12-14 January This past weekend in Boston was bitterly cold, but there were sweatier, hotter, and more rocking climes with in the dark recesses of the Middle East. Another full line-up of a complete variety of music spanning the weekend gave us all something to do to keep warm. Thursday, Jan 12th started off with Connecticut Rockers These Mad Dogs of Glory, who need to get out of the woods and into some clubs because they’ve got a great sound. Distorted guitars and boom rhythms reminded me of heavier versions of the greats like CCR and the Doors. Tides was up next with a more songwriter’s style of music with great vocal harmonies and unique instrumentals. The Kirkbride Complex proved just how quickly the music can change at these shows by whipping out a high energy grinding hardcore that was solid and strong. Whisper a Dare, another three-piece took me a little by surprise with Billy Corrigan-ish screaming vocals over real simple and catchy riffs. Elwyn funked it all up and got the crowd moving with great beats and funky jams that were both heavy and light at points. Baywa was by far the most original act of the night. They reminded me of Steve Wonder, The Talking Heads all at the same times. Their lyrics were purely comical and extremely clever. Pandafied took the stage with some rock reggae for everyone. There were some great harmonies going on between the two front men while the band jammed in back. The Protean Collective, a progressive bunch of Berkely shredders with one of the hardest hitting drummers I’ve ever seen, closed out the night. In the end it was Tides, Elwyn, Baywa, and Pandafied the pulled into the next round. Friday the 13th stood up to its name. We lost 3 bands to incredible bad luck, but the show still went on. Hi8us opened up with a great set of smooth melodic rock, that shifted constantly with a great ender by some rhymes from the band manager. Bloodstruck crushed the audience with a blanket of dingy metal and harsh two person screams, one a low, gutteral and the other a piercing shriek. Droned continued the metal assault with their set that included the guitarist and drummer switching up for different songs. Seed was up next with a more technical power metal with head windmills and crazy antics by the front man. Into the Flood capped off the metal session with their set that seemed to border on the radio friendly end of heavy rock. Sendero closed out the night with another heavy rock set, this time Latin influence and strong clear vocals. In the end it was Hi8us, Bloodstruck, Droned, and Seed. Moving on to Saturday, Awaken to Ashes opened up the night swinging with heavy chord progressions from their two guitarists and belted vocals from the stand alone singer. They were short a bass player but it didn’t seem to matter much with their ramped up style. Venezuela (which I’m listening to right now) had a great show but I can’t help but feel they’d be more at home in early 90’s Seattle. That pretty much describes their style too. Shades of Late reminded me of an emo version of the Pumpkins with good, straight forward riffs and melodies. Nimbus 9, and hell of a group of musicians, and featuring my pick for the best bassist of the festival, had a funky hard rocking sound. Mile 23 popped into the punk genre with catchy songs filling that void left by Blink 182 when they disbanded. Theoryshift had seriously detuned melodic heaviness emanating from stage, and brave to the singer for performing with pneumonia and half a lung full of fluid. A Hero Next Door was super tech power pop rock and had one of the most energetic crowds I’ve seen in a while. Reign of Pestilence closed out the night with some bellowing heavy metal and great stage presence. In the end it was Shades of Late, Thoeryshift, Nimbus 9, and A Hero Next Door that moved on to the next round. Thanks to all the bands that participated and I hope I see all of you at the shows whether or not you moved on. Chee