Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Rock Royalty Celebrates 50 Heavy Metal Years at HEB Center

After two years of concert cancellations, Judas Priest finally rocked the rafters at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, Texas on March 20, 2022. Judas Priest is back out on the roads of North America celebrating the anniversary of the bands founding with their 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour. The tour supports the release of their 50 Heavy Metal Years of Music anniversary box set of 42 CDs including all studio recordings as well as rare and previously unreleased live performances. 

Richie Faulkner and Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

One of the concerts chosen as part of the unreleased live performances was from the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, Texas on June 6, 1981, when this long-time fan was in attendance. 

Concert T and tickets from a few Judas Priest concerts attended by this fan 


Judas Priest is a British Heavy Metal band originally formed in 1969 in Birmingham, England by vocalist Al Atkins and bassist Brian Stapenhill. Over their incredible 50 years of rocking, the band has consisted of countless talented musicians. 

Judas Priest

Judas Priest


Today, Judas Priest is lead by vocalist Rob Halford. Halford originally joined the band in 1973. After leaving the group in 1992, Rob rejoined the band in 2003 and continues to lead with his powerful vocals. 

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

The one constant in the band is bassist Ian Hill. He joined shortly after the band's beginning in 1969 and is still rocking that bass and lending his voice to backing vocals.

Ian Hill of Judas Priest


Drummer Scott Travis joined Judas Priest in 1989. After taking a break from 1992 until 1997, Travis is back keeping the guys rocking along on each song.

Scott Travis of Judas Priest


Guitarist Richie Faulkner is back performing with Judas Priest after an incredibly scary and serious medical incident. Faulkner, who joined the band in 2011, suffered a normally fatal ruptured aortic aneurysm while performing on stage with Judas Priest at the Louder Than Life Festival in September 2021. He obviously had some excellent medical help that day because Richie doesn't seem to have any problems rocking his guitar with Judas Priest's other members today.

Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest


Guitarist Glenn Tipton joined Judas Priest in 1974 and was an integral part of the band until Parkinson's Disease took its toll on his body. Tipton has had limited touring since 2018. Fortunately for our Central Texas audience, Tipton was able to perform during the bands final 3 encore performances including the quintessential "Breaking The Law." We weren't able to capture photos of Glenn during this performance, but have included this one from a past show in 2015.

Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest

The newest member of Judas Priest is guitarist Andy Sneap who joined the band in 2018. He came onboard when Glenn Tipton was no longer able to participate in full tours.

Andy Sneap


Even though the band has been rocking for 50 years, and many of the current members are considerably older than the average touring rock musician, Judas Priest hasn't lost a beat. They still rock just as hard as the first time I heard them in concert. And Rob Halford is still hitting his signature falsetto screams while wearing his leather and studs. 

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

For me, the biggest difference in this year's concert was the stage setup for the night. The usual pyrotechnic display had been replaced by a big screen showing flames. The stage took on an industrial look with smoke stacks sending smoke billowing through the arena while lights flashed and the giant Judas Priest emblem lit up the crowd. 

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas Priest


Rob Halford of Judas Priest


The legendary Metal gods got the crowd's adrenaline pumping right from the start with One Shot At Glory and kept them rocking with selections of fan favorites from their extensive collection. Rob Halford's vocals were on point and he kept the audience engaged for the entire show. Rob was clad in leather and had no problem commanding the stage with his presence. As expected, Rob rode his motorcycle out on the stage during the encore performance of Hell Bent For Leather. After that, the house went dark and Rob talked about the band's incredible 50 years before introducing Glenn Tipton. Despite battling Parkinson's , Glenn was able to lead the audience in three of the band's signature numbers, Metal Gods, Breaking The Law,  and Living After Midnight

Judas Priest

Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest

Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest

Andy Sneap and Ian Hill of Judas Priest


Setlist:

One Shot At Glory

Lightning Strikes

You've Got Another Thing Comin'

Freewheel Burning

Turbo Lover

Hell Patrol

The Sentinel

A Touch of Evil

Rocka Rolla

Victim of Changes

Desert Plains

Blood Red Skies

Diamond and Rust (Joan Baez cover)

Painkiller

Encore:

The Hellion (Taped)

Electric Eye

Hell Bent For Leather (with Halford riding his motorcycle)

Metal Gods (with Glenn Tipton)

Breaking The Law (with Glenn Tipton)

Living After Midnight (with Glenn Tipton)


Rob Halford of Judas Priest


The 2 hour plus show was both nostalgic and electrifying for this long time fan of Judas Priest. The 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour continues through April 14 in the US and Canada before heading to Europe in June.  

