GWAR – Battlecross: Live At Webster Hall


Battlecross OJC PICS Omar Cordy 2015 (2)

The last time I saw GWAR and Battlecross together in New York was in 2013 with Oderus Urungus (RIP). It took me awhile to get adjusted to the change and I was nervous about the future. With this tour being a part of their year-long 30th anniversary celebration. It was time to see a return to the slavepits.

Skya opened the show with their brand of hard rock. Solid band with catchy riffs. Battlecross knocked it out with probably their best NY show to date. With new drummer Brian Zink in tow, they hammered a selection of through three albums worth of thrashers. With extra time in their set due to Born of Osiris dropping off the tour because of an injury. GWAR guitarist Pustulus Maximus joined them for a suped-up rendition of Pantera’s ‘Fucking Hostile’. You can never go wrong with Pantera.

Battlecros, by OJC Pics/OmarCordy

Battlecross, by OJC Pics/Omar Cordy

 

GWAR, by OJC Pics/OmarCordy

GWAR, by OJC Pics/Omar Cordy

For the headliner tonight, it’s GWAR vs the internet and all types of social media. Going after Twitter to Tinder; no one is safe. GWAR has always been a multi-headed beast and it has never been more prevalent than now with both Pustulus and Balsac, The Jaws of Death stepping up with more vocal duties. New singer Blothar sounds great on the newer songs like ‘Madness At The Core of Time’ and ‘Bloodbath’, as well as classics like ‘Saddam A Go-Go’ and ‘Sick Of You’. The return of ‘Sexecutioner’ was met with joyous roars from the crowd. They played a varied set from songs from their whole career and sounded just as tight as ever.

GWAR, by OJC Pics/OmarCordy

GWAR, by OJC Pics/Omar Cordy

It’s been said that GWAR by design is a band meant to last a thousand years and can continue on into the next century and beyond. They have some rough edges they’re working out, but that’s expected. The future of GWAR looks bright and I’m excited for what’s next.

 

GWAR, by OJC Pics/OmarCordy

GWAR, by OJC Pics/Omar Cordy

 

GWAR, by OJC Pics/OmarCordy

GWAR, by OJC Pics/Omar Cordy

 

GWAR, by OJC Pics/OmarCordy

GWAR, by OJC Pics/Omar Cordy

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WORDS AND PHOTOS BY OMAR CORDY 

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GWAR Eternal Tour Set To Kick Off In A Few Weeks, New Members Revealed


GWAR press pic

 

The truly immovable creative tour de force that is GWAR launches their new tour in two weeks. The tour will honour the memory of beloved late front man Oderus Urungus (a.k.a) Dave Brockie, who passed away on March 23rd of this year. Following Riotfest in Chicago, the band has officially added two new scumdogs in Blothar (former Beefcake The mighty Michael Bishop) and the vivaciously evil looking Vulvatron. Following the memorial tribute/viking funeral/party/music festival that was the 5th Annual GWAR-BQ in Richmond, VA this August, the band is gearing up for a series of tours. Joining them on tour will be the likes of Decapitated, American Sharks, Corrosion of Conformity and more. The band continues to tour in support of Battle Maximus (Metal Blade), released in 2013.

Should any skeptics and fans wonder if GWAR should continue in any form without Oderus, Dave Brockie himself outlined a future GWAR without him in an interview earlier this year with Ghost Cult’s Omar Cordy:

“When I was a kid, bands would come with a few good albums then a few crappy ones and they’d be done. The Beatles only played live for like six years or something like that and Hendrix, his whole career was over a four year period. Granted he was playing in a lot of bands up until The Experience, but his real-time to shine was such a short period of time. Now bands led by The Rollings Stones and others can go on forever. So GWAR’s had this get opportunity to continue to progress and evolve as musicians. I always told a lot of people, that by design GWAR is a band meant to last a thousand years, and one of these days when I get too old to do this anymore I will hand pick and hand train my successor, and “The Son of Oderus” will be born. That way GWAR can continue on into the next century and beyond.”

 

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From The Press Release:

 

ANTARCTICA, 29th September 2014

The Scumdogs of the Universe are sharpening their axes and stoking the fires of their great war engines in preparation for the fall 2014 GWAR Eternal Tour. Global leaders had hoped the bouts of terror accompanying GWAR‘s annual rampages would finally come to an end with the passing of the the groups monstrous captain, Oderus Urungus. But tonight politicians, religious leaders, and citizens around the world are asking, “Why?! Why won’t GWAR just leave the Earth in peace?”

The band’s toothsome guitarist, BalSac the Jaws of Death had this to say: “Something is wrong, unspeakably wrong. It feels as if the very fabric of reality has been ripped from belly to taint. And it all centers around Oderus’ disappearance. One moment, life is fantastic, as we celebrate the near sinking of Japan as a result of our recent journey across the Pacific; and the next, he is just gone. Suddenly the world is a dark, vile place with hordes of trolls biting at my hooves and daring to spit poison in my face. There is a great evil behind this, and I will not rest until I know what has become of my brother!”

