Some sexy years ago, Vince and I met through a friend outside a Mastodon show at Starland Ballroom in smelly New Jersey.  Sure we hit it off, but moreover young scrappy Neilstein could clearly tell that one day I would save his life (hasn’t happened yet, as far as I know), we’d introduce each other to shittons of great music (has happened in spades), and we’d grow to be like-minded bitter NYC Jews together (happening every day).

The very first show Vince and I ever attended together was to see Sleepy Hollow’s own No Remission at legendary defunct Times Square haunt Siberia (Vince’s review of that show here).  We were both immediately impressed by this group of heady thrashsters who clearly took their roots from Death and Metallica but have certainly branched out over the years to evolve their own sound to new heights.

And now the band is poised to release a ferocious new full-length entitled Through Blackened Skies, and all you NYCers have a chance to help them celebrate said album at their record release show this Saturday at The Studio at Webster Hall (with Alekhine’s Gun, Arcane Malevolence, and Left In Ruins).

Go support local heaviness!

Visit No Remission on maispays

-KW

I was pretty surprised when I heard that The Mars Volta, who have previously sold out Terminal 5 (a huge new-ish venue in Manhattan) and are scheduled to play the Hammerstein Ballroom (another enormous Manhattan venue), are also playing at the much more intimate Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey on this tour.

Say what you will about the band — they are indeed quite a live experience to behold and have clearly captured the attention and imagination of a myriad of many serious music lovers in their 7 year run for good reason.

And so on September 18th, while Vince and Axl are giving each other h.j.s in the back row at the Opeth/High On Fire/Nachmystium extravaganza, me and the Gibbler will brave smelly NJ in the name of fiery PROG. A chance to see a band up close that usually only plays sold-out shows in gigantic venues doesn’t come along so often; I believe there are still tickets left, so don’t delay, and let’s rockit!!

See you in the stony non-pit…

[read my Sunday Spotlight on The Mars Volta and check out plenty of their wicked tunes]

-KW