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Mike Ballue's SHoD IV Review

Hi all,

Here's my attempt at a SHOD IV update. In case I forget anyone, I'm not going to do the name thing with people, just say that all I interacted with were really nice and totally cool... the staff of Hollywood Alley, all the fans, all the bands, all the vendors...just alot of really great vibes and conversations on a ton of interesting topics.

The bands...well here's my highlights..alot, and definitly no disrespect to those band's not mentioned, not enough room for all :

Friday -
Southern Gun Culture - way more agressive than their CD (which is real good already), good stuff.

Super Heavy Goat Ass - much improved from last year, seriously rockin!

Dixie Witch - great show by one of the best live bands out there. Intense, muscially awesome, how does Trinidad drum that amazingly and sing at the same time?

Sourvein - despite some technical difficulties, rocked extremely heavy, T-Roy was way aggressive fueled by equipment frustartions, Liz peeling way thick doomy tones from her SG, not enough songs, but awesome on the ones played.

Suplecs - tight, heavy, great, Trinidad and Clayton from Dixie Witch came out for jam at the end that was beyond words..amazing, the kind of thing you remember for a long time.

Saturday -

Floating Goat (I think Saturady) Great surprise from San Fran, heavy, semi-metallic, a band to watch.

Spiritu - As great as their CD, heavy and spacey at the same time.

Slow Horse - amazing blend of heavy and melodic as always, totally unique and solid band.

Eternal Elysium - One of the stand outs. Very heavy doom vibe mixed seamlessly with 70's hard rock influences. Jaw dropping soulfull guitar work and groovin bass, joined by Rob from Witch Mountain on last song.

Witch Mountain - solid, heavy kudos for the Nemisis cover.

Unida - non-stop rockin as always, covered Kyuss "One Inch Man"

Sunday -

Iron Kind - Even better than last year, awesome old school groovin doom with eeire vocals. Great cover of Pentagram's "Relentless" and a truly memorable moment when they brought out Rob Levey to sing Iron Man's "Black Night" (done awesomely).

Thee Plague of Gentlemen - Belgian Madness!, heavier than the heaviest thing you can think of. Already great last year, with the new twin guitar thing going just amazingly deep and heavy, someone sign these guys now! True Doom!

The Rubes - old school rockin doom with very soulfull vocals and lot's of 70's influences, a crowd favorite. closed with a cover of Zep's "Black Dog".

Pale Divine - always awesome, jaw dropping musicianship, very heavy, guitar work to make a GIT grad weep.

Sons of Serro - the unofficial host band of SHOD IV, much improved from last year. Definitly rocked the house with their Kyuss meets ATP sound.

Tummler - I was getting tired by now, but these guys rocked so hard and heavy they kept me alert. Awesome cover of Vitus' "War is Our Destiny".

By no means can I capture what a great experience SHOD IV was, for those of you that missed...well find a way there next year, you can't love this music and miss it. Deep gratitude to Rob and Cheryl Williams Levey for putting SHOD on through the years, you are both a treasure to this scene!

Rock On,
Mike

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