Threat Signal 6/2/14

My favorite Canadien touring act next to BlackGuard (Who I have shot and done reviews for) has finally come back for another round in New York City. Ontario’s own, and Nuclear Blast roster band Threat Signal appeared with California’s own Hatchet and Black Tide as the headliner. Affiance was also scheduled on the bill, but were unfortunately removed due to scheduling conflicts between the production of their upcoming album. Never the less, I got to spend my day with my favorite group of people. Conducting one of the funniest interviews I have had thus far for my YouTube show “Bloodlines”, and the longest acquisition of a videobite with Travis Montgomery, Pat Kavanagh and frontman Jon Howard. This day was absolutely memorable and the show wasn’t even going on yet. With a start time of 7pm, and their act at 9:15pm, we had plenty of time to nail down the parameters for the fourth episode of Bloodlines.

As for the show, it was a TOTAL LETDOWN. Not only was the entire show placed in the downstairs room of Santos Party House on Lafayette Street in Chinatown, but the maximum occupancy level probably couldn’t exceed over 175 persons. This letdown made things worse when only 100 people TOPS showed up. I do not know who booked this tour, but after seeing them last year at Gramercy Theatre with Chimaira and The Browning, I was sorely disappointed to see THIS crowd on site. The band was incredible as I expect them to be. Playing songs off their self-titled album from 2011 and even 2006’s Under Reprisal. The night was great, but very short-lived. Due to a overlap in time and poor time management, Threat Signal was only allowed to play five songs out of their eight song set-list. This infuriated myself, the die-hard fans, and lead singer Jon Howard. Howard repeatedly made notice of his anger by hanging off lights and singing with more fervor than before. My camerawoman, Susan Therancy, captured their last song on video which will be in the Bloodlines episode upon release. Howard is seen swinging and slamming the microphone not once, but twice to make sure that it was damaged for good. This was mostly due to a faulty microphone line which he used THROUGHOUT the set. So, not only was their set cut, but it was hindered by technological shortcomings by the sound crew and promoters of the show.

All jokes aside, as a journalist, I truly feel for bands who get jerked by people they intend to bring entertainment to. Coming from such long distances to be peddled or even robbed is just pathetic. I always make sure that I am taken care of properly with press and admission acquisition, but when I get lied to by promoters and are forced to pay to cover a band I truly love and give positive reinforcement to, it is only the reputation of the venue and the promoter who get severely damaged. I am leaving said promoters name out of this situation, but Santos Party House is a venue I will NEVER step foot into again. Threat Signal gets a lot of love from Sinestra Studios for being kind-hearted and humbled people. I sacrifice my time and now apparently my funding for the work I love to push to the general public. To not give that respect in kind is to welcome animosity. Let me remind you, it was reciprocated by myself and members of the audience. Not cool to stiff people out of things and NOT COOL to screw a journalist. Check out the photos below and then come back next week for episode four of Bloodlines.

See you rockers on the flip side (Except Santos Party House)

—Derek Soto—

Threat Signal Photo Gallery