Lacey Sturm/ Palisades/ Stitched Up Heart/ Letters From the Fire at Webster Hall, NYC 2/6/17

On Feb. 2, 2017, the beautiful and awesome Lacey Sturm had a show at Webster Hall in NYC. The former Flyleaf signer has been doing a headlining tour, and I was on hand, as press, to cover this neck of the tour. I been a fan of hers since her Flyleaf days, but never saw her live before. Coupled with some solid opening acts, I was very excited to be at this show.

Before the concert started I got to talk and meet Stitched Up Heart (one of the opening acts) drummer Decker and Madame Mayhem, the signer of her own band, baring her namesake. The lovely Mayhem was hanging with SUH at this concert. Her band is fucking awesome and you guys definitely need to be checking them out. To boot, Decker and Mayhem are both really cool and nice in person.

The first band that came on was Letters From The Fire. This was my first time hearing them, but holy shit, do they ever kick ass! They play great hard rock music. Their beautiful and charismatic lead signer Alexa Kabazie and the band, as a whole, have a great stage presence. As such, they are one of the best opening acts that I have seen in very long time and were playing in support of their album Worth the Pain, which is currently out.

Their set list was as follows:

Perfect Life
Last December
Worth The Pain
At War
Control
Give In To Me

 

 

 After their set was done, I got to meet Alexa. She was so nice in person! 

The next band up was Stitched Up Heart. This is now my third time seeing them, and as always they tear up onstage. Energetic and fired up, they own wherever it is that they are playing. Their set opened up with the ass kicking ''Finally Free''. From there they played various songs from their current album and full length debut, Never Alone, including ''Monster'' and their current video ''Catch Me When I Fall'', which has become my favorite song of theirs. The beautiful Mixi is just such an awesome front-woman, and she is backed up by an equally energetic band. They never fail to get me all pumped up!

 

 

 

 

 

As with the last two times, I saw them I met Mixi. She is definitely beautiful inside and out, as she is always so sweet to everyone who goes up to meet her. Humble, friendly, and down-to-earth, she is always all smiles, hugs, and selfies. She loves selfies with her fans and is the queen of doing just that!

Next up was Palisades, who played their brand of screamo/ electrocore. They showed a lot of energy and a different sound from the other bands on the tour. Their new, self-titled album just came out last month.

 

 

Finally, it was time for Lacey Sturm and her band to come onstage. From the very get-go the performance was filled with unbridled energy. The band was playing in support of her solo debut album, Life Screams. Personally speaking, I loved this album and thought it was one of last year's best debut albums.

Their set opened up with the album opener, Impossible. From there they played all of my favorite songs from album including such hard rocking tracks as ''Solider'', ''Rot'', and ''I''m not Laughing (which happen to be my three favorite tracks from the album), and the powerful and heartfelt "You're Not Alone".

One of the coolest track that they are playing is "Heavy Prey" the awesome song that she sang on the Underworld: Awakening soundtrack. They also played two cover songs, including their amazing take on The Police's classic track ''Roxanne'', which is available as a live extra track on their above mentioned album. On top of that, they also performed a couple of Flyleaf classics like the truly awesome ''Cassie'' and ''Chasm''. They closed off the set with Flyleaf medley of "I'm So Sick/ Fully Alive/ Call You Out/ Forever".

Between the songs, she would talk to the audience. She introduced the touring band members, including her husband, guitarist Joshua Sturm (first pic, below). She also would talk about the meanings of her songs, talking about life, love, and, of course, God. She speaks passionately, and you can see that it all comes from her good heart. Then she would get back to rocking hard. It's amazing all the energy that comes out from the tiny, little frame has. She is seriously one of the most energetic front-women to see live.

The end result was a great show. Lacey put on one heck of a show and was backed up by some great supporting acts. Be sure to catch this tour, if you haven't done so yet, and it passes your neck of the woods.

