SONGS FOR THE SOUL, AN INTIMATE ACOUSTIC EVENING
SMITH & MYERS OF SHINEDOWN
The Magpie Salute
The Magpie Salute is an exciting new band that features musicians who have played together for decades throughout various projects and share a musical bond. The band brings Rich Robinson, the guitarist and co-founding member of The Black Crowes, together with two key members of Crowes fame – guitarist Marc Ford and bassist Sven Pipien – alongside drummer Joe Magistro and guitarist Nico Bereciartua. The Magpie Salute marks the reunion of the Robinson and Ford guitar team which ended back in 1997 when Ford left The Black Crowes. The band also boasts a fine cast of vocalists, including lead singer John Hogg (Hookah Brown, Moke), former Crowes singer Charity White and background singers, Adrien Reju and Katrine Ottosen. The term “Magpie Salute” references a British superstition about the imperative to salute a Magpie anytime you see one in order to ward off negativity, or to have a good day. Clearly, The Magpie Salute intends to mix it up, breathing new life into musical bonds, rooted in tradition and the universal language of Rock and Roll.
ALTER BRIDGE w/ guests Nonpoint
Fittingly, on their fifth full-length album, The Last Hero, hard rock juggernaut Alter Bridge pursue a level of excellence inspired by timeless heroism. Making the record became something of a personal quest for the quartet—Myles Kennedy [vocals, guitar], Mark Tremonti [guitar, vocals], Brian Marshall [bass], and Scott Phillips [drums]. In 2013, the band reached an elevated creative and critical milestone with Fortress. It bowed at #12 on the Billboard Top 200, moving over 30,000 copies first-week and earning unanimous tastemaker praise. The record garnered perfect scores from Total Guitar and KERRANG! as well as acclaim from Billboard, The Guardian, Loudwire, Ultimate Guitar, and many more. In between sold out tours in Europe and North America, the guys appeared on VH1 and graced the cover of Classic Rock Magazine who labeled Fortress, “The best thing they’ve ever done,” while Eddie Trunk called it, “A top 10 album of the last 10 years.” When it came time to write new music, the musicians collectively raised the bar yet again for The Last Hero. Ultimately, Alter Bridge heroically deliver for fans worldwide and rock music at large.
Revolution Fan Favorite Nonpoint provides support for the show.
Nonpoint
Nonpoint only becomes fiercer with each subsequent album. Their ninth full-length offering and first for Spinefarm Records, The Poison Red, is no exception either. After 19 years in the game, the Florida quintet sustains the same energy that sparked its foundation back in 1997. The riffs crack with neck-snapping intensity, the bass and drums forge an unmatched groove, and the vocals rapidly recount stories of pain and perseverance. The Poison Red remains as raw, ripping, and real as these musicians—Elias Soriano [vocals], Robb Rivera [drums], Rasheed Thomas [rhythm guitar], Adam Woloszyn [bass], and B.C. Kochmit [lead guitar]—get.
Nonpoint are on their way back with a new album this summer. The band will release The Poison Red on July 8 which was recorded in February 2016 at Uptown Studios in Chicago IL with Rob Ruccia.
In early 2016, Nonpoint closed out almost 2 years of touring behind 2014’s The Return record, which yielded the Active Rock radio hits “Breaking Skin” and “Misery”. Fueled by that continued success and their time on the road, they immediately began writing for album number nine. This time around, the band amped up the aggression musically, while Elias drew inspiration from a whole new well altogether.
The first single “Generation Idiot” is already making the rounds on radio. With some nifty guitar fret work at the beginning, it’s evident that Nonpoint are ready to rock. Frontman Elias Soriano gives the song plenty of aggression and attitude as he nimbly maneuvers around some rather tongue-twisty lyrics, setting all the Internet tough guys and text messaging fair-weather friends in their place.
“Over the past five years, I began to notice people, myself included, getting lost in a few of the simple things – life, art, passions,” Soriano explains. “Everything became a reality TV blog with pictures and comments, likes and dislikes, online bullies and online tough guys. And no one is talking anymore. Everything is texts, emails, replies and denies. They’re all anchors. They all suck the life out of life. It creates zombies with unhinged appetites. It’s a real zombie apocalypse and, motherfucker, I’m grabbing a machete and a shot gun.
“This record tells a lot of stories,” says Soriano about their new disc. “Going from guts to glory. Chasing impossible dreams down the rabbit hole. Harsh and honest words with consequences attached. Uncovered rules for the weak, made by the wicked and heartless. Recalling fight or flight moments with a deep breath. And it all starts with a warning to all the world’s generations past, present and future to look up, look forward and live their lives loose from social media shackles, online bullying, the devaluation of art and music, and to not be absorbed by the dramatic, megalomaniacal side of politics. Life is right outside of your phone and newsfeed. Go live it and play this record while you do. It’ll all start to make sense.”
Nonpoint with Gemini Syndrome, Islander, 3 Years Hollow, Silenmara
It’s one thing to be prolific. It’s another thing to not only kick maximum ass with every album, but constantly challenge yourself and your audience in the process. In a modern rock landscape littered with lowest common denominator garbage, South Florida’s own Nonpoint has risen above the pack with grace and thunder time and time again. Nonpoint is an alternative metal/rap-metal foursome dropping ferocious leads at will to offset hammering rhythms and complement frontman Elias Soriano’s distinctive narrative voice. Nonpoint has released seven full-length albums and one live album selling over 800,000 albums in North America. In late 2013, Nonpoint closed out a year of touring behind 2012’s self-titled record, which yielded the Active Rock radio hit “Left For You.” They will release their new studio album, The Return on September 30th. The album was produced by Grammy nominated producer Johnny K (Disturbed, Staind, Megadeth) and Daniel Salcidoto. Their eighth full-length album The Return remains as raw, ripping, and real as Nonpoint itself. Soriano explains, “Last record we stepped in a direction we’ve wanted to for years and our fans revered us for it. This record we have gotten up to speed and dropped the pedal to the floor. I think our fans will embrace this record in a way no other Nonpoint record has been viewed or loved. We left no room for question of what we are trying to accomplish with our music or who we are. We haven’t gone back to old school. We didn’t reflect on our past. We didn’t discuss what works. The Return is Nonpoint right the fuck now.”
Nonpoint
Nothing can stop Nonpoint. The band continues to deliver unique, uncompromising, and undeniable hard rock. Weathering lineup changes, label shifts, and other trials and tribulations, founding members Elias Soriano [vocals] and Robb Rivera [drums] regrouped with fresh blood—Dave Lizzio [guitar], Adam Wolosyzn [bass], and Rasheed Thomas [guitar]—and captured pure fire this time around. In addition, they remain one of the most consistent and incendiary live acts on the scene. Having shared the stage with everyone from Sevendust and Stone Sour to Papa Roach and Buckcherry as well as appearing at festivals such as OZZfest, each performance stands out as an experience their fan base fervently follows. At the end of the day, Rivera wants to give back via the music. “We try to help people through our art,” he exclaims. “So many kids have connected to our songs over the years, and they’ve supported us unconditionally. We fought through so much, and we never gave up. I hope they get a positive message from this. It doesn’t feel like we have some kind of goal. It feels like we have a purpose, which is to put out hopeful music. When this process started, a fuse got lit. We’re not stopping until it all burns.” Nonpoint’s flame will only rise higher.