By Jason Williams
March 18th 2014, Mirror Image Studios, Anaheim CA: Tuesdays, Thursday or even on the ‘dreadful’ Mondays, local shows are one of the true foundations of live concerts. Especially when it comes to metal. The scene, back in the day was full of trading tapes, intense and passionate sold-out shows and amazing fans rocking out to their favorite bands. Tonight was an example of a somewhat low-key show on a Tuesday night, as Chicago’s own metal trio Diamond Plate made their way to Southern California on their co-headlining tour with East of the Wall. Before this show I never attended a show at the Mirror Image Studios venue despite living only a few miles away. With the highly anticipated Destruction show very soon and the Kataklysm/Aborted show in mid April at this venue, I was excited to hear some new bands I’ve haven’t had the chance to hear, as well as this surging new venue.
Unaware to my knowledge, I found out as I arrived at about 8:30 PM that Mirror Image has 2 stages, as at Malone’s and Observatory in Santa Ana. A smaller, floor-level stage to the left and the much higher, professional stage to the right. As a guitar player, I was really curious to hear the sound quality of the stages, as well as see the mechanics and intricacies of this venue. Not only do they hold shows here, they also, as mentioned in their name, are available for amateur and professional studio/live recording. You can even have your show or rehearsals recorded on DVD as well. The venue is small yet intimate. Posters of boxing fights and even Charles Bronson showed it has a laidback feel, but at the same time professional. Mirror Image Studios also has an outside patio where you can purchase drinks and food as well.
The first band I caught on the small stage were Colombian Necktie, a 5-piece hailing from Los Angeles. Based off their name alone, I assumed they might have more a core sound, and although vocally it was somewhat the case, the music definitely caught me by surprise. The band had to look no older than 26, yet were playing interesting dissonant doom metal. Crushing passages, bone-battering drums and somber within the riffs. There were about 20 or so watching Colombian Necktie, while others were outside drinking, eating and talking with the other bands of the night. Their song “Weep for the Future” definitely stood out for me. Beautiful, haunting chords along with some decent screams had the small audience cheering and headbanging away. Their 20-minute set went by fairly quickly, but a welcome surprise to the local metal scene.
Visit Colombian Necktie on the web:
facebook.com/ColombianNecktieLA
twitter.com/NecktieLifeLA
ColombianNecktie.BandCamp.com
I usually have a problem with a venue booking too many bands in one night, but in this case, as with Malone’s, having two stages absolutely makes sense. While one band is playing on one stage, the other stage is being set up, allowing no time to be wasted. It keeps the flow of the show going, in my opinion. So right at 9:40, the show being only 20 minutes behind, Black Sheep Wall played the main stage. A few more gathered from outside to the pit area, about 50 or so watching. Much like Colombian Necktie, their style was more the same way, althought slightly more sludgy. They had more of an active stage presence, but that could also be attributed to having a much bigger stage. Unfortunately, after their 2nd song, the bass amp was having technical difficulties. After around 10 minutes or so, it was fixed and their set continued. It’s surprising that they’ve been around for nearly 6 years now, so I had hoped they would be on bigger tours. However, they will be playing the Scion Rock Fest in Pomona, CA in May, so their exposure and loyal fanbase should be on a bigger stage. Overall, Black Wall Sheep played a nice 25-minute slab of sludgy doom metal that should appeal to fans of Electric Wizard and the like.
Visit Black Sheep Wall on the web:
facebook.com/pages/Black-Sheep-Wall/9988342101
twitter.com/BlackSheepWall_
By 10 PM, the last band on the 2nd stage, Mucid, started their set. A 3-piece from Costa Mesa, CA, but unlike a lot of bands, their drummer was on lead vocals. Proscriptor of Absu is the only one I’ve heard of performing most of the vocals as a drummer. Mucid looked in grand spirits, as this was also a last minute show for them. Starting right away, I was impressed with their brand of grindcore and punk. And amazingly, he was performing solid fills and beats as he was screaming away. The crowd absolutely fed off their energy and fun demeanor. Some of their songs were about, “My marriage to Quackers the Duck.” and “Two girls eating pussy.” It was fun and entertaining, and most important for me, their musicianship was still solid. As a musician myself, I loathe sloppy playing. And although much grindcore falls into that category (and yes, I do know it’s part of the playing and the raw energy is what makes the genre), Mucid had some nifty guitar leads, bass counterparts, and some old-school death metal riffing that would have made Chuck Schuldiner smile. They were very grateful to play and 25 minutes for their style of playing was efficient and had the small gathering headbanging away. Definitely the most ‘fun’ band of the night.
