Event:	Gwar: European Tour
Written by:	Jeff
Published:	01.05.2007
Galleries:	Gwar, Paris, France by Jeff (20)

When you're European, especially French, I can tell you that it's not so easy to frequently see some bands like Gwar. They never come to the old continent much and as I know the last time that Gwar came to France was a long time ago. But finally, we had the chance to see the band at the famous Locomotive and damn what a show! Trust me my friends it was something amazing and definitely I will never regret the fact that I was there to see this controversial band this evening.

"Unfortunately", Kreator and Celtic Frost were playing in one other venue before Gwar so the American act had to play its show at 11 pm. Even if the Elysée Montmartre was not so far away of the Locotmotive I missed the opening act but by luck I didn't miss the sensational Gwar.



Gwar live, that's special, controversial but also really funny and? dirty? To give you an example, the sound and lights tables were protected with some plastic things for the only reason that the "monsters" send a lot of "blood" in the pit? (yeah that's crazy and I don't even want to imagine how the venue was after the concert?). The show was amazing, first, I was a bit afraid by the quality of the music but actually it was a really cool groovy Thrash with a lot of punch and technicality. The guys are good, they play great guitar solos, maybe that their songs aren't the best but live they're catchy and finally they just kick ass really. But of course, Gwar is not only music but also some great mise en scene and a lot of theatrical stuff and yes, this is the originality of the performances of the band and it's simply great.



Gwar is a "punk" and anarchic band. They don't like army, fascist and racist people, they don't like war, religions and political shit and they know how to say it. How? Well, with some violent bloody (but always funny) performances. During more than one hour and between and during each song, Oderus Urungus (the leader of the band and singer) accompanied by his two main men killed all the evil people of the Earth. Hitler, a bad ugly cop, the pope, Bin Laden? they all came on stage and were thrashed, impaled, destroyed by the band with some violent swords, axes and lance attacks. The funny thing is that all the evil guys have some "blood" system in their arms, legs, body and when Gwar attack them, a lot of blood is launched in the pit. And I say it again, that's a LOT of blood, everybody, from the photographs to the bouncers and of course the metalheads were totally soaked and red? It was extremely funny, a bit stupid that's right and really dirty but mega fun. I haven't laughed like that in a venue for a long time (well maybe with Freak Kitchen but with totally different humour...). It was simply great, one of the best shows that I've ever attended.



The theatrical aspect of the concerts was just great. Nobody hated it of course and really it was a cool way to see something different. It was funny even if we had also some serious messages but all in all this show was just some delirious performances with some cool Thrash music and the hits like "Meat Sandwich" were in the set list so... I cannot add anything else, it was pure happiness?



I don't know if you'll ever get the chance to have Gwar in your city one day but if you see this name, please go to the venue asap! Of course you'll have to be prepared and know that you'll see something really engaged, violent and gory with topics about politics, sex, drugs, etc but trust me, you'll see something great, something that you could only see with Gwar. Hoo and one last thing, don't forget your raincoat


Many thx one more time to Olivier, Nan and Florian of Elianor for the press accreditation