... and all the DELTRON 3030 photos from TBD Fest 2014

Del of DELTRON 3030, TBD Fest 2014, Sacramento

A few more photos from alternate hip-hop supergroup, DELTRON 3030: Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator, Kid Koala... fun show at TBD Fest!

Full set of Toon's Tunes photos in the DELTRON 3030 photo gallery.

Empire of the Sun at TBD Fest... smoke and mirrors, strange creatures, and more smoke

Luke Steele, Empire of the Sun, TBD Fest 2014, Sacramento

Perhaps the most challenging show to photograph at TBD Fest, and definitely the most dramatic to watch, Empire of the Sun came equipped with smoke, headdresses, dancers, even more smoke... and wow, was it a show!

Luke Steele, Empire of the Sun, TBD Fest 2014, Sacramento

While Empire of the Sun is a "duo", there seemed to be at least fifty people on stage at any one time, most of whom were hiding in the clouds... OK that's an exaggeration, but there were definitely more than Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore.

Empire of the Sun, TBD Fest 2014, Sacramento

There had been fans wandering around the festival in Empire of the Sun headgear all day... and when Luke Steele took the stage, the crowd went wild... and what a lot of cellphones there were.

Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore, Empire of the Sun, TBD Fest, 2014

Full set of photos in the Toon's Tunes Empire of the Sun gallery!

All those photographers... what happens to all those images and videos?

Cameras and cell phones pointed at the band, Empire of the Sun, TBD Fest 2014

This is just a small snippet from a larger photo from Empire of the Sun's show on Saturday night at TBD Fest in Sacramento: I'd found a perch, above the level of the pit, just below the stage. Luke Steele had walked forwards onto the small area of stage that projected out towards the audience, and I was trying to grab a shot that included him, the stage, and the audience.

Only this evening, when editing the photos, did I realise that each and every member of the audience was pointing their cell phones at him...

The pit was crowded too. I wonder where all those images and videos will go?

Toon's Tunes photo gallery for Empire of the Sun is online now!

Century Got Bars at TBD Fest, West Sacramento, ruling!

Century Got Bars, TBD Fest 2014, Sacramento

After being subjected to the inane, and offensive-to-my-ears, words of Danny Brown the previous day (don't worry Danny fans, I will be sharing the photos, I just won't be repeating his words... female dogs and pet cats can stay exactly that, in my world view, not used as disparaging terms for women)... it was a real pleasure to hear Century Got Bars, intelligent lyrics, and so much energy packed into the bus-that-converts-to-a-stage at TBD Fest 2014.

Century Got Bars, TBD Fest 2014, Sacramento

Originally from Detroit but now calling Sacramento home, you can check out her work here: http://www.centurygotbars.com/

And a few more photos in the gallery!

Some wonderful combinations at TBD Fest, including Inkdup X DJ Oasis!

Inkdup X DJ Oasis, TBD Fest, Sacramento

TBD Fest not only brought in bands and musicians from all over the country (and from overseas, too), it showcased some of our great local talent--including these guys, Inkdup X DJ Oasis. Cool mix of DJ with Inkdup's energetic and exciting drumming. We need to see those drums at night next time! (They have lights!)

Inkdup X DJ Oasis, TBD Fest, Sacramento

Lots more photos in the Inkdup X DJ Oasis photo gallery!

It's all about the people: TBD Fest, West Sacramento, 2014

TBD Fest 2014, West Sacramento, CA

Truly: it's all about the people: the TBD Fest organizers who set this whole thing up and worked 24 hours a day for the weekend; the musicians who entertained us, the teams who provided security; the people who fed us and who picked up the rubbish and who sold us bandannas and works of art and beer and water and whatever else we wanted.

TBD Fest 2014, West Sacramento, CA

It's always about the people.

Dusk, TBD Fest 2014, West Sacramento, CA

We had fun. We had loads of fun. We heard excellent music; some we knew well, some new and exciting, some different and out of our usual listening sphere. We ate well, we drank loads and loads and loads of water, we went home and washed a ton of dust out of our hair and from between our toes, and then we went back and did it again. Brilliant weekend!

Crowd watching Keys N Krates, TBD Fest 2014

See you next year, TBD Fest! Thank you!

Many more photos in this gallery, and many more to come: keep checking back to Toon's Tunes! Feel free to use the buttons to share on Facebook, Twitter etc.  Please tag Toon's Tunes on Facebook or @alisontoon on Twitter!

