Concerts

He who closeth all the doors of his senses, imprisoneth his mind in his heart, fixeth his vital powers in his head, standing firm in meditation, repeating the monosyllable OM, and thus continues when he is quitting the body, goeth to the supreme goal.
–Bhagavad Gita, chapter 8, verse 13 (from the 1890 translation by William Quan Judge)

Although as a reporter I’m obligated to mention that Om is the two-man rhythm section from San Franciscan stoner/droner doom metal band Sleep (Al Cisneros – bass/vox, Chris Hakius – drums), the logistics are not important: these two warm bodies work no better than any others as conduits for the omnipresent brain-erasing throb of the ETERNAL COSMIC HUM. These two set up a riff and examine it, probe its defenses, struggle, claw, bite, and enter it, and finally pound on it good and hard before they toss it limp to the floor. If you stand too close the dense undulating waves of hypnotic monotony may very well pass straight through the backs of your vibrating eyeballs.

Bottom line: Alice In Chains blew Velvet Revolver off the stage.

I was expecting the opposite: I was skeptical about Alice In Chains touring without singer Layne Staley (who died of an apparent drug overdose in April, 2002), but I knew that Velvet Revolver included 2/5 of the original Guns ‘N’ Roses (Slash and Duff McKagan), as well as ex-Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland, and former drummer of The Cult and G ‘N’ R, Matt Sorum (one of the best drummers in the world today, in my humble opinion). I fully expected Alice In Chains to blunder through their best songs with some inferior vocalist, and for Velvet Revolver to rock the house.

Sweetbleeders
Replicator
Get Down! to Brass Tacks
The Minibosses
The Ruby Room
August 18, 2007
Better Than: “One Mend-fault is worth two Findfaults, but one Findfault is better than two Makefaults.” B. Franklin, 1735

Sweetbleeders

It was a close call on this one. As I carelessly strolled into the open jaws of the Ruby Room, whistlin’ a cheery tune and thinking of my Pomeranians, my eyes adjusted and I was faced with a terrible sight: the walls were already a hue of deepest crimson. Inferring naturally that Sweetbleeders had already emptied their poor little arteries all over the dump, I set about desperately licking the walls to glean a remainder of whatever residues they had offered up in their sacrifice, but rather than the thrilling taste of Very Berry Surprise, I detected the sour tang of Sherwin Williams 6866. By the time I struggled out of the bouncer’s grip I realized I’d been mistaken: Sweetbleeders were just getting on stage now! A goof was I.

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HOT SNAKES

The Willowz and the Detroit Cobras
The Clubhouse
August 14, 2007
Better Than: Finally living out your dreams and buying that forklift

I had grave apprehensions about seeing a band named “The Willowz” but my fears were entirely unfounded. Apparently they started out in 2002 as garage punkers but now they look like four American high school kids circa 1972 and from the sound of it, they’re of the Sabbath/Zeppelin/Stones worshipping variety. Lots of good to great heavy rock interplay with the perfect leavening of soul and country-folk spices. Singer Richie James Follin has a nice nasally voice that cuts through the thud and thunder and drummer Loren Humphrey has a huge kit which he certainly knows how to use. Bass player Jessica Reynoza tore at the rigging like Blackbeard himself was on her tail, and their lead axe-slinger (Aric Bohn) was a six-foot beanpole with two Strats and a paisley tunic. The kid never looked happier than when he was doddering around on his spindly legs and toppling into the amps like they were a big pile of beanbags, but he managed to maintain a refined counterpoint to Follin’s rhythmic bashings. They ventured into feedback and effects but never let it detract from the main wallop: they stuck to their guns. Spunk and guts and a sense of humor too. A-O.K.

  In some ways Arizona’s first “official unofficial” showcase at SxSW wasn’t a big deal. Other cities, states and countries have been doing it for years. Hell, Seattle’s party is even promoed with a flier in the high-value real estate of the official party envelope you pick up with your…