THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 27, 1997 TAG: 9701260312
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEW
SOURCE: BY JEFF MAISEY, SPECIAL TO THE PILOT
LENGTH: 43 lines
ON THIS NIGHT, the Devil did not go down to Georgia looking for a soul to steal, he stopped off at Norfolk's Boathouse instead. If the size of the crowd was any indication, though, Garth Brooks is more of a deity these days than Satan.
Danzig, touring in support of their fifth album, titled ``Blackacidevil,'' put their best foot forward, opening the show with the monster hit ``Mother.'' The flexing ball of energy that is vocalist Glen Danzig immediately grasped control of the partisan crowd. In true form, the dynamic frontman relentlessly moved around the confines of the stage, surrounded by the gnashing guitar work of ex-Prong member Tommy Victor, the wicked bass lines of Josh Lazie and the heavy underworld beat of Joey Castillo.
If you were a Danzig fan, ya got the show you came to see. The second song of the night was the new hit single ``Sacrifice.'' With a noisy mix of fresh material and a few favorites like ``Her Black Wing'' and ``Am I Demon?'' cast in for pleasure, the fiery performance seemed to get a bit repetitious after five numbers. Even with the gigantic light show and the rock superstar image of the strutting band members, the high intensity tempo, song after song, combined with a bad sound job made for a fair night, rather than a fantastic evening of entertainment. But for the Danzig loyalists, the group could do no wrong.
The major disappointment of the evil evening was the industrial sound of the Electric Hellfire Club. For a group who practice in real life what they preach, the satanists were far from electrifying. Thomas Thorn and company did manage to get the crowd's attention when dancer Sabrina Satania slithered her way on stage. But the fascination quickly disintegrated as the Danzig fandom became disinterested and spat on the band, shouting out nasties.
Though there were instrumental areas which were carried out too long, songs like ``44'' and ``Book of Lies'' were actually great. Unfortunately, the road-worn Hellfire Club had obviously run out of gas at the wrong time. ILLUSTRATION: MUSIC REVIEW
Danzig with the Electric Hellfire Club
Saturday at the Boathouse, Norfolk