So maybe my title is a little bit misleading because the physical space has not gone anywhere at all and still sits firmly where it has stood for decades on Irving Place, just off 15th Street in NYC. Despite that, Irving Plaza did “go away” for a few years but was now back. Let’s continue shall we? I start with a little background history on the place.
The venue known as Irving Plaza opened its doors way back in 1860 when it was referred to as Irving Hall. Now, I didn’t know this from experience of course and learned it from some historical research that I would need for this little side narration. After a number of interesting changes and owners it came to be called Irving Plaza and the venue would feature Rock, Punk and Heavy Metal shows. My own first experience as a concert goer would be in September of 1997 when the British Progressive Rock legends Marillion were performing for their “This Strange Engine“ album. Having never been inside the place before I had some high hopes as to what I would feel once inside its walls. I liked what I was seeing, but since I was so interested in the show more than my surroundings I had to leave it as “really good” as an experience. Of course I wish I could have said the same for Marillion who had seemed to lose me with this recording and show. Musically it was true that the band was different with Steve Hogarth now on vocals, but I had enjoyed his earliest stuff with them and based on all the changes to format was growing distant from the band as his tenure progressed. Anyways, this is not about my Marillion concerns and is slightly off topic from where I was going with this narrative. So where was I? Oh yeah, the Irving Plaza venue. Well, in 2007 Livenation (a division of Clear Channel Communications) took over the place and did some serious renovations. The standard stuff in regards to paint, interior sprucing up and oh yeah – they also renamed the joint. Ladies and Gentlemen presenting “The Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza”. Continue reading Welcome Back Irving Plaza; You’ve Been Missed…→
Artist: HIM Venue: The Fillmore NY (New York, NY) Opener: We Are The Fallen, Dommin, Drive A Date: 5/7/20100 Label: Sire Records
In terms of the shows that had been lined up so far for the month, I had to admit that May was certainly trying to deliver a healthy blend of acts for a wide genre demographic of fans. Our own musical month of May began with a bombastic show by Overkill only a week ago and I do not use the term loosely. You see not only was the gig one for the record books, but just outside the venue that night was a failed attempt at terrorist activity upon our fair city and thank the powers that be for watchful eyes and the NYPD. The bomb malfunctioned and the idiot terrorist was quickly apprehended but it was not fun knowing that all of this was going on just above our heads and could have been far, far worse. That being said I was really looking forward to the HIM show as I have made sure to be on point every time he comes to the Big Apple. I did admit a little surprise with his selection of The Fillmore NY as a venue as opposed to the Nokia Theatre this time around but it is a weird time for the music business and every performer is changing up the way they deliver shows to the people. Ville and the boys were celebrating the semi-recent release of “Screamworks: Love In Theory and Practice” which is the bands seventh album and one that is being met with considerable approval. The tour put together for this go round would be an interesting one as it would find We Are The Fallen as direct support and Dommin leading up to them. Kicking the whole night off would be a youthful Punk band called Drive A. Here is how the show we attended went down in case you somehow missed it. Continue reading HIM @ The Fillmore at Irving Plaza (5/7/2010)→
Artist: Amon Amarth Venue: The Fillmore NY (New Yotk, NY) Opener: Eluveitie, Holy Grail Date: 4/25/2010 Label: Metal Blade Records
Once again New York City was finding that they needed to prepare for a Viking invasion as the mighty Amon Amarth were making a return to the vicinity and bringing along those Pagan Folk Metallers Eluveitie with them. We’ve seen Amon Amarth doing their thing a few times already and while they have been around for years, tonight would only be my fourth time seeing them in action. It’s always a solid night of Metal when these Swedes come a calling and since we have not caught them since the latter part of 2008, we felt it was high time to take part in the show. The gig went something like this…….
Holy Grail: Starting off the show would be Prosthetic Records recording artists Holy Grail and this would be my very first time seeing them do their thing. I love the name right off the bat as it resonates with the kind of energy one expects from a Metal band and luckily their live sound matched. The attacked the stage with a healthy dose of what we now call “Traditional Metal” and I am so much more inclined to that than “Old School” when it comes down to classification. I liked what I was hearing and have yet to hear their official debut on the label, but it is safe to say that if you are enjoying bands like White Wizzard who are also doing a similar thing, than your quest for the Holy Grail has completed since they are now officially here to deliver the goods. I wish them well, and will definitely see them again if the time permits. Onto a little Eluveitie. Continue reading Amon Amarth @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza (4/25/2010)→
Artist: Hammerfall Venue: The Fillmore NY (New York, NY) Opener: Powerglove, Arctic Flame Date: 3/7/2010 Label: Nuclear Blast Records
The ringing in my skull from the righteous smiting that was delivered by Kreator last night had finally subsided and now it was off to do battle once again in the fields of Metal and face those Templar’s of the Metal way – Sweden’s Hammerfall. By my recollection it has been about five years since the band has been over to this side of the pond and that last show was with Germany’s own Metal harlequins EdGuy. That was an amazing event and one that found the Metal faithful hoping that it would not be too long before we saw Hammerfall return and sadly the span of time would be about five years give or take a month. Tonight the band would bring with them the local support of Arctic Flame who we have seen in action a number of times and Powerglove who would be an entirely new experience for me. March Metal Madness continues. Starting off the night would be Arctic Flame from Bayonne, NJ and we would run late to the show and end up missing their full set. We felt this was ok since we had seen them before and given them some solid attention and also because we were sure that they would be back around again. We did learn that there was a new singer in place and also a new guitar player. Good luck to you lads with your new members. Next up would be Powerglove. Continue reading Hammerfall @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza (3/7/2010)→
Artist: Between The Buried and Me Venue: The Fillmore NY (New York, NY) Opener: Cynic, Devon Townsend, Scale The Summit Date: 1/30/2010 Label: Victory Records
Damn did it get cold over these last couple of days but that was fine because the Metal shows were proving to be hotter than ever as last night the Big Apple was paid a visit by Epica, Threat Signal and Blackguard and this killer sold out show would lead us into tonight’s main event as those young masters of Progressive Death Metal Between the Buried and Me returned to NYC. The last time that I remember this band playing in the city, was when they did an opening slot on the Children Of Bodom/Testament tour and if they visited after that it was probably a show that I didn’t attend. Those kinds of shows are great for the band resume, but with their material being so involved and rather long, one had to view a twenty minute showcase of what they can do as almost pointless. Tonight we would get our fill as they prepared to attack with their interesting brand of Metal and brought along Scale The Summit, The Devin Townsend Project and Cynic to make sure this was a night that no one would soon forget. Continue reading Between The Buried And Me @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza (1/30/2010)→
