I rarely am able to get out to the local clubs to just enjoy a show unless I am actually producing the event, but when I heard my boys 20 Saw You Die were going to be opening for SOMA and Supre X at The End, I knew I had to make it out.  I had not seen the current lineup of 20 Saw You Die (XXSYD) since the Katrina Relief  benefit on Main Street in Dickson, Tennessee last October. Since that time they have added new bassist Mike to the lineup, and have had lots of time to write and refine their own style, so I was anxious to check them out and see what the lineup had to offer. 

 

 

Knowing Grimm pretty much since Jr. High, I have been involved, if even in a small way, with most projects that he has been a part of; from his brief stint with Disarray, to the overpowering prowess that was Embodiment, and the most recent former project Deadlock, I have watched Grimm’s musical talent and style evolve over the years.  We have worked together on many events and so it was no surprise to me at all to see that this new lineup was certainly capable of a knockout punch in the first round.

 

 

The set fired up with a decapitating audio assault from guitarists Matt and Ian during their first tune Her Cold Caress.  Brad, engineer for The End and good buddy of mine, had the mains blazing with XXSYD’s razor-sharp riffs.  Grimm, of course did not disappoint blending melodic vocals with brutal gutturals. They then proceeded with Die Alone and –1031-, both having the admittedly modest yet enthusiastic crowd gyrating with true metal energy.

 

 

 

What came next was a pleasant surprise, however.  XXSYD went way back in the haystack with one of my favorite Misfits tunes Dig Up Her Bones. As The End slowly started filling up, the energy level increased with this tune as the crowd really began to start feeling it. Drummer Scott did the song total justice with solid grooves and a natural pace that gave the song its proper due.  An excellent cover tune indeed.

 

 

Picking up the pace once again, XXSYD continued the auditory damage with In Remembrance and the title track to the upcoming Lloyd Kaufman/Michael Hertz film Poultrygeist.  This song is as kick ass as the name implies. 

 

 

Finally XXSYD closed out their set with a remake of one of my all time favorite Deadlock Tunes Eyes Sewn Shut. The overall presence of the song was still as appealing as it was back in the days of Deadlock, but had a definitively different and fresh feel. Guitarist Ian was a madman on this closing song, relentlessly hammering out the thunderous riffs.

 

 

 

The crowd was rowdy and revved up right until the last chord rang out and setup began for Supre X and SOMA, both of whom rocked it out quite properly, as well.  I must say, however, 20 Saw You Die would be a bitch of an act to follow if you ask me…but you didn’t…or did you?

 

Thanks to Bruce and Brad for their hospitality to the fatman, as usual, and for Clover and GirlyGirl for making certain that I was not attacked by any ID-less vagrants (yes, that was an inside joke).

 

Great show, good friends, and PBR… Who could ask for more in a show?

 

For more on 20 Saw You Die visit www.20sawyoudie.net, www.myspace.com/20sawyoudie, and, as always, you can find information about this and many, many other local bands at www.nashvillerock.net.

 

Fatman out.

 

 

 

~bigdaddy