Man-Witch deliver a type of spectacle rarely seen in the Portland rock scene. But even aside from the choreographed fights and theatrics, faulty faux-pyrotechnics, and hand-painted cosmic-themed stage backdrop, the band write some damn fine songs, and play them with their own peculiar brand of self-effacing abandon.
This is a Portland band to behold: they have taken the last 25 years of metal, stripped them down to their choicest clichés, and spewed them back out in a fashion that not only sounds fresh, but is really fun to listen to, even if you can’t name the reference. You don’t necessarily need to know, though — these four have done their homework, and it’s obvious that these songs have been crafted with blood, sweat, and tinnitus. It’s metal that knows its own drama, and has no qualms about poking fun at itself. Think Iron Maiden meets Mystery Science Theater 3000, and you’ll have an idea of what to expect from a Man-Witch show.
After the stage was cleared of the Man-Witch props (countless fake skulls, swords, flashing LED signboards, etc.), Covered In Bees took the stage to deliver their consistently satisfying strain of punk rock. What makes this band so much fun to see, time and time again, is not just their droll lyrical content or the funny stage costumes; it’s that the songs feel so genuinely pissed off. Underneath the ingenious song titles (“Car On Fire With Guns”), the tongue-in-cheek horror-movie feeling, there lies some brooding, ink-black, sweaty force that is as visceral and furious as any hardcore act out there, but masked in enough revelry to get under a cynic’s radar. Hit Geno's the night of March 6 to see the Bees, or March 8 to see Man-Witch. You won’t be disappointed.
Related:
Going on sale: March 28, 2008, Locked and loaded, Dead white females, More 
- Going on sale: March 28, 2008
Alicia Keys, Joe Lally, Ryan Adams, and more.
- Locked and loaded
Okay, this is getting ridiculous. It’s already been a strong year for games, with four — four ! — game-of-the-year contenders before Labor Day.
- Dead white females
Can you remember the last time you curled up under the covers with Marcel Proust’s I n Search of Lost Time ?
- Iranian chick
At 38, Marjane Satrapi still resembles the kid in Persepolis , her autobiographical graphic-novel-turned-animated-film of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.
- Throwing dice, taking names
Let’s say your band are named the Sword, your albums have titles like Age of Winters and Gods of the Earth , and your latest single is “Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians.” Would these count as hazardous levels of irony?
- DIY all over again
Cut from the earnest and emotional mold of bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Coheed & Cambria, and our own Monty Are I, the Coming Weak is one of the area’s fastest-rising combos.
- In the Black
Twisted Roots transformed their “reunion” into a forward-looking intent to bestride Portland once again and develop a new crop of fans who dig terrifying guitar solos and teeth-rattling vocals.
- Music seen: Pixies vs. Sonic Youth at Empire
The Clash of the Titans has become a Portland staple over the last three years. Since shifting from the Big Easy to the Empire this year, the Tuesday tradition has lost none of its crowd-pulling potential.
- Brute forces
When you get down to it, most music is an attempt to create auditory allegories for our life experiences, whether they’re joyous Maypole dervishes or nightmarish St. Vitus’ dances of doom.
- Shriiimp on the Barbie
Shrimp, the edible crustaceans commonly dipped in tart, tangy cocktail sauce, don’t usually carry overtly sexual connotations.
- Talent shows
Does Annie Clark have to be perfect?
- Less
Topics:
Live Reviews
, Iron Maiden
