We breakfasted at Denny`s (again) and headed to the club. There`s a tent to the side of the club where bands could set up and tear down. Great idea actually. Walked in just as Soulpreacher were starting. Holy shit. The biggest surprise of the whole weekend. I`d already gotten into their "Black Sun Rises..." record, but it still didn`t prepare me for the true doom onslaught I witnessed live. A real metal band. Fuck yeah. And totally cool guys. Had to introduce ourselves to them as soon as they hit the floor because they just won me over so big. See them live at all costs.
Soulpreacher Live at
Emissions from the Monolith 2
(Click photos for larger versions)
So there we were shooting the shit with Soulpreacher and The Rubes while Sunnshine played a killer set inside of melodic stoner/doom. And then we were on.
Sunnshine Live at
Emissions from the Monolith 2
(Click photos for larger versions)
I don`t remember too much about our set actually, except that it was the best we played, ever. Rob kept warning me "we might blow it at the fest, you never know". But we didn`t. The crowd of 40 or so dedicated rockers that were there at 3pm on sunday were showing their love. And we gave it back with a newfound gusto that has somehow stuck with us. I can honestly say that Emissions was a defining moment for Witch Mountain that made us a better band.
Witch Mountain Live at
Emissions from the Monolith 2
(Click photos for larger versions)
Before we knew it, we were done, and loading out into the tent as Sea of Green headed to the stage.
Sea of Green Live at
Emissions from the Monolith 2
(Click photos for larger versions)
Sunday was the day of doom, and there were so many killer sets played that my mind reels at the memory. We were all pretty excited to see a lot of east coast legends that haven`t made it out our way (at least not in recent memory) like Penance, Unorthodox. Met Dennis from Oversoul and watched a powerful set from them. They roughed up their album sound in a good way on stage and really captured the room with their long, intensely emotional dirges. So much melody.
Good friends Warhorse had arrived early enough to catch our set at 3, and we returned the favor standing in the front row, letting our guts just rumble as they played possibly the heaviest set of the weekend. So fucking original and good. I`ve had the luck to see these guys several nights in a row when we toured with them, and there is nothing like it.
Another highlight for me was an hour spent in the tent during Earthride`s set (yes I caught some Earthride. Sherman can sing his ass off). But this hour was well spent in the sole company of two of the finest drummers around, Gary Isom from Spirit Caravan and Mike Hubbard from Warhorse. Mike was tearing down while Gary was setting up. It was amazing to be treated as a peer by these guys. Such down to earth people. And so much talent. A great moment in time that I`ll never forget. I`m not kissing ass and I`m not starstruck. I just really appreciate this music scene and the way the musicians interact with each other, and with the fans.
And then, Spirit Carvan hit the stage. The room was finally full of people and love was in the air. Wino had an array of guitars laid out beside him and an arsenal of songs from the brand new "Elusive Truth" album, back to the earliest Obsessed material. There were a lot of older women hanging at the front of the stage that looked like they might have been Obsessed groupies back in the early 80s! Serious obsession indeed.
There really was no other band that could have topped off the amazing lineup that Greg Barrett from Tone Deaf Touring assembled that weekend. Wino, Sherman, and Gary played with verve and had total command. They played at least 90 minutes, several encores, and Wino ended the night with a speech about the vibe he was feeling and the state of the music scene. Inspirational words from the leader of the movement.
Lots of goodbyes were said. High Times Rob, Crazy Craig, Ilka from FlyPR, The Rubes, Spirit Caravan, Warhorse, Underdogma, so many many good people to have all been hanging in one room under one flag.And then ten or more vans disappeared into the night, trying desperately to avoid the Ohio cops that hated us all.
We had a long haul to get to Iowa City, and I almost wish we`d skipped it. We drove ALL fucking day in order to be in Iowa monday night (remember we played in eastern Ohio on sunday!). Sucked ass. Gabe`s Oasis is actually a very cool club that has killer bands most nights of the week. John Hopkins ("Jhopkins" on the forums) was the soundman and promoter that night and he was as personable a guy as you could possibly hope to have in your corner. He set up the show for us, ran our sound, and offered us a place to stay. Great guy. Unfortunately, it was a monday and nobody came. The only people there were the terrible nu-metal bands that opened. These guys think Tool is the most underground alternative band in the universe. It was sick and sad. We were tired and pissed and Rob and I couldn`t help but make comments into the mic like "here`s what a band sounds like that has a record deal...". These poor copycat rejects will never understand what music is supposed to be about. Copying bands that are on the radio today just proves that you`re two years behind the times.
Red Giant Live at
Emissions from the Monolith 2
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Luckily, Jhopkins made sure we got all the money from the door and the nu-bands got zilch. I really appreciate that. We drank some beers, thanked John again, and headed to Cedar Rapids to stay with this hippy chick that had befriended Rob`s younger brother some while back. She had come to the show and drunkenly gave us directions back to her studio apartment. The space was tight, but the accomodations were killer. The couch converted into a bed, and everybody was comfy. She tried to get somebody to share her bed, but nobody was going to go there. I did take a hit off her inhaler though, and it put me right to sleep.