And something really special: D.A.M.B and the Sacramento Ballet, at TBD festival

D.A.M.B. and the Sacramento Ballet, TBD Fest, Sacramento

Bet you've never seen this combination before: a DJ, (D.A.M.B. aka Shaun Slaughter), and ballet from the Sacramento Ballet.

It was beautiful. A full set of photos can be seen in the Toon's Tunes photo gallery for D.A.M.B. and the Sacramento ballet.

One from Empire of the Sun... what a dramatic show (more photos soon)

Luke Steele, vocals, Empire of the Sun, TBD Fest, 2014

Luke Steele, Empire of the Sun, TBD Fest 2014, Sacramento

... and one to start the day after.... many more to come! Here's Del The Funky Homosapien...

Del The Funky Homosapien, DELTRON 3030, TBD Fest 2014

Just one shot before sleep... TBD Fest, Sacramento, and a jumping Yacht

Jona Bechtol of YACHT, TBD Fest, Sacramento

More tomorrow. Night night!

Second day of TBD Fest: music, music, music, fashion, art, food, music, music, music...

Lizzy Plapinger of MS MR, TBD Fest, Sacramento 2014

Just a a couple of glimpses from Saturday... many more to come.

Mission Impossible fashion, part of the fashion show at TBD Fest 2014

Be there today: headliners are Blondie and Justice!

Adam Granduciel, guitar and vocals, The War On Drugs, TBD Fest 2014

TBD Fest gets off to a great start! Light sticks, dancing, art, EDM, techno, food... and a little dust

Crowd watching Dillon Francis at TBD Fest, Sacramento CA

First day of a three-day, weekend festival, and it's already full of excitement. With a good mix of bands who sing and play "traditional" rock instruments (like guitars), and those who make musical magic by manipulating electronic sounds through laptops, plus art galleries, cool clothing vendors, great food (and a Sacramento chef cook-off to come), there's something for everyone. Even very chic, tented "cabanas" that you can rent to relax in while you enjoy the show.

Today's show starts in just a couple of hours and will be running until midnight: headliners on Saturday, Explosions In The Sky followed by Empire of the Sun. Tomorrow: Blondie!

More (many more) photos coming soon. Loving the crowd shots!

Plan on getting a little dusty--it's dry!

Check out the full lineup on the TBD Fest website: http://schedule.tbdfest.com/events/2014/10/04/ 

Festivals, festivals, festivals! Music and more this weekend in Sacramento!

Busy weekend, full of music, ahead!

TBDfest begins today! In West Sacramento, it's a three-day festival of music, food, art, and more. Headiners include Moby and Blondie, but there's a huge, seriously huge, lineup of bands, four stages, going on all weekend. See the schedule here on the TBD website.

And watch out for the Pit--not a mosh pit, but a competition of local chefs! This should be yummy!

Then there's also V103 Rockfest, a showcase of young, local talent: it's happening tomorrow, Saturday, at the Rio Ramaza marina on Garden Highway!

See you this weekend!! 

And not to forget... it's also Orangevale's Country Music festival too!  

Sigh... is it only the photographers who want to be in multiple places at once? Or do you too find the decision of where to be tomorrow difficult? I know where I will be, but it's a shame that all three events are on the same day. Just saying.

Also this weekend, SacWorldFest, which this year takes place at Sac State university (and I'm torn... I really do want to be there, too... maybe there's a way... watch this space!!!)  And Sacramento Aloha Fest too!!!

What a weekend for music and art in Sacramento.  I wonder if next year, all the organizers can get together and maybe spread the love a little further through the month?

Mastodon at Aftershock, not one twerk, no really, not one. Just a whole load of metal.

Troy Sanders, bass, Mastodon, Sacramento, Aftershock 2014

After seeing Mastodon's new video for Motherload, and all the news, and the fake-news-site fuss,about the overload of bouncy bottoms, I realised I still hadn't published my photos from Mastodon's set at Aftershock 2014. Sorry!

Brann Dailor, Mastodon, Aftershock 2014, Sacramento CA

Good, solid, heavy, metal. Seriously solid. Fun too, in a very-metal way. I enjoyed their set. What else do you want from a metal festival?

Brent Hinds, Mastodon, Aftershock 2014, Sacramento CA

So's the song behind the video. It's a joke, people... it's funny. If you bother to get past the not-so-subtle-and-really-quite-amusing imagery, it's good music... listen with your ears . There's a good interview with Brann Dailor on Pitchfork, plus a link to the video, if you're one of the (lucky? unlucky?) few who haven't seen it yet.

