Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

November 13th 2015, The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA: It is not often that one comes across a band comprising two members with the exact same first and last names, but when these namesakes happen to be well-respected veterans of the stoner/desert rock world, and this band they’re in together is an earth-shattering supergroup, it makes things all the more special. The group being talked about is California-based quartet Sun And Sail Club, boasting of Scott Reeder (Fu Manchu) on drums, Scott Reeder (Fireball Ministry, ex-Kyuss) on bass, Bob Balch (Fu Manchu) on guitar, and the legendary Tony Adolescent (The Adolescents) on vocals. The band started in 2013, released a debut album called ‘Mannequin’ the same year, and put out the second album ‘The Great White Dope’ earlier in 2015. Sun And Sail Club played a headline show at the Viper Room to bring their punk-infused loud violence to the masses, along with local support acts Socionic, Elixir On Mute and Here Lies The Hero, for what turned out to be an overwhelmingly enjoyable experience for attendees. Continue reading “Sun And Sail Club, Socionic & Elixir On Mute Perform At Viper Room”

By Andrew Bansal

November 12th 2015, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: The world of heavy metal is so unfathomably vast, even to this day, that just when you think you’ve seen and heard everything, there comes something you’d never seen before, something that instantly floors you and makes you wonder how or why you weren’t previously aware of its existence. For many, Canadian classic heavy metal veteran band Thor, led by former body building champion turned heavy metal vocalist, Jon Mikl Thor, is one such entity. Holder of Mr. USA and Mr. Canada titles in his body building days, Jon Thor started this band in the mid ’70s, retired a decade later, but returned in 1997 and has continued releasing albums and playing live since. ‘I Am Thor’, a documentary based on his life and that of the band, is set to release on Video On Demand on November 20th 2015, and to promote the film as well as the latest album ‘Metal Avenger’, Thor is currently on a short US tour, screening the film and performing live. The Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood got treated to this unique spectacle last Thursday November 12th 2015, and old-school metal nerds and diehards turned up in anticipation of a glorious evening. Continue reading “Los Angeles Gets Treated To ‘I Am Thor’ Pre-release Screening + Thor Live Show”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

November 6th 2015, Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills CA: Following the release of their second full-length album ‘Hot Streak’ via Loud And Proud Records earlier in 2015, hard rock power trio The Winery Dogs have begun a touring cycle that will take them to all parts of the globe over the next year or so. They embarked on a US headline tour in October, and in its final week, arrived in California for a string of shows, including a return to the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills last Friday November 6th. The Winery Dogs played an incredible set on this very stage a year ago, and now with two albums worth of their own material instead of one, the trio of Mike Portnoy (drums), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Richie Kotzen (guitar and vocals) were poised to reconquer Beverly Hills. Continue reading “The Winery Dogs Make Triumphant Return To Saban Theatre”

By Andrew Bansal

November 5th 2015, Complex, Glendale CA: 26 years into their career, New Orleans sludge veterans Crowbar find themselves as active and prolific as they’ve ever been, releasing strong new material and performing live on a regular basis. Crowbar released their tenth full-length studio album ‘Symmetry In Black’ in 2014 via EOne Music, and have been touring since. In the midst of a run of US dates in support of Soulfly which began in late October 2015, Crowbar arrived in the Los Angeles for a headline show at Complex in Glendale last Thursday November 5th, for an event presented by Church Of The 8th Day and featuring Yidhra, Chemical Burn and Teeth as openers. Church was in session and it promised to be yet another righteous heavy ritual. Continue reading “Crowbar, Yidhra & Teeth Perform At Complex”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

November 4th 2015, The Observatory North Park, San Diego CA: After a successful headline run in 2014 and the Mayhem Festival trek in the summer of 2015, metal legend King Diamond announced a special Fall US tour wherein he would perform his iconic ‘Abigail’ album in its entirety, and months before it started, tickets to nearly all shows were snagged in no time, extra shows got added in New York and Los Angeles due to overwhelming demand, and it quickly became one of the most anticipated heavy metal events of the year. King Diamond arrived in San Diego last Wednesday November 4th 2015, for a show that was announced less than a month prior, at the Observatory North Park with support act Holy Grail, and San Diego metalheads gathered in large numbers to treat themselves to the ‘Abigail’ live experience in a venue most apt for it. Continue reading “King Diamond Performs ‘Abigail’ In Its Entirety In San Diego”

Review by Andrew Bansal, video by Matt Nielson

November 3rd 2015, Complex, Glendale CA: Seattle-based atmospheric progressive sludge group He Whose Ox Is Gored released their new full-length album ‘The Camel, The Lion, The Child’ via Bleeding Light Records in October 2015, and straightaway embarked on a US headline tour. They arrived in the Los Angeles area last Tuesday November 3rd for a gig at Complex in Glendale presented by Church Of The 8th Day, and featuring support acts Caustic Casanova, Sisters Ov The Blackmoon and The Rare Breed. Known to turn heads and raise eyebrows with their eclectic brand of musicianship, He Whose Ox Is Gored were here to once again give the Los Angeles underground a taste of it. Continue reading “He Whose Ox Is Gored Perform At Complex With Sisters Ov The Blackmoon, The Rare Breed”