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                    [post_content] => Rob Zombie is a national treasure. Over the course of decades, he's cemented himself as the king of shock and horror rock, capturing the imaginations of millions around the world with a show filled with all sorts of oddities and spectacles. Whether it's giant monsters taking the stage or sticking to his vision of retro-radioactive rock and roll, Rob Zombie has always managed to stick to his guns while pushing his art to the boundaries. On this tour, he took on various Nu metal heavyweights with whom he dominated the 90's rock airwaves. Mudvayne, Static-X and Powerman 5000 all shared Rob's vision for a new version of heavy metal that featured electronics and drag racer energy. With this stacked lineup, the tour ran through Irvine's Fivepoint Amphitheatre and demolished everyone in their path.

Photos by: Tony Molina
Rob Zombie









			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		

Mudvayne











			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		

Powerman 5000











			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		

                    [post_title] => Photo Recap: Rob Zombie at Fivepoint Amp
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                    [post_content] => Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything and that’s not due to the pandemic. I’ve mostly been staying behind the camera and keeping my judgement to myself. I’ve come to realize 'who the fuck am I to say anything negative about a band when I can’t play a god damn thing?' So anyways, I went down to Irvine. Let me tell you, even without traffic that’s a long drive if you live in LA. Unfortunately, this was the closest stop on the Rise Against and Descendents tour. Seriously though, it's far. You get to Disneyland and then you’re all like, "oh, I got another 30 minutes left to drive".

The Menzingers opened the show right on time at 7:30. What an amazing band to have as an opener. They all played with giant smiles on their faces. The venue was filling in pretty decently before they played so clearly people were there to see The Menzingers.






			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		


A small break between sets and then came Descendents. Milo cruised out on a bicycle with a camel pack around his shoulder. Some one asked me if Milo had an oxygen tank and that cracked me up. Descendents are one of my favorite punk bands to see live. They play a solid set full of quick, witty banter. Milo has a voice sounds almost identical to when he was just a teen. Descendents played many of mine, and others', favorite songs. They opened with "Sailor’s choice" and "Hope" going into "‘merican" from there. Around the middle of the set after "Coolidge" and before "Everything Sux", Milo busted out some wienerschnitzel and started chowing down. Don’t worry, Milo had plenty to share with the crowd. They closed the set out with the bangers "I’m the One", "Bikeage", "Suburban Home". I was a little bummed that the set didn’t include "Silly Girl" or "Good Good Things". I guess I will just have to wait till Punk Rock Bowling.








			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		


Rise Against closed out. Now that’s a great live band. I only really listened to the first album when I was growing up but this was my second time photographing them. The stage was set with cool graphic displays on their speakers that were like TV’s displaying static and analog clocks counting down. They opened up with the song “The Numbers” off their new album. Between songs Tim McIlrath would make small talk about the crazy year we’ve all had. In the middle of the set they played "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away" back to back. That was the moment I was waiting for, that brief hit of nostalgia I went all the way to Irvine for.








			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		


Words and Photos by: Taylor Wong
                    [post_title] => Irvine Rising: Rise Against and Descendents at Five Point Amphitheatre
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                    [post_content] => It has been forty years since Social Distortion burst onto Orange County’s rising punk scene, originating out of Fullerton house parties and small, legendary clubs such as The Cuckoos Nest and Safari Sams, but tonight they headlined the Five Point Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA. There’s something to be said about a ‘punk show’ in Irvine, one of the nation's wealthiest zip codes, with no indication of a punk scene anywhere in sight. For one, a ‘punk show’ in Orange County is usually limited to a 200 person capacity club or bar, with a small stage. If you’re a veteran band, maybe you’ll be fortunate enough to share the stage at the Observatory. However, when you’re Social Distortion, one of the genres most successful and longest lasting groups, and you’re back in Orange County, you play the largest venue available --- and bring a lot of your legendary friends to open up. The lineup for the show was respectable, but a little excessive, considering bands like Bully and Mannequin Pussy who opened the show, barely had anyone in attendance. It could also be that the capacity for the venue was up to 12,000 and there was roughly only 8,000 people day of ---- still a major feat for a local bands homecoming anniversary show, but noticeable throughout the day's festivities. By night it wasn’t as obvious, and the show filled out respectably, and was clearly not as distracting to the crowd.



