State Theater, Mpls Minn. Sept. 14, 2009- Here’s the story: I’ve seen Blue Felix many times and many times I have been impressed by their crazy ass stage show, their dedication and their drive.
From getting to know a lot of Blue Felix’s fans, over the years, I know a lot of them come out to see what antics the band will succumb to next. Will they pop out a bloody baby at this show? Will they have aerial artists flying from the ceiling from hooks on their backs? Will Toxsick break what ever he hangs from at that show? Will someone from the band jump into the crowd?
I admit it; I want to see these stunts at their shows. A lot of the time these stunts are what will get me to their shows. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Also, because of these stunts, it is really difficult to concentrate on the music. The band always has a definite energy about them but I’m talking: the MUSIC; the art behind the energy that determines if a band is just a bunch of energetic guys in makeup, who happen to know a few chords OR if a band is a bunch of energetic guys in makeup that are talented and will make it.
Blue Felix proved which type of guys they were Monday night. In a packed, State Theater where I have seen the likes of such talents as Gov’t Mule and Smashing Pumpkins, Blue Felix took the crowd with a vengeance and proved they had the talent to be on that stage, opening up for one of the most successful shock rockers in the last decade. Blue Felix IS a bunch of energetic guys in makeup that not only know how to play their instruments and play them well but also HAVE made it.
There were no antics or stunts at this show, no swinging from the ceiling or jumping in the crowd. There was simply music. Good music. Powerful music. Well-played music. This was the best Blue Felix show I have ever been too and it wasn’t because it was on a famous stage, opening for a famous rocker (I’ll admit that helped), it was because it was so fucking good. I found myself standing with my fist in the air, screaming, stomping and smiling with the crowd, with out even realizing I had left my seat.
Toxsick was the perfect front man, engaging the crowd, spewing out tough ass lyrics and generously sharing his energy with anyone within the vicinity of the stage. Rellim was straight up tight. He knew his licks better than the back of his hand. He was where he belonged: in the spot light on a huge ass stage. X-Hail looked menacing and excited at the same time, which I can imagine is a tough thing to do. He made it look easy with not a single fuck up on his guitar.
Grimm tore his bass a new asshole, all the while; screaming like his soul was being wrenched from his body. It was amazing. Y-Bot did what he does best, looked really fucking weird and creepy and added to the overall sound of the band. If he weren’t on stage, the band simply would not be as powerful as it is. N.Eye.C. is simply one of the best local drummers I have ever seen, if not one of the best drummers I have ever seen, period. The drummer is the backbone of the band and listening to N.Eye.C. proves this point even further.
They chose a perfect set list for the crowd; no ballads, just straight up blood quaking, grind metal. The list included: Any Last Questions, DirtNap, So Called Jesus, Dryheave, Middle Finger Up and Stars n the Stripes. “Middle Finger Up” was my personal favorite, as well as the crowds’. We all got into giving a universal fuck you. Who wouldn’t? The energy was out of control.
After the show, before Manson, waiting in line for the bathroom and beers all I could hear was this crazy echo from everyone around me, “Who is Blue Felix? That band was fucking amazing? They’re local? Why have we never seen them before?” Even more proof that the guys got a whole shit-ton of new fans that night was looking at their merchandise table next to Manson’s, at the end of the evening. Thiers’ was packed and sold out of pretty much every thing but their white T-shirts. They were signing boobs and taking pictures with fans left and right. The Manson merchandise table? Why those guys just looked really bored with a load of shirts still on the table.