Girl at the Rock Shows

There was a threat of a winter storm on Wednesday night. Although I love a good winter storm, I was kind of dreading this one. This rollercoaster ride of weather is nothing new for us here in the Twin Cities, but after days reaching nearly 70 degrees, it felt like a cruel joke that we were now under a winter weather advisory. Was it going to be true? Were we really going to get an insane amount of ice and then a nice layer of snow? Truthfully, I didn’t believe it, but even if it had been true, there was no way it was going to keep me from The Fillmore on Wednesday night.

It has been a couple of years since I’ve seen the magic that is Enterprise Earth live, but as soon as they stepped onto the stage on Wednesday night, I remembered exactly who this band is. I know that may not seem like a big deal, but for someone who sees an insane amount of live music, it’s truly something if I can instantly be taken back years to a previous show where I saw a band. Enterprise Earth does that because their sound and energy are so flawless and unique. From the intense and sinister guttural vocals to the insane and furious riffs and blast beats, Enterprise Earth has it all, but that’s not what makes them unique. What makes them stand out in a scene that, for the most part, kind of blends together is their attention to detail. Although there’s always a million things going on in their music, you can hear each of the elements of their sound clearly. Don’t get me wrong, this band is heavy as all get out, and they absolutely have this sense of chaos and fury behind everything they do, but I just really appreciate how, even with that, there’s no mistaking the musicianship or talent that the members of this band have.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the next band live. It was October 2016, and I was at yet another metal show because, back then, that was my life, my bread and butter. I had walked into The Cabooze on that fateful night expecting just another stand metal show, but walked out with a new passion for goblin-core. Yes, goblin-core is a thing, and whether or not Nekrogoblikon is the only band in that category, I’m here for it. It doesn’t take long to pick up on this band’s schtick. At first look and for the first few seconds of their set on Wednesday night, they came off like just another metal band. A couple of long-haired dudes took the stage and started creating a soundtrack of chaos and intensity, but then everything changed when John Goblikon appeared. John Goblikon is the goblin of Nekrogoblikon, but he’s more than just a mascot for the group; he’s also a vocalist who contributes clean vocals to an otherwise brutal sound.

For me, Nekrogoblikon is like Gwar. I love seeing them, but truthfully, it’s not because of their music; it’s more because of their show. There’s just something so perfect about seeing this nightmare-inducing goblin stand on stage while drinking from a hot pink Stanley cup. Their music just doesn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I am always thoroughly stunned by what Dickie Allen can do with his voice. He can go from the most guttural of sounds to something much more high-pitched and almost siren-like in the blink of an eye. My heart loves the chaos and the stark contrast, but, at the same time, it just feels so over the top to me, especially when you add in dramatic keys and an almost grindcore-leaning kind of backdrop. This is just my opinion and, honestly, it’s probably the wrong one. I truly can not understate the talent that’s in this band, and just happen to be the type of person who always falls a bit harder for a schtick than most, so what I’m trying to say is take what I say with a grain of salt here. Whether you like the goblin aspect of this band or love the music, there’s something for everyone when it comes to Nekrogoblikon.

I know I always say I’m trying to see new things and experience new music, so for me to just go on and on about two bands that I have seen a bunch of times at this point seems a bit counter-productive, but they were not the reason for me risking the winter storm on Wednesday night. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being able to see both Enterprise Earth and Nekrogoblikon, but I was at this show to see Hanabie. Hanabie. It is a Japanese metalcore band from Tokyo with a style that they call “Harajuku-core.” I won’t get into the background of that or what all that means because, truthfully, I just don’t have the time this morning, but I will say that this band caught my eye the first time I saw a picture of them, and I have been waiting impatiently to see them live ever since.

When you see a picture of Hanabie., you will instantly be intrigued. They look a little bit like real-life anime characters. They typically wear bright-colored outfits with lots of layers, fabrics, and tones. It’s a super cool look —almost high-fashion model-like —, but when you look at them, you can tell they are so much more than just four super cute fashionistas. There’s an edge here, and that edge comes out loud and clear when you hear their music or see them perform. Don’t let the bright clothes and almost bubblegum pop demeanor of this band fool you; they are brutal. Vocalist Yukina has a voice that will make you melt (or make you pee your pants in fear, depending on your take of metal vocals). Guitarist Matsuri should absolutely be considered one of the better guitar players out there right now, while bassist Hettsu does such a great job of keeping things steady. Don’t forget about drummer Chika, who I’m not convinced even broke a sweat throughout the set on Wednesday night, even though she was absolutely killing it all night. Honestly, this is one of those sets where, although tasked with getting photos of the group, I found it hard not to just stand there and take it all in, smiling as I tried to process the juxtaposition of what I was seeing with what I was hearing.

Hanabie.’s set was short when it came to the number of songs they played. It was just thirteen songs with a one-song encore, but truthfully, I doubt many people in the audience noticed that. The amount of energy and intensity that they brought to the Fillmore Minneapolis stage was insane, but it was the way that they were able to bring that while producing a sound that, I dare say, sounded a bit more polished than on recordings, that left me with my jaw on the ground. I think I can speak for everyone in attendance on Wednesday night by saying that, by the time the show was over and done, I was exhausted and envied the thought that the members of Hanabie. had just barely broken a sweat (or so it seemed).

There was no winter storm on Wednesday night. Sure, it’s raining a bit the morning after, and there’s definitely some ice scraping happening on the windows of cars this morning, but this is far from a winter storm. Maybe Mother Nature knew that I needed to see this show live, so she held off on the bad stuff, or maybe it was all a hoax. Either way, I’m just glad I had the opportunity to see the almighty Hanabie. for the first time ever, and get to revisit my old friends Nekrogoblikon and Enterprise Earth.

Line Up:

Enterprise Earth

Nekrogoblikon

Hanabie.

Venue: Fillmore

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 21

Crowd Surfers- Lost count at 14 but also wasn’t really paying attention

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 6 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Bodies

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Celebrity Sightings – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Enterprise Earth – 3

Nekrogoblikon – 5

Hanabie. – 0

Show on Deck — The Neighbourhood / Neggy Gemmy

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