reviewsarchiv 644

Here they are again my boys! And don't you dare to say anything against them!!!! And for all of you, who still don't know yet... No they are not a copy of finnish band Lordi. It's rather the other way round. Because our beloved american Zombies have been born already in 1985 and since then frighten the hell outta the fans around the world. For quite a while they had not been present in Europe. But for a decade or so they are back again and are returning on a more or less regular base to Europe.
So drawing yet another comparison between Lordi and Gwar, which can only be done what's up to the liveshow anyway, and not what's up to the music, you'll realize pretty soon, that compared to our Chippendales of Heavy Metal, Lordi seem like innocent choirboys at a church service.
Okay, enough of that, as this topic has been discussed too often in the past. Musically GWAR are Hardcore, but with an interesting undertune. Some of their songs are almost sing along tracks - well almost! And GWAR are certainly one of the most political bands on the scene. But not everybody is aware of that over here. First of all it's the language barriere, and second GWAR always put a double meaning and sense and tons of comedy elements in thier stuff. And it is indeed the satire, which gives Dave Brookies show this certain little something despite the pervert splattering and tons of coloured water.
I for my part see GWAR for the fourth time live on Stage. Whereby the first time was way back in the Eighties, the other times within the past 10 years. And though their costumes are pretty much the same, the show varies each time a little bit.

Support comes from Betzefer from Israel.

This band is going on now for 13 years in the metal landscape and has put out 2 albums. They are playing Thrashmetal in the normal sense. The bandname by the way - comes from the word Beit Hasefer, which his heberean and means as much as School. That's because the boys met at a school concert. Betzefer are: singer Avital Tamir, Guitarist Matan Cohen, Bassist Rotem Inbar and Drummer Roey Berman. Their second CD 'Freedom To The Slave Makers' has just been released. So the opportunity for this support job came just by time.
Unfortunately at the time Betzefer go on stage most fans are still in front of the door. This might be due to the warm outside temperature or the fact, that most people are GWAR fans, or people prefer to have another cigarette outside instead before receiving a happy go lucky massacre.
And so the band from Israel are fighting for acceptance and try to prove their skills and quality. The focus is put on the new product. And somehwere in the small crowd Dave Brookie is watching their show and obviously does like it. He himself is a bit worried, that their might be not enough people for the show. By the way Dave is a freind, as I do know him from prev. press dates and interviews. And he is a nice a pretty intellegent guy - no doubt about that...

Betzefer however work themselves through their 45 minutes set. And the few fans paying them their attention do like what they get, as you can hear on their reactions.
http://www.facebook.com/Betzefer

One thing impresses me very much on GWAR, .....

Just to draw a very last comparison to finnish guys of Lordi. Where Mr.Lordi said once, he needs 3 hours for his masquerade, Dave says - 20 minutes a miles enough. He starts dressing up when the supportband finishes their set. And mind me, the costumes of GWAR are pretty volumimous.
Meanwhile our Backstage Werk is well filled with all those GWAR fans. And in the end there aprox. 500 people here. Last time about 2 years ago, there were more audiance, but maybe that's due to the current bank holidays and the beautiful beegarden weather.

And as always, in frontrows you see all these white shirts, waiting for getting painted by the monsters. What's up to photographing the pit stays empty, as we all luv our cams. And as everybody knows, there's nothing worse than liquids for them. GWAR don't hesitate. And after only some minutes red water is spashing across and down on the kids as part of the show. Firt of all the english queen get's massacred in a more then perverted way.

To picture all thise orgys you rather keep a certain distance just to make usre. Everything else would be pure suicide for our cams. Only the very faithful fans are looking forward to get once again christened.
Just to name it: GWAR are still: Oderus Urungus (Gesang - Dave Brockie), Flattus Maximus (Lead Guitar - Cory Smoot), Balsac The Jaws Of Death (RhytmGuitar - Mike Derks) Beefcake The Mighty Bass - Casey Orr), Jismak Da Gusha (Drums -Brad Roberts). And next to them are acting the Sexecutor and Sleazy P.Martini...

Well to be honest this massacre is not everybody's flavour of the mouth. But it's the way, you look at things.. Let's put it that way, everything is satire and comedy. And a show of GWAR is in first place comedy and not just a concert. Meanwhile there's not much left of the white shirts as they have turned red. And the massacre goes including Bin Ladens second slaughter.

I have to say, that the band has pulled a little back what's up to show elements and also what's up to the amount of water.
The gags are worse than ever but not that many as they used to happen...

And the floor of the club is still drowning just not that much as last time. Can't explain why, but however... only people like me, who have seen this group before can actually tell.

Maybe Dave Brookie wants to concentrate a little more on the music itselves. Because it really happens, that the band plays 3 -4 songs without any show elements inbetween.

However.... 80 Minutes showtime is pretty normal for FWAR. Because more than this time is almost unbearable within these costumes.
But all fans are happy and pleased as always. And just to repeat myself, A GWAR show is theater and second a concert. And only with this attitude nothing can go wrong to enjoy this ugly-funny provocation about our conservative society.
And now the Bloody Pit of Horror is closed again, always open for another option of a return....
http://www.gwar.net/