For all the higher-profile, money-making, stadium-filling tours going on at the moment, one need look no further than an under-the-radar trek involving three bands with a combined total of one full-length album that are more aptly exemplifying what metal is supposed to be all about.
Teaming together from various parts of the world, the trifecta of Bloodywood, Vended and Wargasm electrified a dedicated Monday night crowd last week at Vibes Event Center with diversified messages of hope and inspiration blended with mosh pits.
Well, two-thirds of them did anyway. Wargasm had set up its gear in preparation to open the show, only to have its guitarist ask the early arrivals, “Are you ready for Wargasm?” After receiving a round of cheers, he continued, “Well, that’s unfortunate because our lead singer (Milkie Way) has fallen sick, and we cannot perform. You can watch us unpack, and we will be back soon.”
So that left matters to headliners Bloodywood and direct supporters Vended.
Hailing from New Delhi, India, the Desi quintet known as Bloodywood — a metal take on India’s movie, television and pop culture scene known as Bollywood — garnered enough of a following to comprise half of the Vibes’ spacious room on a rare Monday night show, treating a few hundred to a unique combination of dhol Bhangra drums, flutes and Hindi/Punjabi lyrics with folk metal, guitars and inspirational American rap.
Touring in support of debut full-length Rakshak (Hindi for “Protector”), Bloodywood has taken the underground metal world by storm on the strength of videos that portray a series of Bhangra dancers melding with the band much like human accessories accentuate the acts of Pitbull, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and the like.
The Vibes stage only adorned the kit of drummer Vishesh Singh, leaving plenty of room for the other four members and a few dancers and dhol players. Unfortunately, the dancers did not make the trip from New Delhi, most likely due to the cost logistics and/or visa issues that have plagued international artists’ travel plans since the Covid-19 pandemic.
But that didn’t stop Bloodywood from providing several inspirational messages to the Vibes faithful of hope and fulfilling one’s dreams. Rapper Raoul Kerr and lead Hindi/Punjabi singer Jayant Bhadula also sang of the perils of sexual assault and depression, mixing in a host of themes for an uplifting 61-minute Bhangra metal performance that riveted unlike any show San Antonio figures to see the rest of this year.
Watch a small sample of it via ATM’s video footage below of “Machi Bhasad” (“Expect A Riot”) and the diversity-is-a-gift mantra “Ari Ari.” The footage includes Bhadula’s humorous introductions of not only bandmates such as band founder/flutist/guitarist Karan Katiyar, bassist Roshan Roy and dhol player Sarthak Pawha but a few crew members as well. And the band wasn’t exactly shy about joining the masses in the pit either.
Also dotting the I’s on this night — as in India for Bloodywood and Iowa — was Des Moines natives Vended.
Featuring Slipknot kin Griffin Taylor on vocals, much like his dad Corey Taylor, and Simon Crahan on drums, the son of Slipknot percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan, Vended annihilated the Vibes unlike many headliners, let alone support acts.
Touring on the strength of several singles that will eventually give way to a debut EP in the coming months, Vended also features lead guitarist Cole Espeland, rhythm guitarist Connor Grodzicki and bassist Jeremiah Pugh.
Vended has served notice of its potential by virtue of impressionable performances at Germany’s famed Wacken Open Air festival and of course one of Slipknot’s Knotfest gatherings. The showing at Vibes was no different as Vended moshed its way to several new fans thanks to stepping on the gas from the get-go and never letting up. Watch ATM’s footage below of “Burn My Misery” and Facebook Live clip of finales “The Far Side” and “Asylum.”
An unlikely pairing at first, Bloodywood and Vended meshed seamlessly to exemplify more of what’s needed in music today: inspirational, non-discriminatory metal for the masses that brings fans and musicians of diverse backgrounds together for not only the greater good.
But for awareness of various societal issues plaguing the world today — and messages of methods to combat those demons — without losing an affinity for releasing pent-up emotions while engulfed in a sea of mosh pit-swirling humanity.
