Hed’s Birthday Bash
5/21/05 The Rock And Roll Pizza in Portland, OR
By Robin Steeley
It was an overly packed night at Portland’s newest venue in town Rock and Roll Pizza. The bar was so crowded you couldn’t even walk through it but there was still a huge crowd in front of the bands.
I missed the first band and didn’t catch their name but I spoke with other people in the club who said they put on a good show. Also playing tonight is
Kapuda, who put on an excellent show. They recently released the CD “The Power Of Negative Thinking” which has been well received in the local scene and beyond. It also doesn’t hurt that Jimmy Littlefield is insane on stage. This band has a hardcore heavy crunchy sound that leaves you wanting a little more. Check them out at www.kapuda.com.
Also playing tonight is Eugene, Oregon’s Northwest Royale, who at this point in time are having line up changes and while their future is now uncertain, they were playing no holds barred tonight. Angry, aggressive, and with an energetic stage show they caused riots with the crowd. Sponsored by Jagermeister and its easy to see why, these guys have a unique edge and style all their own. www.nwroyale.com.
Also sharing the state tonight is Modesto, California natives Better Left Unsaid who tore up the stage with their hardcore metal sounds, vocals Brian Strait easily handling the microphone changing up from throat ripping screams to a melodic chant. This band has played here in Portland before, and it’s easy to see tonight that they have made some new fans, starting a circle pit and getting the adrenaline rushing in the room. The guitarist are playing dynamic well orchestrated riffs and the bass is crushingly heavy. This is one of my favorite bands to see live. You can find them online at www.betterleftunsaidmusic.com.
Next up is Leadface, a jazz metal punk fusion, and one of my favorite Portland bands ever. There is no band in the world that sounds like Leadface to me. Vocalist Patrick is absolutely crazy, proving it as he comes out in a strait jacket mid set. Their songs are so original and their sound is phenomenal, I never know whether to dance or mosh to their music, but one thing for sure is, I can never walk away from it. You will never find me in the bar during their set. Check out www.leadface.com.
Also on stage tonight is the mighty Domeshots, a local phenomenon although the band is from Oakland, California. I think it’s amazing that they are one of the biggest drawing bands in our area and they are from out of stage. Their music is infectious, melodic, heavy, and unique. They have been creating a buzz with their recently released album and have been on a tour of the West Coast. In fact, they spend most of their time touring and just getting the word out about this incredible group. For more information go to www.domeshots.com.
Overall, it was one of the best nights yet at this new club, and a happy birthday to one of the most awesome people in the Portland music scene, Hed from Sinematik Industriez - www.sind503.com.
