february 11 | The Metal Files

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Warbringer, Enforcer, Exmortus & Cauldron Concert Review, Austin, TX, February 11, 2016

Quick and easy review today.

Having only been mildly familiar with all of these bands and being on the guestlist (thanks Metal Assault!), I took the decision to see this show that started at 645PM and would be done by 1030PM. Silly sound ordinances in downtown Austin have made it like this. Live Music Capital of the World? pfft.

Cauldron goes on and they left me flat like they do on the one album I’ve heard. They just don’t have the “umph” needed to keep me interested. Production on the album I heard was really thin and they sounded thin live, and not because of the PA. I think the singer, who has a decent voice, just doesn’t project it at all. Not to mention the band was sloppy in general. Decent riffs that go nowhere. I really think the addition of a second guitarist would help. And maybe a metronome or some extra rehearsals every now and then. A touring band typically gets pretty tight. They’re a band that I really want to like but just can’t.

Exmortus was up next and I didn’t care too much for what I had listened to online, but they won me over live, mainly based on the guitar work. Both guys are shredders and I was totally hooked in. I look forward to seeing them again. There were a lot of Exmortus fans in the crowd singing every song, which was cool.

Enforcer (SWE) came next and had the biggest crowd of the night. A good amount of the crowd was certainly familiar with their material. Their singer/guitarist is a good frontman and the band was solid overall. You’re not getting anything original here but they were at least fun. My favorite part was his little Texas metal speech. Something to the effect of, “We were influenced by a lot of great Texas metal, and not that Pantera bullshit. I’m talking Militia, Wyzard and Watchtower!”

Warbringer closed out the night with their mix of thrash and death metal. They share a guitarist with Exmortus, so some of the solos were killer. While I wasn’t into the spurts of the blast beats, their drummer was certainly skilled. They put on a solid set for sure.

Written by The Metal Files

February 12, 2016 at 10:57 am

Posted in 2016, Uncategorized

Tagged with 2016, austin, cauldron, concert, concert review, concert reviews, concerts, enforcer, exmortus, february 11, texas, the metal files, warbringer

Alice Cooper Concert Review, San Antonio, TX, February 11, 2015

with one comment

To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who has said, “I don’t like Alice Cooper.” Sure, you may not be into his music, his politics, his religion, but how can you not just like the guy? He’s a class act. Intelligent. Funny. Consummate front man.

I’ve been a fan since as long as I can remember thanks to one of my older brothers. One of my favorite Cooper moments ever was his appearance on the Muppet Show in the 70s. I met Alice last year in Dallas and those few moments talking together will forever be special to me. A few months later I saw him with Motley Crue and it was great. Shortly after that show, it was announced that he was doing a solo tour, an evening with Alice Cooper. I bought tickets for the Austin show as soon as they went on sale and got one for the San Antonio show and scored second row 2 weeks after they had gone on sale, which I thought was odd.

I rolled down to San Antonio right after work and picked up my friend, Rodney, who had a close seat in the section next to mine. I had never been to the Majestic Theatre before but wow, what a beautiful venue.

Alice was scheduled to come on at 8PM but didn’t hit the stage until about 8:15. The lights went down and The Underture started. The open up with Hello, Hooray and roll right into House of Fire and No More Mr. Nice Guy. The crowd was going crazy and I was smiling ear to ear. Alice and the band, as expected, sounded great. He is pretty active on stage, especially for a guy who is 67 years old.

He played most of what I expected to hear. Of course I want to hear songs from From The Inside but he’s been ignoring that album for quite some time. I was a little surprised he didn’t go deeper into the catalog since he was doing the longer set but he decided to play 4 covers which apparently he’s been doing often when he’s headlining.

His band is always top notch and last night was no different. Everyone is extremely talented and are each a show within the show. Drummer Glen Sobel is a beast of a drummer. Veteran guitarist, Ryan Roxie and bassist, Chuck Garric, were positioned on my side for most of the night. Ryan slapped 2 picks in my hand throughout the course of the night. While I started out in the second row, the security girl motioned for me to come right up front and there I was stationed for more than half of the show. I didn’t realize until after the show that guitarist, Tommy Hendriksen, was the bassist for Warlock, who I had seen in 1988. He and third guitarist, Nita Strauss, also handed picks to me during the show. Score!

Alice threw out 2 of his plastic canes, a ton of Cooper dollar bills and some plastic bead necklaces (during Dirty Diamonds). At the end of the show during the School’s Out encore, tissue paper feathers and streamers fell from the ceiling and the crew threw large balloons filled with confetti out on the stage and into the crowd. The ones that got near Alice were pierced with his sword.

It was a great show and I can’t wait to see it again tonight!