Radio station 107.7 The Bone hosted a free concert, which showcased seven bands from all over the bay area from Campbell to Tracy, at Pine Street Bar and Grill in Livermore on Friday. The bar was crowded and humid with hot and sticky concertgoers trying to take refuge from Livermore’s 100-degree weather and quench their thirst with a frosty beer.
The Bone DJ Billy Steele and the Metal Zone broadcasted live from the bar and made sure the audience presence was known by encouraging cheers and enthusiastic howls of support from the crowd between sets. A booth for The Bone featured free stickers and other promotional goodies that were commonly worn on pants over assorted genitalia areas and backsides. There was also a billiard competition that took place at the pool tables where players could challenge friends or strangers to a game.
The first band to christen the stage at 7:30 p.m. sharp was Spider Goolah, which had a very hard, sludgy punk sound with super fast drumming and grinding riffs. An energetic power trio, the band has an aggressive and upbeat rhythm style with vocals that are comparable to those of Glenn Danzig. Fast finger work by the guitarist and bassist make for easy head banging and fast-paced toe tapping.
The Venting Machine, formally known as Breach, played second, performing all new material off its upcoming sophomore album, “The Neverending.” The band also introduced a brand new number called “My Friend Apathy,” which is just as hard-core and raw as the other tunes. This quartet of musicians does not hold back on its new songs as the set consisted of in-your-face, powerhouse riffs, thunderous drumming, and vocals that are both psychotic and melodic. With great crowd interaction, this unique style of metal is fast and furious, yet encourages tight grooves and head bobbing. The band dedicated its set to the late Dopesick bassist Jason Taggart, who died last week in a motorcycle accident.
Ones and Zeros played third, and despite the recent departure of bass player Jason Voorhees, the trio-turned-duet played just as well as if there had been three. The band’s songs are just good, simple modern rock and roll. With no agenda to prove or need for a definitive style, the songs consist of great lyrical ability with talented musicianship. The singing floats overhead while the hard, driving riffs of the guitar pull off what you’re not used to seeing. The melodies are tight and solid and the drumming accentuates and delivers.
Next up was Primate, whose talented musicianship both awes and inspires. With an Incubus/Hoobastank vocal style, the band’s songs are very melodic and rhythmic while the drumming is intense and precise. The music resembles a Tool/Deftones crossover, but with extra soft groove to make it unique. The last song played was a Quicksand cover that perked up ears and delivered intensity. Primate also harbors experienced musical veterans with a collective resume that includes playing in Pro-Pain Systematic and Skinlab. With all of that previous experience backing them up, the band is sure to create good tunes and to turn some heads.
Fifth to take the stage was Mindeye. With a very heavy, grunge-tone guitar sound, but with classic metal edge, this four-piece burst forth on the fast tunes, and transposes listeners into a dream on the softer ones. Clearly talented and well orchestrated, the vocals are a cross between Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and Phil Anselmo of Pantera when Phil actually sings. Mindeye can serenade you right before you are growled at and scolded. It is good, pure stoner rock.
Sixth, was a band called The Tongues. With a hard-hitting style, and old-school metal sound, the band ripped through its set with intense drumming and scratchy yet broad vocal capabilities. The sludgy and muddy verses capture a unique style while the vocals scrape through the eardrums. With an identifiable sound, The Tongues are loud and heavy with lots of energy to spread around.
Last of the evening was Up and Down. With hard grooves backed by turntables, the band creates the ever-popular rap/metal style with rap verses and metal choruses. The more “metal” vocals come from the backing of the guitarist. The audience’s heart was in it, but not their bodies as some crowded around the stage – seated in chairs – and bobbed their heads along. After all, it was a long evening.
Finally, Billy Steele gave his final farewells and Pine Street slowly emptied out. All the bands were truly talented and represented themselves well as the turnout must have been one of the highest in the history of the bar. There were only a few brief incidences of violence and/or negativity, but mostly positive people with positive energy. All seven bands gave great shows and the sound quality was up to par in excellence.
