Review by - Steve Moore of PowerSlave.com - June 16, 2005

A Night of Theatrics at Bourbon Street, Concord -- Another trip out to the East Bay to feed the furnaces of this locomotive we call ROCK. Another late night, another trip down memory lane, another gang of local bands, and another day above ground. Life is good. Bourbon Street in Concord was the venue, and Thursday, June 16 was the night. This joint has come a long way since I first stepped foot inside a few years ago. The sawdust on the floor, the bizarre tiki crap hanging over the bar, and the Mad Max-style chain link fence around the back of the stage are gone. This trip, I was pleasantly surprised to find some renovations going on at the club. The stage has been moved about ten feet back, allowing for more space up front. From what we heard, the bar is also set to be moved about 15 feet back, flush with the wall it currently juts out from. All this points to a club on the move, attempting to increase their capacity and host bigger shows. I’ll be eager to see what Bourbon Street has in store once the changes are in place. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s wonderfully reaffirming to see Bay Area rock clubs doing well, just a few short years removed from a time when it seemed like live rock music might be forsaken in favor of watching other people play records. PUSH was the first band up, proving they’re one of the hardest working bands around the Bay Area. The last year has seen them opening for W.A.S.P., L.A. Guns and Dope, in addition to playing a ton of other shows from Rooster’s Roadhouse and The Pound to the Time Out and Pine Street. Opening with one of their signature tunes, “Crank Shaft,” PUSH skipped all the low gears and went right into overdrive. Sonically aggressive without forgetting that engaging songs still matter (and always will), PUSH has grown in confidence PUSH, proving that there's never a dull moment with leather and women's clothing nearby over the last many moons, no doubt thanks to their ample live experience. The crowd seemed to be at peak capacity for the night during their set, so they obviously send people home happy. A little industrial, a little glam and a lot of metal -- This best sums up PUSH’s approach. With energy to spare, the band laid down a solid set of tunes such as “Shadow” and “Savage Garden,” while sneaking in a few new songs such as “Black.” The players all do a solid job, and this was my first time seeing them with their new guitarist. I’m happy to report he’s got the chops. But while the rest of the band vamps it up in outrageous stage outfits, the new guy is pretty normal looking. Hopefully the band will start up a fund for a flaming codpiece or some foreign objects to stuff up his nose or something. Make it a point to check these guys out- they’re heavy when it counts yet accessible enough to win over new fans with each show. There are a million bands out there, but PUSH is making headway for themselves with solid performances and a cool sound.

Review by - Amie Althaea of PowerSlave.com - April 16, 2005

Hollywood Comes to Concord
PUSH was a visual freak show and a musical drama. Star (vocals), Bill (guitar), J.C. (bass) and the hooded Steve (drums), were a motley crew of weirdness that PUSH lead singer Star in his element and loving it. resonated skillfully throughout the club. Star was painted a la Marilyn Manson with pale skin, dark eyes and lips. He carried his signature staff (mic stand): a sinister horned skull with glowing eyes and lengthy, curled tongue. His hard rock vocals were infused with a kerosene kiss, a blue flame in an infernal void. J.C. was in full gothic drag attire and his bass line was quite prominent as the front row was privy to his fingers flying and a divine separation that kept his riffs meticulously clean. Alternately, Bill (the least freakish in appearance), pummeled through just as effortlessly, though not quite as extrusive. Before taking the stage, Steve pulled a leather hood over his head, exposing nothing more than his eyes and a zipper opening over his mouth, so he virtually disappeared behind his ddrum kit. They performed tunes off of their “Your Worst Nightmare” CD, and even though there was an industrial vibe, there music was more evocative, straight-edge hard rock with a glam metal underbelly. “Cranksh ft” and “Fast Love” were evidence of this claim and their finale was (yet another!) “Fuck,” their unholy canticle. Lest I forget the Wonder Woman background dancers. There was a pair of them and they danced through several songs… eye candy and entertainment, wrapped up in cellophane and spider webs.