There is mounting evidence of a disruption in the core of time, including the sudden appearance of the Berserker Blóthar, a Scumdog warrior who claims to be from the distant past. Apparently, he was sucked through a hole in the space/time continuum and deposited onstage in front of thousands of screaming metal heads. Fortunately for GWAR, he knows the words to all of their songs and has pledged to aid them by assuming the role of lead singer. Inexplicably, he is also a hell of a bass guitarist!

And what is to be made of the mysterious new Scumdog, Vulvatron? She appears as a cybernetic female assassin who purports to know the answers that GWAR seeks because she hails from the future. While some of the band seem to have fallen under the spell of her impressive blood-spewing assets, others remain skeptical. JiZMak da Gusha was quoted as saying, “Dames, they ain’t nothin’ but trouble.”

GWAR Eternal Tour Lineup

Blóthar: Lead Singer, Bass Guitar

Beefcake the Mighty: Bass Guitar, Vocals

Pustulus Maximus: Lead Guitar, Vocals

BalSac the Jaws of Death: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

JiZMak da Gusha: Drums

Bonesnapper: Bodyguard, Crappy Vocals

Sawborg Destructo: Annoying Nemesis, Annoying Vocals

Vulvatron: Plot Twist, Vocals

GWAR W/ Decapitated and American Sharks:

10/15: Norfolk, VA @ The Norva

10/16: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

10/17: Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater

10/18: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium – “Rock and Shock Festival”

10/19: Buffalo, NY @ The Town Ballroom

10/21: Louisville, KY @ Expo Five****

10/22: Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theater

10/23: Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live

10/24: New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues

10/25: Austin, TX @ Emo’s – “Housecore Horror Film Festival*

10/26: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live

10/28: Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom

10/29: Sauget, IL @ Pop’s Nightclub

10/30: Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater

10/31: Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall**

11/1: Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater

11/2: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee

11/3: Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory

11/4: Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory Concert House

11/5: San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom

11/6: Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues

11/7: Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Live

11/8: Magna, UT @ The Great Salt Air

11/10: Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House

11/11: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater

11/12: Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO

GWAR W/ TBA and American Sharks:

11/14: Vancouver, BC and Commodore Ballroom

GWAR W/ Corrosion of Conformity and American Sharks:

11/15: Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House

11/16: Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall Ballroom

11/17: Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall

11/19: Fargo, ND @ The Venue

11/20: Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theater

11/21: Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave

11/22: Detroit, MI @ Harpo’s

11/23: Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection***

11/25: Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue

11/26: Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

11/28: Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall

11/29: Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory

11/30: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

12/2: Nashville, TN @ Exit/In

12/3: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel

12/4: Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall

12/5: Orlando, FL @ Firestone Live

12/6: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

12/7: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall

12/8: Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theater

12/9: Toronto, ON @ Opera House

12/10: Montreal, QC @ Virgin Mobile Corona Theater

12/11: Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall

12/12: New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place

12/13: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Sound Stage

*No American Sharks

**Havok plays on this show

*** The Meatmen play on this show

**** Huntress plays on this show

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Special Ebay Auction for GWAR Throbblehead Set #666 Goes Live


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A limited time ebay auction for a set of Aggronautix GWAR Throbblehead Set featuring Oderus Urungus and Balsac “The Jaws of Death”. All proceeds go to the Dave Brockie Fund. Winners of the ebay auction also get a collectible poster limited to 50, not available anywhere else for sale.

 

 

From the product page:

 

Limited to 1000 Hand Numbered Sets

Pre-order Now – Shipping July 31

AGGRONAUTIX and Slave Pit Inc proudly present the GWAR Throbblehead Set featuring Oderus Urungus and Balsac “The Jaws of Death”.

Oderus, GWAR’s lead singer and broadsword swinger, stands an imposing 6.5″ tall and will lay waste to any opposing his reign of terror. Dutifully worship Balsac, guitarist for GWAR, while keeping out of decapitation distance. He stands 7.5″ tall from horn to hoof. Will you be one of the worthy few to own this collectible set? Worship your masters, human filth!

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Dave Brockie Fund , a charity with the mission of promoting the advancement of music, images, letters and performances in the arts. It will endeavor to encourage promising talents, and preserve the legacy of Dave’s works. It intends to be a support system to those who have dedicated their lives in pursuit of creativity.

***For orders outside of the United States, please note that items will take longer to arrive (average of 3 weeks)***

(Box Art by Marco Palumbo of No Front Teeth Records UK, per usual – See more at: http://aggronautix.com/products.cfm?productid=109#sthash.gJGSlYYk.dpuf

 

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The Official Throbblehead ebay Auction page

Aggronautix on the Web

GWAR on Facebook