"Let's hear it for all the other blogs on the internet!
Come on!"
(I'm pretending I'm on "stage," as that's the protocol -- giving support to the other bands on the bill...)
I went to a really good show last night at La Zona Rosa in Austin, TX. Soon into the opening band's set, I knew I was seeing and hearing a great new band to be excited about. From the remnants of Beloved comes Advent. They're brutally heavy and metal intense. I love how their drummer lays down a rock solid foundation that the two guitarists lay their pulverizing crunchy distortion on top of. Their vocalist kept up the energy and put out and put out each and every song. They dedicated one of their songs, "Eulogy," to "all the tv preachers stealing everyone's money." Wow. They definitely set the tempo.
Maylene & the Sons of Disaster came on to the blaring introduction of Springsteen's "Born In The USA." Quite fitting. Their triple guitar attack was just amazing. It allows for some crazy textures -- with one or two punching out a huge groove and another one bending notes and adding so much attitude and style. They dedicated a song to Bin Laden -- I think it was "Dry The River." The rallying cry of "Raised By The Tide" was fun and engaging. The last song, "Memories of the Grove," was a real show stopper, too. The alternate pre-chorus part where the drumsticks start padiddling on the rims gave room for the audience to sing along. It was a real memorable moment. This band is totally sounding good.
Every Time I Die managed to keep the energy level in the club high -- and even raise it a few notches. Frontman Keith Buckley held court, as always. Their song, "Kill The Music" had the appreciative crowd eating out of their hands.
The multiple samples between most songs had 'em laughing, too. The band was just tight and unrelenting. Each band on the bill had a good night, with little to no distractions keeping 'em down.
Underoath came on stage to a crowd that only seemed to grow with energy. It's amazing how good intense music can keep boosting energy instead of just spending it. The giant video screen behind stage came to life for the first time, sporting some well edited movies of a mysterious girl, people in rabbit masks that conjure memories of Donnie Darko. Their third song was "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door," which the crowd joyously obliged in the child-like chorus of "drowning in my sleep..." Frontman Spencer Chamberlain absent-mindedly called the crowd San Antonio, but realized his gaff just as it left his mouth. He apologized a few times as he helped choreograph the crowd participation with hand waving. The video footage that was interspersed throughout the show was just awesome. Sometimes it was just a backdrop of no-channel tv fuzz with the naught symbol in the middle. The high speed photography of plants growing was trippy.
Spencer made it a point to mention to the crowd that the band did what they did for Jesus. He quite eloquently shared his beliefs, his utter reliance on Jesus without coming across as condemning or "I'm right and you're wrong" at all. "It's worked for me," he said, and "in trying to be a good person, I wanted to share that."
"Writing On The Walls" was a definite highlight, as the band didn't waver in its high energy onslaught for a good hour. That's a long time for a hardcore-oriented band, folks! It's really interesting to watch Tim McTague and James Smith play the different sounds -- like those counterpart things they attack. Underoath really does so much with what they've got (six members). The twin guitars build on each other and Chris Dudley is always dropping cool sounds into the mix. Tim helps Spencer with some shout vocals and Aaron does such a solid job pounding the drums and adding his vocals, too. The last song of the set was an extended jam that Spencer joined in on with a guitar.
For the three or so encores, the band squeezed out even more energy. One of the coolest visuals at the end was of Spencer up on the barricades screaming along with lots of back light courtesy the video screen. He cast a great silhouette with his outstretched arms.