Recent Articles
“BKFC goes Wide Open Throttle at OCC Roadhouse!!!”
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 12APR2024 OCC Roadhouse- Clearwater, FL Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returned to the Orange County Choppers Roadhouse in Clearwater, FL on April 12th. Previously visiting the Roadhouse and neighboring Bert’s Barracuda Harley Davidson for weigh-ins and press conferences, this was their first fight night there, and it didn’t disappoint. With people watching […]
Champions are Crowned at BYB 25 Brawl On The Bay in Tampa
BYB 25 Brawl on the Bay came to the Fairgrounds on Thursday night and featured two Championship Bare Knuckle Boxing matches and 5 other top-level fights. I have never covered a BYB event, but I was fascinated by the ring that is used for the fights. It is called a Trigon and you guessed it, […]
A Virgin Survives The High Seas On The 2024 Monsters of Rock Cruise
Virgin. I knew that would catch your attention and in full transparency, I have been on the Beach Boys Cruise but never on the Monsters of Rock Cruise. They both have some similarities but The Monsters of Rock Cruise is a whole different animal. A gorilla comes to mind but imagine one on steroids ala […]
Taking it to a New Level with Pantera and Lamb of God in Tampa
All Photos by Travis Failey After a phenomenal run of headlining the festival circuit in 2023, a reformed Pantera put together a heavy hitting lineup pairing themselves with Lamb of God to tour the planet. One of the stops on their second run of shows was in Tampa on Monday night at Amalie Arena affectionately […]
Sevendust and Static-X Bring The Machine Killer Tour To The Hard Rock In Tampa
All Photos By Travis Failey On Sunday Night in Tampa Florida, The Machine Killer tour took over the Hard Rock Casino event center to a sold-out packed house. The tour which featured the co-headlining bands Sevendust and Static-X was joined by Dope in support of their 2022 release Blood Money, Part Zer0, and numerous EPs. […]
Go Pack Go !
EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO CLEARWATER, Fla.–A group of Green Bay Packers fans gathered at Fuzzy’s Sports Bar in Clearwater, Florida on Sunday night to witness and cheer on their team in its stumping of the Dallas Cowboys. Although there were a number of Cowboy fans present those from Winneconne, Appleton and New London, Wisconsin out cheered […]
LSU Tigers Come Back Multiple Times Against The Wisconsin Badgers To Win The 2024 Reliaquest Bowl
ReliaQuest Bowl 1JAN2024Raymond James Stadium Tampa All Photos By Jordan Raiff & Travis Failey Marking the 38th year of Tampa’s historic SEC versus Big Ten inter-conference match-up. This year LSU and Wisconsin were representing their respective conferences. With Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels opting to be a healthy scratch, LSU had an uphill battle in […]
What’s Taking so Long Jays
DUNEDIN, FLA. –The Toronto Blue Jays minor league players dormitory construction enters its second year with a second floor finally being built over the site’s eastern half. This while the western half in some places has yet to have concrete flooring poured. Construction started on the site of a former car wash prior to December […]
EDDIE TRUNK, MICK MARS, SEBASTIAN BACH, TIM “RIPPER” OWENS, CARLOS CAVAZO, PENELOPE SPHEERIS, BIOHAZARD, WHISKY a Go Go TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE 2024 METAL HALL OF FAME
The 2024 7th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala “The most important night in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal” will take place on January 24, 2024, at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove, Anaheim, CA, and will be hosted by radio Icon / 2024 Metal Hall of Fame Inductee Eddie Trunk, and entertainment personality Cathy Rankin. The event will include a special 40th Anniversary Induction for Eddie […]
USF Secures A Bowl Bid By Beating Charlotte 48-14
USF got an impressive victory on Saturday Night at Raymond James Stadium against the Charlotte 49ers by playing rock solid defense, some trickery and of course behind the legs and arm of their record setting QB in Byrum Brown. In front of an announced crowd of over 29,000 fans on Senior Night, The Bulls got […]
JUDAS PRIEST ANNOUNCES THE INVINCIBLE SHIELD TOUR WITH SABATON
Today, heavy metal titans Judas Priest have announced their Invincible Shield Tour with special guest Sabaton. The all-time greats will take over the U.S.A. this spring with 14 shows. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on April 18 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT making stops in Reading, PA; Boston, MA; Rosemont, […]
Pantera To Continue The Art Of Shredding With A Second Leg Of Their US Tour With Lamb Of God
Heavy metal icons PANTERA will return to the stage this February on the second leg of their North American headlining tour. The journey follows the band’s massively successful twenty-city run this past Summer, a tour which stood as one of the most anticipated tours of 2023, as well as their dates supporting Metallica. Featuring classic members, vocalist Philip […]
USF Bulls Increase Chances Of Going “Bowling” By Beating The Temple Owls 27-23
On Saturday at Ray Jay, the USF Bulls defeated the Temple Owls 27-23 in a nail biter on Military Appreciation Day. With the victory putting them at 5-5 with two winnable games to play against the UTSA Roadrunners on the road and then back at home against Charlotte, the postseason bowl possibility looks like a […]
“BKFC 53 Breaking It Down At Olympia!!!”
