DOWNBLEED @ IRESON'S PUB, TN, USA (9.10.04)

From Tom Bettini, ex-bassist from Jackyl with permission from DOWNBLEED

I caught DOWNBLEED at Ireson's Pub last nite and had a great time.

First I really like the new "vibe" in the air at Ireson's..........the cosmetic changes are not that drastic, but the attitude of the place was way different than it used to be. Which I think is for the better. It is far more friendly...........and with RICK at the door and JEFF behind the bar, I was with old friends. Also, WAY TO GO on the new P.A. system, Mr. Ireson.

DOWNBLEED..............where to start?

How about from left to right?

LEONA-BASS...............best looking bassist ive seen around here.

4 string ibanez slung to her kness tuned to low C........ all downstroke picking....kunkunkunk............run thru an SWR head into a vintage mid '70's ACOUSTIC 1X18 BACK LOADED CAB.........awesome. And then for the feminine touch, just get a can o' red spray paint and scrawl "LEONA" across the front of it. Very tasteful..........

Leona can definately play a bass.............and her tone is what I call "ultra-swamp"....hardly any hi's at all........just this huge "woooooooooof" moving thru the room, precisely mirroring every guitar note played.

Leona aint skeeered either........she stands on the edge of that stage and puts the bass in your face.....head-banging-hair-flying.......she doesnt dress like a porn-bimbo, but theres no mistaking the woman behind the axe.

DOUG-DRUMS/LEAD VOX..............Anton Levay's lil' lost brother?

Doug is what you call a "multi-tasker"............drummer, lead singer, front man, all from behind the kit. He is a VERY busy man. Most of the songs involve double kick underneath furious vocals...and he pulls it off well.
He is also one of the few hard core guys that still drag around TWO kick drums.......A+ for that!
I enjoyed watching Doug BEAT THE SHIT out of those drums........
He kept the crowd involved, talking between songs, never a second of dead air (and that is what does hurt most bands), he spoke very eloquently as he introduced each song.........and it was wild hearing that nice voice comin' out of that face.........black eye-liner, mohawk, piercings, tattoo's, headset.........

DAWG-GUITAR...............big-ass-dude..........

Looks like a Baptist Youth Leader haircut sitting on top of a linebackers body.............then add war paint..............

DAWG played an Ibenez thru a PEAVEY 5150 1/2 STACK........all downstroke/palm-mute......kunkunkunkunkunk...............the few leads that he played were actual structured statements..not a bunch of jerking off............but his main strength to me was that relentless downstroking.........his tone was good, his face was fierce, and he grit his teeth when it started gettin' good to him.......

THE MUSIC: unlike sex, there is very little foreplay involved in their music.
It's 1-2-3-4 BANG-BANG-BANG (.........you have to wait till it's all over to even get a kiss)..........I like their songs....they are riffy, heavy, and fast. And even tho the lyrics are dark, they're not stupid.

DOWNBLEED is a good time..........they are very nice, decent people that have their feet on the ground instead of their heads in the clouds. they have their shit together on all fronts: music, merch, gear, attitudes. They are a good band that that gives the phrase "keeping it in the family" a whole new meaning. DOUG and DAWG are cousins, and DOUG and LEONA are married..........I guess that gives the term "RYHTHM SECTION" a whole new meaning too! Yow!