(Click Here To View More Photos Of The Show)

Well even tho we got the date for our show at the last minute, it seems like I had waited in anticipation forever for June 25th to get here. Of course when it did get here, I was running around like a turkey with it’s giblets cut off, along with the rest of Shockwave’s staff, to make sure all the last minute details were taken care of. But once all of the many boring, behind the scenes stuff that it takes to put on a Thingie (just strap it on right? I wish it was that easy) were done, it was show time.

The doors cracked at 7pm, and the masses flooded in (my buddy Tom Masses and his brothers Pat Masses, and Steve Masses). From 7-8pm people made their way inside, grabbed their free Esskay hot dogs, free Monster energy drinks to wash them down with, stopped to get a picture with the lovely Baltimore Mariners cheerleaders (who hung out all night), and started the party. There was one scary moment right after doors opened, when “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Warrant was blasting over the speakers. Not that I hate this song, but it was my job to make sure this event didn’t turn into 1989, and at this moment I was failing miserably, cause we were on the way to time traveling. But luckily, the manager Ian helped me find Matt, the sound guy, and a crisis in the making was averted. I had a chance to actually stop running around for a few minutes and talk to the two awesome cheerleaders, and let me tell you they were not only very nice, and highly attractive, but funny too. At any given point in the crowd, I kept finding myself standing next to Baltimore rock royalty. Whether it was the guys from King Belvedere, Silvertung, Second Impulse, White Knuckles, or anyone else, local stars were all over the place. And then, the music came.

Shortly after 8pm, Rock Of Ages took the stage. I had heard so much about the guitar prodigy in this band, Alex T. White, that I was interested in seeing what this young fella had to offer. I will say I just missed being a huge hair band fan, being born just a bit late for that, so an 80’s cover band isn’t so much my thing, but a guitar prodigy wasn’t the only thing these guys had to offer. Rock of Ages were solid all the way around and I was highly impressed. They sounded fantastic. Not only is Alex amazing to watch, but the singer can sing, the drummer can drum, and the bassist can....well…..bass. Great set, ending it off with one of my favorites, “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love,” which I think everyone in the place enjoyed. I know I rocked out to it.

Next up was a new band that, thru some strange connections (no I’m not gonna tell you who I slept with to meet them, I’m not the kiss and tell type), Shockwave had the pleasure of hearing about, looking into, and getting to play our show. I got to see these guys once before, and have jammed their cd in my truck, so I really enjoyed their set (there really is something to being able to sing along). They are young, and very talented. They’re just starting to hit the music scene, and it won’t be long before the name Echoes in Color is echoed all over Baltimore and beyond.  Their songs are like Chinese handcuffs – easy to get into, hard to get out of (your head). Hmm, that kinda makes them like gay porn too (can you do anything else after you’ve done gay porn?), but now I’m just getting off topic. They’ve got a lot of stuff in the works, including a tour that kicks off in August, right here locally at Recher Theater. These guys are fun, and I’ve enjoyed the chances I’ve had to talk with them. After their tour, we’re really hoping to have these guys at another Shockwave event before they go national and are too big to talk to us anymore. Go check them out.

In between sets, Shockwave had a “throw the hot dog down the hallway contest,” which was a total hit. The line formed, and men and women alike couldn’t wait to pay $2 to attempt to toss their weiners into our lovely hula girl’s opening. Most failed, but one fella, whom every lady should have been hitting on after the hot dog toss, had no trouble finding the hole. No one walked away empty handed tho, as Shockwave t-shirts were given to all the participants. Shockwave Magazine also had drawings in between each band to win Bill Bateman’s golden ring gift certificates, and tickets to upcoming shows (Lords of Acid, Beneath the Sky, Tantric, and the Mayhem Festival).

Next up on the bill: Reckoning. These guys are like bringing an instant party into wherever they go. They brought a crowd of faithful with them, and it was all about having a blast. Above and beyond the music, they were just fun people. They hung out most of the night and partied with everyone. They ripped thru hard rock tunes that were enjoyed by the crowd that came for them, and anyone else who loves to bang their head. Whether it was Shinedown, Pantera, or Metallica, They rocked it. And with a chick singer at that. If you’ve never been “recked,” you just might wanna try it out.

We had to get special permission from the government to have Endangered Species take the stage, in front of a crowd that was starting to waver like a not so sturdy pole in the wind. They’ve been around for a while, and their experience showed. A very polished stage presence, they rocked their way thru their hits, along with a few covers, including “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Their merch says ESRocks, and well, that would be hard to argue with. Safe to say these guys won’t be going extinct anytime soon.

By this point in time the crowd was mostly stumbling around, arguing religion, politics; theorizing and philosophizing and such until someone came up with M Theory. Usually I end up saying that a band isn’t particularly what I’m into, or that it’s not my genre. Well I can’t say that here. They were heavy. They had double bass drum. They had just enough screaming. They were actually right on target for what I’m looking for in music. They also have dueling vocals, something that is becoming more popular in this day and age. M Theory’s singer actually rocked so hard he chipped his tooth on the microphone, asked if anyone knew a good dentist, then went into the next song. Their performance was capped off by a metal cover version of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” that even had the Mariners cheerleaders on stage to dance along. What a crowd pleaser.

This show night was given to Shockwave somewhat last minute as far as planning shows goes, but it was an absolute success. Everyone had a good time. Bands got some exposure to crowds that might not ever hear of them otherwise. And we rocked the fuck out. Which was the point if you ask me. We wanna send out special thank yous to everyone who came out to support the bands and Shockwave Magazine, Rock of Ages, Echoes in Color, Reckoning, Endangered Species, M Theory, The Baltimore Mariners cheerleaders, Bill Bateman’s golden ring, Baltimore Sound Management, Esskay, Monster, Bourbon Street and the Shockwave staff for helping to make this another awesome Shockwave experience.