Melvins/Unsane at Turner Hall, Milwaukee 5/1

[(PAUL)]

Just got back, wholly shit awesome. First off, this was probably the biggest crowd I've seen for a Melvins show, and the first time they've played Milwaukee since 2006 which might have had something to do with that. The venue Turner Hall is also much bigger than other venues I've seen them at, and probably my favorite venue in the area (the usher in the front also said "The King is waiting for you", which cracked me up). Before the show started I snagged a poster (artwork very similar to the Melvins/Unsane 7", and signed by the band), the flower shirt and the Melvins/Totimoshi split 7". Unfortunately they were out of letterpress everything but I was able to run the stuff out to my car before the show started. I also ran into various people I know at the show including ----____-----___ who I actually stood next to during Unsane for a bit before I recognized him and shook his hand. Speaking of Unsane, they were pretty great, and angry. I only have Scattered Smothered and Covered so I didn't recognize most of what they played but it sounded how Unsane should sound, dirty, angry and just a "wall of noise" as my friend Aaron put it. Their drummer Vinney is sitting out the tour as he has some sort of health issue going on (as I'm sure you are all aware) so first Coady played with them then Dale came out and took over for Coady, then Coady came back out to finish the set, which ended with Scrape, Alleged, and a cover of the Flipper song Ha Ha Ha, which I didn't see coming (or that Unsane would cover it!) but it was pretty awesome though. After they were done my friend Ben and I moved up front and were a couple of rows back of Buzz's side.

Just a short time later the Melvins came out and started with Dog Island and while I wouldn't say the place went nuts (that was later), there were certainly some enthusiastic people in the crowd. One of the guys I was standing next to was punching me repeatedly because he was so excited. After Dog Island they played the first side of Lysol, which was probably the third time I've heard them play that in the last couple of years and was great as usual. It's funny; when I was first getting into the Melvins I didn't think they would play that song live ever but it seems lately they've been playing that live quite a bit (maybe that's because the album is 20 years old now?). They then played the Water Glass and punchy guy yelled in my ear "Do you know this song?", to which I replied "Hell yeah!" which seemed to satisfy him. MANKY!!! The first time I saw the Melvins live in 1999 that was the first song they played, so that song will always hold a special place for me. Youth of America was also tops and that was when the place started getting pretty crazy with a pit starting. They also played that new song A Growing Disgust which sounded good and makes me look forward to Freak Puke even more (and makes me think of how awesome Coady and Jared are to play the new song that they weren't involved in). They then played the new EP the Bulls and the Bees in it's entirety which sounds even better live compared to the studio versions. A Really Long Wait was the most obviously different track live as compared to the studio version due to the fact that, well, none of them play violin or anything, but it was a good atmospheric track and good lead in to National Hamster. THE BIT!!!! That song just crushes when they play it live. Plus, they did the crazy drum solo/Jared singing/noise thing at the end of their set which they seem to do lately and I think is great.

After the show we kind of hung out for a little bit to gather our thoughts and relax before hitting the road, which turned out to be the right call as I saw a woman with a setlist which I pointed out to my friends. The woman then said to me "Do you want the set list?" to which I replied "HELL YEAH!" I was very happy, and the woman then seemed to think I didn't appreciate it so I gave her a BIG hug and told her I loved her and some other stuff to that effect. Some guy then took our picture and told me the website to go to for pictures from the show to which I completely forgot by now which is unfortunate. Anyways now I want to get the poster framed with the set list and ticket in the frame with it. Oh, and here's a picture from tonight's show from Turner Hall's website:

I only took a couple of pics from my phone, I was having too good of a time to take more.

[Rev. Mike]

Buzz was on fire last night.

[JUDY]

The woman then said to me "Do you want the set list?" to which I replied "HELL YEAH!" I was very happy, and the woman then seemed to think I didn't appreciate it so I gave her a BIG hug and told her I loved her and some other stuff to that effect.

Hahahaha! Awesome!!

Seething with jealousy but still happy to read your review and hear you had a great time!
MANKY!!

Dale and Coady are troopers for filling in. So they didn't duel for any of the Unsane tracks?
Cool photo. Post one of your poster!!! 

[glen]

none of them play violin or anything,

I am to understand Buzz gets that violin sound by drawing a pencil across his guitar strings much the way one would play a violin.    kinda suprised he didn't do something at least similar live.

PS:  thanks alot for making me even more pissed off they aren't hitting detroit on this tour. 

[JUDY]

none of them play violin or anything,

I am to understand Buzz gets that violin sound by drawing a pencil across his guitar strings much the way one would play a violin.    kinda suprised he didn't do something at least similar live.

Cool!! Now that I would love to see.

PS:  thanks alot for making me even more pissed off they aren't hitting detroit on this tour. 

I hear that 
Don't worry, Glenda...we'll have our reunion at the LITE show soon enough 
But I kinda regret revealing my identy to this place....
I'm sad to report that I'll never be able to safely hump the drum-kit ever again 

[Idlehanz]

I'll never be able to safely hump the drum-kit ever again 

This sentence needs a little more explaining!

[(((O)))]

I'll never be able to safely hump the drum-kit ever again 

This sentence needs a little more explaining!

In picture form! 

Thinking about it, how (or where) does one hump a drumkit? 

[glen]

she's 30 now.    way too old to be doing such in-mature and suggestive things.

[Jozzy]

Buzz was on fire last night.

Indeed.

[JUDY]

she's 30 now.    way too old to be doing such in-mature and suggestive things.

You're cruisin for a bruisin

And FYI I'm still at the tender age of 29

[(PAUL)]

The woman then said to me "Do you want the set list?" to which I replied "HELL YEAH!" I was very happy, and the woman then seemed to think I didn't appreciate it so I gave her a BIG hug and told her I loved her and some other stuff to that effect.

Hahahaha! Awesome!!

Seething with jealousy but still happy to read your review and hear you had a great time!
MANKY!!

Dale and Coady are troopers for filling in. So they didn't duel for any of the Unsane tracks?
Cool photo. Post one of your poster!!! 

They dueled for the last few songs. I forget if Coady was out for Scrape or not, but I know he was for Alleged and Ha Ha Ha. I'll upload the poster when I get home. I'm sorry that your days of anonymous humping are over 

[glen]

she's 30 now.    way too old to be doing such in-mature and suggestive things.

You're cruisin for a bruisin

And FYI I'm still at the tender age of 29

tell you what...  at the MELVINS LITE show in motown I'll cover for you.  if anyone asks you are 26 24 and you can hump away.     witness!!

[(((O)))]

if anyone asks you are 26 24 and you can hump away.     witness!!

Im fairly sure she won't be classed as "24" if you tell your dear wife your going to a Melvins gig with a girl! 

[glen]

I'm starting to think you people find pleasure in taking a big ol' sh*t on my fun.

[(((O)))]

I'm starting to think you people find pleasure in taking a big ol' sh*t on my fun.

No way, the G Man rules!!




The G Man.