DANZIG – Toxic Holocaust – at Club Nokia – Los Angeles, CA

There aren’t many vocalist’s in the history of music that can say they’ve fronted 3 bands that have each crossed musical boundaries that have left permanent marks on punk, hardcore, and metal music like Glenn Danzig has. It is safe to say that Glenn is in a league of his own and has built one hell of a cult like fan base because of sticking to his guns and creating music that comes straight from his black heart. The amount of influence his music has had on other artists is apparent in more than one musical genre and beyond any others since Elvis Presley or Black Sabbath.

When I heard Glenn’s 9th solo album “Deth Red Sabaoth” was set for a June release I crossed my fingers in hopes a show in the Los Angeles area. (It’s rare than Glenn plays shows outside of October/November months). Thankfully the show was to take place at the Nokia Theatre which is one of the larger yet somewhat intimate venues in LA., And coming from someone who’s seen Danzig nearly 20 times, the best Danzig live experience is one that’s up close and personal.

When I got wind of Toxic Holocaust being support to Danzig I thought to myself, now there’s a band that looks and sounds like they’ve been influenced by every era of Danzig’s bands, a perfect choice for an opener. For those who don’t know, Toxic Holocaust are a Thrash Metal band by way of old school Punk Rock with a punch of evil, they cross many genres and styles, much like Danzig.

As Toxic Holocaust took the stage the lights went down low, then out of darkness two Toxic Waste barrels illuminated the stage with oozing green light, it looked straight out of a horror sci fi b-movie! They opened their set with the appropriately titled track “Metal Attack” to a very receptive crowd looking to dance up a storm in the pit. Toxic Holocaust’s songs are beyond fast and like a bat storming out of hell through some phantasmic time machine that picked up 3 punk rocker’s in the 80s and brought them to a post-apocalyptic metal wasteland! They blasted 30 minutes of straight nuclear metal assault on a very brutal crowd who ate up every song, 10 to be exact from their 3 albums “Hell On Earth” “Evil Never Dies” and “An Overdose On Death.” Make sure to keep an eye or two out for Toxic Holocaust, you’ll be seeing and hearing a whole lot of them in the future, mark my words!

After Toxic Holocaust finished their set I ventured backstage in hopes of finding someone from Danzig’s band to interview before they were due to perform, which was less than an hour away now. Thankfully I was able to track down bassist Steve Zing and get a few moments to chat with him, we discussed his roots in Punk, rocking with Danzig and his projects throughout the years! Look for the interview soon! A Big Wheel Exclusive!

The time was nearing 10:30 and Glenn Danzig was soon to be expected on stage. By now the sold out crowd of 1700+ screaming fans were shouting “DANZIG DANZIG DANZIG “ in unison for a solid 2 minutes. As the lights dimmed the chaos began to unravel before my eyes. Danzig’s huge skull stage backdrop was illuminated by dark light as his intro tape began to play. Now the crowd were screaming at a more deafening volume than ever, I could feel the energy building up inside everyone.

Johnny (drums), Steve (bass) and Tommy (guitar) took the stage getting in position as Glenn made his way to the center of the stage dawning the crowd in an all black outfit with custom skull belt buckle, he sang perfectly as he head banged to the set opener “Skin Carver” The crowd were losing it when Tommy began to play the very sinister opening riff to “Twist Of Cain”, originally a Samhain track re-recorded for the first Danzig album in 1987, a fan favorite for 23 years now. Glenn debuted to LA a song off his new album, the appropriately titled “Hammer Of The Gods” which got a great response for being a song that most fans have only known for a weeks time. If you’re into the new album, just wait till you see and hear how those songs come across live, they’re twice as massive and hard hitting.

Tracks off the album “Lucifuge” got a great response by the crowd who sang and screamed “Tired Of Being Alive”, other favorites like the vocally explosive “How The Gods Kill” and the new single “Wicked Night.” got maniacal responses as well. Only 2 albums in the back catalogue were sparred, thus leaving out the more experimental tracks and the band focusing on the more classic era of songs. The hugely successful single “Mother” was played to a head banging crowd that shouted the very controversial lyrics back at Glenn when he’d point his microphone to the die hard fans at the front barricade. This song has never lever the Danzig Set list and I now know why, it’s the ultimate head banging anthem.

After “Mother” Glenn left the stage only to return a few minutes later as Johnny Kelly banged his drums to the beat of “She Rides” another classic from his first album. The crowd still wanted more and more is what they got! Glenn looked to the crowd and asked “So what do you wanna hear next?, something off Lucifuge?” As the crowd roared back at Glenn, Tommy kicked into “A Long Way Back From Hell” and as they’d say the place was a madhouse!

After the set, both Steve and Johnny made there way to the barricade and shook hands with fans, posed with em for photos and gave out set list’s to their very dedicated die hard fans who braved being up front all night.

Glenn has been on the stage for 33 years fronting bands pushing boundaries and making a name for himself by being one of the best live performers on the road ever. His live show is like no other, be sure to see him when you can, he doesn’t tour often so don’t miss out!
Make sure to check for upcoming Danzig tour dates in the fall, it’s likely hell be bringing out his annual Blackest Of The Black Tour to a venue near you just in time for Halloween !

Toxic Holocaust set list
Metal Attack
Reapers Grave
Death Brings Death
Future Shock
Wild Dogs
War Is Hell
666
Endless Armageddon
The Lord of the Wasteland
Nuke the Cross


Danzig set list
Wotans Procession (intro tape)
Skin Carver
Twist of Cain
Hammer of the Gods
Her Black Wings
Tired of Being Alive
How the Gods Kill
Do You Wear the Mark
On A Wicked Night
It's Coming Down
Thirteen
Unspeakable
Bringer of Death
Black Angel, White Angel
Mother

Encore:
She Rides
Long Way Back From Hell


Fore more info check out: www.myspace.com/toxicholocaust   www.danzig-verotik.com

 
 
Till next show... ROCK ON !

Louie Bones
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

 
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