The Palm Beach Post

Korn introduces its fans to new dubstep style, with tremendous reaction

By Em Mendez   |  Live Shows  |  November 10, 2011

Jonathan Davis of Korn performs at the Fillmore Miami Beach. (Ari Justin Rothenberg for pbpulse.com)

God only knows what possesses Jonathan Davis. This year, apparently it’s dubstep.

Whether Korn fans will embrace their leader’s latest electronic experiment is anyone’s guess, but Thursday night’s show at the Fillmore Miami Beach was standing room only.

Metal heads mixed with electronic music fans of all ages for a sampling of the upcoming album, “The Path of Totality,” set to release Dec. 6. The full-length dubstep disc features tracks with DJ phenoms Skrillex, Kill The Noise, Feed Me, Noisia, 12th Planet and Excision.

“Dubstep is the new era of electronic dance music,” said Mike Secto, 25, down from Boca Raton to catch the show. “The single Korn released with Skrillex (“Get Up”) is already really big. It’s the future.”

Photos: Korn at the Fillmore Miami Beach

The resulting mix actually sounds natural on a live stage, as dubstep’s grinding bass lines and hard-hitting drums echo Korn’s hard-driving sound. Add to that the power and brute force of Davis’ voice and you have a true rager on your hands.
Read the full story

Posted in Live ShowsComments (0)

Making hummus even better for you

By Em Mendez   |  Health  |  May 04, 2011


Nature’s Healthy Gourmet has found a way to make one of today’s more popular healthy snack choices even healthier. With half the fat of traditional hummus (only 1 gram per ounce), their green garbanzo-based hummus is smooth and tasty, with a slight hint of lemon to give it a surprisingly cool finish.

Touting the green garbanzo as the “Super Bean” or “Better Bean,” this hummus has much lower sodium, carbohydrates and calories than traditional hummus. The green garbanzo is also high in folic acid. Read the full story

Posted in HealthComments (2)

Tags:

Did sports reporter Ines Sainz show up too sexy for work?

By Em Mendez   |  Sports, Style  |  September 17, 2010

Ines Sainz of TV Azteca cited embarrassment at comments on her looks. (Getty Images)

Self-proclaimed “hottest sports reporter in Mexico” Ines Sainz sparked a firestorm of controversy while on the job in the New York Jets locker room last Saturday.

She tweeted that she “was dying of embarrassment” after players made comments about her looks. And though she didn’t want to file a complaint, the Association of Women in Sports Media took up the cause, claiming possible harassment.

Sainz, a former Miss Universe contestant, later appeared on CBS’ The Early Show and said her tight jeans and button-down blouse were appropriate for covering a football game. Read the full story

Posted in Sports, StyleComments (36)

Crüe Fest 2: Tommy Lee single-handedly steals the show

By Em Mendez   |  Concert Reviews, Live Shows, Music  |  August 28, 2009

CONCERT CUTS: CRÜE FEST 2

Who: Motley Crüe, Godsmack, Drowning Pool, Theory of a Deadman, Charm City Devils, Cavo, 16 Second Stare, Shram, Rev Theory
Where: Cruzan Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach

Metal Mouths: Fans Speak!

Robert Lopez, Hialeah
Favorite Crue Fest 2 band: Motley Crüe

Robert’s review: “I was slightly disappointed that they played the entire Dr. Feelgood album from start to finish. I wish they would have played more from Too Fast For Love, Shout at the Devil and Theatre of Pain. Other than that, Motley Crüe was awesome.”

Toni Mueller, Fort Pierce
Favorite Crue Fest 2 band: Godsmack
Toni’s review: (Editor’s note: Toni, who is deaf, delivered her review in sign language) “I really liked Godsmack. They were really good. I feel the music. I loved all the lights and the pictures.”

Tiffany Turner, Pembroke Pines
Favorite Crüe Fest 2 band: Theory of a Deadman

Tiffany’s review: “They played all their awesome songs but the best part was when they started a mosh pit. Some people were getting drunk and rolling around. It was funny.”

Our wrap up:

Godsmack may have outperformed the other acts at Crüe Fest 2 with their dueling drum-set battle and frontman Sully Erna’s power baritone, but only Motley Crüe could rock with one hand tied behind their drummer’s back.

Tommy Lee was notably absent to start the Crüe’s set, but he skipped on stage a few songs in, sporting a bandaged left hand and explaining, “I burnt myself up being a jackass … I just came out to say ‘Hey!’ and give everyone a hug.”

Fans were then treated to a nostalgic run through the entire Dr. Feelgood album, in order, with Street Drum Corps’ Frank Zummo filling in for Lee, who reportedly burned his thumb and forefinger while playing with sparklers earlier this month. A few more songs and back out Lee frolicked, only to serve Jägermeister shots to the crowd.

Bassist Nikki Sixx and guitarist Mick Mars held the heavy core of the songs together, making up for frontman Vince Neil’s hastily delivered lyrics. Mars’ thunderous, dark, semi-acoustic solo marked the end of the madness of the Dr. Feelgood set, and the padded cells were replaced with steam-punk stage props.

