Braindead Record Release Show, Siren Records 6/18/08 2 July 2008

Review

My band (myspace.com/hollowspa) got added to this show last minute, and we couldn’t have been more excited. Local favorites Braindead dropping their new LP, and an awesome tour package of Killing The Dream from California, The Carrier from Boston, and Gravemaker from Vancouver. I had my camera at the show and wasn’t planning on taking pictures, but I decided to partway in, causing me to miss taking shots of Gravemaker’s set.

Gravemaker played a played a decent set. They had a lot of energy and seemed sincere about what they were doing. No new ground broken musically, though, just pretty standard melodic HC like the other bands playing the show.

I was very excited to see The Carrier after listening to their new 7″ No Love Can Save Me on Deathwish Inc. several times in the weeks before the show. They were ok live, nothing that really moved me. A group of four or five kids I had never seen before were losing it to the band though. The fact that they struck bro poses the whole time they sang along was hilarious. One of my friends was talking to one of the kids who said “I can die happy now!” At least they were stoked on a relatively new band.

Braindead played next, with their tour bass player filling in, though their normal bass guy was at the show. Since the last time I saw them they added a whole bunch of interludes between songs, perhaps taking a cue from Blacklisted in making the time during guitar tuning a little more interesting. They sounded great, and kids went off. I hope these guys get some real recognition on their current U.S./Canada tour with Ruiner and All Teeth.

Killing the Dream is a band I wish I had gotten into earlier, but I’ve been really into their new album Fractures lately. They play really creative melodic HC that is both tuneful and extremely angry. Unlike most bands that play at Siren, KTD’s singer did not stay on the stage during their set, instead prowling the floor. It definitely made for a more intimate show experience. After their set I talked to their singer Eli, who was a very nice guy. He took some Hollows demos with him, let me know if you got one at a Killing The Dream show.

Photos

The Carrier:

Braindead:

Killing The Dream:

Thanks for looking! Send feedback to chris.thomas (at) temple.edu

The Endless Blockade, Coffins, Birth Control @ Jan’s Room, 5/21/08 9 June 2008

Seeing foreign bands is awesome, especially Scandinavian and Japanese bands.  I have had the privilege of seeing several bands from both areas, including Victims, Hero Dishonest, and Breakfast.  They were all not only awesome musically, but really funny guys.  Tons of hilarious comments during their sets and great antics.  Japan’s Coffins were the first metal band I have ever seen from the country, and their guitar playing threw up the horns so many times I could feel the fires of hell coming from his just-over-5-foot body.  They were awesome though, and the guest vocalist for the last song was amazing.  Local sludge band Oxygen Destroyer opened the show with a Led Zepplin cover and a 10 or so minute long dirge.  They really are loud.  I was very excited to see Birth Control, Brad TFK’s new band.  I missed them several times over the school year so this was my chance to make up for it.  My friend Arthur is currently their singer, though I don’t think it’s permanent.  Good times anyway.  Check them out at www.freelegalhighs.org.  Seriously.  The Endless Blockade from Canada were the definite highlight of the show.  I have never seen a hardcore band where each member (including the singer) had 5+ pedals at their feet.  They had a definite noise vibe going on, but playing some of the tightest powerviolence I have ever heard.  Kids drove all the way from Pittsburgh to see this band, they must be doing something right.  They just put out a split with Iron Lung, track that down.  I already talked about Coffins, but I want to reiterate the fact that they love metal.  The Japanese tend to do every genre of music well, this was no exception.  Look them up.

Birth Control:

The Endless Blockade:

Coffins:

Random:

Thanks for reading, check back soon for Bridge & Tunnel pictures.