When The Hixon performed with Charred Walls of the Damned this past July at The Gramercy theater here in New York City, we discussed with the band the idea of having their annual Hixonfest take place in the big apple. At the time it was just an idea we had, but soon we started making all the arrangements necessary to make Hixonfest 2010 happen. Together with Jefferson Avenue Productions we delivered a true night of Heavy Metal, here is what went down.
It all started around 7 o'clock, on a perfect Friday night. As soon as the doors opened and Jo Schüftan (Horns Up Rocks founder) started blasting Pantera's "Domination" through the PA, the party was started! People started strolling into Ace of Clubs as Lies Beneath were getting ready to perform at Hixonfest 2010. Our host for the evening Richard Christy (Howard Stern Show and Charred Walls of the Damned), was sipping on cold beer and greeting all those who approached him. Around 8:30 Lies Beneath took over Ace of Clubs, and during the next half hour the crowd indulged their ears into some crushing Heavy Metal.
Around 9 o'clock, the event promoters Jo Schüftan (Horns Up Rocks) and Tim Strohsnitter (Jefferson Avenue Productions) welcomed everyone to Hixonfest 2010. Then they introduced Richard Christy who immediately made everyone laugh and pointed out how awesome it was to host an event celebrating The Hixon and all things Metal. After his comedy act and some more music was blasted through the PA, Richard introduced the band Canons from Long Island. The band played a good half hour of uncompromised music, which lead into Frankie Scorpions' "Crown Ink Divas" model search. During that time she presented the crowd with a handful of tattooed sexy girls, and she even introduced model and actress Danielle Darkko to the crowd. She then welcomed CEO of Wyld Chyld Tattoo Billy Deluso on stage, and the crowd picked the "Crown Ink Diva" of the night.
Then Richard Christy returned to the stage and Frankie mentioned how sexy his Metal voice is. He then proceeded to introduce the headliners of the night, The mighty Hixon from South Jersey. The band took center stage and for the next hour, Ace of Clubs was a headbangers heaven, and a parents nightmare. We were very stoked to see the crowds response, and it made us very proud to prove that Heavy Metal in New York City is very much alive. It was also very Metal to see sexy girls dancing on the strip pole, while The Hixon crushed Ace of Clubs. After a short ear break for the attendees, the all female Judas Priest tribute band Judas Priestess, were ready to keep the party rolling.
Judas Priestess came to Ace of Clubs with an ass kicking mentality! This phenomenal band always makes the guys head-bang their heads off their bodies, and the girls shake their booties out of control (specially if there is a strip pole involved). They had every single Judas Priest song perfectly crafted, and proved why Rob Halford gave them his seal of approval. As music promoter and music expert Tim Martinez (A.K.A. DJ Tim No 37) mentioned to us: "Judas Priestess is the best tribute band I have ever seen."
Right before the last band of the night known as Sealed With a Kiss took center stage, Tim from Jefferson Avenue Productions raffled 2 Slayer tickets for American Carnage (featuring Slayer, Megadeth & Anthrax), a poster signed by Howard Stern and his Sirius XM crew, a box of music courtesy of Tones of Death, and a magazine package courtesy of Revolver Magazine and Royal Flush Magazine. Then Sealed With a Kiss finished the night on a very high note.
We want to thank all the kick ass bands that performed (The Hixon, Judas Priestess, Lies Beneath, Canons & S.W.A.K.), all of you who attended, our host Richard Christy for being such an awesome guy, Frankie Scorpion and the Crown Ink Divas, Wyld Chyld Tattoo, Jose Mangin and everyone at Sirius XM, Josh Bernstein from Revolver Magazine and Royal Flush Magazine, Liz Snair from Tones of Death, Ace of Clubs, our videographer Justin Hawkins, our photographers Steve Ventura and Tracy Alison, and of course our partners in musical crime: Jefferson Avenue Productions. See you next year for Hixonfest 2011.
Here are some quotes that summarize Hixonfest 2010:
"I am very THANKFUL for all the people who traveled to get to the NYC Hixonfest, but the long distance award goes to Hal Strong! He took the red eye in from California and made it to the Hixonfest!" - Marc Hixon (THE HIXON)
"Thank you so much for everything last night! I have a pretty brutal hangover today, but it was well worth it!" - Richard Christy (Howard Stern Show & Charred Walls of the Damned)
"Hixonfest was an awesome badass night for METAL in NYC! Kudos to all involved for making it happen and all the great people who showed up for some righteous headbanging! Thanks for having Judas Priestess on the bill! XOXO" - JUDAS PRIESTESS
"Thanks so much to everyone who attended Hixonfest 2010! NYC always Welcomes The Hixon With Open Arms & Bangin' Heads! Great Crowd Last Night!" - Flip Martorano (The Hixon)
"Great time last night! Good to see friends both new and old rocking out and having fun. Awesome music, great people... JOB WELL DONE!" - Jessica (Alekhine's Gun)
"ROCK ON! Hixonfest 2010 NYC was badass! Loved every minute of it! The show was electric and you guys were on it 100%!" - Hal Strong (California)
"Definitely what the Metal Community needed. Saw a lot of familiar faces and perfect for networking and just having a good time!" - Jeff Martinez (DESOLATE & Alekhine's Gun)
"Hixonfest was fucking phenomenal! The most and best fun I've had in a long time! Keep it brutal and massive! \M/ - Talya (New York)
"Amazing time at Hixonfest 2010! It was my first and certainly won't be my last... the bands, the tattoo modeling contest, the bartender being a Phillies fan... loved it all!! CANNOT WAIT FOR Hixonfest 2011!" - Evelyn (Albany)
"Great atmosphere! Had a wonderful time, great bands, fun contests! Looking foward to next year. This is what the metal community is all about! :)" - Jessica (New Jersey)
Photographer: Tracy Alison
Related links:
Horns Up Rocks
Jefferson Avenue Productions
Richard Christy
The Hixon
Judas Priestess
Lies Beneath
Canons
Sealed With a Kiss
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