Back in the 20th Century, ümlaut was a xeroxed fanzine that existed from 1992-95. Despite limited distribution, loyal readers ranged from coast to coast and included Rock Stars of various credibility, including Neurosis, Sonic Youth, Melvins, and Metallica. This 21st Century version of ümlaut has been ranting since 2004 and is also the co-author of the book Murder In The Front Row.
Showing posts with label Bottom Of The Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bottom Of The Hill. Show all posts
Tonight was the 2nd benefit show on behalf of legendary artist Alan Forbes. For the newbies:
On Monday, October 21st, Alan Forbes was attacked in the Lower Haight
neighborhood of San Francisco. The attack left him with two skull
fractures and damage to his right eye. As do a lot of artists, he has no
insurance to cover the growing medical expenses. To help cover the
medical expenses there are two benefit shows set up in San Francisco as
well as other fundraisers.
The original bill was Black Cobra / Lecherous Gaze / Pins Of Light / Kicker... but then fate stepped in and Pins Of Light cancelled due to illness and Black Cobra were stranded in New York City by the massive snowstorms there. All of this basically went down only 24 hours before show time! However, in a classic case of The Scene rallying to support Alan, Acid King got their gear out and agreed to play at literally the last minute.
I was apprehensive about how crowded tonight would be given the last minute lineup shuffle. However, when I couldn't find my usual corner Bottom Of The Hill parking space I knew that I should not have worried. It was pleasantly crowded inside the friendly confines of BOTH when I opened the door and stepped inside.
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!
Kicker play an old man Bay Area version of 80's U.K. Punk and feature Dave Edwardson of Neurosis on bass. Songs about drinking pints and how life is rubbish being sung by a world weary English ex-pat who wore a "I Still Hate Thatcher" tee. Gilman Street invaded Potrero Hill as the band's fans sang along about the rubbish of life. Meanwhile the longhairs like Umlaut watched from the bar, but I did have a chat with my old mate Dave Ed after their set.
Hometown Acid King shows are just about as rare as unicorns, so it was stunning that the band were playing their 2nd San Francisco show in only 4 months! I'll cut to the chase and say that tonight was probably the loosest set I've seen the band play in the 20 years (!) I've known them... and I mean loose in a good way in that their bottom end groove really carved into the air and ears very deeply. 'Two Wheel Nation' was especially groove-riffic. Acid King need to get out in their own neighborhood more often!
Lecherous Gaze feature a former bassist of the Saviours and local guitar shredder Graham Clise on guitar. Their retro brand of 70's style Punk Rock with a bit of 70's Classic Rock sprinkled in is something I'm a sucker for... but I'd see the band again simply to watch Clise play guitar. He's kind of a next level player here in the 21st Century who channels 1974 here in 2014 very, very well. High energy Lock 'N Loll! Check 'em out.
I didn't do a merch audit, but there was ALOT of stuff for sale by the bands and Alan's Secret Serpents. Posters a-go-go! On the way back to the car, some pimply faced teenagers called us fags. Tonight was a nice way to start off the year. It was also a nice reality check that, although the local Bay Area music scene may seem fractured, when it counts it can come together when it matters. Dogspeed to our friend Alan Forbes on a full recovery!
"On this night of ritual.. invoking The Master... to procreate the unholy bastard.."
I checked out Ghost over a year ago because of the underground buzz about them... but it took me 3 listens for their debut album to *click* with me. I can't remember the last time I even gave an album or a band multiple chances to win me over like that. Usually, if I don't like something the first time I move on... but Ghost had other plans for me. Opus Eponymous has been at the top of my personal album playlist for almost a year now. Tonight's show was the smallest venue of their debut North American Tour and I couldn't comprehend how the band would be able to fit on the Bottom of the Hill's tiny stage.
Although this show sold out a month in advance, San Francisco crowds can be such jaded mofos. However, when the 6 band members emerged from the back of the club and walked down the hallway to the stage you could literally feel the entire crowd freeze for a split second in anticipation. It's been awhile since there's been a show around here with this much built up hype and anticipation; the fact that Ghost had dropped off Enslaved's U.S. Tour 5 months ago only ratcheted it up that much more.
Ghost sings about such everyday subjects as Satan and human sacrifices.. but their crowd is smiling and singing along to their every word. Magical. The Swedes opened with 'Con Clavi Con Dio' and then straight into 'Elizabeth' and I can't remember the last time a band came through town for the first time and the crowd knew all of their songs. Magical. Every song off their album was played with the live versions being even more robust and compelling than the recorded versions. At this early stage in their history I think that Ghost's "agenda" can be defined by the cover song they chose to fill out their set... a stunning version of The Beatles 'Here Comes The Sun' that turns the hippie Beatles message into an upside down cross that "The Son" of the Dark Lord is coming but "it's alright". Any doubt about this blasphemous use of George Harrison's words was erased by the crying baby intro tape that proceeded the song. BRILLIANT! During the set closing 'Ritual', Papa Emeritus gave communion to the front row with wine and wafers as the band closed out the song.
Communion In The Front Row
'Ritual' is already one of those iconic songs for me and it's by far THE catchiest song ever written about human sacrifice. When Ghost launched into it to close the set I was seeing it performed live in person for the first time; it was one of those great Music Geek moments that will never be replicated. After the show, Ghost held an audience with a human named James Hetfield... and then graced myself and my colleagues with an audience as well. The band were gracious and I thank them for granting us mere mortals with the meeting... I will never say or post anything publicly to ruin Ghost's mystique. However, I will reveal that Papa Emeritus was already very aware of my involvement with Murder In The Front Row before we met and had requested an audience with me. True.
I was attracted to Metal as a kid because it gave me an escape from my boring teenage suburban environment. Most of my earliest Metal heroes like Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Iron Maiden and Mercyful Fate didn't make me want to fuck shit up; their songs gave me a place for my imagination to run to and escape my teen reality. Now, here in the 21st Century, Ghost reminds me of that feeling again. This band makes me feel like that teenage Metalhead again... and for that I am grateful to the Swedes.
Orchid shirts = 2 (including mine). On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. Then 24 hours later it was...