Review by - Amanda Allan of PowerSlave.com - March 11, 2005

Defining ‘Goth’ at the Metro
PUSH, who followed Eroded Pride, is not about classic goth, despite their genre category. (Being a bit of an industrial/80’s goth myself, I’m not sure I would classify PUSH as “goth” myself, but glam metal instead. The band, however, feels their effort to be the re-appropriation and makeover of “goth” stereotypes. To give goth a different, angrier face to identify with, as opposed to Robert Smith’s pining and pouting.) There are the obvious Alice Cooper references to be made, as well as lead vocalist Star’s Marilyn Manson-like traits. Star’s clothing style, onstage facial inflections, and confrontational performance style are indeed clearly Manson-inspired, but the actual vocals aren’t low enough in pitch to parallel Manson’s sound. Even when simply speaking, Star’s average vocal pitch is perhaps a few steps down from Rodney on the Roq’s; therefore, when singing, he seems to sound more like James Hetfield or Axl Rose than Marilyn Manson. Genre speculations aside, PUSH work off of a motif tried-and-true: instead of Manson’s Willy Wonka or Alice in Wonderland fascination, substitute a Hieronymus Bosch-like approach to sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. Yes, even in the early 16th century, it was all about sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll for some people. The example of Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delight” depicts a similar concept to the carnal decadence that works as a theme in PUSH’s music, particularly in the setting of a garden, as in the song “Savage Garden.” PUSH plays glam/power metal as it was meant to be played: loud, fast, glittery, dirty, ironic and utterly over-the-top. The off-the-wall go-go dancers contribute to the spectacle of the whole thing, one looking like an escaped female member of AC/DC and the other wearing a sailor’s cap and a spandex outfit. Speaking of ironic spectacle, there was the set-closer, “Fuck,” a song left over from an earlier era of the band’s songwriting. “Fuck” could have been written by the Circle Jerks: it’s a simple, obnoxious, hilarious, apathetic, adolescent anthem of a punk rock-laden romp. This track is an instant standout and shows an alternate side of the band’s influences.

Review by - Loria Kutch of PowerSlave.com - February 7, 2005

Local Bands Pay Tribute to Erich Donovan Fisher
The Time Out, Concord -- A weekend-sized crowd filled the Time Out Sports Bar in Concord on Monday night. The Fisher family was joined by the local community for a memorial benefit show to celebrate the life of their son, Erich Donovan Fisher, who recently passed away from complications related to undiagnosed diabetes and pancreatic failure. Rone Avilla (alias Ron E. Bear) of The Hated, along with Rich Varrasso and Vault Productions pulled together a great event that not only raised money to help with the Fisher's hospital fees, but also brought friends together in their time of need and offered some insight into the frightening reality of diabetes.
PUSH was in a different league than the bands that came before them. Not only in terms of their S&M garb and their Marilyn Manson style circus side show makeup but also in the way they took over the stage. PUSH got the crowd moving to their creepy brand of alt-metal. Their new guitar player made an impression with his wailing riffs. The Raider girls and Gorilla Rilla were dancing up front the whole time, and they didn't even seem to mind the spit. Vocalist,Star said, "The Erich Fisher memorial show was an incredibly mood altering experience. Everyone was there to support the family during this very difficult time. I was glad to be there and honored that I could contribute in celebrating Erich's life." Their next show is Feb. 16 at Studio Z in San Francisco (21+). PUSH will open the show for a Sony Records showcase.

Review by - Zakk Jones of PowerSlave.com - October 11, 2004

Concord goth-rockers PUSH went second, this being their first ever show in San Jose. I wrote earlier that PUSH brought to mind other heavily goth-inflected acts such as the Misfits and the Cramps. While that still holds true, that definition is pretty limiting once the band gets to make a second impression. Although their black-drenched swagger is all their own, PUSH seem to be musically inspired by a wealth of artists, notably Guns ‘N’ Roses, whose sleazy and uncompromising decadence is in full effect here. Further still, the opening to PUSH’s “Shadow” could easily be mistaken for that of several Iron Maiden songs. Even a nod to White Zombie crops up every so often. Aside from the music, what is probably most memorable about a PUSH show is the band’s now-trademark androgyny. Their wardrobe is a parade of makeup, leather skirts, fishnet stockings and knee-high boots. Lead singer Star in particular must be the constant victim of double takes, his feminine onstage appearance providing the perfect foil to his decidedly masculine singing voice.

