15 Hours

Landmine Marathon
The Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
June 29, 2010

I was in L.A. for 15 hours... and it went something like this.

For those keeping score, this was Umlaut's 8th Landmine Marathon show and I've had to take a plane to see 7 of those shows.... WTF. Anyway, this road trip was also the perfect excuse for Umlaut to hang out with Old Metal brother Cuevas. Prior to the show my hosts Cuevas and Judy took me to their excellent local English pub The Royal Falconer for libations and food. Cuevas has been to the pub dozens of times and has NEVER heard them play Old Metal over the stereo... until tonight when Iron Maiden came out of the pub's speakers! THE POWER OF UMLAUT.

Following the pub stop we made the drive from Riverside to Boyle Heights and the infamous Blvd. Umlaut had heard and read about this venue and it lived up to the hype in the best way. Located in a sketchy area, the space features all the elements of a perfect Umlaut venue: Good bar area with decent beers, nice sized stage area with a good sound system, a bathroom that wasn't disgusting, and an outdoor patio... all wrapped in a nice dive bar reality. Bay Area locals: It's like Thee Parkside only bigger.

Upon arriving at the venue we eventually met up with Landmine... and Invisible Oranges and Umlaut FINALLY met. I think this meeting caused a minor earthquake in the area... and I think it's safe to say that we both know how to use chopsticks because of our genetics. Gung hay fat METAL.

Unfortunately Vöetsek were delayed getting to the club in time for their scheduled set, which was a bummer because I'd been looking forward to seeing the S.F. locals again. I don't think anything sums up Summer better than sitting in a band's sweaty van drinking cold PBR before they go on. Then it was around 10:20pm and the heat blast from Arizona announced itself with the eviscerating intro to 'Exist' that was followed by a blast furnace version of 'Red Days'... The aural heat was appropriately unbearable but I was once again caught up in the Landmine maelstrom.

Umlaut needs a new camera. The iPhone camera is shit for this.

Landmine can certainly handle a big venue, but a divey space like The Blvd is their preferred killing zone. I think that I go out of my way to see this band because part of me still can't believe a band can be so charismatic and intense so consistently. No matter what pre-show drama might have occurred out on The Road to the show, when Landmine steps onstage it's like a switch is flicked and all Hell breaks loose. Whatever shit that affected their day is channeled into the PA and the bloodletting begins... and it's funny that at most of the Landmine shows that I've seen the crowd leaves a space between themselves and the band. Something keeps them from getting too close to the stage during a Landmine set... and I think that "something" is FEAR... and FEAR is good. Into that space of cowardice leaps Grace who shoves, punches and grabs those in the crowd who dare make eye contact with her. SAY MAO, BITCH!


As their singer stalked back and forth from the stage to the floor, the band laid down their carpet of fury and volume that Grace used to rage against whatever was in front of her. The word that comes to mind whenever I watch Landmine is "transformation" because that's exactly what the band does when they're in their full rage and fury zone onstage.

As for the setlist, it was a good selection from the band's catalog... with the likes of 'Crisscross Thoughts'... 'Shadows Fed To Tyrants'... 'Skin From Skull'... and 'Bile Towers' spanking ears. The band had to abbreviate their set by a couple of songs, but chose to include their new blistering cover of the Born Against song 'Mary and Child' which only solidifies the fact that the band's soul is Hardcore Punk; Landmine are like the cannibalistic kindred spirit of the 80's Crossover bands. The evening's abbreviated beating ended with the band's favored set-closer 'Rise With The Tide'... and the rush towards the band's merch table commenced.

While it's always a buzzkill leaving a Landmine show, Cuevas and I said hasty goodbyes to the band and Invisible Oranges and jumped back in the car and headed towards Hollywood in hopes of pulling off an epic Lock 'N Loll doubleheader. Around 20 minutes later we found ourselves at...

Saint Vitus
The Viper Room, Hollywood, CA
June 29, 2010


I honestly didn't think we'd make it from The Blvd to Sunset Blvd. in time to catch Saint Vitus. However, as we walked up to The Viper Room after parking I could hear Vitus' volume seeping out of the club... and when we walked inside the band was already onstage and we were greeted by the full-on roar of 'White Stallions'! YES!! What a perfect song to symbolize this late, long, and loud night. "White stallions in my vein..."

The Rock Godz work in mysterious ways... and sometimes they send inspiration when you most need it. Just this past Sunday I had seen Saint Vitus in S.F. and had left the show somewhat dispirited because of the light attendance. However, my faith was restored inside the confines of The Viper Room. It was crowded but not uncomfortable. The sound was great. The band were more relaxed than I'd seen them before but their volume was just as ferocious... Actually, it was probably even more ferocious because The Viper Room only holds 250 people and this show felt very intimate.

Pic courtesy of Cuevas

I was actually dazed for a song or so because I had expected The Viper Room to be bigger but Saint Vitus were RIGHT THERE. Actually, it was so intimate that Dave Chandler jumped offstage during 'Born Too Late' (that echoed Wino's stage dive in San Francisco the previous Sunday) to play amongst the people... and when he was back onstage he took off his SG and raked the neck and strings of the guitar against the heads of audience members as Mark and Henry kept the beat and bottom end thundering. Meanwhile, Wino lorded over the room like The Rock God that he is... and once again 'Dying Inside' was the song that riveted the room with its tale of inner demons. It was ironic watching the drunk and skinny Hollywood Rocker kid holding his beer aloft as he teetered along to the song; Old Man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you were...

Trivia: The space where The Viper Room is located was used for the club where The Plimsouls played in the movie Valley Girl... One of Umlaut's favorite movies. "That Techno Rock you guys listen to is gutless!" Yes, I genuinely love that move.

For those keeping score, according to the Umlaut Archives this was my 40th gig of the year which is 5 ahead of my 2009 pace. On the way back to San Francisco, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag... which makes sense I guess. So there you go... I was in L.A. for 15 hours and that's the way it was.. The next morning I was on the first flight back North with 3 hours of sleep and I went straight into work. Lock 'N Loll, motherfuckers.