Ghost / Blood Ceremony / Ancient VVisdom The Roxy, Hollywood, California February 2, 2012
Groundhog Day 2012 and I basically repeated the previous day... which was not a bad thing at all. Tonight was also the 13th and final show of Ghost's debut North AmericanTour... and with only 3 hours of sleep I found myself jetting down to the Burbank Airport first thing in the morning. No rest for the wicked, man.
After spending the afternoon doing work-related duties and having an awesome Ahi Tuna / mashed potatoes / salad lunch we headed over to the infamous Rainbow Bar & Grill for pre-show drinks. The fact that The Rainbow is right next door to the venue is one thing I actually like about L.A.. The opening acts came recommended to me by some friends... and they weren't bad... but in the end neither band has songs... and in Blood Ceremony's case they try too hard at being "dark" and it simply looks forced IMO... and a flute is NOT Metal and never will be. Anyway...
This was one of those shows that I would call "triumphant". Unlike the night before, Ghost had a full stage and lighting to work with in front of the sold out crowd of 600... and they absolutely killed it. For a band on their first tour they perform effortlessly and with awesome confidence and charisma; it's mesmerizing to witness when combined with their infectious songs. Ghost are already a polarizing band, with people either loving or hating them for whatever reasons... but I would guess that 95% of the haters haven't seen the band live (and watching YouTube videos doesn't count)... and live is where this band transcends most others.
Ghost converts Hollywood
'Ritual' is already one of those iconic songs for me... and when Ghost launched into it to close the night and their tour the crowd went crazy and sang along as they had the night before in S.F. It was (again) one of those magical Music Geek moments. Also as with the night before, I'll never see any of the band's songs performed in exactly the same way again... because the next time they visit America in April it will be in front of bigger audiences and many more fans. It's always special to catch a band at the beginning of something special and I've been lucky to have witnessed this ascension with many of my favorite bands over the years. It's cool to add these Swedes to that list. Fifteen minutes prior to Ghost taking the stage for the biggest show of their young history to date this happened:
On This Night Of Ritual
I will never say or post anything publicly to ruin Ghost's mystique... but I will say that I have talked to the Nameless Ghouls with their hoods off.. and I've had conversations with Papa Emeritus. TERRIFYING.. Why even worry about what the band members look like?? Why speculate if they're really Satanic? Who fucking cares. Suspend reality you bitter jaded fucks.
Ghost are not simply another band who wears costumes and masks onstage. They have great songs with fantastic melodies and lyrics and an overtly theatrical approach that makes them more than simply a "Metal band". They entertain instead of simply playing songs and that's something very, very few bands do these days. Ghost remind me that sometimes a band can simply be F-U-N... and the fact that they present themselves in a retro Hammer Films horror darkness way with a Satanic wrapper has made me even more of a fan. It's not a sin to smile at a Metal show... especially if the band is singing about Satan.
If you bought one of every Ghost merch item you would have paid $210. The merch Ghost sold was awesome; their merch company totally rules. On the way back to San Francisco, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. I sold my soul for Lock 'N Loll...
"Recite now from the text... pray for all to die."
Orchid Madhouse @ Club Cocomo, San Francisco June 3, 2011
My Brain and my Inner Writer Muse Thing are not working well together these days. I'm having a hard time ranting about shows right now... but that's not your problem, right?
Anyway, I didn't decide to go to this show until around 10:30pm... or 2 1/2 hours after the doors opened. Oh well... better late than never. It was a rainy night in San Francisco but I'd been wanting to check out the Madhouse shows being held at Club Cocomo. What a GREAT venue! A huge outdoor patio area in front and the space inside has a large stage with an excellent sound system; evidently the space is mainly used for salsa dancing. It's a shame more concert events can't happen here, because it's one of the nicest spaces in S.F..
Anyway, my late arrival prevented me from seeing the opening bands. However, Orchid was the reason why I left the house when most people my age had already tucked themselves in for the night. It was cool to see the band on a large stage where they were allowed to spread their leathery wings and include some atmospheric staging elements in their show. Orchid are a band that bleeds atmosphere and this was the first time I've seen them where I felt they were completely in their element.
Anyway, I've come to admire Orchid incrementally over the past year. When I first heard them I wrote them off as just another band sucking on the teet of Sabbath... Then I saw them a couple of times and I was struck that, while they do borrow heavily from the Sabbath vibe, they have their own thing going on if you are paying attention. I had even more of a fan epiphany seeing them tonight as the band took full advantage of playing in a quality venue by laying down a volume carpet that was as heavy and thick as a 70's shag carpet warmed by a roaring fireplace.
Anyway, the volume was unleashed with 'Down Into The Earth' as the set opener... and I like how the dudes in Orchid are not kids; they're seasoned musicians with history in alot of the same Rock and Metal that I was weened on. The rhythm section of Keith (bass) and Carter (drums) is tight but loose, like the foundation of skyscrapers in Tokyo that sway in a groove as the ground around them shakes. The best bands who are Children of Iommi understand that you have to lay down a groove for the volume to slide into... and that's what Orchid does so well. Theo's ghostly vocals do echo Ozzy circa-1971 but in a way that's haunting rather than obvious... and Mark is simply The King of TONE on the SG. All of these elements really came together on this rainy night in San Francisco during the band's 7-song set... which featured 2 new songs ('Mouths of Madness' and 'Saviours of The Blind') that bode well for the band's next album.
Anyway, the random awkward moment of the night happened as I was exiting the Men's Room after Orchid's set. A long haired Metalhead kid stopped me and said "Excuse me.. I think I recognize you from the old pictures of Metallica.." WTF... The kid happened to be visiting California on vacation from his home in Italy (Hey Igor!) and had made a pilgrimage to The Bay Area to pay homage to his Metal heroes like Cliff Burton. I chatted with him for a bit, bought him a beer... and then I slipped out into the rainy San Francisco night and made my way back to Casa de Umlaut.
Anyway, I didn't do a merch audit but Orchid have the merch thing down; thumbs up for discharge printing! On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. Then 4 days later it was...
I didn't decide to go to this show until that morning and I didn't roll out of Casa de Umlaut until around 9:30pm... and I'm glad I pulled the trigger.
