Live Show Reviews

Live Review: Mastodon, Gojira and Kvelertak at Club Nokia

There are certain bands that are a must see live. The albums they create have the ability to transcend reality and their live shows take that reality even further. Mastodon have been doing just that for me since I saw them back when their album Remission was released. Every album they upped their game and pushed the limits of what they can do in the studio and in a live setting. May 2nd was no different. Mastodon wasted no time during their 90 minute set to deliver one of the strongest live shows they’ve done since Crack The Skye was released. Their 17 song set was highlighted by the inclusion of songs such as opening with “Hearts Alive,” “Crusher Destroyer,” “Naked Burn,” “Aqua Dementia,” and “Oblivion.” The two new songs they played “Chimes At Midnight” and “High Road” sounded great, especially “High Road.” Instead of banter between songs, they let the music do the talking. The light show they has while they played had a bit of a psychedelic vibe to it and it matched perfectly with their set. Vocally, their past shows have been underwhelming, but it seems that with the proper vocal training, they have managed to pull off these songs in a much better light.

Also playing this fine evening was Gojira. Their loud bombastic assault has been talked about for years. As a live band they have the ability to steal the show away from the headliner (recently on their tour with Slayer, they did just that). Gojira’s set went by fast but was a great and fulfilled all that the mid opener slot is meant to be. Certain tracks played like “The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe,” “Oroborus,” and “Vacuity” got the crowd banging their heads. Their sound from album to live sounds identical, and all in a good way. Opening the entire show was Kvelertak. They are the perfect opening energy type band. Armed with three guitars and vocals only sung in their native Norwegian language, it’s hard not to be captivated by them.

Mastodon truly owned the night. The diverse set list that was played really balanced out a great evening. Their new album Once More Round The Sun comes out in June. Club Nokia on the other hand isn’t the greatest place to see a show. The layout and design puts a bit of a hinderance on viewing and listening. But I refused to let that get in the way of enjoying the show.

 

Mastodon Set List:

  1. Hearts Alive
  2. Divinations
  3. Crusher Destroyer
  4. Capillarian Crest
  5. Black Tongue
  6. Bladecatcher
  7. Crystal Skull
  8. Siberian Divide
  9. Naked Burn
  10. Megalodon
  11. Oblivion
  12. Blasteroid
  13. Octopus Has No Friends
  14. Chimes at Midnight
  15. High Road
  16. Aqua Dementia
  17. The Sparrow

 

By: Brian Lacy

Black Map: Live at The Viper Room

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When it was first announced that Dredg’s Mark Engles, Far’s Chris Robyn and The Trophy Fire’s Ben Flanagan had gotten together to play music, the hairs on my arms stood up (all in a good way). The three formed the band Black Map, a melodic hard rock band that shows the harder side of what they all have to offer. In a live setting they are undeniably awesome. Their live show is intense as it is raw and powerful. Chris plays with the same intensity that he’s played with since back in the FAR days, only this time he has added more groove to his playing. Mark has a very unique tone with Dredg and parts of that carry over but in this band you can tell his love for the heavier side of things, especially with the riffs he plays. Ben has a great sense of melody with his voice and his bass tone is thick and driving. All three of these guys make what a power trio should be. Their set at the Viper Room on Saturday night was inspiring. Despite a few technical issues, they were on fire. Playing the four songs from their EP and others yet to be released, everyone in the audience was really into it. The unreleased songs has a great balance of melody and heaviness. Even their banter in between songs provided a few chuckles while at the same time engaging to everyone. I can’t wait to see them again.

Their debut EP DRIVER is 4 songs of nothing but fantastic. Kicking off the E.P. is “I’m Just The Driver.” This song is what a lead of track should be as well as a great introduction to what the sound of the band is.  The next track “Gold” has a melodic edge to it all the while rhythmically driving. “Head For The Hills” showcases Ben’s vocal ability as powerful rock singer. The music that accompanies the song is melodic in nature and shows off more of what Mark can do on his guitar. The closing track “Ropes” is a great song that features a rocking sing along (which has been missing from rock music in general). Musically this song has a nasty vibe to it with it’s dirty bass and pounding drums, but also has a sheen to it with the guitars bouncing back and forth between clean and distorted.

Black Map has recently stated that they have enough songs for a full length which they hope to have out later this year as well as lots more shows to come. These guys are the real deal, they know how to write great songs and bring back hard rock with melody!

