Tag: Carnival of Madness
0 Vie’s Verses – Shinedown May Be The Best Live Act I’ve Seen In Years
This past Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing the Carnival Of Madness tour with Hard Rock Hideout’s own Rob Rockitt. With some great bands on the bill and ticket prices being very reasonable, how could we say no? We got to witness: We As Human, In This Moment, Skillet, Papa Roach, and headliners Shinedown, for less than the price of a trip to the movies. Now that’s what I call bang for your buck!
And while all of the bands were exceptional in the live setting, headliners Shinedown really stood out for me. I had not seen Shinedown since 2004 when I watched them open for Van Halen as part of the Van-Hagar reunion. At the time, I barely knew who the band was, but I thought that they were good enough to learn more about. Flash forward almost ten years and I got to watch them as headliners for one amazing bill.
Shinedown’s current album, Amaryllis, is their best album yet and I ranked it as the 5th best hard rock album for 2012. And while their album is phenomenal, it is nothing compared to their live show. In short, Shinedown kicked my ass all over Cincinnati. From the opening notes of “I’m Not Alright” being played behind the curtain, I knew this was going to be a special night. When the curtain came crashing down, we were witness to a circus act of fire jugglers, some on stilts, some on unicycles, and some just walking. The flames lit up from the back of the stage and we could feel the heat in our seats. Rob and I simply started at each other slack jawed. It was one of the coolest openings to a concert I had ever experienced. And that was only the beginning.
Shinedown really worked hard to keep things upbeat and to keep the crowd involved. A huge video screen was the backdrop to their stage, and it frequently played all different sorts of videos as the band performed their hits. For “Enemies,” the band’s video to the song aired in the background, for “Adrenaline,” it was a whip riding drive through city streets at night, and for “Bully” it was the saddest and most touching moment of the night (more on that in a little bit).
Nothing but the hits were performed (and Shinedown has a lot of them), but it wasn’t just the hits that made their performance so memorable. It was the energy that the band performed them with. Every song they played came with an urgency like this was their only chance to win fans over permanently. There was no stopping Shinedown for this concert. Their passion, their energy, their desire, and their hunger were all evident and greatly appreciated.
When “Sound Of Madness” was performed as the first song of the encore, I was quite surprised. I was certain that it would have been the last song of the night. However, Shinedown saved that honor for “Bully.” The band’s performance of Bully was as strong and solid as the other 14 songs they played prior. However, it was the video on the screen that really jolted me and made me take notice.
I am not sure if anyone is familiar with the story of Amanda Todd (I certainly wasn’t). The quick rundown is that Amanda was a teenage girl who made the mistake of allowing herself to be seen topless online. From that moment on she was bullied and tormented by one disgusting man and several ignorant teenagers. Ultimately, it led to her suicide (after several attempts).
Prior to her suicide, she made a You Tube video, telling her story through handwritten cards that she then filmed. As Shinedown played Bully at maximum volume, the Amanda Todd video played on the screen. It was a touching, heart wrenching, amazing moment that left me breathless and near tears. It was Shinedown’s final act of a spectacular night. (If you would like to know more about Amanda Todd and her story, there is a Wikipedia page that you can check – just look up Amanda Todd on Wikipedia or Google).
I will admit that I am a little jaded with concerts in general. I attend a lot of them every year and tend to take some shows for granted, especially bands that I have seen several times. But every now and again, I see a band for the first time (or their first time headlining) and I am so amazed that I immediately want to see them again. That was the case this past Saturday with Shinedown. They immediately leaped to my top 10 bands list and I will be seeking them out in concert again. If Shinedown is heading to your town, I highly recommend that you purchase tickets for their show.
Follow RyoVie on Twitter at Twitter.com/RyoVie
0 CARNIVAL OF MADNESS: First Tour Dates Announced; Unleashes August 13 In Cleveland With Shinedown, Papa Roach, Skillet, In This Moment & We As Human

The first batch of dates for the highly anticipated CARNIVAL OF MADNESS tour, powered by Monster Energy, have been announced.
DATE CITY VENUE
0 BEWARE: PANDEMONIUM WILL ERUPT THIS SUMMER AS THE CARNIVAL OF MADNESS COMES TO TOWN

1 Halestorm in New JVC Video
JVC Mobile picks one band to feature in their “Turn Me On” series. This time, they picked HALESTORM! They followed them on the road and got some amazing footage that they made into an incredible video. See what happens backstage and onstage as Lzzy goes from her sweet self to the wicked Mz. Hyde. Check it out here.