Bill Kelliher, Mastodon, Aftershock 2014, Sacramento Ca

(Honestly... in the Motherload video, it's the guy with the huge belly that freaks me out, not the dancers. Cos they do it a sight better than Miley. That guy's belly is just... scary!)

Troy Sanders, bass, Mastodon, Sacramento, Aftershock 2014

All the photos are in the Toon's Tunes Mastodon photo gallery.

Mastodon's Once More 'Round The Sun is out now, and they're touring the USA in October and November, then off for a multi-date tour of the UK, and then over into Europe. Worth seeing!

Death metal, more death metal, and Village People in Camo Pants???

Celebrating Amon Amarth's headline show at the Ace of Spades, Sacramento CA

Saturday's show at the Ace of Spades was for sure a death metal night, and it was already off to a great start before 7 p.m., with a line of fans stretching right around the block, waiting for the doors to open. Many of them did, indeed, look a little like Vikings--Amon Amarth were topping the bill--and many were really big, tall dudes, making me wonder if you really do have to be of a certain stature to really appreciate this style of metal... or if death metal makes you grow taller? (Or... are we acting on inate herd behaviour, and gravitating to the the people, musicians, who look most like us?)

Johan Hegg, Amon Amarth, at the Ace of Spades, Sacramento CA

Three bands on the bill on a Saturday evening: Skeletonwitch, Sabaton, and then top-of-the-night, Amon Amarth. First time for me seeing any of these guys: and while I've listened to Amon Amarth, I had no clue what to expect from the two supporting bands. More death metal, heavy-heavy metal, I expected. And for the most part, that's what it was.

Amon Amarth, Ace of Spades, Sacramento CA

Headliners, Amon Amarth: songs for Vikings, and oh my... when Johan Hegg walked, no, strode! on stage, I had visions of longboats arriving on the northern shores of England, and marauding men striding up the beaches, with spears and shields and wearing helmets with horns on. (Yes, it was on the stage artwork, but Johan made it real... he is NOT short.) Johan Hegg wasn't wearing a viking hemet, but he was carring a horn (drinking vessel?), attached to his belt. And his voice is enough to make villages quake!

Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth, Ace of Spades, Sacramento CA

Great fun... I can't say I could understand the lyrics, (it's the death-metal-vocal-style), but the fun was immense. Lots of growling. Lots of headbanging and swirling of hair and beards. Excellent guitar and bass. Extremely involved and invested fans!

Many more photos from Amon Amarth's show in the Toon's Tunes photo gallery.

Sabaton, Ace of Spades, Sacramento CA

Sabaton were the middle act between the death metal sandwich of openers Skeletonwitch and headliners Amon Amarth (ouch!)  They were not what I expected! Not death metal but something weirdly, intriguingly good... imagine a mix of Deep Purple, Queen, Europe ("The Final Countdown"), Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, and The Village People. And no growling!

Joakim Brodén of Sabaton, Ace of Spades,
Sacramento CA

Exactly.

Not what I expected at all. ("Village People in Camo Pants", that's how singer Joakim Brodén described the band.)

Oh did I mention? It works, really, REALLY well! If you don't believe me, check out the official lyric video for To Hell And Back on YouTube!

And the look... everyone in urban-grey camo pants. Even bassist Pär Sundström"s bass was camo. And Joakim Brodén was wearing a (vest? flack jacket?) which can only be described as something a grown-up teenage ninja turtle might wear on a night on the town...

(Sabaton, like Amon Amarth, are from Sweden. There is a lot of excellent, very-heavy metal that comes out of the Nordic countries.)

Lots and lots of Sabaton fans in the audience. Great show, great interaction with the audience, really good music--I loved Sabaton! (All the songs are about war--not Viking wars, but more recent conflicts.) Will definitely put them on my list of Bands to See Again.

Chris Rörland, Sabaton, Ace of Spades, Sacramento

Many more photos from Sabaton's show at the Ace of Spades are in the Toon's Tunes photo gallery.

Skeletonwitch, Ace of Spades, Sacramento CA

Opening the show was Skeletonwitch: also death metal, also with a big fan following--that's why so many people turned up early for the show. Photos from their show in the Toon's Tunes photo gallery now! Beautiful artwork on thei backdrops and drums, plus some rather impressive armbands... lethal weapons, those!