Review by - Zakk Jones of PowerSlave.com - September 18, 2004

Up in Smoke at Rooster's Roadhouse
Last and most visible were the Concord goth-rock outfit Push, another of those pesky "not quite metal" bands. The band was stage presence personified, incorporating laser and strobe lights, fog machines, and a cadre of dancing girls adorned in the band's merchandise, while the band itself wore all manner of S&M gear and outlandish attire that would make Marilyn Manson proud.
Reminiscent of goth legends such as the Misfits and the Cramps while also taking some rather large helpings from the 80s pop metal buffet, Push's theatrical grandstanding was ironic in that it was probably the most enjoyable set of the show, but was seen by far fewer people than it deserved.
Crowds or no crowds, Push proved Saturday night that they were as hungry as unsigned bands come. Let's hope they stay that way, for our sake and theirs.

Review by - Steve Moore of PowerSlave.com - July 18, 2004
Venue - DNA Lounge

Local Band Challenges W.A.S.P.
DNA Lounge -- Sunday night, July 18th, offered up plenty of metal mayhem at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco. I threw so many Secret Heavy Metal signs at the stage this night that I thought I would either get carpal tunnel syndrome or my hand itself would simply fly off.
Two up-and-coming local metal bands got the opportunity to open for W.A.S.P., and they both wasted no time in using this chance to win plenty of new fans. Thank god I wasn’t looking for a dull moment, because there were none to be found during both of their too-short opening sets.
Kicking the evening off were East Bay denizens PUSH, fresh from their appearance in LA the night before at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood as a part of the annual Crue Fest. Taking the stage to a layer of industrial-flavored noise, PUSH set the tone for the evening by pumping the crowd up and instantly making their presence known. PUSH came to conquer and I’d say they did it.
Of course, you had your Folded Arms Brigade in effect amongst the crowd, fully prepared to halfheartedly sit through whatever opening acts came their way as they waited for the headliner- "We won’t like it and that’s THAT, dammit!" Yet PUSH bounded into their set like pros, oblivious to any skeptics present.
Visually akin to Marilyn Manson or later, Goth-era Faster Pussycat, the band was decked out in leather, ghoulish makeup, fishnets, and knee-high military boots. But PUSH wisely stepped outside those confines and offered up a varied sonic platter. Guitarist AK threw down some blazing leads- at times his riffs resembled the complexity of Death Angel or Testament. The rhythm section was similarly tight and was augmented by some nifty bass work. Lead vocalist and ringmaster Star led the band through their show. He possesses a good mid-range voice, doesn’t resort to growling or other such noise, and reserves his screams only for when they work in the context of the songs. He wielded an appropriately satanic devil’s head mike stand while delivering the vocals with style.
Playing a selection of songs from their previous CD "Your Worst Nightmare" along with a few tunes from their upcoming new record, PUSH got this initially-lethargic crowd warmed up and moving. "Queen’s X," one of their new songs, featured a great slow groove, and the excellent "Crank Shaft" also seemed to pique the ears of the crowd. By the time they wrapped up with the song "Fuck," heads were bobbing and people enthusiastically followed the band’s request for everyone to throw their "social fingers" in the air. This was my first time seeing PUSH, and I’d recommend them to anyone who likes heavy (yet coherent) music.

