How cool is it that Limbeck took requests for their set at our show via Twitter and then actually played them? Very cool. Here's a few photos of them and The Forecast from last night.

--Lily the intern

Protest the Hero played to a sold-out crowd in the main room on Friday. The crowd was one of the best I've seen at a hardcore show here recently - even during the openers everyone was stoked, and the crowd went wild when Protest the Hero came on.

It was pretty amazing to watch the entire room, literally, moving, and the balcony packed and enthusiastic as well. Awesome, awesome show - thanks to everyone who showed up and made it so amazing!!

(as always, click for larger...)

Check out some photos of William Tell and Owltrain from the front room last week...

VersaEmerge:  Kids were lined up an hour before the show to make sure they didn't miss a second of VersaEmerge's early set, but these great performers played an acoustic encore set outside after the show so the latecomers still got their fill.

Gay Blades:  Maybe I'm biased because these guys are from my parts of the east coast, but they REALLY killed it up there. Their live performance of their signature brand of trash-pop is so wild and entertaining, you honestly don't even notice their lack of bass player. As they demanded last night, the Gay Blades play music that makes you stomp in tune, not clap.

Ace Enders and a Million Different People:  I've seen Ace play about a dozen times - albeit in 3 different bands and 3 different states - but last night's acoustic set was the most beautiful yet. He's just got the kind of voice that's so affecting you can't help but get a warm feeling in your stomach listing to him croon. I was very happy he threw some oldies in the mix (finishing with "Ever So Sweet", mmmm) and also did a cover of "Bittersweet Symphony" ("I'm a million different people from one day to the next..." - get it?). So that was splendid.

Craig Owens:  You may know him from Chiodos or Cinematic Sunrise, but unless you've seen him solo you do not know Craig Owens. His set was part acoustic, part electric, and completely adorable. The room was dominated by a massive crowd of adoring teenage girls freaking out, and he totally catered to his audience. He even stepped down from the stage to perform a few intimate songs in the crowd, then proceeded to form a "high five tunnel" and run through it (this was only mildly successful, as it was mostly a "frenzied groping tunnel"). He performed a slow slow version of Chiodos' "Baby, You Wouldn't Last a Minute on the Creek" and a cover of Bright Eyes' "I've Been Eating For You." Those two songs alone were more than I needed to walk away happy, but really the whole set was heartfelt and sounded great.

p.s.   YOU GUYS WERE ALL TAKING PICTURES, SO LETS SEE 'EM! Leave them in a comment, tag us on myspace or facebook, or post it to our flickr group!!

See you soon,
Ella Devine

A STELLAR performance by Angus Khan on Friday night!! These guys are clearly experienced performers, the set was just as exciting visually as aurally. There's really nothing better than their brand of good old hard rock mixed with a just the right touch of punk and metal, played heavy on the guitar and accompanied by a bubble machine shooting soapy goodness all over the stage and crowd.

Then Warship took me by surprise by being COMPLETELY AWESOME. I love From Autumn to Ashes so my sadness over their break-up led to skepticism about their former members' new project, but I am now enthusiastically converted. Their bio claims that "it’s hard to imagine a sound even heavier and more musically challenging than that of Long Island metalcore innovators From Autumn To Ashes, until you hear Warship, the crushing new project by FATA members Francis Mark and Rob Lauritsen.." - I could not have said it better myself, so I'm not going to try to. Their set was incredibly powerful and dually impressive seeing as Mark belted out all the vocals while playing drums, which isn't too common and just can't be easy. If you haven't checked them out yet, go to Warship's myspace page now!!

Last but not least, the weird but ever-so-entertaining Goblin Cock. I'd give them bonus points just for playing in those forboding wizard robes, but would you really expect anything less? These guys have stage names like Lord Phallus and Loki Sinjuggler, and wrote the liner notes to their album in runes. That being said, they play some pretty mean doom metal, proving that frontman Rob Crow (of Pinback, and about 20 other lesser-known bands) may be even more versatile than we give him credit for.

Check out the calendar for more great upcoming shows!! We've been doing a bunch of ticket giveaways lately, so if you aren't on our mailing list already, get on it! Also check out our FACEBOOK for more cool updates!

See you soon!
-Ella Devine

Last night, members of the Minneapolis-based hip hop collective Doomtree took over the main stage here at Knitting Factory as part of the cross-country NEVER BETTER TOUR.

Sims, Mictlan, and P.O.S. all played separate and collaborative sets, and WOW they are some seriously talented emcees. With their alternative-influenced music and punk undertones, these guys break every stereotype about rappers. The best thing about their original and genre-spanning music is that it guarantees a diverse fanbase -  you're just as likely to spot a kid in a XXXL white tee as one in a tight fitted flannel, and they're both singing along to every word.

Mike Mictlan performed his set with producer Lazerbeak spinning beats, playing songs off their collaboration album "Hand Over Fist." I was so impressed with the way Mike stayed with the crowd the entire time, making conversation with the kids and holding the mic out over the audience. My favorite part was the accapella chant ending "LA Raider's Hat," a clever and biting commentary on racial discrimination in America.

Then POS absolutely blew me away. He is really unlike any other rapper out there today - he played the electric guitar, made his own beats onstage, and spoke intensely about the importance of understanding equality, how we're all in the same struggle and the most important thing is to figure out what you love and pursue it with everything you have. When Mictlan and Sims joined him to perform a few songs as the (almost) full force of Doomtree, all three of them jumped into the crowd for an impromptu dance party. Ironically, a circle pit broke out just a few minutes later, which accurately demonstrates the versatility of P.O.S.'s music.

All in all, it was a PHENOMENAL show and thanks to everyone who came out! If you missed this dose of hip hop action, or you just want more, make sure you come out on TUESDAY MARCH 3RD for Aceyalone and Myka Nyne!! It's going to be insane..

OH and if you have any pictures or opinions, feel free to leave comments!

-Ella Devine, KFLA intern