Check out Halestorm on the Carnival Madness Tour on one of the dates below!
Date | Where | Venue | Links |
---|---|---|---|
07/31 | Springfield, IL | Prairie Capital Convention Center | Tickets |
08/01 | Columbus, OH | LC Pavilion | Tickets |
08/03 | Atlantic City, NJ | House of Blues | Tickets |
08/04 | Chester, PA | Harrah’s Chester Downs | Tickets |
08/06 | Boston, MA | Bank of America Pavilion | Tickets |
08/07 | Baltimore, MD | Pier Six | Tickets |
08/08 | Charlotte, NC | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre | Tickets |
08/10 | Atlanta, GA | Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood | Tickets |
08/11 | Gulfport, MS | Jones Park | Tickets |
08/13 | Belton, TX | Bell County Expo | Tickets |
08/14 | Laredo, TX | Laredo Energy Center | Tickets |
08/15 | Midland, TX | Midland Horseshoe Arena | Tickets |
08/17 | Lubbock, TX | Lone Star Events Center | Tickets |
08/18 | El Paso, TX | Don Haskins Center | Tickets |
08/20 | Sioux City, IA | Tyson Center | Tickets |
08/21 | Milwaukee, WI | Eagles Ballroom | Tickets |
08/23 | Grand Rapids, MI | Festival Village @ Rock the Rapids | Tickets |
08/24 | Detroit, MI | DTE Music Theatre | Tickets |
08/26 | Chicago, IL | Toyota Park | Tickets |
08/28 | Pittsburgh, PA | STAGE AE | Tickets |
08/29 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center | Tickets |
08/30 | Uncasville, CT | Mohegan Sun | Tickets |
09/02 | Buffalo, NY | Buffalo Outer Harbor Site | Tickets |
0 CAVO JOINS THIRD ANNUAL CARNIVAL OF MADNESS TOUR FUELED BY MONSTER ENERGY ALONGSIDE EVANESCENCE, CHEVELLE, HALESTORM AND NEW MEDICINE
CAVO JOINS THIRD ANNUAL
CARNIVAL OF MADNESS TOUR
FUELED BY MONSTER ENERGY
ALONGSIDE
EVANESCENCE, CHEVELLE, HALESTORM AND NEW MEDICINE
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
UPDATED ROUTING REVEALED
NATIONALLY SYNDICATED “ROCKLINE” APPEARANCE SET FOR MONDAY, JULY 23
PLUS WEEKLY GOOGLE “HANGOUTS” WITH PERFORMERS ALL SUMMER
MONSTER ENERGY, BEACON AUDIO, PRS GUITARS AND JVC MOBILE
ENTERTAINMENT TEAM UP TO OFFER CARNIVAL OF MADNESS FANS
THE ULTIMATE SUMMER CONCERT EXPERIENCE WITH ONE-OF-A-KIND GIVEAWAYS
The third annual CARNIVAL OF MADNESS TOUR fueled by Monster Energy has announced the addition of CAVO to the all-star lineup including EVANESCENCE, CHEVELLE, HALESTORM and NEW MEDICINE. Tickets for the annual touring rock extravaganza–with affordable prices ranging from $25-$45–are currently on sale via www.carnivalofmadness.com.
Kicking off Tuesday, July 31 in Springfield, IL, the 2012 trek will hit major cities across the U.S. including Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago and Pittsburgh. See below for updated routing. Note: dates and line ups are subject to change.
“We’re really looking forward to the Carnival of Madness tour this summer,” says EVANESCENCE front woman AMY LEE about the upcoming tour. “We love Chevelle and haven’t hit the road together in years, and I’m really stoked to finally be playing some shows with Halestorm. Naturally I’m a fan of strong women in music and Lzzy’s voice is spectacular.”
