Southern Ultraviolet

Kylesa / Blood Ceremony / White Hills

Slim's, San Francisco

May 25, 2013

Oddly, it's been 2 years since I last saw Kylesa.  Their last scheduled S.F. show in 2011 didn't happen when the tour was cancelled due to an illness in the band's family.  Prior to the show I stopped at the most awesome Cathead's BBQ for fuel.  It's basically around the corner and I would urge the Umlaut Nation to check it out since it's a better culinary option than DNA Pizza (Sorry DNA..).  Then me, myself, and I made our way over to Will Call and slipped into Slim's as White Hills were playing.

I was torn about White Hills because on one hand I liked their fuzzy, stoner tone but it seemed to lack *something*.  In the end I'll give them a thumbs up because their onstage energy was good.  I won't waste too much of your time giving my .02 cents about Blood Ceremony.   I've seen them before but I couldn't remember why I didn't like them... until I saw the flute onstage.  Flutes are not Metal and having a flute solo in pretty much every song made me feel extremely homicidal towards all woodwind instruments.  One time at band camp...  Anyway.

As I said earlier, it's been awhile since I last saw Kylesa and the fanboy energy seems to have gotten really awkward now.  In between bands a couple of complete hipster dorks (I'm not judging... I'm just calling it as I see it..) debated each other about society's "war on women".  I guess it's O.K. to major in Women's Studies if you're a dude.  If it helps you talk to girls then more power to you, kids.  I almost wanted to ask their thoughts about how cool it is that Laura of Kylesa plays a Les Paul Gold Top and Tobacco Sunburst just like fellow Southern guitar great Duane Allman... but I didn't.

Kylesa continue to successfully mine that fertile Southern groove of their homeland and combine it with some of the best elements that Prog Rock and Metal inspires.  It's a diverse sonic hammer with a healthy side of collard greens and weed.  The band's new album isn't officially out in the U.S. until next week but the new material seeded nicely with the older songs.  The new songs like 'Exhale' seem more aggressive on the percussion side and it effectively drives Kylesa's Prog side to a harder high road.  I need to really sink into the new album Ultraviolet now that I have it.  'Unknown Awareness' is the lynchpin in a Kylesa set for me and when it was unfurled in all of its complex sonic glory the rest of the crowd seemed to agree with me.

Maybe it was a combination of the more profound fanboy contingent and the appeal of the band's current Prog Rock elements, but the pit action tonight was, while definitely energetic, also very comical.  I'm not judging... I'm just calling it as I see it.  There was Hopping Guy.  There was Killing Joke Tour T-Shirt Guy who knew the words to every song and punched the air as he sang along.  There was Girl Wearing Bullet Belt dancing like she was at a Grateful Dead show.  There was Hipster Sunglasses Guy who held his hands together and swung them around like he was playing golf.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that it wasn't a SLAAAYEER pit... but that's alright.

Number of times I was recognized because of the recent Decibel magazine feature = 2 (Thanks, guys!).  If you bought one of every Kylesa merch item you would have paid around $250 I think. They had a lot of merch including a sweet tour-only speckled purple vinyl of the new album for only $20.  On the way back to car, some pimply faced teenagers called me a fag.  I'm typing this as I enjoy some Sunday morning coffee listening to the new Kylesa album and some Allman Brothers.  If you can't comprehend the musical connection then your record collection needs some work... Just saying.

Clear Windowpane

Metalliance Tour
Helmet / Saint Vitus / Crowbar / Kylesa / Red Fang
Mezzanine, San Francisco
April 3, 2011


Umlaut has been on hiatus from Metal shows for the past month or so; I had hit a wall and nothing with volume was engaging me at all. Even this bill, which included 2 of my favorite bands (Saint Vitus and Kylesa) didn't light a fire under me until literally the morning of the show. I'm old and jaded... but sometimes The Rock Godz work in mysterious ways and by the end of this night I was at one with the volume again.

The Mezzanine is a weird 1,000 capacity venue located in an alley and it's basically a concrete dance club with a decent size stage shoved in a corner. However, despite its appearance, the sound was surprisingly clear and loud... so kudos to the venue's owner and staff... Although it was weird being at a Metal show where the security staff wore suits.

