On Stage: Spring into metal with big show tonight

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

Fans of metal music will be in a state of ecstasy on March 20 – and not because it’s the first day of spring.

The reason for their delight will be mega-show at the Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, www.voltagelounge.com) featuring a sextet of top-flight metal acts.

The “Dank Memes Tour 2018” offers an impressive line-up with Rings of Saturn as the headliner. The other five acts on the bill for the all-ages show are Allegaeon, Entheos, Neckrogoblikon, Lorna Shore and Gloom.

The current line-up of Allegaeon features Greg Burgess, lead guitar (2008–present); Michael Stancel, rhythm guitar (2013–present); Brandon Park, drums (2013–present); Riley McShane, vocals(2015–present); and Brandon Michael, bass (2017–present).

Allegaeon has released four albums – “Fragments of Form and Function” (2010), “Formshifter” (2012), “Elements of the Infinite” (2104) and “Proponent for Sentience” (2016). All four are on Metal Blade Records.

Judging by the album titles, this is not a typical gloom metal band singing about anger-fueled rebellion, animal mutilation or the impending end of the world.

Allegaeon plays a wide variety of styles – mostly within the realm of metal music. The band plays death metal and incorporates technical expertise and a sense of melody without sacrificing the heaviness inherent in death metal.

Listeners can hear many influences, including prog-rock, thrash metal, classical music and prog-metal. Lyrical themes are both heavy and intellectual – stem cell research, alien life, evolution, physics, artificial intelligence, cryonic experimentation and biology.

“We’re a melodic death metal band that experiments with a lot of different genres and influences,” said McShane, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“Our last album had flamenco music and classical guitar. But, the foundation is always death metal.

“With Allegaeon, a lot of metal fans can find something to identify with. Our song structure is pretty straightforward. Technical fans also can find a lot to like. There’s something for everyone.”

With “Proponent for Sentience,” Allegaeon presented fans with a musically complex, intelligent, and absorbing concept album.

With a lyrical arc rooted in science-fiction yet uncomfortably encroaching upon the reality of the present, the record features the five musicians pushing the boundaries even further than on their three previous critically-acclaimed albums.

According to McShane, “With this record we’re bringing ideas to the table that corroborate the fact that, at this juncture, robotics as a field is moving forward at an alarming rate.

“This story is dotted with examples of real-life scientific advancements, and it is also perforated with details of humanity’s flaws.

“Overall, the record tells a story that is still a bit too far-fetched to be based in reality but isn’t too far beyond the scope of imagination to see occurring within the not-so-distant future.”

Allegaeon got its start in northern Colorado in 2008.

“We’re still based out of Denver,” said McShane. I live in Escondido, California, our drummer live sin Illinois and our bassist lives in Northern California. But, Denver remains our home base.

“I was living in Santa Cruz and was in a band called Son of Aurelius and we had an album that was Greg’s favorite album ever. Allegaeon needed a vocalist so Greg hit me up.

“With every member change, the foundation of Allegaeon’s sound is kept intact bur each new member brings something new to the table. I’m really excited about Brandon Michael joining the band because he has such a versatile bass style.”

Allegaeon has released an album every even year since 2010 and the pattern will hold true in 2018.

“We’re pretty much done making our new album,” said McShane. “Once we get off tour, we’ll finish it. We’ll hit the studio on June 1. We’ll be recording it in Denver with Dave Otero producing it at Flatline Studio.

“Greg and Mikey write most of the music and everybody else contributes their parts. I write all my lyrics. That’s my responsibility.

“I’ve been singing my whole life – since I was three or four years old. My brother who is 15 years older than me taught me how to harmonize with him and it progressed from there.

“I’m pretty comfortable with both clean and dirty vocals. There will be some clean vocals on the next record. We’re already playing one new song in our love show.”

Video link for Allegaeon – https://youtu.be/Kk6z3NQcoKw?list=PL287EF95A4FFE743F.

Entheos, which is also billed as a technical death metal band, is a hard-hitting quartet featuring Chaney Crabb, vocals (2015–present); Evan Brewer, bass (2015–present); Navene Koperweis, drums (2015–present); and Travis LeVrier, guitar (2016–present).

