King Parrot/Degradations/Get Damned
April 19, 2015
Atlanta, GA – The Earl
I’ve been a big fan of King Parrot ever since my Aussie friend introduced me to them a while back. I had only heard their studio stuff before they came to Atlanta (which I love), but I had read countless posts and articles about people having their faces melted off by their live performances throughout this tour. After seeing them myself I understand why, and I wasn’t surprised. I’d have to say they are in the top five bands I’ve ever seen live. But before King Parrot tore the roof off the Earl, two Atlanta bands opened up the show. So before I rant and rave about King Parrot’s performance, I’ll do a quick review the local opening acts.
GET DAMNED
Get Damned is an interesting band, and I think their music worked well as a precursor to the chaos that is King Parrot. An Atlanta-based hardcore punk band, Get Damned is particularly interesting for their lineup, which centers around two lead vocalists, one male and one female. They worked well together, and while at first I didn’t really see the point of having two lead vocalists, by the end of their set I was into it. Hardcore isn’t generally the type of music I listen to, so I can’t really go into a detailed analysis of their set, but I think they put on a good show and had great energy despite the small audience. I enjoy watching a band that looks like they are enjoying themselves, which they did. Their set was short and punchy, and it left me wanting to see more of Get Damned in the future.
=======================================================
DEGRADATIONS
Maybe I’m biased because I have a special place in my heart for southern metal, but I really enjoy seeing Degradations play. This was the second time I’d seen them and they put on a great show both times. I appreciate the fact that they are southern metal without being just another Pantera rip off. Their music is a good balance of slower, groovy doom and the faster, heavier version of southern metal, and their performance was tight and well-rehearsed without being at all mechanical. You can tell those guys know, and love, what they’re doing. I see Degradations as a band that has some good potential coming out of the Atlanta scene, and I’m sure I’ll be seeing them play again soon.
=======================================================
KING PARROT
Holy shit, I love these guys. An Australian band now signed to Phil Anselmo’s record label Housecore Records, King parrot mixes elements of thrash, grindcore, punk, sludge, and some other genre that hasn’t even been invented yet. Notorious as much for their intense music and live performance as they are for their hilarious videos, King Parrot has exploded on the worldwide metal scene since their formation in Melbourne in 2010.
Their recent show here in Atlanta was everything I imagined it would be. Epic, intense, and the most fun I’ve had in a long time. The combination of spastic, discordant, and fast-paced music with their equally assertive and energetic stage presence was simply fucking awesome. King Parrot is a band that neither sounds nor performs like any band I’ve heard or seen before. They manage to reach a level of intensity with their music, especially live, that is rare even in metal.
The turnout was relatively small for this show (which was a little disappointing to me simply because I know the Atlanta metal scene can do better than that), but it was actually pretty awesome in certain respects because it was a more intimate experience for those of us fans who were beyond excited to be there watching King Parrot play. It was kind of like a house party, which was pretty awesome, especially because we all got to hang out before and after the show. (By the way, if you ever get the chance to hang out with these guys, do it. They are hilariously awesome. Did I mention we had fun?)
Regardless of the size of the audience, King Parrot filled the venue wall to wall with their energy and sound. I love to see a modern metal band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously and isn’t afraid to have a good time on stage. It’s a nice change of pace from the never-ending battle to be the most evil, brutal metal band of all time. There’s something to be said for originality, and King Parrot definitely earns points for creativity.
I won’t go on and on about how awesome King Parrot was live because it’s something you really have to see for yourself. Words don’t really do it justice. If you haven’t heard these guys yet, go check out their newest video for the song “Like a Rat,” which will be on their upcoming album, Dead Set. If you need any more reason to watch it, the video features a cameo by Phil Anselmo. And for fuck’s sake, if King Parrot is playing anywhere near you, don’t miss it.
To Slatts, Squiz, and the rest of the guys, thanks for an epically fun night. Next time you come I want to hear “Bite Your Head Off” please! I love y’all!
About The Author