Man, no offense to anyone involved with this tour, but 7 band bills are ridiculous... Timo and I rolled into the Mezzanine late and missed the first 2 bands (apologies to Atlas Month and Howl). I'm old and jaded and simply can't sit through more than a couple of support bands; quality over quantity. Sorry.. Just being honest.

Red Fang: The band from Portland were already onstage when we arrived... and they were good in that meat 'n potatoes Rock way that I'm a sucker for... However, the band cranked things up a huge notch by bringing Wino onstage to sing vocals on a GREAT cover of ‘Suicide’ by Dust. WOAH!!

Wino with Red Fang
(Photo courtesy of Sensory Abuse)

Pretty fucking cool... and after that they played one more song... I finished a beer... and then it was time for…

Kylesa: I said earlier how I've been burned out on seeing bands recently... and it's always interesting that whenever I get to this low point ('cause I'm old), I eventually see a band that kicks me in the ass and brings me back to center. Tonight was around the 6th time I've seen Kylesa and it was probably the best. Their performance was so focused and seamless from the past 6 months of touring..

(Photo courtesy of Sensory Abuse)

I like how the keyboards and theramin are used subtlety and nicely integrated into their live sound, but neither are gratuitous. At this moment in time, Kylesa weaves a volume journey that few bands are capable of presenting effectively live. They are as much a fuzzed out Pink Floyd as an ambient Black Sabbath. It takes a lot to inspire me to buy a band’s merch these days… but there I was at Kylesa’s merch table after their set.

Crowbar: The anticipation in the crowd before Crowbar's set was palpable... although I have to say I've always been more of a Down fan. A lot of dudes were channeling their Inner Pantera down front during Crowbar's set... and the Lousiana Sludge sounded pretty good... but during their set I found myself holding a beer and talking to Jason of Black Cobra back by the soundboard. Just being honest… and Dave Chandler of Saint Vitus was at the bar as well.

Saint Vitus: Umlaut was fortunate to have seen the mighty Vitus 3x last year, with 2 of those shows being the closest thing to religious experiences that I'll ever let myself have... and I was completely awestruck when I had the same experience all over again tonight. It spoke volumes about what Vitus are about that, as the opening bands played, Dave Chandler was casually hanging out at the bar and Wino killed time at the merch table and also just hung out chatting with fans on the main floor. Old School approachable.

'Living Backwards' > 'I Bleed Black' opened the set and the clouds parted and the sunshine of volume enlightenment seared into my brain. The look on Wino's face when he's onstage is like watching a soul whose voice isn't bound by time or mortality.. and, when combined with the holy thunder of Chandler's TONE and the mighty bottom end anchored by Adams and drummer Henry Vasquez, the stage becomes a church for me. I don't say that lightly... because I'm a jaded mofo... but it's hard to describe the feeling of having my mind cleaned and my eyes cleared so quickly and profoundly after having spent the past month being bored with everything. Sacred stuff, man.

(Photo courtesy of Sensory Abuse)

When 'Clear Windowpane' started, the lyrics reminded me just how *off* I'd been feeling recently because of my concert inactivity. I'm still going to stick to my "quality over quantity" mantra for seeing bands... but the most important thing is my head is back into the volume again. It's always weird when you're not feeling yourself... but now I am again.

During the break before they played 'White Stallions', Wino handed his bottle of Jack to a guy in the crowd. Once the song started the empty bottle ended up back on the stage... where it proceeded to bounce around on the vibrating stage caused by Vitus' volume! The bottle was joined by some empty beer cans in a bizarre version of the Saint Vitus Dance. WOW.. Even more ironic was that the band were playing 'Dying Inside' as this macabre liquor dance was going on. “Drinking has wasted my life.. and I’m dying inside..”

Note: The cans were vibrating and are not out of focus! Saint Fucking Vitus!!

Besides The Hits, Vitus also played a new song (evidently titled 'Blessed Night') that showed the band's reunion is fueled by something more than nostalgia or a paycheck. Seeing Vitus play their new music was like watching a band reborn. Take it from an Old Fart like me, age is only a number and "getting old" has more to do with your attitude.

