Barfly Birmingham May 1st 2007

[Haggardsue]

So devoted i wake up and catch the train to university which is where i am now, no need for cars when your on a melvins trek, still excited as a 10 year old going to disneyland, which is ridiculous. drinking, friends, melvins. win win win. full report and pictures (hopefully) to follow. I have at least 4 of my friends telling me at 11pm "hey aren't you supposed to get a poster for that Glen guy?" so hopefully all will be good (particularly as one is straight edge).


Now for some psychology. hmmmm.

[Chaostrophy]

WOW!

My first Melvins gig, after wanting to see them for so long! I'm glad in, in a way, that it did take so long, as seeing them with this lineup and support was amazing, and I doubt they could have been any better at any previous period of their career.

So yeah first thing I noticed was how loud it was, I don't know if I imagined it or if it's where I was stood (on the balony, directly in the middle of the room, recieving every sound from that solid wall of glorious noise!) but it seemed louder than any other gig I've been to of that size. But it sounded great

PORN were awesome, I felt like I was watching a bunch of dudes jamming it out in their garage, with Tim jamming out part of a song then letting the feedback build up while he dropped his guitar and went off in search of god knows what all around the stage, backstage, then back again, picking up his guitar and jamming out some more of a song.

Business kicked ass, wow those drums! I was amazed at how the vocals sounded exactly the same as they did on cd, which is quite rare I think, so powerful... shit the whole set was powerful as hell.

Toward the end of BB's set I was dying for a piss, but what do you know? On comes Buzz and Dale and without pause all of a sudden I'm not watching BB, I'm watching Melvins!!! (I held that piss in until the show was over!).

I can't recall the set exactly, I was too mesmerized by the incredible sound, Buzz's hair,  and the tightness of the whole band (especially the drumming, I can't believe they've been doing this for almost 2 months and both of them still have there arms intact...) but some of the highlights were Blood Witch, The Bit, and A History of Bad Men, although the whole thing was amazing. I'm so glad I finally got to see the Melvins, especially with PORN and BB... it's like seeing a circle of friends just having fun, but like you're a part of that circle, and there playing just for you

If anyone hasn't seen the Melvins and has the chance, do it now!!!

[rimb]

Nice first post there Chaostrophy.

Making me really look forward to the London show tonight!

[Haggardsue]

remarkably good fun. no pictures as i was in no mood to arse around with my camera phone i wanted to more trip out and enjoy myself so apologies there. Glen I got you a poster, it's number 78 / 100 apparently (if memory serves me correctly, its currently at my girlfriends house and im at university... my head feels like the bridge to the bloated pope. which is ok with me) and it's signed also. a somewhat fuller report in the coming hours once ive had some more sleep, met jared warren again, he's a lovely man.

[glen]

buy,   you're a quality human being.    look me up via PM and we'll work out the finer details of getting this thing overseas.      at your leisure.   

and glad you had a great time.   I forsee another US melvins tour this fall and you already got me itching.

thanks again buylysol.     I am forever in your debt.

[LouiLoomis]

I was there last night and it was absolutely awesome, didn't see Klump this time though. I wish there had been some more older songs played but I guess History of Bad Men is Nightgoat's replacement. Big Business were amazing and Porn looked like they were just jamming but it was great. Highly recommended to all of you! 

[luiandlui]

My first gig at the Barfly and it seemed a pretty decent venue apart from the guys toilets being outside (festival style toilets as well, great at 7.30, not so good at 11).

Got a nice Melvins T with a squid (octopus maybe ?) on it and talked a Melvins virgin next to me into buying Maggot.

First time I've seen Porn and I quite enjoyed it even though it did seem like they were making it up as they went along, which they may well have been doing. Loved Dale's set-ending drumstick throwing trick as well.

Big Business were great, Coady's drumming was quite amazing, how that guy plays two sets at that pace is beyond me. Thought it felt a bit quiet for the first couple of tracks but really took off when Dale joined on the geetar (pretty impressed with his playing as well as taking part in all three sets - Dale Crover, the hardest working man in showbiz). Can't remember everything they played but Grounds for Divorce was particularly awesome.

As the drums kicked off "Another Fourth of July..." Buzz and Dale jumped on stage and joind in for that song and then kicked straight on with the Melvins set. Now, I hadn't noticed it up to this point, but as the Melvins set went on it felt eardrum-shatteringly loud, I was pretty near the front but certainly not right against the speakers but if I've been to a louder gig than that then I've forgotten about it by now.

Of course the Melvins were awesome, the double drums and vocals really works a treat live. Good mix of old and new stuff,  "Sky Pup" was ace as was "History of Bad Men" and "Set Me Straight" and "The Bit" and pretty much everything else too. Jared gave a lovely rendition of The Lady in Red at the end to send us off into the night.

Soz, no photos but I'm only 5'6 and my view just wasn't good enough to get anything decent.