{"id":3095,"date":"2013-05-13T15:36:09","date_gmt":"2013-05-13T15:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skylight.gr\/administrator_wordpress\/index.php\/2013\/05\/13\/concert-review-gwar-san-francisco-ca-the-regency-ballroom-11-24-09-tuesday\/"},"modified":"2013-05-13T15:36:09","modified_gmt":"2013-05-13T15:36:09","slug":"concert-review-gwar-san-francisco-ca-the-regency-ballroom-11-24-09-tuesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/2013\/05\/13\/concert-review-gwar-san-francisco-ca-the-regency-ballroom-11-24-09-tuesday\/","title":{"rendered":"Concert Review: Gwar, San Francisco, CA, The Regency Ballroom, 11-24-09 (Tuesday)"},"content":{"rendered":"


On November 24, 2009, Gwar decimated, desecrated, and devirginized the once pristine Regency Ballroom (\u201cRB\u201d).\u00a0 Gwar started the concert at 10:00.\u00a0 Technically speaking, Gwarmania began at 9:50 when the band showed a spoof Gwar documentary on the large projection screen behind the drum set that gave a history of the band interspersed with interviews with Oderus Urungus (\u201cOU\u201d) (lead singer, real name Dave Brockie).\u00a0 While the movie was playing, I quickly put on a one piece coverall under the mistaken belief it would protect me from Gwar slime.\u00a0 [The fact that my underwear, socks, and contact lenses were blood red when I arrived home nixed that theory.]\u00a0 Gwar played 16 songs discussed in greater detail below.\u00a0

1. Metal Metal Land (Lust in Space record, 2009) opened the festivities, a fast, upbeat song off Gwar\u2019s new (and 11th) studio album released August 18, 2009.\u00a0 I admire Gwar for having the . . . ahem . . . balls (or the in case of OU, a brain dangling below his prosthetic penis, the \u201cCuttlefish of Cthulhu\u201d) to start a show with a new song.\u00a0 Not many bands have the courage to do so.\u00a0 Two that come to mind are UFO during The Visitor tour (2009) and Kiss during the Psycho Circus tour (1998).\u00a0 This song provides clear evidence of Gwar\u2019s thrash roots prominent on the \u201cScumdogs of the Universe\u201d record (1990) and, after a foray in different musical directions, the \u201cViolence has Arrived\u201d (2001), \u201cWar Party\u201d (2004), and \u201cBeyond Hell\u201d (2006) records.

2. Saddam A Go Go (This Toilet Earth, 2004) featured a slave donning a rocket shaped helmet who appeared manning an archaic machine gun on a stand akin to one depicted in the \u201cMad Max\u201d (1979) film.\u00a0 The slave doused the crowd with green slime.\u00a0 Since I was in the photo pit, I sought protection by ducking below stage height each time the slave turned and pointed the gun\u2019s barrel at my quivering head.

3. Lords and Masters (Lust in Space, 2009) is another fast up tempo song from Gwar\u2019s most recent record.\u00a0 Two slaves appeared on stage.\u00a0 One slave sported an electric circular saw he used to cut the chest of the previously mentioned slave donning the rocket shaped helmet.\u00a0 This carnage caused the wounded slave\u2019s chest to profusely bleed.\u00a0 Unfortunately, my earlier tactic of ducking below stage height miserably failed because the wounded slave lumbered and fell a few inches in front of me, past the tip of the stage.\u00a0 [I felt like a tiny rodent who had sought shelter by burrowing myself in an underground den but who had been sniffed out by a hungry salivating mongoose hovering above for his anticipated meal.]

4. Apes of Wrath (Violence has Arrived, 2001) featured frenetic riff work by Flattus Maximus (\u201cFM\u201d) (guitarist, real name Cory Smoot) and Balsac the Jaws of Death (guitarist, real name Mike Derks) and a strong drum beat by Jizmak Da Gusha (drummer, real name Brad Roberts).\u00a0 OU delivered the lyrics as a pseudo rap.\u00a0\u00a0

