Windhand & Cough
1st April 2017
Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, New Zealand
Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Doug Peters.
There is a genuine air of anticipation inside the Kings Arms tonight as fans of both Cough and Windhand prepare to witness their idols on stage. Auckland’s own Greenfog and Bloodnut have already done the job of painting the scene and preparing everyone for the assault which is about to befall us. Due to some issues around noise complaints (more about that saga later) all of the doors leading to the outside have been kept shut, making for a very hot and humid environment. Understandably most of the patrons are outside between bands… but as Cough finished setting up and bassist Parker Chandler began strumming out some long, slow and loud as fuck notes a tidal wave of flesh [mostly] encased in black, flowed through the doors and towards the front.
Founded in 2005 and hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Cough “Live to hate, hate to live”. They recently released their album ‘Still They Pray’ to critical acclaim, the album being produced by Jus Osborn of Electric Wizard. Cough begins their set with ‘Haunter of the Dark’, the opening riff standing out proudly on its own, building an almost rhythmical chant upon which the rest of the instruments laid themselves across. David Cisco’s vocals come bursting through, full of pain and yearning, reverberating around the room. The nearly 8 minutes in length song was an absolutely incredible way to begin a set of glorious Doom Metal that washed over us and caused people to become lost within the soundscape that grew up and around them. Following closely behind with ‘Possession’ which showcased Chandlers skills on vocals, the song featured some fantastic duel guitar work between Cisco and Marcey. Cough are not big talkers, preferring to let their songs tell you everything you need to know. However Chandler does pause briefly after the third song to thank both Greenfog and Bloodnut for playing tonight. Remember kids, manners are important. Their sound has elements of sludge, doom, black metal and even a bit of the blues in there. The songs are full of despair and longing and makes you want to dig down further and bury yourself inside the pain. It’s like deliciously picking at a scab to reveal the contents beneath.
Windhand also hail from Richmond, Virginia and are obviously good friends with the members of Cough as they share a common denominator; that of bassist Parker Chandler who plays for both. Tonight we see not only Chandler performing duel duties but also drummer Ryan Wolfe. There are sticks of incense dotted around the stage, the scent wafting throughout the space and assisting you into the realms of the otherworldly which Windhand lead you towards. Garrett Morris is wearing a Dead Moon t-shirt which brings back memories for a few of us in the audience who were lucky enough to see the beautiful Fred & Toody Cole just last year on the very same stage.
Windhand hit us hard, opening with the emotional ‘Winter Sun’, Dorithia Cottrell’s vocals snaking around us as she observes all with a steady gaze. “Say you want a lover, want to tell me I’m the one to throw? Well better put me in the water, gonna see whether a witch can float”, the opening verse alone sending shivers through you as the guitar solo pushes you out over the edge to fall slowly through nearly 11minutes of ecstasy. Formed in 2009 the band’s career has moved quickly with the release of a two track in 2010 followed closely behind by their debut EP in 2012. They have often drawn comparisons with bands like Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard.
As muted colours move across the back curtain, Windhand take us through their set; I turn and look at those around me. Many are lost in the sound, standing stock still and just absorbing it all, while others are nodding in unison. I tip my head back against the wall that I am leaning on and let it all wash through me; but my journey through this music is abruptly interrupted by the house lights.
Trooping through the door is a long line of police, here apparently to enforce the confiscation of ‘key items’ of sound equipment due to a noise complaint from a nameless resident in the nearby apartments. A noise complaint received well before the hour of midnight; about a music venue in the middle of the city. On a Saturday night. Let the ridiculousness of that sentence sink in for a moment. And so, much to the disgust of many of us in attendance, Windhand were forced to cut short their set. Speaking with bassist Parker Chandler afterwards, they were more concerned about the fans that had taken the time to come out and see them, even though many of the said fans were deeply apologising to the band for the frustrating situation on hand.
Nearly 20 police personnel to carry out confiscation of sound equipment and a noise control complaint on a gig such as this was overkill and a complete waste of time and resources. Unfortunately this is now happening all over the world, from Austin, Texas to Melbourne, Australia right down to Auckland, New Zealand; the influx of inner city apartments is creating disharmony with local music venues that often have been established long before said apartments.
And it’s the music that is losing.
Windhand
Cough
Bloodnut
Were you there at the Kings Arms Tavern for this ill-fated gig? Or have you been lucky enough to have seen Windhand or Cough somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Cough Setlist:
- Haunter Of The Dark
- Possession
- Crippled Wizard
- Masters of Torture
- Acid Witch
Windhand (Intended) Setlist:
- Winter Son
- Woodbine
- Forest Clouds
- Amaranth
- Two Urns (Unplayed)
- Kingfisher (Unplayed)
- Cassock (Unplayed)
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