For new CARNIVAL OF MADNESS addition CAVO, their sophomore album Thick As Thieves is a testament to their bond that was once broken and has now been rebuilt and even strengthened. Released April 2012 via Eleven Seven Music, the album, featuring the Top 20 Active Rock title track, was dubbed “melodic rock gold” by AOL Noisecreep and received a 4-out-of-5 stars review by the website Loudwire. CAVO—CASEY WALKER (Vocals), BRIAN SMITH (bass), CHAD LAROY (drums) and CHRIS HOBBS (guitar)–will officially be impacting rock radio this summer with their next single “Circles,” though it is already spinning at Sirius, KQRC in Kansas City and hometown favorite, KPNT in St. Louis, MO. The band has previously achieved a #1 single, “Champagne,” and Top 5 rock track, “Crash,” on their major label debut, Bright Nights Dark Days (Reprise Records).
On Monday, July 23, Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE, Pete and Sam Loeffler of CHEVELLE and Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM will appear on Rockline Radio in anticipation of the tour launch. Hosted by Bob Coburn, the nationally syndicated radio show airs live at 8:30pm Pacific/11:30pm Eastern on rock stations across the country and can also be heard online at www.rocklineradio.com. Check their website for local affiliated stations. During the show, fans can call in to ask the artists questions as well at 1-800-344-ROCK (7625).
The five CARNIVAL OF MADNESS bands have also set weekly Google Hangouts to video chat with their fans prior to kicking off the tour. Starting today (6/18), fans can check out the contests page at www.CarnivalofMadness.com/contests to enter for a chance to take part in the Hangout and chat with their favorite bands. Those who don’t win will still be able to join in and watch the Hangout live at www.carnivalofmadness.com. The Hangouts will take place: Thursday, June 21 with NEW MEDICINE, Thursday, June 28 with CAVO, Thursday, July 12 with HALESTORM, Thursday, July 19 with CHEVELLE and a date TBA with EVANESCENCE. Exact times and further details will be posted at www.carnivalofmadness.com.
MONSTER ENERGY, BEACON AUDIO, PRS GUITARSand JVC MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT are teaming up to offer CARNIVAL OF MADNESS fans the ultimate summer concert tour experience with incredible opportunities for fans to win one-of-a-kind prizes:
The Monster Energy “ChevHELLe On Wheels”
Listen to your local rock radio station, leading up to the show in your area, and win the chance to go for a cruise with members of Chevelle in the “supped up” up Monster Energy CheveHELLe on Wheels (featuring JVC Mobile Audio). Winners will also receive the JVC KR-R530 in-dash CD Receiver. If that were not enough, winners also snag a pair of Beacon Audio headphones and sit on the side of the stage while Chevelle performs rocking to the same monitor mix the band themselves will be hearing. For more information, visit www.CarnivalofMadness.com/contests.
“Beacon Audio”
Carnival of Madness is excited to be a part of Beacon Audio’s launch in 2012! Fans will be able to register to win either Beacon Audio’s new Orion headphones or the new Phoenix Bluetooth portable speaker. Winners will also get to meet Halestorm each evening after their performance. Beginning Monday, July 9, go to www.CarnivalofMadness.com/contests and register.
“Six Strings of Madness”
Calling ALL guitar players, or NOT! Whether you’re a shredder, beginner or just rock the air, beginning Monday, July 9, go to www.CarnivalofMadness.com/contests to find out details on how you can register for your chance to win a limited edition “Six Strings of Madness” guitar from Carnival of Madness and PRS Guitars.
Grammy Award winning band EVANESCENCE—AMY LEE (vocals, piano), TERRY BALSAMO (guitar), TROY MCLAWHORN (guitar), TIM MCCORD (bass) and WILL HUNT (drums)–has sold more than 25 million records worldwide with more than 10 million in the U.S. alone with the help of such Top 10 hit singles as “Bring Me To Life,” “My Immortal” and “Call Me When You’re Sober.” In October of 2011, the group released their highly anticipated third studio album, and first album in five years, Evanescence (Wind-Up Records), which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and features the hit tracks “What You Want,” “Made Of Stone,” and “My Heart Is Broken.”
Platinum-selling alternative hard rock trio CHEVELLE—PETE LOEFFLER (Guitars, Vocals), SAM LOEFFLER (Drums) and DEAN BERNARDINI (Bass, Vocals)–released their latest and sixth full-length album Hats Off To The Bull (Epic Records) late 2011. The album debuted on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #19 and features two, #1 hit Active Rock singles “Face To The Floor” and “Hats Off To The Bull.”
