\m/
Last night I went to the Dethklok show at Clutch Cargo's in Pontiac. Knowing that the town is fairly close to the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Detroit, I was kind of afraid of being assaulted by a gang of sewer mutants. But the area around the venue seemed pretty safe - no tentacled beings wielding fistfuls of rusty barbed wire!
A massive line of kids formed outside of the stone-walled building, which was once a church. By the time I got inside, Soylent Green was nearly done with their set. I overheard a couple of people saying that they sucked, but a few other people were there especially to see them. They played with a lot of intensity and energy.
I was standing toward the edge of the room, but a few shock waves from the pit reached me during Chimaira. As the floor vibrated with stomping feet, the music was so loud I could feel my insides quivering! That's a sensation I haven't experienced since I was a concert virgin. If you have to go to work the next day and answer the phone for someone like Ofdensen, I'd recommend ear plugs.
As the stage was prepared for Dethklok, the newest Zimmers Hole release was played, leading to preemptive bellows of glee when Nathan's cameo in "The Vowel Song" was heard. More yelling ensued when a roadie came out to ensure the microphones were ready to help Brendon Small execute Nathan's signature growl. Happy to not be standing behind the guy who was literally the height and width of an industrial refrigerator, I waited and chanted ("DETH-KLOK! DETH-KLOK!") along with the rest of them.
When the band emerged, they started the show with Metalocalypse's theme song. Brendon Small, an unassuming figure in black, played the real-life version of Skwisgaar's Gibson Explorer with the grave passion and stage presence of a concertmaster. You're not going to see a cheesy guitar face accompanying his epic shredding. The solos soared above the bestial growl of metal produced by the other musicians as he stood side by side with the second guitarist, who wielded an instrument shaped something like Toki's Flying V, but with sharper lines and an all-black body.
As anyone who's been to a metal show knows, there's something primal about it. I was shoved so close to the blonde kid in glasses beside me that I kind of felt like I should've bought him dinner first. Exchanging awed grins and trying to stay on our feet, we developed a wordless camaraderie. The enthusiasm of the crowd was awesome to see. I've gotten the impression from other bands' shows I've attended that people don't get excited about music anymore. That definitely isn't the case here. It's kind of funny to watch a bunch of kids screaming "MAKE A PROFIT OFF YOUR INTEREST YOU'LL INCREASE MY SALES TONIGHT!" Brendon's musicianship and wit have them hooked.
For the most part, the animated portion of the concert lived up to my expectations. One complaint: maybe it's just ear failure on my part, but it was nearly impossible to understand what was being said when there was dialog, even though everyone in the crowd was trying to listen. The brutal eye-for-an-eye gorefest of topless ladies and blood accompanying Murmaider was impressive, and a few people giggled when they saw Toki in his "Underwater Friends" oxygen tank. I can imagine the animation being expanded upon and improved, maybe with a more in-depth story line unique to the live show. Still, it's effective in its current state.
If you've been watching the Metalocalypse unfold on Adult Swim, I would advise you to come and see the live version. It was worth it - long lines, excessive Ticketbastard fees and all!
A massive line of kids formed outside of the stone-walled building, which was once a church. By the time I got inside, Soylent Green was nearly done with their set. I overheard a couple of people saying that they sucked, but a few other people were there especially to see them. They played with a lot of intensity and energy.
I was standing toward the edge of the room, but a few shock waves from the pit reached me during Chimaira. As the floor vibrated with stomping feet, the music was so loud I could feel my insides quivering! That's a sensation I haven't experienced since I was a concert virgin. If you have to go to work the next day and answer the phone for someone like Ofdensen, I'd recommend ear plugs.
As the stage was prepared for Dethklok, the newest Zimmers Hole release was played, leading to preemptive bellows of glee when Nathan's cameo in "The Vowel Song" was heard. More yelling ensued when a roadie came out to ensure the microphones were ready to help Brendon Small execute Nathan's signature growl. Happy to not be standing behind the guy who was literally the height and width of an industrial refrigerator, I waited and chanted ("DETH-KLOK! DETH-KLOK!") along with the rest of them.
When the band emerged, they started the show with Metalocalypse's theme song. Brendon Small, an unassuming figure in black, played the real-life version of Skwisgaar's Gibson Explorer with the grave passion and stage presence of a concertmaster. You're not going to see a cheesy guitar face accompanying his epic shredding. The solos soared above the bestial growl of metal produced by the other musicians as he stood side by side with the second guitarist, who wielded an instrument shaped something like Toki's Flying V, but with sharper lines and an all-black body.
As anyone who's been to a metal show knows, there's something primal about it. I was shoved so close to the blonde kid in glasses beside me that I kind of felt like I should've bought him dinner first. Exchanging awed grins and trying to stay on our feet, we developed a wordless camaraderie. The enthusiasm of the crowd was awesome to see. I've gotten the impression from other bands' shows I've attended that people don't get excited about music anymore. That definitely isn't the case here. It's kind of funny to watch a bunch of kids screaming "MAKE A PROFIT OFF YOUR INTEREST YOU'LL INCREASE MY SALES TONIGHT!" Brendon's musicianship and wit have them hooked.
For the most part, the animated portion of the concert lived up to my expectations. One complaint: maybe it's just ear failure on my part, but it was nearly impossible to understand what was being said when there was dialog, even though everyone in the crowd was trying to listen. The brutal eye-for-an-eye gorefest of topless ladies and blood accompanying Murmaider was impressive, and a few people giggled when they saw Toki in his "Underwater Friends" oxygen tank. I can imagine the animation being expanded upon and improved, maybe with a more in-depth story line unique to the live show. Still, it's effective in its current state.
If you've been watching the Metalocalypse unfold on Adult Swim, I would advise you to come and see the live version. It was worth it - long lines, excessive Ticketbastard fees and all!