Three months in succession, have taken in a Night time Demon gig, at some distant venue: August, the Rock And Roll Corridor Of Fame (Cleveland, OH), September: ProgPower USA (in Atlanta, GA) and now, Frost & Fireplace, of their hometown of Ventura, CA. The periodic occasion is the mind belief of bassist/singer Jarvis Leatherby, who has (every now and then, and along with the 5 gatherings at house) transported his music fest abroad. This marks BraveWords first expertise with the social occasion and hope it received’t be the final, though apparently it will likely be some time earlier than the following one.
The band plan to take a minimum of all of 2026 off, from touring. He, guitarist Armand John Anthony and drummer Brian Wilson will use the time to write down/document a brand new Night time Demon document (as properly one for hometown legends Cirith Ungol, a minimum of for the moonlighting pair of musicians). So Frost & Fireplace was each a triumph and one thing of a bitter capsule to swallow, understanding full properly it could be an extended whereas, till the following reside gig. Not that the laborious touring act hasn’t earned some “time without work.” Moreso than normal, time with buddies (together with band members) was a minimum of as vital because the music, therefore there could also be small gaps within the protection under.
The Bombay Bar & Grill sports activities two phases: the tiny entrance of the home one, wedged between the entrance entrance and facet door to the patio (the place bands arrange merch tables) and a much bigger, extra conventional “membership measurement” stage within the again room. A protracted bar runs the whole size of the membership and meals is accessible on the premises too. Nevertheless, convey your pockets, as costs in California are excessive (even by music venue costs), needing to offset the state’s $16.50 per hour, minimal wage!
Each days noticed doorways at 3 PM, the primary band at 4. Friday, properly, that was the plan anyway. Wally World, a band of outdated surfers have been 20 minutes late for a half hour set. Supposedly they’ve essentially the most YouTube hits of any band on the invoice, however for all of the unsuitable causes. Appears everybody was in on the joke, even the band, whose merch referenced “Increase Some Kaine” (nothing to do with the quick meals/hen outlet). That stated, at one level, the singer stated, “We all know what you wish to hear,” however the one point out of Kaine was on their inexperienced on white T-shirt on the market, exterior. There’s an unwritten rule about multi-band fests hiring younger bands (who haven’t performed many reveals) or older bands, who additionally don’t play out too usually, as there are too many issues that inactivity can have an effect on (calls for, sound checks, not being prepared on-time). As soon as the singer/guitarist arrived (lengthy drive/visitors), they proved to be satisfactory laborious rock from some outdated surfer dudes.
Whereas the time slots weren’t presupposed to overlap, alternating between the 2 phases, Salt Lake Metropolis primarily based Bloodstar siphoned off the lion’s share, as soon as they began. Through the bouncy opener, “All For Nothing”, the purple and purple LED lights highlighted Madeline Michelle’s blond hair. Bassist Noah Henley had an electrical fan, at his ft, to billow his hair, as he performed. “Fearless Priestess” has followers punching the air. Band was filming an old-fashioned video (full with handheld camcorder) for the countrified, mid-tempo “Tower Street”. From the darkish facet on stage proper, guitarist Jamison Palmer (who did a stint as Night time Demon street supervisor, even donning the Rocky mascot costume) ventured to the middle. “Silver Stallion” will get issues again on observe, then Michelle requested if the group was “prepared for sooner songs?” Cue “No One Wins”, with the singer’s tresses flailing side-to-side. She additionally hits sustained excessive notes on “Going Dwelling”. One other new one, “Demons” begins with a rumble of bass and flooring toms. As inexperienced lights pulsate, it’s quick and aggressive, no pomp on this one. Ditto the prospers of double bass kick drums on “The Concern”. Enjoyable stuff!