Visit Mucid on the web:
facebook.com/pages/Mucid/178772772206493
11 PM came right on by as Diamond Plate walked on the main stage. For whatever reason, only a small handful were present through their set. Most of the remaining in attendance were outside. If anyone complains why bands A, B and C don’t play in your hometown, the lack of support especially when you’re AT the venue is definitely a reason for it. Nevertheless, they’ve been making rumblings in the metal scene, and with their latest record “Pulse” released last summer, the Century Media Records’ own Diamond Plate are slowly making their way to reach a new and bigger status. Right away I noticed that there was a definite influx of blues music engrained in their music. Not just musically, but vocally as well. I’m always fascinated to see newer bands incorporate such profound and important music genres within their style. It not only translates the energy live, but the catchiness and emotion definitely make it memorable. Sole guitarist Konrad Kupiec was absolutely meant to play live; as his showmanship, professional musicianship and pure energy were on full display in his guitar playing. Catchy, blues-like leads along with some classic thrash shredding were well accompanied by Bassist and lead singer Matt Ares loud and groovy bass lines. The only remaining founding member of the band, drummer Jim Nicademus was having a blast beating his drum kit with a huge smile on his face. One positive aspect of having just one guitar on stage is that the rest of the band is much more audible, particularly in the bass guitar. Although the other negative impact it has, having less go on during a guitar lead, solo, etc, for their level of energy on stage, it translated very well. “Rainmaker” was definitely my highlight of their 45-minute set. A beautiful interlude starting the song with a haunting yet catchy clean picked guitar appregio drowns the listener in a state of sorrow and wonder. The only band on this night to have the audience incorporate some pit movement, it was certain the hardcore fans witnessing their set had the only intentions of rocking out to some blasting live metal music. “At the Mountains of Madness” probably received the most thrashing from the audience as this was just a straight brutal thrash song, with no peace in sight. Although I was unable to obtain a setlist, Diamond Plate ended their set with a punk cover that had some of the really old-school in attendance moshing away. I must also add, Mirror Image Studios’ sound for both stages were excellent, even despite the minor technical difficulties that Black Sheep Wall had.
Despite the low attendance, I was happy to see that the ones who did make it out tonight were into every band that played and showed a support that only metal can really show. Although I wish every metal show in existence would sell out, I would rather have a passionate, lower attendance than a packed venue that is just on their phones and not into the music being presented. Diamond Plate really impressed me with their blues/thrash sound along with solid musicianship and energy. Anyone who is into Municipal Waste, Exodus or just a great live band, take the time to go out and support Diamond Plate’s next show. Be it a Monday or Tuesday, metalheads should have no restraints on supporting the scene.
Visit Diamond Plate on the web:
DiamondPlateBand.com
facebook.com/DiamondPlate1
twitter.com/DiamondPlate1
Visit Mirror Image Studios on the web:
MirrorImageStudios.net
facebook.com/MirrorImageStudios
Remaining Tour Dates:
Mar. 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Bar Deluxe
Mar. 21 – South Tahoe, CA – Rojo’s Tavern
Mar. 23 – Portland, OR – Rotture
Mar. 24 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Mar. 25 – Spokane, WA – Checkerboard Bar
Mar. 27 – Great Falls, MT – Machinery Row
Mar. 29 – Billings, MT – The Railyard
Mar. 30 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Apr. 01 – Saint Louis, MO – Fubar
Apr. 02 – Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge
Apr. 03 – Warren, MI – The Ritz
Apr. 05 – Buffalo, NY – Broadway Joe’s
Apr. 06 – Syracure, NY – Mac’s Mad Art Bar