The beautiful thing about the internet is we get to share in the musical wonders over the pond and beyond. The next few images will take you through a night, not so long ago, when sludge metal rock band, The Melvin’s visited the stage of The Electric Ballroom in London, UK. Featured staff photographer, Phil McDougall caught quite a few quality shots of the infamous band.
My thoughts on the Melvin’s go back as far as I can remember. When I was young, the music frightened me, these power vocals and drums soaked tracks brought fourth every haunted vision or scary dream I’d ever encountered. The music enveloped me in a symbiotic pillow of panic and somehow that excited me. They drew me into their music through experimental, intrusive and heavenly tracks that ran through my mind when I was trying to dream and also when I forming and laying my railroad track of music to build from.
The thought that they are still out there on tour and kicking ass is an exciting one, starting back in 83 when I was a mere 5 years old gives a bit more of perspective on my story. I’ve not been able to see them for many moons and to know that someone we work with had the pleasure is giving me hope for them to come to our side of the pond and send me back down memory lane. The trio who has toured sometimes with two drummers but was back to one this night. The set list was a good blend of old and newer songs and the crowd as you looked around were all facets of people, old and young, there for one night of true sludge metal. I know quite a few bands around this scene that would give their first born to be in that crowd.
To those who need some stats and small run down of who The Melvins are, the band has been around roughly 28 years with a few line ups changes such as the unique touring with two drummers who played on the stage simultaneously. They like to dress in charismatic and obviously insane attire but it fit’s the demonstrative music and thematic energy they give. They’ve released 18 full length albums. The last five albums have been released on the infamous Mike Patton’s Ipecac Recordings.
Last release was the album “The Birdie Screamed Murder” in 2010 and rumor has it, they might be doing another album soon but that is definitely not confirmed. For now, I think they have resided to stick to their side of the water as for the past two tours they have done elsewhere in 2011 have ended in catastrophe. I’m referring to being first on tour in Christchurch, New Zealand at the time of the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake then in Tokyo, Japan and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. For now, us Americans will understand and forgive them for not coming back sooner!
Their ever infectious, natural creativity should pull most people in. That and getting to see them is truly a privilege, especially since they are not in the US much anymore. Their next show announced is not until May of 2012 but will be an amazing show of many headlining bands such as Slayer and so on.
See for yourself:
Check out the website for the show, catch it if you can and let us know how it went!
