Despite the fact that High on Fire and Don Caballero were set to play for free at Chicago’s Wicker Park Festival the next day, neighborhood venue Subterranean was packed for both bands last Saturday night. Somehow, it didn’t seem fitting for a group as dark as High on Fire to play when there was even a trace of sunlight left on the horizon.
Chicago sludge rockers Indian primed the crowd, blasting slow, heavy, doom so loud it could be heard (and felt) from the street below. Don Caballero’s tight, melodic math-rock set mostly consisted of material from their latest record, World Class Listening Problem (Relapse). Though many fans missed their older material, the majority of the audience was enthusiastic. A new haircut seemed to put drummer Damon Che in an irritable mood, but thankfully, rage is universally a good thing at a rock show.
When High on Fire then took the stage, the trio tore through nearly an hour and a half of massively heavy stoner metal. The audience was given a taste of new material off upcoming album Death is This Communion (Relapse) along with older favorites like closing number “Devilution.”
Robust and tattooed, guitarist Matt Pike (shown above) delivered virtually unrivaled guitar mastery, a growl that only Lemmy Kilmister could match, and a grin that extended from ear to ear. The man was a total bad ass.
But High on Fire is certainly not a one-man show. The tribal rhythms of drummer Des Kensel exploded off his gigantic kit, and Jeff Matz’s booming bass rounded out their huge sound. If you miss them this time around, take comfort in the fact that they will be touring again this fall.
– Jamie Ludwig
Photo credit: Jamie Ludwig
I certainly wouldn’t call Kensel’s 5 piece kit “gigantic”. The sound that blasts off of said kit is gigantic, however.