Half Full Or Half Empty

Saint Vitus / Hammers Of Misfortune / Walken
DNA Lounge, San Francisco
January 27, 2010

I don't think anybody saw this one coming: Saint Vitus returning to S.F. only 5 months after their triumphantly epic DNA show in January!? Wow.. Prior to the show Umlaut met up with his brothers The Drummer and Johnny at Schmidt's for fine German food and beer. We haven't hung out in awhile so it was the perfect way to start the evening. Food 'n friends, man... Then DOOM.

Danzig was playing across town at The Regency so if you wanted to find the douchy Metal fans they weren't at the DNA tonight. However, I was shocked that the DNA was only 1/3 full when the Vitus show in January had been sold out and jam packed. I know the last show had been on a Friday night and this was a Sunday... but still.

The Umlaut Nation was nicely represented tonight... so a shout out to The Drummer, Johnny, Dave, Crow, The Bassist, and Wexford Girl.

Walken: Yet ANOTHER excellent Bay Area Metal band! Walken features 2/3 of another good Bay Area Metal band Grayceon; it's interesting how many bands share members around here... We arrived about halfway through their set and the band's heavy groove really set the tone for the night and made me forget the size of the crowd as I sipped my beer. I need to pay more attention to Walken, man.

Hammers Of Misfortune: The evening was special due to the debut of Hammers Of Misfortune's latest lineup featuring new vocalist Joe Hutton and Leila Abdul-Rauf (Saros / Amber Asylum / Vastum) on guitar and vocals. To be honest, Hammers has always been hit and miss for me, but having 2 of the Bay Area's best Metal guitarists in the lineup with John Cobbett (also of Ludicra) on the Les Paul and Leila on the SG takes Hammers to the next level for me immediately... because Umlaut is a sucker for harmonized lead guitars..

Vid by Umlaut

Somewhere Phil Lynott is smiling, right? If Hammers were from Sweden instead of The Mission District they'd probably be huge...

Saint Vitus: Although they were playing to a 2/3 empty space that they had sold out 5 months ago, the legends didn't seem to give a shit and they played BETTER than they had back in January. For some reason the size of the crowd was really bumming me out; if the recent passing of Ronnie James Dio taught us anything it's that Metalheads need to see their heroes at every possible opportunity. The rhythm section of Mark Adams and Henry Vasquez were even tighter than they had been in the Winter, Dave Chandler didn't chat as much in between songs this time (HAHA!) and his TONE was still magnificent.... and Wino is hitting a peak these days as his skills are sharpened to a awe inspiring level from both Vitus and Shrinebuilder being active.

Vid by Umlaut

The setlist was also switched around from 5 months ago and Vitus opened with 'I Bleed Black' > 'Clear Windowpane' which was a surprise... They also pulled 'Mystic Lady' out of the catalog... but as in January the show stopping, riveting moment was when Wino sang 'Dying Inside'. Is there a more compelling and personal song about battling personal demons? Nope... Near the end of the final song 'Born Too Late' Wino did a stage dive... Yes... You read that correctly... Wino did a stage dive... and I'm still not sure I saw it. So unexpected and... bizarre!

Okay, I gotta stop right here and say that I'm actually not really that inspired to write about this show. Maybe because I'm tired and I'm thinking about the plane I have to catch tomorrow... but anyway, YES Vitus' performance was fantastic... and I still worship them completely... but I didn't enjoy this show in general as much as the January one. The January gig was a momentous event because it was the first time in FOREVER that Saint Vitus had played a show in S.F. and the sweaty packed atmosphere inside the DNA that night felt momentous as the heroes were welcomed and worshiped. Tonight the crowd was small and we did welcome and worship our heroes... but I just couldn't get past how many people had decided not to come out and support this show.... because a legendary band like Vitus deserve better... especially in San Francisco.

Saint Vitus weren't selling the round embroidered logo patches this time; good thing I had gotten one at the January show. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Man, I was tired the next day... I almost dozed off in a meeting at work. Seriously.

No Escort Needed

Warped Tour 2010
Shoreline Amphitheater, Mt. View, CA
June 26, 2010

Summer's here and the time is right for Warped Tour in the streets... Unfortunately, the 2010 edition only has one Bay Area stop because Pier 30/32 in S.F. is out of commission... which, for better or worse, meant the only option was Shoreline for 8+ hours featuring 87 bands (!) on 8 stages. Quantity over quality is what Warped really is, but it is an event tailored for kidz and not old farts like Umlaut. Ironically, exactly a year ago to the day Umlaut was at Pier 30/32 for Warped 2009. Time rolls on, man... and while I've been to a lot of Warped Tours in the past this was the first time I attended solo... which was a little weird since I can't remember the last time I attended a big show all by my lonesome.

Warped has now been around for so long it's become a multi-generational institution that's continued to thrive where other festivals (like OzzFest) have either imploded or become shadows of their former selves. Despite the gridlock crowd it's always heartwarming to see parents wearing Dead Kennedys shirts escorting their young kids at these shows. Passing the torch... and the brand loyalty the Warped crowd shows to Vans is mindboggling. All you have to do is look at the shoes the crowd is wearing and it's safe to say 95% (or maybe more) of the audience are wearing Vans. As I walked towards Will Call with the masses I noticed a guy dressed in black with spiky bleached blonde hair had fallen into step next to me. I noticed the G.B.H. laminate on his belt and realized it was G.B.H. vocalist Colin Abrahall... DOH! However, before I could say something to him someone else recognized him and started a conversation. Oh well... Colin probably wouldn't have cared to know that I saw G.B.H. in 1985 anyway.

Once inside I watched some of Berkeley's own The Uptones on a side stage and then I was fascinated watching the English band Bring Me The Horizon play to a massive crowd on the Main Stage. BMTH had the thousands of kidz in the palm of their hand and got some serious crowd action going. I can't say I liked their Mall Metal, but their performance was impressive. Once they were done I made my way backstage to wait for Dillinger Escape Plan, who were the only band besides G.B.H. that I *needed* to see out of the 87 (!) bands. Eventually I found myself standing next to DEP as they were preparing to walk onstage.

