Re-evaluating the concept of concerts in response to Prong’s dominant show March 2

March 8, 2024

Andrew Dodderidge,

Voivod. // photo by Andrew Dodderidge

Waiting in a quarter-mile long line to get into an oldies metal show a block away from night one of Drake and J. Cole at the T-Mobile Center, a thought popped into my head.

Do I even like going to concerts?

A man in front of me, cigarette in-hand, certainly does, I think. I turn around to meet a blaze of smoke from an older (at least 55) gentleman behind me. The solo trekker beside me (god bless him) then began to light up. This is what the atmosphere of rock concerts has been my entire life, since the early days of going to weed-reeked Warped Tour festivals with my brother 10 years ago. But is it something I want to continue to burgeon my attitude, my atmosphere, my personality?

When does this show start? It said 7 p.m. on the venue’s website. So why am I waiting in a massive line when I arrive at 7:15?

Now inside, everybody smells. Sure, I’ll comply. This is what it’s like. Let me look around to find someone I know. Oh, right. Okay, let me look around to see a fellow brother that’s in his late 20s and going to a metal show downtown all solo. Nope.

Why is this opener taking fucking forever to finish up?

These are all things I’ve been grappling with over the last couple days since going to see Voivod and Prong at recordBar on Mar. 2.

I retract my last statement a bit.

Violenteer. // photo by Andrew Dodderidge

Local recordBar native Steve Tulipana’s experimental Omaha-based group Violenteer kind of fucking ruled. Tulipana rotated from microphone to a certain reverb-centric cockpit-style mechanism to scream his guts out. It just felt like the unknown gents were on the stage for too long. But the length did amount to some cool shots of the group. I encountered Tulipana later on and was greeted with a head nod. Respect. I digress.

Making my way to the front-right section of the small-ish bar (isn’t every venue much smaller in-person than you imagine in your head?), I perched up on the ledge ready to shoot Prong, only to come across an older gentleman (who smelled, but it worked with the vibe) just behind me who wanted to use the barrier to lean against. He was nice about it. A conversation about ‘80s metal and KC venues (we also spoke about Swans) ensued, which transitioned to him yelling a woman’s name at the top of his lungs and wanting me to use my phone flashlight to find her. I will not be shining a light at 50 people, sir.

The set started at 8:45 and went till almost 10, which is kind of absurd with still one act to follow. I’m not a rookie when it comes to these things, if that’s what you’re beginning to think. There are solutions I am willing to discuss.

A list of things to improve the mental well-being of concert-goers:

Start times and end times for each group playing that night. Treat each show like it’s a festival. We all have lives to live and the majority of us do not care to see the full-scope of each group at every single show. Openers are important for the culture of music, but let people know what they’re in for.
If the show does not start at 7 p.m., do not list the start time as 7 p.m. Most places do a good job with a ‘Doors’ time and a ‘Show’ time, but every once in a while, you will not have a clue as to when live music will begin.
Do not market the beginning of a show as ‘Doors’ time. This happened to me at a concert back in December and I missed the first part of a band I was really looking forward to, which I was very disappointed in.
Never go past 11 p.m. People will leave. Unless it’s the big ones.

It’s 10 p.m. and now smoking in line was actually fine in hindsight, I needed it. Forget that point. It’s moot now.

Prong. // photo by Andrew Dodderidge

Prong was very tight. I’m not an expert in this genre, and certainly not one for a band like Prong, but the energy from vocalist Tommy Victor was the highlight of the night. The man continuously asked for mosh pits and was getting mosh pits. And it was clear the majority of the crowd came for the long-time groove act.

An overwhelming amount of the set was their ‘94 hit record Cleansing, with a fair amount of covers in-between, ranging from Killing Joke to Rush. Recent addition Tyler Bogliole held his own on drums to complete the third hour of the night.

Making my way back to my original starting point for Prong (I moved around to find other good areas, but this was by far the best one – recordBar is not photo-friendly), I saw my recently made friend across the other side of the stage where members of Voivod were standing and had the debilitating thought that he was vocalist “Snake” Belanger himself. I had seen photos of the band before, but only fairly knew what they looked like.

He spoke of Voivod briefly, stating he wasn’t aware of them very well before going through a vast amount of underground oldies material the same way my uncle would. I was putting two-and-two together in my head, and honestly kind of hoped this thought was true for a better story to tell, but as the guys came on the stage I was left in disappointment. Would’ve been one for the ages.

I got into metal/hardcore at a young age from nostalgia Christian act Project 86, who I saw play on a basketball court in the most memorable concert of my entire life. Andrew Schwab’s unique energy and gnarly vocal deliveries reached my youthful spirit. It was a natural bridge to more serious-minded groups like Opeth and Tool. Voivod’s “Fall” off Post Society EP certainly gives off Schwab vibes and I’m not entirely sure if I would be writing this article without him.

Snake is turning 60 this summer and is still spewing out live material with the exact amount of tenacity as your up-and-coming metal wannabes. The fervor is there and the results were electric. Chewy Mongrain, from death metal’s own Martyr, was having the time of his life shredding solos.

The hour was much different than Prong’s, given the discrepancy in length of tracks and subgenre. But it’s almost a perfect double-billing. Too bad a large portion of the crowd didn’t think so.

I made my way to the back after the first few songs to observe more acutely and get out of everyone’s way, but was able to make my way about halfway up by around the end of the night. Hurt to see people continually walk out, especially given the legitimately historical sight laid before everyone. Hurts to realize the only reason I came out here resulted in people walking away.

It was late, I get it. But these guys are legends and had only come here once in the last 27 years. Hard to see them coming back.

Voivod