Anyway, The Gates Of Slumber brought the Doom to this Tuesday night. These 3 ancient souls from Indianapolis brought their Midwest Doom into San Francisco... and I have to be honest and say the were just "okay" for me but not great. The standard Doom groove was there but Karl's guitar solos didn't follow that groove and ventured into Guitar Center-ish noodly solos... which were not that compelling. However, an invisible shovel seemed to come down late in the set and widen the Doom groove and thankfully for the last 2 songs of the set the trio's sound was finally all in the same volume trench and they stepped it up to my jaded ears.
The Gates Of Slumber (Photo courtesy of Sensory Abuse)
Anyway, in between bands I chatted with friends... and The Bottom of the Hill was nicely crowded including members of Black Cobra, Saviours, High On Fire, and Slough Feg mixing in with the Tuesday night audience. Oh, The Scene... although the chick wearing the Yob shirt who sat alone in the back seating area crossed legged with eyes shut and meditating wasn't very Lock 'N Loll. Fuck that Hippie Shit. Later during Orange Goblin's set I noticed her wandering around aimlessly amongst the crowd. Don't take the brown acid...
Anyway, tonight's show was part of Orange Goblin' 15th Anniversary U.S. Tour and the band's first visit to San Francisco in 7 years. When one of England's finest bands hit the stage it was like the back wall of Bottom of the Hill suddenly slid forward to slam into me as they galloped into 'The Ballad of Solomon Eagle' ... and I knew it was going to be exactly the type of set I needed and wanted to see: No bullshit and all high voltage Lock 'N Loll.
Anyway, Joe is one of my favorite guitarists with his wah-wah-a-go-go tone and his first solo of the night during the opening song made me say "Fuck Yeah!" out loud to no one in particular. I love when a band hits the stage and it's immediately obvious they are the voice of experience when it comes to kicking ass. Orange Goblin are that type of band... Charging into battle for Queen and Country... For Jäger and Glory! Speaking of Jäger: The band gave out free Jäger sponsored shots cups at the merch table.
Swag makes the world go 'round.
Anyway, Ben is the quintessential type of front man to lead such a volume charge; never venturing far from the lip of the stage as he keeps the crowd engaged. Also, kudos to Martyn on bass for wearing a bootleg Slayer tee. On another note, there was an unusually large number of Yob t-shirts in the venue tonight as well. Weird.. Discuss amongst yourselves. All in all it was a grand Tuesday night... and the closing one-two encore of ' Time Travelling Blues' into the full tilt boogie of 'Scorpionica' was enough to make me take a second look at the band's merch table.
Anyway, number of vintage Girlschool "Lock Up Your Sons '82" Tour tees = 1 (worn by a dude who was way too young to have seen that tour!).. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. This month is the slowest month I've had in a long time for gigs... Hopefully this break will allow my brain to get back together with my Inner Writer Muse Thing... 'cause even writing this "rant" was a struggle.
Anyway...
Click HERE to see Sensory Abuse's shots from the night!
The last day of Winter brought an intense storm that blew through the area the night before with shitloads of rain and crazy wind. However, today was the first day of Spring that delivered the good 'ol partly cloudy and mild thing. The first day of the new season also unleashed a storm of a different kind upon San Francisco: A rare hometown show by Acid King! This was only the band's 3rd S.F. show in 4 1/2 years; during that same time they’ve played more shows in Germany than at home. Sprechen sie Deutsch?
This was also a rare Sunday afternoon BBQ show at Bottom of the Hill and it brought out a good sized crowd that created an excellent vibe. There seemed to be a lot of Acid King newbies in the crowd, which was fine… because I believe that children are our future… teach them well and let them lead the way. Seriously though, why doesn't Bottom of the Hill have more of these afternoon BBQ shows?? Good times.
Carlton Melton started playing while I was out on the back patio chatting with friends so I missed their opening salvo. The band (featuring former members of that mighty fine band Zen Guerilla) weaved a compelling volume web. They won me over pretty quickly because their music shoved my head right into the Spacemen 3 section of my record collection. Carlton Melton dropped a thick curtain of psychedelic volume on the afternoon that was mesmerizing... and that made me want to buy something from their merch table. Mission accomplished, dudes.
Both Lori and Mark carried 6-packs of beer onstage... Then Acid King downshifted the afternoon and lurched into 'Busse Woods' > '2 Wheel Nation' and it was quickly obvious this was going to be an Acid King set for the ages. Not bullshitting: This was the best set I've ever seen the band play... Seriously... and I wasn't the only one who made the same comment later after the volume had settled. Lori's TONE has never been so all enveloping and the backing thunder of Joey and Mark has never been so crushing. As a volume beast, the 3 heads of Acid King were so locked and loaded in together it was scary.
It was an epic set that was highlighted by the 2 excellent new songs the band had unveiled at their last S.F. show almost 5 months ago: 'Red River' and 'Coming Down From Outer Space'. The set was rewarded when the crowd called for the band to perform an encore... which they obliged by leveling the neighborhood with a full 10+ minute version of 'War of the Mind'. WOW.. As I said at the beginning of this, there seemed to be a lot of Acid King newbies at the show… and this paid off handsomely with a heartwarmingly long line at the band's merch table after the set. AWWW... and so ended the first day of Spring 2011.
Yob shirts = 1 (mine). I didn't do a merch audit, but Acid King sold out of vinyl. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. Besides being a special afternoon of beer, volume, and friends this was also a nice warm up show for Acid King and Carlton Melton before they head to Europe together in a couple of weeks. Europe is gonna have a total bangover...
ACID KING / CARLTON MELTON EUROPEAN TOUR 2011 4-1 Marbehan, Bois-Des-Isles 4-2 Rennes, Le Mondo Bizarro 4-3 Paris, Le Labo - Théatre de Ménilmontant 4-4 Geneva L'Usine 4-5 OFF 4-6 Stuttgart, Kellerclub 4-7 Wien Arena w/ Place of Skulls 4-8 Luzern, Sedel 4-9 Milano / Mezzago, Bloom, 4-10 Athens, Rodeo Bar 4-11 Jena, Rosenkeller 4-12 TBD 4-13 Hamburg, Hafenklang 4-14 Tilburg, O13, Roadburn, Midi Stage 4-15 Bielefeld, Falkendom 4-16 Berlin, Wild At Heart 4-17 London, Purple Turtle
Click HERE to see Photo Ray's shots from the afternoon!