However, just before they made their entrance I darted to the other side of the stage and grabbed a prime vantage spot that was out of the way of the band and their crew. Perfect.

DEP are a band whose onstage personality is so completely out of control I can't imagine what a band rehearsal is like because chaos is such an integral part of them. The members of DEP like to climb on things... they climb on top of amps... speaker cabinets... stage scaffolding... anything that isn't stage level. It's as if one of the band's missions is to defy gravity as they assault an audience with their volume.

I'll use lazy music "journalism" and say that DEP are like a retarded offspring of Faith No More / any Mike Patton solo project and Fugazi... at least those are the bands that pop into my head when I listen to them more often than not. However, the only other bands I can call equals to DEP onstage would be Jesus Lizard, A Place To Bury Strangers, and the mighty Gallows... These are bands who do not play it safe and who embrace spontaneity and unpredictability and perform like they're physically invincible.

Vid by Umlaut

During the first to the last song Ben flipped his guitar around his body for probably the 12th time of the set... but this time the tuning peg of the 6th string (I'm not a guitarist... so whatever string that is..) caught on something and it broke clean off! However, instead of switching guitars like any other guitarist in the heat of combat, he continued playing it as a 5-string for the remainder of that song and for the final song of the set. I hope DEP's guitar tech (actually all of their crew guys) get combat pay.

Dead tuning peg...

During the last song of the set, Jeff the rhythm guitarist jumped down into the photo pit and climbed over the barrier to run the pit while playing. Yes, the Gallows did that at Warped last year... but it's always fun to see a guitarist take full advantage of his wireless system. Once Jeff was back onstage, for a finale DEP did their best impression of The Who circa 1967 by tearing down their backline and drum kit... starting with Ben lying on his back on the stage and dragging one of his Marshall cabinets to the front of the stage. As I said earlier, I hope DEP's crew guys get combat pay.

Vid by Umlaut

I think it should also be noted that I'm pretty sure none of DEP were wearing Vans shoes.

After DEP finished I stayed in a corner at stage right so I wouldn't get in the way of the stagehands switching over the gear for Andrew WK's set to follow. Sorry, I'm not a fan... I finally made a move to get off the stage and almost got ran over by a couple of roadies pushing a rack of guitars... but I managed to dodge out of the way and, after walking the merch tent village, I deposited myself in the bar with a cold beer. I spaced out while checking e-mails and text messages and forgot Suicide Silence were playing on one of the other stages. Oooops... Wow, I was tired since I only got a few hours of sleep and being at Warped all by lonesome wasn't as much fun as I thought it might be... and G.B.H. weren't due to play for another 4 hours and I didn't have it in me to kill that much time at Shoreline. So I listened to my heart and returned to Casa de Umlaut, much to the approval of the cats 'n dogs.

Yes, I basically went to Warped 2010 to see Dillinger Escape Plan which was all I needed out of the afternoon. Quality over quantity. Thanks as always to my brutha Kurt SuperSix8 for sorting me with an All Access. He's a host in the truest sense of the term.

Number of Iron Maiden shirts = 4. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. Quality over quantity and I got home without sunburn. WIN.

Greg of DEP not wearing Vans... Umlaut..
(Pic courtesy of Alan Ralph)

Surgical Strike

A Place To Bury Strangers
The Blank Club, San Jose, CA
June 25, 2010


Two years ago Umlaut was in New York City and I ran into an old Bay Area friend who I hadn't seen in 10 years at a Starbucks on 7th Avenue (Hey David!). It was a completely random encounter and later over lunch he told me I needed to check out a Brooklyn band called A Place To Bury Strangers. Since that random encounter several other friends of the Umlaut Nation have also urged me to check out APTBS. Well, fast forward a couple of years and, for one reason or another, I hadn't been able to catch APTBS live... until now. Better late than never...

Thanks to an invite from Hard Rock Chick, this was a painless surgical strike of an evening. I left Casa de Umlaut just after 10:00pm... Parked... Ran into Umlaut Nation friends out front (a shout out to Timo and Frank)... Went inside... Watched some of the awful support band... Went back outside. APTBS took the stage at midnight and halfway through their opening song I said to myself "This is my new favorite band.."

APTBS is the type of band I've been looking to find again for years... They are a band whose onstage personality is so loud and out of control I can't imagine what a band rehearsal is like because chaos is such an integral part of them. Their smoke machine belched noxious fumes onto the dark stage to shroud the room in a burlap sack of mayhem that my head was shoved into as a shovel hit me in the forehead... again and again. APTBS are the complete opposite of The Big Four in a good way. APTBS is band that is a pure uncut force of nature onstage... They give off that sense of danger in a performance where you don't know what might happen next... They are a band who throw themselves off a cliff just to see where they land and they dare an audience to follow them. They are my kind of band.

Fronted by mad scientist Oliver Ackerman on guitar and vocals, the wall of volume that APTBS is able to flatten an audience with is astounding. Standing against the stage I felt like I was in one of those Atomic Bomb tests in the 1950's... Engulfed in smoke... Embraced by almost unbearable volume... Flattened.


I'm a complete APTBS' newbie and I don't know any of their songs and I don't know alot about them in general (other than Oliver owns a custom guitar effects company that counts the likes of Wilco, Nine Inch Nails, and U2 as customers). My mind was a clean slate for them to make an impression on me.. and they did in a huge way. APTBS struck me as the spun out bastard child of two of Umlaut's all-time favorite bands: The Jesus & Mary Chain and Spacemen 3 ... and that's why I reacted so strongly to them... I'm always looking for a *new* band who are kindred spirits of those classic bands.

Since I was standing directly in front of Oliver I became hypnotized watching him manipulate his effects as he strangled his Fender Jaguar... and his battle with the guitar had the headstock swinging very close to my head many times... but I was in the mood for a little concert danger so several times I tried to see how close I could get my head to the Jaguar's headstock and not get bloodied by the tuning pegs. Thankfully I came out unscathed by this game of chicken... this time.

