Posts Tagged ‘austin’
Hello Killdozer, goodbye Emos
Simple review. Killdozer was how I remembered them. Not great, but not shitty. Last time was 1994 in Newport News, VA.
The main story tonight was the closing of the downtown location of Emo’s. Not my favorite venue but I saw some good shows over the years…valkyrie, Pentagram, hammerfall, Celtic frost/tryptikon, buzzov*en, and lots more. It’s really the beginning of the end of our beloved Red River District.
Anthrax and Testament: Together Again!
Anthrax/Testament/Death Angel coming to Emo’s East October 29, 2011
I first saw these 2 bands together in 1987 at the legendary Boathouse in Norfolk, VA. It still hails as one of the best 
shows I have ever seen. Testament opened the show and were on The Legacy Tour while Anthrax was supporting Among the Living. I remember the crowd being so tight and jam packed that it felt like you could life your feet off of the ground and you’d be held up. A lot of movement back and forth as well. It was pretty crazy and both bands were pretty awesome. Both bands were great.
I’ve seen Testament several times and not once have they ever disappointed. I think they are the most consistent live band ever. Let me think about it a moment…how many times I’ve seen Testament: 87, 88, 91, 2000, 2008, 2010…There has to be another in the 90s and I think one more time in the last 5 years. Anthrax I’ve seen a few times as well: 87, 88, 91, 2005, 2010. They were good every time I’ve seen them as well.
I’m no Death Angel fan but everyone says seeing them live is pretty sweet. They are a band that I have tried to like over the years and have even owned their stuff multiple times in hopes of enjoying it. Minus a couple of tracks (Mistress of Pain and Room with a View), they just don’t do it for me.
See you there!
Ancient VVisdom – A Godlike Inferno
It’s not very often that I hear an album that grabs me by the throat with one hand and slaps me around with the other. The forthcoming release by Austin, TX’s Ancient VVisdom (yes, that is with 2 Vs) does just that. I was fortunate enough to get a promo copy of the CD from the band and have been listening to it a lot in the last couple of days.
I first heard the record a week ago riding around with their bassist and I just sat in his van tripping out a bit. Trying to describe this band’s sound is not so easy. It’s metal, but not what most would typify as metal. My first thought when hearing them was mid-era Bathory with much better vocals and a lot less drum work. Bathory’s “One Rode To Asa Bay” was the first thing that popped to mind. That’s not a bad thing as I liked some of the more melodic Bathory stuff. This album is very mellow…but heavy.
But this is still a bit different. Nice clean vocals, acoustic guitar backed by electric more in the background for enhancement. Drums are minimal, more used for percussive effect and not necessarily for just “playing the beat”. All of the songs are catchy and very memorable. Nathan Opposition’s (f. of Integrity) vocals fit perfectly. The album conjures a little early Pink Floyd as well and to a lesser extent and surely unintentionally I hear some of the atmospheric tones used on Tiamat’s Wildhoney album, which was hugely influenced by early Pink Floyd as well.
The one rub for a lot of people may be the overtly satanic content of the lyrics. You won’t miss it when listening to it as it’s right there. For me personally, I’m indifferent to lyrics by most bands. If it sounds good it sounds good…and this sounds good.
I’m attaching a song that they posted on YouTube but it will not be on the June 7, 2011 release on Shine Box Recordings. It will at least give you an idea of what’s in store. Highlights for me are the songs Alter Reality, Necessary Evil, Lost Civilization and World of Flesh, especially the 2nd half of that song. The riff is just wonderful!
All I can say from here is buy it when it comes out. It gets a 10/10 from me.
Concert Review – Al Di Meola 4/3/11
I’m the first to admit that I haven’t bought anything by Di Meola since his 1996 “…Plays Piazzolla” CD. For me, 1983’s “Scenario” was my last favorite of the “electric era” and all those before it were all great. Al is the man. He’s got it all: technique, feel, speed, originality. It wasn’t long after 1983 that he went more acoustic than electric style and really put out a lot of the world music stuff. It just wasn’t my thing. Sure it was Al playing some good stuff, but I loved that classic fusion analog stuff from the 70s and early 80s that he did.
I mentioned in another post about seeing Return To Forever a few years back and how great it was and also about missing a Di Meola show in Norfolk because he canceled the day of the show. Luckily he didn’t cancel tonight.
Tonight’s show at the One World Theatre proved once again that this is one of the greatest places to see a show. Great seating, great sound, intimate. I was fortunate to score 2 seats on the center aisle, 2nd row and we had no one sitting in front of us. Perfection. My guitarist, Doug Morrison, attended with me.
Al comes on at about 6:10PM, says hello to the crowd, cracks a joke or 2 (Is Willie still here?”) and they go right into their set, opening with a song called Fire On Babylon. He was on the acoustic for almost the entire set until they went into Midnight Tango and he strapped on his Paul Reed Smith and played electric for the end of the set and for the encore. He was great. Period. His band was awesome (standup electric bass, drums, rhythm acoustic guitar, drums, percussion, accordion) and filled with all non-Americans except for his percussionist. The real standout member was his accordion player, Fausto. I’m rather neutral on how I feel about that instrument in general, but this guy was quite incredible. The whole band was. Al put down the shred on both the acoustic and electric like only he can do it. He picks almost every note and his precision is incredible. It was quite exhilarating to be sitting 10 feet from a musician that I have respected for about 20+ years now.
Even being unfamiliar with most of the material from tonight’s show, it didn’t really matter. It was as I expected and more. I’m looking forward to his next tour already.
I grabbed a setlist from the stage and this is the what was listed as “1st Set”. There was another set to be performed at 8:30PM and I wonder if it was going to be any different.
- Fire on Babylon
- Brave New World
- Misterio
- Double Concerto
- Turquoise
- Oblivion
- Full Frontal Contrapuntal
- Capouiera
- Midnight Tango/One Night Last June
- Race With The Devil On A Spanish Highway (encore)
Concert Review – Naam 3/18/11 SxSW
I first caught Naam last year when they were on the bill with Voi Vod at SxSW 2010 and instantly became a fan. Their breed of space rock, stoner rock, metal, psyche rock or whatever other monikers you want to give it really set well with me.
A month or 2 ago they stated that there would be no showing at SxSW 2011 because of management issues or something but ultimately they got it done and ended up doing a few shows around town. I was able to catch the one at Headhunters on Friday. They were on the back patio which is tiny and I was one of the last folks in the door…and that put my fat ass right in front of the band. A little too close from a band’s perspective in my opinion but having everyone in their faces didn’t seem to matter at all. They pushed through their set with intensity and the crowd really liked them a lot. They were loud, heavy, solid.
Naam does it right. They are tight and I really like the way they do their vocals by enhancing them with a lot of chorus, delay and reverb. It fits with their music perfectly. I’m especially impressed with John Bundy’s bass playing. That guy works his Fender Precision bass like a $9 hooker.
Can’t wait to see them again!
You can buy their stuff on iTunes or via All That is Heavy.
The Metal Files 
You must be logged in to post a comment.