My first concert of 2010 involved some pretty hard-hitting stuff. The fancy poster tells it all.
The four-band bill consisted of three bands I hadn’t seen before and a headliner I’d had limited exposure to. First was a five-piece band of young guys who dubbed themselves Too Legit To Quit.
I was starting to get a good feel for them, but sadly the bassist broke a string and their legitimacy stopped four songs in. Good thing I didn’t wait for pics.
Next up was the heavy sound of Gravelight.
The thing I liked most about Gravelight was how they wrote songs with bridges very reminiscent of early ’80’s rockers like Iron Maiden or Judas Priest – stuff I grew up with. I think it would be interesting to hear these guys in the studio with a cleaner sound system and see how that compares.
Something I can’t figure out about these guys, though, is why just two (the singer and drummer) wear makeup.
Next up was Virginia-based Bitter. They came prepared to earn their gas money home.
Boy, was I glad they were from Virginia. That guitar on the right was definitely at home there.
Musically, they put on an enjoyable set – maybe not as adventurous as Gravelight but still a very good effort nonetheless.
One thing I liked about all three bands heretofore unseen to me was that they played all originals (or if they weren’t I wasn’t familiar with the original song.) Order 6-D6 played a stray cover or two, but overall that was the best part of the night.
I don’t know if body shape has anything to do with it, but my favorite aspect of Order 6-D6 is the vocals.
I had seen these guys just once before, when 96 Rock had a ‘Battle of the Bands’ at Pork in the Park last April. They did an impressive three-song set there so I put it on my mental checklist to see them again when I had a chance.
I found out one thing at the show – I need to pick up their latest CD to see if they sound as good there. Even their choice of covers was interesting – a song by the Misfits and one by The Doors. (That was done with their future second guitarist, he’ll come on board in the next month or so to make the band a five-piece.)
As a start to 2010, it was a good show to get the rust off after a month away and something a little more heavy than I’d seen in awhile.
Last night I saw some old, familiar friends and that’s my next installment of Weekend of Local Rock next weekend.
Oh my God! They melted down the General Lee to make that guy’s guitar!