This Friday, The Blizzard Continues at Toad’s Place

  In case you haven’t looked at Facebook in three months, Alternative Control would like to remind you that Opus’ B-Day Blizzard Bash is happening this Friday at Toad’s Place in New Haven.  The “who’s who” night of Connecticut metal will begin at 6 and feature 13 bands on two stages: “So Jessie May, you’ll… Continue reading This Friday, The Blizzard Continues at Toad’s Place

Review of Opus Unplugged

When Christian Lawrence, a.k.a. Opus, asked me to review his new solo album Opus Unplugged, I automatically said yes – because that’s what Alternative Control does when anyone asks us to review their album/tuba quartet/nude performance art.  But then I got worried.  Here’s this dude who makes a lot of things happen in “the scene,”… Continue reading Review of Opus Unplugged

Opus’ 72nd Annual Blizzard Birthday Bash to Blow into Toad’s this January

… And I mean “blow” in the best possible, positive, and windswept way.  Remember when I said that one of my guilty pleasures was annoying alliteration? But I digress.  Friday January 24th is a lineup that Connecticut metal fans will not want to miss: Alcoholica, Earth, Curse the Son, Nightbitch, Kings & Liars, Nasty Disaster,… Continue reading Opus’ 72nd Annual Blizzard Birthday Bash to Blow into Toad’s this January

Mindsnap is Back!

Two years ago, Alternative Control described Mindsnap Music’s Metal-Rock Mania as “fun, free, and flowing with cheap beer,” a relaxed bi-weekly event that welcomed bands from many genres.  But shortly after we wrote that article, the bar that hosted the event closed down and the all the metal-mania was put on hold… Until now.  Christian… Continue reading Mindsnap is Back!

Working Together: The Drummers Weigh In

A reader posed an interesting question to Alternative Control last week: what should the role of successful, established bands be in guiding younger bands that are coming onto the scene?  And honestly, I didn’t know how to answer.  First, what makes a band “successful” or “established”?  Success for my own bands means that our friends… Continue reading Working Together: The Drummers Weigh In