Tiger Army – 45 Grave – and Goddamn Gallows – at The Fox Theater – Pomona, CA

It was a cool night on Saturday, but that didn’t stop the people of Pomona from donning some skin-baring costumes. Some of the fans heading to the Fox Theater for Tiger Army’s 5th annual “October Flame” show got into the festivities, with zombie nurses and many Dia de los Muertos style face paint.

The doors opened and those people in the know headed down to the pit area early to get their wrist-bands (those of you unfamiliar with the Fox, if you want to be in the pit area you have to arrive early in order to get a wrist-band, as they limit the amount of people who are allowed in that area, and security is incredibly strict about it). First up on stage were the Mid West’s gutterbilly boys, The Goddamn Gallows. I was first introduced to these guys at Hootenanny this year and since then, I’ve been a fan. By the end of their fairly long set, many of those in the audience were new fans.

 

Avery, the accordion/washboard player, is a complete and utter goofball. During the set, he would do “sexy” poses for the camera and play around with his fellow band mates. All of the guys seem to have a blast playing, and that energy lends itself well to the crowd. During “Y’All Motherfuckers Need Jesus” those in the crowd who weren’t aware of Gallows before became instant fans. During the closing song, Sean Wheeler came out on stage and was given the washboard to play whilst Fish and Mikey played each other’s instruments and Avery jumped into the crowd. Some song highlights of the evening included “47 Crosses”, “Pass the Bottle”, “Ghost of the Rails”, and “Ticket to Bleed”. The next time Goddamn Gallows plays in the LA area, you really must catch one of their shows!

 

The intermission was fairly short, but the crowd took that time to go grab some over-priced beer and smoke on the large outdoor patio. Next up were self-described Heavy-Metal-Psychedelic-Post-Punk-What-the-Fuck-Ghoul-Rockers, 45 Grave. Overall I would say the crowd wasn’t very interested in 45 Grave, but Dinah and crew put on a great set.

During their most well known song, “Riboflavin Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Poly-Unsaturated Blood”, those pockets of fans in the crowd were bopping their heads and singing along. (I was one.) About halfway through their set, they broke out a new song (“Johnny”, I think it was called). I was talking to Mikey and before I could shut myself up, I said, “Wow, I never thought I’d hear 45 Grave do a country song!” Dinah’s vocals were strong and she bantered with the crowd, even though she was met with mostly silence, which was too bad. Other than Riboflavin, I think the highlight of their set for me was “Party Time”.

The crowd was growing restless before Tiger Army took to the stage. Fans were anxious for the trio to start, and what a way to open! Opening with “Nocturnal”, the crowd started screaming and jumping around and it was the start of a very strong set. Until tonight, I had never seen Tiger Army perform live, and they are now firmly in my “must see” list. When that will happen, I’m not sure, since Nick 13 is focusing more on his budding solo career. Damnit.

 

Throughout the night, I didn’t notice any pits or moshing, but that was changed when the band started “Fuck The World”. During “Hechizo de Amor” Nick stood at the barricade and I’m surprised underwear wasn’t thrown at him, since most of the women in the audience around him lost their ever-loving minds. (Can’t really say that I blame them.)

They closed out the night with “Annabel Lee” and as the crowd dispersed into the night, almost every face was sporting melted make up and a huge smile.

 

 

Some of the setlist, in no particular order:
Night Comes Down, Fuck the World, Nocturnal, Never Die, Rose of the
Devil’s Garden, Pain, Incorporeal, Hechizo de Amor, Annabel Lee,
Prelude: Nightfall, Afterlife, Jungle Cat, Pain, FTW, Never Die,
Forever Fades Away

 

 

 

 

                             More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Anni Thyme-
Big Wheel Staff Journalist

 

 

 

 

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