Nonetheless not synced, when it comes to phases, Hang-out kicks off the postage stamp sized platform with “As Fireplace Burns”, whereas Bloodstar are ending up. Joel Dominguez (late of Saber, who have been a part of the line-up, earlier than they disbanded. What a disgrace!) was on guitar, subsequent to mainstay/frontman/guitarist Trevor Church. The 2 headbang violently. No shadowboxes/stage-front risers one often sees at Hang-out membership reveals, as they proceed with the extra mid-paced “Flashback”. Trevor intimates it’s tight onstage for the two-guitar foursome. The bassist provides backing vocals for “It’s In My Fingers”. The excessive pace “Hearts On Fireplace” sees Church ask for a vial of everybody’s blood, in order that he can clone all of them, in 20 years. Regardless, the group sings the titular refrain. With Trevor jerking again n forth, Joel takes the solo. “Gonna play some outdated shit” is the introduction to “Reflectors.” Later, for “Combat The Good Combat”, the singer acknowledges the gathering of buddies and different band members, earlier than ending with “Burst Into Flame”. There are rumors of an early spring run on the East Coast. If they arrive close by, don’t miss Hang-out. An ideal evening out!
The great music simply retains rolling, with Blade Killer (a band I by no means thought I’d get to see reside, as they fell off the face of the Earth, the final 4 years.) This was their first gig, since. I imply, it’s been seven years for the reason that debut, full-length, Excessive Danger. A lot of the set was culled from that platter (but additionally a pair off the preliminary Ep), however singer Carlos Gutierrez confirmed the band are again, devoted to enjoying extra reveals and new music. Many bands with a feminine bass participant hold her tucked away within the again, eye sweet and nothing extra, not so Blade Killer!
Kelsey Wilson is up entrance, enjoying a lead bass, like Steve Harris, which isn’t that shocking, given the sounds, however who cares, it rocks. A lot of the set was beneath purple lights, as they tore by means of “Misplaced Angels”. Nonetheless sooner, “Made Of Metal” presents screaming vocals, driving bass (plucking particular person notes) and an abrupt ending. “Rush Of Thunder” stream collectively, nearly seamlessly. Lights change to yellow and light-weight blue, as fists are thrust aloft for galloping “In The Arms Of The Satan”. Extra quick stuff, “Midnight Sinner” has tempo modifications galore, whereas “Excessive Danger” is greeted like an outdated pal (properly, it kind of is…). Hearken to these twin leads! The wonderful resurrection concludes with “On The Assault”. Help Blade Killer each likelihood and in any manner you’ll be able to. Other than our hosts, my favourite band of the weekend. Welcome again!
Night time Demon weren’t presupposed to be the celebs of the primary evening, former touring companion, Raven have been presupposed to be up final, however John Gallagher’s latest mind surgical procedure (subdural hematoma, aka bleeding on the mind) prevented that. Thus, the Demonic trio was thrust extra into the limelight (it’s THEIR present, in spite of everything). Though Rocky seems in the course of the intro tape, they open with “Screams In The Night time”, a pleasant strobe impact highlights the bassist/vocalist. “Curse Of The Damned” is lit in purple and inexperienced, as Jarvis makes a slashing movement throughout his neck, whereas he sings the titular lyrics. The group provides the refrain as Armand pinwheels his hair. It’s two purple and two blues for a chugging, however darkly lit “Devil”, the band’s faces not clearly seen. Jarvis and Armand meet, heart stage and it ends with the stage going black however segueing into racing “Full Pace Forward”.
The stage is black, other than lightning strikes, as pre-recorded “The Howling Man” intro performs out. However wait. No, it’s a canopy of “Black Sabbath”, beneath purple and inexperienced, as the group sings louder than Jarvis. Because it ends, they return to “The Howling Man”, Leatherby’s head seemingly on a pivot, ratcheting forwards and backwards. Extra backlighting, no faces. “Heavy Steel Warmth” is showered in alternating reds and yellows. Armand is heart stage to start out “Livin’ Harmful” and he’s the focal point for a canopy of Ace Frehley’s “Snowblind”, the guitarist taking up lead vocals. Facet-to-side synchronized stage strikes, beneath yellow lights, for “Mastermind”. That is how I need my Night time Demon: pushed, excessive power, filled with piss & vinegar, holding nothing again. “Run For Your Life” is beneath greens and light-weight yellows, whereas the axe wielding Eugene makes an look throughout “Killer”. Aqua and lavender shades spotlight “Save Me Now”, which sees the duo collectively, heart stage and concludes the whole thing of the Curse Of The Damned album.
