March 03, 2005

Concert Review: Danzig

Jerry MontanoBassist: Jerry Montano

Despite the best efforts of three opening bands and the presence of a woman who may or may not have been Jenna Jameson hanging over the VIP balcony, only one thing galvanized the attention of the sold-out crowd of goths, punks and metal-heads: the man and the band known as Danzig. With rumors flying that this is his last tour, the anticipation for his arrival was measured by the restless chanting of his name.

Cracking the microphone cord like a whip, Glenn Danzig swaggered onstage to the squeal of Tommy Victor’s guitar and launched into the slow metallic bang of “SkinCarver,” from the new album “Circle of Snakes” (Evilive Records). Dressed in black and sporting an oversized silver belt buckle, the man known as “The Evil Elvis” led the audience through new material and favorites from his formidable catalog, including “It’s Coming Down,” “Twist of Cain” and “1000 Devils Reign.”

He’s not as svelte as he used to be, yet his soaring tenor remains intact more than 25 years since he founded the influential punk outfit the Misfits. Although acrimonious lawsuits have destroyed any hope of a full reunion, this show promised the return of Misfits guitarist Doyle.

While his lyrics might be too dark for some, many of Danzig’s songs boast catchy choruses that use variations on “whoa” and “yeah” to such an end that even those unfamiliar with his material find themselves instantly singing along. Such are the simple pleasures of the man’s music. This was not lost on the crowd. Backed by bassist Jerry Montano and drummer Johnny Kelly (on loan from Type O Negative), Danzig lunged across the stage and shared his microphone with the raucous audience on “Her Black Wings.”

The joint exploded when Doyle joined Danzig for a frenzied half-hour of Misfits classics.

And rightly so. Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (as he is known) is a show unto himself: a ghoulish Schwarzenegger stomping shirtless about the stage. He ripped apart guitar strings as he blazed through such gems as “Skulls,” “Hatebreeders,” and “Die, Die My Darling.”

Returning to his later, harder music, Danzig then roared flawlessly through his signature “Mother.” During the two-song encore, Doyle rejoined the band for an explosive version of “Bloodfeast.” They left with the crowd still cheering.

If this is Danzig’s last tour, it was one hell of a sendoff.

Source