On Saturday December 13th 2014, the Scumdogs of the Universe GWAR, landed in Baltimore to destroy the Soundstage. Joining GWAR that night was the AMERICAN SHARKS from Austin Texas and legendary CORROSION OF CONFORMITY from North Carolina. This was the last night of the tour and was completely sold out show at the Soundstage that night. As I walked in the venue the AMERICAN SHARKS hit the stage and immediately had the crowd moving to their heavy, groovy sound. I never heard of the American Sharks until that night and they were an awesome band to see live. Being a three piece band they put on one hell of an entertaining stage show. Blasting out their punk like, stoner metal riffs they had the crowd moshing one minute and then head banging in unison the next minute. Right before they played their last song the whole stage filled up with smoke and the voice of Pustulus Maximus from GWAR came over the PA system delivering hysterical cut downs on the band. By seeing the bands reaction to this you could tell that the American Sharks were having a great time on this tour with GWAR.
As the AMERICAN SHARKS were tearing down and C.O.C. was setting up I had the pleasant surprise of running into Matt Pike of HIGH ON FIRE/SLEEP. We talked for a couple of minutes about the opening band and how it seemed like everyone there was having a great night. There was an obvious, overwhelming good vibe in the Soundstage that night. C.O.C. hit the stage next and they were nothing but smiles. It was like seeing old friends again. Going from fast jams to their sludgy, groovy melody's they really changed up their tempo from time to time. Early in their set they played "Brand New Sleep", "Nectar" and they even played "Mad World" from their album "Animosity". They also played "Deliverance" which really got the crowd moving.
Everyone was now ready for the mighty GWAR to take the stage. As the lights went down, the venue filled with smoke and the crowd was getting restless. They were ready to be splattered with blood and whatever other bodily fluids GWAR had in store for them. Then without warning Oderus Urungus appeared on the Magical Mirror and the crowd went crazy. They opened with "Fly Now" as Oderus sang the vocals through the Magical Mirror. Then a beheading occurred and the bloodbath began, spewing blood all over the crowd.Without any warning a new character came out onto the stage. He introduced himself as Blothar, explained who he was and his purpose with GWAR. Once Blothar explained who he was and his purpose to the crowd the stage filled up with slaves to accommodate the bloodbath spewing on the crowd. Then the crowd was introduced to Vulvatron. Within no time she pulled her top down and began to shoot blood out of her nipples all over the crowd.
GWAR continued on with their entertaining stage show of debauchery playing
"Saddam a Go-Go",
"Metal, Metal Land",
"You ain't Shit", and finished with four encores. It was obvious that with
Dave Brochies passing
GWAR is going to continue to prevail for a long time. There wasn't too many people in the crowd that did not have a blood splattered smile on their face by the end of the show.
Setlist:
1. Fly Now
2. Madness at the Core of Time
3. The Years Without Light
4. Hail, Genocide!
5. The Private Pain of Sawborg Destructo
6. Tormentor
7. I, Bonesnapper
8. Black and Huge
9. Hate Love Songs
10. Saddam a Go-Go
11. Bloodbath
12. Horror of Yig
13. Metal Metal Land
14. Let Us Slay
15. Mr. Perfect
16. U Ain't Shit
Encore:
17. The Road Behind
18. West End Girls
(Pet Shop Boys cover)
19. People Who Died
(The Jim Carroll Band cover)
Encore 2:
Cool Place to Park
