Thursday, January 26, 2012
Prove It.
"Metal is alive and well, trust in that."
Really? If it were so alive and so well I would not have pictures like this...
I want to believe you, I just have this problem with believing things that are not based in reality. The bands are alive. Make no mistake there are some good bands in Baltimore, I saw some of them last Wednesday night. The problem is, they are not doing well, and they deserve to be. Want me to write about how great metal is doing right now? Go out to a show and prove it to me.
This article was brought to my attention by a friend, I think it gives a very thoughtful point of view on exactly what I was trying say in the last post. It's short and it's well worth the read. Read it here.
Wednesday January 18th I attended a show at The Talking Head. I've never been a big fan of the venue, but this was a good show so I wasn't going to let that stop me. I called off my own band practice early to ensure I could get there in time for the first band's set. I walked in about 2 minutes before they got started, perfect timing! Unfortunately, my camera guy Zeb was running a little late so I have no pictures from that set for you. That first band was...
Harlequin Ichthyosis
I've seen these guys many times before. We've done shows together in the past and I've come out to support them in the past. Not that it's a bad thing at all, but to me, they basically sound just like Black Dahlia Murder. Unfortunately, these dudes were doomed to the curse of The Talking Head. The first band to play almost always gets screwed with terrible sound at that place and this was no different. The vocals were the loudest thing on stage and there was absolutely no bass to speak of. This wasn't all the soundguy's fault though. They used to have 2 guitar players and I gotta say, I miss that second guitar in their sound quite a bit. The set was played well but it wasn't the same band I was used to seeing. It seemed as if they'd lost the fire a bit. Everyone is entitled to an off night, I've seen these guys completely rip it on several occasions and it really isn't easy to get pumped to play first for a handful of people. Check these guys out, they have a well recorded demo that (I believe) is free.
Fortress
Easily the band with the most similar sound to Jucifer. I've seen these guys once before and it was pretty good then and even better now. I dig the overdose on speakers they bring to the table. The songs all had a slow and crushing sound to them, I found myself getting lost in my thoughts several times throughout this set. I like when you can get lost in a song so I did enjoy this set quite a bit. It felt a bit long but I attribute that to the droning style not being my favorite style of metal. If you are a fan of the sludgey stuff these guys are a must see. They also have a free demo available.
Radical Discharge
I'd heard of these guys awhile back, really liked the logo they had up on their FB page and finally got to see them at Skid Row Garage in York a month or two ago. If you are ever in York, or don't mind traveling about an hour for a good show that place is solid. So is this band. I had the chorus from 2 of their songs running through my head at work all the next day. That's some pretty catchy tunage if I remember it after seeing them play twice and never hearing the recorded stuff. I love thrash, so it's only natural this was my favorite set of the night. Aside from solid musicianship and catchy vocals these guys just have a really fun vibe on stage. There were some technical difficulties throughout the set but they played it off in a light, fun way and just kept rolling. If you have the chance to see this band, do it! I am pretty sure they have an album for sale, pick it up at a show.
En'den....
JUCIFER!!
I've heard them described as the heaviest bad on the planet and the loudest band on the planet but I think it just might be true that they are additionally the coolest band on the planet. With a massive wall of speakers in tow Jucifer just has to roam. They are living the dream, perpetually on tour and soaking up all the experiences life has to offer. I am truly envious. Then when you add in the fog machine and laser lights, you really can't help but to be blown away by how awesome this is. I think even non-metal fans would enjoy the spectacle that is Jucifer... for about 4 seconds before their heads exploded. This shit was LOUD. I lock myself in a tiny room with a drum kit and a decent wall of speakers by our own right, so I am a little deafer than the average bear and this level of volume was still able to penetrate through the sea of damage I've already done to my hearing. Damage which was doubled in one night. The performance on stage is not lacking in any way either, the drummer seems to be in an all out war with his drum set more than he is playing it. He was practically standing as he wailed away throughout most of the set. The guitars are loud and heavy, the vocals are spot on and the drumming is very enthusiastic and inspired. I love this band and if you don't already, you will soon.
Hope you've enjoyed a more upbeat and positive edition of this blog. If you're looking for a metal fix this weekend head to Sonar for Abigail Williams with local metallers And Then They Bled and Butcher's Hill!
Really? If it were so alive and so well I would not have pictures like this...
I want to believe you, I just have this problem with believing things that are not based in reality. The bands are alive. Make no mistake there are some good bands in Baltimore, I saw some of them last Wednesday night. The problem is, they are not doing well, and they deserve to be. Want me to write about how great metal is doing right now? Go out to a show and prove it to me.
This article was brought to my attention by a friend, I think it gives a very thoughtful point of view on exactly what I was trying say in the last post. It's short and it's well worth the read. Read it here.
Wednesday January 18th I attended a show at The Talking Head. I've never been a big fan of the venue, but this was a good show so I wasn't going to let that stop me. I called off my own band practice early to ensure I could get there in time for the first band's set. I walked in about 2 minutes before they got started, perfect timing! Unfortunately, my camera guy Zeb was running a little late so I have no pictures from that set for you. That first band was...
Harlequin Ichthyosis
I've seen these guys many times before. We've done shows together in the past and I've come out to support them in the past. Not that it's a bad thing at all, but to me, they basically sound just like Black Dahlia Murder. Unfortunately, these dudes were doomed to the curse of The Talking Head. The first band to play almost always gets screwed with terrible sound at that place and this was no different. The vocals were the loudest thing on stage and there was absolutely no bass to speak of. This wasn't all the soundguy's fault though. They used to have 2 guitar players and I gotta say, I miss that second guitar in their sound quite a bit. The set was played well but it wasn't the same band I was used to seeing. It seemed as if they'd lost the fire a bit. Everyone is entitled to an off night, I've seen these guys completely rip it on several occasions and it really isn't easy to get pumped to play first for a handful of people. Check these guys out, they have a well recorded demo that (I believe) is free.