Plague Vendor was the first group that started getting an engaged audience and they didn’t disappoint, as singer Brandon Blaine used the audience at the smaller second stage as a trampoline and performed a portion of his set elevated seven feet in the air above the hands of the crowd. Plague Vendor remains one of the few modern punk bands from southern California that is retaining their scene and continuing to grow a fan base despite the longevity of their career. The next group to perform, Black Lips, were the highlight of the festival for me, and were the final band on the smaller second stage. Black Lips played familiar set staples such as “O Katrina” and “Dirty Hands” to an audience whose majority was probably unfamiliar with the band previous to purchasing tickets for the show. Nonetheless, the crowd seemed pleased with the group’s antics and performance. This was my first time seeing the band perform with new saxophonist Zumi Rosow, whose stage presence stands out in the already eccentric band, and was clearly one of the entire festivals few great moments. Other highlights of the set were the group’s performance of “Modern Art” and the Almighty Defenders song, “Bow Down and Die” which closed the set in place of normal set finale, “Bad Kids” the group’s most notoriously known song and probably the track that most in attendance were looking most forward to hear.
related content: Black Lips Vandalize L.A. w/Satan's Graffiti at The Regent Theater
















Following the Black Lips, Eagles of Death Metal performed on the main stage, and though people began to pour into amphitheatre to get their seats and watch the band, it wasn’t that impressive. One of the set’s few highlights was the presence of Josh Homme taking the stage as an additional drummer. It’s not any fault of Eagles of Death Metal that they weren’t given a great slot, I rarely see audiences respond well to opening bands performing on amphitheatre stages in the day time. The mood was a little better for The Kills, but clearly the crowd in attendance were more excited about The Distillers as well Joan Jett and the Black Hearts following soon after. By the time The Distillers took the stage, the audience had all arrived, the sky was dark, it was colder than normal, the lights were on full blast, and everyone was zoned in. Brody Dalle, despite recently playing in LA earlier this year with The Misfits, kept the crowd fully entertained with familiar hits, City of Angels, Beat Your Heart Out, Seneca falls and set highlight Hall of Mirrors.  Their set was tight, with little riff-raff compared to Joan Jett’s. The set cemented The Distillers as an international import still capable of opening shows to arena sized crowds despite little to no radio play or love from MTV; certain “privileges” most of the groups from the 90's have relied on to retain their relevancy. When Jett and her bandmates, some who’ve been performing together for over forty years, took the stage twenty minutes later, the age of the crowd started to show, but the energy level hadn’t been higher thus far. Jett played most of her solo staples, with the exception of a major surprise, with her opening track, Cherry Bomb. Other notable highlights were Bad Reputation, I love Rock n Roll, and Crimson and Clover.
related content: Crusty Anthems and Salty Sing-Alongs: The Distillers Return to Orange County






























Social Distortion arrived soon after, with lead singer Mike Ness suited up and warmly welcomed. The set was briefer than I would’ve imagined, but nonetheless the reason most were still waiting out the evening’s festivities. Social Distortion’s local fans embrace and identify with the band on a level nearly unmatched globally, comparable to Bruce Springsteen in New Jersey, or Dropkick Murphys in Boston. Their songs are heard at nearly every major LA sporting event, and still get top billing on ‘flashback weekend’ radio stations, potentially more now than ever. The group celebrated their forty years by performing mostly familiar songs such as Bad Luck, Prison Bound and Dear Lover. The highlight of the evening was probably the debut of two new songs, one currently referred to as “Over you” and the other “Born to Kill”. Considering the fact that Social D release new songs once every 5-10 years, this means a lot more to fans than hearing Story of My Life for the 1,000 time.







Overall the performances were enjoyable enough, certainly for a “punk” festival, but the show overall probably could have benefitted from better vendors, food options, and activities during set change overs. It’s doubtful this will happen again for at least another ten years, so if they’re still going at 50 years, I'm sure they’ll have it down.

