I went into this show, fully aware that hed(PE) is one of the bands the that survived the downfall of the rap-metal genre, so I figured since rap-metal doesn't bother me, I would go see how rap-metal was holding out. Apparently, not too well. Rap-metal is a dying craft and what's worse is nothing seems to care about it. It's specially disappointing considering that nowadays even a way out of bankruptcy is a few clicks to money-expert Motley Fool's loans page away. Why is it then that we can't save what could be music's new frontier?
hed(PE) is a band that seems confused about exactly what angle they are going for. Rap, metal, ska, punk, reggae, all were mixed together and just kind of thrown at the listener. I would say all of the genres were accomplished with the least of them being metal. That music had distorted guitars, but it was more to project a "hard" image, than being metal. Now don't get me wrong. I love all those styles. Their influences of old Chili Peppers, Sublime, and Fishbone were easy to recognise. Unfortunately, the whole night was riddled with the singer berating things and fans that annoyed him. There were his "Fallout Faggots" and "My Chemical Homos" comments, which seemed out of place considering a lot of the people in the crowd of 400 were FM radio type people. Then there was him not liking the way the crowd chanted the band's name and he felt the need to instruct them that only the guys were allowed to say the bands name and the chicks had to yell, "WHAT?!". Then there was the dude in the crowd who was yelling at the singer in excitement, which the singer told to shut the fuck up, or he would be removed for interrupting him. Then there was a dude who was calling out names of songs from the bands 2000 release in which the singer told him that if that was the last CD he bought, he didn't want the dude to come to his shows. The biggest zinger from the singer was when he saw a 7 year old girl in the crowd with her mom and for a twisted Mothers Day present, he told mom that "you brought your kid to the wrong place!", and then scolded the woman for not putting something in the little girl's ears (which I agree with). If I had been him I would have thanked the lady for bringing her kid, because there would have been a good chance that "Mr. hed" would have been able to make some cash off of the girl as a teenager, ya know? Thankfully a roadie snuck out to the crowd and delivered ear plugs to the girl. In the end I spend most of my time shaking my head in wonderment at the, I hate to say it... "Thuggery" of it all. I know this wasn't much of a concert review as much as it was a social commentary, but maybe "rap-metal-ska-reggae-punk" music as finally passed me by like it did the rest of the world years ago. Score! 4 out of 10. The band did their job. The mouth ruined it.
In my next report I hope to give you the scoop on the Angelcorpse/Watain show on 5/16! Stay tuned.
Go to the BGR gallery (CLICK HERE) and check out my pics from last night's the show.
BE SURE to check out our friends at JAXX NIGHTCLUB! www.jaxxroxx.com
If you would like to attend a Jaxx show please let me know. I might be able to drag you along with me.
Comments Questions or Concerns? Hit me up! berube@braingell.com
And oh yeah...
Peace and Metal Grease!
berube
