Live Gig Review by Jason Kennedy
© Olga Kuzmenko
Photos by Olga Kuzmenko
Having personally never experienced an EyeHateGod show before, there was an element of the unexpected about tonight’s show in Dublin. From a studio recording perspective, it’s clear they have been a heavy influence on a lot of contemporary acts doing the rounds at the moment, with a chaotic, almost groove/hardcore feel to their music.
Walking onstage to breeze through a quick three-minute warm up/soundcheck in front of the gathered audience before the first track on the set is a nice touch. It suggests a lack of pretension and an element of humbleness. The Voodoo Lounge is only half full tonight, but being a Tuesday in the middle of festival season, it’s understandable. However it does nothing to hamper the energy of the performance; both band and audience are obviously up for it.
One thing is clear from the outset; they play with a rawness and energy that is almost punk at times, and the music is infectious and enjoyable for it. You get the feeling that whether in front of one or a thousand, the show would not suffer; they clearly enjoy being onstage and feed off the atmosphere.
It doesn’t take them long to get the crowd onside, and eight or so songs in, the energy levels continue to rise. With a fourteen year gap between their latest self-titled offering and the previous full-length album, new songs like ‘New Orleans is the new Vietnam’ and ‘Parish Motel Sickness’ sit seamlessly beside the likes of ‘White Neighbour’ (sic; as introduced by vocalist Mike Williams) and ‘Methamphetamine’ from the early nineties. Heavy on feedback and distortion it’s hard not to enjoy their particular brand of southern-drenched noise. They come across as a muddy Black Sabbath with screaming hardcore styled vocals, and to be fair, the marriage works.
For the 20 Euro ticket price, it was an excellent show from a band who love to play live and the room was the perfect size for them. One can’t help but feel what worked for them in a club environment might be lost in a bigger venue. When you consider Jimmy Bower’s pedigree (Down, Crowbar, Superjoint Ritual) this show was a real treat. EyeHateGod will not be missed again.
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