Band of Skulls at The Opera House - Concert Pictures

I first saw Band of Skulls live when they played at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre on April 24 of 2014. You can check out those pics here. It marked my very first time shooting a show from an actual photo pit. I was pretty excited and I loved the show.

This time they were at Toronto's The Opera House supporting their latest album By Default. I love loud guitar rock and I knew from the moment the band's guitar tech checked the guitar and I heard the glorious roar coming from the Fender stacks that this was going to be another amazing Band of Skulls performance. That sound is just incredible.

As I stated in my review from two years ago, the band make it look easy as they sing and play their own blues / alternative rock mix. The set was solid, and started off with strong, rockin' songs including the new single "Bodies". It wasn't long before we knew how serious the rock was as we were asked if it was loud enough. "You're Not Pretty But You Got It Goin' On" from 2012's Sweet Sour is a personal favourite. I love that riff. "Patterns" got everyone singing along. We got to hear "So Good" from the new record, followed by another favourite, the dynamic "Sweet Sour". "Honest" slowed things down and got the drummer to play acoustic guitar. It's an older tune going back to 2009's Baby Darling Doll Face Honey that they pulled out since this was the longest set of their current tour. The Toronto crowd got the distinction of being the best vocalists of the tour (so far). They did fill the hall with melody. We soon got to hear crowd favourite and melodically powerful tune "Bruises". All too soon, "The Devil Takes Care of His Own" and "Death by Diamonds and Pearls" brought the main set to a close. The encore consisted of "I Know What I Am" and "Asleep at the Wheel", which left everyone satisfied.

The set had a good flow, going from hard rocking to a quieter bit in the latter third before they rocked out to the end of the main set and through the encore. The roar of the crowd as they awaited the encore was incredible to behold.

Band of Skulls prove themselves every night as one of the best live bands around. Give your ears some time with some of my favourite tunes from their setlist below and I recommend seeing them live the next time you have the chance.

"Bodies" from By Default, which was introduced as the band's new single

"You're Not Pretty But You Got It Goin' On" from Sweet Sour

"So Good" from By Default

"Sweet Sour"

"Bruises" from Sweet Sour

"Hoochie Coochie" from Himalayan

"The Devil Takes Care of His Own" from Sweet Sour

"Death by Diamonds and Pearls" from Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

"I Know What I Am" from Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

"Asleep at the Wheel" from Himalayan

New music from Band of Skulls: Official video for So Good from By Default

Band of Skulls have just released the official video for the tune "So Good". The band sums up the Jack Lightfoot directed video as, “birds of prey on the prowl, neon roller electric boogaloo, a pulse and cherry red whirl or two, it’s So Good for you!” Check out the funky/pop-tune vibe of the new song with Emma Richardson taking on lead vocals. The Gil Norton produced album By Default will be released May 27.

In case you missed it, check out the official video for "Killer" here.

New music from Band of Skulls: So Good and official video for Killer from By Default

Southampton, UK alternative rock band Band of Skulls have their new album By Default scheduled for release on May 27. We already heard the lead single "Killer" and now we get not only the official video clip for "Killer" but we get to hear another new tune, this one titled "So Good". This latter tune has more of a funky/pop tune vibe with Emma Richardson taking on lead vocal duties, while "Killer" is an all-out rocker with the kind of heavy riffing the band is known for. Check them out.

As far as touring goes, they're at Rifflandia in Victoria September 11-14 and more Canadian dates are expected to be announced.

"Killer"

"So Good"

New music from Band of Skulls: Killer from By Default

Southampton rockers Band of Skulls have a new album called By Default on the way. It's going to be released May 27 and to tide us over, we can listen to the powerful "Killer" right now. I'm excited to hear the rest of this album and to see this band live again.

Band of Skulls annihilate The Phoenix

Last Thursday, April 24, Band of Skulls hit up Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre on their tour in support of their just-released album Himalayan. The brief review is that they were absolutely amazing. They have an effortless power and grace about them that makes the glorious noise that the three band members make look easy.

Singer and guitarist Russell Marsden makes his own brand of classic blues-rock riffs and leads soar from his fingers with great fluidity. Bassist and singer Emma Richardson, and drummer Matt Hayward are amazing to watch as they hold down the rhythm. Both Russell and Emma's vocals were brilliant and their voices both complement the band's music so well. The band sounded amazing, they had a cool light show and they played an amazing set.

