Rustbelt Rock Review

By: Z.M. Delgado

Rustbeltrockreview.com

Volume #106: Mushroomhead, Hellzapoppin Circus Side Show, Kurt Deimer, Fleischkrieg, Bittersweet Revenge and Twysted Asylum

October 28th, 2023

Agora Theater 5000 Euclid Ave #101, Cleveland, OH 44103

Hello Rustbelt Rockers and welcome back to the Review. Tonight I will be discussing a show that is a perennial spectacle in our scene. A show that year after year draws a packed house and blows the minds of all who cram their way into the Agora Theater. The show I am discussing is of course the annual Mushroomhead Halloween show and this year I was fortunate enough to have a ticket. This weekend’s bill packed in a lot of acts, including: Hellzapoppin Circus Side Show, Kurt Deimer, Fleischkrieg, Bittersweet Revenge and Twysted Asylum. Now our headliner, Mushroomhead, is a band that I have seen many, many times. However all of those shows were in the late 90’s and early 00’s. This was back when the band only had three albums to draw from and the original lineup was still intact. Since then Mushroomhead left Cleveland and went on to bigger and better things, while my musical journey took me elsewhere.

So roughly twenty years had past since I last took in a Mushroomhead gig, when my friend and cohort, Chen Killingsworth struck me with the proposition of checking out this years event. I agreed and we decided to watch the show in relative style. Dredging up two more accomplices, we bought one of the four seat opera boxes that Agora offers. From there we sat back and watched the calendar; waiting for the 28th to arrive. When this Saturday finally rolled around, Chen picked me up at about 5. With him was our affiliate Young Joseph and together the three of us headed west toward the Agora. We arrived, shortly before doors and there was already a sizable line stretching out from the club. We made our way to it’s end and waited for admission. In time we ended up inside and worked our way to our seats; still waiting for the fourth member of our party to arrive. He was a bit delayed, and as such he wasn’t there when the first band hit the stage.

Starting off the night was Twysted Asylum. They are a 5 man Sludgecore band made up of two Vocalists, Guitar, Bass and Drums. There was already a sizable crowd in place as the band emerged several minutes before their start time. They took to the stage wearing masks and matching shirts and sort of hung around, perhaps taking in the spectacle of looking down from the fabled Agora stage. In time the lights dropped and they opened up pretty heavy. The Vocals were delivered in harsh screams from the two men alternating back and forth. The sound was extremely Bass heavy, and I found the Guitar to be tucked a little too far back into the mix. While there was no movement down on the floor, I did notice a lot of headbanging from the still growing crowd. Early into the set they had some technical difficulties to contend with; specifically a broken Guitar string. After a quick instrument swap the issue was rectified and the set continued. At this point my phone began to buzz in my pocket. I received a message that the fourth member of our party would be arriving shortly. With his ticket firmly in our possession, we would have to go and meet him. Unfortunately this meant I had to exit the theater and make my way down to the doors. By the time we made it back to our seats Twysted Asylum was all but finished. I did catch them doing a hand waving thing with the crowd that generated some participation on the floor. Their final song was definitely extremely heavy and I would say it received solid applause. I have to be honest, I didn’t catch enough of Twysted Asylum’s set to make a fair assessment on it’s quality. I can say they played hard and put it all out there for the fans at the Agora Saturday night.

