(By Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist, RiffRelevant.com)
On Saturday, May 26, 2018, I was able to scratch a top band off of my own personal Bucket List of bands to see live: Nashville, Tennessee’s HOWLING GIANT! Continue reading “HOWLING GIANT-ELECTRIC PHANTOM-VIC CROWN @ Sly Grog In Asheville, N.C. [5/26/18]”
(By Erik Kluiber, Guest Contributor, RiffRelevant.com)
[Editor’s intro] Every so often, we have a chance to run something off-road that kicks ass. This here be one of those times. Erik Kluiber (Void Vator, Ironaut, ex-Gypsyhawk, et al.) approached me about an article he penned. A tale I found intriguing and a bit surprising, about Patrick Kennison – who one might call a bona fide ‘rock star’. His career spans many successes, but within that success, Erik shares with us a candid view from Patrick’s home-spun dive stage fun, out from under the glory of arena lights. Enjoy! ~ Leanne
Continue reading “Riff Relevant Retrospect: No Rest For The Riffin’ w/ Patrick Kennison [Guest Contributor: Erik Kluiber]”
(By Brian Halsey, Staff Writer, RiffRelevant.com)
There seems to be a growing faction of hardcore bands that just don’t care about the rules anymore. It’s now time to plant HARM’S WAY in the fertile garden of creative heaviness. Continue reading “Riff Relevant Interviews: Chris Mills of HARM’S WAY; ‘POSTHUMAN’ Album Review & Stream; Tour Dates”
(By Taylor Waring, Staff Writer, RiffRelevant.com)
[Editor’s intro] Philadelphia, PA’s Heavy Temple started in 2012, and the past couple of years have settled in rather well with a new lineup. These changes have done nothing but strengthen this Temple’s already solid foundation. Continue reading “Riff Relevant Interviews: HEAVY TEMPLE – Appearing at FIREBREATHER FEST & DESCENDANTS OF CROM; Tour Dates; Live Photos @PsychoLasVegas”
(By Brian Halsey, Staff Writer, RiffRelevant.com)
All of my life, I’ve been on a spirit quest. I’ve fled intense heat in the rivers of the Grand Canyon and felt the sting from arctic wind on my face, atop the mountains of Norway. Relentlessly, I have sought to find an answer to the riddle of steel. Continue reading “DESCENDANTS OF CROM – VALKYRIE Show Review [2017], Photos, Album Stream, Video”
(By Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Lead Journalist/Writer, RiffRelevant.com – *All Pics Courtesy Of Will Bouton/Fugo Films)
As you all know, or at least should know by now, Riff Relevant recently helped sponsor the second annual Steel & Stone Festival in Asheville, N.C. The burgeoning gathering of underground bands went down for its second year at The Odditorium and I was present for all the festivities. Continue reading “STEEL & STONE II 2017: Post-Fest Wrap Up”
(By Damon ‘Gravitoyd’ Caraway, Staff Writer, RiffRelevant.com)
Hotel Vegas, Austin, Texas, 10:00 pm. It was dark and felt like Godzilla’s breath: muggy and hot. Austin’s heaviness-seekers filed in clad in black t-shirts – we only come out at night, it seems. This was the last show for Messa and Witchcryer on their Scarlet U.S. Tour of 2017, and they brought Destroyer Of Light along for this night of destruction. Continue reading “One Hot Night: Witchcryer, Messa, Destroyer of Light – Show Review 5/21/17 Austin TX (Live Video); Tour Dates”
(By Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Lead Journalist/Writer, RiffRelevant.com)
Finally, an event that I’d been eager to experience for a rather lengthy time had arrived… to see a Scott Kelly acoustic performance! Scott was currently on the road playing small, intimate sets with accompaniment by John Judkins (Rwake, Laser Flames On The Great Big News). Continue reading “SCOTT KELLY w/ JOHN JUDKINS Live In Asheville, N.C.”
(By Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief Editor, RiffRelevant.com)
Iron Maiden has always been a phenomenal band. This is not a debate, they simply are. Granted, I have not personally listened to much after the ‘Powerslave‘ release, but this is beside the point. I was a child when I first heard them, first watched, jaw agape, their original ‘Run To The Hills‘ music video on MTV. I hadn’t had an opportunity to see them live, until now. Continue reading “IRON MAIDEN – ‘The Book Of Souls Tour’ Live Photos & Show Review (Barclay Center, Brooklyn NY 7/21/2017)”
(By Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Lead Journalist/Writer, RiffRelevant.com)
For the second time in less than a matter of weeks, I would see New Jersey rock band The Atomic Bitchwax live. This time would be in Asheville, North Carolina as they, along with NYC’s Mirror Queen and AVL’s own Gutterhound, would bring the noise to The Mothlight venue. Continue reading “THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX-MIRROR QUEEN-GUTTERHOUND Live At The Mothlight; Asheville, N.C.”
(By Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief Editor, RiffRelevant.com)
Argonauta Records is on a rampage lately! In the wee early hours of this very morning, they announced confirmation of the label’s signing of American Weed Rockers WASTED THEORY, with plans to re-release their much-adored ‘Defenders of the Riff‘ album. We have some details on that, plus a crop of photos from recent live shows I attended this Spring, and a few other fistfuls of dirt… Continue reading “WASTED THEORY – Sign to Argonauta Records; To Play Live Show 9/23 & Desc. of Crom Fest 9/30; Spring Tour Show Photos (Atl. City, NJ)”
(By Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief Editor, RiffRelevant.com)
Just when our Post-Maryland Doom Fest Depression has finally worn off, I’m going to stir it up again with some antics off-stage in candid photos that I shot during my #4DaysOfDoom in Frederick, MD a couple of weeks ago.
Continue reading “Maryland Doom Fest 2017 – Off Stage & Behind The Scenes Photos from MDDF!”
(By John Gist, Guest Contributor, RiffRelevant.com / Edited by Leanne Ridgeway)
Here’s a review from John Gist (of Vegas Rock Revolution), for the 6/13/17 show date for Wizzerd and Spiritual Shepherd at The Garth in Las Vegas, NV. John will occasionally be contributing some of his experiences at the heavy music shows he attends. — Leanne Continue reading “SPIRITUAL SHEPHERD, WIZZERD, PLAGUE DOCTOR; 6/12 @ The Garth, Las Vegas, Show Review & Pics (Guest Contributor John Gist)”
(By Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief Editor, RiffRelevant.com)
You get a random invitation from folks you’ve never met, to see three heavy as hell bands you’ve never witnessed live, at a venue never been to, in a city never seen, to drive 800+ miles in one day across seven states… what do you do? Continue reading “HORSEFLESH, MIDMOURNER, THUNDERCHIEF – 4/13/2017 Asheville, NC Show Review & Photos”
Everyone has their own personal bucket list of bands they’d like to see in a live setting at some point. I am no different. With this show, I was going to knock off two bands from my own, with a little irony in fact. Continue reading “SWALLOW THE SKY, STONECUTTERS, HORSEBURNER, INDIGHOST @ The Hideaway, Johnson City, TN.”