Unfortunately, a package tour like this meant Vitus had an abbreviated set time... and their short volume sermon closed with 'Born Too Late' that ended with Wino stage diving and Chandler jumping off the stage to deliver one final devotional volume blast with his SG to the audience up close and personal. AMEN!! After all of that, Wino was hanging out in the crowd chatting with fans again literally 5 minutes after leaving the stage. Wino... Saint Vitus... The real fucking deal.

I Bleed Black: Wino > Wino's BÖC Tattoo > Umlaut
(Photo courtesy of Photo Ray)

Helmet: As this tour’s admat said, Helmet are playing the entire Meantime album on this tour. According to the Umlaut Archives, I saw Helmet 4x on the Meantime Tour in 1992-93.

Meantime Tour - 1992
(From the Umlaut Archives)

However, as good of an album as Meantime was back then, I COMPLETELY burned out on it... and I wondered how hearing the entire album live would hold up for me here in the 21st Century. Well, I guess I’ll never know… The 21st Century version of Helmet (Page Hamilton, his pink ESP, and some guys) took the stage at around midnight. Unfortunately, since it was a school night, I lasted 1 1/4 songs because instead of launching straight into Meantime they opened with songs I didn’t know… and suddenly it was 1993 again but not necessarily in a good way. I’m so glad I didn’t get a tribal tattoo back then! Anyway, it was late and after Saint Vitus I didn’t need anything else except sleep.. so we bailed. In the meantime: THANKS to Steve for getting me sorted for the show!

I didn’t do a merch audit, but there were an unusual number of Death Angel shirts in the crowd tonight. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. The next morning I was still buzzing from Kylesa and Vitus and Kylesa's merch girl Tweeted: "So Wino cold knocked a dude out last night." Saint Vitus... Wino... the real fucking deal.

Click HERE to see Photo Ray's shots from the night!

All Killer No Filler

High On Fire / Torche / Kylesa
Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
September 29, 2010

We got kind of a late start and I was stressing that I'd miss Kylesa because, to be honest, they were the band I most wanted to see tonight. However, The Rock Godz work in mysterious ways and I scored a docking station for the Prius only a block away from the venue. After that it was a quick walk to Will Call... my pass was waiting as promised.. and we walked inside literally at the same time as Kylesa were coming onstage. Brilliant.

KYLESA: This show marked the 4th time I've seen these Southern Rockers and I like them more and more every time. Yeah, they've got a good bit of the "Mastodon thing" going on but they are one of those bands who utilize 2 drummers in an effective way that taps into a tribal vibe rather than a self-indulgent pose. Their use of percussion echos the primal tribal energy that Neurosis perfected and passed down. It's all about dynamics and Kylesa hook me every time with their combo of tribal meets Prog Rock... and 'Unknown Awareness' was particularly epic during the set. It was also cool to see the Great American nicely crowded and enthusiastic for their opening set. I was expecting to pick up the new Kylesa CD at the merch table but... it's not out for another MONTH. Rookie mistake... Kylesa are one of the few bands who make me want to buy a shirt after their set... but I didn't...'cause I have too many band tees already... but I bought one in spirit.

TORCHE: I've haven't paid very much attention to Torche before tonight despite the band's Florida connection to Black Cobra (For the newbies: A former member of Torche was in the band Cavity with Jason Black Cobra..). I liked their set... and I liked it more as they ran through it. However, I am confused why they're called "Metal" because they have more Punk going on in their sound than Metal; there was more melody than heaviness in play most of the time. Yeah, alot of Hipsters seem to dig Torche... but I bought their new CD at the merch table anyway. They were solid and that's all that really matters to me. Trivia: Torche are one of James Hetfield's favorite new bands. True.

HIGH ON FIRE: Only around 2 weeks ago Matt was reunited onstage with Sleep just down the street at The Regency. Now that his Summer of Nostalgia is over it was back to his day job with High On Fire. Tonight was the 3rd time in 3 cities in 2 states in 6 months that I'd seen High On Fire since the release of their latest and greatest album Snakes For The Divine... and it's always interesting to follow a band through their new album and tour cycle as the new songs go from fresh new statements to seasoned war hammers. After thundering onto the sweaty stage with 'Turk' the next 20 minutes or so was like standing in front of a herd of muskoxen on the tundra as they trampled me into human spaghetti... High On Fire's hooves of volume flattened me under the massive weight of 'Frost Hammer' > 'Blessed Black Wings' (!) > 'Waste Of Tiamat' played back to back to back... Thunder rumble destroy... The band sounded so HUGE and the next day I learned they have a new sound guy on this tour who obviously knows how to dial in the band's sound to terrifying effect. That opening sequence was so crushing and only 'Bastard Samurai' a bit later in the set matched it for me.

