Andrea Love’s Guide To ‘Must See’ Machine Shop Shows in May [PICS + VIDEOS]

The month of May has always been my favorite month for concerts, especially at The Machine Shop. I don’t know why, but it seems like that’s when every awesome band is out and about, and putting out their best. Here is a rundown of what’s going on the rest of this month at The Machine Shop and why you need to be at every single one of these shows.

We spice things up with the return of Avatar on Wednesday the 11th! I’m telling you, their show is one not to miss for several reasons. The first reason is because it’s always a show. Not just a few dudes on a stage, but major theatrics from the lights and props, the bands outfits and makeup…even their merch booth looks like a carnival attraction! They slay and never disappoint live and I wouldn’t miss this show for anything. They have a new album called “Feathers And Flesh” due this Friday, which features the new single “The Eagle Has Landed” so I’m hoping to hear that and some of the other new stuff at the show on Wednesday night. Tickets are still available. I’ll be there, ready to get metal, and smelling like a freak show.

The very next night is the return of Sick Puppies for Hard Drive Live with very special guests, Red Sun Rising! Sick Puppies have returned to rock radio with a new single called “Stick To Your Guns” and a new lead singer after losing their singer-guitarist Shim Moore at the end of 2014. I’ve always been a fan of the band and I’m excited to see what this new chapter brings. They, too, have a new album on the way called Fury which drops on the 20^th of this month. Red Sun Rising is a band that has done some pretty amazing things in the short amount of time since they released their debut album Polyester Zeal. They are the first independent band to reach the number one spot with two singles from their debut album. Don't miss Hard Drive Live, we still have room for you.

Friday the 13^th is another sold out night with the return of Buckcherry! This is a band that never pulls any punches, and always puts on a stellar show. They take pride in the fact that they don’t use any type of recorded tracks to enhance their show, and Josh Todd with his shirt off is always fun for the ladies. Perhaps my favorite aspect of a Buckcherry show is the crazy bitches that come out to play. When the band plays their most popular song, the people watching is supreme, and the dance moves are pure gold. Ladies dancing everywhere, with their dates, on the walls, on each other…on a box with a fox, it doesn’t matter! When that song comes on the ladies lose their damn minds. Unfortunately there are no tickets available for this show, so better luck next time. Maybe one day you’ll follow our advice and get your tickets early.

Saturday May 14^th is a day I’ve been really looking forward to since the day the show was announced!  Flint, Michigan will become Texas at least for one night, with the return of Texas Hippie Coalition and one of my absolute FAVORITE new bands Sons Of Texas! THC just dropped their new album “Dark Side Of Black” on the 22^nd of last month, and their first single “Rise” is hardcore and an awesome tune to head bang to! They are so metal, but they also have a really bluesy, rhythmic groove to them that makes me wanna dance! Get their early enough to see Sons Of Texas and thank me later. This band is the one that I get superfan excited for every time, and their debut album “Baptized In The Rio Grande” is one that never goes out of rotation in my life. Once you check them out, you’ll understand why. This night will be bigger than everything in Texas combined, and lucky you…tickets ARE still available.

We have a few days to take a deep breath and get ready for another rockin’ week as we welcome back more heavy hitters starting with…

The return of HELLYEAH! For two nights in a row, the super group featuring Chad Gray of Mudvayne, Tom Maxwell of Nothingface and legendary drummer Vinnie Paul of the one and only Pantera will be back to rock the faces of many! They have a new album on the way called “UNDEN!ABLE” due June 3^rd, and you can hear the debut single “Human” on The Banana. It’s a pretty sweet tune, and I anticipate the release of the new album, because I was a big fan of their last. The first show on Tuesday the 17^th, sold out pretty quickly, so a second show was added for the next night Wednesday the 18^th and there are still a few tickets left for that one. Don’t take it for granted, and lose your chance to see the band, just get them now. Also playing that night are Escape The Fate and From Ashes To New - two bands also in rotation on Banana 101.5.

Both Kevin Zinc, owner of The Machine Shop, and our own Tony LaBrie are pumped up and ready for and heavily recommending that you catch the return of Grammy nominated Highly Suspect. This three piece band from the East Coast blew all of our minds the last time they performed in Flint! They have a fresh and explosive sound, and their first two radio singles “Lydia” and “Bloodfeather” are very heavily requested songs here on The Banana. Their first full length album “Mister Asylum” was nominated for a Grammy and although they didn’t win, that’s still a huge accomplishment for such a new band! This is another must-see show with tickets available so check them out on Thursday, May 19^th.

If you’ve never been to a Mushroomhead show at The Machine Shop, you don’t know what you’re missing!  I know people who don’t even like rock music that go to Mushroomhead shows, because they are filled with excitement and energy, entertaining is an understatement, and they do this really cool thing with water on their drums that looks super cool with the crazy light show. This is a show that usually sells out, and hasn’t yet, so don’t be that person thinking you have plenty of time. Make sure you have a spot inside The Shop on Friday May 20^th.

I am always impressed by a Lacuna Coil show, so Saturday May 21^st will be another terrific night of rock in Flint. The Italian rockers have a new album on the way, due May 27^th called Delirium. In talking about Delirium, they said in an interview on their official fan club page, emptyspiral.net that "The most obvious thing is that it's a heavier record and probably darker as well.” The band recently released the singles “Ghost In The Mist” and the title track “Delirium” and along with the new stuff, I’m looking forward to hearing my older favorites such as Our Truth and Spellbound. The Butcher Babies will also be on hand to rock it out that night, and tickets are still available for this show as well.

And then there’s Sevendust…One of my absolute favorite bands and some of the most down to earth guys I’ve ever met. Their new album “Kill The Flaw” made number one on my favorite albums of 2015 list, and this will be the first time I get to see any of the new material played live. They were also nominated for a Grammy for the first time in their 20 plus year career for the song “Thank You” the lead single from “Kill The Flaw”. This is a band that to me has gotten stronger and stronger over the years, and after every show, it’s obvious that ‘Sevendust has arrived’. Warning: attending a Sevendust show could result in melted and/or rocked off faces, so be careful. This show has been completely sold out for months now, so anyone who missed the boat will just have to settle for hearing all of the rockin’ details from us on the air.

To buy tickets you can always do so at themachineshop.info.

Don’t miss a Machine Shop show because of it being sold out OR because you spent your concert money on pesky bills or what not, at least for ONE WHOLE YEAR! The Ultimate Ticket is back and one grand prize winner will get free admission for two into every Machine Shop show for an entire year along with some other goodies. We will also send you to see Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Halestorm, Korn and more. Enter to win today!