Beefcake the Mighty of GWAR at La Zona Rosa - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
by harrison davis
club kingsnake staff
GWAR
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
http://www.gwar.net
December 5th, 2008
La Zona Rosa
Austin, TX
Also:
Toxic Holocaust,
Kingdom Of Sorrow
GWAR has become an institution in thrash metal purely due to their ridiculous live shows and I had heard so many things about GWAR shows that I had to see it for myself. I am in no way a fan of GWAR’s music, but their show was one of the most awesomely ridiculous things that I have ever seen.
I showed up late to the show and not only missed the openers, but the first few songs from GWAR. I walked into the room just as a wrestling ring was being set up on stage. I knew that someone was about to die. I quickly discovered that the ring was there for there for the Intergalactic Wrestling Tour which, of course, was set-up for GWAR to award the rightful owner of the Frank Sinatra Belt of World Domination. The first match consisted of a green monster named Bonesnapper and presidential candidate John McCain.
As McCain was mutilated and dismembered on stage, sending blood flying throughout the whole room, I couldn’t help but completely forget the fact that the band was still playing. The band was entirely forgettable, but the show was anything but. I don’t remember a thing that GWAR produced musically at any point that night, but in this situation that just might be a good thing. I was busy having too much fun. Every note they played floated right past me as I thought about how cool guitarist Balsac the Jaws of Death looked with his massive head or bassist Beefcake the Mighty’s awesome gladiator outfit.
The audience represented a diverse GWAR following. Judging from the look on many faces, they were there for the same reason I was, because everyone has to see GWAR at least once.
The show remained consistently awesome until the very end. The sole complaint I had was with the Intergalactic Wrestling tour storyline. It started off with the killings of John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton (it’s the Electile Dysfunction Tour) but when it came time to actually fight for the Frank Sinatra Belt of World Domination, GWAR’s manager Sleazy P. Martini brought out two monsters that I had never seen before. It was a letdown after the previous bouts. In the end we walked out happy, covered in blood, and wondering what exactly just happened.