The Sword, Big Business, and O'Brother at Mill City Nights
Show Poster
The Sword Setlist
Big Business Setlist
O'Brother US Tour Dates
03/15/14 Spokane, WA The Hop
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03/16/14 Seattle, WA Neumos 03/17/14 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre 03/19/14 Sacramento, CA Harlow's Night Club 03/20/14 San Francisco, CA Slim's 03/21/14 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues 03/22/14 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom 03/23/14 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad 03/24/14 El Paso, TX Lowbrow Palace 03/25/14 Oklahoma City, OK The Conservatory 03/26/14 Jackson, MS Morningbell Records
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There may be varieties that are more bitter, more dark, and more flavorful, but it’s all still beer. As the Panzer Tank of a tour that is The Sword, Big Business, and O’ Brother rolled into Minneapolis recently for a show at Mill City Nights, the feeling was similar- a varied palette of sounds, but all cut from a similar hard rock/metal foundation.
O’ Brother
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Between the heavier, stretched out songs like ‘Disillusion’ and ‘Oblivion’ and the band’s purposely minimal lighting (almost total darkness, save a small light near the bass drum), the band suitably built a mood and presence that fit the tone of their music. Led by Tanner Merritt, there is an overlying darkness and intensity to their songs, and a thick groove coating it all—consider them the “Stout” of the evening.
Big Business
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Playing the new album in its entirety was somewhat risky as well, but the crowd seemed to embrace the new songs, despite not hearing any older favorites. Having previously opened for Tool and as the rhythm section of The Melvins Big Band, the trust was earned, and they did not disappoint. Hoppy, a little sludgy, and with some bitterness, we’ll deem them our “IPA” of the evening.
Photo of the Sword Setlist
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‘Cloak of Feathers’ from the newest release came out of the gate in high gear, with the band moving from song to song, without much pause or stopping to address the audience; this was about power and momentum.
Biggest song, ‘Freya’ (which was even featured on the Guitar Hero game) was played fairly early in the set, launching devil-horned hands into the air and sending long hair flying to and fro. Thematically, every song played out as a medieval or mystic journey, with horses galloping, blades flying, and wolves stalking, and the music reflected that.
The Sword: J. D. Cronise
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The encore barely left any room to catch your breath, as they were out of the gate charging again, with ‘Barael’s Blade’ and ‘Lords’ from their 1st and 2nd albums respectively, with the latter ending in a drum free-for-all by Vela. Dark, classic, and a little thick, we’ll declare them our “Porter” of the night.
Following the show, the merch booth along the balcony was absolutely flooded with buyers, a positive sign for the music just heard and affirmation that metal/hard rock of all types, still lives and breathes robustly.
The Sword at Mill City Nights, Minneapolis (9 March 2014) |
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