Guitar Wolf Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco Rocktober 4, 2010
It's hard to believe that it's been over 5 YEARS (!) since Guitar Wolf's last U.S. Tour and visit to San Francisco. The fact that original bassist Billy (aka Bass Wolf) died of a heart attack only 2 weeks after that S.F. show is still unbelievable; he was only 38 years old, man. In the years since, Guitar Wolf has been on hiatus for quite awhile until they reemerged last year with new guy U.G. on bass. The Bottom of the Hill was the final stop on the band's brief 7-city U.S. Tour and my anticipation leading up to tonight was off the charts.
By the time I got to the club the “Sold Out” sign was already posted on the door... and bummed fans stood around outside in disbelief.
Rookie mistake, kidz... If you wanna see a band really bad you gotta buy in advance. Anyway, as 11:00pm rolled around, the crowd was pressed down front and I was reminded how uncomfortable Bottom of the Hill is when it’s sold out packed… but I stood in basically the same spot as I did 5 year ago to witness The Beast From The East up close and personal again.
Number of beer bottles thrown onstage before Guitar Wolf came onstage = 4. Number of beer bottles that hit their roadie in the head before they came onstage = 1. There is more excitement in the first minute of a Guitar Wolf show than most bands have during their entire set! As they took to the stage, Seiji worked the crowd as U.G. and Toru (aka Drum Wolf) laid down a groove… Then Seiji put on his guitar, grabbed the can of Kirin sitting on top of his amp and slammed it, tossed the empty beer can into the crowd, held his guitar pic dramatically aloft… and then brought it down to hit his first chord of the night… and ALL HELL broke loose!! The Wolf was loose in San Francisco again!
Guitar Wolf and their fans detonate together like no other combination of band / fans; the only other mutual concert mayhem that I can compare it to is the Dillinger Escape Plan live experience. It’s simple chemistry: You mix an alcohol fueled and volatile Japanese Punk band with 250 of their alcohol fueled fans, jam them all in a small space, and ignite them with volume. The result is terrifyingly fantastic! At the height of the mayhem bodies were literally flying everywhere… Off the stage... on top of the crowd… and people were hitting the floor face first at an alarming rate as the set got crazier and crazier.
(Point & Shoot by Umlaut)
It’s hard to describe the Guitar Wolf live experience with mere words. I’m sure it's not unlike when World War II vets attempted to convey how combat against the Japanese was on Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima to civilians. Words are simply inadequate to describe the smells, the sweat, the fear, the crushing of bodies, and the volume of close combat with the Japanese. Every song of Guitar Wolf’s set was a Banzai Charge of leather jackets, sweat, and volume that ended up in our foxhole to impale us on its bayonet.
At one point, Seiji brought a dude onstage to play his guitar, which was pretty funny… but the guy could play and looked vaguely familiar; I wondered what band he used to be in... Then during the encore Seiji pulled people onstage to form a human pyramid (!?) which he then tried to climb. It was like he was trying to build a throne of Westerners upon which The Rising Sun could Lock 'N Loll.
How do you say "Human Pyramid" in Japanese? (Photo courtesy of Sensory Abuse)
As the human pyramid shenanigans went on and on, I realized that I was super dehydrated so I pushed my way from the front towards the back. I mistakenly thought the pyramid was as crazy (or as us Orientals say “Clazy”) as it was going to be for the rest of the set… but I was wrong! The human pyramid ended with an onstage brawl between U.G. and Seiji… and the night closed with the band spewing out one more song and leaving the stage… Only then Seiji returned to the stage alone to play solo completely out of tune. This went on for 10 minutes as the crowd thinned out as both band and fans admitted the battle was over; Samurai Seiji finally threw down his guitar and crawled offstage... another city conquered with sweat and volume. Thanks to Sensory Abuse for filling in the details.
Number of Motӧrhead shirts = 3. If you bought one of every Guitar Wolf merch item you would have paid only $15… because they only had 1 (ONE) shirt for sale. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. The best thing about seeing shows at Bottom of the Hill is that I can be home in 10-15 minutes... Lock 'N Loll!
The Road Warriors finally returned home. It's hard to believe Black Cobra have been on tour for most of the past 11 months. In that time, Jason and Rafa have laid waste to Japan, Australia, the U.S. (3x I think), and Europe (including Poland and Hungary I think). Grueling, man. This was my 4th Black Cobra performance since they started this tour / album cycle and it's interesting how all of the touring has affected them. For instance, after 11 months on The Road, Rafa had turned into Cat Stevens...
Joey Acid King > Rafa Black Cat Cobra Stevens > Umlaut
Lions Of Tsavo (Austin, TX):
I knew absolutely nothing about Lions Of Tsavo except that they had been on the last 5 shows of this tour. They had a different vibe compared to other bands I've seen playing in the 3rd slot at shows recently; their songs were solid and they delivered solid. The drummer played with more of a swing rather than simply bashing away... and the guitarist played solos in songs that were not bad at all. The band just seemed like they had more going on than most unknown bands that I've seen recently. After their set I chatted with the bassist and got info about the band; they recently recorded with Umlaut Nation friend Billy Anderson. Hmmm... Yes, I bought their CD too. Footnote: While looking up some info on Lions Of Tsavo I found out they had opened one of the showcases I attended at this year's SXSW in their hometown of Austin. DOH! Sorry I missed you guys back then...
I had heard positive things about Howl from friends who live east of The Rockies, so I paid attention as they took the stage. As Howl started their set I kept trying to figure out the origin of the bass player's weird guitar because it looked like it had been made in wood shop class by a Stoner. I don't mean that in a negative way, but it's just a very odd looking instrument, dude. Anyway, Howl were the most "Metal" band on the bill tonight and they lit up Sunday night pretty nicely. The main guy plays a Dean Flying-V so you know their goal is to be Metal... and they do a good job of it. Yes, they have a female guitarist but that's not even relevant, man. A good guitarist is a good guitarist. Footnote: While looking up some info on Howl I found out they played a showcase at this year's SXSW the day after I left Austin. DOH! Sorry I missed you guys back then...