Pennsylvania quartet HALESTORM–frontwoman LZZY HALE, drummer AREJAY HALE, guitarist JOE HOTTINGER and bassist JOSH SMITH–returned in April 2012 with their second full-length, The Strange Case of…. (Atlantic Records) after scoring two top 10 singles (“I Get Off” and “It’s Not You”) from their self-titled debut album. The first single “Love Bites (So Do I)” is a storming rocker that has already reached the Top Spot at Active Rock radio.
NEW MEDICINE—JAKE SCHERER (Vocals), DAN GARLAND (Guitar), MATTHEW BRADY (Bass) and RYAN GUANZON (Drums)–injects a little hope into hard rock on their debut album, Race You To The Bottom (Photo Finish Records). The album features the first single, “Laid,” co-written by Scherer and producers S*A*M & Sluggo, and their latest track at radio, “Race You To The Bottom,” which has gone on to sell over 11,000 copies.
For up-to-the-minute news on CARNIVAL OF MADNESS, visit www.carnivalofmadness.com, www.facebook.com/CarnivalofMadness and www.twitter.com/carnivalmadness.
Check out the CARNIVAL OF MADNESS Tour on the following dates:
DATE CITY VENUE
Tue 7/31 Springfield, IL Prairie Capital Convention Center
Wed 8/1 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion
Fri 8/3 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
Sat 8/4 Chester, PA Harrah’s Chester Downs
Mon 8/6 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
Tue 8/7 Baltimore, MD Pier Six
Wed 8/8 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Fri 8/10 Atlanta, GA Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Mon 8/13 Belton, TX Bell County Expo
Tue 8/14 Laredo, TX Laredo Energy Center
Wed 8/15 Midland, TX Midland Horseshoe Arena
Fri 8/17 Lubbock, TX Lone Star Events Center
Sat 8/18 El Paso, TX Don Haskins Center
Mon 8/20 Sioux City, IA Tyson Center
*Tue 8/21 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
**Thu 8/23 Grand Rapids, MI Rock the Rapids
**Fri 8/24 Detroit, MI DTE Music Theatre
Sun 8/26 Chicago, IL Toyota Park
**Tue 8/28 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
Wed 8/29 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
**Thu 8/30 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
**Sun 9/2 Buffalo, NY Buffalo Outer Harbor
(*) show features Evanescence, Cavo and New Medicine with very special guests
(**) show features Evanescence, Chevelle, Cavo and New Medicine with very special guests
0 THIRD ANNUAL CARNIVAL OF MADNESS TOUR RETURNS WITH EVANESCENCE, CHEVELLE, HALESTORM & NEW MEDICIN
KICKS OFF JULY 31 IN SPRINGFIELD, IL
SELECT RADIO PRE-SALE TICKETS AVAILABLE TUESDAY, MAY 22
PUBLIC ON-SALE FRIDAY, JUNE 1
Let the madness begin again.
CARNIVAL OF MADNESS, the annual touring rock extravaganza, will make its roaring return with rock titans EVANESCENCE, CHEVELLE, HALESTORM and NEW MEDICINE. Kicking off Tuesday, July 31 in Springfield, IL, the 2012 trek will hit major cities across the U.S. including Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta, Nashville, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh (see full itinerary below). Select radio pre-sale tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, May 22; Carnival of Madness fan club members can begin purchasing tickets Wednesday, May 23; artist fan club pre-sales start Thursday, May 24; and general public on-sale begins Friday, June 1. Please note that Halestorm will be performing on the majority of the tour. For more information on purchasing tickets, visit https://carnivalofmadness.com/.
EVANESCENCE has sold more than 25 million records worldwide with more than 10 million in the U.S. alone. The band’s global, Top 10 hit singles “Bring Me To Life” and “My Immortal”–off their 2003 major-label debut Fallen (Wind-up Records)–led the group to two Grammy Awards (Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance for “Bring Me To Life”). Propelling the band to sales of more than 15 million albums worldwide, Fallen spent over 100 weeks on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and was certified gold or platinum in over 35 countries. The band’s follow up was 2006’s The Open Door, which sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and spawned the hit “Call Me When You’re Sober.” In October of 2011, they released their highly anticipated third studio album Evanescence, which marked the band’s first album in five years and debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 album charts. The newly released album has spawned hit tracks “What You Want,” “Made Of Stone,” and “My Heart Is Broken.” Check out the video for “My Heart Is Broken” which has been viewed over 5 million times online: https://youtu.be/f1QGnq9jUU0.
