Lateness disclosure: I didn’t wanna mess with Texas

O.K, O.K I think I’m finally over that saddy sad seasonal affective disorder nonsense and I’m super stoked for life all over again (oh man) and boy howdy, the Scion Rock Fest was the bee’s knees AND the cat’s pajamas no shit. I’ve also been speaking more freely and talking to anyone who will listen. It’s basically like listening to a live stream of my brain (stuttering=buffering). Seriously though, it was really fucking cool and I totally had a blast.

Vice and Scion did a rad job with this and it really did go off without a hitch. It was awesome to see the Short North crawling with stoked metal dudes. My only gripe really was that it wasn’t all in one spot, but that’s really here nor there because the way it was set up totally worked. You know the drill—–>

Pictured: Dead Sea Live at the Scion Rock Fest (Circus)

I started my rock fest rock jaunt at Circus to catch Dead Sea and I gotta say this fest couldn’t have picked better bands to rep Columbus metal. Even though it was just a bit after 5, the joint was packed and dudes were totally stoked (already drunk). Dead Sea schooled the crowd with their take on epic prog metal and maaaaaaaaaan these dudes totally shred and are totally awesome to watch. Motherfucking virtuosos I tell you. The way these dudes have basically mastered their instruments really makes you reconsider liking other bands. For real though these dudes got an awesome reception and you hate cool things if you don’t see Dead Sea. Had I known Wino was gonna play with Saviours ida stuck around but I had to go see the other Columbus band reppin’ hard, Struck By Lightning.

Pictured: Struck by Lightning Live at the Scion Rock Fest (Skully’s)

First and foremost, Struck By Lightning is a fucking machine and I’m pretty sure singer/guitarist Greg Lahm is a cyborg built for metal. I mean it was still pretty early, Skully’s was getting packed and Struck By Lightning set the bar HIGH for the evening. Pretty sure circle pit ensued. Struck By Lighting also had a pretty cool loop going between songs, bands take note of this…nobody likes awkward silence and no one wants to hear what you have to say, unless it’s “beers on us!”. Follow suit dorks. I had a pretty chill spot on the stairs of that new “v.i.p.” balcony and I pretty much managed to keep returning to it all night. I’m too old to mix it up anymore, what can I say. For real though. STRUCK BY MOTHERFUCKING LIGHTNING just may have been the best sets I saw all night, no shit.

Pictured: Acrassicauda Live at the Scion Rock Fest (Skully’s)

So like, Acrassicauda are the band from Iraq that were featured in the must see Vice rock doc that i haven’t seen yet, “Heavy Metal in Baghdad” and like, they weren’t the best musicians by any stretch of the imagination, I mean-think dudes that just got their instruments 6 months ago and decided it was a good idea to leave basement. I’m funnin’, it wasn’t that bad and those dudes were fucking ecstatic to be playing the Scion Rock Fest. If I remember correctly, dudes kept saying “it’s good be home” or something to that effect. It was pretty great and that kind of energy can totally make up for a lack of, well you know, good.

I didn’t have high hopes for Pelican (I mean-the drummer amirite). I missed them this last time they came through for “What We All Come To Need.” I was kinda bummed, but having seen them at Ravari Room the time before and being underwhelmed, I wasn’t super bummed, only kinda bummed. At any rate, I was hoping they would play “Final Breath” and of course they totally didn’t, but they did tear it up and definitely stepped up their game from the last time I saw them. Would see again.

Pictured: YOB Live at the Scion Rock Fest(Skully’s)

I didn’t know who the fuck YOB was before the lineup was announced (too busy listening to Rihanna) and it turns are they’re pretty fucking epic. They played 3.5 songs. In the course of around an hour. Super heavy, super loud, super cool stoner doom. This set would have been great if it would have been staged in a more intimate venue. Like Carabar. Ron make it happen.