The band, which formed in 2015 in northern California, has already released two albums – “The Infinite Nothing” in 2016 on Artery Recordings and “Dark Future” in 2017 on Spinefarm Records.

Like Allegaeon, Entheos has a link to Santa Cruz, California – the home of the UC Santa Cruz “Fighting Banana Slugs,” top-caliber surf beaches, the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad, redwood forests and a thriving multi-genre music scene.

“The band is based in San Francisco, but I live in Santa Cruz,” said Crabb, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Pittsburgh.

“Three of us have been together since the formation of the band and our new guitarist joined a year late. We wrote ‘Dark Future’ together as a band over a two-week period. It started with a bunch of skeletons and outtakes of songs.

“We demo-ed it out and then everyone took it home. We do a lot of interweaving with our separate parts. It was a lot different than our last album which was written over the internet with Navene doing almost all the songwriting.

“The new album is unanimously our favorite project as a band. The album was much more cohesive because of the way we wrote the songs. It had more of a unique spin on things.

“All three guys came in with riffs they wrote on their own. We started on the album in January last year and it was finished and ready to go in July.”

The band’s sophomore album featured more complex songs – songs that were technically advanced and, at the same time, extremely heavy.

“The evolution is never going to stop,” said Crabb. “Our earlier stuff was more death metal. On this album, the synth was there on every track. We’ve all been in bands that were more prog-leaning. Entheos started as death metal and evolved into this.”

Ironically, Entheos was never supposed to be a band that recorded more than one album – or a band that progressed beyond death metal.

“At first, we were just looking to make a quick EP,” said Crabb. “Navene was touring on his solo material. He came back from Europe and wanted to do a metal record and asked me to do the vocals.

“I knew Navene because I had a band called Systems and he produced our album. So, we decided to work together on this metal EP. We just thought it would be fun to write a quick EP as a death metal band.

“We never intended to be a full-time band. But, people were really into it. Soon, we got offered a record deal and we got a booking agent. It all happened in four months.”

Three years have elapsed, and the band is going strong. It has two albums, one EP and is now on its seventh national tour. Fortunately for fans of metal music, sometimes things don’t go as planned.

Video link for Entheos – https://youtu.be/4jLtE52TNaQ.

The all-ages show at the Voltage Lounge will start at 6:20 p.m. Tickets are $20

This week, there will be another show in Philly featuring a female vocalist who moved from a successful prior band to a new, equally-impressive project.

Katie Toupin spent a number of years as vocalist for the Indiana-based band Houndmouth and recorded several albums with the popular indie-rock band.

Then, in spring 2016, the versatile singer/keyboardist/guitarist, who is headlining at Johnny Brenda’s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com) on March 21, opted to leave the band to pursue a solo career.

“It had become very clear to me that it was time to leave,” said Toupin, during a phone interview Monday evening from her home in Los Angeles. “I had already been writing a little on my own.

“For the last couple years, I’ve been working on trying to find what I sound like. Before that, I had been working with the same group of guys since I was 17.

“I’m still trying to figure out what I sound like. It’s a process of evolution. I moved from Cordon, Indiana to L.A, in February 2017.

“When I got here, I was trying to figure it out –Do I want to be a pop artist?…Do I want to do electronics? I’ve been finding the answers. It’s coming together after a few years of developing.”

Toupin’s talents are evident with her well-crafted songs and solid vocal performances.

“I’ve always been a disciplined songwriter,” said Toupin. “In the morning, I write from when I wake up until around 1 p.m.”

Toupin’s current songwriting efforts can be heard on her solo debut, the self-released EP “Moroccan Ballroom.”  The EP is entirely live — recorded during a session at the Village Studios to film some of her newly-written songs.

“The EP was an accident,” said Toupin. “I had done quite a few recording sessions, and nothing felt right. When I stopped trying so hard, it got better.

“I went to Village Recorders – to the Moroccan Ballroom – to record and film some tracks live. I thought I’d show them to industry friends or put some on YouTube.”

