Anthrax, Death Angel & Children of Atom: Knitting Factory,
October 16, 2016, Spokane WA.
I HAVE RETURNED!
October of 2014 was basically the beginning of my dialysis
treatment along with my chemotherapy for a rare form of testicular cancer. My
last concert was Nine Inch Nails & Soundgarden in Las Vegas with my buddy
Jesse. Time has passed by quickly, but I have been through a living hell in
those two years and I pray that my cancer does not flare up anytime soon (for I
am not out of woods on that nightmare). Dialysis continues on for life now and
you never really get used to the schedule and how it makes me feel afterwards.
I am weakened, achy, lethargic and all I wish to do is melt into a chair or go
to bed. Dialysis has ruined my daily schedule and it’s the focal point to three
days of my week. I work while I’m there and so blessed I remain employed all
these years through all this turmoil. It’s not easy on anyone in my life and I
cannot feel bad enough about it for having so many deal with my issues. But,
let’s not dwell too much on negative or the crap that slows me down, for this
moment in time was long overdue…to get back to experiencing live music once
again! A few attempts prior to this show did not happen but I was bound and
determined to make this show!
What helped in making this show? A walker did. I’m weakened by
dialysis, so I get short of breath and strength rather quickly but the more
time away from dialysis, the better off I recover as my endurance increases by
the hour. Still, I need the support of a walker now to REALLY get around. The
walker really helped out a lot in getting around town to the venue from the
parking garage. Once inside the attached restaurant to the venue, I was
initially looked at in apprehension by a young blonde girl who didn’t know what
to do with me, then another gentleman came along and said come on in and we’ll
take you into the venue shortly. I was not expecting that kind of
help/treatment but I gladly appreciated the opportunity to get in and settled
before the crowd rushed in. When it was time, I was escorted through the
restaurant, over to the wheelchair ramp to get into the venue. Once inside, I
could basically pick anywhere I wanted to be “seated” for the night. If I
wanted a table and chair, I could have taken one but I wasn’t interested in
taking up any more space than possible and wasn’t about to drink so I did not
need a table. I pulled up to a spot near center stage visually & high
enough above the crowd to have a view basically without interference. I felt so
blessed to have such access and felt very safe where I was at. Keep in mind, my
walker has a seat built in and so I used that walker for my seat for the night,
along with then having the ability to stand up when needed and the overall
comfort in that walker seat was outstanding for such a long evening. It was all
a great test to see how things would work out and I couldn’t have been more relieved.
Another thing to keep in mind, having to swallow more pride in life and knowing
that once you go out into the world with a walker, you’re that much less of a
person in the eyes of the world. It’s an extremely lonely feeling. All eyes are
on you for all the wrong reasons and I just tried to keep focused on the people
that were kind to help out and then focus on the bands. When the night was
over, get out without engaging a soul; it simply makes it easier to take.
Children of Atom (https://www.facebook.com/childrenofatom1138/)
comes from Spokane. I was pleased to hear them begin to play, for it brought a
smile to my face that I was there in the moment! I have returned to live music
events! Children of Atom has a stoner rock edge to them and can jam quite well
to bluesy ZZ Top-inspired grooves to the harder edge blues/groove sounds of
bands like The Sword. I was truly
pleased to hear very decent opening act and I would look that band up for more tunes
to hear what they have to offer.
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| Children Of Atom |
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| Death Angel |
Death Angel (http://www.deathangel.us/)
has been a leader in thrash metal since its birth in the Bay Area back in the
80’s and the band continues to flourish and be an inspiration to all young rock
n rollers today. Touring on the latest release “The Evil Divide,” the band
played tunes from their beginning to now. I have seen Death Angel play before
and I found them much tighter as they played with great precision and stronger
than ever vocals by Mark Osegueda (I did have a giggle, though when Mark would speak to the crowd
and he would try to get them excited for the next tune or thanked the audience
after a song. I laughed because he sounded like Sam Kinison when screaming
out). I still haven’t heard a Death Angel song where I feel any real connection
and with that feeling, there’s a reason they are not part of the Big 4 in heavy
metal. The next big four, perhaps. Exodus, Testament, Death Angel, &
Overkill. Granted, Death Angel is a much respected and well-known
founders/fathers of the Thrash Metal movement so much respect to them and their
evolution in sound.
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Death Angel
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| ANTHRAX |
Anthrax
(http://anthrax.com/) was simply fantastic
once again! I have lost count how many times I have seen the band now, most
have been in Spokane and each show just gets better and better. Joey Belladonna’s
vocals remain incredibly strong. That’s what’s great about thrash metal, most
thrash metal vocals are actually singing, not screaming. Not growling. Thrash
metal is so well connected to orchestral music and grandiose theatrical
elements; it flies off the walls with such intensity no one can sit still.
Thrash metal remains such a vital part of the health of rock music. The
technical playing by Scott Ian and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais was simply
perfection and beautiful. Drummer Charlie Benante was not there but his clone
was and played outstanding all night long. Setlist for the evening: (Impaled),
A.I.R., Monster In the End, Caught In A Mosh, Madhouse, Got the Time, Fight ‘Em
Til You Can’t, Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.), Medusa, March of the S.O.D., In The End,
Antisocial, Be All, End All, Breathing Lightning & Indians.
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| ANTHRAX - FIRE IN THE SKY! |
When Anthrax played “In The End,” it was
dedicated to Dimebag and Ronnie James Dio and I must say that tribute and some
of the lyrics of that tune really seemed to hit home and I had a little happy-to-
be-there tear in my eye thinking of all the shit I’ve been through in the last
2 years and again to make it back to the live music world and witness the
mayhem, the smells, the sounds, the unfortunate greetings with drunk people and
all the sights and senses that bring me back EVERY time to a live music event….there
is nothing like it. So, thank the good Lord above and all the wonderful people
in my life who help me every day so I can go out into the world once in a while
and experience the great stuff in life like Anthrax! \m/