Pictured: Shrinebuiler Live at the Scion Rock Fest(Skully’s)

Shrinebuilder is the supergroup that everyone and their brother wanted to see and from what I could tell for the most part, rightfully so. Wino from St. Vitus was totally born and bred for metal and Dale Crover is the motherfucking man. Those dudes are old and basically schooled the fuck out of all parties involved as far as showing how it’s done goes. Shrinebuilder totally melted Skully’s and it was pretty much the best way to end the night. I say pretty much because the super secret Melvins show at Carabar was the best way to end the night. Haha PSYCH! Really though, Black Tusk, Saviours and cbus dudes Locusta played Carabar for the officially non official Scion Rock Fest after party show thingie and from what I can remember, I had a blast!

Pictured: Saviours@Carabar (Scion Rock Fest after party)

Basically, I’m not gonna get all wordy and all reviewery about this show because, well, I started “hydrating” round about 4:00 p.m. and got to Carabar at the exact time that I got there. Saviors were on when I arrived, apparently I missed Black Tusk (I wouldn’t say I missed them!). No really I just didn’t see them. Locusta closed out the night. From what I recall they were listenable and from what I’ve heard, good dudes. They are also the Columbus dudes that live at the d.i.y/house show joint last house on the left. Those dudes scored a fanfuckingtastic gig and definitely held their own with the big dogs.

Pictured: Locusta@Carabar (Scion Rock Fest after party)

Give me cool shit and I will tell twitter (the future of everything) how cool it is. (Scion/Vice/everyone I’m looking at you)

Check this shit out, ladies and gentleman I give you…

Weakened Wrap-up #19.5: Oh No You Didn’t My Blog’s Never Quittin’

O.k real quick.

Friday night i went to Ravari to check out my super cool totally rad homeboy Matt Bailey, from Teeth of the Hydra’s new jawn EYE. This band is basically Teeth of the Pretty Weapons and is super epic. Think OM “At Giza” epic. More on these cats in the future.

Saturday I went to Ron’s house. Who’s house? Ron’s house (Carabar) to watch former 333 weirdo dorks Do Chimps Battle? (I mean if you have to ask) and Buddyhead blogger Brian Carnahan‘s loud sludgy jucivinsesque outfit, Churches Burn. Details too salacious, a blast was had by all.

Tune in next week when i get all fanboy about Maynard!

One last thing-Really loud shout out to Ben Co Presents-get well soon dude Donewaiting is sending the best vibes available in the universe ever.

Oh hey, remember this thingie? I know, it’s been a minute. Don’t wanna hear it. I bet you can only imagine that a ton of cool shit has happened since we last got up. For example, a weekend camping excursion with a bunch of dudes, guns and fireworks(in the streets) O.K. enough will the small talk. Oh man where do I even start, the older I get the less I remember.

In this issue of “How long is Robert Duffy gonna keep letting that jackass write this crap”, I saw some sicccckkkk psych rock via Subarachnoid Space, some weirdo noise band in luchador masks, some weirdo dude in a giant hamster ball, some weirdo dude hula hooping for a really long time and I went to that thingie down town that a bunch of bands played at.

If you’re really that bored at work today click the more thingie —–>

Dead Sea@Carabar

Tuesday, against my better judgment I went down to Carabar basically because I haven’t seen Dead Sea in sometime, so I figured why not. Gotta tell you-pleasantly surprised by all bands involved. First and foremost, DEAD MOTHERFUCKING SEA. If you’re not hip, Dead Sea are prog metal virtuosos. They typically play loooong and play last. Tuesday the played short, first and left the decent crowd for a Tuesday night wanting more, which is the way it should be. These dudes are amazing musicians, excellent showmen and all around cool dudes. Currently, Dead Sea are in the midst of recording a two song 12″ (one song each side doi) to be released on bass player Alex’s Label, Chrome Leaf. Also I may or may not have heard that Alex is playing bass for some dude that was in some “influential post rock band”‘s other band. Go see Dead Sea on October 30 at Ruby Tuesday dorks.