Second on the evenings agenda was Bittersweet Revenge. This five man outfit is built of two Guitars, Bass, Drums and a Vocalist. The play a style that walks the line between Hard Rock and Metal. They utilize clean Vocals with some coarse screams for effect. They opened up their set fast and with a Rockin’ beat. Their first song exhibited a wicked Bass solo and also showed their Guitarist walking out onto the speaker to jam. The band wowed me right from the get go with their stage presence. Every member threw down with vigor and passion. They played like they were actually excited to be there. In fact, I have to say that Bittersweet Revenge looked like they were having a damn good time. Their second song was introduced as a “song about doing drugs.” It had some very good groove to it, a nice Guitar solo and it summoned the first moshpit of the evening. Their third track, a song called “Control” was excellent and had a very emotional chorus. Next they played “So Low” and the singer moved out onto the center speaker overlooking the crowd. This was followed by a cool cover of Pink Floyd’s “Hey You,” which also generated a moshpit. Their sixth song had great melody and a heavy hitting chorus and their seventh dredged up yet another pit. The moshing continued into their eighth and final song. Here I was amazed by the way their Bass player danced and spun about the stage like a madman. The lights came up, but Bittersweet Revenge wasn’t done. They continued to play, clearly over time and not giving a single fuck about it. They Rocked on with a heavy, charging energy; undaunted by the club who was clearly trying to hurry them off the stage. When their final song came to a close the room erupted in cheers. I do proclaim Bittersweet Revenge killed it and the fans at the Agora surely seemed to agree. They played a fantastic set with passionate play and outstanding stage energy. Their music was powerful and their live show fiery. Put those two factors together and it makes Bittersweet Revenge a must see act for all Cleveland Metal aficionados.

Our third act of the night was Fleischkrieg from Las Vegas, Nevada. By this point the “sold out show” was beginning to look like a sell out. The house was packed and the crowd was amped. All across the room we could see people in costume and hundreds upon hundreds of glow sticks were lit. The room buzzed with excitement as the lights dropped for a third time. Fleischkrieg was ready to begin. This is a four man act constructed from Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Drums. Based on their general sound and their heavy use of samples I would categorize them as Industrial Metal. Their singer used all clean Vocals and, for all intents and purposes, had a pretty good voice. They produced consistent driving beats and uptempo rhythms. Their style reminded me heavily of Rammstein, to the extent that we had to look up to see if they were German or not. Through their first three songs I noticed a lot of dancing and Rocking out on the floor. By their fourth song they had inspired a moshpit to form. The room came alive with hand clapping proving that the crowd was most definitely feeling it. By their sixth song the crowd surfing had begun as numerous fans took to the air. Their seventh song was a cover of “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, which was an entertaining choice. The finished up on their eighth song, and the crowd went bananas. Moshing and crowd surfing reached a new high for the evening and when Fleischkrieg ended, the room exploded in cheers. It had been a solid set. Fleischkrieg delivered a heavy, upbeat and pulse pounding performance. With great energy and noteworthy stage presence Fleischkrieg earned their applause; and from where I was sitting it appeared that the Agora crowd really devoured what they were serving up. If you like Industrial Metal then you should probably check out Fleischkrieg right away.

Eric Stevenson: The Official Tattoo Artist of the Rustbelt Rock Review @ericstevensonart

Fourth in line was Cincinnati act, Kurt Deimer. This performer is a Vocalist backed by two Guitars, Bass and Drums. They play what I guess you would consider Rock Music, or maybe Hard Rock, depending on your age. I would most easily compare them to a band like Bon Jovi or maybe Creed, if I had to choose. Their style was sort of feel good, bar band, dad Rock and I for one found it to be a strange choice of a Mushroomhead opening act. They set up a small riser at center stage that band members would take turns utilizing at different points in the set. The started up and got mixed levels of affection from the crowd. While there were people clapping their hands along with the music, and even a small moshpit churning, I would say that most people stood by in bewilderment. I will note that over the first two songs in the set the Guitarist established himself with some really searing solos. On their third number Kurt Deimer produced a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar,” which I felt really didn’t do justice to the original. Their fourth song, which was dedicated to “front line workers,” “the military” and “all the heroes” in everyday life, had a very Rock/Country vibe. Kurt Deimer encouraged everyone to light up their phones and shine them toward the stage. The dedicated moshers continued on into the set, and despite my reservations, it was clear that many on the floor were enjoying it. On his sixth number Kurt Deimer left the stage and took his mic down onto the floor (with a flashlight wielding escort.) where he sang among the fans. Returning to the stage they finished up with their seventh song. The folks who were into it continued to to be and the pit rolled on. I suppose you could say he received applause in proportion to the number of people who dug his set. I for one wasn’t into it. The Mushroomhead Halloween show, for me, has always been associated with the darkest tones that can be linked to the holiday. Kurt Deimer’s positive, family friendly brand of Rock just didn’t seem to fit. Not a bad band necessarily, but definitely a bad choice for this bill.

