u/IHBMSU

Ian Hill has announced his retirement, with Judas Priest moving forward with a new bassist. As sad as it is to see Ian go (though great it's on his terms), I'm glad the band will continue on. Even after seeing Judas Priest multiple times over the past 20+ years, I still cannot get enough of them live. And as Rob Halford and co proved just over a year ago at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, they've earned their keep as Metal Gods and then some.

Here's a clip of them at that Sep 26, 2026, show playing "Night Crawler" (my favorite song off my favorite Judas Priest album 'Painkiller')!

Bonus Fact/Humble Brag - at the end of the clip is a picture of me meeting Judas Priest during their SiriusXM Town Hall back in March 2018. Minutes prior, I actually got to ask Halford a question on-air about what inspired his singing style... but thats a story for another time (😉).

Share your favorite memories from seeing Judas Priest live in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like these)!

New Found Glory just wrapped up two days of shows at EPCOT's "Eat to the Beat Concert" Series this week. I can only imagine how emotional those shows were for both the band and fans in attendance - not only did these mark New Found Glory's first shows since the passing of Chad Gilbert, but the guitarist's love of all things Disney was well documented (the band even shared beforehand how much he was looking forward to these shows at Disney World's EPCOT).

I only got to see Chad perform with New Found Glory once - when the pop punk outfit opened for Green Day during the American Idiot Tour's stop at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia (Oct. 29, 2004). The last time I saw them was last year (Aug. 2, 2025) when New Found Glory opened for the Offspring and Jimmy Eat World - and though Chad wasn't onstage that day, his influence and the band's love for him was clear as day throughout the set.

Here's video from that show in Holmdel, NJ - where the band used a slingshot to launch t-shirts into the crowd before going into "Failure's Not Flattering" (off the album 'Catalyst', which they were touring behind while openingfor Green Day two decades ago). That day I not only enjoyed a fun, energetic set from the band, but also discovered that literally the only downside to being in the 12th row from the stage is that I was too close to catch a shirt 😆

Stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this.

As Trey Anastasio celebrates another birthday (Sept. 30), I can't help but think back to this past July when I saw Phish play their historical 93rd show at Madison Square Garden. While that particular show was a tribute to the type of setlists they played in 1993 and prior, it also proved that no one puts on a concert like Phish. The way Chris Kuroda's light production beautifully flows with Phish's incredible instrumentation was awe-inspiring, and I'm still amazed how the floor at the World's Most Famous Arena transformed into an ocean of dancing fans.

Videos cannot do justice to the spectacle they created that night, but this clip of them playing "Chalk Dust Torture" does a good job capturing all of the above in less than a minute. Also head over to I Heard Bruce Might Show Up's Substack (link below) to see more videos from Phish's 93rd MSG show on July 24, 2026 (including clips of the Big Ball Jam's return, covers of ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin and the Who, shots of the insane light rig they used throughout the night, and more)!

https://iheardbrucemightshowup.substack.com/p/phishs-93rd-show-at-madison-square

And stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

40 years ago today (Sept. 29), Iron Maiden released "Somewhere in Time." And just a few weeks ago (Sept. 6, 2026, to be exact) I saw the band close their second night at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ, woth "Wasted Years." Iron Maiden playing a soccer stadium was amazing in and of itself (and in New Jersey nonetheless), but that night Bruce Dickinson proved why he was the true star of the show (which is saying a lot, because the evening also included opening sets from Megadeth and Anthrax, a mind blowing Maiden set list, and TWO appearances from Eddie). It's amazing how even at 68 years old, Bruce still sounds incredible and sprints across the stage with more power and charisma than most singers half his at his age.

Stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

25 years ago this week (Sept. 29 to be exact), Wilco released their breakthrough album 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' for free online after their label refused to distribute it and dropped them. It reminds me of the time I not only saw Jeff Tweedy and co play the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Mass (Aug. 12, 2008), but also met them afterwards! I was dating someone in college who was such a huge fan of the band that she became friends with someone who worked at the drum company who sponsored drummer Glenn Kotche. That contact not only got us and our friend seats a few rows away from the stage, but also passes to the after show party - where we got to meet the entire band (except Jeff Tweedy). They were all super nice guys, and getting to chat with them moments after such an incredible show.

Here's video of Wilco playing "Heavy Metal Drummer" at that show, which also marked the only time I've been to the world renowned Tanglewood - such a cool spot to see a talented group like Wilco (or any band for that matter).

Stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

This weekend at Ohana Fest, Pearl Jam played their first concert since Matt Cameron left the band (and informally announce Abe Laboriel Jr. as, presumably, their new drummer). Here's hoping this means more shows to come, because it's been 5 years since I last saw Pearl Jam onstage.

Watch the above clip of Eddie Vedder and co playing "Corduroy" and "Daughter" at Sea Hear Now on Sept. 18, 2021. And read more about what made this particular show in Asbury Park, NJ, so special via I Heard Bruce Might Show Up's Substack here:

https://iheardbrucemightshowup.substack.com/p/5-years-ago-today-pearl-jam-headlined

Clipse opening for Turnstile at Forest Hills Stadium on paper seems like an odd pairing - but if there's any hardcore punk band that could share the same stage as the legendary hip-hop duo, it's Turnstile. And Clipse did not disappoint, with Pusha T and Malice delivering a set that got even the most casual of rap fans in attendance bopping along.

