HardRockChick

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Mastodon is Everything You've Heard and More w/ Kylesa, Intronaut @ Great American Music Hall, 4/19/09

dev@hard
April 20, 2009
5
4

I had a shitty week. I wrecked my car. I lost all of my concert footage from the last three years. I’ve had several interviews fall through. But tonight made me see the light, as metal was my medicine to get me through to tomorrow.

poster

It was still light outside when I entered GAMH for the second time this weekend. I wanted to get my tour poster and safely put it back in my rental car so I didn’t have to deal with it during the show. Once that mission was complete, Intronaut was ready to come on. A four piece from LA, they delivered a slow and heavy warm up to the night. Not that it needed to get any warmer in there- an SF heat wave was in full effect. I thought their drummer was exceptional. Their logo lit up the light board at the rear of the stage- a first for me at GAMH. This show really could have been at The Fillmore, but I’m glad that it wasn’t.

intro

Next up, with quite the extravagant setup, was Kylesa. A female fronted, two drummer, six piece from Savannah, they had GAMH vibrating like there was an earthquake. Watching the female guitarist totally made me want to start playing again. She thrashed around a good bit, like a rocker chick should. However, I was not too keen on the double drummers. I thought it was overkill- I would have preferred one really solid drummer. They describe their sound as psychedelic metal rock, which I think is pretty accurate. Judging by the crowd’s reaction, they walked away with some new fans.

kylesa

I don’t think I’ve seen a crowd of metalheads this collectively excited for a set in a while. It’s very promising, especially knowing that they are getting a new album from front to back, with some extremely long songs in the mix. I absolutely love Crack the Skye– maybe I don’t fully grasp the concept, but I can feel it’s a journey.

From the moment they hit the stage, lit from behind by psychedelic visuals in tune with the album cover, it was pure intensity. There is something very Tool-like about this band live. Not a word is said to the crowd, there’s barely a break between songs. They are mostly a ‘put their heads down and play’ kind of band, but they remain animated at the same time. Especially the bassist, Troy Sanders, who really impressed me. Wow. What a super intense performer. He’s the type that looks around at everyone, straight in the eye, and makes you feel like he’s playing just to you. I may need to revise my favorite bassists list.

Lead singer Brent Hinds has such a unique voice. He totally didn’t seem like a guy who wanted to punch anyone in the face, even when a lot of feedback was interfering with one song and someone had to come out and fix things underneath him while he played.

Guitarist Bill Kelliher barely moved around at the beginning of the set, focused on executing every detail of every riff. He loosened up toward the end along with the older material. Brann Dailor, drummer, made me tired just looking at him- he mechanically provided the foundation for every song, dripping sweat along the way. He was both there and not there, supporting the music but not overpowering it.

mastodon

There’s something interesting that happens at a show where you are hearing an entire album that you know- the pressure’s off on what comes next. It becomes an evening where I’m listening to the album I hear at home come to life in front of me. I think that, when done well, this makes the experience much more intense. Good choice on their part to undertake this growing trend for shows. While every song sounded as good as you’d want it to, ‘Divinations’, ‘The Czar’, and ‘Ghost of Karelia’ remain my favorites.

mastodon

The crowd was a hot, sweaty, albeit slightly subdued mess. Excited, raising hands to grasp at the band, the heat and length of the set kept the pushy behavior to a minimum. There was an aura of respect hanging over the masses. In the encore, which delved into their back catalog for almost a second full length set, I spied some very famous attendees up in the balcony jamming out. No, not Jello, though sources say he was there as well. Metallica in the house- Lars and Robert at least. Mastodon will tour with them this summer. Pure awesome. And guess what?! Lars is one of those guys who talks through songs. And Robert is an air drummer.

The encore/second set just kept going. They would play a song with a certain amount of fervor, making you think “OK, they are laying it all out there, this is the last song”, but no, there were more. I was dying of thirst, but I just. could. not. stop. moving.

After unsuccessfully trying to obtain a setlist, I skated on the sea of broken plastic cups on my way to find some water, like Penny Lane in Almost Famous, high on the set. I must have looked really happy- a guy commented, “Liked the show, huh?”. Yes, yes I did.

They took down the Mastodon marquee before I made it outside for a picture. On the way back to my car, a passerby told me, “damn, girl, don’t take that belt off and hit me with it”. I’m in control again.

Oblivion (from Bad2b2)

Divinations (from BeeSting88, Coachella)

Rolling Stone video interview: LSD, Iron Maiden, Singing in Dave Grohl’s Bathroom

OVERALL: 9.5/10
Mastodon performance: 9.75/10
Kylesa performance: 8.75/10
Intronaut performance: 7.5/10
venue (GAMH): 9.5/10
crowd/scene: 9/10
value ($25.00/ticket): 10/10
memorable: 9.25/10

Comments

  1. you are such a freaking great concert reviewer jaime. you both make me wish i had been there AND make me feel like i WAS there. so sad i had to miss this show. keep up the excellent work girl!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Horror Business: The Original Misfits, Iggy Pop, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Sublime, The Damned @ No Values, Pomona Fairgrounds, 6/8/24

“Too much horror businessDriving late at nightPsycho 78My bathroom is newYou, you don’t go in the bathroom with mePsycho 7812…

July 3, 2024
9
0

A New Level: Metallica, Pantera, and Mammoth VH @ SoFi Stadium Los Angeles, 8/25/23

“Now a new look in my eyes my spirit riseForget the pastPresent tense works and lastsGot shit on, pissed on,…

September 4, 2023
9
0

Gimme Danger: Iggy Pop & The Losers with Grace McKagan @ The Pearl Las Vegas, 4/29/23

“Gimme danger, little strangerAnd I feel with you at easeGimme danger, little strangerAnd I’ll feel your disease There’s nothing in…

May 29, 2023
8
0

Kill or Become: Cannibal Corpse, Dark Funeral, Immolation, Black Anvil at House of Blues Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay 11/25/22

“Living out the days and nights in absolute fearNever knowing when and where thethreat of the undead draws nearThoughts of…

December 3, 2022
8
0

Looks That Kill: Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, & Joan Jett & The Blackhearts @ Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, 9/9/22

“Now, listen up She’s a razor sharp If she don’t get her way She’ll slice you apart Now she’s a…

September 19, 2022
10
0

A Dangerous Meeting: Mercyful Fate, High on Fire, Paradise Lost, Fugitive, Suicidal Tendencies, Bone Thugs -n- Harmony, Frozen Soul, Emperor, Mayhem, Carcass, and Wolves in the Throne Room @ Psycho Las Vegas @ Resort World, 8/19-21/22

“Oh, they should have knownNot to play with the powers of HellSome people have lost their waySome people have lost…

August 30, 2022
12
0

Among the Living: Anthrax 40th Anniversary Tour with Black Label Society @ Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, 7/28/22

“I’m the walking dudeI can see all the worldTwist your minds with fearI’m the man with the powerAmong the living,…

August 19, 2022
6
0

Mad World: Tears for Fears, Garbage @ Kia Forum in Los Angeles, 6/4/22

“And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I’m dying Are…

June 12, 2022
8
0

She Sells Sanctuary: The Cult, Des Roc @ House of Blues Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay 5/8/22

“The sparkle in your eyes Keeps me alive And the sparkle in your eyes Keeps me alive, keeps me alive…

May 27, 2022
5
0

Rock You Like A Hurricane: Scorpions, Skid Row @ Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas 4/3/22

“It’s early morning, the sun comes out Last night was shaking and pretty loud My cat is purring, it scratches…

April 15, 2022
5
0