Live music review: Philly Sludge legends Baroness stopped at Radio East on Friday
Baroness came into Texas on the circumstances of opening for Louisiana sludge legends Acid Bath in Dallas, but the great folks at Resound Presents couldn’t let them leave Texas without an Austin appearance. With longtime drummer Sebastian Thomson having to opt out days before travel, the band had to find a fill-in drummer to stand in for the run. Despite this, the veteran Georgia born, Philly-based quartet arrived at Southeast Austin’s Radio East and delivered a jam-packed show.
Formed in 2003, Baroness has thrived for 23 years with steady studio output and relentless touring. They have overcome every obstacle, making them one of modern metal’s top touring acts. Friday night in Austin’s industrial area was no exception.
The show opened with local experimental metal act God Shell. They blend grindcore, death metal, and black metal, creating an unforgiving take on the modern world of heavy music. Their style recalls the screaming claustrophobia of Portrayal of Guilt, a close scene relative. The crowd was strong as the venue filled up when God Shell hit the stage. The attending metalheads were ready for the onrush at hand. If you like Austin hardcore brutality like Glassing, PoG, or Parasiticide, give God Shell a spin.
Austin hardcore punk favorites Mugger took the second slot for the evening, a quartet that needs no introduction at this point. Vocalist Anna Troxell and husband, drummer Patrick Troxell bring worthy storm-bringing vibes to every stage they take, backed up by also husband and wife pair, Lisa Alley and Daniel Fried. The couple also appear in bands The Well and TV’s Daniel, respectively. When vocalist Troxell took the stage, an adequate greeting of “We’re Mugger, who the FUCK are you?!” told the audience exactly what they were in for during the 15-minute set.
Mugger sticks to its hardcore ethos and never looks back when it comes time to play. This band can tour, record on a shoestring budget, and build a dedicated following wherever they go. It’s always a spectacle, but venues with no actual “Stage”, like the backyard of Tweedy’s and other unconventional spaces, should be on your must-sees when Mugger chooses to feed their fans there. No barricade necessary.
Baroness drummer Sebastian Thomson was absent for their Texas gigs, and for most other bands in their genre, this would be a clear signal to call-off the tour. For an opportunity to open for Acid Bath, the east coast outfit pushed on and enlisted fellow Georgian, Mannequin Pussy’s drummer, Kaleen Reading to take on the job. Reading took the task and delivered with god-like precision, missing not a single beat or fill. She learned the set in three days, for fucksake! Baroness took the stage with their built-in modern metal intensity, sculpting a career-spanning performance featuring tracks from all six of their studio LPs.
Frontman John Baizley takes on lead vocal and rhythm guitar duties with remarkable aptitude, doubling up between the intense vocal duties while still locking in on the backing ensemble’s intricate movements as they slash through tune after tune. Despite being the only original member of the group, with multiple members coming and going over the years, Baizley doesn’t settle for anything but perfection. The selected musicians play for him in a loud and proud manner, taking on every era with the band’s unique brand of mythical sound that hasn’t missed a beat for over two decades.
Psychedelia and metal intertwine in the Austin music scene thanks to Levitation and Austin Psych Fest, and the fans came out to witness the action with palpable enthusiasm. Lead guitarist Gina Gleason always radiates six-string badassery, releasing her Iommi-esque leads with face-melting intent. Through the pummeling rhythm section and searing leads, Baroness can’t miss.
Baroness plays two dates this spring, with no further shows announced at this time. Tickets can be found on the band’s website.
All photos by Justin Clark
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