I've seen High On Fire so many times (well into double digits) that I always assume I know what to expect when I see them now. However, I usually leave their shows feeling like I've just seen them again for the first time in some way. Matt and his First Act 9-string is the obvious focal point of the band... and in Jeff the band finally found a bass player who fit their steamroller action perfectly... but tonight I found myself focusing on how Des on drums is the dominant supernatural force in High On Fire. It's now 10 years gone since High On Fire first became part of my record collection, and tonight Des' old school pounding behind the other guys was the aspect of High On Fire that I appreciated as if for the first time... an epiphany all over again. Having a band still being able to engage me on that level is reassuring... like a warm blanket of volume.

This was a rare all killer, no filler bill for Umlaut and was the first show of this tour... On top of it being sold out sweaty packed, the night had the local vibe given the hometown headliners and with members of Saviours and Black Cobra in the house for me to chat with... During Kylesa's set I was down front and noticed Jello Biafra was standing next to me wearing a leather trench coat... even though it was almost 70 degrees outside and even warmer where we were standing. Is that Punk Rock?? If so, I just thought it was silly...

Trivia: High On Fire's current All Access tour laminate has the Big Top Pee Wee art on it.. HAHA!

I didn't do a merch audit... but it's always nice seeing bands selling their shirts for a reasonable $15. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Upon my return to Casa de Umlaut I realized I didn't have shit for food.....

This Week In Music Geek

This might be the most beautiful thing Umlaut has seen all year by one of my favorite bands:

KYLESA STATIC TENSIONS WOODEN BOX SET 2XLP



The Kylesa “Static Tensions” Wooden Box Set contains the following:

• Solid wood box made of pine and birch, with silkscreened cover artwork
• Screenprinted 12×24 wrap around cover on metallic purple paper
• Turntable slipmat with cover artwork
• Full color A2 sized poster of album artwork
• 8 page full LP sized booklet of lyrics and art
• Sticker
• 2xLP, 45 R.P.M. vinyl version of Static Tensions on exclusive “Purple Haze” colored vinyl
• All boxes individually hand-numbered 1-150

Although the run is 150 copies, only 115 copies are being sold via the 20BuckSpin website. Oh, here's a video of Laura of Kylesa talking about this Music Geek's wet dream... although the German interviewer is a LOSER ("I'm actually not a vinyl collector..")..



YES! Umlaut scored a copy... Now I just have to wait and see what number copy I get in the sequence. The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth! This message was posted on the 20 Buck Spin site later in the day:

Kylesa Box Sets Gone
December 10, 2009

Unbelievable. You maniacs cleaned us out in 30 minutes!
Now please bear with us as we sort through this madness.
Thanks to all who ordered for your support of Kylesa and 20 Buck Spin.

800 Miles To Hell And Back

Kylesa / Bison b.c. / Landmine Marathon
Chasers, Scottsdale, Arizona
September 29, 2009

On the road again...

It seemed like it had been MUCH longer, but only 41 days had passed since back in August when Umlaut was scorched, blackened, burned, and left for dead by Landmine Marathon. Since then, the band's 2nd album (Rusted Eyes Awake) has been reissued by Prosthetic Records and they completed recording a new album that's slated for release on the label early next year.

Since that S.F. visit, Umlaut has struck up a friendship with Landmine and it only seemed *right* that I make a pilgrimage to their desert homeland to see them. Also, given the fact that the band is on the cusp of taking things to the next level, I thought it would be cool to bond with a band who weren't local and follow them on their march to glory. Joining me on this Metal adventure was Photo Ray.

