I like the jarring, stunning, sudden stops
followed by lead screamer Philip Anselmo's stream of semi-consciousness
stage patter. "This is the abrupt style... I don't need
no fucking stupid fucking costume to hide behind. Here's to
the realists!" It's a Louisiana accent or something,
but he sounds like he's from Brooklyn when he introduces you,
"Hank Fucking Williams The Thoid."
So
Anselmo's got 2 other bands, Down and Pantera, which is funny,
because I remember when Pantera was a club band in Dallas
in the '80s at like, the worst clubs - now they're the General
Motors of metal. Plus he's got Superjoint, based for over
ten years in the 13th Dimension called New Orleans, a band
escalated to a new level when it signed up the country-metal
nomad Hank III as its touring bass player. You guys got a
killer, ballistic drummer named Joe Fazzio, two guitar-shredding
werewolves named Jimmy Bower and Kevin Bond, and Anselmo,
a front man of weapons-grade intensity, detonating on vocals.
So, III: in case you ever wonder what it looks
like from the audience, your band's performance style is marked
by rigorous head-banging, free perspiration, liberal expectorating,
and open mockery of L.A.'s marijuana ordinances. In fact,
the effect is full-on Underground 1987, like a $4 show at
Deep Ellum's Theater Gallery.
Meanwhile,
you personally are about a million light years away from all
these put-on artists trying to be Mister Popularity at MTV
High. You're just an honest, driven, hard-working, eerily
exact physical carbon copy of the greatest country artist
of all time who likes to throw down with Phil Anselmo and
the Melvins when you're not out raising hell with your own
solo band.
For this a grateful rock nation salutes you.
And reminds everyone that Superjoint's new album Use Once
And Destroy is in shops and boutiques now. Ask for it by name
wherever 1987-vintage thrash metal is sold.
Regards,
Nate Diamond
PS: Here's all your best quotes from the
interview.
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