Here's a clip of Clipse busting out "Grindin" during their set in Queens on Sept. 23, 2026 - the only show they appearedon during Turnstile's current tour! And stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

35 years ago, Red Hot Chili Peppers released their pinnacle album 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik'. Hearing songs like "Under the Bridge" live is truly something special - though it was an experience made even more wild during RHCP's show at Madison Square Garden in Feb. of 2017, where they converted the world famous arena's ceiling into an interactive light show. Thank goodness I have video from the concert, because the only way I can verbally describe it is "Thank God I was not on any substances, because that light show had me tripping completely sober!"

What's the best visuals you ever saw at a concert? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!

Happy birthday Bruce Springsteen! You can celebrate by watching a bunch of videos I've shared over at I Heard Bruce Might Show Up's YouTube channel from the handful of times I've seen the Boss live (https://youtube.com/@iheardbrucemightshowup?si=BrKWJI9uUtfK\_O\_m). But for now, here's Bruce and the E Street Band (with special guest Tom Morello) busting out "Badlands" at Madison Square Garden back on May 11, 2026. Hearing a sold out NYC crowd at the World's Most Famous Arena scream every word along with Bruce that night was truly something special.

Stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

How wild was the All American Rejects' set during Day 1 of Sea Hear Now (Sept. 19, 2026)? Well, Tyson Ritter accepted a fan's offer to autograph their face. Watch this clip of Ty taking yhe challenge slightly further by full-blown drawing on the fan's face, and the band playing "Dirty Little Secret" at the Asbury Park music festival.

Also check out more highlights from Day 1 of Sea Hear Now here:

https://iheardbrucemightshowup.substack.com/p/sea-hear-now-2026-day-1-highlights

Happy Release Day for Anthrax's new album 'Cursum Perficio' (which came out the day prior to the 38th anniversary of 'State Of Euphoria')! It was awesome to hear Anthrax play the new album's first single "It's For The Kids" during their opening set at Iron Maiden's massive show Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ, on Sept. 6, 2026. The new song fit perfectly along side a killer set list of classics like "Antisocial."

Check out snippets of the NY thrash icons performing both songs in this clip, and watch them open and close their soccer stadium performance with "Caught In A Mosh" and "Indians" here:

https://youtu.be/81Ue3hTFI9k?si=vNVoWsqayC2MDs49

And stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

35 years ago today (Sept. 17), Guns N' Roses released Use Your Illusion I and II. I'll never forget the first time I saw the music video for "November Rain" as a kid - I was especially in awe of the moment where Slash plays the outro solo while standing on top of the piano with an orchestra playing along behind him. So you can imagine how emotional I felt years later at MetLife Stadium (July 23, 2016, to be exact) while watching Slash play that same outro solo at the exact same moment Axl was pounding the piano and singing "Don't ya think that you need somebody? Don't ya think that you need someone? Everybody needs somebody / You're not the only one"... then again, I was emotional pretty much throughout the entire show just by seeing Axl and Slash share the same stage (before that night, I had long excepted that I was more likely to see pigs fly before a GNR reunion - so yeah, I was ecstatic the entire evening, even if it was just Axl, Slash and Duff McKagan from the original lineup).

What song made you feel rather emotional while hearing it played at a concert? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!

30 years ago on Sept. 17, Tool released 'Ænima'. Seeing Tool play songs like "Stinkfist" during the last time I saw them on stage at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ (Nov. 16, 2019) was an unbelievable experience... actually, I could say that about the entire show - seriously, the only thing more epic than the band's songs is the mind-boggling light show that said songs perfectly soundtrack. And as Tool gear up for headlining slots at Riot Fest and Louder Than Life this coming weekend, I can't help but think "Damn, it's been too long since I saw Tool live... need to change that!"

Who's a band you tell people they have to see live at least once in their life? Share in the comments below and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!

Sept. 16 marks one year since the legendary Tomas Lindberg of At The Gates. Meanwhile, Sept. 4 marks 25 years since Converge released their landmark album 'Jane Doe'. It's wild to think that it's been more than 11 years since I've seen both bands play at the Webster Hall. They were co-headlining the Decibel Magazine Tour that also saw Pallbearer and Vallenfyre play the famed NYC venue on April 12, 2015.

Random story - I was the co-editor of MetalInsider.net at the time, and was scheduled to interview Tomas at the venue before they played. When I got to what used to be Webster Hall's Marlin Room (the mid-sized venue that was being used as a semi-backstage area for bands that night), I ended up interviewing guitarist Martin Larsson instead (though it doesn’t look like we ever published that interview for some reason). Still to this day I'm not sure if it was a simple misunderstanding or if Tomas at the last minute didn't want to do interviews, but either way it was a cool experience... though in hindsight I do wish I had gotten the chance to speak with Tomas.

Stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

20 years ago today (Sept. 15), I went to the 2006 Family Values Tour's stop in Camden, NJ - which saw Korn share the stage with Deftones, Stone Sour, Flyleaf and many others. I've seen Korn live a crap ton if times (coincidentally possibly more than any other band sans a handful of exceptions). But this particular show stands out because when Korn kicked off their encore by playing an acoustic rendition of "Hollow Life", they did so in the crowd/on a mini stage behind the soundboard... which my friend and I just so happened to be sitting roughly 5-10 feet away from! It was a fluke we even ended up sitting there - we initially bought $9.99 lawn seats, but then bought upgraded seats once inside (and randomly got selected to sit near the soundboard). It wasn't until moments before Deftones took the stage that we even noticed the platform set up just a few feet in front of us.

What's the wildest "seat upgrade" experience you've had at a concert? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this).