Hit the merch table early, not knowing what was available or if the line would be as nuts as at Sleep, and was so glad that I did. Al was selling his 7", the first release for new label Samaritan press, that I desperately wanted. Empty Tomb/Sepulchure Dub ( mine is # 966) is now in my hands, and it's a beautiful 45 that sounds really Al
One of Emil's "other" bands, Watter opened for Om and brought the instrumental space-love to us. Three guys, the guitarist, Emil on drums and the key/sound effect wizard.
This is heady music, very much accessible yet also completely psychedelic. The guitarist for the most part was playing Hendrixian solo's mixed with the simplicity and pacing of drone, the key man underneath adding this Come My Fanatics interstellar bass that sounds like a black hole crushing a galaxy and weird trance stuff, and Emil kept it all together. I really enjoyed their set and was glad I caught them and would definitely see them again. Mellowed me right out and put in the perfect mood for Om.
Now, Om. Well, I'll say that I've been a fan since before they were a band, let's put it that way. One time I tried to see them and Emil broke his arm skateboarding, and the other was a venue change that brought the need for new tickets at the end of the month for me, and I couldn't swing it. I've been wanting to see this band a long time, and I'm elated that either at or somewhere near my 50th gig, I finally heard Om do their thing.
My lady friend went in hoping for anything Conference, and frankly so did I. That album is a top 5 all time record as far as I'm concerned, and though we didn't get to hear those old songs, we were still moved. Robert Lowe's tambourine and flourishes vocally added a beautiful accent to the core bass and drum sound, and during the parts where the cello plays you can tell Al is really into combining the tone of his Rickenbacker with classical instrumentation. Mostly songs from the last two records. Emil was awesome, the fills, speeding up slowing down, a very, very different style to Chris Haikus, whom I still hope to finally see live one day, but I know chances get slimmer as time marches on and it's probably a lost cause at this point, but that's the hope Om gives me. This set was a great counterpoint to the Sleep show, and now with High On Fire last November, I've see Sleep, Om, and High On Fire in less than a year. That's pretty snazzy.
At one point Al brushed against me to walk by, and I sensed a centered, green positivity as he passed.
We'll catch you back at Johnny Brenda's a little later this month on All Hallow's Eve for Pentagram/Bang! What a double bill, TWO proto-metal bands?Plus Radio Moscow AND Kings Destroy? You bet your ass. Warning, though I may be forced to dress up, the beard stays. Deal with it.
Thanks as always for reading, over and out from SabbathJeff.