Calendar says the first weekend in May, but as Great Lakes denizens know (Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto), spring is often late. While out-of-towners long ago packed away jackets, jeans and long sleeves (in favor of shorts & tank tops), Chicago greeted them with (hopefully) the last blast of artic air: just “high” temps in the 50s and overnight lows precariously close to freezing. Thankfully, the festivities were all inside Reggies, although the weather did curtail roof-top patio pre-gaming. At least it didn’t snow!
Downstairs, on two stages (the “Joint,” bar/restaurant, with table & chairs, that’s free for anyone, and the standing room only, main room, requiring a paid, festival ticket) ten metal bands, spanning various sub-genres, warmed the spirit (or spirits, if so inclined, but it was mainly a shot & a beer kind of crowd). “Legions,” as it’s called by the faithful, is something of a proving ground.
Organizers Bob Byrne and Shane Merrill regularly give emerging bands a platform to play and every year there’s at least one act making their onstage debut. Not talking about their initial fest appearance, or even Chitown baptism, no, first time ANYWHERE! Byrne also has an eye (or ear) for the ladies, as 40% of the day’s acts featured the fairer sex.
Sacred Leather got the day rolling with some studs and leather traditional metal. Wisconsin based sextet Queen Of Dreams (half female) offered heavily from their newly issued sophomore full-length, Subnivium. Nice surprise: Castle, the San Fran doom trio fronted by Elizabeth Blackwell was much more aggressive than anticipated. Wrap around shades and denim clad, Tykin feature members of Dysplacer, who played Legions last year. Rare opportunity to hear the lively doom from Finnish trio Cardinals Folly (although only bassist/singer Count Karnstein is from overseas).
The straight ahead metal of Denver’s Eaglewing was heretofore unknown to me, but no longer. In many ways, band of the day, with curly haired, tattooed, boots & bell bottom jeans Bon Scott meets Rhett Forrester lookalike Ross Murphy belting out the songs. Need to investigate further!
My third date with Sonja in a little over a month: Hell’s Heroes, Philly Metal & Beer and now Chicago. This time the trio ended with a pair of cover tunes! First chance to witness Adrienne Cowan’s band Seven Spires, although I’ve seen her with Avantasia a couple of times. Here she can be her forceful, gremlin-throated self. The night ended with Joel Grind and Toxic Holocaust.
A more detailed account of the entire Legions Of Metal festival will be posted soon. In the meantime, here’s a look at what transpired on Day 1.
More photos:
The post LEGIONS OF METAL 2025 – Day 1: At The Heart Of Winter? appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Downstairs, on two stages (the “Joint,” bar/restaurant, with table & chairs, that’s free for anyone, and the standing room only, main room, requiring a paid, festival ticket) ten metal bands, spanning various sub-genres, warmed the spirit (or spirits, if so inclined, but it was mainly a shot & a beer kind of crowd). “Legions,” as it’s called by the faithful, is something of a proving ground.
Organizers Bob Byrne and Shane Merrill regularly give emerging bands a platform to play and every year there’s at least one act making their onstage debut. Not talking about their initial fest appearance, or even Chitown baptism, no, first time ANYWHERE! Byrne also has an eye (or ear) for the ladies, as 40% of the day’s acts featured the fairer sex.
Sacred Leather got the day rolling with some studs and leather traditional metal. Wisconsin based sextet Queen Of Dreams (half female) offered heavily from their newly issued sophomore full-length, Subnivium. Nice surprise: Castle, the San Fran doom trio fronted by Elizabeth Blackwell was much more aggressive than anticipated. Wrap around shades and denim clad, Tykin feature members of Dysplacer, who played Legions last year. Rare opportunity to hear the lively doom from Finnish trio Cardinals Folly (although only bassist/singer Count Karnstein is from overseas).
The straight ahead metal of Denver’s Eaglewing was heretofore unknown to me, but no longer. In many ways, band of the day, with curly haired, tattooed, boots & bell bottom jeans Bon Scott meets Rhett Forrester lookalike Ross Murphy belting out the songs. Need to investigate further!
My third date with Sonja in a little over a month: Hell’s Heroes, Philly Metal & Beer and now Chicago. This time the trio ended with a pair of cover tunes! First chance to witness Adrienne Cowan’s band Seven Spires, although I’ve seen her with Avantasia a couple of times. Here she can be her forceful, gremlin-throated self. The night ended with Joel Grind and Toxic Holocaust.
A more detailed account of the entire Legions Of Metal festival will be posted soon. In the meantime, here’s a look at what transpired on Day 1.
More photos:
2SacredLeatherGuitar
3Eaglewing
4CastleElizabeth
5JoelGrind
6SevenSpires
7TykinVox
8Sonja1
9MythCarverVox
10CastleCloseup
11CardinalsFolly
12QueenOfDreams
13SevenSpiresCowan
14SacredLEatherDuo
15TykinAxe
16EaglewingArm
17MythCarverAxe
18SonjaSings
19ToxicHolocaust
20EaglewingAxe
The post LEGIONS OF METAL 2025 – Day 1: At The Heart Of Winter? appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...