No Fun Fest @ MHOW - night 1 in pics, video & review

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Posted in music | pictures on May 19, 2009

No Fun Fest @ MHOW - night 1 in pics, video & review

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Lori Baily

Bastard Noise

"LOUDER!" "TURN IT UP!"

After leaving Melvins at Webster Hall on Friday (May 15, 2009), where the thundering basstones of Trevor Dunn were vibrating my chest, it was a little odd that the sounds emanating from British power electronic terrorists Grey Wolves over at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, were comparatively silent. As their No Fun Fest set went on, the volume would increase from "mildly harsh" to "razor sharp", but one thing stayed constant: the squalls of caustic harsh noise squelching out of the PA.

Sound fun? It was. Behind that backdrop, Grey Wolves spewed caustic lyrics about hate, terrorism, and a desire to "fuck the pain way", and not like Peaches sang playfully in 2000. In between the confrontational lyrics, the vocalist sneered and grabbed his crotch, but not in the Jackson Family manner, the kind that would make your mother call the po-po. Intense, immense, a tad shocking, and completely enjoyable.

After Grey Wolves, my journey into the Melvins past would continue with their ex-bassist Joe Preston and his solo project Thrones. With a looping pedal, drum machine, and some sort of vocal harmonizer (anyone know?), Joe churned out compelling and doomy rhythms, leads, and everything in between, making for a fascinating one man show. I had originally thought that the Wolves In the Throne Room/A Storm Of Light show coming up with Krallice at The Studio @ Webster (5/26, tickets here) was the definite winner of the NYC shows on that tour, but after seeing Thrones on Friday, its a toss up... unless I make it to Coco66 on 5/21 to catch him with Blues Control, then I may go see him again with WITTR at Europa on 5/22 (tickets here)

The last act for the evening was Bastard Noise, the noise project of fallen powerviolence legends Man Is The Bastard. I caught a few songs from the noise-terrorists, enough to see Eric Wood thrashing around like a madman and require another listen from their awesome new album Rogue Astronaut.

How were all the acts who came before them? For poor Raglani, it was his last with his gear. Pictures and video from the whole night below...

Bastard Noise

Carlos Giffoni

Chris Corsano

Noveller

Raglani

Xeno and Oaklander

Grey Wolves

Bastard Noise

Bastard Noise

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No Thrones pics. Stay tuned for Night 2. Here are some videos....

Xeno and Oaklander @ No Fun Fest

Chris Corsano @ No Fun Fest

Grey Wolves @ No Fun Fest

Thrones @ No Fun Fest

Bastard Noise @ No Fun Fest

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Tags: Bastard Noise, Carlos Giffoni, Chris Corsano, Grey Wolves, Music Hall of Williamsburg, No Fun Fest, Noveller, Raglani, Thrones, Xeno and Oaklander

Posted on May 19, 2009 5:41 PM

Comments (6)

Songs? Bastard Noise doesn't play fuckin' songs. They might as well put they're guitars infront of they're amps, turn the volume all the way up and walk off stage. I don't get how people can listen to such shite.

Posted by Anonymous | May 19, 2009 6:20 PM

6:20 - No, they play songs. And it was a fucking awesome set. And that is coming from someone who is relatively new to the noise scene and had never heard them before they stepped onstage Friday night.

Also really dug Xeno And Oaklander. And Thrones.

Posted by Anonymous | May 19, 2009 6:40 PM

I'm sorry no Thrones pics. :( My fault.

Posted by Lori | May 19, 2009 7:43 PM

If you liked Xeno & Oklander you need to go buy every record by Martial Canterel (the dude in X&O), immediately. Right now.

Posted by Anonymous | May 19, 2009 8:32 PM

chris corsano is brilliant....

Posted by Anonymous | May 20, 2009 5:22 PM

I'm sorry no Thrones pics. :( My fault.

Posted by Bottega Veneta Handbags | October 16, 2009 2:53 AM