Every once in a while even a Geek ends up with too many out-on-the-town options. Oct. 13, 2010, was one such night.
Choice #1: The final night of the Accept/King's X tour at House of Blues in the latter's hometown.
Choice #2: A one-off screening of homegrown horror phenomenon 'Sweatshop' (featuring Jeremy Sumrall as The Beast), at Alamo Cinema Drafthouse.
Choice #3: One of Houston's two best power pop bands of the past 15 years, dUNETX, live at one of its most venerable (and still indie) concert venues, Fitzgerald's, opening for two exciting touring acts, Electric Six and the Constellations.[NOTE: The other best Houston power pop band of the past 15 years is Ashbury Keys].
I would've been at all three if I could have been, but I haven't quite mastered that trick yet and in the end chose Accept and King's X. I made plans to meet up with a few friends there, and knew a number of others would likely be in attendance. The $7.5o Lone Stars started flowing as freely as such things can, and no longer than it took to exchange a few handshakes and brah-hugs King's X was on stage.
Between having played for a month straight, HoB's massive PA , and the hometown-end-of-tour vibe, the band did not dissappoint, delivering the best set I'd seen from them in years. 'Complain', 'What Is This', 'Pillow', 'Power of Love' and 'Pray' were particular standouts, and their set could have been twice as long without wearing thin.
I really had no idea what to expect from Accept. Novelty perhaps? In any case, hopes were very low. As a fan of metal there was probably only so bad it could be. But still, what if it was worse? It's happened to plenty of well-intentioned great bands over the years, from Skid Row to Anthrax to Nuclear Assault. Some rebounded by the next go round, some continued to muddle along in mediocrity, others were never heard from again.
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