Pentagram, Hull, Bezoar, Judas Priestess @ Europa, Jan 6th, 2011

Pentagram are gods. This much is a given. They're just one of those unfukwittable things in life. Like loudly farting in a crowded library or beer for breakfast, they're always the right choice. More on them later though.

So I haven't been to many shows lately, one here or there, but hardly the number I was hitting 6 months ago. Anyways, many moons ago, my buddy Tyler of Bezoar/the Levee fame told me that he was opening up for Pentagram at Europa in January. I, of course, was fucking stoked for him because Bezoar is one of the best bands around Brooklyn right now and they totally fit that bill. On top of that, he mentioned that perennial favorites and excellent all around dudes Hull would also be on the bill. A fucking success before it even starts.

So I showed up nice and early to catch Bezoars set. Well. Fucking. Worth it. Everytime I see that band they get just a little weirder, just a little heavier, and just a little better. Straight stonerdoom morons, maybe sit this one out. This band involves though, and the ability to deal with a solo and some psyche. Now for the rest of us who can handle big boy/girl music, get this fucking album and see them live. Sarah's vox are eerie and evil as fuck, Tyler has some of the best tone in the city, and the new drummer Justin(?) totally gave the band new life. He's fucking heavy. 'Nuff Said.

Next on was Judas Priestess. They're good. They cover Judas Priest and they're all ladies. I'm sure plenny has been written about them elsewhere so I'm gonna move on.

After that, Hull. This band will be remembered in the future. Mark my fucking words people. They're one of the few bands out there tight enough to exist as a 5 piece with 5 singers and 3 guitars, claim having an awful night, and still have the entire audience raving like fucking lunatics at the end of their set. Fuck it, they're heavy enough to blow the power out of my old house, they're heavy enough to blow your fucking mind. Got it? Good. Go see Hull. Now. Asap. Stat.

Finally, Pentagram. Now, despite the fact that I truly believe in the unholy, unquestionable power of this band, I've seen them not at their best in the past. Every once in a while the sound just isn't up to par, the crowds fucking lame, Bobby's nodding off in a smack induced haze, etc. Whatever the excuse, they're not 100% reliable live.

This was not one of those shows. Easily the best I've ever seen them. Europa was a perfect fit for the crowd, the band, the vibe, just everything. Not too big or small, the sound was absolutely fucking killer, and they were tighter than a nun's cunt. Their tone was dialed, their set was on fucking point hitting a good mix of old and new, and Bobby was a fucking wildman. Now that shit, was a blast. If you missed em then, find them soon.

Buzzov*en @ Public Assembly. Sept. 30th, 2010

The crowd did the masters no justice. How people can stand still in the face of that kind of fury is fucking beyond me. We are unworthy of the gifts we were given.

Fuck that was a good show.

Weedeater, Black Tusk, Gates of Slumber, and Struck By Lighting @ Webster Hall. April 10th, 2010

I haven't posted in a long time. Basically because all I listen to is Weedeater. When that's all I listen to, I don't feel like it's necessary to repeat myself every day. Having just seen Weedeater, Black Tusk, Gates of Slumber, and Struck By Lightning at Webster Hall last weekend, I was forcefully reminded of the fact that yeah, maybe I do need to repeat myself.

WEEDEATER IS THE FUCKING SHIT. PERIOD. END OF STORY.

I am proud to report, yet again, that Dave, Keko, and Shep are still, entirely unfuckwittable. They are, undeniably, one of the heaviest, most reliably fucking awesome doom bands in the history of the Earth and nobody praise them enough.

Anyways, now that the WE cocksuck sesh is over, let's get down to the real biz.

The night opened up with this band "Struck By Lightning" who I'd never heard of but was totally blown away by. I showed up half way through the set to a lead singer in a his hero is gone shirt, blasting crusty doom, and good times already underway. Apparently one of the dudes in that band is formerly of Mouth of the Architect, all well and good, but SbL fucking destroys. Expect big things from these guys. I'm fucking stoked that Metal is getting more and more punk every day. Also, their drummer fucking kills it. Check out THEIR MYSPACE. Their live recorded shit is a lot more tech than it sounds like live but it's still awesome. I can taste notes of Disfear, HHIG, old school Baroness, classic Swedish Death Metal, and a buncha other good shit in here.

After SbL, Gates of Slumber, looking more than a little like a marauding viking hoard, took to the stage with their vengeful old school doom sounds. Like St. Vitus? Go buy a GoS album. Now. These large, hirsuit barbarians from the midwest play a brand of Doom rarely seen or heard done properly these days. Classic, Sabbath worshipping, Wino copping, old school no bullshit slow ass, riff driven heavy metal. I just recently got into these guys but I feel like they'll be around for a while to come. They're headed to Europe for the upcoming festival season over there and you can bet your ass that they're gonna fit right in with the bekutted, longhaired Hessians over there. I still have massive fucking neck pain from when they busted out "Blood and Thunder." Hesh on.

