 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The line hit me like a bitchslap as I stepped my way closer to Lupo's about a half hour after doors were supposed to open. People-mostly long haired and excited metalheads-were crowded in groups in a sea of fans that went well beyond the block, most likely causing curiousity from cars driving by as to what could cause this waiting ruckous. I walked past everyone to the front, talked to a friend who was a bouncer (who had to go inside because they finally opened the doors) and then went inside a college building across the street, feeling like a welcomed intruder as I waited out the line in warmth.
I got in line about ten minutes before Gorjira was supposed to take the stage. The line was still long (I heard 1,100 tickets were sold), but it moved quickly, reducing my shivering to a minimum amount. I got in, grabbed my photo pass and tried to maze my way around people in my search for the photo area at the front of the stage. It wasn't an easy trip, complete with making my way to the front, only to find out that I was blocked by a railing and had to go around (often trying to get by some kids who were too stoned to move), but I did finally make it, enabling me to take pictures for one song with my tiny camera that paled in comparison to cameras owned by other photographers.
Gorjira was really good, getting a huge reaction from the crowd, especially when Randy Blithe of Lamb of God sang with them. Their songs were heavy and complex, full of great drumming and parts where my head couldn't stop banging if I tried. They sounded even better than when I heard them last, and I have a feeling that they won't be a first act for long.
Machinehead only played five songs, but holy Christ were they incredible (those five sogns took up about 40 minutes of time). The crowd was screaming the whole time, not to mention headbanging, circle pitting and crushing each other like pancakes while moshing. The music was so super tight that it seemed like they were wound up like a clock and the instrumentation was jaw dropping. They played "Aesthetics of Hate," which they dedicated to Dimebag Darrel (inducing a "Dimebag" chant) and another new song from The Blackening, as well as three older songs that left me eager to hear more.
The crowd had more enthusiasm than any concert crowd in recent memory (complete with people yelling random nothings in excitement while waiting in line to go outside to smoke cigarettes), and I figured that people would only go more nuts with the two upcoming bands.
Trivium's set was very seizure inducing, featuring lights that were very bright and flashy, displaying their logo on the wall. They also had a fog/smoke machine that reminded me of a television SWAT team going in on a hostage situation. The intro music that they came out to reminded me of an end scene to a Holy War.
I had to fight my way to get to the front to take pictures, which included being literally stuck behind a dude for about five minutes, wondering if he was as uncomfortable as I was with my body pressed up against his. I did eventually make my way to the front and was blown away by how much singer/guitarist Matt Heafy sounds like James Hetfield of Metallica. Its almost dead on, and it works really well with the old style thrash sound that they play. Their act and stage presence wasn't as impressive as Machinehead (who blew away the competition), but I still enjoyed myself.
I knew that I wasn't going to stay for all of Lamb of God's set, as The Holy Mountain and Asshole Parade were playing a block away at AS220. Chan was going to send me a text before The Holy Mountain was about to go on, a text which came a few songs into their set (telling me that they would be going on in about 15 minutes). I was able to catch five Lamb of God songs, including "Walk With Me in Hell" and "Again We Rise," which made me happy. It was very different watching a band with a lead singer who didn't play an instrument after watching the previous bands. Blithe was running all over the stage like he had bees in his shirt, and took the time to go out to the crowd (or as close as he could with the barrier) so they could sing along (which they were doing anyway). The smoke machine smell that was digging into my lungs was making me sick, but I still couldn't turn (or didn't want to) turn away from their set until it was time for me to leave.