Words by: Dave Unbuckled

Photos by: Giuseppe Steel
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                    [post_content] => It's important to sprinkle in a little classic rock to any LA concert junkie's calendar of shows. Frequenting only underground music, no matter the genre, will still give you a limited understanding of the human soul, no matter how much you bounce around the spectrum of different sounds. Sometimes you need the radio hits, KLOS or otherwise. Such was the case when I had to decide between Knot Fest, The Drums, and Yes' Royal Affair Tour with Asia, John Lodge, and Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy.

The choice was obvious. Janky Smooth originated as a psych rock operation after all and the psych kids of yesterday were the progressive rockers. Bands like Yes and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer made music and sang lyrics that took listeners on journeys far beyond this plane of existence, much like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard do in 2019. The way King Gizz sings about magic, mysticism, and adventure differs from that of the old kings though. Where the new breed sings about these topics with irony, pastiche, or jest, the old bands sang about them with authenticity and the hope to inspire. It's no wonder progressive music might be considered a nerdy genre by some. It's not just the arithmetic and the left-brain bent behind the instrumentation but also, it's an audience relating to music about fantasy. In this case, being a nerd is nothing shameful. People's real lives should be inspired by fantasy, life is an adventure after all, or better yet a stage and we are merely players, performers and portrayers.
related content: The Olive Branch Extends To Irvine: The Scorpions At FivePoint Amphitheatre





"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends come inside, come inside" --
-- were the first lyrics sung on this evening of inter-dimensional musical travel. My favorite Emerson, Lake, and Palmer song, "Karn Evil 9: First Impression, Part 2", felt so right and sweet coming out the mouth of psychedelic icon Arthur Brown, a man who brought so much color and mystery to Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy on this tour. Carl Palmer's drumming was the highlight of the set, with an assassin's precision, a jazzman's wild instinct, and a mastodon's power, Carl wow'd the audience and set the tone for the rest of the evening. Arthur Brown was able to get one of his own classics in the set with "Fire" and the band closed with ELP's chart topper, "Fanfare for the Common Man".
related content: Virtually No Dust: Desert Daze 2018








I've always been intrigued by the Moody Blues. Like the Grateful Dead, they're one of those bands I feel have an underlying spirituality to their music that's hard to put your finger on. It's as if the songs were threaded with a piece of the divine. John Lodge, the band's original bassist, vocalist, and songwriter, performed songs that took the form of time machines to the psychedelic 60's and or the smooth, low-riding 80's. Songs like "Gemini Dream" and "Timothy Leary's Dead" gave this set the credentials to feel current enough to play for today's Los Angeles psych rock scene.





80's prog super group, ASIA, took the stage next featuring a few artists that played earlier and some that would perform later as part of Yes. Asia's set cemented this tour as more than just a royal affair but also a collaborative effort between a few master musicians and legends of rock and roll. This set was straight 80's in sound and vision, like a relic from a time far gone. As a fan of today's pastiche-driven cinema, the eighties is a time I'm eerily nostalgic for, though I was only three. Some of the hits Asia performed were "Video Killed The Radio Star", seeing as their keyboardist, Geoff Downes, was one of the original Buggles; "Heat of the Moment", a song that felt unreal to hear live by the original band; and "Lucky man" by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer which Carl Palmer held off from playing during his legacy set. At one point, original guitarist from Yes and Asia, Steve Howe, took the stage to perform a few songs to wrap things up.





You can know Yes from their radio hits, "Roundabout", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", or "I've Seen All Good People", or you can know Yes from their longer, more ambitious sonic ventures like "Starship Trooper" or "The Gates of Delirium"... or, you can know Yes as the creator's of "Heart of the Sunrise", a song featured in Vincent Gallo's Buffalo '66. Yes' set on this night touched upon concepts such as time travel, psychedelia, and spearing peace and love for all the world to share. Steve Howe is an absolute legend that lives up to every bit of hype, still and forever. At one point, he jammed out some bluesy acoustic guitar and you could feel everyone in the audience experiencing collective awe. He later busted out a mandolin and then had a 2nd mounted guitar that he would alternate between playing with the one strapped to him. This show was a display of Steve Howe’s virtuosity, first and foremost.









