Into Another Live Again

More of my crappy pics here.

It's probably been 15 years since I last witnessed Into Another perform at Irving Plaza, and in all that time dudes still haven't figured out how to mosh to them. Yet the audience at the final installment of the East Coast Revelation 25 shows couldn't help but try when the homegrown act started their set with the underground hit, "Underlord."

Eventually, the pit settled into a sinuous ebb and flow befitting the unconventional band. Richie Birkenhead's vocals, still as screechy and polarizing as ever made for the perfect counterbalance to Peter Moses' stadium-worthy guitar tones. Into Another ran through a tight, hour-plus long set that included "Running Into Walls," "Poison Fingers," "While I Die," "T.A.I.L." and "The Other." The closest I came to heaven was when they dove into "William."

The omitted "Two Snowflakes" and "Maritime Murder" were sorely missed, especially baffling since "May I" was included in the Irving Plaza set. Evidently, their performance was fairly different from their show the night before at Saint Vitus Bar.

Rounded out by ex-Ignite guitarist Brian Balchack and bassist Reid Black, Into Another made sure to pay tribute to their late bassist (and ex-Whiplash metaller) Tony Bono. "We want to send a huge wave of love up to Tony," said Birkenhead. Also announced onstage was their four-day East Coast run in December, including a stop at Bowery Ballroom on December 16. I'll be there. And if you need more incentive to join me, check out some reunion footage from the CA Revelation 25 show, as well as Saint Vitus.

Shut Up And Listen To... Karma To Burn

Back in the day when instrumental-only bands were as rare as Republicans with a sense of humor, Morgantown, WV's Karma to Burn were tearing up stages and blowing through towns like a gang of rock n roll outlaws. And like all good (or bad) volatile creations, the band eventually went out in a blaze of glory, becoming the stuff of legend.

Then earlier this year, the trio made peace and decided to give it another go—headlining festivals all across Europe (where they're HUGE) mere months after the reunion. So in honor of their recent signing with Napalm Records and brand-new DVD, I implore you to shut up and listen to Karma to Burn.

Karma To Burn Reunite

There are few bands more appropriately named than Karma To Burn. The (mostly) instrumental trio from Morgantown, WV garnered as much acclaim for their meaty riffs and take-no-prisoners performance style as they did for their drug-fueled offstage antics. Led by a charismatic bass-playing sociopath named Rich "Little Dickie" Mullins, there was no telling what kind of trouble you'd get into hanging out with them—nor the snake-charming schemes you'd be let in on. This was all around 1996; and after the new millennium came and went—as did Karma To Burns' four-album career—I lost track of the guys.

Oddly enough, while Karma To Burn remain an obscure footnote in the American "desert rock" genre, they really were fucking huge in Europe. How huge? Well, let's put it this way: their current American club tour is a mere warm-up for their overseas festival appearances.

As fate would have it, they're playing tonight (4/20!) at NYC's Lit bar. But since I'm living it up in Florida until tomorrow, my plan is to catch them next week at Philly's Trocadero. Who's coming with me?

For a full list of shows, check out Karma To Burns' Myspace page. I, for one, can't wait to see them again (and get a T-shirt for posterity this time around).