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Triple Threat Tour
Fireball Ministry
Artimus Pyledriver
Vains Of Jenna
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Exit/In
Nashville, TN
11/06/2006
By: J Sherrod
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It was a rainy Monday night in Nashville when the Triple
Threat Tour rolled into town. I took off work early and went
over to the Exit/In where I saw the last few minutes of
Fireball Ministry's sound check. I then went backstage to
interview Fireball's singer/guitarist James Rota and then
conducted a last minute, off-the-cuff interview with opening
band Vains Of Jenna. After all that I moseyed over to the
bar, got a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon and waited for the rock to
ensue.
Just before the show started I had to use the bathroom. While in
the john, two guys asked me if I was a bouncer there.
Once I replied that I wasn't one at this establishment, they
broke out a brown paper bag that enclosed a pint of bourbon
and offered me a couple hits. That's one of the many
reasons why I love Rock N' Roll!
The clock struck nine and Vains Of Jenna hit the stage like a
tornado. The crowd was weak - I would estimate maybe only
eighty people give or take a few. The band could've given
less than a shit and played with as much fervor as if they
were playin' to thousands at a hometown gig back in
Sweden. Singer Lizzy DeVine has an old school L.A. Guns
look and the somewhat raspy voice of Cinderella's Tom
Keifer. He even yelled into the microphone in the happiest
tone "There's more of you than we expected. Thank You!"
What a great attitude.
The band has fun, the crowd has fun - regardless of poor
attendance or anything else. I don't know if anybody has
beaten me to the draw on stating this, but I personally hereby deem V.O.J. the "star pupils of the new class of Rock N'
Roll!" Seriously, I was so impressed after their thirty-minute
set I had to go get a T-shirt and another beer. I can't wait to
get their new CD, Lit Up/Let Down in the mail.
Keep an eye out for that on NowOnTour in a month or
so.
Up next was a band I've heard about for a couple of years,
but never actually heard. Atlanta, GA based Artimus
Pyledriver took the stage in promotion of their self-titled
debut. What followed was gritty fuckin' stoner rock sound
that reminded me of Alabama Thunderpussy mixed in with
some Clutch that cut through the crowd like a chainsaw. The
drummer played with his kit sideways and would bounce his
left stick off the floor and catch it while playin'. Bein' a
drummer myself I personally though that was pretty cool -
and gutsy.
Damn fine performance from the band but nothin' that really
just made me drop my jaw. I would see them again if they
came through town and intend to pick up their album
sometime soon. V.O.J. just set the bar a little too high on
this particular night.
Up next was Fireball Ministry and though the crowd had
grown, it was still weaker than I'm sure the band would have
liked. Personally I give a big "BOOOOOOO!!!" to Nashville for
such a piss-poor turnout. You would've thought all the
metalheads and rockers were at home watchin' the CMA
Awards or somethin'. What the fuck?!? Anyway, back to the
show.
James and the gang took the stage with powerful presence,
bringing the "First Church of Rock N' Roll" back to the Music
City USA. Earth shaking low-end riffs and pounding drums
provided the doom-flavored stoner rock the band is known
for. James was slightly reserved during the pre-show
interview, but he's a "let the music do the talking" kinda guy
on stage.
Aside from being cute as a button (I hate to point out the
obvious but damn! I mean that in the most gentlemanly way
possible), guitarist Emily Burton held down additional guitar
duties along with new drumming vixen, Yael - proving once
again to a male dominated industry that rock isn't just for
the boys.
This was my first time seeing Fireball Ministry live and I was
impressed. I don't know very much of their catalog and tried
to get a set list to give you the night's selections, but they
were gone too fast. I did pick up a killer belt buckle and their
first album, Ou Est La Rock?, which is almost
out of print. I will also be picking up the rest of their albums
so that, next show, I will know more about the
selections.
I will admit that before this show I had only seen the band
on TV and heard them on the radio, but never really looked
into the band outside of that. After this show, things are
exceptionally different. After witnessing the sermon Rev.
James A. Rota and the band delivered I am now a believer,
and dropped my donation at the merchandise table. In doin'
this review and I will continue to spread the word to
others.
Go see the Triple Threat Tour, or any of these bands
individually when they come around your neck of the woods.
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