Valient Thorr / Red Fang / Von Dane / Stone Cold Killers
The Smiling Moose, Pittsburgh PA, 15/11/09
A local rock band, Stone Cold Killers opened. Aside from the flamboyant vocalist they did "ok" at best. Their fervor was quite contagious but simply couldn't make-up for the lack of talent. I could hear hints of Hair Metal, NWOBHM, Power Metal, Classic Rock and Stoner Metal in their sound but it was entirely too derivative. Rather than expanding upon these influences it seems they made a band to re-hash them.
Another quasi-Doom band was next, Von Dane. Hailing from western Pennsylvania they have a sound that could be all-enticing and very quickly become not so appealing. They can be heavy and slow but for no reason explore the rock sound in general more. To me being too directionless and a vocalist dancing around like Iggy Pop didn't help matters, though he was a good singer.
The reason why I came out to drink cheap beer to celebrate my birthday when I had to be at work the next day was Red Fang. Though the sound set-up wasn't the best at the bar they still managed to be verging upon a religious experience. Slow, heavy, dirty and at others mid-paced and almost radio friendly. With instruments that looked like they were drug from a moving car and epic beards they seemed more approachable and thusly a little more likable. Along with the fact that the drummer played with such authority and the other members as well made it just that much better.
Closing, though in my view it's undeserving, was Valient Thorr. I tried to ignore the white belt and bright red cowboy boots of the vocalist as well as the seemingly forced patch riden denim jackets of the other members. When I did the music didn't deliver; all energy and no substance. To the clock-punching, reality show watching, mall shopping populas that makes up the greater Pittsburgh area and this country this may be ok - even great (they're gaining popularity). To me it isn't - music is art. As such it should be cathartic, emotional and life changing. Not hollow noise played for the sake of wanting to make noise.
I left in the middle of the third song shaking my head and generally perplexed as to how that passes for music.
Contributed by: Lance on the 28/11/09