The finale of the set was like watching an epic hand-to-hand battle between 3 humans and the invisible beast called VOLUME. APTBS grabbed onto VOLUME and held on for dear life until they managed to wrap their collective fingers around the beast's throat and wrestle it into submission. Clash of The Titans...

Vid by Umlaut

As feedback bounced around the room, the band left the stage littered with murdered instruments, broken guitar strings, and even a little blood as Oliver cut his nose during the performance. Epic.

My head was spinning from what I had just witnessed and I forgot to do a merch audit. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. I woke up the next morning with the show still ringing in my ears and the image of murdered instruments lying in pools of feedback. CSI Lock 'N Loll.

Murdered guitars and broken strings... Volume vanquished.

The Big Four

Remember when the AC/DC concert movie Let There Be Rock was originally shown in theaters? Me too.

"Exclusive San Francisco Engagement" - 1982

Yes, besides Let There Be Rock Umlaut saw other concert films at midnight movies when he was a teenager... The Song Remains The Same... The Kids Are Alright... However, that was back in ancient times before there was a 46" Hi-Def television and Blu-Ray player in my home... but the announcement that one of The Big Four concerts featuring Metallica / Slayer / Megadeth / Anthrax was going to be "simulcast" to theaters worldwide sounded intriguing.

The Big Four "Simulcast"
Century 9 Theater, San Francisco
June 22, 2010

Forty-eight hours after seeing one of my favorite bands live again, Umlaut found himself at the Century 9 Theater in the Westfield Mall in Downtown San Francisco for the "simulcast" of The Big 4 concert from Sofia, Bulgaria. Tickets to this event were $18 each, which was a lot cheaper than traveling to Bulgaria... and sitting in a comfortable movie theater in downtown San Francisco seemed a lot better than wallowing in the cold and rain of Bulgaria as well.

Anyway, it was misleading to bill The Big Four event as a "simulcast" since Bulgaria is 10 hours ahead of S.F. and the footage onscreen was not only tape delayed but also edited. This event was also another example of how The Internets has destroyed the element of surprise. Details of the show (including the "historic" finale) were posted online hours before the S.F. screening's 7:30pm start time... was "spoiler alert" even part of the English language 25 years ago??

To be honest, although The Big Four are from Umlaut's generation of Metal, I don't think of these bands in that awestruck way... "The Big Four" is a convenient phrase that a younger generation of Metal fans and The Media created to personify a time in Metal history. I mean, for Umlaut "The Big Four" is Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, and Thin Lizzy. I'm just saying... Anyway, priorities being what they are, before the screening I met up with members of The Umlaut Nation for some quality bar time first...


Before and after the screening I got into a somewhat heated debate with an Old Metal friend about my indifference towards The Big Four... which caused me to ponder why I felt this way. Hmmm... Cue swirly, introspective sound effect and graphic.....

The truth is The Big Four aren't iconic to me because I saw all of these bands in their infancy when they were pimply-faced teenagers; I even got to know a couple of them as friends before any of us could buy alcohol legally. So, while these bands did go on to change Metal, I'm not in awe of them. Yes, I'm a fan... but I don't worship them because I remember when we were all on the same denim & leather wearing level.

Anthrax: I got a promo copy of their 1st album Fistful Of Metal and it was alright. I also saw them on their 1st tour supporting Raven when Neil Turbin was on vocals. They were alright.

Megadeth: At the request of Dave Mustaine, I ran Megadeth's fan club out of my bedroom in my parents' house from their demo up until their debut album came out. Click HERE for more insight into my history with Megadeth.

Slayer: The first time I met Tom Araya was before Slayer even put out an album; he was visiting S.F. with a mutual friend. My first impression of Tom was that he was wearing a tweed blazer to a Metallica show at The Stone and listening to a Santana tape in his Camaro.

Metallica: This story is well documented already, but for the newbies click HERE and HERE for some insight into my history with the biggest Metal band on the planet.

What? Oh yeah... as far as "the simulcast" went:

Anthrax: We arrived late from the bar in time to only see them play 'I Am The Law' and say their thanks and goodbyes to the Bulgarians.

Megadeth: We watched the first two songs ('Holy Wars' > 'Hanger 18') and then decided the gourmet food court in the basement of the mall beckoned. Sorry Dave... Food over Megadeth.

For those keeping score, the meals our group ordered broke down Internationally as American > Japanese > Mexican food.

Slayer: The food and conversation got the best of us and we scampered back into the theater late but in time to see Slayer destroy Bulgaria with:

• 'Hate Worldwide'
• 'Angel Of Death'
• 'Dead Skin Mask'
• 'Disciple'
• 'South Of Heaven'
• 'Raining Blood'

It was cool that Tom was wearing a Chilean soccer jersey onstage to show support for his World Cup team.

The audience members in the movie theater singing along to 'Angel Of Death' was a nice moment... and a couple of kidz got up and tried to start a pit in the area under the screen. Cute.

In between bands they showed interview segments with various Big Four band members. As Lars appeared onscreen a dude yelled "FAGGOT!"... and then when Mustaine appeared onscreen the same guy yelled "FAGGOT!!" However, the guy did not call Umlaut a fag on the way back to the car.


Metallica: It was cool to see the local heroes take the stage in Bulgaria with 'Creeping Death' and owning the crowd of 90,000. Robert wore his standard "Metallica - San Francisco' basketball jersey onstage and I dare any local not to feel some level of hometown pride. If anything, the "simulcast" gave a perspective of just how hugely popular the band is around the globe. From the streets of S.F. to a muddy stadium in Bulgaria. I slouched down in the comfy theater chair and enjoyed performances of the following:

• 'Creeping Death'
• 'For Whom The Bell Tolls'
• 'Fuel'
• 'Harvester Of Sorrow'
• 'Fade To Black'
• 'Cyanide'

During Kirk's brief guitar solo he threw in a snippet of UFO's 'Rock Bottom'... Nice. Then I suddenly decided I was done with The Big Four... I can't sit still for 4 hours in front of a movie screen and watching a concert on a movie screen made me sleepy. I know, I know... I'm being flippant and disrespectful and NO I didn't have to pay for the screening (THANKS Nikki!)... but I'm just being honest here. I got bored.

