Lord have mercy...
New Orleans sludge barons EYEHATEGOD are gracing the stage of Shoreditch's Old Blue Last tonight. It's a welcome surprise for all those eye-bearing god-haters out there. “Holy moly,” you say, “I wonder what the local Catholics might think of that.” Let's hope all 'hell' doesn't break loose.
Helping the crowd warm up for some unholy (riff-based) matrimony are London boys Flats, who are also welcoming a new guitarist to the mix. With the day still bright and audience members sweating like Eskimos in a sauna, I guess that slight heat exhaustion could be to blame for the lack of enthusiasm for these modern day punks. At least there is enthusiasm on singer Dan Devine's behalf, which is justified by the amount of visual strain on his throat and veins popping on his forehead.
Next up is south London hero Lewis Floyd Henry. Here's a bit of short history about him: he can be found playing on street corners, he does awesome renditions of Wu-Tang Clan tracks and doesn't need any other band members. Yes, that's right; he's a foot-tappin', finger-snappin' and riff-crackin' one-man band. He oozes a unique kind of coolness that could probably feel familiar to those who have seen musicians such as Jimi Hendrix or Bob Marley live in the flesh.
With a sound that's somewhere between a heavy Hendrix and a sludgy Seasick Steve (Seasludge Steve anyone? Yeah, never mind...) he's the perfect warm up for EHG. Ending his set by yelling “Stop screaming! Stop screaming!” before placing the microphone next to the amp for some ear-splitting feedback (Which sounds like a woman screeching. Clever eh?), it's safe to say that everyone's ears are pricked for EHG.
So after a raucous round of applause, bodies are filling the room, the temperature is rising at a blue hedgehog's pace and people are getting shirtless. Well, one guy is. Others are just rolling up sleeves and trousers – which is a more sensible and hygienic choice. Oh, and a little mosh-pit is occurring before the band even arrive. And then out they come, looking haggard and hairy, like a metal band should. Singer Mike Williams is having a few issues with the stage lighting and punters are getting slightly aggressive, shouting “Shut the fuck up and play!” and all sorts. Must be the heat.
The droney guitars and shattering bass lines can't help but get the crowd smoothly swaying back and forth in unison or provoking shirtless maniacs to shove each other around in a circle. Me included. This doesn't help with the reviewing of the gig. Bodies are flying around (I say flying, but they were only airborne for half a second). A shin has just connected with my jaw. Now the back of my head's getting elbowed. What the... This mayhem has been going on for a good 20 minutes, and is continuing for another. This is a really good mosh-pit.
Anyway, from what I can tell whilst I've got leg hair in my eyes and toes/fingers/noses in my ears, Mike Williams is vocally on point like a sewer-swamp choirboy, while Jimmy Bower is making us see the light with his holy axe. EYEHATEGOD are like some kind of religious experience. Oh, and I think they played 'Sister Fucker'.
Add an event
Scoping Out London’s Coolest Historic Bingo Halls
London’s bingo halls were once a bustling part of many of the city’s communities, but as...