OvO@Carabar

OvO are some noise duo from Italy. The chick played her dread with a bow.

uhhhh

I mean these dudes were wearing luchador masks. Chris Lutzko was stoked.

Subarachnoid Space@Carabar

I used to have a Subarachnoid Space at one point in time-dunno how I got it,dunno where it went, prolly sold it for heroin. At any rate, wasn’t sure what exactly what to expect and what I got was pure psych rock awesomeness. Dudes(and one chick) were dressed in all white to like totally become one with the screen behind them and the projections in front of them. So totally arty. For real though, sick psych, if not almost stoner jams. Sorry bout you’re life if you missed it.

Guinea Worms@Rumba Cafe

It was Rumba Cafe for me on Thursday. There’s this weirdo band Guinea Worms, perhaps you’ve heard of them. If not sorry bout you’re life. On this live Guinea Worms experience occasion, it was all about the ode to Kraftwerk, Kraftworms if you will-at least that’s what Gary called it. Whatever just look at the picture-I mean.

Also Day Creeper and We March played too. People seem to like Day Creeper. I think they at least aren’t awful. We March are from that hippie college town Athens, but aren’t a jam band and were loud.

The Flaming Lips@LC

Thanks to acclaimed Donewaiting writer Chip Midnight, I was able to attend The Flaming Lips show on Friday night at The Lifestyles(not the rubber) Community Pavilion. I should mention that my first concert consisted of the bands The Flaming Lips, Butthole Surfers and Stone Temple Pilots. It was the summer before my freshman year of high school. I was totally stoked for Stone Temple. I crowd surfed for the first and last time. I met Gibby Haynes and got his autograph. I saw a dugout for the first time in my life. Pretty good first concert really.

17 years later The Flaming Lips headline and a whole bunch of people(buncha hippies really) come to see them. So yeah, I haven’t seen Lips since the first time and was curious to see what the hubbub was about these days. Gotta say, they pretty much delivered. I’m not really a deep cuts Lips dude, so I was happy to hear all the songs you would expect to hear. It was quite the production and I thought the confetti and balloons were cool-I mean as far as that kind of thing goes. Also, Wayne Coyne dedicated a song to The Sun drummer(buncha other bands too) turned You’re so Bossy front man Sam Brown. Buncha weirdos dressed up. There was an 11 year old standing in front of me. The Lips entered the stage through a psychedelic vagina. I told the kid that’s what acid felt like-it wasn’t very well received by his mother. Good lookin’ out Chip and Flaming Lips touring guitarist Derek Brown!

Aaron Hibbs hoopin@Skylab

Soooo, Aaron Hibbs of noise dudes Sword Heaven attempted to break the world record for longest hula hooping ever-dude was shooting for 120 hours. The official record is 72 hours with no break. There is a rumored 90 hour record. Aaron made it round about 59 hours and made an oopsie. I mean, he had a catheter-dude means business and is gonna try again sans oopsie. Come to the benefit on October 9 at Skylab. Envelope is performing. Help make these hoop dreams a reality. MORE LIKE AARON HIPPS AMIRITE.

I mean

Impromptu professional interpretative nunchuk action. I told you.

Saturday there was a festival downtown. Independents’ Day. Buncha local vendors. Buncha local bands. Buncha pictures of the bands that played follow.

Moon High@Independents’ Day

Moon High play magic lullabies.

Blastronauts@Independents’ Day

Blasrotnauts are pissed they’re from Columbus and not Manchester.

Church of the Red Museum@Independents’ Day

Mayor Coleman was totally stoked for Church of the Red Museum.

You’re So Bossy@Independents’ Day

Sam Brown dedicated a song to The Flaming Lips.

no fucking idea

These dudes like attention.

Flotation Walls@Independents’ Day

Flotation Walls take forever to release a record.

Six Gallery@Independents’ Day

Six Gallery doesn’t suck.

Karate Coyote@Independents’ Day

Karate Coyote are Kevin Elliot‘s favorite band.

Best wrapper alive