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Roadburn 2010 Report Pt. VII: As I Suffocate

12:44PM: Hotel Mercure, Tilburg, The Netherlands: Just hit the point of awake enough to pull back the curtains and then brush my teeth, and that did a world of good. I expect much also from the shower I’ll take as soon as I’m done with this post. Can’t wait to wash off the smell of Speed Stick, which I had to buy at Newark Airport since they didn’t have anything else. Stuff fucking stinks.

I wanted to say a few more words about Triptykon, since I’m not sure I did their set full justice in my sorry state last night. And sure, I was up half the night coughing, congested, headaching and miserable, but if only for the sleep, I’m much better off than I was. So here goes:

Tom G. Warrior is one of few people who looks genuinely angry on stage. There are people who look pissed, usually screamer types, but Tom G. Warrior has perfected this raging stare — and he uses it on his bandmates! I don’t know if cute-girl bassist Vanja Slajh was screwing up or what, but he’d occasionally go over play by her, all the while looking at her like he was going to punch her in the face. She’s not the best bassist in the world — plays a five-string, if that tells you anything — but she did a passable job. Certainly not worth striking her over. V. Santura is a lead guitarist and looks like one. He spent half the set with his lips pursed as he rocked out. Good player though. Tom‘s got quite a band around him. Even drummer Norman Lonhard was pretty killer on “Procreation (of the Wicked),” and if his not being Franco Sesa is enough for Tom, fuck it, it’s enough for me too. Tom G. Warrior, by the way, is a Swiss monster in a skullcap come to herald the end of times. I’m convinced.

Speaking of the skullcap, I know it’s his trademark at this point, but it’s time to go. As a man with thinning hair, I understand, and I’m saying that revealing your baldness and acknowledging the skullet is way creepier and way more metal than wearing the hat to cover it up. Is it metal to deny part of who you are? Shit, Bret Michaels does that. You don’t see me walking around in a girdle. Come on dude, we all know the deal, and it’s okay. You’re still a metal god.

Just in case you didn’t know, that was a private conversation I was having with Tom G. Warrior. Happens all the time.

In all seriousness, the set last night was fantastic. It really felt like the whole day had been leading to that, and even after falling asleep sitting up on the balcony, I was glad I stuck around long enough to catch the entire thing. I don’t know if they’ll tour the States or what. I hope so, just so I could see them again, but if I learned anything from Saint Vitus last year (and I learned plenty), it’s that nothing’s ever quite the same as it is at the 013.

Even without Shrinebuilder, The Gates of Slumber and Candlemass, there’s still a ton of great stuff today. Garcia Plays Kyuss later on. Brant Bjork, Witchcraft, Fatso Jetson, Totimoshi, YOB and Los Natas. I don’t know when or if I’m going to get a break to check in, but if I can, I will. Meantime, I’m off shortly to find some decongestants and more batteries for the camera.

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3 Responses to “Roadburn 2010 Report Pt. VII: As I Suffocate”

  1. goatlady says:

    The Triptykon set sounds like it was amazing. I can’t wait to see them at Summer Breeze later this year. Tom Warrior is a freaking genius.

  2. caleb says:

    It’s oddly impressive how much anger he has on stage for a man that’s so unassuming and gracious in person. I must have shaken his hand like five times, introduced myself each time, and may even have teared up at one point, and he was nothing but patient. Martin Ain was nice as well. Franco Sesa barely spoke, made no acknowledgments but really, who gives a fuck about the drummer, so I figured he was just bitter no one was milling about trying to shake his hand.

    ps: awesome, jj. I feel like I’ve lived vicariously through your adventures. Good going.

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