Yes, I missed the "historic finale" that came during Metallica's encore when they were joined by members of the other Big Four bands on a version of 'Am I Evil'... but I'll see it on Blu-Ray when it comes out... or I'm sure it's on YouTube... and it is of course:


Wait... they didn't even play the entire song! I'm sure we'll see this spectacle repeated when they bring The Big Four to The States next year. Anyway, this has been my half ass reaction to what many have called The Metal Event of The Year... and if this was 1990 I would agree. Just saying...

While we're on the subject, Umlaut's *other* Big Four would be Kyuss, Melvins, Neurosis, Sleep... and while the Old Metal guard mulls over Joey Belladona rejoining Anthrax AGAIN, Umlaut is more intrigued by the collaboration between Boris and Ian Astbury that includes a version of The Doors' 'The End' combined with an original composition called 'Magickal Child'... What the what??

Boris / Ian Astbury - Live in Australia - May 2010

Blood Brothers

Iron Maiden
Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, California
June 20, 2010

Umlaut's VIP Laminate
(color removed to make it harder for sneaky fucks to counterfeit)

It was a special occasion as Skychick was attending her first Maiden concert! According to the Umlaut Archives this was my 10th time seeing Maiden, so it was a landmark evening all around... However, prior to the show Skychick and I killed time in downtown Walnut Creek shopping at Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma... I know, NOT METAL. Then we met up with Scott, Photo Ray, and Sensory Abuse for some pre-Maiden food and beers at Pyramid Ale. Number of bootleg Maiden shirts at the bar = 1. Also, after our meal Sensory Abuse presented me with a vintage (1992) Maiden picture disc that I didn't have:

"Free Plinth" for display purposes

THANKS, brother! Umlaut loves picture discs long time.

Trivia: Umlaut only recently found out that Sleep Train Pavilion (originally called Concord Pavilion) was designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry…. Who knew, right? To be honest, it has to rank as one of Gehry’s minor efforts IMO. Just saying..

Given my past experience with the guest list at Maiden shows, I was pleasantly surprised that there was absolutely no drama at Will Call this time. However, the wait to enter the venue looked to be insanely long as thousands of Maiden fans lined up at the entrances for what seemed like miles... to which I said "Fuck that..." and we went looking for the back door way into The Metal. Long story short, we asked a security guy and, since we had the proper pass, he directed us to hop into a nearby golf cart... which sped us backstage faster than you could say "The Number Of The Beast".

The Golf Cart of The Beast..

As Dream Theater played their opening set we hung out in the Hospitality area with Robb Flynn and Umlaut Nation friends DeVito, Pam, and Nikki Blakk as various members of Maiden hung out or darted from their buses to the dressing rooms. We also had the chance to have a group chat with one of Maiden's long time crew guys about how it's hard to get a proper cup of tea made in The States (because Yanks don't understand the water must be BOILING HOT and not simply "Hot"..). Only time will tell, but I think the defining image of my Summer of 2010 just might be Dave Murray wearing a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and flip flops holding court backstage in Concord. He was running free... yeah... running free. As Maiden's start time neared we made our way to the soundboard and I had a sense of deja vu because DeVito and I had stood in the same spot for Maiden on the last tour... and here we were again. Metal.

For the newbies: Maiden has ALWAYS played the UFO song 'Doctor Doctor' over the PA right before they take the stage... and it still gives me chills when the intro to the song starts pumping from the speakers... and it was cool how alot of the crowd knew what the song meant as well. As the song's final notes rang out the house lights went off, the roar from the crowd went up a notch, and it was MAIDEN time. MAGIC! Reason #57 why I love Iron Maiden: Their sense of tradition. Longtime Maiden fans also know that the band (or rather Steve Harris) gets most of their inspiration for songs from either (1) History or (2) Literature / Films. Judging from the stage design and theme for this tour I would say the band (or rather Steve Harris) saw District 9... probably multiple times. The Geeks shall inherit The Earth!

Prior to the show there was alot of hating and debating online about the setlist on this tour and how it was weighted heavily towards more recent songs. Of course, one thing that The Internets has destroyed is the element of surprise; was "spoiler alert" even part of the English language 25 years ago?? The show opened with 'The Wicker Man' which is one of the band's best songs from the past decade... which was followed by 'Ghost Of Navigator' (which is an alright song from the past decade).... and then the crowd was rewarded with the nostalgic Old School rage of 'Wrathchild'! My Inner Teenage Metalhead approved... and at one point I pulled out my camera and noticed that the number of shots I had left was The Number Of The Beast:

METAL!

The majority of the set was songs from albums that have been released since 2000. Yeah, some of the songs aren't as strong as "the old classics" but a couple like 'Blood Brothers' (dedicated to Ronnie James Dio) and 'These Colours Don't Run' are classic Maiden songs IMO. In fact, 'Blood Brothers' is a song that captures that geeky feeling of belonging that Metal has always given to Umlaut. Yeah, it's cheesy... Yeah, it's mellow dramatic... but the song translates the sense of belonging and commaraderie that my Inner Teenage Metalhead still appreciates. Sorry, I just don't see an Indie Rock Hipster having my back as effectively as a Metalhead.

Despite what people may have thought about the song selection, the power and performance of Maiden as a band is undeniable. They operate on another level compared to almost every Metal band, from their musicianship to their demeanor onstage. Maiden always look like they're having the time of their lives onstage and that's what makes them timeless and also why they have been my heroes for over half my life. Watching Maiden perform is life affirming because, despite the passing of almost 30 years (!) since I first saw them, they're still just as good as they were back in The Day.... and Steve Harris is still 1 of only 2 Rock Stars who I honestly give a shit about (the other one is Lemmy of course).

Pic courtesy of Photo Ray

As on tours past, the song 'Iron Maiden' ended the main set and it sounded extremely punchy and great tonight.... and speaking of "punchy" at one point during the song I felt someone hitting me on the shoulder repeatedly in time to the song. When I turned around it was Robb Flynn caught up in a Maiden frenzy and singing along. How METAL is that?! Umlaut NEVER sings at concerts, but I sing at Maiden; Skychick was shocked. "Iron Maiden can't be fought!! Iron Maiden can't be sought!"

