo credits: Tom Coderre)

MADDAM INK – Back on March 19th, 2011, Maddam Ink closed out the evening of Hard Rock at The Crocodile Rock Cafe in Allentown, Pennsylvania. This night featured the Alt/Modern Hard Rock legends COLD on their: A Tour Of The American Dream. On this Hard Rockin’ bill, the other supporting bands for COLD were: Oceans Divide, Kopek and Egypt Central.

Once Maddam Ink took the stage the crowd of fans certainly did thin out quite a bit. It’s a shame for Maddam Ink played a set of songs that Rocked with cool, melodic vibes. The hooks, riffs and head-turning beats were abundant in Maddam Ink’s songs and not one song was a yawner. Tom Coderre (Metal Odyssey’s staff photographer) and I were more than willing to stick around to catch Maddam Ink’s set, we actually were in no big hurry to get home! I’ve always said: it’s not over until the last band plays.

What I like about Maddam Ink isn’t so much that they’re from my home turf of Eastern Pennsylvania, it’s that this band knows how to play accessible Rock and Hard Rock, with a shimmer of Alt and a thick coating of Modern flavor to their overall sound. Adam Burke’s vocals are not sugar coated. Adam’s edgy Hard Rock delivery is unique and downright cool. Maddam Ink is currently playing many a gig to support their sophomore release: Inklination. These guys weren’t pounding their chests on stage, they were four musicians displaying their impressive and credible talents while paying their dues, as they have been doing for several years now.

Before this night of Hard Rock bliss, I never listened to Maddam Ink. I’m listening now though. This is a band that kicked out any annoying Rock Star attitude out the window. It may be just my opinion, still I can see Maddam Ink supporting the likes of Daughtry or even Alter Bridge on an extensive tour… right now. They’d fit right in. Maddam Ink may have something to prove, they proved it to me that they have the sound and style within their well written songs to go as far as they dare to dream.

(Left: Matt Scott/lead guitar, Right: Adam Burke/vocals & guitar)

(Kyle Young – drums)

MADDAM INK:

Adam Burke – lead vocals and guitar

Matt Scott – lead guitar &  backing vocals

Steve Benecke – bass guitar & backing vocals

Kyle Young – drums

MADDAM INK – INKLINATION

* Maddam Ink’s sophomore release Inklination was produced by Grammy nominated engineer/producer David Ivory (Halestorm/Atlantic Records, SilverTide/Sony/BMG and The Roots). Inklination was released back in May of 2010.

* Inklination can be purchased on iTunes, cdbaby and the Maddam Ink online store at their official website: MADDAM INK – Official Website

* Maddam Ink have performed many high profile concerts and festivals. One such high profile festival was the Heaven and Hell Tour/LocoFest at The Tweeter Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, back in 2007. Sharing the stage and an audience of 50,000 fans, Maddam Ink supported legends Heaven and Hell, Alice Cooper and Shadows Fall at this amazing festival of Heavy Music. (Source: Maddam Ink – Official Website)

* For more info on MADDAM INK., click on the links below:

MADDAM INK – Official Website

MADDAM INK – facebook

MADDAM INK/Adam Burke – twitter

MADDAM INK – REVERBNATION

MADDAM INK – myspace music

LONG LIVE MADDAM INK.

Stone.

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OCEANS DIVIDE – Concert Overview: The Crocodile Rock Cafe, Allentown, Pennsylvania, March 19th, 2011

Posted in alternative rock, concerts, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, modern rock, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on April 20, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(All Photo Credits: Tom Coderre)

OCEANS DIVIDE – I went to the Crocodile Rock Cafe in Allentown, Pennsylvania, back on March 19th, 2011, to catch A Tour Of The American Dream. This tour is headlined by Modern/Alt Rock/Hard Rock legends COLD. Oceans Divide, Egypt Central and Ireland’s very own Rockin’ juggernaut known as KOPEK, each took the stage that night in support of COLD. Pennsylvania’s local favorite and steadily rising Maddam Ink. capped off the evening of Hard Rock noize.