The night before leaving for The Grand Canyon State, I consulted The Weather Channel app on my iPhone to see what Hell to expect in the desert: "Near record high temperatures. High near 105 F." However, in reality the temperature when we arrived was only a balmy 101 F... BUT we arrived on the day that a new Arizona state law went into effect that allows citizens to carry concealed firearms in bars and restaurants (with a permit of course). Our hotel was right out of No Country For Old Men and, since this was my first visit to Arizona, I hoped I wouldn't be pulling a bullet out of my leg in bloody bath water later that night.

Anyway, after getting jacked around by the GPS directions, we arrived at the venue to find a charming space nestled in a strip mall with a liquor store conveniently located right next door. Photo Ray and I agreed that we've become jaded from going to Metal shows in S.F. all our lives, where these days clueless tattooed hipsters show up simply because it's something to do and jaded old Metalheads show up to complain (guilty!). The Phoenix Metal scene felt like the S.F. Scene, only without the hipsters and the jaded; seeing a Metal show in a different city can put everything back into perspective. We were also bemused that while a club in the Arizona desert like Chasers maintained a comfortable temperature and good ventilation inside, certain venues in S.F. and its mild climate make their patrons suffer through sweat box conditions. Trivia: Evidently Neurosis played at Chasers in 1997 and someone was stabbed in the parking lot. Metal.

Soon after arriving we met up with the lady and lads of Landmine Marathon and shot the shit over drinks as the first band played. Even after all these years and following all those bands, I still get caught up when I first get into a band and their music. I still tend to put bands on a pedestal in my head and think of them as larger than life to a certain extent... so when I eventually meet the band I'm sometimes still surprised that they're just regular people. Yes, I suppose it's childlike, but part of being Umlaut is existing in a retarded state of adulthood... Anyway, long rant short, it was really cool to hang with Landmine before their set. They seemed shocked that Photo Ray and I had traveled from The Golden Gate Bridge to see them... but why wouldn't we? When The Rock Godz give you a task you must complete it. Hope I die before I get old.

Anyway, as I said back in August, Landmine simply detonate onstage; it's literally like watching a switch being flipped as the first note of a song is hit. Their cauldron of volume is bolted down solid by Matt (bass) and Mike (drums) with the firestorm around it created by the twin Jackson onslaught of Ryan and Dylan; I can't understate how magnificent this unit is and how confident their volume comes across... and igniting all of it is Grace with her vocals and chaos. Landmine onstage are a force of nature as Grace throws herself around the stage, into the crowd, and back onstage like she's a puppet on the strings of the band's volume.

The Mistress Of Puppets onstage in Scottsdale
(Pic by Photo Ray)

Landmine are genuine and remind me what Metal in its purest uncut form can be like... No bullshit.. No pose... Just Metal. My only concern is that due to the glut of crap Metal bands these days, the fact that Landmine are the real deal might get lost amongst the sea of crap that's out there. Not if Umlaut can help it.

Landmine's set included 4 new songs from the recently recorded new album... and the new material was full-on flame thrower stuff and it was cool how the band threw themselves into the new songs as if they'd been been playing them for years. That being said, my favorite of the set was their early classic 'Crisscross Thoughts', which has been coming up on Umlaut's iPod on shuffle unusually often recently.... Odd... or is it? Discuss amongst yourselves.


I've been through the desert on a horse with no name... but if that horse had a name it would be Landmine Marathon... 'cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain... or something like that.


How's THAT for random!? Sorry... It just popped into my head as I was typing. I can't explain it. Metal? No.. but I like the song. Anyway...

I'd seen Bison b.c. almost a year ago when they supported The Sword in S.F... but since we had barely eaten anything all day Photo Ray and I skipped out to find food. Unfortunately our options were very limited, but we did find "food"... although it was basically the equivalent of eating lead paint peeled off a wall and served on a bun. It wasn't the dinner I had been hoping for... but it did the job and we felt okay having drinks again once we returned to the club.

Another thing that made this trip worthwhile was seeing Kylesa since I wouldn't be able to see their S.F. show in a couple of days. Kylesa has become one of my favorite bands since I saw them with Mastodon back in April, which is funny since I had dismissed them 2 years ago. Their set was fucking great and featured a performance of their latest Static Tensions album in its entirety. It was obvious the band has been on the road for months and months; they were tight, self-aware, and confident.. like seasoned soldiers. The band's Prog elements managed to transcend the club's limited sound system and, as Photo Ray noted during the set, no matter what city or state you're in there's always some dude in a Pantera shirt trying to start a pit. However, the really mindblowing moment of Kylesa's set was when they encored with an awesome version of the vintage Pink Floyd song 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun'... HOLY SHIT! I was floored and then bummed that I wouldn't be able to see the band again on this leg of their tour.