The 2+ hour show ended strong with 'The Number Of The Beast' > 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' > 'Running Free'. There are certain moments in every Maiden show that *get me* every time... and 3 of those iconic moments happened during this song sequence:

• During 'Number Of The Beast' as the guitar solos finish and Steve does his brief but iconic bass solo... It gets me every time.
• Just as Bruce finishes the first verse of 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' (the line "The sands of time for me are running lowwwww....") and the band kicks in... Up to that moment Dave, Adrian, Steve, and Janick have stood near the backline... but as soon as Bruce hits that line and the song kicks in all 4 guitarists rush forward in unison to the front of the stage. It's like watching a bayonet charge... It gets me every time.
• During 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' (and I've documented this moment in this space before)... During the last 1/4 of the song when Adrian and Dave go into their climatic breathtaking duel axe harmonies that bring the song to its conclusion... It gets me every time.

"Scream for me Concord!! Scream for me!!!"

'These Colours Don't Run' from the soundboard

The complaining about this tour's setlist is annoying to Umlaut. Yeah, I would have liked to have heard more old songs, but the band's last 2 tours in 2005 and 2008 were their "Greatest Hits" tours. Just saying... and just the chance to see Maiden perform should be reason enough for Metalheads to show up. If the recent passing of Ronnie James Dio taught us anything it's that Metalheads need to see their heroes at every possible opportunity. Maiden are as Old School Metal as it gets and no other band from their era is still as popular now as they were back in The Day (they drew 25,000 in L.A. the night before and a sold out crowd of 13,000 in Concord)... and no band from their era of Metal sells as much merch as Maiden either.. believe me.

Watching the band again here in the 21st Century I was fascinated how Janick and Dave still use cords with their guitars instead of wireless systems. Old School! Paying attention to where your guitarists' cords are onstage is a hazard most major bands never deal with anymore... but seeing a guitar physically tethered to amps on a big stage again was as quaint as it was nostalgic. Besides, without a guitar cord to flail around Janick couldn't mimick all of Ritchie Blackmore's old stage moves properly.

Thanks to DeVito for sharing the wealth!

Another aspect of the Iron Maiden mythos is their road crew. Ancient Maiden fans like Umlaut remember how Maiden not only credited their crew guys in tour programs, but also had their pictures featured as well... and since they had the same crew for every tour Maiden Geeks came to know who the crew guys were as well as the band members. This only magnified the sense of "family" that Maiden has always presented. From the fans to their crew.... we were all blood brothers. So, even after all these years, I can still be that Maiden Geek when I recognize an original Maiden crew guy.

Umlaut > Maiden's longtime soundman Doug Hall at work..

I didn't bother doing a merch audit... because Maiden were selling a shitload of it anyway. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. On the drive home I realized that I was in full-on Maiden Geek mode, which is something that has been part of my personality since I was, like, 16-years old. It's cool to have old Rock Star Heroes who can still turn me into a starstruck Metal Geek like that. Hope I die before I get old.

Maiden... Always.

A Larger Silence

Being part of The Metal Scene means more than simply having "a blog" and saying that you're part of "The Scene"; actions speak louder than words in the larger silence of being coolly apathic beyond your CDs and black tees. Ludicra are an important band, not simply for The Bay Area Metal Scene but for Metal as a whole IMO. The saga of their recent U.S. Tour is one of THE Metal stories of 2010 and I originally ranted about it HERE. However, naturally the story has since faded from the minds of most now that the tour has ended and the band have returned home. Authentic artists like Ludicra make sacrifices for their art. With this in mind, Umlaut has joined forces with Sensory Abuse to offer a limited edition Ludicra print with the proceeds going to help John Cobbett with his existing medical expenses.


Sensory Abuse's iconic live shot was taken at the final show of Ludicra's U.S. Tour at Cafe du Nord in San Francisco on May 8th.


This is a limited edition of 66 hand-numbered prints. It measures 19"x13" and is printed on heavy, canvas-like paper stock. For delivery within the U.S. the print will cost $20 (shipping included). For International Orders please add an additional $5. The prints will be appropriately sent in a black mailing tube. Use this button to purchase the print via PayPal (payment will be made to Sensory Abuse):
You can also support Ludicra via the "Merch" link on the band's site or at the Profound Lore site. This is just a small way for Umlaut to give back to THE METAL. In this day and age I think bands get taken for granted since it's so easy to "download this" or "YouTube that" to the point where bands (and their music) become disposable. The short attention span here in the 21st Century seems to cause many good bands to be tossed into a silent void as another band's download becomes available. Ludicra are a band who should never be disposable.

"Silent... Into a larger silence.." - Ludicra

A huge THANKS to Sensory Abuse for donating his photograph, time, and expertise to this project... and THANKS to Profound Lore and Invisible Oranges for giving support and advice... and HAIL to Ludicra for being Lifers.

My Slayer Day 2010

The exciting sequel to Day Of Days!


To observe International Day of Slayer 2010, Umlaut wore a Slayer shirt as he ran errands on a muggy Sunday. Nobody acknowledged it all afternoon... until the final stop of the day at Whole Foods:

Teen Whole Foods Bagger: (Looking at my Slayer shirt) Do you like Slayer?

Umlaut: Yes... Do you?

Teen Whole Foods Bagger: Not really...

(At this point I was about to blow the kid off when...)

Teen Whole Foods Bagger: They're too Thrashy for me. My favorite band is Cannibal Corpse.

The kid then went off about why Cannibal Corpse rules as he efficiently put our groceries into bags; the 2007 Slim's show with The Black Dahlia Murder was the best concert he's ever seen. I was impressed... but I think Skychick's eyes started to glaze over because she's not Metal.


That kid is gonna be alright.

Submitted by The Man:

At the Alameda Flea Market on International Day of Slayer..

