HardRockChick

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

Personal Exile: The Funeral Pyre, Oakhelm @ Happy Mart, 8/4/11

dev@hard
August 7, 2011
3
0

This may go down as my most bizarre show of the year.

Barely recovered from being crushed by thousands at The Gorge, I somehow found myself with about 20 other people in a space called Happy Mart in downtown LA.

It was like a scene from a film as we drove past the populated part of downtown and into the area that is generally referred to as Skid Row. Not a soul was on the street as the sun went down, except a few people who called the pavement home. Now, I often don’t think twice about putting myself in harm’s way to do what I want, but there was no way the HRC-mobile was getting parked in an unsatisfactory area. Luckily, a space across from Happy Mart opened up and there we were, swigging Evan Williams from a Sigg bottle.

We walk inside to piles of instruments and boys in black in search of the ladies room, who’s sign looked like this:

This was when we realized that there was no stage; in fact we walked through the stage to get to the restroom. The stage was basically a hallway; the bar, a table with a bottle of Absolut and some dixie cups….it was about as bare-boned as you could get, which I guess makes sense for a black metal show.

We determined there was quite a bit of time to kill, so I did what naturally came to me….made my way over to one of LA’s swankiest bars to drink some Absinthe. Luckily The Edison let us in in our metal attire; our friend was not so lucky, though….so we made our way to some dive bars, one of which felt like we’d been transported to Tijuana…I mean, they didn’t even speak English! Absinthe buzz or not, this night was turning out to be highly confusing.

Back to Happy Mart, we had to try to not knock over drums while visiting the ladies again….not to mention it had to be timed to set changeovers. As Oakhelm played, I was surprised at how good it sounded in such a weird space. The guy who was tending merch and the ‘bar’ was so extremely drunk, he started giving us free beers. This was beginning to feel more like a house party than anything else….which isn’t a bad thing….but it was not a typical ‘black metal’ experience for me in terms of getting wrapped up in the morbid sound.

The last time I saw The Funeral Pyre was at SXSW. Perhaps it was that we were now in total darkness, soaked in Absinthe and beer…perhaps it was because it was my third time to see them…perhaps it was the magic of being in the most desolate part of downtown LA in a hallway with 20 other people who somehow ended up here in search of something….but this time the band clicked a bit more for me. I’m pretty squeamish of non-Norwegian black metal, but I think it’s time to loosen up a bit.

As both audience and bands piled outside into the crisp summer air to chat about music and vices, I departed the scene and inadvertently entered what would become the most emotionally draining 24 hours of my life in almost exactly one year.

Leave a Comment

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

Related Posts

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
77

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
89

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
33

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
33

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
30

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
20

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

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

May 27, 2022
5
31

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

“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
39

Turbo Lover: 50 Years of Heavy Metal with Judas Priest and Queensrÿche @ Zappos Theater, Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas, 3/13/22

“We hold each other closer, as we shift to overdrive And everything goes rushing by, with every nerve alive We…

March 22, 2022
7
16