Columbus, OH show @ C.B.R.’s – 06/19/2009 featuring Admission of Guilt, Gangster Like Drive By, Bless the Child, Let the Guilty Hang, Sourblood

This past weekend, a few of the guys and I took set out to make good on our word and check out a little local color…and holy shit, was it amazing. We ended up hitting up C.B.R.’s in the Brewery District in Columbus, Ohio. By the way, if you ever get the chance to hit this place up, DO IT–Great drink prices, the bar tenders are awesome (some are really nice to look at too). On to the line up: On first was Admission of Guilt, followed by Gangster Like Drive By, then Bless the Child, then Let the Guilty Hang from West Virgina, and the headliners Sourblood. I originally thought it was only going to be 3 bands, but it appears we were all in for a face melting treat . Hit the jump for the complete run down. OH WAIT! Did I mention that Suicide Silences old bass player was there? I didn’t? Well, he was there.

First gig up to stage was Admission of Guilt. They aren’t horrible, but I personally felt that the energy level could have been a little higher then what it was. AOG has some pretty sweet break downs, as well of some tasty riffs. Over all Admission of Guilt was a decent band, they could have been a little tighter, and like a said before they could have had a little more energy. But they put on a hell of a show.

Second at bat was Gangster Like Drive By. Bawls to the wallz on this one. Damn, awesome performance by GLDB (Andyman would like to point out that this is also the acronym for the band “Glowing Lotus Douche Bags”, but I’m convinced he’s making that band name up). Apparently, they were down a member for this gig, but I didn’t notice. Very full sound from theses guys. One thing I would like to put a spot light on was their bass player. I don’t remember his name (sorry), but damn, he was fuckin’ on it! Not just completely over the stage, but just playing it in general. He has talent, as well as the hole band. Bruuuutal break downs, and of course them delicious riffs that sprawled out of this 3/4′s of a band. Can’t wait to see them again, hopefully with the full Gangster like Drive By experience.

Bless the Child hit the stage next, with more and more people crowding the floor in hopes of getting a pit. Anyways, Bless the Child was more of the grind type of all the acts thus far. Having finally seen these guys for the first time, the KnucklesFirst crew and I were left wondering how we didn’t hear about these guys before. They were on the ball, extremely tight throughout the whole set. I also learned that night that they are on a compilation CD with Misery Signals, Bleeding Through, Arsis, Genghis Tron, Meshuggah, Bring Me the Horizon, Abigail Williams, Soilwork, Suicide Silence, Winds of Plague, and All Shall Perish. Huge props to these guys for that, and for melting my face right off. Thanks Guys.

Hailing from West muthafuckin Virgina comes Let the Guilty Hang. First of all, is that not a sweet band name? Awesome. These guys reminded me a lot of August Burns Red, and As I Lay Dying. FULL, and I mean FULL of break downs and shredding from the shallow depths of hell. LTGH also had some great stage presence. Except, I felt that their lead singer wasn’t having a pleasent day. I just don’t like when a vocalist doesn’t face the crowd 70% of the show, it’s rude, give us some excitement! Other then that, they are going places, and I really believe that.

Sourblood. These guys know how to put on a fucking show. They really kicked our asses, and let me be the first to tell you. It was their rhythm guitarist’s last show with the band. If their lead guitarist ever happened to venture into standup comedy, I’d probably be blogging about it as well. He’s was crackin’ the shit out of everyone there that night.

Chime-in time for Andyman: YO WASUP. Okay, so these last two bands were so bangin’ I couldn’t not (double negative) put in my two cents on this show review.

Let the Guilty Hang was my favorite band at this show. I think a more accurate description of their set would be early Lamb of God meets Atomic Bitchwax. Weird, I know…but seriously. These guys were talented, and treated show-goers with some awesome cross-genre…canoodling. Seriously, they would go from sweet solo, to epic breakdown, to crazy stoner-blues rock interlude, and then just a single beat of silence before slamming back into a ballbreaker riff. I was so excited about their performance, I went and bought a sticker, a CD, and a t-shirt (only $20, and they threw in a free button…sweet). I gave the CD a listen and was somewhat disappointed. There could be a hundred reasons for it, so I won’t speculate why, but the bottom line is these guys are much better live than they are on this particular CD.

Sourblood was perhaps the best band that night, though I personally prefer the style of Let the Guilty Hang. Sourblood had the energy, the enthusiasm, the repetoir, and the volume to set that place on fire. Good riddance to their guitar player who jumped in the pit during the last song and jacked me in the adams apple with his fucking headstock (PRS, I believe, from the red mark on my throat) lol j/k no hard feelings. (But seriously. Ow.) I also picked up these guys’ CD, and I must say I am impressed. They were selling the thing for like $3, which is an epic steal. If you get a chance to see these guys, do it, and pick up the CD. It’s worth it. Andyman out ( I was the handsome lad in the Death Angel t-shirt).

So this concludes our first ever local show review. I’d like to take the time and thank everyone out there at C.B.R.’s–the manager was awesome, as well as the countless other band members I had a chance to bullshit with throughout the night. And knuckleheads, please keep us posted as to when/where you will be playing around Columbus — we will try our hardest to show up. E-mail me butters[at]knucklesfirst.com

Admission Of Guilt Myspace

Gangster Like Drive By Myspace

Bless The Child Myspace

Let The Guilty Hang Myspace

Sourblood Myspace