 

 

http://www.blackmapmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/blackmapmusic

http://blackmapmusic.bandcamp.com/album/driver

 

By: Brian Lacy

Failure Live At The El Rey

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It only took 16 years for this to happen, and was it worth it? You bet your ass it was. Failure is back and from the way last night went, they just picked up where they left off. Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards and Kelli Scott were on a mission to tear down the house last night. The show itself was sold out and amongst the sea of fans it could be seen that this show was something special. Failure has left a mark on the alternative music scene that has influenced countless bands. I’m going out on a limb here and daring to say that their album Fantastic Planet is in some ways the new Velvet Underground and Nico. Pretty much anyone that has bought these albums has become inspired by them and have started a band. This is just my opinion, don’t shoot me!

The show last night started out with a short film of clips from different movies. It was a nice break from the usual mediocre opening band. The highlight of the clips was a very cool collage featuring the band mixed in with the opening sequence of The Spy Who Loved Me. Also they showed part of the film Fantastic Planet for which their album was named after. While that was playing the music started and opening the set was Another Space Song. not long after they broke into Saturday Savior and Sergeant Politeness. One of the highlights of their set for me was when they played Dirty Blue Balloons. It was such a sentimental enjoyable moment. Other stand outs from the night were Pillowhead, Wet Gravity, Heliotropic, Stuck On You and The Nurse Who Loved Me. The stage was set up as though it were an arena show with a light show and all the amps, microphone stands and drums lined with light. Ken Andrews changed the color from white to red mid set. Following their main set the encore was astounding. Let It Drip, Smoking Umbrellas and Screen Man were played. The set itself spanned their albums Magnified and Fantastic Planet.

Failure is back and hopefully they stay together. Last nights show showed that they still have the desire to play and create masterful songs. Their energy onstage exploded mid set once they found their groove. I personally left the show wanting to go play music. Thank you Failure for coming back and reclaiming what should have been yours long ago.

 

Full Show:

 

 

 

By: Brian Lacy

Corrections House at the Echoplex

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It’s very rare now a days for bands to take a real chance, do something different and out of their normal realm. With that being said, Corrections House is one of the most intense, thought provoking live bands. Sanford Parker’s (Minsk) brooding beats, layers and effects, along with the signature tone from Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Bruce Lamont’s (Yakuza) dark and ominous saxophone and Mike IX Williams (EyeHateGod) carefully crafted words captivate the audience with such force it’s near impossible to run away. The sheer magnitude of volume and creativity that goes into each song is shown through live. The words Blood Sweat and Tears come to mind when describing the art and realism about this band. The lyrical themes are inspired by Mike William’s book “Cancer As A Social Activity.” When Mike screams/speaks (yes there are moments of spoken word), it makes the live show even that much more intriguing. Nothing is trivial at the show. The song “Serve or Survive” stood out the most and shows the destruction and chaos of each member live, all the while delivering one hell of an unrelenting beating of the soul. Their debut album Last City Zero was produced by Parker at Electrical Audio, Soma Studios, 60 Psycho Hum and Nodferatu’s Lair, and delivers a tour de force of dark destructive soundscapes full of lush verses that convey messages of the turmoils of life, peril, and decay of society.

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Opening the show was Author & Punisher aka Tristan Shone. Armed with his homemade machines, which are tapped into his actual self, the music that is created is literally an extension of himself. The music can be described as “industrial doom.” It is one thing to listen to the records for Author & Punisher, but it’s an entirely amazing beast to see it live. Setup behind his creation and in front of a screen displaying vivid images and different points of view of the contraptions, “this one-man project utilizes primarily custom designed and fabricated machines and speakers, devices that draw heavily on industrial automation and robotics. The machines are designed to require significant participation and force from Tristan.” Thus making Tristan look like a caged animal just trying to pry his way out. It’s not easy to describe in words what you are seeing. It really is quite a spectacle to see.

Both bands are something not to miss live. Even if this isn’t your cup of tea, it’s is surely something you won’t forget and will talk about. This is almost art imitating life, in it’s most real sense.

