The full Psycho Las Vegas festival included three days (plus a pre party) that had lineups in the Joint, Vinyl and the Soundstage at the pool. We covered a long day of the Joint lineup, starting off at 1pm with Dallas TX legends MOTHERSHIP. This is a hard rocking metal band that really woke up the sleepy crowd and set the tone for the day. WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM from Olympia, Washington was a dark metal - ambient band that plays long moody songs. Making their only US appearance, SLO BURN was formed by KYRUSS vocalist John Garcia and was pure stoner metal, a fun change of pace from the previous two openers.
Mothership Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos
Wolves in the Throne Room Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos
Slo Burn Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos
CHELSEA WOLF was an dynamic show, a dark / gothic performer who incorporates both metal and electronic sounds into her songs, her haunting voice made her and interesting performer to see. Playing their entire set under dark red lights it was the MELVINS, formed way back in 1983 and fronted by the one and only Buzz Osbourne. The Melvins are an experimental / hardcore band whose videos have been comical at times, and on this day brought the heavy to Psycho, a party band who does not give a shit and they rocked the hell out of the Joint.
Chelsea Wolfe Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos
Melvins Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos
An interesting band to have follow the high energy of the Melvins, it was the progressive jazzy rock sound of MAGMA, and from the reaction of the crowd they seemed to feel the same as over half bailed and left the venue. This was a great band you would more likely see at the Smith Center and just didn’t seem to fit this show...seemed to be weird booking. The next band follow Magma just showed how weird their booking was - from San Jose it was the ultimate stoner / doom metal band SLEEP. Sleep are a heavy doom trio who opened with a guy in a space suit smoking a bong. They are reminiscent of what you might imagine early Black Sabbath sounded like just sitting around jamming.
Magma Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos
Sleep Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos
The surprise artist of the day from Ethiopia it was 73 year old musical legend MULATU ASTATKE. Unlike with Magma and the crowd bailing they actually stayed and really enjoyed the ethio - jazz sound of this group. With congas, a horn section, organ and Mulatu on the vibraphone the crowd was treated to a performance they will probably never see again. When his set ended and the curtain started to close the crowd started booing because they wanted to see more!
Mulatu Astatke Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos
I was already 12:30 am when Mulatu finished up and the crowd was tired after a long day, but were excited to finally see the headliners on this first night of incredible music. After a very long set change BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE finally took the stage at 1:30am. WOW! Brian Jonestown Massacre really grabbed me right out of the gate with their smooth folk / psychedelic style and made me a fan for life. Solid musicianship and a sound that captivates you and sporting 7 members, the Brian Jonestown Massacre was the perfect band to headline and end the first BIG day of Psycho Las Vegas 2017.
Two more days to go!
BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE SETLIST
Whatever Happened to Them?
Wisdom
Geezers
Who?
Servo
When Jokers Attack
That Girl Suicide
Sailor
Nevertheless
Pish
Anemone
Groove Is In The Heart
Government Beard
Days, Weeks and Moths
Yeah Yeah
Brian Jonestown Massacre Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFan Photos