According to the Umlaut Archives this was the 9th different Bay Area venue that I've seen Black Cobra destroy over the past 4 years. I've ranted about Black Cobra so much in this space that it’s pretty much crossed over into bromance, but what can I say. Black Cobra live are as close to a force of nature as you'll ever experience via a band. It’s been nice watching the lads grow up over the past several years into the fine upstanding men of Rock that they became with the Chronomega album. Umlaut doesn’t have kids, but Black Cobra are sort of like the offspring I never had… They’ve done all the right things to make me proud without even asking… and then they take the family car out and wreck it in the loudest possible way… but they always buy me a beer afterwards. Anyway, dudes, let's hang out soon now that you're home. For the record, Black Cobra closed out their U.S. Tour with this setlist:
Five Daggers
Kay Dur Twenty
Red Tide
Machine
Lightning In His Hand
Omniscient
Sapphire Falcon
Chronosphere
Negative Reversal
Below the Cusp
Glacies En Spiritu
Storm Shadow
It was cool they opened with an old song like 'Five Daggers'... and for those keeping score: 6 songs off Chronomega, 4 from Feathers And Stone, and 2 from Bestial. The End.
I didn't do a merch audit because I was too busy talking to people and forgot. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. When I got back to Casa de Umlaut I discovered I was almost out of milk for cereal... almost.
I didn't think it was possible, but for one magical night it was 1992 in San Francisco again. The city was transported back to a time before the Dotcom Boom brought clueless Hipsters and sky high rents and housing prices to town... a time when S.F.'s music scene was magical and there were at least twice as many venues and warehouse spaces where bands could play. For one magical night it felt like The Scene when I first moved to S.F., when GOOD music and EDGY art intertwined with like-minded people who Umlaut could relate to... a time when I met souls who became some of my dearest friends. Time Travel does exist... sometimes.
I arrived at Varnish early so that I could hang out with Acid King (because 2/3 of the band are like family to me) and also to meet Ufomammut and watch their soundcheck. They were visiting all the way from Italy for the first time and this was 1 of only 2 Stateside shows they were playing. Without geeking out too much, it was an extremely cool scene with poster art on display from the Italian artist collective Malleus (which includes 2 of Ufomammut's members) and Umlaut friends Secret Serpents.
This will definitely go down as one of my favorite nights of the year! So many friends from different eras of my life were in the house; journalist friends, band friends, music scene friends, and some of my best friends. Everyone gathered together with other like minded people for loud music and art appreciation. DJ's Justin and Heather pulled off some amazing transitions in their spins prior to the bands playing... Arthur Brown's 'Fire' into Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow 'Stargazer'... and then playing all of Side 1 of Slayer's South Of Heaven after an obscure Folk Rock song. Brilliant.... AND Dust was also in the mix!
Dust - Hard Attack album!
Their spins definitely set the tone and the mood for the rest of my evening.
According to the Umlaut Archives this was at least my 27th (!) time seeing Acid King dating back to the very beginning in 1993... Amazing.. AND this was only their 2nd hometown show in 3 years. What's up with that? Despite the downsized sound system due to the small space, The King got into an insane GROOVE right away and it was one of those sets where I found myself closing my eyes and getting swept away on their volume wave. The King have been one of those bands who I've followed since Day 1 and it's really cool how their sound and style has developed over the years to become what it is right now. Magic flying carpets do exist... at least this one woven out of volume and weaved by Lori, Joey, and Mark. Wuv you guys! Awww...
Ufomammut had me hooked during their soundcheck... when my first reaction was "Holy fuck... listen to Poia's guitar TONE"... Crushing. Besides dealing volume with their band, Poia (guitar) and Urlo (bass/vox) are also members of the Malleus artist collective whose work was on display. Their presence tonight was a really inspiring combination of their music and graphic art. Despite playing on borrowed equipment, the Italians laid down a road that was paved with volume and my head was immediately immersed in their GROOVE.. and their brand of Doom Metal is simply on another level from other bands in the genre like Sunn O))) IMO. My head was blown, dude.
Ufomammut Soundcheck
Unfortunately, I had to make one of those tough life decisions halfway through Ufomammut's set because I had a ticket for the WAY sold out Mummies reunion show across town at Bottom Of The Hill. I was so torn... but the Mummies are one of my all-time favorite bands.. and as I looked at my watch and it was nearing 11:30pm and friends who were at the Mummies texted me they were about to go onstage, I sucked it up and quickly left the gallery.. with the Italians' volume following me down the street and I imagined volume fingers trying to grab my shoulders and pull me back to their show.. Seriously.
Ufomammut CDs were 2 for only $20 (including a CD / DVD set!)... What a bargain!! On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. Unfortunately, the amazing vibe of the event was tempered by the knowledge that the space Varnish occupies, as well as the entire block of buildings around it, will be demolished by next June to make way for the new Transbay Bus Terminal; the anti-eminent domain protest sign at the gallery's entrance said it all. So much for a revitilization of S.F.'s soul... but for one night all was right in the world on Natoma Street.
I ran 2 red lights on Potrero Avenue after coming off the freeway in my mad dash to get to the Mummies. HOWEVER, I made sure no one was coming in either direction of course... I simply treated the red lights like stop signs. Whew... I feel better admitting that... and about 20 minutes later I was walking into... The Mummies Bottom Of The Hill, San Francisco October 24, 2009
Hell officially froze over on Potrero Hill tonight: The Mummies played again!! Un-be-lievable... For the newbies: The Mummies were a fixture on the S.F. Music Scene in the early-90's and have been one of Umlaut's favorite bands seemingly forever. Last year they played their first shows in 15 years (!) in New York and on a brief European Tour, but they also squeezed in a secret show in Oakland as a warm up... which Umlaut heard about AFTERWARDS. I was beyond bummed.
Fast forward to just over a month ago and I noticed a casual announcement that the Mummies would be headlining this year's Budget Rock Festival in S.F.. DOH!!! Advance tickets to this show sold out literally within hours and they eventually added an early show for this same night down the street at Thee Parkside so the band could simply walk over to Bottom Of The Hill for the late show.
I rolled into Bottom Of The Hill and went straight to the bar... and asked for a water. Amazingly, I had driven across town in time to catch most of The Mummies set and was able to be there for my favorite songs... especially the double shot of 'Stronger Than Dirt' > '(You Must Fight To Live) On The Planet Of The Apes'!! FUN! Amazing!
