Saint Vitus -- Lawrence, KS -- October 2nd, 2012

Awesome show, although the crowd could've been much better. Lots of people just standing around for most of Vitus' set except for the last two songs, which seems to be kinda typical nowadays, unfortunately. The band sounded great, though - Dave Chandler's tone is straight out of the late 70's and Wino sounds great. He was goofing around with the crowd in between songs and got down to let them sing with him on some parts. And Dave, of course, ran out into the crowd on the last insane solo for Born Too Late, rubbing the strings on random patron's heads. He just threw his guitar on stage at the end, put both fists in the air, and walked to the merch booth while the reverb kept going. So awesome.

It was my fourth time seeing Weedeater, and it was probably the loudest I've ever seen them. They're already playing on blown out amps, but they just proceeded to blow them out even more. Dixie Dave was just as nuts as ever, and he seemed to have a good time joking along with the other members of the band. His vocals sounded fantastic, too. "Jason...The Dragon" was massive and "Weed Monkey" is still one of my favorite closing live metal songs. Probably consistently my favorite band of this type of genre.

Sourvein was the first touring band to play. I'd seen the vocalist in Hail!Hornet twice earlier this year, and he's still just as good in his main band. It took a few songs for the crowd to warm up, but they got a great reception. Very, very loud and very sludgey. Some of the best sludge/stoner vocals I've heard. I might want to see Hail!Hornet again next time, but I won't complain with Sourvein.

Opening the show was local band Death Valley Wolf Riders. They are basically what happens when you cross Speedwolf with Alabama Thunderpussy. Cool southern speed metal/rock. Fun kinda-southern vocals about motorcycles, werewolves and guitars - good fun and good opener.

All the bands had a lot of merch. Saint Vitus' main draw was a shirt with their logo on the front and "FUCK THAT WEAK SHIT" in the Vitus font on the back. Also a nice long-sleeve and other stuff. Was really hoping they had the pink/blue Born Too Late tees still, but nope. Sourvein had one design that was their logo in the Sunn amps logo, but in a million different colors. Weedeater had a million different shirts, too. I picked up a Vitus patch!

Saint Vitus (the order might be a bit off, but these were all the songs):


Blessed Night
I Bleed Black
War Is Our Destiny
Let Them Fall
The Bleeding Ground
The Troll
Living Backwards
Dependence
The Waste of Time
Clear Windowpane
White Stallions
====
Dying Inside
Born Too Late

Weedeater:

Hammerhandle
Mancoon
Turkey Warlock
Jason... The Dragon
God Luck and Good Speed
For Evans Sake
Gimme Back My Bullets
Monkey Junction
Weed Monkey

Sourvein (out of order, but all songs were played):

Imperial Bastard
Shipwrecked
Uneasy
Seamerchant
Gemini
Fangs

Dirty South was written, but not performed

Saint Vitus: 9/10
Weedeater: 9/10
Sourvein: 8/10
Death Valley Wolf Riders: 7.5/10

Upcoming religious experience: SAINT VITUS!

One of the best bands EVER, Saint Vitus, will be in Lawrence on Oct. 2nd! These guys are legendary, and they're on top of their game right now. Opening is the ever amazing Weedeater, along with Sourvein! They'll rip the roof off the Granada.

Weedeater -- Lawrence, KS -- March 3rd, 2011

As if there was any nagging doubt in the subconscious areas of my mind, Weedeater has brutally stomped my mind (and definitely my ears) with their utterly heaviest brand of metal in the world. It took place at the Jackpot saloon, a small bar with a modest stage and only room for (at extreme most) a few hundred people. The way the crowd was going throughout the entire show, you could have mistaken it for Wacken Open Air. Multiple stage divers and crowd surfers and violent headbanging made for an awesome time. Weedeater played some off their upcoming album "Jason...The Dragon" including the title track and the absolute crushing show-opener "Hammerhandle." If their last album enticed you, their newest will probably be your favorite album of the year. They also revisited all their other albums, including "Weedmonkey Junction" from their first album, "Buzz" from Sixteen Tons (aptly named album), and several off "God Luck And Good Speed," including the title track, "Wizard Fight," and an absolutely stellar and mind-blowing rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Gimme Back My Bullets." It was truly a performance to remember and the ringing of my ears will remind me of it for some time to come. The rest of the concerts I see this year will have some stiff competition.

