ToddStar - that's me... just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe - I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.
According to a recent press release: “Today, rising rock musician, actor, songwriter, and film producer Kurt Deimer has released his sophomore full-length album, A Grog Is Born, via his own Bald Man Records. The 12-track collection includes the Top 40 Active Rock radio hit “In Deep” featuring Buckcherry frontman Josh Todd, a reinvention of “Silent Lucidity” featuring Queensrÿche legend […]
According to a recent press release: “Today, 21-year-old rock singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sierra Levesque releases her hard-hitting new single “UNDERMINED,” available now on all streaming platforms. Fueled by aggressive lyrics, powerful guitars, and dynamic vocals, the track delivers a fierce anthem of defiance, exposing deception, and reclaiming power. Alongside the release, Sierra also premiered a high-energy music […]
According to a recent press release: “Mimi Barks’ story begins in Germany and takes shape in the underground world of Berlin where she found the freedom to experiment without limits. Berlin gave her the space to explore the extremes of punk, hip hop, techno and metal until her identity as an artist began to form. […]
According to a recent press release: “Black Rose Rebellion is a New Jersey-based hard rock band built on themes of transformation, resilience, and self-belief. Formed in 2022 by vocalist Trybe and guitarist Dave “The RockDoc” Rosenfeld, the band emerged from a chance connection that reignited both musicians’ passion for creating music at a pivotal moment […]
According to a recent press release: “Los Angeles symphonic‑metal hybrid Levinia has announced the release of their second single and music video of 2026, “Silver Tongues,” the next chapter in a four‑single rollout that marks the band’s most ambitious era yet. The track follows the success of their first 2026 release, “The Thorn.” Founded in 2015 by the rhythmic powerhouse Dylan […]
According to a recent press release: ““Gore Nest” is the new single from New Jersey deathcore outfit NIGHTS OF MALICE. The band’s latest bruiser comes by way of their punishing Chaos Exordium full-length, set to drop on June 4th through Bleeding Art Collective and Blood Blast Distribution. With a sound that is synonymous with razor sharp technical death metal riffing, monolithic […]
Venue: The Mil at Cannery Hall City: Nashville, TN Date: May 19, 2026 Review and Photographs by: Jacob Smith (https://www.jhs-photo.com) Getting onto the stage for the very first time for a show in Tennessee, Chet Faker was met by a very crowded and adoring room. This show was an absolute mood from start to finish. […]
Venue: The Underground City: Charlotte, NC Dates: April 26, 2026 Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com) Lacuna Coil is one of those bands that I listen to on occasion and when reminded of their catalog wonder why I don’t listen more often. With a sound that leans into a heavier vibe, they have a […]
According to a recent press release: “Tuned Up Music is currently streaming Burn Holy, the new full-length from Portland post-doom metal collective BURIAL CLOUDS. The premiere comes in advance of the record’s official release Friday, May 22nd. BURIAL CLOUDS’ music lives in constant tension between beauty and rage, crushing riffs and intricate expanses walking the lines between inner […]
According to a recent press release: “Eclipse Records is thrilled to announce the signing of an exclusive worldwide deal with NOVA RIOT from Durant, Oklahoma (USA) that is redefining the boundaries of heavy music with their signature “bubblegum alternative metal” sound. Their music acts as a form of modern alchemy, transforming themes of mental health […]
According to a recent press release: “Cellofame Records and Austin punk legends The Applicators have officially launched pre-orders for the 20th anniversary edition of My Weapon — the band’s landmark 2006 album finally making its long-awaited vinyl debut on June 15, 2026. Originally released on CD during the band’s relentless international touring years, My Weapon captured The Applicators at their creative peak — blending […]
Venue: Brooklyn Bowl City: Nashville, TN Date: May 15, 2026 Review and Photographs by: Jacob Smith (https://www.jhs-photo.com) The house was beyond packed on Friday night for this show. Everyone came out ready for some heavy riffs and mosh pits. Behemoth has been a powerhouse on the metal scene for decades, and this was the first time […]
According to a recent press release: “Today, New York City-based indie rock / pop musician and actor Rivkah Reyes shares confessional, bubble-grunge tune “Miss Congeniality” out now with a matching music video set in a queer and trans Bushwick boxing gym. Unafraid to divulge her fears and expose her own patterns, Reyes documents her real, lived experiences through revealing, punchy lyricism on […]
According to a recent press release: “The SoapGirls are not just a band — they are a movement. Formed by sisters Noemie and Camille Debray, this genre-defying alternative rock duo has been inseparable both personally and creatively since early childhood. Their story is one of raw talent, relentless perseverance, and an unshakable sisterhood that has […]
Venue: Eastside Bowl City: Nashville, TN Date: May 8, 2026 Review and Photographs by: Jacob Smith (https://www.jhs-photo.com) Getting onto stage to a max capacity sold-out crowd, the Toadies put forth one of the best live performances I have ever seen. Being a fan of theirs since the early 90’s, I had never been fortunate to […]
According to a recent press release: “After more than three decades orbiting just outside the mainstream, Love Jones return with The Greatest Show On Earth — their first new album in years and a reminder that not all reinventions need to be loud to be meaningful. For a band that once moved effortlessly between Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Entertainment Tonight, […]
According to a recent press release: “No Clean Singing is currently streaming Enter The Woodland Realm, the latest full-length from transcontinental black metal outfit EVEALE. The premiere comes on the eve of the record’s official release on Friday, May 1st via a joint collaboration between Toronto’s Hypaethral Records and New York’s Fiadh Productions. EVEALE emerged in early 2025 as […]
According to a recent press release: ““Unrelenting Storms” is the new single from Arizona death metal outfit WYRMHAVEN. Now playing at Decibel Magazine, the track comes off the band’s forthcoming full-length debut, Seasons Of Gloom, set for release on May 29th. With the release of Seasons Of Gloom, WYRMHAVEN is poised to expand their domain in the metal world, preparing […]
According to a recent press release: “Calgary’s Howells haven’t just released a new EP—they’ve built a fully realized visual and sonic world. Out now, Fade Into Being (Part 1) marks the first half of an ambitious two-part release that blends heavy alternative music with a cohesive visual narrative rooted in transformation, decay, and rebirth. Anchored by a stark recurring […]
According to a recent press release: “Red-hot dance cuts, ice-cold noir songs, rabid rock, passionate soul…the Claudettes reach a whole new level of sound and style with their seventh album, GARAGE GLAMOUR. The album’s title points to the signature blend of glitz and grit that the Claudettes bring to the stage and studio. And the […]
