Live review, photos, setlist: Down w/ The Melvins

September 8, 2009

Creativeloafing.com
By Jeff Hahne in Live Reviews, Photos, setlist

Down w/ The Melvins, Haarp, Evil Army
The Fillmore Charlotte
Sept. 5, 2009

The Deal: Supergroup Down brings along The Melvins, Haarp and Evil Army for heavy metal gig at The Fillmore.

The Good: The night opened with Evil Army who played more of a punk style of metal. The band was introduced by Down singer Phil Anselmo, who spent the rest of the set watching from the side of the stage. He joined the band for a couple of choruses, and Pepper Keenan of Down was in the crowd watching for the second half of the set.

Haarp was up next, as their singer performed the entire heavy metal set from the middle of the floor. Again, Anselmo was on the side of the stage, singing along, smiling and enjoying every moment.

The Melvins, the fore-fathers of grunge, showed their mettle and their metal during the band’s 45-minute set that rifled through a number of songs — some instrumental, some with vocals. Feedback, dual drummers and a good bit of humor swarmed the stage as King Buzzo, Buzz Osborne, and his Einstein-like hair paced around while plucking riffs.

As much as the crowd seemed to enjoy The Melvins, it was clear that everyone was there for Down. Drenched in red lighting, the group hit the stage with a fury as a drenched Anselmo sang, screamed and stalked the stage.

Keenan tore through licks as Anselmo dedicated “Lifer” to his former Pantera bandmate “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. The energy and enjoyment the band put forth for its hour-and-15-minute set would never let you know they’d been touring on their latest album for roughly three years.

At the end of the band’s main set (and the encore), Anselmo was joined on stage by his little brother, Jerry, who sang along for the “Nothing in Return” refrain, “And when we walk away, there’ll be no coming home.” The band’s encore teased a cover of Kiss’ “God of Thunder,” before launching into “Hail to the Leaf.” At the end of “Bury Me In Smoke,” the stage was filled with a few of the previous band’s members as Down handed off instruments and let the other’s finish off the night.

The Bad: Poor attendance. It’s not every day that you get a metal group like this through town and the Fillmore was less than half-full.

The Verdict: Aside from being fantastic entertainers and great musicians, Down appeared to truly enjoy every moment on stage. While the other bands got the crowd warmed up, it was Down that brought the night to its climax. Hopefully, they’ll be back through the Carolinas in the near future.

The Melvins setlist

Pigs of the Roman Empire
The Talking Horse
The Bloated Pope
Dog Island
Des Area
Billy Fish
DNA
Anaconda
Zodiac
The Kicking Machine
Civilized Worms
Blood Witch
Hooch
The Smiling Cobra

Down setlist

Lysergik Funeral Procession
Pillars of Eternity
New Orleans is a Dying Whore
Lifer
The Path
Ghosts Along the Mississippi
Losing All
N.O.D.
Eyes of the South
Nothing in Return

Encore
Hail to the Leaf
Stone the Crow
Bury Me In Smoke