Louder Than Life Festival Lineup Announced

Posted on March 12, 2022 by philspicks

The Louder Than Life Festival will return to Louisville, KY this year with an expansive lineup of acts.

The festival, scheduled to take place Sept. 22-25 at the Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center in Louisville, KY, will be headlined by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, and KISS. The four-day festival will also feature performances from bands, such as Bloodywood, Anti-Flag, and Superbloom. The KY Expo Center is located at 937 Phillips Ln. in Louisville, KY.

The festival’s full lineup is noted below. Tickets are available here. Weekend general admission passes start at $249.50 plus fees. Weekend VIP passes start at $629.50 plus fees. A limited number of Weekend Top Shelf VIP passes is still available for $1,329.50 plus fees.

General admission single day passes start at $99.50 plus fees. Single day VIP passes start at $295.50 plus fees. Layaway options are available through March 31 for $10, with payments made through July.

A trailer for the forthcoming annual festival is streaming.

The current Louder Than Life lineup is as follows (subject to change):

Thursday, September 22: Nine Inch Nails, Bring Me The Horizon, Evanescence, Halestorm, Tenacious D, Yungblud, Highly Suspect, Ministry, Nothing More, Baroness, Spiritbox, Apocalyptica, Dorothy, Don Broco, New Years Day, Plush, Lilith Czar, Maggie Lindemann, Taipei Houston, The Dead Deads, Mothica, Superbloom, Eva Under Fire, Oxymorrons

Friday, September 23: Slipknot, Shinedown, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, In This Moment, Meshuggah, Clutch, Jinjer, GWAR, In Flames, Helmet, POORSTACY, Crown The Empire, DED, All Good Things, Amigo The Devil, Vended, Mike’s Dead, If I Die First, Orbit Culture, The Luka State, Ego Kill Talent, The Native Howl, Archetypes Collide

Saturday, September 24: KISS, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Chevelle, Ghostemane, Jerry Cantrell, Dance Gavin Dance, Theory of a Deadman, Body Count, Sevendust, Mammoth WVH, We Came As Romans, Airbourne, Cherry Bombs, Ill Niño, Tetrarch, Nita Strauss, Against The Current, Wargasm, Trash Boat, Shaman’s Harvest, Solence, Dropout Kings, Bloodywood

Sunday, September 25: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice In Chains, Incubus, Papa Roach, The Pretty Reckless, Architects, Bad Religion, Action Bronson, The Struts, Jelly Roll, Dirty Honey, Anti-Flag, The Joy Formidable, Bayside, The Warning, Royal & The Serpent, caroles daughter, Radkey, The Mysterines, Crown Lands, AEIR, The Alive, As You Were

The Louder Than Life Festival is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents. The festival debuted in 2014 and expanded to four days in 2021.

More information on the 2022 Louder Than Life Festival is available along with all of the festival’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louderthanlifefestival

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ltlfest

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The Sounds, Statements, Sequencing Of Superbloom’s New Album Will Appeal To Fans Of 90s Alt, Grunge Music

Posted on May 31, 2021 by philspicks

For many people out there, the era that was the 80s is neither dead nor gone (sadly). Ironically, the 80s is not the only era in which many people choose to live, even though it has passed. There are also those who choose to remain in the 90s, even though that age is gone, too. Among those individuals who apparently choose to live in the 90s, even now in the 21^st century are the members of the independent alt-rock band Superbloom. That is evidenced in the band’s album, Pollen. The 12-song record, scheduled for release Tuesday, is a full-on musical trip back to the 90s, but one that is welcome. Those musical arrangements that make up the body of this record will be discussed shortly. The lyrical themes that accompany the songs, while difficult to decipher at points without a lyrics sheet, also play into the album’s presentation. They will be discussed a little later. The sequencing of that collective content rounds out the most important of the album’s elements and will also be discussed later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make Pollen a surprisingly enjoyable nostalgic trip back to the 90s that any fan of that era’s sounds will enjoy.

Superbloom’s forthcoming album Pollen is a surprisingly enjoyable musical trip back to the 90s. More specifically, it is a welcome trip for those who were and still are fans of the grunge and alt-rock movement that was so prevalent during that era. That is proven primarily through the record’s featured musical arrangements. Right from the 42-minute record’s opening, audiences are treated to an arrangement that is comparable to works from Foo Fighters in ‘1994.’ Ironically, it was only a year later – 1995 – when Foo Fighters released its self-titled debut album. Nirvana had released its finale album, In Utero only a year prior in 1993. It sounded nothing like Foo Fighters’ album, which would of course come later, either. To that end, maybe the arrangement is meant to sort of highlight the bridge between the two bands. That is of course just this critic’s interpretation.

