I have a simple credo that I live by - "If I'm still thinking about how much I spent on a concert after it's done, then it probably means that the show really wasn't all that good." In all honesty, the show came very close to that point. While it was a treat seeing Max Cavalera once again tearing up the stage with a new (familiar) set of hired guns - my first being this year's Infliktour with Cavalera Conspiracy - this night paled in comparison to the latter show by a wide margin, marred by shortened sets all around and a lackluster vibe from the crowd of sweaty headbangers crammed into the small venue and bands who, for the most part, managed to get by despite short sets.
DEVASTATION - Beginning with this early 90s nostalgic act of over-the-hill musicians who, according to frontman Rodney Dunsmore, had toured with Sepultura and Death back in the early days and were now opening the show. Like dinosaurs recently thawed out in the present, these guys seemed a bit tired at first but soon relaxed into their opening act role and got the crowd to move. I wouldn't say they were bad, but were somewhat stiff. You can see the age on both their collective faces and their ability to play. You have a drummer who resembles a lazier version Tony Laureano, who refuses to take off his sunglasses because apparently he thinks he's cool, and then you have a skirt-wearing guitar player who is more inclined to noodle (i.e. show off) his abilities rather than connect with a new-found audience.
Originally, they were not a part of the inital tour, as they don't even have a label to call their own, but somehow managed to convince Max and Gloria that they still had some juice left in them. I think Devastation have some fight left in them, but they really shouldn't quit their day-jobs anytime soon. A lack of connection with the audience won't carry you far. Enjoy the ride while you can, fellas. Set Rating: B-
INCITE - Daddy's little step-child and his little friends are at it again. Same songs, same energy, same banging the mic against your head routine.... so why wasn't I thrilled? Could be the ambivalent feeling I got from each member as I waited outside the venue, or maybe just that feeling of "been there, done that, let's see something new" that I felt throughout the set. I'd like to say that I was blown away by the group, and there were moments which I'm sure exist, but there wasn't anything in the way of progression since I saw them on Infliktour. And while the players are all talented and capable, it's painfully obvious that this is a case of blatant nepotism of using Papa Max to further their name rather than be like every other struggling band and make it on their own? At least their EP isn't that expensive - going for a cool $5!
They're not bad to watch, in fact I wrote that they were the only opening act EVER to get me (and the crowd) moving and were good enough to stand on their own, but after a while they become endangered of being nothing more than a talented novelty act - Max's step-child and friends are trying to play with the big boys. I mean, why doesn't Jack Osbourne get with a bunch of other burn-outs and smack his head against a mic? I'm sure Ozzy could use him to open Ozzfest. As good as Incite may be one day, and even I have grown to like each person as individually, they still have much to learn. Set Grade: B-
BLEED THE SKY - The same can be said for this bunch of dudes from the state of Oklahoma (according to MySpace, or California if you're going by Wikipedia). Nice guys, but nothing in the way of anything explosive or memorable. They seem to indulge in making a mosh pit, just like the previous bands before them, and thanking the crowd profusely for coming out, but this band from Nuclear Blast just don't seem to grab me, as some of their more established labelmates (Exodus, Testament, et al). There is nothing that would suggest any longevity or creativity, but simply riding the tide of the popular melodic groove metal/metalcore that is seeping into the mainstream. I could be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time, but I need to see (or rather hear) more. Quite frankly, I can't tell watching them live. Grade Set: B-
SOULFLY - It's always a thrill when you get to the end of the show, after all the posers and wanna-bes have departed from the stage, and you feel the energy from the crowd as it surges throughout the venue and there, standing before you, is a legend - at least to the Latin community - and he starts playing classic tunes from his previously popular band, then everyone is on their feet banging away and you have no choice but to join them.... you can only feel this way at the main event. The saving grace of the evening and the reason why we paid $26-$28 to see this show, Max Cavalera and the Soulfly crew did not disappoint, jamming out songs from Soulfly's latest effort, Conquer, such as show opener "Blood Fire War Hate" and "Unleash" (the latter being with Incite's Richie Cavalera filling in for Dave Peters) as well as an abridged set (from 17 to only 9 songs) from Sepultura faves like "Roots Bloody Roots" and "Refuse/Resist" to Soulfly gems like "Seek 'n' Strike," "Back to the Primitive," "Babylon," and closing the show out with "Eye for an Eye."