5. Tormentor (Beyond Hell, 2006) was the visual highlight of the show.\u00a0 A slave brought out a blue headed slave strapped to a vertical board.\u00a0 The slave with the electric circular saw used his bare hands to tear the flesh off the shackled slave\u2019s right arm, exposing the skeleton.\u00a0 The slave used his saw to cut off both of his victim\u2019s legs and then impaled his saw in his victim\u2019s chest, causing him to vigorously bleed.\u00a0 The slave continued to carve his victim\u2019s chest as if it was a Thanksgiving turkey, exposing his organs.\u00a0 The slave pulled out and ate portions of his victim\u2019s intestine, savoring the delicacy as if he was eating beef jerky.\u00a0 The slave exhibited his dexterity by using his victim\u2019s yanked large intestine to play the double dutch game of jump rope.\u00a0 [I imagined hearing the slave sing Frankie Smith\u2019s funk hit single, \u201cDouble Dutch Bus\u201d (1981)].\u00a0 When he became bored playing with his victim\u2019s organs, the slave violently ripped the skin of his victim\u2019s head, exposing the flesh and making him look like one of the victim\u2019s in Clive Barker\u2019s classic horror film, \u201cHellraiser\u201d (1987).

6. Where is Zog? (Lust in Space, 2009) featured a giant beast that resembled one of the Gamorrean Guards in George Lucas\u2019s \u201cReturn of the Jedi\u201d film (1983), but more refined than the slobbering film beast in that it donned a top hat and smoking jacket.\u00a0 A shirtless hooded slave used an oversized axe to cut the beast\u2019s chest, causing it to spew blue slime.\u00a0

7. Womb With A View (War Party, 2004) featured an up beat tempo and a punchy drum beat and bass line.\u00a0 Before the start of the song, OU cradled a two-foot alien creature that resembled a cross between a Cabbage Patch Kid and a baby tyrannosaurus rex.\u00a0 Shortly after Gwar started performing the song, a helmeted figure came on stage wearing a black shirt with the initials \u201cMJ\u201d on his chest.\u00a0 The figure removed his helmet, revealing a Michael Jackson (\u201cMJ\u201d) look alike, complete with an albino face, long semi curly black hair, and an albino prosthetic penis that looked more like a dangling gym sock.\u00a0 MJ grabbed the creature out of OU\u2019s hands.\u00a0 OU then braced his \u201cCuttlefish of Cthulhu\u201d (\u201cCOC\u201d) as if he was Rambo wielding an AK-47.\u00a0 OU\u2019s COC spewed green slime like a ceramic Angel fountain figurine spouting water.\u00a0 MJ was enticed by OU\u2019s COC like a kid smacking his lips for a lollipop.\u00a0 MJ repeatedly attempted to clandestinely grab the COC.\u00a0 OU eventually grew tired of MJ\u2019s repeated antics and ripped the flesh off MJ\u2019s face, exposing a skeleton that spewed blood.\u00a0 For the 60 or so seconds that MJ spewed blood, he danced and pranced like the celebrity, replete with crotch grabs, one handed finger pointing in the air, and side to side head shakes.

8. Let Us Slay\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Lust in Space, 2009) is a solid mid tempo song performed with no antics.
9. Maggots (Scumdogs of the Universe, 1990) featured heavy drums, a chant along chorus, and a lightning fast brief guitar solo.\u00a0 The slave sporting an electric circular saw appeared and simulated masturbation.\u00a0 [I was reminded of the film \u201cEdward Scissorhands\u201d (1990) and the extreme care both Edward and the slave must use in engaging in self-satisfaction.\u00a0 An otherwise pleasurable act could turn into a painful experience of \u201cLorena Bobbit\u201d proportions, albeit self induced.]\u00a0 Subsequently, a bare-chested slave appeared and got on his knees.\u00a0 The masturbating slave proceeded to show his hospitality or, lack thereof, by impaling his circular saw in the crouching slave\u2019s back.\u00a0

10. Immortal Corruptor (Violence has Arrived, 2001) featured a slower tempo but still with a heavy drum beat and brilliant FM guitar solo.\u00a0 OU brought out the alien creature first featured on Womb With A View and impaled its vagina surrounded by a row of jagged teeth with his sword, causing the creature to spit blood.\u00a0 OU handed the creature to a slave donning a helmet with two halfway imbedded circular saws who pointed the creature\u2019s mouth at the crowd as it spewed blood.

