A stage act is supposed to reach an audience by appealing to its basic emotional needs. A musical act is supposed to speak to audience members, making them feel the sound.
Imagine going to see a show and witnessing all of this. Now add horrific alien monsters. Mix in a fair helping of heavy metal and violence. Top the whole thing off with sexual innuendos and implied drug use.
You now have a vague idea of what going to a Gwar concert is like.
When I read that Gwar was going to take their 25th anniversary tour to the Glass House in Pomona on Nov. 23, I rushed to buy my ticket.
This was a smart purchase.
The opening band, The Red Chord, played a relatively short set. Job for a Cowboy, the second band, did a great job of warming up the crowd. The thrashers in the audience were beginning to go overboard.
I, personally, was forced to head-butt somebody unconscious because they were getting carried away.
After two opening bands, Gwar began. The audience was treated to a short video, which explained the history of Gwar. This is because all of the band members play characters in costumes.
They have a make-believe lore that continues to grow as the band gets older, which says that they are alien warriors known as “Scumdogs.”
While the video was playing, bassist Beefcake the Mighty and guitarist Balsac the Jaws of Death took the stage. They were followed by lead guitarist Flattus Maximus and drummer Jizmak Da Gusha. The four began to warm up, and when the video was over, singer Oderus Urungus appeared.
The show, from this point on, was unlike anything I have ever seen. While the band was playing, men in gas masks and g-strings began spraying the crowd with a water canon filled with fake blood.
After the first block of songs, a character named Sawborg Destructo joined the band on stage. He helped the band battle enemies, in an extremely violent fashion. At times, Urungus would use a sword and help battle during songs.
Gwar also tends to “kill” costumed fake celebrities and worldly figures. During this show Urungus killed Barack Obama and an undead Michael Jackson.
In past shows, the band has killed the likes of Marilyn Manson, Paris Hilton, Steve Wilkos, Osama Bin Laden and George W. Bush. The band claims to hate all humans, but stays on Earth because it is the only planet with crack cocaine.
If you like horror movies, heavy metal and satire, you will love Gwar. I would not recommended Gwar to small children, but they are fun for the rest of us.
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