Graveyard
w/ special guest: Brother Hawk
May 8, 2015
Atlanta, GA
The Earl
When it was announced that Graveyard was doing a US tour supporting Mastodon and Clutch, I thought two things right away. First was, “I’m bummed that Graveyard is only playing 40 minutes”, and the second was, “I feel bad for both of those fucking bands for having to go on after Graveyard.” Then once I saw the dates, the worst of all feelings came over me: NO ATLANTA DATE! Well, I just knew that Graveyard wouldn’t let me down and before I could even shed a tear, it was announced that Graveyard would be doing a one off headlining show here in Atlanta, happy dances were done and then the dreaded nearly two month wait.
Show day finally rolled around and I made my way to the front of the stage. This is the kind of show I love as there was only ONE opening act as opposed to the long string of local bands that have zero in common with the headliner. Getting things started was the local band Brother Hawk. It’s funny how much you can tell about a band just by seeing their band logo as from first sight I knew there was a good chance that they would be good. Well, I was wrong. They were not good. They were fan-fucking-tastic. The best way I can describe them is that they sounded like a southern Graveyard with Gregg Rollie on guitar/vocals. They put on a really dynamic performance and their songs were so good. Knowing that they’re local makes me happy and I feel like I’ve definitely found my new favorite local band. Brother Hawk is a band that I will definitely be looking out more for.
Graveyard hit the stage to a roar from the crowd and I could literally feel the excitement from the crowd. I felt like a kid getting ready to unwrap the biggest fucking present under the tree as I impatiently waited to see what they would be opening with. A wall of feedback filled the room and as the band kicked into “No Good, Mr. Holden” the audience went absolutely apeshit singing as heads banged, fists pumped, and faces melted. Graveyard then, without even flinching, slid right into “Endless Night” followed by “The Suits, The Law, and the Uniform” which made up a one-two-three punch that just left everyone losing their voices and feeling achy in the neck and folks, we were just three songs deep here.
Graveyard as a whole was playing harder and more passionate that I have ever seen them to date. For a band that always gives 120% to put on such a massive performance had me feeling astounded. Hell, as I write this I am still in disbelief at the fact that Graveyard is the only band that could blow themselves away in such a huge fashion. New bassist/former guitarist (confusing, huh?) Truls Morck seems to be the final piece of the puzzle that Graveyard really needed to solidify themselves in the wake of losing founding member/bassist Rikard Edlund. The band really shined as a unit the most on “As the Years Pass By, The Hours Bend” as this song just had them locked in on each other on a nearly telepathic level as the crowd absolutely lost their minds during this song in a way that I’ve never seen a crowd react to this song.
Graveyard’s setlist was damn near perfect (“Right is Wrong” would’ve made it perfect) as it pulled from the band’s three albums. Getting to hear “Lost in Confusion” from their self-titled debut for the first time was a highlight without a doubt. The set also featured a new song called “Shunken” from the bands upcoming September release which was a fun boogie woogie kind of rock n’ roll song with some really cool changes. Graveyard really seemed to really pay close attention to creating a setlist that had a certain flow. Every song seemed to create a wave of feels as they one minute had me losing my mind (and voice) and then two songs later feeling the hairs on my arm stand at full attention and feeling goosebumps take over my body.
After “Uncomfortably Numb”, the band returned for an encore and drummer Axel Sjöberg thanked everyone for coming out saying, “Since our first time in Atlanta in 2008 when we played at the Drunken Unicorn with Witchcraft, we have been to Atlanta more than just about any other city in the US and we will keep on coming back, so thank you all.” This had the audience cheering and feeling the love as the band closed out their nearly two hour set with “The Siren.” This song had lead singer/guitarist Joakim Nilsson giving one of the single best vocal performances that not only I feel I’ve seen him give but that I’ve seen in general in a long fucking time.
Graveyard absolutely killed Atlanta last night as they played to a nearly capacity room and anyone who was in attendance will vouch for the fact that this show was pure fucking magic. The band really seems to have found this place that they need to be and everything seems to have perfectly locked into place on a personal level allowing them to put all their focus into the music and their performances. Graveyard is a band that has never let me down, especially live, and this particular performance just confirmed to me why Graveyard is not just my favorite band but the best fucking band out there today. If you were in town and you missed this show, please turn in your rock card for immediate termination.
GRAVEYARD SETLIST
No Good Mr. Holden, Endless Night, The Suits The Law & the Uniform, Hard Times Lovin’, As the Years Pass by the Hours Bend, Buying Truth (Tack & Förlåt) , Seven Seven, Slow Motion Countdown, Lost in Confusion, Goliath, Ain’t Fit to Live Here, Uncomfortably Numb
Encore:
Shunken, Hisingen Blues, The Siren
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