Sometimes it can be annoying when a venue is supposedly to host a concert event, only for that said venue to bump the original artist to another spot in lieu of another artist/group. That is what happened at the Constellation Room at the Observatory in Santa Ana, CA in late April. It was supposed to be a night of horror metal and nu metal excitement with Doyle & Otep rocking out the Constellation Room. However, their show was replaced with a surprise performance by alternative rock Gods Weezer (that would have been a cool show too). As luck would have it, the Parish Room at the House of Blues in Anaheim became available. Along with modern hard rockers Red Devil Vortex, Doyle & Otep jumped at the chance to scream their bloody lungs out for Anaheim. Rabit and I headed on over to hear a bunch of love songs that fans could dance to.
First up for the night was Los Angeles’ Red Devil Vortex. I am familiar with this group’s hard rock style, devilish rock ‘n’ roll that is fun for all ages. Bassist and lead vocalist Gabriel Connor has this humbling voice that is commanding but flows in the air naturally. He also dominates the bass lines with sheer force. Guitarist Luis Kalil has an insane fingering technique that could rival Godsmack’s Tony Rombola and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello. Let us not forget drummer Eduardo Baldo, who is a killing machine behind the kit. Swift and deadly, Baldo laid to waste each note that came his way. For their half hour set, Red Devil Vortex wetted the crowd’s appetite for metal with songs like “Open the Gates,” “More Luck Than Brains,” “Viper,” “The Devil’s Place,” “Disaster,” “Freak Show,” and “Something Has to Die.” Having just dropped their self-titled debut LP, this band is entering the vortex that should take them to heavy metal glory. Sinister to the last note, I am hungry for more Red Devil Vortex down the road.
Following up with that stellar performance is nu metal legend Otep. What is cool about seeing Otep again was that for Rabit and myself, she was the first headliner we ever covered together (Observatory, 2016). Eight years later, she comes back full circle. While I liked her performance in 2016, I felt this one was far superior. I do not know what it was, but she brought incredible energy to this tour that made me really feel the vibes in the music she creates. Maybe it is also because since latest album, The God Slayer, is set to be her last, she was not going to pull back her punches on stage. Along her touring partners that included a drummer, guitarist AJ Bartholomew, and bassist Tiaday Bell, Otep did waste any time slaying the audience with her unapologetic brashness and nu metal swagger. From “Battle Ready” to “Fillthee,” “My Confession,” “T.R.I.C.,” “Apex Predator,” and “Menocide,” the Parish Room was in mosh mode. My personal favorites were “Blood Pigs” and “Equal Rights, Equal Left” as they brought extra oomph to the set. All in all, Otep was the Anaheim slayer going out with a bang.
After a brief intermission to catch our breaths, out came the grand puma of the horror metal scene, Doyle. It still baffles my mind that this man is still razor sharp with his punk and metal licks, but he is still insanely ripped at 59. Dear God, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein is not human! Along with his longtime frontman Alex Story, aka Wolfman, they were howling and terrorizing the Anaheim crowd. Wolfman is a werewolf of a singer, snarling and growling to the microphone, while reminding the crowd that each song was sort of like a love song and we could dance to it if we wanted to (hahaha, still gets me). During one the songs, he climbed to the top of the stacked amps and sang like a madman. Along with bassist Brandon Strate and newcomer drummer Luke Wright, who was sensational on the kit especially during his solo number, Doyle brought horror fun to the Parish Room, making it feel like Halloween in the Springtime. We all banged our heads to their classic hits like “Abominator,” “Beast Like Me,” “Cemeterysexxx,” “Valley of Shadows,” “Night of Sin,” “DreamingDeadGirls,” “Witchcraft,” “We Belong Dead,” “Drawing Down the Moon,” “Learn to Bleed,” and “Hope Hell is Warm.” Ending the evening with Doyle always brightens my next morning.
Though the show was meant for the Constellation Room, I preferred to be at the Parish Room because that night had great synergy at the venue. Sometimes an unexpected change in scenery can lead to even better evening. Doyle and Otep were weapons of mass metal destruction that leveled the Anaheim crowd, while Red Devil Vortex was the fuse that sparked the night. It is amazing to think that eight years ago with seeing Otep, Rabit and I became a dynamic duo in the rock/metal journalism scene. You know what, we are just getting started. To Doyle, Otep, and Red Devil Vortex, I salute you. Horns up!!!
(Photos by: Matt 'Rabit' Martinez)
