Metal, Metal || Your Life is a Mess || Caravan Series

Now I am not the biggest fan of metal, let alone Death Metal or Thrash Metal completed in substandard forms, however I am a fan of free, live entertainment (substandard quotient adjusted).  And, thus, I found myself at the Caravan again on a Friday night, listening to the moody tunes of a couple of Bay Area metal bands.  All  aural pleasures were free and the beer was cheap.


We showed up at the witching hour and missed the first band, Crooked as Fuck.  I was a little bummed out about it because with a name as adolescent as that; it was almost a guarantee that they would bring the attitude.  The next band that came out of the gates was, Ladies Night.  Talking with Murray Bowles (all photos courtesy of Murry, also more available here) before their performance he had mentioned that he wasn't sure if these guys had even played a show before.  He hadn't seen them, but he must have heard of them because he was there to shoot some film.  They were okay, and I mainly blame the venue on this...yeah, I know you get what you pay for!  They all seemed like competent players and screamers, they definitely brought a crowd too.  So, it was a fun event, but with so much powerful noise exploding in front of me, I needed more balance.  Definitely not enough balance.  Check out for yourself:




Next up; Nihlotep....worth the price of admission.  We saw them putting on their face make up at the end of the second band's set.  I am just like Putty, and I am a big fan of face painters.  I wish I had enough cojones (or whatever it takes) to put make up all over my face before a performance.

Needless to say, face painters are full throttle.  There is no half stepping face painting....and if there is, then it is kind of funny.  However, Nihlotep take their craft very seriously and LOVE death metal.  And the fans of death metal who were at the show loved Nihlotep.  I mean what can be better; face painting, crazy ass Metal font on a crazy ass metal name, and a two song 45 minute set.  The dual guitar driven band was on.  They had their licks dialed in.  But the prize must go to the badass drummer.  The guy was insane.  With honorable mention definitely going to branch-carrying lead singer.  The guy had a set of pipes and could really let out a cackle.  Mad props to Nihlotep.  Enjoy the partial vids of their two songs (sorry arm got tired):