Livver / Never Get Caught / Tenafly Vipers / Arctic Horror
O’Briens Pub, Allston, MA 10/10/14
So I’m going to the metal show by myself. Head headbanger, Andy Bang, has “family obligations” which may or may not mean a meeting with the mafia. Unsure about all that but sure it’s best I don’t know the details.
I get into my best metal gear. I got my sleeveless jean jacket with 74 spikes on it. (Actually, they’re made from pieces of cardboard from MacDonald’s take-out trays, cut out and glued on and then spray painted sliver). And my long jet black hair wig. (Hair keeps getting stuck in the studs). Oh, and a black t-shirt with Fall Out Boy on it.
Believe me, I notice some heads turn when I walk in!
First up is one of my favorite new local bands – Arctic Horror. And they’re led by one of TNB’s favorite front men- Greg Alonge.
This is metal with a lot of the doom influence that I’ve been seeing in new bands in the last year or so but nowhere is it more heavy and obvious than in this band. They’ve also recorded an album that I put in my top five of the forty or so albums I’ve reviewed this year.
Arctic Horror create an exciting tension by pausing the music with doom interludes, raising the anticipation and then clanging in with thunderous bass and guitar chords while eventually, switching into a full speed hardcore gallop once the vocals come in.
Very dramatic, very intense, arty in a brutal, honest way- not pretentious but ominous, indeed.
With Niff’s excellent guitar work, Greg’s powerful emoting and the rhythm section that seems to be coming more into its own each time I see them- not only can I state it’s a great set they play today but it’s one of the best sets I’ve seen all year.
Next are old friends, Tenafly Vipers, who I haven’t seen for quite some time. They play a mix of old school metal and hardcore with influences mostly in the realm of Motorhead and AC/DC.
They have Johnny Black, who is also in the great BDSX; Nate who also plays bass for Arctic Horror and Jeff on vocals who, looking at him and with his high pitched vocals, makes me think of Frank Black from The Pixies!
They play fun, funny, heavy, hard rockin’ tunes on a high energy level and turn in a set that causes me to write- “It’s a pleasure hearing from you again.”
Never Get Caught is next and I’m told they’re stoner rock. Now, of course I’ve heard the term but until now have never seen or listened to it.
Later, after reading the definition and now, seeing the band, I realize I have heard this music before but it was back at the Boston Music Hall in 1974. This is old seventies rock, before punk, with bands like Montrose (sorry, I refuse to discuss them or explain who they were). And this band has a solid singer who reminds me a bit of Steve Marriot (sorry I refuse to discuss who that is).
This band is very adept at what they play but sorry, this is some of the music I was so happy to see punk erase. This is slow, plodding mainstream rock..
But if you do like stoner rock I believe you’ll like this band.
Now, it’s time for Livver.
It seems like every time I’ve seen them they have a new drummer. I do believe they have now officially surpassed Spinal Tap in the World’s Record Book for most drummers. Livver’s one of my favorite local metal bands because they imply a feel of hardcore in a definite metal setting.
They have Robin on guitar, playing intricate lines that are out of passion not just for show, a lead singer who is intense, angry and effective and a rhythm section that creates a cyclone of colliding sounds that somehow fall together in perfect precision.
Along with Arctic Horror, they are my favorite metal bands. And today Livver turns in a great, exciting set.
My mom use to tell me to eat my liver and I thought it was disgusting! But what these boys dish out is delicious!
My hair is now sticking to my face and sliding off of my head, my studs have mostly fallen off, I’m down to 27, I’ve changed my Fall Out Boy shirt to a Warrant one instead. Now, it’s time to make my way out onto the city life of Harvard Ave. It’s time to escape into the metal night!
(Slimedog)
