It's been a few weeks since this concert so excuse the lack of details at points. I'll make up for it in vigor...

[105] Wizard Rifle, Lord Dying, Nether Regions, Danava (2011)

This was Nether Regions' Into The Breach CD release show. I had been looking forward to both the show and the album release for months. For one, I was told Danava would be playing and they're one of my favorite Portland bands, live or otherwise. For two, it was cool to have heard Into The Breach in advance of the release, but it's no fun knowing how cool something is yet being unable to share that experience with others.

Yeah, most of the times I share music and nobody takes to it (if they even listen in the first place); most days I feel like I'm talking to myself with this blog. Even when it does seem like I have some sort of audience or reception, it comes at a cost. Maybe it's my writing style, maybe it's just that I am that kind of person. I say too much when I shouldn't, too little when I should. Whatever the case, I don't like sitting on good music too long. If I like it, it stands to reason someone else will, too.

This show, much to my relief, was evidence of that concept. It was one of the best and biggest crowds I've seen for every band of the night, THE best I've seen for both Wizard Rifle and Nether Regions. For building this show up as much as I had, it was so nice to see so many people here, and so many of them totally 'into it'.

Branx recently had a revival due the demise of Berbati's Pan and, especially, Satyricon, so I wasn't really sure where the venue was or what the method would be regarding doors or showtime. Naturally, the door to the venue itself was "hidden" at the end of a ramp leading between buildings, located underneath Rotture from the opposite side of the building. Doors themselves opened a little late due to Wizard Rifle finishing their soundcheck, reminding me a little of Satyricon. Inside was also similar to Satyricon with a dark/grungy vibe and the front open area followed by the stage "room". Unlike Satyricon, drinks are allowed in the main room, but for this all ages show alcoholics were confined to a bar area away from the stage. First impression: so far so good.

After taking in my new environment a bit, Wizard Rifle hit the stage. They had been working on a new album and preparing for their first US tour, so most of what they ended up playing live this night seemed to be new. I don't know their material well enough to say what they played or didn't, but their overall set also felt graduated and professional over the times I'd seen them before. Perhaps that had something to do with them being on a proper stage playing to a decent, active crowd (for once?), too. As always, their stage banter was top notch.

Lord Dying’s material is mostly recognizable for me now, what with listening to a few of their songs regularly at home since they uploaded tracks to the ‘net. I believe they played five songs - the same five they play at every show lately. Having seen them more than enough times now, I had the liberty to go brain dead on their set and performance. I'm sure I was more concerned about seeing Nether Regions, anyhow... That happens a lot; if I came to a show for a band, the band that plays before them gets stiffed. Anyway, Lord Dying's music is good, and that's good enough.

This being Nether Regions' CD release show, they were sure to play the majority of their new album, starting with a dramatic pre-intro as they settled on stage in the dark and moving towards "Into The Breach/Spanish Werewolves" territory. I didn't keep a setlist but it seemed like they skipped "A City Far Enough Away". I could be wrong; at this point I can't remember anything except that I was distracted by the center crowd and the sonically ironic good vibe I was getting from the whole experience.

Either way, they were on stage longer than usual for all that material. Seeing them for less time at venues with sub-par sound was getting annoying. Even here, with me standing close to speakers, I couldn't hear the guitar on the other side of the stage very well, but that is something I can live with when I know their material fairly well at this point and went to this intending to foremost analyze their new drummer.

That said, the new drummer did a fine job. Some pieces, like “Alpha/Omega” where there’s a quick drum solo, seemed vaguely unnatural, but that’s a given considering the drummer isn’t the one who originally played those parts. Still, I doubt anyone in the audience noticed if they hadn’t specifically focused on the previous drummer before. The new guy was accurate and totally looked like he belonged on stage with them.

Danava played:

“Where Beauty & Terror Dance”
(new song)
“Riding Hood”
“Illusion Crawls”
(new song… long)
“Unonou”
“Eyes in Disguise”

Three new songs, three old ones. Pretty good!

They sounded, played, and seemed better than their Berbati's show last fall, and the energy of the crowd where I stood was a lot more authentic. Even with the long new song being more rock oriented than dependent on synth (or whatever the fuck is going on there), it reminded me of the first time I ever saw Danava when they played a few long keyboard-focused songs in a row. It was very nice to see "that" again, especially with their newest lineup.

The crowd of this entire show was younger than usual, as it was both free and all ages. Perhaps due more to the size of the crowd than the age difference, some of Wizard Rifle and most of Lord Dying and Nether Regions were treated to a shove-pit. Danava's crowd was more subdued; that's to be expected (hippies!). Even with the aggressive and enthusiastic folks, though, I didn't have to deal with any drunks, conversationalists, "girlfriends", or people in front of me constantly looking back. I had been worried about this show beforehand being a fucking social meltdown but instead it turned out to be my most positive social show experience in a while. In other words, when I caught a good mood, I got to keep it.

In conclusion:
- Wizard Rifle has since released some songs to the world.
- Lord Dying has a few songs online.
- Nether Regions' album is out now. You should get it.
- Danava is still selling copies of their split with Earthless and Lecherous Gaze. It's the best three-way split I ever did heard.
- and this show was great.