Fans watching Sabaton, Ace of Spades, Sacramento CA

I still say he's the happiest drummer on the planet :-) An interview/discussion with Brian Steele Medina

Brian Steele Medina, Gemini Syndrome, The Alley, Sparks NV, 2013

Just over a year ago, after Aftershock 2013, and the release of Gemini Syndrome's Lux, I said that this band had "the happiest drummer on the planet". Anyone who has seen Gemini Syndrome play live will understand what I mean: Brian Steele Medina walks on stage and takes a seat behind the drums, spends a few calm, quiet moments before the set... and then bursts into a flow of energy, music and sheer exhuberance with a set of drumsticks. He is, quite obviously, having fun.

This week, I had a wonderful discussion with Brian.

It was supposed to be an interview, but we discussed life, the universe, and Gemini Syndrome, put the world to rights, and started all over again a couple of times, before it was time to go home. What did we talk about? Gemini Syndrome plans, tour, recordings and writing music; sobriety and recovery and Skype; languages and countries; selfishness and unselfishness; art, design, tattoos; writing songs as a band; families, responsibility, being an adult and realising what it mean; making it in the music business, and that one show in Nebraska(?) with an audience of two, yes two people, and why it was so important to play to them as if they were an audience of two thousand.

Brian Steele Medina, Aftershock 2013, Sacramento CA

I'll try to recap our discussion! Good news: Gemini Syndrome are already well on the way to a second album, and even thinking, conceptually, about the third ... the second one, to be completed sometime next year? The band is preparing very soon for the next tour: it starts in early October, with many dates through to the end of the year, east coast, south east, Texas... most with Nonpoint; some in large venues, and some in places a little off the beaten track (Patchogue, NY, you won't know what's hit you!) (I would love to be in Patchogue on a frosty, crisp, end-of-October night, stars frozen in the sky, hearing Gemini Syndrome play Stardust... it just fits.) Then home for the holidays... then the New Year and either work on the album, or, and/or possibly, just possibly, a European tour. (Oh you lucky Europeans. Nothing promised or set in stone yet but those of you on the other side of the pond: look out, you've a treat headed your way sometime soon! AT)

I asked what many of us on this side of the USA are wondering: when will there be another show on this side of the country? California? Any truth in the rumours that they'll be calling in to our town? Darnit. Not yet... perhaps not for a while. There's that second album in the works!

(Road trip, anyone? Pick a date and let's go... just not the week of 26th October, OK, cos I have to be somewhere else? AT)

We talked a lot about sobriety and fellowship and support, Brian's connections with SFG (Saint Francis' Group), which started as four touring musicians supporting each other in their daily strivings to remain sober, and which has grown to include others, both actively-touring musicians and those who are no longer on the road; Brian has his sober-date inked on his arm, together with the Gemini Syndrome symbol, the SFG emblem, a skull as a symbol of change... (and this is where Skype came into the discussion, because you can hold sobriety meetings via Skype, just as easily as you can chat with a friend--technology can be brilliant.)  (Then we talked about how the world can change because one key person finds out they have become addicted to something. Go on, think about it. Choose someone who played an important role in history, or in your life, and imagine them wasted... sounds funny, but imagine what this world is losing in talent, beauty and love because lives are broken by addiction--what those individuals could have accomplished, contributed... Then celebrate those who are working through it, one day at a time. Now that is happy. AT.)

Brian Steele Medina, drummer, Gemini Syndrome, Aftershock 2013

 ... and what about becoming known, becoming successful as a band? What advice would he have for others, starting out, thinking they have some good songs and wanting go go further? Here's Brian's advice (paraphrased by AT, errors are all AT's!):>\

- There's a book called All You Need To Know About The Music Business. It tells you about all the stuff that has nothing to do with the songs and the music. The "everything else" you need to know.
- Tour, tour, and tour again. Go on the road, do whatever it takes to get out there. It will be hard, it will be tough, and it will also be hard for your families and friends--$200 a show doesn't cover hotels, fuel, food, everything for a band of four or five people plus whoever else you have helping.
- Are you really sure you want to do this? Do you believe in it, enough? Then get out there and tour. Even if only ten people show up this time, they'll tell their friends, next time there will be more. That's how it spreads.
- Forget the home town. You can always play, and be known in your home town. It's more important to be out there, reaching new audiences.
- Identify the key people (managers, promoters etc.) who work with the bands you most admire in your genre. Ask them to listen to your music--and listen to, and learn from, criticism. Don't send them a bad song twice!
- Aim to tour with bands you admire. And then help the bands who are touring with you. (It's like, pass it forwards. And keep learning. AT)

Alessandro Paveri (AP) and Brian Steele Medina, Gemini Syndrome

So... it was supposed to be an interview, but it became a conversation, a discussion, and throughout all you can see Brian Steele Medina's passion for life, for humanity, for people and for music. If you follow Brian on Facebook, you'll often see philiosophical posts; a thought for, or of, the day; inspirational, kind and thoughtful.  He's funny and endearing and so full of energy that it makes total and utter sense that he's powering those drums for this wonderful band.

