Report

The Anvil is Dropped in New Orleans, LA

After years of obscurity, Anvil has returned to the world of metal in full-force. After releasing their latest album “This is 13” and playing numerous festivals this summer, Anvil is touring the US and other countries this year to reclaim their old fans’ love and make new ones. At all-ages shows, the generations represented range from young kids who have never been to a rock show to metalheads older than the half-centurions in Anvil. I saw their first show in New Orleans Saturday night, and it was amazing.

The opening band was local cover-band Brah. Their costumes were from every known genre of rock n’ roll; Kiss face paint, blond wigs, shiny leather pants and a Japanese flag t-shirt. The amalgamation of clothing showcased their musical range, but they do love their Ozzy Osbourne and played a few songs that he had his hand in; “War Pigs,” “Into the Void” and “Bark at the Moon.” While the audience was not entirely crazy about the odd fellows, they did enjoy the band’s enthusiasm for the Saint’s football team; a topic that’s unavoidable in New Orleans this season. Constantly spraying the crowd with guitar picks, Brah finished their set and we all waited with anticipa…tion for the headlining band.

Anvil appeared and immediately began playing the music that the older audience members grew up to and that the younger members have discovered through research of the roots of metal and, of a crate just inside the barricade and shredded on his Flying V. “There’s nothing like being in the face of your fans,” he says in the now famous documentary. Robb Reiner pounded the drums, kicked wildly on his two bass drums and spun his sticks around his hands between each beat. It seemed like nothing could stop him from playing; he was so happy behind those drums and his happiness was palpable. Many concert-goers pointed at him and yelled to their buddies to just watch him play during the entire show. Robb even played an amazing solo to showcase his talent that floored everybody and whipped the crowd into applause and hollers. G5 was also very popular with the crowd. His galloping bass made people chant his name constantly. Most of the songs for the night came from their first three albums and the latest album “This is 13;” “Thumb Hang,” “School Love,” “Winged Assassins,” “Forged in Fire,” “Metal on Metal” and “This is 13.” Lips didn’t wear a bondage harness, but he did play guitar with a vibrator which actually sounded good. It was like a slide that made a shredding sound that could be turned higher or lower with the intensity of the vibration. Lips snarled and smiled, often standing right on the edge of the stage and leaning over dangerously far just to give the people in front a good show. He said that they were not just some asshole rockstars, they are fans just like everyone else, and, by the way Anvil interacted with the crowd, I believe him.

Emily is an avid supporter of the New Orleans scene, often filming shows and conducting interviews with local bands to help promote their music. She also runs her own site dedicated to the New Orleans scene, Crescent City Chaos.