It was like no time had passed since The Old Dayz and it was trippy seeing Tina from The Trashwomen in the house since they, along with the Mummies, were a band that helped to define the crazy, eclectic nature of the S.F. Music Scene 15-18 years ago. Time flies, man.... time flies. The Mummies sounded great, played great, were damn funny... and damn ROCKING at a level in that loose Garage Rock way that bands today can't seem to fully attain; despite their gimmicky image The Mummies have never seemed forced.. It's always been like they were from another planet (Well.. Daly City... same thing I guess..). I can't understate what a feeling of amazing deja vu I felt all night... From the awesome and engaging evening at Varnish Gallery to seeing the fucking MUMMIES again! Maybe there is hope to save San Franfuckingcisco from the Hipsters after all... Maybe.
Mummies shirts were $15 and came with one of the best hang tags ever. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. After the show I had to sit in the Prius for a minute or so to collect my thoughts and clear my head... I then said a silent prayer to my long departed Festiva, which had served me so well back in The Old Dayz, and then hit the Start button on the Prius here in the 21st Century and headed back to Casa de Umlaut.
It was a busy night in San Franfuckingcisco, with Fu Manchu at the Bottom Of The Hill and Weezer (who reside in Umlaut's "I could give 2 shits about" file) playing a secret free show at The Regency. Anyway, the serious Rockers had already stomped over to:
This was Alice's 1st Bay Area headlining appearance in 7 years; his last time in the area was 2 years ago supporting Heaven And Hell in Concord. Going into the night, I was kind of annoyed and shocked by the number of people whose only reaction was "How old is he??" when I told them I was seeing Alice Cooper. As Timo says, he's ROCK LEGEND Alice Cooper and he should be on everyone's DON'T MISS List. It's not often you can see one of the original Rock Godz, especially one who still has his integrity and talent intact... and you must take advantage of that.
Jetboy were the perfect opener for this show, given their long-running history as a San Francisco band dating back to the 80's. Their solid brand of retro Punk / Glam went over well and, given it was a hometown show, a good percentage of the crowd knew the songs... especially the drunk guy behind us... who shouted slurry approvals at the band before being ejected by security after their set. After the drunk guy was escorted out, a curtain was raised in front of the stage... thus preparing us for the night of Rock Theater (say with an English accent) that was soon to begin:
Nobody knows how to start a show better than Alice Cooper... After the houselights dimmed and the intro tape played, the curtain dropped to reveal Alice and his band on a circus-like stage and they immediately launched into 'School's Out' > 'Department Of Youth' > 'I'm Eighteen'.. WOW. Age doesn't make a difference when it comes to Alice... His shows aren't acts of physical stamina like Iggy Pop, but instead are about theatrical charisma. When you watch Alice you realize what a fucking poser Marilyn Manson and most of the other "shock rockers" are compared to him; he's as much an old school stage actor as he is a Lock 'N Loll front man onstage... and no matter how many times Umlaut sees him it never gets boring... Nobody pulls off this type of Rock showmanship like Alice Cooper and appropriately he's surrounded himself with musicians who complement him perfectly, especially guitarists Damon Johnson and Keri Kelli who both play with that cocky 1970's Arena Rock attitude that's essential to Alice's songs.
This was Rock Theater (say with an English accent) at its best with this show billed and structured as the Theater Of Death. Right off the bat, Alice "murdered" one of his roadies by impaling him on a mic stand, like, 2 or 3 songs into the set! That roadie should call HR and file a complaint... I love how un-PC Alice's performances are.. such as when he sang 'Welcome To My Nightmare' and chased down a zombie bride towards the end of the song... and then sang 'Cold Ethyl' to her corpse. He also "abused" a nurse and then sang 'Only Women Bleed' as she lay at his feet after he had stripped off her uniform and donned her wig and nurse's hat. However, despite the debauchery, there were consequences for Alice, just like in any good morality play. As in proper theater, everything that happened onstage was an act that led into another act and eventually after each "crime" Alice was punished... Punishment was administered by lethal injection:
(Pic by South Bay Bret)
Punishment was administered by guillotine:
(Pic by South Bay Bret)
Punishment also came in the form of being impaled on spikes in a makeshift iron maiden... and punishment was administered by hanging, with the aforementioned abused nurse kicking the bucket out from under Alice's feet:
(Pic by South Bay Bret)
In Alice's world there is darkness and evil, but there's also justice and revenge for his victims. The performance was bookended by the liberating 'School's Out', which both opened the show and also served as the encore. Too high brow? Maybe... Kick ass Lock 'N Loll? COMPLETELY.
The aspect of Alice Cooper that also sets him apart from other "shock rockers" is he has amazing songs! Man, so many great songs... and I dare you to name another Classic Rock song that is as fun to sing along to as 'No More Mr. Nice Guy'.. If I had to choose, 'Ballad Of Dwight Fry' was my favorite of the set (which Alice still sings while bound in a straight jacket), but it's been one of my fave songs since, like, forever so it's kind of a no brainer anyway. Also, what other person Alice's age is singing songs about necrophilia?! I'm just saying...
Flashback: 'Cold Ethyl' educated me about necrophilia when I was around 14-years old.. My best friend at the time (John Lutkenhouse) and I would go into his older brother's room after school (his brother was off serving in the Navy) and we'd listen to his brother's Alice Cooper albums (and also his KISS albums, especially Alive!) over and over. A defining time in Umlaut's worldview... and no one has written a better line than "I've got a baby's brain and a old man's heart"... because I'm perpetually 18... and I like it.
Motörhead shirts = 4 or 5 (including mine). Grown men wearing Alice-style eye makeup: I lost count at 5 or 6. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. This was easily one of the gigs of the year for me... and after 90 minutes and 27 songs I set the Prius on course for:
Fu Manchu Bottom Of The Hill, San Francisco October 21, 2009
Straight from Alice Cooper I jetted across town and walked into the Bottom Of The Hill about 3 or 4 songs into Fu Manchu's set. According to the Umlaut Archives I've seen the band close to 20 times over the past 13 years (!) and whenever I see them it feels like I'm slipping on an old pair of Vans... a comfortable pair of no-nonsense shoes that then to proceed to kick me in the head.. in a good way of course.
