Static Altars, Upwell, KLAW, Greenriver Thrillers @ The Funhouse -- 06/04/2016

Photos & Article By Jesse Huminski

The best part about being a fan of any sort of musical genre is a live concert. Concerts are a place to mingle with fellow fans who share your passion for a band as well as permit you to experience musical emotion in real time. Whilst I do thoroughly appreciate shows from big name bands, it's the smaller local shows that I enjoy a little more. Large venues don't give off an intimate vibe and usually, after a band is done, you won't often see them roaming around the venue drinking a beer, chatting up with fans, and enjoying the music of other local artists in the scene. These are the types of shows that keep our beloved genres alive. Without them, the bands of today won't be able to become the big names of tomorrow.

I'm new to the Pacific Northwest. Having barely been here for two years, I had no idea where to look for shows such as the one that occurred on June 4th at The Funhouse in Seattle. To be quite honest, I'm not even sure where I saw the tour poster above. I checked out the a few bands on the bill and immediately felt as if I needed to be there. I've been following the Doomed & Stoned blog for quite sometime and felt compelled to finally become apart of the local scene here in Washington. I grabbed my camera (well, my girlfriend's anyway) and headed down to Seattle, knowing very well that the next day I would probably regret staying up so late as I had to be up for work early in the morning.

But, the lack of sleep and ensuing grouchiness of having to be at work was well worth it.

Fear The KLAW

By Kaila Alford

“Hero 2 Zero” the first track off last year’s self-titled debut from KLAW  quickly gives off the impression that the band is about nothing and everything all at the same time. Throughout the album they try on a Tool-esque ambiance that admittedly threw me for a loop. Well consider it fuel for the sonic assault they deliver on “Lost Cosmonaut”. Guitarist  Justin Williams speed  and intensity make mince meat out of you until he kicks back into a stoner rock groove on “Parole” to take us out with.   Dominant drums and punk tinged rage from vocalist Casey Cunningham establish KLAW as a group difficult to categorize.  Well your fucking metal shouldn’t resemble a floral arrangement in terms of orderly cohesiveness.  KLAW cannot be simply classified by a your average rock or metal fan which is okay because formality and fury will never go hand in hand. Fury is all I felt when they  tore through a fierce set (That was as amazing as it was short due to a set time debacle.) on Saturday at Funhouse. Cunningham’s truly impressive vocal range is something to behold and the band’s dynamic energy really did  liven up the place. They struck me as the type who’d probably bring all the beer to a party but then end up breaking every single piece of patio furniture you own, the sorta party most Doom and Black metal fans could use.  They’ve been teasing live crowds with some new material, so you best go familiarize yourself with their awesome debut now.  They have a show coming up on the 23rd at Substation and another in July.  Go out, support local music and most importantly know what it means to fear the fucking KLAW.

KLAW Bandcamp: https://klawseattle.bandcamp.com/releases
KLAW Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feartheklaw/