Opening for Weedeater was Zoroaster, one of the loudest bands I've ever seen live. It actually started to work against them as their set went on, but their absolutely fantastic drummer made the band an absolute joy. Some songs were (a lot!) better than others and had a fantastic groove to them. They were a lot better than what I expected them to be.

The first band of the night was local band Masses who were apparently playing their first show since August of last year because their singer had a baby. I wouldn't necessarily say their brand of music was way out of place at this show, but it was certainly different. It was, however, refreshing to hear wonderful clean vocals go along with pop/post-rock/noise rock/whatever you want to call it. I'm looking forward to them again!

Weedeater (partial/out of order)

Calico
$20 Peanut
The Great Unfurling
Hammerhandle
Turkey Warlock
Jason...The Dragon
Monkey Junction
Potbelly (?)
God Luck And Good Speed
Wizard Fight
Gimme Back My Bullets (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)
Weed Monkey

Zoroaster set:

White Dwarf
Ancient Ones
D.N.R.
Bullwhip
Old World
Odyssey
Black Hole
Spirit Molecule

Weedeater: 10/10
Zoroaster: 8/10
Masses: 7.5/10

Contender for heaviest show of the year: WEEDEATER

After a brilliant show last year, Weedeater will be returning to the area at the Jackpot on March 3rd. Zoroaster is opening. DON'T MISS THIS!

Live video for added effect:

Weedeater -- Kansas City, MO -- April 2nd, 2010

Heaviest show of the year!

This was at the Record Bar in Kansas City. The sound was fantastic all night long. Definitely one of the best venue's I've ever been to for that size. They were even serving food! Maybe I'll get some next time...

Only disappointment of the night: Struck By Lightning didn't show. The guitarist for The Gates Of Slumber mentioned this ("They're stuck somewhere west of Cheyenne...there's a country song in there somewhere...") but it didn't hinder the show too much. Once it started, it didn't let up a bit.

First band was The Gates Of Slumber from Indianapolis. Also the only band of the night with solo's! They were pretty different from the other bands, as they were mostly straight up heavy metal. They ruled. What they lacked in overbearing heaviness of the other bands, they made up for by making everyone bang their heads. It was like Black Sabbath was on stage in front of us!

Their set included Beneath The Eyes of Mars, The Doom of Aceldama and Blood And Thunder

Next was Black Tusk. They had great stage presence and it was neat how even their drummer provided vocals. Definitely heavy, even though the sound wasn't as clear as the band before. They went from song to song so there was a steady stream of metal at all times. I hope they come back soon with another killer tour.

The real star of the night was the bassist for Weedeater, Dixie Collins. The ex-Buzzov*en mainman is extremely entertaining to watch and he's one of the best bassists I've seen live! He was all over the place and the insane actions he did on stage only mirrored what were some of the best live extreme metal vocals I've ever been privileged to hear. He even had a cup holder on the side of his amp with a bottle of cough syrup in it which he sipped from often. The demeanor only matched the music which might have been the loudest and heaviest band I've seen in years. They started off with "God Luck and Good Speed" and after that it was just a torrent of the sludgiest, dirtiest metal you'd ever hear. Other songs were Bull, Wizard Fight, For Evan's Sake, $20 Peanut, and Weed Monkey. I really hope they come back really soon.

The Gates Of Slumber: 9/10
Black Tusk: 8.5/10
Weedeater: 9/10

Heaviest night of all time?

Just found out about a pretty sick show going down. On April 2nd at the Record Bar (most likely 18+, but maybe all ages) will be Weedeater on their "Nine Toe" tour. Their myspace lists possible support bands as "Black Cobra, ASG, Black Tusk, The Gates of Slumber, US Christmas, and Struck by Lightning", but the event on last.fm here lists Black Tusk, The Gates Of Slumber, and Bison BC. We'll see as soon as The Record Bar updates its website.