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The
guys on stage this stage could have been mistaken
for any teenage rock band (Guitar. Bass. Drum kit.
Vocalist. Baggy pants. Spikey hair. Baseball caps),
but these guys aren’t a Dave Matthews cover band,
and that was plainly evident as soon as the frontman
started screaming into the microphone. Ahhhh…a
night of Extreme Hardcore at The Door, Ft. Worth.
The
guys were Tango9, the first opening act for headlining
Travail, though they may as well have introduced themselves
as “The Frontman Show”. Talented, yes. Experience,
lacking. As an opening band, you have to generate
your own energy and these guys couldn’t do that.
Jeff, the vocalist (and said frontman) had the best
command of the stage and even his antics were subdued.
He has a strong voice, but he draws all of his inspiration
from Travail and the Deftones. Keep practicing, guys,
and I’ll come see you again.
The second band was X-Nihilo. What?? A chick drummer?
Rock most on. On a leopard-print kit, nonetheless.
These guys were a pleasant surprise. Not only were
they M.E.T.A.L but they had an even balance on the
stage and several ounces of fun thrown in for good
measure. Their bassist has the best bass-face ever.
Nothing
could save them from being overshadowed by Terry O’Connor
though. Who is Terry O’Connor? I don’t know.
He’s a kid short enough to stand underneath the
neck of the bass while bringing the noise. When he
was invited onstage I was naïve enough to think
¯ ‘how cute’. My jaw was promptly hanging
the fuck open as he exploded into an epileptic-like
fit with the first chords of the song. I loved it.
The Kid had it going on. He brought more energy to
the stage than any performer that evening. Props to
Terry. *metal sign*
Gryp
was up next, and I would have had so much more respect
for the band if the drummer hadn’t been so bitchy.
It’s doubly unfortunate because the drummer was
awesome!! I have no idea how big his kit was, but
I had to ask a friend what some of the pieces were
used for. They had quite a following and several chants
for an encore followed their set. They’re from
Fresno, CA and they’ve just recently been signed
to W-Recordings (props) which may have influenced
the following statement: “Want more? Talk to
The Door. Next time we’ll come 3000 miles to
play somewhere else.” Ouch. Breakfast Club angst.
Being
peeved that you’re not the opening band is allowed,
but griping about it like that is just tacky. Maybe
there was something going on that I didn’t know
about, but given my knowledge, I left Gryp with a
feeling of “Oh”, rather than the “YAH”
I had felt while the instruments were still going.
Thick and effects-tastic, I’d still recommend
seeing them. Very cool.
I
guess they just don’t understand that Travail
is the hometown hero! I’d never been to a Travail
show before, and tonight I felt like one of maybe
3 or 4 audience members who didn’t know the band
members personally. The gathering was intimate, and
much more like a party-performance than a concert.
We went from Gryp’s huge kit down to just 7 pieces,
and as soon as the first chords buzzed across the
crowd, the moshing began.
Kids
jumped around throwing fists into the air in time
with the dropbeats and knocking each other silly.
The saturation of “We <3 Travail” was
intense. I gave it up for their shortened cover of
Sweet Home Alabama, and later for Another One Bites
the Dust. Along with the covers, and their usual,
they played 3 new songs, which were cool, but I’d
love to get another listen. Hopefully the new album
will be out shortly. The guys looked like they were
having fun, even when the fun (for them) was spitting
on each other. They closed with Return, which caused
an energy surge in the crowd not seen since Terry
O’Connor.
As
the music stopped, the lights went down on the screaming,
moshing fans.
Down
on the metal signs.
Down
on the merch table.
They
prayed—forgive us when we fail you, Father. Good
night.
What?
Screaming hardcore can’t be Christian? You are
mistaken, my friend. God was in the house tonight.
--J.Faulkner, dallasmusic.com
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