BEST MOMENT OF THE EVENING - A entertaining jam session with drums and oil cans ensued as every drummer from the previous bands, and members of Soulfly, played to a specific drum beat that was quite amusing and proved to be a highlight of the night. Even my show-buddy, who name I don't even remember, got to go up onstage and jam on Max's oil can. Lucky bastard! At least Max personally handed me his guitar pick.... again! (The same thing happened at Infliktour.)
I had my fedora hat on throughout the first three sets, a good indiction of the lack of energy from the crowd (no crowd surfers or heavy mosh-pits, for example), but that all changed with the first Soulfly song. There is something about Max Cavalera that makes the crowd go nuts. There is something honest and painful in the way he sings and somehow that connects with the crowd of eager Hispanics and faux Brazilians. And while the throng of spics did manage to behave themselves, it wouldn't be a good show without a few unruly douchebags to kickyou in the head and knock off your hat. Either way, Soulfly managed to save the show, despite gripes from the crowd over the short set and no time for an encore. Set Grade: B+
AFTER THE SHOW - I had quite the adventure with some of the characters from the show. Incite's portly drummer Zak Sofaly and his "infinite wisdom" tried to tell me how he felt about my site, www.heavymetalnation.com, and that he didn't really dig it. Fine, it is his opinion, but it became clear that he missed the point, and the humor, behind its creation and came off like a slobbering dog with nothing positive to say other than I was being mean, despite getting a decent rating. Looks like the hobbit needs his ego stroked. On the other hand, I received some diplomatic and far more intelligible comments from his bandmates, bassist Luis Marrufo and guitarist Dis, who don't seem to mind my reporting (some might say trashing) of others. They seem to see the humor of it and even like it, as it bears no relevance as to who they are and what they are capable of. Sofaly should change his name to "Sofullofshit." But, of course, he would fail to see the humor in that.
Chatting with Bleed the Sky's Justin and Austin was fun. I was especially taken by Justin candid words. He wants Bleed the Sky to be "the Beatles" and he wants his music to reach people. He enjoys getting free beer, even though he doesn't get paid much. He has to ride in a dingy, cramped van with other people than ride on a luxury bus like Incite (it pays to have a relative in Soulfly) get to do. There is something sad in his voice when Justin tells me this, as he knows that Bleed the Sky will never be as big as the Beatles, yet he hopes to at least headline a tour one day. Austin is a bit more playful, as I play him Slayer's upcoming track "Psychopathy Red." Rather than tell me his hopes and dreams, he is more about living in the here and now and is along for the ride for as long as it goes.
Later on in the evening, Bobby Burns, who looks like a tattooed twin of Poison's Rikki Rockett, is a friendly and fun-loving dude who chats with a small group of show-buddies about nothing special. To me, Burns looks like he should be playing for some screwball emo/screamo group rather than a band as gifted as Soulfly. But that's just based on looks, not on his abilities as a bassist, which are actually pretty good. And though drummer Joe Nunez and guitarist Marc Rizzo beat a hasty retreat to the hotel, I did get a chance to meet and speak with Max Cavalera. I saw his wife/manager Gloria throwing out the trash and wanted to get a picture with her. I found her to be cold, quiet, dull and boring but at least she did pose in the picture with me and eventually got Max to come out and greet me and my show-buddies.
Max, despite ripping his vocals to shreds, was kind and gracious in a whispered voice. He signed everyone's autographs and took pics, and regaled us with a story of how Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, nu-metal's resident idiot, burned many bridges and ultimately fucked up his and the band's career. He talked about scenes from the film "City of Man" and how movies like that affect him. Without security to interfere, I told Max that my brother and I reunited after years of being apart, much like how he and his douchebag little brother Iggor had been. Max proves why he is one of the most respected people in metal today. His graciousness offstage and brutal performances onstage balance each other out, and it's why so many fans - especially the Latinos - respond to him so well, because he's just like them. Humble and simple. Show Grade: B
SHIT LIST (Where Douchebags Come to Play)
ZAK "SoFullAShit" SOFALY
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