The Man (TM): Hey, where did you get that shirt? Do you mind if my girlfriend takes a photo of it?

Kid Vendor: I got it on Haight Street. Yeah go for it.

Kid Vendor: I hate all that shit they sell at Hot Topic; I like the album tee shirts. I'm looking for a Reign In Blood tee. (Puts his iPod earbuds back in..)

TM: What are you listening to?

Kid Vendor: Cannibal Corpse.

Umlaut says: Ummm, maybe June 6th should be Cannibal Corpse Day next year... Just saying.

The Day Of Days

June 6th: The Anniversary of D-Day AND The International Day of Slaaayeer. Honor and celebrate accordingly...



San Diego - 6/06/06!!
(From the Umlaut Archives)


Visit these previous Umlaut posts about this hallowed date:

• 06/06/06
• The Longest Day
• Overlord

"Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Happy Hour

Vastum
Elbo Room, San Francisco
June 4, 2010


What a long day... but in a good way. The energy level at work is always different when the CEO is in town from London, but it was all good because we adore him and he's one badass muthafawker. The work day ended with a 3 hour Happy Hour hang sesson with my colleagues and our boss at the corner bar near the office. Drinks flowed and blood was spilled, and if the boyz wanna fight you better let 'em. Then at around 9:30pm I said my goodbyes and set the Prius on course for The Mission to catch Vastum before I passed out.

Umlaut is a big fan of Leila's musicianship via Saros and Amber Asylum... and now she's also a member of Hammers Of Misfortune! BUSY! Back in January, when Vastum was announced, she told me it was refreshing to be playing downtuned "Caveman" Metal (HAHA!). By coincidence, Umlaut LOVES Caveman Metal and the songs the band initially posted had me looking for my fur shorts and club. I've listened to the band's 3-song demo over and over and they immediately had me with their S.F. style Amebix / Celtic Frost crusty sweaty dirty volume; I'm a complete sucker for a band like this. Vastum sounds like a rabid Troll charging at you from underneath a bridge in the middle of the night.

Unfortunately, I was out of town back in March when Vastum played their 1st show... and I believe this was only their 2nd gig.. However, after tonight they're already near the top of my favorite local Metal bands. Dan on vocals is one of the most authentic frontmen I've seen in awhile; loose, lost, and not afraid to break down the band / audience barrier by storming off the stage to start some crowd action during a song. I really liked how Luca and RD on bass and drums held things down in a loose, groove way that is a nice departure from the usual oh-so-serious crusty Metal way. Kyle on guitar seems to channel an inner Kerry King, which is 101% fine with me of course... and you know Leila on the other side of the stage means Caveman Metal business because with Vastum she's playing a motherfucking black BC Rich instead of the SG she wielded with Saros. A solid band, man. SOLID. The highlight of the set was the awesome downtuned stomp of 'Master's Mark'... which is the type of song I immediately want to hear again once it's finished. Hit *Rewind* and *Play* again...

Pic courtesy of Whenwedie

Vastum onstage was the best 30 minutes of my TGIFriday. Apologies to Flood and Morne, but I bailed immediately after Vastum finished because I was TIRED. A bummer because I had wanted to check out Morne... but I just couldn't do it. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. It really is astounding how many amazing Metal bands call The Bay Area home at this moment in time. HAIL!

• Click HERE to support Vastum by purchasing their excellent demo for a mere $3 (THREE DOLLARS).
  
• Click HERE to see Whenwedie's shots from the Elbo Room set.

No Credit

The exciting sequel to Art Phag!

Earlier this week Umlaut acquired the 50-page catalog from the auction of Heavy Metal artifacts and historical items hosted by the Hard Rock Cafe back in 2004. The auction took place on November 6, 2004 in New York City and featured items from the likes of Anthrax, Ozzy, Van Halen, Guns 'N Roses, KISS, Sepultura, and Metallica.

The auction catalog cover...

Of specific interest to Umlaut was the 15 PAGES of historical Metallica items dating from 1983-86 from the collection of the band's original manager and record label owner Johnny Z. The items ranged from hand written lyrics to each song from Kill 'Em All (written either by Larz or Cliff... Estimated value $1,000 / $2,000 each), to a copy of the band's original demo tape with the handmade insert card (Estimated value $2,000 / $4,000), to the original art for Master Of Puppets (Estimated value $3,000 / $5,000... Which was a bargain since the art was auctioned off again last year for $35,000!)..... and also THIS item:


It's a note written by Cliff featuring the iconic H.P. Lovecraft quote from his story 'The Call Of Cthulu" and his autograph (Estimated value $500 / $700). However, what makes this listing even more interesting to Umlaut is that the one of MY photos of Cliff was used without my fucking permission!! They should have at least made an effort to credit me. Fuck you very much Hard Rock Cafe...

Anyway.... Just another day in Metal.

This Week In Metal Geek

Long story short, Umlaut was given this Metal artifact today:

It's the program from Judas Priest's 1980 British Steel Tour... 16-pages of standard tour program BUT the thing that sets it apart is the POP-UP centerfold of the band! When was the last time POP-UP was Metal!? Bring it back I say! Anyway, click HERE to download a PDF of this piece of Metal history. For the record, Umlaut is passing this Metal artifact on to Timo, who is the biggest Judas Priest fan I know... and who saw this Priest show in 1979:

(From the Timo Archives)

"Kiss of Judas... spider-like.."

Stargazer

The heartfelt sequel to Like Rainbows In The Dark and Random Rock Star Moment: Ronnie James Dio...

"Hot wind moving fast across the desert
We feel that our time has arrived
The world spins while we put his wings together
A tower of stone to take him straight to the sky
Oh I see his face..."
- 'Stargazer'

Ronnie James Dio was THE voice of Umlaut's generation of Metal... and now that voice is silenced. The public memorial took place on Sunday, May 30th at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles. Photo Ray made the pilgrimage to this final farewell to Dio and represented the Umlaut Nation. THANKS Ray.