“We’re really looking forward to the Carnival of Madness tour this summer. We love Chevelle and haven’t hit the road together in years, and I’m really stoked to finally be playing some shows with Halestorm. Naturally I’m a fan of strong women in music and Lzzy’s voice is spectacular,” said front woman AMY LEE about the upcoming tour.
EVANESCENCE is AMY LEE (vocals, piano), TERRY BALSAMO (guitar), TROY MCLAWHORN (guitar), TIM MCCORD (bass) and WILL HUNT (drums). For more information, please visit their website, www.evanescence.com.
Platinum-selling alternative hard rock trio CHEVELLE–PETE LOEFFLER (Guitars, Vocals), SAM LOEFFLER (Drums) and DEAN BERNARDINI (Bass, Vocals)–released their latest and sixth full-length album Hats Off To The Bull (Epic Records) late 2011. The album debuted on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #19 and is being hailed as one of the finest albums of the band’s long and successful career. The explosive debut single, “Face To The Floor,” dominated the rock charts, claiming the #1 spot at Active Rock for 13 weeks. With a hypnotic and grinding riff, the song rails against the corporate corruption of Bernie Madoff and Wall Street and is a testament to the band’s songwriting prowess and eternal knack for a hit. The Chicago group’s latest single “Hats Off To The Bull” is following the same trajectory, shooting up the Active Rock chart, currently occupying the #3 position. A newly released video for the title track can be seen here: https://youtu.be/4MRLd1Cgbdg.
Pennsylvania quartet HALESTORM returned in April 2012 with their second full-length, The Strange Case of…. (Atlantic Records) after scoring two top 10 singles (“I Get Off” and “It’s Not You”) from their self-titled debut album and touring steadily with acts as diverse as Shinedown, Stone Sour, Disturbed, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Godsmack and countless others. Musically diverse and emotionally revealing, the album resonates with a newfound poignancy that takes HALESTORM–frontwoman LZZY HALE, drummer AREJAY HALE, guitarist JOE HOTTINGER and bassist JOSH SMITH–to a new level of creative achievement. The first single “Love Bites (So Do I)” is a storming rocker that illustrates frontwoman LZZY HALE’s individuality, sense of humor, and willingness to represent young women in today’s fast-paced society. The massive hit reached the Top Spot at Active Rock and is currently #2. Watch the official video here: https://youtu.be/FmkHqUwa4zg.
NEW MEDICINE–JAKE SCHERER (Vocals), DAN GARLAND (Guitar), MATTHEW BRADY (Bass) and RYAN GUANZON (Drums)–injects a little hope into hard rock on their debut album, Race You To The Bottom (Photo Finish Records). Each song tells a story, whether it’s about the loss of a loved one on “Little Sister” or the state of the world on “Race You To The Bottom.” “Laid,” the album’s first single, examines relationship troubles with a combination of wit and wisdom. The song is a propulsive lovelorn rocker that sugarcoats nothing. Scherer, who co-wrote the song with producers S*A*M & Sluggo, reveals, “It’s about an experience with a girl who’s the ultimate wild child. She gets under your skin, drives you totally crazy and she’s gone.” Their latest track at radio, “Race You To The Bottom,” has gone on to sell over 11,000 copies and the video for the song, which recently debuted on AOL’s Noisecreep, can be seen here: https://youtu.be/VjxE2RTevMQ.
For up-to-the-minute news on CARNIVAL OF MADNESS, visit https://carnivalofmadness.com/, https://www.facebook.com/CarnivalofMadness and www.twitter.com/carnivalmadness.
