The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/18/08 Section: Variety

Media Credit: Courtesy Ipecac Recordings Members of sludge-metal band The Melvins, (left to right) Dale Crover, Jared Warren, Buzz Osborne, Coady Willis. [Click to enlarge]

Sure the University has plenty of "welcome back to school" events planned for this week, but do any of them sound fun? Have no fear! The 40 Watt has the perfect remedy for the back-to-school blues.
Tonight they host a rare treat-sludge-metal band The Melvins will take the stage. There couldn't be a better way to kick off the 2008-2009 school year. Here's why:

1. If you're a freshman, what better way to get to know your roomate than by headbanging with him/her? It's the ultimate bonding activity. You'll walk back to your dorm with matching neck injuries! So freshmen, say goodbye to mommy and daddy and surrender your souls to the gods of rock.

2. Athens Pop Fest was nice, but save for a few bands, were any of the shows all that high energy? The Melvins' patented punk-metal thrash fest will have you hypnotized in a state of rock and roll frenzy. Lead guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne (aka: "King Buzzo") rejects the typical screamy-singing of most American punk bands. Instead, he has developed his own signature growl. His guitar solos, along with Dale Crover's rhythm sequences, can best be described with a bit of advice: bring ear plugs, these guys' guitars can get a bit rowdy.

3. The Melvins' new album, "Nude With Boots" (July 2008) has a chihuahua on the cover! If that's not punk rock, then I just don't know what is anymore.

4. Rumor has it that some guy named Kurt Cobain once auditioned to be The Melvins' bassist, but The Melvins didn't hire him. So Cobain went on to start a band called Nirvana and had a couple hits or something.
But here's the icing on the cake: Even though The Melvins wouldn't let Cobain in their band, he still cited them as his biggest musical influence.

5. Even if you don't think you would enjoy a night of loud, energetic, sludge-punk, there is one thing The Melvins have to offer that anyone can apreciate: King Buzzo's hair. Standing a foot in the air, the wild gray-black mass moves in sync with this maniac's guitar riifs. Not to mention, it makes for great photos when it catches the stage lighting.

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