FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
I haven’t been heading down to the States for shows very often since our dollar dropped far below par. But I still had a few bucks lying around from my last U.S. trip, and with two of my favourite American doom bands playing within driving distance, I figured it was worth the effort.
You gotta love a city whose major concert hall changed its name to match the fictional venue where Spinal Tap performed in the legendary mockumentary. Alas, beer is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think Milwaukee–or maybe zoo animals, if you’re into that–but it does have a bit of metal history as well…
Doom metal, in general, is not summertime music. When the sun’s out, the temperature’s rising and yer sweatin’ balls, you wanna cruise down the blacktop blasting some Kyuss or Fu Manchu, not some slow, melancholic, depressing tunes. Not that I have anything against slow and depressing, mind you–I just don’t have it pumping on the patio.
If you were paying attention, you would’ve noticed that TooHighToGetItRight.com went offline last weekend. I don’t know the exact time of death, but I cancelled my hosting plan on Saturday morning before hopping on a bus to Rochester. It was still online when I left, but not when I got back, so there ya go. RIP THTGIR, 2007-2011. That said, you haven’t seen the last of me yet…
Sundays are somewhat of a strange day for a metal gig. Typically, it’s when you wind down from the weekend and get ready for the work week ahead. And wouldn’t you know it, there’s another gig this Sunday, as desert rockers Totimoshi take their strange sounds to Toronto on their tour for their latest, Avenger.
They say all things must come to pass, but lately, they’ve been passing like a 300-pounder with a spastic colon passes gas. First, there was the mysterious disappearance of StonerRock.com, the website that every heavy rock site aspired to be. Then, the off-again, on-again, off-the-air CKLN saga, which led to the end of Smokin’ Green and influenced my decision not to renew my domain. Accept tribute bands take note: as of August 26, 2011, TooHighToGetItRight.com will be up for grabs.
If you like your doom proggy and your prog doomy, don’t hesitate to step into the psychotronic world of Blizaro.
Fortunately, we won’t hafta wait as long this time around, since the band will be releasing its second opus tonite at The Garrison before heading off on a European tour with their ghastly label mates. Support comes from Blizaro–a psychedelic side-project of Rochester doom titans Orodruin–who’ve had their name misspelled on many a gig listing, including the venue’s.