by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Black Cobra @ Saint Vitus

Black Cobra played a thundering set at Saint Vitus last night (6/25), joined by tourmates Gaza and with opening sets from Sannhet and Marching Teeth. Due to technical difficulties I missed Marching Teeth, but I managed to catch the last few moments of Sannhet's set which was accompanied by a highly impressive light show. I only got pictures of Black Cobra and Gaza and they are in this post.

Gaza's set saw vocalist Jon Parkin pacing along the floor for the majority of their tenure, playing songs from their latest LP No Absolutes in Human Suffering, as well as favorites like "Calf," "He is Never Coming Back" and "Slutmaker" from previous LPs. The crowd parted for the close-to seven-foot tall frontman, forming a mini-melee around him as he bounced from end to end, encouraging crowd singalongs at strategic moments. Gaza is a live juggernaut.

Black Cobra are a bit of an enigma to me; I will forever be puzzled at how two guys and only one amplifier can churn out some of the heaviest punk-influenced sludge-doom. Though Black Cobra has been anything but flawed on the live stage in my recent memory, their Saint Vitus set was a stunner. The crowd was positively electric and performances of songs like "Chronosphere" from 2009's Chronomega LP rank amongst the best I have seen them (I have seen that song performed quite a few times). Great set, so much so that I almost didn't mind that someone spilled an entire whiskey and soda on my camera (adding to my already ongoing gear issues).

More pictures from Saint Vitus are below.

Continue reading "Black Cobra & Gaza on tour, played Saint Vitus (pics)"

by BBG

Hull @ Saint Vitus

Despite a climbing mercury outside, Hull headlined an icy Saint Vitus with A Generation of Vipers and Marching Teeth on Friday night (7/22). The show was a one-off for Hull, who are preparing to release their new and Billy-Anderson-mixed LP for The End Records in October. Details are forthcoming.

A Generation of Vipers (members US Christmas) recently released the new Kurt Ballou produced LP Howl and Filth and played entirely new material at the venue that night. Stream the new track "Slow Burn" below.

A Generation of Vipers' van broke down moments before the show, so the band spent an unexpected weekend in NYC, but their van is currently being worked on.

Marching Teeth were an excellent way to start the show with a booming set influenced by mid-period Melvins.

More pictures from Saint Vitus, and the stream of "Slow Burn" below.

Continue reading "Hull, A Generation of Vipers & Marching Teeth played Saint Vitus (pics)"

by BBG

Hull at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Markus Shaffer)

Brooklyn band Hull will join Generation of Vipers and Marching Teeth at Greenpoint venue Saint Vitus on July 22nd, a one-off show for Hull and part of a string of dates for Generation of Vipers (which are still TBA).

Hull is currently hard at work on the follow-up to their Sole Lord LP featuring the great Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis, Buzzoven, Eyehategod) on the console. No word on completion/release date, but we'll keep you posted. Expect new songs at Saint Vitus.

Generation of Vipers features members of US Christmas, though the former definitely move in different directions than the latter. Check out the freshly released title track from Howl & Filth (produced by Kurt Ballou!) streaming below, and check out their other LPs at their bandcamp. Look for the new LP soon.

Song stream and some video below.

Continue reading "Hull playing a show w/ Generation of Vipers (both bands working on new albums)"

photos by Markus Shaffer, words by BBG

Ben of Helms Alee, gettin' rowdy-rowdy

Sleep? Who's that? While some band was filling the Brooklyn Masonic Temple with riffs and indo smoke on Monday (9/6), Young Widows, Helms Alee, and Marching Teeth were playing at a packed Cake Shop and earning beaucoup raves. Although NYCers are no strangers to Young Widows and they surely earned their own accolades from the night, Helms Alee featuring Ben Verellen of ex-(current?) Harkonen seemed to be the clear winner of the "OMG-I-didn't-know-they-ruled-so-hard" award. Cake Shop marked their debut performance in NYC and first East Coast tour since the release of Night Terror via Hydra Head in 2008.

The Young Widows/Helms Alee train has come to an end, with the Louisville boys currently at home and Helms Alee working a few dates in the Northwest on the way back out to their native Seattle. Current Helms Alee dates are below with more pictures from the Cake Shop show...

Continue reading "Young Widows & Helms Alee played Cake Shop (pics) "

by BBG

Young Widows at Europa (more by Justina Villanueva)

Young Widows will hit the road in September with Helms Alee that will include a BV/1000Knives production on September 6th at Cake Shop with Marching Teeth! Tickets are on sale.

The show is part of a longer string of dates for Helms Alee, who will make their first trek out east since inception, and since the release of their 2008 LP Night Terror on Hydrahead. You might recognize Ben Verellen from his time in the late These Arms are Snakes or his other (awesome) and semi-active project Harkonen.

Full tour dates, show flyer and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Young Widows & Helms Alee - 2010 tour dates (NYC w/ Marching Teeth)"