Fuzz Fest II concluded its celebration of rock with 11 bands playing to a packed house at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor.
Fuzz Fest II – Day 3
Thursday and Friday nights at Fuzz Fest II were fantastic. The Overhead Army had the psychedelic lights swirling in the Blind Pig and everyone was ready to jam. Could the third and final day of the festival match the intensity? The answer was a fist in the air full of pure rock fervor.
Seritas
The evening began with Seritas who embrace all things Fuzz. Using a minimal approach of guitar and drums, they made use of heavy doses of baritone tunings and doomy riffs. They also include a couple of stellar covers with “Going Down” by Don Nix and “Misunderstanding” by Genesis. Check out more pictures in the gallery.
Beset by Creatures of the Deep
Beset by Creatures of the Deep unleashed a hypnotic set of music. While the first impulse is to think of Pink Floyd, time should be given to allow the originality of their music to seep in. The arrangements are thoughtful and exploratory with excellent dynamic shifts. A bonus was the excellent imagery they cast on the wall behind them as their music told tales of dying stars. There are more photos in the gallery.
Imperial Sun Crusher
You would expect big things from a band named Imperial Sun Crusher and they delivered it in all its beautiful radiance. Rock hard and tight as a clenched fist, this band went for the throat and held everyone tight. The riffs were relentless and inspiring. An unexpected twist was a cover of Dave Dudley’s outlaw country anthem “Six Days On The Road”. This band is a must see when they head to your town. See more pictures in the gallery.
Whaler
There are rock bands, and then there is Whaler. Crafting songs that make you think of Clutch, Kyuss, and Orange Goblin, Whaler was unstoppable. They took no prisoners and the crowd at the Blind Pig ate it up. This band should be on everyone’s playlist as they play heavy hitting tunes, which resonate for days. Check out the gallery for more pictures.
Ping Pong
Ping Pong was fun, noisy, and fun. You have to love when a band plays flat out punk rock with all its tangled and messy enthusiasm. Blow-up alien figures were dispersed to the crowd as they got the crowd into the show. This band is fun with a capitol “F”. Check out more from the band in the gallery.
Scissors Now
Les Claypool would have a smile a mile wide listening to Scissor Now. The music sounds easy, crazy and free. The kicker is that the timing and precision needed to pull this music off is phenomenal. This is a band of incredible musicians who hug Frank Zappa and burn with a fire that only Miles Davis could extinguish. They blew up the Blind Pig with an marvelous rendition of “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zepplin. This was an outstanding performance. You can see more pictures in the gallery.
Human Skull
The energy level rose as Human Skull rocked the Pig. They had elements of Social Distortion flowing as they picked up the crowd and showered them in music. This is music that makes you glad you are alive. We have more photos in the gallery.
Lizerrd
Lizerrd left nothing to chance as they exploded on the floor. Great guitars fueled a band that took the music to the audience. The lead singer’s passion and energy pulled you into the performance and made this a show about everyone in attendance. The music spoke to your soul and set it on fire. Go see the gallery for more pictures of the band.
Wild Savages
Wild Savages terrorized the stage at the Blind Pig. With the brilliance of Motorhead at its best without the pretense, this band rocked as hard as any band during the entire festival. The music is heavy with riffs that burrow into your head and won’t let you go. The beauty is that no one wanted it to stop. When you see this band heading to your town, clear your calendar and hear the furious roar of Wild Savages. Plenty more pictures of the band in the gallery.
Bison Machine
The guys in Bison Machine have been busy. They have been touring hard for with their new album Hoarfrost and they were set to unleash hell. Finely tuned and poised to dig deep, Bison Machine played with the heart of a lion. They rock with all the majesty of Sabbath and the fury of Kyuss. Burning incense only heightened the audacity of their performance. Head over to the gallery for more pictures.
Beast In The Field
You could not ask for a better ending to an incredible Fuzz Fest than the raw sonic inferno of Beast In The Field. This band has made its mark across the USA with the sheer intensity of their show coupled with the brilliance of unfathomable megawatts of sound. The mark of the Beast was carved into the flesh of Ann Arbor. There are more pictures in the gallery.
Rock music speaks to the non-conformist, the wild, and the unruly. It is rebellion and a cry of freedom. It is the heart of America. It is the true spirit of those who speak their mind and love those who revel in good company and share the gift of music. Fuzz Fest embodies these principles and gives those who dare to attend, the joy of fire in their souls.
Stay Tuned and in Touch
Did you check out Day 1 and Day 2 of the festival? If you went to the fest, what did you think? Leave us a comment or send us a message. We love to hear your stories.
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