Moving on from ‘1994,’ the alt-rock and grunge sounds and styles continue from there. ‘Mary on a Chain’ bears a stylistic approach and sound that is just as comparable to works from Silverchair and Nirvana as to some of the alt-rocks bands that rose to fame during the 1990s. That is evidenced through the sound and style of the vocal delivery, guitars and bass here. Even the sound of the drums, thanks to the production, gives them the sound of drums used in so many records during that era. It makes for an interesting presentation in its own right.

Much the same can be said of ‘Hey Old Man,’ ‘Leash,’ and honestly every other arrangement featured throughout the album. Audiences are even treated to a Smashing Pumpkins style composition in the album’s latest single, ‘Pollen.’ As if that is not enough, listeners could just as easily argue that the band takes influence from (of all bands) in ‘Glass Candy Wrapper.’ The similarity between this song and Lifehouse’s hit single ‘Hanging By A Moment’ is uncanny. Whether that similarity was intended is known only to Superbloom’s members. Regardless, it is an unavoidable comparison. Taking that into account along with the other arrangements examined here and the rest of the record’s compositions, the whole makes this album appealing for any alt-rock and grunge rock fan if only for its musical content. Of course the musical content is only a portion of what is deserving of attention. The lyrical content that accompanies the songs’ musical content is also of note.

The lyrical content featured throughout Pollen is difficult to fully decipher at points without a lyrics sheet to reference. Though, there are some points at which the lyrics can at least be understood partially. One of the songs that allows for at least some understanding is the early Nirvana-esque ‘Spill.’ Front man Dave Hoon sings in the song’s lead verse, “I want to buy/A crow of thorns/try it on/And poison my…” The final words here are difficult to decipher. That aside, the very mention of the crown of thorns makes the song here perhaps about someone putting the weight of the world on their own shoulders. At another point, Hoon can be understood to sing, “I wish I was someone else/So I redeem myself.” He later adds, “I wanna buy your sympathy.” This comes across as the same kind of angsty lyrical content that was so commonplace in music from the 90s in itself. To that end, that seeming “oh woe is me” lyrical theme here couples perfectly with the sound of the age to take listeners back to the 90s even more.

Interestingly enough, Hoon and company do not just stick to the 90s in terms of the album’s lyrical themes. Hoon explained in reference to the album’s single, ‘Muzzle, that it is in fact a commentary on the current state of the world. He said of this song’s theme, “The lyrics for Muzzle were written at the end of summer I think of 2020 when everything was hyper crazy, and I’d always have the news on or be on Twitter or Reddit. So that was the environment Muzzle was written in. I think the song is about having something to say but choosing not to — for better or for worse.” Those statements are illustrated well as Hoon sings in the song’s lead verse, “Save me from myself/Put me back on the shelf/I thought we understood/If I could turn back time, I would.” There is even a mention in the second verse about the TV being constantly on. What is really interesting here is not so much the lyrical theme, but the calm in how Hoon delivers the song’s words. It’s kind of that hindsight being 20/20 sense, considering the calm in his delivery. That ads even more to the impact in the song’s lyrical theme, making clear why it is just one more example of the importance of the album’s lyrical content.

‘Whatever,’ the album’s penultimate entry, is yet another example of the album’s lyrical themes. As with that featured in ‘Spill,’ this song’s lyrical theme comes across as echoing the angsty emotions so common in music from the 90s. The song’s subject here seems to be addressing someone else, basically saying he/she is indifferent to being away from others. That is inferred as Hoon sings, “Wish I was gone/When I come back/I feel a million miles away/Whatever.” He even says in the song’s opening, “You ever been alone/You just enjoy the way/You like the way it sounds.” This comes across as being one of those anthemic type of songs that angsty, grunge fans would like. That is because it seems to present that desire of those young teen audiences to just be away and by themselves, brooding over everything because they like being that way. This is certain to take listeners right back to that age as it repeats time and again throughout the song’s three minute-plus run time. It makes the song just one more example of what makes the album’s lyrical content so important to its presentation. It shows the clear intent of Superbloom’s members to connect with listeners through the album’s lyrical content just as much as through its musical content.

While the musical and lyrical content featured in Superbloom’s new album goes a long way toward making the album appealing for fans of 90s alt and grunge rock, it is just part of what makes the album appealing for those audiences. The sequencing of that content puts the finishing touch to the album’s presentation. The sequencing shows a clear direction for the album’s songs. It starts out with a certain fire in its musical content, but gradually pulls back in the pairing of ‘Leash’ and ‘Muzzle.’ From that point on, the energies (and by connection the styles and sounds) in the album vary from song to song and even within the songs. This ensures listeners’ engagement in its own right. It ensures that the album does not become monotonous. Rather, it will keep listeners’ own emotions varying with those in the arrangements. Keeping that in mind, the sequencing serves as its own strong point for the album. When it is considered along with the album’s overall content, the whole makes this record a presentation that fans of 90s alt and grunge rock will agree is a welcome musical blast from the past.

