Tune In, Turn On
Any regular readers of this column know we’re big on horn-driven bands, so I wasn’t about to miss a chance to write about Brass Against, which brings its Halloween show to Sound Waves Theatre at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City this Saturday, Oct. 31, at 9 p.m.
Brass Against is an edgy brass, hip-hop and rock ensemble from New York City that merges politically charged elements of bands such as Rage Against the Machine, Tool and Chris Cornell-fronted Audioslave, which Cornell formed with former RATM members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk.
Brass Against was formed in 2017 by guitarist Brad Hammonds and BA musical director Andrew Gutauskas, primarily as a Rage Against the Machine cover band with horns and as a protest following Donald Trump’s election.
“He (Hammonds) wanted to do just a one-off show on the night of the election. He was contacting a few friends, including Andrew Gutauskas, who’s the baritone saxophone player, and asked if he knew of any string players,” Brass Against vocalist Sophia Urista recalled in an interview with Outburn magazine. “Brad booked a venue and all he could come up with were these horn players. He couldn’t really get it done in time, and I guess the venue canceled the show. So he said, ‘Now that we’ve rallied all the horn players, we might as well just do it. Let’s do a video since we don’t have the venue anymore.’”
If you’re a Rage Against the Machine fan — and many of us, myself included, have always dug that band — you’ll love Brass Against. The group covers the Rage songs “Killing in the Name,” “Wake Up,” “Guerrilla Radio,” “Bulls on Parade,” “Sleep Now in the Fire,” “Know Your Enemy” and “Testify.”
They perform “Forty Six & 2” and four other Tool songs, along with tracks by Alice in Chains (“It Ain’t Like That” and “Them Bones”), “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by the Smashing Pumpkins, and songs by Ozzy Osbourne, Alanis Morissette, Led Zeppelin, System of a Down, Black Sabbath, Faith No More, the Beastie Boys and many more.
Based on the setlist alone, I’d be willing to bet the farm that this will be one heckuva fun show!
Tickets and information: ticketmaster.com/event/020064FEE222CB51.
Tune-Ups
Villain & Saints at Ocean Casino closes
This columnist is never happy to see a live music venue close, either inside a casino or, especially, outside one in an area where there are never enough music rooms.
While the sudden, unexpected announcement from Ocean Casino Resort that it was shuttering its Villain & Saints Lounge for good isn’t a positive development, Ocean will likely replace it soon, perhaps with something more popular.
“Villain & Saints was always dead. It was only busy before and after shows at Ovation Hall,” one area booking agent told Tune In Turn On. “Bands didn’t really like playing the room. They will put something better in there.”
Vue’s ‘Nightmare Before Halloween’ party
Why not take advantage of the still-nice weather and catch the Amy Elizabeth Band performing a free concert at one of Atlantic City’s most scenic nightclubs?
The Vue, located on the 32nd floor of the venerable Claridge Hotel, will host the band Friday, Oct. 30, starting at 9 p.m.
“We plan on playing mostly Halloween-themed music and some party favorites,” said Elizabeth, who is expecting a baby girl in February. “We are excited to put our own spin on Halloween at the Vue!”
The Amy Elizabeth Band will also perform there on New Year’s Eve.
Information: vuerooftopbar.com.
