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.

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.

Concert Review: GWAR @ The Diamond “Drive-In” 10/10/20 — Richmond, VA

Holy shit! GWAR played their first drive-in concert in the parking lot of The Diamond in Richmond, VA on 10/10/20, and I was fortunate enough to be there for my first parking lot show as well. The band’s performance was top notch and included all the horrific thrills and chills you would expect from these intergalactic metal gods — blood, guts, and senseless rock ‘n’ roll obscenity. I loved every second of it.

Continue reading below for my full concert review and more photos. Concert review and all photos by Andy Jillson.

Show Preview: GWAR @ The Diamond 10/10/20 — Richmond, VA

Richmond’s own intergalactic metal gods GWAR are taking over The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia with two drive-in concert performances on Saturday, October 10. I, Andy Jillson, will be attending the early show and Hazy Eye Music Media’s own Brad Price will be in the front row (receiving the VIP treatment) for GWAR’s late show…and boy are we excited!!!

Tickets range from $139.95 to $199.95 per vehicle for the concert, based on proximity to stage. The late show is sold out, but there are still a few tickets left for the early show. For direct links to remaining tickets and GWAR merch, click HERE or HERE. Continue Reading below for more info and to view some lovely photos of GWAR & GWARbar. Photos and words by Andy Jillson & Brad Price.

Interview: Bill Garman (Concert & Sports Photographer)

Hazy Eye Music Media is proud to announce another interview in a series of interviews I’m currently conducting with some of my favorite concert photographers. I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone and have begun picking the brains of some phenomenal photographers. My interviews in this series focus on concert photographers outside of DC, MD, and VA. Anyway, check it out! I, Andy Jillson, was fortunate enough to interview Bill Garman. Bill is an extremely talented freelance photographer based in Massillon, Ohio. I met him last summer at the Knotfest Roadshow in Burgettstown, PA. Bill is the type of photographer I aspire to be. His work is unique and well, breathtaking.

Bill is not only a great concert photographer— he’s also an amazing sports photographer and shoots Notre Dame football for Irish Sports Daily. His sports photography is equally as impressive as his skills in the photo pit. Continue reading below for my full interview with Bill Garman. All photos copyright and courtesy of Bill Garman.

Interview: Brad Price (Concert Photographer)

*Cannibal Corpse @ Merriweather Post Pavilion* *(Photo by Brad Price)*

Anyway, check it out! I, Andy Jillson, was fortunate enough to interview Brad Price. Brad is a talented up-and-coming concert photographer and has already covered some great musical artists. Brad loves music, live shows, and all types of photography; and he’s a member of the Hazy Eye Music Media team! Continue reading below for my full interview with Brad Price. All photos copyright and courtesy of Brad Price.

*Gwar @ Rams Head Live (Photo by Brad Price)*

Interview: Derek S. Abrams (3 Headed Snake & Ministry)

Derek S. Abrams

Hazy Eye Music Media is proud to post another interview in a series of interviews I’m currently conducting with some of my favorite artists. I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone and have begun picking the brains of some phenomenal musicians. This time I, Andy Jillson, was fortunate enough to interview Derek S. Abrams.

Abrams is an extremely proficient metal drummer. He has been playing since the age of seven, and professionally since the age of fifteen. In high school, he focused on jazz history, theory and composition. After high school, he embarked on an extensive study of world percussion and ethnic drumming. He is most known for being a touring drummer for the pioneering industrial-metal band, Ministry. Continue reading below for my full interview with Derek S. Abrams.

Photo Flashback: Cult of Luna w/ Emma Ruth Rundle & Intronaut @ Soundstage 2/29/20 — Baltimore, MD

*Cult of Luna @ Soundstage (Photo by Andy Jillson)*

Cult of Luna headlined a show at Soundstage in Baltimore, Maryland on February 29, 2020 — and I, Andy Jillson, was there to capture some of action. This was an interesting lineup and a welcomed mixture of unique artists. Yep, in this “Photo Flashback” we’re taking a trip down memory lane with Cult of Luna, Emma Ruth Rundle, and Intronaut.

*Intronaut @ Soundstage (Photo by Andy Jillson)*

Photo Flashback: Queensryche @ Soundstage 2/20/20 — Baltimore, MD

*Queensryche @ Soundstage (Photo by Shane Gardner)*

Queensryche performed at Soundstage in Baltimore, Maryland on February 20, 2020 and Hazy Eye Music Media’s contributor Shane Gardner was there to capture some of the classic metal action. Yep, in this “Photo Flashback” we’re taking a trip down memory lane with Queensryche — and Shane is our guide. All images copyright and courtesy of Shane Gardner.

Photo Flashback: John 5 @ Soundstage 2/20/20 — Baltimore, MD

*John 5 @ Soundstage (Photo by Shane Gardner)*

John 5 performed at Soundstage in Baltimore, Maryland on February 20, 2020 and Hazy Eye Music Media’s contributor Shane Gardner was there to capture some of the electric guitar magic. Yep, in this “Photo Flashback” we’re taking a trip down memory lane with John 5 — and Shane is our guide. All images copyright and courtesy of Shane Gardner.