show review: Deadmen 7" release show--7-25-2010

To begin it must be known that mother nature's dirty rag has been draped over the entire state of Indiana in terms of sweltering heat and almost impenetrable humidity this summer. But this did not stop the faithful from coming out to support and bask in the raucous uptempo thrashing that the Cocaine Wolves, Chaotic Neutral, Sweet Cobra, and Deadmen provided the Melody Inn's patrons on an easy going Sunday night. This was a grown folk affair between bands and followers. It was a cathartic occasion to celebrate the Deadmen's 7 inch release, Possession Of the Void, as well as to see them off as band for their second to last show as a band. The Man can wait one more day. This was a time to raise beer cans high, work up a sweat, enjoy some drunken antics, pump fists, and revel in the energy being transmitted from bands to audience back to the bands. A break in the heat and humidity saw a positive atmosphere grow from the pre-show cookout and metal dj sets until the Cocaine Wolves took the stage. The Cocaine Wolves played a lively set of hard rock, Thin Lizzy style, easily warming up the crowd. Next up was Chaotic Neutral. A newer band from Indy, Chaotic Neutral did not disappoint with their brand of hardcore bluster. Their on stage energy was dynamic as the musicians pulsed and churned with each ringing note and percussive hit. The music relented only at the end of each song. By the end of their set, Chaotic Neutral had worked themselves into a frenzy of sweat and swagger, and primed the audience for one of Indy's favorites: Chicago's Sweet Cobra. As always, Sweet Cobra stepped up and did what they do best. They laid down a raw blend of hardcore and metal with the intent to stack riff upon riff as they tried to peel the audience's collective face off. Playing without their recently deceased and missed guitarist, Matt Arluck, Sweet Cobra ran through a set of new material and few older favorites. The crowd was more than happy to pay homage to the band as only they could by singing along, ebbing and flowing with the music, and finally demanding more songs from the band as they finished their set. Happy to oblige, Sweet Cobra played a one song encore to cheers and drumming applause. Finally, the Deadmen took the stage with the audience ready to explode, and made a fast start by ripping into a set filled with their complete catalog of songs. With the Grave Opener in hand (a customized pick ax with web detailing and bottle opener at one end), vocalist, Nate Olp preceded to shred his vocal chords and hurl himself into the crowd as his band mates focused all their efforts into pummeling the audience with their brand of hardcore infused metal. Their set was a towering riff fest of raging pleasure only outdone by each subsequent song. With the band thoroughly feeling all the energy in the room, the crowd writhed and begged for more. At the end of their set and convinced by the audience, the Deadmen ushered in an encore of the entire 7" release in the order that the songs appear on the vinyl. This was an encore of songs that neither band nor audience had not grown tired of. The Deadmen could have played their set over in its entirety without one complaint as onlookers groaned for more music. At the completion of the four song encore the crowd was spent and pleased. After all, this was a night for grown folks to indulge and see a band off as only a hyper-charged group of mutual friends and fans alike can. The Deadmen will be missed. The Melody Inn was left standing, but all in attendance witnessed the Deadmen at the top of their game capping the night's festivities in a rowdy and rompingly intense way.