Their set pulled from all three albums in their canon, from their 2009 début Baby Darling Doll Face Honey through 2012's Sweet Sour and their latest, Himilayan. Some of the highlights for me were "Asleep at the Wheel", "You Aren't Pretty But You Got It Goin' On", "Toreador", "Brothers & Sisters", "Bruises", "Nightmares", "The Devil Takes Care of His Own", "Hollywood Bowl", "Sweet Sour" and "Death by Diamonds and Pearls". The fact that there were so many highlights shows how much I like these guys.

Check out some of their tunes, and if they're hitting up your town on this tour, do yourself a favour and go see them. They glow on record but they shine on stage.

Show opener "Asleep at the Wheel" from Himilayan

The title track from Himilayan

"You're Not Pretty But You Got It Goin' On" from Sweet Sour

"I Know What I Am" from Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

"Brothers & Sisters" from Himilayan

"Bruises" from Sweet Sour

"Nightmares" from Himilayan

"The Devil Takes Care of His Own" from Sweet Sour

Main set closer "Hollywood Bowl" from Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

Encore starter "Sweet Sour" from the-album-of-the-same-name

Show closer "Death by Diamonds and Pearls" from Baby Darling Doll Face Honey. This tune is the very first Band of Skulls tune I ever heard and it's an absolutely perfect way to close out the night. Awesome!

Another new tune from Band of Skulls' Himalayan

Rockers Band of Skulls new album Himalayan comes out March 31. We heard "Asleep at the Wheel" and "Be Mine". Now check out "Nightmares". Sounds cool!

Band of Skulls' bonus track Be Mine

Band of Skulls have a new album called Himilayan coming out April 1. If you buy it from iTunes, you get a bonus track called "Be Mine". I previously posted the track "Asleep at the Wheel" which now has a video. So here you go, two cool tracks/clips from Band of Skulls:

"Be Mine"

"Asleep at the Wheel"

New song from Band of Skulls Asleep At The Wheel

Band of Skulls are putting out a new album called Himalayan in spring 2014. Here's the first track we get to hear called "Asleep at the Wheel". Love the classic raw guitars, ringing ride cymbal and overall powerful sound. Looking forward to this album for sure.

My favourite albums: Awesome and cool albums of 2012: My best of list: 20 Albums of 2012

2012 was no different from previous years for me in that I'm still more of a songs guy than an albums guy. It just takes longer for a whole album to show its charms to me and I struggled with what to put on this list, how to rank it, and even whether to do an albums list at all.

So here are the 20 albums from 2012 that made the biggest impression on me. So far. Alphabetically.


2:54 2:54

Band of Skulls Sweet Sour

Blood Red Shoes In Time To Voices

Bob Mould Silver Age

Diiv Oshin

Dinosaur Jr. I Bet On Sky

Dirty Ghosts Metal Moon

Divine Fits A Thing Called Divine Fits

Fun. Some Nights

IAMDYNAMITE SUPERMEGAFANTASTIC

Jack White Blunderbuss

Japandroids Celebration Rock

Ladyhawke Anxiety

Nude Beach II

Stars The North

Sucioperro Fused

The Twilight Sad No One Can Ever Know

The Whigs Enjoy the Company

The xx Coexist

Yukon Blonde Tiger Talk


Check out the rest of my best of posts.

New Band of Skulls videos

Band of Skulls have put out a couple more videos from their most recent release Sweet Sour.

"Bruises"



and "Sweet Sour".  Love that "kicking the amp with spring reverb" sound at the beginning.



Here's video of them on Letterman with a Dave-pleasing rendition of "Sweet Sour".



And finally, here's a documentary on Band of Skulls.

New track from Band of Skulls

I came across Band of Skulls after they released 2009's Baby Darling Doll Face Honey. They've got a new tune out called "The Devil Takes Care of His Own". It's from their forthcoming album Sweet Sour which is coming out on February 21.



You can also check out the track "Sweet Sour" at Spin.

And if you haven't heard their previous stuff, here's "Death by Diamonds and Pearls",



and "I Know What I Am".



They're at the Phoenix on March 30. Maybe I'll be there...