11. The Price of Peace (Lust in Space, 2009) featured Beefcake the Mighty (bassist, real name Casey Orr) on vocals.\u00a0 A 15 foot futuristic white robot with jagged teeth and eyes that lit up with white light stiltedly appeared.\u00a0 The slave with the electric circular saw and another holding an oversized sword confronted the robot.\u00a0 The robot used his massive forearms to knock the slaves around like miniature action figures.\u00a0 The sword wielding slave eventually impaled his weapon in the robot\u2019s chest, causing the protective shield to fall off and a fetus to drop from within and dangle by its umbilical cord.\u00a0 Acting much like a tag team wrestling duo, the victorious slave and OU violently ripped the alien\u2019s forearms off his body, causing the dangling ends of the robot\u2019s upper arms to spew blood into the crowd.\u00a0 OU then finished the festivities by impaling the alien with his Conan the Barbarian sized sword.\u00a0 His slave henchman pulled the sword out and the alien hobbled off stage.\u00a0

12. Lust in Space (Lust in Space, 2009) featured a slow, acoustic introduction.\u00a0 Within approximately one minute, the song went into overdrive with electric guitars playing a heavy riff at mid tempo.\u00a0 The song\u2019s chorus is somewhat repetitive and, at over six minutes in length, the song dragged, slowing the frenetic pace of an otherwise brilliant show.\u00a0 At the end of the song, OU proudly proclaimed, \u201c25 years of violence!\u201d\u00a0
The band left the stage at 10:53 and returned in two minutes to play four additional songs.\u00a0\u00a0

13. Bring Back the Bomb (War Party, 2004) is another heavy song with a thumping chorus.\u00a0 Prior to the pummeling song\u2019s introduction, the Seal of the President appeared on the video screen accompanied by an audio recording of \u201cHail to the Chief.\u201d\u00a0 A President Obama look alike came on stage offering his deepest thanks to Gwar for saving planet Earth.\u00a0 President Obama offered OU a medal.\u00a0 OU refused, repeatedly beat President Obama on his head with a short staff and then decapitated him, causing the President to spew blood from his neck.\u00a0
14. Jack the World (This Toilet Earth, 2004) was performed with no antics.

15. Have You Seen Me? (America Must Be Destroyed, 1992) is a song OU dedicated to \u201cthe Mission District Abortion Clinic.\u201d\u00a0 This song has an interesting twist, beginning as a jazz infused bluesy song with a loose vocal delivery by OU.\u00a0 Approximately two minutes into the song, the song shifts into overdrive, and the band delivers an up tempo hard edged song with power chords galore.\u00a0 During the course of the song OU held a small bloody dead infant in hand that spewed an endless supply of blood into the crowd.\u00a0 [OU held the infant\u2019s spewing mouth at the crowd as if he was watering his very dry lawn in the mid summer heat.]

16. Sick of You (Scumdogs of the Universe, 1990) is the last song, which featured a bare chested slave wearing a black g-string and mask with long downward protruding nose.\u00a0 The slave rolled forward the archaic machine gun first used on Saddam A Go Go for further blood sport.\u00a0 The slave had apparently tweaked the settings on the weapon, permitting him to simultaneously shoot red and green slime into the crowd.\u00a0
Two flashback memories are worthy of mention.\u00a0

First, I was reminded of Judas Priest\u2019s show at the Oakland Arena during the Turbo tour (05 15 86).\u00a0 Like Priest, Gwar performed six songs off their new record.\u00a0 No disrespect to the mighty Priest, but being an avid thrash fan means Turbo\u2019s light, synthesized tinged sound is my least favorite Priest record.\u00a0 I came close to performing hari kari (i.e., ceremonial suicide by ripping open the abdomen with a dagger) by the time the band performed the sixth song off Turbo.\u00a0 Fortunately, my plastic hot dog stand knife was as dull as my brain after taking a lengthy standardized aptitude test designed to gauge my I.Q. or, more aptly, lack thereof.\u00a0 In contrast, I enjoyed hearing six songs off Lust in Space because of the thrash induced feel of the songs.

