When a city has established itself as the “Heavy Metal Capital” over five decades, certain aspects of the flip side of that moniker also come to fruition.
Namely, the fact that bands and venues come and go as part of the circle of metal life.
But much like your favorite pizza place or Mexican restaurant in the Alamo City that may have been short lived, concert venues — particularly of the bar variety — tend to resurrect from the dead from time to time.
A convenient jaunt around the corner from North Star Mall, at 6322 San Pedro Ave., lies the newly revamped and reopened Rah! Rah! Room, where five bands didn’t give a rat’s ass about reliving history or getting nostalgic last Saturday.
They just wanted to kick ass and entertain.
Local crushers Wicked Angel, Metalriser, Even In Death and Konvxtion did the honors and were joined by “groove metal” quintet Severed Sun, which made the 17-hour drive from Clermont, Florida, in the Orlando area to close the show.
Two years ago, Rah! Rah! Room was known as The Rec Room -- and, going back to the ‘80s, may have even been a pizza joint or two. While that installment of a local concert venue didn’t last long, more shows such as this gathering, combined with an increase in spreading the word about said show beforehand around town through various methods, may ensure Rah! Rah! has a longer life span.
The gig came to life thanks to Joseph Dwyer of Hammerhead Productions, which was making a bit of history of its own. Dwyer and Hammerhead, a once steady influence on the local metal scene, had taken a break from the business and hadn’t put on a show in town in nearly five years.
That changed when Dwyer reconnected, oddly enough, with the one non-local band on the bill — Severed Sun and vocalist Rod Rawlins, a longtime friend.
Before they knew it, Severed Sun added San Antone to its “Call to Arms” itinerary. And although the group closed after the four locals with an 11:08-11:52 p.m. set that shouldn’t have been past too many bedtimes on a Saturday night, it was disappointing to see only roughly 30 fans stick around from what had been a larger turnout for its predecessors.
But demonstrating the true epitome of “doing it for the love of Rock N’ Roll,” Severed Sun treated those on hand to a heavy, energetic and headbanging performance mixed in with some fun and humor.
Rawlins took the time to thank those on hand by sharing a few shots with Wicked Angel guitarist Roland Casias and fans (see 85-photo gallery). He came off the main stage at one point and dosey-doed with an attractive onlooker who had declined the shot offer but was one of the most dedicated patrons who was also there for the first note of openers Konvxtion at 7:30 p.m. on the muggy outdoor stage.
Toward the end of the seven-song set, Dwyer held up one of the group’s banners and had anyone remaining in the venue sign it as a keepsake for Severed Sun to take back to Florida.
You can watch Rawlins, lead guitarist Kevin Miller, new rhythm guitarist Ricky Rock, bassist Daryl Jones and drummer Justin Telfer in action on “Fuktard” from their 2021 EP Catacombs. Or, at least half of it. The Rah! Rah! didn’t have any available outlets, incredibly, indoors or out, and after having shot and filmed the four other bands, well, batteries tend to run out when they can’t be recharged.
But that wasn’t an issue with Wicked Angel, Metalriser, Even In Death and Konvxtion.
Wicked Angel is always a treat to watch due to its storied history dating back to the early ‘80s and its “haunting” thematic songs.
Vocalist Dave Caballero is always entertaining, setting the tone in his black cloak, wide-ranging vocals, unique stage presence and willingness to engage with the crowd.
Watch Caballero, Casias, guitarist Joseph Valdez, bassist Raymond Castaneda and drummer Ernest Chavarria in action below via ATM’s footage of ‘80s track “People of the Black Circle” and the brand new “Phantazma.”
Wicked Angel will celebrate the release of its new EP on June 21 at The Starlighter (1910 Fredericksburg Rd.; $10 cover) with Santa Oscuridad and Perfect Darkt. The former group is the Spanish-signing band led by Helstar guitarist Larry Barragan, who produced the new tunes.
Preceding Wicked Angel on the new and fantastically lit inside stage (Rec Room bands played on the floor) was a veteran yet still young local outfit that always tests one’s neck elasticity.
Metalriser brings the thrash to its shows every time, and with band founder, vocalist, rhythm guitarist Joel Estrada delivering new tunes “Thoughts of Chaos,” “Reality is Death” and “Inner Self” in addition to “Hell’s Gate” from 2022 album Demise, diehard headbangers now have more reasons to check out the group’s shows.
Estrada has welcomed back drummer Kevin Ortiz to the fold along with guitarist Raymond Valdez and bassist John Talabay. Having toured with D.R.I. and been around for more than 12 years, which is when ATM first began covering Metalriser, the group has endured a slew of lineup changes. Two months ago, former bassist Nick Gamboa passed away.
But Estrada’s vision for the band remains steady, and with new tracks hitting our eardrums at last, metalheads far and wide would be wise to appreciate this band live and in the flesh whenever the opportunity arises. Er, metal rises.
As three quarters of Metalriser were about to take the stage inside, the only missing piece, momentarily, was Talabay. That’s because he was watching every note of his former band Even In Death being played on the outside stage before running back in to fulfill his current obligations.
What he heard was a seven-song set filled with the group’s staples such as “Fire All Your Guns” and “Abandoned,” and you can watch ATM’s footage below of “Freeze” and “My Salvation.” Vocalist Sean Nations and crew also tossed in Bullet For My Valentine cover “Your Betrayal” before ending a 38-minute set with new track “World Upside Down.”
Whether Talabay, or anyone else for that matter, actually saw it may have been debatable, however — through no fault of the band. On a cloudy and very muggy night, the 8:30-9:08 p.m. set was “lit” more with Christmas-like bulbs than actual lights, particularly around David McGilvery’s drum kit.
And in all ATM’s 26 years of covering gigs in various states and by whatever name ATM has gone by, Even In Death’s set featured an oddball occurrence first: guitarist Anthony Carrillo was on site, but not on stage, because he had a prior commitment with his Metallica tribute act Blackened and had to leave halfway through his original group’s set.
Saul De Leon came to the rescue on only four days’ notice, joining lead guitarist James Garza, bassist Anthony Aleman, Nations and McGilvery.
The night kicked off with Konvxtion outside, but with more clear natural light for its 7:30 p.m. start.
Vocalist Ed Rios and drummer Eric Rios led the way, getting things warmed up with tracks such as new single “Burning A Hole In Me” and 5-year-old tunes “We All Bleed Red” and “Guillotine,” the latter watchable below.
As for more chances to see some of these acts in action?
Wicked Angel will open for Watchtower’s return with James Rivera’s Metal Asylum on Friday, Sept. 5, at Fitzgerald’s (tickets here).
Konvxtion, meanwhile, plays tonight at Nowhere Bar on Austin Hwy with Dragging The Depths, The Broken Page, Blind Lies and A Cautious Optimist.
With Hammerhead Productions back on the map and the Rah! Rah’s existence led by one of the city’s most riveting vocalists — Wall Of Soul and Whiskey Bliss’ Chrissy Bliss — that tag team plus a bevy of local bands from which to choose can only mean good things for Rah Rah’s contribution to the scene going forward. How long it lasts, as always, remains to be seen.