The band played two covers, one being a progressive, psychedelic version of Simon and Garfunkel's "America" which stirred every soul at FivePoint Amphitheater. Then original drummer, Alan White, took the stage to play a cover of John Lennon's "Imagine" which he played drums on. As moving as I'm sure this was for plenty of the people who were alive during that song's moment, in 2019 hearing "Imagine" live makes me feel like I'm in the audience for an episode of American Idol. Finally, after leaving the stage, the band returned to play a two song encore with "Roundabout" which had everyone on their feet, dancing and singing. Then to close out the show, the band chose to play "Starship Trooper" and we all tripped the night away, feeling a little out of this world on our drives home.







Words by: Rob Shepyer

Photos by: Audrey Kemp
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                    [post_content] => Words and Photos by: Dillon Vaughn

Judas Priest and Deep Purple: with a lineup including two legendary bands like this it's nearly impossible to find a reason not to do whatever it takes to get to the show. Unique opportunities granted by commuting through a massive city for a gig like this are things I feel my parents dreamed of when they were living in a small town at my age. The drive from LA to Irvine during a weekday rush hour is awful but the anticipation for what's truly an event multiplies each time you pass another car of people obviously making the trek for the same reason. Seeing other groups of unfamiliar familiar faces grin with shared excitement lends a sense of comfort not unlike the feeling of coming home: the euphoria of warm of acceptance and freedom to enjoy yourself for who you really are.
related content: The Olive Branch Extends To Irvine: The Scorpions At Five Point Amphitheatre






Firepower is somewhat of a return to form for Priest but the live show leaves the impression they never strayed from what they've always been. Despite unfortunate lineup changes in recent years the band has never made compromises in the quality or energy of the performance. It should go without saying - yes, they still rip live and the new material is a very fine fit among the massive catalog of hits. My only wish is that I could make it last forever.













Time is a cruel and unforgiving beast but the demographic intensely pre-gaming just outside the venue so closely mirrored the subjects of Heavy Metal Parking Lot I couldn't deny the sincerity. This wasn't an emulation of an era I missed but a continuation of tradition and the celebration of the shared identity and spirit of metal: an ethos perfectly penned and encapsulated by Judas Priest.


Deep Purple



























                    [post_title] => Heavy Metal Parking Lot 2: Judas Priest and Deep Purple at FivePoint Amphitheatre
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                    [post_content] => The Scorpions play everywhere, from Israel to Beirut, to Siberia to their Irvine show at FivePoint Amphitheatre for the Crazy World tour. And what an aptly named tour it is, having seen so much of the world's diversity and political strife, what is unique to The Scorpions is that they are loved and respected as the hard rock ambassadors of world peace. This band represents the chance that we could all get along some day.






related content: Slayer's Final So-Cal Show At Five Point Amphitheater: The Most Insane Review I'll Ever Write
This string of North American dates were makeup shows from a tour the band had to cancel last year while touring with support from Megadeth. On this tour, they brought along classic prog-metal kings Queensryche to open. The band played every song you’d expect but "I Don't Believe In Love" off their seminal concept album and sonic-action experience Operation: Mindcrime. Instrumentally, they had incredible precision and a soaring epic quality. Todd La Torre sings with a powerful, booming voice that makes the 80's fucking cool again and honestly sounds just like original singer, Geoffe Tate. Original guitarist Michael Wilton is a powerhouse and you can hear that power in songs like "Jet City Woman", "Empire", and my favorite, the song the band closed with: "Eyes of a Stranger".












