Phinehas
I arrived at the Texas Independence Fest, held at Empire Control Room and Garage at around 12:30pm or so and couldn’t believe the line that had already formed outside the gates, roughly a block and a half to two blocks long. As I entered I decided I would grab a beer, get familiar with my surroundings and talk to some of the staff and people in attendance, as I had yet to visit this establishment. The line-up for this event was chocked full of top notch acts from the likes of Despised Icon, Carnifex, Unearth, and Bury Your Dead. This fest was going to be intense to say the least.
The first band I saw was a group called Psychostick out of Phoenix and they were certainly a sight to see. They adorned crazy costumes and were hilarious and heavy at the same time. I found it to be a really strange combo, but somehow it works to their advantage. They put on an amazing performance and really got the crowd involved. One minute people were laughing and the next they were taking out their aggressions in the pit. These guys are a really entertaining band to see live. Immediately after their set everyone began rushing to the Control Room (the inside stage) to see I-Terra, so I followed the herd and I’m glad I did. These guys were absolutely brutal! Blake’s vocals were vicious throughout and the musicianship of the band as a whole was something to behold. Their set was just what I needed to get my metal juices flowing. Back outside at the garage stage, Nekrogoblikon was getting set to play and the crowd was getting thicker by the minute. I wasn’t really familiar with these guys other than what my buddy Chris had told me about them. The melodies that they combine with their sheer heaviness gives them a very well rounded sound, and it’s not often that you see a metal band with a keyboardist in the mix. As the band’s name suggests they also have a goblin on stage with them, who also interacts with the crowd and makes their show that much more enjoyable.
The first band I saw was a group called Psychostick out of Phoenix and they were certainly a sight to see. They adorned crazy costumes and were hilarious and heavy at the same time. I found it to be a really strange combo, but somehow it works to their advantage. They put on an amazing performance and really got the crowd involved. One minute people were laughing and the next they were taking out their aggressions in the pit. These guys are a really entertaining band to see live. Immediately after their set everyone began rushing to the Control Room (the inside stage) to see I-Terra, so I followed the herd and I’m glad I did. These guys were absolutely brutal! Blake’s vocals were vicious throughout and the musicianship of the band as a whole was something to behold. Their set was just what I needed to get my metal juices flowing. Back outside at the garage stage, Nekrogoblikon was getting set to play and the crowd was getting thicker by the minute. I wasn’t really familiar with these guys other than what my buddy Chris had told me about them. The melodies that they combine with their sheer heaviness gives them a very well rounded sound, and it’s not often that you see a metal band with a keyboardist in the mix. As the band’s name suggests they also have a goblin on stage with them, who also interacts with the crowd and makes their show that much more enjoyable.
Ringworm
At this point I had to hold my ground because as the day wore on, the venue was at capacity. If I were to leave my post now, getting back to it would be damn near impossible. Up next was Phinehas, a metalcore/Christian Metal group from California. I’m not a big religious type, but hey, a positive message is a positive message, especially when it’s brought to you via metal! They spoke of inclusion and being loved right where you are, which is exactly what this festival represented.
I would have to say my favorite band of the day/night was Ringworm. These guys blew me away, they were fast, heavy and in your face, and the crowd responded accordingly. At one point someone was crowd surfing and came over the top of me and a fellow photographer. My first instinct was to cover my gear and hope he didn’t land on it as he came over the barricade. Instead I decided I would reach up, grab him, and throw him as far as I could over said barricade. Since it started to get a little rowdy down there I figured it was time to give up my spot and observe from the back for the remainder of the show. I went inside for a bit and met a fellow named Dennis; the stage manager for the Control Room, that guy was awesome. All of the acts assigned to his stage went on exactly when they were supposed to and he even let me put my fifty pound bag of gear in a closet backstage which brought my back much relief. I’m not going to say too much about the headliners because they all tore it up, but Despised Icon was astounding. They were the perfect end to the event.
I would have to say my favorite band of the day/night was Ringworm. These guys blew me away, they were fast, heavy and in your face, and the crowd responded accordingly. At one point someone was crowd surfing and came over the top of me and a fellow photographer. My first instinct was to cover my gear and hope he didn’t land on it as he came over the barricade. Instead I decided I would reach up, grab him, and throw him as far as I could over said barricade. Since it started to get a little rowdy down there I figured it was time to give up my spot and observe from the back for the remainder of the show. I went inside for a bit and met a fellow named Dennis; the stage manager for the Control Room, that guy was awesome. All of the acts assigned to his stage went on exactly when they were supposed to and he even let me put my fifty pound bag of gear in a closet backstage which brought my back much relief. I’m not going to say too much about the headliners because they all tore it up, but Despised Icon was astounding. They were the perfect end to the event.
As a whole I don’t think this fest could have been any better. The venue was perfect, the alternating stages allowed for the audience to see every band there, and all of the bands had spectacular performances. Come and Take it Productions, Cowboy Harley Davidson and all the other sponsors put on one hell of a show. They may be hard pressed to outdo this year’s event, but those guys are full of surprises so don’t quote me on that.