https://www.facebook.com/CorrectionsHouse

http://correctionshouse.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Punisher/193205745964

http://www.tristanshone.com/

http://authorandpunisher.bandcamp.com/

Review by: Brian Lacy

Photos by: LEVAN TK http://instagram.com/levan_t_k

Neurosis at The Observatory

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As the fog rolled in on a damp December night in Orange County, it only seemed fitting that the atmospheric pressure would drop as Neurosis came to town. The thunderous Neurosis came back to Southern California for the second time in 2013. This time they rode into Orange County with a mission to obliterate the audience with it’s signature apocalyptic heaviness. Earlier in the year the band decided to stop using any visual aspects in the background as they played, thus leaving 5 members on a dark lit stage. Their new setup really takes things into a different dimension. The songs invoke more use of the audiences imagination and taps into a different part of the psyche. Still riding high on the release of 2012’s Honor Found In Decay, Neurosis’s setlist for the night was one for the books. While playing a few from the newest album, the band tapped back into “A Sun That Never Sets” for the evening. (I’m quite partial to that album, especially “Stones From The Sky,” which closed out the set). Scott Kelly and Steve Von Till carry the beast of the band vocally into the dark sub conscious of the musics being. Their accompanying guitar work on the songs fit perfectly with how Jason Roeder and Dave Edwardson tap into the brooding rhythms, and Noah Landis adds the extra prowess with his ambient landscapes behind the band. The pure energy and emotion that pours throughout the band during their live show is quite a sight. Scott Kelly tends to draw blood during the set, showing that “All we are is blood.” At the end of the night there was no mistaking why Neurosis is one of the most influential bands of the last 20 years. Their mastery of their craft and art is undeniable and reigns true to themselves and the fans.

Before Neurosis took the stage, BL’AST got the audience into a fine frenzy. BL’AST recently reunited and came back with quite a vengeance. Coming off their reissued album “It’s In My Blood” (which was remixed by Dave Grohl), and armed with Nick Oliveri playing bass for the band live, BL’AST delivered a very hardcore set. Cliff Dinsmore despite being a tad out of breath at the end of their set, commanded the stage as though he never left. Armed with the signature AMPEG acrylic guitar Mike Neider chugged through the riffs with authority.

YOB was one of the openers for the night and laid down some heaviness to get things started. Even with their technical problems, the band churned out a well rehearsed set with a good amount of energy to help flow though the night. Also opening the night was Helen Money. Helen is a one person act with a cello that plays deconstruction music. Her sultry cello sounds mixed through distortion and delay radiated though the venue as people started walking in, providing a very diverse sound for the evening.

Neurosis Set List:

A Sun That Never Sets

Locust Star

At The Well

We All Rage In Gold

From The Hill

The Tide

Water Is Not Enough

Bleeding The Pigs

The Doorway

Stones From The Sky

Review by: Brian Lacy

Photos by LEVAN TK instagram.com/levan_t_k

High On Fire w/ Kvelertak and Windhand @ El Rey Theatre

The ever loud and mighty High on Fire rolled into Los Angeles on a brisk Thursday night. The almost packed house in unison got their heads banging when shirtless Matt Pike and company took the stage. The clouds of smoke from the crowd wafted through the El Rey as High On Fire pummeled the audience with their blaring wall of distortion. The set list spanned their albums The Art of Self Defense to their most recent De Vermis Mysteriis. In particular, Cometh Down Hessian (off Blessed Black Wings) got the crowd in frenzy as the floor opened up and the pit took shape. Matt Pike with all his towering presence managed to smile and grin at the crowd and seemed to really be having a great time on stage. Each song rang heavy and the other members of the band were really dialed in on. There was no banter just shouting of the next song title and a flood of feedback in between songs helping to guide the next one.. All in all, anyone in the audience could tell, High On Fire was firing on all cylinders that evening.

Also on the tour was Kvelertak, the much buzzed about Norwegian rock band. Their most recent album “Meir” (produced by Converges Kurl Ballou) has been getting lots of acclaim as well as their energetic live show. Coming to the stage to a roar of an audience, the singer draped in a taxidermy owl atop of his head, took over the crowd and worked them into frenzy. The 3-guitar attack helped to propel the bands melodic sensibilities. There was no lull in the momentum of Kvelertak’s set, with a very interesting use of jazz hands.  The band had all the chops to steal the show away from High on Fire, which they did.

Opening the show was Virginia’s Windhand. Riding high on their 2013 album “Soma,” the bands doom laden sound fit very well for the soundtrack to the evening but did not have the chops to open for either band. The way their sound was mixed was very bass heavy and the vocals so low it seemed that the singer was just mouthing the words.  The roar of their distortion over powered every ounce of the El Rey. Not to take away from the band, who put out a great album, lack any real presence on stage and their sound just doesn’t translate well live. If I hadn’t heard the band before the evening, I would’ve been even more disappointed.

Having seen High on Fire multiple times over the years, the show itself was one of their best. Matt Pike really seemed to be back in the groove of playing and with a reenergized sense of self. There is one thing that tends to happen at a mostly “doom” genre show, and that is every song tends to bleed into the other.

 

Review by: Brian Lacy