It was cold outside but The Annex was hot as Hell. This entire show was a benefit for metal supporter Don Decker who is very ill and needs help with his medical bills. There was a good crowd at this show so Im sure Don will get some much needed $$$. I missed most of the first band RICTUS GRIN since I was gabbing with people I havent seen in some time. Nick & Bartho from LUBE were there, along with Totally Tisha and HD. I met a girl there (Melissa Junean) who plays in a new band called MONTRAS FOR CAOS from IL. She is a die hard SACRED DAWN fan and I can see why. SACRED DAWN blew me away. This metal band based out of Aurora IL. just got signed to a recording lable and for good reason. Great playing, great vocals, and great energy!! The group is made up of Lothar Keller, John Vitale, Joey Vega and Brad "Sabbath" Sabathne. Everybody at this show was talking about this band after they played. You dont hear a lot of great vocal harmonies in metal bands but SACRED DAWN pulls it off. This band was amazingly tight and Sabathne may be the best metal drummer I have ever seen............ great speed mixed with great power!! There was actually a small crowd of people just watching Sabathne play. Lothar gave me a CD after the show called "Gears Of The Machine" and its great. Two tracks from the CD: "Im The One" and "Walls Of Jericho" are the two songs that got my attention during the show. You can check them out at Sacred Dawn LLC or at www.myspace.com/sacreddawnmusic Ah my first MIRROR BLACK show. I keep running into Raven (the drummer) and he keeps inviting me to shows. MIRROR BLACK rocks the stage with David Flatt, Andre Cortes, Brian Bolle, Tyson Rippl and of coarse Raven. I love a high energy show.......... but it makes it hard to take pictures. I tried to get Tyson several times but the dude is too fast for me. (a problem I would later have with the IRON MAIDENS) MIRROR BLACK hits you with some great metal tunes with no fluff or pretty love songs. What Im trying to say is, if you like WINGER, you wont like MIRROR BLACK. Check them out for yourself at Temporarily Disabled I really enjoyed watching Raven play. I havent seen him play since back in the old NIGHTMARES END days. I cant forget to say thanks to David Flatt for getting me into the show. I owe ya one dude!! After the MIRROR BLACK boys were done, it was time for Eddie............ no not that Eddie............ the ladies from IRON MAIDENS took the stage and kicked everybodys ass!! I have to say, Iron Maiden was not a band I listened to when I was younger. I only know two or three of their songs but it didnt matter. Anyone will love watching this group play weather your a Maiden fan or not. The group is from L.A. and is made up of Aja Kim, Heather Baker, Sara Marsh, Wanda Ortiz and Linda McDonald. Theres just something about watching an all girl band rock. On first impression you may think that this band is trying to get by on their looks.......... not a chance (although they can if they wanted to). From the second they started I knew these ladies could rock!! Aja Kim ignites the stage with a voice and energy that would make Bruce Dickenson proud. Weather she was waving flags, doing high kicks, or working the crowd, she was in total control of the stage. Wanda Ortiz is said to get the most marriage proposals in the band. I can see why. This little cutie was incredible on the bass. While watching the show I became aware just how hard some of Maiden's songs are. Lots of tempo changes and a strong rhythm sections is needed for such music. Wanda never missed a note!! I was having trouble hearing Sara Marsh. The guitars could have been turned up at this show. Linda McDonald was awesome. Being a drummer, it was an honor to see her play and to meet her. I wish I could have talked to her but we got kicked out before we could actually meet the ladies. I think my favorite player in the band was Heather Baker. Heather was just mind blowing on guitar. Her energy was amazing (and hard to photograph) and her solos were blistering!! Heather is the classic rocker chick. Long hair flyin......... fingers burnin........... and makin tracks!! I really had a great time watching the IRON MAIDENS and it made me want to go out and buy some Maiden. The show made me realize I missed out on a great genre of music. I really wished I could have spent some time with these ladies. They seemed so nice and it would have been nice to get their thoughts on the tour, Wisconsin, and their future. I dont know when these iron ladies will return to our state but I hope its soon and hope that when they do you all make an effort to see them. You wont be let down. Wisconsin thanks you IRON MAIDENS and your always welcome to visit!! Oh, by the way, Im Clownboy and I do the WIBANDS TOUR in Wisconsin. You can see photos from this show on my page at www.myspace.com/jediclown or go to my forum on the message board at www.wibands.com SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MUSIC SCENE EVERYBODY!!!!!
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