from the pit

In what has to be one of the most dedicated displays of fan appreciation, Five Finger Death Punch brought their Wrong side of Heaven tour to Milwaukee.  Taking the stage in high gear, FFDP wasted no time in connecting with the fans. From throwing out guitar picks to giving away parts of his wardrobe, Ivan made it known that he appreciates the capacity crowd that turned out to fill The Eagle Ballroom. While other bands skimp on production, FFDP came with an arenas worth of lighting and staging. With money tight these days fans are looking for bag for their…

On the second date of his Bring You Back Tour, Brett Eldredge proved why he is one of country musics up and coming artists. From the fist note, Brett and his band maintained a high energy show that kept the crowd at the Rave on their toes. Taking things up a notch, Brett decide the stage was to far from his fans and jumped into the crowed to rectify the issue. It is no doubt why Bretts fans love him and he pays it back to them through great songs and sweat. Watch for Brett to come through town again…

Bringing his unique style of country music to Milwaukee, Randy Houser took over the Eagles Ballroom Friday night in support of his new album How Country Feels. Randy treated the Milwaukee crowd to hit after hit without missing a step. Randy Houser has made his mark in country with a sound all his own, which can be tough in a market full of great artists.  If you missed Randy on Friday, he will be back in WI throughout the summer so check the links bellow for more information on Randy’s schedule.  Randy Houser official webpage. Randy Houser on Facebook.

Few bands can say they have played as many shows, or have toured as much as Sevendust. Currently out in support of their latest release, Black Out The Sun, Sevendust continues to energize each venue they perform at. From Woodstock 99’, to The Rave on Saturday, Sevendust brings their loyal fans into their world. In an odd choice of placement, Sevendust played in The Rave to a beyond sold out crowd while the Eagles Ballroom was at half capacity for the act playing there. In what has become a hallmark, Sevendust turns any size stage into a full on production. With openers…

Touring in support of their latest release, Not Your Kind of People , Garbage played to a respectable sized crowd at the Eagles Ballroom Saturday. Their fifth record, Garbage continues to prove how they have built such a loyal fan base. With the unmistakable talent each member brings to the table, and songs that refuse to apologize for their honesty, Garbage continues to be a unique band in a sea of cookie cutter copy cats.  On the road for the last year after an 8 year break, Garbage kept the Eagles Ballroom in motion from the first note. Between songs, Shirley Manson…

I recently had an opportunity  to speak with Goran Kralj about The Gufs, and where he has been since we last saw him. It has been 25 years since The Gufs formed in Milwaukee and with such a milestone at hand, the timing seemed right to find out what The Gufs and Goran have been up to and what they have planned, if anything for the future. I first met Goran back in 1997 while working for a local sound company. Having worked in the Music business for over 20 years, I am frequently asked who the nicest artists I…

With a catalog of hits to his record, Gary Allan brought his brand of soulful country rock to Milwaukee on Friday. From his time playing clubs in southern California, to countless dates on the road, Gary and his world-class band kept the near-capacity crowd on their feet with the skill that only time and miles can do. Opener Lindsay Ell had a hard time connecting with the crowd, which wasn’t helped by a front of house engineer who was asleep at the wheel, not turning on her microphone for the first half of her opening song. (On a side note, as someone…

Making their return to Milwaukee, Matchbox Twenty spared no expense bringing their long list of hits to the stage. From the onset, it was obvious that the band had no intention of phoning in their current tour as semi-trailers and buses lined the block around the Riverside Theater. Opener Phillip Phillips set the tone for the night with his soulful voice and guitar work. While Phillips was accompanied by other musicians, he took a page from Willy Porter and was able to hold the crowd with just his voice and guitar. With a relatively quick turnaround between acts, Matchbox Twenty took the…

Formed in Seattle, Wash., in 1984, Soundgarden was at the forefront of the grunge scene, pioneers of a style and a movement that changed the music scene forever. On Feb. 1, Soundgarden brought their King Animal tour to Milwaukee and proved why they have been able to survive for decades, while never being duplicated. The entire vibe of the show was one that reflected Soundgarden’s style of giving a great show without overdoing the production. From their decision to not have an opening band to picking up production locally, Soundgarden kept it about the music. Moments before they took the…

Sitting in Billboards top 200, Stone Sours latest release House of Gold and Bones, brings the band back to Milwaukee. Since their last visit to Milwaukee, the band has endured as Drummer Roy Mayorga recovered from a stroke, and bassist Johny Chow stepped in on bass after the departure of Shawn Economaki. From the intro of “Gone Sovereign,” the band had the crowd at The Rave in the palm of their hands. Friday’s show was everything you would expect from a seasoned touring machine, the core of which is made up of Corey Taylor and Jim Root, members of Slipknot. A charismatic front man,…