Bucket List Shows: The Bands I Need to See

I'm fortunate to live in Chicago, a city that has a staggering number of music venues across all shapes and sizes, including multiple joints that pull in a terrific number of metal bands.  Rare is the tour that misses Chicago, and even then, there's a 99% chance the band is playing Milwaukee, which is a short drive north.  Like I said, fortunate.  That said, occasionally there are shows I miss out on, for any number of reasons, and that makes me sad; I love seeing bands live, and I love seeing bands I love live even more.  In thinking about some of the gnarly concerts coming up, I started thinking about the bands I've missed over the years, and came up with my ten "Bucket List" bands, the bands I most want to see before I shuffle off this mortal coil (hopefully not anytime soon).  I stayed away from bands that have broken up (or Isis would have made the list) or older bands whose members aren't going to do it (same for Pink Floyd).  A few honorable mentions before we get this show on the road: Tool, Meshuggah, Lamb of God, Anathema, Sleep.  All would be amazing to see, but they don't quite crack the Top Ten.  So... here goes!

2013’s Most “HOLY SHIT” Moments in Metal

This has been one hell of a year for controversy for many bands and musicians. Seriously though, from pedophilia to murder for hire, this year has featured more than its fair share of "...the fuck?" moments. Click on for a recap of the years wildest and most disturbing events that I've placed in no particular hierarchical order. 

Music Video Mania: October 4, 2013

Since I'm still in catch up mode, in terms of music videos, I've got another batch of three videos to present. 

Diamond Paralysis (Part 2)

Tour dates already?!

Full tour dates have now been officially released for what I have so cleverly dubbed the spring 2011 "Diamond Paralysis" tour.  With both Deftones and The Dillinger Escape Plan  releasing albums this past year that both made my top 10 list, it's safe to say I'll be in attendace for this one folks.  Check out the full dates below after the break.

Diamond Paralysis

So this is yesterday's news but it is monumental nonetheless.  In search of tours coming through the U.S. this spring, I had yet to find one tour that I would, without hesitation, consider to attend.  But low and behold, my prayers have been answered.  It leaked out that Deftones and The Dillinger Escape Plan are planning on touring together this spring (Greg Puciato's twitter even confirms this).  Holy cow is right!  Only a three dates have surfaced, as seen below, but now that everybody knows about it I'm sure more dates are to be announced relatively soon.  Brace yourselves ladies and gentlemen.  Diamond Paralysis (so clever) is going to happen.  See the few dates that have been released below after the break. 

Mick's Top 10 Albums Of 2010

Yeah, thats about how metal it got for Jack and I this year.

Don't worry everybody.  The picture above is no indication of how metal the year was.  I just wanted to throw this picture up for the hell of it.  Quite to the contrary, this year saw the release of numerous albums that were receiving consideration from me to make this list.  And because of that, it was extremely difficult to finalize this list.  There were some I didn't get a chance to listen to as much as I would've liked but hey, that's just the nature of the game.  Overall, 2010 was a fine year for metal.  More specifically, it was a big showing for black metal and older well established bands still proving they got what it takes.  So enough chatter, here's my list.