Best 2010 Local Metal Shows

2010 was an exciting year for local metal bands. There were some amazing shows that these bands got to take part in and I was happy that I got to catch them.

5. St. Patty’s Day Metal Mayhem at Mac’s- This show was the first local metal show I went to in 2010 and I’m glad I did. Endless Aisle played and got the crowd pumped up by interacting with the crowd in the pit. Although one band, XFactor1, was lame and didn’t fit in, Blacktooth Brigade and Sin Theorem made up for it.

4. Death Valley Dragline Oct.9 at Mac’s- I found out about DVD earlier in the year but every time they played I was already going to another show, so I put this one on my calendar. Upset by the fact that they played first, because they deserve more people to hear their stuff, didn’t matter because they rocked out like they were playing the Palace. Suma, a Swedish band, was interesting to watch. Their set was very theatrical, but then Unearthly Trance came on and the place exploded, the pit opened up, and I found another favorite band (at least for a while).

3. Impromptu show Nov.4 at Uli’s Haus of Rock- Blacktooth Brigade and All Ends Black put on a sudden show that Thursday night and it was exactly what I needed. Country Blacktooth went on first and played some old, down to earth country. Then All Ends Black played, reminding me why I like new bands, then BTB wrapped up the night. It was a chill night with everyone just hanging out, less formal than a show and it was nice to just be able to relax and listen to some great music.

2. Halloween Metal on the River Oct. 22 on the Michigan Princess- No better way to celebrate an early Halloween than to rock out with some local metal bands and dress up… and be on a boat. The line-up was awesome and I found one of my new favorite local bands, Chemical Crutch. With bands playing on both levels there wasn’t a time when music wasn’t playing, and seeing drunken people try and maneuver around a moving boat is always a good time.

1. The Girls Gone Wild Party Oct. 2 at Men’s Rea- This was the last stop on Blacktooth Brigade’s City Tour (Oct. 2)and they were the band that made this show the best of 2010. The energy level in the set spread to the crowd and the club exploded with it. The whole feeling in the room changed when they were playing. It went from I’m-at-a-concert to this-band-makes-me-want-to-rage. The other bands were good too, but nothing could top BTB’s set, and seeing them play at least 10 times now, it was one of their best sets performance-wise. Best show of 2010 and probably best show that will be played at the dank place now named Men’s Rea.

And since no list is a Top 6 I'll just make honorable mention of the acoustic show that Blacktooth Brigade played. It was amazing and I was surprised that a metal band could still sound like a metal band without drums and without being electric.

All Ends Black

Last night at Harpos was amazing. One of our very own up and coming metal bands, All Ends Black, got to be on of the opening bands for Straight Line Stitch and Soulfly.

There were four local bands that got to open up for these two headliners, and although none of them got much playing time, 3 songs opening for Soulfly is an opportunity I know I wouldn't have passed up.

All Ends Black went on second and played "Nightmare," "Believe" and "Last Laugh." Although their set was cut short the crowd didn't seem to mind. Hanging around while all the other bands played, and waiting for Soulfly, people kept coming up to the members of All Ends Black and telling them how much they liked them.

One guy who had drove up from Indiana asked the band to sign a snare head and was incredibly excited about getting it- you wouldn't have thought that Soulfly signed it. But people like him are the people who make a difference in the local scene.

And of course, Soulfly played last, as the headliner does. They. Were. Amazing. I had just recently found out about them earlier this year but I have multiple albums and I was so excited to hear they were playing a show in Detroit, and with All Ends Black.

Only downside was they only played about 30 seconds of my favorite song "Jump Da Fuck Up," but it didn't matter. They played stuff from older albums, like Primitive, and really got the crowd going.

The pit was vicious and not one person in Harpos that night was not raging out to Soulfly. The place was in a frenzy and Soulfly knew how to keep it going. As someone who missed most of the good concerts because the bands I really want to see were big when I was about 9, this was a chance to see one of the "older" bands that I love- and see them play with a band that I have covered multiple times, All Ends Black.

As always support your local scene. Get out there, talk to the bands, tell them what you think cause it helps them and they'll thank you for it.