CARNIVAL OF MADNESS Tour Dates:
DATE CITY VENUE
w/ Evanescence, Chevelle, Halestorm and New Medicine:
TUE 7/31/12 Springfield, IL Prairie Capital Convention Center
WED 8/1/12 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion
FRI 8/3/12 Atlantic City, NJ House Of Blues
SAT 8/4/12 Chester, PA Harrah’s Chester Downs
MON 8/6/12 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
TUE 8/7/12 Baltimore, MD Pier Six
WED 8/8/12 Charlotte, NC (**) Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
FRI 8/10/12 Atlanta, GA Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
SAT 8/11/12 Gulfport, MS Jones Park
MON 8/13/12 Belton, TX Bell County Expo
TUE 8/14/12 Laredo, TX Laredo Energy Center
WED 8/15/12 Midland, TX Midland Horseshoe Arena
FRI 8/17/12 Lubbock, TX Venue TBA
SAT 8/18/12 El Paso, TX Don Haskins Center
MON 8/20/12 Sioux City, IA Venue TBA
TUE 8/21/12 Milwaukee, WI (*) Eagles Ballroom
THU 8/23/12 Grand Rapids, MI (**) Rock The Rapids – Downtown
FRI 8/24/12 Detroit, MI DTE Music Theatre
SUN 8/26/12 Chicago, IL Toyota Park
TUE 8/28/12 Pittsburgh, PA (**) Stage AE
WED 8/29/12 Holmdel, NJ PNC Amphiteatre
THU 8/30/12 Uncasville, CT (**) Mohegan Sun
SUN 9/2/12 Buffalo, NY (**) Venue TBA
WED 9/5/12 Evansville, IN Venue TBA
(*) Show features Evanescence and New Medicine with very special guests.
(**) Show features Evanescence and Chevelle with very special guests.
www.carnivalofmadness.com
www.facebook.com/CarnivalofMadness
www.twitter.com/carnivalmadness
www.chevelleinc.com
www.evanescence.com
www.halestormrocks.com
www.newmedicinerock.com
0 Carnival of Madness – Louisville, KY – Concert Review – 8/26/2011
The Carnival of Madness made a stop at the Kentucky State Fair last Friday night. This concert featured new comers Emphatic, Adelitas Way, Black Stone Cherry, Alter Bridge and Theory of a Deadman. Unlike the east coast that was getting hammered with high speed winds and torrential rainfall from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, it was a perfect night for a rock show in Louisville, Ky. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The show started like clock work and every band pretty much started at their scheduled time.
Emphatic took the stage at promptly at 6:30, and the first thing I noticed is they had a different singer. I saw Emphatic earlier this year at the Phoenix Hill Tavern in Louisville, KY, and met their singer Patrick Wilson after the show. I wondered all night what had happened to Patrick. Thanks to HRH reader Shaylee, I found out that Emphatic’s singer Patrick Wilson was unable to tour with the Emphatic due to an injury to his vocal chords. Grant Kendrick from the Omaha, NE band, The Wreckage is filling in for Patrick while he heals. To my ears, Kendrick is doing a fine job. Emphatic played several songs off of their newly released self titled CD including: “Do I”, “Get Paid”, “Beg”, “Put Down The Drink”, “Original Sin” and my personal favorite, “Bounce”.
Las Vegas, Nevada’s Adelitas Way was the second act on the Carnival of Madness bill. This was the first time I have seen Adelitas Way perform live. I didn’t have any expectations for this band, and I liked their tunes quite a bit. They played songs from their self titled CD, as well as their new disc Home School Valedictorian. Judging from the tunes they played Friday night, I am going to have to break their CD’s out and give them another listen. They performed a tight set, and were pretty good, however neither Emphatic or Adelitas Way could even come close to the performance put on by Kentucky’s Black Stone Cherry.
The Kentucky State Fair was a home coming performance for Black Stone Cherry. They were the headliner at the Kentucky State Fair one year ago, and quite honestly, I thought they should have been again in 2011. Black Stone Cherry put on a high energy set which included their songs,”Maybe Someday”, “Blame in on the Boom Boom”, “White Trash Millionaire”, “Blind Man”, and “Lonely Train”. They were excellent, and a whole lot of fun to watch. I wish they could have played longer. I have seen BSC perform several times over the years, and they never disappoint. They were easily the highlight of this Carnival of Madness concert.
The last time I saw Alter Bridge perform was in 2008, so I they were the second band that I was looking forward to most on this night. Myles Kennedy and company did not disappoint. Their set included the songs: “Slip to the Void”, “Find the Real”, “White Knuckles”, “Ghost of Days Gone By”, “Ties That Bind”, “Blackbird”, “Come To Life”, “Isolation” and “Rise Today”. The last time I saw Alter Bridge, I remember them being good, but they left a much bigger impression on me this time. Mark Tremonti was excellent on lead guitar all night. Myles Kennedy got to show off his guitar playing prowess, when he traded off guitar solos with Tremonti. I had no idea that Myles Kennedy was THIS good of a guitar player. Who Knew? I hope I can see Alter Bridge again, when they can play a longer set. Their performance was second only to Black Stone Cherry on this evening.