The Village Studios in Los Angeles boasts the only Moroccan Ballroom that doubles as a recording studio. This intricately-designed soundstage has housed Grammy parties, orchestras, video shoots, and music awards with flawless acoustics.

“In six hours in the Moroccan Ballroom, we recorded all the songs live and we filmed then all,” said Toupin. “It turned out real vibey and real live. It’s got a really cool sound to it.

“I didn’t edit anything or do any overdubs. It captured my first effort as a solo artist. I got the first mixes and when I listened back two days later, I thought it would be a waste not to put it out.”

That was her start as a solo artist in the studio. Now, she is getting her start as a solo artist on stage.

“I did two shows so far in L.A.,” said Toupin. “My show in Philly will be only my third solo show ever. I’ll play nine or 10 songs – all originals – and maybe one cover.”

Video link for Katie Toupin – https://youtu.be/0cBZfGhGhjU.

The show at Johnny Brenda’s, which has Philadelphia-based singer Hemming as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.

On March 21, Marc E. Bassy will be one of four acts on the bill when the “Ty Dolla $ign: Don’t Judge Me Tour” touches down at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http://www.lnphilly.com).

Marc E. Bassy is the contemporary R&B and rap alias of San Francisco-born artist Marc Griffin. The singer/songwriter was previously a member of 2AM Club, a band that released an album in 2010 on the RCA label and split a few years later.

Feeling boxed-in creatively during his time in 2AM Club, Griffin looked for a different approach to the next phase of his career. He adopted Marc E. Bassy as his performing name and uploaded tracks to his SoundCloud page.

In 2014, he released the single “Relapse” (featuring Iamsu!) and the mixtape “Only the Poets” through EO Entertainment.

In the next phase, Bassy signed with Universal Music Group division Republic and followed with the release of his EP “East Hollywood” in 2015. The nine-track release featured appearances from Ty Dolla $ign, G-Eazy, Bobby Brackins, and P-Lo.

In 2016, Bassy became the hottest new voice to rise from the Bay Area music scene. His “Groovy People” EP spawned the smash hit “You & Me” which featured Bay Area rapper G-Eazy.

In August of 2017, Bassy released “Plot Twist” (featuring Kyle) and followed with “Plot Twist (Remix featuring Hailee Steinfeld).

In October, Republic Records issued Bassy’s debut LP “Gossip Columns.”

Bassy wraps up his time touring with “Ty Dolla $ign: Don’t Judge Me Tour” after the show at TLA Wednesday night and then continues on with his “Gossip Columns Tour,” which will run through mid-April.

“I started working on ‘Gossip Columns’ about a year-and-a-half ago,” said Bassy, during a phone interview last Tuesday from a tour stop in Detroit, Michigan.

“I took my time putting it together. It even has a few songs I wrote when I was very young. I’m writing all the time. I have a nice studio in the Bay Area.”

Making music is something that developed naturally for Bassy, who also has a link to Santa Cruz.

“I went to UC Santa Cruz and started making music,” said Bassy. “I had no idea what my life was going to be. I decided to drop out of school and make music.

“In Santa Cruz, I learned about The Clash and punk and college reggae. Then, I dug deeper into classic soul. I wasn’t listening to rap when I was growing up.”

Once he discovered rap and hip hop, he was on his way.

Bassy is a prolific writer who has also penned songs for a variety of other artists, including Ty Dolla $ign, Azure Kill J and G-Eazy.

“When I write for other people, I don’t change,” said Bassy. “I just try to be always working on songs. I just did some sessions with a younger boy band. For them, I found songs I wrote that didn’t work for me.

“When I’m writing, usually the melody and lyric pop in my head. Sometimes, it’s random gibberish over a melody. Frequently, the melody tells you what the lyric should be.

“Songwriting is easy – to a certain level – and then hard to get over a threshold. It’s easy for me because I have a lot of natural talent. Now, I want to be bigger. I want everybody to know my songs.”

Video link for Marc E. Bassy — https://youtu.be/VvdwkzhI5mQ.

The show at the TLA, which also features Ty Dolla $ign, Dre Sinatra and Toni Romiti, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $34.