Superbloom’s new album, Pollen is an interesting new offering from the independent rock act. That is due in part to its musical arrangements. The arrangements harken back to the alt and grunge rock sounds of the 90s, taking influence from the likes of Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Foo Fighters to name just a few similar acts. That in itself is reason enough for the noted audiences to take in this record. The lyrical themes seem at least to some extent, to harken back to the angsty lyrical themes featured in music from acts that were popular at the time, too. The sequencing of that content puts the finishing touch to the album’s presentation, ensuring listeners’ engagement even more. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make Pollen one of the best of this year’s new independent albums. Pollen is scheduled for release Tuesday.

More information on Superbloom’s new single, video and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at https://www.facebook.com/superbloomnyc.

Superbloom Releases Three-Song “Live” EP Ahead Of New Album’s Release

Posted on May 25, 2021 by philspicks

Independent alt-rock band Superbloom is continuing to build excitement over its new album.

The band premiered its three-song EP, Live at Studio G Tuesday. The EP features performances of three singles from the album’s new album Pollen — ‘Pollen,’ ‘Mary on a Chain’ and ‘Whatever’ — performed at Studio G in the band’s hometown of Brooklyn, NY. Pollen is scheduled for release June 1.

The band addressed the EP’s release in a prepared statement.

“Recording at Studio G was a dream,” the statement reads. “We’re huge fans of live studio recordings like Audiotree, KEXP and Live at Studio 4 and we sort of threw ourselves at the idea with our own resources. The studio itself is unreal and [engineer] Jack [Counce] is a longtime friend of the band. We spent the day hanging out, messing with tones, playing through the songs and eating pizza. Can’t imagine a better day for a band.”

Along with the performances featured in the band’s new EP, Pollen also features the single, ‘Muzzle.’

More information on Superbloom’s new single, video and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at https://www.facebook.com/superbloomnyc.

Superbloom Channels Smashing Pumpkins In Its Latest Single

Posted on May 21, 2021 by philspicks

Independent alt-rock band Superbloom debuted another new single this week.

The band debuted the title track from its new album, Pollen Friday through the online publication Consequence/Heavy Consequence. The song is also streaming through Spotify. The album’s fourth single, it follows the premiere of the album’s third single, ‘Muzzle‘ and its video last Friday, and ‘Whatever‘ and ‘Mary on a Chain‘ before that.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘Pollen’ features a clear 90s alt-rock style and sound. To be specific, the guitars, bass, drums, and vocals conjure thoughts of Smashing Pumpkins.

No information was provided as to the song’s lyrical theme in the press release distributed about the song’s debut. Not having lyrics to reference, either, it is difficult to comment on the song’s lyrical theme.

Pollen is scheduled for release June 1. A vinyl release is scheduled to follow June 14.

More information on Superbloom’s new single, video and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at https://www.facebook.com/superbloomnyc.

Superbloom Debuts New Album’s Latest Single, Companion Video

Posted on May 15, 2021 by philspicks

Independent alt-rock band Superbloom debuted its latest single and video this week.

The band debuted its new single, ‘Muzzle‘ Friday, along with its companion video. The song and its video are the third from the band’s forthcoming album, Pollen, which is scheduled for release June 1. A vinyl release is scheduled for June 14.

The debut of ‘Muzzle’ and its video follow the debut of the album’s existing singles, ‘Whatever‘ and ‘Mary on a Chain.’ The musical arrangement featured in ‘Muzzle’ is a stark contrast to that of those featured in its predecessors. Where ‘Whatever’ and ‘Mary on a Chain’ boast a more Nirvana-esque grunge sound and style in their arrangements, ‘Muzzle’ presents more of a shoegaze type sound and stylistic approach.

Front man Dave Hoon said in a prepared statement, the song’s lyrical theme is a social commentary of sorts.

“The lyrics for Muzzle were written at the end of summer I think of 2020 when everything was hyper crazy,” he said. “And I’d always have the news on or be on Twitter or Reddit. So that was the environment Muzzle was written in. I think the song is about having something to say but choosing not to — for better or for worse.

The video for ‘Muzzle’ is somewhat unrelated to the song’s lyrical theme, considering the noted topic and the footage featured in the video.

Hoon also discussed the video.

The kids in the video are doing the same s*** we all did growing up — before we started paying attention to what’s going on around us,” he said. “And the video is found footage developed by this guy on youtube — so there’s no sound and it’s unedited. I thought that was a cool thing for this song.”

More information on Superbloom’s new single, video and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at https://www.facebook.com/superbloomnyc.

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Tag Archives: Superbloom

Louder Than Life Festival Lineup Announced

The Sounds, Statements, Sequencing Of Superbloom’s New Album Will Appeal To Fans Of 90s Alt, Grunge Music

Superbloom Releases Three-Song “Live” EP Ahead Of New Album’s Release

Superbloom Channels Smashing Pumpkins In Its Latest Single

Superbloom Debuts New Album’s Latest Single, Companion Video