Concert at the End of January. Then February Shows.

February 21, 2018

Sleigh Bells returned to Portland, ME after probably about 5 years, with local musician Anna Lombard opening the show for them. I've been into Sleigh Bells since I heard their first album years ago and discovered it was a band contrived of the ex-guitarist from Poison the Well (from my old hardcore days, whom I'd seen open for Thursday at the State Theatre so so many years ago) and a female singer. They came together for this project of loud guitars and pre-recorded drum parts for an electro-rock type of music years ago in New York after the dissolution of Poison the Well left him looking for a creative outlet and a friend put him in touch with this girl looking to sing. It's a very simple concept that works well. Pre-recorded drums are part of their set and it allows for a very simple stage set-up. Female vocalist, two guitarists and that's it. It was a great show with awesome energy.

Anna Lombard has an incredible voice and I've been following her solo career for a few years now, as well as her work with Dave Gutter (Rustic Overtones) in their band, Armies.

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I brought my friends' son to see one of his favorite bands, metalcore giants August Burns Red (for whom he's learned many of their songs on drums) when they played in Worcester, MA because I knew he'd loved the show. One of the other opening bands, Born of Osiris, was pretty damn good as well. I've seen ABR once before as they opened for Between the Buried and Me here in Portland, at the State Theatre, and their set for that show was incredible- loud and full of testosterone. I knew this had potential to be a sweaty, loud night. Thankfully, we sat in the balcony so we avoided the rowdy crowd, but lcould watch from above all the moshing and crowdsurfing.