Finally, Black Tusk was the last "opener." I use quotation marks around the word opener because I feel like that term is slightly less than fitting for a band that the entire audience is going ballistic for. I'd heard some BT before and always though they were pretty good. I never really paid too much attention (probably because I was listening to Bongzilla or something) before, but after this show, my eyes (and ears) are wide fucking open to the greatness of this band. Black Tusk did something that I haven't seen a doom band do in ages. The put the goofy fucking rock star shit back into metal, and it totally rules. These dudes are possibly one of the most fun shows I've seen in ages. Fucking awesome. Jumping around, ripping shit up, headbanging, crossing the fucking guitars, wailing, all of it. No shame, no mercy, all metal. If you get a chance to see these guys, especially in a kinda small venue, be there. It's totally worth it.

Which brings us to Weedeater. Yeah, there's just nothing you can say about their set besides:

1) It fucking rules.
2) It's fucking mindblowing that these dudes are still alive.

The thing about a lot of sludgier bands is that live they tend to speed shit up. WE does the opposite. The slowly strangle the last drops of life out of every fucking note they hit. They crank the fucking volume to earsplitting levels, the bash drums harder than anyone else out there, and you could pave a fucking highway with Dave's voice. Just watch the videos and try to ignore the fact that I gave more of a shit about going nuts than holding the camera steady. Sorry bout that, it's fucking Weedeater.

CLICK THE PIC OF DIXIE FOR A LINK TO THE FLICKR PAGE.

Weedeater - God Luck and Good Speed @ Webster Hall. 4/10/10 www.nogodsnovegetables.com from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

Weedeater - "Gimme Back My Bullets" @ Webster Hall 4/10/10. www.nogodsnovegetables.com from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

Weedeater - "Time Served" @ Webster Hall Basement. 4/10/10 www.nogodsnovegetables.com from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

Weedeater - "Monkey Junction" @ Webster Hall 4/10/10. www.nogodsnovegetables.com from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

Black Tusk @ Webster Hall. 4/10/10 www.nogodsnovegetables.com from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

Gates of Slumber @ Webster Hall 4/10/10. www.nogodsnovegetables.com from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

Harvey Milk, Coalesce, and The Atlas Moth @ Le Poisson Rouge in NYC - March 8th, 2010

Here's a bunch of shots from the Harvey Milk/Coalesce/Atlas Moth show put on by the folks at Blackened last night at Le Poisson Rouge. All the bands put on a killer show despite the Monday night crowd. It's tough as shit fighting a slack audience but somehow all the bands managed to rip shit up. I've got movies coming in the near future, stay tuned.

Check some more shots on Flickr

Murder City Devils Tonight, Unsane Last Night

Expect a fuckton of updates ya bastards. Unsane/Made Out Of Babies/Dark Vibe/United Nations last night was fucking epic.

There Is Nothing Better Than Eyehategod.

There, I said it. There is nothing better than Eyehategod. I said it again. Last night's show was one of the most amazing, unreal, unholy, violent, awesome, beautiful fucking shows I have ever seen. Shit was like watching a hurricane. Amazing. Sadly or happily my camera was all out of batteries so I was forced to actually have a good time and stop worrying about shit for the entirety of their 2 hour set. Internet's loss, my gain. Go see Eyehategod. There's a reason they're the best.

Strong Intention, Tombs, Howl, and Unearthly Trance all killed it last night too. Fucking amazing all around.

Phases of the SunnO)))

Yesterday I went to see the Eagle Twin/Pelican/Earth/SunnO))) show at the Masonic Temple in Brooklyn. I got there pretty late which led to missing Eagle Twin, who by all accounts were pretty rad, and Pelican (meh whatever).

Here's my recap of the show:

Phase 1: Get to show, up since 4am. Excited to see Earth possibly play old stuff through big sound system. Meet friends. Slayer playing as in between bands jams. Feeling: joy

Phase 2: Earth plays all new stuff. No earplugs required. Feeling: hard to tell, drifting in and out of sleep.

Phase 3: Go to bathroom, drink water so as not to fall asleep for longer during Earth. Too relaxing after long day. Feeling: Hippy mellow

Phase 4: Earth Ends set after 3 songs/45minutes, set up for SunnO))) starts. Between band music of "Lhopsang and Tenzin's Greatest Sherpa Chanting Jams Of The Late-Colonial Period" start. Feeling: Anticipation

Phase 5: ~12:05-12:10 Set up stops, lights go down, smoke machines start. "Lhopsang and Tenzin's Greatest Sherpa Chanting Jams Of The Late-Colonial Period" continues, on itunes repeat one song. Sound check can be described as, "Yup, sounds like SunnO))) alright." Also known as "loud." Amp count 1 Massive Earth something or other bass amp I think, 8 vintage Sunn Model T's. Total for the guitar amps: somewhere between 960 and 1200 Watts. Feeling: Still anticipation, wonder at how they're going to fill a space that's at least 5000sqft with 30ft ceilings entirely with fog.

