THEORY OF A DEADMAN Closes Ink in the Clink 2017

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Theory Of A Deadman

The sun rose on day three of Ink In The Clink 2017 as the weekend warriors bravely still standing in the prison’s shadow returned for one more all-day go around, while for others it was a one or two day affair.  Day three’s individual ink exploits went to best realism, most unusual, black and grey portrait and best cover up with before pic.

Sunday had Perfectly Damaged, Breathing Theory, Chase Beaire, Get A Way A Band, System 303, Black Coffee (due to unforeseen circumstances Black Coffee did not perform), Snowblynd, Shallow Side and Bobaflex on the second  stage while Ignite The Fire, The Battle, Texas Hippie Coalition, Shaman’s Harvest, Black Stone Cherry and Theory of a Deadman played mainstage.

Get Away Band brought a soulful, blues rock based, country seasoned sound.  No head banging or moshing needed, just good old fashioned rock n’ roll about good times, bad times and everyday real life. With nearly a handful of original records out, vocalist and guitarist Frank Medley broke out guitar tricks acting like the instrument was part of him.  Boys in Blue tipped hats to Manfield’s finest and those serving nationwide.  Struggles played the emotional blues of life on the tough streets and hardships.   Die in the Ghetto was sung with soulful spirit in the spirit of old school rap. They spent a few minutes Living the Blues as their Getaway ending with Run Run Run.

Theory Of A Deadman

Founded in 2011, in the vein of Alter Bridge, Shinedown and Red, Maryland’s, Ignite The Fire opened mainstage with six doses of hard rock, alternative metal, mostly from their new Trial and Triumph EP. Singer Jack Gurecki bared a resemblance to a young Bruce Payne commanding stage and crowd as the young blood cranked out the straight forward hard rock punch of Criticize, tackling walking away from bad situations and relationships to form a better version of you.   Remember Me came across more mechanic and technical as Breathe dealt with abuse of all kinds with a serious ballad like vibe imploring all to rise from your personal ashes.   They took a page from Breaking Benjamin on Blow Me Away.  Over It concluded with overcoming obstacles in your life regardless of what’s holding you back, dragging you down.

Ashland’s System 303 opened their show with a full musical Resume.  It was music to experiment with and experiment to with traces of the ‘60s, ‘70s and other genres.   The shaded guitarist/vocalist Rusty Kirkpatrick asked the crowd to Look at Me Now.  Fish marched forward with a confrontational feel.   As Drain Me rocked forth with a trippy, mellow vibe.

The Battle came from the Northeast, with four men playing a unique, instrumental version of alternative rock and metal.  They have made the rounds on Columbus and Cleveland radio, gaining fans and support for their unique style and delivery.  Drummer Donnie Copenhaver had a mic for formality purposes but was not the singer.   Segue mixed emotional prog with some Iron Maiden strings.  Overture to Decline was a loud bangy introduction conjuring thoughts of modern rock and prog.  Hope Dies Last took a page from modern Maiden adding some shoegaze elements.  The mean and bluntly titled longer tune You Will Not Be Missed moved along with definite voiceless statement.  Into the Maelstrom was the prog rock barn-burner of the set.

Texas Hippie Coalition

Red dirt metal at its Southern finest came from Denison, Texas via Texas Hippie Coalition, the bastard son of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pantera and BLS.  The five man outlaw jam came to give Mansfield an audio ass whoopin’, just outside the prison walls.  Big Dad Ritch came out to thunderous applause, gripping his right to bare and conceal mic stand.  Hands Up declared the outlaw lifestyle and attitude loud and unabashedly proud reaching for the sky.  Outlaw came like a Southern pride hurricane, guitars gnawing on jerky, guzzling whisky with the lawman’s watchful eye.  Hit It Again celebrated liquid indulgence, refreshment, natural plants and chemical vapor.  You don’t tell a band from Texas their time’s running short or deal with them getting Pissed Off and Mad About.  Turn It Up praised the dancing ladies of the stage and the experiences they inspire.