			

				
			

			

				
			

			

				
			

			

				
			

			

				
			

			

				
			
		


Scorpions have such a lengthy and diverse career with songs that touched the mainstream and badass early albums that remain favorites for true purists of hard rock and metal. Albums like Blackout and Virgin Killer are some of the best party and bar rock albums you can ever drink to. One of the greatest guitarists to ever put Germany on the map, Rudolf Schenker completely slayed the FivePoint Amphitheater and delivered the signature virtuosity and ferocity that everyone came to see.










related content: Los Angeles Strikefest At The Regent: By Die-Hards, For Die-Hards
Singer, Klaus Meine is the keystone of the band's success and timelessness with a voice that is iconic and still going strong into his graceful aging. Klaus' character represents the olive branch of peace that the band extends to every audience they play. Klaus is always happy and gracious to perform. For all he's done for rock and roll, he's remained humble and a role model for how to be a rock star.











The Scorpions began with a video of a Helicopter swooping over a cityscape then the silhouetted members of the band slid down ropes extending from the chopper onto the stage. Opening up the set, Scorpions played "Going Out With A Bang". After a few more songs, the show really kicked into high gear as soon as we heard the opening riff to "The Zoo". Some of the highlights of the show were their acoustic rendition of "Send Me An Angel"(with Rudy on an acoustic Flying V), "The Winds of Change", their cover of Motorhead's "Overkill" in honor of Lemmy Kilmister as requested by the band's drummer, formerly of Motorhead, Mickey Dee, Micky's drum solo, "Blackout" "Big City Nights", the encore which began with "No One Like You", and of course, their closer "Rock You Like A Hurricane".


related content: Speedy Speedy Speed Metal: Midnight At Union
Leaving the amphitheater, I tried to make sense of the spectacle and brilliancy of a Scorpions show. This sort of heavy music comes from a time when being badass or dangerous didn't require being vulgar. There was plenty of debauchery about but this was heavy metal with class.

Words by: Rob Shepyer

Photos by: Dillon Vaughn
                    [post_title] => The Olive Branch Extends to Irvine: The Scorpions at FivePoint Amphitheatre
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                    [post_content] => Seeing Slayer from the front of the crowd is the most violent live music experience you can gamble your life on. And I'm not exaggerating, the risk is real, tangible. Most music bloggers covering this show didn't choose to stand where I stood, inching forward with the crowd with some kind of unconscious death wish; probably because most music bloggers have more to lose. To sum up what a Slayer show that close to the band is like, I'll make a World War II reference like the band does on the song "Angel of Death", their closer of the night.
The front row of a Slayer concert feels like being crammed into a train on its way to a death camp, only a band is playing.
Everyone is squeezed so tightly into each other that they can't move. There's no step you can take back, forward, to the right or left, that could give your body any relief. You're lucky if you can move your arms. Then suddenly, you're violently pushed in every direction, colliding with the bodies beside you and falling into them but not falling over, if you're lucky and God forbid you do, because those that fell were inevitably trampled. I could feel some people falling over directly behind me, they grabbed onto my denim jacket for dear life trying to pull themselves back up while simultaneously pulling me down with them. I chose to be callous and self serving at this moment, not letting them drag me into hell with them. And there was something disgustingly human about this, that a concert put me in the position to have to choose between saving myself and others, where saving my self was the rational choice to make.
related content: Morbid Angel at The Regent: A Lesson In Death




I'd see the fallen fans lying on the ground with their eyes looking up at the sky, exhausted and hopeless. People tried to pull them back up but their efforts were thwarted by further pushing from the rudderless crowd, like drowning men getting hit by waves every time they tried to reach the surface. I looked at the faces of those that were down and could imagine their mothers screaming their names and pleading for dear life that they get back up. Then as we all stood in circles around these gaps in the pit where the fallen were left to lay, more people would fall on top of them, crushing them. Sometimes, crowd-surfers would aimlessly land on top of them from at least six feet above and grind their bones into the soil upon impact.

