By Lisa Burke
August 5th 2016, The Regent, Los Angeles CA:Costumes featured in rock n roll, punk, and heavy metal bands have been a tasteful or not-so-tasteful debate for many years, with a vast array of varied opinions on the subject. Questions and debates have risen on this subject with most who are on the anti-costume side forming the uninformed opinion that it “cheapens” the music despite the obvious extra added cost to provide said costumes, props, and other-worldly stories into the live performance. The bottom line here that it is important to ask oneself at least these two questions before judging any band in this theater of the absurd category 1.) Would the music sound skillfully executed with or without the costumes? 2.) Were the costumes, extra costumed characters, props, and theatrical action telling a story that was enhanced by the music or vice-versa? This is how you step out of the box of band gimmick or shtick versus well thought-out musical stage performance. On Friday August 5th 2016, at the rising highly favored downtown music venue The Regent, I attended a very interesting live heavy metal, rock n’ roll and punk show featuring four diverse bands who all use costumes and props as a major part of their live performances. Headliners for the evening were Mac Sabbath with support from PPL MVR, Haunted Garage, and Radioactive Chicken Heads. This show was chock full of weirder-than-weird themes and lyrical comedy that also had its significant moments of skill and talent that deserve a call-out. Continue reading “Unsavory Drive-Thru Metal: Mac Sabbath Headlines Eclectic Costume-Themed Extravaganza At The Regent”
