Show Preview: Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2021 — Danville, VA

Virginia’s 4th annual Blue Ridge Rock Festival will be taking place this year September 9-12 at the Blue Ridge Amphitheater in Danville, VA. Once again, the festival organizers have gone out of their way to provide an entirely “fan-driven” artist lineup. This musical event will be one of the best of the year!

Headliners for this year’s Blue Ridge Rock Festival include Rob Zombie, Rise Against, Breaking Benjamin, Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth, Papa Roach, and Shinedown. I’m personally looking most forward to performances by Gojira, Lamb of God, Mastodon, and Anthrax. View full line-up and/or purchase tickets at blueridgerockfest.com. Continue reading below for more information.

Photo Flashback: Goose @ Frederick Fairgrounds 5/4/21 — Frederick, MD

3BAFE21A-2386-4F83-B05D-FE1B885CB78C — *Goose (Photo by Andy Jillson)*

Goose and their musical gaggle landed at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, MD once again this year. Showtime At The Drive-In has been hosting drive-in concert events at the fairgrounds and Goose remain the best act that has performed at the fairgrounds thus far. This was my second time seeing the band live. They did not disappoint.

Anyway, in this photo flashback we’re taking a glimpse into the world of post-COVID concerts. Be sure to check out the Official Goose Website for music, videos, merch, and upcoming shows. Continue reading below for more shots of Goose performing for a sold out, socially-distanced, crowd at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, MD. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.

Photo Flashback: The Disco Biscuits @ Frederick Fairgrounds 4/23/21 — Frederick, MD

*The Disco Biscuits (Photo by Andy Jillson)*

The Disco Biscuits played for sold out lot of overzealous music fans on opening night at the Frederick Fairgrounds this year. The band actually sold out two nights at the fairgrounds, but I was there covering their “drive-in” performance on April 23, 2021. It was a beautiful evening for an outdoor concert, and The Disco Biscuits played two full-sets. This was a great way to kick off the fairgrounds’ 2021 season.

Anyway, in this photo flashback we’re taking a glimpse into the world of post-COVID concerts. Be sure to check out the Official Disco Biscuits Website for music, videos, merch, and upcoming shows. Continue reading below for more shots of The Disco Biscuits performing for a sold out, socially-distanced, crowd at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, MD. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.

Photo Flashback: The Infamous Stringdusters @ B Chord Brewing 4/16 & 4/17/21 — Round Hill, VA

*The Infamous Stringdusters (Photo by Andy Jillson)*

The Infamous Stringdusters played three sold out shows in a row at B Chord Brewing in Round Hill, VA last weekend. I was there covering their performances on Friday (4/16) and Saturday (4/17). These were the Stringdusters’ first shows in over a year. The band and crowd alike were overjoyed and full of positive energy. A good time was had by all.

Anyway, in this photo flashback we’re taking a glimpse into the world of post-COVID concerts. Be sure to check out the Official Infamous Stringdusters Website for music, videos, merch, and upcoming shows. Continue reading below for more shots of The Infamous Stringdusters performing for sold out crowds in the mountains of northern Virginia. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.

Photo Flashback: Eric Scott Band @ Rams Head On Stage 2/25/21 — Annapolis, MD

The Eric Scott Band played a sold out show at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, MD on February 25, 2021 and I was there doing my best to photograph the band behind a plexiglass barrier. Eric Scott is a Washington, DC singer-songwriter and bassist. He has toured internationally and is a 15-time Wammie winner, as awarded by the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA). He’s also a 2021 Wammie Finalist. Amazing.

Anyway, in this photo flashback, we’re taking a trip down memory lane with the Eric Scott Band. This was my first show of the year, and Eric’s too! Continue reading below for more shots of Eric Scott and his band performing for a sold out (socially-distanced) crowd at Rams Head On Stage. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.