Mr. Short E. Dangerously/ Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow

Next on our evening agenda was not a band at all, but rather the Hellzapoppin Circus Side Show! This performance group travels the world presenting feats of mind boggling skill and suspense. Their show began with MC, Bryce “The Govna” Graves, wearing a devil mask. He introduced their first performer, Mr. Short E. Dangerously. Advertised as “The world’s most amazing half-man,” his body terminates just at the base of the torso. He runs about on his hands; doing push ups and hand stands. As well as presenting a terrifying trick with paper cups and a spike. Next came Dan Sperry, “The Anti-Conjuror of Magic Shock Illusionist.” He levitated a table, and did some amazing slight of hand with a ball and a cup as well as some doves. Also performing was Ms. Willow Lauren, who swallowed and regurgitated razor blades and did a truly impressive sword swallowing routine. “The Govna” himself even returned and put fans stomachs in knots as he buried a screwdriver and power drill up his nose.

Ms. Willow Lauren/Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow

The whole thing was presented with incredible showmanship and pizzazz. Their time seemed to fly by and when it was done, I for one was screaming for more. It was something the like of which I have rarely seen at a Metal show, and it was damn cool. I enjoyed the spectacle of it. There was an inherent creepiness to seeing these feats performed. There was real fear when Shorty was seemingly about to drive a nail through his hand. There was a horrified fascination as Willow consumed each successive razor. There was wonder as Dan made us ask, “just how in the hell did he do that?” In short, Hellzapoppin Circus Side Show was great and I would gladly watch it again and again. The Hellzapoppin cast took their final bows and exited the stage. The crowd dispersed briefly to refill cups and empty bladders. Then quickly they began to reassemble. No one wanted to miss a moment of what was to come. Mushroomhead was about to take the stage.

Long before the band started, before the lights even dropped, the crowd began chanting “Mush-room-head! Mush-room-head!” The anticipation in the room was about as high as it can get as the fans waited in blissful agony for the set to begin. Now for those of you who don’t know Mushroomhead is one of the greatest and most important bands to ever rise from the Cleveland underground. They are made up of two Vocalists, two Guitars, Bass and Drums. They also have a number of other performers including two additional percussionists and an onstage dancer. They play a unique blend of Metal that includes elements of Industrial Metal and Nu Metal. The Mushroomhead Halloween show has become one of the “must attend” events in our Heavy Metal calendar and this years show was no exception. In fact, as this year marked the 30th anniversary of the event, it was perhaps an even more sought after ticket than usual. Whether that was the case or not, it was a sold out show, so I suppose that fact speaks for itself. So It came to pass that the lights in the Agora Theater dropped. The crowd immediately started churning with activity, even before the music started. An opera soundtrack began to play as an intro and the room seemed to come alive with energy. Then, like a true blast from my past, the familiar notes of “Fear Held Dear” emerged. Instantly the pit began to crash against itself like waves breaking against stone. Slowly the curtain rose and from behind it we got our first glimpse of the stage. A gorgeous display of Halloween imagery, the stage was built with high risers and was adorned with huge grisly scarecrows. The band, all in elaborate masks, moved about the stage with unparalleled energy. It was a flurry of activity, with all the musicians and the stage extras bustling about. Like a pack of goblins, Mushroomhead played hard from the first note and I was in awe. On “A Requiem for Tomorrow” one singer left the stage and entered the security trench, screaming directly into fans faces. Hands were clapping in sync with the music, and the crowd was jumping with their horns in the air for “Seen It All.” Here one of the vocalists leaped from the stage and crowd surfed briefly. On “Our Apologies” I noted just how cool the two additional percussionists were. They hammered on their drums, which were covered in water and lit from below. This creates an effect of exploding magma erupting from the drum heads with each successive strike. It’s pretty cool. The crowd roared at the intro notes to “Qwerty.” This turned into a sing along and the pit ran absolutely wild. Here also the band released dozens of enormous balloons into the club, which bounced across the crowd for the remainder of the set. Another sing along ensued for “Sun Doesn’t Rise.” Smoke jets were shot from the stage just above the heads of the crowd as fists were pumping below.

