(((O))) : Live: Kylesa, Sierra, Jagged Vision and Isak – Ivory Blacks, Glasgow. February 1st, 2014.

Tonight was all about the mighty RIFF. Stoner riffs, hardcore riffs, slow riffs, fast riffs, metal riffs, it did not stop. That was always going to be expected when riff titans Kylesa are in town on yet another European tour. On support for this tour they decided to take two very talented bands with them namely Sierra and Jagged Vision, both signed on Kylesa’s new label Retro Futurist, basically making each gig on the tour a nice label showcase.

First up at Ivory Blacks in Glasgow were local stoners Isak. Actually not that local as the band is based in Dundee/Perth in Scotland. But what a great opportunity for this trio to demonstrate their stoner riffs in front of a decent sized audience and the Kylesa tour caravan! They played a very solid opening set¹, not being intimidated at all by the opportunity. Guitarist and vocalist Joe McGarrity was on good form, chatting to the audience in between songs and demonstrating some great guitar playing². Bassist Gregor Malcolm and drummer Robert “Twigs” McLean solidly provided the stoner rhythms and after a short set mainly focusing on the EP they released recently they looked satisfied and the crowd was getting ready for the first band of the Retro Futurist showcase.

This was Jagged Vision, originating from Norway. And they didn’t take no for an answer! The heavily tattooed band sporting various Iron Maiden merchandise got out of the starting blocks full force, throwing a huge stoner, hardcore sludge mix out of the speakers. They were clearly ready to try and conquer Glasgow having been told “how fucking crazy Glasgow” is. The crowd didn’t respond to the band as they probably would have liked to see, but it didn’t stop the band working themselves into sweat as they threw riff after riff and thick, fast rhythms into the crowd.

Vocalist Ole Urke Wik was jumping on stage pumping adrenaline and nearly throwing himself into the crowd at times³, while the drummer was producing double bass drum fill after fill, together with the heavy bass playing and the two riffing guitarists creating a huge wall of sound⁴. They played mainly material of recently released album Earth Harvest, such as ‘No Peace; and the more slower sludge-ing ‘Supernova’. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see Phillip Cope on stage to provide the vocals on ‘Spiritual invasion’ as on the album version, but to the huge delight of this reviewer they did play a fantastic cover of arguably Refused’s best song ‘Rather Be Dead’, which was absolutely epic! I hope to see this band again soon!⁵

Sierra

After the huge set by Jagged Vision it was Sierra’s turn to showcase their Retro Futurist release Pslip. This trio from Canada was quite the opposite of Jagged Vision, producing a much more slower set of more psychedelic stoner rock. It was proper good head nodding material though and the set they played was very solid, with guitarist/singer Jason Taylor showing his huge skills on the guitar, throwing in plenty of great solos in between all the huge riffs he was producing. As with all bands tonight Sierra’s rhythm section was very good being a great compliment to the heavy guitar riffing. Somehow they didn’t manage to hold me attention all the way through their set though. Maybe my head was still trying to digest Jagged Vision’s set or I was slowly getting ready for Kylesa, but that didn’t take anything away from the fact that Sierra played very well⁶.

Kylesa

Then finally the stage was getting prepared for the mighty Kylesa. I have to make a little confession here and that this was the first time I was going to see them. (Yes, I know!)⁷. As an ex-drummer I have always loved the two drummers set up in Kylesa and seeing drummers Carl McGinley and Eric Hernandez doing their drum soundcheck already made my heart beat a bit faster. Then my jaw dropped seeing Laura Pleasants preparing her two enormous pedal boards⁸, this was going to be a good one for sure!

They kicked off with personal favourite ‘Scapegoat’ of the album Static Tensions, which couldn’t have been a better song to demonstrate all the Kylesa elements of heavy riffing, great singing and of course those 2 drummers, who were playing perfectly in time and complimenting each other with various fills. After this they played a first track of latest album Ultraviolet, ‘Unspoken’, and it was nice to see it going down very well with the crowd, who at that point turned the area in front of the stage into a big but gentle mosh pit. Kylesa apparently decided not to stick with playing songs of just a couple of albums as next track ‘Hollow Severes’ of Time Will Fuse Its Worth demonstrated nicely. The rest of the set was a great mix of new and old material with the crowd really going for it, moshing and crowd surfing enthusiastically⁹. It was great to see Phillip Cope play the theremin creating spooky sounds floating over Laura’s heavy riffing. A mention should be made of new bass player Chase Rudeseal who played very loud and extremely driven throughout the whole set clearly enjoying himself greatly¹⁰.

So, a nice of great riffing and great live music. All bands played great sets and to finally have seen Kylesa was fantastic and as they really demonstrated why they are on top of their game for so long now¹¹.

Oh and to that big bloke who landed on top of my head towards the end of the set? Thank you for making me feel like a really old man the next day...¹²

Kylesa's Phillip Cope playing the theremin

Photographer’s footnotes:

1. With riffs.
2. And a mighty fine What The Blood Revealed t-shirt. Well done that man.
3. Yes. Photographer here, front and centre. I admit it, I flinched more than once.
4. I particularly liked the bit where the guitarist took off his t-shirt – not the chap with the Ramones shirt, the other one – and stood there playing, three inches in front of my face. He smelled sweaty, but very clean. He has a few moles.
5. Preferably in a place with a few more lights. Photographer moan.
6. I liked the bass player. Nimble fingers. Nice dreads.
7. Fourth time for me. Hah! I win.
8. Which reminds me… Sierra, nice homemade cardboard box pedal boards. Re-cycling in action.
9. VERY enthusiastically. Lost my specs at some point. Got them back, though. Well, most of them, anyway.
10. And looking dead like Groundskeeper Willy. Which is a GOOD thing, by the way. If you’re going to look like a cartoon character, you might as well look like a superbly muscled, unhinged ginger Scotsman.
11. Probably all those riffs help, too.
12. Yup. Me too. I’m still sore. I think I may be broken¹³.
13. Riff