On some Public Access show, circa 1997:

[Link to video]

On Saturday, I managed to survive two concerts back to back. Starting at four, I went to ABC No Rio for Coffins. Never will I go back there. The place is a tiny, cramped shithole, with no bathroom, alcohol or ventilation. It was disgustingly hot. I lasted fifteen minutes in there before common sense and a bit of chew-my-own-leg-off animal frenzy drove me out to an Australian bar across the street to down beers with other like-minded Australian metalheads. I would have liked to catch the opening bands, but fuck that oppressive shit, I just checked back every couple of beers till Coffins went on.

The band was great, although I had trouble seeing them. A stage to elevate things would have been much better. Coffins was loud enough that flecks of the ceiling were dislodged by sonic vibration, raining down on the people in front of me. They played a good set and I enjoyed seeing them live for the first time, but fuck that venue.

Here’s a few photos of Coffins live.

After leaving that hellhole, I shared a cab with some Australians to Williamsburg (they were going to see the next Coffins show of the evening, at a proper venue) and rushed my ass to the Music Hall of Williamsburg for The Sword. I hung out downstairs in the bar, getting fairly buzzed at this point, skipping the first opening band and a bit of Stinking Lizaveta. Eventually I headed up to the hall and hooked up with a buddy of mine.

Stinking Lizaveta was pretty good, though I can’t say I was really into them that much. Still, they were far from sucky. Torche was entertaining. I’d nabbed one of their albums a few weeks prior, just to check them out and really wasn’t into them at all. Live was a different story, though. They were pretty solid. Good enough that I later revisited the album I had and can definitely appreciate it more. Often, seeing a band live makes you a fan far more than an album will (or vice versa).

Finally, The Sword. Those Texas fuckers tore the goddamn roof off. They were even better than the first time I saw them live. It was one of those “Holy shit, this rocks” moments. My neck is still quite sore from headbanging. Of course, at this point, I was pretty much thoroughly shitfaced, lost and at sea in stupid drunk land, rambling and weaving. At one point I recall chucking a plastic cup with the dregs of my beer out over the heads of the audience, something that horrifies me, because it would have really pissed me off if I were on the receiving end. Oops. Sorry. It was, the booze not me. Swear it.

Here’s a bunch of photos from that show.

My buddy Nathan sent me this link to a Black/Doom Metal ballet company that’s performing here in New York City next month. Ballet to extreme Metal… I don’t know, but I suppose it’s about time. I do like most of the bands (except for Arsis, they blow).

I’m mulling over whether I have the attention span and willingness to get a ticket and see it. I suppose it’s not something that’s going to sell out, so I have some time.

This is what every craft-oriented, Doom Metal chick should be wearing:

Impress your friends! Be the coolest and creepiest chick on the scene!
Buy one today!

Here’s a set of photos from the Sourvein concert at The Knitting Factory last Sunday. It was really dark in the club and I couldn’t really take photos the way I normally do (without a flash), but I was twisted enough to actually bump the singer on stage, in between songs and ask permission to use one, which he very graciously gave.

Wretched, drunken and loud Doom Metal. I had a great time, although I did get way too smashed, somehow ending up at the Staten Island Ferry and nearly falling down twice in the various subway stations I stumbled through till I finally found my way home.

Hell-fucking-yes!

These dudes are awesome! My favorite part is at the halfway point where they suddenly break for lunch. These dudes are hard-fucking-core.

Last night. I caught Boris, one of my all-time favorite Drone Doom bands, live at the Bowery Ballroom with Michio Kurihara. Without a doubt, it was one of the best concerts I have been to in a good long while. Boris has a massive sound live. My ear filters were put to the test and yet I still went to bed with my ears ringing. I’d never been to the Bowery Ballroom before. It’s a pretty nice place. I spent perhaps a little too much time in the bar downstairs, skipping the opening acts that I didn’t give a fuck about in favor of a good number of Stellas. I ended up with a greasy, green and morbid motherfucker of a hangover this morning because of it. Still, I had a crazy good time head-banging in the middle of a bunch of posers who have no clue about Doom Metal. I love Boris.

As usual, I took a ridiculous amount of photos and uploaded them to a Flickr set. Feel free to check them out.

I saw Unearthly Trance, Earth and Pelican at Luna Lounge in Williamsburg last night.

Unearthly Trance was annoying. I like their album, “In the Red“…not so much “The Trident“. Anyway, nice guys, but they took forever to hit the stage, preferring to hit the bar up for drinks and they only played a few songs. I just wanted more bang for my buck.

Earth was awesome. Mesmerizing, loud and droning. Worth the price of the ticket.

Pelican…whatever. I’m not into that kind of jam-band stuff. I gave them two songs and walked out.

Luna Lounge kind of sucks. First and foremost, by virtue of being in Williamsburg. I used to live there, but I can’t stand it anymore (or recognize it, for that matter). It’s like “Busch Gardens - Brooklyn” for trust-fund, up-and-coming douchebags. Secondly, the club has a kind of shit sound system.

Last Friday night, I went to a club on Avenue B. and saw Stoner Doom bands Wooly Mammoth and Weedeater. It was a fairly cool small space in a basement. I dug both bands, having never heard Wooly Mammoth before. Their bassist was mammoth-like and rocked the fuck out. Weedeater was awesome. They play a lot faster live as opposed to their albums and their bass player is a fucking wildman. I was right up against the small stage and as their last song began, he started chugging all the liquor within reach of him, which was a good amount. Mid-song, he leans over and vomits onto the stage, puke-splashing my feet and sandles, never missing a beat. Immediately after he spews the contents of his stomach onto the floor directly in front of me, he goes back to singing. Unbeknown to me, the guy does this every time they play a show.

Since I’m kind of all over the map on what I like to listen to, for this post I’m going to stick specifically to the Doom Metal genre of albums that I’ve picked up from eMusic that I find praiseworthy.

There’s only one full album that Warhorse ever put out and it’s balls-out awesome Doom. As Heaven Turns to Ash has some of the heaviest, slowest and lowest bass lines I’ve heard. The style leans on the psychedelic side with the main tracks interspersed with light and at times folk-like short instrumentals. It sounds weird as I try to describe it, but it works. Heavily inspired by Black Sabbath and L.S.D., Warhorse ranks right up there with Electric Wizard as one of my favorite Doom bands. If you’re not into Doom Metal, this album will change that. This is really good shit.
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