“Feel The Heat, Burning You Up, Ready Or Not” ~ The Power Station
Stir Cove is an outdoor music venue tied to Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Located alongside the Missouri River it has attained a place on the Top 100 Amphitheaters in the World List by Pollstar Magazine which over 40 years has provided the most up-to-date, relevant, and useful data available for the global concert industry. Robert McCracken (Marketing Entertainment Manager) and his entire crew are incredibly professional, courteous, and downright friendly. On July 14th, 2024, Beartooth, Currents, Boundaries, and Nevertel would turn up the burners and do their very best to melt our faces. It has only been a couple of weeks since part of the Stir Cove parking lot was flooded when the Missouri River breached her banks. The water has since subsided but now summer hit us full on with a 97-degree day. As the sun beat down upon us, the sweat-stained crowd, much like a flood, surged forward. No dam was going to hold back the rush of humanity as it made its way rapidly toward the stage
Out first, from Tampa, Florida, was Nevertel. These guys came out like a house of fire. Despite the heat, they filled the venue with solid energy and actually thrived on it. They are a hard-rocking band that interjects just the right amount of rap to their music. Recently released singles, “Sacrifice” and “SYM” were especially hot. Nevertel is as busy a band as you’ll see. After they are done with this current tour, they will start another one in September as they will be opening for Point North. This gives us plenty of opportunities to catch them again, and again, and again.
Nevertel Members:
Jeremy Michael (Vocals)
Raul Lopez (Rapper / Guitar / Producer)
Alec Davis (Guitar)
Joshua Barter (Drums)
Nevertel Set List:
1. Feed The Machine
2. Sacrifice
3. Back On Me
4. Everything In My Mind
5. SYM
6. No Reverse
7. Modified
Death Is Little More is Boundaries’ latest album. It’s stuffed with kicks and punches that will leave you battered after just one listen. The outside temperature did little to deter the band or the crowd for that matter, as they quickly formed a mosh pit. The speed at which they circled created a vortex of fire. It was full-on anger and fury. But in a respectful way. Ironically, Boundaries have no boundaries as they will do what is necessary to rip you apart with a heavily based percussive sound. Since 2015 the Connecticut band has been expressing themselves musically. Their message is ruthless and unapologetically hard and that is the way the fans like it. With continuous fist pumping and head bobbing, the crowd embraced the heat and the fire emanating from the stage. The new album is a must-listen, and I urge you to listen to it as soon as you can.
Boundaries Members:
Matt Mcdougal (Vocals)
Tim Sullivan – (Drums)
Nathan Calcagno (Bass)
Cory DelVecchio (Guitar)
Cory Edmunds (Guitar)
BOUNDARIES SET LIST:
1. A Pale Light Lingers
2. Darkness Shared
3. My Body Is a Cage
4. Is Survived By
5. Realize and Rebuild
6. Cursed to Remember
7. Turning Hate Into Rage
8. I’d Rather Not Say
9. Easily Erased
Direct support for Beartooth came in the form of another Connecticut band, Currents. Brian Willie fronts this band and he does it to perfection. His ability to growl and then sing melodically is uncanny. There is an atmospheric sound to this band which is carried into the pre-sunset sky. The crowd quickly connected to the stage activities and to the sounds the band was creating. Nobody chugs quite like Currents. It is metal at its finest with a desire to pummel the audience. The members of Currents are mood setters and if you like having your face ripped open, then the mood they set is for you. Aggression and speed are two words that perfectly describe the band’s performance. They are non-stop riffs and chugs that call out to you and demand you listen. Last May their album The Death We Seek was released. This is a well-executed album full of screams and soaring choruses that will cover you with emotion.
Currents Members:
Brian Willie – Vocals
Ryan Castaldi – Guitar
Chris Wiseman – Guitar
Christian Pulgarin – Bass / Backing Vocals
Matt Young – Drums
CURRENTS SETLIST :
1. Never There
2. Monsters
3. Kill the Ache
4. Better Days
5. The Death We Seek
6. So Alone
7. Unfamiliar
8. Living in Tragedy
9. Over and Over
10. Remember Me
11. Guide Us Home
The sun was finally setting as the sound of “Summer of 69” echoed throughout the venue. When the song ended, Beartooth took the stage, and the drenched fans went ballistic. The band immediately set a tone and created an atmosphere of metal that I’d never witnessed before. Despite the vocal growling and the hard-core musicianship, I actually had a smile on my face. Their music is not just songs, they are anthems that ask you to take charge of yourself and never waiver from your desires. Lead singer, Caleb Shomo pounces around the stage like a caged tiger, trying his best to find a way out. The other members are just as animated and add to the overall look of the band. There is a reason Beartooth can now headline shows and the reason is simple. The band paid its dues and it absolutely rocks. Fans can relate to Beartooth as they were once upon a time, an underdog who now has become a fan favorites.
Beartooth Members:
Caleb Shomo (Vocals)
Oshie Bichar (Bass / Backing Vocals)
Conner Dennis (Drums / Backing Vocals)
Zack Huston (Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals)
Will Deely (Rhythm Guitar / Backing Vocals)
BEARTOOTH SET LIST:
1. The Surface
2. The Past Is Dead
3. Doubt Me
4. Riptide
5. Disease
6. Devastation
7. Might Love Myself
8. The Last Riff
9. Mr. Brightside
10. Look The Other Way
11. The Lines
12. Beaten in Lips
13. Body Bag
14. Jam
15. I Was Alive
16. Sunshine
17. In Between
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Wasn’t good enough to be on stage as a performer, so the next best thing was to photograph the people who are. Shooting my R6’s is nearly as great as holding my Strat. Getting up close to an artist and feeding off the crowd is exhilarating. Concert photography allows me the opportunity to capture a once in a lifetime live moment and then share it socially.
