Christmas Choccy Haul

 

GIG: Pestilence (Sheffield)

 

Way back in December 1993 Rose and I travelled to London to see Pestilence and Cynic at the Marquee Club. Before the show we went and had a pizza in the Deep Pan Pizza down the road and ended up sitting next to Cynic who were being interviewed by Barney from Napalm Death for Terrorizer (I think). I spoke to Paul Masvidal about touring with Death and then headed to the venue. 

Outside there was a sign saying that Pestilence had split up and that Cynic were now headlining the show and that there were two other bands supporting (Mourn and Decomposed). It was a great gig, but I always rued the lost opportunity to see Pestilence.

In 2009 Pestilence returned with their amazing 'Resurrection Macabre' album and proceeded to release a string of brilliant prog infused Death Metal albums. I actually think these albums are better than the originals and having listened to Spheres again the other day (the album they were touring for in 1993) I'm glad they toned down the jazz-fusion wankery a bit!

There were three support bands on the bill tonight and I had never heard of any of them, so all I really wanted to do was see Pestilence and get home (1h 45m away). I left home at 6:30 and got into the venue at about 8:40 to see Damim sound-checking in the smallest of the three rooms (I didn't know which of the three rooms the gig would be in, and if I had, on reflection maybe I would have gone somewhere else). On the wall there was a poster telling me that Damim were scheduled to play from 8:25 til 8:55, so why they were still sound-checking I really don't know. 

It was quite busy but nowhere near enough people to fill the big room, I had wondered about that because seeing Rage play to a very sparse crowd there a couple of years ago was a bit deflating! 

Anyway, Damim eventually started their set and ended playing more than their allotted 30m too. I'm pretty sure they played a cover of 'Spiritual Healing' by Death, either that or they ripped off the guitar parts for one of their own songs. By that time I was in the bar texting Rose, having tired of them after a promising start.

While I was there a friendly chap approached me and complimented me on my excellent Razor - Evil Invaders shirt and we had a bit of a chat about how awesome the Canadian thrashers are.

Eventually Damim finished and loads of people filed out to the bar. The perfect time to storm in and stand wherever I wanted. There were two short people right in the middle of the floor and I stood behind them. How clever I am, I thought, I'm in the perfect place with two people even shorter than me in front, what a victory!

Of course, my elation was short lived. Stupidly I didn't stand right up close to them (because that would be weird in a half empty room) and so two tall bastards came and stood between us. Fuck. Oh well, I could still see pretty well so it wasn't too bad.

Pestilence were now wandering around the stage and I realised Patrick Mameli was right in front of me. In one hand he had his Steinberger guitar case and in the other 2L of milk. Maybe he had a sore throat? Maybe he drinks milk? Who knows.

Anyway, after some more soundchecking and guitar tuning they eventually kicked off at 10pm, with the supposed curfew at 10:30! 

They kicked off with 'The Secrecies of Horror' and everything sounded pretty good. There were about three people moshing at the front of the stage but apart from that all was calm. But then a few songs in Patrick announced 'Dehydrated' from the first album and instantly the room exploded. Suddenly people were flying in every direction and I was moving backwards, backwards, backwards, turning and ultimately falling! 

I felt two people grab me and pick me up only to find myself right at the back of the room, even so I was still in the firing line and I struggled to get to the left hand wall as it was the only part of the room that looked remotely calm. I eventually got there, taking a few more hits en route, and realized that actually I had a really good view from there (plus I could hold my phone over my head without pissing anyone off).

I really enjoyed the gig, especially 'Devouring Frenzy' and 'Resurrection Macabre', but I was a little disappointed that 'Horror Detox' was dropped from the set (I suspect the curfew was changed to 11pm and something had to give). And of course 'Mind Reflections' was absent from the set anyway. Booo.

And despite getting bowled over it was still on of the best gigs of the year. But looking at the other venues on the tour I cant help thinking any of them would have been preferable. But Manchester Rebellion was on a Friday and Bristol Fleece and the Camden Underworld are a bloody long way to go when Sheffield is available.

While not as momentous as finally seeing Razor, it was still good to finally tick Pestilence off my list and if nothing else constantly listening to them for the last few weeks has made me appreciate their music even more.

I had expected this to be my Gig of the Year, but as good as it was I think I have to give that to Y&T. 

Someone posted the whole Manchester show on You Tube, which makes me wish I'd gone there even more! Dammit.