Kadavar
w/ Ruby the Hatchet
December 5, 2019
Atlanta, GA – The Earl
2019 marked five long years since German krautrock gods Kadavar last played in Atlanta. The last time Kadavar was here, they were supporting Wolfmother on a tour that saw them conquering city after city and winning over a whole new fanbase. This time Kadavar was back headlining their tour, and along with them was Philadelphia space rockers Ruby the Hatchet.
Ruby the Hatchet is one of those bands that I only knew by name. Have you ever heard a band that a bunch of people you donât like rave about, and it turns you off from them? Well, that was Ruby the Hatchet, unfortunately, but lucky for me, I would be proven wrong about any expectations I had about them.
Fronted by enigmatic frontwoman Jillian Taylor, Ruby the Hatchet took the stage to a packed room opening their set with âSymphony of the Nightâ from their latest album Planetary Space Child. The song kicked off with an ethereal yet beautifully sparse intro only to build into a cosmic seven-minute epic. Ruby the Hatchet picked a perfect song to open their set. It made a huge impression on me and it actually sounded like it should be a set closer.
I figured things would get better, or it would be all downhill from here. Things got even more cosmic with songs like âKiller,â âPagan Ritual,â and the stellar âGemini.â The only song I wasnât crazy about was their cover of the Uriah Heep classic âEasy Livinâ.â Itâs not that it sucked but I feel like Uriah Heep has become âtheeâ band to cover in this genre. Ruby the Hatchetâs original songs are better than this cover and I wouldâve preferred to hear more.
Ruby the Hatchet closed out with a brand new song called âDeath Lives Here,â which is a bold move. Closing with a new song shows the bandâs confidence in their new material and their ability to pull it off. Ruby the Hatchet is something to see as they perform like a well-oiled space station. Everyone in the band has their own stage energy, which combined creates a visually and aurally stunning show. Ruby the Hatchet is a band that I will be keeping my eye on for a long time.
Kadavar took the stage to a roar from the packed house, and I could feel the electricity in the air immediately. âThe Endâ from their For the Dead Travel Fast album filled the room in a somber, haunting vibe only to be shaken free by âThe Devilâs Master.â The crowd went nuts and I felt myself smiling ear to ear. I couldnât avoid moving if I tried. I threw my hands up, pumped fists, and headbanged for what would be a cosmic journey of the senses.
Kadavar is as much a visual show as it is a musical show. I donât mean cheesy visuals on a screen or crazy liquid lights. Iâm talking about the band members themselves. Lead vocalist/guitarist Lupus Lindemann thrashes around the stage like he has stepped on a live wire while bassist Simone embodies this ominous, yeti-like presence as if he would stomp anything in his path. Drummer Tiger Bartlett is hands down one of the single most underrated drummers on the planet.
Tiger has this magnetic presence that feeds off the audience, and when youâre that hungry, you demand more energy. With just the shifting of his crazy ass eyes and throwing hands up to make everyone yell, Tiger commands an audience as good if not better than many front people not trapped behind a drum kit. Kadavar was so full of energy and watching them, I would have never known that they were severely jetlagged and exhausted.
âLiving in Your Headâ from the self-titled debut brought a huge roar, and upon hearing âThe Old Manâ from the Berlin album, I couldnât contain myself as I cheered and jumped up and down like a Price is Right contestant. The highlight of the show for me was the epic âLong Forgotten Songâ from For the Dead Travel Fast. I found myself lost in this song. I closed my eyes and as corny as it sounds, I felt like I became one with the song. You could almost hear a pin drop in the quietest of parts and I was swept away.
Kadavar brought it all home and closed out their nearly hour and a half set with âCome Back to Lifeâ from the Abra Kadavar album, which shook the room and had everyone screaming for one more song. With a couple of more shows to see this year, I have pretty much decided to not attend them because going to see any show after this one this year would be a fucking bummer.
Time has been very good, Kadavar, and they are showing no signs of stopping growth. If this show is any indication of where Kadavar is heading, all I can say to the other bands on the scene is to back the fuck up. Kadavar is coming and they will plow your asses over.
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