Easily the band with the most similar sound to Jucifer. I've seen these guys once before and it was pretty good then and even better now. I dig the overdose on speakers they bring to the table. The songs all had a slow and crushing sound to them, I found myself getting lost in my thoughts several times throughout this set. I like when you can get lost in a song so I did enjoy this set quite a bit. It felt a bit long but I attribute that to the droning style not being my favorite style of metal. If you are a fan of the sludgey stuff these guys are a must see. They also have a free demo available.
I'd heard of these guys awhile back, really liked the logo they had up on their FB page and finally got to see them at Skid Row Garage in York a month or two ago. If you are ever in York, or don't mind traveling about an hour for a good show that place is solid. So is this band. I had the chorus from 2 of their songs running through my head at work all the next day. That's some pretty catchy tunage if I remember it after seeing them play twice and never hearing the recorded stuff. I love thrash, so it's only natural this was my favorite set of the night. Aside from solid musicianship and catchy vocals these guys just have a really fun vibe on stage. There were some technical difficulties throughout the set but they played it off in a light, fun way and just kept rolling. If you have the chance to see this band, do it! I am pretty sure they have an album for sale, pick it up at a show.
En'den....
I've heard them described as the heaviest bad on the planet and the loudest band on the planet but I think it just might be true that they are additionally the coolest band on the planet. With a massive wall of speakers in tow Jucifer just has to roam. They are living the dream, perpetually on tour and soaking up all the experiences life has to offer. I am truly envious. Then when you add in the fog machine and laser lights, you really can't help but to be blown away by how awesome this is. I think even non-metal fans would enjoy the spectacle that is Jucifer... for about 4 seconds before their heads exploded. This shit was LOUD. I lock myself in a tiny room with a drum kit and a decent wall of speakers by our own right, so I am a little deafer than the average bear and this level of volume was still able to penetrate through the sea of damage I've already done to my hearing. Damage which was doubled in one night. The performance on stage is not lacking in any way either, the drummer seems to be in an all out war with his drum set more than he is playing it. He was practically standing as he wailed away throughout most of the set. The guitars are loud and heavy, the vocals are spot on and the drumming is very enthusiastic and inspired. I love this band and if you don't already, you will soon.
Hope you've enjoyed a more upbeat and positive edition of this blog. If you're looking for a metal fix this weekend head to Sonar for Abigail Williams with local metallers And Then They Bled and Butcher's Hill!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Baby Steps
Let's face it, metal is dead. At least, it is in Baltimore. If you play in a metal band you know this to be fact, you've played enough shows for other musicians to notice this. Even if you are not quite willing to admit it yet. Some might even see this blog as down right blasphemous, trust me, I am trying to do what little I can to help the situation. I'd say the first step would be to give some thought to just what is wrong with metal in Baltimore. First and foremost, we are unwanted in most venues. We're (mostly) a group of cheap scumbags, the majority of metalheads can barely afford the cover. Forget about spending money at the bar, we show up wasted! Then you have the few diamond in the rough tough guys who need to start a fight for it to be a good night. Moshing is mostly dead these days and fighting was never cool so let's try and relax a little bit huh? So we aren't commercially viable, big deal right? Shit, we'll just set up in the living and invite our friends over. RAGE!!! Wrong. The police in Baltimore don't tolerate that shit, even if the neighbors DON'T complain. Guess we'll just have to promise this promoter we're gonna sell his tickets so we can have the "honor" of getting on his show with some sorta known regional "headliner". This is where we develop the majority of our problems. One approach is the idea that you'll just lie, and when the other suckers all sell the tickets then you get to play for a room of new people and find a new promoter to con. Too bad all the other bands had that same idea already. Now you're playing for the other bands, buying expensive drinks and wishing you never took the show. Another approach is to sell the tickets, I mean it IS gonna be a good show! So now you've busted your ass and sold the tickets, your friends are stoked for a good show and.... oh god these other bands suck balls. They sold the tickets, but that's only because they make up for a lack of talent with a combination of mom's money, a handful of idiotic and annoying friends and a try-hard "we're gonna be famous!" attitude. Ok so at least we can agree, ticket sale shows suck, for the most part. Stop doing them! So we have venues that don't want us, people who can't or won't pay 10 bucks at the door followed by a 6 dollar beer punching you in the dick. The final nail in the coffin is the fact that the fucking bands don't even want to be at their own show! Half the later bands show up... well, late. Half the opening bands leave early. Where is the fuckin' mutual support?! If you notice that a band conducts themselves this way, stop doing shows with them! Basically, we need a few baby steps to save metal in this town. The most important is to develop a set of standards. Have some pride. Hold those around you to the same standards or don't work with them. Not working is far better than selling your dignity. Metal is like a cockroach, we'll find a small dirty, dark corner to survive in, so stop compromising. I know it may seem like opportunities are few and far between but that is only because we've allowed a flood of infiltration. The true metalheads are caught in a vice grip between shitty try-hard bands and the promoters who wish to exploit them. I say we remove ourselves entirely, go back underground and let the dollar chasers do this bullshit without us. The 6 people that actually come to the show are there for us, not them. We're headed down the wrong path and we need to change course. Let's face it... Metal. Is. Dead. What will you do to save it?
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