photos by Alyssa Tanchajja, words by Lauren Jackson

"Finally, sad skinny guys get a chance to mosh hard without fearing for broken bones or glasses." -- Anonymous concertgoer, American Nightmare, July 22

Friday (7/20) and Sunday night (7/22) at Webster Hall, Cold Cave's Wes Eisold rejoined former American Nightmare (Give Up the Ghost) bandmates for sold out shows at the large NYC venue. I went Sunday when the hardcore legends were supported by Damnation A.D., New Lows, and Prurient, the solo noise project of the other half of Cold Cave, Dominick Fernow (who also played Saint Vitus on the night before). The Friday show, which is pictured in this post, was opened by Horror Show and Indecision.

Thanks to the band's cult following, the grand ballroom at Webster remained packed with aggressively enthusiastic concertgoers from start to finish. American Nightmare was never known (or loved, for that matter) for sticking to the hardcore tradition. No doubt more than one "sad skinny guy" or girl in attendance received a bit of ribbing from their more stalwart hardcore friends when they told them where they were headed that night (I know I did). What American Nightmare fans lack in tough guy cred, they make up for with unrivaled passion and dedication to their pack.

Prurient kicked off the night to a flurry of confused looks and awkward shuffles as he unleashed his signature sonic assault on the audience. Though it was an obvious divergence from the typical "hardcore show" tone, a fair number of concertgoers seemed interested in Fernow's performance.

Damnation A.D. and New Lows brought the moshers into the fold and set the night on the fast track for the crazed American Nightmare set to follow. For all their heavy riffs and breakdowns, the two supporting bands couldn't hold a candle to the fervor that the headliners incited when they came onstage. From above, the crowd appeared less as a group of individuals and more a military outfit acting in chaotic unison: not one lyric went unsung, no finger point went up alone.

More pictures from Friday, and videos and the setlists from both nights, below...

Continue reading "American Nightmare/GUTG played two nights at Webster Hall (pics, review, video, setlist)"

At least one of the American Nightmare / Give Up the Ghost Webster Hall reunion shows is listed as sold out, but now there's a way to get tickets to both:

Shirts for a Cure is excited to announce the American Nightmare ticket/shirt package deal. We have a VERY limited number if tickets for the American Nightmare Webster Hall shows in NYC and for a nominal donation of $100 you will receive two of these tickets to the show of your choice and two limited edition date-specific AN/SFAC shirts. Tickets will be issued at Will-Call and you will need to pick up your shirts at the show and the show only, no shirts will be shipped. Thank you for your support

American Nightmare also play FYF in LA this year. Tickets are on sale for that too.

You can watch the band's reunion documentary trailer below...

Continue reading "American Nightmare/GUTG tix to BOTH shows now available (with limited edition shirts For A Cure)"

Support for the American Nightmare shows (via)

New Lows have posted the lineups for the pair of Webster Hall dates for the American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost reunion. As pictured above, the sold-out 7/22 show will feature support from Damnation AD (who last played NYC with Unbroken), New Lows and Prurient (who will also play Saint Vitus the night before) while the 7/20 show will feature support from Indecision and Horror Show. Tickets for the latter are still available.

American Nightmare/GUTG recently added a show at FYF Fest in LA alongside Quicksand and many notable others.

Wes of AN on stage with Cold Cave at Guggenheim (more by Amanda Hatfield)

You snooze you lose. Or maybe you didn't snooze and were perched atop your keyboard ready to strike at the moment when American Nightmare tickets went on sale at noon today (5/31) and sold out pretty much immediately. The good news: American Nightmare/GUTG have added ANOTHER show at Webster Hall on July 20th. Tickets go on sale TOMORROW (Friday, 6/1) at noon.

American Nightmare in Boston (more by Stephanie Crumley)

Just a little reminder that tickets to American Nightmare/Give Up the Ghost's July 22 show at Webster Hall go on sale today at noon.

by BBG

Wes of AN/GUTG with Cold Cave at The Guggenheim (more by Amanda Hatfield)

It seemed almost inevitable, and now it's a reality. After reuniting for a pair of shows late last year and being the subject of a documentary (with the longest "trailer" ever), American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost will come to NYC for a show at Webster Hall on July 22. Tickets for that show go on sale Thursday, May 31 at noon. It's their only announced date at the moment, but hopefully more to come.

Meanwhile, Cold Cave has a Northside show coming up at Europa on June 14.

Some videos below...

Continue reading "American Nightmare/GUTG adds NYC show at Webster Hall!"

by BBG

Give Up The Ghost (aka American Nightmare) (more by Stephanie Crumley)

Deathwish have announced their intentions to release a new documentary on the recent Give Up the Ghost/American Nightmare reunion, due via the label "soon". Check out the eleven-minute "trailer" below.

Reminder: GUTG/AN frontman Wes Eisold will play the Guggenheim on Friday (4/27) with Cold Cave as part of a series at the museum. Tickets are still available.

Check out that GUTG Reunion trailer below.

Continue reading "American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost documentary on the way --- watch the trailer, see Cold Cave @ the Guggenheim"

photos by Stephanie Crumley, words by BBG

American Nightmare in MA

American Nightmare (aka Give Up The Ghost) reunited for two shows: Club Lido in Revere, MA on December 29th and one in Los Angeles on 12/31. The shows, their first in close to eight years, featured the lineup of Wesley Eisold (of Cold Cave), Timothy Cossar, Joshua Holden, Brian Masek, and Alex Garcia-Rivera, and featured notable support with the East Coast getting appearances from All Pigs Must Die, Colin of Arabia, and Salvation while the West Coast got Trash Talk, Touche Amore, and Weekend. Pictures, videos and the partial setlist from the MA show are in this post.

Jacob Bannon recently interviewed Wes & Tim for the Deathwish podcast, discussing the details behind the reunion. Stream that in full on the Deathwish player or download a copy via iTunes. Deathwish recently reissued We're Down Til We're Underground and Background Music on vinyl. Order yours at their eStore.

Pictures/video/setlist, below...

Continue reading "American Nightmare aka GUTG reunited (pics, video, setlist)"

by BBG

Wesley Eisold (left) with his current project...
Cold Cave at Bowery Ballroom (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

GIVE UP THE GHOST (aka American Nightmare) Plan Exclusive Boston and Los Angeles Shows, and Vinyl Reissues

FYF Fest, The Kenmore Agency, and Deathwish are proud to present two exclusive performances from Give Up The Ghost (American Nightmare).

Boston (Revere) MA: Thursday, December 29th @ Wonderland Ballroom
Los Angeles CA: Saturday December 31st @ A Secret Location

These are the first Give Up The Ghost shows since their sudden hiatus taken almost eight years ago. The line-up will feature the definitive line-up of Wesley Eisold, Timothy Cossar, Joshua Holden, Brian Masek, and Alex Garcia-Rivera.

The shows are in celebration of the reissue of both Background Music and We're Down Til We're Underground on vinyl via Deathwish (preorder it). Members of Give Up the Ghost went on to form bands like Cold Cave, Some Girls, All Pigs Must Die, Bars, The Hope Conspiracy, and many, many, more.