Review By - Ana Marie Sotuela of CAbands.com - March 20, 2004
Venue - UGLYS

… and now for something completely different…
I have been exchanging emails with Push’s lead singer Star for the better part of a month before catching this Bay Area band in my neck of the woods. I had been hearing a quite whisper about PUSH for the better part of three months from a few San Francisco connections, and figured CA Bands better see what all the talk was about. Although I had checked out the band’s website, I was ill prepared for the entertainment provided by PUSH as they took the stage at Ugly’s Saturday night. As for style, the band to me personally sounds like Marilyn Mason meets DOPE with a splash of the Murder Dolls for good measure. Music and entertainment is provided by vocalist Star, guitarist KA, bassist JC, drummer Steve and dancers (yes I said dancers) Jill and Julie.
I am not quite sure the Citrus Heights crowd at Ugly’s was prepared for the look of PUSH, as few in Sacramento handle men in patent leather skirts complete with fishnet stockings, but the band took little time in winning the crowd over with their music. Hey when it comes to letting the music do the talking, PUSH definitely rates high. JC and AK play off each other well on stage – good nonverbal communication during each song, without alienating the crowd. PUSH opened with a “Crank Shaft” and moved into “Shadow” a song that I thought had some well placed vocal hooks. Although industrial feeling – mainly because they did mix in some samples along with their live music – PUSH is a rock band. Towards the middle of their set, the band played a slower tempo song called “Balast” – which definitely gave the listener a solid understanding of their talents – both musically and lyrically. The timing change up, from a darkened low-end guitar and bass combo tying in the vocals, to a steady build up that ended with a bang at the altro of the song left me breathless. PUSH followed with “Queens X”, another masterpiece that had a musical combination only known by the band itself when it came to its timing. Bottom line, I was entertained – I liked the look and feel of this band from the moment they took the stage. The added bonus of two lovely dancers to entice the crowd with each song really takes their performance up a notch.
Overall, I liked what I saw both on and off stage. Each band member took time to speak to members of the audience after their performance – as well as support the other two bands on the bill, BENT and Fore Front. This is a “local” band with a good attitude about how they approach their show, which will take them far. Remember, music is entertainment – in my opinion what you play is only 50% of what goes on while a band is performing – entertaining the audience is an art that takes a while to master. Go see PUSH they are well on their way to mastering the art of entertainment.
Additional Notes:
If you want to learn more about PUSH, please visit their website at www.pushmusic.com.
You can see PUSH April 22nd at Cheers (Vacaville) and April 24th Bourbon Street (Concord). As an added bonus – girls 18 and over get in free at the Bourbon Street show! For all you L.A. fans – PUSH will be performing at Cruefest this year at the Whisky A Go-Go.

Review By - Karina Hoel of CAbands.com - March 27, 2004
Venue - Time Out Tavern

Ever gone to see a band and been unsure what to think? I had this dilemma with Push. I went in with an open mind. I had heard a bit of their recordings but I really needed to see them live to get a good feel for them. I’m at the show, and Push is about to come on. There's a buzz in the air, people are excited to see them. They are wearing Push shirts. They have a pretty good size following. This is a good sign. It was Star’s birthday. Someone grabbed the microphone and told him to sit in a chair in the middle of the room in front of the stage. The next thing I knew a belly dancer came out and danced for him for about 10 minutes. I didn’t know I was going to be getting that kind of show!
Push finally got onstage and started playing. They had amazing energy. Everyone there went wild. Star exudes charisma, and the rest of the band wasn’t half bad either. This isn’t the kind of show that I would normally find myself at, but I was having a great time! They had excellent stage presence. I was really digging on their costumes. It was kind of like a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show. One of the members was wearing a pair of ripped up jean shorts with nothing but fishnets underneath. They also had dancers on stage. That’s not something you see everyday! After a few songs Star called everyone to the bar to join in with him on some birthday shots. Everyone sang happy birthday and they got back to the show. The still managed to play well even with a few shots in them!
Even though this isn’t the type of music I typically would listen to, these guys rocked! They played loud, they played fast and they played hard, and I had a great time! If you get the chance to check these guys out, you should jump on it. I was a little skeptical at first, but once I was there, it was a great time! Check them out at www.pushmusic.com.