Submitted by Photo Ray:

Photo courtesy of Photo Ray

Today's public memorial service for the late Ronnie James Dio was without a doubt one of the most touching, moving, and heartfelt experiences of my life. I know that may sound over the top dramatic, but it is the absolute truth. I did not know, nor had I ever met Ronnie James Dio. In fact, the closest I ever came was looking at him through my camera lens the two times I had the opportunity to photograph Heaven and Hell, as well as the many times I had seen him live over the years. But after witnessing first hand the infinite amount of love and respect that people showed for him today, and hearing so many incredible stories, I couldn't help but feel like I had known Ronnie my entire life. To say that he was a very special person that touched the lives of many people would be a gross understatement. I'm not sure that I can truly articulate what an amazing memorial this really was, so I will instead just give you a brief synopsis of the day.....

We arrived at the Forest Hills Cemetery around 12:30pm, and after walking over to, and taking pictures of, the much over-hyped group who were protesting the memorial (they were small in numbers, and won't even be an afterthought to the day) we walked up the hill to the Hall Of Liberty where the ceremony was to take place. Seeing the huge video screen and the hundreds of chairs on the lawn I thought that everything was going to be taking place outside. And then I saw the line. As it turns out, the ceremony was to take place inside, and due to the limited amount of seating, fans (some who had been there since 8:00am) were given wristbands to assure them a seat inside the hall. The rest of the fans would be able to watch on the TV's and video screens set up outside. Although my friends and I were disappointed that we did not show up early enough to get a wristband, we were stoked to even be there, and gladly accepted the fact that we were going to watch everything from outside.

However, not wanting to admit defeat just yet, we tracked down the person in charge of public relations for the event, and after my friend explained that she was with a local radio station, and I explained that I was a photographer for many different outlets (both of which are 100% true) we were given press wristbands which allowed us to enter. We were in.

Walking inside, I admit that the photographer in me wanted to take over. There were pictures of Ronnie everywhere, as well as fan art, huge floral arrangements, and a long table with white paper rolled out across it for people to write their condolences. After photographing all of this though, I put my camera down for a minute and re-evaluated everything. Things were starting to sink in. I was here not only as a photographer, but as a fan. I walked over and stared at each picture and would be lying if I said I didn't get goosebumps. I tried to think of something epic to write on the paper, but what came out was a barely legible jumble of words that may or may not have made sense. (I noticed later that I had misspelled a word, and after attempting to correct it what I had written was now even more illegible) But I really didn't care.

As Eddie Trunk took the stage to start the memorial, I wasn't sure what to expect. I wondered if this was just going to be about celebrities and rock stars getting up to say a few words and that would be it. I could not have been more wrong. Eddie did an absolutely fantastic job narrating throughout the day, and him telling stories and sharing his experiences with Ronnie really added to the ceremony. Just listening to him you could tell that he was honored to be there, and still a little shaken up over the passing of his friend.

The next three and a half hours were filled with countless speakers, video clips, and musical performances that spoke volumes of the man Ronnie was, as well as the music he created. A performance of 'Sitting In A Dream' from The Butterfly Ball and The Grasshopper's Feast record; a High School friend who threw the trademark horns and had the crowd chanting "Dio!, Dio!, Dio!" after he spoke; and some tear-inducing words from Ronnie's son, Dan Padavona, who said that had Ronnie gone to the doctor earlier and not ignored his symptoms he may very well be alive today, all got the memorial off to a tear-inducing start. What got to me however, was seeing the early video clips of Ronnie performing with both Elf and Rainbow. Watching him on stage belt out 'Stargazer' 'Long Live Rock N Roll' and 'Man On The Silver Mountain' just reaffirmed what an amazing vocalist and front man the world of Metal had lost....

As sad as all this may seem though, the service was definitely turning out to be more of a celebration of Ronnie's life, and the type of person he was. There was a story from Nick Jackson, who work for a concert lighting company, and who was approached by Ronnie to handle the lighting for Sabbath's Heaven and Hell world tour in 1980. For the band's debut show at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon in London, Ronnie had wanted pyro, and during a demonstration on the stage of Hammersmith, Nick's pyro was so over the top that it literally blew holes into the stage. Thinking he was going to be fired, he apprehensively approached Ronnie, only to find out that Ronnie absolutely loved what Nick had done. There was a funny story from Ronnie's assistant, Willy Fyfe, involving black testicles. John Payne, singer from the band Asia, delivered a pretty amazing acoustic version of 'Heaven and Hell'. Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna did the same with 'Man On The Silver Mountain'.

As the memorial progressed to cover the Dio era of Ronnie's career, things got more emotional. Simon Wright and Craig Goldy both gave touching speeches about their time in Dio, and what Ronnie had done for them. Paul Shortino did a very nice and very fitting rendition of The Beatles 'Places I Remember'. But it was former Black Sabbath and Deep Purple vocalist Glen Hughes who really brought the house down with an epic version of 'Coast to Coast'. I'm not sure there was a dry eye in the entire place. A video message from the obviously still shaken members of Motörhead, who could not be there due to tour commitments, was also a very nice touch. As people touched upon about just how much Ronnie gave back to the world, including his work with Hear N' Aid and Children Of The Night. After a very emotional speech by Ronnie's doctor, who was with him until the very end, Wendy Dio stepped up to the podium and simply thanked everyone for being there. She really didn't have to say more. What she put together for the fans on this day spoke volumes. As a fan of her husband for almost thirty years, I cannot thank her enough for giving the world the opportunity to celebrate her husband's life.

The commemorative button given to attendees...
(Courtesy of Photo Ray)

I did take pictures at the memorial, but those will be for another time. I was there as a fan first, and a photographer second. For now I just want to help convey what an amazing person Ronnie James Dio was, and what an incredible catalog of music he has left behind. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a part of his memorial. R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio. You were, and always will be a true legend. A tower of stone has taken you straight to the sky.


Meanwhile, on this same day on the other side of the country, thousands of Metalheads (including many Umlaut Nation friends) were attending Maryland Deathfest (For the newbies: MDF is considered by many to be THE annual Metal event in North America...). The Metal Cycle continues... May the circle stay unbroken.

Click HERE to see Photo Ray's images from the memorial.