{"id":5266,"date":"2015-01-01T12:16:27","date_gmt":"2015-01-01T20:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/?p=5266"},"modified":"2015-01-01T12:17:47","modified_gmt":"2015-01-01T20:17:47","slug":"neurosis-plays-year-end-headline-show-in-orange-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/2015\/01\/01\/neurosis-plays-year-end-headline-show-in-orange-county\/","title":{"rendered":"Neurosis Plays Year-End Headline Show In Orange County"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Review by Darshun, photos &amp; videos by Matt Nielson<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosis.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[5266]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5267\" title=\"neurosis\" src=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosis.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosis.jpg 599w, http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosis-300x199.jpg 300w, http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosis-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>December 29th 2014, The Observatory, Santa Ana CA: <\/strong>As soon as Oakland sludge\/doom legends Neurosis announced a trio of year-end headline shows in California including a gig at the Observatory in Orange County, fans\u00a0were chomping at the bit to purchase tickets and readied themselves for another religious Neurosis experience, a little over a year after they headlined the same venue with tremendous opening acts Yob and Bl\u2019ast. This time Neurosis brought with them an entirely different support cast featuring Tragedy, Author &amp; Punisher and Kowloon Walled City, and the prospect of this lineup was an exciting one for all involved.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/kwc.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[5266]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5268\" title=\"kwc\" src=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/kwc.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" srcset=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/kwc.jpg 640w, http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/kwc-300x212.jpg 300w, http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/kwc-423x300.jpg 423w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>At exactly 8 o\u2019clock, <strong>Kowloon Walled City<\/strong> marched into the title track of their latest album, \u201cContainer Ship\u201d. This San Francisco-based sludge quartet chose the right song to start with and the pace was set until they went into their next song, \u201c50\u2019s Dad,\u201d which picked things up and had the early evening crowd moving. This night they only played one new song called \u201cEmpty Spaces\u201d, and I am indeed locked in and ready for when their forthcoming album will come out. Kowloon played my favorite tune of theirs, \u201cGambling on the Richter Scale\u201d, my head bobbing the entire time. One hopes to hear another record and a tour from them in 2015.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kowloonwalledcity\" target=\"_blank\">facebook<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kowloonwalled\" target=\"_blank\">twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Video footage:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/usLEMkOiVEU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Set List:<\/strong><br \/>\n01. Container Ships<br \/>\n02. 50s Dad<br \/>\n03. Empty Spaces<br \/>\n04. Clockwork<br \/>\n05. Gambling on the Richter Scale<br \/>\n06. The Pressure Keeps Me Alive<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ap.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[5266]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5269\" title=\"ap\" src=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ap.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"446\" srcset=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ap.jpg 640w, http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ap-300x209.jpg 300w, http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ap-430x300.jpg 430w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It had been a long time since I\u2019ve seen Tristan Shone as the one-man act known as <strong>Author &amp; Punisher<\/strong>. He designed and created all of his instruments that he uses live on stage and it\u2019s amazing to watch him utilize these homemade tools. Graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for mechanical engineering and a Masters in Fine Arts at the University of San Diego should explain the background of his genius. The entire set was all new material that will be hopefully on his upcoming album. The crowd was really into it and this was the first time I\u2019ve seen Author &amp; Punisher with visuals that were in sync with his drum actuator. The visuals were cool and creepy which perfectly matched the chaos of the music. Catch this one-man band live, it\u2019s astounding to see Author &amp; Punisher in all his glory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Author-Punisher\/193205745964\" target=\"_blank\">facebook<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/a_n_p\" target=\"_blank\">twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Video footage:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QgTpx_FTNZM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tragedy<\/strong>, a crust band from Memphis, TN that are now transplants of Portland, OR tore it up in style. The pit area of the Observatory was very lively with people moshing in sync with their music. Frontman Todd Burdette (guitar\/vocals) led the anthems while Yannick Lorrain (Guitar) followed the chaos. Billy Davis (Bass\/Vocals) and Paul Burdette (Drums) were locked in the entire night in a deadly rhythm dance. I was not too familiar with the music, but I really enjoyed their set that night. Their set was fast-paced and would lurch to a mid-tempo feel followed by a gallop. There were hardly any pauses in between to not waste any precious set time and the band was super tight and dead on. Now that I\u2019ve seen them live, I\u2019m curious to hear how the albums stand on their own. Tragedy was formed in 1995 from the ashes of another band called His Hero Is Gone. This year will mark their 20<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary as a band. Hope to see them again when they come around.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Tragedy.crust\" target=\"_blank\">facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Video footage:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FhYYFh1z2Xc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>And of course, the highlight of the night and a special way to end 2014 was seeing <strong>Neurosis<\/strong> for the second time. Lasting a little over an hour and a half, the entire set was executed superbly without a hitch and in between songs the band didn\u2019t use silence but ambient soundscapes for segues from Noah Landis (synths\/keyboards\/effects\/sampler) \u00a0\u2014 it felt like a giant song or a classical piece.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosisband.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[5266]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5271\" title=\"neurosisband\" src=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosisband.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"418\" srcset=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosisband.jpg 640w, http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosisband-300x195.jpg 300w, http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/neurosisband-459x300.jpg 459w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Steve Von Till (guitar\/vocals) and Scott Kelly (guitars\/vocals) guided the audience into the depths of doom while Dave Edwardson (bass\/moog\/backing vocals) and Jason Roeder (drums) kept the rhythm at a sludgy pace. The crowd swayed to the rhythm of the band while the PA roared into our ears. Aurally it was a grand experience for a band that has gone through 29 years of playing. It&#8217;s surreal to think that this band has been in existence since 1985, and fans hope for an epic 30<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary celebration in 2015.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <a href=\"http:\/\/neurosis.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/officialneurosis\" target=\"_blank\">facebook<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/neurosisoakland\" target=\"_blank\">twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Video footage:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yhvGc-UMZeI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Set List:<\/strong><br \/>\n01. At the End of the Road<br \/>\n02. Given to the Rising<br \/>\n03. Eye<br \/>\n04. Times of Grace<br \/>\n05. Belief<br \/>\n06. Water is Not Enough<br \/>\n07. Distill<br \/>\n08. Bleeding the Pigs<br \/>\n09. At the Well<br \/>\n10. My Heart For Deliverance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Review by Darshun, photos &amp; videos by Matt Nielson December 29th 2014, The Observatory, Santa Ana CA: As soon as Oakland sludge\/doom legends Neurosis announced a trio of year-end headline shows in California including a gig at the Observatory in Orange County, fans\u00a0were chomping at the bit to purchase tickets and readied themselves for another &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/2015\/01\/01\/neurosis-plays-year-end-headline-show-in-orange-county\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Neurosis Plays Year-End Headline Show In Orange County&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5266"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5266"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5275,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5266\/revisions\/5275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}