Sunday, June 23, 2013 - Black Tar Prophet * Akris * Saxon King (8pm)

by rudyards | June 23rd, 2013

Black Tar Prophet (Nashville, TN)
https://www.reverbnation.com/blacktarprophet
https://blacktarprophet.bandcamp.com/

“Black Tar Prophet make noise-strewn doom experiments that are some of the city’s most intense and interesting tunes” - SEAN L. MALONEY - Nashville Scene“
The instrumental duo makes sludge as thick and slow as an Antarctic ice sheet, delivering gut-wrenching low-end and pummeling beats with an experimental edge.” - Sean Maloney - The Scene
“The Black Tar Prophet guys, a three string bass and a drummer at this point, did what seemed to be a two second sound check and soon entered an instant wall of dark psychedelic metal sound. A very captivating set, it went nonstop as though it was but one song, whether it was or not.” - Wylde Bill Jackie - rnzmag
“Despite the fact that guitarist Mark Owen left the band just before the recording, nothing much has changed in the dirty, straight and raw sound of BLACK TAR PROPHET. Greg is still a massive purveyor of slow, distorted noises, damn crushing and infectious…” -STEPH LS - Temple of Perdition
“Black Tar Prophet seem primarily interested in rocking out on a creepy groove and they get the job done.” - Charles Douglas Hoffman - The Bone Reader
“A solid as well as interesting release that is hardly ever tiring or boring. Quite heavy in style, it takes the listener on quite a trip that has its moments. ” - Oneyoudontknow - A dead spot of light (page 59-60)
“ Musically, the style was very droney and obviously they are majorly influenced by bands like Saint Vitus, Electric Wizard, Sleep, E.H.G. etc, but on top of that influence, there was a sense of despair in Owen’s guitar riffs that set off a pretty vicious vibe for me and the super loud amps they used made it even more brutal. I’d say they were one of the loudest bands i’ve seen since Jucifer played here last year which is saying alot.” - Johnny Ringo - Black Tar Prophet @ Tsunami

Akris (VA)
https://www.akrisband.net/

Akris hails out of Northern Virgina and will be traveling as a three piece for this tour. Bassist/vocalist Helena Goldberg started the band as a two piece Drum-n-Bass Doom Metal outfit after relocating to from NYC in 2009, continuing the path she had blazed with her first band Aquila, but has gone thru a few changes over the last few years with a musical chair procession of drummers and cohorts. Helena has now reformed Akris with Sam Lohman on drums and Scott Nussman on noise guitar, synth and sampler to round out the band.

A deep knowledge of musical theory and composition mixed with a deep and gut wrenching love for the sound of heavy doom is where Akris is coming from. Powered by Earth and Sunn amps, Helena’s bass sound can only be matched by the intensity of her voice. Mixing powerful and profound lyrics on top of Space Mountain, Akris creates an avalanche of bass and drums, with a layer of celestial noise on top. Through touring consistently, adding atypical elements, and practice, Akris is having others take quick notice of what has become an amalgamation of contemplation in that the band cannot be labeled or affiliated with only one particular genre.

Drummer, Sam Lohman, began playing clubs in 1980. Since then he has played with various bands including Sheer Terror, Dust Devils, Nimrod, Sikhara, Steve Mackay and the Radon Ensemble, Acid Mothers Temple, Sonic Suicide Squad, Matta Gawa with guitarist Ed Ricart and his solo noise project 36. Sam has toured with sax players Steve Mackay of the Stooges and Nik Turner of Hawkwind. He has also played and recorded with Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra. He is currently also playing free jazz with D.C.’s Trio 000.

The current Akris lineup includes noise provocateur and multi-instrumentalist, Scott Nussman. Scott is currently half of harsh noise/drone duo, Pastures, and a solo power electronics artist as Nuss; his previous bands include Vog, Piasa, and Lost It. He played bass in both Vog and Lost It, and went on to play an ARP analog synthesizer in Piasa. Studying percussion in West Africa, Scott has gained an appreciation for self-made instruments. Scott joined Akris in November 2011 just in time for recordings at Chris Koslowski’s Polar Bear Lair, featuring Steve Mackay, and an end of the year tour with Backwoods Payback. Scott’s profound sense of hedonism has added to the griminess that is Akris.
,br> Merchandise now includes the 2011 live demo, recorded on July 28th by Nate Pauzenga. The tracks are re-recordings of the 2010 demo, including bonus track, “Row of Lights,” with Sam Lohman on drums. Akris also has a 2 song demo available with guest soloist Steve Mackay on tenor sax (the Stooges and the Radon Ensemble). These tracks were recorded in November of 2011 by Chris Kozlowski (Melvins, Pentagram, Blue Cheer, etc.) at the Polar Bear Lair Studio in Middleton, Maryland. Akris has also recently self recorded the 2012 live demo, which will be available at live shows. The band is in the process of recording their full length album and playing live as much as possible.

 

 

Saxon King (Houston, TX)

https://www.reverbnation.com/saxonking

SAXON KING are a four peice Metal band based in Houston Texas and comprised of former members of; What Lies Beneath,Spunk, Neologos (New Orleans), SkyBlue 72,etc. Our debut E.P. “Under the Axe” is available on iTunes and at Amazon. Be on the lookout for our full length L.P. later this year!