Razorywyre, Beastwars, Methdrinker S.F.B.H. Sep 28

Arrived at the San Francisco Bathhouse in time to see Methdrinker setting up. ALthough they have songs on a few releases out there, they were a totally new band to both my eyes and ears. Before heading up the stairs I heard someone describing their music as mind-numbingly slow. They were Eyhategod type sludge wallowers and had a guitarist and drummer co-handling vocals. The band were great live and were a perfect warm-up complement for the heaviness of Beastwars.

Methdrinker

Beastwars, really, were the band I wanted to see despite the show really being Razorwyre's album release party. The band seemed to be on fire and tighter than I'd seen them before, maybe because their own album was recently released outside New Zealand and also because they had a new album in the works. The band's singer comes across like a drunken sailor as he bellows out the band's lyrics which lends itself perfectly to the heavy vibe of impending doom. If Killing Joke really are the sound of the apocalypse, then there are bound to be arguments whether Beastwars are the sound of the warm-up or the aftermath.

Beastwars

Razorwyre have improved greatly live since I last saw them which is going on for over a year ago. The band's blend of heavy metal is closer to NWOBHM than it is eighties thrash metal, which is why I have often found that I don't make it through all of the band's set and once again I didn't. The other reasons were I had work the next day and Beastwars were the band I had turned up to see.

Razorwyre

Compulsory bandcamp links

Methdrinker

Beastwars

Razorwyre



Small takeover on facebook

HLAH - SFBH, Wellington March 19, 2010

Another ridiculous local show with too many bands. Three support bands is too much when people are really only paying to see the headliner.

I caught the last song of Beastwars because I'd paid about an hour after the doors opened so took off and watched the rugby league game to the end. The song I heard sounded like it was lifted from the heavier spectrum of the 90's Seattle sound.

A band started playing in the corner opposite the stage. They were called Rackets and soundwise fell somewhere between Green Day, Fugazi and The Buzzcocks. The three piece swapped instruments a few time and threw a lot of T-shirts into the crowd.

Due to Rackets not playing on the stage, Gaywyre were able to start soon after the previous band had finished playing. The band played an energertic set of old school 80's metal with a NWOBM feel but really from what I saw of Beastwars and the audience reaction they would have been the better to have before the headliners.

Head Like a Hole came on at midnight and went down a treat. The last time I remember seeing them was, soon after I left home in the early nineties, during their playing naked period. Their early industrial was represented through tracks like "Nevermind Today", "Fish Across Face", "Spanish Goat Dancer" and newer hard rock material with tracks like "Corndog", "Wet Rubber" and "Comfortably Shagged". Booga dedicated their version of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" to the ladies. I turned round and looked at the barstaff and saw them all singing along. One song featured a young horn section who came on and played well for one song then left. The encore included "Hootnanny". Nakendness was not delivered and the band are reputed to have given up narcotics however the noise was still there.

Personal live favourite, "Nevermind Today" was the first song HLAH ever wrote. Here's the video.

UK Subs/Skaface Claw/Gaywyre @ Bar Bodega Wellington 22 Oct 2009

Missed the UK Subs the previous night in Palmerston North so went to the Wellington show at Bar Bodega. First band up were Gaywyre, who other than a Discharge cover were very much in power metal mode. A song or two sound either like Helloween or Iron Maiden with shrill squeals that were sometimes used when the singer spoke.



Above pic: Gaywyre

Next in line were Skaface Claw. They'd been a three piece the previous few times I'd seen them. This time they had a different drummer and were playing as a five piece with a keyboard and sax player. Their ska punk went down a treat.

Below pics: Skaface Claw







After a short break headliners UK Subs took the stage and Charlie Harper and Nicky Garret move around the stage like they were at least half their age.
The subs played most of their well known songs like "Warhead", "Stranglehold", "Rockers", "C.I.D." etc. Punkfest being during the weekend brought in extra punters and the crowd was reasonably large.

Below pics: UK Subs







Here's a youtube version of "Warhead" from the show. Warning: The sound quality is similar to the average live tape from tape trading days and will provide nostalgia for some and annoyance to others as it should be.