Bands that are touring for many months of the year, have such little time at home to spend with family, friends and just relaxing... so I really do appreciate the time Brian spent talking with me--and for all the energy that the band invest in their fans. We are Synners! Thank you.

More coverage on Toon's Tunes for Gemini Syndrome:
- Aftershock Festival 2013, and review of LUX
- July 4th, 2014, Sparks, Nevada
- Aftershock Festival 2012.
- Toon's Tunes Gemini Syndrome photo gallery.  

And get out there and see them on tour! More info for all things Gemini Syndrome: http://www.geminisyndrome.com/ 

Fans watching Gemini Syndrome, Aftershock 2013, Sacramento CA

A penny for your mosh pit: beer bottles, mic stands, and bright-whites: Pennywise at Aftershock

Fletcher Dragge of Pennywise, Aftershock 2014... and the beer-bottle mic-stand

Jonathan Davis of Korn has a beautiful mic stand designed by the late HR Giger. Ivan Moody has a 180-pound beauty from Alchemy Studios, from my home town of Leicester, England.

Pennywise? They have a bog-standard mic stand... with a beer holder. Unique? Probably... you don't see so many of those around!

Jim Lindberg, Pennywise, Aftershock 2014

Bringing more than twenty-five years of intense, energetic, urgent, raw, devil-my-care energy to the stage midsay through the afternoon on Sunday of Aftershock 2014, Pennywise had the crowd, and the dust, churned up and whirling and flying all over the place.

Jim Lindberg and Fletcher Dragge of Pennywise, Aftershock 2014

I found these photos among the most challenging of the two days... the rapid movement of the band, the dust, the folks piling over the barrier and the security guys helping out; the full spotlight of the blazing sun, the shadowed stage... and Jim Lindberg's absolutely-brilliantly-over-the-top-snow-white T-shirt. Yep. No excuses: they are what they are. I hope they do a little justice to what was very much a fun and exciting show!

Jim Lindberg, Pennywise, Aftershock 2014

The full set of Toon's Tunes photos from Pennywise's set is in the photo gallery.

Pennywise's eleventh studio album, Yesterdays, is out now, and they continue their tour with dates in the UK and Europe soon: check their website tour page for details.

Hell, yeah. HELLYEAH! (Aftershock, 2014, Sacramento)

Chad Gray, HELLYEAH, Aftershock 2014, Sacramento

I guess I've been delaying editing the HELLYEAH photos, because I had far too many of them. Heck... they are such a darn photogenic bunch that the shutter wouldn't stop popping. So glad I saw them; with the bands that played earlier in the days of the Aftershock 2014 weekend, it was easy to miss one. HELLYEAH was not one to miss, no way! (Fuel was the other band playing at the same time.)

Tom Maxwell of HELLYEAH, Aftershock 2014

Vinnie Paul of HELLYEAH, Aftershock 2014

They call them a "supergroup". I just call them one hell of an entertaining show, HELLYEAH!

Chad Gray of HELLYEAH, smiling at Aftershock 2014

Christian Brady, Kyle Sanders and Chad Gray, HELLYEAH, Aftershock 2014, Sacramento

But they are super: Chad Gray (Mudvayne) on vocals and with the piercing blue eyes; Vinnie Paul (Pantera) on drums; Tom Maxwell (Nothingface) and Christian Brady on guitar; Kyle Sanders on bass. (Kyle Sanders dreadlocked hair makes up a photo album on its own.)

Chad Gray, HELLYEAH, Aftershock 2014

Excellent, excellent show! Don't miss HELLYEAH if you have the opportunity to see them: tour dates here. Now that is one tour that I'd love to cover each and every night of the tour... Five Finger Death Punch, Volbeat, who were at Aftershock 2013 but not this year, and HELLYEAH... and Nothing More, too. Darnit. Where are my tour tickets, personal bus and all-access pass???

Fans crowding the stage for HELLYEAH at Aftershock 2014, Sacramento

Many, many more photos from HELLYEAH'S show at this year's Aftershock festival, in the Toon's Tunes photo gallery. And these are just the ones that made the final cut.

Chad Gray, HELLYEAH, Aftershock 2014, Sacramento