Already I’m off to a rough start. I’ve been up all morning with my eyes glued to the TV in my Allston apartment watching reports that there is a 19-year-old terrorist on the loose somewhere in the Boston area who is armed and dangerous, specifically in the Watertown region. Boston officials have declared a lockdown for it’s residents and the surrounding neighborhoods, urging people to remain indoors.
I told myself I’d leave at 11, which has turned into 12, and 12 is now 1. I take a deep breath, and despite all my fears, depart on my pilgrimage. To my surprise, the drive is quick and easy, void of any traffic or law enforcement. They definitely have their hands full.
When I arrive I’ve missed the first few hours and catch the tail end of Allegaeon. There are a good number of people considering how early in the afternoon it is and what’s happening in Boston.
It’s a heavy metal party.
Allegaeon
It’s a little unsettling being here in this presumably safe environment, knowing less than an hour east from here my home has been turned into a manhunt and my loved ones have by instructed by the city to stay indoors. I wish they were here demolishing ‘Gannsetts and banging their heads with me. I know a few people trying to come, but their streets are blocked off by the police and they have to wait.
After zoning out to VYGR for a while I go upstairs to check out Deathwish Inc.’s highly publicized Code Orange Kids from
Pittsburgh, PA. The upstairs second stage smells awful.
As soon as I open the door I’m slapped with a warm tidal wave of stink odor.
Kids are swinging away in the pit to Code Orange Kids, and I can see what all the hype is about. The band seems fairly young but their live show brings genuine raw intensity.
I wander further upstairs to the merch mall that overlooks the second stage. Vendors are giving me weird looks as I stroll booth to booth checking out all their regalia. I’m assuming these funny smiled looks I’m receiving, judging by their merchandise, are because these people are straight edge and I’m strapped with my signature tall boy.
The second stage is slightly behind. Dallas speedsters Power Trip are ripping through their set with awesome solos and killer stage presence. The band is thrashy but are met with karate hardcore kids. That’s the lay of the land here in Worcester.
If you are being attacked by invisible killer bees, then you must swing and attempt to fight them off anyway you can.
Municipal Waste
Xibalba are going on later than the $2 schedule I bought says they are, now competing with Municipal Waste. I briefly check them out before heading to the main stage to get my thrash on. The Waste are tearing things apart and curse metalcore. The pit has grown from 2 guys swinging in massive floor space to a bezerk circle pit. There’s one kid in the middle of the pit and he’s stunned. Looks like he has no idea what to do. People are smiling, dancing, and singing along to the set. Municipal Waste close with ‘the Art of Partying’ interjecting the chorus of ‘Born to Party’ (“MUNICIPAL WASTE IN GONNA FUCK YOU UP”),
along with blasting confetti into the crowd for the finale.
Death Before Dishonor
I’m wide awake and ready to go by now. I run back up to the second stage to catch Death Before Dishonor. As I walk in the room is packed with hardcore kids and I’m breaking a sweat by association as they play ‘Count Me In.’
It’s not long before one stage diver lands badly and is crushed by another lemming.
The man is limping and is struggling to get up. Security flashes a light on him to make sure the man is tended to. Fellow moshers stop what they’re doing and help carry him to safety.
Trap Them
Death Before Dishonor close with a variation of a cover called, “Boston Belongs to Me.” It’s a sensitive time in this area and what an appropriate time for such a prideful song. The crowd rushes the stage to sing along. I even throw my glasses into a pocket to jump in and sing along. This city belongs to us and we are not to be fucked with.
Exodus
After Death Before Dishonor I can hear Exodus on the main stage and I rush forward pushing aside people who have no clue what’s going on. But I find myself in a small dilemma.
I’m running back and forth between Exodus and Trap Them.
I can’t decide who to see. Trap Them goes on late so I end up seeing the beginning of Exodus and the end of Trap Them.
Every Time I Die
Eventually Every Time I Die take the main stage. I fight my way into the front and into the mosh pit. It’s a friendly pit with shoving and singing. Unfortunately I run into one bad apple near the front. After bumping into a guy trying to shield his girlfriend up front a couple times he turns aggressive and somewhat violent. His eyes are filled with rage and hate. When you’re this close to the front of a metal show, relax. This person seemed almost surprised that he was being bumped into and his fat girlfriend was giving me dirty looks.
“What the fuck is wrong with you,” I thought. “Look where you are!”
I retreat to the balcony for Hatebreed’s set. I’ve had enough hardcore for the day and decide to rest up for Anthrax, but as soon as Hatebreed is finished I rush back down to the front. It’s surprisingly easy to move through the Palladium, between the front rows to the back of the balcony.
Anthrax
Today Anthrax are playing Among the Living in it’s entirety. The massive crowd erupts when Anthrax takes the stage. I try to sneak backstage but security is too good.
Like a small militia of white polo shirts ready to handle idiots like myself.
They go through the album and I feel like I’ve missed it, like it just passed me by even though I was singing every word. They start to go through the material on their new covers EP, “Anthems.”
I finally muster up some courage and jump back into the pit. I’m having a blast until disaster strikes. My glasses are knocked off my face when I get hurled to the ground. Instantly I become blind, panic, and begin to squirm on the wet beer soaked floor. Lucky for me, when they were knocked off they were tossed into some patron’s arms. They’re returned and my vision is restored.
No more of this, I tell myself, but I know I won’t listen tomorrow.