3NOV2023 Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL All Photos by Jordan Raiff Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returned to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL on November 3rd. Marking the return of BKFC Middleweight Champ, and FL fighter David Mundell, this was a packed card and held in a smaller more personal section […]
Beast In Black Claws The Orpheum
It’s always interesting going to not only a new venue but also seeing a couple of bands that you have very limited knowledge of. Well on Saturday night in Tampa, both of those situations were in play as Beast in Black headlined the new Orpheum with Dance With the Dead as the opening act. I […]
Outsiders Revival Tour Comes to an End for Eric Church and Whiskey Myers
MidFL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 30SEP2023 A 35-date tour in the dead of summer is hell for any band. For Southerners and country music mega stars Whiskey Myers and Eric Church though, it’s just another day at the office. Cutting their teeth in their respective Texan and North Carolina backgrounds though, these groups are all […]
Blue Ridge Raged On While The Weather Lurked In The Shadows on Day 2
All Photos By Kellye Robinson & Trevor Williams After day 1 was abruptly cut short, anticipation for day 2 was at an all time high. Fans eagerly lined up and quickly entered the venue so that they wouldn’t miss a moment of the music. On the Famous Monsters stage, San Antonio metalcore band Upon a […]
A Camera’s View Of Day One Of The 2023 Blue Ridge Rock Festival
All photos by Kellye Robinson & Trevor Williams Disclaimer: This review is written from the point of view of someone who was providing unpaid, volunteer media coverage for the festival. Given the circumstances of how things went down, I felt that this was the most appropriate way to cover what I witnessed first hand. My […]
Bulls Bounce Back With Big Plays To Defeat Rice
After a slow start to the game between the USF Bulls and the Rice Owls on Saturday afternoon, the game turned into an airshow and score fest with the Bulls taking the win by the score of 42-29. It was a good start for the Bulls as they won their opening game of the American […]
Moving “Away From the Sun” With Candlebox and 3 Doors Down
With over 30 years of making music each, Candlebox and 3 Doors Down are the true definition of touring musicians in the US. Their brand of rock is incredibly catchy and is almost always incredibly successful in getting people off their seats. With the hot and humid Tampa night following downpours earlier in the day, […]
Bulls Play Their Hearts Out But Fall To The Alabama Crimson Tide 17-3
Coming into Saturday’s game with the Crimson Tide, no one except the Bulls thought they could stay with them for 4 quarters. Well the USF Bulls proved everyone wrong as they were in the game until late in the forth quarter when Bama Quarterback Ty Simpson punched it in from the 1 yard line to […]
Lighting Up The Sky with Godsmack, Atreyu and Flat Black at the Amp
MidFL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 2SEP2023 A summer without Godsmack on tour just doesn’t feel right these days. The perennial road artists are back out, and Tampa got one of the last shows with the legendary Atreyu on board. Opening the show was Flat Black and they will largely join them for the rest […]
Summertime and Sunshine Make A Final Appearance With Movement, Atmosphere, Sublime w/Rome, and Slightly Stoopid At the Amp
Summertime jam sessions are just something special. Much like Creedence sang about, they take on a life of their own, and they welcome everyone. While Tampa was the second to the last stop of the tour, they gave the photographers a rare treat. Getting the ability to shoot the rest of the show anywhere in […]
Time to Sing A Song with Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire All Night Long!!
Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL 26AUG2023 Arena tours stopping in Tampa, FL is nothing new. The city has welcomed some of the biggest and best tours for decades. With its gorgeous location in downtown Tampa and amazing access for bands coming from or going to Miami, it is a natural stop for some of the biggest […]
Construction Moving on Jays Dorms
DUNEDIN, FLA. –Construction continues at the Toronto Blue Jays new players dormitory on Causeway Blvd. in Dunedin. It appears that extra footings and larger foundations are being constructed because of the weak soil on the site and its closeness to the Gulf of Mexico. The site was previously occupied by a car wash.
The World Is a Vampire Bite the Tampa Amp!!