After getting a beer I got up to the front and spent the next hour thinking about things as Fu Manchu entertained. It's always interesting pulling a doubleheader gig night, since the vibe of the shows are usually different. While Alice Cooper had the atmosphere of an event, the feeling at the Bottom Of The Hill was one of deja vu for me; been here, done this before... which wasn't a bad thing of course... but at least at The Warfield I didn't have drunk hipster kidz bumping into me and almost spilling my beer.
I was shocked when I remembered that it had been a year and a half since the last time I saw a show at B.O.T.H... which is weird since it used to be THE venue for SO MANY Umlaut shows dating back to 1994. Time flies, man... time flies. Remember when Marilyn Manson played there on his first tour? Or when the Melvins played 2 nights there with Adam of Tool as a guest band member? Me too.
Anyway, I was hearing Fu Manchu's new songs for the first time since their new CD just came out this week... and I have to admit I wasn't really feeling them... but old songs like 'Evil Eye' and 'Mongoose' still remain solid to me... but 'Superbird' was easily my favorite of the set.. "SOLID!" At this point, Fu Manchu are the grizzled veterans who continue to slog it out in the Rock Trenches despite obstacles thrown up in their path, such as a revolving door of record labels and the fickle nature of Music fans... It's cool to see that they're sticking to their guns... and, for the record, I had absolutely no problem with 'Mongoose' being used in a Toyota commercial last year.
Once the set ended I figuratively slipped that old pair of Vans off and I was back here in the 21st Century. Motörhead shirts = 2 (including mine). On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. Let the record show that this was Umlaut's 4th doubleheader gig night of the year; they're not that hard to pull off if you know what you're doing... and all in all this had been a damn good one.
It goes without saying that it's unbelievably sad that it took the death of someone to bring this type of event together. Hopefully the funds that were raised can help Curtis' family in some small way. All the very best to them.
The Old Metal Days were 2 million years ago and so much has happened in my life since then.. but it's amazing how profound and influential that time was (and continues to be) in my life. The Old Metal Days were so innocent and fun; I wondered if I'd be able to enjoy the night without a 21st Century perspective.
Thankfully, I was not a poser.
As soon as I walked into the club it was the San Francisco Metal Scene circa 1982 all over again!! Timewarp A-Go-Go (but in a good way). If you weren't here for the Metal Scene in the early 80's you might not appreciate the magnitude of this show.
This was how I imagine my 20th HS reunion would have been if I'd attended a school where there were no jocks or cheerleaders, only Metalheads. There were so many old friends and acquaintances in the house... I was profoundly overwhelmed. So many people greeted me by name and I didn't remember some of their names (SORRY!). Overwhelming.
The 3 opening sets were a blur to me, between trying to watch the bands and also chat with all of the old friends over the volume. I've known members of all three bands since back in The Day and I suppose that's why it was the cover songs that I got caught up in the most: Mercenery closing with Satan's 'Blades Of Steel'.. Mordred dedicating Holocaust's 'Death or Glory' to Curtis, Sam Kress, and all the other fallen friends. Then Mordred bringing some old friends onstage to romp through Thin Lizzy's 'Johnny The Fox'. It's amazing how music can take you back to a specific moment in time just... like... that.
Anvil Chorus opened with 'The Blade' and 23 years disappeared in a second. I suppose few outside of the Bay Area even know about Anvil Chorus.. They were local Metal legends in the early-80's and they raged with an intricate sound that was ahead of its time in some ways IMO. Unfortunately, they weren't able to put anything out past a 7" and some demos, but the band was always a live experience anyway... and this show (after only 2 rehearsals) did complete justice to that legacy! It's amazing how music can take you back to a specific moment in time just... like... that. They closed with an amazing double shot of 'Blue Flames' > 'Deadly Weapons' that left me in stunned nostalgia for cassette tapes and denim vests.
There are so many old friends who I want to name check here, but there were so many that I'm sure I'd forget someone.. So instead I'll just say CHEERS to you all!! Hope we die before we get old... Although, I will THANK Loren for setting me up with an issue of Metal Mania that I didn't have: Issue #19 (5th Anniversary Issue) from 1987 with a history of Black Sabbath that I have absolutely no memory of writing!
Beer count = 3. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. Meanwhile, back in the 21st Century, Old Metal lives in our hearts.
Anvil Chorus' setlist.. Written on a napkin! (Thanks to Chris J.)
Note For The Newbies:This Anvil Chorus is NOT the Anvil Chorus of which I speak!
Legendary San Francisco Bay Area metal bands ANVIL CHORUS, MORDRED and MERCENARY will team up with AMERICAN HEARTBREAK to perform at a benefit concert for the family of late San Francisco rock musician Curtis Grant (BLACK CHERRY, AMERICAN HEARTBREAK, TOUCH ME HOOKER), who lost his battle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma on March 20. The concert, which will take place on Thursday, April 12 at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, will mark the first ANVIL CHORUS appearance following the return of guitarist Doug Piercy (HEATHEN). MORDRED will perform at the show with its classic demo lineup of Steve Scates (vocals), Jim Sanguetti (guitar), Sven Soderlund (guitar), Art Liboon (bass) and Erik Lannon (drums).
Over the last 20 years, Curtis displayed a wide array of talents, playing in bands that ranged from hardcore punk, to glam rock to metal. Having devoted the last decade towards family life, Curtis had settled comfortably into his role as a father, and was devoting much time to his Native American heritage and community. Donations in his memory may be made to The Friendship House, 56 Julian Ave., San Francisco, CA 94103.
Curtis was a close friend to readers of this space and the benefit concert is being organized by Umlaut friend Old Metal Erik.
For the newbies: This bill is like a timeline of the S.F. Rock / Metal Scene of the early-80's... AMAZING. It's safe to say that this show will be bringing ALOT of the S.F. veterans out of the woodwork. Get there early 'cause I expect it to be packed.
