Notes from a Genius

Okay, this is probably the 6th or 7th time I've seen Coheed and Cambria. I remember seeing them at Port City Music Hall March 28, 2010, for their album "Year of the Black Rainbow" which is one part of the prequel to their sci-fi story, told in parts with each album (until just recently, with their latest album not being a part of the story). When they came to Portland back then, I was lucky enough to meet them at Bull Moose and watch them play a 5 song acoustic set, all of which was incredible. I remember when it was my turn to step up to the table, I passed my CD insert booklet to them and stutter out praise for their song "Welcome Home" saying that it was "one of the best guitar riffs I've ever heard and quite a way to open an album." I remember Claudio (the lead singer/guitarist) saying "Thanks, man" and then I moved on. I saw them in Portland, again, in 2015 for a sort of "best of" set as they seemed to be on the road to p...

I saw Mastadon for the 3rd time, last night, at the House of Blue in Boston. This was a dream bill, including Eagles of Death Metal (finally hitting the road and stage again after the tragic terrorist attack their band was involved in at a Paris club a year or two ago, now) and the amazing metal instrumental band, Russian Circles (whom I'd only recently discovered about a year or two ago). Mastadon's shows blast in your ears and melt your face off (figuratively speaking of course). The amount of energy that fills the room is incredible. This was the largest venue I've seen them at and I think they could still rival Metallica and play stadiums on every tour. The sound blasts from some of the largest amps I've seen, stacked two or three high, a literal wall of sound behind them. I first saw them at Port City Music Hall, in Portland and left covered in sweat and the best kind of headache, because it was music-induced. Then, I saw them at the State Theatre, again, in Port...