The Columbus bred Southern tumbleweed flying honky-tonk flavor of Snowblynd was next.  They broke out that nasty, potent Dirty Water with 101 proof of bad intentions and stuff you shouldn’t intake. Like the song said it took Blood Guts an Gasoline to get there and play that stage.  Just like Cocaine, the music courses through the veins.   Whether there by bus, van, car or private jet, it was all about the Lap of Luxury playing the music they love.  They closed with the musician’s motto of die with your boots on, on Ain’t Livin Long,

Missouri’s Shamans Harvest came to spread the Southern rooted gospel with their skull studded, predatory show.  Nathan Hunt breathed out the ritualistic Red Hands Black Deeds introduction summoning the imprisoned spirits behind as the sun went down.  They are the Broken Ones but they carry their scars and stories with pride.  The bluesy spellcasting spin on The Devil in Our Wake spelled out, get behind me Satan with all my bad decisions.  They played first single The Come Up followed by their spin on the King of Pop’s Dirty Diana.  The appropriately titled In Chains spoke of a metaphorical prison break from self.  They finished under the hard working, ripped, torn but working wings of the Dragonfly.

Texas Hippie Coalition

 Self-described rednecks from Alabama, Shallowside opened with the eerie atmosphere of Fight echoing the mix of groove, genre bending sounds that came forth.  They claimed to have written the next tune back in the ‘70s, ripping through a modernized version of Renegade.  My Road in It was about everyone in the audience bonded by love and passion for music.  Hands, fists and horns went up for the rally call of Stand Up.  The stamp of rebellion and stories of the Rebel closed out the set, with a cocaine smile, and one huge middle finger to haters, bullshitters, soothsayers and the status quo.

Born and bred in Kentucky,  Black Stone Cherry  kicked the barn door open and bar stool over with that sweet relationship between  Me and Mary Jane.  She’s smoking hot. The Blind Man came out telling lies.  They played tribute to Zeppelin with Whole Lotta Love.  They proved its Cheaper to Drink Alone then try to impress.  George Thorogood got some love on Bad to the Bone.  They pulled out the shakin’ sex appeal on Soul Machine.  Like spring break in the south, Soulcreek is where you wanna be.  They counted their blessings and cash with a kiss my ass wink on White Trash Millionaire.  Did something bad happen?  Blame It on the Boom Boom.  They ended the originals with the fat, meaty riffs of Lonely Train, closing shop with The Wizard on Voodoo Child.

Bobaflex

Bobaflex closed the second stage for the weekend with Start a War.  There’s no laughing at funerals but some people are just better off on the other side, wherever that may be, Glad You’re Dead.  They took a trip and gave into persuasive sin in the Chemical Valley.   Don’t come between a man and his extracurricular indulgences, Mama, Don’t Take My Drugs Away.  Never Coming Back exposed the trappings of success and excess.  Mansfield was introduced to the bad, Bad Man.  Metamorphosis came in black on A Spider in the Dark.   Losing My Mind spoke of quarantine by straight jacket in a private mental prison.  They played homage to Pink Floyd on Hey You.  The ever-faithful closer preached the rock band mantra, die with your boots on and Bury Me with My Guns On.   

Before the nights headliners came on, Ink In The Clink organizers and staff came on stage to thank everyone for a successful weekend.  They encouraged the crowd to ask Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins to come back to Shawshank putting it on video.

Theory of a Deadman took over the headliner spot ending the weekend with everyone’s favorite Lowlife.      Break ups are a bitch, whether you walk out or leave them in a ditch.  They’re So Happy you’re gone.        They went sarcastic and satirical, patronizing social media on Blow.  Things got serious with the emotional spiritual goodbye on By The Way.  They lightened the mood again with the comical tale of obsessed fandom going too far on Bitch Came Back.  Hating life never sounded so good.  Tyler Connolly talked about his life changing experience after listening to Led Zeppelin.  The loud Satriani-like smooth blues notes of Santa Monica began. Some things in life were Not Meant to Be.  Bad Girlfriends are too easy to find.  Boredom led to prescription bliss on RX.  They loved and left’em on All or Nothing but couldn’t get them Out of My Head still thinking about them.  Things got spiritual and supernatural on Angel as the weekend ended with the reality show, social media Hurricane.

Thanks to everyone that made Ink In The Clink 2017 such a great experience!

CLICK HERE to see more pics from the show.

 

 

 

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