As the dust settled and the club was clearing out, Landmine did a fun photo shoot with Photo Ray out back next to their styling van... and we also witnessed "The Grace Phenomenon" first hand. Fascinating.. THANKS to Team Landmine (Matt, Ryan, Grace, Mike, and Dylan) for the hospitality and Metal.. Twas a really fucking good time.. See y'all again soon!

The next afternoon Photo Ray and I killed time before our flight at the British Open Pub where we fought off a 45 minute block of Bon Jovi on the jukebox with pints. We were halfway there, living on a prayer.... wanted... dead or alive. On the way back to San Franfuckingcisco, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. This post is rushed... but I have to be on a plane again in about 7 hours. Umlaut is headed out for more adventures at the behest of The Rock Godz. No rest for the wicked, man.... no rest.

South Of Heaven

Click HERE for the exciting sequel: 800 Miles To Hell And Back REDUX!

Pleistocene Rock Revisited

Almost 4 years ago to the day, Umlaut and Mastodon were both HERE..

Mastodon / Kylesa
Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
April 19, 2009

According to the Umlaut Archives, this was the 6th time I've seen Mastodon, but I have to admit that my fandom probably spiked back in 2005 with the Leviathan album. In the meantime, Mastodon has built a solid fanbase and this show sold out a month in advance. Impressive.

There was some last minute ticket drama that found me holding 2 extras, but it was nothing some text messages couldn't solve.. THANKS to Alan and HRC for helping me find worthy takers. Better feast than famine, right?

Umlaut is of the opinion that as good as Mastodon have been, they initially copped alot of their riffs and style from Neurosis.. However, there doesn't appear to be any hard feelings since Scott Kelly has appeared on the last 3 Mastodon albums.. and Dave Ed was at the show tonight. Yet, it's another example of that timeless Lock 'N Loll irony of the band who copies being more popular than the original. I just hope Mastodon says a prayer to Steve von Till's beard before they go onstage this Summer opening for Metallica in Europe.

In a scenario that was eerily similar to last week, Mastodon performed their new album Crack The Skye in its entirety. I had been listening to the new album for the past month, but it just wasn't clicking for me... However, on the morning of the show I put it on over Sunday morning coffee... and... the new songs finally clicked with my brain. Weird. I then listened to it 2x more over the course of the day to get my head around it a bit more. Evidently the story that Crack The Skye tells involves astral travel, wormholes, and Rasputin......... Well, okay then!

Whether the story translated to the live stage or not is a subject to debate, but this was easily the best Mastodon set that I've seen in 4 years and the use of a fancy LED video screen behind them took their presentation to another level.. The band was much more focused while playing the new material then I think I've ever seen them before... and the encore set of older material put the new songs in perspective and acted as a thunderous conclusion to a pretty epic performance. However, they didn't play 'Blood And Thunder'.. which I thought was odd since it's the closest thing to a "hit" Mastodon has had to date. Oh well.

Trivia: The visual presentation for Mastodon's show was designed by Josh Graham... who is the full time visual artist for... Neurosis. Remember what I said earlier about Mastodon "borrowing" from Neurosis? I'm just saying...

It was the hottest day of the year in S.F. so far... which meant it was a fucking sweatbox inside the Great American.. There was also an unusual amount of sweaty Bay Area Metal Royalty in the venue tonight including Jason of Black Cobra, Dave of Neurosis, Matt of High On Fire, 2/3 of Totimoshi, Rob of Machine Head, 1/2 of Metallica, and 107.7 The Bone Metal Zone DJ Nikki Black (who I finally introduced myself to; I had sent her a buncha Metal swag last year..). You don't see that much Metal talent all in one place very often.. Oh, and Jello was there too; he's now been stalking me at 6 of the 18 shows I've been to this year so far. Here we go again.