During "Dead Skin Mask"; one of my favorite songs by the band, about serial killer Ed Gein, who fashioned clothing out of the flesh of victims that he'd sew together after fucking their corpses; I saw a good friend right beside me in the pit, one that I didn't know was attending the show until seeing him. We hugged each other firmly as if reveling in the happenstance of friendship existing in a wretched hell as foul as this one. We were like brothers in arms reuniting in a fox-hole. He then asked me if I could help lift him up to crowd-surf to the front and out of the foray. I explained I was going back, through the masses to do the same and his response was "the only way out is up." I fucked up and only ended up choking him in my attempt to get him to safety.
related content: From The Bay To L.A. Classic Metal Burns Bright: Hell Fire At Echoplex






I was able to escape the "sea of violence" much like the survivor of a shipwreck. I was covered in sweat and actual piss from a full water bottle someone had thrown that exploded all over me and a few others. That's right, I'm not ashamed to admit it. My face, my lips, even my phone got covered in a stranger's warm piss and I still worry that it came out of some herpetic cock and now a virus is lying dormant inside me waiting to ruin my life.






			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		




I stood back, hoping to find a drink to quench my thirst but at that point all the vendors were closed. I just had to suffer through this state I had put myself in and by this point the concert felt like the dizzying, lucid debasing feeling someone must have after getting their fingernails pulled out.

All that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the show.

I've been wearing Slayer shirts since I was in middle school. I still remember watching "Live Intrusion" on VHS and marveling at how insane the show looked. My first time seeing the band was at an Unholy Alliance show in Long Beach with Mastodon, Lamb of God, and Children of Bodom. This same "sea of violence" phenomenon happened there and I fell and sprained both wrists then my elbow. The next time I saw them was at The Big 4 in Coachella Valley where Jeff Hanneman played with the band for the last time. For some die hard metal heads, this was actually the last Slayer show but I respect Tom Araya and Kerry King too much to share that sentiment.
related content: Dusk At Midnight: Converge At The Regent
Paul Bostaph and Gary Holt were on fire with their playing, as were Kerry and Tom. Some of the songs that really shined in their set were "Repentless" (their opener), "Disciple", "Mandatory Suicide", "War Ensemble", "Black Magic", "Seasons In The Abyss", "Postmortem", "Dittohead", "Dead Skin Mask", "Hell Awaits", "South of Heaven", "Raining Blood", "Chemical Warfare", and "Angel of Death". That's all the songs on their set but four. Songs like "Hate Worldwide", "Payback", "Jihad", and "When The Stillness Comes" are enjoyable but for Slayer's last tour there were others we had all wished to hear, setlist staples from different eras of the band like "The Antichrist", "Killing Fields", "213", "At Dawn They Sleep", "Criminally Insane", "Silent Scream", etc....







After the concert had finished, Tom Araya was alone on stage to thank us and got a little choked up looking out at the crowd of Californians. Our state had created the band back when they were called "Dragonslayer" and molded them into what is for my money, the greatest metal band of all time. Better than Metallica and as far as what I listen to regularly, better than Sabbath. Slayer inspired every extreme metal genre by being the first to use such graphic lyrics. Also, I think part of the function of metal is recreate evil in your music and that's what Slayer's always consistently done, is make a soundtrack for some imaginary ride through hell itself.

It was incredible to see a chapter in metal music be closed forever. I had to let a piece of me get taken away to really get the full experience.

I could go on about all the other bands that played that day. They were all amazing. I could talk about how Testament brought the most intense headbanging classic thrash or how Behemoth made the day feel like night with cinematic and satanic black metal that had plenty of groove to it. Nergal was especially mesmerizing with magic in every movement as Behemoth's lead singer. Anthrax was incredible as usual, playing all their fan-favorite songs even though I wish they'd bring back "I'm The Man". Lastly, mostly everyone thought Lamb of God was amazing while I thought they were just okay. I don't know how people can think they're better than Anthrax but I guess plenty did.







