Review by Andrew Bansal, live photos & videos by Matt Nielson
November 1st 2015, The Roxy, West Hollywood CA: Shortly after the release of their third full-length album ‘Grief’s Infernal Flower’ via Relapse Records, Richmond, Virginia stoner/doom quintet Windhand embarked on a US headline tour with support acts Danava and Monolord. Critically acclaimed and universally lauded by fans of the genre, the album has catapulted Windhand into unprecedented levels of popularity in the scene, and arriving in West Hollywood for a gig at the Roxy last Sunday November 1st, Windhand played in front of a sizable audience.
Doors opened at 7:30, and at 8, Swedish trio Monolord started proceedings in earnest with a 30-minute set of heavy, fuzzed-out doom. They instantly connected with the audience, most of whom were Monolord first-timers. The crowd observed and silently appreciated at first, but the heads started banging as the set progressed. Frontman Thomas Jäger was wearing a sweet ‘Sabbath Worship’ hat, as Monolord’s label Easy Rider Records specializes in making Sabbath Worship hats, buttons, patches, etc, aside from spreading the dark gospel of the bands on their roster. Monolord held the Roxy’s undivided attention during their set and served their purpose fully well at this show.
Next up were Portland, Oregon psychedelic/stoner rock group Danava, whom I hadn’t seen since their magical headline performance at the Satellite in 2011. It is very rare that I go four years without seeing a band, and to say that this Danava set was worth the wait would be an understatement in itself. The dudes continued from where they left off at the Satellite in 2011, as if not a single day had passed and this was just an encore of that show. They presented some scorching new jams like ‘At Midnight You Die’, but mainly and rightly focused their 45-minute set on their third full-length effort ‘Hemisphere Of Shadows’ (2011), by far their best work in a career that began in 2003.
They played five of the eight songs on the album, ‘I Am The Skull, ‘Hemisphere Of Shadows’, ‘Shoot Straight With A Crooked Gun’, ‘The Illusion Crawls’, and ‘The Last Goodbye’, each being cheered loudly by a crowd that clearly comprised many Danava fans. The biggest and most notable change was frontman Gregory Meleney singing and playing only guitar, and no longer playing live synthesizers on stage. For longtime Danava fans, it was a little unusual at first, but through the set it was proven that Meleney and co took a positive step by doing so. It did not weaken their sound, and in fact allowed them to improvise with guitars alone. Danava melted faces and destroyed the Roxy stage, and it can be safely said that they are one of the most mesmerizing live bands on the planet. Some first-timers here were quoted as comparing this experience to love at first sight, which was no surprise at all. The headline act was still to follow, but there was no doubt that the best band of the night had already played.
At 10 PM, Windhand took the stage to bring their brand of doom and present songs from the new album for all of their fans who’ve enjoyed listening to it in the last few weeks since its release, along with some of the older material. Windhand have put forth spellbinding performances in the Los Angeles area in the past, including a headline show at Complex and an appearance on the Scion Rock Fest in 2014, and had I walked into the Roxy right before Windhand started playing, the set would have made the same kind of impact, or an even better one, but after a ripping Danava set, Windhand’s music was just too slow and monotonous.
Having said that, it does not take anything away from the quality of Windhand’s performance when perceived by itself, as frontwoman Dorthia Cottrell’s vocal delivery was excellent, while her band mates laid down some solid musicianship on their respective instruments. The band as a whole sounded perfect, and the sound system at the Roxy did justice to the band’s performance.
Windhand has delivered quite a beautiful set of tunes in the form of ‘Grief’s Infernal Flower’, and are now recreating the same vibe in the live setting. For stoner/doom fans, this is an unmissable show.
For full video coverage of the show, check out Arturo Gallegos’ YouTube channel.
More photos:
Windhand / Danava / Monolord remaining tour dates:
11/03 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister
11/04 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
11/06 – Dallas, TX @ Dada
11/07 – Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest Nites
11/08 – Little Rock, AR @ White Water Tavern
11/11 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
11/12 – Ferndale, MI @ Loving Touch
11/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
11/14 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
11/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
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