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LIVE REVIEWS

Sounds of the Underground Tour - Suicidal Tendencies, Gwar, Shadows Fall, Chimaira

A hot saturday afternoon drive to Orange County is just a start of an adventurous day to come. My fellow metalhead and I are on our way to the 3rd annual Sounds of the Underground festival in Irvine, Ca. A fun-filled day of loud music, overpriced food and drinks along with tired, sweaty, headbanging, fools. I can’t wait to hear and meet the bands that I’ve so much enjoyed on a day to day basis. This will be my second time attending this festival.

We finally arrive at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre parking lot without paying for parking. We get a little tailgating party in action while chatting with our parked neighbors. As I wander around, I come to find out there is a lot of Suicidal Tendencies fans here. Old school and new school heads ready to thrash to a band that has made way for many bands of this genre. wonderful experience After downing three Sapporos, we are ready to enter the venue. Ready to get searched I am quickly turned away because of my small sun umbrella. No problem I thought, then the second time around it’s my gum and makeup and autograph book that can’t enter. Why is my gum and makeup a problem I asked. The response was “The band doesn’t want them in”. I couldn’t help but laugh and walked away saying “You mean the venue doesn’t want it in. I ‘m sure the bands could careless, but hey it’s the rules so I obey just for the day.

After two trips to the car my buzz is wasted and I grew anxious. I just wanted to be inside to bask in the music. The first band we see on stage was Amon Amarth. A small crowd of headbangers are rocking as everyone else observe the band from Sweden. We caught the last two songs. I’m not really into Black Metal but it was O.K. Then Darkest Hour took the stage which I was hoping to be a good set, but unfortunately it did nothing for me. This band from D.C didn’t have that extra push that made me want to headbang. Don’t even think there was a moshpit. So we when and got food as I waited for Job For A Cowboy. I hear mix reviews about this these guys from Arizona. I like the sound but need to feel the energy live. Finally they took the stage and sure enough a pit started up. Three songs in with one strong metal pit, another pit arises. A hardcore pit fuels up with wannabe ninjas. Oh man did this come to a stop! A group of girls took it into their own hands to open up both pits. It was a little difficult at first but they succeeded. This of course lead in to a fight with the metalheads and hardcore dancers. It was bound to happen. A Constance battle with this crappy new dance faze. After JFAC and band by the name of Every Time I Die from Buffalo,Nyc. It was ok a first then Keith (the singer) asked for the pit to open up because again there was two pits. The hardcore kids signaled not to and the singer said looking confused “No…ok” and I laughed my ass off. After that I was getting ready to see Chimaira. I got to see them on the No Fear tour with Killswitch and the rocked the house. I am expecting another powerful performance. Sure enough they take the show and open up with their new song off the same title album Resurrection. I made my up to the first for pictures and looked back to find a roaring circle pit.They played every thing I wanted to hear from new to old.

The vibe was really starting to pick up and the bands were getting better. Up next was Shadows Fall. The last two times I’ve seen these guys I missed the begining of the set. I made sure I was up front and ready to catch the entire set. They came out and Brian got the whole crowd hyped up. I thought Chimaira’s pit was big, this pit took up the whole fucking ground. A guy in his wheelchair behind me quickly had to wheel back because of the crowd caving in around us. I loved the whole set they did. My favorite is was Redemption; it gives me an indescribable feeling. I love how certain songs can affect us like that. Brian made a comment on the weed smoke on the crowd. I’m sure he wanted a hit. It seemed like a short set then next up was GWAR. I know some people find Gwar annoying and stupid but I’ve always enjoyed their theatrical performances. It obviously some thing you can’t take serious. It’s just for shits and laughs. They start off with a bang then Oderus brought to the stage Mr. Lordi’s Head on a stick. It was a hilarious sight and then blood starting squirting out of the head onto the audience. Then they dared to bring out the Virginia gun shooter out. They had he say some stupid shit like “Me Asian… good shooter!” I’m sure there were some folks who were offended. Then Oderus cut his head off and lead into a song. It was wild I tell you.

After all that craziness, last and not least was the famous boys from Venice ,Calif…Suicidal Tendencies. I knew this was going to be the cherry on the sundae. All the S.T. fans waited patiently as the stage was being set. Too bad a lame Hot Topic backdrop was put up. I was ready for anything because I could see some of these guys streching. After 15 mins they hit the stage and the crowd went nuts! The soft sound of the guitar starts up and then Mike yells “What the hell is going on around here”! Suddenly a whirl wind of bodies just run into action. I crowd starts sing a along “You can bring me down”!! It was fuckin awesome to see and feel the energy from the band and fans. Second song was “War inside my head” and again the pit was bigger now. I found it fascinating to see the older guys in their mid 40’s moshing. During and after the show Mike Muir had some very inspirational words to say to the audience. I will always remember his speech and the feeling I felt that night. I'm surprised they didn't play Institutionalized. I can’t wait to see this guys again. So this year’s SOTU was better cool, sorry I missed the other bands but maybe it’s better I did…till the next show!

By: Muzikwhore