And just so I don't end on that note:
…………………./´¯/)
………………..,/¯../
………………./…./
…………./´¯/’…’/´¯¯`·¸
………./’/…/…./……./¨¯\
……..(‘(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
………\……………..’…../
……….”…\………. _.·´
…………\…………..(
…………..\………….\

FUCKIN' SLAYER!!!!
Words by: Rob Shepyer

Photos by: Jessica Moncrief

 
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            [post_content] => Rob Zombie is a national treasure. Over the course of decades, he's cemented himself as the king of shock and horror rock, capturing the imaginations of millions around the world with a show filled with all sorts of oddities and spectacles. Whether it's giant monsters taking the stage or sticking to his vision of retro-radioactive rock and roll, Rob Zombie has always managed to stick to his guns while pushing his art to the boundaries. On this tour, he took on various Nu metal heavyweights with whom he dominated the 90's rock airwaves. Mudvayne, Static-X and Powerman 5000 all shared Rob's vision for a new version of heavy metal that featured electronics and drag racer energy. With this stacked lineup, the tour ran through Irvine's Fivepoint Amphitheatre and demolished everyone in their path.

Photos by: Tony Molina
Rob Zombie









			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		

Mudvayne











			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		

Powerman 5000











			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				

			

				
			
				
		

            [post_title] => Photo Recap: Rob Zombie at Fivepoint Amp
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Photo Recap: Rob Zombie at Fivepoint Amp

Janky Smooth Central Command August 30, 2022

Rob Zombie is a national treasure. Over the course of decades, he’s cemented himself as the king of shock and horror rock, capturing the imaginations of millions around the world with a show filled with all sorts of oddities and spectacles. Whether it’s giant monsters taking the stage or sticking to his vision of retro-radioactive rock and roll, Rob Zombie has always managed to stick to his guns while pushing his art to the boundaries. On this tour, he took on various Nu metal heavyweights with whom he dominated the 90’s rock airwaves. Mudvayne, Static-X and Powerman 5000 all shared Rob’s vision for a new version of heavy metal that featured electronics and drag racer energy. With this stacked lineup, the tour ran through Irvine’s Fivepoint Amphitheatre and demolished everyone in their path. Photos by: Tony Molina Rob Zombie Mudvayne Powerman 5000

Read More

Irvine Rising: Rise Against and Descendents at Five Point Amphitheatre

Taylor Wong August 27, 2021

Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything and that’s not due to the pandemic. I’ve mostly been staying behind the camera and keeping my judgement to myself. I’ve come to realize ‘who the fuck am I to say anything negative about a band when I can’t play a god damn thing?’ So anyways, I went down to Irvine. Let me tell you, even without traffic that’s a long drive if you live in LA. Unfortunately, this was the closest stop on the Rise Against and Descendents tour. Seriously though, it’s far. You get to Disneyland and then you’re all like, “oh, I got another 30 minutes left to drive”. The Menzingers opened the show right on time at 7:30. What an amazing band to have as an opener. They all played with giant smiles on their faces. The venue was filling in pretty decently before they played so clearly people were there to see The Menzingers. A small break between sets and then came Descendents. Milo cruised out on a bicycle with a camel pack around his shoulder. Some one asked me if Milo had an oxygen tank and that cracked me up. Descendents are one of

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Tearing Down the Orange Curtain: Social Distortion at Five Point Amphitheatre

Dave Unbuckled November 7, 2019

It has been forty years since Social Distortion burst onto Orange County’s rising punk scene, originating out of Fullerton house parties and small, legendary clubs such as The Cuckoos Nest and Safari Sams, but tonight they headlined the Five Point Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA. There’s something to be said about a ‘punk show’ in Irvine, one of the nation’s wealthiest zip codes, with no indication of a punk scene anywhere in sight. For one, a ‘punk show’ in Orange County is usually limited to a 200 person capacity club or bar, with a small stage. If you’re a veteran band, maybe you’ll be fortunate enough to share the stage at the Observatory. However, when you’re Social Distortion, one of the genres most successful and longest lasting groups, and you’re back in Orange County, you play the largest venue available — and bring a lot of your legendary friends to open up. The lineup for the show was respectable, but a little excessive, considering bands like Bully and Mannequin Pussy who opened the show, barely had anyone in attendance. It could also be that the capacity for the venue was up to 12,000 and there was roughly only 8,000 people day

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In the Presence of Royalty: Yes at Fivepoint Ampitheatre