By the tip of the set, Leatherby (who soaks his hair, earlier than going onstage) has Misfits type, satan locks drooping down his brow. He throws his head again, and so they disappear, simply as simply as they confirmed up. As all the time, they finish with a blistering rendition of their signature tune, Armand (whereas nonetheless enjoying his guitar) takes a experience atop the group. Upon departing, Jarvis shouts, “See you once more. Possibly not quickly, however once more.” Benefit from the time away boys. We’ll expect you.
The Bitch is again. Effectively, Betsy Weiss by no means actually went away. Right here, her outfit was an eleventh-hour substitute for Raven. No denying her historical past (first signee to Steel Blade) and made fairly an influence as a feminine fronted outfit, within the early days of metallic, which have been dominated by guys. The evening started chronologically, with a pair off the EP (“By no means Come Dwelling” and the “Damnation Alley” title observe). The muscular/lower singer nonetheless performs in a bra. On the different finish of the bookended set, extra old fashioned gems, like “Leatherbound” and “Be My Slave”, finish the evening. In between, (and considerably shocking) was the inclusion of a number of Betsy tunes, the late ‘80s album that softened the S&M materials of Bitch, searching for extra business/MTV audiences. Nonetheless, these classics convey again recollections.
At Gibson’s, a bar principally throughout the alley from Bombay, Angel Fury stored folks entertained, on the after social gathering, with a mixture of originals (signature tune, “The Forsaken One”, “The Iron Priest”) and a few well-placed covers: Warlock’s “Steel Racer” and Iron Maiden’s “Ace’s Excessive”. Extra tomorrow!
DAY 2
Our group (Jersey, Alabama, Arizona, Michigan and Switzerland!) sampled two of the quite a few microbreweries (Leashless & Ventura Coast), so we have been slightly late attending to the present. Night time Cobra (fronted by Hell’s Heroes promoter Christian Larson) have been shoehorned onto the entrance room stage, and able to rock. The 2-guitar, Texas primarily based quintet definitely get round, as that is the fourth time witnessing the noisy amalgam of punk, blackened thrash, and messy hillbilly rock n roll: by no means the identical factor twice. Along with his snake head mic holder, Larson is kind of energetic, even on this bodily limiting atmosphere. He headbangs with the guitarist throughout “Black Venom Goals” and performs air guitar. “Mortal Hazard” is a staple of the reside present and hits laborious, together with “Misplaced In Time”. Unsure how a canopy of “Turbo Lover” (Judas Priest, in case you reside beneath a rock) matches into the aesthetic, aside from perhaps being a JP fanboy or their common FU angle. Nonetheless, an odd finish to the present.
Have liked the music James Paul Luna has sung (White Wizzard, Holy Grail) and at present Intranced, actually a classically educated, however criminally underrated singer. The most recent (though at present engaged on a follow-up), Muerte Y Steel, embraces Hispanic tradition (with some Spanish lyrics), that are reprised within the reside present as properly the singer brandishing a macahuitl, the picket membership/paddle weaponry of the early Mesoamerican folks. “Switchblade” opens the evening, with Luna in a lavender cape. He tries to unfurl the material, flapping his arms, however on the tight stage, it threatens to get impaled on the drum {hardware}. The curly-haired vocalist bounces from one facet to the opposite, pumping his fist and headbanging, all the time with a smile on his face.
“Woman Lightning” kicks up the supply depth, a notch, as guitarist Fili Bibiano goes off. Facet reverse, there’s a brief reside substitute for Argentine bassist Nico Staub. Luna dons the cape once more, for Spanish language “La Fuerza Negra”. The half-English/half-Spanish title observe sees the singer in a tiger print shirt, waving the cudgel. He’s much more animated on “Upside Down”, off the preliminary EP, earlier than ending with their signature tune. Nice American metallic, that has already received hearts/ears of Europe, through a not too long ago concluded tour. Be part of the social gathering!
