If I were only allowed to use one word to describe Saturday night's show... That word would be: WILD!! Plain and simple! Down, Orange Goblin and King Parrot all put on outstanding performances from beginning to end.
Kicking off the night was Australian grind-masters King Parrot. This was King Parrot's second show ever in the city of Edmonton, and did they ever kill it! With a frontman that takes the saying 'balls to the wall' to a whole new level, and between stage-diving, crowd-surfing and starting one of the most brutal mosh pits that I have ever seen, King Parrot has to be one of the most intense and entertaining bands that I've had the pleasure of meeting and photographing. Going from zero to sixty in a matter of seconds, King Parrot left an impression that their audience wont soon forget.
Second on the bill was Orange Gobin, hailing all the way from London, England, and also upon their second visit to Edmonton, these English heavy metallers came to kick ass, and boy.. Did they ever! With a frontman that looks to be as tall as a tree, and has a voice that could make a kitten purr, Orange Goblin has one of the most unique sounds in heavy metal today. Pairing head-bangable guitar riffs with hammering drum beats, Orange Goblin will get your blood pumping, and, well... They'll make you want to put your headbanging hair in the air!
Now. The moment that we've been waiting for... Down was up next... I could feel my heart beating a little faster with each passing minute. I'm personally a big fan of Down, so my anticipation was at an all time high. Finally, filing one by one onto the stage, the gentlemen of Down took their places. The crowd progressively got louder and louder, then, the man himself - Phil Anselmo, heavy metal icon, and former frontman of the legendary Pantera, placed himself front and center of the stage. At this point, the crowd was roaring to the point where I could hardly hear myself think. With that signature pouty-lip and grumpy facial expression, Anselmo took the band straight into Lysergik Funeral Procession - from 2002's record 'Down II' - and dedicated the song to the memory of former bandmate, friend and brother, Dimebag Darrell. Fans were happily cheering, singing along and in awe of being in the presence of one of heavy metals most iconic frontmen. Stage divers and crowd surfers were abundant on Saturday night, including a few of the dudes from King Parrot! Down carried on with their set, playing a handful of classic songs, such as Witchtripper and Stone The Crow - all songs that truly make you feel something while listening to them. Towards the end of the set, Phil Anselmo lit up a cigarette, took a few puffs, smiled, and then spoke from the heart with his audience; Expressing his appreciation and gratitude towards everyone who came to see Down, Orange Goblin and King Parrot, making this a sentimental moment between musicians and fans. For the very last song of Down's set, Bury Me In Smoke - From 1995's debut album 'Nola' - Each member from all three bands filed on stage and all began to collectively perform this classic tune. With laughter and smiling faces, Down, Orange Goblin, and King Parrot all made this particular show so memorable. Whether it was seeing King Parrot's frontman start one of the most intense mosh pits that Union Hall has ever seen... Watching an unbelievably tall English frontman gulp down an entire tallboy can of Strong Bow beer... Or simply watching Phil Anselmo pull fans onto stage to sing along with... This performance on Saturday, December 13th; A show that fans will be buzzing about a year from now, sets the record for the most energetic show of 2014. My hat is off to the 'Punk Rock But Kinda Not' tour for making this another wicked show for the memory bank!
Want to see more photos from this show? Check them out here!
King Parrot - Orange Goblin - Down