Phase 6: ~12:40 "Lhopsang and Tenzin's Greatest Sherpa Chanting Jams Of The Late-Colonial Period" still playing for the 6th time at least, room now entirely filled with smoke machine fog. Feeling: bored as fuck, sore feet, sleepy.

Phase 7: ~12:45. Monks finally show up, shit gets real loud. Cool. Feeling: Um... vibratey. Zonked.

Phase 8: Emperor Palpatine shows up for guest vocals. Sounds like 45rpm record of Bill and Ted futuristic dudes and Beavis and Butthead being played at 5rpm to mimic "Lhopsang and Tenzin's Greatest Sherpa Chanting Jams Of The Late-Colonial Period". I swear to fucking Satan himself I hear/saw this dude do the "Be excellent to each other" salute. Also, pretty sure I heard the emperor say "I need Teepee," and "Bungholio" real real slow. Feeling: Supreme amusement. Slight confusion.

Phase 9: Trombone player shows up to join Emperor Palpatine Guitars back off. Sounds a bit rusty... Feeling: Officially confused.

Phase 10: Emperor leaves, guitars come back. Still sounds like SunnO))). Feeling: Back to vibratey zonked feeling. Relief.

Phase 11: Kaiju Big Battle man sized spikey mirrored shard covered sea cucumber appears from dense green fog. Feeling: Ok seriously? What the fuck?

Phase 12: Kaiju-Big-Battle-man-sized-spikey-mirrored-shard-covered-sea-cucumber turns into even more ridiculous Hybrid-of-Emperor-Palpatine-Kaiju-Big-Battle-man-sized-spikey-mirrored-shard-covered-bird-demon-with-huge-even-spikier-crown-of-mirror-liberty-spike-horns-with-laser-pointer-in-his-fingers. Returns to singing about bungholes in the style of "Lhopsang and Tenzin's Greatest Sherpa Chanting Jams Of The Late-Colonial Period." Feeling: Unsure... Mind hasn't fully processed this yet

Phase 13: ~ 15 seconds after phase 12, mind processes Kaiju Big Battle man sized spikey mirrored shard covered sea cucumber turns into even more ridiculous hybrid of Hybrid-of-Emperor-Palpatine-Kaiju-Big-Battle-man-sized-spikey-mirrored-shard-covered-bird-demon-with-huge-even-spikier-crown-of-mirror-liberty-spike-horns-with-laser-pointer-in-his-fingers. Feeling: Laughing too hard to even watch as Hybrid-of-Emperor-Palpatine-Kaiju-Big-Battle-man-sized-spikey-mirrored-shard-covered-bird-demon-with-huge-even-spikier-crown-of-mirror-liberty-spike-horns-with-laser-pointer-in-his-fingers shines laser pointer fingers into his spiky mirror crown of thorns

Phase 14: ~1.5hrs and 30 chords since the beginning of the set. Feeling: This is fucking ridiculous, I'm out.

Yup that's a SunnO))) show for ya. Verdict: Not enough drugs in the world.

EDIT: After sending this review to Josh of the Sleepies, we had a conversation that can be summed up as

Josh: "I kinda figured out that I don't really like SunnO))) at all."

Me: "Josh, nobody actually likes SunnO))). We all just pretend to because everyone else is pretending to."

Toxic Holocaust/Atakke/Battletorn/Howl @ Europa. Sept 6th, 2009

Atakke @ Europa. Sept 6th, 2009 from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

666 by Toxic Holocaust @ Europa. Sept 6th, 2009 from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

TOXIC HOLOCAUST






ATAKKE










MORE BATTLETORN & HOWL

WEEDEATER/NAAM @ Charleston 9/10/2009

Rest of the Weedeater shots







Rest of the Naam shots

Weedeater attemping "Monkey Junction" acapella @ Europa Sept 10th, 2009. from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

"Monkey Junction" by Weedeater @ The Charleston. Sept 10th, 2009 from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

Good motherfucking goddamn. Last night gave me that "I wonder what would happen if I started doing massive amounts of drugs and then ritually sacrificed my neighbors puppy to Zuul..." feelings all over the body. Weedeater is a massive, disgusting, unstoppable, menacing, snarling, unhinged runaway riff steam engine piloted by a fucking murderous lunatic. Fuck yeah.

Hull & Giant Squid @ Union Pool, Brooklyn. Aug 11th, 2009

MORE STUFF TO COME OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES.

Hull @ Union Pool, Brooklyn. Aug 11th, 2009 from Jack Crank on Vimeo.

HULL






GIANT SQUID






MORE PICS OF LIVE STUFF HERE @ FLICKR