I feel like I talk about show attendance quite a bit, but for some reason I can never grasp why certain shows can sell out and others barely attract 300 people through the door. This came up again with the recent COC / Goatsnake show that took place at Neumos back on August 12th. After a bit of chin stroking I realized why Neumos remained partially full with upper bar closed to patrons on a Thursday night that boasted one of the best all around metal bills to saunter through town in some time.
The Reason: This show was a total “fans” show-- a rare commodity that comes around almost never and really only appeals to a very small slice of heavy music fans. Think about it, we had the “Animosity” era Corrosion of Conformity, that’s right the trio of Mike Dean, Woody Weatherman, and Reed Mullin playing songs that have been dormant for decades. Unless you are a COC completest, or were lucky enough be around during the early years, shit you probably have never even heard the metallic crossover thrash side of COC.
Goatsnake as well, there is the very real potential that people have all but forgotten about a project that is well overshadowed by the members’ other more recent endeavors (Sunn O))) for example), or just plain anonymity all together. Whatever the case may be, this show just seemed to be too obscure for the run-of-the-mill metal fan despite a few stellar up and coming acts in direct support.
The lack of headbangers in the room had absolutely no effect on the outcome of this one though; it was an ass kicker from start to finish. Corrosion of Conformity ransacked the early 80’s material with gusto in front of huge tapestry sporting the all too familiar spiked skull logo. COC kicked it old school for over an hour, and the night owls that stuck around beyond the 12:30am mark seemed to love every minute of it-- Kim Thayil and Ben Shepherd of Soundgarden were among those in for the long haul.
I will say that it was sweet seeing this version of COC, and I dig the recent wave of nostalgia tours especially the ones that predate my time, but nothing, NOTHING can stand up what the mighty Goatsnake did just prior. Bottom line is no one should ever have to follow such brilliance, and due to the sheer volume and energy, Goatsnake most definitely should have headlined because COC’s stripped down set was just no match sonically speaking.
Goatsnake is one of the melodically heaviest bands on the face of the planet, and the reunited stoner metal goliaths featuring Greg Anderson of Sunn O))), Pete Stahl of The Earthlings?, and the dude who played bass on fucking “Demon Cleaner” **High Five**, that’s right Scott Reeder of Kyuss, just about decimated and perforated any sense of the word heavy that I had previously known. After the show I questioned so many bands I deemed the heaviest before. The few that have retained their stature post-Goatsnake 2010 are of course the Melvins, Eyehategod, and probably Torche but few others. There was one point in the show were Reeder hit a pedal or something that elevated his already immense testical shaking bass tone into the upper stratospheres of massive. The sound that emanated from his cabinets literally had me grabbing to make sure my balls didn’t full on separate from my body. It was intense, fucking intense enough for Matt and I to instantly turn to each other and mouth the words “holy fuck!” or some other similar fervent expletive. A major highlight was indeed “El Coyote”, a song I contend to be one of the grooviest tracks ever laid to wax. It features an intense stoner metal guitar riff courtesy of Anderson, mixed with some disgusting harmonica filler supplied by Stahl and live was the equivalent to a stoner metal orgasm.
Also on the bill was Seattle’s own Black Breath who was way over shadowed by the headliners of the evening. They meagerly warmed up the crowd but this really wasn’t their crowd. Their crowd packed the hell out of the Black Lodge a few days earlier. No worries we all know they rule.
Eagle Twin played second. It took me a while to warm to Eagle Twin initially, I had given the duo’s record a spin or two but it never stuck. Unfortunately for me too, I missed last year’s opportunity to check them at Southern Lord Fest because I was late. So for my first time I stood directly in front of guitarist Gentry Densely, who in turn stood in front of an impressive wall of Sunn stacks. This man is a mad scientist, and some truly amazing and otherworldly shit was laid down right before my eyes. I’ve honestly never seen a guitar played like that. It was like he was making the most passionate attentive love to that modded see-through guitar-- such intricate picking and odd chord structures-- even as a guitar novice I can tell that he is doing something special. The result was some seriously brutal sounding molten sludge metal. If he didn’t get off, somebody in the room had too.
Opening was the new project from COC bassist Mike Dean and drummer Reed Mullin. Solid sludge metal with lots of meaty riffs and of course one of the best bass players ever, making it look so easy-- definitely worth checking out.
Words by Nik Christofferson
Photo Credits:
Mike Dean of COC | Photo by Nik
Greg Anderson of Goatsnake | Photo by Nik
Gentry Densely of Eagle Twin | Photo by Nik
Eagle Twin's Amps | Photo by Nik
It was an interesting show. I expected more of a response from the crowd for BB but I suppose it had more to do w/ the age of the audience. My only disappointment was not being able to get a COC shirt. The marketing and promotion guy in me wonders what the they were thinking not having any merch other than a hoodie and some records. Otherwise, good show! - Roy
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