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Flyleaf- Live from NYC 10/17/14

This week, on Thurs,  Oct. 18, 2014, I attended a Flyleaf concert at Gramercy Theatre in NYC. It was my first time seeing the band, despite being a long time fan of theirs, since their debut album, actually. That this concert was with their new signer, Kristen May, whose voice I love, had me even more excited for it.

I actually got tickets at a discounted price cause I ordered them through the opening act, Charetta's website. I first became aware of this band when I saw them open up at the Revolver's Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock in NYC show. I called them the best opening act back then, and I still stand by that. They rock hard as hell, and their beautiful lead signer Angelina DelCarmen has an amazing voice with a killer vocal range. She also has a great stage presence and is backed by a talented band that really knows how to bring it. These guys have the whole rock star thing onstage down to a pat. With the butt kicking style and excellent quality of the straight up hard rock/ heavy metal music that they play, they deserve a ton of success. That Angelina is such a sweetheart and is so down-to-earth, only adds to their awesomeness. I hope they break through and become huge!! Check them out, you will not be disappointed, I guarantee it!

 Before the show I got say hi and talk to Angelina for a little bit.

 

 Angelina rocks so freaking hard! I swear she blows away some signers out there who front "bigger" bands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having bought their excellent latest EP, Apocalypse, the last time I saw them, I was happy to hear many songs that I love and recognized, including the totally ripping track that is "Watch It Burn".

 

 

 

This was the last show with their bass player Rich Mollo so it ended with an emotional hug as the band hugged him goodbye. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

After two more opening acts Flyleaf came on stage and, to sort of quote their current hit single, set the place on fire! The band played hard and rocked the entire house! Kristen proved within minutes to any doubters (if there were any at this show) watching it live that she is more than capable to carry band. In fact, at one point, still early in the performance, the crowd was chanting her name!!! She has such an amazing and beautiful voice. The range and emotion with she sings is just captivating. That's not even taking into account her stage presence. Not only is she a naturally stunning beauty, but she definitely knows how to hold the audience in her hand. She dances, jumps, and moves around all over the stage.

She is also incomparable in her interaction with the crowd. For one of my favorite songs, and a favorite among of most, if not all, Flyleaf fans, "Cassie", she got off the stage and sang with the fans. She would later repeat this even getting inside the crowd, to sing and dance with them, at one point. Her fan interaction would conclude with her stage-diving into us!

Most of the songs came off of their amazing current album, Between the Stars, including all of my favorites from there, like "Set Me on Fire", "Traitor", "Platonic", and "Marionette", as well classic hits from the band like "Fully Alive", "Again", and an amazing version of "All Around Me". They came back for two songs in the encore, including their seminal classic "I'm So Sick" and a beautiful duet with opening act with Ryan White.

And, after all of that, they took some time out to meet the fans by sign autographs, and even take pictures with them at their merchandse table!! How many bands, as big and successful as they are, would ever think of doing this? And, I am not counting bands who charge extra for you to hang/ meet them backstage or whatever, either. Other than any merch you choose to buy (and you didn't really need to do that either), it was free! I got the CD signed and a poster. And, everyone was just so nice and cool in the band. Two of the guys even liked my Misfits/ Marilyn Monroe tee that I had on! And, Kristen was all smiles and so humble as I told her how awesome she and everyone in the band was! My selfie with her is easily one of my favorite moments in the entire year. No, wait this concert was one of the best moments for me in the entire year! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I have seen fan interaction but I don't think anyone does it as awesome or lovingly as Kristen does!

 

 

 

 She has such energy on stage! I freaking love her!!!

 

 The band plays so good and so hard! You know you are at a rock/ metal show when you see and hear them!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think we all just about flipped the heck out when she actually got in the crowd and sang and danced with us!!!

When she got on her knees, as in the lyrics of "Again", while she sang it, it was with such emotion, strength, and heart, that I don't know if I have the words to describe. I hope that, at very least, the pic above can capture even a fraction of it.

 When she stage dived into crowd!!! Just awesome!!

 

That duet with Ryan White was breathtaking!!!

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