Interview: Max Terlecki of DEYSSI

Los Angeles based noise-rock trio DEYSSI will be releasing their second album, $273.96, January 15, 2021 on Chain Letter Collective. Max Terlecki launched DEYSSI in 2014 and the band released their first EP in 2015 and first full-length album (Ten Persons, Ten Colors) in 2019. In the spring of 2020, the band’s three members gathered in a windowless concrete room inside an industrial building just outside of LA’s Chinatown neighborhood to record $273.96. The result: dark, improvisational chaos.

I spoke with Max about the band and the upcoming release of their second full-length album, $273.96. I highly recommend listening to DEYSSI if you’re into noisy, experimental, DIY, indie punk rock. Anyway, continue reading below for my interview with Max Terlecki of DEYSSI.

Album Review: The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo by Mr. Bungle (Ipecac Recordings)

*Mr. Bungle: The Raging Wrath of The Easter Bunny Demo*

Avant-garde metal martyr’s Mr. Bungle released the best thrash metal album of 1986 on October 30, 2020. Possibly one the best things to come out of what would end up becoming such a hellish year. Of course I’m referring to Bungle’s fourth studio album, The Raging Wrath of The Easter Bunny Demo. A demo most have never heard, and one I thought would never be legitimately re-recorded and released as an album. Eureka!

This album is fucking awesome. Beautiful and brutal. That’s about all I can say. It’s a true soundtrack for the times, particularly in the US, but also for the world’s chaos at large. With legends like Mike Patton, Scott Ian, Dave Lombardo, Trevor Dunn, and Trey Spruance, how can Mr. Bungle go wrong?!? They can’t. Anyway, in this album review Hazy Eye Music Media’s contributor Joseph Strand reviews The Raging Wrath of The Easter Bunny Demo by Mr. Bungle. Continue reading below for Joseph’s full album review.

Photo Flashback: Dead Kennedys & D.O.A. @ 9:30 Club 3/11/20 — Washington, DC

On March 3, 2020 I photographed pioneering punk rockers the Dead Kennedys and D.O.A. at DC’s historic 9:30 Club. I had only vaguely heard about the coronavirus at that time and certainly had no idea this was going to be the last concert I would attend for the next seven months. In between band sets a staff member informed me that the 9:30 Club and all other DC venues were going to be “temporarily shutdown” beginning the following day. Well…here we are almost nine months later. Ugh.

Anyway, in this Photo Flashback I am remembering my time with the Dead Kennedys and D.O.A.. Continue reading below for more images of both bands performing at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC on 3/11/2020. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.

Photo Flashback: Refused, Youth Code, & Racetraitor @ 9:30 Club 2/21/20 — Washington, DC

Refused, Youth Code, and Racetraitor played at the 9:30 Club in DC on February 21, 2020 and photographer Shane Gardner was there in the photo pit “pressing buttons” as he would say. Check out Shane’s official website, ROCK N ROLL SOCIALITE, for more examples of his work and information on how to obtain his services. Anyway, in this Photo Flashback were taking a trip down memory lane with Refused, Youth Code, and Racetraitor. Continue reading below for more shots from their performances at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC on February 21, 2020. All images copyright and courtesy of Shane Gardner.

Photo Flashback: Dark Star Orchestra @ Frederick Fairgrounds — 10/31/20

*Dark Star Orchestra (Photo by Andy Jillson)*

Dark Star Orchestra played to a sold out crowd of psychedelic ghouls and goblins at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, MD on October 31, 2020 and I was masked-up in the photo pit to capture some of this unusual event. All Good Presents and Showtime At The Drive-In hosted drive-in concert events at the fairgrounds last fall and DSO rose the Dead on Halloween night 2020. There was music, magic, mischief, and mayhem. What more could you want?!?

Anyway, in this Photo Flashback I am remembering my time with DSO. Continue reading below for more images of Dark Star Orchestra performing for a sold out (socially-distanced) crowd at the Frederick Fairgrounds on 10/31/20. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.