Rob Shepyer August 2, 2019

It’s important to sprinkle in a little classic rock to any LA concert junkie’s calendar of shows. Frequenting only underground music, no matter the genre, will still give you a limited understanding of the human soul, no matter how much you bounce around the spectrum of different sounds. Sometimes you need the radio hits, KLOS or otherwise. Such was the case when I had to decide between Knot Fest, The Drums, and Yes‘ Royal Affair Tour with Asia, John Lodge, and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy. The choice was obvious. Janky Smooth originated as a psych rock operation after all and the psych kids of yesterday were the progressive rockers. Bands like Yes and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer made music and sang lyrics that took listeners on journeys far beyond this plane of existence, much like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard do in 2019. The way King Gizz sings about magic, mysticism, and adventure differs from that of the old kings though. Where the new breed sings about these topics with irony, pastiche, or jest, the old bands sang about them with authenticity and the hope to inspire. It’s no wonder progressive music might be considered a nerdy genre by

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Heavy Metal Parking Lot 2: Judas Priest and Deep Purple at FivePoint Amphitheatre

Dillon Vaughn October 5, 2018

Words and Photos by: Dillon Vaughn Judas Priest and Deep Purple: with a lineup including two legendary bands like this it’s nearly impossible to find a reason not to do whatever it takes to get to the show. Unique opportunities granted by commuting through a massive city for a gig like this are things I feel my parents dreamed of when they were living in a small town at my age. The drive from LA to Irvine during a weekday rush hour is awful but the anticipation for what’s truly an event multiplies each time you pass another car of people obviously making the trek for the same reason. Seeing other groups of unfamiliar familiar faces grin with shared excitement lends a sense of comfort not unlike the feeling of coming home: the euphoria of warm of acceptance and freedom to enjoy yourself for who you really are. related content: The Olive Branch Extends To Irvine: The Scorpions At Five Point Amphitheatre Firepower is somewhat of a return to form for Priest but the live show leaves the impression they never strayed from what they’ve always been. Despite unfortunate lineup changes in recent years the band has never made compromises in

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The Olive Branch Extends to Irvine: The Scorpions at FivePoint Amphitheatre

Rob Shepyer September 4, 2018

The Scorpions play everywhere, from Israel to Beirut, to Siberia to their Irvine show at FivePoint Amphitheatre for the Crazy World tour. And what an aptly named tour it is, having seen so much of the world’s diversity and political strife, what is unique to The Scorpions is that they are loved and respected as the hard rock ambassadors of world peace. This band represents the chance that we could all get along some day. related content: Slayer’s Final So-Cal Show At Five Point Amphitheater: The Most Insane Review I’ll Ever Write This string of North American dates were makeup shows from a tour the band had to cancel last year while touring with support from Megadeth. On this tour, they brought along classic prog-metal kings Queensryche to open. The band played every song you’d expect but “I Don’t Believe In Love” off their seminal concept album and sonic-action experience Operation: Mindcrime. Instrumentally, they had incredible precision and a soaring epic quality. Todd La Torre sings with a powerful, booming voice that makes the 80’s fucking cool again and honestly sounds just like original singer, Geoffe Tate. Original guitarist Michael Wilton is a powerhouse and you can hear that power in

Read More

Slayer’s Final So-Cal Show at Five Point Amphitheater: The Most Insane Review I’ll Ever Write

Rob Shepyer May 15, 2018

Seeing Slayer from the front of the crowd is the most violent live music experience you can gamble your life on. And I’m not exaggerating, the risk is real, tangible. Most music bloggers covering this show didn’t choose to stand where I stood, inching forward with the crowd with some kind of unconscious death wish; probably because most music bloggers have more to lose. To sum up what a Slayer show that close to the band is like, I’ll make a World War II reference like the band does on the song “Angel of Death”, their closer of the night. The front row of a Slayer concert feels like being crammed into a train on its way to a death camp, only a band is playing. Everyone is squeezed so tightly into each other that they can’t move. There’s no step you can take back, forward, to the right or left, that could give your body any relief. You’re lucky if you can move your arms. Then suddenly, you’re violently pushed in every direction, colliding with the bodies beside you and falling into them but not falling over, if you’re lucky and God forbid you do, because those that fell

Read More