Rob Halford of Judas Priest


Queensryche

Opening for Judas Priest was Queensryche, an American Heavy Metal band whose members include vocalist Todd La Torre, guitarist Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson, guitarist Mike Stone, and drummer Casey Grillo. 

Todd La Torre and Michael Wilton of Queensryche

Todd La Torre of Queensryche


The Washington based band kicked off the evening with explosive performances of fan favorites from their first five releases. Todd La Torre provided amazing vocals while Michael Wilton and Mike Stone added impressive guitar work. Eddie Jackson and Casey Grillo kept a tight rhythm section rocking for the entire set. 

Michael Wilton of Queensryche

Todd La Torre of Queensryche

Casey Grillo of Queensryche

Eddie Jackson of Queensryche

Mike Stone of Queensryche


Setlist:

Queen Of The Reich

Warning Enforce

NM 156

Empire

Walk In The Shadows

The Whisper

Operation: Mindcrime

The Needless Lies

Take Hold Of The Flame

Screaming In Digital

Eyes Of A Stranger


Todd La Torre and Michael Wilton of Queensryche

Todd La Torre of Queensryche

Michael Wilton of Queensryche


Friday, October 8, 2021

Phoebe Bridgers Tapes Austin City Limits TV

Grammy nominated indie rock artist Phoebe Bridgers stopped by the ACL Moody Theater for a taping for Season 47 of the Austin City Limits television show on October 7, 2021. The California native is touring in support of her second solo album, Punisher, which she played in its entirety for her debut Austin City Limits taping. 

Austin City Limits Television Set

Producer Terry Lacona Introduces Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers

A talented singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, Bridgers released her first album, Stranger In The Alps in 2017. She then worked with the bands Boygenius and Better Oblivion Community Center before the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album Punisher in 2020. Punisher garnered Phoebe four Grammy nominations in 2021 including Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance. 

Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers

This was Bridgers' first indoor show in two years, having moved all of her concerts to outdoor venues to avoid problems with the Covid pandemic. That made for a different look for the Austin City Limits taping, as audience members, who are normally up front and personal with the artists, were not allowed on the floor of the venue. But even with that new stipulation, the party continued. Bridgers' band even donned skeleton print onesies for the show, which I'm fairly sure was a first for Austin City Limits. 

Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers


Setlist:

Motion Sickness (debut album Strangers In The Alps)

DVD Menu

Garden Song

Kyoto

Punisher

Halloween

Funeral (debut album Strangers In The Alps)

Chinese Satellite

Moon Song

Savior Complex

ICU

Graceland Too

I Know The End


Phoebe Bridgers


Camera Crews record Phoebe Bridgers




Thursday, October 7, 2021

Brittany Howard Rocks ACL TV Taping

Musician, singer-songwriter Brittany Howard entertained an enthusiastic audience at ACL's Moody Theater on October 6, 2021, in Austin, Texas during a taping for ACL TV. Austin City Limits, the longest running music series in television history, is wrapping up recording episodes for Season 47. 

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard is best known as the powerhouse lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the Grammy Award winning rock band Alabama Shakes. With the band on hiatus since 2018, Brittany has taken on several other projects including recording a highly acclaimed debut solo album, Jaime, released in 2019. On this night, Brittany and an eight-piece band including backup singers, performed tracks from Jaime, including the 2021 Grammy Award winning "Stay High," and several classic covers including Stevie Wonder's For Once In My Life.

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

This was not the first appearance for Howard at Austin City Limits. She has appeared twice on the show with Alabama Shakes and also appeared on the 40th anniversary show. Brittany had originally been scheduled to record her solo appearance last year, but the pandemic caused that show to be canceled. It seems that Howard used that extra year to fine tune her performance because everything about this evening was perfection. From Brittany's sparkling sequined robe to the mind-blowing guitar shreds to the spectacular setlist, it all worked together to give the audience a special evening they won't soon forget. If you weren't able to attend this show in person, tune into PBS on November 20 when this episode is scheduled to run, and prepare to have your mind blown.  

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard


Setlist:

Hit It And Quit It - cover of Funkadelic's song

He Loves Me

Georgia

Stay High

Presence

What I'm All About

Higher and Higher - cover of Jackie Wilson song

Baby

Goat Head

Tomorrow

You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks - cover of Funkadelic's song

13th Century Metal

Short & Sweet

For Once In My Life - cover of Stevie Wonder song

History Repeats

Revolution - cover of Beatles song


Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard