Music / Previews
Metal & Prog Picks: August 2022
This month sees the return of ‘obscene’ shock metallers GWAR for their first Bristol show in 17 years. What will censorious Gen Z make of them? We’re about to find out. There’s also classy AOR from the great FM, weirdo psych from the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and the welcome return of Bristol’s best music festival: ArcTanGent.
Fleece, August 10
is needed now More than ever
True story: Back in the 1980s, theatrical shock metallers GWAR were considered such a threat to the nation’s morals that the Avon and Somerset Constabulary intervened to prevent them playing at the Bristol Bierkeller. “We enjoy a good working relationship with the police and I am not prepared to jeopardise that to get a 10 foot penis onstage,” Bierkeller Entertainments Manager Andy Fox told the press, with a commendably straight face. The cops clearly decided they had better things do (like, y’know, catching criminals and stuff) when GWAR returned and actually managed to play a show at the venue in 2005, where protective plastic macs were on sale for £2 a pop. “This isn’t just about meaningless violence,” declared Oderus Urungus from the blood-spattered stage. “It’s about meaningless sexual violence!” On was wheeled ‘Paris Hilton’, who squeaked: “My pussy is, like, really rancid!” Oderus promptly severed the lower half of her torso with his giant gnarly sword, sending jets of theatrical blood over the first three rows. The anatomically correct rancid parts were eventually handed back to her, allowing ‘Paris’ to pleasure herself orally.
The truth about these self-styled scumdogs of the universe is that they started out as a performance art collective of sculptors, artists, filmmakers and musicians. Their aim was to push the buttons of the easily offended – a noble mission that is arguably even more important today. Sadly, founder Oderus (real name: Dave Brockie) died of a heroin overdose in 2014, his role being taken by Blöthar the Berserker (real name: Michael Bishop). The collective’s profile has recently been raised by an excellent Shudder documentary, This is GWAR (see trailer above). Expect to enjoy more gory celebrity/political sacrifices tonight, though it remains to be seen whether they’ve had time to come up with a rubbery Boris Johnson costume. Just make sure you’re wearing clothing that you don’t mind destroying. This is going to get messy. Support comes from Edinburgh’s Party Cannon, who boast the jolliest logo in all of death metal.
https://youtu.be/RP7A9L_zT_g
ArcTanGent Festival
Fernhill Farm, August 17-20
It’s a big welcome back to ArcTanGent, Bristol’s award-winning (Best Small Festival at the UK Festival Awards 2018) celebration of all things prog-metal, post-rock, math-rock and general musicianly noodling. With more than 100 acts over five alternating stages on the compact site, you’re bound to find something you like. This year’s big coup is the mighty Opeth who headline on Saturday night. Check ’em out at Hellfest a few weeks back in the video above. Other highlights to look out for are Leprous (back at SWX next Feb), Pallbearer (back at the Fleece in Nov), Jo Quail, Conjurer (back at the Exchange in Oct), Enslaved, Tesseract, Zeal and Ardour (back at the Trinity in Nov), Alcest, Amenra, Boss Keloid and AA Williams (back at the Thekla in Nov). But, hey, that’s just a personal selection . . .
Thekla, August 21
It’s been said many times, but is always worth repeating: while the likes of Journey, Toto, Bon Jovi and Foreigner became huge international stars whose enduring AOR anthems are continuously revived, feature in jukebox musicals and are secretly loved by too-cool-for-school types who pretend to hate them, their equally talented British counterparts stood little chance against a hostile music press back in the 1980s. Top of the heap were FM, whose debut album Indiscreet richly deserved to go multi-platinum. But it didn’t. A series of equally top-notch albums ensued, followed by a 12 year hiatus. When they got back together for a one-off reunion show in 2007, they were astonished at the enthusiastic response. So FM just kept on going, recently releasing their 13th album, titled, erm, Thirteen. They may be older and gnarlier these days, but who isn’t? As they demonstrated at their previous show round these parts, with Gun and the Dan Reed Network at the Academy, they’re still a great live act. And in Steve Overland they have one of the best voices in the business.
An added bonus for this run of dates is Bristol’s very own southern rockers Sons of Liberty. One of the first acts to hit the road after lockdown was lifted, they headlined this very venue a year ago – almost to the day. Since then, they’ve shed vocalist Rob Cooksley and acquired a replacement Rob in the form of Rob Walker. It’s not clear at this stage whether New Rob is going to be a permanent member of the band, but word is they’re very happy with him. And they have an enviably packed gig schedule for the rest of the year, during which a decision will no doubt be made.
Thekla, August 27
Perth’s prog-psych weirdos finally return to the UK, having seen their fourth album Shyga! The Sunlight Mound nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album back home. Classic Rock hailed its “twisting riffs and spluttering time signatures” and noted approvingly that Glitter Bug “evokes Yes, albeit compressed from a Topographic Ocean into a sparkling nugget.” File alongside Tame Impala and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard in the bulging New Wave of Leftfield Psychedelic Rock from Down Under category.
Main pic: GWAR by Jeremy Saffer
COMING SOON
Here’s our essential diary of upcoming gigs that should be of interest to anyone of a rockin’ disposition.
Gloryhammer/Brothers of Metal/Arion, SWX, Sept 9
Akercocke, Exchange, Sept 11
CJ Wildheart/Scott Sorry/Grand Theft Audio, Fleece, Sept 15
Evergrey, Thekla, Sept 19
Magnum, Fleece, Sept 19
Vola/Voyager, Fleece, Sept 27
Deafheaven, SWX, Sept 29
Cheap Trick, O2 Academy, Oct 4
Steve Hackett, Bath Forum, Oct 5
Anthrax/Municipal Waste, O2 Academy, Oct 6
The Sheepdogs, Thekla, Oct 7
Rosalie Cunningham, Chapel Arts Centre Bath, Oct 8
Coheed & Cambria/Thrice/Touche Amore, O2 Academy, Oct 14
Ryan Hamilton & Warner E. Hodges, Thekla, Oct 16
Amenra, Fleece, Oct 16
Dare, Fleece, Oct 23
Skid Row/Winger/Phil X and the Drills, O2 Academy, Oct 23
Cradle of Filth, Marble Factory, Oct 27
Rosalie Cunningham, Thekla, Oct 30
Conjurer, Exchange, Oct 31
Despised Icon/Decapitated, Fleece, Nov 2
Pallbearer/Elder, Fleece, Nov 3
Zeal & Ardor, Trinity, Nov 8
Fozzy, O2 Academy, Nov 12
Saxon, Bath Forum, Nov 15
AA Williams, Thekla, Nov 18
Gong/Ozric Tentacles, Trinity, Nov 20
Crobot, Fleece, Nov 21
Frost*, Komedia, Bath, Nov 30
Rick Wakeman, Bath Forum, Dec 3
Clutch, O2 Academy, Dec 13
Lamb of God/Kreator, O2 Academy, Dec 16
Imonolith, Exchange, Jan 26
Epica/Apocalyptica, O2 Academy, Jan 30
Karnivool, O2 Academy, Feb 3
Leprous, SWX, Feb 11
Katatonia/Solstafir, Marble Factory, Feb 12
Revocation, Fleece, Feb 16
Back Star Riders/Michael Monroe/Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, O2 Academy, Feb 22
Beast In Black, Fleece, Feb 22
Avatar, SWX, Feb 23
Napalm Death, O2 Academy, March 7
Ville Valo, O2 Academy, March 10
WASP, O2 Academy, March 23
Devin Townsend, O2 Academy, March 29
Bloodywood, Fleece, March 29
The Zombies, Fleece, April 13
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