Mid FL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 20AUG2023 Setting back out on the road, the Smashing Pumpkins brought out some of the overlooked heavy artillery, with Rival Sons and Interpol joining them for this second half leg of the tour. Billy Corgan also brought out his wrestling promotion, the storied NWA. Unfortunately, as is par […]
Mr. Jones and Me Sweat Our Asses Off for Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional
Long since a staple of “grocery store jams” the Counting Crows have always been humble and been a part of our lives. This kind of longevity should tell you all you need to know about them and Lead Singer Adam Duritz. But no, you also need to know that this man must have the best […]
Pumping it up with Pentatonix in Tampa
Pentatonix brought their tour to Tampa’s Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre to a packed crowd on Thursdy night. Pentatonix was formed in 2011 and took NBC’s The Sing-Off by storm and won the $200k first prize with little real challenge. Their choreography, singing, and musical skill overall pulled audiences in immediately. Seeing their online social presence […]
Disturbed Show You The Light ( And Fire) in Tampa, FL
Mid FL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 5AUG2023 The aptly named “Take Back Your Life” Tour from Disturbed has had some great guests on the bill, and for the Tampa, FL leg, Breaking Benjamin joined in with limited announcement. Keith Wallen also From Breaking Benjamin, took the place of Jinjer in the opening slot, as […]
Can You Dig it? Mudvayne Brought Their Psychotherapy Sessions Tour Stop #2 To Tampa
Mid FL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 21JUL2023 Pushing down the road as the headliner for the first time in 14 years, Mudvayne is back!! This time they are bringing the metal staple Coal Chamber and the Green Jelly with no-budget masters known as GWAR, on tour with them. Also joining in are nu-metal and […]
Camera Review: CampSnap Camera
A Kid Friendly Digital Camera **Disclaimer: All photos in this article are unedited, and as extracted from the camera. Images courtesy of Jordan Raiff and Angelica Franco Estrada.** As the kids get ready to head off to their end-of-summer camps, many parents want a camera to send their kids with. Many sleepover camps want kids […]
David Mundell Knocks Out Mike Richman At BKFC-47 To Retain The Middleweight World Championship
BKFC was back. Back In Lakeland that is for BKFC-47. Headlining Friday night’s card was two Championship fights and 7 other battles in the ring that thrilled the sold-out crowd. The first preview fight got underway right at the scheduled 8pm start time as the crowd was still entering the RP Funding Center. Those that […]
Cheap Trick Brings Their Hall of Fame Setlist To Open “The Sound”
On Wednesday night, Clearwater, Florida was once again alive and well after being somewhat of a ghost town the last decade or so. With the arrival and opening of The Sound, the new outdoor entertainment and music venue in Coachman Park, the area was once again vibrant and bustling with people who came to check […]
BKFC Is Back In Lakeland On July 14th With The Middleweight Championship On The Line
THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING COMBAT SPORTS PROMOTION! BKFC-47: DAVID MUNDELL VS. MIKE RICHMAN HEADLINE IN BKFC MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! FRIDAY, JULY 14 IN LAKELAND, FL TICKETS NOW ON-SALE Lakeland, FL (June 21, 2023) Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion has announced BKFC-47 set for Friday, July 14 at the […]
Dio: Dreamers Never Die Released On Blu-Ray
FILM ON LIFE OF LEGENDARY HEAVY METAL SINGERRONNIE JAMES DIO WILL AVAILABLE ON SEPTEMBER 29 PRE-ORDERS LAUNCH TODAY “DIO: Dreamers Never Die,” the first-ever, career-spanning documentary on the life and times of the late legendary metal icon Ronnie James Dio, will be released worldwide by Mercury Studios on DVD and Blu-Ray+4K and as a special […]
Tesla Shines At Night Number Two at The House of Blues
Fresh off two performances on the 2023 Monsters of Rock Cruise, hard rockers Tesla took over the House of Blues in Orlando for two nights, playing to a sold-out audience on Friday, May 5th followed by a nearly sold-out show on Saturday, May 6th. I attended the Saturday show with a good friend and concert photography mentor, […]
Sunshine City Roller Derby Bout: A High-Action Game Derailed by Electrical Malfunction.
