As I sat in classes all week all I could think about was the weekend, and it did not let me down. Thursday at Uli's, Friday at Oade's, and finally Saturday at Mens Rea (formerly Cheetahs).
Ulis Haus of Rock is one of my favorite bars to go see shows at. The sound is good, the stage isn't tiny, and it's always a great mixture of people and bands. Bullet Punch started it off, and not on a very good note either. The singer was pretty much just a tool, probably one that likes Nickelback, and the band just didn't seem to mesh. The band was good, it had some true talent, but the style they played mixed with the singing was just off. Then the singer picked up a guitar for their "more instrumental" song and he looked oblivious. He just stared at the guitar player like he was trying to figure out the chords, he only moved his hand a few times, and if he was actually playing a cord, it was only one the whole time. To top it off, Bullet Punch covered "Killing in the Name." And by covered it I mean ruined it- the singer was half a beat behind, and the guitarist changed some parts, and the singer didn't even sing it the same way. I feel that this band has potential, they just have to figure out how to blend the music and singing more- and maybe stop doing covers.
Next up was Downward Affliction. I didn't really know what to expect with this band but it was not just a group of 17-year-olds with a band. They were playing death-core/metal and pulling it off. Although the singing isn't really my style, that really deep "death" screaming, the kid did it really well. They had a cute little fan club of their friends, who made t-shirts, and of their parents, who maybe had to drive them. There's not really a lot i can say about this band besides the fact that people should check them out. If you don't like the style you can at least see what I mean about them being talented.
If Blood Be the Price tore it up and maybe broke the milk crate. This band was awesome to watch. The band was talented and the singer puts on a great performance, although people were laughing a bit when he started throwing the milk crate around- but hey, at least he wasn't smashing something valuable. The hardcore-metal band plays all around, and if you see them on a bill somewhere definitely go check them out. I had a hard time not getting into their set, not like I was trying to deny it. Not only do they have the hardcore metal sound going, but there is a bit of that groove metal thrown in to most of their songs.
Hillside Barrier, who set up the show and asked If Blood Be the Price to come play, was up next. I've seen this band a few times but it never gets old. In fact, I got to see them again Friday night.They are metal through and through- with the chug sound, the drums hitting, and the screaming. The band is sweet to watch and has a good sound- luckily, most of the Lansing metal bands sound different, which is amazing. You can tell that some of their influences are Pantera, which i think it's every one's, Metallica, Lamb of God- so if you like some of those, you'll probably like Hillside Barrier.
Last, as usual, was Blacktooth Brigade. Seriously though, I've seen these guys play at least 10 times and except for like two times, they always play last and it's bullshit. By the time they are setting up their stuff on stage it's about 1 am, so most people have already left the bar. People do stay and they always have friends coming to support too, but they deserve to hear more people hear them. Dan Neff, guitarist, just shredded at Uli's. It was ridiculous, everyone was kind of surprised and even the other band members did a little look over that just said "huh... well fuck yeah." He was in a zone or something cause the solos he played were technically good and just good. Clint Cox, singer, messed up some of the words in "Way of the World" cause he was in a zone too, but not in the same way as Neff. Even though the bar wasn't packed the people that were still around were definitely into what BTB is doing.
As always support your local music scene- get out there, watch some bands, buy some demos or shirts or whatever. Without the locals there isn't a scene. And check out spartanedge.com for pictures of the show.
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