I must admit that I haven’t had a lot of love for Theory of a Deadman over the years. Every time I have seen them live, they have been disappointing at best. On Friday night, they surprised me. They sounded and performed better than any other time I have seen them. Singer Tyler Connolly did his best to interact with the crowd (and not look at his shoes). While I still didn’t think Theory of a A Deadman had a lot of energy, I thought their were much better than I have seen them previously. I don’t know if having Black Stone Cherry and Alter Bridge open up for them puts more pressure on T.O.A.D., but they definitely brought their “A” game to the old Cardinal Stadium. Theory of a Deadman performed their songs “Gentlemen”, “Got it Made”, “All or Nothing”, “So Happy”, “Bitch Came Back”,”Not Meant To Be”, “Lowlife”, their cover of the J.J. Cale classic “Cocaine”, “Bad Girlfriend” and more.
If you take one thing from this review, take this, go see the Carnival of Madness on one of the remaining dates. It is well worth your hard earned cash, and is fun night of rock and roll.
The following dates remain in the 2011 Carnival of Madness:
Thursday, September 1 Allentown, PA The Great Allentown Fair
Saturday, September 3 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
Wednesday, September 7 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Concert Pavilion
Friday, September 9 Big Flats, NY Tag’s Summer Stage
Saturday, September 10 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
Sunday, September 11 Huntington, WV Harris Riverfront Park
Tuesday, September 13 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Uptown Amp.
Wednesday, September 14 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
Friday, September 16 Tulsa, OK Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino
Saturday, September 17 Poplar Bluff, MO Black River Coliseum
Sunday, September 18 Dayton, Oh Montgomery County Fairgrounds
9 THE SECOND ANNUAL “CARNIVAL OF MADNESS” ANNOUNCES NEW DATES
Annual Summer Tour to Feature Platinum Artist Theory of a Deadman,
Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way and newcomer Emphatic
Sponsored by Monster Energy Drink, the trek will steamroll through North America starting August 13 in Twin Lakes, WI. See below for the complete list of shows.
DATE CITY VENUE
* Wednesday, August 17 Indianapolis, IN The Lawn at White River State Park
Friday, August 19 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah’s Casino
Saturday, August 27 Waterloo, IA McElroy Auditorium (outdoors)
0 THE SECOND ANNUAL“CARNIVAL OF MADNESS” TOUR HITS THE ROAD THIS AUGUST
Annual Summer Tour to Feature Platinum Artist Theory of a Deadman,
Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way
and newcomer Emphatic
Let the madness begin! After its wildly successful inaugural run, the highly anticipated Carnival of Madness Tour returns this summer! Joining the Carnival will be Theory of a Deadman, Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way and Emphatic.
Fueled by Monster Energy Drink, the Carnival of Madness Tour will tear through North America for 25+ dates set to launch August 13 in Twin Lakes, WI.
VIP ticket pre-sales for the first 15 events will be available for those belonging to Theory of a Deadman’s Deadfan Club beginning Tuesday, May 31, followed by those signed up for the Carnival of Madness mailing list at www.carnivalofmadness.com, beginning Wednesday, June 1. VIP bundles with exclusive merchandise, content, and an enhanced Carnival experience will be available for purchase through Artist Arena.
The public on-sale for the first round of shows will be Friday, June 3. All of the ticket on-sale info can be found at www.carnivalofmadness.com. The “Carnival” ticket price acknowledges the current state of the economy offering an “affordable” ticket that will be in the $25 – $35 range.
Bill McGathy, the owner of the Carnival of Madness brand proclaims, “After the incredible energy generated in the inaugural event last year, the 2011 edition combines a fantastic Rock package with a ticket price that is actually affordable in these economically challenged times”.
“Theory of a Deadman is totally stoked to be doing the Carnival of Madness Tour this year,” says singer/guitarist Tyler Connolly. “It’s great to be joined by Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way and newcomers Emphatic – who all have songs rocking at radio and awesome live shows. It’s gonna be a fuckin’ great show from beginning to end and definitely something you don’t wanna miss! See you there!!!”
