New Year. New Ideas.

Happy New Year, folks! I hope you all had a rockin’ holiday season! Personally, I’m gearing up for the New Year and have been inspired to try some new things around the Rocker by Night blog.

First and foremost, I wanted to tackle the problem of regularity. No, I’m not talking about the need to increase one’s fiber intake. (Get your mind out of the gutter, or toilet as it may be.) As you’ve undoubtedly heard me complain about time and time again, my hometown just doesn’t get a lot of rock concerts. No modern rock radio station = no one to promote said shows. And if there isn’t anyone to promote it, then tickets don’t sell.

So I started thinking about all of the resources that I do have. I go to a lot of shows, some of which I don’t post about because they aren’t really modern rock bands, or I’ve already posted about the band before. Either way, this gives me additional items to pull from. So starting right now, I’m beginning the Music Monday (#MusicMonday for you Twitter followers)Photo of the Week.

Sometimes it will be one of my own photos, but it could also be from some of my favorite rock photogs, including you! Let me know if you have a photo you want me to check out. No need to be a professional. Some of the best shots have been taken by amateurs with the most basic of cameras.

So what’s this week’s selected photo? It just happens to be one of my personal favorites from last year. This photo of P.O.D. was taken during the 2011 Epicenter Festival in Anaheim, California. The band headlined the Monster Energy Drink Stage and had fans backed up as far as the eye could see. Apparently everyone wanted to catch the P.O.D. show rather than move over to the first act on the main stage. I even caught a glimpse of the guys from Buckcherry and Asking Alexandria walking through the crowd, obviously intent on seeing some of this veteran band’s performances first hand. Good times!

Click here to view all of my P.O.D. photos and more from last year's Epicenter Festival.

Conquering Cali & the Epicenter Festival- Part II

September 24, 2011
Irvine, California
Epicenter Festival, Part II: Redlight King, Asking Alexandria, P.O.D.

(Be sure to check out Part I of this review for Drive A, Crossfade and Middle Class Rut)

Continuing on with my experience at the 2011 Epicenter Festival…
The fourth band on the Monster Energy Drink stage brought about much more than just the halfway point. Redlight King, the only Canadian band on the bill, was one of the bands I most anticipated. Prior to the concert, I’d only heard two of their songs. “Old Man” is a slower paced tune that samples Neil Young’s classic of the same name. It’s become a staple on alt rock stations around the country. On the flip side, “Bullet in my Hand” showcases a heavier beat and gritty chorus, landing the single solidly on modern rock channels. So I was curious where the band would end up during their live performance. Alternative? Hard rock? Or somewhere neatly in between?

Conquering Cali and the Epicenter Festival - Part I

September 24, 2011
Irvine, California
Epicenter Festival - Part I: Drive A, Crossfade, Middle Class Rut

      

Last week, I headed to Irvine to catch my first ever California rock experience at the Epicenter Festival for its second year. From the moment I touched down at LAX, it was apparent that I wasn’t the only rocker in town for the show. Fans galore, decked out in their finest band apparel and cameras in hand, lined the same baggage claim as me. It was my first indication that, while many of the fans to fill the 20,000 seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheater were from Cali, many others were “just visiting.” I even met one guy who flew over from France!