Ludicra / Giant Squid / Black Elk / Grayceon Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco March 10, 2007
Earlier in the day I got the new Arcade Fire CD. I'll cut to the chase and say that it's not close to being the epiphany their debut CD was for me. Before I heard the Funeral CD, I was told to check the band out when they were still playing clubs.. but I blew them off. When I finally heard the Funeral CD I kinda got obsessed with it for a short time, but the tour was over by then. I can now add Arcade Fire to my list of "Bands I Missed The Boat On". Now all the Marina Hipsters are grooving to Arcade Fire and they're booked for 2 nights at the 9,000 seat Greek in Berkeley in June, and I hate going to the Greek... so that boat has sailed.. Bon Voyage!
Unlike my brush with Arcade Fire, I didn't miss the boat with Ludicra. In fact, I'm a bigger fan now than I was 3 years ago. However, one of my ideas of Hell is having to sit through 3 opening bands when I don't want to... Nothing against the other bands, but I just wasn't in the mood for anything non-Death Metal tonight. Also, Bottom of the Hill's typical late start time and 4-band bill really threw a wrench into the surgically precise Rock Night that Timo and I have perfected over the years.
Jello Biafra was in The House supporting Ludicra, the cash cows of Alternative Tentacles. Longtime readers will remember that I have a long history of standing next to Jello at shows around town dating back to 1992. As I stood next to him on this black night, I thought his presence was akin to Steve Perry attending a Classic Rock show in S.F.. When the lights go down in the city, too drunk to fuck.
Ludicra delivered the goods as expected, but it's scary to think how destructive they would be if they played and toured more regularly. Perhaps that's best, since the world probably couldn't handle such a horrifyingly perfect display of Metal Fury.
Pentagram (the band) shirts = 1. If you bought one of every Ludicra merch item you would have paid $110; all Ludicra merch was a mere $10. . On the way back to the car, some pimply faced teenagers called us fags. If I need an alibi for a crime I didn't commit on this night, you can verify my attendance with either Timo, Ray, Loren, Mike, or Max.
The Sword Slim's, San Francisco March 13, 2007
Unlike my brush with Arcade Fire, I didn't miss the boat with The Sword. Yes, I blew off their debut visit to S.F. because I thought they were simply pretenders, but I was subsequently proven wrong by the time they returned. The Sword also ingratiated themselves to my Rock sensibilities by proving they are truly old style Road Dogs. They've been touring almost non-stop since last February when their debut album came out; this was their 4th time through S.F. on this tour and their 3rd stop at Slim's in less than a year.
However, I must shake my finger at Slim's for using the same layout for this show's flyer as they did for the show 8 months ago:
Not very imaginative, Slim's.
When I saw The Sword for the first time 8 months ago they were decent but still unpolished rookie Rock Stars; when the drummer broke his bass drum pedal the band looked like they wanted to go home and hide. This time around they were a seasoned Rock N' Roll Machine onstage; it was cool to see the improvement and remember that road work was the way bands used to do it before the Information Superhighway made bands and fans lazy.
I don't use the word "bludgeoning" very often anymore, but I'll drop that adjective now. The version of 'Freya' was particularly satisfying and if the entire set had been a meal it would have been massive slabs of meat on spits roasting over huge open flames washed down with The Kingdom's finest wine served from giant flagons by lusty buxom wenches.
The lads also played a couple of new songs and if they had been a meal they would have been the meat from a freshly hunted beast that had been tracked through an unnaturally harsh snowstorm conjured by a renegade wizard. It would be your first meal since you began your quest to vanquish the wizard, he who killed your father and subjugated your kin.
That being said, I was a bit disappointed to see that J.D. has ditched his red BC Rich Mockingbird for a red Les Paul, which improves his tone but doesn't look as cool.
Dude, The Sword's first encore was a cover of ZZ Top's 'Nasty Dogs And Funky Kings'! Yeah, yeah, I'm fully aware the Melvins covered 'Nasty Dogs' over a decade ago for the Amphetamine Reptile Melvins 7" Single of the Month Club (Music Geek Note: 'Nasty Dogs' appeared on Single #11... clear vinyl...), but since The Sword are from Texas I'll give them the points here in the 21st Century.
Iron Maiden shirts = 1. If you bought one of every Sword merch item you would have paid just over $100; t-shirts were a mere $10. . On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. If I need an alibi for a crime I didn't commit on this night, you can verify my attendance with either Timo, Johnny, or Any.
It's been awhile since I drank a PBR at a show featuring a 100% local bill. It's difficult for Umlaut to write about Acid King since 2/3 of the band are like family. I've had more beers, barbecues, and guacamole with Acid King than I have with any other band... and their shows are such friend magnets that they're more social events than gigs for me. Awww.
Over the past 12 years I've seen AK everywhere from S.F. warehouses to the legendary stage of The Troubadour in L.A... and watched them share the bill with the likes of Fear, Sleep, Corrosion of Conformity, The Obsessed, the Melvins, and Fu Manchu.. but I'm not exaggerating when I say that tonight was THE BEST wall of sound I've ever experienced them throw into my face. They were completely dialed into whatever Satanic magic they channel. I am not kidding.
I Was A Teenage Acid King Roadie - From Umlaut #10 (Fall 1994) [click on each image for PDF file]
Get this: Two German Acid King fans were vacationing in the States and found out they were playing. The dudes drove from The Badlands (SOUTH DAKOTA) to San Francisco in order to see the show. I hope they at least got free t-shirts or had Lori sign their chests.
Slough Feg have been around S.F. forever... 13 years ago Umlaut was a xeroxed fanzine... The guy who played bass for Slough Feg at the time was manager at a now-defunct comic store on Haight St.. The guy was also a BIG Umlaut supporter and always featured it in the store's Zine section. That was a long time ago... Now Umlaut is "elektronik" and I can't remember that guy's name, but Slough Feg are still around. If they had been around 20 years ago they'd be packing 'em in at The Stone. Feg Maiden.
Best Quote: Dave to Umlaut - "You have the best shirt of anyone here..." (Iron Maiden > Powerslave)
Venom shirts = 1. If you had bought one of every Acid King merch item you would have spent around $40. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. To get home from Bottom of the Hill, all Umlaut has to do is go RIGHT > LEFT > RIGHT > DRIVE > MERGE > DRIVE > RIGHT > LEFT > RIGHT > RIGHT > RIGHT > PARK.
