“Summer In The Bay” Pt. 3
Featuring Live Footage From
ACxDC Ghoul Acephalix
Black Fucking Cancer and Many More

This is Part 3 in a series of posts(1 & 2) spotlighting the Bay area underground Punk/Metal scene. The Bay Area has always been a serious hotbed for live music. Here’s a collection of sights/sounds that i’ve gathered over the past month.

On 7/14/12 I traveled out to Richmond to catch a wicked night of godless sounds –

Rotten Funeral played this evening. For those unfamiliar with this horde, they are a part of a collective of really badass musicians hailing from Sacramento that play blasphemous music in a number of associated projects. Most notably members share roles in Killgasm as well as in Larry David – which encircles Minenwerfer/Chronaexus and others. Needless to say, they are conjuring some great sounds and carrying the torch for extreme Underground music in Sacramento. This is a video of them performing a new song and this is the first time it has been played live.

Pale Chalice from San Francisco also played this evening. This was my first time watching/hearing them. They are playing some pretty decent and well thought-out 90’s worship black metal. They played as a three piece this evening.:

Gravehill from L.A. brought their blood soaked performance to the hood. I watched them spit a blood concoction into eachothers faces before they took the stage to achieve the appropriate show look. They seem to have a lot of fun and I dig that, here’s a bit of their set from the evening:

Minenwerfer(German for Minethrower) is another example of the really awesome circle of Black Metal band’s from Sacramento. This band features the lead guitarist and drummer from Chronaexus as well as the original bassist in Lycus and Plague Widow. Minenwerfer plays a blend of Black Metal with War Metal themes paying tribute to the horrors of Trench Warfare.:

On 7/15/12 I headed back to Richmond to catch a fast show.

ACxDC(Antichrist X Demoncore) from L.A. was playing the Bay. I saw them awhile back in some basement spot with Negative Standards and that was a wild show. Here’s a good chunk of their set:

AxRxM(Apathetic Ronald McDonald) on tour with ACxDC made their return to the bay. The last time they were out here was in this squat I stayed at in North Oakland some years back. Dos Amigos/In Disgust were also on that bill, but the cops broke that one up a bit early. Whether you like their fashion or not – these dudes always have fun:

Dead Pressure from San Jossssssssse also played this evening. They play a very Southbay sounding style of Hardcore Powerviolence. Check out most of their set:

Crypt Keeper a new thrash punk band played as well this evening. They have been quite active this Summer playing tons of shows and honing their skills. This is a bit of their set:

On 7/20/12 I went out to see Stoneburner performing at a local bar.

Stoneburner is a newer Doom band from Portland featuring members of Buried at Sea & Atriarch. This was their bassist Damon’s Birthday show. Their next show in the Bay Area is August 31st alongside Eyehategod, Noothgrush, & Badr Vogu at The Oakland Metro. I didn’t find very many videos of them online, so check out some Heavy & make sure to catch them at the end of the month:

A week later on 7/27/12 – The show of the Summer happened. A Massive benefit was organized to generate funds for Nikki Davis, Wife of the late Aural Mastermind Jef Leppard(Davis). This whole show ran smoothly and the lineup was incredible. Witnessing the Unity within the scene coming together was really special. All of the proceeds went directly to the Davis family.

Acephalix were opening up the show. They were incredible this evening! They also announced that this would be their last show as they are now on an indefinite hiatus. Here’s another pov of their set:

Noothgrush was up next. If you are unfamiliar with this band, They Bring The HEAVY. One of the best sludge bands around. Here’s a few songs from the evening:

Ghoul followed. The crowd went insane as always for them. Here’s one of my personal favourites of theirs called “Gutbucket Blues”:

Autopsy The Legendary Death Metal Masters were the final band of the evening. This is a video of them performing “Twisted Mass of Burnt Decay”:

The next week on 8-5-12 I headed back to Eli’s to catch a night of Black Metal and Heavy.

Black Fucking Cancer headlined the show. They destroy, this is a video of them “Summoning Aural Hell”:

The Rain In Endless Fall, a mysterious project from Santa Cruz played as well this evening. They are a newer black metal band that plays pretty straightforward black metal, this is them performing their song “Vestiges”:

Hallow is a new band that I couldn’t find much info about online. Anyone have any information about them? Here’s a look at some new Heavy from Eugene:

On 8-7-12 our friend Yusef(Scolex) came out and filmed Caffa jamming. For anyone that’s interested here’s the footage:

The next night on 8-8-12 I traveled over to this warehouse spot in downtown Oakland. Permanent Ruin from San Jose ripped Oakland up. They are a bruising hardcore punk band that’s been garnering quite a bit of hype and a steady following due to their intense performances and passion and dedication to DIY:

Rape Revenge(Canada) played as well this evening:

Connoisseur, The Sticky-Hardcore Juggernauts returned to form after a few months off and returned with a Bang! Here’s a really fun version of an already really fun song:

The goal is to bring more exposure to bands that are busting their ass and are apart of the Underground community. This is a focus on our local Community and the diversity amongst our scene and a spotlight on the truly incredible dream we get to live by calling the Bay Area home. It’s a scene united for the sole purpose of passion and the love of music and art. Although we argue and disagree amongst each other, it’s still with the acceptance that at least we have each other to be able to fight with, because in the bigger picture we are all the outsiders. The Underground means something, It’s a Real Thing. Stay True and Don’t sell out. You can achieve your goals with putting in more hard work rather than taking a shortcut or a handout. It’s D-I-Y – Do it yourself and obtain your dreams. If you feel like you or your band adheres to these ethics and you are going to be touring through the Bay sometime in the future. I’d be interested in checking out your bands too.