[PIC I TOOK MISSING]
Torche's bassist lays down the cable slappage
While their drummer The Tasmanian Devil shreds the skins
Yarp - it was a hot show. The openers, a band called From Monument To Masses, were the sort of emo/indy band that I thought might lack, but they put on an interesting set full of weird rhythms [the bassplayer was annoying in his overtly slapdashery mannerisms (I hate that), but he put on a decent groove, although the soundboard guy was pretty bad - mainly he allowed too much bass, and some monitors were out for PC effects and whatnot]. Most of the show either the drummer was signalling the sound guy to UP this monitor or that one, and the vocalist did as well, so it got to be pretty distracting. However, somehow Monument To Masses delivered a pretty impressive set. Not something I'd go out of my way to purchase on CD, but I enjoyed hearing it live nonetheless.
Then the TORCHE roadies began assembling their stage gear. When they finally went on, well let me just say, at least one-fourth of the dredg kids left to either hang outside or up front by the vending machines, behind closed doors to mute the eardrum -destroying rock and roll that TORCHE delivered, and lemme tell ya somethin'. Ya, it was my first time seein' TORCHE - (I missed em last time around, when they toured with BORIS, no less) - but these 3 Floridians (I think they are) were like, if Tenacious D got the most insane drummer ever - (and KG shed 85 pounds and worked out) - - that would be TORCHE [Guys in Torche: take note--that means I think you rock Satan's bitchtits]. Their lead singer /guitarist looks like Jack Black's evil twin. But its all about the drummer, with TORCHE. I'm serious: that mo'fo' is probably the most wound-up, tightly coiled drummer I ever seen. He was a human tornado, reminescent of Bonzo due solely to how damned hard he hit the skins. Only, picture John Bonham on crack - (i.e, speed him up almost twice as fast) - -and you have the TORCHE drummer. A thing of unbelievable fury - like the Tasmanian Devil going apeshit. I really enjoyed the rock'n'roll fury that is TORCHE; whereas, at least one of my friends who went with, thought they were horrible. So did at least one-fourth of the young indy crowd who were there to see dredg (most of em probably for the first time) - they couldn't handle the testosterone-demon-fueled energy of TORCHE, leaving the up front area so their poor lil' indy ears wouldn't sustain so much damage, awwww. By all means I should have a sprained neck today (due to TORCHE), but I was rather relaxed during last night's show, so luckily I'm not feeling the whiplash this morning.
[PIC I TOOK MISSING]
On comes dredg. One of the funniest things Gavin said was "We're still trying to get our "e" back from TORCHE -- they stole it from us." That got a good chuckle from a small portion of the crowd. Anyone there who was seeing dredg for the first time, was blown away. I was blown away, for the nth time. But you know how it is - (don't you?) - after you've seen a particular band over a half-dozen times, sometimes the parts of their set that have been most-repeated, start getting a tad old. I hate saying that, because these songs are as fresh as ever -in particular, if you haven't heard them nine times before. So yeah, there's a modicum of weariness with me when it comes to having to hear the same damn songs again and again - - but I brightened up immediately upon hearing the new shit. My favorite song of the night was this new one that I've dubbed "tattered limits" (the song title isn't out yet, or if so, I missed it), its a full-blown progressive grunge pop ballad of such heartbreaking vocal intensity, it literally hits you right out of the box with Gavin Hayes' most impassioned vocal delivery yet. [ed. note: I later learned this is the song "Ireland".] It really must be heard to be believed. When the new album drops (in June - its been pushed back yet again), hearing that song at maximum volume will be my main priority. A more impassioned vocal delivery I have seldom heard. Its melody is one-hundred-percent goosebump-inducing, and is exactly the reason this is one of my personal favorite bands that ever lived.
Dredg will be back in June, July, or August touring on the heels of this, their seminal "senior effort", or fourth album (by which all bands must be judged), what I honestly believe will be their "breakout album" - - watch for it. I've long believed that dredg will blow up as big as Pearl Jam, and I still believe it. Their rise to prominence among the greatest bands that ever existed is assured (and in the opinion of all their fans, already achieved). If you want to be taken on a musical journey that will carry your soul on winds of purified emotional catharsis, do not miss out on seeing this band live. Once you catch them without arms you'll never want to miss another show of theirs.
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