Fuzz Fest the annual rock extravaganza returned for a second day of high amplitude music to resonate your soul at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor.
FUZZ FEST – DAY 2
Day 2 of Fuzz Fest 4 was big on bands with plenty of meaty guitar and hefty rhythms at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. To say that I was stoked to check out these bands was an understatement. Michigan has some fine hard rock bands and this lineup was stacked with power.
HELLGHILLIES
Firing up the night with hellish hardcore punk were Ypsilanti’s Hellghillies. The lead singer/bassist looked like a skinny version of Captain Quinn from Jaws. He barked out harsh commands as the band ripped from one tune into another. No quarter was given.
LAVAMOTH
Steeped in the heavy psychedelic rock of Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple, Lavamoth jammed an entrancing set of music. This band burned up the stage with wailing guitar, crunchy bass, and pile driving drums. The crowd let it all hang out for Lavamoth.
ROTOKILLER
Rotokiller went off with a bang at the Blind Pig. This hardcore band put Fuzz Fest 4 on notice with vicious riffs and vocals. They wasted no time between songs. Instead they focused on delivering a barrage of hardcore punk as fast as humanly possible. Their no bullshit set was perfect.
RED STONE SOULS
It had been a while since I’d seen the Red Stone Souls. My lord, they cranked out some fantastic rock. Their set shimmered like a heat haze in the desert. Luscious jams packed with twin guitar medicine and punchy rhythms made you want to raise your fist in the air and shout at the sky. They pulled the crowd at Fuzz Fest 4 in close and held on to them tight.
CRUTHU
Cruthu have been busy supporting their new album “The Angle of Eternity” and made a visit to Fuzz Fest 4 to show off the new music. The band’s sound revealed an affinity for early Sabbath as well as the writing of H.P. Lovecraft. The Overhead Army’s lights combine with the music to intensify the aura of impending doom. Bonus fact: Cruthu is Celtic for creation.
THE LUCID FURS
One of the hottest bands to emerge from Detroit recently is the Lucid Furs. They use jet fuel infused blues music to propel their hard rock groove. Karen O projected her voice with ardor. The power of her voice combined with the percussive persuasion of the music was captivating and highly entertaining. Go see this band when they roll into your town.
STONE RITUAL
If you imagined the sounds of tectonic plates shifting over an epoch of time, you would be close to the titanic majesty of Stone Ritual. They have perfected the unnatural art of creating music that crushes bone into dust. Glacial, colossal riffs of immensity pounded the audience in bellicose waves.
WIZARD UNION
Growling with the menace of Saruman under the spell of Mordor, Wizard Union cranked out some beefy tunes. The doom-laden vibe cast a heavy spell as the band rumbled through their set. Adding a seven-string guitar to the mix added even more depth to their prodigious low end.
LO-PAN
It had been a couple of years since I’d seen the mighty Lo-Pan. Just like the first time, I was blown away by their intoxicating riffs that bled with fervent force. In a twist from the usual band configuration on stage, singer Jeff Martin stood at the back of the stage on the drum riser and drummer Jesse Bartz was up front and center. He was flanked by bassist Scott Thompson and new guitarist Chris Thompson. Their performance at Fuzz Fest 4 melted my brain.
BONEHAWK
Bonehawk kicked off their Screaming For Pizza tour with a thick and juicy slice of grooves at Fuzz Fest 4. Just like pizza, I couldn’t get enough of Bonehawk’s soaring guitar harmonies and stone crushing rhythms. In addition to playing some of my favorite cuts from their ‘Albino Rhino’ album, Bonehawk unveiled a new tune called “Iron Mountain”. This is also the current working title of their next album which hopefully will be out soon on Ripple Music.
S.N.A.F.U.
Tearing the face off Day 2 of Fuzz Fest 4 was the human cyclone known as S.N.A.F.U. This band screams defiance and rage from not just one vocalist, but three. Bassist Mickey Stevenson and guitarists Scott Christopher and Rian Staber each deliver throat-searing vocals as Ryan Hampton demolishes his drum kit. Together S.N.A.F.U. delivered a punishing set of thrash to round out an awesome night of Fuzz Fest. Be sure to catch these guys when they come tearing into your town.
Be sure to stop by the gallery for over 230 pictures of the bands from Day 2 of Fuzz Fest 4.
Thank You for Your Support
Life in Michigan is fueled by friends and followers like you. We are looking to make improvements to Life in Michigan and would be honored by your patronage. If you have the means, consider showing your support.
Share the News
If you enjoyed our coverage of Fuzz Fest 4 – Day 2, then share it on your favorite social media venue or send it as a link to your friends and family. This is good for everyone!
Stay Connected
We’d really love it if you’d like our Facebook page. You can always get our posts delivered to your email box by subscribing to our newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram. Cheers!
