Blessed Black Wings Tour Review

Decibel Presents:
Blessed Black Wings Tour
Review

Decibel Presents: BLESSED BLACK WINGS TOUR
High on Fire
Planes Mistaken For Stars
Kylesa
2/10/05
TwiROpa
New Orleans, LA
Reviewer: Karma E. Omowale
Photos: Erika Kristen Watt

"Blessed Black Wings Tour 2005 Lands At New Orleans' TwiROpa Factory"

First off, it was great to be able to catch a couple of praiseworthy acts amid a much needed road trip to the "Big Easy" otherwise known as New Orleans, Louisiana. The show was held at TwiROpa, a dismal looking old twine factory since converted into a nightclub/loftish concert “hall”. The shady location could be better described as "the land that time forgot" sprung to life after 9:00. We were privy to the amazing before and after transformation since we had arrived much earlier in order to conduct an interview with Kylesa.

Raise the bongs along with PBR filled plastic cups to the fan of Stoner Rock as the Blessed Black Wings Tour took the venue by storm at such an appropriate time...Mardi Gras, well just a skosh after in this case however the audience still had their party hats on. This show was a stoner's wet dream with High On Fire at the helm, in direct support was Planes Mistaken For Stars and in the opening slot was Kylesa. Not only was this bill well rounded but complimentary. The acts definitely played off one another in complete concordance and harmony. It was a flawless start, a flat middle, and the perfect finish.

Lineup: Laura Pleasants, vocals/guitar; Phillip Cope - vocals/guitar; Corey Barhorst - vocals/bass, Brandon Baltzley - drums

Laura Pleasants of guitarist of Kylesa (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt)

Phillip Cope of Kylesa (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt) Kylesa is a phenomenon, an entity all unto themselves, a pleasant enigma. As stated in my foreword in my interview with the band, Kylesa is unlike any band I have ever seen. It’s an experience that can only be compared to the movie the Matrix, you have to experience it for yourself. The band is comprised of 3 vocalists: Laura Pleasants - guitar, Phillip Cope - guitar, and Corey Barhorst - bass; a triumvirate that feeds off one another as much as they feast from the energy of the crowd; drummer, Brandon Baltzley rounds out the quartet.

When Kylesa took the stage, the venue was relatively empty however; they played to those 40+ concertgoers as if they were 40,000. The house was leveled; they took TwiROpa under siege and never let up until the final note. The band performed several songs from their forthcoming Prosthetic release, To Walk A Middle Course to an ever-happy growing flock of onlookers. Several mouths were left agape during the course of the thunderous set, as well as mine.

The band definitely set the stage for High on Fire and Planes. Aside from describing this band as loud, emotional, and extremely talented, I am still no closer to describing this band's sound after witnessing their mammoth set. The mind-blowing thing about this band is that their guitars are tuned so low that the reverb tends to almost transcend time and will thrust you into a time continuum. The only word that comes to mind is breath taking! Kylesa is one hell of band go pick up their new album, which drops on March the 22^nd. You need to catch this band out; as well, you will not be disappointed! Make sure you stop by their merch booth to say hello, they are the nicest bunch of people. This band lives up to new single "In Memory", they stand out amongst their peers.

Click thumbnail to enlarge

the pix

Lineup: Gared O'Donnell - lead singer / guitar; Matt Bellinger - backing screams / guitar; Mike Ricketts - drums; Chuck French - bass

Planes Mistaken For Stars took the freshly warmed stage Kylesa left however by the end of Plane's set, it was cold no matter how much the band was sweating needless to say I was very unimpressed with their performance. The members in audience started to grow by this time however the crowd seemed torn right down the middle, some were into it and others weren't. Those of us that weren't were congregating by the bar awaiting drinks to deal with the insurmountable noise we were being subjected to. The one plus about the PMFS set was the screeching guitars and solos, those weren't half bad but the vocalist, Gared O'Donnell bored me to tears. There was a little too much screaming going on without an adequate band to back it up.

Gared O'Donnell of Planes Mistaken For Stars (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt)

Lineup: Matt Pike - guitar / vocals; Des Kensel - drums; Joe Preston - bass

Joe Preston of High on Fire (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt)

High On Fire, the headliners of the Blessed Black Wings Tour in support of their February 1^st release entitled the same rocked the full, hazy pot filled TwiROpa. It was testosterone infused metal with Stoner Rock. The crowd ate it up, for the 3 songs that we saw. Unfortunately the night was cut short because we had a LONG drive ahead of us.

Click here for the interview with Matt when we caught up with him back in Chicago. And if you are seeking more photos of the band during the Sounds of the Underground tour, click here.

Des Kensel of High On Fire (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt)

HIGH ON FIRE "Blessed Black Wings" Tour 2005

w/support Planes Mistaken For Stars and Kylesa

Feb. 04 - Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory

Feb. 05 - Tempe, AZ @ Big Fish Pub

Feb. 06 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad

Feb. 08 - Austin, TX @ Emo's

Feb. 09 - Houston, TX @ Fat Cat's

Feb. 10 - New Orleans, LA @ TwiRoPa

Feb. 11 - Memphis, TN @ Young Ave Deli

Feb. 12 - Atlanta, GA @ The E.A.R.L.

Feb. 13 - Hickory, NC @ Wizard Saloon

Feb. 14 - Baltimore, MD @ Otto Bar

Feb. 15 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church

Feb. 16 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

Feb. 18 - Columbus, OH @ Scully's Music Diner

Feb. 19 - Detroit, MI @ Alvin's

Feb. 20 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge

Feb. 21 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry

Feb. 23 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes Ballroom

Feb. 24 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt's Tiki

Feb. 26 - San Francisco, CA @ 12 Galaxies (w/ The Fucking Champs, part of Noise Pop 2005)