Next up was the marathon drive of the trip. Cedar Rapids (nice place) to Missoula, Montana. 27 hours. All I remember is being glued to the road, and sleeping in rest areas. These times become bleary moments of pain that the mind tends to suppress.
We rolled into Missoula after a day and night on the road. Missoula is really stunning. A quaint little downtown with a mountain looming above it. We had some great weather, and made sure to get a room with a pool. We deserved to treat ourselves by this time. It was pretty funny to watch Danno and Johnny swimming from up on the balcony. Reminded me a bit of Sea World.
Slow Horse Live at
Emissions from the Monolith 2
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Jay`s Upstairs is one of the most rocking clubs in the country. They treat the bands right and keep the alcohol flowing. The turnout for this show (wednesday) was not great, but the vibe in the air could not have been better. After sets from a couple of decent local rock bands, we hit the stage and felt the love. These people could not get enough, and by the end of the night, there were girls flashing us, making out with each other, screaming, dancing, and having general mayhem-style fun. We needed this pick-me up, although we made a point not to pick anyone up. Then it was back to the room for a little recharge before the final stint.
Drove across Montana the next day, stopping for some tasty burgers in Idaho. It`s too bad the most beautiful parts of Idaho are also mostly owned by evil people. We stopped for some scenic viewing and pissing off cliffs, and then jumped back in the van, bound for Seattle.
The drive was good til we got to the suburbs of Starbuckland, and then we hit traffic. Took an hour more to get to I-Spy, but we had plenty of time. There, we hooked up with our friend Billy Anderson and his band Blessing the Hogs. They were on tour with a noise-core band called Premonitions of War. Local nerd-metal fiends Bloodhag were in attendance to provide some local headlining action and hopefully a few extra bodies.
Unfortunately, those bodies never arrived. It was yet another dead night in Seattle. What is wrong with Washington state? Apparently, grunge really did die.
Regardless, we got to see some intensely sick music. Premonitions of War laid down the law in that Dillinger Escape Plan/noisecore way that makes all the kids go crazy. When the kids are there that is. Next up were the Hogs and the Mountain, and then Blood Hag took over.
Having seen Blood Hag a number of times over the years, I have to say they`ve really gotten their shit together.Originally a gimmick band of sorts, these guys are hilarious and heavy simulataneously. Wearing tape on their birth-control glasses, white button up shirts and ties, they look like four Clark Kents after a beating. The music is death metal, but it`s the lyrics that define them. Each song is named after, and about, a different science fiction author. Fans chant "Arthur C. Clarke!" and "Isaac Asimov"! Test them. They probably have a song about your favorite sf giant. Although I`ve been demanding a Gene Wolfe song for 3 years and still haven`t gotten it...On top of the blazing grind and the hilarious lyrics, the singer repeatedly reaches into a suitcase full of paperbacks and pelts the crowd with books in a mockery of punk gobbing and Gallagher theatrics. Funny shit that rocks hard. Their recent tour of Western Washing libraries (really!) has made them a tight little unit. Good guys, and they never fail to entertain.
Knowing we were so close to home, there was little question of staying the night in Seattle. We needed to get the fuck back to Ory-gone! So as dedicated, designated driver, I hopped in the driver`s seat once again and put the pedal to the floor. We drove through a hallucinatory morning in which I strove to keep my eyes open, crossing the Willamette river sometime around dawn. Desperate for my own bed, I took the liberty of heading to my house first :) I grabbed my toothbrush from the van and stumbled in my front door.
After sleeping for about 15 hours, it was time to rock once more. Home turf. Ash St Saloon. Welcome home show with Blessing the Hogs. Premonitions of War for whatever reason, decided to skip out entirely. Well, Portland doesn`t need or deserve that kind of attitude so we were better off without them. What else is there to say? The Hogs deliver a vicious, venomous set every time. Their singer berates the crowd with a hateful barage of insults and self-deprecatory comments that are pretty damn entertaining. Billy slings his axe low and plays like a wild man. Perhaps my favorite part of this group is the fact that the drummer holds down such tight rock & roll beats behind otherwise ridiculously fucked up tunes. If he busted out the Today is the Day jazz/shit approach, this band would be incomprehensible as music. But luckily, this drummer gets it, and holds it all together. Cool guys that will tear your head off live and party down with you after the show.
We hit the stage last, which has become pretty common at this point. At some point, Witch Mountain became a viable Portland headliner. Maybe putting out a record and doing two U.S. tours in one year actually counts for something in slacker town after all. But the bottom line remains: how do you keep the band sober enough to play when you don`t hit the stage til 1am? The answer: you don`t :) You just go with it and it seems to work.
