WULF BANE – Ash Street – Nov 3, 2009
Metal up your arse from Costa Mesa, CA! So, technically not part of the local music scene, but since I ended up seeing them, I figured I’d do a quick write-up.
This band took me back to my jean-jacket wearing youth. My jacket had a really sweet Iron Maiden back patch (this was before it became retro-cool to wear Iron Maiden stuff), a Metallica patch, and I bolted some metal mailbox letters across the top to spell Motorhead. I still have a polaroid of that coat somewhere…
What was most impressive to me was that at least a third of the 15 member audience at this show looked like they had lived through the metal explosion of the 80′s and had been living the lifestyle ever since. Also, since there were 2 other bands on the bill, 1 from Texas and one local, I think that most of the audience was made up of the other bands and crew…In fact, I think I might have been the only person there not somehow associated with the band. In all honesty, that’s a real shame. I know not everyone is into metal, but for those folks that are, this was a great show for them to see.
Wulf Bane was appropriately full of energy, posturing and volume while playing a set of balls out metal. There were plenty of entirely un-ironic fists pumped into the air and everyone had a great time headbanging along. The musicianship was tight and tough and there was plenty of blistering lead work to keep the shred worshipers appeased. In short, this was a great, honest metal show. No fucking around! Too bad all the local metalheads were home asleep…
