THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND
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Jen Cray
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The Melvins at the Savage Imperial Death March Tour (Plaza Live)
Besides being one serious mouthful, the
Savage Imperial Death March Tour (April 8, The Plaza Live) was the storming congress of
Napalm Death, the
Melvins and
Melt-Banana. Add up all this legendary marrow from the undergrounds of England, America and Japan and you’ve got one berserk multinational
army of heaviness.
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Jen Cray
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Melt-Banana at the Savage Imperial Death March Tour (Plaza Live)
Napalm Death was blistering and relentless. Though both the Melvins and Melt-Banana were good as usual, the cavernous room didn’t do either many favors in terms of effect. Melt-Banana, despite being stripped down to a core duo, still managed through sheer intensity and freakiness. But the whole setup was a reminder of how truly and deeply I miss the raging
Big Business effect in the Melvins.
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Jen Cray
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The Melvins at the Savage Imperial Death March Tour (Plaza Live)
Much more than any single performance, however, the thing that’s most impressive here is the
weird boldness that this bill represents in its totality. Individually, each band is notable, with names usually featured in the
headlining spot. Furthermore, even though they’re all by now legacy acts, they’ve each consistently maintained status as
trailblazers to this very day. That’s testament to the eternity of
originality – and in the case of the openers, a healthy shot of
craziness.
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Jen Cray
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The Melvins at the Savage Imperial Death March Tour (Plaza Live)
But together, they’re a fantastically diverse and sonically insane all-star bill that’s a
three-headed Hydra. It’s a rare confluence that gave the show a heightened sense of event and history. To one who goes to a professional amount of concerts and has seen a whole lot a million times over, it doesn’t get any more delicious than lineups with this degree of both
caliber and
intrigue.
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Jen Cray
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Melt-Banana at the Savage Imperial Death March Tour (Plaza Live)
For all its joint force, the conspiracy also says something about each of these bands. That they chose to align themselves like this, beyond their respective tribal lines, certifies the
fierce independent spirit in them all. Sure, this positioning makes each stand out in style. But, maybe just as critically, it sets them apart in philosophy from even their own contemporaries.
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Jen Cray
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The Melvins at the Savage Imperial Death March Tour (Plaza Live)
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This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly's music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city's music scene.
Follow Bao on Twitter (@baolehuu)
Email Bao: baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com