Fireballs, fireworks, sparklers, flames. Every part of the stage was rigged with pyrotechnics for the last five songs, a rocking run through Motley’s best, starting with “Wild Side” and ending with “Girls, Girls, Girls.”

Few noticed through the fireworks that Lee was on drums. When he emerged from behind his set to play piano on “Home Sweet Home” it was the crowd that exploded.

As the lights came on and the band said goodbye, Lee stayed behind for one last serenade, leading the crowd in a sing-along rap…

“When I say Motley, you say Crüe!”

“MOTLEY!”

“CRÜE!”

“MOTLEY!”

“CRÜE!”

Set list:

1- Dr. Feelgood

2- Slice of Your Pie

3- Rattlesnake Shake

4- Kickstart My Heart

5- Without You

6- Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)

7- Sticky Sweet

8- She Goes Down

9- Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

10- Time For Change

11- Wild Side

12- Saints of Los Angeles

13- Shout At The Devil

14- Home Sweet Home

15- Girls, Girls, Girls

16- Tommy Lee a capella

Posted in Concert Reviews, Live Shows, MusicComments (1)

Tags: , , ,

Manson makes music “the show” at Mayhem

By Em Mendez   |  Concert Reviews, Live Shows, Rock  |  August 13, 2009

manson_slider1
Marilyn Manson closes the night at the Mayhem Festival. (Allen Eyestone / The Post) | Photos More photos
Photos Photos: Manson fans put on a show of their own

CONCERT CUTS: MARILYN MANSON

Who: Marilyn Manson, Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival
Where: Cruzan Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach

Mouths of Mayhem: Fans Speak!
Jennifer Gratz, Fort Lauderdale
Number of times she’s seen them: Three
Favorite Song: “Lunchbox”
Jennifer’s review: “It was beautiful. When he sings, I connect with him. I feel positive. I’m happy to see him onstage expressing himself.”

Troy Longhurst, Lake Worth
Number of times he’s seen them: Eleven
Favorite Song: “Minute of Decay”

Troy’s review: “It was like someone slipped him black-tar heroin instead of his normal dosey dose. The shock rock has faded but the positive energy and power is still there.”

Read the full story

Posted in Concert Reviews, Live Shows, RockComments (7)

Tags:

Master NIN/JA sideswiped by a powerless PA

By Em Mendez   |  Concert Reviews, Live Shows, Music, Rock  |  May 09, 2009
Nine Inch Nails lead singer Trent Reznor at Cruzan Amphitheatre. (Taylor Jones/The Post)Photos More photos

Nine Inch Nails lead singer Trent Reznor at Cruzan Amphitheatre. (Taylor Jones/The Post)

Technology got the best of Trent Reznor in the end.

Try as he might to make the opening night of Nine Inch Nails’ farewell tour, Wave Goodbye, a fully interactive multimedia cybershow, the tech wizard was foiled by a lousy PA.

Friday night’s NIN/JA show at the Cruzan Amphitheatre was a feast for the technophile set. Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction fans were allowed to bring personal cameras, video and audio recorders. A running photo blog documented the action on NIN.com and fans who had downloaded the NIN iphone application posted real-time updates and commentary, chatting with nearby friends on the “app” since long before the gates even opened.

But someone turned off the PA before Nine Inch Nails could come out for their encore, “Hurt”.

Nails frontman Reznor shared his thoughts via a Twitter update he posted around 11 p.m.: “NIN/JA temper tantrum #1 thrown tonight in celebration of the PA being turned off for our encore, ruining an otherwise good set.”

If you don’t follow @trent_reznor or @nineinchnails on Twitter there’s a good chance you missed the beginning of the set, which started with the sun still out, at 7:45 p.m. You also may have missed the “tweet” explaining that the headliners would actually go on before Jane’s Addiction because, as Reznor is alleged to have posted on NIN.com, “there’s no way that we could rock after them.”

But they rocked. Hard. With sonic brutes like “March of the Pigs,” “Mr. Self Destruct,” “Burn,” “Wish,” “Survivalism,” “The Hand that Feeds,” and “Head like a Hole,” it’s a wonder no one got carried out of the mosh pit. The pulverizing industrial romps were balanced out by ominous and calm tracks, “Home,” “The Fragile,” “Gone, Still”‘ and “Right Where It Belongs”, scattered sparingly throughout.

Sherry Lanza, of Wellington, who had never seen Nine Inch Nails before, was left wanting more.

“I wish they would have played more from Pretty Hate Machine,” she said. “But the show was awesome. They were incredible.”

Reznor, a man of few words, rarely seen in anything other than all-black clothing, did pause briefly to tell the crowd, “We’re trying some different (stuff) out tonight.” Then after a long pause: “White pants.”

But the only visible difference was the make-up of the band, with guitarist Robin Finck, drummer Ilan Rubin and bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen. The group of relentless professionals melded together so perfectly that any kinks in the chemistry weren’t audible.

“They sounded beautiful,” said David Kievit of Sebastian, who drove to West Palm for the night for the show. “They have really emotional songs. The music is just beautiful.”

Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell at Cruzan Amphitheatre. (Taylor Jones/The Post)Photos More photos

Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell at Cruzan Amphitheatre. (Taylor Jones/The Post)

It’s possible Reznor knew his white pants really couldn’t compete with Perry Farrell’s frontman fashions. The Jane’s Addiction lead singer dazzled in his black sequins slacks, an embroidered shirt and, of course, a black sequined boa.

Jane’s Addiction is sharing the stage with Nine Inch Nails for the first time since Lollapalooza 1991. Farrell, touring with original band members Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Eric Avery, may have scared off a few Nails fans with his shine, as the crowd thinned out a bit.

But Farrell didn’t notice. He was in paradise.

“My friends, we have been here all week, setting this up, enjoying your beautiful, beautiful coastline. There ain’t a more beautiful place in the world to start this off,” he says with a smile. “The girls are fine. The men are macho. The water’s warm. You can’t wear much clothes out here. I love it.”

And so did Jane’s Addiction fans. The set was a bit shorter than Nails’, but it was filled with the rocking classics that made Jane’s the quintessential alternative band of the ’90s.

“Jane’s was radiant,” said Fernando Aguado of Miami. “To start a set with ‘Three Days’ means you’re telling people ‘I’m gonna throw down a set right here’.”

By the end of the show Farrell, now in a gleaming satin sage suit, had them all screaming for more.

Tom Morello and Boots Riley of Street Sweeper Social Club. (Taylor Jones / The Post)Photos More photos

Tom Morello and Boots Riley of Street Sweeper Social Club. (Taylor Jones / The Post)

The concert was rounded out with an opening set by Street Sweeper Social Club, a new project of Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morella and The Coup’s Boots Riley.

“I thought the whole show was amazing,” posts user Cinder8887 at 2:10 a.m. to her nearby NIN app friends. “I will def be checking out SSSC and would never have heard JA without this show. Nails left me shaking they were so good.”

” It was a great show!! ‘The Fragile’ and ‘I’m Afraid of Americans’ — I have no words to describe how good it was..” posts Mitcky53 on NIN.com.

And so begin the hundreds of catalogues of NINcasts which will be charged with capturing the final farewell of the techno-genius who, by the way, is doing daily ticket giveaways on Twitter.

That’s, of course, if there aren’t any more bugs.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Posted in Concert Reviews, Live Shows, Music, RockComments (6)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

(Hed) p.e. has their heads in the right place

By Em Mendez   |  Concert Reviews, Live Shows, Music, Rock  |  April 27, 2009

hedpePlanet Earth is in rockin’ hands.

“All you need is love!” yells Jared Gomes’, aka MCUD (MC Underdog) to a packed Culture Room crowd.

The explosive frontman and his group (Hed) p.e. are in town headlining the “New World Orphans” tour with Mower, Dirtball and DGAF. It’s a Sunday night, but you can’t tell by looking around. The place is packed to capacity and 10 degrees steamier than outside from the sweat of the mostly-male crowd.

“This is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had at The Culture Room,” he says mid-set to a roaring reply. “And I’m glad to see the (mosh) pit. It’s a good pit! And I’m happy to see it’s stayed respectful. I guess we left all the bullies outside.”

In the pit, which is about 20 guys and girls strong, I see a skinny guy with one hand in the air holding what looks to be a broken watch. Even in the violent whirling humanity of the floor-consuming pit, he’s looking out for his fellow fan.

I can’t figure how I’d never heard of the group, which has been around since the early ’90s, so I ask all the obvious questions.

“What’s Hed stand for?” Higher thought.

“P.E.?” Planet Earth.

It makes perfect sense if you’re listening.

Here and there Gomes shouts his opinion on everything from the anti-corporate — “Roll your own natural tobacco and don’t smoke those chemically poisoned cigarettes.” — to pro-relationship — “Any man who doesn’t know how to give it to his woman doesn’t listen to enough Bob Marley.” — breaking out into a short a cappella rendition of “One Love.” He even blasts “the Illuminati’s program of suppression.”

The messages are profound but it’s the foundation of this group which is crisp and audible. It’s “rapcore” (hard core mixed with rap), but there’s also punk, funk, metal and a whole lot of mojo mixed in. Unlike many live shows in smaller venues, (Hed) p.e.’s raw sound translates clearly and Gomes strong vocal range brings a power you can’t ignore.

Despite all the aggression and profanity, Gomes leaves you with with love and a laugh.

“This is our planet! We are the humans! Did you ever ask yourself, ‘If it’s our planet, how come they charge us so much to live here?’”

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Posted in Concert Reviews, Live Shows, Music, RockComments (0)

Tags: , , ,


Great food in local hotspots
We want to know what you love about living in Palm Beach County -- from restaurants to attractions and even shopping. Come back and visit us often for the latest polls and results.


Copyright 2012 The Palm Beach Post. All rights reserved. By using PalmBeachPost.com, you accept the terms of our visitor agreement. Please read it.
Contact PalmBeachPost.com | Privacy Policy
This website is ACAP-enabled