On their 7th song, I felt like I was in a time machine as the haunting melody of “Solitaire/Unraveling” unfolded. The fans exploded in a cheer as the song began and the pit went berserk. The singer stepped off the stage and standing upright, began to walk across the crowd. This was a peak moment in the set and the highlight of the night for me. “12 Hundred” saw the vocalist crowd surfing again. It amazed me how he was able to do this, and somehow make it back tot he stage every time without fail, all while never missing a note. Going back to the old school hits, Mushroomhead broke out “43” next. Complete with the “Oh wait!” moment from “Silence of the Lambs,” this was another surreal flashback for me. “Kill Tomorrow” and “Destroy The World Around Me” followed and the moshpit raged accordingly. The violence hit new levels as they unleashed “Before I Die.” The stage extras took to the crowd with spotlights, sweeping the room with beams. I noted here that the moshers looked exhausted. My notes read the “pit looks sloppy, drunk and brutal.” A female vocalist joined the band on stage for the ballad “The Heresy.” Snow fell from the ceiling as the band recited this most excellent duet. On “Madness Within” the female vocalist walked out onto the fans, while one of the other two singers threw a veggie tray into the crowd. Here things got really sick, as the beloved beat of “Bwomp” began to pump through the speakers. The fans sang along to every word, with our voices peaking in a collective shout of “Free Charles Manson!” On “The Flood” the pit finally ran out of steam and the fans collectively caught their breath to this slow number. The break was short lived as Mushroomhead immediately charged back with “The Dream is Over.” The pit raged anew as delighted fans bludgeoned one another with glee. Next we received out third Pink Floyd cover of the night: “Empty Spaces.” This of course is used as the introduction to Mushroomhead’s show stopper track, “Born of Desire.” The pit went insane. The bodies flew in all directions and above it all the singer took to walking on the hands of crowd members again. From my vantage point in the opera box, it was a thing to behold. Watching all these lunatics absolutely tear each other apart was unreal. Part of me wanted to be down there with them, while another part was damn glad I was no where near that madness. It was a fabulous, and frightening end to and outstanding set. Mushroomhead’s line up, style and stage designs have changed a lot since my hey day, but one thing that has not changed is that they are still one of the best shows you can see, period. They killed it back in 97, when I first saw them. They killed in 2023 when I returned to the fold. It was a strange and magical experience seeing it live again. It dragged up a lot of old memories and it all made me smile. If you’re looking for a show that is dark, and intense and visually stunning, then go see Mushroomhead. You will not be disappointed.

And just like that it was over. We filed out of the Agora and said our good byes. We trekked back to the east side, almost got killed by a drunk driver along the way, but ended up home none the worse for wear. The show had been a mixed bag. I couldn’t get a read on Twysted Asylum. I didn’t get to see enough of their set to really make an assessment. Bittersweet Revenge was excellent. I really enjoyed their energy and I legitimately dug their sound. Fleischkrieg was all right. They had good stage presence, solid driving beats and the crowd seemed to really dig them. Kurt Deimer was not for me. Based on what I saw, he was not for a lot of people at the Agora Saturday night. While he played a solid set, I suppose, his style of music was pretty far removed from the rest of the bill. Hellzapoppin Circus Side Show was an absolute blast. Their performance was fun and highly entertaining, with laughs, wonder and edge of your seat suspense. I would recommend their show to anyone who loves things just a little bit depraved. Finally, Mushroomhead was simply fantastic. With a killer setlist and a horrifying stage show, Mushroomhead is clearly still going strong 30 years into it all. On that note, I think I’ll say goodnight. Thanks for reading.

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Rustbeltrockreview.com

Links:

Mushroomhead

https://mushroomhead.com/

Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow

https://hellzapoppin.com/

Kurt Deimer

https://www.kurtdeimer.com/

Fleischkrieg