GWAR’s ‘Age of Entitlement’ Comes to The Senate

Photos and Writing by Dillon Reesor

GWAR’s “Age of Entitlement” tour stormed the Senate in Columbia, SC on June 11, delivering a night of chaotic energy and over-the-top theatrics. Supported by Weedeater, X-Cops, and Squid Pisser, the concert was a whirlwind of intense performances and unforgettable antics.

Squid Pisser opened the evening with an explosive performance that immediately grabbed the audience’s attention from the first note. Their self-described fusion of hardcore punk and avant-garde grindcore bordered on an assault on the senses. Vocalist Tommy Meehan is a force to be reckoned with as a performer, spending nearly as much time on among the audience as he did on stage. Throwing himself at the security barricades or climbing over them entirely to deliver his chaotic screams from the crowd, at one point lying on the floor, matched up perfectly with the onslaught unleashed by his bandmates. A lot of opening acts will give you an opportunity to shift into gear for the upcoming show; Squid Pisser is not one of those bands. They throw you straight into the deep end, and it’s a blast there.

Next up were X-Cops, providing a taste of the theatrical spectacle GWAR fans would soon enjoy. Their set was broken up by humorous skits and banter between songs, adding a layer of absurdity to their performance. Mountain Bike Officer Biff Buff (Brad Roberts) entering on a bicycle, the “execution” of drummer Inmate #8048675309 (Ryan Parrish), and the band tossing “confiscated narcotics” were particularly memorable, epitomizing the levels of satire the band brings to their shows. The audience got fully into the swing of things chanting along with the chorus of “You Fucked Up”, and were ready for more when the set came to a close.

Weedeater followed with their signature stoner/sludge metal sound, offering a bit of breathing room between the insanity of X-Cops and GWAR. Despite some issues with the live mix – a common complaint from me with this genre, with high volume and high distortion squashing any details from the sound – their high-energy performance kept the crowd fired up. The moshing started in earnest and the crowd surfers sailed forward. And the fans kept it up for the entire set, leaving an almost tangible energy level in the building as they wrapped up and the crowd began to anticipate the arrival of the headliners.

When GWAR took the stage, it was clear why they are renowned for their live performances. They launched their set with a dramatic decapitation, spraying fake blood into the crowd and building on the tone set by X-Cops earlier in the night. The band kicked off with “War Is All We Know,” immediately followed by the sinister “The Sordid Soliloquy of Sawborg Destructo” (complete with an absolutely insane spinning saw prop that showered more fake blood onto the nearest fans) and the aggressive “Mother Fucking Liar.” Each song brought it’s own spectacle, with impressively elaborate props and outrageous antics to match.

The intensity continued with “You Can’t Kill Terror”, followed by a guest appearance by none other than Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Or at least someone in a Netanyahu suit who was summarily executed and hemorrhaged into the crowd as our alien overlords launched into “Hail, Genocide!”. GWAR’s set had the audience in a frenzy between the quality of the performance, the chaotic displays, and the constant laughs at the unexpected. The band closed out the night with a 3-song encore of “I, Bonesnapper”, “Sick of You”, and “Fuck This Place”, capping off a concert that was equal parts organized chaos, borderline insanity, and downright fun.

Overall, GWAR’s show at the Senate was a masterclass in live performance. From the high-octane start by Squid Pisser to the absurdly entertaining X Cops, through the sludge-filled interlude with Weedeater, and culminating in GWAR’s unparalleled theatrical display, the night was by my count a terrific success. For those in attendance, it was an unforgettable experience, and a reminder why GWAR continues to dominate the tiny rock we mere humans live on.

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