I won't or even try to introduce GWAR to you, simply because it's merely impossible to do it and not spend several pages. I will only say that GWAR has been spilling blood on various stages from the late 80s with some albums that started as Punk and transformed into the nowadays Thrash.

It was a really nice Friday evening one day before the CANDLEMASS concert here in Chicago and I had to blow some steam off so GWAR was the proper way to do it. I arrived a little bit early at the venue to find out that the tour manager had no idea about the interview I had scheduled with Oderus through the promoters. This did not start well!

Nevertheless, I entered the Pearl Room and saw that all the amps were wrapped in plastic to avoid any accidents during the blood party of GWAR. Like always, the show started exactly on-time bringing INOCULA on the stage. If you reading my reports (shame on you if you are not) then you have probably realized that I have a hard time getting used the Metalcore scene. I have tried hard to find something interesting in this genre but the simply collection of guitar riffs combined to the predictable screaming vocals don't help at all. INOCULA belong to this scene and actually had some supporters in the audience that were happy to mosh a little bit. Although, the use of keyboards was kind of interested but the rest of the music was boring at least to me. At least the guys on the front lines had some good time so I guess I had the problem.

While waiting for the next band Jeremy Smith, GWAR's tour manager kindly explained to me that he honestly didn't know about the interview but that did not change my already spoiled mood. MENSREA took over the stage and make me think blast! Not another Metalcore band! I found some differences with the trendy Metalcore sound especially due to the pretty good guitar leads that gave some points towards diversity. The rest of their package was nothing to comment on apart from the powerful performance that moved a greater part of the audience than the previous act.

The next band on the billing was GIL MATERA'S PARTY DREAM and I thought that they should be something special since they had the place just before GWAR. I made my way to the photo pit just before the beginning of their performance and got a surprise; the keyboard players showed up with fake vampire teeth and a really GAY outfit! The crowd went crazy and started throwing almost everything on-stage from ice cubes and glasses (fortunately for them they were made by plastic) to some hilarious comments and curses. As I said I was in the photo pit and I just could not stop laughing to what my eyes were seeing! The three piece band started playing 80s pop with a great of electronic sounds and samples! The singer was wearing a tight and shiny outfit making him looking more GAY than everything else. Their performance was of course GAY and actually made everyone on the venue laughing their heart out. Their moves were going hand in hand with the music while during the breaks the frontman was talking to the crowd saying things like: We won't stop playing, whatever you do or Lets see if you could make a band that could support GWAR. Well, I have to give them some credit because they did perform their stuff regardless the audience's reactions and actually seem to have fun doing so. They played the last two songs (don't expect song titles from me) without their pants on raising some pretty good comments from the crowd! Check the photos to get some idea about them!

Finally, the time had come for me to witness the GWAR mayhem on-stage. Everything was prepared and the colorful stage was ready to host the best live show I have ever been! Some strange sounds were the first signs that the show was about to begin! The representation of president Bush got on-stage and was followed by the mighty GWAR dressed in their outrageous outfits. Bush was mumbling some of his politics and earned the middle finger of the audience. Oderus Urungus with his enormous sword took his place in front of Bush and with a swift move he took his head off! As you can imagine blood started flowing from his neck soaking every one! I tried to keep my camera away from the blood shower while getting some pictures from the show. The band kicked off with War Is All We Know and did Murderer's Muse without stop. While trying to clear my eyes from the fake blood and clean my camera's lens Jitler (this is name the band uses) came on stage with a big dick hanging out. Then he started masturbating serving us with more blood. This time getting pictures or even looking over the stage was almost impossible. Saddam A Go-Go was next and things were already crazy.

Everyone was aware about the band's show and for that reason you could see many of white t-shirts especially in the front lines.
After the three songs I made my way off the photo pit getting a congratulation tap in my shoulder by the security guys who were already soaked in blood. The next GWAR victim was the a looking cop was came with a provocative attitude. GWAR's slaves impaled the cop with a huge spike while the band started playing Tormentor. I think it is simply impossible to get the show on words. Among other happenings on-stage I can mention the huge blood cannon named biledriver, the slaughter of Nazi Pope, the torture of poor Bohab, the decapitation of the Jew Satan named Jewcifer by the mighty Oderus and of course Laden's appearance (and slaughter) with a bomb on his hand shouting jihad.

This was definitely one life experience for me seeing a band that counts 20 years of constant presence in the Metal scene. Their outrageous show combined to the caustic humor and the gallons of fake blood are some of the elements that make this Heavy Metal concert a hard to forget experience.

GWAR's setlist:

01. War Is All We Know
02. Murderer's Muse
03. Saddam A Go-Go
03. Go To Hell
04. Tormentor
04. Eight Lock
05. Biledriver
06. Bring Back The Bomb
07. Immortal Corruptor
08. Penguin Attack
09. The Apes Of Wrath
10. Krostikka
11. Womb With A View
12. Kingqueen
13. Martyr Dumb
14. Crush, Kill, Destroy
15. Salaminizer
16. Babyraper
17. Sick Of You

(photos by the Scumdogs Of The Universe)

INOCULA

MENSREA

GIL MATERA'S PARTY DREAM

GWAR