BITE ME! And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead Live

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead

@ Wiltern Theatre, May 26th 2005

FORGIVE ME FOR SHOUTING, BUT MY HEARING SUCKS THIS MORNING!
I don’t know if it's because I found The Wiltern’s sweet spot last night, but today my ears are still ringing after the And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead live experience. I feel as though I’ve been literally pummeled by the bands twin percussive assault.

I’m here to tell you that these are some NOISY guys. Speaking of guys, it was a big night for dudes as I would guestimate that 80% of the crowd was blokes, and around a third of the remainder could have passed off as men! (Ouch! – NIN) Also, breaking news from the way longer for blokes toilet queue was that Morrisey had been spotted entering the building.

Is there anything more riveting to watch than two drummers smash seven shades of shit from their kits at the same time? Not in a sponsored by Guitar Center wanky drum off style, but in a both working side by side perfectly, synchronized arms flailing, full of crashing cymbals and thundering timpani style. From the very first song, the band’s road crew worked tirelessly as the six group members constantly swapped roles. Well, that is an exaggeration really. It is only Conrad and Jason who change from vocals, drums, guitars, and back again, but the onstage activity between and even during the songs gives the impression of indie rock musical chairs. When not handing out axes, the crew is mopping beer off electronics that start to fizz, chasing (literally) stage crashers back into the pit, and fighting with bits of flying drum, guitar, bass, etc.

The new album is called Worlds Apart and its opener "Will You Smile Again" got the gig off to a clattering, if slightly wobbly, start. Clattering as there is a lot going on and wobbly because it took the voice of main vocalist Conrad Keeley a couple of songs to become suitably shredded enough to feel right. After this epic start he launched into "Another Morning Stoner," and by then the sound had sorted itself out nicely. The new record’s title track was then belted out with agitated punk inflection, and we all sang along to the song that calls the people on MTV c**ts.

By now the Trail’s other vocalist, Jason Reece, has piled through his drums to take the front of the stage screaming like a scissor kicking Henry Rollins with his microphone cord wrapped tight around his biceps already bulging from his too small black t-shirt. To the far left of him a too cool for school 7ft 5 bassist in red pants pogo's in circles. The lights were colorful and for a few minutes of the their more "Art" Floyd like songs I found myself hypnotized by the red and orange smoke above the stage, as it resembled a painting of a renaissance battle scene.

After a couple of classics from Sources, Tags And Codes, which included a phenomenal "Clair de Lune," the show was almost done. On the final song Conrad invited the entire pit onstage, and the sight of at least 200 fans jumping on top of one another under the bright lights is one I’ll cherish for a while. It was a sea of people just plain freaking out and simply having punk rock fun. -Glen