Pre-Show Shenanigans

While everyone else was at Black Veil Brides I wanted to show my support for the local bands and see Kobra & The Lotus at least one more time. Before the show it was work work work work work (yeah …get that Rhianna song stuck in your head…or whoever sings it). I went to work and then stopped at home long enough to eat a bomb ass roast and potatoes one of the roomies made before heading to the venue.

The Venue

Bunkhouse is a rustic looking log cabin like building off of Fremont Street and 11th street

it’s far enough away from the madness and neon lights of Fremont Street to give you a home town feel but not far enough away to deter you from seeing the sites before or after. It’s just past one of the oldest bars on Fremont Street, The Atomic, and right next to a pretty awesome record store you can browse if you come down early enough to search for some gems.

Outside this rustic palace there is a campground feel once you cross the threshold of the aged wooden ranch style fence from the street. Picnic tables are scattered around the yard like an old school picnic area at a well kept rest stop. Towards the corner of the building there is a window where you can order things like tacos and empanadas from the kitchen.

Inside you have a large wrap around bar opposite the stage area. The sound booth is

tucked to the left of the double doors when you walk in. A large floor space for a decently sized standing crowd and some small tables near the bar can be found to accommodate your needs.

My only qualm with this venue is the lighting during the live performances. Let me tell you all the reasons I LOVE red lighting…. there are NONE…there is nothing I love about red lighting. Even black and white most photos are un- salvageable majority of the time. Not to mention it just washes out the bands faces when looking at them without a lens in front of your face. But on to the important part … the show…the music…the laughs …the tears….

The Show

First up, you’ve got Vegas Locals MASTIV coming at you with their usual set. The lighting did no favors for photos as it washed the members out with an over abundance of red light. The energy

of front man has been notably changed since the last time I reviewed one of their live performances. He is actively trying to engage the crowd and be more playful on stage where he previously went for a minimalist approach. The most crowd pleasing song they played was Hand/ Fist before ending with Embrace Brutality EB is definitely one of their harder songs and gave the right kind of punch in the throat to end their time on stage. I would love to see more songs like it in new material for this band.

Mastiv Drummer James Hoover was playing double duty tonight. He just so happens to also be the drummer for Nebula X .

Nebula X had switched up their line up since the last time I saw them play live. The last review I did was not the best. The changes have took the band on a complete 180 for the

better. It’s like listening to a completely different band. No one was swaying with the booze sweats from too much pre-gaming in the parking lot. But we will leave my viewpoints of former members of the band alone for the time being lest you want me to go on a tirade about misogynistic , border lined racist and homophobic people in the scene (no one needs that right now) .

The bands set itself was pretty seamless. They definitely resonate that thrashy vibe I hold near and dear to my heart. Prong is a big influence on them musically and I’d have to.say their cover of snap your fingers snap your neck was spot on this time around. I am very proud of the progress they have made since the last time I had the opportunity to watch them play live. It’s truly night and day

AntiTrust went on while I was still chatting up some of the members of Nebula X

outside. I came in for the last few songs of their set. As usual, Path (vocals) was jamming out on stage, jumping and head banging while her long locks whipped about. From the songs I did catch I would say it was a pretty good performance. But that is to be expected.

This is the first time I’ve seen them play in about a year. Every show that they have been on I had some sort of other commitment whether it was another show or traveling for my day job I always seemed to miss them until tonight. I was happy to finally have the opportunity to support them again. I dig this band , they give me the level of groove I need. I would like to see more growls vs the clean vocals though as I prefer it with their sound.

The first time I saw Kobra and The Lotus I was in a very dark place.

I am embarrassed to say I had gotten VERY drunk at that first show and even went as far as to hit on their drummer. If I recall correctly I asked if I could have his number and take him to dinner, no repeat occurred of this behavior this time around from me.

Queue sob story…. At that time, I had just gone through the final stages of a divorce followed

by making the hardest choice in my life, to walk away from my step daughter so she could have a better life without the pressure of choosing between her parents.

Now to the point of this backstory… There was a song that stuck with me from the first time I saw them play. I didn’t know who they were at the time and it is what made me a fan. It had helped bring tears to the surface that otherwise would have stayed stuffed down and drowned with a bottle whiskey or rum several nights a week. That song was Light Me Up. It was rough to hear it live again and try not to cry but I managed to suck it up and shed my tears in private.

“Watching you sitting there alone again
The pain is eating you alive, you’re suffering
Wonder if I’ll ever see you whole again
If I had just one wish, I’d take it all away

Don’t let go
I’ll find you in the darkness
I need you
Light up for me
Don’t let go
I’ll find you in the darkness
Never leave you
Light up for me

Open up, I’ll be your light. just let me in
I’d give it all just to hear your laughter again
You’re the one, the only one that made me feel
I want it back, the light you had
Hold on to me

Don’t let go
I’ll find you in the darkness
I need you
Light up for me
Don’t let go
I’ll find you in the darkness
Never leave you
Light up for me

I know the weight of the pain you feel
I’ll share your burden, I’ll help you heal”

I feel personally connected to this band because of that, not in a weird

stalker-ish way but in a , their music connects with me on a deeper level way.

Now that I’m done with the sad part of this review….Their set had the misfortune of sound and lighting issues through out but they were fixed as they occurred and made the show all the more entertaining. Vocalist Kobra Paige has an amazing vocal range and has a truly powerful presence on stage that always blows me away. While Ronny Gutierrez (Guitars) and Brad Kennedy (Bass) have this comically bro-mantic demeanor that you can’t help but enjoy witnessing.

During the set they played a little bit of old and a little

bit of new and even a little bit of NEW NEW from their latest album drop mid-september Evolution Despite their description more commonly being as “hard rock” this band very much still in the realm of metal with the way that they compose a good bit of their songs. If you like the more melodic appeal with both instruments and vocals this is one band you should check out!

Fun Fact: Their self titled 2nd album was written here in Las Vegas.

The Head-Bang Over

I talked with a couple members of Kobra and The Lotus before heading for home to pass out with sleep needed for work the next day.