By Codzilla #F15H On Saturday 4/22, Sunshine City Roller Derby hosted another fun filled evening of hard hitting action at the Youth Park outdoor roller hockey rink. This bout featured the league’s home athletes sorted into team Orange and team Teal, with a handful of guest athletes from nearby leagues joining the rosters. Roller Derby […]
Trauma Awakens-An Interview with Drummer Kris Gustofson
Most bands when they fade away early in their careers never make a comeback but that’s not the case with Trauma. After having their song “Such A Shame” included in the Metal Massacre II compilation in 1982, Trauma signed with Shrapnel Records and released Scratch and Scream. It received high praise with the band hitting […]
My One Day in the Show with a Uniform On (The Other Side of Sports Too)
April 3, 1964 I met then future HOF’er Tim McCarver on the St. Louis Cardinals team bus in route from Al Lang Field in St. Pete to Ft. Myers where the Cardinals played the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training 1964. Yes for at least that day I was a major league batboy wearing a Cardinals […]
The Chief Metal Officer’s Year in Review
No one knows exactly what their future holds, and when January 1st rang in the New Year I had no idea that 2022 was going to be the most epic concert year that I have ever had. This calendar year has afforded me the opportunity to see some musical legends and my favorite bands, and […]
It’s a Blue on Black kind of night With Five Finger Death Punch, Brantley Gilbert and Cory Marks
Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL 22NOV2022 Crossovers in music are nothing new. Aerosmith and Run DMC. Metallica and San Francisco Symphony. FFDP and Brantley Gilbert? That’s right, after their cover of Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Blue on Black” with Brian May of Queen and others joining in, they hit the road together. Joining them was Canadian country […]
BKFC Brings Their Action-Packed Card Back To Orlando!!!
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returned to the Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL on November 5th. With a six-month gap since their last visit to the theme park destination of Florida, the room was jam-packed with fans ready to see these warriors duke it out once again!! This raw segment of combat sports is like nothing […]
Vigilant MMA Strikes The Stage At The Tampa Gold Club
“Violence and ladies pack the house!!” Vigilant MMA returned after a few months off, and Tampa Gold Club on Adamo Drive in Tampa, FL welcomed them with open arms!! This well-known club is not only one of the biggest locations in the Tampa area, but their award-winning food and knockout ladies have made this one […]
The Scorpions Bring A Blackout To Tampa
Hurricane season started early this year in Tampa, but it wasn’t because of the weather as the Scorpions brought their Rock Believer tour to Amalie Arena on Wednesday night. The Scorpions also brought some thunder with them as Thunder Mother opened for them after Whitesnake dropped off the bill due to continuing and unfortunate medical […]
Rocking With The Monsters On The Mountain
With an invitation in hand to come and check out the 2022 Monsters on the Mountain music festival, my ‘Jedi behind the lens’ friend Brian (B Man) and I made travel arrangements and the day of could not get here soon enough. We would be flying into Knoxville, TN and then had a ride pre-arranged […]
Video Interview with Sabian Lynch of Alpha Wolf
While attending Blue Ridge Rock Fest, I had the very special opportunity of interviewing guitarist, Sabian Lynch, from Alpha Wolf. If you haven’t heard of Alpha Wolf then you should stop right now and check them out. I highly suggest, Akudama or Ulta-Violet Violence from their most recent album, A Quiet Place to Die. Alpha […]
Rammstein Sets Soldier Field In Chicago On Fire
After the painful wait of over two years due to Covid restrictions worldwide, Rammstein finally made it to Soldier Field in Chicago, as part of their current North American stadium tour this past Saturday night (September 3rd). A fair question for people to ask is “Was it worth the wait?” I can answer that with […]
Blue Ridge Rock Fest Rages On During Days 3 & 4
Day 3 On the morning of the third day, ominous clouds replaced the sunny skies of the previous days. While many festival goes welcomed the cooler temperatures, the clouds above left everyone feeling nervous about what was to come. The earlier hours brought disappointment for many fans as they discovered that SION and Lacuna Coil […]
BKFC Knocks Out Tampa Once Again at BKFC Fight Night Tampa 2
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, once again put on an amazing event in our back yard of Tampa FL. “This was our fifth event in Tampa, and we’re thrilled to return and promote this world class event for the outstanding Florida BKFC fans,” said Dave Feldman, President of BKFC. The […]
BKFC Fight Night -Time To Weigh In So You Can Knuckle Up!!!
It can’t be summer without Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship coming to Tampa, FL!! This is combat sports in some of its purest form available today. The squared circle isn’t for everyone, but Tampa seems to breed them as there is at least one fighter from the area on almost every card. So when they […]
Tom Keifer, L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat are Bringing The Sonic Slam 2022 Tour To Florida
Tom Keifer is fired up to tour for 2022 and he’s bringing along some veteran bands to provide support. L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat will join the #keiferband when they hit Florida this weekend starting in Melbourne on Friday, then Ormond Beach on Saturday night then hitting Fort Myers Sunday night for what they’ve dubbed the “Sonic Slam” […]
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