Second, I watched in fascination backstage pre show at the fruitless efforts by two socially awkward and technically inept wanna be rockers setting up equipment for an on camera, interview with OU.\u00a0 The tiny cramped backstage area was riddled with camera equipment, including a tri pod, oversized camera, and yards of cable.\u00a0 The cameraman sported a spiked blonde mohawk but had the mannerisms of Beavis from the American animated television series \u201cBeavis and Butt-Head\u201d (1993-1997).\u00a0 The interviewer resembled Butt-Head or a Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game aficionado.\u00a0 Cameraman Beavis repeatedly scurried back and forth from behind the camera, intensely looking into the eyepiece as if he was Steven Spielberg.\u00a0 Interviewer Butt Head awkwardly stood a few feet in front of the camera nervously awaiting OU\u2019s arrival.\u00a0 As it turns out, the hapless dimwits were unable to get the camera to function.\u00a0 Interviewer Butt Head had a brilliant idea, conduct the interview with his iphone.\u00a0 When OU walked into the room and saw a tri pod with no camera and interviewer Butt Head sticking an iphone in his face, he said in shock, \u201cYou want to do this on camera interview with an iphone?!\u201d\u00a0 OU should have told cameraman Beavis and interviewer Butt Head they were Gwar\u2019s VIP guests for the night and instructed them to hang out side stage.\u00a0 Then, right before Gwar took the stage and while the eager rabid fans were salivating over the anticipated onslaught, OU should have instructed Gwar slaves to manhandle the two fans by stripping them of all their clothes and dousing them in red and green slime, making them look like festive candy canes.

Venue: the building that housed the original RB, known as the Avalon Ballroom, was built in 1911.\u00a0 The Avalon Ballroom operated from 1966-68 and reopened in 2003 under its current name.\u00a0 During the ballroom\u2019s original stint in the 1960\u2019s local bands such as Janis Joplin, Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Steve Miller Band, and Big Brother and the Holding Company performed at this venue.\u00a0
RB is a 1,050 seat capacity theater with a rectangular shaped standing room floor measuring 96 by 69 feet with blonde hardwood floors and a permanent stage measuring 42 by 20 feet.\u00a0 Positioned 35 feet above the floor are 22 teardrop chandeliers circa 1900 secured on a roof adorned with gold medallions.\u00a0 RB has a horseshoe-shaped reserved seating balcony, the interior siding of which visible from the floor is virgin white.\u00a0 Four vertical white columns line the wall atop the stage and another six are present on each of the walls on the second floor.\u00a0 Also lining the side walls on each floor are six square shaped gold colored tapestries.\u00a0 [The more timid fans not enthused with being hosed by Gwar sludge took refuge on the second floor, hoping the liquid concoction could not reach them.\u00a0 However, the fact that a large portion of the balcony balustrade was lined with protective clear plastic should have provided ample notice that only the extreme regions of RB opposite the stage were safe from the gore fest about to ensue.]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
Opening Bands: Gwar was supported by two opening bands, The Red Chord and Job for A Cowboy.\u00a0 Ashamedly, I missed both opening bands because I was busy transcribing the recent interview I conducted with UFO\u2019s Vinnie Moore.\u00a0 [The last thing I want to do is to bear the wrath of a hot blooded Italian from the Tri State Area.]\u00a0
Arash Moussavian, Entertainment Law Attorney
arashmoussavian@cal.berkeley.edu
www.linkedin.com\/in\/arashmoussavian
All photos taken by Arash Moussavian.\u00a0 This article and all photos are protected by copyright.\u00a0 Please contact me prior to use, or I will make shish kabab of your loins.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Set List<\/p>\n

Song\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Album Title\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Release Year<\/p>\n

1. Metal Metal Land\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lust in Space\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2009
2. Saddam A Go Go\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This Toilet Earth\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2004
3. Lords and Masters\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lust in Space\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2009
4. Apes of Wrath\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Violence has Arrived\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2001
5. Tormentor\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beyond Hell\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2006
6. Where is Zog?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lust in Space\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2009
7. Womb With A View\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 War Party\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2004
8. Let Us Slay\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lust in Space\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2009
9. Maggots \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scumdogs of the Universe\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1990
10. Immortal Corruptor\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Violence has Arrived\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2001
11. The Price of Peace\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Lust in Space\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2009
12. Lust in Space\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lust in Space\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2009<\/p>\n

(Encores)<\/p>\n

13. Bring Back the Bomb\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 War Party\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2004
14. Jack the World\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This Toilet Earth\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2004
15. Have You Seen Me?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 America Must Be Destroyed\u00a0 1992
16. Sick of You\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scumdogs of the Universe\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1990<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On November 24, 2009, Gwar decimated, desecrated, and devirginized the once pristine Regency Ballroom (\u201cRB\u201d).\u00a0…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-live-in-greece"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3095\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}