Where Y'At Staff/Provided Photo

Superjoint Ritual Lights Up at House of Blues

17:00 July 29, 2015
By: Emily Hingle

All kinds came out to witness the triumphic and hotly anticipated return of Superjoint Ritual, an all-star outfit created twenty years ago which has been defunct for many moons now. The three original members, vocalist Philip Anselmo, guitarist Jimmy Bower, and bassist Kevin Bond, have spared no bit of intensity this round.

Superjoint Ritual Lights Up at House of Blues
[Where Y'At Staff/Provided Photo]
Superjoint Ritual Lights Up at House of Blues
[Where Y'At Staff/Provided Photo]

The Australian outfit, King Parrot, recently signed to Phil Anselmo's record label Housecore Records and held a signing show at Blue Nile on Frenchmen Street. They fit in well with the other bands on the label, but do stand out as they have got to be the craziest on stage, which is saying a lot. They come out bare-chested, beer-bellied, un-shoed, and spitting water (and other substances) onto a raging audience, who love every drop of it. I had to dodge a few rounds like a person at Sea World. But it was still extremely fun to watch frontman Matthew Young pace about the stage and make these really crazy facial gestures before diving right into the throng to be pulled out by security back onto the stage and do it again. The band, despite said beer bellies, collectively exude the energy of a pissed-off teenager obsessed with girls that they can't get, having to go to school on time, and ready to have a raging Friday night. King Parrot makes you feel young again.

Superjoint Ritual Lights Up at House of Blues
[Where Y'At Staff/Provided Photo]
Superjoint Ritual Lights Up at House of Blues
[Where Y'At Staff/Provided Photo]

It's been a long time since we've basked in the glory of Superjoint Ritual. Superjoint Ritual took the stage in a no non-sense way. This clearly isn't a flashy show; it's straight-up, no-frills, hardcore rock. Infamous frontman Phil Anselmo, who needs no introduction, came out gutturally screaming in a way that I haven't personally heard him do in a long time. It was primal and painful; full of incredible energy and vigor. His buddy and fellow well-known local metal musician Jimmy Bower on the guitar was simply having a great time. They played their best songs and had the whole audience singing along to every word, especially "Everyone Hates Everyone" early on in the set and "Fuck Your Enemy." Phil scoffed at our brand new local smoking ban by lighting up a cigarette on stage as he talked about how fantastic he felt the show was going before announcing a few birthdays in the house. His partner in crime, Kate, brought out a blazing birthday cake for the lucky two and led the House in song. The show withheld more surprises, but you just had to be there to see it in all of its SJR glory. I really hope that the band continues on rather than waiting in the wings for another long stint because this was a very spirited, and just plain fun, rock n' roll show.

Superjoint Ritual Lights Up at House of Blues
[Where Y'At Staff/Provided Photo]

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