The Hellpop Tour (Featuring In This Moment) @ Rapids Theatre, Niagara Falls, New York 11-13-2013

Wednesday night rock did not only descend on the Rapids Theatre, Niagara Falls NY, but it stayed, conquered and almost (metaphorically speaking) destroyed! Opening the concert was the band All Hail the Yeti, yet they were no “opening act” but simply a leader of the pack. This was no gentle ballad experience, oh no, it was a get-on-your-earplugs-and-don’t-care-what-you-look-like-after-the-concert experience. Coming to you loud and hard was the theme of the night and lead singer Connor Garritty wasn’t there to just prep you for a night of heavy metal – he was there to let that primal scream out, and out fast. Despite the fact that they were pressed for time and played a short set, the power of his voice echoed through the night. Backed by a young Zakk Wylde doppelganger, Craw NeQuent on guitar, (looking and sounding like the legend), in addition to thrashing Nicholas Diltz on bass, and a shirtless, pounding Steve White on drums, the oozing sex appeal in songs like opener “Deep Creek” to the closing pulse of “The Art of Mourning,” set the tone (and level) to high for the night.

Following the ear splitting sounds, was Kyng who definitely took their name seriously. Engaging the crowd by both taunting them and calling them to rock, lead singer Eddie Veliz’s fast, frenzied guitar left everyone mesmerized. To up the ante, so to speak, he and bandmates Tony Castaneda (on bass) and Pepe Clarke Magana on drums, honored Van Halen with an amazing rendition of “Hot for Teacher,” showing us just the talent they had for hard hitting and furious (almost demonic) musical genius. It was just a sweet bonus to their already phenomenal “I Don’t Believe” and the gorgeous, rhythmic “Shoreline,” which left us physically breathless as the set ended.

White faces floating in the dark is what met us next. Spooky, scary and mesmerizing at the same time, Motionless in White had our attention from the onset. It was both rock and some strange nightmare all mixed in one. Their opening song “If It’s Dead (We Kill It)” came to life, as the zombie warriors thrashed in the darkness. Chris “Motionless” Cerulli led the charge with his larger than life presence. But don’t be fooled. Despite the almost choreographed thrashing, each band member stood out on their own. From Devin “Ghost” Sola to the androgenous Ricky Horror, none was like the other. Watching them on stage was an episode out of a retro horror movie, with lyrics and makeup to match!

In This Moment was a whole other ballgame. This was not just the headliner of the night, they were a stage show drama like not many I have seen before. Smoke filled the room, glowing in vivid colors as the sensual white masked twin dancers took the stage. In the darkness their lithe figures foreshadowed the sexual rock tension to come. Rock had arrived with the other bands, hard and throbbing, and here was the release. Whether you were a man or a woman, there was no denying the erotic experience In This Moment had prepared just for you. Maria began the set in her almost militaristic, sadistic outfit and continued with each and every song to change outfit and the sensual mood. By her fourth song, “Burn,” she was a devil incarnated with the wingspan to match. But just as you accepted the satanic calling, she hits you will the ballad “Into the Light” and out from hell into heaven you arrive. Atop a tall white mountain-like pedestal, blue lights behind her, she was not only poignant, but romantic, tugging at your heartstrings for redemption. And you felt redeemed, until she left the stage only to return as a demonic, Playboy Bunny dressed in black, ready to play hard. At one point she grabbed guitarist Blake Bunzel, tugging at his dreadlocks and forcing him into an erotic guitar strumming. But she was just starting, as she continued singing “Gunshow” and then broke into the Nine Inch Nail cover “Closer,” where simply on a chair she made us feel hot and sweaty just standing their watching. Flashdance never was this sexy. We waited for the water to fall on her and the chair, but got instead, her two dancers touching her intimately and teasing us, preparing us for Tom Hane on drums. He was there for a purpose – to hit you with a drum solo that was hot like a jackhammer, fast and furious; vibrating the room in an erotic way that the faster and harder he went, the climax of the song was exhausting. Despite the eroticism, Maria was a real person on stage, even at one point telling the crowd that together we were celebrating our differences together this night. She delighted us by reviving old songs, only to close with the hit “Blood” after we had to beg it out of her. Begging was worth it…

Editors note: All 4 bands signed a cat and a dog collar supporting the animal rescue Rock N’ Rescue – please consider adopting one of their sponsored pets based in Rochester, NY! Rock N’ Rescue can be reached via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rocknrescue.1 or email them at rocknrescue1@gmail.com.

In This Moment Setlist:

Adrenalize
Blazin
Beast Within
Burn
Into the Light
Gunshow
Closer
Prayer’s/Next to Life/Daddy’s Falling Angel (Medley)
Whore