However, as good as Mastodon were, Kylesa made the show for me; I fucking loved them! Normally 2 drummers onstage would irritate me, but Kylesa utilizes this band configuration (2 dummers, 2 guitarist, bass) to create a heavy Tribal Metal Groove thing rather than the generic riffs that most other Metal bands generate these days. I started typing this rant after I got home.. It was after midnight and I cranked the latest Kylesa CD that I bought at the show.. It was 78 degrees inside Casa de Umlaut due to the heatwave and Buggers The Kittie played with the cellophane wrap from the CD as I got sucked into Kylesa's volume all over again. Unexpected magic is the best kind. Ironically, 2 years ago I had a different reaction to the band. Hmmm.

It's always nice to attend a show where you know that if you got into a fistfight there would be people who have your back.. so a shout out to Ray, Old Metal Tim (not to be confused with Timo), Jason, Alan, and HRC.

I was crazy from the heat and wasn't in the mood to do a merch audit, but Kylesa only charged $20 for a shirt AND a CD! Unexpected bargains are the best kind. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. THANKS to Old Metal Tim for letting me skate into the show as his +1... For The Newbies, some history:

Old Metal Tim with Mr. Kilmister - 1986

The Claw

The Hidden Hand / Kylesa / Ludicra
12 Galaxies, San Francisco
February 3, 2007

The year is less than 40 days old and I'm already hard pressed to imagine a show blowing me away like this one did anytime soon. Last year Celtic Frost stood out as the show that left me completely gobsmacked.. I'm not exaggerating when I say I left this show with that same feeling of elation. While walking the bar time streets of The Mission after the gig I was happy to be alive.

Ludicra delivered a headline-quality set that left me stunned. I've seen them several times in the past and loved 'em, but tonight they seemed to have a fire lit under them. Their dark powers were hypnotic.

Ludicra are the type of band I would have been fanatical about back in 1984 during the height of my Old Metal Days.. Not because of the type of Metal they play, but because of the type of band they are: Focused on musicianship, songwriting that is epic, napalm smooth dual guitars, thunder on the tundra rhythm section, fire 'n ice vocals. A dark wall of sound that washes over you. Inspiring.

Ludicra is charismatic in that classic Black Metal way, but they don't do the Black Metal scowl thing 24/7 (yayy!)... After delivering a Lungs of Hell vocal performance, Laurie jokingly asked if anyone knew of a good local mechanic in between songs; I laughed. Maybe you had to have been there, but I bet you would have laughed too. I love having a local Metal band that I can support as if I was 19-years old again. I give Ludicra "The Claw" with much respect!!

Hmmm... Kylesa or hang out in front of the club talking with friends... Kylesa and their, uh, TWO drummers or hang out in front of the club talking with friends... Hmm. Bands with two drummers usually cause me to hear Spinal Tap dialogue in my head:

"Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?"

[pause]

"These go to eleven.."

If you don't know Wino, Saint Vitus, or The Obsessed get off the computer right now and visit your local indie record store. RIGHT NOW!

OzzFest cabin boy Zakk Wylde is a Hot Topic mall version of Wino. More heavy underground music has been inspired by Wino's fingers than can be calculated... but he'll never get the props he deserves. He's one of those musicians who'll always be in the shadows as the bands that he influenced get the glory. However, seeing Wino's pair of road-weary Les Pauls sitting onstage was symbolic that glory is fleeting. Wino's in it for the war, not the battles.

The look on Wino's face when he's onstage says it all; it's not often that you see a musician with that intense of a game face... and when he shoves his Les Paul into overdrive for a solo it's like watching something solid slamming into something fragile; the roar of something breaking. Inspiring. Combine that with Wino's distinctive vocals and it's impossible for me to take most other bands seriously. Heart. Soul. Volume.

The other 2/3 of The Hidden Hand are solid and they forge a mighty power trio with Wino; the brand new CD (The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote) is probably the best Heavy Stomp N' Roll release I'll hear all year. I give The Hidden Hand "The Claw" with much respect!!

I didn't do a merch tally 'cause I was yakkin' with folks in between bands, but I dropped $25. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. This gig was a mere $10, which wouldn't even cover the Ticketbastard service charge on one OzzFest ticket to see Cabin Boy Zakk.