THE BLACK ANGELS @ THE GREY EAGLE 10/28/07

West Asheville's Grey Eagle Tavern and Music Hall never fails to amaze me. It has such a relaxed atmosphere, the people are always friendly, and most importantly, the bands love it and the crowd is always loud, grateful, and enthusiastic, always positive too. Not even Chapel Hill's Cat's Cradle, a mere five minutes from my home, can replicate the greatness of the Eagle. And now, from Austin, Texas, comes the psychedelic swirl that is the Black Angels.

The Black Angels drew a small crowd, maybe 150 people out of the 550 capacity. But, it was just as special as Explosions in the Sky (also from Austin), who played to a sold out Grey Eagle last Spring and in my mind played the best show ever. Everyone screamed and yelled to Explosions, and the band was shocked, really surprised at the enthusiasm because they had never been to Asheville before.

So, this was to be the heaviest load of noise the Grey Eagle has hosted since Explosions in the Sky. And it was. WOW it was loud. 6 members, several guitars, and a bad ass female drummer who played the living shit out of her drum kit. The crowd was so appreciative, just like at Explosions, but the Black Angels showed no hesitation in bringing their dark, droning jams full force. They had played the Grey Eagle a year prior, and had really liked it. A great set all the way through, and they played "First Vietnamese War" as the encore. Interesting choice for an encore, because it is only a 3-minute song. But, it contrasted well with the main set because the entirety of the main set was slow and sonically expansive. It was nice to hear the set end on a tight note, rather than another drawn out noise session. The Angels used a gigantic video screen, which projected bizarre images of war and death throughout the entire set, making for an exceptionally powerful experience.

So, if you've never heard or seen the Black Angels, they are an excellent experimental rock band. There are elements of 60s rock, such as the Velvet Underground and the Doors, and 80s noise bands like Sonic Youth and the Jesus and Mary Chain. On their only LP, Passover, the Black Angels rarely drift into noise, but they often do live. It's sweet!!

Best of all, my buddies and I got to hang out and smoke cigarettes with the Black Angels. The second guitarist asked us, "What IS noise?" We all exchanged confused stares, all of us about to crack up! Doesn't he know he is a GREAT noise guitarist?! They also revealed to us that they love the Grey Eagle and will continue playing shows there. Asheville gains mad points over Chapel Hill!