music: silence. I'm resting my ears...
Peelander-Z, Guitar Wolf / Friday, February 25, 2005 / Philadelphia, PA / North Star Bar - 26th and Poplar
Last night I saw Guitar Wolf live for the first time.
The first portion of this 'essay' consists of how I got there, which isn't entertaining in the least, but just serves as a gauge of the effort it took (whether minimal or otherwise) to see them. Next will be my thoughts on Guitar Wolf's work I've seen and heard, Guitar Wolf's performance, and finally my thoughts after everything was said and done with.
IF YOU ARE LAZY AND WANT THE GIST OF WHAT I THOUGHT OF THE SHOW, SKIP TO THE VERY LAST LINE.
Last week when I got the work schedule for this week at my night job, I saw I had to work Friday night and I had forgotten to submit a request for an 'off' night so I tried (not very hard) to get someone to cover my shift. As it got closer to Friday, I gave it up and assumed I wouldn't be able to make it. It wasn't until about 11PM Friday night that I looked and saw that I would be leaving early, so I called up North Star Bar (26th and Poplar) to find out if the bands had already started playing. The lady who answered said 'no' and that Guitar Wolf would be taking the stage at midnight, which gave me about 15 minutes to get from 2nd and Chestnut to 26th and Poplar (approx. 30 blocks or so).
The moment everyone was out of the theater, I grabbed my stuff, hit Market street, withdrew from the ATM and immediately hailed a cab, which isn't difficult to do on a Friday night in Old City. The cabbie told me it would take only 10 minutes to get there, which surprised me until I he got on I-76 and seeing that I haven't driven in a loooong time, I completely forgot about that particular freeway. Fare was less than 10, plus tip $13. I walked into the bar and it was really busy (being Friday and all), but I wasn't expecting that the show would be sold out. Peelander-Z was currently playing and I wasn't happy because I was missing it but I thought to myself, I've seen them before, the least I could do now is see Guitar Wolf. The man at the door was nice enough to let me in to go to the merch table after Peelander-Z were finished. The moment he said that, I thought I'd try to ask someone from the band to ask them to let me stay (this time I wasn't going to pay for the nice gesture, only because I'm trying to be more responsible with my money). Peelander-Z's manager helped me out and I got my hand stamped and I felt SO relieved that I didn't go there for nothing (and lucky that it wasn't in an entirely different city with long, arduous travel). I bought a CD and checked out the territory.
From where I was at the merch table, which was all the way in the back, the most I could see were the heads of the people on stage. There was a huge crowd between me and the stage. I went back out, took off some layers of clothes (I was wearing like 5-6 layers...it's cold out!), stuffed them in my backpack and asked Pink if I could leave my stuff with them because it was heavy and bulky. Then, I worked my way up to the stage, where being small and thin was an advantage because I had to squeeze through some tough crowds. Everyone seemed really nice about it, too. Maybe it was because I asked nicely. Or because I'm Asian and they thought I was part of the group. Anyway, I saw Daisuke at the steps to the stage and went over to stand by him because he would be taking pictures. That was smart because had I stayed on the floor, I would've been destroyed by the moshers. Our little area was like the photog section, everyone had a camera of some sort. George and MangaTeacher (from Karaterice.com) were also there. I really don't like meeting people I've run into on the Internet because it's just weird for me, but he seemed cool. After a couple of minutes setting up, it was time for Guitar Wolf to rock and roll us to death.
I heard about Guitar Wolf last year at the gaia forums (http://www.gaiaonline.com), which is where I usually go to get recommendations for new music. I bought their album Jet Generation at AKA Music (2nd and Market) just because a.) it was easy to find and b.) it was touted as the loudest album (sticker on the cd case), possibly EVER (I'm doubtful but meh...). I also had a few albums downloaded and at first really liked it, but later, it wasn't something I'd listen to on a daily basis. Guitar Wolf is a loud rock band whose music uses lots of guitar feedback and distortion. One of the more interesting things about them is how they fit the greaser, rock and roll band look to a 'T'. Black shades, greasy pomade slicked hair or shaggy locks, tats, fitted black leather. The epitome of a typical rock and roll look (from a general standpoint of course. If I saw these guys walking down the street, I'd think they were rock stars). Of their work, my personal favorite is their rock and roll zombie flick Wild Zero, which was more of a comedy and had over the top rock n' roll infused battles with the undead. So, in short, prior to the show, my impression of the band was that they were just a 3 man rock band with not much diversity when it came to the music and I liked them, but not THAT much. From what I've heard in random places, they have wild and crazy shows and I was really anticipating seeing them.
So soundcheck was finished and everyone was up and amped and ready to get rowdy. I have no idea what song they started out with. Matter of fact, I can only name ONE song I recognized within the entire set, and that was Jet Generation. Of course, I wasn't a HUGE fan of theirs and can name of handful of songs I could recognize, but otherwise, they could've played the same one song 13 times in a row and I wouldn't know the difference, just because there isn't much variation in their work. They were really into their music and put on a good performance. Guitar Wolf did some camera posing from time to time, giving us some rock stances. I snapped his picture up the most, just because he was closest. If you notice my pictures, he has this same grimace in about 3 of the pictures I took of him. Drum Wolf was harder to get, just because there was a cymbal blocking his face so I wasn't able to get a really good shot, but at least I got one. He took off his jacket after a few songs and drummed topless the rest of the time. Bass Wolf kept mostly to the left of the stage so it was virtually impossible to get his picture. He momentarily visited us over on the right side and I used that opportunity to get some good shots of him. Fan interaction wasn't comparable to Peelander-Z's, but it was there. Guitar Wolf did this thing where he reached into the crowd and they all grabbed his hand, the person who was left holding onto him got to go on the stage. The lucky person that night was a girl wearing a Misfits jacket. Guitar granted her his guitar, kissed the pick and was just really overdramatic about it and she got to rock out on stage with them. I liked how he kept telling her to 'JUMP-U!' and after the 5th time or so, she finally got what he was saying and did it. Guitar jumped into the crowd once and when he got back on stage, I noticed a string popped.
Overall, Guitar Wolf played intensely and passionately. I yawned once during the show. I mean, from what I thought of their music and from my thoughts on their typicality, I shouldn't be surprised by the way their show went. I wish I could say that it was because I was tired from working all day and night, but something tells me that had I been caffeinated and energetic, I would've left still feeling the same way. NOTE that I DON'T think the band, their music, and the performance were awful. It's just after a while, I got in a daze, tuning their music out, and I was just BORED. I often think I was spoiled by Peelander-Z's more animated and colorful shows, but then I came to the realization that similar to Peelander-Z's chief purpose of having fun, Guitar Wolf's purpose is to just ROCK OUT (and have fun, haha). It's headbanger, mosher music to thrash wildly and get lost in the moment. If you want to have fun at a Guitar Wolf show, do what also works if you see The Spunks ... get VERY, VERY DRUNK.
Then it was over, I had a bad taste in my mouth and regretted more than ever for missing Peelander-Z's show. I want to see them tonight but chances are, I'll have to wait until they come back to Philly. I heard that they will be going to SXSW and after their show at NYC tonight (Saturday), they'll be doing more shows down south and midwest. I'm glad I got to see Guitar Wolf, though. They did their best and everyone seemed to love them! That really makes me happy. I hope both bands made lots of fans and lots of money ;)
Still, Guitar Wolf makes Peelander-Z seem like GODS (coming from me and what I usually say about Peelander-Z, that's saying A LOT).
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Guitar Wolf website: http://www.guitarwolf.net/