Subsequent up, Blind Phantasm, the ‘80s oddballs of the Bay Space scene. Within the late Eighties, as labels snapped up something and every thing thrash, particularly in/round San Fran/Oakland, Blind Phantasm have been lastly “cool.” By no means acquired the prospect to witness the band, which featured each Larry LeLonde (Possessed) and Les Claypool (Primus) on the ’88 Sane Asylum debut (after a minimum of a decade as a band). LeLonde and Claypool are a part of the legacy (Oh, wait, that’s Testomony… however I digress). At present, solely authentic singer/guitarist Mark Biedermann stays, with a brand new, year-old line-up, however they ran by means of that seminal disc, chronologically in its entirety. “Vengeance Is Mine” doesn’t have atonal reference factors, like so many bands now declare to be “off kilter.” Following “Kamikaze” the singer admitted it has been a very long time since they performed “Vicious Visions”. Nice to listen to a few of the outdated stuff once more, however over time, it has misplaced a few of the authentic “bizarre-ness,” and so many different bands can now play these riffs. My, how occasions change.
Was wanting to catch Early Moods once more. Love their tackle Sabbathy riffs. It began so properly, with singer Alberto Alcaraz (he of the most important, picked out ‘fro) commanding heart stage as they churned out “Spellbound”. The next was “Defy Thy Identify”, extra doom glory, however Alcaraz left the stage (by no means to return, a lot to the dismay of his bandmates). The band performed on, an instrumental model of “Return To Salem’s Gate”, till a super-charged fan jumped onstage and sang alongside. It lasted just a bit longer, vocal-less, earlier than ending manner too prematurely. Rumors shortly swirled out of Alcaraz being unable to sing/breathe as a consequence of Covid. That sucks, perhaps subsequent time (as a brand new album is on the way in which).
Disappointment shortly modified to pleasure, due to black tee/white pants uniformed Excessive Spirits and facially expressive frontman Chris Black. With repeated exposures, have grown to like the joyful, high-energy sing-alongs. Powerful to be grumpy when this stage crisscrossing troupe are round. Tonight, virtually motionless, standing subsequent to one another, that very same vibe nonetheless exists, due to a powerful catalog of songs. “Flying Excessive” is a good opener, declaring the intensions, succinctly and loudly. What a simple, immediately recognizable refrain. Simply good, enjoyable music and it continues with “In The Moonlight”. Such a easy formulation, however few do it higher. “Stressed”, “One Day Nearer” and the rousing “Full Energy”, the string continues unabated. “One other Night time In The Metropolis” stands out, as does the signature observe. When you haven’t seen Excessive Spirits, I most strongly recommend you are taking the following alternative that comes alongside: a assured enjoyable time. Thank me later.
Final band on was the unique Ventura metallic act, Cirith Ungol. OK, half the band is now Night time Demon guys, however the indominable voice of Tim Baker, and drummer Robert Garven stay. Nice to listen to a brand new album is within the works! Opening “Legions Come up” is shortly adopted by purple/blue lit traditional, “Atom Smasher”, Baker, in mirror sun shades, is almost immobile, heart stage, other than some arm and hand motions. Loads of old fashioned materials sprinkled with newer stuff, however most within the crowd had been following the band for many years. Baker sported wild, lengthy hair, again within the day and to see him now (wanting kind of like Howard Hessman, aka Dr. John Fever, from ‘70s TV present, WKRP In Cincinnati), it’s laborious to consider. The voice is simple. “I’m Alive”, begins a string of old fashioned chestnuts: rousing “Blood & Iron” (Jarvis Leatherby headbanging, albeit not as violent as in Night time Demon. Right here, he understands he’s a second banana.), blue/inexperienced lit “Chaos Descends” (take heed to that voice!) and the blue/purple illuminated pageant calling card: “Frost & Fireplace”, which featured the primary actual sustained guitar break/solo, courtesy of Armand John Anthony.
Realize it’s getting near Halloween, however the praying/kneeling skeletons, both facet of the stage, are replicas from the band’s emblem. “Black Machine”, beneath pink/purple lights, has Bakker as choir director, exhorting the viewers to sing alongside (as they’ve obliged, all through the evening, in full voice). The singer briefly leaves the stage, as Garven has a solo highlight. “Perpetually Black” is a powerful “new” tune, however “Grasp Of The Pit” and “King Of The Useless” are unparalleled and discover myself getting misplaced within the enjoyable, singing alongside. Might solely be topped by the encore: “Be part of The Legion”. On the finish, the band rescinded their beforehand introduced “retirement” (therefore the forthcoming, albeit nonetheless beneath building, studio launch). Nice strategy to ship everybody house! Lengthy reside Cirith Ungol.
