W.A.S.P.
with Seven Witches
Live at the Jaxx Night Club in West Springfield, Virginia - March 4, 2006.
Review by: The Metal Master Special Agent to The MotherMetal Team
W.A.S.P.
brought an austere version of their live show to the world famous
Jaxx Night Club in support of the 'Neon God' CD. Conspicuously absent were
the band's patented histrionics like exploding codpieces and raw meat, but
Blackie Lawless and company delivered where it counts: the music.
Opening
for W.A.S.P. were New Jersey metallers Seven Witches. Guitarist Jack
Frost led the band through workman-like versions of "Metal Tyrant"
and
"Xiled to Infinity and One." Frost was clearly having a good time
as he
whipped out wicked leads and screaming harmonics, and new singer Alan
Tecchio hit the high notes with aplomb. The Witches have suffered through
numerous lineup changes over the years, and one can only hope that the
current lineup stabilizes so that the band can forge a solid identity.
W.A.S.P.
got off to a surprise start after the house lights dimmed, as
blaring over the loudspeakers was The Doors epic "The End." The
hypnotic
trance of "The End" quickly retreated as W.A.S.P. launched full
bore into
the provocatively titled "On Your Knees." Blackie was rather demonstrative
as he marched the band through the rest of the medley, which featured
blazing versions of "Inside the Electric Circus" and "Chainsaw
Charlie
(Murders in the New Morgue)".
W.A.S.P.
delivered most of the classics that brought them fame (and in some
cases, infamy.) The Kiss-like cadence of "L.O.V.E. Machine" had
the fans
singing along at full voice, while "Wild Child" represented W.A.S.P.
at
their compositional peak. "Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)" was clearly
a crowd
favorite, as the boisterous audience screamed the chorus with fervor. The
band breathed new life into The Who's old warhorse "The Real Me",
as new
touring drummer Patrik Johansson did a solid job of replicating Keith Moon's
manic percussion.
Other
than the exclusion of "Mean Man", the set list was most satisfying.
There were some songs outside of the greatest hits genre, which included
"Widowmaker" and "The Idol." The soul-searching yearning
of "What I'll
Never Find" showcased a tasty extended solo by guitarist Darrell Roberts.
Blackie also played a short acoustic set, which included the melancholy
"Hold On To My Heart." W.A.S.P. brought the show to a close in their
traditional manner, with a scorching rendition of their hell raiser "Blind
in Texas."
With
a new studio effort in the offing, W.A.S.P. remains a vibrant musical
force. Going forward, it's time to see the music surrounded in all its glory
by the legendary stage show that made so many W.A.S.P. concerts in the past
memorable and unique. The band's legacy demands it.