Continues Alter Bridge singer/guitarist Myles Kennedy: “Alter Bridge is pleased to be taking part of the Carnival of Madness Tour later this summer with Theory Of A Deadman, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way and Emphatic. It will be great to be back in the U.S. playing on our home turf with these bands. If you dig straight up, no frills Rock…then this tour is for you. Hope to see everyone there!”
One of Vancouver’s greatest exports, Theory of a Deadman, is returning to give rock music a much needed reality check with their fourth studio release, THE TRUTH IS… The album is slated for release on July 12 via Roadrunner/604 Records and the first single, “Lowlife,” is already storming its way up the rock charts. THE TRUTH IS…, the follow up to the band’s previous Platinum-selling SCARS AND SOUVENIRS, was produced by Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, 3 Doors Down). The band recently wrapped playing the inaugural Avalanche tour alongside Stone Sour, Skillet, Halestorm and Art of Dying, and will be playing select festivals before heading out on the Carnival of Madness Tour. Theory of a Deadman is Tyler Connolly (vocals, guitar), David Brenner (guitar), Dean Back (bass) and Joey Dandeneau (drums).
Alter Bridge has been making their mark on the rock world for years through their three studio releases and non-stop touring. The band is currently haunting the Top 20 of the Rock charts with their latest single, “Ghost of Days Gone By.” The single, the follow-up their #1 rock smash “Isolation,” is from their Alter Bridge Recordings via EMI Label Services release ABIII, which debuted at #17 on Billboard’s “Top 200 Albums” chart when it was released last November. In preparation for the Carnival of Madness Tour, the band just wrapped up a successful headline run with Black Stone Cherry and Like a Storm. Alter Bridge has also made successful national TV appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Live in support of ABIII. Alter Bridge is Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Mark Tremonti (guitar, vocals), Brian Marshall (bass) and Scott Phillips (drums).
Kentucky’s Black Stone Cherry–vocalist Chris Robertson, guitarist Ben Wells, bassist Jon Lawhon and drummer John Fred Young–is a band adept at creating both timeless rock ‘n roll and new, innovative sounds. The band have recently released their third album for Roadrunner Records, BETWEEN THE DEVIL & THE DEEP BLUE SEA, which is the summation of a year in the life of the band—every emotion, triumph, loss, romance and everything in between—it’s all here on this album. The first single, “White Trash Millionaire,” is currently approaching sitting at #15 on the Active Rock charts and climbing.
Las Vegas-based rockers Adelitas Way will release their sophomore album, HOME SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN, June 7 on Virgin Records. The album, produced by Dave Bassett (Shinedown), showcases the band’s lyrical and musical growth. The band has spent the past couple of years on the road and is excited to be part of this year’s Carnival.
Hard rock band Emphatic will release DAMAGE, their Atlantic Records debut, on July 12. Led by vocalist Patrick Wilson and lead guitarist Justin McCain, Emphatic has spent years honing their edge on the road, headlining clubs and theaters along with supporting such like-minded artists as Stone Temple Pilots, Buckcherry, and Papa Roach. DAMAGE, produced by Howard Benson (Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, Flyleaf), features the song “Bounce,” which is currently climbing the Active Rock charts.
The Carnival of Madness Tour made its inaugural launch in 2010 with Shinedown, Sevendust, Chevelle, Puddle Of Mudd and 10 Years, which proved to be one of the biggest Rock shows of the summer as a Top 50 tour.
For up-to-the minute news and information, please visit www.carnivalofmadness.com.
CARNIVAL OF MADNESS 2011 TOUR DATES
DATE CITY VENUE
Saturday, August 13 Twin Lakes, IL Shadow Hill Ranch
Friday, August 19 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah’s Casino
Saturday, August 20 Sedalia, MO Missouri State Fairgrounds
Friday, August 26 Louisville, KY KY State Fair/Cardinal Stadium
Saturday, August 27 Waterloo, IA McElroy Auditorium (outdoors)
Sunday, August 28 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair
Thursday, September 1 Allentown, PA The Great Allentown Fair
Saturday, September 3 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
Wednesday, September 7 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Concert Pavilion
Saturday, September 10 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
Sunday, September 11 Huntington, WV Harris Riverfront Park
Tuesday, September 13 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Uptown Amp.
Wednesday, September 14 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
Friday, September 16 Tulsa, OK Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino
Saturday, September 17 Poplar Bluff, MO Black River Coliseum
Note: More dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
Carnival of Madness: www.carnivalofmadness.com