And what a night of Hard Rock it was. I remember turning to Tom Coderre (Metal Odyssey’s staff photographer) and saying: “this is like a mini-indoor Hard Rock festival tonight”. Tom agreed and was stoked to get his camera into Rockin’ gear. The mood among the huge crowd of Hard Rock lovin’ fans was laid back and friendly. Once the Hard Rock was played on stage though, the mood of the fans quickly shifted into psyche-out mode. Oh, there is nothing more exhilarating than standing among a crowded club of fellow Heavy Music fans, all with one common goal to… GET ROCKED OUT!

Chris McCoy – vocals

Chris McCoy – The vocalist for Oceans Divide bestowed complete confidence onstage, with a touch of swagger in his step. Chris also has the vocals to back it up. Harmonious and still hard edged, Chris’s vocals gives an identity to the band he founded and leads.

Oceans Divide can take some hefty credit for psyching out their fans in attendance. Their hook laden and melodic style of sound, coupled with the high energy level they exhibited, convinced me Oceans Divide has something very cool and now going on. My Metal perception told me Oceans Divide looked and played comfortable on stage, exhibiting signs of a band that plays tight and gets along. I’ll say this much: I went to the Crocodile Rock that night familiar with a few songs from Oceans Divide… and left as a jubilant believer of this band.

Anyone unfamiliar with Oceans Divide should get acquainted with their self-titled debut album, which has the subtitle: the ep. Oceans Divide plays Rock and Hard Rock, fused with some Modern style relevance, at a level of quality I’m used to hearing from bands such as Creed, Alter Bridge and CAVO, to name a few. Yes, these guys from Spokane, Washington are new… and they’re really good. Melodically driven songs carried out through stellar musicianship and head turning vocals, are what makes Oceans Divide a band worth listening to and watching play live.

Silas McQuain – On drums, Silas was letting his beats be known and felt, as he kept the live rhythmic pace of Oceans Divide moving and the fans grooving.

Left: Dan Goodman on bass with Chris McCoy. Dan’s twin brother John plays lead guitar for Oceans Divide, (not shown).

Morgan Mallory on rhythm guitar

I had an opportunity to chat with rhythm guitarist Morgan Mallory after their set. Filling in for Eric Varnell on this tour only, Morgan (more than) appeared to fit right in with Oceans Divide, both onstage and off. Morgan proved to be a friendly, outgoing and very likable guy. Morgan is also the frontman for LUCID, a Rock/Metal band from the state of Washington. You can find out more about Morgan Mallory by clicking here: Morgan Mallory.com

(Left: Stone “that’s me”, Right: Chris McCoy/vocalist)

Chris McCoy, as with every member of Oceans Divide, is a class act. Chris stopped to chat with fans all night long. Signing autographs and posing for pictures for his fans seemed like a call of duty for the Oceans Divide frontman. As COLD later took the stage, Chris motioned to Cold’s frontman Scooter Ward and said to me: “It’s because of Scooter Ward and Cold that I’m doing what I do today. I was listening to Cold when I was fourteen years old. He and that band paved the way for bands like ours, he is an inspiration to me”.

OCEANS DIVIDE – ep (Released February 2011) This 7 song ep was released via UEG (Union Entertainment Group, Inc.) * This OCEANS DIVIDE ep comes with: The Metal Odyssey Hard Rockin’ stamp of approval.

This is the “lit-up” signage above the merch table for Oceans Divide.

Here is a cool cymbal that was for sale at the Oceans Divide merch table. Notice it is autographed by the band too! I didn’t buy it, um, I had already spent my limit on CD’s and beer. Metal be thy name.

* For more info on OCEANS DIVIDE, just click the link below:

OCEANS DIVIDE – Official Website

LONG LIVE OCEANS DIVIDE.

Stone.

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