Machine Head Sells Out Irving 1/30/15

Bloodstone & Diamonds… a lot of heart and intelligence went into this album by the 20 year veterans in Machine Head. There 2014 tour, involving acts such as Battlecross, Epica and Children of Bodom, was no match for a skilled and strategic mind such of Robb Flynn, who cancelled the entire tour because the album was not ready for release. In November 2014, Bloodstone & Diamonds WAS released to the general public, landing itself a Billboard position on #21. Machine Head saw its highest charting album in the bands lifespan. An album duration of more than one hour, Bloodstone & Diamonds became the tour staple for later 2014 to the present day, as the band and label Nuclear Blast Records announced “A Night With Machine Head” chronicling two and a half hours of the bands finest material. No openers were allowed for this tour (BEST DECISION EVER!) and the group would not be going on tour runs and festivals for the duration of 2015.

Irving Plaza sold out the night easily, as the 19 song set-list began to swirl about websites and fans anxiously awaiting to see the bands return to New York City since their last show over two years ago. To my recollection, their last show was with Dethklok at the now shut down Roseland Ballroom with All That Remains and The Black Dahlia Murder. Another fun fact for you, is that Machine Head was STILL signed to Roadrunner Records at the time. That all changed when they announced their signing to Nuclear Blast in February 2014. With a gorgeous stage setup and pressure building, Machine Head took the stage around 9:30pm with a sold out crowd chanting “Machine F**king Head” until the major players showed off their presence. I was happy to be back at Irving in exactly one week from the August Burns Red show (which was also sold out). The three songs grounded the only eight or so photographers to 20 minutes in length. Plenty of time to catch amazing photos and sing to “Now We Die” the opening track to their current album. With Phil, Robb and Jared looking on as I lost my mind, the interaction between myself and the musicians was very surprising to me. My interaction while singing in the photo pit played a pivotal moment later on in the night.

The show ended around midnight and with plenty of photos taken by the second floor soundboard above, I was ready to get my work autographed. Thanks to security and the good graces of my luck, I got to spend my time waiting for the band with Duff’s Brooklyn bar owner Jimmy Duff and compatriot Sal Suarez upstairs as the entire venue emptied out. not only was I able to meet the band and get photos with them, I also got to spend time chatting with members of the music community in public relations as well as getting my work signed. Robb and friends signed my photo thanks to my good friend Ryan Kreiner. However, the band would sign the photo on the plastic protecting the picture and not the actual photo. This in turn, became one of the funniest “How in the F**K” moments of my career. Both Phil and Robb remembered me as the guy “rocking out” in the photo pit, and we were all enjoying the night due to, as photographers are always work work work. I explained what occurred and was met with smiles and no resistance what so ever. It was funny at the time and as I write it, still is (least in my world anyways). Check out the photos of the night and the set-list below. Go buy Bloodstone & Diamonds now on ITunes and all major music distributors. Also below, is my favorite music video “Now We Die”, its by far a technical marvel and a template I will learn as a student of film.

Thanks again for reading as show #5 is in the record books and closing out January in pristine fashion. See you rockers on the flip side!

–Derek Soto–

Machine Head Set-List:

1. Imperium
2. Beautiful Mourning
3. Now We Die
4. Bite the Bullet
5. Locust
6. Beneath the Silt
7. From This Day
8. Ten Ton Hammer
9. This Is the End
10. Darkness Within
11. Declaration
11. Bulldozer
12. Killers & Kings
13. Davidian
14. Sail Into the Black
15. Now I Lay Thee Down
16. Aesthetics of Hate
17. Game Over
18. Old
19. Halo

Machine Head Photo Gallery:

Machine Head – Now We Die music video.